Kagura was in trouble. Naraku had injected a huge dosage of his miasma into her body. Naraku laughed as he watched the play of emotions on Kagura's face as she fought desperately to try to escape him. But this fighting proved to be of no help for Kagura because the damage had already been done. She was going to die.
"Damn you,Naraku!!" Kagura said as she flew away on her feather.
However, truth be told, Kagura was very relieved. Naraku had returned her heart and she had finally regained her freedom. Now, she was free to do whatever she pleased. After flying for about an hour, Kagura spotted a forest underneath her and without a moment's hesitation, Kagura quickly descended into the trees and landed at an opening. Kagura looked down at her pink and white kimono and saw how it had been stained with blood.
Kagura groaned and said,”Damn that Naraku!! I'll have to get another kimono now!”
Suddenly, a sharp pain in her chest ceased her thoughts momentarily. Kagura clutched her chest in agony at the pain.
Subconsciously, she checked to see if her heart was still there. When she felt the familiar thumps from her heart, Kagura sighed in relief and started limping into the forest.
Kagura didn't exactly know where she was going, but she believed that any place without Naraku was freedom in itself.
As Kagura was limping, her vision was starting to blur and she was feeling extremely dizzy.
However, the stubborn Kagura just shook it off and said,” I-I can heal these wounds in about a day.”
So she continued on until her exhaustion caused her to stop and rest for a few moments.
She knew that her battered body wouldn't be able to hold out for much longer.
Kagura saw a field of white lilies in front of her so she decided to sit down and rest a little more until she was feeling better.
***************************************************
In the field, Kagura was enjoying the calm serenity of nature.
She listened to the wind blowing, the birds chirping, and could even smell the sweet aroma of the lilies lingering in the air.
Freedom was by far more wonderful than she had ever imagined.
Kagura tried to get up from her spot to continue on her journey, but her body did not respond. Kagura lowered her head in despair.
She decided to spend the time she had left enjoying the remainder of her freedom.
“Is this the meaning of freedom? It's so quiet and peaceful here...but...there's something missing. Oh yeah..him....” Kagura said thoughtfully.
Then, she shook her head of those thoughts.
'Get a hold of yourself! Don't think such things! No one is coming for you.' Kagura reassured herself.
She had no intention of revealing her emotions.
After all, she knew her feelings would never be reciprocated by a certain demon who was just using her as a leeway to get to Naraku.
That's when the thought hit her: she was all alone.
When it all came down to it, no one would be there for her when she died. No one would miss her.
“So this is how it's going to end? I'll die here alone?”Kagura questioned.
Kagura watched the blood from her wounds turn all the white lilies around her red.
She was surprised to hear the footsteps of another person standing in front of her.
Immediately, Kagura looked up to see who it was.
She was shocked to see Sesshomaru standing right in front of her.
Kagura blinked a couple of times and almost had to do a double take to make sure that she wasn't dreaming. It was really him!
“Sesshomaru...” Kagura whispered exasperately.
Sesshomaru looked down at her with his icy golden-colored eyes and simply said,” I came following the scent of Naraku.”
In response to his comment, Kagura dropped her head and laughed to herself.
She couldn't believe how much she had expected from Sesshomaru.
I mean, this was Sesshomaru, right?
Kagura decided that she would humor him.
“Heh...are you disappointed? That I'm not Naraku?”Kagura said with a smirk.
Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes.
“I knew it was you,” came his soft reply.
Kagura jerked up her head in amazement only to see his beautiful form and...his...compassionate eyes?
Kagura lowered her head again.
She could not bear to let him see the tears welling up in her eyes from both joy and disappointment.
“I see,”Kagura said.
'You knew it was me and so you came,' thought Kagura.
***********************************************
Sesshomaru put his hand on tenseiga and looked for the little demons trying to claim Kagura's soul from the Underworld.To his disappointment, none were there.
'She can't be saved.'Sesshomaru thought to himself.
Then, he asked, “You leaving?”
Kagura smiled and answered, “Yes...very soon.”
Suddenly, a bright light engulfed the tenseiga. A soul appeared from the sword and time stopped moving.
(TIME FREEZES EXCEPT FOR SESSHOMARU)
The soul from tenseiga took on the form of Sesshomaru's father.
