Synchronism by aimee_blue [oneshot#84]
Title: Synchronism
Author: aimee_blue
Prompt: Combination
Rating: T
A/N: This is a future chapter of In from the Cold but it is not necessary to read that first.
Words: 2,340
Genre: Mystery, Romance, Action
Summary: AU. Kagome faces off against one of Sesshoumaru's suitors and Sesshoumaru provides his mother with some free entertainment.
Propping his head on his hand, Sesshoumaru gazed down at Kagome’s sleeping form as she nuzzled deeper into his hair in her slumber. Amusedly, he prodded her cheek gently with his finger, marvelling over the frailty of the human sleeping in his bed. If he exercised just a little pressure with his claw, he would draw blood and the wound would take days rather than moments to heal.
He frowned. His mother had waved a red flag to those bull-like princesses and now they were all out for Kagome’s blood and his title. The demonic women already wanted Kagome gone purely for sullying him with her human presence, he shuddered to think what they might do if they realised he was sharing his bed with her, even if it was in a purely platonic sense.
Kagome chose that moment to crack open her eyes, stretching in a remarkably feline manner as she yawned heartily.
“Good morning,” she mumbled around another yawn.
“Promise me something,” he murmured gravely, brushing her hair from her forehead.
“What?” Kagome asked cautiously.
“Do not leave this shiro, not even to go into the gardens today. These walls are protected, no one can enter uninvited, except mother.” The last word was uttered with barely concealed annoyance.
“I’m not hiding from them, Sesshoumaru,” she informed him, eyes flashing dangerously.
“I cannot risk you fighting them,” he returned, “if you accidentally unleashed any of your miko ability-”
“I thought you said they were sealed,” she queried, touching the brand at her throat absently.
“You are powerful, and the brand is flawed,” he reminded her sombrely. “But, remember this,” he gripped her chin between his clawed thumb and forefinger. A human is tolerable, an eccentric pet to my society. But a miko will be hunted down and slaughtered.”
Kagome blinked up at him, completely startled by this revelation. “Why?”
“The monks and miko of old forced us to create the Makai, your kind were on the hunt,” Sesshoumaru pursed his lips, “So it is second nature to eradicate your kind on sight.”
Kagome swallowed. “You didn’t eradicate me.”
Bumping their foreheads together, Sesshoumaru hummed, “I am a contrary being.”
Kagome bit her lip to prevent the giggles that bubbled in her throat. “I can’t promise I won’t leave the shiro,” she told him, pressing her fingertips to his lips when he went to speak, “but I will take Kagura-san with me.”
“Why must you go outside?”
Kagome’s smile was positively predatory. “Target practice.”
0-0-0
Kagura had to admire the little human’s backbone. Instead of fleeing from the invasion of the bitches, she’d managed to get her hands on a bow and a quiver of arrows and was currently honing her already impressive skills.
Nami had been hoping the females would be foolish and charge in last night. But, apparently, they weren’t fools and were waiting for Kagome to be alone. Considering Sesshoumaru had gone back over to entertain the horde once again, this was the perfect moment for one to sneak away and hurt the little human.
In theory.
But Kagura got the distinct impression that the bitches had bitten off more than they could chew with Kagome.
Thunk.
The sound of the arrow embedding in the target sang to Kagome and she grinned as her arrow once again hit the mark. Apparently she hadn’t lost her touch but then, it had taken a lot of practise to get her skill to national level.
“Sesshoumaru-sama is worried,” Kagura commented casually.
Kagome rolled her eyes as she mercilessly yanked her arrow from the target. “He’s angry.”
“Because he’s worried,” Kagura grinned rather reflectively, “it’s weird discussing Sesshoumaru’s emotions. I’d always thought he just fluctuated between disinterested and annoyed.”
“He doesn’t need to be worried,” Kagome murmured, wandering over and dropping to sit at Kagura’s side in the shade of an old persimmon tree.
“How would you feel if Sesshoumaru was facing a small mob of guys that were all twice as tough as him,” Kagura postulated.
“That would never happen,” Kagome scoffed, she hadn’t known him very long, but she was pretty sure the only one who could face off against Sesshoumaru was his terrifying mother.
“Hypothetically,” Kagura grumbled, hitting Kagome lightly with her folded fan.
Kagome massaged her temples. “That was uncalled for.”
“Just call me the voice of reason.”
“The violent voice of reason.”
“Kagome-neechan,” Rin’s voice whispered in Kagome’s ear and the miko jerked herself from her complacency. She couldn’t see the little ghost, but she knew that the girl was watching over her. “Someone is coming.”
