Dying to Live

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

Cool midmorning mist clung to Sesshomaru's face in the Grey morning light. It had rained overnight, and despite thick cloud cover that lingered, as the sun rose and warmed the earth, fog hung around depressions in the road to and throughout the nearby village. Sesshomaru had found the place at about a 40-minute walk coming out of the foothills. He didn't know the name of the village, but at its opposite perimeter from where he entered the settlement, a weapons craftsman worked out of a rough extension off his farm house. As Sesshomaru waited for the man to come back with what he'd requested, a beady eyed chicken wandered too close and pecked his boot. It took the former Lord of the West restraint to only gently nudge the annoying creature aside. It still squawked gratingly with its beak in the air, and unwillingly, Sesshomaru was reminded of Jaken for the first time in a long while. He was glad for a distraction a short moment later as the craftsman reappeared at the door to his work area.

"Sorry, Okyakusama, it took me several minutes to find it, but it was still back there. A guy ordered it, and never came to get it. Can you believe that?" the man complained, as he approached an old wooden table surrounded by a few uneven, knobby-legged stools. He laid the item Sesshomaru had requested on the tabletop. The craftsmans began to carefully unwrap the sheath of fabric tied around it so that Sesshomaru, his customer, could have a look at the craftsmanship.

With a stern look, the middle-aged but still fit craftsman dubiously appraised his customer. "But are ye sure yer not from one o' the villages around here? Usually takes a permit from the local lord to keep a weapon like this one on hand, an' ye don't seem to have one. Or are ye one of those ronin types?"

Sesshomaru listened to the man's prattling but didn't spare him a look. Fortunately, though the craftsman may have been a bit too nosy for Sesshomaru's tolerance, it appeared he wasn't bad at his craft. Sesshomaru wasted no time and lifted the weapon then stepped a safe distance from the table. The craftsman maintained his silence as he watched the slate-grey haired stranger move as if it was second nature. Smoothly, Sesshomaru turned the long weapon, striking in a short arc toward the ground and turning to maneuver the butt of the weapon in a mock follow up strike. The craftsman whispered an interested little Ohh-ho sound that satisfied Sesshomaru a bit - no, Sesshomaru was not some local village peasant playing with weapons he had no business owning.

Sesshomaru held out and weighed the weapon in his upturned palms once more. Short and a bit too lightweight for him, it would be perfect for Rin.

Carefully, the ex-youkai presented it back to its maker with a slight perfunctory bow of his head with the words "I'll take it."

:

"I cannot believe him," Kohaku stormed in from the mouth of the cave. Outside thunder rumbled. A midday storm brewed outside, and from where Miroku was lying weakly in his bed roll, he could see how the sunlight had died out over the past few minutes. Several yards away, Rin was suspiciously silent, as she cooked lunch at the firepit. Ginta and Hakkaku sat at Kouga's bedside, playing a game of "drawing straws" with a fistful of sticks they had picked up off the cave floor and broken to different lengths. Clearly, they had determined not to get involved with the current drama on this occasion. Meanwhile, Hachi had joined Kirara in a cat nap. The monk sighed inwardly on all their behalf and on that of Shippou, who had just walked up the path, entering the cave some paces behind Kohaku.

The glamorized kitsune and the demon slayer had been out looking for Sesshomaru but apparently to no avail. When they woke up that morning, once again the former demon lord was absent from their party. It surprised Miroku how quickly Kohaku had become agitated at finding their charge had left without leaving a word once more. For all the calm thoughtfulness his younger brother-in-law had shown since he'd thankfully come back to them from Naraku's dark grasp, Miroku was learning that even Kohaku, for all his natural heroic tendencies, was not a saint; in fact, he was showing a bit of the hot-headed young man, which Miroku recognized in himself from when he was the slayer's own age. It also had him thinking that possibly it was because of Rin: Miroku had been noticing how the two of them had been getting closer. Though Rin was busier with caring for Kouga now, when Kohaku was not tending to Miroku or seething after Sesshomaru the past two days, the monk had had more time to note how he hung protectively somewhere slightly out of the young woman's way.

And now added to that, this situation with Sesshomaru had gotten under the demon slayer's skin quicker than predicted since Miroku had better explained the meaning of the brands he shared with Sesshomaru and now Kouga. The Buddhist now slightly regretted telling Kohaku that their fates were essentially tied together, but since the slayer had seen how the brand appeared on the monk's body after he'd performed the Forbidden Sutra, there didn't seem to be much choice. Kohaku's questions had started flowing as soon as the two of them were apart from the group when Miroku could no longer put off bathing.

Miroku would need to find a way to calm the situation for all their sakes. He knew well that fighting with Sesshomaru was not likely going to solve anything. He reassured himself that he had experience on his side, as he fought to speak.

