InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Way Ice Can Turn Into Sun ❯ The True Form Revealed ( Chapter 3 )

Chapter 3: The true form revealed

 

 

The next morning Kumiko woke up hugging something fluffy. Being half-asleep, she imagined it was her teddy bear, but upon opening her eyes she realized it was Sesshoumaru's fur. She quickly released it and tried to get up, only to find his grip tightening. A pair of unreadable amber eyes were capturing hers.

“I'm sorry!” She said, lowering her eyes from the intensity of his gaze.

“For what?” He asked, tilting her chin up to meet his full stare.

“For giving you all that trouble last night and making you hold me so I could sleep.” She answered, looking directly at him with big honest dark eyes.

“You couldn't make me do anything. And that low-life youkai was barely any trouble for one such as myself.” He replied.

The demon lord seemed to be getting back to his usual arrogant, cold self if it wasn't for a strange spark in his golden eyes.

“You will eat and change your clothes into something more appropriate. Then we may go. Do not keep me waiting. I am not accustomed to it, nor do I wish to be.” He said calmly, raising her like a child and putting her down in front of him.

“Wait just a second, what do you mean change my clothes? What's wrong with them?” She asked in an irritated tone.

“The weather is getting cold for a human.” He said, but not wanting to seem worried about her he added: “And you are of no use to me sick. You would slow me down considerably.”

“I wouldn't want to slow you down, Sesshoumaru-sama” She shot ironically.

“A wise choice, Kumiko-chan” Came his equally ironical voice.

“I knew it...I was just imagining things last night.” She thought sadly as she ceased protesting and went to get her food and clothes. Sesshoumaru almost regretted his words when he saw the disappointed look on her face. He would fix that somehow.

Standing next to the bowl of food was a white kimono with a pink floral pattern. It didn't look bad, actually it was quite nice and she wondered if Jaken had found it by himself or he had been given specific instructions by his master. She ate the food and then walked towards the forest in order to change. Faster than the human eye could see, the demon lord materialized in front of her:

“Where do you think you're going?”

“To change of course, you didn't seriously expect me to change in front of you, did you?” She asked blushing.

For a brief moment, he thought of saying he did, but instead he replied:

“You can't go into the forest. It is full of youkai.”

“Well, could you at least turn around then?” She asked, but seeing he had raised an eyebrow, she added in a softer voice:

“Please?”

He sighed, appearing bored and turned around. His keen hearing still didn't pick up any signs that she was changing.

“Could you please tell Jaken to turn around to?” She asked softly.

His sharp eyes turned to his servant, who was watching the forest scene with apparent interest.

Sesshoumaru's whip would have slashed his head off if he didn't fall on his backside.

“Jaken. Go take Ah-Un for a walk. If you displease me one more time you will die.” His master's voice betrayed anger for the first time and Jaken knew that underneath it was the real threat of death.

“Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama, please forgive me Sesshoumaru-sama” He mumbled, grabbing Ah-Un's harness and pulling the dragon away as fast as he could.

“I'm done! What do you think?” Kumiko laughed and turned to the taiyoukai.

She looked much more beautiful than before. The kimono fitted her perfectly and the colors brought out her eyes and hair.

“It suits you” He said simply, not wanting to reveal his real thoughts.

“Thank you.” She bowed with grace.

They looked at each other for a moment. His golden eyes were capturing her, dominating her and she felt like his prey. The intensity of his gaze made her heart beat faster and a strange feeling was overwhelming her.

He suddenly broke the bond and turned around.

“Let's go.” He said in a calm voice.

“But what about Jaken and Ah-Un?” She asked timidly.

“They will follow. Ah-Un can track my scent.” The demon Lord responded.

He started walking and she followed him without argument. It felt strange, just the two of them. Usually she could hear Jaken complaining about this or that or the sound of the dragon's steps next to her. The silence between them was beginning to bother her.

“Uhm...so...there are many demons in this world, huh?”

He couldn't believe her ignorance...where did she come from?

“So it is...how is it you know nothing about this?”

“Well...I...come from far away...” She answered with a melancholic look on her face.

“And there are no demons where you come from?” He asked distrustfully.

