"Grrr, that Naraku!" Jaken grumbled as they continued on their travels. "Just wait! I'll show him a thing or two! I can assure you! Hehehe."
It had been several days already since their run in with Koga, though they were still some ways from the Ox-Tiger mountain. So far there had been no sign of Naraku or any of his followers, but that wasn't anything new…
Yuki paused.
Sniffing the air, her eyes widened slightly, and she thought: 'Well, I guess that's a lesson that I should never be too hasty!'
Glancing at Sesshomaru, she noted his pensive expression and asked softly: "You smell that?"
"Hn." He answered, moving forward once more, this time in the direction the faint but distinct smell was coming from.
Yuki followed, lapsing into thought as she did.
'Kohaku…' She thought. 'He's nearby – well, relatively speaking. But I wonder… in what form we shall find him?'
She recalled the sweet though confused boy she'd met the first time, and then those awful dead eyes he had whenever he was under Naraku's control.
'Poor Sango.' Yuki thought, her heart going out to the demon slayer once more. 'It must kill her every time she has to see him like that.'
"Yuki," Rin called suddenly from behind as she rode on A-Un behind Jaken, "Lord Sesshomaru. I was wondering – why do you seek Naraku?"
"Don't you know anything?" Jaken demanded before Yuki could answer. "Naraku dared to first try and use Lord Sesshomaru, and then he had the audacity to abduct you. Lord Sesshomaru is now bent on vengeance!"
"Huh?" Rin gasped, lighting up at this new revelation. "It's because of me?"
"Don't be so conceited you silly child!" Jaken scolded. "It's not about you. Lord Sesshomaru's honour has been insulted! It was one thing for Naraku to betray a brief alliance, but to steal someone under Lord Sesshomaru's protection is a direct attack on mi lord's honour! So don't let his calm demeanour fool you."
Yuki glanced back in warning, but Jaken didn't noticed – too busy looking back at Rin – as he continued: "Underneath, he is a boiling, angry, seething mass of- oof!"
Yuki sighed, shaking her head as Jaken bumped into Sesshomaru's leg. The demon lord had stopped as soon as Jaken had started to explain Sesshomaru's 'motive' for searching for Naraku. Jaken had been too preoccupied to notice, and now it looked like he was going to pay dearly for his words.
Jaken gulped as he stared up at Sesshomaru, who was looking down with a deadly glare.
"Uh oh." Jaken whimpered.
Yuki turned back to the front, just as a loud smack sounded behind her.
Sesshomaru walked passed her, and she followed him once more as – behind them – Rin bent over in concern over Jaken as he lay on his stomach, a large bump growing out of his head.
"I really need to learn to keep my mouth shut." Jaken moaned, and Rin agreed: "That is what Yuki always tells you."
"Urgh." Jaken sighed, while Yuki glanced back amusedly before looking back at Sesshomaru.
"You're in a terrible mood considering we finally have a confirmation that we're probably headed in the right direction." Yuki noted, and Sesshomaru scowled over at her.
"Don't look at me like that – you can't scare me the way you scare Jaken." Yuki said lightly. "And you really should treat Jaken better – his mouth can run off sometimes, but he admires you greatly."
"I do not need you to tell me what to do." Sesshomaru answered curtly, and Yuki nodded as she agreed easily: "I know. But I'm not telling you – I'm suggesting. Even great lords take into account the advice they receive from their advisors right?"
"It is very ambitious of you to think you could ever be one of my advisors." Sesshomaru answered, and Yuki sighed: "It was just an example, but since you put it that way, then just consider it advice from a friend."
"I do not have such things." Sesshomaru answered a tad sharply, and Yuki said – scowling herself now in annoyance: "Well, I sure ain't your servant!"
There was a beat of silence between them, during which Yuki mentally scolded herself. Yes, Sesshomaru had been acting like an arse, but she'd known he would if she mentioned anything related to friendship or caring. But her temper had gotten the best of her in the moment, and she sure as hell wasn't going to take back what she said.
"I do not consider you my servant."
Yuki looked up in surprise at his words, but Sesshomaru wasn't even looking at her. He kept his eyes straight ahead, and his face seemed almost unchanged from its usual expression, but Yuki could see he was being sincere.
"… So, I'm less than even a servant?"
That did have him glancing at her, but Yuki smiled at him to show she had meant it as a joke.
"Hm." Was his response, and Yuki laughed, appeased and more than a little touched that he'd bothered to care.
"Yuki!"
Yuki turned to look back at Rin as the child came hurrying over, just missing the slight flash of a smirk that flitted across Sesshomaru's face. It had been quick and was gone almost as soon as it came, but it had been there.
His face was back to a blank mask, however, as Yuki asked as Rin caught up: "Yes, Rin?"
