Chapter 14 A Challenge from a Beauty
The feeling is fading but Aya can tell Sesshoumaru is on the move again. For five minutes she digs the stone into her palm until she can safely assume that the taiyoukai has gotten her message. She could not do it too much more for the self induced wound is bleeding considerably. The scent of her blood would not alert Toshiko as there is quite a bit dried to her skin already. However, the new stain on her clothes would be something else.
What she needed next was a big enough distraction so she can slink over to Toshiko's dragon clawed staff that she had lying beside a large flat boulder, and cut the ropes binding her. Dragon claws can cut through youkai rope like butter. The problem is that Toshiko is sitting on said boulder. She would blast some purifying energy at her but the these particular ropes prevented that. Aya figures when Sesshoumaru finds this place, he'll be a big enough distraction for Toshiko.
Aya did not expect and nor did Toshiko, the saucy voice of Kagura the wind sorceress. "Hey hanyou! Let me in. I have business to discuss with you." Toshiko leaves her perch to just on the other side of the barrier from Kagura. Aya can't see her for she is sitting in a small alcove. The staff is in view of Kagura unfortunately. She would have to be fast about it.
"Kagura, whatever needs to be said can be said through the barrier." Toshiko replies.
'Now or never.' Aya teeters onto her soles of her feet, lunging towards the abandoned weapon. With one swing her wrists are cut free. Toshiko turns and pounces back to her rock, furious. Aya grabs the staff and swings it at the hanyou's feet. Toshiko hops out of its reach providing Aya that extra second to cut the binding at her feet. Toshiko tries to invade her mind but Aya is ready this time applying shear determination to her mental barrier.
"Are you having problems in there?" Kagura asks more curious than concerned.
The neko hanyou hisses and lunges with claws out at Aya who is still lying on her side. She rolls out of the way. She manages to get to her feet and evade a second deadly pounce. As she heads towards the entrance Aya charges the staff with miko energy. Unfortunately the extra second needed to do so gives Toshiko the opportunity to slice at Aya's face. She yelps and barely blocks the other hand of daggers. She then bashes the broad side of the electrified staff into Toshiko's right arm causing her to yelp this time and to step back a pace.
The pair stalks each other in slow circular path.
"Toshiko, I don't want to hurt you!" Aya cries.
Toshiko eyes the small wood doll holding the barrier up near her feet. "Too bad, because I want to hurt you!" smashing the doll with a clawed foot, obliterating the barrier and letting in the wind witch to help her.
The problem with that plan is that Kagura is already preoccupied fighting off her own adversary.
"Sesshoumaru!" The sudden burst of his aura by the lack of a barrier caught Aya by surprise and she nearly misses blocking the hanyou's fists. Before Toshiko goes in for the attack again Aya, with a great yell, swings the blunt end of the staff with all her might into the chest of her half sister. The force knocks her back quite startled. Something glints in the morning sunlight as it tumbles out of the hanyou's badly burned chest. Instinctively Aya clasps it in mid air while Toshiko's eyes widen in horror. Immediately she's frozen in panic, not sure what to do.
Sesshoumaru having missed the wind sorceress with his whip for a twelfth time sees her escape on her feather. Uninterested in following her he turns his attention to Aya who is now easily obtainable without a barrier between them. At the sight of the youkai lord the cat hanyou scampers away in terror. With a growl he makes to follow her and end her life for taking what is his when Aya looses hold of the staff she held and takes hold of his arm. "No! Don't kill her! She's simply misguided and grief stricken!" Her voice pleads with him. Her fingers dig into him with surprising strength to hold him at bay. Bare feet drag into the rocky ground a foot. Her bright blue eyes bore into him willing him to understand; determined to see mercy for her half sister despite her ingrained hatred for Aya.
A wave of her compassion from her wedged fragment melts the anger out of him. The hard murderous glare softens to concern and he turns fully toward her. She eases her grip now knowing he is not going after Toshiko. Those concerning golden eyes trail over the deep scratches on her right cheek and nose. A clawed hand gently tilts her head to the side and before she knows it Sesshoumaru leans into her face to lick at her cuts. With his tongue! She's frozen wide eyed in astonishment. Her healing ability kicks in to heal her face. But for a full minute the taiyoukai softly cleans her face, and not only that his youki feathers around her trying to sooth her. Aya is just too wigged out to respond at all. His hot breath so near her face makes her own breath and heart beat faster.
