Ice and Snow, Mind and Heart

Chapter 44: Takimaru

Yuki squeezed her eyes shut in anticipation, calling desperately in her mind for the one person she could think of at that moment before she died: 'Sesshomaru!'

But before So'unga could cut her in half, there was a loud clang and a familiar voice grunted from somewhere in front of Yuki.

Yuki's eyes snapped open, and she looked up, startled, while Kagome let out a gasp of surprise as Sesshomaru pressed up against Takimaru, the dog demon's arm outstretched while he grit his teeth with the effort of keeping his Tokijin between So'unga and Yuki's head.

"Sesshomaru!" Yuki gasped, while Takimaru growled and Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed towards the other man.

Yuki ducked out of the way quickly, and Sesshomaru – now assured she was safely out of reach – let his Tokijin fall slightly as he shoved Takimaru aside before swiping Tokijin at the possessed man.

But Takimaru avoided it swiftly, jumping back and landing safely on the other side of the room as he smiled widely at Sesshomaru.

"Be gone! Quickly, you'll only be in my way here." Sesshomaru ordered the two human women as he kept his eyes fixed warily on Takimaru, and Yuki nodded.

"Kagome." Yuki murmured. She gestured for the girl to leave first, and Kagome hurried out behind Sesshomaru while Yuki paused, glancing at Tenseiga on the ground to the side and picking it up.

"Sesshomaru."

He glanced back very briefly, and she placed Tenseiga down carefully where she stood, closer to Sesshomaru.

"I'll leave this here." Yuki informed him.

Sesshomaru made no sign that he cared as he faced forwards once more, simply ordering sternly: "Hurry, and go."

"I know." She answered, as she hurried out behind Kagome, the pair keeping to the wall away from Takimaru as Sesshomaru carefully kept himself placed between the demonic man and the retreating women while they made it to the door and fled.

'Be careful, Sesshomaru.' Yuki added in her thoughts as she glanced back once before she left with Kagome.

"Hmph, you may have saved your woman." Takimaru smirked as he charged Sesshomaru. "But you're still too late!"

Their blades clashed, and Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed as he looked at the left arm Takimaru was using to wield So'unga, that the undead man had been using to try and cut through Yuki.

"That left arm..." Sesshomaru scowled, and Takimaru's smirk widened as he taunted: "Oh, that's right. It used to be yours. You want it back, I suppose?"

Sesshomaru's face went absolutely cold as he hissed back: "No thanks."

Their blades clashed once more, before they pushed apart once more, and Sesshomaru grunted as Takimaru managed to knock Tokijin out of his hand.

"Hehehe." Takimaru chuckled lowly as he held So'unga's point to Sesshomaru's face while the dog demon backed slightly away with narrowed eyes.

"How does it feel, I wonder?" Takimaru taunted. "To be killed by your own hand? Or does it give you some small comfort that you saved your beloved mortal from the same fate?"

Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed, while Takimaru smirked as he said: "Still, it will be short-lived relief; once I'm through with you and Inuyasha, I shall enjoy killing those two women, who would choose to fall in love with a demon!"

"Takimaru, you disappoint me." Sesshomaru countered, and Takimaru actually blinked in shock.

"What?!" He snarled, but Sesshomaru continued coldly: "You haven't even noticed that you're merely So'unga's puppet. You actually believe that it's your own power. What a miserable spectre."