InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Fire and Ice ❯ To Start Again ( Chapter 9 )

A/N: Ha! I can still surprise you guys! Yes! GPPR has struck again! You can find a gorgeous drawing of Mizuki at http: / / robotech. neocamera. com/ fa-inu 03. html Go forth and drool!

 

Welcome back AN and Nilee. Missed you guys. Sorry, Nilee, but she just had a major knock to the ego. My characters always have major flaws, but we'll see if we can put her back together. And I don't usually do the good guys/bad guys thing. Except Ryuutaisho, but everyone slips up eventually. I'm saving the huge bastard blade for someone else, Mr. J. Like I'm going to tell, Lelyn. I love Pride and Prejudice, but I never saw that! Nice catch!

 

Owned.Byme = NULL.

 

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“Try again, Ki-chan.”

 

The usually jovial and teasing voice had been replaced by clipped orders with only the pet name to remind Mizuki that it was still Katsuro speaking. Sweat ran into her eyes and burned while her whole body ached, but she tightened her grip on the sword and prepared to attack again.

 

`Oh, Ki-chan. Now you will pay for skipping out on practice for the last one hundred and fifty years.' Katsuro was caught between relief and guilt. Relief that she would finally learn how to take care of herself, and guilt for what she would be put through. Father was standing nearby, supervising his daughter's retraining with a cold stare. `And I can't go easy on her either. I'm sorry, Ki-chan. I really am.'

 

Katsuro caught the sword that was swung at him, grabbing his sister by the arm and flipping her to the ground. “For a tactician, you make stupid mistakes.”

 

Climbing to her feet again, Mizuki kept the pain out of her face. It hurt to be thrown to the ground like that, and it was bothering her more then she would show to have Katsuro acting like this. Usually her brother was her refuge, but now he was her tormentor.

 

“Mizuki.”

 

“Hai, father.” Moving with a stiffness that gave away her pain, Mizuki moved over to her father's side.

 

“Why would you take a direct approach?”

 

The sapphire eyes blinked, staring at Sesshomaru. “Foolish.”

 

“Hai.”

 

“Distraction? A feint?”

 

“Perhaps.”

 

“Arigato, father.”

 

Katsuro was still waiting for her, his stance misleading. He looked as though he was completely off guard, but Mizuki knew better. She would try to keep Sesshomaru's advice in mind as she tried again. `I am a tactician. I may not be as fast or strong, but I know I have spent more time on strategy. How to trick the trickster?'

 

Instead of stopping and setting up again, Mizuki strolled right up to Katsuro, her blade in the same casual pose he was using. “Oi, shetai.”

 

“Yeah, Ki-chan?”

 

Mizuki clobbered him, laying him out in the grass with a punch to the temple.

 

“Not what I had in mind.” Sesshomaru arched an eyebrow at his downed son. “But effective.”

 

“Oh, what the hell.” Katsuro stared at the passing clouds.

 

“You are the fool who let me get close enough.” Mizuki offered a hand to pull her brother back up.

 

“True.” A quick twist put Mizuki's proffered arm behind her back. “But you didn't finish me off, either.”

 

“Damn.” Struggling, the sister looked for a way out. She went limp suddenly, startling her brother into dropping her.

 

The sword was snapped up, blocked just in time by Katsuro. The black haired hanyou watched with cautious eyes as Mizuki rose from the crouch she had landed in, her sword at guard. `I don't much care for the look in her eyes. I think she's starting to get into this. Shit.'

 

“Mizuki, finish your opponent. Do not play games.”

 

“Gee, thanks father. Just encourage her to kill me!” Katsuro danced away from his sister's attack, annoyed to see that she had fallen into the old pattern now that she was concentrating on killing him.

 

“Mizuki. Not direct.”

 

“Hai, father.” Mizuki's eyes unfocused while she continued to fight, running scenarios through her mind while her body dealt with Katsuro.

 

Katsuro dove in, trying to kill her before she could form a plan. He slammed into the sword, sending it to the ground. Mizuki didn't seem to notice, instead kicking him in the side and sinking her claws into his arm. He let go of his sword with one hand, trying to get his arm free before he was poisoned.

 

Mizuki grabbed the hilt of his sword and twisted, breaking his grip and stealing his weapon. Close enough to count Katsuro's eyelashes, she set the tip of the sword against his stomach while still holding his arm. “Kill, shetai.”

 

“Hai. Good job, Ki-chan, but can you take your claws out of my arm now?”

 

“Gomen, shetai.”

 

The siblings split up, Mizuki handing the sword back to her brother and retrieving her own. `I finally won a bout. Thank goodness.'

 

“Better, Mizuki. We will work again tomorrow.” Sesshomaru walked away, leaving his offspring to their own devices.