Once his tongue feels only smooth skin and no more blood he pulls away. He looks at her feeling suddenly awkward then covers any visual slip with the usual stoic demeanor. Aya blinks slowly looking at a spike on his armor.
She shakes herself out of the weirdness and stares up at him seeing just his normal blank face and hard eyes.
"Oh ah, your swords. I'll go get them." She darts back in the cave and returns with them cradled carefully in her hands. He takes them back attaching them back to his obi. She stares down at the pink shard still in her hand then tightens a fist around it deciding to hold on to it.
"Come, your things are this way." She follows him a ways to a spot where he had stashed her bags.
She smiles. "You brought them with you. Thank you." Then gives in to her very tired and sleep deprived body slumping into the Western Lord not caring where she falls.
Sesshoumaru sighs, picks her and her things up, and heads for a more secure location. He finds a thick copse of trees on a high hill. He can hear the soft bubbling of a heated spring nearby. A cold creek flows hundreds of yards below them. Not baring to leave the miko out of his sight, he forgoes the tempting soothing waters of the spring to holding the woman in his arms for he noticed her shivering earlier, no doubt by the lack of fabric covering her. He tells himself the only reason he does so is to stave off any illness to Aya so there will be less delays in finding that gutless hanyou and ending his life. His tail folds over her to keep in more warmth.
Really, he should be doing this sort of protective measure for his mate Arisu, not for a human female. And another thing, what had gotten into him when he listened to her plea of mercy for that hanyou and then tended to her superficial wounds, in that manner, instinctively marking his scent on her. Clearly this bond is clouding his judgment.
He looks down on her softly breathing form snuggled close to his warm chest. 'Something forced her into that fire. It looked like she was being controlled. That black and grey cat must be working for Naraku for Kagura was seen with her, and she used that same masking trick as well and tried to steal my swords again. Why did Aya plead to spare her life? Is she not an enemy? Why did she take Aya though? What is she to Naraku? Could he possibly know of the bond? Impossible. If he did it would be far more logical to kill the weaker link, her, to get to me. And why my swords? No one can wield them but I. My spies did mention an up surge of weapon thefts and strange youkai behavior of late. Is Naraku behind all this?' Sesshoumaru's head throbs with questions. He should be off locating that scoundrel right now. Instead he is burning broad daylight coddling a sleeping miko. 'Perhaps it would have been more strategic to leave her at the castle. No, there is no one better to protect her than I.' The Lord of the West feels tired but knows any chance of a nap will evade him so he remains steadfast on guard for the day. The shard clutched in the miko's hand may attract unwelcome company. Even now he can feel the minute pull of power from it, although it will never tempt him. He saw the jewel as a cheat for those who used it to simply gain power. He has no respect for cheats. 'What will Aya do with it, I wonder? I cannot see her use it for her own gain. I believe she is better than that.'
xxxxx
"All right class; remember we have mid terms next week. Study hard this weekend. Class dismissed." The last instructor of the day announced. Kagome jerks up from her book.
'CRAP!' Kicking herself for forgetting something so important. 'I can't go back now! And even if I just slip back for the weekend I won't get any studying done. I just got caught up at school.' One of her friends shook her shoulder.
"Hey Kagome, Aren't you going to get up? School's over and its Friday."
"Oh, yeah just thinking." Getting up and collecting her things.
"Yeah you are. See ya!" her friend saunters out of the classroom. Kagome soon exits.
'Just one more week. Sorry guys. Sorry… Inuyasha. I can't. Hmm, he hasn't come get me once.' Her stomach twisting in worry. 'He's probably fine… and preoccupied.' The thought did not help the growing knot in the pit of her stomach as she walks home.
xxxxxx
Nearing dusk the miko paws and nuzzles at the end of his tail slowly coming back into the waking world. He stares at her indifferent when a slight wetness tingles the skin near the hairs' roots. He cocks his head and finds she is licking his tail. 'What is it with her affinity with this Sesshoumaru's tail?' He thought quite irked. Aya's eyes open then coughs. Her eyes lock on annoyed ones. Instantly her hands are up in surrender.
"I'm sorry Sesshoumaru! I, I can't be held responsible for what I do in a sleepy state! I mean Lord Sesshoumaru." His tail unravels from her.
