InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Concrete Rose ❯ Michiko ( Chapter 6 )

Concrete Rose

 

Chapter 6: Michiko

 

 

 

 

Kimi walked behind Sesshomaru. She had unbraided her hair and it was blowing in the wind. The sun was setting and it was becoming cooler. Kimi looked up at Sesshomaru. He seemed to not even notice that she was behind him. They hadn't spoken since their departure earlier that morning. Kimi sighed and looked back down at the ground. Then she hit something solid and stumbled back. Looking back up, she saw that Sesshomaru had stopped.

 

“ Why did you stop?” Kimi asked, walking around him. Sesshomaru just glanced up in the trees. Although there was nothing there, he had smelled another being. Kimi followed his gaze. “ I don't see anything.” She said.

 

“ It is not about seeing anything, Kimi. I think something or someone is following us.” Sesshomaru said, still looking around. Kimi sighed and shook her head.

 

“ Even if someone was following us, wouldn't you have already found them out? It is pretty hard to let anything pass your nose. It would almost be an insult to your masculinity that you couldn't sniff some predator out of hiding.” Kimi said in her mocking tone. Sesshomaru ignored her and began walking again. Kimi smiled and walked up beside him.

 

“ You talk a lot. Come. I want to get to this Michiko woman's place soon.” He said.

 

Up in the trees, Sanna looked down on them. Jiro stood next to her. Sanna stood up from her kneeling position and looked at Jiro.

 

“ You need to learn to be quieter, Jiro. You're going to get us caught. You head back and tell them that they are going to some Michiko's place. I'll continue to tail them. I will leave clues as to where to find me in the trees.” Sanna said. Jiro nodded. He took off in the opposite direction. Sanna watched him go, then began trailing Sesshomaru and Kimi again.

 

Kai turned around slowly. A woman who had basically no scent at all was standing before her, smirking. Kai just looked at her with a quizzical expression.

 

“ Who the hell are you and what are you doing here?” Kai asked in a low tone. The woman smirked and bowed.

 

“ I am Suzuka, one of the Hunters. I have come for you.” The woman said. Kai raised an eyebrow.

 

“ A Hunter, you say? Someone really wants me that bad to use one of you guys. What do you want with me?” Kai asked. Suzuka looked Kai in the eye.

 

“ You are wanted for a fair trade. Your Lord Sesshomaru has something that our client wants. As we speak, he is being tracked. We will make a fair trade with him.”

 

“ You must be talking about Kimi.”

 

“ Yes. She would be the hybrid brat I am referring to. Come along now.” Suzuka took a step forward. In the blink of an eye, Kai had pulled her own sword, Oniyumi, on her. She pointed it at Suzuka's neck. Kai smiled.

 

“ I'm so sorry, Suzuka. You must've been under the impression that I was going to...what is the expression...come quietly. That is not the case, I'm afraid. Now, get the hell out of here and tell whoever your `client' is that they can kiss my ass.” Kai said. Suzuka smirked and shook her head.

 

“ I knew it would come to this.” Suzuka said. With inhuman speed, Suzuka managed to get Oniyumi out of Kai's grasp. Kai took a step back. Suzuka examined the powerful sword then threw it to the side. Kai turned and jumped off of the balcony. “ Why do they always run?” Suzuka asked herself, shaking her head. She hopped down.

 

Kai turned and looked at Suzuka. Running wasn't going to do her any good. She charged Suzuka. Suzuka merely sidestepped her. Kai tripped over her foot and Suzuka popped Kai swiftly on the back of her neck. Kai was out before she hit the ground.

 

“ That was hardly worth the effort.” Suzuka said, smirking again.

 

Tenseiga pulsed at Sesshomaru's side. Kimi stopped walking when she heard the vibration. Sesshomaru looked down at the sword.

 

` Tenseiga. Why is it pulsing?' He asked himself. Kimi reached to touch the sword. Sesshomaru allowed her to pull it from its sheath. The blade glowed blue.

 

“ Why is it doing this, Sesshomaru?” Kimi asked, examining the blade with her brilliant eyes. Sesshomaru was at a loss for words. He didn't understand it at all. They were in no apparent danger. “ Sesshomaru?”

 

“ It only pulses when I am in danger or when it wishes to be used. I see no use for it now.”

 

“ What if the sword is pulsing because someone you know is in danger?” Kimi said absent-mindedly. Sesshomaru's eyes widened for a second. He had never thought of it like that.

