Ch 6: Sesshomaru pays a visit
It occurred to me then that waiting in the forest was a potentially life ending idea. I climbed to my feet- it took me three tries with the bag securely on my back- and began the trek toward the village. "I can sleep when I get there. I can sleep when I get there…" I chanted over and over, gritting my teeth and closing my eyes, my feet knowing the path from sheer repetition. I had to stop and rest several times but I was half way there; I had made it this far, I could make it the rest of the way. I pushed off the tree I was leaning against and walked right into a warm wall.
I gasped in surprise and stumbled backward, falling backward until a hand grabbed my overall strap and pulled me forward. I stood, planting my feet apart for better balance, and sighed in relief. "Thanks, Inu Yasha. I didn't think you'd be up yet." I said and then realized that the figure was too tall for Inu Yasha. The white hair was the same, the eyes slightly more amber. Alarm and adrenaline raced through my body and I did not think; I acted. I wrenched myself out of his grasp, landed a well placed kick and ran for all I was worth. Unfortunately, I didn't get far.
I was tackled from behind by a snarling Sesshomaru, and picked up. I kicked and slipped out of the backpack straps, sprinting as fast as I could toward the crest of a hill. This time he slammed into me full force and we went rolling down the landscape. I screamed and he cut it off by covering my mouth with his hand. "Stop! I'm not here to harm you!" Like I believed that! We slid into a tree, me taking the brunt of the impact and I bit into his palm, worrying the bite until it bled freely. He pulled back his hand quickly, cursing all the while, and I coughed, choking on his blood.
He let me sit up, and I spat out as much of the liquid as possible. "I am not here to harm you." He said again, speaking slowly as if I was stupid or didn't understand Japanese.
"You just chased and then slammed me into a tree. I think that constitutes as 'harm,' fuzz ball." My voice was thick, with his blood and my own from a stinging split lip. Great; another freaking injury to add to the collection. I heard him growl, his face hidden in darkness except for the narrowed reflective slits that marked his eyes. I made as if to stand up and he shoved me back down, his hand pushing against the swollen bruise on my lower belly. My eyes went wide with pain and I struck out at his face, hitting something. He pulled back and I curled into a ball to protect myself. God that had hurt. I ground my teeth and willed back tears.
"Don't. Touch. Me." I panted each word separately. I heard him stand and refused to meet my death in the fetal position. I rolled onto my knees, and then climbed painfully to my feet, crumbling back to the ground when my torn up knee finally gave out. I would have to die content by glaring angrily at Sesshomaru. I was going to come back and haunt this bastard.
I tried to get up after a minute and this time my knee held, though I had to hobble. I started up the hill, glaring over my shoulder at the silent youkai who watched me. "What's the matter, Sesshomaru? You usually aim to kill with the first strike."
"That's right. I do." And he started after me. I kept a five foot margin between us. "I told you I meant no harm." He said when he noticed the gap.
"That or your aim isn't improving as you grow older." And I flashed him my best smile, enjoying the way his eyes narrowed. Ah, yes; if I was going to die and couldn't physically defend myself, then I was going down verbally swinging. I hobbled over the hill top and couldn't go any further. I leaned against a tree and closed my eyes. "Get it over with Sesshomaru. I don't have all day." I opened my eyes and looked out at the forest below, lit by starlight and the moon. I kept a hand around my middle in case he decided to be vindictive and aim there. Imagine my surprise when the youkai sighed and picked me up.
"You are such pathetic creature." He sighed, board, and headed down the hill, back the way we had come up. He held me gingerly in the crook of his one arm and walked as if I weighed nothing. Inu Yasha had cut off Sesshomaru's right arm in the initial battle over the Tetesusaiga; the youkai was becoming a very capable lefty. I caught sight of my pack and poked the youkai in the shoulder. He turned his head and spared me a glare which I ignored.
"If you're playing taxi, I need to get my pack too." He stopped and turned his head to stare at me, incredulous. I could feel the tension in his shoulders, as if he were fighting with himself not to squeeze the life out of me. He finally dropped me, letting me fall to the ground as he picked up my bag.