Instinctively, Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes at his father.
“What do you want, father?' came Sesshomaru's cold response.
His father plainly asked,“Do you wish for that woman to be saved?”
Sesshomaru looked at Kagura's dissipating form and back to his father and said,“Ridiculous.”
His father smirked and replied, “Still the same as ever I see, Sesshomaru. But could the great Sesshomaru be hiding something? I sense that something is troubling you, is it not? Your heart is undergoing a transformation which leads me to believe that it is partly due to this woman's existence.”
Sesshomaru simply said, “ You are mistaken. This Sesshomaru has no time for the likes of her.”
His father sighed deeply and said, “Don't play dumb, Sesshomaru. Take a look at your sword. Surely you are not so blind that you are unaware of the great amount of noise tenseiga is making.”
Sesshomaru said nothing so his father continued, “It's love,Sesshomaru. Admit it, you love this woman and in your heart, you don't want her to die.”
Sesshomaru kept his dead pan expression. "I have no desire to repeat myself. I am nothing like you,” replied Sesshomaru.
“If that is so, why did you go to see her? And if it was to comply with her wishes, then why would you care?”Sesshomaru's father asked.
Sesshomaru's eyes softened a bit as he said, “I owed her for giving me valuable information and nothing more. Did you come here only to ask me silly questions? If so, then I see no further need to speak with you any longer.”
His father's eyes narrowed. He wasn't exactly a fan of his son's attitude, but nonetheless, he responded by saying, “Sesshomaru, would you like another chance to save her?”
Sesshomaru looked at his father with his dead pan facial expression, but replied, “I'm listening.”
His father nodded and said, “Good. You are beginning to understand. I have gotten Totosai to forge a new and improved tenseiga capable of saving the souless and destroying miasma.”
“Souless?”Sesshomaru questioned.
“Yes. For example, I know that that woman was created as an essence of Naraku. She couldn't be saved by tenseiga, am I right” said his father.
Sesshomaru said nothing. He was unwilling to play his father's games anymore.
His father sighed again and continued, “If you were to save this woman using the sword, she would probably live.”
“Probably?” asked Sesshomaru.
His father smiled at his son's almost apparent interest and said, “The sword would save her body from the miasma, but she would still have her wounds. Sesshomaru, this is a warning. The restrictions still apply. A person can only be saved once.”
Sesshomaru was surprised for a moment and his father noticed so he added, “Did you not know this? After all, you are not invincible. You must be careful, Sesshomaru."
Then, his father handed over the sword to Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru looked at his father and said, “You seem to think that I will save that woman using this sword.”
His father glared back,”Do not misunderstand me. I never said you would save her. I simply asked if you wanted to. Remember this, don't always do things in your best interest. Farewell, my son.”
The soul of his father disappeared and time started moving again.
(TIME UNFREEZES)
Kagura is dying. Sesshomaru watched Kagura, but did nothing. The tenseiga was pulsing rapidly.
Sesshomaru only responded to it by saying, “Be silent.”
Kagura raised her head just enough for Sesshomaru to see the bright smile upon her face similar to Rin's a while back.
'Things aren't so bad, Sesshomaru....at least I got to see you' Kagura thought happily to herself.
Sesshomaru saw Kagura's body dissipating fast and he confided to himself that he would test out the tenseiga and used it on Kagura without a moment's hesitation.
Kagura's body was restored, but she was unconscious.
Sesshomaru kneeled down and carried her in his arms.
The Inuyasha gang spotted Sesshomaru carrying Kagura and immediately had questions.
However, these were questions that Sesshomaru was uninterested in answering.
“She will be safe with me,” was Sesshomaru's only response as he walked away with Kagura.
He could hear Inuyasha yelling out, “Where are you taking her?” and “Don't tell me you really care.”
Sesshomaru did not turn around.
Deep down, they were all just grateful that Kagura was safe.
**************************************************
As Sesshomaru was returning to his campsite with Kagura, Sesshomaru began questioning his emotions. He didn't understand why he brought Kagura with him.
He also didn't understand why he yearned so much to take her for his own right now.
However, he dismissed these emotions as being illusions placed into his mind by his father.
“Sesshomaru..stay..with..me...” Kagura moaned in her sleep.
Sesshomaru turned his gaze on Kagura. 'What is she thinking about?" he thought to himself.
