So I finished school! Now I'm off to go back abroad! Which means more writing and travel! And stories! Be sure to visit my profile for information and my website for details.
Anyways, my ass is stuck watching the Badlands until the Walking Dead comes on. Its pissing me off. He dont want his baby? Like really dude? I need to find a show that doesn't require group therapy. Any shows?
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Chapter 12: Growing Pains
Ororo walked down the long dimly lit hallway following after Sesshomaru briskly with her weapons at the ready. Her white night gown dragged at her feet while shadows danced along the western corridor as they approached his study. She halted as his aura pulsed and the doors to his office slid open allowing him entry. Her body was tense unsure of what exactly angered him in such a way that hostility dripped like poison from his pores. Her weapon was at her side clutched tightly in her hand on edge. Walking further in the room she took note of its emptiness confusing her a bit. She turned quickly hearing the doors close behind her unsure of where the threat was. Stretching her aura she realized they were indeed alone and the danger was not foreign to her. She turned with her weapon raised to see Sesshomaru move towards his desk. Sesshomaru reached for a letter tucked in a compartment in his chamber and turned offering it to her with a sharp gaze. Ororo slowly put her weapon back into its compartment before taking the letter. Her body moved under the candle light of the room towards a seat for comfort. She unfolded the letter curiously while watching him stand in front of his window glaring out into the night.
Ororo settled stiffly down onto a floor cushion to read the contents in front of her. Her blues eyes darkened upon each character written boldly before her eyes. She was a bit slow in translating and a few words she didn't quite understand. Sesshomaru turned around to look at her watching her intense concentration and seeing her lips move. A language he didn't recognize was mumbled tartly before she folded the paper and sat a bit straighter on her hind legs on the cushion. Her chin lifted daringly in his direction. The firelight from the candles danced along her bronze body and illuminated her strong collar bone and the soft swell of her breasts.
"The priests have taken on the offense and have attacked a demonic village nearby. They make claims of purification of the land. Fallout has begun. I will investigate this tomorrow. But something else pains you." She questioned looking at him knowingly. Her legs crossed and she eyed him like a hawk. His dominant energy was palpable in the atmosphere. Sesshomaru's demonic aura dragged sharp claws dangerously on the surface of her skin. Goosebumps arose on her flesh and shiver rocked her spine. Her own aura pushed back a bit weary of the threatening strength he displayed. She waved the paper he gave in her hands and placed it in her lap gently. "This does not cause you anguish."
Sesshomaru eyed her cuttingly as she lifted her head higher with her mouth in a solemn slant. He watched her palms open in silent demand of the truth. She stared up at him with expectant cool eyes reflecting his raging amber ones. He looked her over as the candlelight danced off of her skin and white snowy hair. The thing that weighed heavy rested in the pocket of his hirori. Upon his arrival he was immediately notified by his General of the delivery. After seeing it for himself he wanted nothing more than to kill the ones responsible and start fresh. His eyes continued to take her in feeling challenged that she would make demands of him. Ororo did not back down and simply waited staring him straight into his eyes making no move to flee from his boiling rage. Slowly his clawed fingers dug into the pocket of his hirori and he pulled out a letter. Her soft hands brushed his and took it noting the folded creases and a salamander crest sealed in blue candle wax on the back that was broken. She opened it quickly looking at him analytically. He watched carefully as her eyes narrowed and her lip went into a straight line. More unknown words came forth before she folded the letter back up and handing it back to him. He took it and she waved her hand of it.
"So your supposed ruling allies wish to consult you about the attack on the borders where you share land space. Also, I do see war with humans mentioned but unfortunately Japanese grammar and I have yet to come to reason." She spoke waiting for further clarification.
Sesshomaru took the note and placed it on his desk for later review with his advisors. Ororo took note of the subtleties in his muscles and the twitch of his fingers. She forgot a small detail that massages were a great way to learn of how someone dealt with anxiety and stress. Her fingers prodded his hands so she knew where the stress settled in him and thus where the muscles tensed. Sesshomaru never revealed to her or anyone how he felt about something she noticed. However, after traveling with him and paying attention to even the tiniest of behavioral conducts, she could tell by now when something agitated him. She had learned to be very attentive to these things especially growing up in an environment where instinct ruled supreme. His aura was growing aggressively and her eyes widened a bit from the possible danger unsure of dog demon calming techniques. Her own mind spiraled calculating and grasping for further information that she may haven't read between the lines.
