Disclaimer: After months of mathematical calculation, research, analysis,
interviews, and bathroom breaks, I have come to the dramatic conclusion
::drum roll:: that I don't own the show Inuyasha, and that the likelihood
of me EVER owning the show is that insanely tiny number on the calculator.
Basically what I'm trying to say is (and I'm trying to be creative here):
Me no own, you no sue, 'cause if you do, I be blue!
Author's Note: Hello! Guess what! I'm updating! ::Glares at passing four horsemen:: ::shoots down flying pigs:: ::unfreezes hell:: This will probably be the last chapter of this story (which means it will be pretty long), because I am waaaay past wanting to be done with it. I'm really sorry for not updating and stuff, it's just that . . . I have Chronic Laziness Syndrome (CLS). Some of you may be familiar with this devastating ailment, but for those of you who aren't, it is a disease that causes the ass to get stuck to comfortable chairs, couches, beds, (etc.), usually in front of televisions, where food is present, or in more serious cases, both. However, thanks to sudden inspiration brought on by a recovering patient of the dreaded Writer's Block, I have made a stirring recovery and am back in action! ::Pauses for the only person listening to clap:: Onward Friends! Happy Readings!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Chapter: 7
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Such a pulchritudinous dream he was having. All was silent and still. There were no voices, no swords to be chased, and no half brothers to hate; there was simply a large quantity of beautiful nothingness. As far as his vulpine eyes could see there was nothing but fresh, rolling hills covered in wisps of green grass that reached upward to caress a delicate azure sky; all was well, calm and peaceful.
Sesshoumaru opened his golden eyes and snorted in disdain. 'What rubbish,' he thought. Dreams were such deceptive contrivances of the mind, and he found it most irritating that they could visit his mind as freely as they did. The very idea of it seemed a cruel travesty set upon him by the rest of the inequitable world.
As he stood up from his previous slouched position he could only frown at the bright, morning sunbeams that streamed into the little clearing. The blue sky smiled happily down at him, but he found its cheeriness nauseating, and those clouds! Those white, fluffy, haughty . . . things! Everything around him was irritating, and the world seemed ugly for some reason. The worst part was that he hadn't a clue as to WHY things seemed the way they seemed, but in a rare show of childishness, he preferred not to care, and all he really FELT like doing was pouting.
Just as these strange new emotions were about to bubble up and express themselves in a less mental manner, a soft yawn caught Sesshoumaru's attention. He snapped his head in the direction from whence he knew the sound came and suddenly felt as though he had been spun in place by some spontaneous centrifugal force, yet he felt frozen at the same time. All he could do then was stare in wonder at the sight before him. For near the smoldering reminiscence of the fire lay the smooth, slender form of the female hanyou. Gleaming ebony strands lay spread out on the ground, like the feathered wings of a raven, and her dark, thick eyelashes brushed the soft looking skin of her high, defined cheekbones. One graceful arm lay motionless over a svelte waist, lustrous, clawed fingers spread out limply like an elegant, paper fan. The other bent slightly at the sharp elbow, holding in its crook the still form of the small, slumbering child, whose tiny fingers curled protectively around a black, furry tale, obviously borrowing it, for the moment, from the female who held her.
It was a peaceful scene, a serene scene. He searched for something negative to call it, or at least a way to find fault in its simple beauty, but there was nothing. It was too innocent . . . it was too perfect.
The youkai lord sighed heavily and slumped to the ground. Feelings and emotions, the likes of which he had never felt, seemed to be bursting from the folds of his mind, swimming from the black depths of his soul. He was frustrated, because he could not identify them, and he was angry because he was allowing himself to have them. He looked away from the two figures, his eyes finding a certain solace in the ground.
'This is all her fault,' Sesshoumaru thought.
Indeed, had it not been for the female he would not have been experiencing such torturous feelings.
'If she would only leave. . .'
The thought trailed off. What if she left? Would the feelings be vanquished? Somehow he didn't think so. Somehow she had imprinted herself in his mind: her face, her words, and voice. All of it was etched inside of him, so that he couldn't forget her, and so that she occupied his thoughts. Now she had dared to overtake his carefully hidden emotions.
Suddenly, a bird squawked, its screeching sound somewhat incongruous with the peacefulness of the morning. He caught movement out of the corner of his eye, and he quickly looked over to see Cye beginning to stir. He became nervous for some unknown reason and stood up swiftly. With long strides he fled the clearing, perhaps to gather his thoughts, or perhaps to avoid seeing the deep, forest green of a certain hanyou's eyes.
Meanwhile, Cye's eyes were just beginning to open. She began to stretch, but halted when she felt a foreign weight on one of her arms. She looked over in alarm but relaxed when she saw Rin curled up next to her. Carefully, so as not to wake her, Cye moved her arm out from under the girl and continued stretching in a characteristically feline way. She yawned a little, showing her white fangs, and made a low rumbling sound deep within her throat that sounded suspiciously like purring.
Gracefully, she climbed to her feet and glanced around the clearing. Rin was there and so was Jaken.
'Unfortunately,' she thought dryly. 'Ah, but surprised surprise, the puppy is not.'
With another yawn and a grin, she set about her morning routine of searching for the "puppy" in question. She figured she knew well enough where to go. Where there was water, there was Sesshoumaru, in the morning anyway.
***
Sesshoumaru basked in the morning sunlight. The world wasn't ugly anymore, it wasn't evil, and he was fairly certain that it wasn't an inequitable, cruel travesty out to bring his downfall. The cool, crystalline waters had somehow scrubbed his mind, making it clearer and making him calmer. Still, he was confused about his thoughts and feelings, but at least he could truthfully say that he was thinking about them logically. Also, he vowed never to flee the scene just because the feline was awakening. He felt rather foolish about the entire incident.
"Gooooood morning lover!"
Sesshoumaru cringed at the all to familiar voice. Maybe he was wrong. The world was a cruel travesty out to destroy him. It was simply the only way to explain it.
He turned around, a usual indifferent mask on his soft features. His golden eyes stared at her as though he were terribly disinterested when in reality he was far TOO interested for his tastes.
Cye frowned slightly. "We really have to work on your people skills, ya know that?"
Sesshoumaru snorted in disdain. "I won't be needing to associate with humans," he said flatly.
The female hanyou cocked an eyebrow at his unusual show of sarcasm. She moved closer to the body of water and Sesshoumaru moved back, uncomfortable with how near she was making herself. What was he supposed to do? He felt rather . . . what was the word? Vulnerable, in his current state. . . in the water . . . nude.
There was a dead silence as they stared at one another. And then . . .
"What's the matter? Did the wittle puppy-wuppie wake up on the wrong side of the bedy-weddy?" She asked, her voice high.
Sesshoumaru rolled his eyes and dunked under water, while Cye could only grin after him. She liked waking up and catching him during his morning bathing practices for two reasons: one, because he was just too much fun to harass, and two, because he wasn't exactly bad to look at.
Chuckling softly, Cye retreated to a nearby tree and climbed up, seating herself in the fork of two braches. She played with the end of her tail until Sesshoumaru decided to stay on the surface long enough for her to get a few words in.
"Sesshoumaru," she began.
He turned to look at her. "When Rin wakes up in a bit, I think we're going to go out to the field up yonder to mess around a bit," she stated.
He still stared at her.
"Just so you aren't concerned if she's gone when you get back."
Sesshoumaru turned his back to her. "Why would I be concerned?" He asked and went under before she had a chance to answer his question with a snide comment.
Sighing heavily, Cye untangled herself from the tree limbs and scaled down the trunk. She gave Sesshoumaru's form one last, fleeting glance before prancing back to camp.
When she arrived, Jaken was all ready awake and trying hard to get his staff back from a giggling Rin. The child held it high above her head, out of considerable reach of the little imp. Cye giggled.
"Good morning," Cye greeted cheerily.
Both child and demon looked over to the new comer. Rin squealed in delight and dropped the staff, her game forgotten. She ran up and hugged the hanyou around the legs. Jaken grumbled as he retrieved his abused staff from the ground. He eyed the pair dully.
"Where is Lord Sesshoumaru?" He inquired.
"At the lake, bathing as usual. He'll be along shortly I'm sure. In the meantime, I'm taking this little angel with me," Cye said, scooping the little girl up in her arms. She began to retreat the clearing. She just barely caught Jaken mumbling about using the term "angel" lightly.
Rays of sunlight welcomed the two girls into the large field. Green grass brushed against their legs as they walked, chattering endlessly about every little thing. It was girl talk. There was no particular subject, no importance really, but both females enjoyed the bond that they were sharing.
They chased grasshoppers about the field, and frightened flocks of birds resting in the trees that framed the vast grassland. Rin danced about gleefully, singing a song with words and a melody that only she knew. A few times, she would stop and take a moment to gaze at something. If it she deemed it worthy, she would summon the hanyou to her side and show her the treasure. If it were very special then Rin would put the object in her pocket for safe keeping; however, the child had to be persuaded that putting the toad in her pocket was probably not the best thing.
"But Rin thinks that Jaken wouldn't be so grumpy if he had a friend that was like him," Rin had said.
At this Cye had burst out laughing.
After a while, Rin calmed down and she began walking at Cye's side. She placed her tiny, chubby hand in Cye's slender one, and the two hands grasped each other. They walked like this for several minutes, just enjoying the morning. Naturally though, it wasn't long before something caught Rin's eyes in the distance, and she pulled her hand from Cye's and took off running as quickly as her little legs could carry her. Cye sighed and ran after her.
Rin stopped abruptly. Her large eyes gazed in wonder at the voluminous, bright flower growing up from the ground. It's petals were a vivid color pallet of reds that spiraled upward from a black, powdery-looking center.
As if in a trance, Rin reached out an all too eager hand to pluck the dull green stem from the ground. In that split second Cye's sharp eyes noticed the thin thorns protruding from the greenery.
"Rin, don't!"
By then it was too late. Rin's hand grasped the stem, and the thorns sunk into her young, tender flesh. The child shrieked in surprise and pain and jerked her injured hand back. As she did so, drops of blood flew from the various pricks, into the air. As if in slow motion Cye watched the sun catch them, making them appear as gleaming, crimson rain falling from the clear sky. Her eyes followed the blood drops as time sped up again, and each individual drop landed upon her cheek.
Green eyes went wide and her body was wracked with trembling. She felt dizzy and weak all at once; she collapsed. Her mind was filled with a rapid, white buzz as images, memories, whisked across her eyes. Suddenly, she wasn't in the field with a child . . . she was a child in the arms of her Mother. She was a child hiding in the underbrush, watching in horror as a soulless creature's massive claws descended upon her Mother, throwing blood, scattering body parts. She was a child as some of that blood struck her across the face.
