THE PLOT THICKENS.
Sesshomaru made his way thru the trees, following the path which led back to Rin and Jaken.
He had went off on his own again today, as he had been doing most often since Akane had left them.
Sesshomaru would leave for most of the day, flying long and hard as he searched for any sign of Naraku.
The others followed behind at their own pace, and he checked in on them often, but not like before.
He just could not take it.
Rin would stare at him with those warm brown eyes, asking in utter silence when Akane would return.
Jaken was no different, just better at hiding his worry.
Over a week had passed since his return, saying that Akane would not be coming back to them.
At the time, both had sent a never ending barrage of questions his way, which he promptly ignored.
Rin caught on and no longer asked aloud, yet clearly wanted to know what had happened.
His only reply was that they were to go on hunting Naraku without her.
And that she had chosen to go.
Akane was smart to leave.
Because he was going to kill Naraku when next they met, despite her orders not too.
He had a strong feeling that once the spider was out of the picture he would be free of this never ending anger inside...
It was almost as if something was whispering such things to him.
A cool, calm voice that seemed like his own mind, yet different at times.
Now and then he could nearly feel the breath of someone on his neck whenever he thought of his mate, as the voice reminded him why he should not be forgiving to the girl.
Sesshomaru was taken from his thoughts when he approached the others, their voices reached him.
"But Jaken-sama, don't you think he's been acting a bit odd?"
"He's acting as anyone who just lost their mate would you fool."
"By going off to kill her friend?" Rin sounded both worried and confused.
"That has been the idea from the start, why would it change now?"
"I'm not sure Papa was really going to kill him in the end though..."
"Of course he was you fool! And finding out about the two of them only helped in his resolve."
"But Mama said they're simply just friends. And I believe her."
Jaken scoffed so loud Sesshomaru could nearly hear him roll his eyes.
"It matters not if YOU believe her, because clearly HE does not."
"So you really think she's not
coming back?" Rin's voice was shaky, emotional.
"If she's smart she won't. Did you not see the marks he left upon her flesh that day? Clearly milord is not going to let this relationship she has with that Naraku go."
Sesshomaru winced at the sudden reminder of his lack of control.
How he could still not remember what he had done to make such bruises bothered him still.
Even in anger, he was himself, but that had not been the case that night and it worried him.
Rin let out a sigh too deep for a child her age, bringing him back to focus once more as he approached.
"Yes, but, now and then Rin has seen him look so sad. He misses her when he let's himself. Surely Papa will go bring her back."
"Well I do indeed hope that to be the case, but with how he's been acting lately who knows."
"Ha! So even YOU think he's been odd lately, Jaken-sama!"
"I did not say- OH! Milord! Welcome back! You've been gone a while."
The imp had spotted him the moment he set foot in the clearing.
The imp changed subject and came up to greet him, but Sesshomaru went by without a glance.
Rin looked sad for a mere second before placing on a smile, also trying to hide the previous topic.
He did not like that fake look on her normally open face, liked even less she felt the need to hide things.
Staring intently into her eyes, he reached his claws out to her hair.
Running them thru the soft brown tangles in a silent attempt to assure the child he was fine.
Rin stared up at him, unafraid even is she thought he was not himself.
Her eyes said she knew he had heard them, and had so many things she desired to ask.
"Have you eaten today?" He said to keep her from speaking first.
Without Akane, he worried the child would go hungry while he was gone.
A true smile came, and his heart warmed at the sight.
"Rin found some nice berries a bit earlier today! So no need to worry about me, I gots this!"
With a pride filled grin she puffed out her chest, trying to look tough.
And just as quickly as the warm feeling from her smile came, it disappeared all together.
His eyes darkened at how she said that, and how she had acted.
It was just like Akane would have.
Rin seen the look and frowned.
"Papa?"
His claws fell from her hair as he turned away and did not look at her.
"Very well then. If you have eaten then there is nothing more to say on the matter." He stated, empty.
A small hand took hold of his sleeve, making him glance back.
