Hey, I'm sorry about the delay. Hopefully everyone will enjoy this chapter. I'm too tired to get very jazzed up about it. -Ichigo
Disclaimer: InuYasha property of Rumiko Takahashi, et. al. No profit is gained from this story.
Summary: Sesshomaru recieves some bad news.
Chapter Four: Gathering Clouds
Inuyasha met them outside the bathhouse. "There's some cat from the east here to see you," he blurted at his brother. "Jaken's keeping him occupied in the hall."
Sesshomaru cursed under his breath. Why did a dignitary have to show up now, when the castle was in a shambles, Inuyasha was underfoot, the servants had walked out, and Rin could not bear to be out of his sight?
Rin made a restless movement in his arms. He could sense her worry.
"Inuyasha," he found himself saying, "Take Rin."
"Okay," the half-breed replied willingly, stepping around Sesshomaru and holding out his arms. Rin clung to Sesshomaru's neck, looking at Inuyasha reluctantly.
"Have no fear, Rin," Sesshomaru told her quietly. "I will rejoin you shortly."
"Yeah, you ain't got nothin' to worry about with me," Inuyasha told her. "Let's go see if the fish are biting, huh?"
Gradually, Rin loosened her hold on Sesshomaru's neck and allowed Inuyasha to scoop her into his arms and place her on his back. She stole a longing glance at Sesshomaru's retreating form as he walked toward the hall where his guest waited.
Inuyasha made small talk as he carried Rin outside. "It's really nice out today. Sunny and all. Still wet from last night, though." Rin nodded, but she wanted to tell him he didn't have to fill the silence for her sake. She could cope with silence, and preferred it to mundane chatter. Sesshomaru said nothing if he had nothing to say. Apparently his little brother had inherited his fear of silence from some other source.
As they made their way through the halls, Rin noted sadly that the castle was not in good repair. It was her fault, she realized, for frightening the servants off. It would probably be a good deal of time before any self-respecting demon was willing to work in Inutaisho castle or serve Sesshomaru-sama now.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of being pressed against Inuyasha's smelly fire-rat robe, they reached a door that leaned on its track. A sliver of pale sunlight stole through the crack that could not be closed. It seemed to Rin that Inuyasha hesitated on the threshold and looked searchingly around at her, as though gauging whether she was ready or not. Then he stepped through the door and into the sun.
Rin flung her arm up to shield her eyes. The light was piercing, bringing the sting of tears to her eyes. The pain was quickly gone, but to Rin's surprise she continued to cry. The beautiful rolling hills, the green of the grass, the pale blue of the sky and the milky-grey of the clouds drifting across it – all blended together like wet paint in Rin's blurred vision.
"Don't cry," said Inuyasha in a panic. "C'mon Rin, snap out of it! Sesshomaru's going to kill me!"
Rin bent her head so that her vision was obscured by her hair. She heard a quick pattering of feet approaching. "What's the matter with Rin?" asked Shippo with worry.
"Damned if I know," Inuyasha replied. "We just came out the door and she broke out crying on me. Please, Rin, don't do like that! I'm sorry; let's just go back inside, okay?"
Firmly, Rin shook her head. Meeting Inuyasha's amber eyes with her own tear-wet brown ones, she spoke as clearly as she could without words.
"You want to stay outside?" Inuyasha clarified.
She nodded.
"Well," said Inuyasha, clearing his throat, "let's see about them fish, huh?"
When Sesshomaru entered the hall, he cringed inwardly. The smell of the castle was one of must and neglect. The decorations in this once-elegant reception chamber had gone without polishing in so long that it was an embarrassment to have a guest there. His lady mother would have had a fit.
The stately cat-demon who stood with Jaken now, however, would not dare to say a word.
Jaken appeared to have been engaging the visitor in small talk. As the cat sank into a deep bow at the sight of Sesshomaru, Jaken spun around. "Ah, Sesshomaru-sama!" he crowed, plainly delighted to be relieved of his duties as host.
"Jaken," said Sesshomaru coolly, "You are to join the party outside."
"Yes, Sesshomaru-sama!" the toad scampered on his way eagerly.
As soon as he was gone, Sesshomaru turned his attentions to his visitor, who was regarding him with curious grey eyes. "My lord Sesshomaru," the demon addressed him, "it has been a long time."
"Not so long for those as young as we are, Hikaru," Sesshomaru replied. "But I take it you haven't come to reminisce over childhood exploits."
"My lord, I would not dream of wasting your time with such pursuits," said Hikaru nervously. "I came only for a quick word for an old ally."
"Then speak that quick word, for as you can see, I have much housekeeping to attend to," Sesshomaru deadpanned.
Hikaru smoothed a nonexistent wrinkle on the fine grey silk of his kimono. "I would speak frankly with you, my lord," he muttered after a brief silence, "and yet, as ever, I find myself afraid to do so."
Sesshomaru stifled a sigh of exasperation. "You have nothing to fear from me if you but speak quickly."
The cat gulped, took a deep breath, and quickly blurted his message, as though he feared he'd lose the nerve to say it: "My lord, there is going to be an attack against you."
Sesshomaru felt an icy jab of fear in his heart, but fought for the control to keep his facial expression steady. "How came you by this knowledge, Hikaru? Have you any details for me, or only cryptic utterances?" His words came out harsh, and Hikaru flinched, his pointy cat ears flattening against his head.
"Forgive me, Sesshomaru-sama. It is common knowledge among the clans of the north that you have been steadily losing support over the past year. Demons who have left your service did a fair bit of gossiping, and spread tales of how vulnerable you were… a wreck of your former self… obsessed by a dying human girl… but forgive me, I meant no offense! I only wish to convey what is being said about you!" Hikaru stammered and cringed as though expecting his head to be lopped off at any moment.
"Go on," Sesshomaru urged in a low tone, trying to keep the snarl out of his voice. If he frightened Hikaru, the cat might clam up and run away, and Sesshomaru didn't feel like hunting him down.
"So there was bold talk among some of the neighboring clans that someone should challenge you," Hikaru said tremulously. "My clan tried to dissuade them, but last night my cousin, who is privy to their secrets but does not support their plots, came to give me the message to take to you. They plan to attack a fortnight from now, when the moon is new."
And when, coincidentally, Inuyasha will be of no use to me, Sesshomaru thought irritably.
"My clan is sending warriors within a week to aid you in this time of trouble," Hikaru went on. "But my lord, our meager forces will not be enough, I fear. Three clans have joined forces against you, including one that was formerly allied with you."
Sesshomaru's head began to hurt. Hikaru's nasal whine was not helping matters in the least. "Your information is valuable, Hikaru," he said, forcing himself to keep his tone level. "This Sesshomaru shall be ready for them. Do not concern yourself; only send who you can spare. They may well find out that you have betrayed them."
"I do not fear for myself," Hikaru said in a shaky tone that told otherwise. "I only thought to help you." The grey cat swept a deep bow and sprang out into the light, where he quickly vanished with his feline speed. Sesshomaru watched him go, then wrathfully snarled and ripped a hole straight through the walls with his claws.
When his rage was vented and his breath was even, he forced himself to think logically. So, his allies had turned against him, had they? They thought him weak because of Rin, because of his reaction to her condition, and there was certainly enough evidence to show that he had lost it but he, Sesshomaru, knew better. Now that he and Rin were reconciled, he had a will to live, to reclaim what had once been his, and to protect her with his last breath.
And if that was what he had do, so be it.
Dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun...