Kagome's head spun as the nutcracker flew forward, engaging the intruder as rats swarmed his comrades. His sword remained at his side, claws and fangs bared as Onigumo made multiple attempts to sever his head from his body. She wanted to watch, to help, but the rats were numerous and as trained as Sango and Miroku were, they were soon overwhelmed.
Retracting the barrier, as it seemed useless at that point, Kagome scrambled to her feet, looking for something to use as a conduit. She found what she was looking for near the fireplace and grabbed the unused poker. It glowed with reiki as soon as she made contact, the rats hissing as they were showered in sparks. It wouldn't do as much damage since they weren't youkai, but it was a good distraction.
It also drew the shadows, separating them from Onigumo and increasing the nutcracker's chance for survival. And it was imperative that he did. Dream or not, she wasn't about to let someone as vile as Onigumo win.
Whatever he was.
The shadows converged, trying to combine their power, but Kagome wasn't having any of it, splintering their tower as Sango cut through more of the rats. She stayed close to Miroku, and even Kirara joined the fray, swatting at the smaller ones whenever they got close.
Spinning around, Kagome drew a circle around her, chanting low as marks appeared on the ground. This wasn't her first encounter with rogue youkai, and certainly not her first fight. She'd have to thank Kouga later for working her so hard—if she remembered. The way this dream was going, there had to have been something in her mother's cooking to set her off.
She probably hadn't even come downstairs and was fast asleep in bed. Maybe if she could wake herself up, it would help. She used the poker as a sword, slicing through more shadows and watching them disintegrate before running toward the stairs. But as she got to the doorway, a hiss of pain had her turning around.
Onigumo had landed a hit, the nutcracker gripping his side as he backed away, trying to regain the high ground. Sango and Miroku were completely surrounded, bone and bar cutting through the horde. Kagome was completely free—free to regroup, free to escape. She could leave, and no one would be the wiser. She knew this was a dream, yet something drew her back into the room.
Creeping around the backside of the tree, Onigumo advanced on the nutcracker, sneering as they got closer to the fireplace. The flames had died down since the party, but the bricks were still aglow with the heat of the embers, and the heel of the nutcracker's boots dug into the floor as he repositioned himself.
"You fight so hard when it's such a useless endeavour," Onigumo taunted, the tip of his sword cutting a gouge out of the floor. The nutcracker was breathing hard, blood seeping from between his fingers, and Kagome knew she wouldn't be able to get to him in time.
"I will always fight," he said, straightening to his full height. "Until fate relinquishes its hold on me, I will always be here to stop you."
Onigumo clicked his tongue. "But by then, I will have conquered your beloved city, and there will be nothing left for you to come back to." The nutcracker readied his claws, but she saw him falter as Onigumo raised his blade, intent on cutting the nutcracker down, and she did the only thing she could think of.
She threw her shoe at him.
It caught Onigumo in the shoulder, and the nutcracker had enough sense to duck low. His foe stumbled forward, tripping over him and landing amongst the burning embers. He might've screamed, but the cries of his followers drowned it out, the shadows going up in smoke as the rats looked at each other, unsure what to do next. Miroku wasn't taking any chances, quickly unleashing the power of his cursed hand. The horde tried to retreat but only ended up impeding each other's escape, the last of their shrieks muted a moment before he wrapped the beads around his wrist.
The nutcracker stared at the fireplace, amber eyes wide. The flames engulfed Onigumo's body, the remaining logs shifting with a sickening thud. Kagome tore her gaze away, not wanting to dwell on what she'd done, and she knelt next to the nutcracker. "Are you alright?"
She saw his shoulders stiffen, and he slowly looked up at her. "You are still here."
Kagome tilted her head to the side. "Yes? Even if I'd gone upstairs, I would've come back." She wasn't sure what would've happened if she had left, but it was best not to dwell on that, either. "I'm glad you're safe."
He tried to pull away, but the wound on his side made it impossible to do so, and she leaned down further to inspect it. "You're youkai, right? I can help." Extending a finger, the soft glow of her reiki lit up his face as she touched his side. She kept it contained, not wanting to overwhelm him, all while ignoring the chuckle that sounded from toward the clock.
Concentrating, Kagome forced the healing properties of his body to speed up, their power blending as his flesh was stitched back together. More sparks bounced off the ground, but since they weren't a threat, they were ignored. The wound seemed to get bigger, and her eyebrows scrunched together as she increased her power.
More than just her finger was needed now, and when she finally pulled back, her entire palm was pressed against his side. The edge of the blood stain gradually receded, leaving the fabric of his uniform in the pristine condition it had started in. Nodding to herself, she stepped back. "There. Now you're good as new." Her smile faded as she realized she was now looking up at him.
She automatically took another step back, wondering when he'd grown taller, but reality sunk in as she gaped at the tree. She couldn't even see the top, the star hidden by the overlapping branches. Hands on her hips, she turned toward the clock, eyes narrowing.
"That's enough, Uncle," she scolded. "You've had your fun, but the dream is over. We beat the bad guy." Touga smirked down at her, arms still tucked inside his cloak, and Kagome felt her power surge again. It warmed her chest before pooling around her hands. He'd never engaged in her training before, but there was a first time for everything. "Come down here if you want to play games!"
She advanced toward him, intent on giving him a piece of her mind, but Kirara blocked her path. She was gigantic now, probably large enough to ride, and the size difference was enough to make Kagome pause, her arms quickly wrapping around her pet's neck. "I never knew you were so strong," she cooed.
"The sentiment is mutual," Miroku said, standing next to the feline.
