CHAPTER SIX

Mikage

I wanted to go home badly. I didn't think that I would ever make friendship with Lord Sesshomaru now. He didn't even want to look at me. I wanted to just go home and have Papa help me feel better; though I knew that Mama wouldn't. I wanted him back now. I wanted him to help me feel happy again. I was exhausted. I had put forth so much effort, but every time, he just pushed me away. I really should learn to take hints.

Stumbling to my feet, I grabbed the cold wall. Immediately, a sharp pain shot through my legs, and all the way up my back. Why now? Why did I have to have back pain just now? Squeezing my eyes shut, I forced myself all the way up. I had to restrain myself just so that I didn't gouge the wall with my nails. I had to get out.

I began limping towards the hallway door, muscles tense. I wondered why I was in so much pain, but I had just assumed it was from some old injury. My teeth gritted as another slicing cramp stabbed through me.

I looked around, before I reached my hand out tentatively. When I didn't hear anything, I inched the paper and wood doors out of my way. The coast was clear. Or at least I thought. At the sudden sound of quick tapping, I jolted the light door back into place.

"Milady! Where do you think you're going?" Lord Jaken asked, pushing me back, away from the threshold. I fell onto my bottom, making by legs and back start to sting again. I hadn't even sensed him! Had I really been that distracted by my hurting to notice? I searched my mind for a response, but couldn't find any.

"You look hurt, Milady! Is something wrong?" Coming by my side, he felt my forehead. "No fever," he commented, coming around to my backside. "What hurts?" I turned to look at him, wondering if I should say. Feeling uncomfortable when he met my gaze, averted my eyes. I didn't want to be noticed. I sighed, and decided someone could know, as long as it was just one person.

"My back," I whispered. He took no time in untying the ribbon bound around my middle. I felt it fall, along with my top. I knew what his reaction would be, but still, I jumped when he screamed.

"Lady M-Mikage... What is that? It's all the way f-from your shoulder to your hip... Did... You g-get attacked? I-it's so big..." He ran his finger along it, making me cry out. His cold skin should have felt good against it, but instead, more searing pain ambushed me. Even after all this time, it still hurt. That fall was probably what had made the pain come back.

"There's others too! There's a bunch of ripped scabs!"

I sensed Lord Sesshomaru coming, most likely alerted by Lord Jaken's scream. I felt myself break into a cold sweat. I didn't want to face Lord Sesshomaru again. I tried to force myself up again, but Jaken grabbed my arm.

"You can't go anywhere! Lord Sesshomaru needs to see! He will know what to do!"

The little thing had tremendous strength for being so small! I tried to yank away, but I couldn't even get myself to my feet, much less make a getaway. Before I could prevent it, a tear fell down my face. A slight hint of aggravation caused me to press my teeth together.

"Please Lord Jaken... I-I want to go home. I can't be here... I-I am not supposed to be here, and Lord Sesshomaru doesn't want me here..." I felt pathetic crying again, but I couldn't stop. "Besides, h-he hates me, anyway..." I sunk back to the cold wood, feeling defeated. I hadn't been that upset until I had let the words come out. The dog demon of the west hated me... And he probably wouldn't be the last one to hate me, either. I was so repulsively shy, and weak. People probably thought that I was unable to think for myself. Thinking like that made me more disgusted with myself by the moment.

Lord Jaken let go of my arm, and patted my shoulder sympathetically. He looked at me in the eyes and shook his head.

"Milord doesn't hate you," he said, sitting down. I nodded.

"Yes h-he does, Lord Jaken... Sesshomaru-sama dislikes everything about m-me... I mean just look at me. I'm pathetic, and I don't even know how to defend myself! I'm a waste of his air... I shouldn't even have been born a dog demon! Now should I?" I was speaking so quietly, I was hardly audible. Eventually, the room fell into a choking silence. My face was hot. My eyes stung, and my lungs felt as though they were lacking air.

