Red tinted amber eyes turned to stare at me with an unreadable expression, and I waited with muscles frozen for him to say or do something. His hair was sticking up in random directions, likely from only just now waking up, and he was wearing the white hakamas he usually wore, slightly crumpled from being slept in. Despite all of this, however, his eyes were sharp and unclouded as he looked at me, before a hand rose.
I tried not to shrink away, and the hand stopped for a moment before reaching out and poking me in the arm. I gritted my teeth, feeling pain shoot from the place Hayate had grabbed me, and Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed. He turned on his heel, walking towards an open door further down the hall, turning to raise his eyebrows when I didn't follow immediately. Hesitantly, I followed, and he wordlessly gestured for me to sit down on the bed, saying a brisk "sit" before turning to rummage around to rummage in a drawer.
Returning with a flash, he stopped in front of me, wordlessly holding up a familiar canister of the healing paste I'd given him and a roll of bandages, an eyebrow raised in a silent question. I realize what he was asking, and thought for a moment before nodding.
"I'm able to use the same paste, yes, but I really don't-" I tried to rise to my feet, and in a moment his eyes narrowed, and he was a small space away, glaring glacially. I tried to slip around him, and didn't even see his form blur as I was suddenly back on my former spot, with him kneeling on the floor in front of me. I scowled mentally as I got the message- pft, you have no choice ningen.
The demon ignored my protests, rolling up the left sleeve of my yukata, trying to avoid the bruised section as he finally stopped when the bruise on my forearm became apparent. The red tint returned to his eyes and his mouth tightened as the finger-shaped bruise came into view, swelling slightly with small pricks where Hayate's claws had nicked me. He still didn't say a word as I kept the sleeve rolled up with the opposite hand, and he tore off a long section of the material with a small amount of difficulty and began applying the paste to the small wound as gently as possible.
I inwardly marveled at the moment, trying to figure out why he was going to such an amount of trouble just because of a small bruise. Then I realized, as I caught sight of the pink-tinged eyes, slowly reverting back to their usual color. He was finding something to preoccupy himself so that he didn't go after Hayate. The Northern demon had insulted him, by ignoring his wishes and going after one under his employ. It'd probably taken quite a bit of will power not to kill the lower demon for his insult, and my respect for him rose as he began wrapping the bandage with a blank expression. He did all of this with his only hand, seeming used to living without it as he paused to get more material, ripping it easily.
When he finished applying the bandage- fairly well, considering that he likely had no need of them the majority of the time- the red tinge returned to his eyes, and he looked about the room for something to do restlessly. I looked from him to the door silently before sighing inwardly.
"You know, there was a game my fellow apprentices and I used to play to pass the time. It takes some concentration to actually play correctly, would you like me to teach you?" I was pretty sure that I had the pair of cards in my pouch.. Sesshomaru looked at me in surprise, eyes considering me silently before he nodded slowly. I pulled the pack of cards out of my pouch, shuffling them as I explained the rules to him.
The game was fairly simple. There were fifty-two cards, sorted into two categories- the pauper and the nobility- with different ranked cards for both. The goal of the game was to get as many combinations of nobility cards- some of them more rare then many of the pauper cards-in the deck- together to form a full set of twenty points or as close as you could get, thus ending the first round. Each card had a worth in points, the nobility adding a variety of points, the paupers taking away points. A carefully done drawing was on each card, along with the points, and you were allowed only five cards in your hands, adding another if that number went below five. The game could go on for as long as needed, but in this case I decided just to have three rounds per game.
It wasn't a common game- most people gradually realized that they wouldn't win, or clever people would decide to find easier prey. Most of the people that actually chose to play Pauper and Pompous were confident that they could win, be it that they were lucky or good enough at sneaking cards in to win.
As I sorted the thick cards, I looked around, examining the room completely for the first time. It was obviously cleaned well- papers sorted neatly on the expensive-looking desk near the wall, a simple wardrobe laying open in the corner, familiar looking armor and mokomoko resting next to the bed, two swords propped against the wall directly next to the bed, in easy reach in case of an emergency.
One thing I noticed, however, was the lack of anything on the walls. Everywhere else in the castle, banners with the western lands' symbol were hanging proudly on the wall, sometimes different colors depending on what section of the castle you were in, but there were none in here. Honestly, I'd expected some kind of symbol of his authority in here.
