It felt like Akiko's body was burning from the inside out. She just couldn't cool down, and even in the few instances she could feel someone shifting her it didn't help. The young woman remembered what she had been wearing and it wasn't warm to begin with since winter hadn't fully come yet. So that was not the reason for this uncomfortable feeling. Then there were her ice powers that seemed to not be helpful in the slightest. Akiko willed for the element to cover the sink in hopes of giving relief. But it only caused pain and the reincarnation stopped trying that tactic all together.

Something cold would press against the forehead every now and again, but would not offer relief for long enough and only to one area. Then there was finally a larger, colder form pressing against a side. The young woman wished to gravitate towards it and roll over, but the feeling had gone from the limbs from the heat. With burning lungs she took deep breaths and wheezed a few times when a rush of pain ran through her.

As the seconds ticked by Akiko couldn't form complete thoughts anymore, barely even able to repeat names when she tried to stay lucid and remain tethered to the surface she was lying on. The young woman just wished someone would drop her into an ice bath, yet wondered if she'd even feel it based on her condition.

There were some voices that filtered around the space, but most were incoherent, coming and going swiftly. Akiko wondered though if they were real or all in her head. She wanted the pain to stop, screaming internally when a really bad bout would rush over her. But her lips weren't moving, completely trapped inside her body to wait out the torture. She begged for Tobi, Aisu, even the comfort of Rin to take her mind from the situation. Even Sesshomaru was at the forefront of her semi-sane thoughts.

She tried to remain breathing, the rise and fall of her chest to focus on something. Helping to slightly distract from the war raging through her. But Akiko just wanted it all to stop and prayed for relief swiftly.

"She's getting worse," Tobi growled. But not at Haruna or Lady Sanjou. Their efforts to try and stall the poison from reaching the heart and further spread were something he was thankful for. His anger was directed towards the snake that had managed to bite her and Lord Orochi, who probably sat smugly on his throne right now. Bragging about his accomplishment. What the Beta would give to tear off his head.

"That's to be expected," Haruna stated.

"Has there been any word on the search?" Lady Sanjou shook her head as she wrung out a cold wet cloth to reapply to the young woman's forehead. "I should join them."

"You are needed here to help regulate her body temperature," the bird demon stated. "The colder she is the slower the blood flow. Her powers should have kicked in by now to do that itself, but instead have receded. That's not a good sign. Leaving will only speed up her death." That didn't sit well with Tobi in the slightest, letting out a heavy breath before laying his head in Akiko's lap trying to cover more of her. The temperature of his body was so cold it caused a chill to hang on that side of the bedroom. "We must be patient." Though that was saying a lot. They were nearing a day and a half since Sesshomaru, the pack, and her hawks had departed. Lord Seiichi had arrived only hours ago as the hawk demon went to greet him at the doors. The wolves that had escorted the demon to the Western Lands immediately took off to join the search and hadn't been heard from since. And judging by her calculations, Lady Sanjou was to be expecting Lord Kira by the evening. She had discussed with the boar demon what had become of Lord Orochi and his new allegiance, the male completely enraged upon hearing what had transpired inside the estate. Even more so upon seeing Akiko's condition.

"Just give me the word and my army will trample through that slippery snake's lands and crush them," the lord growled. Tobi chuckled in agreement.

"As tempting as that is, we do not need to be starting a war right now," the lady stated.

He retired to a guest room soon after to leave Haruna and Lady Sanjou to their work. "You should allow him to carry through with that," Tobi grumbled. "Teach that lord a lesson."

"I thought you were a general?" The half-demon cocked a brow in her direction, not understanding what she was getting at. "We can't be making rash decisions. You should know that."

"We wouldn't be. While killing him would be an added bonus should out paths cross, we need to send a message."

"There are too many emotions on the surface right now. Blind rage will make a warrior sloppy."

"I thought demons weren't supposed to show emotion," he smirked.

"Maybe to some, but we still feel as mortals and half-demons. They are just more in touch with their emotions on a daily basis than we are. I'm sure you know from experience with your comrades a demon knows how to hide them well so not to give way to any weakness they may have. Anger and determination fuel you, but rage and revenge will not allow you to think straight and rationally." Grumbling under his breath, the animal shifted his head so it now lay over Akiko's chest and shoulders, just touching the neck. "You know I speak the truth."

"I don't want him getting away."

"None of us do. Believe me when I say that you're not the only one would wants revenge along with the pack. All of us wish to end Lord Orochi's existence and Naraku's as well. But first, let us focus on the soon to be Queen lying under you that's trying to hold onto life. Then we can discuss where to go from here."

