EIGHTH BLOOD

Chapter 123: The House of the Rising Sun

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"We depart for Mount Reimei on the morrow."

Octavia glanced up from her monochrome landscape painting and saw Sesshoumaru leaning against the doorframe. He wasn't alone. Mikan stood beside him, swathed from head to toe in glossy red silk. It was she who'd spoken, not him.

Octavia stared at them both wordlessly. She tried to think of a suitable-sounding response, but the only word that came out was, "Why?"

Sesshoumaru's mouth twitched. At least one of us is enjoying this, she thought with a scowl.

"We've been summoned," Mikan answered. "My mother wishes to meet my intended face-to-face."

Octavia frowned harder. She set the brush down and wiped her dirty hands with a cloth. She'd managed to get most of the ink out, but there were a few dark stains that refused to budge no matter how hard she scrubbed.

"Okay," she muttered, fighting to keep the edge out of her voice. "I'll hold down the fort until you get back."

The demoness glided over to where she was sitting and dropped to a crouch. The hem of her veil swept across the ink block, causing black spots to blossom in the otherwise perfect silk. The stains started out small, then grew and grew, until they were the size of golf balls.

Oblivious, Mikan reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze. "Nonsense," she said. "You must come with us."

Octavia's brows lifted in surprise. "Really?"

Her head bobbed up and down beneath the veil.

"But . . . Why?"

Mikan squeezed her hand again. "Because I want you to, of course."

The sincerity in her voice made Octavia's cheeks warm. "All right," she mumbled. "I do have one condition, though."

"Then speak it."

She took a deep breath. "I want Rin to come, as well."

Mikan nodded again. "As you wish."

"Absolutely not," Sesshoumaru interjected. "A Daiyoukai's fortress is no place for a human."

"I'm human," Octavia countered. "And we're in a Daiyoukai's fortress right now, so don't give me that." She hadn't meant to sound so flippant, but luckily, Mikan didn't seem to mind the odd act of impudence here and there.

The demoness turned to Sesshoumaru and said, "No harm will befall any of your companions within our town's walls, human or otherwise. I swear it, my lord."

He seemed unconvinced.

"I want her where I can see her," Octavia explained. "Augustus could attack any day now. If he decides to take a leaf out of Tsunayoshi's book and march on the stronghold whilst we're gone . . . I'd sleep easier knowing that she's with us—that she's safe."

Sesshoumaru's expression softened slightly, and Octavia knew she'd won before he even opened his mouth. "Very well," he said. "Rin may accompany us. However, she must not be left alone at any point during the trip, not even for a second. Are we clear?"

"I won't let her out of my sight," Octavia promised.

"That is a huge responsibility to entrust to just one person," Mikan remarked. "Might I suggest appointing a secondary protector so that they can watch over your ward in shifts?"

Sesshoumaru seemed pleased with the idea. "That is acceptable."

"Splendid. I'll have a list of potential candidates sent to you at some point this afternoon."

"You need not trouble yourself with such trivial matters, my lady." He had a peculiar look on his face when he announced, "Besides, I know exactly who to assign the role to."

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Kagome and the others came to see them off.

Octavia waved at her friends from up on Ah-Un's saddle, secretly wishing that they could join them on their journey to the Northern Mountains. Jaken was devastated that he wasn't going, but he'd seemed less upset after learning that Megumi and Inuyasha would be staying behind to guard the stronghold, as well.

Rin was seated atop Kirara's back, clad in riding leathers and a large straw hat in case it rained during the flight. She looked a little out of place compared to everyone else, but Sesshoumaru had insisted on her wearing them so that she didn't get sick, and to reduce the pain of saddle sores. Whilst he agreed that she was safer travelling to Mount Reimei with them instead of remaining at the stronghold, he wasn't taking any chances where her health and well-being were concerned.