Reassuring himself that this question had no further implications of the sort, he quickly added, "Her life is none of my concern.'
After a few more hours of traveling, a thunderstorm hit and soon it began pouring rain. Normally, Sesshomaru wouldn't care about traveling in the storm alone, but since he had Kagura with him, he decided that he had to find shelter.
With that thought, his gaze shifted to a small cave up ahead.
Inside the cave, there were two large ogre demons. They were no match for Sesshomaru and were defeated easily.
Sesshomaru had the unconscious Kagura lay down.
Kagura was breathing heavily.
Sesshomaru hesitated at first, but then he placed his hand on her her forehead. She was running a high fever.
Sesshomaru remembered what his father said about there being some doubt to her survival. So Sesshomaru waited for Kagura to wake up.
Hours later, Kagura opened her eyes surprised to see that she was still alive. Then, she saw Sesshomaru and widened her eyes at the thought of him actually going through the trouble of saving her.
Sesshomaru glared at Kagura and said, “Don't get any crazy ideas. I merely did not wish to see Naraku get his way with you."
Kagura looked surprised at first and then smiled and said, “Thanks. I'm free now because of you. I-uh!! My head is splitting!!” Kagura groaned.
Sesshomaru knew that Kagura didn't have the strength to heal her wounds yet and could see that Kagura had lost too much blood.
The blood lossage caused Kagura to faint. Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes and then sighed.
Strangely enough, he felt the need to help her out. Sesshomaru opened her kimono and took care of the wounds.
Once again, he had to resist the urge to claim her.
********************************************
When Kagura was breathing normally again and her temperature had dropped, Sesshomaru quickly rushed over to his campsite to see if Rin was okay.
Rin appeared to be safe with Jaken and Ah'and Uhn'protecting her. He decided to stay with Kagura a little longer.
By the time Sesshomaru arrived at the cave, Kagura was already awake. She glared at him.
"Sesshomaru, you have no right to take advantage of an unconscious woman!"she yelled.
Sesshomaru glared back.
"Kagura. Had I known you would have preferred death, I would have easily complied with your wishes." Sesshomaru replied.
The room fell silent for a moment.
Kagura toned it down a little and asked, "Why didn't you, Sesshomaru? Why didn't you leave me to die?"
Sesshomaru looked up at the sky. It was nightime now and the stars were shining brightly.
"It is none of your concern." said Sesshomaru.
"Damn well it is!!" replied Kagura,"Sesshomaru, I want to know. What are you thinking?"
Sesshomaru looked at Kagura and their eyes met.
"This Sesshomaru does not need a reason."responded Sesshomaru.
Kagura narrowed her eyes at him.
She was fed up with Sesshomaru avoiding her questions.
Kagura was about to get in her ranting mood when suddenly, Sesshhomaru stood up and started to leave the cave.
He turned around at the cave's exit and said, "The rain has stopped. There is no more need for me to stay here."
Seshomaru continued walking. Kagura was surprised to see him leave. She felt her heart start to ache. She didn't want him to leave.
Kagura followed behind him, but Sesshomaru never looked back.
****************************************************
When they arrived at the campsite, Rin and Jaken both eagerly greeted Sesshomaru.
Rin noticed Kagura and greeted her by saying,"Oh! Lady Kagura! You're okay!! I was worried because Master Jaken kept saying that you were killed by a demon."
Rin gave Kagura a big hug, which made Kagura blush because she had never had a hug before in her life and this was all new to her.
"Wench!! Why are you alive? I thought for sure you were killed by Naraku." exclaimed Jaken.
Kagura grinned at the imp's comment and found it to be rather amusing.
Jaken said, "Milord, where have you been? You wandered off on your own when we smelled Kag-"
"Jaken." Sesshomaru warned.
"Oh, forgive me, milord." Jaken quickly replied.
Kagura was curious in hearing the rest of Jaken's sentence.
"Mind telling me what that was about, Sesshomaru?" Kagura inquired.
Sesshomaru just replied, "It's none of your concern."
No doubt about it, this answer made Kagura furious, but Jaken distracted her by asking, "Why are you here,witch?"
Kagura simply just said," I was bored and just figured that joining your group would be the best bet of seeing Naraku dead."
