Chapter 2

I sighed for what must have been the hundredth time since arriving at the small thicket. Waiting was one thing I wasn't good at. I wondered how Sesshomaru could just stand there so patiently. He had closed his eyes hours ago but I could tell he was still alert. He stood perfectly still. It was almost midnight and I had been there since early afternoon.

Every hour I would ask how much longer it would take for the replica to come out of its gel-filled cocoon. I was about to ask once again when Sesshomaru took a step forward. He approached the sphere and circled it. Hesitantly, I got closer as well. "What's wrong?" I asked, not seeing anything different.

"She is awake."

"How can you tell?" . . . It was very quiet.

All at once the woman in the globe opened her eyes and grabbed at her mouth and throat, air bubbles rising to the top of the gel. I jumped away from it, grabbing my chest to try and slow my heartbeat and breathing. The sight was frightening and sad and horrible.

Sesshomaru stayed calm. He stepped slightly to the side of the makeshift placenta and unsheathed Tokijin. Slowly, he slid the tip vertically along the outer layer of the orb. The demon replica was thrashing and gasping inside of it. He withdrew his sword and the cut he made began to ooze the green fluid. Without any further warning, it burst and the woman spilled out onto the ground in a puddle of the emerald amniotic fluid. The sound alone was enough to make one cringe.

She was lying on the grass and gasping. I considered what I had I just witnessed. Was it a miracle or an abomination? I stepped back further and I wanted to run. Sesshomaru must have sensed it, and told me to stay where I was. He stepped closer to the woman, avoiding the afterbirth. "Get up." He told her. His voice was strong, but not harsh. She didn't move. "Get up, child."

I watched her as she put her hands under her and lifted her torso off the ground, only to fall back down with a wet clap. She let out a noise like a horrible pleading whine. I couldn't tell if she was crying, but her body shook almost violently. The moonlight intensified the color and lucidity of the liquid.

Sesshomaru sat on his haunches and held his hand out to her. She raised a trembling arm and took his hand as best she could. He dragged her out of the mess and turned her on her back. Her long, white hair clung to her body and face. She breathed heavily and her eyes rolled around in their sockets. She looked around her at the trees, the green fluid, Sesshomaru, and finally, they traveled to me. Her pupils were unnaturally large, and her eyes wide. It was as if she couldn't focus on anything for more than a second.

Everything seemed to be going agonizingly slow.

Sesshomaru pulled her up to a sitting position and her head lolled to one side for a moment before she could hold it up straight. The whole scene was disturbing to watch, and considering all the things I've seen, that's saying something.

It took another uncomfortably slow and quiet hour just to get her to stand up by herself. Sesshomaru proved to be unexpectedly patient. When standing, she was a few inches shorter than Sesshomaru, who, as it turned out, was just a hair shorter than me.

He was covered in the thick, now cold, fluid, and when I noticed what a mess he was, I felt horrible for not having helped him. But I felt as if there was nothing I could have done. I was sure I would only get in the way. If I wanted Sesshomaru to like me, I thought the best thing to do would be to keep my distance for a while.

My brother lead the woman to a protruding root and took the stained demon's tail off of his shoulder and laid it down, instructing her to lay on it and rest. She did as she was directed and he folded the long tail over her body.

"Watch her. I'm going to bathe."

And then I was alone with the replica, in a strange place, without any idea when Sesshomaru would be back, or where he was going.