With those dogs and their noses, one of them should have come across her scent by now. They patrolled the territory relentlessly before she was gone and her lack of knowing what occurred when she was taken made her wonder if they had gone under attack.
The barrier was strong before she fell asleep, she knew it was so what has happened that no one has discovered her. The wind was blowing towards her face so that did go against her but she could only guess that they either stopped patrolling, were busy, or patrolled a different route, closer to the palace.
A deep sigh crossed her lips and she stopped as she felt a strong breeze pass by. Right before her was a demon with dark golden hair and ruby eyes. Standing her ground she studied him as he studied her, this was the demon that had been following her relentlessly. He had long hair, a strong jaw and only a few strands of bangs covering his forehead, proudly displaying a flaming sun there.
The markings on his cheeks were orange; he wore black clothing with gold and red designs. On his side he carried a sword and on his back he carried a weapon she had never seen before. The black metal pole had black blades that curved to the shape of a spear but they looked like they open up too, the other end she noticed a chain dangling from it. He carried an air of nobility like Sesshoumaru and she wondered if he might be a lord as well or just a high ranking demon.
Since he had yet to say anything she decided to cut to the chase. "Can I help you?" She kept her tone neutral and mind calm, no sense getting worked up. His eyes narrowed a bit more but that was all at first.
"Human, I will warn you once, I can smell lies. Now answer my questions and I may let you leave with your life intact." Kagome was already feeling bored, why must people threaten her life, she was beginning to get used to not having these stare downs. Clearing her mind of all thoughts she focused all of her attention on, mister sunny, she nicknamed him before nodding her acceptance. "Why do the beasts not attack you?"
"The amethysts in this tiara keep them away."
He flicked his gaze at the remaining two crystals before going back to her eyes. "What business did you have at that black castle?"
"My business was and still is getting away from it." Her stance tensed a little, gauging what his reaction would be.
"Then you are an enemy of its master?" His sword hand twitched and didn't escape her notice.
"I wouldn't call that demon my friend or ally if that is what you mean."
"If not a friend or ally then I guess that would make you either his enemy or lover."
She could tell he was prepared to strike her down depending on her answer, she held back from shooting her mouth off like she was tempted to do but after a deep calming breath she answered with a hint of a glare in her gaze. "I am not his lover and am more sided with being his enemy than anything. I don't know him, what his intentions were with me, I escaped before anything was revealed. Are you done with your questions, I need to reach my destination before he can find me. I don't care if you join me but my time is running out."
His face was unreadable but after a long moment he finally stepped aside and she moved to walk past him, instead finding that he walked right along beside her. Looking up at him she decided she should at least try to find out who he is. "Since I appear to have a travelling companion, may I please know who you are? I am Kagome, a priestess from a village in the East."
"Akihiko, Lord of the East." That didn't surprise her but she nodded in acknowledgment.
"Are you allied with Sesshoumaru then?" Her lack of title for the Lord of the West caught his attention but he made no remark.
"Yes, and what about you?" Those ruby orbs looked her way.
"You could say so, although I would say more than allies. Well, it is nice to meet you Lord Akihiko, it will be nice having company. Is the western palace your destination then?" She finally took her curious orbs off him, she felt warmer next to him, his body heat spanning the distance between them.
"Yes, I have urgent business with him regarding that demon." He felt curious about her; he certainly has heard about her and recalls her as being the priestess that protects the jewel. Part of the shrine was burned down, the village deserted and he could smell Sesshoumaru had been there. He kept feeling the pull of magic to the tiara and to something on her wrists. "Would you mind answering more questions?"
Now that was a first, a demon being polite. Well Touga had never been all that rude to her, he was actually great company and she longed for it. "Go ahead, it will fill the time."
"First off I feel the pull of magic from your wrists."
"That demon did that. If you would like I could tell you of my interactions with him, it might answer the rest of your questions." She watched him nod in acceptance.
"Well it was over a two full moon cycles ago, the night that the eclipse took place. I was guarding a jewel at the shrine outside of Edo. Demon attacks had been strong and my friend Sango was in labor. They had tried getting to me through her so it was decided that her husband, a monk, and our friend InuYasha would guard her as the Priestess Kaede and her apprentice Cho did the delivery. They were on the opposite hillside, at the fortress.
"I was ambushed and a demon set fire to the shrine. I managed to purify them all but I was wounded severely. I managed to purify the jewel before I could do no further. I ended up being saved by Touga, the previous Lord of the West. He somehow rose from the dead; he said my soul did it. When I gained consciousness again I stumbled out of the hut, the whole village was gathered under a barrier around the fortress. I couldn't sense the jewel and having sensed the aura and changes outside of the barrier I was worried of course.
"The demon had introduced his self as a demon of the eclipse, I really don't remember much other than his gaze on me, and Touga had the jewel under a barrier. When I woke again I was sleeping at the western palace. I recovered fully and began training with Sango; I wasn't allowed to leave the barrier so I stayed focused on getting stronger. I went to bed one night and two intruders were inside the barrier, one had been in my room and kept me knocked out with a special blend of herbs. They were never caught.
"A while after I had once again gone to sleep but woke up in a really soft bed with an arm wrapped around me. I had thought it was Touga since he always seems to end up sleeping on the cushions in my room but it was instead that demon. I don't know what it was but he somehow pushed me back to sleep after calling me his queen. I guess I slept for two days, according to him but I woke up to him getting dressed, he really didn't say much, I was able to bathe in privacy, that is when I discovered the cuffs, they prevent me from purifying him, I haven't been able to get them off.