Then, she tasted blood in her mouth. Adrenaline rushed through her veins as predatory instincts invaded her senses. She needed to eat flesh, to feel blood gushing between her fangs as she bit into the fresh meat of a wriggling, crying, living thing. She whipped her head in Rin's direction. The child, in her swirling, golden eyes, was no longer a child, but prey.
Rin, being the observant child that she is, ceased weeping as she noticed the astute change in the other female. Gentle green eyes were transformed to golden, hunger-filled eyes and fangs usually hidden behind lips were protruding and dripping with saliva. Cye's chest was heaving, her fingers clawing at the ground.
Slowly and cautiously, Rin took at step back. Her little heart pounded in her chest as she saw the hanyou stiffen. Rin took yet another step backward. Cye stayed where she was, on the ground, her eyes watching the girl's every careful move. Rin managed several small retreats, but fate seemed against her, and she tripped and fell down. The sudden movement triggered something in Cye's instincts and she pounced from her spot on the ground. Rin screeched, her shrill voice piercing the air, but she rolled to the side, evading Cye's sharp claws for the moment.
***
Sesshoumaru's head snapped up at the shrill sound that had broken his deep, contemplative state. His intuition warned him of trouble, and his senses recognized the scream. Where had she said they were going? The field!
Within in a fraction of a second, Sesshoumaru was nothing more than a memory in the clearing.
"Lord Sesshoumaru, I was wondering if . . ." Jaken blinked. "Eh . . . Lord Sesshoumaru???"
***
Rin screeched again as she climbed to her feet and took off at a sprint, although that wasn't much considering her short little legs. The hanyou was hot on her trail clawing and catching air, but barely missing the little girl. Suddenly, Rin tripped yet again. She tumbled to the ground, and then Cye was upon her, fangs dripping, eyes swirling with rage and blood lust. The hanyou raised her hand, her claws gleaming in the sun. Rin closed her eyes, preparing for the strike, but it never came. She opened them in time to see the rabid hanyou fly into the air and hit the ground with such a force that it made dirt rise up in a thick cloud around her figure.
"Rin."
The child recognized the voice, and she couldn't help but grin madly in relief and joy. "Sesshoumaru-sama!" She squealed.
Sesshoumaru knelt down and helped her to her feet, his eyes scanning her over for injury. He found none, and the revelation came with a certain amount of mollification.
"Go now, I want you to run quickly back to the camp; stay with Jaken, Rin. Do you understand me?" He asked.
Rin nodded.
"Good, now away with you."
Rin started to go, but then she paused. "Sesshoumaru-sama," she started.
Sesshoumaru looked at her. Suddenly, Rin enveloped him in a giant hug. "Rin wants you to be careful." With those words, the child turned and ran off.
Sesshoumaru watched her for a moment. He felt strangely warm inside, and he felt as though her arms were still wrapped about his neck. He then turned his attention back to a recovering Cye.
The female climbed shakily to her feet, her chest still heaving. Sesshoumaru new she was not in her right mind, for her eyes were swirling with simple predatory instinct. She lusted for death. With his intervention, her attention was no longer on Rin, but on him. She charged precariously toward him. It seemed as though she had no regard for her own life, but perhaps it was an effect of those instincts that he knew she could not control.
He dodged her oncoming attack and drew his whip. He had made up his mind to attack only to disable, not to kill or even maim. He flicked his wrist so that the whip wrapped around her ankles as she flew past him, catching her in the air and bringing her to the ground. She made impact and emitted a discordant growl.
Sesshoumaru withdrew the whip. He had no wish to harm her, but what other way was there to bring her back to her senses? Before he could process another thought she flew at him. He attacked with the whip again, but her catlike speed and agility moved her out of harm's way. She landed behind him and swiped at him with her claws. Sesshoumaru dodged and retaliated with an accurate blow to her stomach; however, she only stumbled backwards and then recovered to attack yet again.
She growled yet again and pounced at him; he sidestepped. She landed in the tall grass and Sesshoumaru waited for her to rise to her feet like before, but there was no movement. Would she really have given up so easily? He couldn't believe that she would. Slowly, cautiously, he took a step toward the fallen form in the grass. She was unmoving, and he could feel no fluctuation of energy. He moved closer until he stood over the body. Still there was no movement. He began to get concerned. What if she was . . .
He knelt down next to her. Hesitantly, he reached outward, and then he felt an urgent, stinging sensation in his side as his flesh tore open and blood poured from the wound. In surprise he looked to see Cye's entire hand embedded in his body. She then lifted her head from the ground and, with a violent snarl, yanked her hand from his side. She leapt to her feet and took advantage of his shock in order to shove him to the ground with her foot. Then, she slowly lifted her blood-covered hand to her lips and licked her fingers suggestively, one by one. A sadistic grin painted her now bloody lips, and then it disappeared as her eyes became strangely fixated on Sesshoumaru's form. The youkai Lord caught her gaze, and he couldn't look away, though he wasn't sure why. He just knew that he didn't . . . want to fight her. He didn't want the burden of the guilt that would surely come if he would severely injure her somehow. It was frightening to him to realize that he . . . he what? That he cared for her?
The shock of the revelation hit him with dizzying effects. It seemed like he should have figured it out sooner, almost as though it had been there for some time but was ignored by him. He wanted to smack himself then, for that was just the case; he hadn't wanted to see it.
' "I see," said the blind man', sounded a mocking voice in his head.
A vicious snarl broke him from the retort he had planned on giving to his annoying inner voice. He became aware of a pouncing Cye, and he quickly rolled to the side to dodge her. She landed in his empty spot, but her eyes did not seem to leave his recovering form. She reminded him of a tiger hunting her prey.
Suddenly, she pounced again. Her clawed fingers caught some of the fabric on his pants. With his injured side to be mindful of, he succumbed to the insistent pulling and tumbled to the ground along with the hanyou.
Cye leapt on top of him, straddling his hips with her legs. Her claws raised mere inches above his face. With another snarl she swept her claws across his pale cheek, shredding brutally the tender flesh. The blood ran from the deep cuts down his neck and dribbled onto his silver hair. Cye hissed, claiming truth to her feline blood. Then she leaned forward and licked the dripping blood from off of his neck, her tongue swiping over the cuts.
Sesshoumaru wanted badly to either wince or cringe, for the truth was, he had never been in the present situation before. It was very . . . disturbing. Once again, his thoughts were interrupted as he felt strong, slender hands wrap around his neck. Cye stared at him through the same swirling eyes as her grip tightened. She leaned ever closer and let her tongue slide down from his cheek, past his neck, and she stopped at his shoulder where she let her fangs sink into the taut muscles.
Sesshoumaru gasped out of surprise as she bit down. He had to get a hold of himself or there was no doubt in his mind that she would kill him.
Thinking quickly he decided that no amount of non-killing force or evasive actions would truly stop her. She had to come back to her senses, and so Sesshoumaru pulled out his trump card.
With somewhat hoarse, yet traditionally soft tone of voice he said carefully, "Cye."
She didn't seem to hear him, and he winced as she felt her jaw gnawing on the muscles in his shoulder. She wanted him to cry out, but he refused to do so.
"Cye you have to come . . . back now," he said through somewhat clenched teeth.
He became aware of the sensation of blood rushing from the bite wound into her mouth. She was drinking his life force; trying to consume him in every way possible. He only she knew that she held a piece of his heart.
"This isn't you . . . you're too--"
His voice caught in his throat as she ripped a chunk of bloody flesh and muscle from his shoulder. With a mocking half smile she rose a little so that they were face-to-face and slowly gnawed on the piece. Blood and what little bodily fluid in that piece spilled over her lips and then, still wearing that smirk, she turned her head to the side and spat the piece of meaty flesh out of her mouth.
Her grip on his throat tightened further, claws breaching his skin, fingers leaving dark bruises on it. However, through the pain, the dizziness, the fatigue, and loss of blood that Sesshoumaru felt and experienced, he knew but one thing. He needed her back so he summoned what little strength he had in his body and brought his hand up to her cheek. He used his depleted ki amount summon his acidic attack. He palm began to burn into her cheek.
Cye shrieked. Her hands abandoned the youkai's torture neck and went to aid her face, but, much to her surprise, the hand was quickly removed and she felt her body lifting into the air, only to land moment later back on the ground laying on her back with another body atop her. She snarled and tried to struggle, but Sesshoumaru was a bit stronger than she anticipated, plus her keen eyes were wary of the green glowing hand above her.
"Listen to me Cye, you have to come back; this isn't you. You're too strong to be taken control of by instincts that I know you don't think you can control, but you MUST fight them Cye, or else they'll eat away at you until this monstrosity is all you are."
Her struggling became even less at his words. Her eyes became dazed and glazed over.
"You have to come back Cye . . . back to who you are, back to Rin, and back . . . ," he gulped, "and back to me, Cye. You have to come back to me." He paused and then whispered, "Please, please come back."
The glow around his hand grew dim and then disappeared. Cye stopped struggling completely. Slowly, the gold began to fade, baring hints of green in its place. She felt as though she were awakening from a bad dream, or walking out of a misty forest into the open sunshine.
She was aware of a weight on her body. She saw Sesshoumaru on top of her, much to her surprise, and then she saw his white garments stained red. She saw strands of his lovely hair dripping with the red substance, and she saw the scratches, the gaping hole in his side, the blatant, bloody indent where a chunk of flesh had once occupied, those slivered crevices in his neck made by claws, each one leaking a steady stream of crimson, and those bruises that were so horribly incongruous with his pale skin.
Suddenly, his form wavered, and he tumbled off of her. He hit the ground with a 'thud', unconscious.
Cye sat up immediately and her eyes grew wide. She knew what this was. She brought her hands to her face and found them caked with blood. She felt sick; she held her stomach, but could not stop the bile and vomit from rising up into her throat. The smell of blood was everywhere, and the taste was in her mouth. Tears sprung into her eyes as she vomited onto the ground, and they flowed harder as her vomiting became nothing but dry heaving.
She chanced a look at Sesshoumaru's still, bleeding form, and she felt nauseous again; however, she knew all to well that with out treatment he would die, and she couldn't let that happen. It wouldn't be right or fair, and she knew that if he left then it would hurt her. She recalled his words and his voice. They swam around in her muddled mind. He had brought her back . . . she knew that.
Slowly and shakily, she crawled over to him. His breathing was labored and guilt set in. Hesitantly she reached out, taking his hand in her own, and she checked his pulse; it was weak. She hugged the limp hand to her chest. With her other hand she brushed some silver hair from his face.