“Not really...not as many I mean...” She added quickly to erase his suspicions. “I am not used to them...” She lowered her eyes.

“Do demons frighten you?” He surprised her.

“No!” She replied firmly, but thinking about his sharp, poison claws and his energy whip she could find no better word to describe him than “deadly” and she knew her answer wasn't exactly truthful.

“You lie.” He answered simply.

“I don't fear all demons!” She defended herself.

“But you fear me.” He replied with his back on her.

She kept silent for a moment but not wanting to give him such satisfaction she shot back:
”Don't flatter yourself!”

“Feisty one isn't she...” He thought, slightly amused by her behavior. Most male demons used to take human women as “pets” and use them when they felt like it, but he had always thought such a scheme was beneath him. Still, his need to be closer to the girl had bothered him lately...

“So I do not frighten you?” He grinned confidently, turning towards her.

He could hear her heart racing and the scent of fear mixed with something else he could not identify. It was as she was in heat, but not quite the same smell...She was definitely intriguing him...

He approached her and felt with satisfaction her heart beat even faster as he came closer. Now his face was leaning towards hers.

“You haven't answered my question.” His warm breath caressed her lips.

She looked back at him trying to seem brave, but her eyes betrayed her:

“No, you don't frighten me at all.”

“Is that so?” He smirked, leaning even closer.

To his surprise, Kumiko's dark eyes sustained his gaze as she lifted her face to meet his.

“If you had wanted to kill me, you would have done it already. What is it that you want then?”

He grabbed her waist and pulled her against him as close as he could. “I want you!” His mind was screaming, but he couldn't let it out. Instead, he just stared at her, his golden orbs penetrating the depths of her darkness. She looked back at him, surprised and not knowing what to do, she just sat there, in his arms.

He noticed with astonishment that his own heart was beating faster, and it was telling him not to let her go, but his will was stronger.

He pulled away and turned his back on her. It was consuming him that his behavior was starting to show similarities to his half brother. He had seen the way Inuyasha looked at the Miko that traveled with him and yet he would not admit his feelings for her. It was different, he told himself. Inuyasha was a hanyou and the girl was human, a relationship between them was possible. However, a youkai and a human...that was not.

He walked on in silence, ignoring Kumiko all the way.

“What's wrong with him...” She was utterly confused. “He's acting really strange...”

Yet she realized it was better not to ask any questions and she just followed him silently.

His words still lingered in her mind and she found it hard to think of him as not human even though it was the truth.

She was so curious about demons, but asking him questions would only raise suspicions and her ignorance about this world had little chance of going unnoticed. She sighed heavily and continued walking, although her feet hurt like hell.

Shortly after, Ah-Un returned and a humble Jaken followed the group as far away from his master as he could.

Night was beginning to fall so Sesshoumaru decided to finally stop.

“We will stay here for the night.” He announced.

Kumiko appeared relieved because she was very tired and sat down, leaning on the dragon as usual. Just as Rin did...it struck the taiyoukai. The girl was shivering. The nights had indeed gotten too cold for a human.

“Jaken.” He called.

“Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama?” The little toad demon came running.

“Make a fire.” He commanded.

Jaken seemed extremely pleased to be of help to his master and raised his staff yelling:
”Nintoujo!”

A wave of fire came from one of the staff's skulls and hit a pack of wood that started to burn peacefully. Soon Kumiko seemed to get warmer and her dark eyes started to get heavy.

“Goodnight Sesshoumaru...” She said in a sleepy voice.

“Goodnight miko.” Came his deep, low voice.

“If he would have just added a Ku to that miko...” She thought yawning heavily. Well it was a progress anyway. Usually he called her “human”, a word that sounded somewhat degrading when spoken by him...

”Well he's still a stuck-up, arrogant, selfish...insufferable...” Why should she care anyway...of course there was that little fact that he looked like a god, but she didn't care all that much about looks when the person's character was unbearable. Still a slight smile brightened her beautiful features as she soon drifted away into the world of dreams. The smile lingered on her face.

The demon lord watched her and his expression was no longer cold. He leaned against a tree, resting, but not taking his eyes off her.

