With Eyes of Love


[timeline: companion piece to Chapter 11 of Otherworld 3: Tala]




Part One

There was a great celebration when he was born to Shami, the favorite sister of Shuhan, the leader of their clan. His mother cradled him in her arms, her wings wrapped protectively around them both. On his back were two tiny nubs which would one day sprout wings of his own. She named him Kamui after his grandfather, the great adventurer, who had soared the skies and founded their home in the Northern Lands of Demon World. Klevar, his father, plucked the baby out of his mother's arm and held him high. "Behold my son!" he said proudly to the crowd gathered. The baby showed no fear and smiled at the crowd, his dark eyes full of knowledge and intelligence. Shuhan stepped forward and Klevar placed his son in the Bat Lord's arms.

		Shuhan's mate had died childless and he had not found anyone else that he wished to share his life with. This child was his only nephew. Shuhan raised the baby up high into the air so that all could see him. "I declare that this child, Kamui, is my heir." The crowd cheered and Klevar knelt before his Lord. This was unexpected! Shami brushed tears of joy from her face. Her son was to be the next Lord! What an honor!

When Kamui celebrated his sixth-month birthday, tiny wings unfurled on his back, only a few inches long. One day they would grow to a span of ten to twelve feet and he would soar the skies majestically, the heritage of each member of the Bat Clan. The Den was high in the mountains, in natural caves. Other than their huge black wings, the Bat Clan was no different from any human-formed demon. Raizen was the Lord of the Northern Lands, but he had no interaction with the Bats, and they were grateful that they were left alone. They had not offered any assistance in the Three Wars World, and not being fighters, they would have been able to offer very little. As he was growing up, Kamui was treated as the next Lord, as a princeling. He attended all the functions of honor, and each year his birthday was a grand celebration. Shuhan took over Kamui's education when he was six and soon the small boy was flying in the air with Shuhan slowly keeping pace with the small wings of his nephew.

		When he turned sixteen, his wings were fully grown, an impressive span of thirteen feet. He was the envy of all the young males and the desire of all the females. He could have his pick of any young female in the entire clan for Kamui was not only good looking, with shiny dark hair and large brown eyes, his wings were glossy black and perfectly formed. In a clan where flight is everything, a young Bat was judged by his wings and Kamui was deemed beautiful. The young females would gather on an outcropping of rock and watch him fly around them, showing off. They squealed with delight and called to him, promising him eternal love if only he would chose one of them as his bride. Bats usually mated young, before their 20th birthday, so he was pressured to choose by his parents and by Shuhan. They each had a favorite: Shuhan wanted a young female named Cera who was the daughter of a good family, Klevar wanted Falla because she was the prettiest of them all, and Shami wanted Naomi who was the best cook and would give her son a comfortable home.

Kamui did not know who he wanted to mate with -- he felt nothing for any of the girls. Oh, he flirted with them, but none of them had touched his heart. So he avoided making a decision, hoping that one day he would meet the "right" girl and that she would make his heart soar.


Part Two

In Kaede's Village, Mirago was giving birth to her first child, but there was no celebration and very little joy. Nine months earlier, she had been seduced by Naraku, an evil demon who had harmed so many people in Otherworld and had started the Three Wars World. He was finally dead, but the Princess' mate, Vash, had forfeited his life to end Naraku's. Mirago was only sixteen, not much more than a child herself and the task of raising a baby was daunting. At her side was her mother, Sango, a renown demon huntress, the Village healer, Kaede, for whom the village was named, and Kagome, the mate of Kouga, the Wolf Demon who was the First Protector of Otherworld. The birth was difficult and Mirago had already spent over an hour in the birthing tub. It was if the baby did not want to be born. They were expecting a boy; that's what Kouga had sensed eight months when he touched her and realized that she was pregnant. Right after Mirago had found out that the man she thought she loved was a lie, a scheme of Naraku to seduce her and cause pain to her family. She was just part of his revenge. He never loved her at all. He broke her heart and left her pregnant. Waiting just outside the door was her father, Miroku, who had his own reasons for hating Naraku. The demon had cursed his family with an air void on the first male's right hand that was like a black hole and sucked everything into itself, disappearing forever. Slowly over the years, the hole would widen until the void devoured its owner. Miroku's grandfather and father had not reached their thirtieth birthdays. But Bakura and Kaiba, the mages of Otherworld, broke the curse before Mirago's birth, and now the void was a weapon against evil. Standing next to Miroku was Shippo, a Fox demon. He was not a Demon World Fox like Kurama, with the power to control plants, but an Otherworld Fox, with lesser powers such as fox fire and tricks of illusion. When he was a child, Shippo had joined Miroku and Sango in the search for the crystal shards and after a few years, he left to return to his Fox clan. Seven months ago he had returned, now grown into a handsome young man. And he was desperately in love with Mirago. But the girl was afraid to give her heart to anyone -- Naraku's deception had made her wary -- and she kept the Fox at arm's length. Another half hour passed, with both Miroku and Shippo pacing the floor nervously. Finally, the baby decided to make its appearance, but to the surprise of all, it was a girl, not a boy. Sango took the baby while Kaede helped Mirago with the afterbirth and then, with the help of Kagome, lifted Mirago out of the tub and into a warm bed. Wolf Demons came in and removed the tub, and then Miroku and Shippo were allowed into the room. Kaede checked out the baby, then Sango brought her new grandchild to her mother. "Here is your daughter." She put the child into Mirago's arms. "Daughter? I thought Kouga said it was a boy?" Miroku questioned. "Well, he was wrong. She is a girl." Sango told her mate.

