Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or its characters in any way or form, nor do I make a profit from this story. The story-plot, however, is mine.
A.N.:Heeeey everybody! Did you miss me? =P
So, summer's over and done with, bring on autumn! And HEY! It's Christmas Eve in FOUR months! Wooooo! Summer's been interesting enough, coulda done without it to be fair, but one can't just skip seasons unfortunately -.-''
SO! Here's a chapter. I will admit I find myself a little rusty after not having touched my laptop for story-writing-purposes all summer. Pieces of this chapter (and the next one) has been written in tiny bulks and chunks, so I've had my job cut out for me when piecing everything together so they kinda make sense.
Yes, they WILL reach their destination in the next chapter! *snigger*
~~~O~~~
CHAPTER FOURTEEN - CAT AND DOG
Two days had passed in moderate silence. Sesshoumaru wasn't a very talkative creature and preferred the silence to pointless conversation - and the years of travelling alone had transformed Kagome into Kishino; one who also appreciated the silence for what it was; peace.
The peace offered room for thoughts to wander. The peace offered time to really take in the surroundings and notice the shifts in landscape and scenery. The beauty of nature, undisturbed, enjoyed and interpreted by oneself without influence of others opinions. Sounds one might not hear in the midst of voices were enhanced; running water, various birds and animals, sometimes the vague sounds of villages came from somewhere off the path they were taking towards the North. The peace offered itself to those who embraced it. Unbeknown to both adults they shared the same opinion on just this.
"Kishino-sama!" Tsuren yawned and stretched his arms above his head before his hands came down to his face to rub his eyes. He had been walking since noon, and it was now nearing sunset. He was beyond tired.
"I know." Kishino picked him up and placed the sleepy child into the safe and warm cocoon of the makeshift haori-sling, shifting him carefully onto her back. She was amazed at the expanse of time the child had endured today before caving in to his exhaustion. A quick glance to the Youkai Lord then back to the child had her smiling. Tsuren didn't want the Lord to think him weak. Her brave little boy!
"Sleep well, baby..." she whispered in a hushed tone to the already slumbering seal-cub. Off to sleep in less than three seconds, bless his little heart!
She caught Sesshoumaru giving them a quick glance, and she tilted her head slightly. He rarely offered them any attention when walking unless some of them unintentionally did something that required him to spare a second to divert his gaze to them then back.
"What?" She heard herself ask the stoic youkai. There was no annoyance in her tone, nor did she really manage a demanding tone either - he was merely asking for the curiosity of it.
It did not surprise her that he simply averted his gaze and kept walking. Behind his back, Kishino rolled her eyes at him and followed. She sped up slightly and fell into place next to him while her sharp eyes drank in the view of the winding road ahead. They would be heading into mountain landscape come midday tomorrow. Steep climbing ahead. Oh joy... She was fit, alright, and her stamina was well developed and enhanced - but mountain-climbing still wasn't a favourite. Never had been. Go figure...
The sun was setting and darkness began to creep across the land, the shadows grew longer and darker, and she knew they would be stopping for the night soon. She also knew that as long as there was a speck of light still shining in the horizon, Sesshoumaru would take advantage of it and keep walking - so she refrained from even voicing the idea of stopping now.
She didn't really mind - she was used to walking all day and well into the night. There was something very special about the air as it changed with the setting sun. Night and day smelled different to her, it breathed differently into her lungs and offered her inner peace the times she had time to fully enjoy it - like now. It had always been like that - ever since that fated day so long ago when she first fell down the well. The air here was easier to breathe and she did consider herself lucky to experience it, as she knew that one day - this clean air would be all but a distant memory...
When the time came and they finally made camp, Kishino went through her practised routines: She found a tree and placed Tsuren down carefully by its roots, making sure he was warm and comfortable. Her weapons were removed from her person in tactical turns and leaned carefully against the tree she intended to rest under. She made no moves to remove the leather armour underneath her self-tailored turtleneck jumper, it stayed on.
