A.N.
Aww screw ten reviews, I forgot how much I enjoyed creating this world. I
added some new scenes a deeper plot and most importantly changed some
dialogue that will come into effect later in the story. The beginning
chapters will be hard for me to write out. You'll begin to understand why
later because I'll be changing the entire story so readers who have been
reading the older version of 'Unknown Fall' might be surprised when new
scenes, interactions, and characters are added.
Unknown fall
2001
By: Bawdy
The prophet, (with questionable origins) does he speak the truth of the future or is he just a senile old fart making up lies? Sesshô-Maru meets a few unwanted acquaintances in town and he's not happy about it.
Paring: Sess & ???
Act Two: Glancing into the unknown ...Descend...
Carefully sidestepping the petty rubble within the ancient house. Sesshô- Maru's golden eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness. Sniffing the air, his excellent sense of smell easily identified the slowly rotting stench of the prophet. The ancient creature smelt like decayed power that strangely tickled the youkai lords sensitive nose. He anticipated that their meeting would be over quickly so that he could get far away from the unsettling smell.
He was about to knock on the decomposing doorframe but a muffled grunt of acknowledgement coming from the prophet signified that his presence was already known and that he could enter.
The prophet did not turn to properly greet his customer and remained seated in his hunched position by a decaying table. From Sesshô-Maru's perspective it seemed that the old demon was staring into an eerie green substance swirling within a tattered bowl chipped in numerous places. The prophet suddenly spoke to his guest as if he were talking to an old acquaintance.
"Ahh yes, I am privileged that such a magnificent creature such as yourself decided to bless my worthless existence with their presence. Come in; come in... Demonic prince Sesshô-Maru. firstborn son and heir of the former Demon of the Western Domain. Hopefully you will not take advantage of an old crone and try to eradicate me after our unpleasant conversation." His rusty voice was barely a hoarse whisper but Sesshô-Maru's keen ears heard the old one as clear as day.
The youkai lord stood in dignified composure and chose not to heed the request. He smelt something else in the air and wondered if there was yet another demon lurking within the shadows. Scanning the dwelling quickly of anything threatening and curtly answered the elder.
"I, Sesshô-Maru would have no intentions of harming one such as yourself. My lone request is for you to not order your pet to attack unless you are prepared for unnecessary violence..." he warned and continued in that dull tone of his, "I am simply present at the moment to perform a business transaction."
The ancient demon laughed out a strange hackling laugh. Regaining his composure the old one asked humorously, "What do you mean, old Trio? Why, he would never hurt a fly... anymore."
After a toothless whistle, the prophet slapped his lap lightly. A sound of soft shuffling was suddenly heard within the darkness. Six crimson eyes blinked consecutively and the creature hidden in the shadows approached the two demons and revealed a three-headed dog with wrinkly black skin, three rather long pink tongues dripping saliva onto the dusty floorboards and a long tail that waged from side to side excitedly.
*Thank the gods my appearance isn't as pathetic in my proper form...* Sesshô-Maru thought. Inwardly repulsed by the comical sight, Sesshô-Maru repressed his outward emotions.
The ancient three-headed beast looked rather carefree, insanely goofy in appearance, and generally had the personality of an extremely overzealous pup...
*Rather reminds me of Rin. Always so damned hyper... but... I must admit she's much more... endearing. *
Quickly dismissing the comparison, Sesshô-Maru reprimanded himself. He should have known better than to think the other creature was a threat.
Honestly, the older he got, the more paranoid he became of others. Sesshô- Maru crossed the threshold and stepped into the ruined adobe. Keeping his distance away from the two creatures and resting the heavy burden of fresh kill on the floor, Sesshô-Maru delicately tucked a long strand of snow- white hair behind his sharp ear.
"I, Sesshô-Maru heard many miraculous stories about your power to foretell the future. I wish to ask for your guidance. Predict what you see in my future. In return, I have brought recently slaughtered mortal children as reimbursement." He stated flatly.
This caught the prophet's attention and he ceased petting his three-headed pet. The ancient demon finally turned around to face the young lord with a hint of glee in his dull gray eyes, "Really? Did you say children, eh?"
The prophet slowly rose from his seat and scooping up his bowl of green goop, "Did you hear that Trio? The nice young youkai brought you dinner!" He cackled gleefully.
The youkai lord inwardly scowled in displeasure. Hearing the words 'nice' and 'young youkai' mingling together in the same sentence was a mockery to his name.
With a blank stare Sesshô-Maru took closer note of the old geezer; realizing that the informer who told him about the prophet was greatly misleading. He distinctly remembered hearing that the prophet was a half- breed Cyclops/Hydra... however this old man was actually a triclops and there was no hint of poisonous hydra blood within his bloodstream. The old one was also completely opposite of cranky and was factually quite giddy and excited to have a visitor in his dwelling.
A question nagged the youkai's mind and to quell it Sesshô-Maru asked callously, "Do you not savor human flesh?"
With a wrinkled face laugh the prophet shook his head in disagreement and replied, "Heavens no. But old Trio used to love chasing those pesky kids and eating them in his younger days... now he's too old to even take a walk around this city without tiring every so often. However, I'm grateful for your offer. One less stroll into town to buy food for Trio is worth a reading if you ask me. My old limbs can't carry heavy children from the market and those mortal creatures are blessed with speed, not to mention the price of those darn kids..." He grumbled in closed eyed merriment.
*This old fool obviously enjoys talking nonsense...* Sesshô-Maru thought tiredly, *and I'm going to kill that informer of mine. *
The old demon strolled to a boiling cauldron sitting above an open fire and removed the lid with much difficulty. He mixed a few spices and essence into the boiling concoction and stirred it slowly with a wooden spoon. He then preceded to poor more of the green lumpy liquid into his bowl and covered the cauldron once more. He hobbled his way back to his chair by the molding table, across from Sesshô-Maru. He gazed into the glowing green light, concentrating intensely at the odd bubbles and swirls of dark color.
All was silent within the room except the occasional mumbles of incantations from the prophet. Finally, after a few hushed seconds he began to speak of what he foresaw. "You face hard times ahead my lord..."
*That is to be expected. * Sesshô-Maru thought bitterly.
"What you want is very close... but yet it's far from reach. It seems as if you shall be battling your inner demons on a strange ride into heaven..." The prophets cryptic words trailed off for a more dramatic effect, "...or hell..." He continued with a slight smile, " The thing you desire the most with a passion... has many others wanting it as well-"
"Tetsusaiga..." Sesshô-Maru murmured.
The old demon raised an old bumpy brow and replied, "Perhaps."
The youkai prince matched the old demons raised brow with his own slender one, "What do you mean perhaps? Is it not Tetsusaiga you see?" He questioned.
"So it is a thing called 'Tetsusaiga' that the mighty lord desires? I must inform you that the future has multiple roads to venture upon... in 'this' future I foresee the time of your death approaching near. Even though your destiny has already been altered slightly, these small alterations performed nearly half a year ago won't be enough to change your ordained fate. If you desire change you must be willing to accept those destined to cross you path."
The prophet whisked the vapor away from the green substance quickly as Sesshô-Maru thought sinful things to perform upon the old geezer. The prophet, unaware of the malicious vibes radiating from his dangerous customer continued to stare intensely into the green glow and blew away the cumbersome steam once more.
"Ahh-ha!" the shriveled demon exclaimed all knowingly, "in 'this' future you are 'thee' Great Demon of the Western Lands and I see you live happily with your beloved... 'Tetsusaiga' safely by your side... Unfortunately you must reclaim it! Someone who has a crucial eye on your prize also desires it... as I have said before."