"I am carrying this as a gesture of good will," He growled between clenched teeth. "You can walk." There was nothing wrong with his plan except I knew that I wasn't getting up again. I was too tired and my knee was not going to take anymore abuse. I watched Sesshomaru's feet walk off, again showing no difficulties with the added weight, and sighed in defeat. I gave it a last try and fell back on the ground. Nope, I wasn't going anywhere for a while. I smiled to myself grimly. "Well, I wanted to get my bag there and now I've gotten my wish." I closed my eyes and sighed. The grass here was actually soft and comfortable; I could sleep like this with no problem.
I heard a sigh and opened my eyes. Sesshomaru's shiny shoes were in front of me. "Worthless wench!" He seemed genuinely pissed. Goody.
"Gimme a break," I yawned. "I've had a busy day." I rubbed my eyes and tried to concentrate. I felt something soft wrap around my sternum and I was lifted upwards. I yipped in surprise and realized it was Sesshomaru's tail. He picked me up and glared at me before he turned and rested me against his back. I wrapped my legs around his waist lightly, an automatic reflex, and rested my hands on his shoulders. "Uh, thank you." And I settled against him as he began moving. I relaxed against his warm body and felt myself nodding off.
"My mongrel of a half brother would never hear me out if I let his mate get eaten." He growled. "Especially when she's carrying his pups."
"What the hell" yawn "are you talking about?" I blinked, trying to concentrate on what the twit was saying. I tightened my grip on his waist by tensing my thigh muscles. I felt his back muscles tense underneath my hands.
"Such language from a lady." Sesshomaru tsked. He did not elaborate on what he had said so I decided to prod him a little. I adjusted my position, using my leg muscles to shimmy up his lean body. Needless to say, I had his attention now.
"What are you doing?!" He demanded angrily, turning his upper body and head as he tried to find me visually. I ignored him, hanging on as he moved. I did stop moving eventually though, once I was high enough to rest my chin on his head. I yawned again, one forearm resting on his shoulder for balance, the other hand tangling in the hair beside his temple. I flexed my fingers, for the first time really feeling the bandages that covered the sores that were my knuckles. Sesshomaru stopped abruptly but I continued to flex my hand, exercising my fingers and scratching his scalp gently.
"What did you say just now?" I doubted I'd get an answer now; he was just too damn angry. It was irritating that he wouldn't repeat himself- I suddenly knew he wouldn't- but on the other hand I was getting a bit of payback by annoying the hell out of him.
"Stop that!" He growled beneath me. I did as he so politely asked, yawning again and turning my head to rest my cheek against his satiny hair; I'd had too much exercise today to keep pestering him.
"Sorry." I sighed, not a bit sorry, and removed my hand from his hair. I let it hang down by his shoulder, still flexing it now and then. After a few seconds, Sesshomaru started walking again at a swifter pace.
"What did you do to your hand?" he asked after a while. I roused, realizing that I'd been napping again. I'd also slipped back down his back, in the position I had originally been in.
"Part of my busy day." I mumbled, wrapping my arms around his neck tighter. I closed my eyes again, hearing rocks crunch under Sesshomaru's shoes. We were very near the village and soon I'd be able to lie down and sleep. Though Sesshomaru was warm, he was not exactly comfortable to lie against- the movement of his tensed muscles against my bruised body was not pleasant. The slightly rough texture of Inu Yasha's fire rat coat scratching my skin did not help either.
A cold wind, a small taste of the winter brewing in our future, blasted Sesshomaru. Even though he took the worst of it, icy fingers snaked through my light clothing and made me shiver. The youkai shivered too and, on impulse, I sat up straighter, spreading the long sleeves of Inu Yasha's coat around Sesshomaru's shoulders and snuggled closer to him. I felt my body temperature spike in response to the colder environment and with it my power. It flowed over me and Sesshomaru, warping us both in a glowing blanket. He stopped and I could feel his hair slid under my cheek as he turned his head to look at me. I didn't bother returning his gaze, opting instead to simply go to sleep.