The lord shifted restlessly, face blank as he glared at the door, and I realized that I was taking too long. Calmly, I split the deck, giving half to the demon and keeping the other half for myself. He turned his attention to the cards, drawing five for himself as I did the same, keeping my face carefully blank as I took in the cards. I flipped the first card off of my deck, revealing an oji- the prince- wearing elegant finery and staring blankly up from his card. Nine points.
He flipped his first card, revealing a sukuraibu-scribe- as he retrieved his cards from their face-down position on the bed. Six points, to start with.
I debated, and then laid down a noble- one of the cards I'd actually drawn. Thirteen points. "Turn." I said, not looking up.
There was a pause and he flicked his wrist, a diamyosho landing on his scribe. Sixteen. "Turn"
I grinned later on, as I won, two wins to one for me. Honestly, I'd been worried for a moment, expecting him to catch onto what I'd been doing from the beginning, but it seemed that wasn't the case. "A good game, milord."
He stared at the piles of cards blankly for a moment. "Again." He ordered, and I shrugged, obligingly shuffling the cards. I gave him his pile and mine, cards held towards me in my lap. We turned our first cards, and within a few cards I won the first round.
The demon's eyes narrowed, and he seemed fully concentrated on the game, eyes back to their usual cold amber color. This time, he won the last two rounds, and I felt slightly shocked. Surely that was a fluke? Sure, I'd let him win the second round, but the third was over quickly enough for me to be suspicious.
He watched me boredly with slightly closed eyes as I dealt the cards and divided the deck. It was as I began to lay down the separate decks, however, that he spoke. "Switch the decks."
I froze for a moment, and then looked up, grinning. "When did you catch on?" He didn't reply, eyes narrowed. I abandoned the deck, leaning back on my hands.
"The Pauper and Pompous." I said, smirking. "A game played by cheaters and fools everywhere."
"You being both." He said bluntly.
"Maybe. I suppose it wasn't the best idea to try it with you, but old habits die hard." I shrugged. "I told you that I practiced with my fellow apprentices. The majority of them were demons, and I learned quickly how to cheat them out of their money." He raised an eyebrow slightly.
"How?" I twisted my wrist, where a card had been laid flat against my forearm. Then I shifted, revealing the two cards hidden underneath the layer of my yukata.
"I have my ways. The entire point of the game- besides to gather points of course- is to cheat your opponent. It sounds simple, and that's how you got people to agree to play you." As I'd learned when my fellow apprentices had cheated me out of every penny I had.
I wondered, detachedly, if he would kill me for trying to cheat him, when he looked up, eyes glittering challengingly as he demanded that we play another round.
After that, he always managed to catch where I cheated, seeming to find every little card I had hidden. I smirked when I realized this, and became determined to successfully cheat during the game, failing every time. It didn't seem to have taken him long to figure out my patterns in the game, and it became a silent competition- I would try to cheat, and he would figure out how.
It was much more interesting then the occasional game I'd played when passing through villages, and I couldn't help but grin when I left a few hours later, card deck still clutched in my hand. Glancing back over my shoulder, I saw that the lord was still sitting on the bed, staring blankly at the door. I cheerfully made my way back to the hospital, where a no doubt frantic Akatsuki was likely waiting for me, mentally running through a list of possible excuses.
... ...
I sighed as I looked over the garden with a frown. Nearly all of the herbs I'd brought with me had been used up in the past battle- we'd been running low with those herbs to begin with, so it hadn't taken much to use up the remaining stock. It wouldn't be difficult to find the correct supplies, most of the villages I would have to visit were fairly close, and I knew who to ask for the majority of the herbs. Even so, would I be permitted to leave with our guests present? At the thought of the Lord and heir of the Northern lands, I scowled.
Today had been even worse then yesterday, with either Hayate or Hideyoshi showing up at every turn, grinning widely and with a new comment on what they believed my 'role' in the castle to be. The former always managed to show up when there was no chance of Sesshomaru seeing him, and didn't seem deterred in any way, despite the harsh burns on his neck where he'd been attacked, still unhealed. Maybe I could take advantage of needing new herbs... I hurriedly left the garden as a plan began to form.
I grinned as Akatsuki and I walked through the huge gates, the sky still dark as we quickly made our way down the path. He'd been ecstatic when I told him about my idea, and had immediately taken off to notify our lord. Within the hour we were on our way to the village I had in mind- nearly a day and a half's trip, me carrying my all-but empty bag as we began a supply run. It wouldn't be a long visit, but it would at least be a short reprieve from the members of the Northern lands.