 

It was still dark when she opened her eyes. “I seem to be developing a habit off waking up in the middle of the night.” She said to herself. But this time is was different; it was like something had woken her up...something was calling to her. It was the weirdest feeling and she looked toward Sesshoumaru who appeared to be asleep. She got up and followed the strange calling into the dark forest.

Sesshoumaru noticed her leave, but instead of stopping her, he decided to follow. She had such a strange expression on her face...

The girl kept on walking through the forest as she felt the thing she was drawn too get closer.

A feeling struck her suddenly, making her stop. Youkai...lots of youkai...she could feel their auras. She made a step as to turn away, but it was already too late.

Sesshoumaru felt it too. Hundreds of Naraku's youkai were coming toward the girl.

Before he could get there, he heard a roar from one of the monsters. He stopped to observe the scene as bursts of pinkish-white light were coming out of the girl's arms. They were dissolving many youkai at once.

“I have never seen such strong spiritual powers...” He thought, admiring her. “How can something so fragile channel such power? She doesn't even need an arrow.” Kumiko never ceased to amaze him.

She was fighting with all of her strength, which seemed endless, but he could see her light fading with every youkai she purified.

Enough watching...he said to himself jumping in the middle of the battle. She didn't notice him as the youkai were obstructing her sight. Sesshoumaru pulled out his sword and started to slash left and right. They kept coming...

He felt his anger rising along with his youki.

“Inferior scum...” He spat, a whirl of youki surrounding him.

His eyes turned red as he let his rage take over and a red aura started to grow around him. With a burst of demonic energy, a giant white hound stood in Sesshoumaru's place.

It growled and attacked the youkai with its enourmous teeth. Poison spread from its mouth as it bit the creatures that closed in around the girl. One of them seemed to be bigger and stronger and emanated a strange aura. The demon dog tore it apart with its poisoned fangs, letting a little shard drop on the ground. It was immediately picked up by a pack of Naraku's poisonous bees and carried away.

The remaining youkai started to flee, terrified by their new opponent.

Kumiko sat frozen in fear at the sight of the giant hound. It was terrifying and beautiful at the same time. It started to approach her with slow, graceful movements, growling at her, its frightening fangs revealed.

She backed away a few steps, knowing she couldn't possibly outrun the huge creature. Her eyes were still fixed on it when she fell on the ground. The demon hound was now only a few feet away from her. She raised her hands, trying to purify it, but she had no more strength. With a whispered scream, she sheltered herself with her arms expecting death at any moment.

His enormous mouth was getting closer. She closed her eyes in fear but instead of the bone braking fangs she had expected to feel, she felt a clawed hand grab hers and a warm breath tickled her face. She opened her eyes to see Sesshoumaru's golden orbs staring at her, his beautiful face bearing an amused expression.

“How did you...Where's...?” She managed to mumble with the most surprised look the demon lord had even seen in a being, human or youkai.

He forced himself not to smile as he found the situation extremely amusing and kept staring into her dark eyes, not saying a word.

She knit her brows for a second and her eyes shifted from his golden orbs to the crescent moon on his forehead. The demon hound had one too...

“You...It was you?!” She murmured in astonishment.

“What puzzles you so? Is it this shell that you have believed to be my true appearance?” He said, capturing her eyes again.

“Shell?” She dropped her jaw.

“What you just saw was my true form. I only take human appearance because it is convenient to me.” He answered searching her eyes for something but finding nothing more than surprise in her dark orbs.

“So...all demons can take human form if they want to?” She asked, still not being able to believe what she had just seen.

“No. Only the powerful ones may do so. Those are the ones to be feared the most, not the pathetic youkai you just ran into.” He said with superiority.

“Oh...” She started to understand.

“Now...I thought you said I didn't frighten you...Your look at the sight of my true form begged to differ.” He said with sarcasm.

“I didn't know that was you!” She shot back, having gotten past the previous state of shock.

He didn't answer but grinned like he had won their argument.

“You can let go of my hand now.” She said, narrowing her eyes at his arrogance.

He was taken aback by her words, as he didn't notice he was still holding her hand. He let it drop and turned away from her.

“Stop running away by yourself at night. Next time I won't bother to save you.” His cold voice came.

She felt the burning urge to snap back at him, but seeing how, in her shock, she had forgotten to thank him, stopped herself and followed him back in silence.