The prophet glanced up at the youkai before him with a questioning stare, "This is all I can see within this bowl my lord... the fates... refuse to reveal more." He returned his gaze upon the steaming bowl and waited for a reply from the demon lord but none came.
"Oh wait I see a face of a wo-Eh?" The old demon looked up from his bowl of pea soup and noticed that the young youkai lord had already departed from the room, "Oh well.come back anytime!" He called out merrily, picked up his cooling bowl of soup and gulped it down.
Trio pulled out a dead human child from the sack left behind and all three of its heads began to gnaw at the lifeless flesh.
*****
Sesshô-Maru gritted his teeth angrily and clenched his right hand. Easily quelling his rage as he left the old demons residence.
The prophet was a fraud and the pathetic informer who told him about the spiritualist was going to be shredded into bloody pieces and fed to starving dogs.
Sesshô-Maru snarled at the thought of wasting his entire evening gathering four dead children while Rin slept peacefully in the forest with Jaken watching over her- *Although that wasn't a difficult task* - and then hearing the old fart talk nonsense was torment of it's own style!
*I, Sesshô-Maru will not die any time soon! I have land to rule over, attractive female youkai to breed with, extinguishing the life of that vile half-breed mutt, then reclaim Tetsusaiga - and above all, I have a toddler to raise! *
He had so many things to perform in a long span of time to complete them all; he had no time to die! For a demon, he was still in his prime of life and he had so many pleasurable things to look forward to. He had no time to fade into history. Not just yet.
Sesshô-Maru gracefully, yet quickly, climbed the stairs out of the rancid house and out into the bloody city. He easily identified Jaken standing in the shade while leaning on the staff of heads. The retainer was watching Rin, who was crouched over a strange bristly caterpillar and studying it intently.
He swiftly glided towards the two of them, wanting to leave the dreadful city in his territory. A slight zephyr swept past him and softly lifted his white hair; the youkai breathed in the fresh breeze. Recognition swept over him and caused him to halt abruptly. Something lingering in the winds caught his attention yet again.
*That sent again...what is that? It smells familiar, but what possesses such an inimitable fragrance? *
Sesshô-Maru glanced at the direction the aroma drifted from, a strange curiosity swept over him. The youkai lord quickly quenched the urge to discover the source of the sent. As hard as he tried to deny it, the curiosity would persist to linger in the back of his mind.
As he approached the human girl, Rin lost all interest in the fuzzy caterpillar and smiled at her lords' arrival. Rin then asked a simple question, which caused Jaken to hiss at her in disapproval.
"Can Rin watch that auction thingy over there?" The little girl pointed a stubby finger westward where a large crowd had formed and were busy placing bets on the last remaining objects on the auction block.
Sesshô-Maru raised an elegant brow at the small child standing before him. In the youkai's mind he told himself to just ignore the girl and continue on his minor mission to kill the misleading informer, but his instincts persisted to let itself be known and yet again informed Sesshô-Maru that whoever possessed such a familiar sent was somewhere within the vicinity of the auction block. He wanted to find out who or what was secreting the sent.
*Just for a few moments. Just to affirm where the sent originates. *
"Only for a little while." Sesshô-Maru said softly, veiling his true intentions.
Rin turned towards Jaken and flashed him a victorious grin.
The toad youkai was in a state of shock. His cunningly cruel master agreed with the snot nosed kid! He glared at Rin as she stuck her tongue out at him.
With a big smile, the little girl scampered after the youkai prince, who had left the two standing in the middle of the road.
Jaken grumbled incoherently as he followed them westward towards the auction block.
Sesshô-Maru preferred never to linger within a city infested with demons, be it in his province or not. These demonic towns were the backwash of the demon species and also a clever place for nobles of destroyed nations to hide from their enemies. He decided to keep his distance from the rowdy mass of creatures, hoping his robes wouldn't accumulate a layer of soot. Standing by a wall not too far a distance from the auction block, Sesshô- Maru decided it was an excellent spot to observe the locals and their dastardly activities.
Unfortunately for Rin, her small form gave her a disadvantage; she was too short to see over the heads of the other demons. Sesshô-Maru watched his human child as she tipped toed and craned her neck to see with no avail.
He let out a sigh and quickly bent over to scoop up the little burden into his strong right arm, and held her there.
"Is that better?" Sesshô-Maru patiently asked the little girl.
"Yes, thank you very much lord Sesshô-Maru!" Rin smiled gratefully as she held him around his slender neck.
Jaken simply hopped up onto a nearby wall and sat patiently.
The items on the auction table were sold off quickly (even though they were slightly tarnished, showy, and often cheap ornamentations.) When all items were sold off, the auctioneer began to set up the intermission.
"Lord Sesshô-Maru?" Rin called as she looked at him, trying to gain his attention.
She noticed his blank emotionless stare and of his unfocused golden eyes which stared off in the distance. Understanding that her lord was contemplating something within his mind, Rin called out his name once more, trying to bring him back into reality.
His eyes began to refocus but his emotionless facade continued. He neither looked at her nor acknowledged her existence and simply continued gazing at the auction stage. Rin was about to attempt her call once again~
"Yes." His voice came so suddenly and sounded so cruel that it startled her slightly.
"C-can Lord Sesshô-Maru buy Rin something at the auction?" She asked with the sweetest voice she could muster, her eyes seemed to beg him to agree... if only he turned his head to look at her, perhaps he would have seen it.
"Have you learned how to spell your name properly yet?" Sesshô-Maru asked dully.
He felt the child's weight shift slightly as if she were fidgeting in discomfort. The little girl tapped her index fingers together in a childish manner and her bottom lip stuck out. She began to pout.
"No.not yet."
"No huh? Then I'm afraid my answer shall also be negative." Sesshô-Maru stated simply.
Jaken snickered at the child's misfortune, but quickly silenced himself at his masters disapproving stare.
"If Rin learns her name, then will lord Sesshô-Maru buy her something?" The child asked excitedly to her lord and savior.
"Perhaps..." Sesshô-Maru mused.
Rin smiled babyishly and tried to wiggle out of Sesshô-Maru's strong hold. The youkai quickly figured that the child wanted to be set down, so he bent down and released her from his hold. He curiously watched as the little girl grabbed a thin sturdy stick nearby and scribbled lines into the dirt. After she finished, Rin pointed at the scribble.
"Is this how?" Rin asked joyfully.
Sesshô-Maru shook his head and suppressed a smile of amusement from forming. The little one wouldn't be successful in spelling her name correctly. She was never taught how.
Rin frowned and stuck out her lower lip once more, "Can Rin try again?" She asked hopefully.
"Try all you like." Sesshô-Maru shrugged indifferently.
He didn't care if she tried a hundred times over. Rin would never learn how to spell her name properly unless he felt like teaching the imp.
*If Sesshô-Maru ever teaches this human girl how to write, I'll first have to teach her how to hold her utensils properly. *
The youkai thought to himself. He watched yet again as the girl try to scribble her name on the dirt road without success.
A presence in the vicinity caused Sesshô-Maru to shift his relaxed senses towards defensive. The change was so subtle that to a regular passerby, Sesshô-Maru seemed to be the epitome of tranquility itself. However, Jaken, being in Sesshô-Maru's service for most of the lords' life, easily detected the change in his master and hopped off from his perch, landing by Rins' crouching figure protectively.
By the time Rin seemed satisfied with her gibberish writing and asked for her lords' approval, Sesshô-Maru was gone.
*****
Sauntering further away from the high wall Jaken and Rin stood by; Sesshô- Maru disappeared into the throng of bidders who absentmindedly made way for the lord to pass through them. He soon reached the opposite end of the village square and found a quite spot next to a junction in the road that lead towards a corner. Here he stood, and waited.