Warm brown eyes locked onto cold gold eyes, each searching the other.
"Papa, it's okay to miss her. You still love her after all."
Wiping away any expression from his face, he pulled himself free.
"Silence." He said, voice cold.
Sesshomaru then walked away from her to a boulder, where he sat to look up at the dark evening sky.
"What did Rin do?" She whispered after him, sounding hurt.
Sesshomaru cringed when he heard her go off to talk to Jaken, asking what she had done to make him act like that so suddenly.
Guilt filled his throat and he swallowed it down as best he could.
Her bright smile, the sound of her laughter, and even some of her mannerisms had begun to remind him of someone else.
Akane.
His woman.
His mate.
And whenever THOSE thoughts crossed his mind, a deep and unrelenting anger filled him.
Anger at how Akane had betrayed him, how she lied to him. And how she ultimately left him.
Not only that, but she dare to order him to do no harm to the man who had stolen part of her heart.
Naraku.
That bastard was going to die for taking his mate from him.
The anger was no longer just a simmering kettle on a fire. It was a boiling sea in his heart.
However, even with the anger as a never ending torment inside, he knew it was not Rin's fault that she reminded him of Akane.
But a part of him worried he may lash out at the child because of it.
So he stayed away as much as he could, until all this was done and he would no longer have reason to be angry at the thought of her.
Sesshomaru watched the sickle shaped moon rise into the sky, feeling the air cool at a faster pace then just a few weeks ago.
The scent of dead grass and turning leaves filled the air around him.
And again, his mind went to Akane.
She had told him autumn was her favorite season, and how she was looking forward to seeing it in this time, free of pollution.
Was she home yet?
Was she safe?
The anger dimmed as another feeling tried to break thru, as it did so from time to time...
Sorrow.
A deep sadness rooted deep inside his very soul at the loss of her.
Sesshomaru swallowed as a physical pain wracked his heart.
How could I have let her go?
What a fool to let that one bit of sweetness in his life leave him.
He closed his eyes as he remembered her scent, fading from his clothes even now, and the way she would sit with him like this, leaning in close like she didn't fear him in the least bit.
The desire to track her was starting to grow, and just like before, it was drowned out by the return of that boiling sea of anger and utter bitterness towards his mate.
It felt like long fingers closing around his heart, a voiceless whisper telling him just why he should be angry.
MISS her?
Why should he miss a human female whose heart was so weak as to fall for another male?
She lied, betrayed, and tried to make him feel like he had no right to his anger towards her for it!
A breeze calmed his thoughts, and a picture of Akane flashed in his minds eye, making him swallow as he savored her fading scent on his robes that the breeze had stirred.
He could not forgive her...
And yet, even with such thoughts of anger and rage festering...
Rin was correct.
He still loved her, despite how something inside wanted him to hate her with every breath.
Sesshomaru felt the light pain as his claws tightened to a fist.
He pulled it up, staring at the blood running down his hand from the marks his claws had left.
Frowning at both the blood and the way his mind seemed to be at odds lately, Sesshomaru flicked away the blood with a frustrated sigh.
Suddenly, he jolted when he felt a tiny prick at the base of his neck, making him reach out and smack it out of reflex, taking hold of the culprit and pulling it down.
He knew the scent even before the tiny old flea was revealed flat in the palm of Sesshomaru's hand.
"Myoga." He stated, looking bored, yet ever curious to the appearence of one who normally avoided him.
The flea let out a cough and popped back to his normal state in a rather comical way.
"Oh, well if it isn't Sesshomaru-sama! Thought I knew the smell of that yummy pure blood!"
Sesshomaru just stared down at the bug in his palm, unamused.
The flea gulped and went on with his babbling anyway.
"I've heard your looking for the borderland between life and death, same as Inuyasha-sama and the others, how goes it- "
The old flea froze when Sesshomaru flexed his fingers, and he looked up at the man with silent worry.
Sesshomaru was bothered by his pointless tirade of words.