 

“How are you holding up, Ki-chan?”

 

“I will be much improved after a visit to the bath house.” Slipping her sword into its sheath, she went to retrieve her naginata and Shou. “Come along, sleepy one. If I hurry we can still go out this evening.”

 

Rumbling with pleasure, Shou dropped onto Mizuki's head.

 

“Shou, come down from there.”

 

The little claws tightened in her hair.

 

“You are lucky that I am too sore to reach the top of my head just now.”

 

The hissing sound that came from her partner sounded suspiciously like laughter.

 

“I mean outside of your sore body.” Katsuro took her naginata away, carrying it back to the palace for her. “I know we've been kind of rough on you, and Seiji was such a bastard . . . “

 

“You are doing what you must. Do not be concerned.”

 

“Ki-chan, stop it.”

 

“Very well. No, I am not pleased to have my little brother beating on me, and then father taking a turn when you need a break. I am not pleased to have time taken away from my duties, or having the Captains taking over some of the things that I cannot get to.”

 

“The Western Lands will survive without your direct supervision, Ki-chan.”

 

Mizuki gave him a dark look. “I am not pleased that the dragon was able to beat me so soundly. I will do whatever is necessary to remedy that.”

 

“What happened with that, anyways? What did he say? Father said that you swung first.”

 

“I did. I lost control and attacked him.” The silver hair hid her shamed face. “I do not know why. It was nothing new, or even unique, but I simply lost control.”

 

“I've never heard you say that.”

 

“Because it has never happened. I do not know why he can cause that reaction in me.”

 

“Are you still thinking about being his mate, Ki-chan?”

 

“I do not know that, either. I must learn control around him either way, and if I can regain my control then there is no reason not to.”

 

“Other then the little thing where you hate his guts.”

 

“There are many mates that hate each other.”

 

“But is that what you want?”

 

Mizuki looked over to her brother. “Would it shock you to hear that I do not care?”

 

“Can you promise to tell me the truth to one question?”

 

The older hanyou stopped walking, staring at her brother. “Hai.”

 

“Is that really how you feel? I mean, do you really not feel things like I do?”

 

“I feel, Katsuro.” There was a long silence as Mizuki tried to put words together. “I suspect that I feel things much as you do, but I do not let these feelings rule me. I will not make a decision like this based on how I feel about Seiji.”

 

“But you do feel like I do. And how do you feel about it?”

 

“The truth, shetai? The idea of laying him out in the grass is most appealing. I also feel that I could build an acceptable situation.”

 

“Acceptable situation? Don't you feel anything like regret that you're never going to fall in love?”

 

“Some.” The answer was a soft whisper, almost carried away by the breeze. “But not enough. I do not like to lose control, and that is what you are describing.”

 

“As long as you're sure, Ki-chan. I don't like having to worry about you.”

 

“You are worrying about me?”

 

“Of course. Even if I am your little brother, I don't really want you to be miserable for the rest of your life. Not completely.”

 

“Your thoughtfulness is overwhelming.” Mizuki continued to walk slowly towards the palace. “My only feelings now are focused on reaching the bath house as quickly as possible.”

 

“Well, that's where I'm going, and I know I'll get there faster then you.”

 

There was a cold glare and a cracking of knuckles.

 

“But of course, I would never consider trying to get in ahead of my big sister. You go right ahead.”

 

“Excellent decision, shetai.”

 

----

 

The green eyes followed the two hanyous as they walked up to the palace. Tail twitching, Shippou fought down his annoyance as he noticed that Mizuki was still moving in a stiff way. `Damn it all, what was that bastard thinking?'

 

The news that Seiji had beat up on Mizuki had startled Shippou, but not nearly as much as his reaction to the news. He would have expected annoyance or some sympathy, but not this anger and concern. `Why am I so wound up about Mizuki getting hurt? It's not like it was Cho or anything.'

 

Strange thoughts bumped into each other. `Do I see Mizuki the same way I see Cho? I've always fought with her, so what's changed?'

 

The siblings had stopped and were talking about something, Mizuki's attention completely fixed on her brother. Her hair was tightly bound as always, and her bearing was elegant and proud even when exhausted. `I've never really looked at her. I mean, she was always just Katsuro's sister. But she is really pretty. Especially when she's not killing anyone.'

 

`Oh yeah, before I forget that little problem, she's a ruthless killer! And Katsuro is helping to make her a better killer! Not exactly someone I feel like courting, thank you very much. I like being alive.' But the eyes tracked back to the hanyou as she turned and started to walk up to the palace again. `But Katsuro said that she's not really like that. I wonder if he's right.'