Soon enough an exotic man with short, curly blond hair that billowed slightly in the wind came strolling around the corner. He was dressed head to toe in white leather strapped together with numerous amounts of silver buckles and in his hand was a cane made of silver mixed with white enamel.
The strangers' attention was on the auction and he passed Sesshô-Maru as if he was but a bug on the side of the road. Taking no less than five steps away from the demonic lord, the blond stopped completely and stood stock still for a whole ten seconds. Backtracking his steps and halting in front of the youkai lord, the blond smiled jauntily.
"What a coincidence to meet you of all youkai here!" The blond focused his large yellow green eyes upon Sesshô-Maru. "Why I would have dressed a little more presentable if I knew the majestic prince himself decided to mingle with the commoners! Have you finally come out of that annoyingly cynical shell of yours?"
"........Fuck off arsehole......."
"Erm... perhaps I was mistaken....." A trickle of sweat slid down the side of his face.
"Why is your presence here Minoru?" Sesshô-Maru demanded quietly.
The blonds grin only spread wider across his face, "Why the auction, obviously!" Minoru noticed that the short explanation wasn't enough for Sesshô-Maru, so he continued, "Every year or so, this particular group would travel the silk roads around India, Persia, and the Mediterranean basin only to collect the most prized artifacts to auction off at meticulously selected areas. This year they've chosen this sight in Japan. I was very lucky to have returned and discovered the whereabouts of the auction.... Hopefully I'll get my mate a crafty gown or two..."
"............"
"Um.....anyway....... how's your armory? I'm still in the business...if you're ever in need..." Getting uncomfortable by the minute in Sesshô- Maru's presence, Minoru took any advantage he could get to remove himself from the youkai's presence. "Well... must get going! Auction and all..." Bowing deeply Minoru nearly sprinted away.
Sesshô-Maru watched silently as the blond youkai slipped into the mass.
*****
Rin easily spotted Sesshô-Maru making his way through the crowd and returning to her side.
"Look Rin has written her name!" She child pointed at her handy work while Jaken made an unpleasant noise.
Sesshô-Maru stared down at the child but remained silent.
"That does not spell out yer name. A hopeless case ye are..."
"Rin can try again!" The child quickly began scribbling on the dirt once more.
As Rin (without a chance) tried to write her name, an explosion of laughter was heard at the auctions block. The child glanced up quickly to see someone being slapped violently across the face. She gasped in shock and dropped her stick.
Sesshô-Maru paid no heed to what was happening on the auction stand. He was trying to identify the images the silly girl had drawn in the dirt.
It was two strange pictures of happy faced circles, one was smaller than the other and had a little tuff of hair stuck out from the side of its head; it also had round ears sticking out strangely. The other larger circular image had long pointy ears and stringy hair, it also had two stripes on each side of its face and on its temple was a crescent moon.
The wind blew gently from the west and as Sesshô-Maru inhaled the air, he snapped his head up towards the direction of the auction block. The aroma was intoxicating and more potent then ever before! Nearly a dozen questions flew into his mind, confusing him, for Sesshô-Maru didn't know where or how to answer them.
He watched stoically as the young woman he knew by the name Kagome try to scratch the auctioneer with her nails in vain. The ogre grabbed her outstretched hands and roughly manacled them behind her back.
She was like a wild animal forced to be tamed; she twisted and squirmed to be set free as she snarled? at the onlookers in a very un-pretty manner. She finally ceased her struggles when the ogre slammed her frail form against the wooden floor of the auction block, hitting her head with a loud crash.
"Can't lord Sesshô-Maru please help her?" Rin suddenly asked terrified at what the ogre just called the girl.
Kagome lay sprawled on the ground unconscious. The demons merely laughed at the event and urged the brutality to continue. It was the most horrifying thing Rin had seen... ever since she fell painfully into the horrific void that Sesshô-Maru graciously woke her from.
A memory of what the prophet foretold made its untimely presence in his mind.
*...If you desire change you must be willing to accept those destined to cross your path. *
"We're leaving." Sesshô-Maru hissed angrily, he would rather give up his left arm then to assist his brother's wench... he paused at the thought and glanced down upon the empty sleeve.
*The whelp already sliced off Sesshô-Maru's left arm. * Sesshô-Maru swore silently as he blocked out the unpleasant memories.
"But this isn't fair!" Rin tugged at the empty sleeve Sesshô-Maru was glaring at. He was reliving the humiliating memories of how his appendage got removed in the first place.
"Please Lord Sesshô-Maru! Please stop it!" Rin watched in horror as the ogre violently dragged the young woman towards the golden cage by her hair, while the others cheered.
"He's hurting her!" Rin nearly cried tears for the unconscious girl.
"Better her than you!" Sesshô-Maru told the girl off, "This was a mistake... I shouldn't have come here. Especially with a small child like you."
"I agree with ye o'lord." Jaken spoke up as he scurried after the retreating form of Sesshô-Maru. "And this runt was goin' ta ask you ta rescue that wench, I told her you would be reject'n but she-"
"Silence." Sesshô-Maru whispered, full of annoyance.
He was getting tired with Jaken's comments not to mention the brat's endless tugs on his left kimono sleeve. And now he discovered where that tangible smell was coming from. He desperately wanted to kill someone, ANYBODY so badly in order to vent out his frustration. He wanted that putrid stench of the wench out of his senses before he got more irritated, he would surely hurt the next person that annoyed him... Sesshô-Maru feared it would be Rin.
*Just stop pulling at my kimono...*
Sesshô-Maru couldn't take it any longer, his temper was running thin and his emotional barrier was crumbling slightly.
"Stop pulling at my clothes and I. Said. Silence!" Sesshô-Maru glared hatefully at Rin who immediately ceased all actions in shock. Tears threatened to fall out of her eyes but she held them in.
*Lord Sesshô-Maru........is angry at Rin...*
She thought in utter silence, predicting the worse possibilities that could happen to her.
*Rin is a bad girl; Lord Sesshô-Maru doesn't love Rin anymore... He's going to leave Rin somewhere and never return to her. *
"Finally you put the lass in her place, m'lord." Jaken said approvingly. Sesshô-Maru quickly snatched Jaken's staff from his grasp, knocked his servant over the head with it and threw the staff back at the fallen green toad.
The youkai lord wanted to be left alone, to think of something besides his unpleasant day. He would return to his lands and come up with a new plan to take the Tetsusaiga from his brother, AFTER he killed the damned informer. That misleading demon was the cause of Sesshô-Maru's troubles and for that his poison talon should be the last thing that greets the informer before he dies a terribly slow death. Yet. Sesshô-Maru sighed, before killing the demon; he would first take his little annoying human child to a safer location.
*Who knew parenthood could be such a bitch?*
***** It had been nearly two hours since they departed the demon city and Sesshô- Maru was greatly satisfied that Rin didn't utter a word since they departed. His anger towards the child still lingered slightly, but it was gradually dissipating.
*Rin always talks, hums, or does something childish. She's never this quiet. No, It's my imagination; the child's tired is all. *
Sesshô-Maru ignored the uncertainty that continued to grow persistent with the dissolving of his anger. Perhaps... he was too hard on her...
Finally coming across a small manor suitable for his needs, (approximately ten yards away from their present spot) Sesshô-Maru whispered to his companions, "Wait here, until I, Sesshô-Maru fetches you."
Whenever he took the child with him on one of his many 'adventures' ( Rin like's to call them that) he would often make a nightly stop at some misfortunate fool's cottage so both he and his little companion's could rest comfortably, while being out of harms way. When he traveled with his retainer, Sesshô-Maru would never make such a rest stop and would force the toad to fallow him everywhere he desired without any rest.