"He put the tiara on my head and said the beasts would not attack me since it signifies that I am his chosen queen. After that he led me down the tower and to the dining hall. It was while we were eating that he left to go do something that came up and I took my chance. I escaped out the window and did everything I could to throw him off my trail. It has been at least a whole day since I left, maybe two," she finished with.
"That demon is Takeshi; he was sealed three thousand years ago. He slaughtered many in his efforts to rule over us. He plans to continue what he left unfinished but last time he had never set his eyes on having a queen. I will say this, he is strong, and that is why he had been sealed. He must be wary of your power if he went as far to have these cuffs made, but he must also be set on having you at his side as well.
"I was actually the cause of the disturbance that aided your escape. I broke my bindings and fled after stealing a scroll. He tried to catch me but I got away as well and concealed my presence behind a barrier. He must have then realized you had escaped after giving up pursuit. When I left, the previous lord of the west had locked him in battle, I can only assume by his grin and Takeshi's anger that he was preventing him from pursuing because not long after did he erect a barrier.
"I left and kept coming across your scent and I guess you could say I wanted to know what you and my enemy had going on. I suggest that we make it to the palace at a faster rate. He is undoubtedly hot on your trail by now meaning he will find you long before you make it at this pace."
He was much more of a talker than Sesshoumaru, she really didn't expect it. Looking over to the calm demon that towered over her she could only find truth in his words. "Then what do you suggest?"
He stopped and held his hand out to her, hesitantly she took it and noticed the gold mist gathering under their feet and realized they were lifting off the ground. He pulled her hand to wrap her arm around him and likewise did the same to her, resting his hand on her left arm as they began to speed through the sky.
The wind rushed past her face and after a while she ended up hiding it in his side. They continued on like that for quite the distance and as she poked her head up after he descended in the sky a little she could see the palace in the distance. Suddenly they were knocked out of the sky with a blast of power and she could feel the aura weighing down on her. Akihito cradled her and sent out his own aura as he landed lightly on the ground.
She was lightheaded. They were both so strong and her body felt weak under the oppressive auras. She felt him set her on her feet and his clawed hands latched on to her right wrist. She leaned heavily against him, a crack was heard and suddenly she felt lighter. His hands then grabbed her left wrist and the same crack was heard before that cuff fell away.
Kagome could feel her strength gain and after a moment she could stand on her own two feet though she was still lightheaded. Sweat gathered on her brow as the two males faced off at each other. She could feel the anger from both of them and when she finally looked up at Takeshi, he locked eyes with her briefly before he charged. The clang of metal on metal made her grip her head; she began to feel clammy as she stumbled backwards in a cold sweat.
Another aura pressed down on her suddenly and she swayed on her feet before she crumpled to her knees with the urge to vomit. She dry heaved as the sounds of battle carried on. The new aura almost descended next to her before they were pushed back by another aura. She looked up on trembling arms to see black locks waving around as the person battled.
All three auras were practically right on top of her and her arms crumpled. Her body went back to dry heaving only coming up with stomach acid. She curled into a ball, body pricked up in goosebumps as she shivered and dripped of sweat. The sounds of battle were being drowned out by the erratic beating of her heart.
The world had blurred, the vibrations in the ground alerted her to the throbbing in her head. Her joints ached and she tried to warm up. An explosion rocked the ground and the battle grew in volume. She clutched her head and spaced in and out as she squeezed her eyes shut.
She began to feel her body being picked up and groaned as her stomach and head protested. The person holding her was knocked away and she was falling until other arms that scooped her up and jumped backwards several paces before setting her down.
The clanging began to roar loudly in her ears, her hands tried to keep the noise out. The battle stretched on for what seemed like forever before it gained momentum until there were huge bursts in powers that sent her flying off the ground and tumbling a few feet.
Her throat began to ache as she coughed, getting into a gagging fit. The world spun around and she wanted to get away from all the noise and vibrations. Slowly she got up on all fours and swayed as she crawled along the ground away from it all. The occasional shout was heard but went ignored by her; she couldn't bring herself to care if they were meant for her.
She was confused, and couldn't remember who was battling. Everything was dark and as she looked into the dark forest ahead of her it made her want to fall asleep in its dark world. After finally making it to a big tree she curled back up and let her body fall into oblivion gratefully.
A blast shook the ground close to her, jarring her awake as she moaned and clutched her head. The smell of charred earth greeted her senses and made the headache unbearable. At this point it was a migraine and it made her eyes burn with tears. The chills still racked her body and her clothing felt damp from her sweat. Her thoughts remained scattered to the wind as her fever raged on.
The angry emotions of those in the clearing made the burden of their auras all the more agonizing. Her body longed for a soft bed, warm covers and a quiet room to rest in, not the ground with a battle raging on nearby. She couldn't get comfortable as she changed positions, wishing she could fall asleep but instead the cool wind nipped at her sweat soaked back.
Her heart continued to beat erratically and as she found the sound of it taking dominance in her mind she felt that clammy sensation grow stronger and her stomach twist. Her body dry heaved for what felt like forever in her state and as she panted, her limbs grew weary once again and she finally sank back down into oblivion.
Arms lifted her up; blinking her eyes she looked up at the glowing red eyes and watched it recede back to a purple iris, a black pupil, and white sclera. She couldn't make out much about them; sleep was calling her back to its embrace. Those eyes gazed down at her, she felt like she was in a trance as the purple changed to different hues, mystifying her. The command to sleep came and she could fight it no further, her body snuggled into the body heat and a soft sigh escaped her lips as slumber took over.