CHAPTER EIGHT

Mikage

Everywhere...Was black... Smoke... Blood... It covered me as well, tears also covering my cheeks as they drained from my eyes. My only small source of comfort was Lord Sesshomaru, who didn't even try to push me away. I cried until I couldn't cry anymore, and still, he sat, not moving at all, looking straight ahead, I think. I know he didn't like it when I cried, but this time I really couldn't help it. But the fact that he didn't push me away despite his sensitive nose and all the blood covering me, made me think that perhaps he was nicer then he let on.

I was about to pull back, but a hand on the back of my head stopped me. Had he really just done that? I really wasn't expecting that, but I was perfectly fine with it.

It was sickening. I could feel my fingers wet with warm, sticky substance that was already beginning to clot. I knew just how horribly I had taken out every ounce of anger in my body with just my claws. I remember the stomach-wrenching noise of my nails ripping through the flesh. The way I had enjoyed every moment.

I felt nauseated. The thickening scent of spilled blood filled my nostrils. It was not just the demon's either. I smelt men, women and children that I had known's blood. I hardly even wanted to move on. I had seen this before, though it was foggy. It looked everything like it. If I had destroyed it like that, then I was equally responsible. At least he had felt nothing while killing them. When I had killed him, I felt pure delight.

Sesshomaru-sama stood up, bringing me up with him by grabbing my arms. He stood there, looking at me for a moment. The look he gave me kind of scared me... I had never been this close to anyone besides my parents! He bent over before grabbing me and hoisting me over his shoulder.

"W-wait! What are you doing?"I didn't even know what to say, and I could just feel myself getting flustered. Not only that, but he seemed amused! I smacked his back gently when he didn't respond. Behind him, the man had begun laughing heartily. I tried to struggle, but he held tighter. This was humiliating... Even Lord Jaken had started snickering at my feat... I wasn't even able to get loose! I had begun kicking as well, but all he did was just hold my feet down with his hand, like it was nothing. I was completely disabled, and that fluffy thing over his shoulder kept getting in my face! It was warm, though... And it felt so nice... Well, he hadn't held my hands down... I grabbed that fluffy thing and hugged it.

I felt Lord Sesshomaru tense when I rubbed my face against it. The man had started laughing even harder, though I couldn't really figure out why... I saw nothing wrong with what I was doing! If he was going to carry me against my will, that gave me every right to hug the fluffy object upon his shoulder. It was weird, however... The thing felt alive...

The next second, I was being dangled by the back of the kimono, and glaring at me was Lord Sesshomaru. I was still hugging the fluff, and I suppose that made him more mad. He was pretty strong, being able to hold me up just with one hand.

"What is it that you think you're doing?" he asked, an irritated look on his face. It made me smile, though. I don't think he was entirely angry with me for it. When I didn't answer, he just groaned, and returned me to my place. Yet, this time, I wanted to make myself more comfortable. So, without thinking, I grabbed hold of the fluffy tightly, and clambered onto his back. This surprised him, I think. "Father..." he huffed. "Can you please tell me what to do about this thing?" His father? That explains a lot... But a thing? I don't think so.

"I-I... I'm not a 'thing', Lord Sesshomaru." I still wondered why it took so much nerve to say such things... Or to talk, in general. It's just that whenever I wanted to speak up, I became nervous of what everyone else would think However, Lord Sesshomaru seemed to make that feeling ever more powerful. What if he didn't like me for that reason? I'm sure he would like more feisty friends. Or at least with more bravery than I have. While I was lost in my thoughts, the man that I now knew was Lord Sesshomaru's father began talking to me.

"Forgive me... I don't think that I caught your name..." he smiled at me. A kind smile. It made me start to fluster again.

"U-um... My name is... Mikage Tachibana, sir..." Now that I thought about it... He did resemble Lord Sesshomaru. Quite a bit.

He held out a hand, and smiled a bit more.

"Well it's nice to meet you. My name is Inu no Taisho. I take it you know my son, hm?" I was only able to take hold of about three of his fingers with my whole hand, but he shook mine nonetheless.

"U-um... Yes... I-I've... Um... Known him for a little while."

He chuckled, and stood back.

"Well I'll make sure he takes good care of you, all right?"

Lord Sesshomaru growled, glaring daggers at Inu no Taisho-sama.

"Don't make promises for me, Father. You have no right... We're finding her parents, and she's staying with them, got it?" I had never seen Lord Sessho-Maru so angry before... Slowly, I climbed down. I bowed my apology to to them both.

"I'm sorry, Inu no Taisho-sama... But... Lord Sesshomaru is right," I said quietly. They both looked at me as I tried to smile. "I need to find my parents. I don't want to trouble either of you any longer." I bowed again, this time as a farewell. "Well um... Bye..."

With that, I ran off, not even taking so much as a glance behind me. I could feel tears beginning to blur my eyesight again. I was worried about Mama and Papa. What if they were hurt? What if they died? No, no Mikage... Don't think like that. They're just fine. When you find them, they'll hug you and tell you it's all right. I kept running. And running. Yet when I stopped to look around, I saw nothing but smoke. My eyes were watering. Not because of tears. It was because of the grey miasma all around me that had begun corrupting my lungs. I felt a strong tickle in my throat. When I coughed, it was a mere dry heave. I collapsed to my knees. When I tried to take in air, all that I got was near to nothing.

A started to become dizzy. Why was I so stupid as to run into the smoke blindly? I knew that this is what happened when I became distracted. I wish that I knew how to use my powers... Maybe... If I had wind abilities, I could clear the cloud... Then...I would make it... Too late now, though... How unfortunate. My eyes were becoming heavy, and every breath was shorter.

Maybe... I could crawl out of here...? Highly unlikely, but it was worth a try. The world was spinning, and I could hardly see where I placed my hands. I smashed my hand in the dirt, and tried pulling myself forward. My body felt paralyzed, and heavy, although I knew that I was not. Please don't give out on me now, body. I have to make it. I have to!

With my newly found determination, I began grasping at the ground, squinting my eyes shut against the stinging sensation. I grumbled under my breath. Please don't fail me, body. I began wanting more and more to survive. The will had started taking hold of me. Before I knew it, I wasn't myself anymore. Again, I had that feeling like before. That I had lost all control of myself.