"You will learn, Lady Mikage. I promise. Then even he couldn't resist being your friend." He patted my head, before running off. And breathing in, I realized why. When I had taken air in, I had also taken in the scent of the spicy, cool aroma of Lord Sesshomaru. I averted my eyes and kept my head bowed as he approached. All I could see of him was his feet, and I didn't want to see any more. I was too scared. My fear was thick in the air. So much, that it was stifling.

"You want to leave?" he asked emotionlessly. His voice wasn't threatening, but it wasn't exactly comforting, either. I suppose he had heard me... Everything I had said. I was hesitant to even nod my answer. He sighed, and walked closer. "Answer me." Quickly, I nodded. I heard him take in a large breath, before letting it out slowly. "Then go."

"T-thank you." I said quietly. I tried to bow my thanks, but squealed when another sharp pain shoot up my spine. My hair slid off of my back, now hanging in front of my eyes. I gaped in pain.

"Girl... What is that scar?" He came behind me, running his hand down it. I felt as his cold fingers glided down the injury, chilling me beyond only thing I could do to keep myself from yowling in pain was biting my lip. I felt the warm red liquid trickle down my chin, causing me to force the sticky material away with a stiffened hand. The blood that was a disgrace to even myself filled my nostrils, making me want to scrub myself in a river. "Did Jaken examine it?"

I straightened myself slowly, and turned to look at him. He had asked about my scar... Which meant he had to care a little bit, right?

He narrowed his eyes. "I don't care, I'm just curious." Still, what he had asked had to make me smile; though it had become more of a grimace, I'm sure.

When he met eyes with me again, he furrowed his brow. "Why are you smiling?"

"You do too care, Lord Sesshomaru," I pointed out, clutching my skirt. He picked up my shirt and thrust it at me before grunting quietly.

"Don't be ridiculous..." he grumbled. I pulled on my kimono top, being careful not to irritate my scar again. The now chilly silk felt irresistibly soothing when it rubbed against it. "Just go home." His firm voice awoke me from my moment of bliss. Though when I did look at him, he was keeping his eyes off of me.

"Well... Um... D-do you want me to go...?" I questioned. He stood there silent for a bit, as though thinking. I glanced to the side. "You don't have to tell me." He firmed his jaw. "I'll come back if you um... Well... Want me to... O-okay...?" I limped my way over to the door again. "T-tell your mama that I said thank you, okay?" He said nothing as I closed the door behind me.

I stood in my room, gazing at the many scrolls placed herbs lay piled about, some even scattered from the breeze that had blown them. The floor had been scratched up from the many broken and shattered pieces of battle armor and swords that I had found outside. all of which were now placed in a chest so that I wouldn't step on them. All of the outfitted kimonos that I had worn when I was younger I had torn, each into decorative (or at least I thought they were) pieces that I hung from the ceiling. The fabric was so gorgeous. I couldn't bear to discard it. On the wall was a long tapestry of a dragon, completely hand-painted by me.

It had been such a tear-filled reunion last week, but it was over now. The memory still lingered, though. Along with the scratches that flew diagonal over my cheek and the bruises that offered me more blunt pain. I bent my knees, making sure to stay entirely silent. If Mama or Papa found out that I was doing this, they would be simply horrified.

I brought my hands into the air, balling them into fists. I had to learn... Sesshomaru-sama was right. A daiyokai that didn't know how to fight, was simply ridiculous. I threw a punch into the air. It flew through the air without wavering, or falling out of the line I had aimed. It felt so good.

This time, I kicked high, only coming inches from my own forehead. How was this so easy already? I had only been practicing for a few days. I was getting faster, but I had to remember something important. I had promised myself that I would only use my skills in self-defense, or to protect others. I sliced my hands through the air in front of me, getting faster as I combined the lunges with a swinging kick. Was I really learning this for those reasons, though? Some other part of me... Was lusting to taste battle...