"In other words, you wish to form an alliance."Sesshomaru stated.
At that moment, everyone looked at Sesshomaru in surprise for actually seeming to care about the matter. Kagura almost forgot to answer him.
"Mmm..brilliant as always, I see." Kagura responded.
Sesshomaru pretended not to notice Kagura's compliment. However, in truth, he loved receiving compliments from her.
Rin didn't miss a beat with Kagura's compliment and asked Kagura multiple questions, "What are you going to do after lord Sesshomaru defeats Naraku, Lady Kagura? Will you stay with us to be with Lord Sesshomaru? Do you love him? I think that he really likes-"
"Rin. That's enough." Sesshomaru interrupted.
Kagura blushed, she hadn't really thought that far ahead. "Let's just see what happens, okay Rin?" Kagura replied.
Rin happily said, "Okay!!" She rushed off to bed.
Jaken was tired himself and decided to deal with the chaos in the morning. He followed shortly after Rin. Sesshomaru sat against a tree on a large rock facing the moon.
Kagura observed her surroundings: a two-headed demon dragon was huddled around Rin and Jaken to keep them warm while they slept ,and Sesshomaru, who appeared to be deep in thought and far from sleep. Kagura was starting to feel tired so she layed down on the cold ground. Kagura couldn't get any sleep, she kept tossing and turning and was very cold.
Sesshomaru noticed Kagura's obvious distress and without even looking, he said, "Kagura. Come here."
Out of habit, Kagura quickly obeyed these orders because she was still getting used to her freedom. Once Kagura came, Sesshomaru indicated for her to sit beside him and she did. Kagura finally remembered where she was and began acting like her old self again. However, she never expected what happened next.
Sesshomaru wrapped his mokomoko around Kagura to keep her warm for the night.
Kagura was surprised by his generosity but then glared at Sesshomaru and responded by saying, “You know, you can spare me the false sense of security, Sesshomaru. I don't need your hospitality.”
Sesshomaru turned around to meet his eyes with Kagura's. Their lips were only just a few inches apart which made Kagura start to blush.
Then, without warning Sesshomaru sighed and turned away from Kagura.
He grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him for her to rest against his body.
“Go to sleep. You are bothering me,” he muttered.
'This woman is really irritating, but I guess it can't be helped,' he thought to himself.
In a huff, Kagura leaned her head against Sesshomaru's chest and soon fell into a deep, comfortable sleep. Sesshomaru watched Kagura sleep for a bit. She felt warm against him. He didn't know why he was feeling this way. He felt so right with Kagura.
'No! This Sesshomaru will not be overcome by emotions such as love!” was Sesshomaru's resolve to his thoughts.
After all, he didn't have time to waste on such trivial things. He saw this emotion as an obstacle he needed to overcome. He would allow himself to be with Kagura just for tonight and from then on, everything would be kept as strictly business. That was his plan. Then, seeing that there was no danger, he too fell asleep while leaning against Kagura.
**********************************************************
The next day, Kagura woke up feeling unusually cold. She looked around at her surroundings and noticed that everyone was gone. She was all alone.
“Hmph! Figures they’d all go and desert me as soon as I let my guard down,”Kagura said with a smirk.
But truth be told, she was not angry at all. She was finally free.
Kagura looked towards the bright sun shining through the trees. As if to reassure herself that this was no dream, she thought, ‘That’s right, I’m free. No more Naraku, no more orders, and no more freakin’ boredom.”
Kagura began to recall the events from the previous day. ‘Just yesterday….I almost died, but…Sesshomaru saved me. I don’t understand why he would for someone who claims he doesn’t give a damn about anything…and…about what happened last night. What was that? Last night, did Sesshomaru actually try to comfort me by allowing me to lie against his chest?’
She stopped to feel her heart. ‘That’s good. My heart…it’s still beating.’
Suddenly, a rattling came from the bushes.
Kagura ceased her thoughts upon hearing noises.
She took out her fan, ready to attack any demon that appeared.
A little squirrel appeared with an acorn in its paws. When it saw that it was not alone, the squirrel suddenly paused to stare at Kagura.
“And what the hell are you looking at?!” yelled Kagura, “Shoo-go away!!”
Upon hearing her harsh voice, the frightened little squirrel quickly ran up a tree, leaving Kagura alone again.
