Chapter 9 | Careless

WARNING - this chapter contains minor indications of suicidal ideation, which may be upsetting to some readers. Please proceed with caution.

- KYOKO POV -

As I felt myself become nervous, I instinctively shoved him away with my head facing down.

Turning away I bolted back to the shrine. What in the world Kyoko!?

You shouldn't have let him get too close and yet you did! Stopping to calm myself I found myself at the stairs to the shrine. Why did my face feel hot?

Why ... did I ... allow him so close to me?

~- Two Years Ago -

In front of me the same grinning and snarky demon I had acquainted with held lifeless eyes and the head of a demon in his grasp - bright red blood dripping from his grip.

As Tatsumori lifted his head up to look at me, I flinched raising my bow up and aiming it at him. And yet when I had done so, he stood there now with his head low.

"So ... you're afraid of me now? That ... really hurts my feelings Kyoko." He said as he dropped the demons head. Landing with a thud, the head rolled over to me, blood seeping out of its mouth.

Furrowing my eyebrows I lowered my bow down to my side, still wary. I have never seen Tatsumori like this before ...

Tatsumori then started to laugh hysterically, moving his hand to to cover his eyes. Brushing them, he ran his hand through his hair pushing it back.

" And here I thought ... you were different..." he said with a smirk.

~

Cleaning up the wound on my head I peered at the Muranaga that lay on its altar. It hasn't shown any activity these past few days. What's even more strange is that there are lesser demons than there were a couple days ago ...

Reaching beside me I grabbed a bucket I had filled earlier, and poured the water over the fire I had lit putting it out. Getting up I walked out of the shrine, looking out towards the woods. The night is ... quiet.

Walking forward - taking my bow with me- I stepped out of the barrier around the shrine. Getting completely through it, a shiver crawled over me. Something's not right. Continuing forward, I followed down the dirt trail. Eventually getting near the Cherry Blossom Trees, I heard a familiar whoosh.

"I ... don't understand you." I said in a whisper. Facing back towards him, Seshomaru wore that unfazed look I disliked. " Your a very strange demon, you know that?"

As I walked up to him I was met with a shrill voice stinging my ears. " How dare you say something like that to Lord Sesshomaru! My Lord is not strange!"

"Well he is." I said irritated and glaring at Jaken.

Striding past the both of us, Sesshomaru made his way toward the Cherry Blossom trees.

Following behind, I sat down a distance from where Sesshomaru was - while Jaken went by his side.

For awhile we all just stood and sat there in silence. That is until a deep voice broke the silence.

"Priestess, do you want to die?"

I could feel my eyes widen. Die? What - what did he mean by that? For some reason... that didn't sound like a threat but rather ... a question.

Not looking over at him I spoke, " I... don't understand that question."

I could feel his gaze on me as I turned away, not wanting to see him in my side view.

~- Two Years Ago -

I gasped for breath as I tried to calm my breathing. I had used too much Spiritual power again. If I had used anymore, the barrier would have gone down. On the ground my black hair fell in front of my face.

"You overdid it again." Tatsumori said. Standing over me he held his arms behind his head, looking down on me.

"Leave." I said getting up and wiping my face. Going past him, he only trailed behind me like someone's lost dog.

"Do you have a death wish or something Kyoko?" He said. " I mean ..., you don't really mind getting into situations where your life's at risk, and I know - I know that's your whole stick being the guardian of the Muranaga, but ... I don't think that's it." He then grinned.

"Eh, doesn't matter, just a thought Kyoko."

~As the Trees rustled against the wind - the night became cold again like it had ways done. After while Jaken had left leaving only me and Sesshomaru.

Focusing on the view in front of me- I took it in admiring it. No. I do not have a " death wish" as you called it Tatsumori ... rather ... I'm drained and exhausted ... there have been times where I had thought I was blessed with this position ... but now ... it's a burden. I only wanted ... to be free like you. But you also knew ... that was only wishful thinking.

Feeling something brush against my forehead, I froze - unsure. Looking up, there above stood Sesshomaru. Staying in a state of shock I could feel myself becoming flushed. Sesshomaru had just brushed his finger against my wound from earlier ... realizing this - snapping out of my state of shock - I moved back quickly.

"W-wha- what are you doing?!