I own nothing but my own fictional characters.
Regrets
Have no regrets. The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets. Author Unknown
"talking"
'thinking'
It was an abnormally cold winter night. The cold seemed to seep into ones bones and linger longer than usual. One little girl shivered suddenly next to her sleeping companion, a two headed dragon, and snuggled closer for more warmth. A figure in white silently and gracefully stepped out of the surrounding woods to slowly reach down to pull the blankets further up the shivering child's body. The ghostly white figure silently stepped to the dying fire to place freshly chopped dry wood in the fire, sparks flew into the air lighting the white lord's face as he turned to keep his vigilance of the small wooded area safe. His wards unaware in their sleep to see or realize the small almost kind gestures the white lord did to keep them safe and warm.
The white lord slowly prowled the perimeter of the temporary campsite when a faint white glow caught his eyes. The lord's eyes followed the light for then huffed in distain thinking the light were the servants of his half little brother's dead love, taking souls back to their mistress. He turned to leave when the lights seemed to change from white to black and seemed to be beckoning him to follow. The lord stood for a moment contemplating weather this was a trap set by that vile half breed, Naraku, or a different Youkai in the vicinity there was no Youkai aura nearby. He decided to follow the light to satisfy his curiosity. The now black light dodged and weaved between the trees at a steady pace and the lord not far behind. The light suddenly shot forward through a wall of vegetation into a clearing containing a hot spring. The lord shot forward after the light emerging from the vegetation without a scratch or piece of clothing out of place he looked around himself. His eyes immediately landed on a young inu hanyou woman sitting atop of the waterfall her legs crossed and her head set atop her clasped hands elbows resting on her thighs. Her black kimono blended into the night the lord noticed her kimono was finely made. the purple under kimono matched nicely with the black as did the red obi tightly tied around her waist in a big bow. The lord noticed she had a golden ankh stitched into her red obi as well as a blue crescent moon. On instinct the lord's hand grasped the hilt of his sword Bakusaiga. The woman chuckled and sarcastically smiled with great humor in her sapphire blue eyes. "There will be no need for weapons to be drawn Lord Sesshomaru." The lord remained in his battle ready stance not trusting this possible new enemy. The young woman rolled her eyes and sighed. "Stubborn as ever I see my lord. I merely wish to speak with you, I have traveled a long way to ask for an audience with you lord Sesshomaru." The lord merely blinked and remained silent refusing to engage conversation with the creature; he was naturally a silent person. The woman slowly stood on bare feet to gracefully jump down the rocks to land 6 feet from the lord. "obasan always told us that you where more reserved and emotionless before we were born." She cautiously walked closer. "I never could quite believe her but I guess I do now." She bowed formally to the young Daiyōkai. Lord Sesshomaru slowly stood from his fighting pose. "What is your name and what do you wish to negotiate with this Sesshomaru?" the woman stood straight from her bow and looked the lord in the eyes. "My name is Setsuna Takahashi my lord, I have come to discuss the two regrets that you have in your life." Lord Sesshomaru's cold mask slipped slightly too revel anger, and disbelief. "This Sesshomaru has no regrets." Setsuna smirked, mockingly replied "I personally know that you have just lied to me my lord" lord Sesshomaru quickly unsheathed his sword swinging for her head. Setsuna reflexively jumped back up to the top of the rock she was previously sitting upon. She mockingly laughed as Sesshomaru crouched to lunge at her again. She held her hands up in a surrendering motion. "I am sorry my lord, I could not resist teasing. It has been sometime since I have been able to have a normal conversation with someone of my kind. I have been wandering throughout the human world for nearly 3000 years. This is the first time I have met someone else with inu youkai blood." She slowly sat down upon her rock once more and sadly smiled at the white lord. "please I have many regrets in my long cursed life I only wish to help others with regrets in their lives, if I can." The lord slowly stood to his full height sheathing his sword.
Lord Sesshomaru only continued to stare at her, she took this as a sign to continue. " I have lost both my mate and three pups. I regret everyday that my mate and I left home to fight in a neighboring war. He was fatally injured and our pups were killed by enemy spies in our home." She sighed and looked to the moon closing her eyes savoring the sweet smell of the onsen steam and winter breeze. " I can only help with one of the possibly numerous regrets in your life." The lords emotionless mask never faltered but if one knew how to read his eyes would have seen contempt. " you presume much to think this Sesshomaru has any regrets for past actions. That has only made this one stronger." Lord Sesshomaru turned to leave. Setsuna let out a short chuckle then spoke up. "so you don't regret that you could have saved the wind sorceress Kagura's life if only you would have double your efforts to find her master? Also that you could have went back and took in your half baby brother, Inuyasha?" the lords shoulders slightly stiffened, he turned to meet her gaze. "How do you know of these names?" Sesshomaru growled at her.
Setsuna folded her hands under chin resting her elbows on her knees. " You don't want to know what it would feel like having a family? Watch as your beloved mate grows heavy with your pup in her womb? Or the annoyance, and joy of having a younger sibling? Someone that looks up to you and admires you?" Lord Sesshomaru snorted in disgust. "You presume much to think that this Sesshomaru would want such stupid and human things." Lord Sesshomaru turned leave when Setsuna spoke up. "I will return to you in three days time think carefully about everything we have discussed here tonight search your soul and tell me your answer, goodbye for now ojisan." Setsuna stood and bowed. Then with a motioning of her hand she disappeared into a portal of black light. Lord Sesshomaru continued to walk back to his companions in silence.
The lord of the western lands mind refused to give him a moments rest. The odd discussion with the equally odd hanyou wench had refused to leave him be. The lords thoughts were suddenly disturbed by a loud shout. "Lord Sesshomaru when are we going to stop next? Rin is hungery" Lord Sesshomaru looked at the young child from the side of his eye replying. "We will rest here shortly. Rin find your own food a river is located to the north just a short distance. Jaken go with her." The imp followed behind the annoying child grumbling under his breath of not being a babysitter. Lord Sesshomaru took this rare moment of silence to ponder more on the possible deal the woman offered three days hence. ' this Sesshomaru does have regrets of Kagura and Inuyasha. Inuyasha, If I had taken in Inuyasha maybe he wouldn't be such a disgrace now, he would have been raised as a proper prince of the western lands. I hate to admit this but he would be a very powerful ally many of the noble demons hold him in high respect. Maybe he himself would be less cold to the world around himself. I have often caught my self looking at Rin and seeing a younger Inuyasha. Then there's Kagura, If he would have saved Kagura he would have a powerful and beautiful mate by his side and Rin would have a mother figure to help with the awkward stages of her life fast approaching. The wind witch is one of the few people who would dare put me in my place and tell me I was wrong' the lord showed a rare moment of emotion and sighed in frustration. 'Should I trust the wench and take her offer, ignore her, or just kill her? One thing still bothers me why did she not have a scent?' rustling in the bushes warned that his wards had returned from gathering food. "Lord Sesshomaru Rin caught fish for lunch would you like one?" The lord stood turning to the child. "No Rin this Sesshomaru does not eat human food. Cook all the fish for yourself and Jaken." Rin smiled her toothy grin to her beloved Lord that she wished she could one day call father. " yes my lord." After Rin had the fire going and lunch half way done Lord Sesshomaru turned to the forest calling to the child, toad, and two headed dragon. "Rin do not wander far from A-Un" Rin's head popped up from blowing on the fire to stoke "Yes my lord"
Lord Sesshomaru wandered aimlessly letting his mind wander. Suddenly a familiar voice spoke from above his head in the trees "Well I have come for my answer my lord."