Can't move… Night upon night…day upon day… And still I can't move…
Sesshoumaru growled to himself as he leaned back against the tree. He sighed. Darn that Jaken! If that stupid toad had taken care of Rin properly, the way he was instructed, the Lord of Western Lands would not be lying here, wounded and unable to move for the past days.
I must heal soon, the young youkai lord looked down at the Tenseiga at his waist. If I only had the Tetsusaiga as well… That insolent puppy who claims to be my brother does not deserve such power as the Tetsusaiga.
Sesshoumaru's sharp sense of smell all of a sudden picked up something.
The scent of a human…!
His finely featured face remained expressionless. Even if he was hurt, a human was no threat. The great Sesshoumaru can take care of it. His muscles tensed under his elaborate clothes as he waited. When she at last appeared, she wasn't all he expected her to be.
She was a young maiden, around the age of fifteen, wearing a deep violet robe, symbolizing regal and noble breeding. Her sable black hair was down past her hips, and her deep violet eyes were viewing him with an air of curiosity and something Sesshoumaru couldn't place his fingers on.
A child…? He wrinkled his nose in disgust. The young lord sighed and leaned back, though still uncomfortable with a human's presence around him. He watched from her from the corner of his eye, and saw her gave a start at the bloodstains on his shirt.
He finally lost his patience and turned to her, giving a low, threatening growl. He really wasn't in the mood to kill young female humans today, and if that mortal wants to live, she'd better take the hint and leave.
But, to Sesshoumaru's hostility, the girl crossed from the bushes and came closer willfully. She seemed to be unafraid of him at all, to his irritation. He rose and extended his claws, but his strength failed him and all he could do was slump back with defeat. However, his eyes were determined. If it were the last thing he does, Sesshoumaru would get rid of this annoying, disturbing female!
His sharp nose once again detected a scent reflecting off the young female's body that he disliked.
This maiden…is trying to save me…
Sesshoumaru finally turned toward her, his face stony and his eyes smoky. Then, something hit him. It was a small dart, blown from the slender tube in the maiden's grip. He let out a small hiss, not from pain, but from surprise. This wench had the nerve!
Fury burned through him as he drew together enough energy to jump up and finish her off. But suddenly, Sesshoumaru felt a peculiar feeling running through his body. Gasping in surprise, he felt his eyelids getting heavier and his body growing numb and relaxed.
A paralysis sleeping potion!
He tried to open his eyes as he sensed the girl getting closer. But even when he felt two hands placed on his chest, he couldn't move to stop her. But she seemed to have a purpose for doing everything she's doing. He heard her murmur softly to herself before feeling the warmth of energy surging through his paralyzed body.
The last thing Sesshoumaru saw before his world turned pitch black was a blinding light and the shape of a crescent moon…
Meanwhile, over across the forest of trees where Sesshoumaru was, Inu-Yasha was sitting in the classic Inu-Yasha sitting style lazily. But he was far from being relaxed.
"Are guys done yet?!" He hollered with the usual sullen scowl on his face. Kagome and Sango were soaking in the hot spring with Shippo, leaving Inu-Yasha with Miroku. As usual, Inu-Yasha was impatient to move on, to finish their mission, find the last shard from Naraku, and deliver the whole Shikon Jewel. The hanyou's dog-like ears twitched as he reached out and snatched the corner of Miroku's robe. "No, you don't. Not with me around, you pervert." He said darkly. The monk grinned sheepishly.
"I think we should get closer, Inu-Yasha, that way, we can save them faster if they need help."
"We are close enough where we are now." Inu-Yasha glowered. "You've seen my speed. If they get in trouble—which they won't—I'll be there faster than you can say—"
"Inu-Yasha!" Miroku pointed sharply toward the hot spring. "What's that over there? I saw something move!" He hauled the hanyou over to a cluster of bushes. "It's right here, I saw something." He whispered. He leaned over and began examining something engagingly. Inu-Yasha leaned over to get a closer look.
"MIROKU! INU-YASHHHHHAAAAAA!!" Screams blew through Inu-Yasha's eardrums.
"Aiieeeee!! Perverts!" A rock was thrown toward him. "Hentai!! Freaks!! Go AWAYYYYYY!!"
Inu-Yasha dragged Miroku after him as he ran for his life, his face flaming red. Then, he realized that the monk had set him up all along. He stopped running and threw Miroku down into the ground.
"Fool!" He hissed. "You almost got us killed back there! I can't believe you—"
"Hey," Miroku got up and dusted himself calmly, a dreamy look in his eyes. "At least we got to see…"
"You know there's going to be hell to pay when they get out of the hot spring." Inu-Yasha crossed his arms, his fire-colored eyes narrowing as if the tension in the air were a haze he had to see through. "And they think taking a peek at them was all my idea. Monk, you're just lucky that I'm not in the mood to beat the bloody pulp out of you, or else—" From the corner of his eyes, he saw something move. He turned, his ears twitching. Then, he frowned.
Was that a girl…crawling on the ground? Was she hurt…or was she trying not to be seen by them? Inu-Yasha stood up.
"Hey! Hey, you!"
I must touch that light, the girl slowly continued on, as if Inu-Yasha hasn't spoken. I need to get back to the palace. I need to touch it. It would give me enough strength to return home. Lord Kagewaki will take care of me, then.
Irked from being ignored, Inu-Yasha gave a growl and yelled out again. "I said, 'Who the hell are you and what the hell do you want?!'"
What in bloody hell?! Inu-Yasha's eyes grew wide. That wench is heading toward Kagome's backpack! She's after the Shikon Jewel!!
"Stay away from that backpack!" With a leap, Inu-Yasha closed in on her. "Are you freakin' deaf or something!?" He almost reached her just as her hand found the jar containing the almost completed Shikon Jewel and closed around it.
Then came a light so blinding that Inu-Yasha stopped running and stood still, stunned.
"Inu-Yasha!" Kagome, who had heard Inu-Yasha's commotion, had grabbed her clothes and was now dressed. Sango hurried after her toward Inu-Yasha, who was frozen in the middle of the forest, blinking.
"What's wrong?" Sango huffed, her bone boomerang ready.
"What happened?" Miroku demanded at the same time. Kagome picked up the little jar of shards, which was shinning more brilliantly than ever.
"I thought—" Inu-Yasha shook his head. "I thought someone was trying to run off with the Shikon."
"It wasn't just your imagination?" Sango questioned hesitantly, raising an eyebrow.
"No! I know I saw someone." Inu-Yasha narrowed his eyes with suspicion and thoughtfulness. "She was dressed in the same style as the water goddess in that village." The girl was somehow…familiar. And her scent, it seemed to bring back something memorable. Then, he took the shard from the demon exterminator and murmured to himself quietly. "Funny, I could have sworn I saw the shape of a crescent moon before she disappeared…"