"I'm so sorry . . .," she whispered, her expression pained. "But don't worry, 'cause I'm gunna make this up to you, okay?"
She took a deep breath and got to her knees. Cye slung one of Sesshoumaru's arms over her shoulder and followed suit with his other one. The hanyou climbed from her knees and found her feet. She pulled the other body with her and adjusted it to the best of her ability. He was much heavier than she had thought, or maybe she was just unusually weak. She could already feel blood seeping through her clothing; she winced at the sensation. It was warm and so sticky.
With a sigh she took her first shaky step.
"See . . . it's okay. We're gunna be okay lover. Everything is just, it's just fine . . . and as soon as the voices in my head get a little but quieter everything is going to be much better, right? Yeah, you hang in there. It's all . . . fine."
***
"Rin stay right there! If Lord Sesshoumaru comes back and finds you gone I'm going to be in a lot of trouble," cried Jaken.
Rin pouted. "Rin doesn't like you."
Jaken scowled. "Well Jaken doesn't like Rin, but Jaken puts up with Rin because Jaken likes being alive!" The imp paused and shook his head. "Now you've got me talking that way!"
Rin giggled. "Jaken is funny though."
The imp sighed. It was useless. He plopped down on the ground, staff in hand. 'I hope Lord Sesshoumaru returns swiftly,' he thought.
As if on cue a rustling of the foliage was heard and both child and demon looked toward it, but neither of them expected to see a beaten up hanyou or a profusely bleeding youkai on said hanyou's back.
Jaken gasped. "Lord Sesshoumaru! What have you done to him fowl wench?"
Cye placed a fiery emerald stare on him. "Keep your cursed little trap shut imp, and I won't have to take time to carve out your wretched heart."
Jaken clamped his jaw shut but still glared defiantly at her. Cye looked to Rin, whose large, dark eyes were brimming with tears. Emerald eyes softened.
"Rin, clam down. Sesshoumaru is going to be okay. I know someone who can help him if we hurry and get there, but I need you to be strong and to dry your tears. Can you do that for me?"
Rin nodded and wiped at the tears streaming down her chubby little cheeks.
"That a girl," Cye said, smiling a little. "We have to go. If we're lucky, we'll get there before night fall."
With that, Cye turned and started walking. She could hear the footfalls of the ones behind her as they went.
As the hours passed and the sun fell lower and lower in the sky, Cye began to feel a certain amount of lethargy. She had stopped several times over the course of the day to try and stop the bleeding of Sesshoumaru's wounds or at least slow it down, but the makeshift bandages never held very long. By the time the little group made it to where they were going, the clothing on her back was absolutely wet with blood.
Their destination was at the escarpment of a lesser-known river. On the banks stood a fair sized dwelling with a thatch roof. It looked crooked on the uneven ground, yet its crookedness added to its simple charm. A woolen cloth hung in the doorway, somewhat discolored at the bottom from brushing the dirt and sand. Near the back of the place was a small but lush looking garden. It seemed rather well tended.
Cye smiled. Nothing had changed at all. It was still the quiet, serene place that she remembered. She began walking toward it and before she arrived at the door, the woolen cloth was pulled to the side to reveal an elderly woman.
She was tall and slender, almost lanky, and her posture, as she stood before them, gave an air of authority. Her hair was white, straight, and sleek with a few randomly placed gray streaks. The silky stands were bound by a piece of leather and thrown over her shoulder. Her attire consisted of a white skirt that closely fit her legs and waist and a blue tunic with wide sleeves that hung down passed her hips and touched her knees. Her feet were dressed simply with plain, wooden sandals. Pale skin off set dark, hard looking blue eyes that greatly contrasted the laugh lines surrounding them. Her lips were thin and formed a slight frown that seemed to defy her arched, black eyebrows.
The woman waited patiently for the group to come near her. When they did reach her, her arched eyebrows seemed to rise even higher, and her hard eyes became soft. The frown turned to an easy, welcoming smile.
"Welcome Cye," she said in a smooth, somewhat deep feminine tone. She glanced at Jaken and Rin. "Ah, Cye and company is it."
The hanyou gave her a tired grin. "Hello Jauna. I uh, need some help," she said and adjusted Sesshoumaru on her back.
Jauna's smile did not fade, but she nodded seriously. "Of course. Set him inside on the mat in the back room."
Cye nodded. "Thanks."
"Not at all, I'm used to it. You are, after all, always getting into trouble."
Cye grinned again. "Yeah well . . . oh hey, the imp is Jaken and the little one is Rin."
Jauna nodded to Jaken and smiled a little more sweetly at Rin. "Well hello there sweet heart. It's nice to meet you. I'm Jauna. Is that your daddy?" She asked, pointing briefly to Sesshoumaru.
Rin started to shake her head no, but then stopped and hesitated, and then nodded slowly. Cye smiled secretly at the girl's action before disappearing inside.
She passed through the main room and into another one that was separated by yet another woolen curtain. Slowly, cautiously, she laid Sesshoumaru's limp body onto the mat. She began to strip him of his bloody garments from the waist up. She winced as she saw the bruising and the wounds that decorated his pale skin. It wasn't right. Of all of the beings on the planet, why did she have to harm so brutally the one that she knew she cared for?
"My, my. You did do number on him, didn't you?" Asked a voice from the entryway.
Cye did not look at Jauna as the elderly woman came to kneel at her side.
"I just can't . . .control it, and he . . ." Cye started, but then shook her head. "Can you help him, Jauna?" Now she looked to the woman.
"Yes, I think that I can. Now, go get some rest. I'll call you as soon as I am finished."
Cye nodded. "Thank you so much, and I'm sorry . . . sorry for troubling you."
"No trouble dear," replied Jauna, and she shooed the hanyou away.
***
He had never wondered what it felt like to come back from the dead, but he wasn't certain he wasn't experiencing it as he clawed through the darkness of unconsciousness. He felt as though he was swimming on silken, ebony waves, detached from the threads of life, and from the threads of reality. He couldn't feel anything, and yet the sensation of not feeling FELT very pleasing. His mind wasn't questioning, wasn't thinking. He wasn't sure if it was even working, and then suddenly, as if to prove that he wasn't meant for bliss, a sharp tendril of pain coursed through his head.
The waves beneath him disintegrated, and were replaced by the padded hardness of an unidentifiable floor. The not ness of his thoughts and comprehension faded away slowly so that thoughts began to circulate in his mind; they were thoughts of pain.
He still had the darkness. If he could just keep his eyes closed, then perhaps he could hang on to the darkness and return to death, but to no avail. Slowly, reluctantly, his eyelids slid open. He found himself staring at a ceiling. He felt himself lying on a mat, covered generously with blankets.
'How very . . . unfamiliar,' he thought.
His body was achy and stiff, and he tried to turn his head to look around, but he winced. It was just very painful. He heard a slight chuckle from his side. He failed to find in humor in his situation.
"You'll be sore for a bit there, kiddo," said a deep, feminine tone.
Sesshoumaru felt the need to glare. Kiddo? He was over a thousand years old! Despite the pain he turned his head to see an old woman next to him. She fashioned a smile on her thin lips. He noticed that she was stirring up something in a wooden bowl. Whatever it was smelled rather putrid.
Noticing his gaze, she tipped the bowl so that he could see its contents. The substance was thick and pasty and the nastiest green color.
"Looks appetizing, doesn't it?" She asked sarcastically.
He did not respond, and that didn't seem to bother the woman.
"Who are you?" He asked after a silent period.
"My name is Jauna. I am a healer, among other things, and in case you're wondering, I don't mean you any harm. I'm a friend of Cye's. She brought you to me after you were hurt," Jauna replied.
Sesshoumaru remembered all of the events.
"Now, hold still. This stuff smells, looks, and hurts like hell, but with your wounds my healing powers can only go so far. Anyway this will keep the wounds from reopening as easily and, if you're lucky, eliminate the scarring."
Sesshoumaru held still as he was told to as Jauna applied the substance to his various wounds. She was right. It hurt . . . it hurt a lot, but Sesshoumaru did not show his pain.
When she finished Jauna raised an eyebrow. "I'm impressed. You put up a pretty strong front, laddie."
Sesshoumaru snorted and Jauna chuckled. "In any case, it would appear that your front wasn't strong enough to avoid Cye."
This caught his interest. "Why does she go through that transformation?" He asked.
"Well, when she saw Seronie, her Mother, die all those years ago it scarred her mind. I found the child scared and crying in the woods after I received word from Seronie, through telepathy, that the child would need to be taken care of. I took the girl in, raised her, taught her everything she knows, and dealt occasionally with her mood swings. It seems that anything that reminds her of that night when Seronie, bless her soul, died, she goes out of her head. Frankly, the girl just isn't completely sane, but she's got a good heart and a good head on her shoulders. I suppose that's all that really matters. Speaking of Cye, I guess I should call her in here. She's been worried about you. She is absolutely sick with guilt about what happened."
Before Sesshoumaru could get a word in edgewise Jauna climbed to her feet and left the room. He was left alone to ponder the information he had just received. He had to agree. Cye was a bit insane.
He heard the sound of the woolen curtain being pulled aside, and he looked up to see the female hanyou standing there. She stared at him for a moment, and then she averted her eyes. Silence ensued, as it tends to do in awkward situations, before Sesshoumaru chose to speak.
"Fascinating," he said simply.
She looked up at him. "What?"
"You DO have the ability to be quiet."
His sarcasm caught her by surprise, but she quickly recovered. "Yes, and you're CHOOSING to speak to me. I'm shocked," she replied.
"To say the least, I'm sure," he added.
She let a grin slide onto her lips as she approached him and sat down on her knees at his side.
"You're in a relatively good mood for having narrowly escaped death," Cye said, staring at him. She noticed the green poultice covering his wounds and couldn't help but make a face of disgust. She remembered that fowl substance. Jauna had used it on her several times.
"I do not fear death," Sesshoumaru said.
She rolled her eyes. "A predictable answer."
"Hn," was her only reply.
"Jauna used that stuff on your wounds. I pity you, really. Sit up and I'll wrap your injuries . . . at least that you won't have to LOOK at the stuff," Cye offered.
Sesshoumaru stared at her and made no move. Cye raised an eyebrow at him. It took her a moment to realize that he might be a bit stiff and achy. When she did figure it out she knocked herself in the head. Grabbing a few extra pillows, she set them up behind him, and then fluffed them.
"Here, I'll help you," she said. She offered her hand to him.
