Fallen

Chapter 8


People were crowding around the collapsed wooden structure with regretful and mournful looks at the woman who was frantically trying to remove the debris from where it was surely crushing her son. Tears spilled unheeded as she pulled at the too large pieces of wood. She whimpered miserably and she knew time was running out and the chances of her child's survival were shrinking. When a second pair of hands joined hers she thought it to be one of those watching who took pity on her. “Where is he?” a soft voice asked beside her.
The woman jumped and snapped her head to the side to look at the one helping her. The words died in her throat. She had not expected to meet the wide sapphire eyes of the Holy One.

“Where is your son.” Kagome repeated moving her hand to shake the woman's shoulder. The woman swallowed. “He is under all of this. Please-” Kagome frowned “Later, you can do what ever later. First lets save your son.” Kagome stood and looked at the men watching. “You, gather all the men around and start moving these boards.” she said pointing at one fellow. “And you, get me any bandages and fresh water you can find. Now move it!” She glanced over at a teen and fixed him with a serious look. “Can you run?” she asked. The youth nodded. “Good run to the top of that hill, go inside and walk to the room at the back. On the floor you will find a black bag. Bring it to me. Hurry.”

Men rushed forward and began to move the thick wood as the women surrounded the weeping mother and tried to offer her comfort. It was the same woman that the priest rejected. Sesshomaru watched in thoughtful curiousness. He'd been annoyed when Kagome had spun on her heel and run full speed towards the horrible scream. He'd followed on his own keeping her in sight as she ran. Without thought she had pushed her way through the crowd and before he could really do anything about it she'd pitched in to try to move a wooden beam bigger than she. Mentally he'd scoffed at her action but watching her take control of the situation he had been surprised.

He found his eyes locked on her face. He watched her every expression and subtle shift of her blue eyes as she directed and watched for some sign of life beneath the rubble. When his sensitive nose picked up the scent of blood he shifted to watch her more fully from where he stood. He was honestly waiting for her to go to pieces, for her to fall apart like the other females of her species, to prove she was just a human woman. Her lip quivered but she bit it harshly. His eye brow rose at the action. Was she using her own pain to control her emotions? Was she capable of such a thing? Her strength of will was surprising him and he wasn't completely sure the feeling was a good thing.

Kagome searched the shrinking pile of wood with a feeling of dread. She had heard no sound from a child in the debris, meaning that the child was either dead or unable to make a sound. If he was hurt that badly in this time he would probably be left to suffer until he died. This might be Atlantis but that didn't mean that they could work miracles. Kagome frowned In the two years she'd traveled in the Sengoku Jidai she had been slowly training every chance she could with Kaede. No, she was sure she couldn't work miracles either but she had not been able to fully tap her innate power. She took a deep breath to steady herself as panic began to overwhelm her. Biting her lip she focused again on the task at hand.

“Look!”

“There he is!”

Kagome snapped to attention as a man bent to pick up the boy. “Stop! Don't touch him!” she shouted running at the man. He jumped away as though burned falling to the ground. The youth ran up panting from his run “Holy One. Is this the item thou did request?” he asked though rapid breaths. With out comment Kagome nodded and took the pack from him. Digging through she found her battered first aid kit and knelt next to the boy who couldn't have been older than two or three. First she checked for a pulse and then leaned her face close to his to test for breath. She released the breath she was holding. He was alive barely. She ignored all of the eyes on her as she mentally assessed his condition. He was covered in blood making very difficult to see the extent of the injuries.


“He has three broken ribs, an arm and leg. The worst cut is on his stomach just above his navel. The rest are minor. He will most likely die within the hour from the loss of blood.” Kagome jumped having not heard Sesshomaru move to the side of her. She looked up at his gruesome assessment and stubbornly shook her head. “No he won't.” she said seizing the lid of the kit and prying it open. From it she removed gauze and antiseptic. Looking around she spotted the water that had been brought at her command. He followed her gaze and moved before she could speak. With no effort at all he brought the heavy earthen urn close to her so that she could reach it with no trouble then sat back to see what she would do.

