Chapter 5

"Mmm..."

Wide violet eyes blinked open to the world around her. She squinted them with a wince from the uncomfortable stiffness in her back. Blinking to gain her vision, she took in her surroundings. Trees that winded and twisted high above branched about like spider webs. The clouds could bare peak through their branches. Their dark green leaves a stark contrast to the overhanging thick foliage of her jungle. The sun was absent. A dewy mist settled over the land and crept through the trees. Various sounds echoed at a distance. Birds called to each other and beckoned them to take flight.

Oshun sat up on off the dirt floor. Her fingers trudged through the soil, familiarizing herself to the foreign place she found herself in. Her locs fell around her face, the baubles and cowrie shells chiming as she moved. The white long skirt and bantu still intact from earlier. Her heartbeat increased rapidly by the seconds of thought that she had come to realize she was far from home. Maybe someplace she shouldn't be. Fear crept up her spin from the understanding that she was not home or in the hut with the dog where she once was fighting for his life. The dirt coursed through between her fingers and spilled from her palm back to the earth. Her eyebrows creased trying to make sense of what she was experiencing. The air was thicker like the hut in the hills. Strange vibrations moved through the earth underneath her.

She stood up slowly, getting her feet underneath her so she could maintain her balance. Her mind raced over the events that happened prior. "The Dog." She muttered as she thought through the rinsing ceremony. The ritual was performed by her ancestry line to get to the root of the sickness and use the will of the individual to help purge. It was working until it didn't. She looked at her dirtied hands wondering what went awry during her prognosis and treatment.

A bang and a howl in the distance caught her attention. Her head whipped around her at the unfamiliar terrain. With careful steps, her bare feet made a pathway towards the howl. She moved forward and slouched low to keep from being seen. Her magic simmered in her bosom ready to be used but uncertain in her care. A curse flew from her lips at her circumstance. She should have never tried. She should have left the dog to die in the mountain. God has his will. Who was her father to decide different? If it was Gods will for that man to live, he wouldn't have needed to seek their help.

Oshun pursed her lips as she ran through the leaves, low branches, and bushes. Her feet beating in rhythm with the vibrations coming from up ahead. She moved quickly through the pathway until she could smell the scent of fire, smoke, and copper. Screams and yells came from above through the trees. Darkness gave way to fiery red hues. Animals from around could be seen fleeing the woods, going deeper into the place she had just come from. She walked through until she came to an opening. Metal and the movement of a blade swept against her soft mocha skin. The redness from the sky began to bleed, alerting her to the view up ahead. More screams and yells were heard until she could make out people running and falling over themselves. Fighting with weapons of various nature. She finally hugged a large tree and slowly peered around its trunk to see the scene before her.

A gasp fell from her lips at seeing men fighting deathly battles on what looked to be a bloody battlefield. Weapons that escaped from defeated hands of men were staked into bodies and the earth. Blood drenched the soil and watered the grass. Parts of men and the like were scattered all over. Yelps and yowls clashed with the calls of men yelling explicits and instructions. The land burned from the fire and crept onto some of the fallen. Ash rained from the night sky while the smoke and fire painted it a dark red. Warriors were locked in battle both big and small against all matter of beasts. She gasped as a particular attack blew her hair back from the collision against the weapon of another.

"Youkai filth!" One yelled so violently before stabbing his staff in the chest cavity of one of the creatures.

She reassessed where she was. The thick armor of battle decorated the bodies of men and some women. Their symbols and design contrasted greatly with each other. One seeming oddly more foreign than she was given the circumstances. Loud bangs and foreign words spilled from the various lips of men. The understanding of their words frightening her even more. The air carried with it charged energy of spiritual prowess and dense crackles of electricity. The natures of many collided with some and danced with others. Tumultuous power exerted from the hands of men and controlled chaos from the others. Horses ran free in panic of all the commotion. One carrying a rider soon suffered an arrow to the head. His heavy body immediately falling onto the ground beneath him. The rider jumped off, brandishing his long weapon as he leapt unusually high into the air and began to attack. His attacker suffering from his head severed from his body.

