Disclaimer: If I owned Inu-Yasha, I would be proudly typing, "claimed", not dejectedly typing "disclaimer" and searching my pockets for pennies.
Author's Note: Let me state this: I am a wonderful procrastinator. Thus, the lack of updates. So don't worry if you don't hear from me from time to time. Just remember that if I have not updated in a while, I am off somewhere procrastinating happily.
Chapter 2: A Plea For Help --
Western Lands
A slim, elegant hand swept across the paper, spilling out flourished words in an artistic handwriting. After a few seconds, the writing stopped and the owner of the pale hand slowly laid down the quill-like pen. Sharp, golden eyes stared out from an indifferent face as the writer turned his head toward a closed door a few feet in front of where he was sitting. His immaculate hearing could easily detect soft breathing as someone stood behind the door, any minute ready to knock loudly and announce their presence in a cheerful, energic tone.
A series of loud knocks then sounded on the thick door's surface, just as he expected. Following those knocks was the sound of a door opening to reveal a young girl, russet eyes shining brightly. In her arms was a bouquet of white flowers that matched the innocence of her smile. Her composure would seem somewhat unusual to most others, considering whose presence she had just barged into.
"Sesshoumaru-sama!" the child exclaimed, skipping over to the one sitting behind a regal desk. The Taiyoukai, apparently the one called Sesshoumaru, graced the girl with a nonchalant look. His gaze, however, lingered on the bouquet of flowers for a second before glancing back up.
"Rin," Sesshoumaru acknowledged the girl. Rin grinned and with barely concealed excitement held out her floral present to her master and caretaker. She'd spent most of the morning diligently picking the blossoms to give to her 'Sesshoumaru-sama'.
"Rin brought you some pretty flowers!" The girl proclaimed proudly. The silver-haired youkai raised one refined eyebrow at the flowers held out toward him, but nevertheless took them from Rin's outstretched hand. He might as well humour the young child. An imperceptible sigh managed to escape his lips, however.
"This child is causing me to become soft..." Sesshoumaru thought disgustedly and raked his hand through his silver strands of hair in an irritated motion.
Rin cocked her head to one side, puzzled as to why the Taiyoukai had reacted in the manner he had. She bit her lip in thought. Was it possible that he didn't like that type of flowers? Oh well, she would simply ask him.
"Don't you like the flowers, Sesshoumaru-sama?"
Figuring the best choice tactic was to set Rin's mind at ease, Sesshoumaru responded with a short, "Yes, Rin," He was repaid with an endearing smile from the girl's pink lips and an equally sweet squeal.
The silver-haired youkai allowed the very corners of his lips to curve up slightly, before he signaled for Rin to leave with a fluid sweep of his hand toward the door. Rin nodded while giggling and pranced to the egress.
"Also, inform Jaken that he is to report here immediately," Sesshoumaru ordered quietly, before his charge could leave. He had faintly wondered where the wretched toad had wandered off to, considering that Jaken spend almost every one of his breathing moments scampering behind his Lord.
Rin's large orbs sparkled. "Rin will tell silly-toady right away!" the girl promised, then proceeded to prance out the door. The door closed with a resounding click then all was silent except for the soft footsteps of Rin, growing fainter as she moved along the outside corridor.
Sesshoumaru lifted up the quill again and his steady gaze trailed down the length of the parchment lying upon the desk's surface. A stack of similar parchments occupied the top left hand corner of the desk. Something flitted across the golden depths as the Taiyoukai settled his attention on one particular paragraph that was written on the document.
...as I know you would want to find out what information I hold about your little predicament (and how to make it nonexistent) I have sent you a lovely invitation, inviting you and one guest to my annual social gathering of youkai lords. There, I will give you the information you desire. But --only-- if you come. On a sidenote: After the festivity there will be a meeting of the four major lords. We have something of urgency to discuss.
Sincerely,
The Lord of the Eastern Lands: Amadare
"Damn him," Sesshoumaru muttered, looking at the letter in chilled annoyance. The Lord of the Eastern Lands had always been a cause of irritation and slight anger for Sesshoumaru, but to do this was testing his limits. Amadare fully understood that he would never set foot at a social gathering and mingle with other demons at his own free will. The Eastern Lord had been attempting to get Sesshoumaru to go to one of his celebrations for years now. None of the attempts were a success. Until the damned busybody found something to blackmail him with.
" Information about my predicament indeed..." The Taiyoukai calmly put the letter into the other pile of documents, although his other hand was flexing his long, elegant claws threateningly. He then stood up from his seat, deciding to deal with Amadare and his cherry invitation later.
"Currently, I have a more pressing matter to deal with," Sesshoumaru smirked slightly and directed his gaze toward the open balcony window of the study. The soft morning sun was swiftly diminishing as the harsh, orange rays of the mid-day sun overtook it with its vibrant colours and heat. Noon was arriving.
There was one flaw blemishing Amadare's otherwise clever plan. That flaw was the matter he would be attending to. Sesshoumaru didn't need Amadare's information if everything went as planned. Unfortunately this other option was very fragile and might not work at all. Then, he would have to decide whether or not the Eastern Lord would be worth dealing with.
The Forest of Shadows
It was altogether unnerving.
Truly unsettling.
At least, in Kagome's opinion it was.
After finally pulling her broken composure back together, she had decided that it would be best to continue traveling and not make camp, despite it being nighttime. The weary girl knew that if she had time to dwell on certain things, the fragile facade she composed might crumble. So that would be the reason why she and Shippou were currently walking through an unnerving forest on a scarcely used path.
