Authors Note 2023: This is an update of this story as I transition my work to other sites. Read my bio for more information.

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Chapter 6: Realistic Nightmares

Images whirled in his mind's eye like a flash of pages out of a story book. Bountiful lands and people blurred before him, jumping off the text that he had read about from his ancestor's records of the world in his family's library.

'How could this be possible?' He wondered looking out over a valley he'd read about only in legends of scrolls in his office kept by his forefathers.

The city seemed to be dipped in limestone, alabaster, marble, turquoise, and gold, dazzling underneath the warm touch of the brilliant golden sun as if it was his child. A child that was birthed from the womb of the large river that wove throughout the land bringing along life and nourishment. Its cool rivers glistened in the sunshine washing over the rich soil with its salt deposits and juvenile springs spilling into what looked to be clean kept aqueducts and water passages.

Golden columns rose high supporting high ceilings and open layouts. Tall buildings from polished slate and stone stood proudly housing families of various wealth. Blue and gold flags waved proudly around the giant city letting all who enter and reside know of the land they reside in. Giant monuments overlooked the city accompanied with large figurines of mutated human and animals. A large palace of white marble and blue undertones shined brightly in the distance. Green pastures with bountiful fruit and vegetables were attended to by farmers and large beasts that ate without haste or fear and roamed freely wherever they desired.

Sesshoumaru looked about the many faces and races among the civilians that lived in this prosperous city. Skin types and textures varied among the people and strange beings that walked through the markets and homes of the land speaking languages that were a mystery to his tongue and ears. Demons of a strange kind and humans conversed, playing, shopping, bargaining, and living among each other seemingly in harmony. Men and women seemed to laugh often with very little sounds of quarry. Children ran about the bazaars and alleyways happily while chasing small livestock and various toys. His golden gaze raked the lands noticing how lush the pastures despite the heat and sands of the desert surrounding them. Its rolling waves and high rock valleys secreted their little alcove of oasis. Enormous triangular pyramids stretched in the distance with tips catching the suns love and admiration for her resting tributes. The name of his current state burned on the tip of his tongue resonating within his bones.

A loud thundering crack was heard in the heavens slowly bleeding into darkness that shrouded them. It crept up slowly from a distance in the form of hazy grey clouds blanketing the entire area as far as the sky stretched. A loud scream tore through the city before blood spilled down the stone steps of a home. Large dark clouds came in waves settling over the city as everyone began to stare and run in a frenzy from the ominous clouds. Shadow like creatures began to appear, coming out of doors, windows, and other entries and exits. They terrorized everything in sight, killing the people who now ran trying to escape the large city.

But it was too late.

Sesshoumaru turned around watching as the once shining bright sun begin to be swallowed by pure darkness eclipsing until nothing, but a red sun burned behind shadows. He stood still watching as the opulent buildings collapsed, life was taken, resources vanished, and blood stained the once beautiful city. It crumbled into ruin before his very eyes and his claws itched to help somehow; to slaughter the things that harmed such a great thriving city.

His eyes grew wide at the sight unfolding before him. A scent reached his nose that was unlike any other and yet it was familiar to his own. Keen sight glared into the dark skies watching as a woman flew up into the heavens calling upon the sky's wrath. Golden eyes widened slightly watching as what appeared to be a more rugged version of himself, rushing blindingly to attack the woman with a raised sword. His body held burns, old wounds, scratches, and other forms of injury marking his body in hues of reds, purples, and blacks. His missing arm was replaced with that of something indescribable resembling a mutation of some kind. The arm was black with many injuries and yet it wielded a sword of another unlike his father's fang and his forged one. Blurred vision of red began to seep, and he shook his head watching his reflection aim deadly claws at her person.

The images blurred and slowly he was brought back to the present. Her finger had lowered shakily from his forehead down to her side, eyes misted over as she stared at him holding purpose in her heart. She still stood at a distance but had moved slightly closer.