"If you do not wage war with them then these kings suspect you of these crimes or for siding with the humans." She restated watching his reactions carefully. Nothing was out of the norm but she could feel his temper stirring. "And they wish to rage war on the humans believing them to be responsible. They want to eradicate all the humans." She brushed her nightgown off leisurely. "This is genocide you do know this." She stated looking to him intensely. "It is one thing to kill people that have caused you ill will. It is another to attack innocents and wipe an entire race. Are you ready for such a burden on your conscious?"
He remained silent. "I will do what is necessary."
Ororo slowly nodded not liking the answer. She thought over her own history and her ruling father before her. Her memory searched thinking of anything useful that could aid her new ally in his plight. She looked to the Inu youkai knowing how very stubborn the Lord was and she didn't doubt that he would do what he felt needed to be done without regrets. She also had learned from her own interaction with him that he was not one to be manipulated or forced to do anything he didn't want. But, his callousness for humans and others was something fierce. Her heart did beat twice at the mention of a few that she knew would suffer if such things were to happen. Her mind also thought of his extended family. This would affect them too. This won't do. She thought not realizing the dark scowl that formed on her face was present.
Sesshomaru saw her reaction noticing concern before concentration set in. Of course this was not her land or her people so her concern was unwarranted. He took in deep breaths as instinct roared in his ears to just be rid of all that stepped in his way. He certainly didn't care about the other Lords then and he certainly didn't now. The desire for the smell of copper and death became appealing the longer he thought of this.
Ororo stood suddenly running her hands through her long snowy hair roughly and shaking it feeling it fall down her back. "I will admit, this will put you and I at odds should you agree with them." She stated bluntly looking to him with sincerity. "And I do not wish for this. So now you have four problems. You have this conjurer we both are searching for, you have the threat in your home, the kings who wish to rage war, and the humans who I imagine aren't going to take this sitting down. Despite your thoughts on humans, they are very crafty when pushed."
"You think the humans would be so intelligent." He stated coldly stepping towards her dangerously getting the hint that she too would be an additional challenge.
She smiled perceptively. "I don't think…I know. I have seen it. They will come and you will have something far more dangerous on your hands." Ororo looked at him with her thoughts running and thinking of a few wars where she encountered new inventions. Even in the ranks of her army in Egypt filled with a mixture of species designed weapons of destruction. The point remained regardless however if he chose to address the kings or the humans. They needed to find who was responsible and fast before nothing of Japan could be salvaged. Then she would be forced to contemplate genocide of the entire island. She flicked her hair behind her ear and frowned at the thought. "I must go for a walk. This needs much thought." She stated before turning towards the door. Her gown fluttered about her as she turned briskly.
"Not in this manner." He stated stepping forward her threateningly.
His guttural voice captured her attention. She turned back to him and held out her hand. "Then walk with me and ease our minds." She countered with a solution. "But, I need to think of strategic approaches for you to manage these matters. There are many things that leave me disturbed greatly."
He moved in front of her scowling. "This is not of your concern."
Her eyes cut into him sharp as knives upon hearing the end of his statement. Like hard blue diamonds, her eyes shined at his audacity to say such things to her. Static arose and the hairs on her own arms began standing. Candle lights flickered along the wall catching the charge in the oxygen. She strolled closer to him picking up her dress and moving the hem out of her way with a flick of her wrist. Her eyes met his. "I am in agreement now that if I am to find this foe, I am in need of your help because these are your lands and your people. Some of these people are ones that I have begun to care about including little Rin. These spineless sheep are adding to the danger by putting more people I care about in harm's way with their stupidity. These…false Kings take away your attentions from my problem which is of the highest importance. And their foolishness threatens possibly the safety of my people in the long term. Thus this is of my concern and I will be equally as involved in this until the dangers are removed." She stated bluntly before turning towards the door flicking her long hair behind her.