"Aya, you need to bathe and change into something more befitting a miko." She looks down and sees how much of her skin is showing, in his lap.
"Oh!"
"And you dropped your shard," holding it out to her between a thumb and finger. She smiles weakly, grabbing the jewel fragment then slides out of his lap with as much dignity as she can muster. "There is a hot spring some distance away," pointing towards the north, slightly behind him.
"Right." She opens up her bag and deposits the shard into her coin pouch, then picks up the whole bag and walks to the bubbling pool about thirty yards in. With a few fingers she tests the water. Finding it satisfactory, she takes out a towel, her spare outfit, which is a solid green hoari with matching hakama, and rough soap. She looks behind her to see if the Lord is in sight. He isn't. She strips knowing that Sesshoumaru is honorable and will not look, not that he has any interest in seeing her puny human nakedness. She settles into the modest hot spring sighing all the way down to her chin. After a minute of blissful heat she dunks her head and proceeds to clean all parts dirty.
Not wanting to waste too much time she pulls out of the steamy water to sit on a flat rock at the rim of the spring. Her feet swish in the hot water. She grabs her pendant inspecting it for any damage or dirt. With her tip of the towel dipped in the water Aya wipes her prized possession. One only thing that's been with her since the beginning, since that lovely Christmas when her grandmother gave it to her when she was ten.
"Oh my Lord!" She exclaims then throws her head back and laughs. 'How did I not see that little detail? It's the same pendant from my former life! This necklace played a bigger part in this second life, and the kamis played a bigger part in Nobu's blunder than I estimated.' continuing to giggle as she puts on the mystical pendant.
She dries her hair and body. As she dons her kimono, she hears a faint splash down the hill. She hurries up getting dressed, collects her things, and goes back to the small clearing. She does not see him but can feel his aura from down below and only him so she relaxes.
She didn't pack a spare pair of shoes but as luck would have it one of the villages had bartered a pair for her services. She puts them on now. The light is fading and she normally would start a fire but right now Aya has an aversion to anything burning, not unexpected considering her near incineration. Instead she heads down to the creek to refill her wineskin. Not five steps later Sesshoumaru appears in sight and he is soaked from head to toe, including his clothes. Aya looks up and down him baffled as he walks by her.
"Are you all right, Lord Sesshoumaru?" He says nothing, not even a grunt of acknowledgement. She shrugs going down to the creek. 'Probably slipped in and is too embarrassed about it.' She assumes.
Sesshoumaru did not fall in the creek by accident. He jumped in.
xx
Sesshoumaru leans peaceably against the tree waiting for the miko to return from her bath. He has a few questions for her.
He hears her yell. Instantly on alert he bounds toward to the spring until he stops by her sudden laugh just ten yards away. She does not see him. However, he sees her glistening wet raven hair plastered like paint on her perfectly curved backside and creamy hips. Droplets of water pearl on her skin while some glide freely toward her perfectly shaped butt cheeks. He can do nothing but watch her scoop her hair to her side, exposing more of her pale backside, and clasps on a necklace. He is slightly to her left so he is able to see the curve of a perky breast. It jiggles as she giggles causing heat to his nether regions. His mouth goes dry, the urge to go over and lap up the water dripping down her back, neck, and… well, everywhere in fact, is nearly overwhelming. 'She's so… beautiful…'
Before she pulls fully out of the spring and turns toward his direction he is gone.
Sesshoumaru trudges downward in the hopes of walking it off, though this time its hard to resist the urge to just relieve himself then and there, but he wouldn't, couldn't force her through such a demeaning act again.
'Why did I stand there and stare at her like a savory piece of meat. She's a pure miko for kamis' sake! A human!' Never before had he considered a human to be pretty, let alone breath-takingly exquisite as Aya is. Nor can he have this sort of reaction from her. His body wants the miko. He cannot stand for this, not when he knew who his mate is and it's not her! 'It must be the bond somehow.' He comes to the creek, finding a deep spot he plunges in full attire, welcoming the icy bite of the water.
xxx
When she returns to his side he is staring off into the darkening sky. "Explain what happened last night," he says, never looking at her.
She tells him that Toshiko had entered her mind to manipulate her thoughts and some of what transpired in the cave.
"Then she knows of our bond?" He asks, still not looking at her.
"She does." She says after a pause.
