Chapter Twelve: A Major Fight
XoXoXo
Helen stared out the window of her room. The manicured gardens beneath her window seemed to be welcoming after what happened to her. She shuddered as she thought of Goshinki. He had possessed her, taken control of her and even managed to tamper with the seal her mother had placed on her. She sighed. Sesshoumaru was somewhere in the palace, the library perhaps, but she didn't really care where he was. Shinsuke had yet to return from the little scuffle at the border and Helen hoped that she would come back; she wanted to tell her that she was going back to her cousin. After all, didn't she say that she would never come back to this time?
A heavy sigh left her lips as she walked away from the window. Dark nimbus clouds gathered high above and she had a nasty feeling that these clouds would delay her return home.
What do you do for a little distraction from boredom in this place? She thought as she left the room. She walked down the slightly dark hallways and turned a corner and through a door that-without her knowing-led her straight into the library. As soon as she entered the room, the musty smell of books hit her nose.
The first thing that caught her eye when she entered the room was a life size painting at one wall. Intrigued, she approached it and stared at it. It was a painting of a smiling Lady Shinsuke, sitting down with a golden haired infant in her arms. Behind the lady was the image of a handsome man who had cold silver eyes and dark long hair tied up in a ponytail. She stared hard at the painting. The infant was clearly her and Helen fingered her dark hair as she stared at the golden curls on the infant's head. The man was clearly…
Her father.
Helen continued to stare at the painting as though thoroughly fascinated by it, but in truth, she was deeply lost in thought. So it was all true? Looking at Shinsuke and her unnamed father, she saw that she clearly resembled them both. For a brief moment, she wondered what she would look like if the seal was removed…
"What are you doing here?" a cold voice said, making her jump. Turning, she saw Sesshoumaru staring at her with his usual cold stare.
"I live here," she said coolly. "I can go wherever I want, thank you very much."
He glared at her then his eyes snapped to the painting behind her and back to her as if comparing something on the piece of canvass with one of its subjects.
"What?" she asked, noticing his gaze.
He didn't answer. He had seen two of her demonic features; her hair and her eyes. Now he tried to picture her with her golden locks and silver eyes but failed.
"Anyway," Helen said. "What are you still doing here? Shouldn't you be off with Kagura or something?"
"Kagura and I are no more," he said without the slightest hesitation. She raised her eyebrows in surprise.
"Why?"
His eyes snapped to hers and she saw annoyance clearly written in his amber pools. "That does not concern you in any way," he said softly.
Helen rolled her blue eyes. "Fine, be secretive and moody."
He heard her slide the door with a loud bang as she left the room.
XoXoXo
Lady Shinsuke arrived at the palace when Sesshoumaru had coincidentally left. By that time, darkness had completely fallen and Helen grew restless. She wanted to go back to the present, where she felt that she belonged.
"You wish to return?" Shinsuke seemed slightly displeased as Helen made her request known within her lady's rooms.
Helen nodded somewhat nerved by Shinsuke's displeased tone. "I-"
"No one can escort you. Darkness is falling and the dark is dangerous to humans," Shinsuke said softly, her violet eyes scanning Helen.
"But…I really must go! I have an important exam tomorrow!"
"What is an eggs ham?" Shinsuke asked, raising her eyebrows.
Helen had to smother down a snigger at the inu youkai's cluelessness. "I can't really explain it in detail…but it's very important! Please! I have to go back!"
"Very well, one of the servants must go with you, though…I fear for your safety."
Helen consented and five minutes later, she left the palace accompanied by a young kitsune named Namiko.
"How are you finding the land, Lady Helen?" Namiko asked as they walked on guided by a blue fire which the kitsune had created to illuminate their way.
Helen felt slightly embarrassed about being called 'lady.'
"Not quite used to the whole demons exist part yet," Helen said with a slight chuckle. Namiko nodded her head of blue hair.
"That is quite understandable seeing as how you grew up in a world where people don't believe in the old ways."
"Namiko-san…do you know anything about my father?" Helen suddenly asked. "Do you happen to know how and why they betrothed me to that ice prince?"
Namiko smiled at her latest name for Sesshoumaru but then she sobered. "Your father was a good man…Perhaps you already know that he and Lord Touga were friends…perhaps that was one of the many reasons why he gave you to Sesshoumaru."
"He didn't give me away and I certainly don't belong to anyone!" Helen said defiantly.
Namiko smiled at her defiance. "Why is it that you wish to leave the land?"
Helen paused then sighed. "It's probably because…I don't quite know where I belong…"
Namiko nodded sympathetically. "I see…Not knowing where one belongs to is quite maddening…Oh look! We have come upon a ravine."
Before them was a deep ravine where lush trees grew close to the edge. Within the bowels of the ravine, Helen could hear the roar of a river but it was hidden in darkness.
"Do you prefer flying or walking?" Namiko asked, staring at the darkness.
"I'm afraid of heights," Helen said. "Couldn't we find a shortcut?"