Kagura watched Kagome rise gracefully and followed suit, wondering what the strange human was anticipating. Were the bitches already coming? It was brazen of them to attack so abruptly.
Kagome smiled beatifically at Kagura. “Shall we have some tea?” she enquired politely.
A little startled at this, Kagura could do little but nod and follow the blithe human. As she walked, she cautiously expanded her senses outwards, seeking any foreign youki that would signal they were being watched. When she found none, she frowned.
Kagome calmly led Kagura through the shiro into a sparingly furnished sitting room and, with a casual deliberateness, flung the doors open so that they had a prime view of the lake next to the shiro. Light reflected from the clear waters, casting a beautiful rainbow, lotus blossoms floated serenely on the surface. It was a picturesque scene.
The harmonious sounds of a flute weaved through the serenity in beautiful complement to the natural beauty of the scene. But Kagura tensed, the sound of the flute heralded the arrival of possibly one of the most rabid Sesshoumaru-loving princesses.
Sara-hime.
Kagura tensed expectantly, watching bemusedly out of the corner of one eye as Kagome pottered around gathering the tea things. Hadn’t she noticed?
“So you are here,” Sara’s soft, cultured voice floated into the room.
Kagome glanced at the princess who had appeared in the garden. Surrounded by the wildflowers, in resplendent silken robes of primrose, the dark-haired princess looked like some kind of nymph.
“Strange for Sesshoumaru-sama to leave his pet unattended,” Sara continued, just as serenely. Her eyes flickered to Kagura for a split second. “Oh, I didn’t see you there, Kagura.”
Ignoring the insult, Kagura merely narrowed her eyes at their latest visitor. This demon was a strange one, Kagura had never heard the entirety of her story, but it seemed Sara-hime was once a human who, on her death bed, gave up her body to demons so that she might live on. It was a little sickening to think about it too much.
“A friend of yours?” Kagome enquired casually.
“Tch.”
“Oh, it speaks,” Sara murmured, tilting her head as she stared at Kagome, her eyes flat and disinterested, “does it do tricks?”
Fingering her bow, Kagome answered sweetly, “Would you like to find out?”
Sara gave a tinkling little laugh. “I am Sara-hime,” she held out one arm and smiled brokenly, “and I’m here to rid Sesshoumaru-sama of your human blight.”
Kagome’s eyebrows flew to her hairline as Sara’s extended hand exploded into dozens of hissing snakes. They launched from her hand towards Kagome with lethal fangs.
“Oh no you don’t!” Kagura snarled, flicking her fan and roughly beheading the snakes with blades of wind.
Kagome shot her a sidelong look. “Nice.”
“Thank you,” Kagura grinned, stepping out into the garden and holding her fan out bracingly. “I work better outdoors. Fuujin no Mai!”
The flick from Kagura’s fan sent hundreds of blades of wind whipping at Sara with deadly precision. The princess abruptly disappeared in a movement so fast Kagome couldn’t see it, Kagura started, whipping her fan back as she cast around for the princess.
“Behind you!”
But it was too late. Sara held out the pendant which had previously sat around her throat, the pendant glowed a luminous blue and Kagura was petrified.
“Kagura-san!” Kagome yelled, nocking her bow and aiming at Sara. “Reverse it.”
“Or what?” Sara sneered, calmly placing the pendant back around her throat.
Kagome growled, grit her teeth and let loose an arrow. The projectile slammed into Sara’s shoulder, knocking her sideways and forcing her to one knee.
Clutching her bleeding shoulder, Sara smiled grimly and staggered back to her feet. “My turn,” she simpered, her smile absent of any warmth. Holding out her good arm, Kagome waited for the snakes, surprised when instead it began to glow with a malicious purple light.
The pulse of energy exploded from Sara’s hand and Kagome flinched, but stood her ground, planning on only stepping aside at the last second. Yet, it soon became apparent that she needn’t have worried, the attack rebounded from Kagome just as it came to the opened doors.
Sara hissed as she barely dodged her own energy, it appeared to have seared the tips of her hair. “What is this?”
“I guess Sesshoumaru meant what he said about nothing unwanted being able to get into the shiro,” Kagome murmured, surprised.
Baring her fangs, Sara snapped, “Sesshoumaru-sama would never refuse me anything! I have done everything for him. I became a demon for him and now, I’ll make sure he never has to put up with your human filth ever again!”