"What is it that you want, Myoga."
Myoga began to sweat under his unblinking stare, and he rubbed two of his hands together nervously.
"Who, me? I was just passing thru and caught a whiff of something super tasty is all-"
"Silence!"
Myoga flinched and swallowed at the commanding tone.
Sesshomaru glared down at the tiny creature, sensing there was more to it then it was letting on.
Rin and Jaken were sneaking up to the side of the boulder, most likely thinking he was talking to himself.
With an annoyed sigh, he tossed the flea aside, and it landed right on Jaken's green face.
"EEEeeek! Get it off!" The imp yelped once he seen the big eyes on the tip of his nose.
Rin gently removed the flea, cupping it in her small hand.
"It's the little old bug." She stated with a hint of that voice when she thought something was cute.
It made Sesshomaru's lips twitch in the first hint of a true smile in weeks and he blinked in surprise when he caught himself at it.
"I ain't old!" Myoga whined as he hopped up and down on her hand.
Rin just giggled and mumbled a not convincing apology.
"What do YOU want." Jaken glared.
Once again looking nervous, the flea took shelter behind one of Rin's curled fingers before answering.
"J-just checking in is all. Been hearing some odd things on the wind ya know. Like how the Lady Akane is no longer with you. So I was just seeing if it's true..."
Sesshomaru was silent.
Just staring as if to say it was more the obvious that she was gone.
Myoga seemed to get a bit of courage as he pointed a finger up at Sesshomaru in an accusing way.
"I have also heard that you mated to that young woman. So tell me, Sesshomaru-sama, how is it that you could let her go so easily. It does not seem like you at all to give up on something you want."
A flash of pain was covered by his eyes going red in warning.
"Watch your tongue." He said in a calm tone that was betrayed by the red in his eyes.
But the flea did not.
It seemed he was pressing for some reason, watching reactions.
"The fact you mated a HUMAN of all things must mean a part of you actually gives a damn about her, so why the heck did you let her go?"
Sesshomaru was about to answer, but no words came out. There was no reason he could think of at the moment to be honest.
Akane was his.
No other could have her.
So why did he let her leave him alone once again in life?
And again those invisible fingers took hold of him from the inside.
That empty whisper in his ears.
Because she isn't truly yours.
She chose the spider.
LEFT you because of him.
At that random thought, he just shook his head and held in a growl.
Taking a silent step toward the flea as he flexed his claws.
Rin backed up three steps and Myoga jumped from her hand.
"Oh hohoho! Struck a nerve did I? Then maybe you should have fought harder to keep her, eh?" He said with a hint of pity.
Both Rin and Jaken ran at the animal sound that left Sesshomaru the moment before he went at the flea with his claws.
Hopping just a ways in front of him, Myoga studied him up and down.
"So you truly are not yourself, huh."
Sesshomaru froze.
"What?" He said a bit shocked.
"For you to show such open rage. Not to mention your eye color..."
Sesshomaru glared.
This was sounding oddly close to the same nonsense that the stupid spider had been spouting last time.
"Be silent!" He snapped as his claws sliced the air inches from the flea's balding head.
"Well now, I got what I came for. Time to split!" Myoga yelped.
And with that the flea took off at top speed, and Sesshomaru had to stop himself from following after.
He just stood there, growling, claws poised to strike at anything, as a mass of mixed emotions wracked him over and over.
What was that about?
The flea had purposely tried to make him react for some reason.
Sesshomaru let out a breath and recovered himself, a bit shocked at his lack of self control.
Looking back, he seen that both Jaken and Rin were hiding behind Ah-Uhn, peeking out at him with wide and fearful eyes.
The pain that hit him because of that made him look away in shame.
Now Rin was afraid of him.
As much as that hurt his heart, a part of him didn't care.
The sensation of hands running over his back made him turn.
Nobody was there.
Just the others cowering from him.
Frowning to himself, Sesshomaru walked off into the trees, lost in thoughts that only made him more and more on edge...