He sighed, but reluctantly took the proffered hand, and Cye gently, cautiously helped him to a sitting position so that he was leaning comfortably against the pillows. Then, Cye grabbed a roll of white wrappings. She began wrapping his side where the largest and deepest wound was. Silence fell yet again; it seemed to happen often.
"Listen, Sesshoumaru I'm really . . . so, so, so very, extremely sorry about . . . what happened. I just . . . lost it." Cye said this without look at him, as her eyes concentrated on neatly bounding the wound. Her hand moved upwards to bind his chest wounds.
"Rin wasn't hurt," Sesshoumaru said, "and you are forgiven, for it is assumed that you are not consummately responsible for the violent actions that were taken."
Cye began working on his arms, easily moving up to his shoulder. She couldn't help but chuckle a little. "So, I guess that's your way of calling me mental?" She asked, still not looking up at him. Her fingers tied a knot to secure the bandages she had just wrapped and then brushed over the wound that they hid.
Sesshoumaru felt her slender fingers run over the wounded spot, and then was a little surprised to feel them proceed from the shoulder, gradually, up the sensitive skin of his neck.
He stared at her, and he was surprised again as his body began to move by itself and his hand slowly reached out to caress her cheek and then moved below her chin, gently coaxing her closer. Both beings seemed in a strange, celestial daze as they leaned together, and their eager lips locked. The kiss was soft initially, but as both participants grew accustomed to the foreign sensations arising within them, the butterfly kiss deepened to something of a more passionate nature.
Both were engrossed in the kiss, the new feelings, and the new emotions that they felt. Sesshoumaru's fingers became entwined in Cye's raven hair, while Cye's arm went to wrap around the youkai's waist.
It seemed perfect, and yet so imperfect, frightening, but exciting, and it seemed all of something, but half of nothing. Despite the confused emotions, the kiss FELT right. It wasn't awkward, for it was eager, as though it had been waiting to happen . . .
"Ehem."
And then there came a giggle.
Cye and Sesshoumaru broke apart faster than light. Cye blushed a furious red and her eyes darted about nervously, while Sesshoumaru attempted to look innocent, but only succeeded in looking guiltier. Eventually, both pairs of eyes, green and gold, found their way to the woolen curtain where stood a sly, smirking Jauna, and a giggling, grinning Rin.
"Well, well, I see you're recovering quite nicely," Jauna said, her gaze falling on Sesshoumaru, who looked away.
Jauna grinned and then winked suggestively at Cye. "And I can see why too, Cye is taking such good care of you . . ."
Cye glared at her. "Not another word, Jauna," she warned.
"Of course not, dear. I came here to let Rin see her Father anyway."
Cye smiled slightly at her comment, while Sesshoumaru took a moment to look dumbstruck. It didn't last long, but it was an expression that imprinted itself in everyone's mind.
Rin stared at the youkai, and he stared coolly back. Her little hands began to twist around themselves nervously, and her feet seemed to be moving to an unheard rhythm.
Jauna cleared her throat for the second time upon entering the room. "Cye, dear, I require your assistance," she said.
Cye nodded knowingly. "Of course," she replied and climbed to her feet. As she exited the room she took a moment to pat Rin on the head affectionately, and she gave Sesshoumaru one last fleeting glance as well as a quick wink for good measure.
After that, Rin and Sesshoumaru were left alone together . . . staring. To the youkai, it was obvious how nervous the child was, and so, being the mature adult he was, he beckoned the girl over to his side. She came to him and sat cross-legged next to him.
"Rin is sorry, Sesshoumaru-sama," she said. "Rin doesn't 'member her real Daddy very good, and Granny Jauna asked Rin if you were her Daddy. Rin said yes."
Sesshoumaru shook his head slowly as those large, dark eyes began to brim with unshed tears . . . she was trying not to cry. Really, she was a strong child. He then gave into the temptation that had always been buried deep within him and enveloped her into a large, bear-type hug. Rin's little arms held to him tightly.
"There is no reason to be sorry for it, Rin," he whispered.
Rin nodded. She pulled away slowly and wiped at her eyes. "Is Rin . . . going to have a Mommy, then," she asked.
Sesshoumaru, caught off guard by the question, could only pat her on the head and send her out, telling her to go help Jauna and Cye with whatever task they were occupied with. The girl seemed to accept his lack of answer and, giddily, sauntered out.
When she was gone, the youkai was left to ponder the kiss he had shared with the hanyou. It had been right, and he hadn't despised it. Actually, he had appreciated it, which in some way, brought him comfort and yet, disapproval. She was, after all, part human.
'Yes, but . . . she's also half demon . . .' said a singsong voice in his head.
He frowned. He had NEVER liked that little voice. It always made good points! In any case, he wasn't sure what the future would bring. Perhaps having her come along wasn't so terrible . . . maybe he . . . wanted her to accompany him . . . maybe.
A yawn escaped him and he lowered himself down to sleep. His last conscious thoughts were of Cye and Rin, and in his dreams he saw silky, black hair, and emerald green eyes.
***
Cye took a deep breath of fresh, evening air and drew her knees up to her chest. She sat on the riverbank, staring out into dark, gently flowing water. Rin had been put to bed hours ago, Jaken had fallen asleep sometime as well, Sesshoumaru slept soundly, and she had come outside to be alone with her thoughts. Naturally, those thoughts spun around the demon lord inside.
She wasn't going to dance around the truth. She had very much enjoyed the kiss, and the physical contact that came with it. She adored the warm feelings that arose within her, and she wouldn't be at all sad if it were to happen again . . . or frequently for that matter. That would suit her just fine. She liked him, she was pretty sure he liked her too, and she loved Rin, and Rin loved her, and Jaken . . . well, she PUT UP with him, and he PUT UP with her, so it all worked out moderately well. Never the less, she had her doubts.
As these troublesome thoughts circulated through her mind, she came to an inescapable conclusion: she was in love, and she had found her family.
***
He spent one more day bedridden, and that was all that he required, for along with Jauna's treatments and his own healing abilities, he recovered quickly. He was in a rush to leave the dwelling, despite the fact that he really didn't mind Jauna very much. He didn't necessarily enjoy relying on her so much, or troubling her, though he knew she didn't think it was a problem. He wasn't accustomed to the whole deal, and he just wanted to leave.
Rin had grown attached to the woman, so he supposed that it wouldn't be such a hard-ship to visit on a rare occasion, and Jaken didn't have a spoken opinion; it wouldn't have mattered even if he did.
Cye . . . had not been seen for a while. When questioned, Jauna had shrugged and said, "You'd need a chain to keep track of that girl."
Now, Sesshoumaru was dressing himself in his usual attire. Jauna had, so kindly, cleaned and sewed his garments, which he was quite grateful for.
The sun was just beginning to rise, and he wanted to get going. He had found Jauna already awake. She was tending to her garden in the back, and he had proceeded to get Jaken and Rin up. Rin was none to happy about having to leave, but with the promise of returning, her spirits were lifted.
Jauna made sure to feed Rin an over-sized breakfast, and Rin was all too happy to consume it. Jaken nibbled on a few choice items, and Sesshoumaru ate nothing.
"Now, you've got a full stomach and a smile, so I think you're all ready for traveling . . . except, wait!" Jauna said, addressing Rin. "You forgot this!"
From behind her back, Jauna pulled out a newly sewed kimono. The material was soft and sleek to the touch. It was a lighter purple, a shade darker than lavender, and was decorated with a cream-colored bamboo pattern.
Rin hugged the kimono to her chest, and then she hugged Jauna. She held up the new item to Sesshoumaru, who flashed her a slight smile. Rin then ran into the other room to try it on, and when she came out she was all smiles.
"Rin, Jaken, come," Sesshoumaru said, and he exited the little house. Jauna followed the party outside, waving good-bye.
"Sesshoumaru-sama," Rin said, tugging on Sesshoumaru's pant leg.
He looked down at her. "Yes?"
"Where is Cye?"
Sesshoumaru sighed. The question ran through his mind as well. "I'm not certain."
"Will we see her again?"
"Perhaps," he replied.
'Hopefully,' he thought.
They walked in silence for a long time, before Jaken decided it was time to begin Rin's lessons. Then, the game of chase was one. Rin dashed ahead, followed by a grumbling Jaken.
"You can always count on them to be the same, huh?"
Sesshoumaru looked up into the trees in search of the voice that had just spoken, though he recognized it easily.
"Over here, puppy," Cye said.
Sesshoumaru found her hidden amongst the green leaves. She was crouched down low on a sturdy tree branch, ears perked up, and tail dangling downward. She flashed him a toothy grin. "At least you can always count on something to stay consistent, ya know?"
Sesshoumaru looked toward the rapidly disappearing figures of the imp and the girl, and he then looked back up to Cye. Her grin had disappeared and was replaced by a look of bitter contentment. It was an expression he was unused to seeing on her fine features.
"Are they the only ones I am able to rely on for consistency?"
Cye smiled sadly at him. "For a while, I think they are."
"Then . . . you're not coming with us," Sesshoumaru stated, rather than asked.
The hanyou sighed. "It wouldn't work . . . not now anyway. I mean, I'm still, uh . . . "
"Mental?"
Cye chuckled. "Yeah, I'm still mental, and you, well you've got that whole family issue and the sword deal. We both have a lot going on right now . . . too much, I think, to be able to be together and make it work well."
Sesshoumaru nodded. His heart seemed to sink a little, but he had to admit that she was right.
"Here," Cye said. She held out a long chain of pretty white flowers. "Give this to Rin. It's my way of saying good-bye."
"She'll miss you," Sesshoumaru said as he accepted the flower necklace.
"I know . . . I'll miss her too, and . . . I know I'm going to miss you, Sesshoumaru." Cye looked at him shyly, as if fearing rejection.
He sighed. He couldn't reject her. She was too much a part of his life now. "The feeling is mutual . . ." He said softly.
She smiled genuinely. A tear slipped down her cheek, and she wiped it away. "Look at me crying like this. I'm such a girl. Listen to me. As soon as you finish up with your sword thing and stuff, and I'm a little less, uh . . ."
He raised an eyebrow. "Mental?"
She smiled again. "Yeah. Look me up . . . or I'll look you up, but one way or the other, we'll see each other again . . . after all, I owe you several. Later, lover." With those words, Cye disappeared from his sight.
Sesshoumaru chuckled to himself. He couldn't ever go back to the way he was before. His heart had been warmed, and there was room inside of it for more than just him. Someday, he would see her again, he didn't doubt that, but for now, well, he had a daughter to raise.
