Nocturne - Chapter Twenty-Five: Taken
Rated - M (for suggestive adult themes, references to some violence, and coarse language)
o - o - o - o - o : Indicates scene or POV change
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.
o - o - o - o - o
The western wind was behind him, aiding in his haste even in the form of light. Even the elements were aware of his need to push east.
Sesshomaru could feel the small house on the outskirts of the village was empty. He landed in front, all the same, intent on surveying the area.
The scent in the air did not have anything odd about it outside of a strong, pungent odor that immediately indicated his half-brother had frequented the area.
The smell was most potent from the outside. Good. Inuyasha had taken his words to heart and obeyed. Sesshomaru would be very likely tempted to kill his brother had there been other scents mixed in here.
He quickly followed the path towards the village where Rin lived with the older miko. It was closer to the town when he began to sense struggle and death.
Sesshomaru could feel his hackles rise from the sensation. The death was a mortal one wand he'd invested too deeply with those as of late.
Arriving at the miko woman's house, he ripped aside the curtain without his usual grace and peered inside.
Empty! Even from the old woman who required assistance to move. He could smell something else that tickled the edge of his consciousness with familiarity. The room was even darker now than it had been upon his last visit, though his vision was unimpeded by the lack of light.
He scanned the room until his gaze settled upon the item that had barely registered—a small table in the room held candles, flowers, and a peculiar feather. With one reaching stride, he moved towards the table and pulled the feather up, assessing it. Poison, he determined, throwing the quill down and exiting the house.
Sesshomaru followed his nose to find his brother. It only took a moment to reach another human dwelling somewhat more prominent than many of its neighbors. Without bothering to announce himself or wait for an invitation, he strode inside.
Familiar faces turned to him, none surprised by his entrance, though none wore the countenance of whom he sought.
"Lord Sesshomaru," the houshi nodded his head in deference and rose, followed by his woman.
Both looked nervous, unsure of how he would react to whatever news they had to share. The woman, ever confident, took charge and stepped in front of her man. The houshi gave a subtle nod, and the taijiya squeezed his arm in acknowledgment.
There was a separate room just beyond where his brother's scent emanated. From within, he could also pick up two more known scents. However, one was missing, and the pair before him were doing their best to impede him for unknown reasons.
"Stand aside," he ordered callously. It was clear his brother had failed in the simplest of tasks. Why they would protect his pathetic half-brother was beyond him.
"I beg you wait and hear us out, Sesshomaru," the taijiya exclaimed.
He issued an icy glare, his look daring her to try and stop him. His patience was worn thin, and nothing had been said nor done to deter him. The woman sensed his trepidations and grimaced but stepped aside to allow him through unimpeded. Sesshomaru stalked past the pair and entered the next room, scanning the space.
A bright, lovely voice greeted his arrival. "My lord!"
His eyes settled upon the countenance of Rin and in her arms, his young child. He turned his head away, focusing on his source of anger.
"You have failed, Inuyasha!" he spat, gripping at the hilt of Bakusaiga.
Inuyasha stood in a defensive position, blade already drawn. His feet spread apart, his elbows splayed. "Fuck off, Sesshomaru! I didn't fail shit!"
Sesshomaru scoffed at the display. "Yet here you stand with guilt dripping from your every breath. How pathetic that you hide yourself behind mortals. You dare to deny your shortcomings?"
Inuyasha growled incredulously. "You bastard! Maybe YOU are the one who failed? Running off with your tail in between your legs because you're too scared to admit that you care!"
Sesshomaru could feel the red waves surging over him, drenching him in a rufescent rage. A calming hand gripped his arm, and he fought the urge to rip the arm off. His eyes tore away from his brother and caught the concerned look from Rin.
"Lord Sesshomaru, please wait," she urged him, quickly removing her hand.
It was with great mental gumption that he removed his hand from the hilt of his blade. The urge was pushed down with the reassurance that he could kill Inuyasha at any time away from the eyes of young Rin. "Speak your piece and count your breaths, for they are numbered."
Inuyasha did not move from his position; the blade Tessaiga still held up. "I saved your brat. Your welcome," Inuyasha jibed. If he had expected a thank you, he was sorely mistaken.
Sesshomaru said nothing in return, choosing to glare at the excuse for a brother before him.
"Keh, figures. You wouldn't give a fuck about your own kid because of what she is," Inuyasha continued.
