EIGHTH BLOOD

Chapter 74: A tear in the sky

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"Are you kidding me? Hey! I'm still talking to you!"

Octavia grabbed Sesshoumaru by the arm and spun him around to face her. He peered down at the hand that was holding him hostage and arched an eyebrow. The action made her feel foolish. Scowling, she begrudgingly released his arm and waited for him to give her an answer.

"I fail to understand what irks you so," he admitted.

"Oh, I'll tell you why I'm angry. I'm angry because you seem to be under the impression that I'm incapable of taking care of myself."

"I don't recall saying that."

"It's not what you said. It's what you didn't say." The lost look on his face only served to enforce that he had absolutely no idea what she was talking about. She sighed. "What I mean is . . . I assumed I'd be going with you to the Panther Tribe's domain. Or to one of the wolf dens, at least. Do you really expect me to just stay here and wait?"

"Protecting the temple is of paramount importance," he said. "It's essential that the people here feel safe during my absence."

Her rage deflated. "I know that. But—"

"Save your argument. I have a different task in mind for you."

She paused. "You do?"

Nodding, he led her to a large gap in the wall, which overlooked several smaller mountains. "Do you see those two peaks in the distance? Keep going in that direction and you'll eventually reach Moon Country. I need you to travel to the Floating Citadel and seek out my mother."

Octavia's eyes widened. "Why?"

"She has a right to know what has transpired. The stronghold was once her home, too. Demand an audience with her. If she hears about this unpleasant business with Ryukotsusei's son, she may feel more inclined to lend us her aid. Her opinions of their clan are far from amicable."

"Wouldn't it be better if she heard it from you, though? What makes you think she'll listen to me?"

"Our alliance with the Panther Tribe is new and fragile," he explained. "Therefore, I must go and request their help in person. Which makes you her only option. And she will listen because you'll make her. Use whatever means necessary to force her hand. Nothing is off-limits."

"Are you giving me permission to trash your mother's palace?"

"If that's what you feel it will take."

A smile pulled at her lips. "How would I even get there?"

"Kanetsugu has agreed to take you."

"Lucky me."

"Try not to maim each other too badly."

Octavia gazed at the horizon and tried to imagine what a meeting with his mother would entail. If she was anything like her son – which she probably was – it had the potential to be a disaster. Yet somehow, the first question that popped into her head was, "What if she doesn't like me?"

Sesshoumaru snorted. "My mother doesn't like anyone."

It shouldn't have bothered her, but she wanted to make a good first impression.

"I'll do my best," she sighed. "But I can't be held accountable if all her hair gets burned off."

"Few would argue with your reasoning."

She laughed. "Play nicely with the panthers."

"I shall try."

He scanned their surroundings before tilting her chin up and covering her mouth with his. As always, his lips were warm and soft, yet strong as they moved against her own. She lifted her hands and tangled them in his hair, relishing in the feel of silky tresses between her fingers. He kissed her slowly and deeply, only pulling away when he sensed that someone was nearby.

"I'll see you in a few days," he murmured.

She smiled. "Yeah. Good luck."

"Likewise."

She watched in pensive silence as he walked away, knowing that he was unlikely to turn around and spare her a final parting glance. A part of her wished he would, though.

He must have read her mind because he suddenly spun on his heel and came sprinting back, taking her by surprise when he caught her face in his hands and kissed her again. She was flushed and breathless by the time he drew back and smirked at her, radiating a boyish smugness that made her stomach flutter wildly. He couldn't seem to resist leaning in and giving her one more burning kiss, before leaping through the hole in the wall and becoming one with the air.

She ran down the stairs with a massive grin on her face.

Kanetsugu was waiting for her on the ground floor. He inclined his head when he saw her coming and scowled, causing her smile to falter slightly. "Are you sick or something?" he asked.

"No," she answered quickly – too quickly.

"Then why is your face all red?"

Shit. Did he know? He couldn't possibly.

"It's a human thing," she lied. "You wouldn't understand."

