Chapter 11: Arrangement
~Ameki~
Ameki swayed back and forth as exhaustion took hold. Her hands slightly shook, loosening her grip on the tanto blade that Sango had given her a few days before. The numerous slash marks in the wooden post overlapped, making it nearly impossible to keep up with how many times she had laid waste to the already weathered wood. She wanted to fight, or at least be able to defend herself. Sango had awoken the hidden warrior beneath her feminine facade. It was in her blood after all, coming from a long line of battle hardened Lords. Ameki knew that a warrior couldn't be forged over night, but the years of training she took an interest in during her life in the palace had already given her a foot in the door.
Sango had already voiced her approval toward Ameki's prowess in defense, but Ameki had voiced her need to explore more offensive techniques. Sango had instructed her to become fluent and acquainted with her new blade, and that's exactly what Ameki did. Sango had left a few hours earlier, leaving Ameki to take out her aggression on the defenseless post that no longer belonged to a structured boundary. Ameki backed away, lowering her weapon, admiring her handy work. The post looked as if Kirara, Sango's twin tail demon cat, had used it as a scratch post.
Sango had been wise in giving her a smaller weapon. The bulky wooden sword Ameki had trained with previously had felt as if she were wildly swinging an oversized branch. The tanto however, was light, not bulky and cut through the air as elegantly as if it were an extension of her own hand. She wiped the sweat from her brow, and sheathed the tanto securely to her thigh.
Upon turning around she halted as a figure appeared from behind a close tree. She must have lost track of her senses, not realizing she had been watched or even sensing Yuuto's approach in the first place. His eyes scanned the front of her outfit briefly, then returned to her face with a slight smirk.
"I'd hate to offend you like that post seems to have done." Yuuto began jokingly, starting a conversation as if he hadn't just been stalking her while she trained. She slightly smiled, taking a few steps and bending down to retrieve her bamboo water container. After taking a long drink she cleared her throat.
"It snuck up on me…" Ameki teased, trying to Address Yuuto's obvious intrusion.
"Ah…" He chuckled nervously, brushing his hand through his hair.
"Didn't mean to surprise you. I wasn't sneaking or anything, I just didn't want to disturb you. You seemed quite busy with your morning activities." He shuffled slightly under Ameki's stare. She smiled. Yuuto was a good guy it seemed, a little protective over things that weren't his, but good nonetheless. She walked over to the tree where Yuuto had been standing and knelt down to get her things. She pulled the cotton robe over her outfit, and securely fastened the front. It was time for her to move onto other activities for the day. Today would be more field work.
Yuuto's mother had not taken kindly to the cool nights. Kagome had mentioned that her age played a vital role in her episodes of illness. Kagome had assured Yuuto that it wasn't anything to worry about, but the cool temperatures at night could bring out joint and muscle pain. She warned that it would probably worsen once fall had ended and the winter months approached, but by then the harvest would be complete.
"Ready for the day?" Yuuto asked with a smile creeping across his features.
"Sure am, though there really isn't much left to do in our area. If we hurry we could probably call it a day in time to spend the rest however we like." Ameki replied, gaining an even wider grin from Yuuto.
He was a handsome young man. Ameki didn't care to guess his age, seeing as he still lived at home with his mother. His father had passed a few harvest seasons back, leaving the two to fend for themselves. Ameki figured he was old enough to be out on his own, maybe even as old as her, but had stayed to make sure his mother was taken care of. Ameki smiled inwardly at the honor this man had portrayed in those very actions. She was roused from her thoughts as Yuuto spoke once more.
"Well, if we finish early enough would you be interested in some fishing?" Ameki glanced upward, gathering the rest of her belongings in her arms.
"Fishing?" She asked, a small bit of hesitation entered her features. It wasn't from the lack of knowing what fishing was, it was the fact that he was asking if she wanted to.
"Yea, We could catch some fish, maybe even cook some for my mother so she doesn't have to get up too much." Yuuto eyed Ameki curiously, waiting to gauge her reaction.
"Or if you have other plans thats okay. I just figured you could use a break from your busy routine you seem to keep." He smiled reassuringly toward her.
Fishing wasn't a bad idea Ameki realized. It would give her a bit of familiarity once more. After all her and her mother had often fished in the palace ponds. Not so much for consumption needs as it was for sport.
"That would be alright with me." She smiled up at him watching the all too wide grin returned to his face.
"That's great." He beamed.