Speaking of her well-being, Octavia spotted Rin's new protector walking out to meet them. The nekomata pressed her belly to the ground when Kohaku gave her side a gentle pat, allowing him to climb up and straddle Rin's hips with his thighs. The girl's face turned a deep shade of pink as he hooked an arm around her waist to keep her anchored in place.

Octavia's gaze shifted to Sesshoumaru, who was waiting beside the Ether Clan's palanquin for the rest of the party to arrive. She followed his line of vision straight back to Rin and Kohaku. A smirk pulled at her lips when she saw his eyes dart down to the arm wrapped around Rin's waist. He didn't seem annoyed by it, though. In fact, he looked strangely relieved.

Her ears picked up the sound of people shouting. Turning her head to look, her lips parted in shock when she saw Sesshoumaru's betrothed sprinting towards her like a cheetah in pursuit of its next meal. Mikan's clothes were less flashy than usual, and she'd substituted her veil for a thick headscarf that covered her hair but left her face exposed to the elements.

The High Priestess was several yards behind her, followed by all eight of her guards. Despite their shouting, Mikan paid them no heed and carried on running.

Ah-Un reared in distress when she vaulted onto its back and yelled, "Go!"

"Don't you dare!" Shizuka screamed, her face turning purple with fury. "You'll catch your death up there! I mean it! Your mother will be furious if you turn up on dragonback!"

"What the hell is she talking about?" Octavia hissed over her shoulder.

Mikan's arms snaked around her waist as she said, "Get me out of here and I'll tell you everything."

Octavia shook the reins and dug her heels into the dragon's sides, urging it to take off. The wind bit at her cheeks as they careened high above the stronghold, away from the clutches of the High Priestess and her fellow clansmen.

"That's better!" she heard Mikan call out over the wind. "How's the view? It's supposed to be rather incredible."

Peering down at the ground, Octavia spied Shizuka clambering into the gold carriage and slamming the door behind her. "What exactly are you playing at?"

Mikan sighed. "I detest that cramped little wagon with every fibre of my being. I've seen cages with more room." The demoness snuggled up to her. "This is much more comfortable."

Octavia was glad that Mikan couldn't see her. She didn't need a mirror to know that her face was as red as a beetroot. Mikan was obviously toying with her – the way a cat torments a mouse – but there was an earnestness to her flirting that made Octavia feel like her stomach was full of butterflies.

"Why will your mother be angry with you for riding a dragon?"

Raising her head, Mikan murmured shyly, "You caught that, huh?"

"I think most of the stronghold did."

". . . It's a long story."

"You promised me answers."

She sighed again. "Fine. When I was a girl, my father told me a story about a village inhabited solely by dragons. They were masters of lightning and had two heads, much like your friend here." She leaned forwards to ruffle Ah-Un's soft mane. "Their village was hidden away from the outside world, until a group of hunters happened upon it and set their sights on the rarest and most powerful member of the herd – the Alpha Dragon.

"According to the legend, the Alpha Dragon could alter its appearance at will, and breathe lightning in addition to summoning it. They say that just one of its scales could fetch enough mon to make you rich beyond your wildest dreams. Needless to say, the hunters weren't planning on leaving the village until they'd gotten what they came for.

"At first, the Alpha Dragon stood its ground and tried to fight off the hunters, but their numbers were too great, and their demonic attributes made them hard to kill. The village was eventually breached, and the Alpha Dragon's only child was killed in the crossfire."

Octavia felt Ah-Un stiffen beneath her. Was it imagining itself in the Alpha Dragon's place?

"That's horrible," she whispered.

"I know," Mikan said. "I wish I could tell you that the hunters got what they deserved, but the story doesn't have a traditional ending. After the murder of its offspring, the Alpha Dragon was overcome with grief. However, it knew what needed to be done in order to protect the village. And so, without a word to any of its brethren, the Alpha Dragon cremated its child's body with lightning and flew off into the night, thus luring the hunters away from the village. No one knows what became of them. They were never seen again."

The crackle of flames made Octavia crane her head backwards to find the source of the noise.

