I'm back! Sorry I haven't updated for a while, I've been so winter holidays! But some good news: I have the complete book one finished. It's 15 chapters and about 110 pages, so I'll update as i see fit! Yeah, this chapter doesn't really have any romantic action, but the next few might!!! As always, please R&R!!!
Disclaimer (cause I've forgotten to do them so often!! .): Everything except Rubi, Yuko, Monira and the plot (c) to Rumiko Takahashi.
---------------------
Rubi nodded. "Yuko, you've gone through a terrible ordeal, and the last thing I'd want is for you to not be happy because of me. Remember what you told me, two and a bit years ago? Now I'm saying it to you. I'd hate for you to leave me, but I'd hate seeing you unhappy even more."
~ Yuko's Decision ~
There was her best friend, staring back at her with an equally shocked face. I thought everyone was dead! Rubi thought, grief taken over by sheer confusion. The tears on her face dried in the light summer breeze.
"Oh my… oh my god… Rubi!" and the water demoness flung herself into her best friend's arms, still sobbing. Rubi held her and sank to the ground, tears returning to her eyes. But they were bittersweet this time around. She knew that what Yuko had gone through must have been incredibly tragic, but she tried to focus on the fact that her best friend was still alive, and had not joined her community in silence. Yuko didn't have to tell her the full story yet, if it would break her. Rubi knew that she would open up when she was ready, and was fully willing to give her that freedom.
"Why don't you accompany me back to the camp? We'll take care of you."
Yuko looked up through the tears. "Who's "we," Rubi-chan?"
Rubi gave her a watery smile. "I'm travelling with Lord Sesshomaru, remember?"
"Oh! No, he can't see me like this-"
"Hm, I know him pretty well, and I don't think he cares," Or at least I hope not, Rubi thought, remembering her meltdown yesterday.
"Okay, then," and both demonesses got to their feet unsteadily.
They ran through the forest fast, Rubi struggling to keep up with her full demon friend. It just felt so good to be with her again. She could hear a few sobs up ahead and just wished that they had come together under happier circumstances. If only Rubi's group had come days sooner. She knew that whatever happened to them, the Demon Lord could have easily saved her village.
When they finally arrived at the camp, Sesshomaru, who had been making marks in the dirt that looked like some kind of battle plan, looked up. Surprise, then recognition flashed through his beautiful golden eyes as he remembered the young water demoness that had accompanied Rubi at the night of the choosing. He remembered that as the night Rubi and him first met, and it had always held some significance in long-frozen, but now slightly thawing, land that was his heart.
"This is Yuko, I'm not sure if you remember her, my lord, but I found her in the forest surrounding here. I guess there was one survivor," it pained Rubi much to say that.
"I am honoured, my lord," Yuko said, bowing her head and dropping down on both knees in front of him.
"Rise," he commanded, also getting to his feet. The great dog demon walked over to Yuko. "You do know what happened to the village. Am I correct?"
The demoness nodded, uncomfortable that the Lord of the Western Lands was standing a few feet in front of her.
Rubi knew what he was going to ask her to do next, and wanted to stop him with all her might. She thought of a way to do this.
"Sesshomaru-sama, she should rest in a place where she would have protection, right? So could we possibly allow Yuko to stay with us?"
"I will consider it. I am giving the task to you, Rubi, to see that her needs are met," and he walked off into the forest.
Right then, Rin came hurdling out of it. She approached Rubi cautiously, partly because of what the fire demoness had gone through yesterday, and partly because of the new youkai standing beside her.
"Rubi-chan, who is that?"
"Oh, this is Yuko, Rin." She turned to Yuko. "Yuko, this is Rin, the human girl who has been travelling with us for a couple years."
Rin curtsied and greeted her. Yuko looked surprised for a minute, since she had never met a human in her life, but soon dipped her head in response.
The three of them sat down. Rubi knew that Sesshomaru would ask Yuko what had happened to the village when he returned, and wanted to prepare her.
Rubi explained what the Demon Lord's intentions were. Yuko looked troubled for a moment. "I think, when the time comes, I will be ready."
They noticed Rin was standing over them.
"Excuse me, Yuko-sama, but if I may ask, what is your power?"
"I'm a water demon."
"Oh, well… may I please see?"
Rubi interjected "No Rin, I don't think Yuko is-" when her best friend cut her off.
"Sure, Rin-chan, I'd love to show you."
Yuko jumped to her feet in one swift movement. Rubi sighed, envying her demonic power. The water youkai raised her hand above a puddle on the ground, and the water came soaring up until it was level with her outstretched hand. She twisted her hand this way and that, the water always following her actions perfectly.
Rin watched in awe as she made the shape of a first a flower, then a rainbow and even the shape of the little girl herself. Of course Rin had to make it into a game.
"Ok, so Yuko'll make shapes, and me and Rubi will guess what they are!"
Yuko twisted her hand so that a shape with a shaft and a triangular point on the end materialized.
"Oh, I know! That's an arrow!"
"More importantly, it's one of my water arrows I carry with me," Yuko corrected, grinning and pointing to the ones strapped to her back. This was the first time the water demoness had felt happy since the massacre, and all because of a human girl. A few weeks ago, Yuko wouldn't have thought that was possible.
"And Rubi-chan, what about this one?" Rin looked over at Rubi with a knowing smile, the latter having been lost in her own thoughts. She turned her head and when she caught sight of the shape, she rolled her violet eyes. Yuko looked at the two of them, confused.
Sighing, Rubi said, "It's Lord Sesshomaru." For the shape was human-like, had a mokomoko on it's right shoulder and long watery see-through hair.
The demonic presence felt by the two demonesses signaled Sesshomaru's return. Yuko waved her hand and the water came crashing down into the puddle again.