 

“ Who would be in trouble? Rin is with my idiot brother. I trust him to protect her. Plus, Kai is with her.”

 

“ Why else would it be pulsing?” Kimi asked. The blade pulsed once more. This pulse was so powerful that it jerked Kimi to the side, making the blade touch Sesshomaru's shoulder. Sesshomaru jerked as a strange feeling engulfed his whole left side. He shook off the tingly feeling. Kimi was staring at his side with wide eyes.

 

“ Give that to me.” Sesshomaru snatched Tenseiga back from her. Kimi didn't even notice the sudden action from him. It was then that Sesshomaru realized what had just happened. He looked to his left. Tenseiga was no longer glowing, but he was holding it in an arm he'd been missing for about twelve years. “ What the hell?” He whispered. Kimi yanked on his arm.

 

“ It's real!! It's really real!!” She yelled happily. Sesshomaru pulled his arm out of her grasp and flexed his fingers. Kimi was practically beaming up at him. “ Why did Tenseiga heal your arm?”

 

“ I am aware that it is real and I have no idea. It doesn't matter now. I have it back, not that I needed it. Let's go.” Sesshomaru finalized the conversation by walking away from the gaping Kimi. Kimi smirked to herself and followed after him.

 

Rin sat on the grass near the lake the next morning, staring idly up at the sky. Koga and Inuyasha were walking up, looking very beaten and tired. Rin caught them in her sights and gasped.

 

“ What happened to you?!” She asked, running over to them. Inuyasha laughed and wiped blood from his lip.

 

“ It was just morning exercise, Rin.” That earned him a slap.

 

“ Exercise? You call brutal slashing of each other exercise? Now you're both hurt.” Rin unceremoniously pushed Inuyasha out of the way so she could get to Koga.

 

“ Hey!” Inuyasha said as he knocked into a bush. Rin ignored him and began examining Koga's wounds.

 

“ Are you okay? Look you cut your face.” Rin said, wiping the blood away gently. Koga just watched her with wide eyes. Inuyasha rolled his eyes and began walking to the house.

 

“ When you two lovebirds are done, feel free to grace us with your presence for breakfast.” He said sarcastically. Both Koga and Rin blushed. Suddenly, Rin got a funny premonition. She looked in the direction of Sesshomaru's castle. Koga noticed her serious look.

 

“ What is it?” He asked. Rin just stared into the horizon, trying to find something that was missing.

 

“ I have a funny feeling something is wrong. We need to head back immediately.” Rin looked at Koga.

 

“ You sure?”

 

“ Yes.” Rin said. She turned and walked towards Inuyasha's house. Kagome was holding Taro, who was playing in her hair when Rin burst in the room.

 

“ Is something wrong?” She asked, looking from Koga to Rin. Then she looked at Inuyasha, who just shrugged.

 

“ I have to go back. I think something is wrong.” Rin said hurriedly. She was throwing everything in her sack sloppily. Kagome just watched her silently.

 

“ How do you know?” She asked. Rin shrugged.

 

“ I have a feeling that something is not right. Whenever I have these feeling, I'm never wrong.” Rin said. Kagome nodded. Rin picked up her sack and looked at Kagome. She hugged her and gave Taro a kiss. “ Thanks for letting us stay. We'll see you soon.” She said smiling. Kagome nodded.

 

“ Have a safe trip. Koga, take care of her.” Kagome said. Koga nodded.

 

“ Haven't I taken care of her so far. You don't have to worry about Rin when she's with me. See you later, mutt.” Koga said, laughing. Inuyasha growled something illegible and waved his hand in the air. Koga smirked and walked out behind wind.

 

Rin mounted Ah-Un and rubbed one of its heads.

 

“ We need to hurry. The sooner I get there, the sooner my mind can rest at ease.” Rin said. Koga nodded. Rin kicked Ah-Un gently in the side and the youkai took off.

 

Sesshomaru and Kimi walked into a village. Sesshomaru closed his eyes and took a deep breath as a whole mass of scents hit his sensitive nose. How he hated the stench of human villages. There was too much going on all at once and it was unnerving. Kimi, on the other hand, was marveling at the sight before her. Sesshomaru looked down at her.

 

“ This place seems so familiar. It is like I have been here before.” Kimi whispered. Sesshomaru nodded and looked around. The humans were starting to stare at them. Sesshomaru walked forward and grabbed a woman by the arm. She turned and looked at him in a horrified manner. Before she could scream, Kimi shook her head. “ We don't want trouble. We're looking for a woman named Michiko.” She said.