"Then it would have been better to kill her then before she has a chance to inform Naraku. Why give her mercy, Aya?" A tint of anger entered his voice.
"She is grieving for her mate who died two years ago. The main reason she's working for Naraku is to learn how to use the Tenseiga that you possess to bring him back."
"That is impossible." Her brows scrunch in thought. "It only works if the flesh is still on the bone. Two years is too long."
Aya's face grows sad truly sorry for her sister and her lost love. "He played her. I am beginning to hate this guy more and more."
"Hn, his enemies grow each day."
"And yet he stays just out of reach, in the shadows pulling the strings of those under him. I bet he is as ugly as his reputation, and has no balls to speak of."
Sesshoumaru looks at her then. Did she just imply something vulgar? This pure miko? Well it is Aya that said it. She has a tendency to say strange things.
"What? You don't think I know about male body parts? I am a healer and as such know extensively about male and female bodies, as well as some youkai bodies." Spouting proudly, "Even brought a hanyou into the world. She was cute as a button, especially with those fuzzy-"
"Hanyous are a disgrace. A disease to humans and youkai alike." The lord says with disgust.
Her blood runs cold. "Excuse me? They have just as much right to live as anyone else!"
"Those with no taste have no authority to pollute our superior blood and pure lineage. Hanyous have no place in this world."
"Well with attitude it's a wonder why a youkai, even a tasteless one, would mate a human at all. And if I were to consider this view of yours, as a spiritual being I would find you and your superior blood exceedingly foul, and try to purify you. I do not care if you carry the blood of the highest of youkai or the lowest of peasants, it does not define who you are as a person! And right now I see a bigoted asshole, not a respected taiyoukai!" He grabs the front of her kimono and shoves her into a tree. Her blazing eyes remain defiant.
"You do not know me!" growling fiercely.
"Obviously. If you hate humans so much and any interaction with them why do you care for Rin?" Boldly asking, having long lost any fear of him.
He hasn't an answer for her. Why does he care for Rin? "She's an innocent child." He supplies loosening his hold on her.
"But still human."
"She's my ward."
"Yes, now. But three years ago she wasn't. Wards can be treated badly, but you treat her well. She herself says you are strong and kind. Why do you care for a human child?" Her question demands to be answered.
Sesshoumaru looks hard inside. Rin did brighten up his day as few others did, and her presence broke the monotony that is his life from time to time. "I am not sure." He admits finally, letting the miko go.
Aya's face softens. "There's hope for you yet, Lord Sesshoumaru." She dusts off her backside. "So are we traveling tonight, because I'm not tired at all having slept all day in your, uh um, arms. Why was I in your arms by the way?"
"To keep the cold and sickness at bay." He answers blandly, as if it was a stupid question to ask.
"Ah."
"This Sesshoumaru is restless. Pick up your things." She does and the pair heads off with only the moon to light their way.
She would have watched his hair sway back and forth as she walked behind him like normal except it was still wet with clumpy strands, some sticking to his armor. His tail isn't better off, much more resembling a rodent rather than a dog. She stifles a giggle remembering what he had said when he threw her into the river. 'He does look a bit like a drowned rat.'
"Are you having problems breathing, Aya?"
"No." She tells him in a tiny voice. A few giggles escape.
"What have you found so amusing?" he asked with not even a hint of annoyance.
She clears her throat. "I have to ask. Why are you so wet?"
"This Sesshoumaru will have to refuse an answer."
She groans. Of course he would say something like that. She changes topic. "What is the name of your other sword and what does it do?"
"Tokijin, and it kills, especially things that are annoying."
She bore her eyes into his back with her own annoyance. "Well I'm glad I'm not a thing then."
"Hn."
"What abilities does Tokijin have beyond a simple sword?" specifying in the hopes of getting a better answer.
"Deadly ones." A slap on skin her response to being annoyed at his answers.
"Deadly ones, he says. To kill, he says. Hn, he says. I was just trying to strike up a titillating conversation, a little repertoire. I guess swords aren't your forte as you have very little to comment about them and you are very vague about the killing sword so I assume you have very little experience in that. Maybe we could talk about your hair because you have so much of it and its so lustrous, shiny and straight, well except for now-"
Twirling around Sesshoumaru asked, "Do you not know the value of silence?"