Namiko shook her head. "The quickest way to the well would be over this ravine, I'm afraid…But if you are afraid of flying-"
Namiko's hands glowed bright blue and she waved it at a nearby tree. Fire burst from her hand, encircling the part above the tree's roots. It crashed across the ravine, forming a perfect bridge.
"-we shall walk. But do not look down, though."
Helen smiled and stepped on the tree; Namiko follwed behind her.
"Well, well, well, look what we have here," a feminine voice said above them. Helen looked up and spotted Kagura riding her feather. There was a funny look in her eyes…a look that completely spelled 'murder.'
"Who are you?" Namiko asked. "Do not address Lady Helen in such a way!"
"Heh," Kagura said, eyes glittering with malice. "I do not think she deserves her title. Now shut up, you pathetic Kitsune while I finish your 'Lady' off!"
Kagura sent her wind blades at them and Helen ducked to avoid them.
"You will not harm Lady Helen!" Blue flames shot out of Namiko's hands and enveloped themselves around Kagura but the wind witch dispelled them with one wave of her fan.
"Foolish fox…I'll deal with you later," Kagura said haughtily. "First I'll make your lady here pay for what she did!"
"You mean that I took Sesshoumaru from you?" Helen snarled. "Well I didn't entice him to leave you! He left you of his own accord, you witch!"
Kagura's face darkened. "Fujin no mai!" Kagura's wind blades hit the tree, which split in two. As Helen fell into the abyss, she saw Namiko attempting to come to her aid but was hit in the stomach with one of Kagura's wind blades, which killed her.
"Namiko!" Helen called out. She fell into the darkness, the cold wind rushing past her. She hit the river and the cold water stung her flesh. Rising to the surface, Helen took a gulp of air. The river's current, however, was quite strong and the young woman found herself being dragged away.
If only I could if I could find something to hold on to! She thought. Holding her head above the icy water, she scanned the river for anything. She saw a tree with low hanging branches, her only chance.
She plowed her way through the water with powerful crawl strokes and she reached the branches. She grasped the branch that was only a foot away from the water and held on tight. Once she was in control, pulled herself out of the water, climbed on the tree and onto dry land.
Once on land, she coughed out the water and fell down in exhaustion. She let ten minutes pass before she sat up again.
She was soaked, cold and worst of all she had just lost a youkai who could have been her friend. She inwardly vowed to revenge herself upon Kagura.
Looking around, Helen found that there was a tiny passage out of the ravine but she had to squeeze herself between a couple of rocks before she could get out.
She came at the edge of a forest. She sighed.
Great, she thought bitterly. I'm lost.
She sighed again and walked on, where, she didn't know. She dreaded meeting demons since she knew that she was practically defenseless against one.
"If Lord Sesshoumaru told you to look food for yourself, then why must I come with you?" a familiar voice asked bitterly.
"I don't know, Master Jaken, but you can leave me if you want. Ah-Un is with me." The voice was familiar and belonged to a little girl.
"Ha! And end up being punished by Lord Sesshoumaru? No way!"
Helen spotted the little girl who accompanied Sesshoumaru as well as the little imp named Jaken beyond a few trees. Feeling hopeful, she ran to them but felt something wrap around her ankles, causing her to trip. Looking behind, she saw a vicious looking oni at her heels. Its mad teeth and eyes seemed to gleam in the moonlight.
She screamed.
XoXoXo
Jaken was annoyed to the utmost. His lord had run off again, leaving him to care for the little girl…again.
I'd give anything to relive the old days with Lord Sesshoumaru before this little girl came to travel with us! He thought as he clutched Ah-Un's reins tighter.
"If Lord Sesshoumaru told you to look food for yourself, then why must I come with you?" he asked Rin. Rin looked at him and shrugged.
"I don't know, Master Jaken, but you can leave me if you want. Ah-Un is with me," Rin said innocently.
"Ha! And end up being punished by Lord Sesshoumaru? No way!" said Jaken pompously.
They suddenly heard a scream, like that of a frightened woman.
"What was that Master Jaken?" Rin asked, afraid.
Jaken, too, felt afraid. But he had to make sure that Rin was safe. "Stay here with Ah-Un while I go see what it is."
Rin nodded and Jaken disappeared amongst the trees.
XoXoXo
The oni held Helen around her throat, choking her. "What's a woman like you doing out here at this time of night?" it slurred. "Didn't you know that it's dangerous out here? But you will have to suffer the consequences. I haven't had a good meal since two months ago!"
Helen struggled against the oni but it was quite useless. Its strength was basically inhuman and worst of all, its sharp teeth was only inches from her head.
Flames suddenly shot out of nowhere right at the oni. The oni released her turned to the girl's savior. Helen saw that it was Jaken, she immediately felt relieved and grateful toward the little toad whom she had so despised earlier.
The oni swiped at Jaken with its enormous claws, knocking the staff out of its hand. Jaken stumbled and the oni advanced toward him.