"This is to pass if you and your kin don't stop the threat that is born from your lands." She explained in her language watching the colors of his eyes change like the morning sunrise. His hand shook to reach out and possible do damage onto her but she could see his restraint.

"This Sesshoumaru has no time for your visions, witch. Leave." He demanded.

Her eyes widened in disbelief before she took a step forward coming even closer to his seated throne. "And if I choose otherwise?" She challenged.

He turned his head to look at her with sharp pink eyes. "Then I will kill you."

She tilted her head up in defiance with eyes flashing from his attack on the truth of her visions and intentions. Blue eyes sparkled in the light of the sun pouring into his grand foyer and reflected off of her mocha skin. Her gold accessories chimed with the light movement of her right hand settling on her hip. She closed her eyes knowing patience was her only leverage in this discussion with the demon lord.

"Then we have an issue." She stated bolding slightly shocking the demon who turned with a narrow gaze. He watched the woman glide to stand directly in front of him with a challenge in her disposition. He growled to the woman in warning and flexed his aura for her submission and yet she flared her own in contest. She stood with arms down and head held high with no means to attack him but hell bent on him hearing every word she had to say and doing something about it.

He quickly reached out with his hand and gripped her wrist pulling her towards him as he sniffed her and forced his aura onto her form. Shocked, she pushed back causing the wind to pick up outside. Electrical currents ran through the room from the charged energy of the two. Its demeanor took on a physical appearance in white and blue electric tones conducting from one to the other. His soldiers felt the growing power coming from the large entry way and he quickly sent out a warning aura flare for everyone to not interrupt him or provide aid.

His eyes darkened at her refutation of his authorization. His hand came up slowly with the index finger standing alongside the middle finger. His beast roared for submission from the female quickly assessing her and labeling her as a strong female that needed to be reprimanded. Her scent blew around the room along with her raw energy and settled somewhere in the far reaches of his mind blanketing his senses. Danger provoked him when it brought to him this woman who defied everything in the land she walked upon.

Ororo shuttered at the feel of his power wrapping around her and pushing for her to give in and desist. His power was like fire moving and consuming everything. It burned on the edges of her senses with warning of what was to come. Its heavy smoke boxed her nerves in a tomb, clouding her mind slightly but her own electric shock cut through it like a sharpened blade. She resisted with all her might with the desire to show the male in front of her, that she was no easy feat. Strange and yet commanding eyes scowled at her defiant stance. She focused maintaining her control trying not to cause a storm to brew in his large castle and stir the others to their struggle. His demon was unlike anything she'd felt since her great grandfather was alive, and it shook her of its grand ferocity.

'He is more powerful than I realized.' She pondered. 'Yet, his arrogance shall be my victory.' She assessed before pushing back onto him with her energy.

His demonic youkai aura raked her flesh, and she tried not to shiver from his touch. His golden eyes rimmed the edges in garnet at her challenge. Just a surge of his energy was intoxicating, and she looked onto him assessing his physique. He was everything foreign to her in more ways than she had time to notice. His skin was pastel like the moon and blessed by her gloss, bestowing upon him long silver hair spun by midnight spiders. His ears were angled and tipped with magenta markings covering the skin on his face. A crescent moon sat in the center of his forehead clearly for all to see.

"Submit woman." He commanded icily preparing his sharp claws to strike.

"I will submit to no one!" She declared with hair rising fully off the base of her neck.

The words barely escaped their chambers before she was lifted by her throat. Just as quickly, he watched her body mist and seep through his hands like clouds before conforming back into her original solid form a foot away from him. She held her staff in both hands righteously. "I did not come here for a physical altercation. If you are so inclined to believe me and help your people, then I will seek help elsewhere. But know this, the blood of your people and the collapse of your kingdom that your fathers built will rest solely on your shoulders and there will be nothing left to gift to your future sons and daughters of your legacy." She cautioned before turning and walking away pulling in her aura along with her. "Is this the way of a Western King I wonder?" She asked before walking away seething.