Why was this wood frightening? For one thing, it was nighttime. What wouldn't be frightening in the uncertain darkness? However, it could also be because the forest was somewhat dense and its tall, proud trees appeared quite intimidating in the opaque moonlight. The shadows of those trees seemed to twist and shift every time she took a step; a sinister-like clump of bushes loomed on each side of her, and...was that feral howling of some angry beast somewhere behind her?
Kagome sighed softly and pushed a strand of ebony hair that was hindering her vision behind her ear. " Paranoia has struck yet again." She thought, somewhat dryly. If she were paranoid over this simple danger, what would she be like when she was faced with a more fearsome threat? Such as a bloodthirsty demon?
"I'd rather not think about that..." Kagome sweatdroped and shook her head. The miko glanced at the bow and arrows slung across her back and felt a small surge of comfort. At least she could defend herself. What worried her was in the moment of absolute peril that she might freeze up and therefore risk both her and Shippou's lives.
The icy fingers of the night breeze gripped Kagome's body, causing her to shiver as the chill pierced through her clothes. While it was warm and sometimes even sweltering in the daytime, when darkness descended upon the land so did a thin blanket of cold. The miko frowned and rubbed her hands up and down her arms. Chill bumps began to appear on her skin as the wind continued to blow. So... not only was she walking through a particularly scary forest, it was also a particularly cold forest.
"Kagome, you cold?" Shippou suddenly piped up, staring up at her from where he was nestled in her arms. Kagome had to smile. The kitsune's concern for her was so cute sometimes.
"Not that cold, Shippou. For once I have on nice long pants. Thanks for asking though," She answered.
"Oh. Well, how long will it be until we get out of this forest?" Shippou wondered, his voice taking on a curious note of nervousness.
"Probably just before dawn. Which is about..." Kagome paused in thought. "...about two hours from now. So we're almost out of here; the trees are already thinning out."
"Oh." The kitsune was silent after that.
"Why do you ask? You seem nervous about something," Kagome said, growing concerned. Something seemed to be bothering Shippou and usually he wouldn't be so hesitant to voice his fear.
Shippou bit his lip. "I don't know... It's just that I'm getting this weird kind of feeling in this forest. Like there's something really scary and dangerous hiding somewhere..."
Kagome smiled reassuringly. "Well, we're almost there. And if any demons attack they won't know what hit 'em when they meet me!" She winked at the kitsune who in turn laughed and relaxed into her arms.
Kagome kept smiling, but inside she was frowning. The feeling that Shippou described was similar to her own. Except that she felt quite strongly an eerie, foreboding aura around the entire area. At first she dismissed it has her own paranoia, but now it was clear that there was something evil enough underfoot for her miko sense to pick up on.
" There sooner we get out of here, the better, " Kagome thought, feeling her heart rush. Its beats seemed to echo in the silence that loomed in the tree's twisted branches. And strangely its rate matched her footsteps that were now hastening.
Snap. She shivered as her foot crunched against a twig; its sound unusually loud in the hush of the wood.
Snap! Now -- that -- wasn't her. Kagome froze mid-step. Her dark eyes peered through the façade of trees and bushes, keeping watch for any shadow that moved. Shippou opened his mouth to say something, but Kagome shook her head and clutched him tighter to her chest.
Crack... She spun around, glancing feverishly this way and that. Her knuckles were white from grasping the bow she had just a second ago pulled out and readied for attack.
"It had better be a darn squirrel! " Kagome cautiously inched toward a clump of bushes where she assumed the noise was coming from. The miko slowly raised the bow out in front of her, the arrow notched and ready. The thicket of underbrush shook, it's leaves parting...
"Miss?"
Kagome's eyes widened and she lowered her bow with a gasp. Well, it was certainly no squirrel. Shippou, who had taken to hiding behind her curtain of thick hair, peeked out when he heard the miko's gasp.
"Who is that, Kagome?" He whispered, pointing at the object in question.
The object was a young child, a girl about the age of eight. Her kimono was torn and scuffed and her dark hair littered with small twigs and leaves. Her brown eyes held a shadow of fear that was soon lightened with relief.
The miko frowned thoughtfully and gazed at the child with a curious, yet wary expression. What was a child doing in the middle of the forest at night? Could she have perhaps wandered away from her village? Well, whatever the reason it wasn't safe to allow such a young one out on their own with demons around every other corner.
Kagome sighed and kneeled down until she was eye level with the girl. She smiled gently and asked in a friendly tone, "Hey, what's your name?"
The child gazed at her with wide brown eyes, then broke into a grin. She giggled cutely and bowed politely. "My name is Rin, Miss!"
"My name's Kagome. Nice to meet you," The miko replied, gazing at Rin with merriment dancing in her eyes. The child was such a sweet thing. Kagome hoped she could get Rin back home quickly. Her parents were probably worried sick about her.
"Are you lost Rin?" Kagome inquired kindly. "I could take you to your village if you are."
Rin's bright eyes suddenly widened then dimmed with fret at the question. The child shook her head frantically and her smile promptly melted into a frown. "No, Rin is not lost. Rin was only looking for help! Sesshoumaru-sama is hurt very bad and needs help! Will you please help, Miss?"
When Kagome finally processed Rin's swiftly spoken sentences, she gazed at the younger girl with a flabbergasted expression."Sesshoumaru? What is a child—a human child no less—doing in the company of him?"
"Did... did you say Sesshoumaru?"
TCB...
SideNotes: How did you all enjoy the second chapter of the revised version of Heal Me? Next chappie is on its way...
