Silver Moon: Chapter 10:
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.
Claimer: Sheba and Sasha are mine.
Evening's twilight filled the rooms of the silver sorceress. Her maids had refused to leave her care. Koto's blue eyes were tired, but she could feel the strength stirring in the young woman in the bed. Koto stepped closer to the bed to pull the covers up from where the girl had tossed in her sleep. Sheba had not moved the first day, but now she could turn over. Koto and Mai were anticipating her awakening soon. However, Koto was not prepared for the child of the Silver Moon to roll over, and latch onto her wrist.
Koto's blues depths locked with Sheba's emerald for the first time in over a week. Neither of the maids could contain themselves, and threw their arms around their mistress.
"Wh… what happened?" her voice was just above a whisper and hoarse from its lack of use.
The two maids exchanged looks before Mai spoke, "You have been unconscious for nine days. After Sesshomaru finished the spell, and regained his arm, you … died. He revived you with Tensaiga, but at first you seemed to have not been spared … we were all over come with grief…"
"Except for Sesshomaru I suppose", Sheba frowned.
"No… he was the most affected." Mai looked away, "He wouldn't let us near you. His morning howls were… heartbreaking."
"…" Sheba opened her mouth, but could not think of a response.
After an hour of wobbling around her chambers on weak legs Sheba began to walk again. Though, Sasha refused to leave her side, and provided support when she wavered. Koto and Mai had informed Minda of the good news, but Minda had only smiled and excused herself.
…
Minda stood before Sesshomaru's desk. He did not look up from his work, but he did provide her a grunt that she knew meant he was listening.
"The Silver Sorceress has awakened", she was pleased to see the brush falter in his grip.
Minda slipped out of the room, and headed toward the young ward's chambers. The child would be ecstatic to know her friend was awake. However, it was too late for her to visit; that would have to wait till the morning.
…
Sheba begged her mind to clear in the scalding water. She only allowed one simple thought at a time. This was to prevent the inevitable mental break down. She had to find a way to get past Sesshomaru. That's one… she had to let Kagome and everyone know that she was alive and all right, but that they weren't able to rescue her; her friends would not die in a misunderstanding with Sesshomaru. That made a very large number two. She would need a messenger. She would also need to find out why Sesshomaru needed her alive… he wouldn't just tell her. She needed to get inside his head…
If her powers were under more control perhaps she could experiment with that... if she had telekinesis, then perhaps she could have telepathy; both abilities stemmed from the same basic power. She had never tried to pry into anyone's mind before; she could give it a shot… that was going to be the new step number one.
She washed and rinsed, but the simple act was exhausting. She was grateful Koto was there to help her dress, and get back to her room. She slept soundly that night; she had a plan.
…
The next morning Sheba woke to a pair of brown eyes. Rin squealed, and locked her arms around her neck.
"Rin missed Sheba sooooo much!" the girl reclined, and Sheba smiled. The two sat in bed, and ate their breakfast together. Rin informed Sheba of everything that she had missed in the garden. Minda came to take the child to her lessons, but Koto and Mai returned to help her dress.
However, no sooner did Sheba get her kimono on did the entry door open. Sheba had no need to look; she continued to look at the shoes she was putting on.
"What may I do for you Sesshomaru-sama?" She whispered.
Sesshomaru looked from the maids to Sheba; who was now looking at the floor, "Come with me."
Sheba stood with Sasha at her side, and followed his fleeting figure. He seemed to notice her struggle, and he slowed his pace. He led her to a dojo.
"Sit", he motioned to the tatami floor.
Sheba carefully sat, and looked at the floor. She was unsure of how to act. Sesshomaru was lethal, there was no doubting that, and she had to be mindful of her actions and words around him. She could not hide much from him, but she had to gain information.
Sesshomaru circled her, and seated himself within arm's length in front of her. He watched her. She had lost a great deal of weight, her cheeks seemed hollow, and the kimono's heavy layers hung from her form. Her cheeks were missing their usual flush of color; he had taken that from her. She refused to meet his eyes, and she seemed broken. She looked like a doll; a broken doll, and he had made her that way.
"We will complete the other half of our agreement. I will help you harness your strength and abilities in return for my arm as we had previously agreed." He waited for her to respond.
She did not raise her head, "What are my instructions?" she asked softly.