"Aye master." Jaken replied.
Sesshô-Maru waited to hear Rin's affirmation of agreement but it never came. The youkai lord spared the quiet child a quick glance; he saw the girl's head bent down as if in shame and his heart gave a startled jerk. He never saw the girl act like this before. Quickly kneeling down to be of equal height of the small child, Sesshô-Maru placed his right hand on the girls shoulder.
*Don't cry. Don't cry! * Rin pleaded with her disobeying emotions as she clenched her fists tightly into her tiny kimono.
"What is the matter... Rin?" Sesshô-Maru asked, a hint of concern was visible in his soft voice but his face held no sign of emotional trauma.
A single tear fell down the innocent child's cheek.
Sesshô-Maru tenderly brushed a dark lock of hair away from the girls down cast eyes and tucked the long strand behind her ear, hesitantly wiping the single tear away as gently as he could.
To Sesshô-Maru's horror the normally high-spirited little girl began to cry even more tears of misery and shame. The panicking youkai lord had unnoticeably broken the dam that kept Rin's tears at bay with that single act of kindness.
He was so startled at this catastrophe. Rin NEVER cried before! Yet, she was racking sobs before him and the sound of Rin's weeping was too painful to tolerate.
Sesshô-Maru instinctively grabbed the sobbing child and gently pulled her into a tight embrace. Unfortunately, his armor was in the way and making the both of them uncomfortable. Rin managed to wrap her small arms around Sesshô-Maru's neck and cried harder, concealing her small face in the crook of Sesshô-Maru's neck.
"Jaken, annihilate all individuals dwelling within the house, don't leave any carcasses laying about. Quickly." Sesshô-Maru ordered calmly as he patted the girl's small head. Covering all sense of urgency he was feeling, and trying in vain to soothe the weeping child. Being a parent was hard work!
*No wonder Chichi-ue always left me with Jaken. Any louder and my ears will bleed....*
Jaken understood that he was incapable of soothing a crying human and that his lord wasn't on familiar terms with 'soothing someone' either. Jaken silently departed to do his masters bidding; he was as shocked as his lordship at this alarming event.
As Jaken scampered toward the house to carry out Sesshô-Maru's orders, the inexperienced youkai lord tried to comfort Rin as best he could. Racking his memories for any possible knowledge of comforting tiny children, wishing he didn't ignore the multiple times when Inu-Yasha would try to comfort his weeping vile mother. Nothing came in mind but to ask the girl why she was crying so.
"Rin, what troubles you?" Sesshô-Maru asked.
Puzzled at the scenario he had somehow gotten wedged into. She didn't answer and simply sobbed harder, she tightened her hold on Sesshô-Maru's kimono.
"Rin... please..." he hesitated, "tell me, what is making you cry?" Sesshô- Maru asked uncertainly.
*Is this the way you comfort a weeping person... hugging is not Sesshô- Maru's style. * He thought, displeased at the closeness of the mortal.
*It better not be the fact that I refused to help that putrid female...* Sesshô-Maru thought darkly, *and if that was the reason, then Rin could cry all she wants. * He didn't care about what fate befalls the disgusting thing.
Rin pulled away from the youkai's partially sopping kimono and sniffled. She tried to stop crying but her salty tears refused to stop cascading down her round face. The small girl refused to meet her lord's cold golden gaze.
"Rin... made lord Sesshô-Maru angry!" She choked out.
She was so ashamed of herself. Ashamed that she was blessed to be in the company of such a heavenly creature, and the discourteous way she repaid his kindness made his beautiful face turn grotesque with anger all because of her impudence.
Rin's brow scrunched up as the memory of an angry Sesshô-Maru appeared in her minds eye. The way his golden eyes contracted scared her greatly and the possibility of him ever abandoning her was the thing that frightened her the most. Rin hid her face in her small hands and sobbed quietly.
"No Rin, I was never angry at you." Sesshô-Maru lied as he rubbed the child's back.
"Yes you were." The girl grieved.
Sesshô-Maru pulled the girls hands away from her face and tilted Rin's chin upward. "Rin, look at me when I'm talking to you." He said sternly yet mustered enough gentleness to sound caring.
The girl rubbed her eyes and looked sadly at the youkai lord, Sesshô-Maru quickly regretted his own command. The little girl looked so ashamed and such an intense, sad stare was never intended for such a small child.
"I was merely annoyed... I was never angry at you." *Not anymore...* Sesshô-Maru thought the last statement; afraid the girl would never cease her crying if he said it aloud.
"My dear confused Rin, I would never be angry at you..." He trailed off.
Hopefully he was doing this correctly and wasn't blowing it to shreds.
*I should have thought twice before ever considering raising a child. * Sesshô-Maru cursed himself for being so damned caring.
Rin paused her crying, and sniffled like only a child could.
"You're just saying that to make Rin stop crying..." A long pause pass between them, again the girl began to cry. "And lord Sesshô-Maru shall leave Rin for her disobedience!"
"Sesshô-Maru shall never discard you, not now."
"You'll leave Rin and never return to her again!"
*Shimata, she'll never stop! * Sesshô-Maru didn't know what to do anymore and gave up completely. Trying to comfort a crying child with soothing words was a futile effort for him. He didn't know how... and he lacked the compassion to learn.
He simply allowed the girl to weep, his eyes focused on something far away.
A few minutes later Rin was magically placed to sleep by Sesshô-Maru's power, yet it seemed as if the girl had simply cried herself to sleep in his embrace.
With the slight aid of his long white tail, Sesshô-Maru elegantly pushed himself off the ground with Rin sleeping peacefully in his arm and slowly began following Jaken's track towards the house they were temporarily using for the time being.
As soon as Sesshô-Maru approached the front entrance of the manor house, a shoji opened and revealed Jaken's small form coming out of the house. The toad demon jumped back when he was greeted by the sudden appearance of his master. Jaken quickly assembled himself and pulled the shoji further apart to allow his lord better entrance.
"Show me where I can find a futon." Sesshô-Maru commanded icily.
"This way m'lord." Jaken quickly shut the sliding door and raced off towards the direction of where he discovered a little girl that was recently strangled to death. It would be a suitable room for Rin.
Sesshô-Maru followed Jaken as he said in a deadly tone, "Take care of Rin, for I have to deal with someone."
Placing the slumbering child on the waiting futon and watching Jaken tuck the girl in bed. He walked out of the manor while making a quick recap of the days events; Sesshô-Maru summed it out to be one of those days where everything was shot to hell. Moreover, to make matter worse, the day wasn't over yet.
A slight rumble of thunder was heard in the horizon... the very direction Sesshô-Maru was tending to venture.
*Shimata, This has been the crappiest day of this Sesshô-Maru's life! *
The youkai prince planed to first capture and bind the informer; kill every single demon, servant, pet, and lover the informant had within his layer with his toxic flower claws and secondly, to burn down the entire dwelling before the rains came. And thirdly, to skin the informer alive, roll his mutilated body into mounds of salt and let the scavengers deal with the rest.
That fat fool was the grounds for which Sesshô-Maru's misfortunes had sprouted from and the young youkai lord was going to pay the misleading informant ten folds for what he unknowingly done. Dashing swiftly towards the dwelling of the doomed-to-die informer, Sesshô-Maru's mind was reeling with multiple amounts of evil intentions for every individual within the house. He didn't know where to begin his fun.
****Cut outs from chapter three**** as fragile as the emerald studded cage was intended to appear, it was tougher than iron! "Your valuable merchandise and I wouldn't want my merchandise breaking before they're sold now do I?" *Of all the scary monsters in the world! * Blinded, she raised one of her arms to block the harsh sunlight. His face was vacant as he stared at her. Silent and emotionless. Her eyes refused to aid in her search for the one with the peculiar voice.