 

----

 

“From the looks of things, I would say that you had a productive practice.”

 

“And why would you say that, Cho?”

 

“You can barely move, so you must have done something productive.” Ignoring the growled response, Cho slipped into the water next to Mizuki. “So, tell me how it went then.”

 

“My father and brother took turns beating on me in the name of training.”

 

“I should come out and watch tomorrow. That just sounds like a good time had by all.”

 

Tired eyes rolled over to glare at Cho. “If you come I will make you participate.”

 

“Then I think I will need to skip it. I am not part of this insane family, so I am not required to learn how to beat on things. And what would happen if my hands were damaged?”

 

“Somehow I think you would survive.”

 

“I do not think you want me to focus on my singing. Your hearing is far too sensitive to be subjected to that.” Cho smiled at her friend. “Really, did it go well?”

 

“It went well. But it also demonstrated how far behind my brother I am. Discouraging.”

 

“You'll catch up, Mizuki. Katsuro may have a head start and plenty of talent, but I have not seen anything that you cannot do once you've put your mind to it.”

 

The faith of her friend made Mizuki breathe easier. “Arigato, Cho.”

 

“That's what I am here for.”

 

“I thought you were here to avoid being sent off with a male of your father's choosing.”

 

“That as well.” Cho's smile broadened . “And from the latest note from mother it is working quite well. I am not on the forefront of father's mind, and any attempts at finding a new mate have fallen to the bottom of his list.”

 

“Cho?”

 

“Hai?”

 

“Do you regret that you will never fall in love?”

 

“Who are you, and what have you done with Mizuki?”

 

The hanyou locked her gaze on the ceiling, silently begging divinity for patience. “It was a question that Katsuro asked me, and he seemed rather confused by my answer.”

 

“So you are asking me to see what the normal female response would be.”

 

“Something of that nature.”

 

“Of course I do. I read about it so much, and it is supposed to be the most amazing feeling that can be experienced. If nothing else I am curious.”

 

“I believe that is the response Katsuro was looking for.”

 

“Your brother is a hopeless romantic.” Giggling, Cho met her friend's gaze. “But I should not be surprised, since he has the same taste in poetry as I do. Except for some of the haikus, I just cannot appreciate them the way I do the epics. And how did you answer your brother's question?”

 

“I feel some regret, but not enough to stop me.”

 

“Mizuki, I do not think love is for females like us. We have duty instead of romance.”

 

“Hai. Although, if you are not careful, you will have romance.”

 

“Nani?”

 

“Are you blind, my friend?”

 

Cho splashed Mizuki with water, making the fluffy white ears flatten defensively. “What are you babbling about?”

 

“You have not noticed that you have two males hunting you?”

 

“What, Katsuro and Shippou? They do need to find things to do.”

 

“If I have noticed, it must be very obvious.”

 

“You're not joking, are you?” The leopard stopped and stared. “You think they are both looking to court me?”

 

“You are blind.”

 

“What a minute.” Cho stared into space, replaying the last couple of weeks in her head. “Oh, Kami help me. They are after me!”

 

“Good morning, Cho. I hope you enjoyed your sleep.” Mizuki dodged back as Cho slapped the water again.

 

“What am I supposed to do?”

 

“You are asking me?”

 

“Mizuki! This is an emergency!”

 

“You could continue to ignore their existence. It has been effective up until now.”

 

“But. . . “ The voice trailed away, Cho settling back into the water.

 

“What is it, Cho?”

 

“What if I do not want to?”

 

“Nani? You do not want to? Both or just one?”

 

“Just one.”

 

The sapphire eyes narrowed. “Which one?”

 

“I'm not telling you!”

 

“Cho.”

 

“Absolutely not, and you know that does not work on me.”

 

“Very well. Keep your secret. I will enjoy observing this.”

 

“I am certain you will.”

 

----

 

“Seiji!”

 

The dragon turned and found the little miko glaring at him, an eerie glow surrounding her and the staff she was carrying. His father's parting words came to him like an echo.

 

Whatever you do, don't piss off the miko.

 

`Evidently I have failed in that mission.' Seiji casually bowed. “Good afternoon, Kagome-sama.”

 

“And what the hell did you do to my daughter?”

 

`Ah, so that is what she is upset about.' The bland expression remained as Seiji shrugged. “She struck me first.”

 

“And what, exactly, did you say to my daughter to cause that?” Kagome was coming closer, her eyes narrowing.

 

“I do not remember the details, but I was looking to watch her practice.”

 

“And the hanyou comments?”

 

“Well, I did mention that I would not hold that against her, and that I would not retract my offer due to her inabilities as a fighter.”

 

“So you insulted my daughter until you were able to goad her into a fight.” The miko snapped her staff into a guard position. “Baka. Your father should have warned you about me.”

