InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Fire and Ice ❯ Rematch ( Chapter 14 )

A/N: And part two.

 

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“Do not actually kill him, Mizuki.”

 

“Hai, father.” Mizuki backed away from her brother, letting him pick himself up.

 

“You're still mad at me from yesterday, aren't you?”

 

“Nonsense.” The white hair was shook back as Mizuki circled her brother.

 

“Oh, I can tell. You're still pissed.”

 

“Katsuro, I will work with her.” Sesshomaru moved out to take Katsuro's place.

 

Despite her best efforts, Mizuki's hands still tensed when she saw her father draw his sword. No matter that this was practice, or that he was her father. Her instincts were screaming at her that he was a dangerous male and that she should not be standing there, baka!

 

`Katsuro insists that she showed excellent instincts when she was pushed.' Narrowing his eyes, Sesshomaru shifted his weight slightly. `We shall see.'

 

`This does not look promising.' Mizuki fought the urge to back up as she saw her father shift.

 

Quick as thought he was on her, hammering away with all of the speed he had available. There was no time for a plan as Mizuki snapped up her naginata, using it to block all of the attacks. Dancing back, the hanyou had no choice but to let her reflexes take control as her father continued to push her, backing her up across the field.

 

----

 

`At any other residence I would be alarmed at the sound of steel ringing off steel away from the guards, but here I am simply curious.' Seiji moved towards the sound, hoping to catch a glimpse of Katsuro and Mizuki working.

 

It was not Katsuro that Mizuki was tangled with, but her own father. And she was holding her own.

 

`She does not have her brother's natural skill, but she has enough determination to make up for it. She will not accept defeat, and now she has learned some technique to go with her will. I cannot wait to try this new form out.'

 

Sparks flew as Sesshomaru rained down blows, forcing her back. When the naginata swung towards the ground, he thought that it had been knocked from one of her hands.

 

The little dagger that she always seemed to have was glittering in her father's arm while the empty hand went for the short sword at her waist. A little thing like a dagger would not slow a taiyoukai down, but it was rather distracting when unexpected. With her naginata in one hand and the sword in the other, Mizuki warily circled her father.

 

Yanking the dagger free, Sesshomaru threw it, making his daughter dodge and distracting her. He came in again, hoping to overwhelm her. She caught his blow with the short sword, trapping Tokijin between her naginata and the blade. Twisting, she tried to force the pommel out of her father's hands.

 

Close enough to see his reflection in his daughter's eyes, Sesshomaru fought to free his weapon. She was growling, her cold eyes locked on him as she pushed. A blatant challenge. A low growl escaped him in return, a faint red haze appearing over his eyes.

 

Seeing her father's expression just goaded Mizuki on, making her push harder. She was not getting Tokijin away, so she started to slide her short sword in closer, hoping to make a kill. Sesshomaru forced the tangle of weapons down and brought an elbow to her throat, forcing her to free his weapon. While she was still recovering he got her short sword away, leaving her with the naginata.

 

Still as stone, Mizuki waited for her father's next move. She was increasingly at a disadvantage, but at least she was putting in a good showing this time. When her father struck again, she spun her body as well as her weapon, allowing her to get in one hit on his arm, even as Tokijin connected with the shaft with enough force to rattle it loose. Struggling with her grip, she blocked his next attack and backed up, trying to buy some time. He lunged at her, and she let go of the naginata with one hand to grab onto his wrist. It was an effective distraction, and let her spin her blade towards his middle. Unfortunately, Sesshomaru was too fast for this to work, and he broke her grip and knocked the naginata away.

 

Both weapons were gone now, and Tokijin glittered as it rested against her throat. Mizuki kept her eyes on her father's, her chin raised.

 

“Well done, Mizuki.”

 

“Arigato, father.” Bowing, she turned to shoot a quick smile to her brother, who was doing that thumbs up thing their mother liked to do.

 

“And your opinion, Seiji-san?”

 

`So much for not noticing me in the heat of battle.' Seiji moved into the clearing, respectfully looking towards Sesshomaru while trying to watch Mizuki in his peripheral vision. “I see vast improvement, my lord.”

 

“Hn.” Slipping his sword back into his sheath, the inu-youkai stared at the dragon. When he was certain that Seiji was squirming mentally, he broke the look and walked back to the palace.