The threat hung in the air and bounced between them in deadly waves. Her scent spiked with spicy undertones over her natural honey comb aroma. He flashed in front of her staring into her eyes as she stood tall against him. Ororo immediately backed away with wide eyes caught off guard by his sudden appearance and speed. However her index finger was out ready should he take his frustration out on her. She stood her ground as he lowered his head a bit feeling the painful stings of her energy along his pale skin. Her power felt like hundreds of needles waiting to dive into his flesh and heat his body with the intensity of the sun's rays.
"Be still." He growled out with eyes darkening around the rims of his pupil.
Ororo's readied retort went dry and was swallowed by the base in his command. She looked gapingly as he walked behind her towards an area to the side of his desk. Shock turned into curiosity as he bent down towards a wooden chest and lifted a thick looking black fabric out of it. He straightened it pulling out what looked to be sleeves. A black hirori was shown to her big enough to cover his frame. The energy she conjured began to dissipate. She watched him walk purposely towards her body and place the top around her shoulders harshly jerking it around her to cover her body forcefully. She grinned and rolled her eyes at his abhorrence for her contempt of public display of her body. His fingers came to the front and slowly pulled the two sides together leaving the sleeves to hang down her side. Her breath hitched a little feeling his finger lightly brush against the swell of her chest. She stared into his bright hardened eyes as he went on securing her modesty and honor. She smirked wondering if his reaction would be of pure horrification if he saw how she normally dressed back in Egypt. He would surely be gauging the eyes with his nails of all the men who dared to look and the women would be covered completely despite the harsh weather of the desert. Slowly he came to her side walking past her towards the door. His clawed grip slid open the shoji doors rather forcefully and guided her out of his study. She wasn't sure if she should follow him or not until he stopped to lift his eye brow in question at her. Ororo tucked her bag around her securely. She smiled and walked alongside of him following the path down the stairs and towards a mud room. He pointed to a pair of slippers and she placed them quickly on her bare feet. Moving to his side he motioned for her to step through the entry way out onto the path that would lead to his gardens.
Her feet were silent on the cobble path that spiraled down a hill and towards a maze of bushes, colorful summer flowers, and twisting trees well-manicured. The night was dark with the moon further away from the middle than she expected. The cicadas were loud and the sound of an owl hooting its observances was in the distance. The wind blew grabbing onto stray leaves and taking them with it for a dance. Ororo looked up noting the many stars clearly out and shining brightly through the heavens. She took note that fall would soon be upon them by looking at the constellations. Her eyes traveled over to Lord Sesshomaru feeling his aura calm a bit from his previous raging storm of ire. "Many kings did these things to relax before making decisions. The night in my culture means the ending of something and come first light is a sign of rebirth." She eased. "Maybe it is your temperament that has died and come morning mine will rise." She joked looking up at the stoic Lord who continued forward with his mind in the throes of a war of his own.
She slowed a little thinking of her questions hoping maybe that adding voice to them would help him sort through everything as well as understand her own part to be played. "I must ask, are you prepared for war?"
"Always." He answered without hesitation.
She nodded a little doubtfully seeing as his own advisers and generals couldn't handle his lands while he was away. "I wouldn't be so sure."
"You doubt me." He stated taking her words to offense. His feet stopped along the path to look at her. The wind caught her hair and gently lifted it because it was apparently too heavy to be taken so easily.
"I fear you have been gone for far too long." She stated catching his attention as he turned fully to her with a deadly gleam in his eye. She stopped walking among a small patch of lilacs near a white lily pond refusing to show fear over something that needed to be said. "Whoever you left in charge during your previous great battle with miasma conjurer caused things to fall to ruin. Your General had that responsibility do not lie!" She stressed pointing at his chest.
"You doubt my own advisors?" He asked curiously having never questioned them before. Their fear perfumed the air the every time his boots hit the stone floors of his palace. They wouldn't dare defy him. Their lives meant little to him and they knew it. Maybe except, for one of his advisors who he had known since he was a pup. His eyes searched hers seeing truth and knowledge reflect.