Oshun gasped at the unmitigated horror she was witnessing. Bile rose in her throat from seeing the decay and destruction of bodies. Ligaments and heads being ripped from the spinal cords of the presumed enemy brought tears and fear to her eyes. A protective prayer fell from her lips as she made to turn and run but she was stopped from a sight. A youkai looking oddly similar to a bat was fighting against a demon but was losing the battle with his sustained injuries. The membrane from his attached wings torn near the elbow and bloody from the cut. The human he fought against dressed like someone from the history books of Europe. His pale white skin contrasting greatly against the features of some of the fallen.

What seemed to be woman ran through the middle dressed in a warrior's regalia threw a few red glowing knives from between her fingers at the foreign attacker. The man clutched his chest and yelled in pain before falling to his knees beneath the youkai. She landed gracefully, her young face looking barely into her teens as she lent her hand to the bat youkai and helped him up. His weight almost throwing her off her own two feet. She scanned him over and pointed towards a larger structure somewhere in the far back. Her short brown chin length hair whipped around her from the heat and wind blowing through the area.

Oshun surmised she was in the middle of war between three groups or maybe two. A diverse group of fighters dressed in Japanese style armor were fighting with a mix of Japanese militant men and priests along with Europeans. As her back was turned, another man crawled up to his knees and reached for a rifle. She watched in horror as he loaded the gun on the ground.

"Watch out!" Oshun yelled before taking a step forward out of the safety of her spot. Violet power shot from her fingertips and a soft barrier flew up protectively across Rin. Oshun's high pitch voice catching the attention of everyone around to see her. A flash of white light fell from the sky and bloomed around them a massive cocoon of power that swirled around them when the shot went off. It blew back anything not weighed down. Before she could blink, the light and wind died down. The Inu dog stood draped in his military armor. His eyes were glowing, and his claws were colored in rouge. His long hair was tied at the nape of his neck. His piercing dangerous aura was piercing yet familiar as it pushed against her violently. The man that shot the bullet was sliced in half and falling back into the dirt.

Oshun looked him over in fright and recognition. Her small barrier fell instantly upon seeing the Inu standing next to the woman. His blade was clutched in one hand while his other patted the girls head once as if to ensure she was still there. His haori and hakama was stained with blood. The heavy armor seemed to nearly be a decorative piece against his strong menacing build. Unchecked power poured from his veins and left her feeling weak against its demanding nature. Jagged claws held tightly to the hilt, elongating as he quickly surveyed the surrounding area. A command flew from his lips to bat warrior and the girl under his palm stiffened with a fierce look in her eyes. Rage. So much rage lived in there. In those eyes that ranged between golden pools of honey and rubies. He was a warrior. No. A commander. But of what? Why?

What was happening?

Why was she here?

Why was she seeing this?

What had she done?

The woman looked to him and quickly hugged him tightly. His arm moved to rest on her head while his eyes focused on Oshun. The sinister look slicing through her. Checking for friend or foe. Oshun carefully watched his interaction with the woman. The relief she suddenly felt at seeing the young woman literally dodging the bullet only because the Inu Youkai had thwarted it with his youkai energy. A powerful spiritual presence was rapidly approaching, and she turned her head to see a woman ride the back of a fire cat and land next to them.

A pink barrier flew up around them protectively as the woman spoke quickly. Suddenly both women and the Inu demon looked at her. The younger one took a step towards her before an ear-splitting howl was heard in the distance. The Inu spoke and soon after the two women were mounting the cat and flying off towards the source of howl. Oshun watched with bated breath as the Inu continued to look at her with his hand clutching the hilt of his weapon. His claws scratching against the corded pieces along the hilt. His nose twitched, catching scents on the wind whipping about them. His head tilted sideways in confusion followed by a snarl at the realization.

Oshun took a step back realizing the danger she put herself in. She turned and quickly ran. Her feet carried her back through the pathway she had taken. Her power surged in her fingertips as she ran with the speed of a track star through the forests. She could sense his presence approaching her quickly from behind. Her powers manifested and her eyes started to glow violet. Pressing her foot into the earth, she slid back and faced him as he approached.

Suddenly, he was in front of her. His hand having reached out to grasp her by her throat. Hands came up and pushed him backwards out of her space. A menacing growl ripped from his lips as he snarled to her. "Who are you? Had you come to poison us in my home?" He asked. "Did they bring you here stripped from your home to ravage mine?" He snarled aggressively saying more now than she had ever heard him before.