Kagura sighed. “I don’t have time for this.” she said.
However, she just couldn’t keep her mind off of Sesshomaru.
‘Two hearts beating…I felt it last night when I was with him. I felt so warm then, his presence was…intoxicating. But then, why did he leave?’ she thought.
Kagura turned to see that she was leaning up against a tree trunk.
She sighed in disappointment. “What am I dong wasting my time thinking about him? I’ve got to get going.”
Kagura got up from her spot and pulled out a white feather from her hair. She let the feather enlarge and she got on. She flew over the trees toward the sun.
‘I’ll go wherever the wind takes me,’ she thought.
******************************************************
Unbeknownst to Kagura, shortly after she left, Rin and Jaken were heading back towards the camp that they had made the night before. In one of Rin’s hand, she held the strings to Ah’-Uhn’s harness and in her other arm, she held a large pineapple.
“Come on, Master Jaken!” Rin shouted excitedly as she ushered him along, “We have to make it back before Kagura wakes up! Don’t you remember what Lord Sesshomaru said?”
“Calm down, Rin. I’m coming!” Jaken responded.
He sighed deeply as he slowly began to recall the words of his master: ‘Jaken. Keep watch over Rin and Kagura until I return.’
He sighed again. “I don’t understand why Lord Sesshomaru would even bother to keep a wench like her around. We don’t need any help from the likes of her and I don’t care if she was almost killed by her master. The fact still remains that Kagura is an incarnation from that evil demon that tricked my lord and as such, she is not to be trusted,” he said.
Jaken was tormented with the thought of keeping Kagura around.
Rin turned her head to look at Jaken, “Master Jaken, shh!! Don’t say such things!! If Lord Sesshomaru were to hear you, he would not be happy one bit.”
She looked towards the campsite up ahead.
“Oh!! Look, Master Jaken!! We’re almost there!! Now, we’ll be able to give Kagura this yummy fruit I found.” At that comment, Rin smiled cheerfully.
Jaken thought to himself this time, ‘This girl will never be able to understand.’
However, when they arrived at camp, Kagura was nowhere to be found.
“Oh no, Master Jaken! I can’t find Kagura anywhere!” Rin cried out apprehensively.
Then, with quick realization of what could’ve happened, she added, “We have to find her. Something might’ve happened to her.”
Jaken started to panic, he was afraid of what his master might do to him if he found out that Kagura was missing.
Jaken’s worst fears were realized when Sesshomaru himself came through the trees and walked towards Jaken. Jaken looked like he had seen a ghost.
“L-L-Lord Sesshomaru, I-I can explain,” Jaken blurted out.
With sharp, piercing golden eyes, Sesshomaru looked at Jaken and calmly asked, “Jaken. Where’s Kagura?”
Jaken frantically responded by saying, “I-I don’t know. When we returned, Kagura was gone, mi’ lord.”
To his surprise, Sesshomaru didn’t kick him, nor did he seem angry. “I see,” Sesshomaru said as he began to walk away.
Then, Sesshomaru looked over his shoulder towards Rin and Jaken and said, “We’re going.”
Then, he continued walking while Rin followed with Ah’ and Uhn, still carrying the pineapple.
Jaken was really confused at the way his master was acting.
‘My master is acting rather strangely,’ he thought.
Rin looked towards Jaken and said, “Hurry up, Master Jaken or you’ll be left behind.”
She continued following behind Sesshomaru.
Jaken quickly ran to catch up with them and shouted, “Hey, Wait for me!!”
*********************************************************
All three of them walked together through the woods. After a couple of hours, Jaken’s curiosity finally got to him. He peered up at Sesshomaru, who was walking alongside of Jaken.
Jaken was too afraid to ask Sesshomaru the question that he had been mulling over constantly in his mind.
However, he finally worked up the courage and asked, “Um, milord? If you don’t mind me asking…where exactly are we going?”
When no answer came, Jaken pressed on further.
“Forgive me for asking, milord, but are we looking for Kagura or-”
He was cut off by Sesshomaru's response.
“Kagura can take care of herself. Now stop asking,” he said with a hint of irritation in his voice.
Jaken frantically said, “Oh! Forgive me, milord. It was not of my right to speak.”