"I'm not surprised," Sango said, adjusting the boomerang on her back. "I always knew you had it in you."
Kagome offered her a grateful smile, giving Kirara one last squeeze before stepping back. "This is one ridiculous dream. I don't think I could've come up with this even as a kid." Her dolls shared a look, then bowed low, though it wasn't directed at her.
"It's good to see you again," Miroku said, hands by his side. "I wasn't sure if it would happen in this lifetime."
The nutcracker inclined his head but said nothing, his eyes still on Kagome. Unsure how to react, she raised her chin, trying to seem taller. Even in the flickering light, his height was imposing. He stood at least a head above her, but it was different than Uncle Touga, who usually sported a welcoming and good-natured expression.
The nutcracker was stone-faced—aside from the one glimpse of shock from before—and Kagome was still trying to figure out if he blinked. Her shoulders tensed as a troubling thought crossed her mind.
Was he mad that she'd interfered? Had she taken his victory from him? He stood proud, a solitary figure even when he'd been on the shelf. He'd clearly been fighting Onigumo for a long time. Had it all been for naught because she'd had the final blow?
"I'm sorry!" she blurted, stepping back toward him. She should probably bow, but she couldn't tear her eyes away from his. "You should've been the one to take the final shot, but you were already hurt, and I didn't want things to get worse. And everyone else was busy, so it seemed the right thing to do." She couldn't stop talking, but she also couldn't seem to find the right words, and she wrung her hands together.
He finally moved, the back of his claws brushing against her neck as her hair was pushed out of the way. She stilled at the touch, knuckles turning white as she stared up at him, eyes searching. His claws slowly made their way to the back of her head, and she was pulled forward, her body pressed against his.
"You did well."
Such a simple phrase, yet it had emotions welling up within her. Breathing deeply, she wrapped her arms around his waist. "I'm glad you're alright," she repeated, words muffled against his uniform. He smelled of winter pine and the first frost, though the warmth of his chest seeped through her housecoat, chasing away the chill from the battle.
Maybe she'd keep dreaming a little longer.
A cough sounded from behind them, but his hand stayed on the back of her head, holding her close when she tried to pull away. "I hate to interrupt, my lord, but they're expecting your return. And the gateway will soon close."
Kagome looked up at the nutcracker in question, the edge of his mouth tightening before finally releasing her. "I suppose we must not disappoint them."
"Disappoint who?" she asked, finding her tongue.
His eyes flickered toward her, the muscles of his throat restricting as he swallowed. "I must impose on your compassion once more and request you join us on our journey." Her uncle sniggered in the distance, and the nutcracker growled softly. "You will be unable to return to your true self if you do not."
She groaned, her head falling backward. "We couldn't just make things easy with a snap of the fingers, could we?" She glared over her shoulder. "I blame you for this. And when I finally wake up, you'll be dealing with the aftermath."
"I will hold you to that, little bird." Touga's disembodied voice floated around the room like a winter breeze, rustling the tree branches before the mechanical castle he'd brought sprang to life.
Kagome's mouth fell open, and she stepped in the direction of the clock, only the nutcracker's arm around her waist keeping her from following through with the threats about dismembering her uncle spilling from her mouth.
"There will be time for that later," he promised.
"But it's all the way up there!" she protested. "If I'd known we needed to go that way, I would've put us all up there before I shrank!"
A smirk lit the nutcracker's features. "Then allow me to return the favour." Youki pooled under their feet, a translucent cloud lifting them into the air. She gripped his waist, the ground suddenly unstable, but he was unperturbed, appearing to be in complete control of their new mode of transportation. They touched down softly, the cloud dissolving at the castle gate.
She glanced down at Sango and Miroku, assuming he would do the same for them, but Kirara mewed softly, flames erupting around her paws. Her face changed, aging into something prehistoric before Sango and Miroku climbed onto her back. She leapt into the sky, circling the castle before standing next to them, bumping Kagome's arm as the two slid from her back.
"Well, that's new," she said, stroking her fur. Kirara rolled her head, enjoying the scritches around her ears. "Remind me to see if you can do that when I wake up." She mewed again, then fell back in line behind the nutcracker, Sango and Miroku doing the same. Kagome frowned, wondering if there was some youkai protocol she was missing, but she wasn't given the chance to dwell on it.
There was a pulse within the castle, and the nutcracker raised his arm, fingers splayed wide as he returned the call. His markings darkened, though that could've just been the light from beyond the doors as they slowly swung open.
"It appears they are expecting you," Sango mused, boots clicking against the marble floor.
"They are always expecting me," the nutcracker retorted. The air turned cold, the three dolls silent as they strolled past winding staircases and intricate tapestries. Kagome looked around in awe, trying to take in every sight. She wouldn't put it past her uncle to create such a masterpiece—he loved to show off at the best of times—but it was much more complicated than simple mechanics. She wasn't sure she'd ever recover from this dream.
"What do I call you?" she eventually asked, breaking the silence.
"You wish to know my name?" It seemed an odd question, full of intrigue and foreboding, but she'd never felt anything sinister from him, so she nodded.
"I can't keep calling you 'nutcracker'," she replied cheekily. He continued to look at her, indecision warring on his chiselled features, and she lay a hand on his left shoulder. His eyes widened at the touch, as if he'd never considered her doing such a thing, and she squeezed him reassuringly. "You can trust me."
He let out a snort, finally relaxing. "I am aware." He sounded so sure of himself that her smile widened. Placing his hand over hers, he met her gaze. "I am called Sesshoumaru."