"Kohaku, Shippou," he rasped, deciding to call the two of them over. He beckoned with two fingers peeking out over his bed covers, lest they couldn't make out his wretched sounding call. Knowing the monk was bedbound, the slayer and the kitsune came to Miroku's side automatically.

"Come closer," Miroku forced, dying a bit at how he sounded like an old man to his own ears. His chest ached from coughing, but when the younger two were on their knees bent over him, Miroku choked out barely above a whisper: "It's about Sesshomaru: I'm telling you again, you need to lay off him."

"Miroku, how can you keep saying that when he's-!" Kohaku started loudly when Miroku reached up and grabbed his chestplate to get his attention. For once, Shippou watched quietly.

"Kohaku, I'm losing my voice, please listen and keep this between us," Miroku breathed, so Kohaku closed his mouth. "Pushing Sesshomaru will solve nothing. Kohaku you were not with us to experience it, but Shippou you remember how we used to have to treat Inuyasha sometimes, right?" the monk asked.

"Oh yeah, for ages everything had to be 'his idea', and he would still fight us on every little thing sometimes," Shippou confirmed, apparently already knowing where Miroku was going with this.

"That's right," Miroku smiled weakly at their youkai friend. "But despite all his resistance and uncooperative behavior, he stuck with us and never left us, and know why right, Shippou?"

The fox gasped a bit at being put on the spot but then looked thoughtful. "Uh, well, we became friends, and because of Kagome?" he answered with a guessing tone.

"Yes," Miroku nodded, watching Kohaku, who looked about to open his mouth with a retort. The monk was faster: "Sesshomaru does not see us as friends now, but if we can gain at least an understanding, that will be key because gaining his cooperation will be far easier over the long run than keeping him prisoner."

The monk swallowed to relax his tired throat for a moment, and then watched Kohaku carefully for what he added next. "And having watched him closely for the past few days in Harumura, I believe he'll want to keep Rin where he believes she will be safest. Despite the danger of the past few days, he has to know now he's better off keeping with allies. So where Rin is, I have to think he will stay too, as by the same token, he is not so trusting of us."

Kohaku frowned deeply and rubbed the back of his own neck uneasily. He glanced at Rin and then back again. "I don't know… Are you sure he cares that much about her? He has a pretty weak way of showing it."

Unfortunately, Miroku agreed with the slayer. While he did mean what he said, that Sesshomaru apparently cared about Rin's welfare, something that Inuyasha had been convinced of and puzzled about for quite a while, the monk was also not very convinced of the extent of that "caring". Still, this was the best he had to go on. He may have been sick for the moment, but he couldn't give up.

The monk turned away and coughed to clear his throat. "I'm certain he cares at least enough, but alienating Sesshomaru could wear that advantage away," Miroku looked pointedly at Kohaku, who looked uncomfortable but nodded.

"Brother-in-law, I still don't like him going out on his own," Kohaku whispered with renewed conviction. "What if he's not careful and even hurts himself on purpose, if not by accident?"

"Be that as it may, but unless you want to keep him tied up, you may as well try convincing him not to go out alone. However, that's probably the best you can do," Miroku warned, satisfied from his younger brother-in-law's sigh that he'd successfully driven his point home.

"Don't worry, Miroku, we can handle this thing with Sesshomaru until you're feeling better. We won't let you down!" Shippou supplied in a low but excited voice, ever eager to please his friends, and conveniently not bothered by hormones as Kohaku seemed to be. Miroku felt a bit bad about using the kitsune's enthusiasm against Sango's little brother, but he had to do what he still could at the moment.

Which turned out to be opportune, as a shuffling sound came forth from the mouth of the cave. Sesshomaru then walked up into view, the fabric of his clothes lightly flecked with dark spots, a sign that raindrops had begun to fall just before he made it in.

Miroku glanced at Kohaku, who appeared to be biting his tongue as he watched the long-haired man. For his part, Sesshomaru sauntered up looking completely unphased by any notion of wrongdoing.

Kohaku passed a look at Miroku before he rose up slowly. The monk hoped that the slayer could keep his cool.

"Where did you go?" the slayer asked calmly, as he entered Sesshomaru's path. The monk held his wheezy breath.

"Out," came the other man's terse reply.

The slayer merely sighed, which was better than Miroku had hoped for earlier before their chat. Kohaku's voice was forceful but at least the tone was even when he replied, "Clearly. What's that?"

The monk and the kitsune also surveyed the long item slung off the back of his left shoulder. The end pointed at the sky was bundled in fabric. Miroku's stomach flip flopped slightly, as looking at it better now, it was clearly a weapon. Of course, the former demon lord had become adamant per the events in Harumura that he would be more than glad to hold his own from now on. Having a more heavily armed Sesshomaru in their midst did not enthuse the Buddhist though.

