Warning: End of series spoiler, set during three year gap!
Pierced
Sesshomaru had never paid any mind to the arrow in his chest until the evening he stood bathed in moonlight on the outskirts of old Kaede's village.
He scratched an ear, bemused – how could this little shot pierce his tough demonic hide, never mind his customized armor?
Yet lo and behold, there it stuck, head buried deep with feather-tipped stem protruding. Worse yet, the blasted thing was ginger. Each time he raised a hand to remove it, pain jolted his entire body. Still, the daiyokai would have endured even that lightening if it hadn't struck a vital organ.
He exhaled and the arrow quivered. Once in a while it'd wriggle like that, teasing to drop out at any second. It never did, but its pointed friction was enough to agitate – that's when Sesshomaru ached most.
Was the arrow fired during the battle with Naraku?
No.
From the Kongosoha? Goryomaru? The first Wind Scar?
Sesshomaru's head grew dizzy trying to retrace his tracks. Leaning against a tree, he opened his eyes to the brilliant moon high overhead. His chest strained, amplified by the fact that Rin was late.
Four seasons now since Naraku's demise and she frequented this village more often. Whether it was twice a week or twice a month, the girl grew more certain every visit and tarried longer.
Talons absently touched the arrow's stem.
The waning crescent crawled relentlessly westward and the sun's first rays crept through the foliage.
Claws determinedly wrapped around the arrow. Not one day more.
"Lord Sesshomaru! Oh, there you are!"
Hastily, the dog-demon crossed his arms over his breastplate, sleeves billowing before him. An unheard wince escaped as Rin trotted up.
The child presented a basket packed with herbs. "These are in case of any injuries or sickness, m'lord."
"Superfluous," was all Sesshomaru said. Then he spun around, but not before he caught Rin's smile.
"Let's go."
Without missing a beat, Rin piped an "okay". Sesshomaru sighed as the pain subsided to a dull throb.
The arrow would stay lodged a bit longer, though already he could feel it wavering out for freedom.
He spared the little girl a backwards glance – she still had eyes for the village.
Now, he knew blood would dry off the tip when it finally came out, though would the arrow forget all the time he carried it? Or the heart it pierced?
Sesshomaru had survived many battles, but this one might actually leave a scar.
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A/N: I was disheartened that Sesshomaru would leave his little Rin behind, but I'm still glad he drops by to check up on her. I wrote a companion called "Imperceptable" to aid in further explaination of this short. Thank you for reading.