Kagome’s eyes softened with sympathy. It sounded as if this woman truly loved Sesshoumaru, or at least she was obsessed with the silver-haired demon. Yet, when three energy blasts hit the invisible shield in rapid succession, she reconsidered her sympathy.
“Killing me won’t make Sesshoumaru love you!” Kagome reasoned, nocking another arrow even as Sara continued to rain energy blasts down upon the shiro.
“Shut up!”
At a loss, Kagome took aim and fired at the pendant around Sara’s neck, praying that a happy coincidence would strike and that the destruction of the pendant would mean the reversal of whatever had been done to Kagura.
“Well, that was helpful,” Kagome murmured as the pendant shattered and Kagura regained the use of her limbs.
The wind demon appeared shocked for a split second before she lashed out with her fan, her wind blades slicing at Sara’s unsuspecting back. The princess staggered backwards, obviously stunned by this hit, her wounds bleeding and her kimono ripped. On unsteady feet she stumbled back until she fell at the edge of the lake.
Water swallowed the princess, encasing her in a watery prison that she seemed unable to escape from, though she flailed furiously.
“The lake is holding her prisoner?” Kagome queried bemusedly.
“Disrespecting Sesshoumaru-sama’s shiro is unforgivable!” Jaken’s unmistakable squawk reached their ears as the little kappa rose from the recesses of the water. “Now, go back to where you came from!”
The water Sara was imprisoned in glowed bright blue and the princess vanished.
“What did you do with her?”Kagura asked bemusedly.
“I sent her back to the main house,” Jaken sniffed, “Sesshoumaru-sama will dispatch swift justice on the little wench.”
Kagura chuckled, closing her fan and moving to stand at Kagome’s side. “Good job.”
Kagome grinned crookedly. “We make a good combination, huh?”
0-0-0
Nami blinked lethargically and glanced out at her lake, a wicked light shining in her eyes.
“The runaway has returned,” she announced to the assembled females.
The women clinging to her son paused in their fawning and glanced at Nami expectantly. Nami smiled, baring her deadly fangs, and hummed, “My poor koi are being started a lot recently.”
The assembled company blinked at her blankly, but Sesshoumaru stood, extracting his arm from a clingy princess’s possession and marching over to throw the doors open, giving them all a decent view of the lake.
Seconds later, a sphere of water plunged into the pond and Sara emerged spluttering up water; sodden, bleeding and with an arrow protruding from her shoulder and her collar bone. Sesshoumaru allowed the relief to cascade over him. It seemed Kagome could protect herself, though it seemed she’d received a little help.
“Sesshoumaru-sama!” Sara cried when she saw him, staggering from the water towards him with her eyes full of adoration, “That little human bitch attacked me!”
The other women tensed and shifted uneasily. Nami’s smile grew.
“I have little doubt that you dealt the first blow,” Sesshoumaru drawled.
Sara recoiled as if slapped, it seemed she’d been expecting a warmer welcome. “Sesshoumaru-sama?”
“You trespassed on my lands, attacked my human and now you expect my sympathies?”Sesshoumaru demanded voice cold and eyes flat. He was fairly certain he could hear his mother clapping, but he ignored her.
“I was only attempting to rid you of the human filth,” Sara pleaded, clasping her hands before her sycophantically.
Sesshoumaru tossed his hair and turned up his nose. “I do not react favourably towards those who hurt what is mine. Haha-ue-sama?”
Nami wiped away a gleeful tear with the tip of one deadly fang. “Yes, dear?” she sang.
“Is this woman the daughter of one of our allies?”
Nami’s eyes narrowed in indolent satisfaction. “She is the daughter of a lower lord of our own kingdom.”
Sara staggered away, horror and disbelief etched onto her once-pretty face. “B-but I love you!” she yelled, “I’d do anything for you.”
Sesshoumaru bared his fangs. “Then die.”
The whip sliced the princess right down the middle and the two halves fell away to reveal a horrifying ogre standing in her place.
“Filth,” Sesshoumaru growled and, with a gracefully executed leap and a flick of his whip, the ogre’s head fell into the pond with a cacophonic splash. The white-clad demon turned to the stunned demonesses with a warning on his lips, “Never seek to harm what is mine.”
And with that he leapt away.
“The koi certainly won’t enjoy sharing their pond with a dismembered head,” Nami remarked casually. “Someone clean that up.”
0-0-0
Kagura smiled wryly as she watched Sesshoumaru check the human over for any injuries. The glacial demon seemed to be experiencing his own personal spring. With a sad little smile she left them to their happy moments, knowing that they would soon have their serene moments stolen from them.