		Mirago uncovered the baby, revealed dark hair and incredible blue eyes. She was beautiful! But then Naraku was a beautiful demon, long dark hair and deep brown eyes, although they often changed to blood red. Sango had brown eyes and Miroku had dark blue ones. Mirago had dark blue eyes like her father. No one had sky blue eyes like the baby's.

"Have you thought of a name for her?" Sango asked her daughter. "Well, I thought I was going to have a boy, so I was going to name him Tal." "Add an "a" and that should work." "Tala?" Mirago tried it out. "Yes, I like that. Hello, Tala, welcome to Otherworld." As Tala grew up, her ancestry was forgotten, for the girl was a joy. Sweet and loving, Tala was soon being spoiled by her grandfather, Miroku, who had a soft spot for children. He and Sango had adopted Rin, a orphan child that Sesshomaru had come across, although now Rin lived in the Castle with her mate, Kaiba.

		Miroku had good reason to be proud of his granddaughter. She learned every skill that was shown to her, soon becoming an apprentice to Kaede, she was an excellent cook and seamstress, but she also was excellent with a bow and arrow and a sword. Her agility was incredible and her strength prodigious -- she did not have Demon strength, but she was much stronger than a human. And she was stunningly beautiful. Tala was soon became the favorite of the Village and was loved by all. And no one ever mentioned her father.

When she was seven, after long years of waiting quietly for Mirago to accept him as her mate, Shippo gave up and made plans to return to his Fox clan. He was packing his belongings, still living a spare room in the dojo, when Mirago walked into his room. "They tell me you are leaving." She said. "Yes, I am returning to my clan." "I thought … well, I thought you were going to stay here permanently." "Mirago, I would love to stay but not as a friend. I love you. I want you to be my mate, and I have asked you many times to be my mate, but you have never given me an answer. I'm tried of waiting. I want a mate, I want a home, and I want a family. I love you -- I love Tala, but I'm not going to wait forever." Mirago looked down at the floor. "I'm afraid," she whispered.

		"Of what?" Shippo asked, exasperated. "How can you compare me to Naraku? Have I ever deceived you? When I was a child, I fought against him with your parents. What other assurance do you want?" "I don't want you to leave."

"I will stay only as your mate. Sharing your life and your bed. I have waited long enough." Mirago remained staring at the floor and Shippo turned away and continued his packing. "Don't leave," came her whispered voice. "I need you." "Tell me that you love me." Mirago lifted a tear streaked face, and nodded. "Tell me." "I love you." Her voice was barely a whisper, but it was enough. Shippo smiled at her and then took her in his arms. "I will never fail you. I will never abandon you. I will never deceive you. I swear that with everything I am. I loved you from the second I first saw you, sitting there on the porch, looking so lost. I don't want you to be lost anymore, Mirago. I want us -- you, me and Tala -- to be a family."

		She lifted up her face and he kissed the tears away and then covered her mouth in a deep kiss. Her arms went around him -- her faithful Fox. She still lived with her parents and he lived in the dojo, so there was no place for them to be alone. But when they told everyone about their plans to mate, the entire village pitched in and soon a little house was built next door to her parents. Two days after her promise to him, Mirago became Shippo's mate and they began their life together.

And Shippo kept his word: he never lied, he never deceived and he never abandoned. And he loved Mirago with all his heart and soul. And he became a father to Tala. Their life was perfect until Tala turned sixteen. Then a long-buried power of Naraku surfaced inside of her and a new terror began.


