Disclaimer: This story is based on "Inuyasha," copyrighted by Rumiko Takahashi. No infringement of copyright intended or implied.


Never Look Back, Never Look Down

The icy, golden eyes never looked back, and never looked down.

He never looked back, because he had no regrets. He never looked back, for nothing could sneak up behind him that he would not hear and smell with far more acuity than eyes could see.

He never looked down, because he cared not. He would not grace his vision upon the lowly lives that might clutter his pathway. If they failed to remove themselves, let them be sliced apart or dissolved with his claws, or trodden upon: it made no difference to him. He never looked down, for nothing could make him stumble.

He moved through the world untroubled, untrammeled. Until his bastard half-brother smote him down with their shared sire's sword. Until the ground held him fast for a time, unable to move, while a little mortal, gripping her courage in both hands, offered water by dumping it on his head.

Recovering, he would have returned to his ways, but for a smell of blood wafted on the air. Curiosity—his greatest failing—led him to follow the smell. Led him to where the brave little girl, who had tried so hard to help him, lay dead.

He drew the despised, second fang of his father. He saw the messengers of the other world tugging at her soul. He swung the blade, slaying the messengers.

And then, he knelt, gathered up the child in his single arm, and looked down with a newly stirring sense of wonder.

… ... ...

He never looks back. He does not need to; for he knows she follows him. His hearing and his sense of smell are much more remarkable than his vision, after all.

But, he does look down—at her.

And when he does, his golden eyes are warm.


Author's Note: This piece was written for the LiveJournal community I-B-4-Y, for the image prompt that was Sesshomaru's eye (the closeup from Swords of an Honorable Ruler, in the prologue.) It was originally posted on June 24, 2011. It took first place.