Author: aimee_blue
Prompt: Combination
Rating: T
A/N: This is a future chapter of In from the Cold but it is not necessary to read that first.
Words: 2,340
Genre: Mystery, Romance, Action
Summary: AU. Kagome faces off against one of Sesshoumaru's suitors and Sesshoumaru provides his mother with some free entertainment.
Propping his head on his hand, Sesshoumaru gazed down at Kagome’s sleeping form as she nuzzled deeper into his hair in her slumber. Amusedly, he prodded her cheek gently with his finger, marvelling over the frailty of the human sleeping in his bed. If he exercised just a little pressure with his claw, he would draw blood and the wound would take days rather than moments to heal.
He frowned. His mother had waved a red flag to those bull-like princesses and now they were all out for Kagome’s blood and his title. The demonic women already wanted Kagome gone purely for sullying him with her human presence, he shuddered to think what they might do if they realised he was sharing his bed with her, even if it was in a purely platonic sense.
Kagome chose that moment to crack open her eyes, stretching in a remarkably feline manner as she yawned heartily.
“Good morning,” she mumbled around another yawn.
“Promise me something,” he murmured gravely, brushing her hair from her forehead.
“What?” Kagome asked cautiously.
“Do not leave this shiro, not even to go into the gardens today. These walls are protected, no one can enter uninvited, except mother.” The last word was uttered with barely concealed annoyance.
“I’m not hiding from them, Sesshoumaru,” she informed him, eyes flashing dangerously.
“I cannot risk you fighting them,” he returned, “if you accidentally unleashed any of your miko ability-”
“I thought you said they were sealed,” she queried, touching the brand at her throat absently.
“You are powerful, and the brand is flawed,” he reminded her sombrely. “But, remember this,” he gripped her chin between his clawed thumb and forefinger. A human is tolerable, an eccentric pet to my society. But a miko will be hunted down and slaughtered.”
Kagome blinked up at him, completely startled by this revelation. “Why?”
“The monks and miko of old forced us to create the Makai, your kind were on the hunt,” Sesshoumaru pursed his lips, “So it is second nature to eradicate your kind on sight.”
Kagome swallowed. “You didn’t eradicate me.”
Bumping their foreheads together, Sesshoumaru hummed, “I am a contrary being.”
Kagome bit her lip to prevent the giggles that bubbled in her throat. “I can’t promise I won’t leave the shiro,” she told him, pressing her fingertips to his lips when he went to speak, “but I will take Kagura-san with me.”
“Why must you go outside?”
Kagome’s smile was positively predatory. “Target practice.”
0-0-0
Kagura had to admire the little human’s backbone. Instead of fleeing from the invasion of the bitches, she’d managed to get her hands on a bow and a quiver of arrows and was currently honing her already impressive skills.
Nami had been hoping the females would be foolish and charge in last night. But, apparently, they weren’t fools and were waiting for Kagome to be alone. Considering Sesshoumaru had gone back over to entertain the horde once again, this was the perfect moment for one to sneak away and hurt the little human.
In theory.
But Kagura got the distinct impression that the bitches had bitten off more than they could chew with Kagome.
Thunk.
The sound of the arrow embedding in the target sang to Kagome and she grinned as her arrow once again hit the mark. Apparently she hadn’t lost her touch but then, it had taken a lot of practise to get her skill to national level.
“Sesshoumaru-sama is worried,” Kagura commented casually.
Kagome rolled her eyes as she mercilessly yanked her arrow from the target. “He’s angry.”
“Because he’s worried,” Kagura grinned rather reflectively, “it’s weird discussing Sesshoumaru’s emotions. I’d always thought he just fluctuated between disinterested and annoyed.”
“He doesn’t need to be worried,” Kagome murmured, wandering over and dropping to sit at Kagura’s side in the shade of an old persimmon tree.
“How would you feel if Sesshoumaru was facing a small mob of guys that were all twice as tough as him,” Kagura postulated.
“That would never happen,” Kagome scoffed, she hadn’t known him very long, but she was pretty sure the only one who could face off against Sesshoumaru was his terrifying mother.
“Hypothetically,” Kagura grumbled, hitting Kagome lightly with her folded fan.
Kagome massaged her temples. “That was uncalled for.”
“Just call me the voice of reason.”
“The violent voice of reason.”
“Kagome-neechan,” Rin’s voice whispered in Kagome’s ear and the miko jerked herself from her complacency. She couldn’t see the little ghost, but she knew that the girl was watching over her. “Someone is coming.”