Sesshomaru didn’t say anything more. His mind was on other things. ‘She’s up ahead, no doubt about it. But what’s troubling is the sinister presence nearby,’ he thought.
*********************************************************************
Kagura was flying on her feather when she spotted someone on a paper crane heading in the opposite direction. She narrowed her eyes when the person riding on the paper crane stopped in front of her.
Kagura glared at the man and said, “So I take it that you’re my replacement. Has Naraku sent you here?”
The man eyed Kagura closely and instantly put the pieces together.
“Why Kagura, I thought you were dead! Indeed, that is quite a surprise,” he exclaimed with a smile.
But Kagura’s temper was not to be trifled with. She held up her fan and sent a couple of her wind blades at the man.
“Perhaps you didn’t hear me,” she said, “I said, has that bastard sent you here?!”
A barrier protected the man and he said, “Sheesh!! With that attitude of yours, I can see why Naraku wanted to get rid of you. You didn’t even ask my name either.”
Kagura rolled her eyes at him. She didn’t have time for this silliness.
“Listen, I don’t give a damn what your name is! But…I can’t have you reporting to Naraku that I’m still alive so I’ll just have to kill you,’kay?”Kagura said with a smirk.
Byakuya ignored her. “I’m Byakuya of the dreams. It’s true that I am your replacement or rather, a much more improved version of what you once were. To answer your question since it seems so important to you, Naraku has no clue that I’m here with you. I was sent simply to watch over Moryoumaru. But if I leave, I’d bet that you’d follow. So be my guest, if it’s a fight you want, then it’s a fight you’ll get. I’ll have the honor of taking your head to Naraku.”
He thought for a second and then added, “If I kill you now, Naraku won’t get mad at me. Oh yes!! Let’s do this!!”
Kagura processed the information carefully.
‘If I can kill him, that’s an instant ticket to Naraku’s heart-Moryoumaru.’
She was excited now.
‘There’s no way I’ll let him defeat me,’ she thought to herself.
Byakuya sent his poisonous insects at Kagura, but she destroyed them with her dance of blades.
Suddenly, Kagura froze as she saw Naraku appear next to Byakuya with her heart in his hand.
“Hahaha…Kagura…did you think you could escape me?” he sneered.
Kagura had a look of horror on her face. Every part of her body trembled as she had begun to lose her confidence.
“No! How is that possible?? I mean, my heart is...”
On impulse, Kagura felt for her heart. When she felt no pulse, she was speechless.
“Kagura. How does it feel to know that I have control over you once again?” Naraku said.
He squeezed her heart and a sharp pain caused Kagura to clench her chest in agony.
Both Naraku and Byakuya laughed.
Byakuya said, “Why Kagura! How can you ever hope to defeat me in that condition?”
Kagura looked down at her kimono and saw that her wounds were reopening.
‘This is bad!’Kagura thought to herself, ‘What will I do now?’
**********************************************
“Kagura. What’s the matter? You look like you’re in pain. Wasn’t it you who wanted to kill me so badly?” Naraku said with a smirk.
Kagura seethed with anger. ‘Okay, that’s it! My body may be wrecked right now, but there’s no way I’m going to just sit here and listen to this bastard mock me,’ she thought.
“Shut the hell up! You think I care that you still have my heart? Remember this Naraku-I control my life and no damned bastard has the right to dictate it!” she yelled.
Naraku laughed. “Is that so? I wonder…will you feel the same way when your puny heart gets crushed by my hands?”
Kagura glared at Naraku.
‘Damn him! He just loves to mess with people’s emotions’ she thought, ‘Now what? I’m as good as dead if I don’t think of something quick.’
However, her thoughts ceased as she helplessly watched Naraku begin squeezing her heart.
Kagura clenched her chest and groaned at the pain.
Naraku squeezed her heart harder and harder without end.
He laughed as he watched Kagura writhe and whimper from the torture.
“You can never hope to kill me!” Naraku said.
Naraku put more pressure on Kagura’s heart. Kagura was able to see the blood begin to flow out of her heart.
‘I can’t…take…this anymore’ she thought.
Kagura was panting now and she was beginning to lose consciousness. That’s when she noticed something strange. For a brief moment, the reality she knew seemed to fade in and out of existence.