Kirara was flying a few hundred yards behind them, ferrying Rin and Kohaku on her back. The palanquin was even further away—the gilded box being carried by three of Mikan's guards, whilst the other five flew in a V-shaped formation in front of it. Unsurprisingly, Roku was heading the charge.

Sesshoumaru was nowhere to be found.

"After my father told me that story–" continued Mikan, "–I was fascinated by all things dragon. It was a harmless obsession to begin with, until I heard rumours that a living, breathing dragon was prowling the Northern Mountains under the cover of darkness. I had to find out if the stories were true or not, so I snuck out of the fortress one evening and began my search.

"When I finally tracked down the fabled beast, I realised that it wasn't a dragon at all, but a mere serpent youkai. Enraged by my discovery, I attempted to slay the creature, only to be carried off by it. The only thing more helpless than a child is a child who cannot see."

Octavia was transfixed. "How did you escape?"

"By a stroke of pure luck. The serpent was attacked by one of the Gokurakuchō whilst slithering up the edge of a bluff, so it dropped me. My father found me lying at the base of the cliffs a few hours later. I'd broken both of my legs and shattered my spine. If it weren't for our healers, I may never have walked again.

"To protect my reputation, my father told everyone that I'd tried to tame the dragon, but had been bucked off before I could complete the task. They all believed him – including my mother – because why shouldn't they? The great Mineru wouldn't have married a liar." She rested her chin on Octavia's shoulder. "I've never told anyone that before." Her grip tightened as she added, "Don't make me regret it."

"I won't," Octavia swore. "Don't worry, your secret is safe with me."

She felt Mikan smile against her shoulder. "Does he always follow you so closely?"

"Who?"

"My betrothed." She sounded amused. "I can sense him loitering somewhere above us."

Tipping her head back, Octavia examined the clouds for signs of life. The most promising thing she saw was a blurred silhouette drifting in and out of the cloud cover. "Are you kidding? This is him giving me space."

"How long have you been his captive?"

Octavia wrinkled her brow. "I'm not a prisoner."

"Then what are the shackles for?"

It took her a few seconds to realise that the demoness was referring to the cuff bracelets made from Kumoshi's fangs. She had never mentioned them before, but they'd held hands enough times for Mikan to have felt the hard, enamel bands that were fastened to her wrists.

Octavia smiled. Even without the ability to see, Mikan was one of the most observant people she'd ever met. "They're not shackles," she explained. "They're more like weapons. They were a gift from an enemy-turned-friend."

"Is that so? Oh my, what an awkward mistake to make." Mikan lowered her voice and whispered, "I know Sesshoumaru-sama doesn't trust me. That's the real reason he's flying so close to us, isn't it? I might be blind, but I'm not stupid."

"I never thought you were," Octavia muttered. "And it's not that he doesn't trust you. He's probably just jealous that you chose to ride with me instead of him."

Mikan chuckled. "Well, he had better get used to it. Whilst he is to be my husband, you and I are daughters of the sun. Fate brought us together, Octavia. If he has a problem with that, then he is more than welcome to take it up with Amaterasu herself."

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It took them three days to reach the Northern Mountains.

It should have only taken two, but the weather had been so treacherous that they'd been forced to land in Wakasa to wait out the storm. When the mountain range finally crept into view, Octavia resisted the urge to cheer. Despite Mikan and Ah-Un's combined body heat, her hands and feet were numb from the cold, and her nose felt like it was going to fall off.

Mount Reimei was like no mountain she'd ever seen. Unlike its neighbours, which were cone-shaped and capped with snow, Mount Reimei was wholly white and cylindrical. It shimmered like an icicle in the midwinter sun. Because of the steep incline, stairs coiled around the mountain like serpents, marking a clear path from the base up to the pinnacle, which had been terraformed and turned into a fortress. It was half the size of the Western Stronghold, but what it lacked in size, it made up for in style and grandeur.