"What about you, Yuki?" Rin asked, and Yuki hummed questioningly: "Hmm?"
"Why do you seek Naraku?" Rin asked innocently, and Yuki paused.
Very aware that Sesshomaru was also listening intently now – the question had never really occurred to him, for he'd never cared enough to ask – Yuki explained thoughtfully: "Because I didn't want to sit back and watch while Naraku gets stronger. He hurts innocent people, and when I saw what he'd done to people like Kohaku… It reminded me of you."
She smiled at Rin, who pointed to herself as she asked: "Me?"
"Yes." Yuki nodded. "I didn't want to wait, in case something happened to you, or anyone else. I don't want anyone else to get hurt. But if I'd just ignored Naraku, I would be equally guilty of his acts. Not taking action is the same as being guilty in my opinion. I knew I could help, so it was right that I do what I can."
"Wow." Rin noted, staring up at Yuki with wide eyes. "And that's why you came back?"
Yuki smiled a little.
"Partly." She answered truthfully, stealing a glance at Sesshomaru. Her request in their deal for him to let her travel with him and Rin replayed in her mind, and she thought Sesshomaru might be thinking the same thing.
"And you kill me if I ever become dangerous." Yuki had said to him, after witnessing Inuyasha's transformation into a full demon, filled with bloodlust. "Deal?"
But, not wanting to tell Rin that, she smiled and expertly shifted the conversation's focus as she said: "Besides, there was no way I'd be able to stay away from this much cuteness."
She poked Rin's cheek with a smile, making the girl giggle.
"Yuki!" Rin protested, as Yuki went on teasingly: "Seriously, Sesshomaru should be on the watch out – or I'll steal you away and hug you all to myself!"
Rin laughed at her absurdity, and as the pair continued to jest and laugh, Sesshomaru walked on ahead, keeping his eyes trained before him even as his ears remained trained on the two girlish voices behind him.
Yuki hummed softly, absently as they continued, and Rin cocked her head as she listened to the unfamiliar song.
"That's a pretty tune." She noted, catching Yuki by surprise. "Is it another song you learnt before, Yuki?"
"Hm? Oh." Yuki suddenly realized she'd been humming aloud, and she smiled a little wryly and – Sesshomaru thought – sadly. "No… I didn't learn it, per se…"
"What do you mean, you didn't 'learn' it?" Rin asked, puzzled, and Yuki hesitated.
"Well…" She broke off suddenly, her head snapping to the side.
Sesshomaru's head had also turned in the same direction, both catching the scent of poison at almost the same time. Sesshomaru had caught it first, though now Yuki's ears perked as she caught the faint sound coming from the area first.
"That's… Kirara!"
Yuki glanced over at Sesshomaru, but he was already in motion.
"Jaken, protect Rin!" Sesshomaru ordered as he flew off in the direction of the poisonous smoke that both he and Yuki could smell.
Yuki hesitated, but he hadn't ordered her to stay. And as if in confirmation, his furry tail extended to her, and Yuki caught on. Clinging to the fur tightly, she kept her narrowed eyes focused ahead as Sesshomaru flew them quickly through the trees. All the while, the smell of toxic gas grew stronger, as did the scent of Kagome, Sango, Kirara, and Miroku.
Interestingly, Yuki didn't detect Shippo or Inuyasha, but that thought was overshadowed by a growing concern as she also smelt an unidentifiable, almost dead smell. It was almost… like the smell that Kikyo now carried – the smell of the undead.
"There." Yuki gasped, spotting the small hut at last.
It was positively reeking of poisonous gas, and the fumes emitted strongly around the hut in an almost protective bubble. Whoever was in there, and no doubt threatening Kagome and the others, clearly did not want to be interrupted.
'Too bad.' Yuki thought with a scowl as Sesshomaru landed them right at the edge of the hut doorway. She could hear a struggle inside, and Kagome's laboured breathing – and she abruptly realized that whoever was attacking them must be strangling Kagome.
Yuki stepped forward with a growl, but Sesshomaru stopped her.
"Do not come closer." He ordered, and Yuki frowned as Sesshomaru walked forward alone, stepping into the hut.
'That old worrywart.' She thought briefly as he disappeared from view in the smoke.
She saw his claws flashing green from inside the doorway, and then an anguished cry followed by Kagome's hopeful gasp: "Inuyasha! Huh?"
Clearly, she'd seen her saviour… and sounded surprised at who she'd found.
'I do keep telling them that he's not so bad.' Yuki thought. 'Though I suppose since he's also always trying to kill Inuyasha, it does appear contradictory.'
Yuki brightened as she saw the poisonous smoke starting to dissipate, and she carefully poked her head through the doorway just as Sesshomaru asked monotonously: "Tell me, is Inuyasha here?"