Sesshoumaru watched with slight curiosity as the female-male went through a series of stretches to loosen up tense muscles and stiff joints - though the way she moved didn't imply that she had troubles with either. Never had he seen a human as flexible as this one, he was secretly impressed. The grace she possessed was inhuman. He did not know how she had accomplished this - twenty years ago she had been a reckless and overly clumsy woman who tripped over pebbles and leaves in her path. He did, however, take into consideration the amount of years that had passed. She had had many years to practice and refine herself.
Had that human body no solid bones? She leaned and bent, stretched, craned and arched her body in a highly practised routine - even with her armour still on she made it look effortless.
He continued to watch in secret as she stretched.
"I do not assume you'll be carrying or aiding me and my ward tomorrow on the practically vertical paths up the mountains, My Lord." The mirth in her tone made him want to scoff. She placed her hands on her hips for a brief moment, casting him a disapproving look when he didn't deign it necessary to reply to her. Humph.
Finally done with her inhuman stretching, she jumped nimbly from foot to foot for a few seconds, then stretched her arms above her head and inhaled deeply.
"There. Come on mountain, give me your worst!" She pointed at the mountain range in the distance as she dared her challenge to the wind, causing Sesshoumaru to momentarily wonder if she had, over the years, lost pieces of her sanity.
Before she settled underneath the tree to sleep, Kishino offered the Youkai Lord some dried fruits and berries from one of the pouches she kept in her bag. Sesshoumaru declined with a small, respectful gesture of his hand and Kishino inclined her head. She hadn't really expected him to accept food, but at least she had offered - it was only polite when travelling together after all - teammates looked after eachother. She shifted onto the floor and pulled the sleeping child into her lap while casting a barrier around the small camp.
"Sleep, Miko. This One will keep guard."
"Hn..." Kishino scoffed slightly, cracking her eyes open to stare at the ethereal male across the fire. He sat leaned against a tree, one knee pulled up with one arm resting across it. A typical him pose.
"Sleep, youkai. This One has cast a protective barrier. Nothing can get through."
They stared at eachother - battling mentally, arrogant in their own way, stubborn alphas from different worlds. Gold trying to stare down stormy blue - and the other way around. Kishino's eyebrow twitched slightly after a minute of soundless staring.
"Just relax, alright?" She released a sigh before closing her eyes again.
"Hn. What if This One decided to be off with you in your sleep for your lack of respect?"
"Knock it off..." Kishino groaned tiredly. Sesshoumaru briefly pondered this strange wording.
"You're not bound to slay a sworn ally in their sleep, least of all a sleeping child! We'll take turns if it's so important! You protected the camp last night and the night before. Tonight I protect the camp. Tomorrow you can do it. That way we both get rest and both get to protect. Compromise! Now get some sleep!"
"Hn."
Sesshoumaru mused this woman's logic. He found her entire existence mindboggling. What she had done, what she had accomplished, the choice to live like she had done for so long... She was highly irritating! And that blasted back-talk! He should cut out her tongue for daring to speak the way she does! She really had some nerve, and a big problem with respecting authorities! He flared his aura just to annoy her, figuring he'd deprive her of some sleep as punishment for now.
"Seriously, knock it off! You aura's all over the place! If I wake up tomorrow with a headache I promise I will make your coming days AS miserable as I possibly can!"
The Taiyouai felt an involuntary tug at the corner of his lips. Well...rude and disrespectful she might be at times, but at least she provided a more interesting companionship than Jaken ever did during past travels. He'd let her live. She amused him. Golden amber eyes rested on the form of the human and her seal-cub until he closed his own eyes. He reeled in his aura and exhaled softly. He wouldn't sleep, but he would rest. Compromise.
Morning greeted him with the scent of meat roasting over fire. He didn't open his eyes until he was fully awake, and when he did he saw the small seal-youkai boy sitting by the fire munching on a decently sized fish. The boy showed good appetite and seemed quite happy to have his fish raw.