Oshun's eyes widened. She watched him sniff the air and prepare his hand for an attack. The song of his blade speaking of catastrophic death and violence. One that she may not leave alive from. His aura pounded against her; searching… raking. Like sharp claws on an iron pressed against her skin. He was searching for deceit and weakness. Her mind worked through his sentence, concluding that he must smell his own scent upon her. Oshun called forth her magic again, turning into an aggressor realizing she had only done this a few times in her entire short life. Most seemingly being in his presence with him on the other side provoking her.

"I am not here to hurt you." She stated working through her thoughts while proving him with an answer. His name was there on the tip of her tongue. Begging to be said. As if it would unlock something.

Did he know her?

Did she know his name?

She felt like she did.

But it was missing now.

Who was he?

Sesshomaru launched then finding her answer to be unsuitable and thus filled with deceit. His eyes narrowed upon her with his weapon drawn. "Die." He muttered feeling the strong presence of powerful ancient energy swell.

"Give yourself a name! Show me who you are!" She yelled as she focused her intent on the racing Inu that chose to attack her again.

Her hand reached up in time and collided with his mighty sword. A piercing while light swept over her vision. A giant swell of heat glazed over her skin. A name echoed in her mind. One she would never forget.

"SHESSOMARU!"

Oshun sat up panting. Sweat coated her skin as her eyes turned to see Sesshomaru roll onto his hands and knees and push himself on shaking appendages. Pain washed through his joints and his lungs worked to expand in his chest cavity. Something wanted to come up. Sweat poured from his face as his lungs heaved and he dry coughed. His silver hair looked stringy now as it fell around him. His skin was deathly pale. His flesh hanging onto the muscle and bone of his naked torso. The weight he loss from his illness showing the cut lines in his muscle mass. A feral growl escaped his lips as he looked at her with blood-stained untrusting eyes. She was there in his head but not at the same time. She was there in his past but yet living in his present. He knew her from before. The scent and recognition was there.

Honey.

Fresh Rain.

Hibiscus.

Fear…Sour Root.

The scent of his own winter and pine mingled in his senses.

"Sesshomaru." She repeated, chest heaving and palms sweaty. Her heart pounded in her chest and her eyes shined brightly. Her blood was cold in her veins as she gave him his name and honored him. She watched him attempt to lift himself before the coughing worsened. His claws ripped holes in the bedding and furs as he worked to get whatever was in his chest up.

Oshun shuffled to her feet and found an empty bowl she was using during her healing. The candles and items that she had used for the ritual were all in the spots she had left them. Light shined through the window, cooling the inside of the tiny house with a breeze. She brought the bowl precariously to him before it was snatched from her hands and held to his lips. He coughed and dry heaved until a green and black liquid of phlegm parted from between his lips. He spat aggressively as he continued to cough and gag.

She rushed to find the cloth she had been using but stopped as she looked at the items. Her father was going to perform this ritual until he got sick, and she took over. She needed to talk to him.

What happened?

Where did she go?

Why?

Oshun rewet the abandoned washcloth she had used earlier among the night and candlelight. As she worked, she kept a protective barrier against her skin should Sesshomaru react aggressively again. "Let me help you?" She asked softly as she turned to him. His form was humped over as he coughed and spit. His body quaking underneath the whole ordeal of his body purging.

"W-what did you do?" He snarled angrily before he coughed again, uncontrollably.

Oshun slowly began to pat the side of his face. The sun shined through the open storm shutters. The heat from the sun was strained from the thick foliage of her forest surrounding the hut. She squinted as a few rays fell across her face as she studied his sweaty one. The redness that had begun to color his skin making her concern rise. Some color was better than no color she was taught. "I performed the healing ritual."

Oshun cautiously moved closer to him. "My father assigned me as your healer. He is sick and cannot pour from an empty well. So, he has left you in my care." She quickly worked through as she patted him on the back to aid in his purge.

Her eyes looked at the mass in the bowl. The symptoms of his sickness filling the bowl. Her eyes scanned its content already having a hint as to what was happening to the warrior demon. Licking her lips, she asked a question of the hour being mindful of the sensitive nature of the topic. "Who was that girl that was with you on the battlefield? She had brown short hair to her chin and wore an orange uniform? Does she have anything to do with what you're going through?"