"I speak from experience. I have been betrayed by my own advisors because they thought me weak because of my gender. Behind my back they issued commands that I didn't give. And so when I caught them in the act I showed them what they wanted so desperately to prove wrong and weak about me. I severed all their heads in front of the entire city of Cairo and had their bodies dragged up the Nile River from the bottom of my lands to the tip and around as a warning to all that defy me. Then I had what was left of their bodies impaled along the desert for them to rot and for nature to handle." She stated coldly lost in the memory of the act. Her fist tightened at the harsh time in her life. She lived beautifully with very little dark moments. But she had learned young that ruling wasn't something to be taken lightly especially, for a woman surrounded by powerful men. She blinked out of her lessons and looked into Sesshomaru's golden orbs. "What I'm saying is it doesn't hurt to check thoroughly." She spoke softly before moving again leaving him standing behind her.
"Think about it. Who was appointed to watch your lands and your people?" She asked an open ended question. "Shouldn't they have told you of such occurrences prior to this climax? I have no doubt you would have ended it and I wouldn't be here now." She rationalized walking casually now in deep thought. "Maybe two of your problems can be found in your household?" She asked looking to him as he contemplated these things.
Sesshomaru did think about it before. In fact his instincts were adamant about protecting Rin which is why he sent her to Kaede's under the ruse of him wishing for her to spend time with the humans. He most certainly did not enjoy the stench of humans that barely bathed except for his extended pack mates who managed to practice excellent hygiene. If his palace was safe for his Rin he would certainly have Rin stay and focus on her studies as she should have been doing from the beginning. He felt in his bones his palace wasn't safe. These sort of things did not sit well with instinct especially for a foe to be so close to one's den. So he sent Rin to the only place he knew without a doubt she would be nurtured like a proper pack pup and that was within the pack itself. Somehow, he and his brother came to a silent agreement and a truce was given. Then a foundation of trust and respect had grown. He wouldn't tell the ingrate out loud but he did hold Inuyasha of higher value than any other especially after the Halfling proved his worth of their father's blood by not just defeating a formidable foe but fighting for and protecting what he had earned and created. That above all proved real strength and honor to Sesshomaru. Even his annoying mate managed to glue herself in the foundation of his extended pack. But, every time he came to visit Rin, he found she was fed, happy, and laughed often alongside of the woman. And who better than to leave Rin in the hands of? He had killed a few people suspected of betrayal but he had yet to quiet the warning in his sensitive ears that his enemy was lurking still in his halls.
Ororo continued walking enjoying the silence. It meant he was thinking of her words and it must have led him somewhere. She frowned knowing this was not something to take lightly. To question your own would mean the breaking of trust on both sides should he be wrong and accuse falsely.
"You are not crossed by these troubles."
She looked up at him continuing on the path. "No. I trust your instincts and your lethality. I have no doubt that you will face your foes. However, time is a trouble of mine." Her eyes darted to a few trees enjoying the twisted century old barks that smelt of astuteness. "I trust you will kill at the right time. I fear that our foes know of this ability and so they wish to dance around you." She bit her bottom lip in contemplation. "I have been a part of many battles. Usually an enemy in hiding is searching for something or building his power. I can easily find whoever it is in your house that is deceitful but I need you to find whoever it is out there that is as well. Maybe it is time to build my own army just in case." She spoke listening to the advice of the wind in her ears.
He stopped at this making her stop as well. "You bring an army?" He hadn't sensed nor seen anyone accompany her throughout their travels. Clearly this must be false.
She looked at him with a readiness about her. "Of course! I didn't come here empty handed. What kind of ruler would I be?" She scoffed. "I have an army ready at any moment's notice to start war on these lands. I do not like being tested or having my time wasted. And if I must cut through and conquer these foolish kings lands under the name of Egypt then so be it. I suppose there will be two great lands of the Pharaohs." She spoke walking forward again.
"Hn." He grinned at her confidence. "You speak so highly of your skills."