A bowl of sliced raw meat was shoved infront of Sesshoumaru's face, and he threw a dark look up at the calm face of his travelling companion. She gave nothing away in her expression.
"You hunted?" He asked coolly, and she replied with a curt nod. The bowl remained held in front of his face until he reluctantly accepted it. The Miko knew about youkai feeding...raw meat was preferred especially with the predator population of youkai.
Kishino took a seat next to Tsuren and started eating her own food which seemed to consist of roasted meat and a collection of vegetables. He slowly grasped a piece of meat from his bowl and put it in his mouth. Boar. The tenderness, and the size of the carcass hanging over the fire suggested a piglet. The first thought that struck him was that she hadn't managed to take down anything bigger - but the more he thought about it, he realized she hadn't meant to hunt big game. Why hunt for more food than they could consume or carry? It would be a waste...
"Tell me, Hito-sama..."
"Drop the honorifics. I know you do not truly respect me enough to use it, and it sounds more like an insult than an acknowledgement of status. Just drop it." The ravenhaired creature threw him a cold glance before she resumed eating.
Sesshoumaru clenched his jaw when he was interrupted. For once, could she just..
"Hito..." he'd not be as familiar with her as to use her first name. A quick glance before she focused on her eating again told him she was listening.
"You sent yourself to investigate the victims of this poison..." there was a question in there somewhere.
"Yeah..." she stopped her chewing for a small moment before she swallowed and put the bowl aside. She put her fingertips together and balanced her chin atop of her joined thumbs, giving Sesshoumaru her undivided attention.
"Elaborate." The Youkai Lord demanded, narrowing his eyes slightly.
"What if I do not want to, My Lord?" She arched an eyebrow at him, causing a small growl to rip from his throat.
She merely tilted her head at his agitated sound and placed a hand on Tsuren's shoulder to calm him, then she sighed and lowered her gaze to the bowl of food in her lap.
"A few years ago I discovered that my blood reacts to poisons in an interesting fashion, alright?" She began, frowning.
"I'm not entirely immune, but the poison is purified from my system before it can cause severe damage to my nervous system and internal organs, or body in general" She hesitated a slight second before continuing:
"As it leaves my system I can identify what the poison's made up of, if it's conjured, or if it's typical to a certain plant or animal - or youkai..."
"Why could not the Shikon Miko see to the victims?"
"The Shikon Miko hasn't been around for twenty years..."
"That is not what I asked!"
"I'm more comfortable looking into it as Kishino Hito! Some of the Lords I've already met and aided in the past! They can find it in themselves to trust my powers and knowledge! You heard their outrage when the Shikon Miko chose to speak to them at the meeting!"
"Your power..."
"No matter how much power I hold, the Shikon Miko is still a woman, and even if people respect her greatly, a man's word will still rule over hers!"
Sesshoumaru was really fighting against his instinct to properly put that creature in her rightful place. She dared interrupt him once again, and then proceeded to raise her voice to him!
"Yeah, go ahead, get angry you big poodle! I speak the truth, and you know it!"
That did the trick! The air grew heavy between them and felt electric - and not in a good way. They both moved at the same time, in a flash.
Tsuren remained in his spot by the fire, shoving pieces of fish into his mouth as the adults clashed together, weapons drawn, metal meeting metal. His big, round brown eyes tried to follow the blur of motion, but quickly gave up on that and returned his attention to his meal. He was just a child, but he already knew better than to step between adults.
Kishino's hot temper and quick tongue really didn't match well with Lord Sesshoumaru's pride and sense of superiority. Though they clearly respected one another to a certain degree, they were too much like dog and cat to get along peacefully for longer periods of time. They'd settle soon, the little seal youkai decided, not overly worried.
As the silence of evening fell upon them, Sesshoumaru caught himself discretely observing the human travelling companion he had obtained. It had been too long since he had had any kind of company while he was outside the Castle walls - not that he had missed company, he was a solitary being despite being an Inu Youkai. How ironic it seemed that his companion once again was a human - and a powerful Miko no less - the Shikon Miko - the Warrior Priest - his half-brothers past companion.
