Author's Note: Back by popular demand, I present to you the first chapter of the last installment to my Sesshomaru trilogy! Thank you for your continued support and immense patience, and I hope you enjoy this story as much as the first two.
Minako stood by Sesshomaru's side atop the familiar waterfall that had served as their private little meeting spot so many times before, watching him stare up at the crescent moon while the water crashed below them. She couldn't help but to stare at her mate; how he seemed to glow in the moonlight, silver hair moving softly with the wind. She could hardly believe that this demon lord was hers to claim.
He turned, his gaze falling on her as she smiled.
"How did you get back?" he whispered.
"Hm?" she looked up into his beautiful golden eyes, but they changed, shifting colors as he stared wide-eyed at her.
"What did you agree to, Minako?"
Overcome by a sudden rush of fear as the moon and water disappeared around them, she stumbled back away from him. She began to fall, unable to see anything but those strange eyes when someone caught her from behind. They wrapped their arms around her waist, their smooth voice breathing into her ear, "Kiss me…"
Mina jolted awake, eyes snapping open and heart racing. Bits and pieces of her dream lingered for no more than a groggy moment. She shrugged it off—strange dreams were a common occurrence ever since she had returned to her home in this world. It seemed so long ago since she had been spirited away. Although Mina had been able to piece together a bit of how she came back when first confronted, the memory was hazy and soon enough faded out completely like a dream slips away upon waking. All she knew was that Alexia hadn't brought her back, and as a result, Vadoma hadn't shown herself since. On the rare occasion that it came up in conversation, she simply smiled and insisted that she was just happy to be back. Sesshomaru didn't seem concerned about those minor details, so worrying about it would be a waste of time. But truth be told, something about it really did bother her. How does one lose memories like that? Vadoma's words haunted her, but her attention was stolen away by her companions and she was quickly swept up by the day-to-day distractions of life. She didn't have time to dwell on it enough to really search for answers.
Mina could hear Rin and Jaken bickering, as per usual. She glanced over at her two friends, huddled over a fire as they cooked breakfast.
"What are you doing now? You're getting them all scrambled up, you silly child!" Jaken exclaimed.
"No duh, they're called scrambled eggs!" Rin laughed, glancing up as Minako stretched, "Look, Mina-chan is awake just in time!"
"Where is Sesshomaru?" she asked with a yawn, moving over to join the two by the fire.
Jaken straightened up, clearing his throat before stating, "M'lord had important business early this morning that could not afford an interruption by his loyal followers."
"So basically he told you to babysit," she joked, taking a plate of eggs from Rin with a polite thank you.
"I am not a babysitter!" Jaken exclaimed, snatching up his own plate and mumbling, "I'm not."
"Of course not," she teased, raising her eyebrows to Rin as the little girl stifled a giggle.
"Just you wait until the next time Lord Sesshomaru takes me with him and there's no one here to start a fire for you! Oh, you'll be sorry then." Jaken inhaled the eggs in one bite, making a face and mumbling about meat being a better meal.
Mina caught a scent in the air and her stomach erupted in butterflies. Leaping to her feet, she rushed to the edge of their camp just in time to see Sesshomaru stepping out of the forest. He looked down upon Mina fondly, arm wrapping around her when she sprung forward to hug him. Jaken scrambled to his feet, bowing down several times as he rambled.
"Welcome back, m'lord! Did your meeting go well? Do you have good news?"
Sesshomaru stared down at Jaken for a moment before shaking his head ever so slightly. Mina wasn't sure whether he was displeased with Jaken's many questions, or the fact that whatever business he had attended to didn't pan out as he had hoped. She had no idea where he went when he disappeared, but she didn't want to bother him by asking when it wasn't necessary for her to know. Jaken seemed to ask enough questions for the both of them anyway. Mina knew that if she asked, Sesshomaru would more than likely allow her to accompany him, but lately he had been sneaking off while she slept to attend these little meetings. Although Jaken seemed to know exactly what it was all about, they never spoke any specifics, and therefore Mina hadn't the slightest idea what disappointments the two kept exchanging glances about.
Just as it had with the last few times Sesshomaru had returned with this silent answer, Jaken's face seemed to fall, and he clung to the Staff of Two Heads with a groan. Rin watched the scene unfold, continuing to eat her eggs and feeding some to the bloated white cat that she had so affectionately named Minamaru.
"Finish your meal," Sesshomaru said, looking up through the treetops, "Unless you wish to be rained on."
At his prediction of rain, Rin scarfed down the rest of her breakfast and began cleaning up while Mina and Jaken packed up their bedrolls and few belongings, getting ready to follow their lord wherever he pleased. Sesshomaru didn't look at any of them, his thoughts far away as he waited. Mina snuck glances his way, wondering what was on his mind. Perhaps she would ask him later, once they were alone. He was always more open when it was just the two of them.
Once ready, the group followed Sesshomaru as he led them deeper into the forest, the trees growing larger and branches reaching out so far that the dense canopy kept them mostly dry once the rain began to fall a few hours later. They continued on and without being able to see the sky, Mina completely lost her sense of direction, but as always, Sesshomaru knew exactly where to go. She wondered how long they would travel before they reached their next destination, and quietly hoped that this time he would have good news for Jaken when he returned. He acted as calm and stoic as ever, but she could sense that whatever this recent business dealt with, it was troubling him.
When it became too dark for the weaker eyes in the group to see, they stopped for the night and set up camp in the driest area they could find. Mina waited up as long as she could, but Jaken seemed to be wide awake and it didn't seem likely that she would get a moment alone with her lord. Finally accepting defeat, she said goodnight and made a bed by the fire to keep warm, closing her eyes and trying her best to fall asleep. It seemed as though only a few moments had passed when she found herself waking as if from a troubled dream, hearing whispers from across the camp. She kept her eyes closed, listening as Jaken and Sesshomaru spoke quietly.
"How many more hags and hacks must we visit?" Jaken asked, "They all have given us the same answer."
Sesshomaru's voice was cool as usual. "As many as it takes."
"Why not go to the mountain? If anyone else knew, wouldn't they?"
"Hn."
"You are running out of time, m'lord," Jaken warned.
"I am aware of the fact," Sesshomaru snapped, causing the little imp to yelp.
His quiet outburst had startled Mina as well, and she sat up in a sudden motion. The two arguing across the fire looked at her, Jaken with a guilty look plastered across his face. It seemed apparent that this conversation was supposed to be secret.
"Did I wake you?" Sesshomaru asked, his voice quiet and calm once more. Mina nodded and he held out his arm, "Come."
With a blanket in tow, she moved around the fire and curled up beside Sesshomaru, resting her head on his chest as he held her in his arm. Jaken took their affection as a sign that the conversation was over and relocated to where Mina had been previously sleeping. She played absentmindedly with the hem of his shirt, letting out a soft sigh.
"My lord," she whispered, glancing up at him, "Is something wrong?"
He looked down at her, his golden eyes lit up by the fire. "It is nothing to trouble yourself with."
"It is if it troubles you," she mumbled sleepily.
His gaze seemed to soften, and he held her a little tighter, "Go to sleep, Minako."
She closed her eyes at his command, breathing in his scent as she drifted off into a comfortable sleep. She was safe in his embrace, from both the real world and her strange dreams.