"Until your strength has returned you will only meditate", he then watched her settle into her usual meditation position.
They sat in silence for what seemed like an eternity. Sheba kept her eyes closed, and tried to ignore his presence; which she learned was much easier said than done.
He would give her simple instructions to focus her energy. He was pleased to find that her body may have weakened, but her abilities had yet to falter. He could feel the energy rolling off her. However, her heart rate worried him. It was very unstable, but when it was dangerously rapid she seemed able to concentrate her energy in more than one object. That was interesting. Due to the fact that she had never attempted this previously, but also because her body seemed to be in peek condition during this. Not under strain like a human body would be under that kind of heart rate, but rather gaining energy and power.
He was pleased with this new information, and informed her that she may leave. She only nodded and left, with the help of Sasha.
Sasha was also provided new information. The feline's energy followed that of its master. When Sheba concentrated on something Sasha was as well; whether it had moved or not. It had been clear that they were tied in some way before, but now it was worth investigation.
…
Three days passed. Sheba could now walk unassisted, but her heart was still healing. When she was sleeping or calm it was still irregular and uneven. However, thanks to Koto and Mai's constant fawning she was slowly gaining her weight back. She now met Sesshomaru at the dojo at noon everyday, and the lessons were beginning to be more vigorous. However, she was also doing some training on her own.
Mai sat infront of her mistress, trying to remain calm, and breathing through her nose.
"Tell me if you feel any pain, ok?" Sheba watched her friend and maid.
Mai nodded, and Sheba looked over at Koto, who was watching the door. It was still early, and she had an hour or so before she was to meet Sesshomaru. It was not just Sesshomaru who they were listening for though; Minda could not know either, this was not due to mistrust of her, but preventing her from having to go against her Lord. They would not force her into that position. Koto gave them the signal that it was all clear.
Sheba placed a hand on the side of Mai's head, and another over Mai's heart. She concentrated all of her energy on Mai. Not her mind itself, but rather Sheba opened herself to anything that was presented from Mai.
A pulse passed from Sheba to the bear youkai as this was firmly honed.
A gasp broke from Mai, "I … I can't move my body", her frightened eyes turned to her mistress.
Sheba immediately released her, this was the first time she had fully achieved the link, and had no intention of harming her new friend.
Mai flexed her arm, "So, it paralyzes…"
"Is it alright if I continue?" Sheba asked. This was good considering what she planned to use it for… she had not completely informed her maids of what this was for. Only that she planned to train to use this as a weapon later, when she was no longer under Sesshomaru's umbrella of protection. Which, was true, but not the whole story either.
Mai nodded, assured that the symptom was temporary.
Sheba replaced her hands, and the pulse synced them once again. Sheba instructed her to think of a specific memory. Sheba closed her eyes as images poured from Mai. At first they were random and scattered, passing to quickly for her to make sense of them. They slowed, and something like a scrappy movie played from Mai to Sheba. Images of herself entering her chambers for the first time passed, then her awakening. Sheba released her.
"When we first met, and when I woke up last week." Sheba whispered, she had felt and heard Mai's thoughts and inner most feelings.
Mai nodded.
"That should be good for now", Sheba nodded to Koto, who then left her post.
Sheba smiled, they were good friends. She may never see them again if she went through with this… but she was ready, and she was going to do this. Sheba bathed and dressed. By the time she was done it was nearly time to leave.
She looked to find Mai and Koto talking about how much she had improved. She couldn't stop herself; she threw her arms around them both.
"I love you as sisters", Sheba whispered.
Stunned maids returned the embrace, and voiced their gratitude and mutual agreement. Sheba removed herself from them. She smoothed out her kimono and slipped away before the maids could make sense of her outburst.
"It's now or never…" Sheba whispered to herself, patting Sasha as them entered the dojo.
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I hope everyone likes it! Please R&R. I am really sorry for how long it has taken for me to update. I have done a lot of planning and plotting, but due to a recent family crisis, and the fact that I'm in summer school (I didn't fail or anything I am just trying to get through my bachelors degree as fast as possible; I want to be a professor of Anthropology, so I need this stuff out of the way) it has been difficult to actually write. However, I have a lot planned. Prepare for an action pack chapter 11 & 12 ~.* Suki