-Owari
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Well, that's it. Not exactly a happily-ever-after, but it works. I thought I'd try something a little different with ending. In any case, thanks to everyone who stuck with this thing, you're all very um . . . persistent. ^_^, But, I appreciate it. Thanks a bunch. Ja!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Author's Note: Hello! Guess what! I'm updating! ::Glares at passing four horsemen:: ::shoots down flying pigs:: ::unfreezes hell:: This will probably be the last chapter of this story (which means it will be pretty long), because I am waaaay past wanting to be done with it. I'm really sorry for not updating and stuff, it's just that . . . I have Chronic Laziness Syndrome (CLS). Some of you may be familiar with this devastating ailment, but for those of you who aren't, it is a disease that causes the ass to get stuck to comfortable chairs, couches, beds, (etc.), usually in front of televisions, where food is present, or in more serious cases, both. However, thanks to sudden inspiration brought on by a recovering patient of the dreaded Writer's Block, I have made a stirring recovery and am back in action! ::Pauses for the only person listening to clap:: Onward Friends! Happy Readings!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Chapter: 7
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Such a pulchritudinous dream he was having. All was silent and still. There were no voices, no swords to be chased, and no half brothers to hate; there was simply a large quantity of beautiful nothingness. As far as his vulpine eyes could see there was nothing but fresh, rolling hills covered in wisps of green grass that reached upward to caress a delicate azure sky; all was well, calm and peaceful.
Sesshoumaru opened his golden eyes and snorted in disdain. 'What rubbish,' he thought. Dreams were such deceptive contrivances of the mind, and he found it most irritating that they could visit his mind as freely as they did. The very idea of it seemed a cruel travesty set upon him by the rest of the inequitable world.
As he stood up from his previous slouched position he could only frown at the bright, morning sunbeams that streamed into the little clearing. The blue sky smiled happily down at him, but he found its cheeriness nauseating, and those clouds! Those white, fluffy, haughty . . . things! Everything around him was irritating, and the world seemed ugly for some reason. The worst part was that he hadn't a clue as to WHY things seemed the way they seemed, but in a rare show of childishness, he preferred not to care, and all he really FELT like doing was pouting.
Just as these strange new emotions were about to bubble up and express themselves in a less mental manner, a soft yawn caught Sesshoumaru's attention. He snapped his head in the direction from whence he knew the sound came and suddenly felt as though he had been spun in place by some spontaneous centrifugal force, yet he felt frozen at the same time. All he could do then was stare in wonder at the sight before him. For near the smoldering reminiscence of the fire lay the smooth, slender form of the female hanyou. Gleaming ebony strands lay spread out on the ground, like the feathered wings of a raven, and her dark, thick eyelashes brushed the soft looking skin of her high, defined cheekbones. One graceful arm lay motionless over a svelte waist, lustrous, clawed fingers spread out limply like an elegant, paper fan. The other bent slightly at the sharp elbow, holding in its crook the still form of the small, slumbering child, whose tiny fingers curled protectively around a black, furry tale, obviously borrowing it, for the moment, from the female who held her.
It was a peaceful scene, a serene scene. He searched for something negative to call it, or at least a way to find fault in its simple beauty, but there was nothing. It was too innocent . . . it was too perfect.
The youkai lord sighed heavily and slumped to the ground. Feelings and emotions, the likes of which he had never felt, seemed to be bursting from the folds of his mind, swimming from the black depths of his soul. He was frustrated, because he could not identify them, and he was angry because he was allowing himself to have them. He looked away from the two figures, his eyes finding a certain solace in the ground.
'This is all her fault,' Sesshoumaru thought.
Indeed, had it not been for the female he would not have been experiencing such torturous feelings.
'If she would only leave. . .'
The thought trailed off. What if she left? Would the feelings be vanquished? Somehow he didn't think so. Somehow she had imprinted herself in his mind: her face, her words, and voice. All of it was etched inside of him, so that he couldn't forget her, and so that she occupied his thoughts. Now she had dared to overtake his carefully hidden emotions.
Suddenly, a bird squawked, its screeching sound somewhat incongruous with the peacefulness of the morning. He caught movement out of the corner of his eye, and he quickly looked over to see Cye beginning to stir. He became nervous for some unknown reason and stood up swiftly. With long strides he fled the clearing, perhaps to gather his thoughts, or perhaps to avoid seeing the deep, forest green of a certain hanyou's eyes.
Meanwhile, Cye's eyes were just beginning to open. She began to stretch, but halted when she felt a foreign weight on one of her arms. She looked over in alarm but relaxed when she saw Rin curled up next to her. Carefully, so as not to wake her, Cye moved her arm out from under the girl and continued stretching in a characteristically feline way. She yawned a little, showing her white fangs, and made a low rumbling sound deep within her throat that sounded suspiciously like purring.
Gracefully, she climbed to her feet and glanced around the clearing. Rin was there and so was Jaken.
'Unfortunately,' she thought dryly. 'Ah, but surprised surprise, the puppy is not.'
With another yawn and a grin, she set about her morning routine of searching for the "puppy" in question. She figured she knew well enough where to go. Where there was water, there was Sesshoumaru, in the morning anyway.
***
Sesshoumaru basked in the morning sunlight. The world wasn't ugly anymore, it wasn't evil, and he was fairly certain that it wasn't an inequitable, cruel travesty out to bring his downfall. The cool, crystalline waters had somehow scrubbed his mind, making it clearer and making him calmer. Still, he was confused about his thoughts and feelings, but at least he could truthfully say that he was thinking about them logically. Also, he vowed never to flee the scene just because the feline was awakening. He felt rather foolish about the entire incident.
"Gooooood morning lover!"
Sesshoumaru cringed at the all to familiar voice. Maybe he was wrong. The world was a cruel travesty out to destroy him. It was simply the only way to explain it.
He turned around, a usual indifferent mask on his soft features. His golden eyes stared at her as though he were terribly disinterested when in reality he was far TOO interested for his tastes.
Cye frowned slightly. "We really have to work on your people skills, ya know that?"
Sesshoumaru snorted in disdain. "I won't be needing to associate with humans," he said flatly.
The female hanyou cocked an eyebrow at his unusual show of sarcasm. She moved closer to the body of water and Sesshoumaru moved back, uncomfortable with how near she was making herself. What was he supposed to do? He felt rather . . . what was the word? Vulnerable, in his current state. . . in the water . . . nude.
There was a dead silence as they stared at one another. And then . . .
"What's the matter? Did the wittle puppy-wuppie wake up on the wrong side of the bedy-weddy?" She asked, her voice high.
Sesshoumaru rolled his eyes and dunked under water, while Cye could only grin after him. She liked waking up and catching him during his morning bathing practices for two reasons: one, because he was just too much fun to harass, and two, because he wasn't exactly bad to look at.
Chuckling softly, Cye retreated to a nearby tree and climbed up, seating herself in the fork of two braches. She played with the end of her tail until Sesshoumaru decided to stay on the surface long enough for her to get a few words in.
"Sesshoumaru," she began.
He turned to look at her. "When Rin wakes up in a bit, I think we're going to go out to the field up yonder to mess around a bit," she stated.
He still stared at her.
"Just so you aren't concerned if she's gone when you get back."
Sesshoumaru turned his back to her. "Why would I be concerned?" He asked and went under before she had a chance to answer his question with a snide comment.
Sighing heavily, Cye untangled herself from the tree limbs and scaled down the trunk. She gave Sesshoumaru's form one last, fleeting glance before prancing back to camp.
When she arrived, Jaken was all ready awake and trying hard to get his staff back from a giggling Rin. The child held it high above her head, out of considerable reach of the little imp. Cye giggled.
"Good morning," Cye greeted cheerily.
Both child and demon looked over to the new comer. Rin squealed in delight and dropped the staff, her game forgotten. She ran up and hugged the hanyou around the legs. Jaken grumbled as he retrieved his abused staff from the ground. He eyed the pair dully.
"Where is Lord Sesshoumaru?" He inquired.
"At the lake, bathing as usual. He'll be along shortly I'm sure. In the meantime, I'm taking this little angel with me," Cye said, scooping the little girl up in her arms. She began to retreat the clearing. She just barely caught Jaken mumbling about using the term "angel" lightly.
Rays of sunlight welcomed the two girls into the large field. Green grass brushed against their legs as they walked, chattering endlessly about every little thing. It was girl talk. There was no particular subject, no importance really, but both females enjoyed the bond that they were sharing.
They chased grasshoppers about the field, and frightened flocks of birds resting in the trees that framed the vast grassland. Rin danced about gleefully, singing a song with words and a melody that only she knew. A few times, she would stop and take a moment to gaze at something. If it she deemed it worthy, she would summon the hanyou to her side and show her the treasure. If it were very special then Rin would put the object in her pocket for safe keeping; however, the child had to be persuaded that putting the toad in her pocket was probably not the best thing.
"But Rin thinks that Jaken wouldn't be so grumpy if he had a friend that was like him," Rin had said.
At this Cye had burst out laughing.
After a while, Rin calmed down and she began walking at Cye's side. She placed her tiny, chubby hand in Cye's slender one, and the two hands grasped each other. They walked like this for several minutes, just enjoying the morning. Naturally though, it wasn't long before something caught Rin's eyes in the distance, and she pulled her hand from Cye's and took off running as quickly as her little legs could carry her. Cye sighed and ran after her.
Rin stopped abruptly. Her large eyes gazed in wonder at the voluminous, bright flower growing up from the ground. It's petals were a vivid color pallet of reds that spiraled upward from a black, powdery-looking center.
As if in a trance, Rin reached out an all too eager hand to pluck the dull green stem from the ground. In that split second Cye's sharp eyes noticed the thin thorns protruding from the greenery.
"Rin, don't!"
By then it was too late. Rin's hand grasped the stem, and the thorns sunk into her young, tender flesh. The child shrieked in surprise and pain and jerked her injured hand back. As she did so, drops of blood flew from the various pricks, into the air. As if in slow motion Cye watched the sun catch them, making them appear as gleaming, crimson rain falling from the clear sky. Her eyes followed the blood drops as time sped up again, and each individual drop landed upon her cheek.
Green eyes went wide and her body was wracked with trembling. She felt dizzy and weak all at once; she collapsed. Her mind was filled with a rapid, white buzz as images, memories, whisked across her eyes. Suddenly, she wasn't in the field with a child . . . she was a child in the arms of her Mother. She was a child hiding in the underbrush, watching in horror as a soulless creature's massive claws descended upon her Mother, throwing blood, scattering body parts. She was a child as some of that blood struck her across the face.