Fishing would be nice she decided. It could give her some time to make a new friend as well. She never shied away from the chance to get to know someone better. A sneaking sensation of guilt crawled into her mind though. She didn't want to give Yuuto the wrong idea. She wasn't really interested in a courtship, and Sesshomaru's past inquiry on the subject had made her uncomfortable. Could he sense Yuuto's intentions for her? If Yuuto did have such intentions, she would eventually have to let him down lightly. It wasn't anything against the man, she just wasn't comfortable with the idea of a relationship. She never had been.
The sun adorned the middle of the sky causing the appearance of their shadows to shorten at a distance underneath them. Ameki had waited by the storehouse after they had finished their part of the harvest in the field. Yuuto had gone to fetch some things. To Ameki's surprise they passed the stock pond at the edge of the village, and headed directly into the woods and beyond InuYasha's tree. Ameki soon heard the river where she had foolishly made a mistake, and her conscience began tugging at her once more.
Yuuto sat his supplies down at the edge of the river bank and panned his vision across the glistening water.
"This spot is perfect. The current isn't very strong and the fish will likely gather here to bed down." Yuuto made his observation, tearing Ameki from her own inward thoughts. Ameki gazed out at the water as well, and began tying her dress around her knees, exposing the pants of the slayer outfit beneath. She kicked off her sandals and made her way toward the water. After wading for a moment she went still, the water barely reaching her knees, she spotted a stray fish not far from her location. She waited.
"What are you doing?" Yuuto inquired. Ameki glanced up long enough to mouth a shush and then turned her attention back to the water. She waited for the curious fish to swim up to her legs and investigate. The fish's precaution was apparent. The small swimming strides it would make toward her were halted every few seconds, as if the fish were watching for the object in question to move.
Ameki waited a little longer before the fish had finally arrived at her feet, the tickling sensation hit her as the fish began pecking at her toes, no doubt mistaking them for something edible. She wasted no time, reaching out from her hunkered position, arms like lightning. Her fingers snaked out along the slimy skin, resting in the indentation behind the fishes gills.
With a smile and a giggle she brought the thrashing fish to the surface showing her trophy to the wide eyed Yuuto. His face soon faded into a smile.
"Well, look at that. The girl can fish!" He laughed, and Ameki joined in on the laughter as she walked back to the bank. Yuuto took the fish from her hand and threaded a rope through one of the gills, anchoring it with a stick that he stuck into the ground. He threw the fish back into the water, but the rope would keep him from swimming off.
"I was thinking more of using these poles, but whatever works for you." He grinned and nudged the matching bamboo poles at his feet. Ameki felt the heat stain her cheeks.
"I've never used a fishing pole before." Yuuto shrugged and picked one up.
"Well, it's always nice to learn something new. If you don't like it you can always wade back out into the cold water. That seems to work for you." He nudged her shoulder playfully, causing a smile to grace her lips.
"I guess there's no harm in trying." She grabbed one of the poles and inspected it. There were notches in the end to hold the thread in place, and finely wound thread adorned the hollow area at the tip. At the end of the string that dangled from the pole was a sharp metal piece that Yuuto explained was a hook.
"Won't that hurt the fish if it sticks through its jaw?" Ameki had asked horrified.
"Well, killing the fish hurts to when we get ready to eat them." He had pointed out. All of a sudden, fishing took on a much more grim meaning to Ameki. It wasn't as if she didn't know that the fish had to die. After all she had killed fish before, but she made sure that it was quick and painless. The thought of having a hook caught in the fish's mouth seemed a little like torment before death.
She quickly shook the feeling and decided to give it try anyways. Yuuto showed her by throwing his own hook into the water. Ameki watched as the wound string in the tip of the bamboo came out and unraveled as the weight of the hook and bait pulled against it. When Yuuto was satisfied, he wound the string around a notch in the bamboo to keep anymore string from sliding out of the pole. She tried to come out with the same result, but had initially sent the hook in an all too short trajectory, the hook landing in the water right against the bank. Yuuto laughed, setting his pole down long enough to show her how to rewind the string using a thin stick. He wound the string and placed the stick inside the bamboo until the threaded part was inside, then clasping his fingers over the hole he pulled the stick free leaving the string inside and ready to cast once more.
Ameki was beginning to think that her way was a bit faster, and easier. That is until she felt her first bite. She felt the tug on the string and felt the repercussion of the action in the pole itself. Yuuto caught the movement out of the corner of his eye and excitedly yelled.