Kagura watched Kagome rise gracefully and followed suit, wondering what the strange human was anticipating. Were the bitches already coming? It was brazen of them to attack so abruptly.
Kagome smiled beatifically at Kagura. “Shall we have some tea?” she enquired politely.
A little startled at this, Kagura could do little but nod and follow the blithe human. As she walked, she cautiously expanded her senses outwards, seeking any foreign youki that would signal they were being watched. When she found none, she frowned.
Kagome calmly led Kagura through the shiro into a sparingly furnished sitting room and, with a casual deliberateness, flung the doors open so that they had a prime view of the lake next to the shiro. Light reflected from the clear waters, casting a beautiful rainbow, lotus blossoms floated serenely on the surface. It was a picturesque scene.
The harmonious sounds of a flute weaved through the serenity in beautiful complement to the natural beauty of the scene. But Kagura tensed, the sound of the flute heralded the arrival of possibly one of the most rabid Sesshoumaru-loving princesses.
Sara-hime.
Kagura tensed expectantly, watching bemusedly out of the corner of one eye as Kagome pottered around gathering the tea things. Hadn’t she noticed?
“So you are here,” Sara’s soft, cultured voice floated into the room.
Kagome glanced at the princess who had appeared in the garden. Surrounded by the wildflowers, in resplendent silken robes of primrose, the dark-haired princess looked like some kind of nymph.
“Strange for Sesshoumaru-sama to leave his pet unattended,” Sara continued, just as serenely. Her eyes flickered to Kagura for a split second. “Oh, I didn’t see you there, Kagura.”
Ignoring the insult, Kagura merely narrowed her eyes at their latest visitor. This demon was a strange one, Kagura had never heard the entirety of her story, but it seemed Sara-hime was once a human who, on her death bed, gave up her body to demons so that she might live on. It was a little sickening to think about it too much.
“A friend of yours?” Kagome enquired casually.
“Tch.”
“Oh, it speaks,” Sara murmured, tilting her head as she stared at Kagome, her eyes flat and disinterested, “does it do tricks?”
Fingering her bow, Kagome answered sweetly, “Would you like to find out?”
Sara gave a tinkling little laugh. “I am Sara-hime,” she held out one arm and smiled brokenly, “and I’m here to rid Sesshoumaru-sama of your human blight.”
Kagome’s eyebrows flew to her hairline as Sara’s extended hand exploded into dozens of hissing snakes. They launched from her hand towards Kagome with lethal fangs.
“Oh no you don’t!” Kagura snarled, flicking her fan and roughly beheading the snakes with blades of wind.
Kagome shot her a sidelong look. “Nice.”
“Thank you,” Kagura grinned, stepping out into the garden and holding her fan out bracingly. “I work better outdoors. Fuujin no Mai!”
The flick from Kagura’s fan sent hundreds of blades of wind whipping at Sara with deadly precision. The princess abruptly disappeared in a movement so fast Kagome couldn’t see it, Kagura started, whipping her fan back as she cast around for the princess.
“Behind you!”
But it was too late. Sara held out the pendant which had previously sat around her throat, the pendant glowed a luminous blue and Kagura was petrified.
“Kagura-san!” Kagome yelled, nocking her bow and aiming at Sara. “Reverse it.”
“Or what?” Sara sneered, calmly placing the pendant back around her throat.
Kagome growled, grit her teeth and let loose an arrow. The projectile slammed into Sara’s shoulder, knocking her sideways and forcing her to one knee.
Clutching her bleeding shoulder, Sara smiled grimly and staggered back to her feet. “My turn,” she simpered, her smile absent of any warmth. Holding out her good arm, Kagome waited for the snakes, surprised when instead it began to glow with a malicious purple light.
The pulse of energy exploded from Sara’s hand and Kagome flinched, but stood her ground, planning on only stepping aside at the last second. Yet, it soon became apparent that she needn’t have worried, the attack rebounded from Kagome just as it came to the opened doors.
Sara hissed as she barely dodged her own energy, it appeared to have seared the tips of her hair. “What is this?”
“I guess Sesshoumaru meant what he said about nothing unwanted being able to get into the shiro,” Kagome murmured, surprised.
Baring her fangs, Sara snapped, “Sesshoumaru-sama would never refuse me anything! I have done everything for him. I became a demon for him and now, I’ll make sure he never has to put up with your human filth ever again!”
