Blood Blades

Decorum

"Sniff, sniff, sniff."
So many new scents bombarded her, she wished she could turn off her nose. Then she became aware of her head pounding like a times two hangover. The smell of food cooking turned her stomach. Ugh...the scents...
Karuma could hear the drone of quiet voices, but her brain was too fuzzy to make out what was being said. She tried sifting through the scents instead. Almost impossible with her brain bashing against her skull.
The girl was here that she had rescued, and that made her realize the scent of Sesshomaru on the girl was now on herself as well. He must have carried her here. Well, the cat was out of the bag now. Damn.
Karuma cracked an eye open. Two other women were here as well. One, the younger of the two, had the smell of Inuyasha all over her. The other, an old woman-this must be her hut. Her scent filled the place.
She looked back toward the young woman. A strange scent, other than Inuyasha, emitted from her. Karuma couldn't quite name it, but the scent was somewhat familiar. She had to be Inuyasha's mate though, the way his scent enveloped her. He did well, she was gorgeous. Karuma could sense the power within her too. Strong...that's it! The woman was a priestess! Karuma cared not that she was human, whatever made Inuyasha happy. She smiled, even though her head was in pieces.
Ugh. Karuma hated to be inside. Too confining, houses held in every little scent like a bubble in the air. That, and she liked to know what was around her at all times. Inside you could be surrounded and taken by surprise.
She must have groaned loud enough to be heard because the little girl said, "Kagome, I think she is waking up. She may need medicine."
Karuma's skin must be a healthy shade of green for the child to say that. She took a gamble and opened both eyes up. Even though it was dim inside the hut, the light blinded her and brought on a fresh onslaught of throbbing pain to her skull.
"Damn," Karuma muttered, bringing her hands up to try and hold the pieces of her tattered skull together. The throbbing pain made it feel like her head was splitting apart at the seams. She heard the footsteps of the young woman as she approached like a big bass drum inside her head. The woman knelt down next to the girl, giving Karuma a once over.
Speaking softly she asked, "Hey there, how are you feeling?"
Karuma brought her hands down slowly and got a closer look at the young priestess. Beautiful.
"Do I have to answer?" Karuma said in a dry, crackly voice.
"Thank you for saving me." The little girl said.
Karuma turned to the child. So many questions flew through her clouded mind, but she didn't ask yet. There was time. She did ask one though. "No problem. What's your name, kid?"
"Rin."
Yup, she was the one the imp had mentioned back in the woods. Karuma smiled at Rin, but it quickly turned into a grimace.
"Can I get you anything?" The young priestess asked.
"My head is splitting and I feel sick."
"We figured as much. Myoga said you would wake up feeling awful...Kaede, is the medicine ready yet?"
"Aye, it is. Shall I bring some over?" The old woman asked.
"Yes, please."
"Is Myoga here?" Karuma managed to ask. So hard for her to try and think through the drum solo.
"Not right now, but he may be back later," The priestess answered.
The old woman-Kaede was it?-shuffled over and knelt on the other side of her. "Can ye sit up, child?"
Ha! That was a laugh. Child indeed, she almost chuckled through the pain. Almost.
"I think so...my name is Karuma." She slowly tried to sit up.
"Aye, we know. Myoga told us. I'm Kaede. Here, can ye drink this?"
"What is it?" Karuma eyeballed the cup skeptically.
"For the pain, headache, and upset stomach. It should help ye to rest."
"It smells awful."
"Most good medicine does. Trust me, it works well. My name is Kagome."
Karuma downed the bitter tasting fluid, almost choking. Her cheeks reddened a bit. I haven't acted like a 'real person' in so long. Must remember proper decorum, she thought, handing back the cup.
"Thank you." Nailed it.
"Aye, child."
Ha! There it was again! Her head was feeling a bit better already, the fog was slowly starting to clear. Hmm...Myoga.
"What else did the flea tell you?"