When they had reached the camping place, the sun wasn't up yet.

“Don't go back to sleep.” The demon lord said in a low voice. “Dawn is too close.”

“I wasn't planning to.” She replied, annoyed by his attitude.

He ignored her and sat down against a tree a few feet away, waiting for the sun to rise.

He looked a bit sad, she thought. She went and sat down next to him, which caused him to turn his head and look at her with surprise.

“Thanks for saving me...Your true form is amazing.” She murmured, giving him a smile.

His amber eyes stared at her and she raised her head to meet them.

“I know.” He only answered the second part of her phrase. But remembering something he asked:

“How come you know so little about demons?”

“I just...never came across any until now...” She answered honestly.

“How is that possible?” Came the next question.

“I've...been sheltered?” She tried, not willing to tell him the truth. “He would probably say I'm crazy anyway.” She thought.

He listened to her increasing heartbeat and looked her straight in the eyes, grabbing her wrist and pulling her into him.

“Do not lie to me.”

“You won't believe me even if I told you the truth!” She snapped.

“Try me.” Was his simple answer.

She sighed and said slowly:

“I come from the future, I was looking at a strange old well and suddenly something dragged me in and I found myself here. That something was Naraku...you know the rest.”

He inspected her for any signs of a lie and he found none. She was telling the truth. From the future...

“You mean to say there are no demons in the future?” He asked, knitting his brows.

“Not that I know of...” She replied, but not wanting to worry him added quickly:

“This probably is an alternate past which will have another future than mine.”

“Damn...what am I talking about...alternate past, he probably doesn't understand a thing.” Kumiko thought and searched his golden eyes, but contrary to what she had expected, his expression was a full understanding one. “He's really intelligent for someone of his time.” She said to herself in admiration.

He seemed to be deep in thought, analyzing all the information she had given him. After a few moments, he asked:

“You cannot get back to your time?”

“No, I tried...but...” She stopped as tears started to fill her eyes. Her family...would she ever see them again? They probably thought she was dead by now. Tears started to flow down her cheeks as she thought of them.

Without realizing it, Sesshoumaru stroked her cheeks, whipping the tears away. She raised teary puzzled eyes at him but his face was as unreadable as ever. Despite his touch, the tears wouldn't stop pouring and she turned her face away from him.

“He probably despises me even more right now...” She thought sadly as she struggled out of his grip.

Her thoughts couldn't be further away from the truth. The taiyoukai hated to see her cry, but not for the reason she thought. It hurt him to see her in pain. Her struggles were nothing to his strength, but he released her wrist and let her walk away to cry on Ah-Un. He didn't know what else to do.

The girl had fallen asleep despite his warnings, but he had no plans of waking her up.

Jaken woke up though and started to mumble something about “lazy humans” when a rock hit him hard on the head, knocking him over.

“Be silent.” He heard Sesshoumaru's deep voice.

The youkai lord sat down next to the girl, watching her as she slept. The tear marks were still obvious on her face but she seemed in peace now. “So pure...” He found himself thinking. “What would Naraku possibly want from a creature like her?” He felt the hatred for the hanyou rising inside of him. “That dirty half-breed will not touch her...” He thought with determination. He realized he was now thinking of Kumiko as his. Just like he considered Rin to be his. No one would take what was his.

 

Blood-red eyes glowed with malice in a dark room. Naraku grinned as he observed Sesshoumaru through a mirror held by a white child. The little girl had empty black eyes and seemed unaware of anything that went on around her. Naraku's spawn, the nothingness youkai proved very useful...her mirror had the capacity to absorb some attacks and bounce them back as well as to capture souls. It was extremely handy to see what his enemies were doing too.

And right now he watched the demon lord's actions with satisfaction.

He had been extremely surprised when the girl had found herself traveling with such a powerful demon, but now his reactions toward the Miko were intriguing him.

“Could the great youkai lord, Sesshoumaru, be falling for this little human?” He thought, analyzing the taiyoukai's beautiful face. “Damn his unreadable mask...I will soon find out anyway. And if that's so...”

Naraku's face widened with an evil grin and a spark appeared in his blood colored orbs.