Then, she tasted blood in her mouth. Adrenaline rushed through her veins as predatory instincts invaded her senses. She needed to eat flesh, to feel blood gushing between her fangs as she bit into the fresh meat of a wriggling, crying, living thing. She whipped her head in Rin's direction. The child, in her swirling, golden eyes, was no longer a child, but prey.
Rin, being the observant child that she is, ceased weeping as she noticed the astute change in the other female. Gentle green eyes were transformed to golden, hunger-filled eyes and fangs usually hidden behind lips were protruding and dripping with saliva. Cye's chest was heaving, her fingers clawing at the ground.
Slowly and cautiously, Rin took at step back. Her little heart pounded in her chest as she saw the hanyou stiffen. Rin took yet another step backward. Cye stayed where she was, on the ground, her eyes watching the girl's every careful move. Rin managed several small retreats, but fate seemed against her, and she tripped and fell down. The sudden movement triggered something in Cye's instincts and she pounced from her spot on the ground. Rin screeched, her shrill voice piercing the air, but she rolled to the side, evading Cye's sharp claws for the moment.
***
Sesshoumaru's head snapped up at the shrill sound that had broken his deep, contemplative state. His intuition warned him of trouble, and his senses recognized the scream. Where had she said they were going? The field!
Within in a fraction of a second, Sesshoumaru was nothing more than a memory in the clearing.
"Lord Sesshoumaru, I was wondering if . . ." Jaken blinked. "Eh . . . Lord Sesshoumaru???"
***
Rin screeched again as she climbed to her feet and took off at a sprint, although that wasn't much considering her short little legs. The hanyou was hot on her trail clawing and catching air, but barely missing the little girl. Suddenly, Rin tripped yet again. She tumbled to the ground, and then Cye was upon her, fangs dripping, eyes swirling with rage and blood lust. The hanyou raised her hand, her claws gleaming in the sun. Rin closed her eyes, preparing for the strike, but it never came. She opened them in time to see the rabid hanyou fly into the air and hit the ground with such a force that it made dirt rise up in a thick cloud around her figure.
"Rin."
The child recognized the voice, and she couldn't help but grin madly in relief and joy. "Sesshoumaru-sama!" She squealed.
Sesshoumaru knelt down and helped her to her feet, his eyes scanning her over for injury. He found none, and the revelation came with a certain amount of mollification.
"Go now, I want you to run quickly back to the camp; stay with Jaken, Rin. Do you understand me?" He asked.
Rin nodded.
"Good, now away with you."
Rin started to go, but then she paused. "Sesshoumaru-sama," she started.
Sesshoumaru looked at her. Suddenly, Rin enveloped him in a giant hug. "Rin wants you to be careful." With those words, the child turned and ran off.
Sesshoumaru watched her for a moment. He felt strangely warm inside, and he felt as though her arms were still wrapped about his neck. He then turned his attention back to a recovering Cye.
The female climbed shakily to her feet, her chest still heaving. Sesshoumaru new she was not in her right mind, for her eyes were swirling with simple predatory instinct. She lusted for death. With his intervention, her attention was no longer on Rin, but on him. She charged precariously toward him. It seemed as though she had no regard for her own life, but perhaps it was an effect of those instincts that he knew she could not control.
He dodged her oncoming attack and drew his whip. He had made up his mind to attack only to disable, not to kill or even maim. He flicked his wrist so that the whip wrapped around her ankles as she flew past him, catching her in the air and bringing her to the ground. She made impact and emitted a discordant growl.
Sesshoumaru withdrew the whip. He had no wish to harm her, but what other way was there to bring her back to her senses? Before he could process another thought she flew at him. He attacked with the whip again, but her catlike speed and agility moved her out of harm's way. She landed behind him and swiped at him with her claws. Sesshoumaru dodged and retaliated with an accurate blow to her stomach; however, she only stumbled backwards and then recovered to attack yet again.
She growled yet again and pounced at him; he sidestepped. She landed in the tall grass and Sesshoumaru waited for her to rise to her feet like before, but there was no movement. Would she really have given up so easily? He couldn't believe that she would. Slowly, cautiously, he took a step toward the fallen form in the grass. She was unmoving, and he could feel no fluctuation of energy. He moved closer until he stood over the body. Still there was no movement. He began to get concerned. What if she was . . .
He knelt down next to her. Hesitantly, he reached outward, and then he felt an urgent, stinging sensation in his side as his flesh tore open and blood poured from the wound. In surprise he looked to see Cye's entire hand embedded in his body. She then lifted her head from the ground and, with a violent snarl, yanked her hand from his side. She leapt to her feet and took advantage of his shock in order to shove him to the ground with her foot. Then, she slowly lifted her blood-covered hand to her lips and licked her fingers suggestively, one by one. A sadistic grin painted her now bloody lips, and then it disappeared as her eyes became strangely fixated on Sesshoumaru's form. The youkai Lord caught her gaze, and he couldn't look away, though he wasn't sure why. He just knew that he didn't . . . want to fight her. He didn't want the burden of the guilt that would surely come if he would severely injure her somehow. It was frightening to him to realize that he . . . he what? That he cared for her?
The shock of the revelation hit him with dizzying effects. It seemed like he should have figured it out sooner, almost as though it had been there for some time but was ignored by him. He wanted to smack himself then, for that was just the case; he hadn't wanted to see it.
' "I see," said the blind man', sounded a mocking voice in his head.
A vicious snarl broke him from the retort he had planned on giving to his annoying inner voice. He became aware of a pouncing Cye, and he quickly rolled to the side to dodge her. She landed in his empty spot, but her eyes did not seem to leave his recovering form. She reminded him of a tiger hunting her prey.
Suddenly, she pounced again. Her clawed fingers caught some of the fabric on his pants. With his injured side to be mindful of, he succumbed to the insistent pulling and tumbled to the ground along with the hanyou.
Cye leapt on top of him, straddling his hips with her legs. Her claws raised mere inches above his face. With another snarl she swept her claws across his pale cheek, shredding brutally the tender flesh. The blood ran from the deep cuts down his neck and dribbled onto his silver hair. Cye hissed, claiming truth to her feline blood. Then she leaned forward and licked the dripping blood from off of his neck, her tongue swiping over the cuts.
Sesshoumaru wanted badly to either wince or cringe, for the truth was, he had never been in the present situation before. It was very . . . disturbing. Once again, his thoughts were interrupted as he felt strong, slender hands wrap around his neck. Cye stared at him through the same swirling eyes as her grip tightened. She leaned ever closer and let her tongue slide down from his cheek, past his neck, and she stopped at his shoulder where she let her fangs sink into the taut muscles.
Sesshoumaru gasped out of surprise as she bit down. He had to get a hold of himself or there was no doubt in his mind that she would kill him.
Thinking quickly he decided that no amount of non-killing force or evasive actions would truly stop her. She had to come back to her senses, and so Sesshoumaru pulled out his trump card.
With somewhat hoarse, yet traditionally soft tone of voice he said carefully, "Cye."
She didn't seem to hear him, and he winced as she felt her jaw gnawing on the muscles in his shoulder. She wanted him to cry out, but he refused to do so.
"Cye you have to come . . . back now," he said through somewhat clenched teeth.
He became aware of the sensation of blood rushing from the bite wound into her mouth. She was drinking his life force; trying to consume him in every way possible. He only she knew that she held a piece of his heart.
"This isn't you . . . you're too--"
His voice caught in his throat as she ripped a chunk of bloody flesh and muscle from his shoulder. With a mocking half smile she rose a little so that they were face-to-face and slowly gnawed on the piece. Blood and what little bodily fluid in that piece spilled over her lips and then, still wearing that smirk, she turned her head to the side and spat the piece of meaty flesh out of her mouth.
Her grip on his throat tightened further, claws breaching his skin, fingers leaving dark bruises on it. However, through the pain, the dizziness, the fatigue, and loss of blood that Sesshoumaru felt and experienced, he knew but one thing. He needed her back so he summoned what little strength he had in his body and brought his hand up to her cheek. He used his depleted ki amount summon his acidic attack. He palm began to burn into her cheek.
Cye shrieked. Her hands abandoned the youkai's torture neck and went to aid her face, but, much to her surprise, the hand was quickly removed and she felt her body lifting into the air, only to land moment later back on the ground laying on her back with another body atop her. She snarled and tried to struggle, but Sesshoumaru was a bit stronger than she anticipated, plus her keen eyes were wary of the green glowing hand above her.
"Listen to me Cye, you have to come back; this isn't you. You're too strong to be taken control of by instincts that I know you don't think you can control, but you MUST fight them Cye, or else they'll eat away at you until this monstrosity is all you are."
Her struggling became even less at his words. Her eyes became dazed and glazed over.
"You have to come back Cye . . . back to who you are, back to Rin, and back . . . ," he gulped, "and back to me, Cye. You have to come back to me." He paused and then whispered, "Please, please come back."
The glow around his hand grew dim and then disappeared. Cye stopped struggling completely. Slowly, the gold began to fade, baring hints of green in its place. She felt as though she were awakening from a bad dream, or walking out of a misty forest into the open sunshine.
She was aware of a weight on her body. She saw Sesshoumaru on top of her, much to her surprise, and then she saw his white garments stained red. She saw strands of his lovely hair dripping with the red substance, and she saw the scratches, the gaping hole in his side, the blatant, bloody indent where a chunk of flesh had once occupied, those slivered crevices in his neck made by claws, each one leaking a steady stream of crimson, and those bruises that were so horribly incongruous with his pale skin.
Suddenly, his form wavered, and he tumbled off of her. He hit the ground with a 'thud', unconscious.
Cye sat up immediately and her eyes grew wide. She knew what this was. She brought her hands to her face and found them caked with blood. She felt sick; she held her stomach, but could not stop the bile and vomit from rising up into her throat. The smell of blood was everywhere, and the taste was in her mouth. Tears sprung into her eyes as she vomited onto the ground, and they flowed harder as her vomiting became nothing but dry heaving.
She chanced a look at Sesshoumaru's still, bleeding form, and she felt nauseous again; however, she knew all to well that with out treatment he would die, and she couldn't let that happen. It wouldn't be right or fair, and she knew that if he left then it would hurt her. She recalled his words and his voice. They swam around in her muddled mind. He had brought her back . . . she knew that.
Slowly and shakily, she crawled over to him. His breathing was labored and guilt set in. Hesitantly she reached out, taking his hand in her own, and she checked his pulse; it was weak. She hugged the limp hand to her chest. With her other hand she brushed some silver hair from his face.
"I'm so sorry . . .," she whispered, her expression pained. "But don't worry, 'cause I'm gunna make this up to you, okay?"