"Just that he has known you a long time. He was very happy to see you alive, even if you were half dead at the time," Kagome said.
Good to know, Myoga was prone to blabbing. Karuma turned her attention back to Kagome. Well, here we go...
"Where is Inuyasha?"
"He went with our friend Miroku to exterminate a demon. He should be back any day now though. Are you looking for him?"
For about a hundred and fifty years, Karuma thought. "Yes. I have a lot of explaining to do. I prefer to wait for him before I spill my guts-if that is permissible. When he arrives you should be there as well, Kagome."
Kagome was giving her a strange look. Karuma knew how she felt. She should give her something.
"I have been connected to his family a long time. I am attempting to reconnect again. Please trust me, I mean no harm."
"Lord Sesshomaru brought you here. You know him too?" Rin asked.
"Even longer than Inuyasha, yes."
"Well, you should talk to him too."
I don't think he would care much kid, Karuma thought. He has changed though. "If he wants to talk, I'm here."
Karuma was feeling quite a bit better...weak though, I would be a sitting duck right now. Wish I could be outside, at least I could see em coming when they kill me, she thought wryly.
Kagome broke into her thoughts. "I need to check your leg and change the bandaging. You might want to lie back down."
She pulled back the blanket after Karuma laid back again, revealing the wadding of the bandaging and her shirt. Rin sat up and got a closer look.
"Where did you get your clothing, Karuma?" She asked.
Ahh, there it is. Someone had finally spoken her name, it had been eons...Karuma looked down at the tye dye that she had pilfered. Geez, that's another long story, she thought. Kagome seemed to be quite interested in the answer too. She was paying close attention, with another odd look on her face.
Time travel is so hard to explain, even to herself. Hmm...where to begin?...might as well dive right in. "Would you believe me if I told you they came from far into the future?"
All three of them exchanged a glance. Maybe they think I'm nuts, Karuma thought. I just might be, it's hard for me to wrap my head around. Sounds crazy...
Kagome spoke first, and what she said surprised Karuma. "I had a hunch. The way you speak is a little off by today's standards. That, and I have only seen clothes like yours from my time. I came through at the Bone Eaters Well. A, well used to be, portal to the future where I was born."
Huh, Bone Eaters Well?...must be that old well I saw in the meadow, it did have an old death smell to it, Karuma thought.
So... "so, I'm not crazy then? Good to know cuz I have a hard time believing it myself...sounded like padded room material to me."
Kagome couldn't help it. She laughed, and it seemed so comforting to Karuma. Being part elf, she loved jokes and laughter, as they do. Stories and songs as well. Kagome's laughter was like a soothing balm washing over Karuma. Being a priestess enhanced the effect. She could see a fast friend in Kagome. No wonder Inuyasha had gotten attached to her. Seemed to be a gravity or magnetic attraction. It smoothed rough feathers, calmed the beast.
Priestess indeed.
Biting her tongue so as not to rapid fire her many questions, Kagome cut away the bandaging. The puncture wounds on Karuma's leg were all but gone, only Myoga's incision remained. After he had drained the venom, the holes had closed up at a high rate of speed. Typical demon, Kagome thought.
"You have been unconscious for three days. We almost didn't get Myoga in time. Sesshomaru went after him at Totosai's and rushed him back here, as you couldn't be moved because that would've only sped up the venom's effects. Myoga had to drain a lot of blood to purge you," Kagome said.
That would explain the weakness, Karuma thought...wait, what? Sesshomaru did what?...now I will have to talk to him. Proper decorum, right? I should thank him.
Karuma must have been wearing a skeptical look because Rin spoke up. "Well you did save my life, Karuma. Maybe he wanted to help you in return."
Teh, not likely kid. Sesshomaru was never one to feel obligated. Karuma almost snorted, that's a tough tidbit to swallow...but why else would he do it? Who knew his motives, she doubted it was because he was happy to see her.
