Fandom Pride Parade Day 5: Green, Nature, Notable
The dream had returned. And she knew it was a dream this time. The air was different, more fragrant, especially compared to the empty skies in which her castle resided.
Inukimi padded through long grass, allowing the soft flora to tickle bare skin—another indication she was dreaming. As a child, she'd never been allowed to go anywhere unless she was fully clothed, and after she'd been sequestered in her airborne prison, there'd been no plant life to enjoy.
It was one of the reasons she'd stolen away to see him so often. Touga had been an excuse to escape, and though she'd enjoyed their time together, her freedom had meant more than their hidden trysts.
Inukimi sighed. She'd gained enough power to dictate her own schedule now, but with it came the responsibilities of the court, and if she wanted to keep her freedom, she had to show her face now and again.
She shed her outer layer, letting the wind whip through her hair. This was so much more pleasurable than ornate chairs and expensive furs. Headdresses adorned with jewels only weighed her down; she'd choose a simple yukata and bare feet any day.
The wind changed direction, and a smile tugged at her lips as she was all but forced to increase her pace. This was the only part of the dream she disliked, for the mysterious figure that haunted her had yet to give her a name, citing something trivial as her safety would suffer.
As if anyone could touch her up here.
"You are teasing me again," she said, sidling up beside the dark-haired woman who'd appeared in her dreams every other night.
Ruby lips curved up into a grin that didn't reach her eyes. "I seem to be good at that." They stood in silence, watching petals and leaves dance, and the woman eventually lay her head on Inukimi's shoulder.
"You are troubled."
"I'm in trouble," she countered. "And I don't know how to get out of it."
Inukimi wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer. "I can help."
The woman shook her head. "I won't let him find you."
She scoffed. "You continue to speak of this unknown evil yet never give me any information on who he is or why you are troubled by him."
The woman tilted her head to meet her gaze, too many emotions swirling within her crimson eyes for Inukimi to differentiate before sighing again. "It's better that way."
"For whom?" She usually kept her emotions more hidden, but since it was a dream, Inukimi decided there wasn't much point in suppressing her frustration. "I will not judge if you are involved—" The woman grabbed her face, pulling her into a deep kiss. There hadn't been so much as handholding before, so the fact that Inukimi could taste her had her mind spinning.
She tried to pull her closer, tried to find some tangible part of her to grab onto, but the dream was already fading, the woman's tearful farewell the last thing she heard before she was assaulted by the harsh reality of her bedroom.
Inukimi immediately threw off her blankets, intent on descending to the surface in search of the stranger, but a sudden knock at the door had her pausing.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, my lady. But your son requests an audience."
Golden eyes widened, hands hovering over a kimono. The fact that Sesshoumaru was here, let alone requesting anything, was unusual, and she knew she couldn't avoid him.
He'd never asked her for anything.
Sucking in a calming breath, she grabbed something more formal, telling her guard that she would meet him in the main hall. Her search would have to wait.
It had taken ages for the dust to settle after the fall of the spider. Sesshoumaru's visit had been telling, especially with the little humans he'd had in tow, but it appeared he'd changed in the years since she'd last seen him, and this time for the better.
Inukimi hadn't bothered bringing shoes with her, wanting to experience the feel of grass without any barriers, and though she'd never been to this particular field before, something inside her told her it was the place she needed to be.
It looked like a sea of green, though not even the air moved as she wandered through the foliage. The bottom of her clothes would likely end up stained, but it mattered little. There was power here, though it felt trapped, somehow—much like her mystery companion.
She hadn't seen the woman since the day her son had shown up on her doorstep, demanding answers about his birthright and the entrance to the underworld. She'd taunted him, especially with how the toad had squawked about the importance of the children he travelled with, but it had been easier for her to focus on someone else's plight than her own.
In all the other dreams, the woman had remained corporal until the end, fading along with the background as Inukimi woke. But the last time had felt different; her image had faded before the scenery, leaving the daiyoukai feeling bereft and oddly empty.
And then she hadn't returned.
It didn't matter how little or often she slept, the spectre never showed her face. A lesser demon would've dismissed it as a hallucination, but Inukimi knew better. Hence, her search. The court was in disarray as it was, and she'd left specific instructions if they came looking for her, but she doubted it would be anytime soon.
Flaring her power, she tried to entice the elements into giving her a hint as to where she should go next, but none responded. Frowning, she knelt down, placing both hands on the ground before trying again. There was a spark, and her eyes widened at the images that spilled forth.
There were chains here.
They didn't feel malicious, so she pushed against them, the seal swaying before it snapped. She'd honestly expected more of a fight, but it almost felt relieved. She tried to find the source, perhaps a tree of some sort, but she was forced to cover her eyes as a gale blew through the field in warning.
She didn't cry out, just dug her free claws into the dirt to ground herself as youki encircled her. The soft scent of autumn rain wafted by her nose a moment before the storm calmed to nothing more than a breeze.
Unsure of what she released, Inukimi shook out her clothes then straightened her shoulders. Bracing herself for another fight, she opened her eyes, her mouth falling open as the figment of her search stood before her.
The woman looked confused, hair ruffled and loose around her shoulders. It was longer than she thought, reaching the middle of her back. She wore nothing but her teal inner layer, ears free of the matching earrings, and she smelled just like Inukimi remembered her.
She finally met her gaze, crimson eyes blinking again before she smiled softly. "You found me." It was slightly accusatory, but her hand slid into Inukimi's when she reached for her.
"I will always find you," she murmured, pulling her close.
The woman's arms snaked around her, hands gripping her clothes. There were no tears, just an extreme sense of relief as they held each other. Inukimi hadn't realized how desperate she'd been to find this woman, and it would take time for her to voice as much, even to her.
"I should be chastising you," she said, her grip still tight. "What if I had been some nefarious demon set on causing you harm?"
Her companion sensed her disquiet, pulling back just enough to offer her a chaste kiss and a soft smile. "I knew it was you." The words settled deep into Inukimi's chest, the final vestiges of loneliness dissipating.
She pressed their foreheads together, allowing herself a genuine smile. "Let us go home, little wind."