I See You [Sesshomaru]

Chapter 54

        His words had the reincarnation in deep thought, sitting alone in the dungeons as evening set in. Have no fear. She had gone up against Naraku, Lord Orochi, Sounga, the opponents were endless over the years since coming to the Feudal Era. Yet the thing she feared the most was herself the stronger she became. It was so foolish to think that way. It was almost embarrassing.

        "Think like a demon," the young woman muttered lowly. Shaking herself out to try and release the building tension and nerves she tried to clear her mind. "I'm not a demon..." So how did a human think like one?

        Eyes drifting closed, Akiko began to settle into a dreamlike state feeling everything around her fading away. The air was growing colder as ice crawled over the skin, through the hair, down the neck, over the shoulders– A shuddering breath escaped her, head slightly jerking to the side and back. It was starting to claw its way out. Or try at least as the reincarnation began inhaling and exhaling loudly, more rapidly. It felt like a weight was pressing against the chest in a constricting manner as the mortal side of her tried to hold on and push through. But the demonic aura was feeling relentless trying to gain its chance to be released. It felt so wrong to allow this much power to release itself, throat straining for air as the conflict continued.

        Suddenly a thought came to mind... something that maybe could help alter her thought on all of this. What if in this current situation releasing this kind of power wasn't right, but in the right situation... it was right? Instead of worrying about losing control at this very moment presenting a scenario to herself where those she cared about were in trouble was the beginning to settle the conflict. The rational mortal side of her began to back off allowing the demonic aura to come forward. Instead of seizing the lack of resistance greedily its dominance backed off in its advanced because for the first time they were working together. This sudden collaboration had Akiko delving further into this concocted situation, now adding in recent enemies that they would be faced with in the coming days. And at that the human side of her seemed to come to an understanding: that with all of these individuals that wanted nothing more than to see them dead a situation could arise where she would be out of her league to defend herself without aid. With that, it completely receded and allowed the demonic aura to take over.

        Akiko could feel the overwhelming power rush through her, along with the physical transformations that came with it. The pointed tips of the ears that now seemed to be elongated further, the sharpened finger nails, ice that had extended past certain areas and turned into frost, and feeling the pressure of her head plate as it came to rest against the forehead and between the eyes. The temperature of her body was greatly lower than ever before. One touch could probably freeze an individual, or at least cause a great deal of frostbite. But the sensation didn't bother her in the slightest. And on top of all of that the demonic aura was not lashing out like the times before. It stirred patiently inside the young woman's body waiting to act on command. With her not fighting against it for the first time there was harmony and the reincarnation released a relieved sigh at that. She had figured it out. The advice she had sought out had helped her think of this situation in a completely different way. Akiko had nothing to fear about the demonic aura residing in her, completely embracing it that had it humming in approval.

        Feeling drained by the whole experience the young woman began coaxing the aura to recede with the promise that she was now willing to work with it. And with a long, calming exhale everything began to recede at command. Ice, altered features, aura, till all that was left was feeling the room around her coming back into focus. Body fully relaxing the exhaustion set in as both hands fell from the crossed knees to the mat below. However, one seemed to knock against something cold and metallic. Glancing down the Ice Blade had materialized beside her person at some point during the transformation causing a small smile to come to her lips. Slowly, it began to disappear once again turning to the open cell door to stand and leave when realizing that she had not been alone. Aisu sat silently at the opening watching the reincarnation carefully, but she wasn't on guard ready to attack. Instead, she seemed pleased. "That's the most I've ever seen you release your demonic pressure and in a very collected manner," the former queen stated. "What's changed since the last time?"

        "I followed some advice from an outside source." The comment caused the wolf to cock a brow at the answer. "I'll admit... it's the first time I've never been fearful of my aura."

        "There's never been a need to if you trusted in your abilities. And trusting yourself now shows how much you've grown." More relief rushed through her upon hearing that. "But I must warn you again of the risks involved in releasing your true form. You have only received a taste of it."

        "I know it's not something to use freely. We've had this conversation before."

        "That was a long time ago when you were uncertain of the power you held. Now the tables have turned and I will remind you for another reason. A human body can only take so much strain and that goes for demonic auras as well. If used over a long period of time it could drain and kill you in the long run."

        Akiko hummed in response. "When you were human... and Sesshomaru's ancestors were against you..."

        "I used my final state as a last ditch effort to try and win the war. It was too late yet I was still willing to give my life until the end to try and make some sort of a difference."

        "What brought you back?"

        "Tobi." The answer slightly stunned her. "There's a reason he's my beta. He reminded me that if I carelessly gave away my life then everything we had done was for nothing. Even with a loss I was still needed. And he was right, because the prophecy came to us, along with you." Aisu paused for a moment before adding, "When this all goes down only use it as a last resort. And make sure it counts."

        "I plan on it."