And if he delved into it too much he would find that he really didn't mind her company. She was much more comfortable to be around now. Her scent was calming, natural, of the forest and the sea. The concoction she used to hide her female scent was powerful, but not enough to hide from his superior sense of smell. He caught the almost invisible traces of lavender - not an overly feminine scent, but it was there. She had learned to blend in and still stand out. Remarkable.
It didn't seem to annoy him as much that she was human - as far as he was concerned the only thing human about her was her appearance. Her blood was purified, time did not age it. And she did in no ways have the normal stench of impending death that humans normally carried thanks to their short lifespan. It was pleasant.
She was quieter now as well - when she didn't argue with him. Much appreciated. He remembered twenty years ago how quick she was to anger over little insignificant things. She'd voice her displeasure if something didn't sit right with her, she'd explode whenever someone were disrespectful towards herself, and especially towards Inuyasha. She'd cry for others, for the horrible fates she saw, the deaths she witnessed.
Now...she was much like himself. Collected - accepting that life was not fair - not for anyone; Not for youkai, not for humans, not for immortals, plants or animals. Life just was. As it always had been. She seemed to have come to terms with the things she couldn't change, but she still fought for the things she could change.
She was, perhaps, a little too much like him - proof being that they both now sported bruises and healing cuts from their previous clash of prideful tempers. She was skilled in battle, he'd learned that now, and she'd handled her katana masterfully. Yes, she had actually managed to marr his pristine skin - but he'd been the victor in the end, of course - he was superior in all ways! Once she admitted defeat with his claws around her throat after a slip of a second's distraction, they had stared eachother down, then resumed their meal with the cub. Sesshoumaru touched his slightly sore left cheekbone. It annoyed him beyond measure that he'd allowed her to strike him, but then again; it also fascinated him - he didn't understand how she'd done it.
"You're staring, Sesshoumaru."
The Lord blinked his eyes slowly, his thoughtful gaze came into focus and he found that he, indeed, had been staring at her. He knew he had been caught in the act, so why deny it - it was beneath him to lie.
"Hn." The silverhaired youkai inclined his head.
"This One merely ponders the changes in yourself, Hito."
He saw the bright flash in the human's eyes as he called her by the name she'd requested he'd call her by. It truly meant that much to her?
"You know, Sesshoumaru-sama...I see no reason for us to be on such formal terms, really. We are allies, and travelling together with a shared mission. How about we drop the formalities when we are alone, and use honorifics when in the presence of others?"
Sesshoumaru's left eyebrow arched up ever so slightly. To drop the formalities meant a close familiar bond or sign of friendship. Apparently the human caught on to his thoughts, because there was a very unmistakable rolling of eyes.
"Right now, Sesshoumaru, I am the closest thing you have to a friend, would it really be that bad to just call me Kishino?" Kagome cast him a wry smile before rolling her aching shoulders. Blocking the blows from the Western Lord would be felt tomorrow for sure.
His eyebrow twitched slightly. Amused. He was amused.
"This Sesshoumaru agrees...Kishino." His response made the human relax, a small smile played across her lips.
"But only when alone like this." He added in a bored tone.
"Of course, Sesshoumaru."
The human stood from her seat by the fire and stretched her lean body, arms above her head. He was struck with how she managed to manipulate her muscles and body in general, there was nothing feminine about her body at this moment. Then he thought about something...an unusual thought for him...
"You had a brother, back in your time, did you not?"
She froze mid-stretch, her eyes widening slightly as she gazed directly at him. Slowly she nodded, and he tilted his head.
"This One can imagine...that he would look much like you when he reaches this age..."
He could tell she was caught completely off guard. Her mouth opened and closed - amusing - then she promptly sat back down. Her hand absently reached out to pet her little ward's head, then she suddenly smiled and her features softened.
"Thank you, Sesshoumaru...I've never thought about that, actually. Now I won't fear forgetting about him anymore..."
"You'd forget your own kin?"