Helen looked around and found a stone which she seized. "Hey!" she shouted. The oni spun to her and she threw the stone at it. It turned to her, enraged.
Her eyes widened as its claws came down upon her but at that exact moment, flames shut at the oni, immediately disintegrating it.
"You're hundred years too young to face the power of the Staff of Heads!" Jaken screeched.
Helen breathed heavily as she stood up. "T-thank you," she said. Jaken jumped and stared at her as thought refusing to believe that someone had actually thanked him.
"Don't think that I saved you because I wanted! I only saved you because Lord Sesshoumaru would have killed me if I let you die!"
Helen raised a delicate eyebrow at him. "I think he would've congratulated you," she said, shrugging.
"Master Jaken!" Rin and Ah-Un came through the trees. The little girl looked at Helen and smiled.
"Hey, Lady Helen!" the little girl greeted with a smile. She jumped off the dragon and ran towards Helen who greeted her cheerfully.
"Eh? You're wet!" Rin pointed out. Helen blinked. Now that all the excitement was over, she felt boned tired and quite cold to the bone.
"It's a long story," she said. "Speaking of which…do either of you know where I can find the Bone Eater's well?"
Jaken and Rin blinked at her then shook their heads. They had never seen the well before, nor had they heard of Kagome's true origins.
"But Lord Sesshoumaru would know!' Jaken suddenly said. "Lord Sesshoumaru knows everything!"
"Except where Naraku is," Helen scoffed. Jaken wide smile faltered.
"Don't belittle Lord Sesshoumaru you little wench!" the toad snapped, defending his lord's honor.
Helen rolled her eyes. Rin suddenly looked behind them and smiled. "Lord Sesshoumaru, look its Lady Helen!"
Helen froze. Not him, she thought. She spun around and the youkai lord was indeed behind her, giving her a cold glared which she returned in kind.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, taking in her wet apparel.
She rolled her eyes and as much as she hated to ask, she asked him, "Do you, by any chance, know where I can find the Bone Eater's well?"
He raised an eyebrow at her. "You have been to this time and back to your accustomed time…Why is it that you do not know the way yet?"
She rolled her eyes again. "Fine, I'm stupid," she snapped angrily. "Just tell me where the well is!"
"Why should I? Perhaps I should just leave you here for the demons to find."
"Which demons? The demons like the pathetic oni, that just tried to kill me or…your pathetic Kagura who killed one of the servants and tried to kill me?"
Jaken and Rin gasped; they had never known that Kagura and Sesshoumaru had come together, after all.
Sesshoumaru looked at her. "What are you talking about?"
Helen glared angrily at him. "First you have her impersonate me! Then you want her to kill me! Do you really hate me that much!?"
He glared at her. "Kill you? Hmph. You are nothing but a thorn, why should Kagura bother herself with the likes of you?"
That seemed to send Helen over the edge. "How dare you think that I'm worthless!? If you sent Kagura to kill me then why did she have to kill Namiko as well!?"
"I have no inkling or interest in what you are talking about," Sesshoumaru said. Jaken noticed that his lord had raised his voice slightly. Years of being with Sesshoumaru had taught Jaken to know when his lord was getting very angry.
"Your worthless lover killed someone who wasn't even supposed to be her target!" Helen screamed.
Perhaps it was the slur about Kagura that forced Sesshoumaru to grab her throat. His eyes went blood red, something Helen had never seen before. Behind her, she heard Rin and Jaken gasp.
"What are you-!?" Helen gasped.
Sesshoumaru's claws tightened themselves around her throat and Helen felt the soft trickle of blood oozing from a wound.
"Let me go!" she snarled, writhing painfully in his grasp. His grip on her tightened, however. She could feel the blood pounding in her skull; she could feel the blood trickling down her throat and worst of all she could feel the blood slowly stop pulsing through her dying heart…
"Lord Sesshoumaru, please stop it!" Rin shouted.
At the sound of Rin's frightened voice, Sesshoumaru seemed to have gained control of himself. His eyes receded to their normal shade of amber and he eventually let the girl drop. Helen fell to the ground, coughing. She placed a hand on her throat and felt the sticky wetness of her blood.
She stood up and gave Sesshoumaru a frightened look. "Leave," he hissed.
Helen ran, but as she did so, she heard Rin sobbing softly, now frightened of her lord. But as Helen ran off, she didn't know what to think. He had almost killed her, if it were not for Rin…
She didn't know how long she ran, but she stumbled in the dark until she came upon the edge of a village where Miroku and Sango were having a careful discussion about the art of pervertism.
"Helen?" Miroku asked. Sango had a questioning look in her eyes; she had never seen Helen after all.
"What happened to you?" Miroku asked as soon as he saw her soaked and bruised appearance and the blood soaked collar of her blouse.
He and Sango immediately rushed to her side when they saw that she had collapsed.
XoXoXo
Good Lord! What will happen now? And yeah, there is no word 'pervertism.' I only made that up.