 

Seiji found Mizuki watching him closely with an unreadable expression. “Vast improvement?”

 

“Hai.”

 

The silence stretched out as the hanyou trailed her claws over her weapon. “Perhaps you would be interested in a rematch, then.”

 

Katsuro made frantic gestures, trying to wave either of the temperamental pair off.

 

“If that is your wish, Mizuki-san.”

 

“Hai.”

 

“Should I just go get the healer now?” Katsuro glared at both of them.

 

“Not necessary. I will not do any damage to him that will require a healer.” Mizuki retrieved her dagger and slipped it into its sheath. “At your leisure, Seiji-san.”

 

“Oh, Kami help us all.” Clutching Shou, Katsuro settled in to watch.

 

`And there is that look.' The sapphire eyes that were watching Seiji had a fire in the center, a heat that set off his reactions to a threat. `I have only seen that look when she intends harm to me, and yet I find it so fascinating. I have not seen that look directed at anyone else, but I also seem to be the only one that can raise her ire with my mere presence.'

 

`Do not charge. Wait.' Fighting the urge to just fling herself into the fight Mizuki stayed still, watching Seiji draw his own sword.

 

`I have seen this before. She will wait for me to move first. However, I know how to make her move.' Seiji had to fight to keep a straight face. “What are you waiting for, intended?”

 

Mizuki saw red as she put the naginata into motion. While part of her mind was screaming for her to stick with her original plan, the other part wanted the dragon's blood and wanted it now. Fortunately, her rational mind was able to wrestle back control before she actually closed. Feinting to the left, she shifted her grip to swing the endcap at her opponent, making him move to avoid her. “I am not your intended.”

 

“Our parents would disagree.” Seiji grabbed the shaft of the naginata. He intended to yank it from her grip, and was quite surprised when she did not lose her grip. The force of the move yanked his smaller opponent in close, almost bouncing her off of his chest. “And you do seem quite eager to be close to me.”

 

Unable to control all of her reactions, Mizuki lifted her knee up sharply. Seiji managed to squirm away, but he had to release her naginata to protect the more delicate parts of his anatomy. “I do not want to be any closer to you then is necessary to rip your head from your shoulders.”

 

“Then, by all means, try.” Seiji's next swing was close enough to make Mizuki's kimono move, even with her quick reactions.

 

Temper snapping, Mizuki threw her naginata like a spear. The dragon managed to twist out of the way, but he was hit with a glancing blow. The deflected weapon landed much too close to Katsuro for his comfort. “Hey! Watch it, Ki-chan!”

 

Seiji looked at his arm, where blood was spreading across the silk. “I will exact revenge for this, Mizuki-san.”

 

“For someone that cannot seem to catch me, you do make a lot of threats.”

 

Now the dragon could feel his own control slipping. “Are you saying that I cannot defeat you, wench?”

 

“Wench?” Mizuki stared at her opponent.

 

“Oh, hell.” Katsuro actually felt the blood run away from his face. “Seiji-san, bad idea!”

 

“I will not lose to this hanyou.” Seiji was advancing on her, his eyes darkening.

 

“I am so tired of hearing that word. It is pathetic that you cannot find something else to say about me.”

Fury was quickly replacing reason. The female stood in front of him, glaring and growling while her hands were empty. Seiji drew his sword back, a growl of his own echoing hers. “Wench.”

 

She saw the opening and went for it, slamming into the dragon and dragging him to the ground. He tried to get his sword back into play, but she had her claws buried in his arm and was not letting go. Snarling, Seiji flipped both of them over, but Mizuki kept them moving and put Seiji back onto the defensive. His free hand had her by the shoulder, burying his claws into her flesh to keep her at bay.

 

Mizuki managed to get the claws of her other hand into his side, leaving a long row of gashes. The claws at her shoulder were digging in as he pushed her, trying to get his sword arm free. Ignoring what would happen to her shoulder, she slammed her hand into his wrist, tearing the hand away. Continuing to attack, she grabbed onto his throat.

 

At the last instant sense returned to Mizuki's eyes as she realized what she was about to do. Panting, she stared at the eyes beneath her as she eased her hand away from his throat. “Gomen nasai, Seiji-san.”