Unknown fall
2001
By: Bawdy
The prophet, (with questionable origins) does he speak the truth of the future or is he just a senile old fart making up lies? Sesshô-Maru meets a few unwanted acquaintances in town and he's not happy about it.
Paring: Sess & ???
Act Two: Glancing into the unknown ...Descend...
Carefully sidestepping the petty rubble within the ancient house. Sesshô- Maru's golden eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness. Sniffing the air, his excellent sense of smell easily identified the slowly rotting stench of the prophet. The ancient creature smelt like decayed power that strangely tickled the youkai lords sensitive nose. He anticipated that their meeting would be over quickly so that he could get far away from the unsettling smell.
He was about to knock on the decomposing doorframe but a muffled grunt of acknowledgement coming from the prophet signified that his presence was already known and that he could enter.
The prophet did not turn to properly greet his customer and remained seated in his hunched position by a decaying table. From Sesshô-Maru's perspective it seemed that the old demon was staring into an eerie green substance swirling within a tattered bowl chipped in numerous places. The prophet suddenly spoke to his guest as if he were talking to an old acquaintance.
"Ahh yes, I am privileged that such a magnificent creature such as yourself decided to bless my worthless existence with their presence. Come in; come in... Demonic prince Sesshô-Maru. firstborn son and heir of the former Demon of the Western Domain. Hopefully you will not take advantage of an old crone and try to eradicate me after our unpleasant conversation." His rusty voice was barely a hoarse whisper but Sesshô-Maru's keen ears heard the old one as clear as day.
The youkai lord stood in dignified composure and chose not to heed the request. He smelt something else in the air and wondered if there was yet another demon lurking within the shadows. Scanning the dwelling quickly of anything threatening and curtly answered the elder.
"I, Sesshô-Maru would have no intentions of harming one such as yourself. My lone request is for you to not order your pet to attack unless you are prepared for unnecessary violence..." he warned and continued in that dull tone of his, "I am simply present at the moment to perform a business transaction."
The ancient demon laughed out a strange hackling laugh. Regaining his composure the old one asked humorously, "What do you mean, old Trio? Why, he would never hurt a fly... anymore."
After a toothless whistle, the prophet slapped his lap lightly. A sound of soft shuffling was suddenly heard within the darkness. Six crimson eyes blinked consecutively and the creature hidden in the shadows approached the two demons and revealed a three-headed dog with wrinkly black skin, three rather long pink tongues dripping saliva onto the dusty floorboards and a long tail that waged from side to side excitedly.
*Thank the gods my appearance isn't as pathetic in my proper form...* Sesshô-Maru thought. Inwardly repulsed by the comical sight, Sesshô-Maru repressed his outward emotions.
The ancient three-headed beast looked rather carefree, insanely goofy in appearance, and generally had the personality of an extremely overzealous pup...
*Rather reminds me of Rin. Always so damned hyper... but... I must admit she's much more... endearing. *
Quickly dismissing the comparison, Sesshô-Maru reprimanded himself. He should have known better than to think the other creature was a threat.
Honestly, the older he got, the more paranoid he became of others. Sesshô- Maru crossed the threshold and stepped into the ruined adobe. Keeping his distance away from the two creatures and resting the heavy burden of fresh kill on the floor, Sesshô-Maru delicately tucked a long strand of snow- white hair behind his sharp ear.
"I, Sesshô-Maru heard many miraculous stories about your power to foretell the future. I wish to ask for your guidance. Predict what you see in my future. In return, I have brought recently slaughtered mortal children as reimbursement." He stated flatly.
This caught the prophet's attention and he ceased petting his three-headed pet. The ancient demon finally turned around to face the young lord with a hint of glee in his dull gray eyes, "Really? Did you say children, eh?"
The prophet slowly rose from his seat and scooping up his bowl of green goop, "Did you hear that Trio? The nice young youkai brought you dinner!" He cackled gleefully.
The youkai lord inwardly scowled in displeasure. Hearing the words 'nice' and 'young youkai' mingling together in the same sentence was a mockery to his name.
With a blank stare Sesshô-Maru took closer note of the old geezer; realizing that the informer who told him about the prophet was greatly misleading. He distinctly remembered hearing that the prophet was a half- breed Cyclops/Hydra... however this old man was actually a triclops and there was no hint of poisonous hydra blood within his bloodstream. The old one was also completely opposite of cranky and was factually quite giddy and excited to have a visitor in his dwelling.
A question nagged the youkai's mind and to quell it Sesshô-Maru asked callously, "Do you not savor human flesh?"
With a wrinkled face laugh the prophet shook his head in disagreement and replied, "Heavens no. But old Trio used to love chasing those pesky kids and eating them in his younger days... now he's too old to even take a walk around this city without tiring every so often. However, I'm grateful for your offer. One less stroll into town to buy food for Trio is worth a reading if you ask me. My old limbs can't carry heavy children from the market and those mortal creatures are blessed with speed, not to mention the price of those darn kids..." He grumbled in closed eyed merriment.
*This old fool obviously enjoys talking nonsense...* Sesshô-Maru thought tiredly, *and I'm going to kill that informer of mine. *
The old demon strolled to a boiling cauldron sitting above an open fire and removed the lid with much difficulty. He mixed a few spices and essence into the boiling concoction and stirred it slowly with a wooden spoon. He then preceded to poor more of the green lumpy liquid into his bowl and covered the cauldron once more. He hobbled his way back to his chair by the molding table, across from Sesshô-Maru. He gazed into the glowing green light, concentrating intensely at the odd bubbles and swirls of dark color.
All was silent within the room except the occasional mumbles of incantations from the prophet. Finally, after a few hushed seconds he began to speak of what he foresaw. "You face hard times ahead my lord..."
*That is to be expected. * Sesshô-Maru thought bitterly.
"What you want is very close... but yet it's far from reach. It seems as if you shall be battling your inner demons on a strange ride into heaven..." The prophets cryptic words trailed off for a more dramatic effect, "...or hell..." He continued with a slight smile, " The thing you desire the most with a passion... has many others wanting it as well-"
"Tetsusaiga..." Sesshô-Maru murmured.
The old demon raised an old bumpy brow and replied, "Perhaps."
The youkai prince matched the old demons raised brow with his own slender one, "What do you mean perhaps? Is it not Tetsusaiga you see?" He questioned.
"So it is a thing called 'Tetsusaiga' that the mighty lord desires? I must inform you that the future has multiple roads to venture upon... in 'this' future I foresee the time of your death approaching near. Even though your destiny has already been altered slightly, these small alterations performed nearly half a year ago won't be enough to change your ordained fate. If you desire change you must be willing to accept those destined to cross you path."
The prophet whisked the vapor away from the green substance quickly as Sesshô-Maru thought sinful things to perform upon the old geezer. The prophet, unaware of the malicious vibes radiating from his dangerous customer continued to stare intensely into the green glow and blew away the cumbersome steam once more.
"Ahh-ha!" the shriveled demon exclaimed all knowingly, "in 'this' future you are 'thee' Great Demon of the Western Lands and I see you live happily with your beloved... 'Tetsusaiga' safely by your side... Unfortunately you must reclaim it! Someone who has a crucial eye on your prize also desires it... as I have said before."
The prophet glanced up at the youkai before him with a questioning stare, "This is all I can see within this bowl my lord... the fates... refuse to reveal more." He returned his gaze upon the steaming bowl and waited for a reply from the demon lord but none came.