"Human minds are forgetful, given enough time I have no doubt I would have."
"You are no longer human, Kishino. Your mind will never know forgetfulness."
"Ahh, but I have already forgotten who I once was, Sesshoumaru. I do not remember how to be or how to act like Kagome anymore..."
"That knowledge is dormant, but not forgotten. I see alot of Kagome left in you - you are much like yourself even if it's not felt by you."
"You're just full of positivity tonight, aren't you? Proper little ray of sunshine...beating me up must've put you in a good mood!" She smirked sarcastically.
"It bothers you?"
"It's...unusual."
"Hn."
They stared at eachother, then she grinned, incredibly entertained by their sudden and easy exchange of words.
Sesshoumaru felt the corner of his lips pull upwards in the smallest, faintest, briefest of smiles before his stoic expressionless mask was back in place.
"Good Night, Sesshoumaru." He caught her muffled whisper as she curled herself around her ward.
"Sleep soundly, Kishino." His golden eyes turned to the canopy slightly overshading the clear sky.
They had been climbing the mountainsides for close to two hours now - they'd started at the break of dawn. She could already sense the change in the air. That slightly more crispy tinge that added a small bite to the otherwise gentle breeze.
"You alright, Tsuren?" She called merrily, her eyes were glued to the small boy who leapt between boulders and stones, displaying a type of energy that should be illegal when walking up steep paths such as these. Perhaps he was half mountain goat youkai... She grinned as she thought this, and drew a deep breath before she, herself, continued upwards - strong hands gripping at rocks for support, sure feet finding safe ground to tread on the otherwise treacherous and sometimes unstable mountainside.
The Taiyoukai had settled into her pace, funny enough. She knew he could've climbed the entire mountain in three leaps, but he chose to keep her company instead. He could've flown up and above the mountain peaks on his youki cloud, but he didn't do that either. To her this was an enigma and it entertained her mind while her body climbed on upwards. She had to distract her mind in some way while pushing herself physically.
She didn't try to make conversation with the stoic, silent Lord this morning. Somehow she guessed that if she tried to speak, it would be some sort of acknowledgement to the fact that she suspected he was slowing his pace to match hers because he maybe found her presence tolerable.
If she struck up a conversation, he would most likely give her a cold stare and take off in those three leaps she'd mused about earlier. She'd hate to eat his dust...
Kishino scoffed to herself, ignoring the questioning, biting glare the Inu Youkai threw her. She dared an equally frosty glare at him before they both went back to seemingly ignoring eachother again. She'd no need to share her amusement with him!
Sesshoumaru was content with his companion's silence. She showed good instinct despite her human heritage - she knew not to engage in an unnecessary exchange of words, even if - perhaps - she wanted to. Humans were talkative creatures by nature. He found it interesting to observe in his own discrete manner how her face struggled to maintain its neutral expression. Clearly her thoughts were wandering, finding amusement in something - the slightly more narrowed than normal eyes of the person she now portrayed were glittering brightly.
"Papa!" Both adults looked up at the sharp cry.
"Shit." Kishino swore under her breath. Her left foot braced against a large stone and she leapt upwards, catching the leaping child midair and curling herself around him. The child had leapt off the wrong boulder in his adventurous mode and would've tumbled down the steep mountain side as a result of it, hit every rock on the way down, end up dead... Kishino would shield him with her own life as the price to pay if she so had to - because she knew that she, too, had leapt without thinking. There was no flat ground beneath her to land securely on.
They didn't fall, though. Kishino froze as strong arms caught her, and the abrupt stop she had anticipated became a floating sensation, and she could see over the top of Tsuren's head that they were moving upwards. She got a sinking feeling in her guts. Aw, damnit! Now she owed him!
"Thank you." She murmured quietly, knowing fully well that the Inu Youkai could hear her.
"Hn."