"Pull the pole back hard." She did, feeling the pole and string tense up, pulling against the small notch at the end of her pole where she had set her line. Ameki felt her adrenaline spike as she rushed through her memories to recall how Yuuto had explained to reel in the line. She grabbed the small stick and began wrapping the string around a little at a time when the line would go slack. She struggled for a while, but eventually brought the fish to the edge of the water where Yuuto grabbed it, presenting it to her.
She was absolutely ecstatic. She had never used a pole before, but it was interesting and new to her. The fact that she had also been the first to catch a fish on their little trip had also helped to groom what little pride she had.
The rest of the afternoon was spent by Yuuto initiating a friendly competition to see who could reel in the biggest. By the time they made it back to the village, with a heavy rope of fish slung over Yuuto's shoulder, it was getting dark. Time had slipped away without Ameki even realizing it. It was only when she heard the familiar sound of frogs croaking and nocturnal insects chiming that she realized the sun's light was fading. They released some of the fish in the stock pond, the ones that were still moving after the lengthy walk from the river to the pond, and Yuuto had decided to cook the other.
"Would you like to have dinner with me and my mother?" He asked with a little bit of nervousness entering his features as he gazed down at Ameki. They were standing beside Kagome's hut. Ameki had forgotten Yuuto's implications that morning. He had said they would fish and possibly cook for his mother, but that little fact had been lost to her as they had rushed to complete their work in the fields.
Ameki didn't want to turn him down. They had spent a fun day together, no awkwardness, just two friends fishing and trying to outdo the other. Surely agreeing to have dinner with him wouldn't change the atmosphere of their relationship, especially if his mother was going to be present.
"I think I'd like that Yuuto." Ameki smiled up at him. Yuuto smiled in return with a bit of a blush appearing on his features.
"Great, this way my lady." As Ameki and Yuuto walked away from Kagome's hut, she could have sworn she heard some grumbling from behind the straw curtain. She assumed it was probably Jaken, complaining that Kagome had not made it home to cook for him yet.
~Sesshomaru~
Sesshomaru's eyes didn't water from the smoke, but his sense of smell was greatly hindered by the sharp scent that seemingly brought fire to his nostrils.
"Demon!" A Female scream sounded off from beside Sesshomaru's location. He had landed at the edge of the village, still partially concealed by the splay of trees and foliage that lined the perimeter. Sesshomaru caught sight of a recently disturbed curtain from where the scream had come from. The small hut near his location had seemed as if it had been desolate, but with Sesshomaru's senses dulled he realized it had been in error. He had wanted to simply scour the village and get a closer look. Spotting Kohaku before entering the village would have been ideal, but now the plan was ruined. He knew before too long that he would be met with interference.
He stepped out into the clearing and readied himself as he continued in stride toward the center of town. He passed house after house, with no interruption. When he came to the center of the town he understood why. Men laid sprawled out on blankets, women tending their wounds. It looked as if some of them had actually sustained wounds from battle, but he had only sensed a fire previous to coming here. The storehouse directly across from Sesshomaru's line of sight was still smoldering, and men still carried buckets of water disappearing into what was left of the building. Sesshomaru stood beside a hut, no one had noticed him thankfully, and no one had come running toward the commotion the female had caused earlier upon spotting him.
He scanned the faces of the men that were injured, failing to locate the one face he had come here for. The wind slightly shifted, making the sounds from behind him more noticeable. The slide of a blade being withdrawn from its sheath entered his hearing with all too vivid detail. Sesshomaru moved with such speed, momentarily blurring the faces that had once been so clearly defined in his vision. A masked man slashed through the area where Sesshomaru had once been standing, but quickly recovered from the miss and continued in pursuit of the blurring vision that was Sesshomaru. He knew he was too quick for the lad. He could tell by the slack in the man's blade arm that he was fatigued. Even if he hadn't been, no mortal could keep up with Sesshomaru's speed. It just wasn't possible.
Sesshomaru easily disarmed the man, but he didn't stop. He continued to swing blindly with his fists long after his weapon had settled into the dirt. Sesshomaru grew increasingly tired, and finally caught the man off guard tripping him. Sesshomaru hovered over the man that now lay on the ground, giving him a cold stare that should have scared even the bravest men. It didn't seem to have an effect on this man though, he seemed as if he begged for a new challenge from his defenseless state on the ground.
"Enough Hotaru!" A male voice barked from a few huts back, one that Sesshomaru had previously passed on his way toward the town center. The man on the ground narrowed his eyes from behind the mask, aiming his glare toward Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru stepped back, signaling his permission for the fallen man to get up.
