"You're hurting me, let go of me!"
The ayakashi smiled and chuckled, leaning closer.
"W- what are you doing?"
He paid her no mind and his amber eyes roamed her face.
"Heh, you're a fine woman, just as Karasu-Tengu said," he remarked to himself.
A thought struck her and her fear changed to disbelief.
What the heck am I doing? I fought Naraku, faced down Sesshomaru! Just because I've been playing dutiful daughter does not mean I'm going to let some ayakashi eat my liver!
Her resolve firmed and she swung the sword, cutting deeply into the flesh of his left forearm. He jerked back, surprise written clearly on his face, but he didn't bother to examine the wound
"I thought you were a frail princess," he said lips curling up in amusement and laughing quietly, "but not quite-"
He was interrupted by the blood that gushed from the open wound, black kanji swirled around, gathering the ayakashi's power into the sword dripping with red.
"Oi, oi, is that a taimato?"
Yohime's eyes widened at the sight of blood. Blood brought back memories of a war she did not want to remember, also the sight of golden eyes dulled with pain was not one she wanted to see.
Dropping the sword, she reached up with both hands, calling forth the familiar soft glow. The bleeding slowed and the wound grew smaller. As with all ayakashi or demons, it took more effort and concentration to heal than with humans, as she had to be careful not to purify their aura.
Panting slightly, she let out her breath in relief.
"It stopped."
Looking up into his face, it reflected surprise and slight confusion.
"You… Who are you?"
She blinked.
Well, I thought that was pretty obvious…
She thought, as he stared into her eyes. Returning the stare, she was about to speak, but the look on both his face and in his eyes stopped her. A tiny spark flared to life in her heart followed by a warmth that spread through her limbs.
"Hime-sama! Are you alright?"
The moment successfully broken, the ayakashi cut his eyes to the door, before he leaned down and whispered in her ear.
"Nurarihyon."
Instantly the weight on her was gone. Turning her head, she watched as he smirked languidly at her from the open door.
"That's what people call me."
His smirk faded as he continued.
"You're pretty interesting, I'll be back again"
"Hime-sama! Did something happen?"
Smiling once again, he vanished into the night. Quickly deciding against telling Keikain-dono of his visit, Yohime composed herself.
"I'm alright, nothing's happened."
Outside the room, Keikain narrowed his eyes.
Did I imagine it?
However, unaware to them, yet another had fallen to the Ikigimo worshippers.
In another place, a woman was presiding over a gathering. A man, obviously someone of importance was kneeling to the woman.
"The town is overflowing with rogue samurai, and according to highwaymen, there have been reports of infants being gutted."
The man obviously had a hard time speaking the last part, however a noblewoman clothed in fine kimonos, smoking a pipe waved that aside.
"You don't need to report such trifles. Our family, the Toyotomi, is facing a grave situation right now. I trust our preparations for the attack on the Tokugawa-"
She paused and drew on her pipe, her eyes lifted and she said, almost threateningly,
"Are complete?"
This was Lady Yodo, mother of Toyotomi Hideyori, Master of Osaka Castle. And at the moment she was with her advisors.
"Yes, however, Lady Yodo, there are rumors about town that this very Osaka Castle is frequented by ayakashi. This sort of talk is having an effect on the reputation of the Toyotomi family."
Throwing her head back she laughed.
"Do you seriously believe that nonsense?"
Though her words were light, no one mistook the look in her eyes.
"No.." One said while another dismissed it as nonsense.
But, the looks on their faces did not match their words.
The gathering was dismissed and Lady Yodo was escorted to another room, quite farther away.
Only one noticed her passed, wondering to himself what she could be doing at this late of an hour.
In a dimly lit room, Lady Yodo sat, a menacing expression on her face. Presently, she was surrounded by ayakashi. Quickly, she spoke.
"Who would have thought after the death of Hideyoshi, the Toyotomi would so quickly set foot on the path to destruction? We ought to have been able to rely on Hideyori, but a buffoon of such magnitude will never be able to rule over humans. What are plan requires,"
She paused looking each member in the eyes, her fists clenching in her lap.
"Is power. If this becomes the realm of the Tokugawa, there is no doubt this will become a difficult place for ayakashi to live. We need a much more valuable life!"
A/N Welcome to the second chapter! Mwahaha...
To the Guest Reviewer, this is an Inuyasha/Nurarihyon no Mago crossover, so no nothing to do with Vampire Knight. Second, when you first read/watched Inuyasha it didn't explain why Kikyo was bleeding, nor did it explain their relationship, you found that out in later episodes/chapter, correct? This is the same. You find things out later as the fic progresses. As for the P.O.V. it's my style to write as such.
Thank you for reading, reviews are needed and wanted even if this fiction is already over!