... ...
"Er, Akatsuki..." I said hesitantly, and he turned completely around, walking down the path backwards as he grinned cheerily.
"Yes, Haruka-san?" I looked around at the forest around us, none of which looked familiar. I'd stopped recognizing our surroundings over an hour ago, but assumed that the demon knew where we were going. I was beginning to doubt that, however...
"You do know where we are, don't you?" My suspicion was confirmed when he stopped, looking around us with a bewildered expression.
"Not really, no. But that's why you're the one leading the way." He said cheerily, and I shook my head, feeling the straps of my bag digging into my shoulder.
"Wouldn't I have been in the front if I was the one giving directions?" He shrugged, and I sighed, rubbing my forehead. We'd gotten in and out of the village with little difficulty, the demon paying for the supplies without blinking an eye, and I mentally raised my eyebrows, wondering at the Western Lands' funds, but didn't comment. Now my bag was weighed down with the herbs I'd bought, and Akatsuki had immediately led the way cheerily, me following behind unthinkingly. Thus, our current situation.
He turned and continued walking down the path, whistling cheerily. After a few minutes the sounds stopped, and he turned to look to our right with a frown, sniffing slightly. Suddenly, he spun, beaming happily.
"Actually, Haruka-san, I think that I do know where we are!" He looked up at the sky for a moment. "If we leave quickly, we should make it within a few days. Somehow we've been going in the completely wrong direction!" He smiled cheerily, and I looked at him curiously.
He turned, arms held out behind him with an expectant expression, and I shook my head. "Nah, I don't really want to get back to the castle any time soon. Besides, I'm kind of curious about what you're so concerned about." For a moment his smile faded, before he shrugged, looking slightly worried.
"You said the other day that you were a healer, and didn't pick fights unnecessarily. Remember, Haruka-san?" He said blankly, a smile covering up whatever expression would have otherwise been on his face.
"And I was speaking the truth. But I have the feeling that you aren't actually worried about me jumping into a fight." I scanned over his face in curiosity, eyes narrowed slightly. "I'm assuming that you're hearing something that I can't. Maybe.. there was a battle earlier, and you don't want someone attacking us?" I guessed, but the only sign of recognition was when I mentioned a fight, and I narrowed down my list of theories. .
"Or... there was a fight, and you recognize one of the scents and want to get away before they recognize you and pick a fight..." This time there wasn't even a small flicker. "No? There was a fight, and...someone was wounded?" He opened his mouth to say something before stiffening, eyes darting to the same direction as before and his form blurred. I held on tightly as he darted away, the trees where we'd been seeming to explode as he jumped onto a nearby tree.
A huge demon fell to the ground, his head rolling several feet away. A smaller and more humanoid demon stood there, weapon in hand as he looked up at us, grinning. "Akatsuki!" He yelled cheerily, waving slightly before a second demon appeared behind him, swiping a huge claw at him. He turned quickly, slicing the demon in half with a flourish. I felt Akatsuki tense, dropping down to the ground below and letting me down behind him. The other demon sheathed his sword, grinning widely as he held out his arms warmly.
"I certainly wasn't expecting to see you so soon!" He yelled, clasping the demon on the back. The youkai before us had dark auburn hair, cut short in the back and bangs framing his face, falling to his jaw at the longest. Light-looking armor covered his torso, spiked shoulder guards covering his shoulders- the same style as Akatsuki's armor, I noticed- went over the dark green kimono he was wearing, a white leaf inscribed on the chest plate. Green eyes sparkled happily as he grinned, fangs flashing.
Akatsuki was still positioned firmly in front of me, his face turned away as he looked at the demon in front of us. "Hello, Ryouichi-san." The other demon waved his hand dismissively.
"None of that now, we've known each other for far too long for formalities." Something moved behind him, drawing my shocked gaze to the fluffy tail behind him, the same auburn color of his hair, swishing lazily. "What brings you into this area? Did you decide to come back after all?" I saw Akatsuki shake his head above me.
"I received a promotion. Bodyguard to the Head Healer."
"Oh, I heard that the Western Lands recieved a new healer. There're all sorts of rumors flying about on the subject. Takahiko-sama was eager to meet him." Blood was still splattered across his face as he smiled excitedly. "So how great is this one? Are they some noble from a lesser youkai family? One of the more outlandish rumors said that he attacked the castle, and Sesshomaru-sama assigned him as the healer because of his skill with poisons." The orange-haired demon's shoulders shook, likely from laughter.