"This," Inuyasha's half-brother glanced over his shoulder, "is why I went out."

Miroku sighed mentally at the blunt reply. He wondered if Sesshomaru could be any less interested in assuaging the noticeably growing tension between Kohaku and himself.

"And it is for Rin - not me. So I would that you all cease staring at me as if we will all have our blades in our hands any minute," Sesshomaru finished. Kohaku and Shippou thankfully had the grace to appear mildly sheepish, and the slayer let Sesshomaru pass at last. Meanwhile, being bedridden, Miroku was glad to be an audience of one and not really noticed. Like that of the slayer and the kitsune, the monk's gaze followed Sesshomaru, as he moved toward the fire pit where Rin had stayed. The quickness with which her eyes flickered down to the cooking pot she was monitoring told Miroku she planned to pretend she was not interested in the tete-a-tete between Sesshomaru and the slayer that had played out, likely out of earshot for her.

At the distance of where the three friends grouped, Kohaku and Miroku could not hear what was said. Though like Shippou's hearing was keen enough to tell them later, Sesshomaru's gestures were clear enough to otherwise see, as he beckoned the young woman to rise. Her response was delayed, likely indecisive about taking orders from someone whose last conversation with her was a two-day old argument. At last she did stand but kept her hands passively at her sides. From his back the man unslung the object having the darkly-lacquered pole, as he spoke a few words to Rin. The end of the item hidden in fabric quickly came exposed, as Sesshomaru unwrapped the makeshift guard. Curving blade tip pointed toward the cave ceiling, Sesshomaru leaned the weapon's grip toward Rin. She hesitated for a moment, staring at the knife's point which terminated at a point well above her height. Yet at last, Rin wordlessly reached out and gripped the body of the naginata, as the orange light of the fire's flames played on the steel end of her new weapon for all to see.

::

Sighing with great and loud irritation, Kagura wiped the back of her neck with the sleeve of her kosode for what felt like the millionth time that afternoon. With no choice but to follow where Anurak's senses took them on their quest, the two unlikely travel companions found themselves delving deep into the heavily forested area just off the coast of Southwestern Honshu.

The night before, rain had poured down intermittently for hours starting just after midnight and carrying on until just before sunrise. Able to sense the coming storm better than most thanks to his innate sensitivity to their natural surroundings as a half forest nymph, Anurak had actually managed to locate a vacant and less-ramshackle-than-most traveler's hut off the larger route they had traveled. The roof didn't leak too much, so Kagura did eventually give in to sleep - but only after finally tossing a second barb at Anurak to "quit fooling with that damned instrument". The hanyou had actually improved his shamisen playing, but she would never tell him that… at least not until he had a command of a more complex repertoire of musical pieces she might be able to stand more easily.

After so much rainfall, dawn ascended on a world saturated with water, which in the southerly clime, soon became hung with thick, steamy mist. It was the first spring day they'd had that had begun to hint at the wet heat of summer, and Kagura hated it.

She gave another loud sigh. Anurak cast his gaze away from what he was doing to look in her direction. He watched, as like a grumpy child, she picked the damp fabric of her kosode away from where it rode up into her armpit. He wanted to laugh at her but had learned that inciting Kagura would be counterproductive.

What he needed was to be able to focus.

"The sounds of Kagura are more loud than the forest today. Should I tell this plant to be more loud than you?" he smirked, and she hmphed. He watched, as her lips pursed tightly. Success, Anurak smiled to himself, as he resumed walking along the deer trail he'd located. They had rented stabling for their horses before heading past the last village on the way to this southerly point. Anurak had explained to Kagura that following animal-made tracks would improve his closeness with the forest. As long as they looked out for droppings on the ground to avoid stepping in them, this had worked quite well for the past day. Except for today: Kagura was being too noisy for Anurak to locate any animals to communicate with. Instead, he moved forward brushing his fingers over long, soft-leafed, thigh-high ferns, feeling for the stories only the flora told.

While Anurak had not yet picked up on any clues about Kagura's "all clad in white with hair like snow" friend, Kanna, he had had luck interacting with the local denizens of the forest. It was only within the past hour that he had started to sense deep remnants of what he thought of as "red-colored" or "hot" energy in communing with the surrounding plants. In the "language" that Anurak had taught himself to speak, as he termed it, with vegetation "hot" vibes meant the plants had been subject to stress or fear, while "cool" or "blue" vibes indicated calm or even dormancy. Even with decades of practice, the plants were still harder to read for Anurak than animals, with which he could actually converse with down to a certain level. It was Anurak's experience that while he could use smaller plants to ascertain the positivity or negativity of a certain area, trees could sometimes tell him even more. Working from there, he would rely on native spirits or creatures to help uncover what other secrets his surroundings held.