Meanwhile, Myoga hopped and hopped until his hopper was beat. Snatching the tail of a rabbit walking by, he made it head the direction of Totosai.
Oh hohoho...
So the old man had been right.
Sesshomaru not only had a strange marking on the back of his neck, but his eyes were a shade darker, and his blood tasted off.
Heck, even his scent was off.
That of something, or someone, else was mixed with it.
"I am a bit surprised though," He said to himself as the rabbit went along at a breakneck pace.
"One would think that Sesshomaru of all people would be able to tell when he is possessed."
With a pause, he decided it might make some sense after all.
"Given how stubborn Sesshomaru happens to be, even if told he was possessed, he would most likely be insulted and not believe me..."
Myoga let out a sigh.
He liked the human girl, Akane.
Didn't want her to die by the hands of a man who wasn't himself.
It was good she left this world.
Safer the further away she was.
The spell Sesshomaru was under would most likely cause him to do something he may regret, and who knows how he will react once recovered from the possession.
"Faster, you stupid bunny!"
Myoga bit hard into it's flank, and it let out a shriek before dashing off faster then a rabbit should.
Two rabbits, one cat, and a raven later, Myoga made it to the cave.
He jumped from the air and hopped his way inside at top speed.
"You were right, you were right! It is indeed the work of Ikari Shitto! Hey Totosai, are you even here?"
The flea went all the way inside and seen nothing but a mess.
"Rats..." But as he said that, he heard a clang from outside.
Myoga hopped back out and went around to the back of the cave.
The clanking was louder, and he could make out voices.
"It can be tighter, it still feels too floppy in the arms."
"Well give me a break missy, I ain't used to making armor now am I?"
Myoga froze when he spotted them.
"What on earth are you doing?" He said, holding in a laugh.
Totosai had a hammer in hand, and seemed to be attempting to mold bits of metal around the body of a human girl. A yellow haired one.
Both paused to look at him.
The girls face brightened into a warm and friendly smile.
"Hey! Been a while." Akane said, attempting to wave but could only wiggle her fingers.
"Forget THAT!" Myoga snapped as he hopped onto Totosai's shoulder and pointed to her.
"What are you still doing here! You should be safe at home, not doing whatever nonsense this is! You do realize Sesshomaru will most likely kill you next time you meet?"
"Kinda counting on that actually."
The flea sputtered at the calm way she just said that. Like she had not a care in the world.
"Your crazy." He said at last, making the old man he was on burst out into cackling laughter.
"True, true! I said the same thing to her when she told me of her plan. So this bit we got going on is my way of at least trying to make her just a little bit more safe." Totosai waved the hammer in his hand.
Myoga moved from the man's shoulder to his head, smacking the top like crazy.
"You idiot! You make swords, not armor, and for good reason!"
"Can't be too different." Totosai said in a smug tone as he swatted at the little old flea.
"LOOK at her! Looks like your trying to make a human tin can."
Akane held in her giggle as best she could at the banter going on.
After all, she secretly agreed.
When the old man had offered to do this, she had politely declined.
Given that her plan was to die, having armor was pointless to the matter at hand.
If anything it would just make it harder for her plan to work.
But Totosai hadn't been paying full attention, and next thing she knew he had dragged her out here and wrapped metal around her.
"The girl needs more then them skimpy clothes if she be going to go and confront Sesshomaru!" Totosai said in a worried tone.
"Then at least take her to someone who knows what they're doing!"
Akane took that moment to slip out of the half made tin can, wiggling and twisting until she was free.
The two old men were so into their yelling match that they did not see her slip away from them.
Akane went into the cave and jotted down a thank you note for the both of them, before taking off into the trees with determination.
She had heard when Myoga arrived at the caves door, heard him announce that it was that female yokai of jealousy who had a strong hold of her mate.
And thanks to Totosai she knew the only way the woman would let him go was if she thought he had killed Akane or Naraku.
And since one was more easily killed then the other...
Akane had things to do.
And a certain spider to go find.