At the centre of the town stood a large mansion with red support beams and a golden roof. The mansion was connected to a second building by a series of crimson archways. The houses looked equally gorgeous. Each one was several storeys high and had flourishing roof gardens even in the dead of winter. The whole town looked like it had been pulled straight out of a fairy tale. But that wasn't all. A shimmering white tower loomed over the rest of the fortress, casting a long, imposing shadow over a section of the town. The apex of said tower was signposted by a bright red sphere that resembled a rising sun.

"Well?" Mikan fished. "What do you think?"

Octavia grinned. "I think it's the most beautiful place I've ever seen."

Ah-Un descended gracefully, following the palanquin's flight path over the emerald rooftops. Kirara did the same, but Sesshoumaru waited for no one. He increased his speed so that he was flying beside the little wagon, before overtaking it at the very last second. He landed in front of the mansion effortlessly, as if he'd been doing it all his life.

The warriors set the cart down behind him, then stood to attention on either side of it. After tossing Sesshoumaru a sideways glare, Roku opened the palanquin door and helped the High Priestess climb out of the gold cart.

The other priestesses – or dawnsingers, as Mikan called them – were waiting in front of the mansion steps. Their faces lit up when Shizuka emerged from the palanquin and inhaled the crisp, mountainy air. She greeted them with a stoic nod. It was all the permission they needed to flock to her side and bow. Their brass robes and waist-length veils shimmered in the sunlight, and they each had matching teardrop tattoos beneath their eyes.

"Welcome home, Shizuka-sama," they all said in unison.

The High Priestess returned the bow. "Thank you, my sunbeams. It is good to be back on sacred soil again."

Ah-Un touched down beside the palanquin and lowered its body to the ground, making it easier for Octavia and Mikan to disembark. The dawnsingers watched raptly as the demoness slid out of the saddle and brushed the wrinkles out of her robes. They all smiled when she waved at them. Or rather, most of them did.

One of the younger-looking priestesses elbowed the girl standing next to her and rolled her eyes. Octavia was a little taken aback by such a blatant show of disrespect, but she held her tongue and stared at the priestess with a frosty expression.

Whilst Mikan was talking, the priestess proceeded to whisper something in her friend's ear. Octavia frowned harder as she drew back and smiled unkindly. The priestess eventually noticed her staring and shot her a snooty look. She was a dainty thing with curly, ashen hair and eyes the colour of lemons. Octavia envisioned squeezing the juice from them and making lemonade with it.

"Shall we?" the High Priestess asked, gesturing to the entrance of the mansion.

"Certainly," Mikan replied with a smile. She turned to the group of dawnsingers and said, "Take the dragon and the nekomata to the stables. Ensure that they are fed and groomed in time for the festivities."

They nodded eagerly. "Yes, Your Ladyship."

As they were leaving, Mikan suddenly added, "Oh, and Ushio?"

The priestess who had rolled her eyes raised her head and blinked. "Yes, Mikan-sama?"

"The dragon's claws will need cleaning, as well. Wakasa is awfully muddy at this time of year, even with all the snowfall we've had. You'll take care of that for me, won't you?"

Ushio flashed her a tight smile. "Of course. I live to serve you, Mikan-sama."

Octavia pursed her lips to stop herself from laughing.

She handed Ah-Un's reins over to one of the older priestesses and watched as the dragon was guided towards the stables. Kohaku insisted on going with them and beckoned Kirara to follow. The nekomata didn't seem particularly happy about being treated like a common mount, but she still did as she was bid. Rin looked like she wanted to go, as well, but she knew what was expected of her and thus stayed where she was.

Mikan waited until they were gone before turning to her betrothed and saying, "Now that that's been taken care of, what do you say we go inside, my lord? I, for one, would like a warm bath and a meal before the day is done."

Octavia liked the sound of that.

"On your mark, my lady," Sesshoumaru said in a neutral tone.

With his permission, they all followed the demoness into the House of the Rising Sun.

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Author's Corner

Gokurakuchō = Birds of Paradise

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