 

“ Michiko? She lives in the hut on the far side by the well. It stands pretty much alone.” She said, trembling in fear. Sesshomaru released her and she practically ran away from them. Kimi glared at Sesshomaru.

 

“ You could've just said excuse me, Sesshomaru. You scared the poor girl half to death.” Kimi said, walking towards the well off in the distance. Sesshomaru ignored her and followed silently. Kimi sighed and continued walking.

 

When they reached the hut, they heard clanging coming from around back. Kimi walked around the side of the house and saw a man working diligently on a sword. He looked up when he saw Kimi and Sesshomaru.

 

“ Who are you?” He asked. Kimi smiled and kneeled down to him.

 

“ I'm Kimi. I'm looking for a woman named Michiko.” Kimi said. The man stared at her for a long moment, then looked at Sesshomaru.

 

“ Michiko is inside.” He said, standing up. They followed him around the front of the hut and he slid the door open. The smell of apples and spices hit Kimi. A woman sat, carving something out of wood. She had long black hair and a pale face. She appeared to be very young, around Kimi's age. She wore a red kimono. She didn't appear to notice the trio as they entered. “ Michiko?” The young man said. Michiko turned her head in their direction.

 

“ Yes?” She asked. She looked Kimi in the eye and a whole world of memories came to Kimi.

 

BEGIN FLASHBACK

 

Young Kimi was walking alongside her grandfather Raiden. She looked up at him with admiring eyes. Kimi absolutely adored her grandfather. He had taken care of her since her mother had died a year earlier. Now, the 7-year-old was being taken to a village she had never seen. Raiden stopped at hut and knocked on the door. A woman with black hair opened the door, smiling at Raiden.

 

“ It has been a long time, Raiden. What brings you to my doorstep?” The woman asked. She still had not noticed Kimi at his feet. Raiden smirked.

 

“ Surely you have heard of the war between the various thunder youkai tribes over which tribe will rule, right?” He asked. The woman shook her head.

 

“ I am relatively secluded up here. Maybe one day I will rejoin civilization. But for now, I will remain here. Please come in, Raiden.” She said. Raiden nodded and looked down at Kimi. Kimi followed him inside. The woman's place smelled of apples and spices. She sat and beckoned Raiden to do the same. It was then that she noticed Kimi. “ Who is the little sprite?”

 

“ This is my daughter's child. She had her with that inu-youkai two years ago. Nariko died a year ago during battle between the tribes.” Raiden said, looking down. Kimi looked up at her grandfather's face. The woman nodded solemnly.

 

“ I am very sorry to hear that, Raiden. Nariko was a great woman and friend. She looks just like her mother, except for those green eyes. My name is Michiko. What is yours?” Michiko asked. Kimi looked at her grandfather who nodded.

 

“ Kimi.” She said quietly. Michiko nodded then looked back at Raiden.

 

“ What is it that you need?” Michiko asked.

 

“ I need you to make weapons for Kimi so that she may one day regain her place as ruler of the thunder youkai tribes. I do not know how much longer I will last if battle keeps up at this pace. She will need a means of protecting herself.” Raiden said. Michiko nodded.

 

“ Do you have something that I may use to infuse into the weapon?” She asked. Raiden nodded and took a small sack from around his neck. Kimi watched this exchange. Michiko looked in the sack. Raiden turned to his granddaughter.

 

“ Kimi, go wait outside.” Raiden said. Kimi looked at him then at Michiko.

 

“ Yes, grandfather.” Kimi stood slowly and walked outside.

 

END FLASHBACK

 

Kimi blinked when the flashback ended. The young woman was still looking at Kimi, as if trying to remember her. Then, her face softened when she realized who it was.

 

“ Kimi.” She said quietly. Kimi looked at Sesshomaru, then at Michiko.

 

“ Yes. I am Kimi.” She said quietly. Michiko beckoned for them to sit. Kimi did, but Sesshomaru stood.

 

“ I assume that Toutousai sent you to me. Am I correct in assuming so?” Michiko asked. Kimi nodded. “ Well, I guess you want to know about the scythes.”

 

“ Scythes? Toutousai only mentioned one.” Kimi said. Michiko smiled and shook her head.

 

“ I'm afraid only a select few know about the second. Most thunder youkai know the legend of them. They are in two different places and they will never reach full power unless you have both in your possession. That was one of my better ideas.” Michiko looked at Sesshomaru's side and saw Tenseiga. “ Tenseiga? I haven't seen that sword for ages.” Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow.