She took a deep breath and got to her knees. Cye slung one of Sesshoumaru's arms over her shoulder and followed suit with his other one. The hanyou climbed from her knees and found her feet. She pulled the other body with her and adjusted it to the best of her ability. He was much heavier than she had thought, or maybe she was just unusually weak. She could already feel blood seeping through her clothing; she winced at the sensation. It was warm and so sticky.
With a sigh she took her first shaky step.
"See . . . it's okay. We're gunna be okay lover. Everything is just, it's just fine . . . and as soon as the voices in my head get a little but quieter everything is going to be much better, right? Yeah, you hang in there. It's all . . . fine."
***
"Rin stay right there! If Lord Sesshoumaru comes back and finds you gone I'm going to be in a lot of trouble," cried Jaken.
Rin pouted. "Rin doesn't like you."
Jaken scowled. "Well Jaken doesn't like Rin, but Jaken puts up with Rin because Jaken likes being alive!" The imp paused and shook his head. "Now you've got me talking that way!"
Rin giggled. "Jaken is funny though."
The imp sighed. It was useless. He plopped down on the ground, staff in hand. 'I hope Lord Sesshoumaru returns swiftly,' he thought.
As if on cue a rustling of the foliage was heard and both child and demon looked toward it, but neither of them expected to see a beaten up hanyou or a profusely bleeding youkai on said hanyou's back.
Jaken gasped. "Lord Sesshoumaru! What have you done to him fowl wench?"
Cye placed a fiery emerald stare on him. "Keep your cursed little trap shut imp, and I won't have to take time to carve out your wretched heart."
Jaken clamped his jaw shut but still glared defiantly at her. Cye looked to Rin, whose large, dark eyes were brimming with tears. Emerald eyes softened.
"Rin, clam down. Sesshoumaru is going to be okay. I know someone who can help him if we hurry and get there, but I need you to be strong and to dry your tears. Can you do that for me?"
Rin nodded and wiped at the tears streaming down her chubby little cheeks.
"That a girl," Cye said, smiling a little. "We have to go. If we're lucky, we'll get there before night fall."
With that, Cye turned and started walking. She could hear the footfalls of the ones behind her as they went.
As the hours passed and the sun fell lower and lower in the sky, Cye began to feel a certain amount of lethargy. She had stopped several times over the course of the day to try and stop the bleeding of Sesshoumaru's wounds or at least slow it down, but the makeshift bandages never held very long. By the time the little group made it to where they were going, the clothing on her back was absolutely wet with blood.
Their destination was at the escarpment of a lesser-known river. On the banks stood a fair sized dwelling with a thatch roof. It looked crooked on the uneven ground, yet its crookedness added to its simple charm. A woolen cloth hung in the doorway, somewhat discolored at the bottom from brushing the dirt and sand. Near the back of the place was a small but lush looking garden. It seemed rather well tended.
Cye smiled. Nothing had changed at all. It was still the quiet, serene place that she remembered. She began walking toward it and before she arrived at the door, the woolen cloth was pulled to the side to reveal an elderly woman.
She was tall and slender, almost lanky, and her posture, as she stood before them, gave an air of authority. Her hair was white, straight, and sleek with a few randomly placed gray streaks. The silky stands were bound by a piece of leather and thrown over her shoulder. Her attire consisted of a white skirt that closely fit her legs and waist and a blue tunic with wide sleeves that hung down passed her hips and touched her knees. Her feet were dressed simply with plain, wooden sandals. Pale skin off set dark, hard looking blue eyes that greatly contrasted the laugh lines surrounding them. Her lips were thin and formed a slight frown that seemed to defy her arched, black eyebrows.
The woman waited patiently for the group to come near her. When they did reach her, her arched eyebrows seemed to rise even higher, and her hard eyes became soft. The frown turned to an easy, welcoming smile.
"Welcome Cye," she said in a smooth, somewhat deep feminine tone. She glanced at Jaken and Rin. "Ah, Cye and company is it."
The hanyou gave her a tired grin. "Hello Jauna. I uh, need some help," she said and adjusted Sesshoumaru on her back.
Jauna's smile did not fade, but she nodded seriously. "Of course. Set him inside on the mat in the back room."
Cye nodded. "Thanks."
"Not at all, I'm used to it. You are, after all, always getting into trouble."
Cye grinned again. "Yeah well . . . oh hey, the imp is Jaken and the little one is Rin."
Jauna nodded to Jaken and smiled a little more sweetly at Rin. "Well hello there sweet heart. It's nice to meet you. I'm Jauna. Is that your daddy?" She asked, pointing briefly to Sesshoumaru.
Rin started to shake her head no, but then stopped and hesitated, and then nodded slowly. Cye smiled secretly at the girl's action before disappearing inside.
She passed through the main room and into another one that was separated by yet another woolen curtain. Slowly, cautiously, she laid Sesshoumaru's limp body onto the mat. She began to strip him of his bloody garments from the waist up. She winced as she saw the bruising and the wounds that decorated his pale skin. It wasn't right. Of all of the beings on the planet, why did she have to harm so brutally the one that she knew she cared for?
"My, my. You did do number on him, didn't you?" Asked a voice from the entryway.
Cye did not look at Jauna as the elderly woman came to kneel at her side.
"I just can't . . .control it, and he . . ." Cye started, but then shook her head. "Can you help him, Jauna?" Now she looked to the woman.
"Yes, I think that I can. Now, go get some rest. I'll call you as soon as I am finished."
Cye nodded. "Thank you so much, and I'm sorry . . . sorry for troubling you."
"No trouble dear," replied Jauna, and she shooed the hanyou away.
***
He had never wondered what it felt like to come back from the dead, but he wasn't certain he wasn't experiencing it as he clawed through the darkness of unconsciousness. He felt as though he was swimming on silken, ebony waves, detached from the threads of life, and from the threads of reality. He couldn't feel anything, and yet the sensation of not feeling FELT very pleasing. His mind wasn't questioning, wasn't thinking. He wasn't sure if it was even working, and then suddenly, as if to prove that he wasn't meant for bliss, a sharp tendril of pain coursed through his head.
The waves beneath him disintegrated, and were replaced by the padded hardness of an unidentifiable floor. The not ness of his thoughts and comprehension faded away slowly so that thoughts began to circulate in his mind; they were thoughts of pain.
He still had the darkness. If he could just keep his eyes closed, then perhaps he could hang on to the darkness and return to death, but to no avail. Slowly, reluctantly, his eyelids slid open. He found himself staring at a ceiling. He felt himself lying on a mat, covered generously with blankets.
'How very . . . unfamiliar,' he thought.
His body was achy and stiff, and he tried to turn his head to look around, but he winced. It was just very painful. He heard a slight chuckle from his side. He failed to find in humor in his situation.
"You'll be sore for a bit there, kiddo," said a deep, feminine tone.
Sesshoumaru felt the need to glare. Kiddo? He was over a thousand years old! Despite the pain he turned his head to see an old woman next to him. She fashioned a smile on her thin lips. He noticed that she was stirring up something in a wooden bowl. Whatever it was smelled rather putrid.
Noticing his gaze, she tipped the bowl so that he could see its contents. The substance was thick and pasty and the nastiest green color.
"Looks appetizing, doesn't it?" She asked sarcastically.
He did not respond, and that didn't seem to bother the woman.
"Who are you?" He asked after a silent period.
"My name is Jauna. I am a healer, among other things, and in case you're wondering, I don't mean you any harm. I'm a friend of Cye's. She brought you to me after you were hurt," Jauna replied.
Sesshoumaru remembered all of the events.
"Now, hold still. This stuff smells, looks, and hurts like hell, but with your wounds my healing powers can only go so far. Anyway this will keep the wounds from reopening as easily and, if you're lucky, eliminate the scarring."
Sesshoumaru held still as he was told to as Jauna applied the substance to his various wounds. She was right. It hurt . . . it hurt a lot, but Sesshoumaru did not show his pain.
When she finished Jauna raised an eyebrow. "I'm impressed. You put up a pretty strong front, laddie."
Sesshoumaru snorted and Jauna chuckled. "In any case, it would appear that your front wasn't strong enough to avoid Cye."
This caught his interest. "Why does she go through that transformation?" He asked.
"Well, when she saw Seronie, her Mother, die all those years ago it scarred her mind. I found the child scared and crying in the woods after I received word from Seronie, through telepathy, that the child would need to be taken care of. I took the girl in, raised her, taught her everything she knows, and dealt occasionally with her mood swings. It seems that anything that reminds her of that night when Seronie, bless her soul, died, she goes out of her head. Frankly, the girl just isn't completely sane, but she's got a good heart and a good head on her shoulders. I suppose that's all that really matters. Speaking of Cye, I guess I should call her in here. She's been worried about you. She is absolutely sick with guilt about what happened."
Before Sesshoumaru could get a word in edgewise Jauna climbed to her feet and left the room. He was left alone to ponder the information he had just received. He had to agree. Cye was a bit insane.
He heard the sound of the woolen curtain being pulled aside, and he looked up to see the female hanyou standing there. She stared at him for a moment, and then she averted her eyes. Silence ensued, as it tends to do in awkward situations, before Sesshoumaru chose to speak.
"Fascinating," he said simply.
She looked up at him. "What?"
"You DO have the ability to be quiet."
His sarcasm caught her by surprise, but she quickly recovered. "Yes, and you're CHOOSING to speak to me. I'm shocked," she replied.
"To say the least, I'm sure," he added.
She let a grin slide onto her lips as she approached him and sat down on her knees at his side.
"You're in a relatively good mood for having narrowly escaped death," Cye said, staring at him. She noticed the green poultice covering his wounds and couldn't help but make a face of disgust. She remembered that fowl substance. Jauna had used it on her several times.
"I do not fear death," Sesshoumaru said.
She rolled her eyes. "A predictable answer."
"Hn," was her only reply.
"Jauna used that stuff on your wounds. I pity you, really. Sit up and I'll wrap your injuries . . . at least that you won't have to LOOK at the stuff," Cye offered.
Sesshoumaru stared at her and made no move. Cye raised an eyebrow at him. It took her a moment to realize that he might be a bit stiff and achy. When she did figure it out she knocked herself in the head. Grabbing a few extra pillows, she set them up behind him, and then fluffed them.
"Here, I'll help you," she said. She offered her hand to him.
He sighed, but reluctantly took the proffered hand, and Cye gently, cautiously helped him to a sitting position so that he was leaning comfortably against the pillows. Then, Cye grabbed a roll of white wrappings. She began wrapping his side where the largest and deepest wound was. Silence fell yet again; it seemed to happen often.