Sesshomaru turned his attention to a few huts down, catching sight of the face he had been looking for. Kohaku's masculine features came into view among the smoke filled environment. Signs of age was apparent, his facial hair hinting to his maturity by displaying a few gray hairs among the strands of black. He still held the youthful gaze, much as Rin had, but his features had been hardened and scarred by numerous battles.
"Kohaku." Sesshomaru blatantly stated as a greeting, the best he would get. Kohaku nodded closing his eyes only momentarily.
"Best come this way before you alert the villagers." He said with a low tone. Without a glance toward the man that had finally regained his footing, Sesshomaru made his way toward the hut. Kohaku stepped out, the extent of his injuries came into view. Sesshomaru noticed that his soldier and midsection had been wrapped, but at the edges near his armpit, Sesshomaru could see a slightly raised area of skin that seemed to pus underneath. This had been what he had smelled. Kohaku had been burned.
"Strange seeing you after all this time." Kohaku voiced, gaining Sesshomaru's emotionless stare.
"I have need of your services." Kohaku raised a brow at Sesshomaru's straightforward answer.
"Well, I should have guessed that time wouldn't change you. Afterall the flow of time is different for humans. Twenty five years to humans must seem like mere days to you." Kohaku smirked at his own words, Sesshomaru sat un humored at his attempt.
"Chiyoko and Tomoko." Sesshomaru stated. Kohaku's features slightly changed, taking on a more serious nature.
"What business do you have with them?" Kohaku asked putting up his guard only slightly.
"I need you to arrange a meeting with them, presumably one that doesn't involve a fight to their death." A snort sounded from behind Sesshomaru. The man that had attempted to fight him was a few steps back. Sesshomaru had kept his senses honed in on the man's movements as he initiated his talk with Kohaku.
"This demon presumes he can beat those two in battle?" Another snort escaped from the man as a bout of laughter began. Sesshomaru resumed his stony expression, ignoring the incoherent sounds that escaped the man behind him. It would only further Sesshomaru's irritation if he gave into the man's attempted insult.
Kohaku raised his hand toward the man and narrowed his eyes once more as if to halt him, gaining instant silence from the previous bellows that had come from behind Sesshomaru.
"I'm not sure why you would want to gain their audience, but I doubt Chiyoko would ever agree to such a meeting." Kohaku stated.
"Then arrange a meeting with Tomoko." Sesshomaru voiced. Kohaku studied Sesshomaru's features for a while, and then began his interrogation.
"What does this meeting pertain to?" Kohaku asked.
Sesshomaru thought of a way to answer. How would he break the news about Rin? He still wasn't comfortable reflecting on the matter himself. Each time he thought of the innocence that was lost that day, an innocence that made him view the world a bit differently than he had in his younger days, something inside of him seemingly faltered. He would lose control of his demeanor. He would reveal too many of his weaknesses and that wasn't something he liked to do, especially in the presence of others.
Sesshomaru had assumed that he would just find the slayer and demand his help. It was Sesshomaru who had taken the slayer under his care for a while in an attempt to keep him from Naraku's grasp when he had just been a kid. As far as Sesshomaru was convinced, Kohaku owed him this with no questions asked.
"Consider this a request for a debt that is unpaid." He narrowed his own eyes toward the curious Kohaku.
"You'll get your answers once we return to your sister's village." Sesshomaru turned to walk away but was halted.
"Is this about Rin?" Sesshomaru didn't know how to answer that question. He didn't want to answer any questions. It wasn't his way. He was a fight first ask questions if they survived kind of person. Or atleast, that's who he used to be. That's who he had tried so hard to become once more, but had failed in each attempt imagining Rin's sad gaze over and over.
"Her daughter is in danger." Sesshomaru didn't have to reveal anything, he simply wanted the urgency of the matter to already be apparent. He wasn't one for talking, but if it came down to it, he would. He knew deep down his stoic ways weren't always successful, and his stubbornness wasn't always greeted with compliance. This wasn't something he wanted to do, but if talking was the only way to convince the man without having to drag him back fighting with tooth and nail the whole way then so be it.
Sesshomaru watched as Kohaku's dawning expression turned to one of contemplation.
"What kind of danger?" Kohaku continued, breaking the silence and glancing down toward the town center to make sure no one had taken notice.
"I'm sure you are aware of who Yakunan is." Kohaku nodded quickly, his features darkening a bit at the mention of the feared and hated demon.