"Nothing so grand, I assure you." Gee, thanks. "She's very competent, however. Uses eastern healing techniques." Ryouichi nodded in satisfaction.
"Her, hm? Well where is she? My lord would just love to meet her, especially when he hears about you being assigned to defend her." He sniffed slightly and frowned, leaning to the side. "Ne, why do I smell a ningen?" He looked around curiously, and I was slightly surprised that he hadn't noticed before now. The demon blood must have been interfering with his sense of smell.
Akatsuki tensed, hands spreading outward slightly as he asked calmly. "So why're you here? Shouldn't you be defending Takahiko-sama?"
The other youkai shrugged, still looking around. "We're camped nearby. I was sent to scout ahead."
"You're early." The tailed-demon winced slightly.
"Milord heard that Hideyoshi planned on arriving early, and hoped to beat him here so that he actually had the chance to meet the Western Lands' new employee." He turned, dark green eyes curious. "Speaking of, where is this healer? If you're here, surely she's nearby?"
I stepped out, bowing slightly at the waist as Akatsuki shot me a look. "Hello, I'm Haruka." The youkai looked surprised for a moment before grinning, holding out a hand.
"And what would you be? Have you decided to start dallying with ningens, Akatsuki? Naughty naughty." I inwardly rolled my eyes.
"As I said, I'm Haruka, under the employ of the Western Lands." Blech, what a mouthful. Would I have to introduce myself as such every time? The demon raised his eyebrows quizically.
"Employed... You wouldn't happen to be the head healer, would you?" I nodded, and he burst out laughing. "An interesting joke, Akatsuki. I'm surprised you went so far to fool me." he chuckled slightly, running a hand through his hair. "I was almost fooled for a moment there." Akatsuki looked bemused as the other demon laughed.
His easy grin, however, immediately disapeared as Ryouichi frowned and leaned forward, lightly grasping the identification necklace around my neck. As his hand touched it, the metal lightened slightly, a light blue color seeming to shine off of it. He read the inscription with a blank face, raising his eyebrows slightly as he looked at me. Akatsuki seemed tense as he waited, and the auburn-haired demon grinned.
"Interesting! Takahiko-sama will be very interested in meeting you! Haruka, if I may?" He grinned, holding out a hand, and I stared at him blankly before accepting it. Akatsuki, however, intervened, hand grasping Ryouichi's arm tightly.
"Why don't you lead the way" the Western demon said, grinning good-naturedly, "And I'll follow behind with Hani-sama." The other demon nodded after a moment, grinning.
"Only if you can keep up!" He then disapeared, and Akatsuki all but slung me over his shoulder, leaving me to hang on tightly as he ran through the forest. I grumbled mentally as I bounced on his shoulder, watching the foliage fly by behind the demon as he dashed through the forest, and wasn't expecting him to stop as suddenly as he did, making a surprised sound as he quickly let me fall to my feet. He grinned sheepishly as I glared, smoothing my yukata.
Someone nearby cleared their throat, and I turned to see a camp full of youkai watching us, half with curiosity and half warily. Several had been in the middle of various duties- caring for their weapons or monitoring the area, and a small group was seated on a branch of a large tree, it's branches spread out to cover the entire area. When I took a closer look, I realized that they weren't necessarily on a branch- it was a platform, made of several smaller and intertwined branches, woven together to form a stable walking surface. I stared at it in fascination, noticing that there were also vines and vibrant flowers growing along the huge tree, making it seem chaotic and vibrant. I doubted that it had occured naturally, but it was amazing all the same.
My attention was forced back to the youkai as one stood, staring down at us curiously. The youkai leapt down from the platform, landing easily and with a slightly extravagant flourish.
He was also wearing the light armor with shoulder guards that the other demons wore, but his armor seemed more extravagant, a bright blue sash going across his chest, the same colored sash holding a katana to his waist. He wore an earthy green kimono, the sleeves stopping just below the shoulder guards, bringing out his vibrant red- not the red I'd seen before, the ones that were dark with streaks of dark red- this was a vibrant, solid, deep red, like something you'd see in a deadly exotic flower. It was styled in such a way that the hair spiked outwards, some sections shorter and going straight out, others longer and curling inwards, giving a chaotic feel when you looked at him. He looked very young, with a narrow and angular face, almost fox-like, and blue marks curling up over his forehead from his temple, two others curving over his cheeks from his jaw bone.