The demon lord was beginning to loose his patience. On the outside he was cool and collected as always, but on the inside was another story. The animal inside him was scratching at the surface wishing to break free and kill something. It took everything in his power to not do that and loose control so he could focus on the task at hand. Sesshomaru never stopped to rest during his search, combing the large forest starting at the coast and making his way in, growing closer to the northern territory. The air was becoming cooler, even more so in the shadows he searched for the flower of interest. But as the minutes ticked by and turned to hours and a day had passed the demon was beginning to almost feel desperate. It was an emotion that was foreign to him and had the lord pause for a few moments, observing it. He hated the feeling.

Sesshomaru began to find the various demon healers throughout the land. Even those who were more off the grid and took solace being on their own and not in a village. And putting his pride aside, the lord began to ask for help. Many told him the task for finding a Gekka Bijin was impossible. That they were nonexistent or how a person could search for years without coming across one due to their rarity. But then there were the few conversations that gave him some kind of a lead. That gave some hope. Their tales were vague, and they would then refer him to another acquaintance to interrogate. Sesshomaru never allowed them to ask any questions as to why he was interested or who it was for, either leaving without giving an answer or avoiding the prying all together with another question that took them back to the matter at hand. Finally he found Junko. A demon that did not play by the rules and more common practices, and many lords and ladies knew that. Which was why many rarely visited her abode. He was her last option to go to, but after three healers had recommended the demon he was out of options when it was growing late into the second day. The lord was running out of time, coming to the hut built into a tree where green and grey smoke escaped from the makeshift chimney.

He didn't want to ask this healer for help. Based on rumors she always tried to collect a debt depending on the favor asked and the lord was certain this would be one of those cases. But when the door feet away finally opened he had no choice but to face the female demon standing in the doorway with a smirk. "How long are you going to stand out here, Lord Sesshomaru?" Junko taunted. He didn't answer to the jab, observing her. Turning away, she left the door open and after a few seconds Sesshomaru finally followed her inside. There were various herbs hanging from the ceiling dying out, while many pouches and pottery jars lined the walls. It wasn't the most luxury space that a lord or lady would be caught in, but right now the demon didn't focus on that, staring at the fox demon adding logs to the fire burning in the hearth. A lidded pot sat over the burning flames, producing a rather stranger aroma that Sesshomaru didn't dare to ask what it was from. "What is it I can help you with, my lord?"

"Gekka Bijin," he answered. "I am in need of at least one and multiple sources have told me to search you out."

Junko turned to face him with a cocked brow. "What would a demon want with Gekka Bijin? And one who looks in good health?" He didn't give an answer. "Those looking for that flower are foolish because it is so rare across the country, but it has such a short lifespan it would be of little use if not utilized in time. So I ask, Lord Sesshomaru, why are you in need of such a thing?"

"That is none of your concern."

Junko paused. Observing the lord's position he was tense, and the aura rolling off him was threatening. Whether it was directed towards her or the situation he was in the healer wasn't willing to press too deep for fear of loosing her own life. They had never met officially till this point, but his reputation was well known to many. "I am sure you know of my ranking among the other healers throughout the lands. I'm a forest guardian, so I safeguard creatures, plants, and humans that need protection. Gekka Bijin is a rare flower and hidden so well among forests because it can't just thrive anywhere. If I went around telling every healer, human and demon alike, and told them where to find this beautiful flower there would be none left. It's a special medicinal herb that only those who know what they are doing should be granted access to its potential. I will not allow experimentation to happen with those who are beginners or simply curious. So I need to know, Lord Sesshomaru, what your intentions for this item are. And who it is that will be creating this antidote. You can torture or kill me all you like, but it doesn't change the fact that I will not give up this information to you just because of your social status."

Sesshomaru glared, for the first time feeling caught between a rock and a hard place. The less persons that knew about this matter the better, especially when they couldn't be certain whom their allies and enemies were. And Junko was a wild card at the moment. She could be like Lord Orochi. An individual that could be swayed to either side, if offered something of great value for them in the long run. Yet he believed Junko when she said the location of the Gekka Bijin would be kept a secret no matter what he did. She wasn't like others he had come across and could easily bend their will to give up desired information.

"There is someone in my possession that has been poisoned by a snake demon when we were engaged in battle a day and a half ago. In a separate instance an ally lost their mate to the same poison, but was able to determine that Gekka Bijin was needed for the antidote. If we do not have this flower..." Sesshomaru didn't want to exactly think about it or the repercussions that could follow.