He shot a questioning look at Rin, who's eyes widened. She then looked ashamed and started shuffling her feet in the dirt.
"I'm sorry Sesshomaru-sama, I haven't done it yet."
Rubi looked up questioningly and Rin explained. "I was supposted to wash Ah-Un in the river. I guess I'll do it now!" She woke the two-headed beast, took it's reins in her hand and started skipping off to the river.
"Hey wait, Rin-chan!" Rubi called. Rin stopped and looked back at her. "Me and Yuko can come and help you!"
"Sure thing!" Yuko said, smiling. "It'll be pretty easy for me."
The trio hurried off into the bushes, Ah-Uh following right behind them.
Rubi flopped on to the hard dirt, utterly exhausted. The water fight had taken all of her remaining energy. She still couldn't really believe that her whole village minus Yuko had fallen, but tried not to think of it. She would have to face her grief soon, but her best friend was here and it was a time to celebrate. Or get completely drenched in water.
Rin had accidentally spilled a bucket of water on Yuko, and that had quickly transpired into a full-out battle. The water youkai had an unfair advantage on everyone else, but they didn't mind that much. Rin still hadn't stopped giggling.
"Yuko."
Everybody turned to look at Sesshomaru, who had come into the clearing silently once again. He walked over calmly and sat on the ground in front of the demonesses.
"I have made my decision. You may stay and travel with us, on the understanding that at this moment, you will tell me what befell the citizens of your village."
Yuko smiled, but Rubi could sense an uncomfortable air around her. Will she be willing to tell him, even though she assured me earlier that she would be fine?
The smile vanished off her best friend's face. "It happened a few weeks ago. A neighbouring demonic village sought to steal our grains, since we had plenty from our earth demons and they had a shortage. We might have traded if they had approached us peacefully, but they attacked us instead. None survived." Her face was stone. Rubi could tell this took a tremendous amount of effort. Is it just me, or does it feel as though Yuko is leading up to something even more terrible?
"I was out collecting herbs at the time. I saw the battle, and thought it was a mere skirmish, so I- I" Yuko looked down, tears welling up in her bright blue eyes. It was clear she was utterly ashamed of what she was going to say next. "I sat in the bushes and waited 'till it was over," she whispered so quietly it blended into the soft breeze dancing throughout the clearing they sat in.
Rubi put an arm around Yuko. Sesshomaru's face remained, as always, devoid of any emotion. Why is he always like that? His smile would be breathtakingly beautiful…
"So, Yuko, you now have a decision to make. You are free to travel under my protection, or I will see that you make your way to the nearest village. You have until noon tomorrow," Sesshomaru stated, and resumed sketching a plan into the dirt with one clawed fingernail.
"So, you'll need time to decide, huh?" Rubi teased, poking the water demoness. Yuko nodded, still looking uncomfortable.
"I'm going for a walk, Rubi-chan. I won't be long, though," she gave Rubi a half-smile and a little wave, and disappeared.
Yuko definitely won't refuse. I think I may have a new travelling companion! Rubi smiled to herself and settled down against a tree, closing her eyes to the darkening sky
.
When the fire demoness awoke, it was morning. She went in search of Yuko, and by tracking her scent Rubi found her sitting by a waterfall near the camp, deep in thought.
Rubi sat down next to her. "Hey, are you going to come with us?" she said in a teasing manner. Yuko looked at her and closed her eyes sadly.
"That's exactly what I'm not sure about."
"Huh?" Rubi thought Sesshomaru's choice would be an easy one to make.
"Oh, well… this is hard to explain. I want to stay with you, but… I really, really hate travelling. Remember, when you were getting all excited about being chosen to travel with Sesshomaru-sama and I didn't want to? That's why. Moving from place to place just makes me depressed, not having a home, and depression might not be a good thing at the moment. So… but will you be okay with it, Rubi-chan?"
The fire youkai was taken aback. But it only took her a second to think it over, decide what was best for her friend, and encourage her to do just that.
"You mean, you'd be fine? We could still see each other!"
Rubi nodded. "Yuko, you've gone through a terrible ordeal, and the last thing I'd want is for you to not be happy because of me. Remember what you told me, two and a bit years ago? Now I'm saying it to you. I'd hate for you to leave me, but I'd hate seeing you unhappy even more."
"Really? Well, then, I guess I've made my decision… oh no, I hate leaving you, but…"
Rubi stood up and pulled Yuko up with her. "Come, let's tell Lord Sesshomaru of your choice."
Just then, Yuko remembered something. "And Rubi, when I made that water shape of Lord Sesshomaru, Rin looked at you funny. Why?"
This was when Rubi starting getting uncomfortable. "Uh, well… that's a story for another day! We have to be getting back!"
Yuko smiled mischievously. "Ah, and the sparks fly! I won't ask you to elaborate, but I think I've already guessed!"
"Urgh! Stop talking complete nonsense, and get a move on!" She pushed her best friend forward, in the direction of the clearing.
Yuko had left. Rubi sat on the remains of what looked like a human castle, though the tricks of time had made them crumble into boulder-sized pieces. I did the right thing, I know I did. She watched Rin play around in the long grass swaying in the early autumn breeze. The little girl missed Yuko already, as did the fire demoness. Rubi, wanting to put an end to her thoughts, ran up to Rin and was just about to join her for a game when Lord Sesshomaru, who had been sitting on a similar piece of stone a few meters away, came over to them.
"We are leaving, this time with a purpose. I seek the violet moonflower, as an herb of immense power and rarity. Do not dawdle," and he started walking at a brisker pace than normal.
"Come on Rin-chan, let's go!" Rubi called, and Rin climbed on her back. They leapt into the air to catch up, leaving Jaken running along behind yelling,
"Wait for me, milord!"
Perfect, a purpose to take my mind off other things…
-End