Yuki instantly noted Sango, Miroku, Kirara, and Kagome lying prone on the ground, apparently barely able to move after being exposed to the toxins floating around in the air. Kagome was faring slightly better, able to barely lift her head up as she stared at Sesshomaru in complete shock.
But Yuki's eyes were drawn to a short and stubby man, apparently human though he strongly resembled a toad, lying on his stomach before Sesshomaru. His back and chest were bleeding heavily from where Sesshomaru had slashed at him, but Yuki frowned as she saw he barely seemed fazed. And, on top of that, he appeared to be the one who smelt of the undead.
'Who is he?' She wondered as she stepped up close behind Sesshomaru, just as the male Yuki didn't recognize asked: "And who are you?"
"I was about to ask you that." Sesshomaru answered the man disdainfully. "And I thought I told you to stay back, Yuki."
Kagome blinked in surprise, glancing behind Sesshomaru with blurry eyes to see the half-demoness as Yuki shrugged.
"The poison is dispelling." She said in explanation, and Sesshomaru glanced back briefly to send her an almost grieved look.
His attention was called back to the puny man before him as the man gaped: "You… tried to kill me, and you don't even know me?!"
He reached out and grabbed a straw satchel filled with what appeared to be several jars of ink, before he scrambled away. Yuki was surprised as the man fled passed them and through the door, and she could hear even Sesshomaru was intrigued as he noted after the man: "You felt the pain of my toxic claws, and yet you're still able to run?"
The dog demon followed his new prey outside, though not before adding in a quieter but no less sharp voice: "Yuki. Stay back this time."
She sighed, but nodded, bending down to check on Kagome instead as the girl collapsed once more from the poison's effects while Sesshomaru stalked the strange man outside.
The man was standing upright – completely unaffected by the wound on his chest – and he held two of his jars in each hand as he cackled: "Take this!"
Yuki's eyes widened as she saw a spray of some kind of inky toxin come pouring out of the jars, hitting Sesshomaru right on. The immediate stench of poison was almost overwhelming to the half-demoness's sensitive nose, and she quickly covered her nose and mouth as she watched the fight outside.
'All right, so maybe Sesshomaru's not unjustified as a worrywart.' Yuki thought wryly to herself as she heard the man cackle.
"Taste my poison!" He laughed triumphantly, clearly thinking he'd overcome Sesshomaru. And the man certainly would have hindered Yuki if she'd been hit by that onslaught.
Unfortunately, his opponent was Sesshomaru, and Yuki watched as the poison cleared to reveal a completely unaffected Sesshomaru. Well, mostly unaffected – his irritation seemed to have grown as he stepped after the poison-wielder once more.
Yuki just saw the tiny man flinch, before Sesshomaru's back blocked her view. But she could still hear him, and she frowned as the man cried pleadingly: "Wait! Please, wait! I'm sorry! I was too hasty! Please spare me! Don't kill me! Eep!"
Yuki made a face as Sesshomaru stopped right before the poison-wielder, just as the man turned around and curled into a trembling ball.
'Coward.' Yuki thought with a scowl as the man cried: "Don't kill me!"
He was sniffling, but Yuki's eyes narrowed suspiciously as the man began: "To show you my sincerity…"
He suddenly whirled back around, and Yuki just caught sight of a giant casket as the man shouted triumphantly: "Here's a little present!"
He opened the container, and Yuki did flinch this time as an enormous, red cloud of poison spilled out and over Sesshomaru.
"Goodbye, my friend!" The man cackled. "This poison even kills demons, like you!"
The smell was incredible, and Yuki was certain that if she had been the one hit by the attack, she would have been down in an instant. She had no immunity to poison, and as a half-demon her resistance to them – while stronger than humans' – was rather poor when compared to strong demons. As it was, she still winced as the faint wisps of poison hit her nose and entered her system, while the wood around the front of the hut melted.
Thankfully, Sesshomaru had none of her weakness.
"HUH?!" The man gaped as the poisonous gas thinned out before clearing completely, once again revealing a completely unaffected Sesshomaru.
"It's not working." The man said in confusion and horror. "Yet it's my very finest poison!"
Yuki coughed slightly, her body trying to expel the tiny amount of the poison she'd inhaled, and Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed even further. Having already reached the end of his patience, he swung Tokijin mercilessly at the man, killing him instantly in a flash of blue energy.
The man died with a scream, his skeletal remains falling in a heap amongst the bushes as he flew back from the force of Sesshomaru's attack.
Sesshomaru was cold as he sheathed Tokijin once more, saying dismissively: "Your primitive concoctions are no match for my superior powers."
"Humble as ever." Yuki said a little sarcastically. "Though, that's not to say I'm not glad that your words are true."
Sesshomaru glanced back at her questioningly, and she explained with a small smile: "You're alive for it."
He blinked in surprise, and Yuki added, looking down at Kagome worriedly: "And you saved my friends."
