Nocturne - Chapter Thirty-One: Beautiful Mine
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.
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The flight back to the Western lands was swift and uneventful as could be while traveling with a small child. She did not make much of a fuss, rarely making more than an amused gurgle the entire trip. Sesshomaru had never traveled with such a small child and could not have fully comprehended the needs of a youngling. He was fortunate not to deal with any such thing in flight.
The child had fallen asleep in his arms towards the end of the flight. She remained so once he alighted upon the palace he had procured. It still struck him as strange not to always be on the move, but that would be no life for a child of his.
He recalled his childhood brought up in a sprawling palace. Life had been different then, being brought up by two parents who seemed indifferent to each other at the best of times. He had not even been genuinely raised by his parents but left in the care of a lesser yokai. He could barely even recall the woman now, nearly a millennia later.
Sesshomaru stepped through the house's halls and into a room intended for children, a nursery of sorts left behind by its previous tenants. Looking about, he scowled at the mild decor left for a human child. This was unbefitting a yokai child, even one of mixed blood. The scenery depicted upon the wall were lies depicting glorious human victories. He made a mental note to express his distaste to Jaken and have the items removed.
He laid the child down and turned to walk from the room. There were immediate matters to attend. He'd gotten nearly to the door when he heard something. Sesshomaru turned to look over his shoulder only to find the child now missing. Another sound, below him, was heard, and he felt a tug on his nu-bakama. An amused squeal was heard, and he looked down to see the child pulling herself up using his clothing for support. She sported a mildly toothy grin and pushed herself up and down in some strange dancing motion.
Was this usual for a child? Or was this something attributed to her human half? A yokai would certainly not behave so ludicrously.
Sesshomaru reached down and picked the babe up. She continued to make babbling noises in his arm, "Mumamama," she cooed.
The child began to chew upon her hand and make distressed noises. How very much like her mother, this one, with moods that shift faster than the sands of time. Sesshomaru examined the child, attempting to conclude the source of her displeasure. She seemed to be chewing on her fingers quite a bit; perhaps that was the source. He placed a finger near her face, and she grabbed onto his finger like a vice. Quickly, she moved his finger into her mouth and began to gnaw. Her budding canine pierced his flesh, and had he not anticipated such a thing, he may have reacted differently. Indeed, blood had been drawn, and he gently pulled his hand from the child. She protested with her wordless grunts before continuing to chew on her hand again.
He moved to the middle of the room and sat the child down again, determined to leave. He would have to prepare for the child's extended stay, and there was nothing at hand for her minus a few human toys. Sesshomaru concluded that the child would be fine unattended for a time after assuring himself that she would stay put. She currently began crawling towards the side of the room to inspect something that had caught her interest. Satisfied he could exit without being followed, he closed the door and continued down the hall.
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There had never been a time in his life when he had felt so powerful, so free. It had been ages since he'd not had to be at one's beck and call. It was something of which he thought he could grow accustomed.
Jaken strolled through the grand estate, his chest puffed and his staff clicking on the floor with each passing step. He'd just returned from a foray into the mortal territory. It was a task left to him to keep the humans in order while his lord and master was away conducting business. Jaken relished in his assumed power and was proud to carry out business on his lord's behalf.
He was happy not to have that bitch of a woman lurking about and torturing him with her questions and heavenly good looks. No one to question him, belittle him, or threaten his life. That behavior would only be tolerated if it came from his master. Now, it would only be a matter of time before his Lord Sesshomaru returned, and things went back to normal.
Perhaps they would return to traveling in search of new victories? That would be preferable to a stale life cooped up in a human palace to look after any whelps the evil bitch may have popped out.
Jaken was immensely satisfied to learn of his master breaking off the engagement. Now he no longer had to worry about the woman or her distasteful, filthy half-breed companion. She was always lurking about, that one.
Jaken riled himself up, just thinking about it. The thought of keeping a half-breed around was just despicable, dishonorable, and pathetic. It was bad enough that his master had taken a human child to foster. Her miserable presence was one he was also happy to be rid of. Though, he hated to admit he missed her kind words and a happy smile. Of course, that was all he could dredge up in the form of pleasant memories. The child always had something to say, never shutting up, and he, Jaken, was responsible for keeping an eye on her during tumultuous times when danger was ever-present.
Good fortune indeed that Jaken did not have to worry about such things any longer.
Jaken felt a bubbling of happiness when he sensed his master returned. He knew that Lord Sesshomaru would require his presence immediately, so he hurried along. It appeared that his master searched for him as well, his golden eyes scanning for his small retainer.