"I know what I am capable of and I know I am dealing with people who are so afraid they must write you letters of engagement seeking your help but threaten you if you don't give it. Like children." She nearly growled. "So pathetic really. Had they have done such a thing during my father's reign. They would all be beheaded on sight and his army would have taken everything for Egypt. Or maybe he would have found them to be so weak as a people that he would barter them off to Sparta for olives just to get rid of the burden of feeble minds." Her eyes caught sight of a bench and she moved to sit down on it. Another water pond with koi swam around in circles happily. Ororo slipped off her shoes and dipped her feet into the cool water enjoying the sensation.
Sesshomaru thought on this slightly amazed at the workings of her mind and strength. He didn't quite know what country Sparta was known for but clearly the land proved to be a better choice than the Japanese Lords he was to meet with. He felt nothing boastful about her statement. She spoke purely as if she was stating facts. He did agree with her regarding the Lords and he had no intention at all to join them in their little rabbit hunt. Their act of war meant little to him. But, the others were weak and would prey on the innocent just to fulfill their own fears. His eyes looked to the moon in need to slaughter and take care of his home the way he wanted in the Inu way. His mind ran through options and everything fell in agreement.
Ororo felt his aura spike and swiftly turned to him. She knew the feeling well having felt it from her father a few times during his bouts of anguish and murder. She tugged the shirt he had given around her closely enjoying the scent of autumn that was embedded in the threads. "I sense you will be leaving me shortly. Do not fret. I will find the loose ends in your home come first light. You focus on finding us a heading and confronting these children however you see fit." She spoke standing and moving to begin the trek back to the entrance from which they had come. "Now go and release your anguish justly." She encouraged.
"You would advise me to go out and kill under instinct?" He asked mockingly with a crooked smile filled with mirth and deadly intent. Power surged around him and she turned to face him with one of her own.
She couldn't deny his raw demonic power was enticing as it thickened the air around her. Ororo sauntered up to him breathing in his scent and feeling the danger there before her. She felt a bit daring that night and attracted to his ways. Her fingers arose upwards and danced a hair shy away from his face neither touching but giving the imprint. She watched amused as he did not try to stop her. She traced the crescent moon on his forehead and hummed wishing to touch his skin but knowing that such a thing even among her people, was a given privilege and she would respect that. So instead she settled for brushing the edges of his hair and hovering along the jaws of his face.
"I do not believe in genocide of any kind Lord Sesshomaru. But a massacre…that's something completely different and I wouldn't contest if you found a few troublemakers to set as an example. They chose their fate after all by following a dark path." She spoke moving away from him slowly but allowed her finger to linger brushing gently under his strong chin. She bit her lip watching his eyes change and heat. Her finger pulled back as she turned to walk away from him back towards his castle. "I'll be on your study reading as much as I can tonight. Good night, my Lord."
Sesshomaru stood in silence watching her walk up the path back to the entrance. She looked back to him before brushing all of her hair to one side of her face and pulling it over her shoulder. Despite his hirori draping her shoulders, he could still see her curvy silhouette as she walked and disappeared from sight. He looked up to the stars before he quickly made his way to his quarters. Sesshomaru walked inside to his armory and began putting on his battle breastplate and preparing his swords for battle. Afterwards, he walked to the front entrance of his palace passing by many curious and fearful expressions. Once he was outside and at a good distance away, he raced off to kill but for an entirely different reason. Trees whistled calling him. His body shifted and transformed wrapped in powerful winds and blinding light. His fur glowed under the moon light and his eyes bled red for all to see. Heavy white paws pounded the skies while he hunted for his victims and began the first phase of cleanup. Already the fear of his own soldiers and shoguns floated on the wind and his aura crashed stifling among everyone in his immediate territory. He stood on a hill and roared his creed and let it be known that tonight traitors will cease to exist on his lands. His nose caught the stench of trouble and with a smile his claws flexed in the soil of the earth. Canines lengthened from the pink gums of his jaws in anticipation of the flesh he was about to rip from the bones of those that he would condemn.