Growling he appeared before her and stood in her way. He felt oddly deterred and fought the urge to placate his beast and teach her how to submit since she lacked the natural sense to do so. 'Infuriating woman.'

She looked at him with stormy eyes visibly upset. "I have no reason to lie to you. I've come this far for my people. Why can't you do so for yours?" She asked with a bit more base in her voice than she intended to. Hearing her voice shook her. The electric current from their powers laced against her fingertips. A stray thought struck her regarding her hasty actions. She was so annoyed from watching Ryo and his family deal with the advisers and the lack of efficiency within his court…not…not efficiency… but the lack of her their voices being heard, acknowledged, or seen. For being treated less than. It was a notion she wasn't used to admittedly. And so, she reacted in a way that many didn't have the privilege to because she had power.

Ororo sighed quietly before continuing, calming herself realizing she was in the wrong for her brazen hostility. She wanted to help her people and his own. This was no way of handling the delicate situation. Trying again, she spoke much softer. "Please. I journeyed what took a year to get here to help and seek your guidance. You can't possibly believe I would leave my own people for nothing." She voiced with her hands now resting on her hips in determination. Their volatile aura deceased leaving static charges in the air.

"Hn." He thought over her words. Her Japanese sounded foreign to his sensitive ears due to her heavy accent. He stared at her without so much as flinching from the ghastly prophecy he had just witnessed. The skin on his arm tingled with the shocking memory of being attached to something vile. He looked at her noticing like the weather she had changed. Her snowy hair that was lifted off of her neck and shoulders now rested down her back. Milky storms changed to blue jewels while staring back at him with openness, waiting for his reception. Her toned body was draped in soft white and gold sheer fabric that exposed her arms and the tops of her breasts. Skin bronzed shimmered in the inflowing sunlight through the windows and entrances of his palace and curiosity flowed throughout him. She held the scent of fresh rain and vanilla, yet none of her ancestry could be detained. She was a descendant of a demon yet smelled very much human. He couldn't deny from his readings she looked everything like an Egyptian queen. All kings traveled and had connections outside of his nation. It would be foolish not to especially with the growth of the human population. He narrowed his eyes controlling himself from thinking too much about the unknown woman demanding his help.

His time was pressed as it was with an appointment with his council coming shortly but he couldn't deny her truths. He grew agitated at the thought of attending the morning's asinine council meeting. The council continued to uphold archaic demon customs, but they fought among each other for dominion like greedy insects; always expressing their hierarchy of things should one fall out of line. Even now, his sensitive hearing could pick up the nearby conversation in his war room and the subject was one that he thought didn't deserve a thought let alone his company. But he was needed, nonetheless.

"Stay, I shall return with an answer." He ordered before turning around and making his way to his war room without so much as a backwards glance.

Ororo let go a breath she didn't know she was holding. The wind died and so did the fight in her as she watched him walk away leaving her alone in the very large room. Confusion raked her and a heavy sigh escaped lips. She was never one to lose her temper but when he thought to call her a liar and question her stance, she just about lost it. Additionally, the build up from earlier of being silenced or attempted to be silenced was annoying. She left everything she knew behind to come here to this strange land. She prided herself on being very open-minded and calm, but it seemed maybe the culture shock, fear, and frustration she felt here had taken its toll.

A hand went to her racing heart as she thought back onto the matter at hand. She would do the right thing and apologize for her animosity in his home. It would at least be a steppingstone in the right direction. She made peace with the situation before realizing she needed to ensure the safety of Ryo, Hiromi, and their babes. Looking about she noticed some ink and parchment. Quickly she walked over to and began to do her best at writing a letter for the young Lord explaining her departure and her return at a later time. Very carefully, she walked up to his previous sitting area and placed the letter on the table gently. Looking back at the corridor from which he exited, she let out a cleansing breath before leaving the room.