Part Three

One day, when he was nineteen, Kamui was flying over the Northern Lands near the edge of the Eastern Lands of Mukuro when he saw an man lying on the ground. Was he injured? The Bat swooped down and flew over the man, but he didn't stir. Finally, he set down next to the prone figure and folded his wings. He bent over and prodded the man, trying to see if he was alive or not. Something flew into him. He couldn't understand what happened, but it took control of his mind and body. The part of him that was Kamui was shoved into the back, watching what was happening to his own body, but unable to do more. The Bat took to the sky and flew directly to Mukuro's Keep. There whatever controlled his body tried to convince Mukuro that the Bat Clan would gladly spy on Otherworld and Suzaku for her and help her in any war she might want to start against the other leaders of Demon World. Kamui screamed that these were nothing but lies, but no one heard him. But Mukuro knew them as false and her soldiers grabbed the Bat and dragged him to her dungeons. He was stripped naked and hoisted up on heavy wooden beams, held up by thin wires that cut into his flesh. His wings were stretched out and two wooden stakes were pounded into them to keep them outstretched. Kamui screamed in anguish and pain, but the creature that controlled him kept silent. For days, he hung there, blood dripping onto the floor beneath him, in constant agony. He was given no water or food and soon he prayed for death.

		Then on the sixth day, the doors opened and Mukuro walked in escorting four people. He had no idea who they were, but he heard the female called "Princess." And he heard her demand his freedom. And he looked at her grateful when he was cut down.

But he was not to be freed; he was to be tortured even more. In terror, he realized that Mukuro was trying to bring out whatever had taken over his body, and she was going to cut off his wings. The Princess screamed out a protest as the blade swung and parted his wing from his back, leaving nothing, not even a stump. The blade had cut into his back to remove the entire wing, leaving him bloody and this time even the usurper screamed in agony. Then the second was cut off the same way and Kamui felt the creature leave him. He looked up it - it was a human! A handsome man with black hair and sky blue eyes! The guards killed him instantly, ignoring the protests of a red-haired human that accompanied the Princess. The Princess, the kind wonderful Princess, rushed to his side and demanded his life. Kamui tried to shake his head -- what good was a Bat without wings? "Let me die" he thought, but words did not come out and soon he was in the arms of a Dog Demon being carried through a portal. Kamui was carried to a bed, placed on his stomach, and a man with long purple hair and eyes the color of a clear lake held long slender hands over his back, healing the open wounds as best he could. A healer mage! "Where am I?" he whispered and the Princess knelt down beside his bed. "You are in Otherworld and I am Princess Aara. You are safe. Kaiba will heal you as much as he can, and then you will stay here until you are fully healed. Then you can return home. Is there someone we can notify?" Kamui looked at her and then tears trickled down his face. "I have no wings!" "I tried to stop her…" "I know, and I am grateful, but a Bat without wings is nothing. It would have better to have let me die." "Life should never be thrown away." Aara said. "After sleep and food you will feel differently." Kurama prepared a sleeping plant and Kaiba gave the Bat a draught of a healing potion and Kamui drifted to sleep.

		The Fox went to the Bat dens to speak with Shuhan whom he knew through his partnership with Kuronue. Although Kurama was known, his welcome was chilly at best. In the Bats' eyes, he had corrupted one of their clan and set him on the path of thievery and his eventual death. Shuhan came out to meet him, but the other Bats turned away.

"How can I help you, Lord Kurama." Shuhan said formally. "We rescued a Bat from Mukuro yesterday." Kurama began. Shuhan entire demeanor changed. No longer was the Bat Lord formal; worry was written all over his face. "Kamui! Is it Kamui?" "We never got his name. And right now he is sleeping under Kaiba's care." "Kaiba? The healer? Is he hurt?" "Unfortunately he was tortured and then Mukuro had his wings cut off." "No!!!" came a scream. Shami fell to the ground, sobbing. "My sister is Kamui's mother. He is my nephew and my heir." Shuhan explained. "His wings were cut off? Entirely?" "Yes, nothing's left." Kurama replied. Shuhan looked pale and grim. "Then there is no place for him here then." "That's cold!" Kurama exclaimed. "Your blood? You shun him like this?" "If it were only me, I would welcome him with open arms. But the members of our clan are judged by their wings. And we live high in the hills. Kamui could never leave the caves. He would be shunned and treated … it would be very cruel to have him come home."

		"Yes, I remember how your clan treated Kuronue when he joined with me and became a thief." Kurama said bitterly. "You have no room in your hearts for anything less than perfection." "We live in Demon World. Those not capable, die." Kurama turned to the portal, "I will convey your message." He said coldly.