Though his actions some might say were out of character for such a youkai like him, the child, like most did reminded him of his Rin. As he looked at the suffering boy he remembered finding Rin being horribly beaten by a few youkai in his house. They had been ordered by the other nobles to dispose of the possible threat to the Western lands. She was after all a human girl and no one really knew their lords interest in her. After that terrifying ordeal he had been forced to do something few knew was even possible, he had formally adopted the child as his own. Though he would never admit it, he had a weak spot for children. They were helpless and even as cold as he was, he never could bring himself to harm anything so innocent.

Kagome worked tirelessly covered in the blood of the child as she struggled to staunch the blood flow. As minutes ticked by she knew she was losing. Once Keade had spoken of a great healing power that was rare in the best cases and mere legend in the worst. It had been her thought that because of Kagome's great love of life that she would one day be able to use such a power. But as she had no way to teach the young woman she had told her to ask the Gods. Feeling tears prick her eyes as she continued to fight the battle for the child's life Kagome lowered her head and silently wept. 'Please.' she begged silently.

Light swept over her form and that of the child as her aura raised around her. Her holy power filled the small space with its purity. As it grew and expanded Sesshomaru watched in silent astonishment as the power he'd only caught glimpses of made it's self known. He had perceived from the moment he'd laid eyes on her in his father's tomb that she was powerful, but that her power lay dormant. Now fully awakened he was in awe of its magnitude. That it could all be contained in a frail human body as small as hers, was a wonder in its self. Unwillingly he admitted to him self that though she was a human he did not find fault with her abilities nor her power and it earned her a minute bit of respect in his eyes. 'But she still annoys the hell out of me'. Thought to placate the little voice that was screaming in protest.

When the light faded moments later Kagome held the child as she wept in to his unruly light brown hair. His little green eyes were wide as he looked upon the one who held him, but he did not cry. She was smiling gently at him and kissing his little chubby cheeks as she wept openly. “I'm so glad.” she cried softly as she hugged him. All of the minor damage had been reversed and though he was still covered in little scrapes and cuts his life had been spared. Over the child's head she caught Sesshomaru's eyes and gave him a bright smile. He nodded once in silent understanding. Kagome flushed with pleasure that he acknowledged her at all. Turning she looked at the child's mother. “He's fine. Here you can take him now.” she said tiredly but happily. “He lived by the will of the Gods.”

Kagome stumbled a little as she walked over the leftover rubble. She felt as though she could sleep for weeks. Absently Sesshomaru reached out to steady her but the priest beat him to it and he threw a shawl over her shoulders as he steadied her. She pulled way from him with a weak grimace like smile, moving closer to Sesshomaru. Silently the priest offered her a goblet of something cool and she sniffed it curiously. In it she could smell grapes and mint the strongest. Surprisingly her power flared around her hand holding the drinking implement and it glowed pink for a moment before she braved a sip. It seemed it was a sort of juice. She took a larger swallow gratefully finding it was refreshing. Calix watched her with a gleam in his green eyes, a new plan forming in his mind...

Kagome giggled to herself nervously as the adrenaline faded and she realized the full extent of the past situation. Sesshomaru turned at the odd choked sound of a giggle and wondered if now after it was all over that the girl was going to go to pieces. He ran his claws through his silver hair as he watched her. It was rather fascinating how quickly she could go through emotions.


~Back in the temple~


In the back rooms of the grand temple the head priest stared out over the city. From his private rooms. He had felt such great power from the woman and grinned in anticipation. He would never have expected her to show her power so magnificently perhaps he should have toppled a couple other buildings too? She would be perfect to complete his plans. With her at his side the world would bow to his whims. With her he would make Atlantis greater and more powerful than any civilization. Once it was known that such a goddess carried his heir he would be unstoppable. Eagerly he swept his fingers through his sandy colored hair. And studied his reflection in the polished silver of the shield hanging on the wall. He smiled coldly at the sharp features of his face. He had been told by many a lady that he was very pleasing to the eye. The goddess would be putty in his hands. Throwing his head back he laughed.

In the pavilion of the temple Kagome lay back on the cushions. After they had rested they were lead to the baths where to could clean up while the elder priest had someone prepare them an evening meal. Kagome was ecstatic as she followed the guide. She was eager to get clean and a bath was just what she needed.