 

“My lady, with all due respect, I do not think you warrant a warning.”

 

“Really? How about you come and pick on this female, you ass.”

 

“I have no reason to fight with you, Kagome-sama.”

 

“Either you fight, or I'm just going to throw you around like a limp noodle.” Swinging the staff at his head, Kagome forced the dragon to dodge.

 

“I would not risk harming Sesshomaru-sama's mate.”

 

“But his daughter is fair game? What is wrong with your head?”

 

Annoyance took control. “If you wish to fight so badly, my lady, I will obey your wishes.”

 

“Come and get it, baka.”

 

Seiji moved to knock the ningen down, but found himself stumbling backwards when he hit a wall. Blinking, he almost missed the swing of her staff. The close graze left a burn across his skin, making him backpedal. His speed kept him ahead of her attacks, and the little miko was getting annoyed.

 

“That's it!” Ducking down, she picked up a stray stick. “Now you've had it!”

 

`What is she doing now?'

 

The stick flew at him with pin point accuracy, hitting him in the shoulder when he tried to dodge. He was knocked back several lengths and left lying on the ground, every muscle protesting.

 

`Now the warnings make sense.' Seiji slowly got to his feet. “The fact remains that your daughter struck me. I defended myself.”

 

“Defended yourself?” Kagome threw one of her barriers up around him, keeping him still so she could yell at him. “I saw the marks on my daughter, and that was not defending yourself. Dominance be damned! Keep your claws off of my daughter or so help me I will purify you out of existence! You have a brother, so I don't think Akira will grieve too much.”

 

“I do not believe you, Kagome-sama.”

 

Growling under her breath, Kagome dropped the barrier and grabbed him by the front of his kimono to pull him down to her height. “Do I look like I am joking to you?”

 

The burning sensation from having her so close made Seiji freeze. Suddenly he was reminded just who Mizuki's mother was, and that the dangerous side may not have come from Sesshomaru after all. “No, Kagome-sama. I do not believe you are joking.”

 

“Then you will not beat up on my daughter, or I will return the favor. Do we understand each other?”

 

“Understood, Kagome-sama.”

 

“Good. Whatever dominance thing you have to deal with can be done without leaving her bruised and bloody.”

 

“The blood was actually from me, my lady.”

 

“Really?” Kagome released him. “In that case I'll let you go with just some bruises. Remember what we talked about.”

 

“I will not forget, Kagome-sama.”

 

Seiji watched the small ningen storm off. `Dominance.' He had not thought about it that way. Was it possible that instincts had kicked in with that defiant female? It was true that he had been rougher then necessary with her, but she had been quite rough in return. That had been a very nasty bite she had left on his shoulder. But that would imply that he saw her as an acceptable female, and not as one that would be forced on him.

 

`She is intriguing, that much I know. She is cold and calculating until you hit a certain point, and then she is another female completely. I rather like the dangerous side of her, and enjoyed bringing it out. I wonder which side is real?'

 

It did not look like he would have a chance to find out, since the female was avoiding him. Rumor had it that she was working with her father and brother. `So perhaps she has decided to spend some of her time training. It will be even more interesting the next time I face her, then. And I find myself looking forward to that. A hanyou. I must be losing my mind.'

 

“So I take it that I don't have to talk to you.”

 

Seiji turned around to find Katsuro watching him. “About what?”

 

“My sister. I believe that Mama took care of it for me. Besides, it's about time you found out what my mother really is.”

 

“So you are here to tell me to keep away from Mizuki-san.”

 

“Nah. Mama has warned you, and I'm sure Ki-chan would let me know if she wanted anything done to you. I think you've gotten the point.”

 

“That I have.” Seiji ran a hand over his new burn.

 

“Good.” An appraising eye was run over Seiji's injury. “It will heal up in a couple of days, but it's going to itch like crazy in the mean time.”

 

“Delightful.”

 

“If I were you, I would let Ki-chan have some time to cool off before she does something drastic. Just because she couldn't take you in a face-to-face fight doesn't mean she can't hurt you.”

 

“And would you assist her?”

 

“If she asked me to, probably.” Katsuro met the wary gaze. “But you would have to do something really awful for her to ask me for help.”

 

“I will keep that in mind.”

 

“Don't hurt her, and I won't hurt you. And I'm not talking about just hurting her physically.”

 

“You are very protective of her.”

 

“Of course I am. She is so busy taking care of everything else that she doesn't have any time to take care of herself. That's my job, and I take it very seriously. Hurt her and I will hunt you down.”

 

“Understood, Katsuro-san.”

 

“Great! Let's go find some dinner, I'm starving.”

 

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