 

“You were thinking about ripping out my throat.” Seiji continued to glare as Mizuki released his arm as well as his throat, still staring at him.

 

“Hai.”

 

Trailing a hand over his scratched throat, Seiji's glare softened as his dry sense of humor caught up with him. “Well, I suppose you think I should be thanking you for stopping.”

 

Amused, Mizuki let herself smirk. “Hai.”

 

“Arigato, Mizuki-san.”

 

Suddenly quite aware that she was still pressing him to the ground, Mizuki jumped to her feet and away from Seiji. A quick glance showed that her brother was watching her very closely, wearing a goofy grin. `I will not have any peace now.'

 

“You are both going to be in big trouble when Mama sees you.” Katsuro pushed part of the slashed kimono on his sister's shoulder out of the way, grimacing at the damage. “Could you have done this without the bloodshed?”

 

“I am not to blame for those. She knocked my hand away.” Seiji looked at his own arm. “I think I came out of this exchange in worse condition then she did.”

 

“The cut on your arm was quite shallow, and it most likely already healed.” Mizuki ignored her brother's fussing. “My shoulder will take days to heal completely.”

 

“I was referring to this.” Holding up his arm, the dragon showed the row of punctures that were not healing as expected. “What exactly has happened to my arm?”

 

“Ki-chan! You're not supposed to poison anyone!”

 

“He will heal in a day or so.” Mizuki turned away while she scrambled in her mind. `I poisoned him? I must have truly lost control while grappling with him. Mama will be furious.'

 

“We should sneak you two into the palace. Father won't tell Mama if I ask him not to, and if she doesn't see you like this she'll never know. Go around the outside, and I'll meet you in Ki-chan's room.” Katsuro set off across the grounds.

 

“Do you believe that he meant both of us?”

 

Mizuki gritted her teeth. “Hai. After he talks to father he will probably bring a change of clothing to you.”

 

“Then we should go, Mizuki-san. I do not believe either of us wants to face your mother should she see us like this.”

 

It was quick business for the duo to cut across the grounds and over to Mizuki's window. Sliding the screen back, she jumped through the window and moved so that Seiji could follow her. The dragon was incredibly curious about this distant female's room, and did not even bother trying to hide it.

 

After closing her screen, Mizuki turned around the find Seiji walking about her room. Her own eyes raced around the room, looking for anything that could be embarrassing. Thankful that she had picked up recently, she rummaged through her clothing and ignored her unwanted guest.

 

“Are these your paintings, Mizuki-san?” Seiji stood in front of a pair of paintings.

 

“Hai.” Mizuki could feel her face heat up, and realized she was blushing. “I have not painted in sometime.”

 

“A pity. They are lovely. Where did this image come from?” The right hand painting had a ningen female on a two headed dragon charging a large, black dragon.

 

“That was my sister, and coincidentally, a half brother of yours. An assassin from when I was a pup.”

 

“I have heard this story. This half brother of mine was killed, and that started the war two hundred years ago. After that my mother took control of the East.”

 

“Hai, and that was when the treaty was struck between East and West. Actually, that scene is the cause of the situation we are in. I would have never guessed that when it was happening.”

 

Seiji glanced over his shoulder, watching the white haired female pull out a fresh kimono. “And where were you when this scene was taking place?”

 

“I was on the ground, fighting with father. Rin-neechan had dropped me into his arms before charging into battle.” A small smile had appeared as Mizuki set the kimono down and moved over to the paintings. “I was furious.”

 

“I can imagine. I do not need to ask about this other painting.” The second piece showed two males fighting, one with long white hair and the other with black hair and fluffy ears.

 

“Shetai and father training. I believe Katsuro was about one century old when this was created. There is a mate to this that Mama keeps in her study.”

 

A quick scan of the room revealed two more paintings directly across from the first two. “Shou, of course. The second one looks like your mother and another woman in a garden.”

 

“Rin-neechan.”

 

“I will admit that I am surprised to see these in your room. I never would have guessed that you would have such sentimental things about.”

 

Mizuki turned on her heel, marching away to retrieve her kimono. “The room needed color, and they were the subjects I used when I was younger. As I said, I do not paint anymore.”

 

“Too busy working.”

 

“It is none of your concern.”

 

“Of course, Mizuki-san.” Seiji gave a deep bow to go with the patronizing tone.