"Listen, Sesshoumaru I'm really . . . so, so, so very, extremely sorry about . . . what happened. I just . . . lost it." Cye said this without look at him, as her eyes concentrated on neatly bounding the wound. Her hand moved upwards to bind his chest wounds.
"Rin wasn't hurt," Sesshoumaru said, "and you are forgiven, for it is assumed that you are not consummately responsible for the violent actions that were taken."
Cye began working on his arms, easily moving up to his shoulder. She couldn't help but chuckle a little. "So, I guess that's your way of calling me mental?" She asked, still not looking up at him. Her fingers tied a knot to secure the bandages she had just wrapped and then brushed over the wound that they hid.
Sesshoumaru felt her slender fingers run over the wounded spot, and then was a little surprised to feel them proceed from the shoulder, gradually, up the sensitive skin of his neck.
He stared at her, and he was surprised again as his body began to move by itself and his hand slowly reached out to caress her cheek and then moved below her chin, gently coaxing her closer. Both beings seemed in a strange, celestial daze as they leaned together, and their eager lips locked. The kiss was soft initially, but as both participants grew accustomed to the foreign sensations arising within them, the butterfly kiss deepened to something of a more passionate nature.
Both were engrossed in the kiss, the new feelings, and the new emotions that they felt. Sesshoumaru's fingers became entwined in Cye's raven hair, while Cye's arm went to wrap around the youkai's waist.
It seemed perfect, and yet so imperfect, frightening, but exciting, and it seemed all of something, but half of nothing. Despite the confused emotions, the kiss FELT right. It wasn't awkward, for it was eager, as though it had been waiting to happen . . .
"Ehem."
And then there came a giggle.
Cye and Sesshoumaru broke apart faster than light. Cye blushed a furious red and her eyes darted about nervously, while Sesshoumaru attempted to look innocent, but only succeeded in looking guiltier. Eventually, both pairs of eyes, green and gold, found their way to the woolen curtain where stood a sly, smirking Jauna, and a giggling, grinning Rin.
"Well, well, I see you're recovering quite nicely," Jauna said, her gaze falling on Sesshoumaru, who looked away.
Jauna grinned and then winked suggestively at Cye. "And I can see why too, Cye is taking such good care of you . . ."
Cye glared at her. "Not another word, Jauna," she warned.
"Of course not, dear. I came here to let Rin see her Father anyway."
Cye smiled slightly at her comment, while Sesshoumaru took a moment to look dumbstruck. It didn't last long, but it was an expression that imprinted itself in everyone's mind.
Rin stared at the youkai, and he stared coolly back. Her little hands began to twist around themselves nervously, and her feet seemed to be moving to an unheard rhythm.
Jauna cleared her throat for the second time upon entering the room. "Cye, dear, I require your assistance," she said.
Cye nodded knowingly. "Of course," she replied and climbed to her feet. As she exited the room she took a moment to pat Rin on the head affectionately, and she gave Sesshoumaru one last fleeting glance as well as a quick wink for good measure.
After that, Rin and Sesshoumaru were left alone together . . . staring. To the youkai, it was obvious how nervous the child was, and so, being the mature adult he was, he beckoned the girl over to his side. She came to him and sat cross-legged next to him.
"Rin is sorry, Sesshoumaru-sama," she said. "Rin doesn't 'member her real Daddy very good, and Granny Jauna asked Rin if you were her Daddy. Rin said yes."
Sesshoumaru shook his head slowly as those large, dark eyes began to brim with unshed tears . . . she was trying not to cry. Really, she was a strong child. He then gave into the temptation that had always been buried deep within him and enveloped her into a large, bear-type hug. Rin's little arms held to him tightly.
"There is no reason to be sorry for it, Rin," he whispered.
Rin nodded. She pulled away slowly and wiped at her eyes. "Is Rin . . . going to have a Mommy, then," she asked.
Sesshoumaru, caught off guard by the question, could only pat her on the head and send her out, telling her to go help Jauna and Cye with whatever task they were occupied with. The girl seemed to accept his lack of answer and, giddily, sauntered out.
When she was gone, the youkai was left to ponder the kiss he had shared with the hanyou. It had been right, and he hadn't despised it. Actually, he had appreciated it, which in some way, brought him comfort and yet, disapproval. She was, after all, part human.
'Yes, but . . . she's also half demon . . .' said a singsong voice in his head.
He frowned. He had NEVER liked that little voice. It always made good points! In any case, he wasn't sure what the future would bring. Perhaps having her come along wasn't so terrible . . . maybe he . . . wanted her to accompany him . . . maybe.
A yawn escaped him and he lowered himself down to sleep. His last conscious thoughts were of Cye and Rin, and in his dreams he saw silky, black hair, and emerald green eyes.
***
Cye took a deep breath of fresh, evening air and drew her knees up to her chest. She sat on the riverbank, staring out into dark, gently flowing water. Rin had been put to bed hours ago, Jaken had fallen asleep sometime as well, Sesshoumaru slept soundly, and she had come outside to be alone with her thoughts. Naturally, those thoughts spun around the demon lord inside.
She wasn't going to dance around the truth. She had very much enjoyed the kiss, and the physical contact that came with it. She adored the warm feelings that arose within her, and she wouldn't be at all sad if it were to happen again . . . or frequently for that matter. That would suit her just fine. She liked him, she was pretty sure he liked her too, and she loved Rin, and Rin loved her, and Jaken . . . well, she PUT UP with him, and he PUT UP with her, so it all worked out moderately well. Never the less, she had her doubts.
As these troublesome thoughts circulated through her mind, she came to an inescapable conclusion: she was in love, and she had found her family.
***
He spent one more day bedridden, and that was all that he required, for along with Jauna's treatments and his own healing abilities, he recovered quickly. He was in a rush to leave the dwelling, despite the fact that he really didn't mind Jauna very much. He didn't necessarily enjoy relying on her so much, or troubling her, though he knew she didn't think it was a problem. He wasn't accustomed to the whole deal, and he just wanted to leave.
Rin had grown attached to the woman, so he supposed that it wouldn't be such a hard-ship to visit on a rare occasion, and Jaken didn't have a spoken opinion; it wouldn't have mattered even if he did.
Cye . . . had not been seen for a while. When questioned, Jauna had shrugged and said, "You'd need a chain to keep track of that girl."
Now, Sesshoumaru was dressing himself in his usual attire. Jauna had, so kindly, cleaned and sewed his garments, which he was quite grateful for.
The sun was just beginning to rise, and he wanted to get going. He had found Jauna already awake. She was tending to her garden in the back, and he had proceeded to get Jaken and Rin up. Rin was none to happy about having to leave, but with the promise of returning, her spirits were lifted.
Jauna made sure to feed Rin an over-sized breakfast, and Rin was all too happy to consume it. Jaken nibbled on a few choice items, and Sesshoumaru ate nothing.
"Now, you've got a full stomach and a smile, so I think you're all ready for traveling . . . except, wait!" Jauna said, addressing Rin. "You forgot this!"
From behind her back, Jauna pulled out a newly sewed kimono. The material was soft and sleek to the touch. It was a lighter purple, a shade darker than lavender, and was decorated with a cream-colored bamboo pattern.
Rin hugged the kimono to her chest, and then she hugged Jauna. She held up the new item to Sesshoumaru, who flashed her a slight smile. Rin then ran into the other room to try it on, and when she came out she was all smiles.
"Rin, Jaken, come," Sesshoumaru said, and he exited the little house. Jauna followed the party outside, waving good-bye.
"Sesshoumaru-sama," Rin said, tugging on Sesshoumaru's pant leg.
He looked down at her. "Yes?"
"Where is Cye?"
Sesshoumaru sighed. The question ran through his mind as well. "I'm not certain."
"Will we see her again?"
"Perhaps," he replied.
'Hopefully,' he thought.
They walked in silence for a long time, before Jaken decided it was time to begin Rin's lessons. Then, the game of chase was one. Rin dashed ahead, followed by a grumbling Jaken.
"You can always count on them to be the same, huh?"
Sesshoumaru looked up into the trees in search of the voice that had just spoken, though he recognized it easily.
"Over here, puppy," Cye said.
Sesshoumaru found her hidden amongst the green leaves. She was crouched down low on a sturdy tree branch, ears perked up, and tail dangling downward. She flashed him a toothy grin. "At least you can always count on something to stay consistent, ya know?"
Sesshoumaru looked toward the rapidly disappearing figures of the imp and the girl, and he then looked back up to Cye. Her grin had disappeared and was replaced by a look of bitter contentment. It was an expression he was unused to seeing on her fine features.
"Are they the only ones I am able to rely on for consistency?"
Cye smiled sadly at him. "For a while, I think they are."
"Then . . . you're not coming with us," Sesshoumaru stated, rather than asked.
The hanyou sighed. "It wouldn't work . . . not now anyway. I mean, I'm still, uh . . . "
"Mental?"
Cye chuckled. "Yeah, I'm still mental, and you, well you've got that whole family issue and the sword deal. We both have a lot going on right now . . . too much, I think, to be able to be together and make it work well."
Sesshoumaru nodded. His heart seemed to sink a little, but he had to admit that she was right.
"Here," Cye said. She held out a long chain of pretty white flowers. "Give this to Rin. It's my way of saying good-bye."
"She'll miss you," Sesshoumaru said as he accepted the flower necklace.
"I know . . . I'll miss her too, and . . . I know I'm going to miss you, Sesshoumaru." Cye looked at him shyly, as if fearing rejection.
He sighed. He couldn't reject her. She was too much a part of his life now. "The feeling is mutual . . ." He said softly.
She smiled genuinely. A tear slipped down her cheek, and she wiped it away. "Look at me crying like this. I'm such a girl. Listen to me. As soon as you finish up with your sword thing and stuff, and I'm a little less, uh . . ."
He raised an eyebrow. "Mental?"
She smiled again. "Yeah. Look me up . . . or I'll look you up, but one way or the other, we'll see each other again . . . after all, I owe you several. Later, lover." With those words, Cye disappeared from his sight.
Sesshoumaru chuckled to himself. He couldn't ever go back to the way he was before. His heart had been warmed, and there was room inside of it for more than just him. Someday, he would see her again, he didn't doubt that, but for now, well, he had a daughter to raise.
-Owari
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Well, that's it. Not exactly a happily-ever-after, but it works. I thought I'd try something a little different with ending. In any case, thanks to everyone who stuck with this thing, you're all very um . . . persistent. ^_^, But, I appreciate it. Thanks a bunch. Ja!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~