"My Lord! You have returned; I am so pleased to advise that all you have requested has been done," he explained with pride. No other retainer could boast the level of loyalty that Jaken felt for his master. There was nothing he would not do for Lord Sesshomaru.
In a surprising turn of events, his lord actually gave an approving nod. "Good," he said. Jaken nearly burst with happiness. 'Good' had not been a word he received on occasion, and to get one now must mean that his lord indeed recognized his loyalty.
"Of course, master. It was simple, really, and I was able to procure the…" he trailed off.
"Kami, Almighty! Sire, you've something attached to your leg!" he hollered. Jaken could see some creature pulling at his master's clothes. Such open defiance would not be tolerated. The beast must have gotten past Lord Sesshomaru's superb defenses, but he, Jaken, would take care of the nuisance.
Jaken hustled with his staff at the ready and fell backward, appalled at the sight. "Sire! Some filthy half-blood mutt has infiltrated our esteemed estate. Its parents must be close. I shall dispose of it immediately." The small child eyed Jaken with interest. Such large eyes, much too alert for one so young, he thought.
Sesshomaru turned and looked down to see the child, hands full of his nu-bakama, and watching Jaken. "Hnn," his master said with either curiosity or indifference. It was difficult for Jaken to tell.
"It is the miko's child," Sesshomaru advised.
"So, the woman and your miserable younger brother's spawn is here? I may still dispose of it if you demand, my lord."
"Jaken, you know full well that half-breeds are sterile."
"Then how have you come across such an ill-begotten seed?"
Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes and bent down to lift the child. Strangely enough, the young child gave him an equally cold stare.
"My-my lord. You suggest this-this half-breed be...y-y-y-yours?" Jaken stammered. There could be no way Lord Sesshomaru would do such a thing!
"Indeed," Sesshomaru answered with what could almost be described as a smirk. Was his master tormenting him? Or on the verge of killing him. It would do him well to ascertain which quickly.
"I understand. The miko tricked you into giving your highly sought-after seed," he nodded sagely, convinced there was no way his master would willingly take up a mortal woman. "Now you have taken the child to care for despite yourself. How honorable and merciful my master is!"
Sesshomaru took in a measured breath, and Jaken cowered, awaiting a well-placed kick. It never came, and he opened his eyes to see his lord staring at him almost patiently. "You shall address her as Lady Setsuna and provide her with the same level of deference as befitting a child of this one."
Jaken blinked and got a good look at the child. Now evident was a crescent moon mark upon her brow, clearly branding her as a descendant of his lord.; The ears standing out on her head the only visual indication of her mixed blood. It was strange to see her dark eyes, not a glowing gold like her father's, but more of a midnight blue that burned into those who dared to cross her.
He felt himself shrink involuntarily at her piercing gaze and mentally berated himself for cowering before a half-blood child. "Of course, sire. She shall have every respect due to a Lady of the western lands," he assured his master.
His lord sat the child down in front of Jaken, and she wobbled upon her two feet before losing her balance and falling on her rear with a slight grunt. So, it could not walk yet. It was that young.
"See to it she is fed and changed. I shall return soon," Sesshomaru said, watching the child with a discerning eye.
"B-b-b-but Master! You can't possibly expect me to...to…" he exclaimed in horror. The idea of him playing nursemaid to an infant was preposterous! Unseemly for an attendant of his stature.
"Do not displease me, Jaken. I am particularly fond of the child, and should your treatment of her fall ill, it would be an act upon your lord himself."
Jaken looked back and forth between the child and his master. Preposterous, indeed! He nodded profusely, "Y-yes, my lord. It shall be done."
Without a word or second glance, Lord Sesshomaru left his loyal retainer with his infant child. Jaken watched his master disappear and clutched his staff desperately. Sesshomaru had admitted fondness to a half-breed child that he had known for what seemed to be minutes. His lord had never declared such affection for Jaken. The best he had ever gotten was tolerance.
Jaken cut an envious eye over to the child only to discover it gone. He gasped, "Eeeek! It's disappeared! Lord Sesshomaru will have my head!" He ran down the hall calling the child's name and searching fervently. "Lady Setsuna! Please come out!"
A/N: Honestly, I had some fun writing from Jaken's viewpoint, knowing I was going to pull the rug from under his feet.
Well, see you next time. If you liked this chapter, please let me know your thoughts. I do enjoy seeing them hit my inbox for a little spark of motivation.