"Oh wait I see a face of a wo-Eh?" The old demon looked up from his bowl of pea soup and noticed that the young youkai lord had already departed from the room, "Oh well.come back anytime!" He called out merrily, picked up his cooling bowl of soup and gulped it down.
Trio pulled out a dead human child from the sack left behind and all three of its heads began to gnaw at the lifeless flesh.
*****
Sesshô-Maru gritted his teeth angrily and clenched his right hand. Easily quelling his rage as he left the old demons residence.
The prophet was a fraud and the pathetic informer who told him about the spiritualist was going to be shredded into bloody pieces and fed to starving dogs.
Sesshô-Maru snarled at the thought of wasting his entire evening gathering four dead children while Rin slept peacefully in the forest with Jaken watching over her- *Although that wasn't a difficult task* - and then hearing the old fart talk nonsense was torment of it's own style!
*I, Sesshô-Maru will not die any time soon! I have land to rule over, attractive female youkai to breed with, extinguishing the life of that vile half-breed mutt, then reclaim Tetsusaiga - and above all, I have a toddler to raise! *
He had so many things to perform in a long span of time to complete them all; he had no time to die! For a demon, he was still in his prime of life and he had so many pleasurable things to look forward to. He had no time to fade into history. Not just yet.
Sesshô-Maru gracefully, yet quickly, climbed the stairs out of the rancid house and out into the bloody city. He easily identified Jaken standing in the shade while leaning on the staff of heads. The retainer was watching Rin, who was crouched over a strange bristly caterpillar and studying it intently.
He swiftly glided towards the two of them, wanting to leave the dreadful city in his territory. A slight zephyr swept past him and softly lifted his white hair; the youkai breathed in the fresh breeze. Recognition swept over him and caused him to halt abruptly. Something lingering in the winds caught his attention yet again.
*That sent again...what is that? It smells familiar, but what possesses such an inimitable fragrance? *
Sesshô-Maru glanced at the direction the aroma drifted from, a strange curiosity swept over him. The youkai lord quickly quenched the urge to discover the source of the sent. As hard as he tried to deny it, the curiosity would persist to linger in the back of his mind.
As he approached the human girl, Rin lost all interest in the fuzzy caterpillar and smiled at her lords' arrival. Rin then asked a simple question, which caused Jaken to hiss at her in disapproval.
"Can Rin watch that auction thingy over there?" The little girl pointed a stubby finger westward where a large crowd had formed and were busy placing bets on the last remaining objects on the auction block.
Sesshô-Maru raised an elegant brow at the small child standing before him. In the youkai's mind he told himself to just ignore the girl and continue on his minor mission to kill the misleading informer, but his instincts persisted to let itself be known and yet again informed Sesshô-Maru that whoever possessed such a familiar sent was somewhere within the vicinity of the auction block. He wanted to find out who or what was secreting the sent.
*Just for a few moments. Just to affirm where the sent originates. *
"Only for a little while." Sesshô-Maru said softly, veiling his true intentions.
Rin turned towards Jaken and flashed him a victorious grin.
The toad youkai was in a state of shock. His cunningly cruel master agreed with the snot nosed kid! He glared at Rin as she stuck her tongue out at him.
With a big smile, the little girl scampered after the youkai prince, who had left the two standing in the middle of the road.
Jaken grumbled incoherently as he followed them westward towards the auction block.
Sesshô-Maru preferred never to linger within a city infested with demons, be it in his province or not. These demonic towns were the backwash of the demon species and also a clever place for nobles of destroyed nations to hide from their enemies. He decided to keep his distance from the rowdy mass of creatures, hoping his robes wouldn't accumulate a layer of soot. Standing by a wall not too far a distance from the auction block, Sesshô- Maru decided it was an excellent spot to observe the locals and their dastardly activities.
Unfortunately for Rin, her small form gave her a disadvantage; she was too short to see over the heads of the other demons. Sesshô-Maru watched his human child as she tipped toed and craned her neck to see with no avail.
He let out a sigh and quickly bent over to scoop up the little burden into his strong right arm, and held her there.
"Is that better?" Sesshô-Maru patiently asked the little girl.
"Yes, thank you very much lord Sesshô-Maru!" Rin smiled gratefully as she held him around his slender neck.
Jaken simply hopped up onto a nearby wall and sat patiently.
The items on the auction table were sold off quickly (even though they were slightly tarnished, showy, and often cheap ornamentations.) When all items were sold off, the auctioneer began to set up the intermission.
"Lord Sesshô-Maru?" Rin called as she looked at him, trying to gain his attention.
She noticed his blank emotionless stare and of his unfocused golden eyes which stared off in the distance. Understanding that her lord was contemplating something within his mind, Rin called out his name once more, trying to bring him back into reality.
His eyes began to refocus but his emotionless facade continued. He neither looked at her nor acknowledged her existence and simply continued gazing at the auction stage. Rin was about to attempt her call once again~
"Yes." His voice came so suddenly and sounded so cruel that it startled her slightly.
"C-can Lord Sesshô-Maru buy Rin something at the auction?" She asked with the sweetest voice she could muster, her eyes seemed to beg him to agree... if only he turned his head to look at her, perhaps he would have seen it.
"Have you learned how to spell your name properly yet?" Sesshô-Maru asked dully.
He felt the child's weight shift slightly as if she were fidgeting in discomfort. The little girl tapped her index fingers together in a childish manner and her bottom lip stuck out. She began to pout.
"No.not yet."
"No huh? Then I'm afraid my answer shall also be negative." Sesshô-Maru stated simply.
Jaken snickered at the child's misfortune, but quickly silenced himself at his masters disapproving stare.
"If Rin learns her name, then will lord Sesshô-Maru buy her something?" The child asked excitedly to her lord and savior.
"Perhaps..." Sesshô-Maru mused.
Rin smiled babyishly and tried to wiggle out of Sesshô-Maru's strong hold. The youkai quickly figured that the child wanted to be set down, so he bent down and released her from his hold. He curiously watched as the little girl grabbed a thin sturdy stick nearby and scribbled lines into the dirt. After she finished, Rin pointed at the scribble.
"Is this how?" Rin asked joyfully.
Sesshô-Maru shook his head and suppressed a smile of amusement from forming. The little one wouldn't be successful in spelling her name correctly. She was never taught how.
Rin frowned and stuck out her lower lip once more, "Can Rin try again?" She asked hopefully.
"Try all you like." Sesshô-Maru shrugged indifferently.
He didn't care if she tried a hundred times over. Rin would never learn how to spell her name properly unless he felt like teaching the imp.
*If Sesshô-Maru ever teaches this human girl how to write, I'll first have to teach her how to hold her utensils properly. *
The youkai thought to himself. He watched yet again as the girl try to scribble her name on the dirt road without success.
A presence in the vicinity caused Sesshô-Maru to shift his relaxed senses towards defensive. The change was so subtle that to a regular passerby, Sesshô-Maru seemed to be the epitome of tranquility itself. However, Jaken, being in Sesshô-Maru's service for most of the lords' life, easily detected the change in his master and hopped off from his perch, landing by Rins' crouching figure protectively.
By the time Rin seemed satisfied with her gibberish writing and asked for her lords' approval, Sesshô-Maru was gone.
*****
Sauntering further away from the high wall Jaken and Rin stood by; Sesshô- Maru disappeared into the throng of bidders who absentmindedly made way for the lord to pass through them. He soon reached the opposite end of the village square and found a quite spot next to a junction in the road that lead towards a corner. Here he stood, and waited.
Soon enough an exotic man with short, curly blond hair that billowed slightly in the wind came strolling around the corner. He was dressed head to toe in white leather strapped together with numerous amounts of silver buckles and in his hand was a cane made of silver mixed with white enamel.