Anurak paused, and he sensed Kagura coming to a halt a pace behind him.

"What's wrong?" she asked, having dropped the volume of her voice.

Anurak had sensed something in the area. A slight tremor: was it coming from that older tree to the right? Or was it coming from the left. He held his hand up to hold the woman's silence. Kagura had come to understand this gesture fairly quickly over their travelling together. She remained still while Anurak also kept frozen, feeling out into the space around them.

A moment before it darted into the opening in the trail a few steps ahead of Anurak, he knew the little field mouse would appear. The small mammal had been hurrying through the grass, and so it froze mid-run in the middle of the path, shocked to find such large creatures looming over his path.

The hanyou lowered the opened palm he had used to give Kagura the "stop" signal. Emitting reassuring waves of energy from his very body, slowly, the half-forest nymph dropped himself down to his knees.

For her part, Kagura had not yet adjusted to seeing a humanoid looking creature, such as Anurak, move through such graceful and inhuman motions. She kept it to herself, but she did find something almost mesmerizing about him when he was using his powers like this. Though the energy he used was aimed at animals, Kagura could not avoid feeling the sense of serenity rolling off of him as well.

As it most often did if they had enough time to pause before encountering a passing animal, Anurak's trick worked. The mouse turned to face the hanyou in a way that would have looked altogether unnatural, if Kagura did not already know what magic was at play. Small nose wriggling, it tentatively scurried up to Anurak's fingers, outstretched and low to the ground. Having sniffed the hanyou fingertips, the little creature then sat up on its haunches and looked into the man's soft, almond-shaped terracotta-hued eyes like it knew him.

Kagura waited patiently, as she had learned to after the first time when she doubted anything was happening and frightened away one of their woodland friends by asking her companion whether his powers were working. So now, while Anurak and the mouse gazed at each other, having their silent conversation, Kagura just held still and watched. Just when she was stifling a yawn from the lingering late afternoon heat, Anurak shifted to put his palms together in front of him. Reverently, he bowed to the little mouse before it inclined its own tiny head and bounded away.

"I asked, had it seen Kanna, 'all clad in white with hair like snow', and it had. There was someone like that late last summer- out by the cliffs south of here. It remembered she carried a circle of shining light. It saw she stepped out of the light and then carried the circle away with her," Anurak explained, as Kagura listened with baited breath.

Kagura pensively put her right-hand fingertips to her chin. "That sounds like Kanna's mirror that it saw. Late last summer… Hm, that's not quite aligned with when I was searching for Kanna and was attacked myself. That was already fall, but of course, I remember Kanna had already seemed to disappear well before that, never seeming to be anywhere that I was. Perhaps Naraku already had her doing something out in this forest well before I closed in on her whereabouts that day," she surmised aloud.

"Will you take us to that place by the cliffs that creature saw Kanna at? Can you find it based on what it told you?" Kagura asked, looking up imploringly at Anurak.

Anurak looked down at her, admiring her thick eyelashes that fringed her expressive eyes in her small face. She was beginning to be nicer with him, no longer only issuing orders but instead asking for his help. Maybe eventually she would even say "please" to him? The Thai hanyou sighed: he really was a sucker for this beautiful, bossy woman. "Dtok longgg," he dragged out the end of his agreement in his mother tongue just for the fun of watching Kagura squirm.

"You know I don't know what that means!" she exclaimed with a stomp of her foot, a bratty flush rising in her cheeks.

"It means I am helping you," he smiled at her and turned on his heel. Playfully, he brushed past her on the trail in the direction from which they had come. He listened as Kagura sighed loudly at his antics but followed. Still, he said happily to her in his still somewhat shaky Japanese, "Ikimashou, Kagura! We go back, walk a new trek. I saw that trek goes south. We can start walking today and then make camp before the sunset. Then I climb up the tall tree, and I catch us some sun energy to share!"

:::

Note 1: Hi dear readers! Another chapter mainly written on the road again since I had some travel to do recently. Will I ever stay in one place while writing this story? The answer at this point is probably very likely surely not! Ha ~ a little travel's good for the inspiration in my opinion, and it was well overdue for someone always with a bit of wanderlust! ; - )

Note 2: Guest - Thanks for the review on "Chapter 54"! I so enjoy these theories you and other readers are coming up with! I am so pleased you are finding this so compelling to unravel what the villains are up to. It's new to me to be developing such a larger overarching plot, so I hope I can keep it exciting for you. And certainly, for your theory: we've seen that Naraku will stop at nothing to get the upper hand, which makes him totally a potential for being responsible in setting something very foul afoot!

Dear readers, I love to hear from you! Please don't forget to review, follow, favorite! I don't always ask, but it means so much ~ also find me on Tumblr: origamikungfuwrites

Peace for now! Origamikungfu.