Chapter Seven: Streaks of Lightning

If you hate a person, you hate something in him that is part of yourself. What isn't part of ourselves doesn't disturb us.

-Herman Hesse

"Mother?"

The single word was enough to make Kagome stare in shock at what she was seeing. She doubted that the prince would be unable to recognize his own mother but at the same time she'd been told that the woman died centuries before.

"Sestran..." The woman had been walking toward them but she paused, staring back at her son without blinking. Kagome felt winds starting to sway her hair and remembered what Byakuya had said about the princes emotions effecting soul society. It wasn't as if she could really blame him at the moment...she didn't even know what to say.

She did move to get back up though, as it was very embarrassing to still be sprawled across the ground where she fell. That seemed to push the woman back into action however, she drew an arrow and pointed it at the younger priestess.

Kagome was about to attempt to jump back but found herself pulled behind Sestran, a blush appearing on her face at the protective gesture. "His guards are so going to flay me one day..."
"What are you doing?" Sestran demanded, his tone was the darkest she'd heard it sense he'd addressed Aizen and it was enough to make her feel nervous. There were clouds rolling in already and that was for sure not a sign of happy fluffy bunnies.

"Sestran, get out of the way." The woman hesitated when her shot was interrupted by him. "I don't want to hurt you."

"Who are you?" His voice was getting less patient with each word and Kagome felt her spine tingle at hearing it with even a touch of anger within. "What game is this?"

"It is no game Sestran." The woman shook her head with a frown. "Though I am glad to see that you have continued to progress into such an honorable young man I must take the girl with me. Stand aside."

As the woman that was apparently Sestran's mother went to take a step forward she was instead forced to jump back as lightning jumped from the heavens and cut a line deep into the ground where she would have been standing. Kagome grasped a little more tightly at the arm Sestran was holding her back with, that was in no way what she was expecting.

"Whoever you are...you'll find that issuing orders to the crowned Prince is a foolish route. You only stand because I care to be merciful, it would be wise if you would tell me who you are before I change my mind." Yep, he was angry for sure...and Kagome was going to chill where she was and wish she wasn't there. She could feel the pressure in the air and had the feeling that it was similar to when Sesshomaru released the power that was near him. She was only effected to the small degree she was because she was still touching him.

"I was once Midoriko." She said with a small shrug. "Forgotten by nearly all but you my son...but that life is behind me. I am now Koridomi and I work to change the dishonorable habits the court of pure souls has fallen into."

"Wait...Midoriko was his mother?! But her soul was sealed inside the jewel? Is it not the same Midoriko?" Kagome was confused. "Why is it everyone wants to kill me?"

"My mother died over five hundred years ago." There was a barely controlled rage now and any melody his voice once possessed had turned into a hateful dissonance. "What do you want with Kagome."

"She is a causality of a war she had nothing to do with. You brought her into it, I was simply going to release her from the prison in which you've placed her." The woman replied, her own tone growing colder. "I do not wish to harm you Sestran...but I never said that I would not. I won't die for you a second time."

A second arch of lightning cut deep into the ground where she'd been standing, and Kagome blinked at the slight smoke rising from the woman's arm. She'd barely managed to dodge the strike, and there was a slight wince on her face from the burning flesh on her arm.

Sestran had barely moved but Kagome was starting to feel a little numb around her wrist where he was holding her. His knuckles were white with pressure and it was obvious he barely controlling himself as it was. The sky was much darker now and the thunder that rolled within the tempest above seemed like a growl of warning for the strange woman.

"Perhaps I was mistaken." Her voice was mocking and Kagome was definitely starting to see her as suicidal. "It isn't honor, just the same selfish manner that you had when you were a boy. How many creatures will perish for your entertainment before you see the error of your ways Sestran? She'll die as all before her have."
"Even if her days are numbered, you seem to believe the solution is to end them prematurely yourself. It makes it difficult to take you seriously as an advocate to her behalf." There was still the rage but it was more controlled than the last time he'd spoken, he was starting to calculate the conversation more. "You invert my mother's name and come to me with her face but I'll remain unconvinced of the truth of your words or appearance. Why do you attempt to harm Kagome?"

"That's the question of the damn century." Kagome thought with nervous sarcasm.

"I don't wish to kill her..." She nodded toward where she still had the arrow knocked. "I want to take her away from here. Though I didn't expect to find you here..."

"More lies...you already murdered the royal guard, or otherwise disabled them. You knew I was here." Sestran commented. Kagome only then realized that the guard should have appeared right away. She had to get on the ball with this noticing her surroundings thing.

"We already knew you were teaching the girl...I figured you had assigned some of your own troops...but..." The woman hesitated, she seemed sad and uncertain. "If we don't get her now, we'll get her later. Others will not be as kind as I my little Nantra, let me take her now."

Kagome's arm was really starting to hurt. His nails dug into her at whatever nickname it was that she used. It might have been a little cute if he wasn't cutting off her circulation and giving her nail shaped scars on her wrist. She didn't want to interrupt though, afraid that she'd distract him and get him shot.

More lightning tore across the field then and Kagome had to shove her free arm over he eyes, she felt all of her hair raising to stand on end from the amount of electricity in the air. Spots in front of her eyes several seconds later made it hard to distinguish just how many burns were littered across the ground.

The woman wasn't doing well, she was several feet away from where she'd started, but there were now burn marks on her face and body and the bow she'd had was discarded nearby after it had been busted neatly in half.

"Sestran!" Kagome spoke up for the first time as she felt him gathering more energy for another assault while the woman tried to run. "What if she's not lying?"