 

“ You know of Tenseiga?”

 

“ Yes. I was there when Toutousai finished both the Tenseiga and the Tetsusaiga. Brilliant swords, they are.” Michiko looked at Tokujin. “ It also appears that you also have a sword made from Kaijinbo, arrogant fool. What did he make it out of?” Michiko asked with disgust in her voice. She sipped her tea.

 

“ From a fang of a youkai who broke the Tetsusaiga in half.” Sesshomaru stated. Michiko spit tea all over the floor in front of her. She looked at Sesshomaru with disbelieving eyes.

 

“ You lie!” She yelled. Sesshomaru shook his head.

 

“ Don't worry, woman. The Tetsusaiga was repaired and made stronger. How did you know that Kaijinbo made the sword?”

 

“ Every blacksmith has ways imprinting their `signature' on their work. It is in the way the blade is made that I can tell who made it. Now back to the subject at hand. You want to know how to get the scythes, am I correct?” Michiko asked, looking at Kimi.

 

“ Yes.”

 

“ Well, they reside in two places, as you probably already know. Two very secretive places. They are locked away under the most high security precautions. Another one of my great ideas, only I think it was a bit of a burden to you.” Michiko said, looking thoughtful.

 

“ What do you mean by that?” Kimi asked. Michiko looked at her and smiled.

 

“ Well, the only way to get into these places is that you must have a blood relative of the people whose shrines they reside in. A blood relative, not someone married into the family.”

 

“ So that would mean my family?” Kimi asked. Michiko nodded.

 

“ Exactly. You are the only living descendant of Raiden and Nariko. You have their blood coursing through your veins. I assume you have been running for your life since your grandfather passed.” Michiko asked, taking another sip of tea.

 

“ Yes, that is the case.” Kimi said.

 

“ Well, I am sorry about that. You also tend to have blackouts where you can't remember anything that happened within that blackout, right?”

 

“ Yes. How do you...”

 

“ You are the result of a inu-youkai and a thunder youkai. Therefore, like a hanyou, you will be subject to times when half of your blood will take over. It is guaranteed to happen at the beginning of the lunar month. But, you also will lose control whenever your life is in danger or when you are particularly irritated with a person. You have no control over this. But, the scythes can help keep this in check. It will not stop you from transforming, but it will give you control over your actions.” Michiko stated.

 

“ Why do I change when I am in danger?”

 

“ Your first instinct as a youkai, an inu-youkai in particular, is self-preservation. Therefore, if you are in danger of losing your life, you will fight, won't you? The adrenaline in your blood fuels this transformation. Now, here comes the most pertinent question.”

 

“ Where are these shrines?” Sesshomaru asked. Michiko smiled up at him.

 

“ Eager to get her in check, aren't you? Well, you cannot find one shrine without first finding the other. Now, Kimi, I believe your grandfather gave you a little something before he died.” Michiko looked at her. Kimi snapped out of her trance. She remembered the chain around her neck. Pulling it out of her kimono, she looked at it.

 

“ What about it?”

 

“ That is the key to open the door of your grandfather's shrine in your homeland.” Michiko said. “ You do know where your grandfather's shrine is, am I correct?”

 

“ Yes. What if those other thunder youkai are waiting there for me?” Kimi asked. Michiko laughed.

 

“ Well, let's just say they will be rather disappointed once they get there. Go to your grandfather's shrine and the rest will all make sense to you. Most youkai believe that the scythes are in the same location when in fact they are not. Another one of my ideas. So now, I bid you farewell and good luck on your journey.” Michiko stood up. Kimi followed suit.

 

“ Thanks for your help.” She said. Michiko nodded.

 

“ Anytime, young princess. Hopefully, you will soon take what is rightfully yours. Sesshomaru, look out for her. She is a very precious jewel.” Michiko turned away from them.

 

Outside of the hut, Sesshomaru looked off into the distance. He had a funny feeling that he should return home before venturing to the east. Kimi noticed his vague expression.

 

“ You want to go home first, don't you?” She asked. Sesshomaru nodded, but did not look down at her. Kimi sighed. “ I guess it is best. I am awfully tired of traveling anyway. Besides, I am eager to see Rin again.” Kimi stretched. “ Let's go.” She started walking.

 

Sesshomaru stood still for a moment longer. Something was definitely not right.