‘Something’s not right here. I could have sworn that bastard disappeared for a second,’ she thought.
Her mind flashed back to the words Byakuya stated earlier.
‘To answer your question since it seems so important to you, Naraku is unaware that I’m here with you.’
Kagura’s eyes widened upon realization of what this could mean.
‘Then…could this whole thing be an illusion?’ she thought.
More blood leaked from her heart and a sharp pain caused Kagura to cry out.
‘If this is an illusion, then why am I able to feel pain?’ she thought, ‘Unless...unless this is one of Byakuya’s abilities.’
She had to test it out for herself.
Kagura aimed her fan in the direction of her heart.
She decided that the only way to break free of the illusion was to destroy the object that was most dear to her.
“Dance of Blades!!” Kagura said.
She shut her eyes, awaiting any impending doom that might befall her.
The wind blades caused her heart to split in two.
The illusion was broken and reality returned.
*************************************
The eye in Byakuya’s hand suddenly exploded.
“Shoot!”Byakuya yelled in disgust.
Kagura slowly opened her eyes.
‘Did I do it?’ she thought to herself.
She felt for her heart and sighed in relief when she felt the familiar thumps in her chest.
‘I was right!’ she thought.
Byakuya looked towards Kagura and started clapping.
“Bravo! I must say, I am quite surprised…I never thought that someone like you would be able to break free of my illusion,” he said, “No matter, I’ll just have the pleasure of killing you by my hands.”
Kagura glared at Byakuya, but when she tried to move, her wounds caused her to double-over in pain.
“Shit!! I forgot…I’m wounded,” she said.
Byakuya didn’t wait for an invitation. He shot vines toward Kagura making her fall backwards off her feather.
As Kagura was falling, she could hear Byakuya shouting “Enjoy your trip!” on her way down.
Kagura was falling headfirst to a most certain death.
She closed her eyes and braced herself for impact.
‘I guess this is it…” she thought.
However, a strong arm caught her before she met her fate.
Kagura opened her eyes to find out that it was none other than Sesshomaru that had come to her rescue.
His arm was wrapped around her waist and she was resting against his warm body.
“Sesshomaru…you came…”Kagura said weakly.
Sesshomaru looked towards Byakuya and said, “I take it that he’s the guy that did this to you.”
Kagura widened her eyes at his comment.
‘This is so unlike him…but… it’s not like I’m going to argue,’ she thought.
“Yeah, that’s the bastard alright. He’s another detachment of Naraku’s and my replacement,” she said.
Sesshomaru nodded in response.
Kagura spotted a two-headed dragon demon carrying a little girl and a green imp on its back in the sky.
“Lord Sesshomaru!!” Rin exclaimed.
Jaken was not as enthusiastic. “And the wench,” he said.
Sesshomaru looked over towards Jaken and said, “Jaken. Take Rin and Kagura and go.”
“Oh!! Yes of course, Lord Sesshomaru, “Jaken said.
He did not want to be on his master’s bad side.
Sesshomaru placed Kagura on the dragon.
However, she was not so accepting.
“Hmph!! I can take care of myself. I don’t need this fool to watch over me.” she said, daring anyone to argue with her answer.
But when she tried to move, a sharp pain in her abdomen caused her to wince.
“Shit!! Not again!!”she said.
She looked over at Sesshomaru, whose clothes were covered in blood from her wounds.
“Do you still think that you are able to continue battling?” Sesshomaru asked with a air of amusement in his voice.
For a moment, their eyes met, but Kagura quickly averted her eyes when she noticed.
“Fine, I’ll go,” she said begrudgingly.
Ah-Un took the three of them away from Sesshomaru.
Sesshomaru flew up towards Byakuya.
“I see now,” Byakuya said with a smirk, “So you’re the one who saved Kagura from dying earlier. You, who carries the Tenseiga, a healing sword. Very interesting…this I’ll have to report to Naraku.”
Sesshomaru didn’t care to listen.
He slashed at Byakuya with his poison claws causing Byakuya‘s body to disintegrate.
Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes.
Byakuya’s voice could still be heard: “Unfortunately, I have to go before Naraku gets angry at me. You see, I still have work to do. Until, next time…”
Then, the voice was gone.
Sesshomaru went back towards the location in which Rin, Jaken, and Kagura were residing.