The strikes of lightning mostly missed her but were all extremely close before she vanished from view. Kagome's own vision was still dancing from all the bright lines of illumination. She rubbed her hand as he finally released her wrist, frowning a little at him, whatever was happening she couldn't begin to understand how he had to feel.

Several of the hell butterflies seemed to materialize in front of him and after a short moment they went fluttering quickly in different directions. There seemed to be a couple dozen but she couldn't count them all. Once that was done he turned back and took her slightly throbbing hand gently. "I hurt your arm..."

"It's okay...I think saving me from getting shot by a arrow sort of more than makes up for it." Kagome answered a little nervously. The storm had dispersed so quickly that it was almost completely gone now minus a few light winds. "Are you..."

"I'm fine." He answered quickly, though there were still flashes of light curling across his gaze that made the lie obvious. He chanted lowly and Kagome felt a warmth around her hand along with a gentle glow at the healing spell. "We need to get inside somewhere. I apologize if this bothers you."

He lifted her up before she could protest but she bit her lip to keep from complaining. It didn't seem as if it was a good time to question it. The landscape zoomed by and it didn't seem more than a few seconds had passed when he was settling her back down in the room she shared with Byakuya.
"Sestran..." Kagome watched him after he set her down. As much as he often pissed her off she couldn't help but feel horrible for him. "Thank you...and I'm sorry..."

"It seems inappropriate that you are the one apologizing." He commented, his normal voice was mostly returned, albeit less cheery than usual.

"No I mean..." She shook her head, stomping down the slight urge to kiss his cheek and instead hugging him silently.

He blinked in surprise at the gesture but rested one of his hands on her back, the storm in his eyes calming just a little before he closed them for a moment. It had been so long that he'd had such a warm gesture without some sort of ulterior motive that it felt alien, if lovely. "I should be the one thanking you Kagome. You continue to astonish me."

Kagome leaned back when the door opened, smiling instantly when she saw Byakuya on the other side. Charcoal eyes flickered between the pair and he paused to bow to Sestran. "High Prince Sestran, you shouldn't be here. Are you both safe?"

Kagome covered her mouth with a sleeve so she wouldn't giggle, it was funny to her that he would stay in serious mode at a moment like this but she didn't run over and hug him out of respect of that. She was relieved in her own way that he had returned safely.

"Stand Captain Kuchiki. We managed. A woman somehow disabled the members of the royal guard escorting me and was targeting Kagome. I was distracted and unable to stop her from getting away." The prince explained with a small shrug, a tiny smile returning to his face.

"Why do I feel I'm amongst a clan of actors? They're all such good liars it makes me a little nervous." Kagome thought idly. "He doesn't want to mention it might have been his mother?"
"The storm alerted us to trouble." Byakuya answered. "I saw lightning but was further away. It is my understanding that the captains of squads ten and eleven are making chase after her."

Sestran didn't seem to take that news well, heading for the door without further comment, but Byakuya stepped in his path. "High Prince...without a guard I can't let you leave unattended."

"Is there something that makes you believe you are capable of stopping me Captain Kuchiki?" His tone immediately dipped back toward intolerance. "I'm not simply staying here. Move out of my path."

"I would have to go with you." Byakuya replied as he stepped aside. "It would leave Kagome without a guard here."

Sestran paused but didn't turn around. "Captain Kuchiki. The following orders are to take place over any other orders you've been given in the past. Stay with the Priestess Kagome and guard her with your life. Leave immediately on the holiday you had mentioned without telling anyone where you are going. Further commands will follow but listen to no one but myself, is that understood?"
"Yes High Prince." Byakuya answer, bowing his head at the commands. It wasn't at all what he was going for or expected, but he didn't have much choice in the matter.

"Sestran wait...it's not safe." Kagome stepped forward and grabbed his shoulder. "They could want you to go out there after her. It could just be a trap."

"I am aware of that." Sestran replied cooly as he shrugged her hand off his shoulder. "Enjoy your holiday Kagome."

"But..."

He vanished before she could finish her protest.

"Dammit you you...you...." She was so frustrated she couldn't even insult him right. "Inconsiderate, foolish...grrr I hate it so much when he gets all high and mighty. Come on Byakuya, we have to go after him."

"You know I can't do that Kagome." Byakuya shook his head at her. Though her tirade was close enough to his own feelings on the matter he wouldn't react so openly. "We need to leave."

"We can't just leave him." Kagome rubbed her temples. All the men in her life were so impossible to deal with. "He could be in danger."

"I know that...but it's not something we have much choice in or ability to change." Byakuya answered, picking her up and flash-stepping out of the building much to her outspoken dismay.

End Chapter

Heh, poor Kagome and Byakuya. Sestran's so fun to write. He's tricky in his own way. And something about the idea of harnessing lightning strikes for power has always just tickled me so I was glad to get to show him off a little more. Byakuya could have argued a little more, but the way Sestran pisses him off and keeps hugging his woman he doesn't figure it's worth the effort to try to save him - bad Byakuya ;)

-Aura

To my reviewers:

All of you that take the time - you rock!

Shiroi - Always something eh?

Sugar0o - You sort of called it. Though the name was a clue. I actually dislike when people make Kagome too strong. It bugs me!

clusterlizard - Yes, kenny/sesshy - that will be a doozy.

Tsukiei - You had it all right. Hope this chapter helped a bit.

Kathy - Yes, Sestran has bad luck. Almost as bad as the main char.

bella - I can't say as to his feelings for anyone...I'm not yet sure if he'll end up with someone or not.