And what exactly was this human child to him? Rin looked like a normal little girl to Karuma. Far fetched it was...is. She would have to get to know the child a bit more, if it will be permitted. She loved children anyhow, especially humans. The dog, positively squirming, wanted to come out and play with her. The child was adorable...one step at a time, Karuma. Must feel better first.
In her head she gave a mental shrug. The whole situation with Sesshomaru and Rin, even the imp, was too much for her to figure out at this present time. The medicine was starting to make Karuma sleepy. Her train of thought was derailing. To Rin she said, "Perhaps. Whatever the reason, I'm grateful. I'm glad you're okay too, Rin." That viper would've made short work of the girl.
"This wound doesn't need to be wrapped anymore, it's almost gone. You healed quickly after Myoga was done with you. Supper is ready, you should eat to replenish your body, then get some rest. You should be fine come morning." Kagome said.
The thought of food still made Karuma a bit queasy. She knew food was good for blood loss though. She would give it a whirl, so she nodded yes.
"I will get ye some," Kaede said. She got up slowly and shuffled away.
Karuma sat back up slowly and into a sitting position in an effort to stay awake long enough to force herself to eat. She wrapped the blanket around her lower half in an attempt at modesty (she had no clothes on her lower half). She gauged the space, then opened her wings a bit to stretch them. Also making sure they retained no injuries.
"Wow!...what are you? That's awesome! Wish I had wings." Rin said.
Grinning at the girl, Karuma replied, "I am many things but, as ever, I am only me, no matter what you may see." She flashed a fang then, unable to hold back any longer, wrapped her wings around her body and morphed into the dog. Tail wagging, she faced Rin. Again, she flashed a fang, her blue eyes full of mischief.
Well, she had all of their attention now. Karuma squirmed a little under their scrutiny. She got up slowly to her feet. She was still pretty weak, so she took it easy. She walked the few steps to Rin, looked the child in the eye, then laid down and put her head on Rin's lap.
Rin reached out a hand and petted her fur lightly, then buried her fingers into the ruff at Karuma's withers. "Wow. I didn't know you could change, Karuma."
"You're a dog!...just how do you know Inuyasha? How are you connected?" Kagome asked, alarmed.
Releasing a sigh, Karuma turned and licked Rin's hand. Then she pulled herself back up and returned to the pallet. She opened her wings and morphed back. She looked at Kagome, so much for waiting for Inuyasha, he could've helped me explain.
"Through his father, long before Inuyasha was born. Taisho saved my life. He took me in and I became his ambassador to demons and humans alike."
Kaede shuffled over with a bowl of stew. She handed it to Karuma. "Thank you." Karuma braced herself. Hopefully she could hold down the stew.
"Aye." Kaede shuffled back to the fire to feed it and listen for some more interesting tidbits.
Karuma took a small bite. Hmm...not bad. She started to eat it faster. It had been a while since her last meal. She finished, setting the bowl aside. She continued only because Kagome looked like she was waiting to hear more.
"Taisho was my friend. I miss him dearly, and if I could give back a little for all he did for me, I would gladly, and did. When Inuyasha's mother died, I took in Inuyasha to raise and train, with the help of Myoga. A monumental task indeed. The boy was stubborn and willful. He got the Iron Reaver fairly fast, but blood manipulation was difficult. He could never draw the Blood Blades, he was just barely able to make the blades tangible long enough to throw."
"Wait a minute...you taught Inuyasha the Iron Reaver and Blades of Blood? You raised him?"
"And tried to teach him to fight, to defend himself. Half demons have hard lives." Karuma answered. She knew from personal experience.
"So, what happened? How did you go from training Inuyasha to ending up in the future?" Kagome asked.
"Ahh, now we come to the crux of it all. That's a question that will have to wait until Inuyasha arrives." Karuma laid back down, sleep was catching up to her. One more thing before she slipped into the arms of Morphious.
"I love him as a son, Kagome. I must say that you make the perfect mate for him. I'm glad he found you." She closed her eyes and drifted off.