The strangers' attention was on the auction and he passed Sesshô-Maru as if he was but a bug on the side of the road. Taking no less than five steps away from the demonic lord, the blond stopped completely and stood stock still for a whole ten seconds. Backtracking his steps and halting in front of the youkai lord, the blond smiled jauntily.
"What a coincidence to meet you of all youkai here!" The blond focused his large yellow green eyes upon Sesshô-Maru. "Why I would have dressed a little more presentable if I knew the majestic prince himself decided to mingle with the commoners! Have you finally come out of that annoyingly cynical shell of yours?"
"........Fuck off arsehole......."
"Erm... perhaps I was mistaken....." A trickle of sweat slid down the side of his face.
"Why is your presence here Minoru?" Sesshô-Maru demanded quietly.
The blonds grin only spread wider across his face, "Why the auction, obviously!" Minoru noticed that the short explanation wasn't enough for Sesshô-Maru, so he continued, "Every year or so, this particular group would travel the silk roads around India, Persia, and the Mediterranean basin only to collect the most prized artifacts to auction off at meticulously selected areas. This year they've chosen this sight in Japan. I was very lucky to have returned and discovered the whereabouts of the auction.... Hopefully I'll get my mate a crafty gown or two..."
"............"
"Um.....anyway....... how's your armory? I'm still in the business...if you're ever in need..." Getting uncomfortable by the minute in Sesshô- Maru's presence, Minoru took any advantage he could get to remove himself from the youkai's presence. "Well... must get going! Auction and all..." Bowing deeply Minoru nearly sprinted away.
Sesshô-Maru watched silently as the blond youkai slipped into the mass.
*****
Rin easily spotted Sesshô-Maru making his way through the crowd and returning to her side.
"Look Rin has written her name!" She child pointed at her handy work while Jaken made an unpleasant noise.
Sesshô-Maru stared down at the child but remained silent.
"That does not spell out yer name. A hopeless case ye are..."
"Rin can try again!" The child quickly began scribbling on the dirt once more.
As Rin (without a chance) tried to write her name, an explosion of laughter was heard at the auctions block. The child glanced up quickly to see someone being slapped violently across the face. She gasped in shock and dropped her stick.
Sesshô-Maru paid no heed to what was happening on the auction stand. He was trying to identify the images the silly girl had drawn in the dirt.
It was two strange pictures of happy faced circles, one was smaller than the other and had a little tuff of hair stuck out from the side of its head; it also had round ears sticking out strangely. The other larger circular image had long pointy ears and stringy hair, it also had two stripes on each side of its face and on its temple was a crescent moon.
The wind blew gently from the west and as Sesshô-Maru inhaled the air, he snapped his head up towards the direction of the auction block. The aroma was intoxicating and more potent then ever before! Nearly a dozen questions flew into his mind, confusing him, for Sesshô-Maru didn't know where or how to answer them.
He watched stoically as the young woman he knew by the name Kagome try to scratch the auctioneer with her nails in vain. The ogre grabbed her outstretched hands and roughly manacled them behind her back.
She was like a wild animal forced to be tamed; she twisted and squirmed to be set free as she snarled? at the onlookers in a very un-pretty manner. She finally ceased her struggles when the ogre slammed her frail form against the wooden floor of the auction block, hitting her head with a loud crash.
"Can't lord Sesshô-Maru please help her?" Rin suddenly asked terrified at what the ogre just called the girl.
Kagome lay sprawled on the ground unconscious. The demons merely laughed at the event and urged the brutality to continue. It was the most horrifying thing Rin had seen... ever since she fell painfully into the horrific void that Sesshô-Maru graciously woke her from.
A memory of what the prophet foretold made its untimely presence in his mind.
*...If you desire change you must be willing to accept those destined to cross your path. *
"We're leaving." Sesshô-Maru hissed angrily, he would rather give up his left arm then to assist his brother's wench... he paused at the thought and glanced down upon the empty sleeve.
*The whelp already sliced off Sesshô-Maru's left arm. * Sesshô-Maru swore silently as he blocked out the unpleasant memories.
"But this isn't fair!" Rin tugged at the empty sleeve Sesshô-Maru was glaring at. He was reliving the humiliating memories of how his appendage got removed in the first place.
"Please Lord Sesshô-Maru! Please stop it!" Rin watched in horror as the ogre violently dragged the young woman towards the golden cage by her hair, while the others cheered.
"He's hurting her!" Rin nearly cried tears for the unconscious girl.
"Better her than you!" Sesshô-Maru told the girl off, "This was a mistake... I shouldn't have come here. Especially with a small child like you."
"I agree with ye o'lord." Jaken spoke up as he scurried after the retreating form of Sesshô-Maru. "And this runt was goin' ta ask you ta rescue that wench, I told her you would be reject'n but she-"
"Silence." Sesshô-Maru whispered, full of annoyance.
He was getting tired with Jaken's comments not to mention the brat's endless tugs on his left kimono sleeve. And now he discovered where that tangible smell was coming from. He desperately wanted to kill someone, ANYBODY so badly in order to vent out his frustration. He wanted that putrid stench of the wench out of his senses before he got more irritated, he would surely hurt the next person that annoyed him... Sesshô-Maru feared it would be Rin.
*Just stop pulling at my kimono...*
Sesshô-Maru couldn't take it any longer, his temper was running thin and his emotional barrier was crumbling slightly.
"Stop pulling at my clothes and I. Said. Silence!" Sesshô-Maru glared hatefully at Rin who immediately ceased all actions in shock. Tears threatened to fall out of her eyes but she held them in.
*Lord Sesshô-Maru........is angry at Rin...*
She thought in utter silence, predicting the worse possibilities that could happen to her.
*Rin is a bad girl; Lord Sesshô-Maru doesn't love Rin anymore... He's going to leave Rin somewhere and never return to her. *
"Finally you put the lass in her place, m'lord." Jaken said approvingly. Sesshô-Maru quickly snatched Jaken's staff from his grasp, knocked his servant over the head with it and threw the staff back at the fallen green toad.
The youkai lord wanted to be left alone, to think of something besides his unpleasant day. He would return to his lands and come up with a new plan to take the Tetsusaiga from his brother, AFTER he killed the damned informer. That misleading demon was the cause of Sesshô-Maru's troubles and for that his poison talon should be the last thing that greets the informer before he dies a terribly slow death. Yet. Sesshô-Maru sighed, before killing the demon; he would first take his little annoying human child to a safer location.
*Who knew parenthood could be such a bitch?*
***** It had been nearly two hours since they departed the demon city and Sesshô- Maru was greatly satisfied that Rin didn't utter a word since they departed. His anger towards the child still lingered slightly, but it was gradually dissipating.
*Rin always talks, hums, or does something childish. She's never this quiet. No, It's my imagination; the child's tired is all. *
Sesshô-Maru ignored the uncertainty that continued to grow persistent with the dissolving of his anger. Perhaps... he was too hard on her...
Finally coming across a small manor suitable for his needs, (approximately ten yards away from their present spot) Sesshô-Maru whispered to his companions, "Wait here, until I, Sesshô-Maru fetches you."
Whenever he took the child with him on one of his many 'adventures' ( Rin like's to call them that) he would often make a nightly stop at some misfortunate fool's cottage so both he and his little companion's could rest comfortably, while being out of harms way. When he traveled with his retainer, Sesshô-Maru would never make such a rest stop and would force the toad to fallow him everywhere he desired without any rest.
"Aye master." Jaken replied.