"Do not presume to understand my motivations. It is because the child is present that you still draw breath instead of mulling over the moments before your doom."
Rin slowly walked to stand between the brothers, now taking her soothing touch to Inuyasha. "Stand down, Inuyasha. You'll get nowhere taunting Lord Sesshomaru with untruths."
He reluctantly lowered his blade, sheathing it angrily. "Fine." He stepped to the side a fraction, enough to reveal the cowering form behind him.
Sesshomaru's eyes flared, and his irk rose. His idiot brother had stood between him and the hanyo woman sent by Tsering. The woman looked terrified even as she stared at the floor. "Why am I not surprised that you would protect this halfbreed filth. Explain why this Sesshomaru should not snuff out its life along with its protector."
"Because she is just as much a victim."
"That thing you protect will return to its master at the first given opportunity. Surely, you can see that this wretched creature is trained from birth to serve and would die before exposing its master?" Sesshomaru shot out incredulously. "The only useful thing it could possibly do is be exterminated. At least then, it would be at peace from its torment."
Rin tsked. "How can you be so cruel? Not every enemy faced is so singular as you assume. Even this "creature," as you put it is multi-faceted, and her plight is harrowing."
Sesshomaru gave the girl an annoyed look. She had grown to be so openly defiant to him. He had been soft on her to allow her to speak thus, but he also admired her backbone, much to his chagrin. Rin held his child in one arm, and her free arm wagged an accusatory finger at him.
"So the creature has been granted the ability to speak suddenly? I have it on good authority that the hanyo is muted. You cannot trust it, even if it were able to throw words."
Rin ignored him, "From what we gathered, she was used as a decoy to distract Inuyasha while Kagome was taken."
"Nothing said has extinguished my desire to kill it. You are merely delaying the inevitable and becoming attached to something that would sooner bury a dagger in your back than assist you."
"I won't let you kill her," Inuyasha announced darkly. He stepped in front of the cowering woman again, using his body as a shield.
"Move aside, you fool. This can be done swiftly and painlessly, or otherwise."
"No! She can help us get Kagome back!" He called out in what seemed to be desperation.
"I fail to see how. The only thing that thing may do is become a liability. Get it out of my sight," he demanded.
Inuyasha knew that this battle would not be won. He gathered the woman up in his arms and left the room, careful to stay outside of Sesshomaru's reach.
It seemed a grievous error to allow the woman to leave alive. She could only bring trouble, he knew. Perhaps he truly was becoming soft.
"Forgive me, Lord Sesshomaru. It pains me to speak against you, but I disagree that she should die." Rin stepped towards him and held the child before her, presenting her to her father.
Sesshomaru regarded the small child for a moment. She seemed larger than when he had last seen her but still small and defenseless. The child, Setsuna, looked up at him with those midnight eyes. They seemed to accuse him of the weakness he felt. He turned on his heel, breaking away from the scrutinizing gaze of the infant.
"Keep Setsuna safe, Rin, until her mother returns," he said from over his shoulder.
Rin sighed, "Of course, Lord."
He walked into the main room, where the houshi and taijiya stood waiting. They spoke quietly amongst themselves, seemingly deliberating. "Rin and the child are to remain here," he informed.
"It would be our honor," the monk responded. "We would have done so without instruction."
"Hnn," Sesshomaru responded. "Know that my mercy has only extended to my brother by the grace his bloodline affords him. I have no such restraint with his companions."
"The veiled threats have no power over us, Sesshomaru. We will protect our friends as our own because we love and care about them, not because we are compelled to do so by fear," the taijiya spat out.
He would have responded in anger in a different time, likely lashing out, but of late, his disdain had been tempered. "Your kin, he still upholds the family profession of yokai exterminator?"
The taijiya looked to the houshi in perplexion before answering. "Yes, Kohaku is now working to restore the taijiya ranks," she proferred hesitantly.
"May it be suggested you invite him to an extended stay within your village," Sesshomaru advised. He could see her brows draw together in concern, and she grabbed the monk's arm again. The monk looked down at her and patted her shoulder reassuringly.
"Safe travels, Sesshomaru. I shall pray for Kagome's safe return," the monk bowed his head.
Sesshomaru gave a slight nod and departed from the house, heading due west.
A/N: Sesshomaru is still at war with himself about his "feelings." Methinks he is wearing down.
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