The youkai's face lit up when he saw Akatsuki, grinning widely. "Akatsuki! It's good to see that life with Sesshomaru hasn't changed you too drastically." He said cheerfully, looking the demon up and down, seeming to practically radiate chaos and cheerfulness.
The orange haired demon nodded, looking like he was fighting a smile. "Sesshomaru-sama isn't as bad as you think, Takahiko-sama." The Eastern lord shrugged, bright turquoise eyes landing on me. He tilted his head to the side, his gaze darting down to the identification necklace, then to the crest on my yukata, and the close proximity Akatsuki was keeping, ready to retaliate if attacked.
"Could it be?" He said excitedly. "Are you.. Sesshomaru's new healer?" I nodded hesitantly, and he clapped, reminding me of an energetic child. "Fantastic!" he suddenly appeared before me, pulling me toward the tree. "You really must tell me how you got such a position. It must be quite the tale, considering his views."
I felt a small tug, and in a flash we were on the tree platform, surrounded by vibrant colors and flowers. There wasn't any variation in them- some were healing plants, others were popular ingredients for poisons. Some were human, others seemed to move and shift as youkai plants tended to do. He pulled me toward the ground, sitting cross legged and leaning forward eagerly. "So, little ningen, how did you manage to wind up in Sesshomaru's care? Oh, and what's your name?"
I blinked, surprised, and hesitantly began to answer his questions. The lord was completely different from Sesshomaru. He never seemed to sit still, fidgeting, pacing, making odd gestures, he was always doing something. Where my lord would sit still and listen with no expression, he made comments, asked questions, made esaggerated sounds in response. Sesshomaru was blank and suspicious, with his long white hair and cold amber eyes, maroon slashes on his cheek bones and crescent moon on his forehead, painfully white clothing and formal armor. He was organized, formal, grudgingly concerned. Takahiko was brightly colored and chaotic, with his short red hair and neon eyes, curving blue markings and brightly colored kimono, with no semblance of order or strictness. It was like comparing polar opposites. The Eastern and Western Lords were like personifications of their roles- nothing alike, opposite ends of the spectrum.
"Hm. So Hideyoshi and his son already beat us? And what did you think of them?" He leaned against the base of the tree, the plants around him seeming to reach out to brush against him.
I hesitated for a moment, considering. "They have the opinions of humans I'd expected Sesshomaru-sama to have. Apparently they mistook me for the castle's... entertainment." He laughed loudly, nearly doubling over. Akatsuki seemed only a little more relaxed then before, looking used to the Eastern lord's personality.
"Oh, that sounds like them. You seem to have survived the ordeal, however." he grinned.
"I was trying to avoid them. Poisoning the Lord and heir of the Northern lands probably wouldn't help convince you and the Southern Lord that the Western Lands were peaceful."
"Ha! I imagine that Katsurou would congratulate you!" He suddenly looked up sharply, and then rose to his feet. "Well, we'd better start moving if we want to arrive by tomorrow." He said cheerfully, leaping down from the platform, his advisors following. Akatsuki grabbed me, leaping off after them, just as the branches began to unravel. The other soldiers immediately went to action, blurring about as they made sure to collect all that they'd gathered, and Takahiko turned around with a frown.
"Come now Hani, or you'll get left behind!" He then turned and began running at full speed. Akatsuki grinned sheepishly at me, shifting his sword to his waist and kneeling to let me scramble on, the straps of my bag still weighing down on my shoulders. He took off the moment I managed to get on, hands making sure that I didn't fall as he ran to keep up with the Eastern lord.
As Takahiko had said, we wouldn't make it before late tomorrow, but we were still making much better time then Akatsuki and I had made before. Everyone chattered around us- more so then the western guards had when around Sesshomaru- while Akatsuki merely kept pace with the group easilly, seeming slightly at ease.
... ...
A/N Thank you Nizuna Fujieda, cleareyes25, Arvael, Ironhide and Lennox, Crystal-Wolf-Guardian-967, and y0ur-DoWnFaLl for your reviews! ^_^ Kukuku, another demon lord has made his entrance, any opinions on the Eastern troops and lord? Also, I tried (and most likely failed) to hint at Akatsuki's past a little in this chapter. Did anyone catch on? :D
Well, I'll try to cut this annoying Author Note short. As always, reviews are appreciated, and I don't care what you say in said review! :3
