The End is only the Beginning von leonie2 ================================================================================ Kapitel 6: Fate Strikes ----------------------- Chapter 6: Fate strikes Wind tore mercilessly at Sesshoumaru’s hair and clothes as he stood on the high plateau facing his opponent. He was here because rumors had reached him about a powerful miko who killed every demon she came across mercilessly and since she did so in his territory it was his duty to eliminate the threat to his subjects. Normally, he wouldn’t care. Demon society did not, unlike human society, require of rulers to help their subjects and it was also against Sesshoumaru’s nature to help the weak. But the miko had been stupid enough to challenge him and that he could not ignore. Cold eyes regarded the woman who dared to point an arrow charged with holy energy at him. She was plain, unremarkable but for the formidable holy aura that surrounded her. She was protected by a strong barrier. “I will purge the world of you, demon!” The miko shot her arrow. Sesshoumaru jumped into the air while simultaneously drawing Bakusaiga. When he brought the sword down on the barrier in an elegant arch, the protective shield cracked and hissed at the demon word but it did not break – yet. Unfazed by the close proximity of her enemy, the miko got out another arrow and fired it without hesitation at the demon lord. At the same time, however, her barrier shattered under the pressure of Bakusaiga. Sesshoumaru looked down at his chest. The arrow had pierced his armor and protruded now from his flesh above his heart. The wound was not deep but the arrow burned uncomfortably with the reiki it was infused with. He turned his golden gaze on the woman when he heard her laughing. “That is the end, demon. I might not survive this day but neither will you.” “Insolent wench.” With an ease that betrayed noting of the pain he was in, Sesshoumaru ripped the arrow out of his flesh and then decapitated the miko with a single sweep of his sword. The woman had been a fool. He had been wounded before by holy arrows and though they stung more than ordinary arrows, they were by no means a threat to him. He wiped his sword clean on the clothes of the dead miko before he sheathed it, then he turned around to leave. He didn’t look back at the corpse he had left behind. He didn’t see the smile on her pale lips. Some minutes later he realized, that his wound was still bleeding freely when it should have at least clotted by that time. He began to wish that he hadn’t let the miko die so easily. When the wound still didn’t show any sign of closing, he got mildly concerned. Maybe he should go see Jakken. As annoying as the toad was, he did have some knowledge about curses and would know how to lift this one. The front of his haori was stained blood red when he started flying in the direction of his castle where he had left his retainer. When Sesshoumaru reached the castle at the shore of the ocean, he was so weak from the blood loss that he was barely able to stand. He didn’t show it, of course, when his servants came scurrying out of the building to see their lord. Growling at anyone who dared to offer their help, he walked unhurried and upright to his quarters, waving only Jakken a signal to follow him. Sensing his lordship’s murderous mood, the toad for once held his tongue until they reached the lord’s bedroom. “M… my lord… are you unwell?” Jakken watched as his lord rather gracelessly sat down on the polished wood floor of his bedroom. His lack of grace unnerved Jakken tremendously. Lord Sesshoumaru always moved with infinite grace, even when he took a blow. And there was blood… so much blood. He jerked out of his worried thoughts when he heard his lordship’s emotionless voice. He sounded… tired. “The breastplate, Jakken.” Hurrying to his lord’s side and muttering excuses, Jakken began to unfasten the leather strips that held Sesshoumaru’s armor in place, making a mental note that it would need repairing. He gasped when he saw just how red and sticky the garments underneath were. “The wound is not closing, Jakken. Why?” “I feel an aura of holy energy around the wound, my lord. It is like a barrier inside the wound.” Sesshoumaru laid back on his futon. So, there was no curse other than the still lingering reiki of that troublesome woman. “Then my youki will neutralize the barrier. I will rest, Jakken. No one is to disturb me.” … The sun was slowly setting over the ocean when Jakken returned to his lord’s chambers to check on him. He had had a bad feeling when he felt the barrier around the wound but he trusted his lord’s judgment. Nothing could have prepared him for the sight that met him upon entering the bed chamber. Everything was soaked with blood. Could one body even hold so much blood? Jakken panicked, ran over to the unconscious taiyoukai and shook his shoulder. “My lord! Wake up!” When Sesshoumaru finally opened his eyes, they were as red as the blood that was surrounding his form, the slit pupils tiny, unfocused. “My lord! Please allow me to find a miko to lift this damned barrier off you!” Sesshoumaru didn’t answer. Instead, his large hand gripped the small toad and before Jakken could protest, he was thrown through multiple shoji screens. … Jakken was so sick with worry, he almost hadn’t managed to get Ah-Un from the stables. After his lordship had disposed of him, he had ordered all the servants in the castle to not approach their lord to prevent anyone from getting killed. Sesshoumaru’s demon instincts had taken over and much like a wounded animal, he wouldn’t allow anyone to touch him in that state. Now he was in the air on the two-headed dragon’s back, heading straight for the only place where he would find a strong miko that was willing to help a youkai: Inuyasha’s village. As soon as Ah-Un touched the ground, Jakken hopped off the dragon’s back and started yelling after the miko that had traveled with his lordship’s younger bastard brother. She appeared only a few moments later, with a basket of herbs in her hand, followed by the old miko. Before she could speak, he started yelling at her. “You! Come with me! My lord Sesshoumaru requires your powers as he has been most grievously injured by a foul miko like yourself!” For a moment, Kagome could only stare at the agitated toad. Sesshoumaru? Injured? Needing her help? That didn’t make any sense. But it had to be true or else, Jakken would not be here with her, looking as if the end of the world was upon them. She didn’t hesitate. True, the taiyoukai had always made it clear that he held no sympathy for her or her friends, much less Inuyasha, but he had also saved not just her but all of them in the past. So, he ran past Kaede to her hut where she quickly picked up the satchel that she used to carry her medicinal supplies, then returned to Jakken who already sat on Ah-Un’s back, screaming for her to hurry. She swung into the saddle and with a burst of youki from the dragon, they flew off. A/N: Here we go. Fate is set in motion! Reviews are very much appreciated. Hosted by Animexx e.V. (http://www.animexx.de)