The scent of earth and distant rain was pungent within the light breezes that brought forth the message of a Summer solace. The sun was waning, casting the countryside of Japan within a golden hue, painting the sky in the utmost vibrant orange and reds. Indeed, the scenery was a sight to behold, except for the heavy burden that would fall upon the shoulders of the demon lord.
“Why?” he inquired, his tone somber and demanding, though no malice pushed behind his words. “Why do you insist on staying by my side, Kikyo?”
Golden orbs met those deep brown hues, determination etched across elegant features as he felt her hand tighten ever so slightly upon his remaining hand. She did not fear him, she never had, and stood beside him despite knowing what he was fully capable of. There was a kindness in her eyes, but beyond that kindness was a deep sadness, a tragedy waiting to unfold.
This woman was already dead.
“If he kills you,” he spoke, pausing as he noted his sword did not pulse. “I cannot bring you back. You are aware of this, are you not?”
Then why did she insist? She was not ignorant, that he was certain of. She was absolutely brave, and perhaps that was to a fault, but even now that was not what drove her. Did she fear for him? A priestess, a mortal enemy of demons and heroine of mankind, would care so deeply for a demon she would risk her life. There were many a reason as to why Kikyo would choose to remain by his side, just as Rin and Jaken had; however, the mortality of his comrades had become an increasing concern upon his mind, especially after loosing Kagura.
“I will say this,” he spoke, once more breaking eye contact with the woman, his argent tresses dancing against his armored frame and bustling in the soft winds that pushed past him. “I have no intention of letting that despicable half-breed kill me.”
That was all he could do.
Why, he asked? Perhaps due to the same reason she wished for Inuyasha’s safety... It wasn’t easy to explain, harder still as the demon didn’t seem to deny her approaches. It was an exchange of favors that had brought them together, but what exactly ushered them to keep things that way? Something beyond both their understanding, or maybe the mutual sense of loneliness, of having to let go of too much for the sake of love.
『 Experience. 』 She replied without wavering. 『 The last time I let someone dear go, they never fully returned... I simply wish to see that this doesn’t happen again. 』
Such was the best way she could possibly explain him how she felt, or what she felt. Clearly, the thought of her risking her life for his sake angered him perhaps just about as much as the thought of him gone saddened her. Did he not wish to fight by her side? Did Sesshomaru not trust her skills? Or could it have been something else that kept him from accepting her aid?
『 Whether I like it or not, I’m dying, Sesshomaru. You’ve noticed it too... haven’t you? His scent on me. 』 There was no fooling a daiyoukai of his caliber’s sense of smell-- he was prone to have caught on her scent from a mile or two away. The stench of one who had been afflicted by Naraku’s poison... and it was slowly that the miasma ate away at her life’s thread, chipped it off like plaster to wall paint. 『 I don’t know why you seem so eager to postpone the inevitable, but... I do wish to fight by your side. So, please... take me with you. 』
There was a lump of upset stuck to her throat, and her hand around his tightened its grip some. Inuyasha was prone to be there... they both knew it. Even so, she tried not to let the thought of him dampen her resolve. If only because Kikyou wasn’t quite sure of what face to make when the hanyou caught Sesshomaru’s scent clung to her as it did to his wards.