Pre-AN: Officially Sess/Sango now though their relationship is about to hit the rocks due to Hisashi but we'll deal with that later. Other pairings still up for grabs. Where's Miroku going?


Chapter 7: Memory


Past…


A member of the komodo-youkai clan was heading north; his pale-green but smooth skin glistened with sweat and ached with dried blood. No matter how he tried, he could barely stay on the path of his prey.

His name was Tamaru and he was an avenger.

A member of the inu-youkai clan was heading east, his amber eyes gleamed and drifted aimlessly. He had no purpose in mind, just to put more distance between himself and his home. It was an odd purpose, yes, but still a purpose.

His name was Sesshoumaru and he was alone.

Tamaru wore thin brown armor and fish-net made of coiled wires covered where the armor revealed skin. His weapon was a large hilt-less blade that hung from a sheath on his back. His green hair was tightly braided against his head.

Sesshoumaru was young and looked like the teenager he was. He wore blue hakama and a sleeveless shirt of chainmail. He carried no weapon and wore his hair in a low ponytail.

Their paths crossed one day when the sun was so hot that it seemed the trees themselves tried to shrink away from it. The streams were few and far between. It hadn't rained in so very long.

Tamaru groaned as he fell against the tree by the side of the path. He tried to tell himself that he had stopped and placed his hand on the tree, that he had not fallen, but it was a weary pursuit. He laughed as blood dripped from a wound he'd reopened, sinking to the forest floor as he tried to make out the miniscule trail his quarry had left.

He jumped as a hand landed behind his head and a water-skin landed against his lips. He looked up at the amber eyes of the youkai and wondered. Youkai didn't do these kinds of things but the male's scent wasn't that of a half-demon either. He was a full youkai…then why?

Sesshoumaru frowned as the youkai swallowed a couple mouthfuls of water then collapsed against the tree, breathing heavily.

"What's your name?" he asked calmly.

The green youkai blinked at him blearily and smiled. "Tamaru."

This time when he closed his eyes, he promptly fell unconscious. Sesshoumaru wondered how long he'd been traveling with such wounds…and if he'd been being pursued. He lifted the youkai over his shoulders and carried him into the woods away, off the beaten path. There he set about cleaning the youkai's wounds the only way he knew how…licking them.

When Tamaru's wounds were closed over, Sesshoumaru jumped up into a nearby tree to give himself a good viewpoint if enemies came nearby. As thus, he waited until Tamaru's scent changed and he knew he had about an hour before he woke fully and he headed off to find something to eat.

Tamaru woke with his head pounding and his throat dry. There was a water-skin next to him but he only took a few swallows. Water was so precious these days. He blinked in surprise when a silver-haired youkai dropped out of the trees holding a couple rabbits in one hand and another full water-skin in the other.

Tamaru smiled. "How long did it take you to find a clean stream? I wouldn't be surprised. You know my name…what's yours?"

Sesshoumaru set about taking care of the rabbits then looked up. Tamaru's smile grew.

"Just give it to me. I'm starving."

Sesshoumaru smiled lightly and handed the rabbit over. Blood ran down Tamaru's chin as he tore into its soft flesh.

"Sesshoumaru."

"You're a quiet one, Sesshoumaru. Do you have to be so quiet?"

Sesshoumaru shrugged. "Not really. I just haven't had anyone to talk to for quite some time."

"Why are you helping me?"

Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow. "I just said I haven't had anyone to talk to for quite some time. I saw you and I thought you might be someone nice to talk to. Then you fell. So I took care of you."

"Simple."

"I like things simple. I'm sure that things will get much more complicated as I get older so now…I keep things simple. I like to think I'm stocking up."

Tamaru stared at him briefly then began to laugh. "That's a good idea, Sesshy!"

"Sessh-y?"

Tamaru smiled. "Sesshoumaru is such a mouthful."

Sesshoumaru smiled broadly. "Don't I know it and my mother never seems to get tired of shouting it across the estate. Where are you headed, Tamaru?"

Tamaru smiled. "I'm off to avenge my clan. A demon attacked us a few weeks ago and murdered most of my friends and family. I sent the rest to our sister clan while I go after the demon that killed them."

Sesshoumaru tilted his head. "Noble."

Tamaru laughed. "Heh, yeah, I know it doesn't sound intelligent but it's the way the clan works."

Sesshoumaru shrugged and tore a piece off his rabbit.

"I've been trying for the past twenty years to understand the way my clan works. Why do you think I'm out here instead of there?"

For a few minutes there was only the sound of ripping flesh and chewing before Tamaru wiped his chin and threw away the rest of the rabbit.

"Well, Sesshy, would you like to accompany me against Mumeiro? He's incredibly hard to track and I could use your nose."

Sesshoumaru shrugged. "I don't have anything else to do."


Present…


"Mumeiro," Sesshoumaru thought. "It's been a long time. You've finally come for me. After all these years, you come now."

He frowned and turned his head to see Sango, Inuyasha, and Kilala running to keep up with him.

"I told you to stay behind."

Inuyasha shrugged and Sango gave him a slight smile. "No way are we letting you fight alone."

Sesshoumaru's gaze narrowed. "Why not?"

"This Sesshoumaru can handle this."


Past…


They came to the edge of the mountain and Tamaru smiled and shifted his pack.

"Only took us three days, I'm impressed."

Sesshoumaru shrugged. "Ryota-ojii-sama says I have a good nose even for an inuyoukai. I can smell even the tiniest change."

Tamaru nodded and clapped Sesshoumaru on the shoulder. "I'm glad we met, Sesshoumaru, and not just because you are a great tracker."

They stayed there for a bit, staring up at the frozen crag.

"We need to find shelter soon."

Tamaru turned and blinked up at the bright blue sky. There wasn't a cloud in the sky.

"There's a blizzard coming."

"I'd ask if you were sure but I'm not that dumb."

"We have about ten minutes."

Tamaru leaned back and looked up the side of the cliff.

"I think I see a cave. Let's go."

The two surged up from the ground, barely touching the mountain as they moved towards a dark spot on the cliff's edge. Behind them, another dark spot, this one just over the horizon began getting bigger as the wind changed and began blowing towards the mountain.

They slipped into the cave and Sesshoumaru lit a fire with some tinder he'd been carrying. It was burning merrily just as the storm hit but the two were hunkered down in the back of the cave and were quite warm.


Present


They arrived at the village near sunset. The place was layered in Mumeiro's scent. Sesshoumaru could even faintly sense the wards he'd placed there nearly two centuries ago. So long ago…back when how far you could walk in a day was all that mattered.

Sesshoumaru took a deep breath, tracing the minute scents in the air until he found his quarry.

"He's coming." He said softly.

Sango unhooked her weapon as Kilala took to the air, Miroku and Kagome on her back. Kagome had a sacred arrow nocked to her bow, ready. Inuyasha stood by his side.

"Go into the village."

"No."

I scowled at him, narrowing my gaze. He scoffed at me before turning his head away. In his human form, how much help could he be?

Mumeiro came billowing over the horizon, dodging the moonlight. Inuyasha jumped back but I held my ground and the massive demon slid to a halt inches from me.

"Ssesssssssshoumaru…" he hissed. "You've gotten taller."

"It happens." I returned.