She walked through the halls past glares of soldiers and guards that considered her a threat. She continued her trek when she finally made it outside onto the stone steps where the eyes of many demons fell upon her in various manners. Beasts of all kinds moved about watching her, while others stood around blatantly watching her move. They whispered things about her behind palms and beautiful fans that she couldn't quite catch. She braved a step down watching as they moved out of the way allowing her to exit with a few guards tailing her for precaution.

"They think you are a witch."

Ororo looked to her left to see Hiromi holding her twins on both hips, bouncing them both. Ororo sighed feeling so happy to see a familiar face among the glares. Smiling she walked up to Hiromi who began to beckon her to walk alongside of her. The sun was high in the sky without a cloud in sight. The heat here was humid, not dry like in her country. She looked around as the people fanned themselves and tried to find shade here and there. She smiled a little at their lack of dexterity with Mother Nature.

"We could feel your powers battling inside of the castle. It was so strange. And the wind picked up. It really scared the people." Hiromi stated showing not a single sign of distress except tendrils of her hair sticking to her face. "What caused such confrontation if I may ask?"

Ororo nodded. "I am unaccustomed to Japanese politics and social structure. I have learned that I was out of line in a manner of how I stated my claims." Her eyes stayed forward as she moved with Hiromi.

"That is understandable. But he can clearly see you are far from our lands. How were you to know?" Hiromi defended her newfound friend. "Anyway…you are safe, and our Lord seems calm. Maybe all is not lost?"

Ororo nodded thinking of ways to change her predicament. Suddenly she realized somebody was missing. Blue cerulean eyes searched around for Ryo finding his presence lacking.

"Where's Ryo?" She asked avoiding eye contact with the people as she strolled by ignoring them entirely. Her eyes looked onto Hiromi.

Her jaw hardened and lips tightened. "He went to buy the house. It isn't safe for him to linger quickly here." She noted looking about at the people.

"Why?" Ororo asked not catching onto their plight.

"Look around. We don't exactly fit in here." She stated.

Ororo's eyes scanned around as they strolled through the busy streets reaching closer to the couple's new home that they selected prior. Then it donned on her the reason. In disbelief she spoke. "Surely, there people mean you no ill will based on your nature and your relationship."

Hiromi nodded. "It is frowned upon. A demon and a human together. And worst… so I hear for a demoness and a monk. I think it was a mistake coming here." She spoke softly holding her children protectively to her front.

Ororo wanted to reach out and comfort her new friend but refrained from doing so knowing that such behavior was frowned upon in Japanese society. Suddenly, they came to a stop when they saw Ryo standing in front of the now empty house with papers and a giant smile on his face ignoring those around him. Ororo could clearly see the love he had for his family.

The pair hurried up to him before he took the first steps up into the new home. They walked up into what was just a waiting area into a very small courtyard and garden encased by a large fence that wrapped around the house. Beautiful winding trees sat in the corners of the garden with large rocks and stones in various places surrounded by beautiful exotic plants and flowers. To the left sat a nice pond with a few silver fish swimming about. Stone steps lined the way to the front of the old abandoned home guiding their feet up the wrap around porch. Ororo stood silently in the front room taking off her shoes as was custom before stepping fully into the large mansion like house. The wood was very dark, yet the flooring was light and felt warm to her feet. She waited patiently watching the two walk through the large home with glee and happiness.

Suddenly, Hiromi came back and bowed to her repeatedly in the thanks for helping them. Ryo followed after her with a huge smile picking up his daughters and kissing them. "Who knew we could afford so much on a farmers intake." He joked before placing them back in Hiromi's arms. He came and bowed to Ororo fully down on his knees repeatedly.

Ororo waved him away in embarrassment. "You had the means to do so with the great work you did on the farm before it burned. I don't understand your social system here where certain professions can't have even if they could afford. Neither do I agree. But anyway, this house is paid off in full so it is yours. I merely helped providing loose change." Ororo smiled and looked away. Hiromi and Ryo bowed to her and smiled; deciding to leave it alone.

"Pick your room first, Ororo" Ryo said as Hiromi nodded in agreement. "It's only fair."

"Oh…but I can't stay. I have much work to do and more people to talk to about my own troubles. My journey hasn't ended, but I'm glad I was able to ensure you found peace."

"Well…we will give you a room anyway. There is more than enough space here. And it will be yours. Whenever and if ever you come back, you have a place here. You always have a place with us." Hiromi said with unshed tears.

"I am forever in gratitude with you both." Ororo commented. She looked around and nodded her head. "Now, I'm sure you need things to fill it with."

"Yes! I will run to the market and gather some supplies." Ryo said as Hiromi nodded her head in agreement.

"Not by yourself!" Hiromi said as she handed one baby to Ororo. "Can I call on you once more to watch them while we go to the market. It's a little dangerous and I don't-"

"No need to explain, Hiromi. I'll keep them occupied while you both gather what you need." She took the babies in her arms opting to play with them while the parents went out quickly to get the necessities.

When they came back the babies were in good need of a feeding; leaving Ororo and Ryo to adjust items and make the house feel like a home. Futons were purchased and blankets along with candles and flint for lighting. A fire was set in the corner pit to provide some heat in the furnace. Hiromi had patted both girls to sleep in an adjacent room and bundled them up safely. Ryo stopped moving when he saw Ororo run her finger along the threshold of the house and foreign words left her lips repeatedly. Both parents watched in fascination as the young woman went around the house doing the same thing repeatedly.

Ororo turned to see them staring before smiling. "I'm putting a protective shield on your home from malicious intent. No one can enter your home if uninvited and no one can harm anything or anyone here without suffering from disease." She spoke before praying for peace and tranquility within the home. To demonstrate she searched for some flint and used it to set a fire on the floor.

Ryo and Hiromi yelled out before silencing at what they were witnessing. They watched the fire simply burn out leaving behind a small dark spot on the wooden floor. Ororo wiped it away before moving on. "It's the least I can do for your troubles. Be careful, for if one of you does any ill will to others it counters the effect making my protection vanish for good. It's a very small incantation known only by my lineage. Consider it my parting gift."

Hiromi stood up quickly at this. "Please stay!" She asked. "We haven't done much for you at all. Please stay, at least for a meal?"

Ororo shook her head. "I'm afraid my presence is needed with the Lord. I cannot waste what little I've gained. But, it has been a pleasure and I will be sure to visit especially to see the two little ones."

Ryo nodded with a smile before going to his wife holding her by her shoulders. "It would be a pleasure to have you back in the future. And our girls would love a visit from their shishou." He honored her the distinguished title and a low bow. "You have done so much. It is what we can offer at this time."

Ororo bowed in turn taking pride in her newfound roll in the small family. She was honored the parents trusted her so and even deemed her worthy of being around their children. Ororo grabbed her satchel and walked towards to door sliding it open. "Maybe afterward my talk with the Lord, I can have dinner with you all but I will let you know when our talk is done. Wish me luck." She asked with a lopsided smile.

Reviewer Notes: Thank you so much for the praise! I'm blushing so hard.

I like to write differently. I'm a reader here as well as a writer and after awhile you get tired of the same ole, same ole plots.(i. catches Inuyasha cheating...Sesshoumaru is madly in love with Rin but she's human, Inuyasha loves Kagome but time difference, etc...etc..)

And rarely, do I come across stories featuring women of ethnic backgrounds so I try to give something for everybody. I'm multiracial so I know how awesome it is to find a gem that you relate to and of course for people that read my stories know I am all about empowerment. Women, Latinos, Black, Indigenous, Asian, Middle Eastern, Aborigines, LGBTQ+, Accessibility Community, Caucasian etc. I try to write something for everyone and hopefully in a tasteful manner with a little side of action that should be in an Icha Icha novel!

Now if the lord will help me finish these two stories because I have ideas for Naruto and Star Wars next that I really want to get into!