I See You [Sesshomaru]

Chapter 65

        The once deafening battlefield was eerily quiet. The households began to collect themselves from their fallen state trying to make sense of what had happened. Even the hawks had been forced from the air as their human appearances reverted back looking around. Only they remained along with the corpses. The horde seemed to have vanished before them, as if purified. And the spot where Naraku had been crated out into a hole leaving nothing but the black outline of the half-demon burned into the surface. No one could sense him. He was gone as the gravity of the situation began to sink in. They had won.

        Inuyasha spat out dirt from his mouth, having face planted into the grass from the shockwave. Taking in his surroundings he was stunned to find Naraku was nowhere to be found. But this wasn't like all the times the half-demon had suddenly disappeared to save himself. After all these years of hunting him, the enemy was finally defeated. Finding his friends, Sango had sat up with an exhausted Miroku lying in her lap. His hand was open, yet there was no danger. The wing tunnel was gone, which further proved that Naraku had been beaten. Shippo was crying in relief that they were both all right, Kirara nuzzling her partner tenderly. Standing, the half-demon looked for Kagome. However, the older teen was nowhere in sight. There wasn't even a trace of her existing from where she had been kneeling on the ground. Her scent had completely disappeared worrying him greatly.

        Wolves pulled themselves up with some struggle as their demonic forms began to recede. Shrinking in height their legs slightly shook from exhaustion glancing around the field. They could not find Aisu or Tobi among the forces left alive. And Akiko's demonic aura had vanished. All set out to search for them.

        The reincarnation lay on the ground unconscious. Her human features had reverted back with the wave of energy from the Shikon jewel. Even the Ice Blade had disappeared from her grasp, as there was no longer an immediate danger. In a blurred movement, the Lord of the West was by her side in the form of a man. He lifted the young woman into his lap and began searching for any signs that she was fatally injured. The demon was relieved to find that was not the case as he slowly coaxed her awake. With a low groan Akiko's brows scrunched before her eyes began to slowly open. Feeling his arm wrapped securely around her, the young woman knew exactly who was beside her and breathed a content sigh.

        "Are you hurt?" Sesshomaru questioned to be sure.

        "Exhausted, but I will live," Akiko murmured. Blinking to clear her vision, she asked, "Lord Orochi–?"

        "The snake is dead." Again, that was a cause for much relief. Looking up towards the demon's voice he wasn't in focus. There was a brightness to her surroundings, she could just make out his shape, but all details were lost. Reaching up the young woman cupped Sesshomaru's cheek in a tender manner. Thumb running across his cheek he took notice of her actions and wondered, "Can you see?"

        Her head shook, voice heavy with emotion, "It's so blurry."

        So their assumption had been correct. Though she had not been completely blinded as before, this state would still be a struggle. It was almost more disorienting to the young woman than being left in an unseen world. And the Lord of the West couldn't help but wonder if over time that too would go away and leave the young woman in darkness. Leaning forward, Sesshomaru didn't care if any of the soldiers around them saw as his lips laid over the reincarnation's expressing his relief that she was still alive after all of this. That was all he truly cared about, pulling away. "We will take it one step at a time."

        Giving a breathy laugh she managed to sit up to hug him tightly in gratitude. The demon pulled them both to their feet as Tobi and Aisu joined their side. Sensing the both of them, Akiko turned slightly in their direction and reached out a hand. Immediately Tobi pressed his snout into the reincarnation's palm. Sesshomaru shared a look with the former queen confirming that the young woman's sight was no longer the same. Aisu heart ached upon realizing that, feeling terrible that something so profound was given to her heir only for it to be ripped away once more. Even if it was a curse from Naraku. A part of her had been hoping their fears had been wrong.