Chapter 10
Sango walked briskly towards his office, Sesshomaru right behind her. He noted that she was walking unusually fast for a human. He couldn't figure out what exactly had set her on edge. Sango had been a member of his palace since she was born and never once had he seen her so shaken.
Once in the room, she closed the door fluidly and whipped around. Sesshomaru waited patiently, leaning against a bookshelf.
"I don't know where to start, really," Sango confessed, wringing her hands. "It was just so-so-oh, I can't even begin to explain!"
"Then start at the beginning," Sesshomaru urged, wanting to know what had happened.
"Well, okay then. So I was flying to the village, on Kirara, of course because you know I can't fly. But anyway, she was acting strange, making yowling noises. I thought nothing of it; maybe she had sensed another neko yokai, that's what I thought. I didn't prepare me for what I saw."
Sango stopped, taking a deep breath. Sesshomaru noted that Sango seemed to be crying, which alarmed him.
"Oh kami, Sesshomaru-sama, it was horrible! I only know that when I got there it was too late, it must have happened days ago."
"What, Sango? What happened?"
"They were all dead, just lying there," Sango whispered her voice hoarse.
"Who?" Sesshomaru asked.
"The Taijiya." Sesshomaru stood, stunned. How could anyone or anything wipe out an entire village? Of Taijiyas no less!
"It was a yokai attack, I knew that for sure the way some of the bodies were shredded," Sango explained. "These people were in pieces. The ground was a deep red; so much blood had soaked in. The Taijiya had gone out to protect the village and they were all strewn out in front of the gate. Inside was the real massacre. Every man, woman, and child had been killed, without thought."
"You sure there were no survivors?" Sesshomaru questioned, wanting to be sure.
Sango shook her head. "I doubt it. If anyone got away, it would have to be one of the regular villagers. It was obvious few, if any, survived. There had been no attempt of burial. I called out to see if anyone was alive, but the entire area was empty. The only breathing bodies were of Kirara and me."
Sesshomaru stood, pondering. How could an entire village, trained to kill yokai, be so easily slaughtered by one? "Was there a motive?"
Sango shrugged, trying to push the images from the village to the pack of her mind. "Probably just a vengeful yokai, set out to kill those who sought to kill them."
"Not even a soul," Sesshomaru thought aloud.
Sango nodded, hanging her head. "I request some rest time, Sesshomaru-sama, if you don't mind," Sango asked. "I can't get their blank eyes or that poor little child out of my mind."
"Of course," Sesshomaru agreed. "Take all the time you need."
Sango left the room in a daze, and Sesshomaru seated himself at his desk. Who could have done it? Killing all of them so quickly?
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Inuyasha sat on a comfortable bench in an open room, tossing an apple back and forth in his palm.
"I haven't seen him since dinner," Inuyasha growled. "Bastard hasn't left his study."
Miroku sighed, leaning heavily on the wall. "Sango has denied me entrance to her quarters. Even Kagome-san cannot see her."
Kagome nodded, seated close to Inuyasha. "But I could hear her crying. I hadn't seen her cry since Kohaku left to pursue another career."
Everyone gave a deep sigh, remembering the day that Kohaku left the palace to become a farmer. Sango hadn't been the same for weeks.
"What do you think it was?" Miroku pondered aloud. Kagome gave great interest to the ceiling and Inuyasha simply shrugged.
"I dunno," Inuyasha sighed, aggravated. "I want to know, but both Sango and Sesshomaru are scary people to talk to."
Miroku and Kagome gave Inuyasha a strange look. "You are scared of Sango?" Kagome tried to clarify.
Inuyasha glared at her. "I am not scared of Sango. I am only hesitant to associate with her when she is in an unstable emotional state, that's all."
Kagome blinked. "That was quite an expansive knowledge of words you just showed."
Inuyasha growled, throwing the apple at a laughing Miroku. "Seriously! This is why I don't try to sound smart! Keh!"