I stopped for a moment, a small image flashing through my mind.

A motionless figure, bloodied in the dirt. His eyes were milky and glazed... Was he...?

And then it ended. At the speed of a whip crack, it disappeared. What was that?

I threw another limp punch, mind still clouded. What on earth was that vision?

A call of my name froze my body. The deep voice familiar, I plopped myself onto my bottom, ignoring the force of my body dropping. They couldn't know that I was doing this! I folded my hands together, shooting my quick gaze out the window.

"U-um yes?" I asked, trying to sound normal. My voice wavered a bit, but it didn't sound unnatural. They wouldn't know anything.. A guard of ours came through the door. He bowed his respect to me, taking off his helmet. I didn't care for such a salute. I wasn't worthy of it. But his sudden intrusion of my privacy had to make me wonder.

"Your parents have ordered me to evacuate you from the palace, My Princess. A horde of demons is coming towards the Eastern lands. They are very far away, and were only spotted by our patrol. Still, your mother wishes to take precautions." A horde of demons... If that were true, that could mean they may attack and destroy the whole land! I couldn't let that happen- especially when I could help a little... But I knew that I shouldn't risk irritating my wounds again. Studying his panic-creased brow, I knew the situation was dire. Worriedly, I nodded, and followed him out with wobbly footsteps.

Through the dark hall, everything was eerily silent. All that was lit, were the small yellow-flickering torches down the walls. Wearily, I adjusted my sights back on the spine of the guard.

"Do you um... Know anything else...?" I inquired. He shook his head as he continued through the wooden-floored hallway.

"Nothing else is known. They appear to be keeping their profile low as of now." He continued to ramble on, but I wasn't listening to him, now. I sensed a strong demonic aura coming even closer. It was huge, too. Evil swirling, lust, greed... And like that, it was here.

I heard screams from outside, and loud crashes. No... Please not now... The guard I recognized as Kujiro turned to me and picked me up over his shoulder with ease. His shoulders were trembling beneath my ribs. "Forgive me Princess." He began to run. I flew up and down on his hard shoulder with his rapid foot movement, and frankly, my chest was beginning to hurt. Outside, I heard the heart-wrenching screeches of demons. Of course they would know to attack the land that was strongly against fighting... Then I saw it.

Outside, bashing the small houses was the demon. The one who had injured me so badly three years ago. It looked to be a huge wolverine, yet it had a serpentine tail and hide, and a ghastly wail that sent chills down my spine. I felt this horrible urge... I wanted to completely obliterate the creature, ripping it to shreds with my claws... I have never felt that way before, and it was terrifying... I never wanted to feel anything remotely close to such feelings. And yet, I wanted to feel them too.

So much flesh beneath my nails. Metallic blood in my mouth. So much fun...

Kujiro kept running. He was trying to follow orders, and I knew that. But I simply couldn't leave this unattended. I thrashed, and fought. Kicking my legs and slapping my hands against him as he let out cries of bewilderment. At last, he was forced to let me go. I slid from his grip, kimono creasing when I brushed against his armor. As I fled from where I was, I heard Kujiro's loud bellows behind me. I would have to ignore him. I'm sorry, Mama and Papa, and the people they rule over. But I need to do this.

My fingers were tingling with the urge to tear up the vile animal, and as I got closer, the urge became more powerful.

Its disgustingly long nails and shriveled reptilian skin. Its soulless yellow eyes that held no remorse as it bashed houses. Its olive green scales that did nothing but remind me of murky bogs. The mind that had no recollection of what it had done to me.

I felt my back tingle just looking at the horrid animal.

That demon was destroying my land, the palace, my territory. It was time for it to go down. As I came directly in front of it, I called out it's name. A name I would never even utter anywhere, not even to myself. As it turned, I growled. Something was wrong with me right now... I opened my hands, and faced it without a fear. Something about it... It had made me do something, hadn't it? If I was going to die, I was going to die for my people, today.