"Right . . ."

He sounded dubious.

"Never mind what I look like!" she snapped, folding her arms. "We should leave before it gets dark."

"Spoken like someone who's never been to Moon Country."

"Huh?"

"It's easier to find at night. You'll see why when we get there. It got its name for a reason."

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"Shippo's late," Miroku remarked casually.

Inuyasha looked at him through the laundry and blinked. "Yeah? So what?"

"It's not like him to be tardy."

"He's probably in the middle of some scam you taught him. I heard you telling him about the keukegen trick the last time he was here. Find someone who has a cold and say that their house is infested with a stink spirit, eh? It's your fault he's like this, you know."

Miroku chuckled. "Ah, the old keukegen trick. It never fails."

"You're horrible."

"Do you ever miss it?"

"What, scamming people?"

"No. Adventuring. I know I do."

"Sometimes," Inuyasha confessed. "But I prefer not having to lie through my teeth just to get a hot meal and a bath. Also, I basically got my guts ripped out every other week when we were hunting for the jewel shards, and I sure as hell don't miss that."

"Good point." Miroku glanced at his twin daughters and three-year-old son, who were playing beside the basket of freshly folded laundry, and smiled to himself. "In a way, I suppose this is a different kind of adventure."

Inuyasha followed the monk's tender gaze and allowed his thoughts to drift elsewhere.

Miroku placed a hand on his shoulder and asked, "Is something wrong? You seem distracted."

Inuyasha avoided looking him in the eye. "Nothing's wrong. I just . . ." He swallowed. "How long did it take for Sango to get pregnant the first time?"

Miroku blinked. "I can't say for certain. A few months, maybe? Why do you ask?"

"No reason. Just wondering."

The monk crossed his arms. "All right. Out with it already."

Inuyasha sighed. "Fine. Kagome and I have been trying to . . . You know. I wasn't sure I wanted to, but we talked about it and I guess I maybe sort of . . . changed my mind? Anyway, I told her I was ready, so we've spent the past month and a half trying to, uh . . . make it happen."

Miroku's eyes widened.

Inuyasha blushed and turned away. "Forget it. I shouldn't have said anything—"

"I'm so proud of you," Miroku said with a smile. "And I bet Kagome-sama is, too. Talking about your feelings isn't easy. Thank you for confiding in me. You'll make a wonderful father."

Inuyasha couldn't stop himself from grinning like an idiot.

"Daddy!" one of the twins squealed. "Look! The sky is smiling at us!"

"What do you mean, sweetheart?" Miroku asked gently.

The children all pointed at a strange cloud that was a different colour to the others. Inuyasha inhaled sharply when he realised that it wasn't a cloud at all. It looked like someone had taken a knife and slashed the sky open, creating a stretched-out horseshoe that emitted a bright cyan light. He had no idea what it actually was, but he and Miroku both knew that it wasn't natural.

Inuyasha drew the Tessaiga and pointed it at the sky whilst Miroku gathered his children close to him. They expected an onslaught of enemies to come spilling out of the tear and attack the village, but nothing even remotely close to that happened. Instead, the tear pulsed, then expanded so that it was twice its initial size. Thin jagged lines spread out from the edges and covered the surrounding sky, like cracked china. Frowning, Inuyasha lowered his sword and waited.

Eventually, the sky stopped cracking, but the damage was already done.

"What is it?" Miroku's son whispered nervously.

"I don't know," the monk muttered. "Come on. Let's go and find your mother."

Inuyasha stared at the strange tear in the sky intently. He thought he heard Miroku calling his name, but another voice was speaking over him. It was a voice that Inuyasha hadn't heard since he was a small child, and it was coming from above.

It was his mother's voice. She was singing the song she sang every night before they went to sleep. He could hear it as clearly as he had when he'd laid beside her on their shared futon, imagining a world where he could go outside without being picked on or ignored.

"Inuyasha!"