"He's put some kind of mark on her, one that could prove fatal over time. I intend to figure out a way to remove it." Kohaku's face slightly paled at the mention of a mark. Sesshomaru noted the sharp intake of breath behind him. Sesshomaru was almost sure in that moment that both men knew what kind of mark it was, and the dark abilities that were exhibited alongside its presence. They were both demon slayers after all, and it was their job to know anything and everything about the demons they sought to slay. His guess that was these two had done their research on the Notorious Jiaolong, or Yakunan, and he wanted to find out what they knew.
"We'll go, but we have something to finish here." Kohaku stated with determination.
"I promised these people I would clear out the cave at the top of the ridge. It seems there are some Goblins using the village as target practice for their fire magics." Without a word, Sesshomaru took to the sky and headed for the direction in which Kohaku had pointed. He would take care of this quickly.
~Ameki~
Yuuto walked Ameki back to Kagome's hut. The Dinner he had prepared was only partially the reason that Ameki held such a huge smile on her face. Yuuto's mother, Nagumi, had parted with a few embarrassing stories centered around the young Yuuto. With as innocent as the stories were, Yuuto still held a crimson effect to his face for the remainder of the evening. Yuuto held some of the leftovers he had prepared for Ameki upon their departure. Ameki really liked spending time with him and his mother. There was never a moment where awkward silence filled the small room, no uncomfortable prodding about her past life and she was made feel welcome. Talking to Nagumi had almost come as naturally as if she were talking to her own mother. It was an evening she had dearly needed and she was sad knowing it would end.
Their stride slowed the closer they came to the illuminated hut. Their laughter filled the silence of the lengthy walk back toward the shrine from Yuuto's house. He continually tried to convince her that most of the stories his mother had told were embellished for humoring effect. He explained that Nagumi had always enjoyed making people laugh, sometimes at his expense. Ameki figured that some of the details were skewed for comical effect, especially the story where Yuuto's eyes supposedly grew three sizes upon entering a fitting room filled with females in the town market. Nagumi had said he was only in his eleventh year when that happened.
Yuuto stopped a few yards from the hut, and caught Ameki's sleeve with his free hand halting her as well. She turned towards him and stared up into his curious eyes.
"Did you have fun this evening?" Ameki beamed at his question.
"I had fun most of the day." The question seemed to disappear from his eyes once he had his answer.
"You can definitely fish that's for sure. I don't think I've ever carried a stringer that full before." He chuckled making Ameki slightly blush.
"I used to catch fish with my mother. We didn't use poles though. We just, well you seen me in the beginning." She laughed slightly, noticing the sudden change in Yuuto's features.
"I really did enjoy today Ameki. It was nice spending time with you." He gave her a warm smile and slightly shifted his his position closer. Ameki took notice instantly, everything in her body pleaded with her to move away, but she didn't. He gazed down at her with a slight blush brushing the surface of his cheeks.
Ameki's pulse slightly hastened and she slightly closed her eyes, afraid of what was about to happen. She didn't want to hurt his feelings by pulling away, but she would be placing herself in a situation that caused her discomfort if she didn't. She felt him move closer, she clenched her eyes shut for a moment. She thought of the one thing that seemingly brought her comfort. Lord Sesshomaru.
She felt a hand ruffle the top of her head.
"We'll have to do it again sometime." She opened her eyes to see Yuuto's playfully mischievous grin. Ameki realized that she had been holding her breath, and exhaled. He hadn't kissed her thankfully. The tension that had built up in her shoulder's released and Ameki's relief helped her maintain her posture. She actually felt kind of embarrassed for assuming that Yuuto would try and kiss her. Afterall, even if he had courting on his mind it would be way too soon for that kind of contact. Ameki's heartbeat was thrumming strongly in her chest. Her features were no doubt as red as Yuuto's had been for the most part of the evening.
Yuuto walked her to the door and said good night, handing her the wrapped leftovers and turning around. Ameki sat in the doorway for a moment, staring at the crescent moon that hung low in the sky. Her cheeks radiated with heat, but for another reason as well. Long after Yuuto's silhouette disappeared below the hill Ameki's mind still wondered to where her thoughts had led in the moment she thought Yuuto would try and kiss her. As she had clenched her eyelids shut and tried to think of calming things, her mind had been curious. Curious as to how the kiss would feel on her lips, curious as to how the sensation would feel as the soft flesh met more soft flesh. The soft flesh she had imagine though had not been Yuuto's. It had been the flesh that adorned the same beautiful crescent that lingered in the night sky.
She imagined that the lips she had anticipated were Sesshomaru's.