Sesshô-Maru waited to hear Rin's affirmation of agreement but it never came. The youkai lord spared the quiet child a quick glance; he saw the girl's head bent down as if in shame and his heart gave a startled jerk. He never saw the girl act like this before. Quickly kneeling down to be of equal height of the small child, Sesshô-Maru placed his right hand on the girls shoulder.
*Don't cry. Don't cry! * Rin pleaded with her disobeying emotions as she clenched her fists tightly into her tiny kimono.
"What is the matter... Rin?" Sesshô-Maru asked, a hint of concern was visible in his soft voice but his face held no sign of emotional trauma.
A single tear fell down the innocent child's cheek.
Sesshô-Maru tenderly brushed a dark lock of hair away from the girls down cast eyes and tucked the long strand behind her ear, hesitantly wiping the single tear away as gently as he could.
To Sesshô-Maru's horror the normally high-spirited little girl began to cry even more tears of misery and shame. The panicking youkai lord had unnoticeably broken the dam that kept Rin's tears at bay with that single act of kindness.
He was so startled at this catastrophe. Rin NEVER cried before! Yet, she was racking sobs before him and the sound of Rin's weeping was too painful to tolerate.
Sesshô-Maru instinctively grabbed the sobbing child and gently pulled her into a tight embrace. Unfortunately, his armor was in the way and making the both of them uncomfortable. Rin managed to wrap her small arms around Sesshô-Maru's neck and cried harder, concealing her small face in the crook of Sesshô-Maru's neck.
"Jaken, annihilate all individuals dwelling within the house, don't leave any carcasses laying about. Quickly." Sesshô-Maru ordered calmly as he patted the girl's small head. Covering all sense of urgency he was feeling, and trying in vain to soothe the weeping child. Being a parent was hard work!
*No wonder Chichi-ue always left me with Jaken. Any louder and my ears will bleed....*
Jaken understood that he was incapable of soothing a crying human and that his lord wasn't on familiar terms with 'soothing someone' either. Jaken silently departed to do his masters bidding; he was as shocked as his lordship at this alarming event.
As Jaken scampered toward the house to carry out Sesshô-Maru's orders, the inexperienced youkai lord tried to comfort Rin as best he could. Racking his memories for any possible knowledge of comforting tiny children, wishing he didn't ignore the multiple times when Inu-Yasha would try to comfort his weeping vile mother. Nothing came in mind but to ask the girl why she was crying so.
"Rin, what troubles you?" Sesshô-Maru asked.
Puzzled at the scenario he had somehow gotten wedged into. She didn't answer and simply sobbed harder, she tightened her hold on Sesshô-Maru's kimono.
"Rin... please..." he hesitated, "tell me, what is making you cry?" Sesshô- Maru asked uncertainly.
*Is this the way you comfort a weeping person... hugging is not Sesshô- Maru's style. * He thought, displeased at the closeness of the mortal.
*It better not be the fact that I refused to help that putrid female...* Sesshô-Maru thought darkly, *and if that was the reason, then Rin could cry all she wants. * He didn't care about what fate befalls the disgusting thing.
Rin pulled away from the youkai's partially sopping kimono and sniffled. She tried to stop crying but her salty tears refused to stop cascading down her round face. The small girl refused to meet her lord's cold golden gaze.
"Rin... made lord Sesshô-Maru angry!" She choked out.
She was so ashamed of herself. Ashamed that she was blessed to be in the company of such a heavenly creature, and the discourteous way she repaid his kindness made his beautiful face turn grotesque with anger all because of her impudence.
Rin's brow scrunched up as the memory of an angry Sesshô-Maru appeared in her minds eye. The way his golden eyes contracted scared her greatly and the possibility of him ever abandoning her was the thing that frightened her the most. Rin hid her face in her small hands and sobbed quietly.
"No Rin, I was never angry at you." Sesshô-Maru lied as he rubbed the child's back.
"Yes you were." The girl grieved.
Sesshô-Maru pulled the girls hands away from her face and tilted Rin's chin upward. "Rin, look at me when I'm talking to you." He said sternly yet mustered enough gentleness to sound caring.
The girl rubbed her eyes and looked sadly at the youkai lord, Sesshô-Maru quickly regretted his own command. The little girl looked so ashamed and such an intense, sad stare was never intended for such a small child.
"I was merely annoyed... I was never angry at you." *Not anymore...* Sesshô-Maru thought the last statement; afraid the girl would never cease her crying if he said it aloud.
"My dear confused Rin, I would never be angry at you..." He trailed off.
Hopefully he was doing this correctly and wasn't blowing it to shreds.
*I should have thought twice before ever considering raising a child. * Sesshô-Maru cursed himself for being so damned caring.
Rin paused her crying, and sniffled like only a child could.
"You're just saying that to make Rin stop crying..." A long pause pass between them, again the girl began to cry. "And lord Sesshô-Maru shall leave Rin for her disobedience!"
"Sesshô-Maru shall never discard you, not now."
"You'll leave Rin and never return to her again!"
*Shimata, she'll never stop! * Sesshô-Maru didn't know what to do anymore and gave up completely. Trying to comfort a crying child with soothing words was a futile effort for him. He didn't know how... and he lacked the compassion to learn.
He simply allowed the girl to weep, his eyes focused on something far away.
A few minutes later Rin was magically placed to sleep by Sesshô-Maru's power, yet it seemed as if the girl had simply cried herself to sleep in his embrace.
With the slight aid of his long white tail, Sesshô-Maru elegantly pushed himself off the ground with Rin sleeping peacefully in his arm and slowly began following Jaken's track towards the house they were temporarily using for the time being.
As soon as Sesshô-Maru approached the front entrance of the manor house, a shoji opened and revealed Jaken's small form coming out of the house. The toad demon jumped back when he was greeted by the sudden appearance of his master. Jaken quickly assembled himself and pulled the shoji further apart to allow his lord better entrance.
"Show me where I can find a futon." Sesshô-Maru commanded icily.
"This way m'lord." Jaken quickly shut the sliding door and raced off towards the direction of where he discovered a little girl that was recently strangled to death. It would be a suitable room for Rin.
Sesshô-Maru followed Jaken as he said in a deadly tone, "Take care of Rin, for I have to deal with someone."
Placing the slumbering child on the waiting futon and watching Jaken tuck the girl in bed. He walked out of the manor while making a quick recap of the days events; Sesshô-Maru summed it out to be one of those days where everything was shot to hell. Moreover, to make matter worse, the day wasn't over yet.
A slight rumble of thunder was heard in the horizon... the very direction Sesshô-Maru was tending to venture.
*Shimata, This has been the crappiest day of this Sesshô-Maru's life! *
The youkai prince planed to first capture and bind the informer; kill every single demon, servant, pet, and lover the informant had within his layer with his toxic flower claws and secondly, to burn down the entire dwelling before the rains came. And thirdly, to skin the informer alive, roll his mutilated body into mounds of salt and let the scavengers deal with the rest.
That fat fool was the grounds for which Sesshô-Maru's misfortunes had sprouted from and the young youkai lord was going to pay the misleading informant ten folds for what he unknowingly done. Dashing swiftly towards the dwelling of the doomed-to-die informer, Sesshô-Maru's mind was reeling with multiple amounts of evil intentions for every individual within the house. He didn't know where to begin his fun.
****Cut outs from chapter three**** as fragile as the emerald studded cage was intended to appear, it was tougher than iron! "Your valuable merchandise and I wouldn't want my merchandise breaking before they're sold now do I?" *Of all the scary monsters in the world! * Blinded, she raised one of her arms to block the harsh sunlight. His face was vacant as he stared at her. Silent and emotionless. Her eyes refused to aid in her search for the one with the peculiar voice.