Their guide paused and held a curtain aside for them both to enter the room he'd stopped at. Inside the room was the common bathing room and Kagome felt herself blush from head to toe. A common bath and the spell meant that most likely Sesshomaru would be bathing as well. She cast a shy glance at him and then remembered his harsh words from earlier. Well if he wasn't bothered then she wouldn't be either. She'd just pretend he wasn't even there. Turning her back she dropped the sheet from her and kicked it aside. Straightening her back she raised her head and stepped over to the massive bath. Testing the water with a toe she slipped in to the hot water.

Green eyes watched in eager anticipation, as his goddess entered the bath, through a conveniently placed hole in one of the reliefs. At the sight of her pale skin and rosy tipped generous breasts the silent watcher groaned quietly in aroused delight. He wanted her as he'd never wanted any other. She was perfection in the flesh and as powerful as any goddess should be.

Sesshomaru watched her curiously from the corner of his eye. No he hadn't forgotten the words he'd said harshly that morning but he had kind of hoped that she had. But from her actions he knew she had not. He grit his teeth and kept his eyes anywhere but on her skin. He might be a youkai but he was not made of stone. As much as he wished it sometimes, he was not immune to the effects of a female form to his body, to his dismay not to her body in particular. To keep his pride and her sanity he walked to the bath still wearing a portion of a drying cloth around his hips.


A familiar sent reached his nose and his eyes scanned the room in fury. A small hole in the wall on the other side of the bath and right in front of the miko caught his attention. He frowned. He did not look at her as he slid in to the water and moved as far from her as he could. Placing the back of his head over the hole and blocking the view from prying eyes. There he remained as the onna bathed continuing to ignore his presence. Stubbornly Sesshomaru decided that if she was going to ignore him then he would enjoy the show, however as she began to wash herself he looked away unwilling to repeat the cause of his most erotic dreams.

Calix was infuriated and aroused as he moved silently away from the wall and back to his rooms. That silver haired monster was going to be a problem. One that would have to be disposed of if he was going to further his plan. In his rooms he lie down on his cushions and allowed his mind to wander to the goddess as she had bathed. Soon he discovered that he had a rather uncomfortable issue to handle...

Back at the dressing area Sesshomaru and Kagome found the servants waiting to dress them again. Sesshomaru declined assistance as he quickly pulled the indigo colored cloth over his head and secured it around his waist with a colorful tie. Sturdy leather sandals followed. He felt awkwardly under dressed in the clothes but the cloth was sturdy and thick and as it clothed him properly, he was satisfied.

Kagome was grateful for the servants attending her as she studied the robe they placed over her head. Without the cord it resembled a sheet with a large hole for her head and a couple openings to show her arms. The color was pretty, a soft washed out green-blue. She tightened the cord further around her slender waist as the women placed her feet in another pair of strange leather sandals. Another couple of women went to work on her hair, piling it on top of her head secured by various pins and combs. Heated irons were used to curl the back leaving a few ringlets to fall to her thighs at the sides. Sesshomaru glanced at her once and then decided that he was better off not looking after all.

Food was waiting for them when they arrived and she had heartily dug in. Though it was not his normal practice Sesshomaru had joined her eating only a small amount of the raw fruits and vegetables that had been offered. The wine he also took as he found its scent as pleasing as the taste. When the servants hovering over them finally removed the trays of food and left, Sesshomaru spoke.

“It is not often that this Sesshomaru finds something to be of interest. And today your power was worthy of interest to myself. Onna, did you know you had such power?” he asked in a flat tone.

Kagome looked at him as though he'd sprung a second head. “Are you actually talking to me and not at me?” she asked looking around. He raised an eyebrow. “What are you looking for?” he asked. She blinked “a flying pig.” she answered. As he didn't get the joke he frowned. “Answer the question onna.”

“Honestly? No. I had no idea. But I remembered that old Keade told me once that she thought I most likely did, but that she couldn't teach me. For that I'd have to ask the Gods. So I did.” she sighed and closed her eyes. “I was afraid for the boy. I just knew that it was wrong and I called out silently for his life to be spared. It was like my hands moved on their own and power I knew was mine and yet wasn't flowed through me.” she stopped and looked away. “I don't even know why I'm telling you this. It's not like you care.”

“Hn, perhaps not, but it is good to know you do not solely rely on my protection alone. One must be able to hold their own before being considered an ally. Otherwise there is no benefit to either.”

Kagome looked at him for a moment and her eyes widened. “Wait did you just say I was a ally?”