Smiling brightly at him, "Angry are we? Yes I know the value of silence, however, your's is deafening and I can't stand it." He goes back to leading. "Maybe it comes with traveling by yourself for so long. But for me I need to verbally express myself when I am with other intelligent beings, especially after an occasion of trekking alone for three months in the high mountains. I want to share what I have seen and heard so the whole experience is bigger and worth the trek. Also a nice conversation about anything will pass the time better. Don't you want people to get to know you, who you really are, not just the cold taiyoukai of the west?"
"No."
"Then what about your soul mate? Are you going to leave her in the dark along with everyone else?" There is a slight pause to his step.
Taking it as a sign she hit a nerve she continues. "Do you even know how to open up to someone? I bet you don't. How will you talk to your mate?"
"She will only need know that this Sesshoumaru is her mate."
*chort* "Yeah, that will go over real well."
"You doubt this Sesshoumaru?"
"Yes, I do. Considering what I do know about you I highly disbelieve your intended is going to submit just like that," snapping her fingers for effect. "And any force will just drive her away. Do you have any experience in courting a girl?"
"It is sufficient."
"Prove it." Aya dares him.
He turns to glare at her again. "How would I be doing that?"
'I had to open my big mouth didn't I?' Her mouth flapped open dumbly. "Um, you could…practice on me."
"You cannot be serious."
Her brow furrows hard briefly. "Yes I am. Pretend to court me for… a week. I know you don't have any real interest in me and I likewise with you so it's perfect, and I can give you any advice that you may need."
"Advice from a human?" belief in her knowledge not withstanding.
"A female is a female no matter the species."
"True, but I don't need to prove it to you."
"Then take it as a challenge than. I bet you can't knock me off my feet, figuratively speaking that is." That hooked his interest. "If you succeed in wooing me to my satisfaction, I will do whatever you ask without question and do my hardest to maintain a more reserved camaraderie."
"And perchance I should fail?" eyes blazing with curiosity.
"You have to make an effort to converse with me, no more cold shoulders, and no more monosyllable answers." Yellow eyes stare off to consider his options.
"What are your conditions?"
She taps her finger to her lips. 'Me thinks I should be careful about this.' "It does not start until sunrise. If we should encounter a foe or Naraku himself, it's on pause. I will be myself although I may play harder to get. Oh, and no strategic fondling on either side. What do you think?"
"You may play as hard as you wish, this Sesshoumaru will not fail."
She grins madly at his sleek form, back to pacing through the darkened forest. 'I can't wait to see how Lord Icy intends to woo me. However, he agreed so quickly.' Her smile looses mirth. 'I hope I know what I'm doing. I can't back out now.'
xxx
Sesshoumaru stops at the crest of a hill that overlooks a gently slopping valley of farms just before sunrise. A village lay quiet towards the east end surrounded on two sides by dense forest.
'Hey, isn't that Kagome's village? I wonder if she's there right now. I'd love to see her.' Her attention changes to the rising sun over the far snow peaked mountains. The bright encompassing light warms her face and makes her bright blue eyes sparkle even more. A real smile dons her face, happy in the moment. She looks up at Sesshoumaru briefly to say "A beautiful sight is it not?"
"It is." He agrees though not at the sunrise.
"I suppose you are going to bypass the inferior human village?" Her put out voice not escaping him.
"If you wish to visit it I shall be your escort." His polite offer mildly surprises Aya, his arm held out for her.
"You promise not to kill anyone?"
"If they do not pose a threat, of course." He says, probably the best promise she's going to get. She nods and places a hand on his arm.
Halfway down and just entering the road between fallow fields, Sesshoumaru stiffens then pulls her arm away. "Stay here." He orders then sprints down the dirt road. When the lord is no larger than a white ant, a second white and red blur appears and converges towards Sesshoumaru.
"Oh no! Not again! Damn thick headed dogs!" Hiking up her pant legs, she books it after Sesshoumaru. By the time she skids to a halt beside him he has poor Inuyasha gasping for air in his magenta striped clawed right hand.
"Sesshoumaru don't kill him!"
In a sideways glance he tells her, "He attacked first," then returned the focus on the whelp. "To what do I owe the pleasure, little brother?"
Xxxxxxxx
B/N: Inuyasha you idiot! Why, why did you have to try to pick a fight? Arg, men and their stupid pissing contests. As for the bet that's going to end SO well maniacal laughter
xxxxxx
Review Please. much obliged if you do.