"Your human ward? Or the Queen of the North?" Sesshomaru's posture tensed more at that. "I know of many things, my lord, and have been keeping a watchful eye on the current matters throughout the lands. War will be waged soon, it's only of question when. Powers are shifting, lines are being drawn. I understand you won't give way as to who it is that has been affected, but I have my suspicions. Either way this has affected you in turn, but you yourself will not know how to properly make an antidote out of Gekka Bijin. I will also not allow the directions on how to make it leave this place on a piece of paper should it be stolen for others to carelessly use. And there is no time for me to show you how to do it yourself. The window for saving this person is becoming smaller and smaller."

"My healer, Haruna, will be creating the antidote, along with help from another demon skilled in medicinal herbs."

Junko's eyes slightly widened at that, a bit impressed. "Haruna," she whispered. The fox demon sat for a moment in thought. "I forgot she now resides within your household. It's been decades since we last saw each other."

His brows slightly pinched at that. "You know of each other?" If that was the case, why didn't the demon tell him outright before leaving the estate to look for her?

"We trained under the same mentor when we were young to this world. A few times we have crossed each other, but now that we are more stationary it has been some time. And I can see this all working in your brain right now. Why wouldn't Haruna have told you sooner about me and my talents so you didn't waste time running about?" She hit the nail on the head, but he didn't nod in confirmation. "We learned how to utilize Gekka Bijin on our own separate journeys. I wouldn't be surprised if she wasn't aware of it, but as a guardian I keep tabs on all powerful healers and those that could grow to become one over time." A finger tapped against the table beside her person in thought. "You are close to where a few grow, but the closest is ten miles directly north from here. If what you say is true, you have hours. It does not have a pleasant smell, unlike other floral. You will be able to pick it out among the trees, dirt, and water in the forest. Do not delay. Run as fast as you can. But I must warn you that something dark has recently entered these lands."

His brows narrowed slightly. "Naraku."

"Yes... and no..." That didn't make any sense to him. "It's an extension of his power, but not the half-demon himself." Incarnation. That was the only explanation. But the question now was if it was a new one or someone he had come across before. "You are wasting time thinking too much into it, Lord Sesshomaru. If you want to gather the Gekka Bijin and heal the person it's affecting you need to leave now to reach it by nightfall."

Sesshomaru didn't hesitate, or offer thanks quickly vacating the residence and heading in the direction told. The sun was getting dangerously close to the horizon beyond the forest casting a large shadow over the forest floor due to the dense treetops making it seem that nightfall had already taken over. Thankfully there were some small bits of sunlight still streaming through the branches allowing him to gage how close he was getting to the time the flower would bloom when a scent hit his nose. Just as Junko had said it wasn't pleasant, but wasn't something he would associate with the scent of mold or a decaying animal. That wasn't the only scent that filled his nostrils the closer he got. It completely overpowered the Gekka Bijin. It was putrid and then there was one that was familiar. Pausing in his run, Sesshomaru watched as multiple grotesque demons began crawling out from behind trees and from under the branches in front of him, seeming to create a wall so he could not cross. And from the center of the horde walked out a woman with short pulled back dark brown hair, a white and blood red kimono, and a yellow obi. She wore no shoes, but didn't seem to be concerned over the fact that they were becoming dirtied by the damp soil. There were green beaded earrings that adored her lobes, ears pointed at the tip that made it seem like she was nymph. Two white feathers were snuggly tucked back into her hair band as the woman held a fan with the same colors of her kimono in front of her face obscuring from the nose down. Sesshomaru met her calculating blood red eyes, watching as the corners crinkled slightly giving way that behind the fan she was smirking at him in a taunt manner.

"My, my, Lord Sesshomaru, you're a bit far from home."

"What do you want, Kagura?"

She didn't enjoy the fact that he wouldn't engage her in a typical conversation and seemed to be more hostile than the last time they met. Though she knew it was for good reason after what had happened with one of Naraku's allies. The incarnation had been eavesdropping in on Naraku's conversation with the girl, Kanna, upon learning what Lord Orochi had done. Kagura had been dispatched to protect the boarder of the north, but to also be sure those searching for an antidote became distracted. So they ran out of time. They didn't know what it was their enemies were searching for, but if it meant that none could save the Queen of the North, all the better for him. And when Kagura caught wind of Sesshomaru's movement and realized he was no longer traveling haphazardly she knew he was aware of what it was he was searching for. Knew its location. And rather than feel Naraku's wrath for failure, instead of allowing him to pass without quarrel, Kagura decided that now was the time to engage before anymore seconds were wasted.

"Is it wrong of me to ask such a question when it isn't in your common interest to venture this close to Naraku's lands? Unless you have discovered his newest location and are looking to try and kill him once and for all."

"You and I both know that is not why I am here," his brows narrowed. The small bits of sunlight were beginning to fade from his sight as his vision for nighttime began to take effect. "If you do not move, Kagura, I will rip right through you."