"Hm." Sesshomaru began, his nose almost wrinkling slightly in distaste, when suddenly a voice shouted: "Kagome!"
"Inuyasha." Yuki said in surprise as the half demon came running, skidding to a stop before the ruined hut, Shippo on his shoulder.
"Yuki? Sesshomaru?" Inuyasha asked, confused, before glancing over to see Kagome and his friends lying in heaps inside the hut, clearly poisoned.
"Kagome!" Inuyasha cried as Shippo gasped, and the pair hurried over.
"They all look like they're dead!" Shippo cried in horror as he jumped to land beside Kagome, but Yuki shook her head.
"They've been poisoned, but they're still alive." She informed Shippo and the worried Inuyasha.
Looking up to meet her friend's eyes, she promised: "Kagome's also alive, but she needs help… and soon."
Inuyasha's jaw tightened and his eyes narrowed again.
"And did you do this, Sesshomaru?" He snarled, whirling on his older brother. "Were you trying to kill them before Yuki stopped you?"
"No, Inuyasha-" Yuki began, when another voice croaked: "No… Sesshomaru saved us."
"Kagome!" Yuki said in relief, while Inuyasha asked: "Huh?"
Inuyasha glanced back at Kagome in disbelief, but she was staring out at Sesshomaru.
Sesshomaru didn't even look over as he dismissed: "No, I didn't save you. He couldn't answer my question, so I got rid of him. Simple as that."
Yuki sighed – unfortunately, she believed there was a strong truth to that statement even if she did believe that a part of the stubborn dog demon still saved Kagome for better reasons – while Inuyasha growled defensively: "What questions?"
Sesshomaru wasted no time as he replied: "I caught the boy, Kohaku's, scent."
The effect was instantaneous: Kagome lifted her head from Yuki's lap, where the half-demoness was letting her rest, while Inuyasha's eyes widened.
"Huh?" Inuyasha glanced at Yuki, who nodded.
His gaze turned thoughtful, before he glanced back at his brother as Sesshomaru demanded: "Does that mean Naraku is near?"
He was staring at his brother now, his eyes narrowed as he examined Inuyasha's expression.
"Answer me, Inuyasha." Sesshomaru hissed. "Where is Naraku?"
Inuyasha hesitated, but Yuki asked softly: "Inuyasha?"
Inuyasha exhaled sharply, his hands curling into fists, but he answered at last: "We haven't been able to find him yet, either. But now," he added as he looked right at Yuki, "we've got these phantoms possessing Sacred Jewel shards coming after us."
He turned to look back at Sesshomaru as he added grimly: "I'm sure Naraku's close by."
"That's all I need to know."
Sesshomaru turned, walking away as he added flatly: "Yuki."
"Coming." Yuki muttered, before looking at Inuyasha.
"Do you have something to help them?" She asked seriously as she held Kagome up, and he nodded.
Taking Kagome into his own arms, Inuyasha answered: "We acquired an antidote to poisons a while ago."
"Give it to them soon." Yuki warned as she stood up. "I've got to go, but if you need me, just give me a shout, Inuyasha."
"Keh, like he'd let you come." Inuyasha muttered, scowling after his brother, but Yuki shook her head.
"No – I'd come, if you ever needed me." She said softly. "You know that, right?"
Inuyasha looked back at her, his gaze softening and he nodded.
"Yeah."
Yuki turned, making to go, when Inuyasha added in an even quieter voice: "Are you all right?"
She glanced back questioningly, and Inuyasha elaborated as he watched his friend carefully: "It's the fourth of the fourth month of the year."
Her face filled with emotion and her eyes flooded with nostalgia. But Inuyasha was surprised as she answered softly: "Yeah… I think I am."
Her eyes flickered over to the disappearing dog demon walking far off into the trees, and Inuyasha nodded slowly.
"I see…" Was all he said, and Yuki smiled at him sadly.
"See you around, Inuyasha." She murmured, stooping to kiss his cheek before she ran off after Sesshomaru, calling in a much lighter tone: "Hey, Sesshomaru, wait up!"
Of course, he didn't, but neither had his pace been particularly fast – and Yuki caught up in no time. She turned and waved back at Inuyasha once before she and Sesshomaru disappeared from their sight, and Inuyasha sighed.
"Uh… what just happened?" Shippo asked, having witnessed everything in complete confusion, but Inuyasha shook his head.
"Let's get that antidote to these guys." He said, completely avoiding the subject, and he remained immovable on the topic for the rest of the day, no matter how much Shippo tried to pry an answer from him.
*A/N Song of the day: Inuyasha's Lullaby (English) from Inuyasha. I know I did the instrumental before, but I found this version with beautiful English lyrics to the melody that I just had to share! The link is here: /sQVEVmHRygI