𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘰𝘯 犬夜叉 ♡ ; 𝚗𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚔𝚞 𝚡 𝚘𝚌

full moon

Mei slid her toes in the water and took a relaxing sigh of relief. The cool temperance of the water made her worries and aches melt away in the water. Reluctantly, she continued to undress in front of Kagura who showed no interest in her or the act itself. She rested against a large Chinese elm with her arms crossed and eyes closed. Mei didn't know that behind her seemingly restful disposition, Kagura was worried to pieces. She didn't know how, or when, the shard was going to show up but she knew she was on tested time with Naraku for each moment that passed without her bringing back the sword or the shard.

What was she to do?

Kagura sighed, scratching her neck as it extended from the left to the right. Mei looked back for a brief moment, worried she was bothering Kagura. When she realized she was resting, she continued to undress near the river. She tied her hair into a loosely -secured bun, clipping it atop of her head when she grew too annoyed with the stray hairs that acted on its own accord even when she tried so hard to tame them. The moon reflected off her pale skin brilliantly. The dark blue light radiated off her shoulders and cascaded down her back, revealing the spider scar to show as a pale violet hue that rested on her skin and extended nearly to her hips.

She lowered her body inch by inch into the water, soft gasps escaping her lips at the cool sensation from the water. She could feel her nipples erect themselves and goosebumps litter her flesh from the base of her neck down to her toes. Normally, she hated the cold water, but tonight felt almost magical to her.

"Kagura," Mei began, dousing her hair with the ravine water as she spoke. "Call me silly for assuming, but you seem to be more stressed than normal. Are things okay?"

Kagura's eyebrow twitched at her question. She was somewhat annoyed with her curiousity, but a part of her was rather grateful at the concern. She scratched her neck a few times, took in a long breath and opened her eyes to look Mei's direction. She blinked at Mei's figure floating seamlessly in the water, almost as if she belonged there. With her raven hair slicked back and her crimson eyes glimmering like newly crafted rubies, she understood why Naraku wanted to keep her around for more than just her sword.

"Everything is fine." She knew what she said was a lie, but what benefit would it be to tell the truth. She was in a boiling kettle waiting to spill over and Mei, unfortunately, was right in the middle of it all.

"The bigger question is: how are you holding up?" Kagura asked, tilting her head to one side with her lips in a straight line.

Mei paused for a moment, waded in the water, then sighed.

"I honestly don't know. I want to say I'm fine but then again I don't really know if I am. I know I sound foolish for saying this but, I don't really know if I'm fully happy to be back. It just.. it all feels so scattered."

Kagura took a moment to take in what she said, careful not to overstep or overshare. When the words couldn't come to respond to her concerns, she merely dropped her head and sighed.

"You have to give the adjustment time. Eventually, it will get better." Without adding much else to her statement, she stood to her feet.

"If you'll excuse me." Kagura turned on her heel to face the forest. She figured it be best to try searching the perimeter for the shard while she still had free time to do so.

"Kagura, wait, where are you going?" Mei's brow furrowed as she bit her lip in concern.

"Do you need me to come with you?" she asked.

Kagura thought for a second, her back still to Mei, "No." she replied flatly, "Just be here when I get back."

"You don't leave me much choice..." Mei muttered to herself, watching Kagura venture further and further into the forest until she disappeared.

Mei tucked a stray hair behind her ear, her eyes transitioning from a widened yet surprise look to a softer, sadder one. She waded herself alongside a large boulder and leaned her back against the stony exterior. Looking up at the moon, she took a breath. She could feel a tear trickle down her cheek and into the cool water surrounding her. A looming sense of overwhelming anxiety overcame her. She didn't know how long she could keep pretending that she felt comfortable with Naraku's past actions. She had hoped that day at the river would give her a chance to open up a dialogue for her concern but, instead, she was put under the same comatose state and sent back to the castle.

Was this how things were going to be from then on? Was this the life meant for her?

A shiver went up her spine, and she hugged herself on reflex. The thought of continuously being pushed to the side and hidden away in a castle when things got uncomfortable made her feel all the more lonelier. There were still so many things she had questions about. Who was Kikyo? Why were him and Inuyasha battling? What was the purpose of him acquiring the shard? And most importantly-

"Ah!" a gasped escaped her lips at the sudden memory, "Where is my sword? I never came back with it..." she shivered again, cursing herself at her irresponsibility. "Father, please forgive me. I'm going to make this right and take more ownership for my shortcomings." Through her reassuring mantra, a wave of desperation washed over her. She calmed herself, evenly pacing her breath and putting a hand to her chest to feel it rise and fall. Looking up at the moon, she made a promise to herself to make things clear and right for her.

Even if it meant leaving Naraku.

The mere idea of it made the side of her neck burn. The same warmth began to itch, growing more intense as the seconds passed. She scratched the warmest area until it subsided enough but the sudden sensation worried her nonetheless. When her hand wandered fro the base of her neck to her shoulder blade, she could feel the raised skin where her spider-shaped scar was. She closed her eyes, sighed, and dunked her head underwater.

She knew even in death she wouldn't be able to fully leave him. And it both relieved and frightened her.

As Mei meditated on her thoughts further underwater, a pair of Saimiyosho flew overhead. They remained hovering over the boulder area where Mei rested, only to fly away moments before Mei came up for air.