Kagome’s eyes softened with sympathy. It sounded as if this woman truly loved Sesshoumaru, or at least she was obsessed with the silver-haired demon. Yet, when three energy blasts hit the invisible shield in rapid succession, she reconsidered her sympathy.
“Killing me won’t make Sesshoumaru love you!” Kagome reasoned, nocking another arrow even as Sara continued to rain energy blasts down upon the shiro.
“Shut up!”
At a loss, Kagome took aim and fired at the pendant around Sara’s neck, praying that a happy coincidence would strike and that the destruction of the pendant would mean the reversal of whatever had been done to Kagura.
“Well, that was helpful,” Kagome murmured as the pendant shattered and Kagura regained the use of her limbs.
The wind demon appeared shocked for a split second before she lashed out with her fan, her wind blades slicing at Sara’s unsuspecting back. The princess staggered backwards, obviously stunned by this hit, her wounds bleeding and her kimono ripped. On unsteady feet she stumbled back until she fell at the edge of the lake.
Water swallowed the princess, encasing her in a watery prison that she seemed unable to escape from, though she flailed furiously.
“The lake is holding her prisoner?” Kagome queried bemusedly.
“Disrespecting Sesshoumaru-sama’s shiro is unforgivable!” Jaken’s unmistakable squawk reached their ears as the little kappa rose from the recesses of the water. “Now, go back to where you came from!”
The water Sara was imprisoned in glowed bright blue and the princess vanished.
“What did you do with her?”Kagura asked bemusedly.
“I sent her back to the main house,” Jaken sniffed, “Sesshoumaru-sama will dispatch swift justice on the little wench.”
Kagura chuckled, closing her fan and moving to stand at Kagome’s side. “Good job.”
Kagome grinned crookedly. “We make a good combination, huh?”
0-0-0
Nami blinked lethargically and glanced out at her lake, a wicked light shining in her eyes.
“The runaway has returned,” she announced to the assembled females.
The women clinging to her son paused in their fawning and glanced at Nami expectantly. Nami smiled, baring her deadly fangs, and hummed, “My poor koi are being started a lot recently.”
The assembled company blinked at her blankly, but Sesshoumaru stood, extracting his arm from a clingy princess’s possession and marching over to throw the doors open, giving them all a decent view of the lake.
Seconds later, a sphere of water plunged into the pond and Sara emerged spluttering up water; sodden, bleeding and with an arrow protruding from her shoulder and her collar bone. Sesshoumaru allowed the relief to cascade over him. It seemed Kagome could protect herself, though it seemed she’d received a little help.
“Sesshoumaru-sama!” Sara cried when she saw him, staggering from the water towards him with her eyes full of adoration, “That little human bitch attacked me!”
The other women tensed and shifted uneasily. Nami’s smile grew.
“I have little doubt that you dealt the first blow,” Sesshoumaru drawled.
Sara recoiled as if slapped, it seemed she’d been expecting a warmer welcome. “Sesshoumaru-sama?”
“You trespassed on my lands, attacked my human and now you expect my sympathies?”Sesshoumaru demanded voice cold and eyes flat. He was fairly certain he could hear his mother clapping, but he ignored her.
“I was only attempting to rid you of the human filth,” Sara pleaded, clasping her hands before her sycophantically.
Sesshoumaru tossed his hair and turned up his nose. “I do not react favourably towards those who hurt what is mine. Haha-ue-sama?”
Nami wiped away a gleeful tear with the tip of one deadly fang. “Yes, dear?” she sang.
“Is this woman the daughter of one of our allies?”
Nami’s eyes narrowed in indolent satisfaction. “She is the daughter of a lower lord of our own kingdom.”
Sara staggered away, horror and disbelief etched onto her once-pretty face. “B-but I love you!” she yelled, “I’d do anything for you.”
Sesshoumaru bared his fangs. “Then die.”
The whip sliced the princess right down the middle and the two halves fell away to reveal a horrifying ogre standing in her place.
“Filth,” Sesshoumaru growled and, with a gracefully executed leap and a flick of his whip, the ogre’s head fell into the pond with a cacophonic splash. The white-clad demon turned to the stunned demonesses with a warning on his lips, “Never seek to harm what is mine.”
And with that he leapt away.
“The koi certainly won’t enjoy sharing their pond with a dismembered head,” Nami remarked casually. “Someone clean that up.”
0-0-0
Kagura smiled wryly as she watched Sesshoumaru check the human over for any injuries. The glacial demon seemed to be experiencing his own personal spring. With a sad little smile she left them to their happy moments, knowing that they would soon have their serene moments stolen from them.