 

The next day, Rin was looking at the castle of Sesshomaru. Everything appeared to be in order. She dismounted Ah-Un and walked started walking forward, pulling gently on its reigns. Koga walked up beside her, looking at the castle. It was quiet. Perhaps TOO quiet.

 

` Where is Kai?' Rin thought to herself. There was no sign of any of the servants or Kai. The duo walked into the castle. Rin went to the servants' quarters. A lot of dead bodies lay on the floor. Rin covered her nose as she passed them. There she found Suki, laying on her futon, unconscious. Rin ran to her side and shook her.

 

“ Suki?” She said. Suki's eyes fluttered open. She smiled when she realized it was Rin.

 

“ Rin-sama...” She whispered. Suki coughed and tried to sit up. She had a nasty head injury. She looked up and saw Koga.

 

“ Suki, what happened here? Where is everyone?” She asked. Suki shook her head.

 

“ Most of the servants fled in fear of their lives. The others defended the castle, but lost their lives.”

 

“ Who did this?” Koga asked. Suki shook her head.

 

“ She said her name was Suzuka. She was a Hunter. She said I was to be kept alive to warn Lord Sesshomaru.” Suki said. “ Then she hit me over the head, rendering me unconscious.” Suki rubbed her head. Rin examined the wound.

 

“ Where was Kai in all of this? Was she gone?” Rin asked. Suki looked into Rin's eyes.

 

“ Lady Kai is who she was after. Lady Kai is gone. Is Lord Sesshomaru on his way back?” Suki asked. Koga shrugged. Rin squeezed her fists together. She stood up and went to find her arrows. Koga followed her.

 

“ Rin, what are you doing?” He asked. Rin said nothing and took her arrows outside. She aimed for the sky. Koga grabbed her hand. “ Rin, what the hell are you doing?” Rin glared at him.

 

“ Telling Sesshomaru to hurry the hell up.” She said in a low voice. Koga saw the fire in her eyes and let her go. Rin aimed high in the sky, charging her arrow with her miko energy. She'd learned this trick when she'd first begun her miko training. Tenseiga had always been her lifeline to Sesshomaru ever since he resurrected her.

 

` I hope this works,' Rin thought to herself. She let the glowing arrow fly. It lit up the sky.

 

Sesshomaru stopped suddenly. He looked up and saw the sky light up. He instantly knew whose energy it was. Apparently, so did Tenseiga. The sword flew from his side deep into the woods, zooming past Kimi's head. Kimi turned and looked at Sesshomaru.

 

“ What the hell is its problem?”

 

“ Something is wrong with Rin.” Sesshomaru started running at his fastest speed. Kimi sighed.

 

“ I can't keep up with you!” She yelled after him. Sesshomaru had forgotten about that. With the bounty on her head, he couldn't leave her alone either. He came back.

 

“ Get on my back.” He said. Kimi raised an eyebrow, but obeyed nonetheless. She climbed on him and as soon as she was securely on him, he took off at a blinding speed, turning into a ball of blinding light. Kimi snapped her eyes shut.

 

Up in the trees, Sanna examined the energy in the sky, then saw Sesshomaru take off with Kimi.

 

“ Damnit.” She mumbled and started following as fast as she could.

 

Inuyasha looked up in the sky. Taro had stopped playing in the mud by the lake long enough to see the brilliant display. Kagome stepped outside. She knew Rin's power anywhere.

 

“ Something has happened to Rin.” She said to Inuyasha. “ Maybe we should go to her.” Kagome said. Inuyasha looked back at his mate then at his son.

 

“ What about Taro?” He asked. Kagome looked at the gurgling pup. He was blowing bubbles with his own saliva again, a habit that made Kagome cringe. She picked him up.

 

“ I'll take him to Sango's. She can watch him until we get back. I don't like the thought of what Sesshomaru will do if he finds out Rin is hurt and Koga didn't save her.” Kagome said. Inuyasha stood and nodded. He imagined Sesshomaru ripping off Koga's head.

 

“ I see what you mean. Well, get a move on. The longer we wait, the more trouble she could be getting herself in.” Inuyasha said. Kagome nodded and walked briskly over to Sango and Miroku's. After dropping him off, Kagome grabbed her bow and arrows and climbed on Inuyasha's back. “ Ready?” He asked.

 

“ Yeah. Let's go.” Kagome said. Inuyasha nodded and took off.

 

Rin and Koga watched as the light in the sky vanished bit by bit. Rin looked ultimately satisfied.

 

“ So now what?” Koga asked. Rin turned to go back inside.

 

“ We wait.”