Chapter Text
Residuum - (Noun) Something remaining after the removal of a part.
Phantasmagoria - (noun) A shifting medley of real or imagined figures; as if in a dream.
Kagome blinked her eyes. Eyes that suddenly felt dry and irritated from the intense heat that was out of place. Kagome had that sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach as she turned her gaze skyward and saw nothing but the perfect robins' egg blue sky without a cloud. That wasn't right, nope, not at all. There should have been trees partially blocking the sky from her sight, yet not a single one was to be seen.
Kagome gave a loud, overly dramatic sigh and grabbed the vines she normally climbed from the well with, frowning at how dry and brittle they felt to her hands. Taking her time as she inched her way up the well, making sure not to break the vines accidentally. All while, her skin began to feel itchy as the air became dryer the closer to the top. Scrunching up her nose as she wondered just what the hell happened? With each inch she drew closer to the top of the well (which seemed deeper than normal), a sinking sensation started in the pit of her stomach.
Of course, like always, it was proven true when she grasped the edge of the well and bit back a scream of pain. The wooden edge was dried, splinted, and burned the palm of her hand. That was definitely not normal, and the moment she peeked over the edge seeing nothing but desert, Kagome almost fell back into the depths of the well. Yeah, her day was complete and utter shit. She didn't want anyone to know about the idea of being in a desert. The humid heat of summer in Japan was one thing, as was the cold, snowy winters. But being in a barren, sand-filled desert was a nightmare.
Being careful, Kagome pulled herself up and over, tossing the giant backpack into the sand. The fact there wasn't even a sound as it hit then slid a few feet when the sand shifted under its weight. Closing her eyes and opening her senses, Kagome went stiff. In the faint breeze was the smell of copper, Iron, and something that was both sweet and bitter at the same time. Kagome didn't have to think of what that last scent was; it was poison. She had been exposed to it many times in her travels across Feudal Japan.
Frowning as she stood up from the edge of the well, Kagome snagged her bag and continued to focus on her senses. When the faint breeze blew by her once more, she heard the sound of metal faintly on metal ring. Taking a deep breath as she glanced back at the well. It was a choice, ignore the battle (which could potentially harm if not kill her) and jump back in the well to go back to Feudal Japan. Or, she could go towards the battle and help whoever seemed to need the help? Yet something told her that the latter option was the only one, making her mentally grumble about how honed in the last year her instincts had developed to keep her safe, as well as let her know when she didn't really have a choice.
Carefully, hating how she suddenly felt thirsty under the sun, Kagome made her way towards the sound of metal on metal. Each step was slow due to the sand shifting under her as she moved, making Kagome realize that she'd be dumping the grainy shit outta her socks and shoes later (if she survived) and probably other places. Yeah, the beach wasn't her favorite place for this reason, and salt damaged her hair since it was curly and thick. It took her a fair amount of time, but when the sight of debris littering the sand became visible (though wavering from the heat), she bit her lip. The sound of battle was no longer on the air, and she couldn't see a single person?
Biting her lip Kagome took a deep breath and rushed forward, her eyes darting to and fro, trying to make sense of the cloth, wood, needs, and stringy wires that littered the ground around her. Though it was a soft, barely audible groan of pain that had her heading towards what looked like a wooden dummy? Not taking any precaution, Kagome rushed around it and saw a person on the ground. And once more, she scrunched her nose up, but this time was because of the heavy smell of blood and poison that came from them. Though she was curious about why a person would wear a black jumper in the middle of the desert and make-up done like war paint?
Giving her head a sharp shake, her eyes narrowing as she let herself fall to her knees beside this person. Quickly she lifted the wrist and checked the pulse, not liking how sluggish it was. Knowing that the poison was the most important factor, Kagome slid her backpack from her shoulders and pulled out the emergency first-aid and sewing kits from the front pocket. Without hesitation, she began to work; with practiced ease, she pulled out the shears she used to cut bandages and began to cut the jumper from the person, only to realize it was a guy and he was fairly built! Her hands stilled briefly when he groaned again and let his head fall to the side; eyes opened enough she could tell they were either dark gray or black in color.
"Hey, my name is Kagome. I promise I am here to help you, sir," she spoke softly and gently in an attempt to reassure him. "You have been severely wounded and poisoned. Please, I ask you to trust me and allow me to treat you."
When all she got was a slight wiggle of an eyebrow, Kagome smiled warmly as she tossed the pieces of the dark-colored jumper to the side before pulling out clean clothes and rubbing alcohol. Biting her lip, she gave an apologetic look to the man as she lifted the alcohol bottle so he could see her pour it before she wiped down each area to clean and sterilize the wounds, hating the discoloration from the poison. There was no doubt in her mind that she'd have to both suck out the poison and send her Horeiki into his body to purify.
"Okay, so, don't think I am fresh with you," Kagome chirped, feeling embarrassment coloring her face, which was already red from the sun. "But I am going to suck the poison out and then send some of my healing powers into you to try and stabilize you a bit."
Once more, she got a wiggle of an eyebrow, so with a hesitant but gentle smile, Kagome bent over and sealed her lips over the man's chest, just below his pectoral muscle, and sucked as hard as she could. The need to gag as tainted blood filled her mouth along with a heavy taste of Iron. Pulling back, Kagome grasped a clean bandage and spat the contaminated blood on it (to analyze it later), only to frown at the sight of a small amount of Iron that piled up on the now stained cloth. This was new to Kagome, to find an extra amount of Iron (finely ground like sand) mixed into the complex poison. It made this man's situation that much more dangerous, as well as that her Horeiki might not even stabilize him.
Placing her hands over the man's heart and on his forehead, Kagome allowed her Horeiki surface as she watched the man as it seeped through his skin. His eyes cracked open a bit further as he stared at her, making her smile and hum gently to him. She could feel the damaged tissue and cells in his body from the poison. Then she felt something back at her, an energy that felt similar, yet so different, push at her. It bothered her that whatever this energy was, it didn't want her there and made her feel light-headed and dizzy.
" Shit! " Kagome cursed as she tried to retract her Horeiki, only to feel that strange energy latch onto it and flow into her body. Giving a small whine, Kagome coughed hoarsely as her body began to fight to purify the energy that had snuck into her body, meaning she had to focus on herself now. Yet Kagome couldn't just ignore the young man or her surroundings. But to do what she needed to do to keep from becoming a beacon of raw, pure spiritual power, she needed to meditate.
"Well, this is just messed up," she muttered darkly as she cast a barrier around her and the man beside her. Hoping that the barrier would help keep the man stable, she closed her eyes; senses opened up fully to their max as she started to meditate to stop the war in her body. Just barely picking up the faint feel of many people heading in their direction. She could only hope that these people would be friends to this man, not foes.
TBC!