A snarl ripped from him and she soon found herself on her back with an angry youkai on top of her heaving. Her body flickered in a soft purple protective glow. His hands gripped her wrists in them tightly and pressed them into the floor at her sides. The weight of his body pressed hard against hers. His other hand quickly moved to grip her around her throat. "Don't." He simply growled before his body caved and he began to cough again.

Oshun wiggled her wrist from his other hand and pushed him off, alarmed at how easy it was to move him away using her powers and capitalizing on his waning strength. "She is everything that's part of this illness that's attacking you." She said as she scooted away from him to the other side against the wall. A sigh left her lips from having her life in danger so many times in less than 24 hours. Her hands ran over her throat grateful he didn't slice it clean. Granted maybe her powers would have saved her but she had never been threatened like this so it was a gamble. He was a gamble.

Oshun sprung to her feet and dusted her white skirt off of the dirt that gathered. Tiredness and fear clawed at her insides as she watched him wither on the floor. A far cry from the powerfully dangerous demon that nearly sliced her in half with his blade in the woods. "I-I will consult with my father and the village elders regarding your health and what has happened. Water is in the pitcher near your head over there next to the medicinal powder you should drink when you are awake. They will have answers…" She dragged as she quickly began throwing things into her bag. "-for us both." She bent down and picked up the bowl and replaced it with another. She glowered at it before turning away and walking out of the door.

Sesshomaru watched her leave. His chest hurting from the exhaustion of the muscles it took to make his body move. The strength he had left him. His mind wandered to the one thing he was trying so hard to push back. Only to be reminded of the event years ago. Another time she was almost lost to him. Only to be followed by more attempts. He flipped himself onto his back and laid there to stare at the ceiling. The remnants of his coughing were leaving him. A few managed to escape as he lay, lost in the memories of the past intermingled with memories of the future.

In the Past

"Sesshomaru!"

The Inu Lord sat up. His golden eyes looked around the quiet room. The gentle beating of the rain against the walls rang peacefully throughout. Everything was where it sat. Nothing was out of place. Except his clothes which were strewn all over the place. The castle was still and had been calmed after another battle with the Portuguese. They brought war ships as if presenting him with an ultimatum to let them set up trade or engage in war. He pressed his head into his palm and rubbed his temples in thought. A name on his lips.

Had he said her name?

It sat on the tip of his tongue.

A woman yelled his name and woken him from his sleep. Her voice rang in his ears. Her scent lingered days after their confrontation in the woods. Her foreign nature standing boldly engulfed with violet and golden hues. Her locs lifting off her body as ancient magic flooded to protect her. Her eyes looking at him with a familiarity, yet uncertainty spun in the pools of her deep eyes. A power he hadn't felt since before his father's time flooded around him and reminded him of walking amongst the forest of Bokuseno.

Sesshomaru's sword should have killed her but instead it simply met air as she vanished in a beam of hot white light. He was left standing there with adrenaline fueling his warpath and the battlefield behind him. He had searched the area believing she was a mage that entered his home and sought to destroy him and his pack. She carried his scent upon her but it was muted with sickness. It must have been poison for him.

But why cry out for Rin?

Why try to save her when the bullet was meant to kill?

Would she come back?

What was her purpose?

Suddenly, a body shifted next to him, and he looked to see the back of the naked demoness he had lain with. Her long light blue hair shined in the early hours of daybreak. The contrast between the woman that lay next to him and the woman in the forest was vast. Struck with more questions than answers, he sought to get up out of the bed. His mind raced to get on with the day and out of the space he woken up in.

Sesshomaru immediately threw on his clothes. Already he could hear his brother and his extended family up and moving about. He still needed to bathe and prepare for the day himself. He stilled, never looking back at the demoness he bedded. Already forgotten as the name he muttered in his sleep echoed in his mind. The rain beat lightly against the wood outside, whispering her name like a beloved flower.

"Oshun" Sesshomaru tasted her name as he stilled before quickly exiting the eastern room belonging to his guests. Not realizing that the demoness he assumed was asleep whispered her name too with a bit more malice laced between the phonetics.