 

“Do I need to give you matching set of injuries on the other arm?”

 

“Such a violent reaction to an innocent statement.”

 

“You have no say in the way I live my life.”

 

“Unless, of course, you come to the East with me.”

 

“At this rate, that will never happen.”

 

Seiji marched over to the hanyou and grabbed her arm, whipping her around to face him. “Enough. You wish to be Lady of the East, and I am here. At what point will you make a choice? You declare that I am not your intended, but you have told me that you wish to go with me. Which is it?”

 

Mizuki growled. “Let go of me.”

 

“Answer the question.”

 

“Yes. I wish to be Lady of the East, even if it means being with you.”

 

`And why does that response make me want to rip her arm off?' The grip tightened as Seiji drew her in closer and locked onto her gaze. “And it does mean being with me. You should accept that part as well.”

 

“I have accepted it.”

 

“That means that you cannot attack me when I say that you are my intended.”

 

“I am not until my parents have agreed.”

 

“You will fight me every step of the way.”

 

“Hai.”

 

Claws punctured the silk around Mizuki's arm. “It may not be in your best interest.”

 

“You must look away from me at some point. Do not underestimate me.”

 

“Knock it off, the both of you!” Katsuro slid the door shut behind him. “I can't leave you two alone for a minute! Here, Seiji-san, you can change into this so Mama does not notice anything. Father knows, and he won't tell her. I grabbed some water and rags to clean your arm off, but you're still going to want to stop by the bath house. Father's not the only one with a decent nose.”

 

Seiji released Mizuki, tossing a sly look at her as he accepted his new clothing. “Arigato, Katsuro-san. I am assuming that you sister would not care to join me at the baths? She is bleeding as well.”

 

Katsuro grabbed Mizuki as she went for the dragon. “I'm not going to help either of you if you can't control yourselves! Seiji-san, go behind that screen and just clean up. Ki-chan, sit down. He'll be gone in a minute and you two can go back to ignoring each other.”

 

“Unlikely.” Seiji disappeared behind the screen. “We are leaving tomorrow, and she will not have the opportunity to hide from me anymore.”

 

“I have not been hiding from you.” Mizuki glared at the silhouette behind the screen.

 

“No more talking. Either of you!” Katsuro clamped a hand over his sister's mouth. “Out, Seiji-san. I'll talk to you later.”

 

“Arigato, Katsuro-san.” Seiji let himself out, injuries hidden beneath undamaged clothing.

 

Uncovering his sister's mouth, Katsuro backed away. “What was that?”

 

“What was what?” Mizuki grabbed her fresh kimono and disappeared behind the screen.

 

“You two! What is going on? You can't stop fighting, but you can't stop watching each other. I've never seen you fight like that, or him. I come in here, he's got you by the arm and you're threatening him, but you're standing awfully close to each other. And that last goad from him, that was pretty bad and you really would have killed him.”

 

“Nothing is going on, shetai.”

 

“Something is going on, Ki-chan. Father practically set you two up to fight today. He knows what's happening.”

 

“You are overreacting.” Her shoulder was a mess, some of the gashes had gone to the bone. “Shetai, I think I will need a hand bandaging this.”

 

“What are you going to do? You two can't be left alone together, how could you live together?” Katsuro wound the bandage over the shredded flesh.

 

“It will be fine.” Dressed in a new kimono, Mizuki looked like her usual, controlled self. “I have some tasks that I must complete before tomorrow.”

 

“Yeah, yeah.” Katsuro slid the door open, but turned back for a last shot. “But you know I'm right.”

 

Mizuki glared at the door long after Katsuro had left. `I hate it when he is right.'

 

----

 

“They are on the move.”

 

“This will never work.” The visitor paced restlessly. “Sesshomaru will not miss an army coming towards him.”

 

“A youkai army, no. A ningen army?”

 

“He has Merkamou with him, and that hawk has learned to watch ningens.”

 

The shadowed figure smiled. “But he is not in his own lands, is he? He will not be expecting a ningen attack any more then Sesshomaru.”

 

“As long as I can keep the youkai hidden.”

 

“I cannot do everything for you. I will give you the forces that you need, but the rest is up to you. Remember. She must die.”

 

“Hai. I am hoping that she will not be the only one.”