"That's more like it. Keh and curse words, Inuyasha. Don't change the status quo." Miroku warned good-naturedly.
Inuyasha growled again as Miroku and Kagome burst into laughter. Inuyasha felt the need to defend himself, but the lighter mood of his friends had changed his mind. Instead, he joined in on their laughter, feeling a tiny bit better.
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Mitsuhime heard the laughter floating through the hallway. It was distant, but it gave her the courage to go and talk to Sango.
She navigated herself down the halls, only vaguely sure of where Sango resided. She gave a frustrated sigh. Shippo didn't give the best directions.
She ran down a deserted hall, skidding to a stop when she heard quiet sobs. Yes! She mentally cheered. I found it!
The cries came from a door a little while back, and Mitsuhime quietly crept up to the door. Taking a large breath, she gave a small knock.
"Miroku, I'm serious! Don't make me send out Kirara and-" A hoarse voice called out angrily.
"It's not Miroku," Mitsuhime interrupted. "It's me, Mitsuhime."
"Oh. Mitsuhime, I don't really want company."
"I guessed as much. I just wanted to see if you were okay and to tell you that if you need me, I am willing to lend a shoulder or ear. Or both, if that's what you need."
Mitsuhime turned to leave, but stopped when she heard the door open slightly. She could only see a sliver of Sango.
"Thank you, Mitsuhime," Sango murmured. "I hope to see you in the dojo tomorrow?"
Mitsuhime smiled and nodded. "Of course, Sango-san. I will be there."
Sango then closed the door and all was quiet. Mitsuhime gave a quick departure, zooming back to her position in the kitchen. Ayame was never happy when Mitsuhime disappeared to unknown places.
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Not even a second after Mitsuhime stepped through the door, she was bombarded by questions.
"Is she okay?"
"Did she tell you anything?"
"Sango will be out tomorrow, right?"
"What had gotten her so upset?"
Mitsuhime held up a hand, silencing Ayame and Shippo. I guess Shippo told her where I went, Mitsuhime thought dryly as she looked at Ayame and Shippo's hopeful expressions.
"Yes, she is okay. No, she did not say a thing. Yes, Sango will be out tomorrow. No, again, she told me not a word about what happened." Mitsuhime answered.
Shippo leaned back, happy that his questions were responded with the answer he hoped for. Ayame, on the other hand, wasn't happy at all.
"You left your post and you came back with nothing? What am I to tell the rest?" Ayame shrieked, throwing her hands up in the air. "The whole palace knows that Sango was freaked by something and you have nothing?"
Mitsuhime rolled her eyes. "Sango didn't want to talk about it. I'm sure that if it be necessary, we will hear of what happened."
Ayame stomped her foot in a childish manner. Mitsuhime raised an eyebrow at her actions. "Kami, I want to know! I have never seen Sango so distressed, well, not since Kohaku."
That caught Mitsuhime's attention. "Who's Kohaku?" Mitsuhime nearly demanded.
"Sango's younger brother. He left the palace to become a farmer, I think it was. Sango's family for generations had served under the Inu no Taisho king as assassins. Sango was heartbroken at his decision to pursue another path, but she respected it. Kohaku was too soft to become an assassin."
Ayame nodded at Shippo's explanation. "Yes, he wasn't tough enough to kill anyone or anything. He was…too kind. I never considered him soft."
Mitsuhime smiled to herself. Sango was such a kind person, and apparently a loving older sister. Mitsuhime was reminded of when Morinoko accepted her; Morinoko's older brother began to tolerate Mitsuhime. He was a good brother too, Mitsuhime remembered, always watching out for Morinoko.
Ayame turned back to her food, still angry from the lack of information. Mitsuhime, currently unoccupied, helped Shippo with the dished. Without realizing it, Mitsuhime had created herself another home, another family. She just didn't realize it herself.
End of Chapter 10