The steep climb finally ended as they reached a more level path which lead them along the mountainside rather than directly upwards. Now, Sesshoumaru had to admit that it had been some time since he'd visited the Northern lands, but he could've sworn that that large and unnatural crevice hadn't been there before... So he stopped, and took the time to study it a little more closely. Next to him, Kishino had stopped also - the human's face was solemn, but the irises were dark as night.
"This is where the corrupt dragon was defeated..." Kishino murmured quietly. Sesshoumaru frowned briefly. He had thought it a made up rumour up till now, one made up to boost the Warrior Priest's reputation - as humans sometimes do. Dragon Youkai were among the most powerful creatures known...second to his line, of course.
As his sharp gaze wandered across the nearby surroundings he clearly saw the aged signs of a massive battle, there was no doubt that something had gone down here. His golden eyes wandered to the human next to him.
"How long did the battle last?"
Shoulders rose in a shrug.
"Two days..."
Golden orbs met midnight blue.
"...I lived to tell the tale..." the heavy sarcasm that laced her voice was almost as amusing as her stone-masked face.
"This One has not heard this tale told."
"Hn...I have not told the tale myself..."
A quick look from the Youkai encouraged Kishino to elaborate. It did not escape the Youkai's attention that his companion hesitated, and even showed reluctance in regards to talking about this fight.
"The stories have been told by the witnesses, retold by those who've heard it from them - and so it spread. I have had no need to tell the tale personally; I lived it - I really don't need to relive it."
Sesshoumaru felt no need to pry into the human's reasons for not wanting to talk about such a great deed, and so silence fell upon them once again - and soon enough the scene was behind them, and in the distance ahead of them the mountain palace of the Lord of the North.
To say the Northern Palace was in the distance was no understatement. It was in the far, FAR distance.
"You know there was once a time where I believed you Lords had your Castles conveniently placed for easy access...like in a circle, or even a square, with equal distance between you..."
"Were we to rule that close to eachother's borders, Kishino, then war would rage often, and lives be lost faster than new ones could enter the world..."
"Well, I know that NOW!" The human smirked ironically and the youkai fought the urge to roll his eyes.
Kishino watched the glittering mountain lake - a small white seal cub swam in its shallows. She'd let him take his seal form for a relaxing swim, and it brought her some peace to watch him leap out of the water, chase minnow, scare birds...
She and Sesshoumaru had downed a small mountain goat and were both indulging in some proper food after the climb.
"Do you wonder why I haven't asked for you to just fly us there?"
"It has crossed This One's mind."
"I enjoy travelling." She sighed and smiled, shifting so she was partially resting on her back, propping herself up on her elbows while her long legs stretched out and crossed at the ankles.
"To know I get to places on my own accord, relying on my own strength and endurance, my own wit and cunning - that's what makes it worth it. It's straining, it tests my patience, it makes me humble and respectful in the face of nature and the forces of the weather."
"Hn. This One should, perhaps, place you back at the base of the mountain again then, seeing as This One saw it fit to prevent your death. That way you can rely on your strength and patience on the way back up."
Kishino sniggered quietly, then blinked at him - he really wouldn't do that, would he?
"Point taken - I'll decline that offer for now. We do actually need to get to the Northern Palace soon." She inclined her head in the Inu Youkai's direction and he seemed pleased with her response. He hated being delayed.
"This One will suggest, then, that you keep your ward close if the need to climb again arises..."
"Point two for Sesshoumaru! I must admit, I thought this would be way more unpleasant…"
"Unpleasant?"
"Ah." Kishino gave a quick nod.
"I am not accustomed to travelling with anyone else for company than Tsuren…"
They fell silent for a good few minutes, both thinking their own thoughts. During this time the little boy came running towards them and righ into Kishino's waiting arms. She cooed and nuzzled the youkai child before wrapping him in her haori, securing him in her lap with her arms around him.
"This Sesshoumaru could've chosen worse travelling companions."
Stormy blue eyes locked on the whiteclad male.
"You know, I will take that as a compliment!" She grinned and they relaxed again, in silence. And the sun began to set.
"Worse meaning Jaken..."
"And I take away your points!"