The trance was broken by Kagome's desperate shout. He turned and saw her running towards them. She didn't look injured, yet her movements were oddly sluggish, and she seemed to be struggling to stay upright. He caught her by the elbows and checked her for injuries.

"Can you feel it?" she asked, panting heavily.

He scowled. "Feel what?"

"I can't explain it, but something's wrong."

"Wrong how?"

"I don't know! I just know that something doesn't feel right! My powers are going crazy!"

"She's right," said Miroku. "Something's changed. Or changing. I don't really understand it, either, but I think it has something to do with whatever's happening to the sky."

Inuyasha returned his attention to the horseshoe-shaped tear and narrowed his eyes. The singing had stopped. He wondered if he should mention it, but none of the others seemed to have heard, so he decided not to say anything.

"Does that light remind you of anything?" Kagome asked him.

He studied the blinding cyan light carefully. "Kind of," he admitted. "I can't remember what, though."

"I can."

He and Miroku both turned to look at her quizzically.

Her brown eyes narrowed as she spoke. "It's the same light that was at the bottom of the Bone-Eater's Well."

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Master Jaken didn't return from his quest until the following day. Rin hadn't slept a wink all night, so she was exhausted when someone knocked on the door to the bride's bedchamber and interrupted her brooding. She turned the handle slowly, afraid that it would be Tsunayoshi, and nearly sank to her knees in relief when she saw Master Jaken's concerned expression.

Inviting him inside, she sat on the edge of the bed whilst he told her about his encounter with Lord Sesshoumaru. She held it together for as long as she could, but when he asked why she'd been moved from the room with the barrier, the floodgates opened and her tears came spilling out. She told him all about the failed rescue attempt and Shippo's close brush with death. She also told him about the deal she'd made with Tsunayoshi in exchange for his, Kohaku's, and Kirara's lives.

"Not if I have anything to say about it!" he yelled, stomping his foot on the floor. "I won't let you marry that beast! I'll reduce him to ash! I will! Just you wait and see—"

Rin covered his beak with her hands. "Shh," she hissed. "Someone might hear you."

He ceased stomping and peered up at her with huge, frightened eyes. "What does it matter? I've outlived my usefulness. They're probably only letting me see you because I'm going to die soon." He lowered his voice and said, "I'm sorry, Rin. But I think this is goodbye."

She shook her head. "Don't say that. We can't give up. Not yet anyway."

He smiled sadly. "You know, I was always a bit jealous of how strong you are. For a human, that is. Even as a little girl, you were always so much braver than I was."

"That's not true," she whispered. "I might have been brave, but you were wiser. I loved listening to your stories. Even the really long ones."

"You hated my stories," he argued. "You told me so yourself."

"I lied. I didn't hate them. I just liked seeing you all riled up." She grabbed his hands and squeezed them tightly. "Swear fealty to Tsunayoshi," she implored him. "Do it properly this time. Please. I don't want anyone else to die. Especially not you. I need you. Sesshoumaru-sama needs you. Make the usurper believe you've given up on the idea that we'll be rescued. You still have so much left to offer. Tell him that you'll use your knowledge to help him win this war."

"I'm a terrible liar," he laughed. "He'd see through me right away."

"Then let me convince him instead. If I'm to be his wife, he needs to start trusting me. I'll tell him about the time you banished that horde of malevolent spirits."

"I didn't actually do that," he muttered, sounding ashamed. "I made it up. You know I did. None of it was real."

"And? We don't need to tell him that part. It'll be our little secret."

He swallowed. "It won't work, you know. Even you aren't that naive."

"My naivete is the only thing keeping me alive, Jaken-sama. Nevertheless, Tsunayoshi isn't stupid. He knows I'm putting on an act for him, but he doesn't care so long as he's entertained by it. I know my place. I'm not physically strong like Sesshoumaru-sama, and I don't have any powers. All I can do is survive. I can't beat him on my own . . . But I don't have to."

Master Jaken's brow creased as she leaned in close and whispered in his ear.

"Play the part. Together we can kill him."

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