"I'm sure that Kamui understands." Shuhan said sadly. "He does. He says that he wished that we had let him die. Now I understand why he said that. But we will give him a home, for all are equal in Otherworld." With that the Fox stepped into the portal and disappeared. When Kurama returned, he told the Princess what had been said. She shook her head sadly, and agreed that Kamui would also have a home here. It was late afternoon when Kamui woke up. He was weak and very tired, his body still healing itself from the shock and blood lost. A girl came in carrying a tray and set in down on the night stand. He glanced up and then cringed away. She looked like the creature that had been inside of him! "Oh, I'm sorry. I thought they told you what happened." She said, her voice gentle and sweet. "I am Tala, and until recently I was creating a male version of myself every full moon. There are four of them out there - well, now only three. But I am not like them." "What are you? What are they?" "We don't really know. My mother is Mirago, a human from Otherworld, but my father was Naraku." "Naraku!" Kamui exclaimed. "That evil demon? How?" "He seduced my mother, concealing his identity." Kaiba walked into the room, his arms full of bandages and salves. "Tala has saved us from even more of the evil males. She is our hero." Tala blushed and moved away from the bed, making room for Kaiba. The healer turned the Bat over on his stomach again, and checked the wounds. "They are healing nicely, but I fear you will always have scars. The blade cut too deep." After he rebandaged the Bat, he helped Kamui sit up a little, propped up by many soft pillows, and then he left. Tala sat next to him and uncovered the tray of food. A bowl of soup was on the tray and hot tea. "Do you need help? Or can you spoon while I hold the bowl?" Kamui tried it and managed to get a spoonful to his mouth without spilling it. He was starving! He quickly ate the entire bowl and then took the tea. It was good, dark and sweet. "Are you Kaiba's helper?" "Not really. I just feel so guilty about what was done to you that I volunteered to watch over you." Tala admitted. "May I ask your name?" "It's Kamui," came his soft reply. Then tears began to fall. "I have been mutilated. My wings will never go back and I will never be able to return to my clan. I have no where to go."

		"You will always be welcome here. The Princess opens her heart to all hurt beings, no matter what their infirmity. I am here because of her kindness." "You have no defect that I can see. You are a beautiful woman." "I am as mutilated as you are -- only my scars are on the inside." Then she smiled a small wistful smile and Kamui smiled back.

After finishing the tea, he settled back to sleep and Tala took the chair near him, watching over him. How different her life was now. On Tala's 16th birthday, she split off the first male version of herself. And then once a month another appeared, until she was finally able to tell the Princess and Kaiba performed surgery on her, removing the possibility of creating another evil male -- but also destroyed the ability to have a child. Now she would never know the joy of motherhood. And no man would ever want to mate with her because of that. She was as lost as the sleeping boy before her. She watched Kamui sleep. He was so handsome, fair features, short dark hair and large brown eyes. She shook her head. Foolish girl -- don't even let such thoughts in your head. What would he want with you? But -- wasn't he the same as she was? Not wanted by his clan? Too mutilated to be desirable? Perhaps…. Days passed and Kamui grew stronger. Tala told him what her mutilation was and he didn't think it so bad. You didn't need children to be complete, he told her. "And you don't need wings to be complete either," came her reply. He began to take short walks, always with Tala at his side, and one day he reached over and took her hand. She said nothing and neither did he, but from that moment forward, they always walked hand in hand.

		With each day's passing, Kamui grew stronger. But he wondered what would become of him when he was fully healed. One day he passed the Princess in the hallway and begged for a moment of her time, and told her of his concern. "I have no skills. I was a scout for the Bats, but without my wings, I do not even have that to offer. I am useless." Kamui said softly.

"No one is useless! And never say that again. You have much to offer; we just need to find your strengths. I have given you a home here in the Castle for as long as want. I'm sure you can help Kurama. Not everyone has powers. In the Village where Kouga and Miroku live, there are humans who have no powers at all, yet they are Protectors also and in the Three Wars World, fought to save the Village." She smiled at the young demon, "You are valuable, Kamui, even without your wings." Trusting in the Princess' words of encourage, during his walk with Tala, Kamui turned to her and took her hands in his. "Tala, I wanted to ask you something." Kamui began. "I have nothing to offer you. I am here at the charity of the Princess, but I cannot stop what is in my heart. I love you. I think I loved you from the moment I saw you." In answer, Tala leaned toward him and brought her lips to his, kissing him so gently that he trembled under the emotion in that feather of a kiss. "I love you also, Kamui. And we are both here because of the Princess and her kind heart. I do not know what future holds for either of us, but I would be very happy to share it with you." And as Kamui heard her words, he realized that his heart was soaring. He took her in his arms and kissed her. "I don't know the customs of Otherworld. Is there someone I should ask permission from?" Tala smiled at him, "Only me, and I have already given you my heart."

		That night, Tala came to him, shy at first, but then open. She removed his robe, revealing his terrible scars and he lowered his head in shame. "There is no shame here, my love." She whispered, and kissed his scars. Tears of gratitude fell down his cheeks and he held her tightly. "I will always love you, Tala." Kamui promised. "Your love gives me wings!" "And your love makes me complete!"

And Tala saw not the scars but the wonderful man in her arms, and Kamui saw not the woman who would never bear him a child, but a loving companion for life. They saw each other with eyes of love and they were flawless.


song: "Angel" by Sarah McLaughlan