Chapter 3: Journey to China
"My Lord! There you are! I was so worried for your safety!"
Sesshoumaru blinked awake slowly. The sunlight was bright and he winced and turned his head away from it, "Jaken..?"
The retainer nodded, leaning on the Staff of Heads, "Yes, My Lord. It is your trusty servant, Jaken. You had me worried for your safety!"
Sesshoumaru reached up to rub his eyes and blinked as a soft purr rumbled against his chest. He looked down in shock to see Kaori resting against him still. The passionate night and the promise it brought quickly returned to him and he grinned inwardly.
Jaken jumped about, "My Lord should not go running off like that and stay gone for so long!" Sesshoumaru glared at him and Jaken hushed immediately. He glanced down at the woman in his Master's arms and then back to him.
Seshoumaru smiled at the Lady as she slowly began to stir, "She is my new mate, Jaken. You will serve her just as you serve me."
Jaken gasped, "My Lord has found...a mate...?"
Sesshoumaru snorted indignantly, "Did you think that this Sesshoumaru could not find one?"
Jaken shook his head immediately, "Your standards are so high, I thought no woman could ever lo– I mean, Oh no, Sire! No! I am just...surprised! Who is My Lord's new Lady? She is lovely."
"Lady Kaori."
"Never heard of her, My Lord."
"She is the daughter of Kyousei Byakko and the–"
"The Right-hand to the Great Phoenix of China!!" Jaken finished. His retainer's sudden impatience irritated Sesshoumaru. The toad, for once, did not pick up on his mistake and jumped back from the Lady herself, not the fear of being punished by Sesshoumaru, "She and her kin are feared by many! Even those in the Great Clans have learned to fear that family's might! How in this world did you come across her?!"
Sesshoumaru eyed the toad coldly, "I brought her back from the dead. She was the kitsune Youkai that killed the–"
Jaken once again interrupted, "She...She was the one who destroyed the dragons! I knew it! There could be no other capable of doing such a thing! How could such a destructive creature reside in such a tiny frame!?"
Sesshoumaru had finally had enough and snarled loudly, "Silence, beast! You will wake her with all of your nonsense!"
Kaori slowly opened her eyes and looked to Jaken, "You...are the creature who stepped on one of my tails."
Jaken dropped to his knees and pleaded, "Oh forgive me, My Lady! Do not punish me with death! I will never do such a thing again! I give you my word!"
Kaori's slender ears fidgeted as she watched him grovel, "Do not worry. I am not angry with you."
Jaken nodded and bowed several times, "I thank the Lady for her forgiveness."
Sesshoumaru rose to his feet and brought his new Lady with him. He helped her slip her outer kimono on over her inner and tied the sash for her. She then helped him into his youkata, tying his sash in a perfect tie before helping him straighten his armor. She gently smoothed out his long locks of silver hair and fluffed his bangs a bit until they rested perfectly. He nuzzled her and combed his fingertips through her soft black hair.
Jaken stood watch at the edge of the clearing with his back turned to them while they prepared themselves. He glanced back occasionally to see them nuzzling each other instead of preparing. He had never seen his Lord that way before, but it was a welcoming sight. So Sesshoumaru did have a heart after all.
They walked to the edge of the forest and looked around cautiously. Sesshoumaru was worried that the Dragon Lord would come to find her if the warriors never returned. Kaori wasn't as worried as he was however.
"Do not worry, My Lord. The Dragon probably thinks we have all killed each other and has moved on to train new warriors to take the places of those lost. He probably even found a new mate."
Sesshoumaru slowly accepted it, though he didn't want to. He found he was extremely protective of her and would fight anyone who dared to threaten her. This must have been what his father felt when he died fighting for his last mate. That human woman...
Kaori closed her eyes and breathed in deeply, "I must return home and relay the messages from the four Lords to my Master."
Sesshoumaru grabbed her and pulled her into his arms, "Then I shall come with you."
She blinked and wrapped her arms about him, "But, My Lord, your lands will be left unguarded. What if a demon should claim it while you are gone?"
He shook his head, "They will not. My father's vassals are still here. I will send Jaken to tell them that they must guard my land while I am away."
Kaori looked into his golden eyes. They seemed a lot warmer than they did when she had first laid eyes upon them. She smiled a little, "Are you sure you wish to accompany me, My Lord?"
Sesshoumaru nodded, "I am sure."
Kaori kissed his lips gingerly and he kissed her back. Jaken turned his head as customary and waited until they ceased. Sesshoumaru turned to his retainer and pointed toward the Eastern border of his territory, "Speak with my father's vassals. Tell them this Sesshoumaru has gone on a mission and he has requested them to patrol his lands in his absence."
Jaken bowed to him and nodded, "Yes, My Lord. It shall be done. I wish you and your mate luck on your mission and I hope you both return safely."
Sesshoumaru and Kaori nodded. Jaken bowed once more and scuttled off as fast as his legs would carry him. Every minute his land was left unwatched, meant a lower Youkai could stake a claim to it.
Kaori shifted into her full form and stretched. She was a little cramped at first, but the cool air quickly woke her sleepy joints. Sesshoumaru followed suit, knowing the journey would be quicker in their true forms. He walked up beside her and stared into the horizon, "Is your homeland far?"
Kaori's ears twitched as she nodded, "It is far, indeed. The journey is long and hard, but we will make it." She trotted a little ways ahead of him and looked back. His eyes were set on the land to her east. The land Jaken was heading across. She cocked her ears and turned, trotting back up to him, "My Lord, if you are unsure... you may stay and wait for my return. It is entirely your choice."
Sesshoumaru nuzzled her neck with his muzzle, "I will go with you. My mate comes first."
She smiled widely, baring her fangs and he smiled back, baring his. She turned and trotted down the hillside, Sesshoumaru by her side. The two of them knew it was a long journey ahead and that there would be dangers left and right, but they also knew that as long as they remained together, there was nothing the two could not overcome. Kaori leapt into the skies, her long tails flowing behind her. Sesshoumaru glanced back one last time before taking to the skies as well. He wasn't sure when and if he would see his lands again.
They flew across the sky together on their way to China, only stopping to drink from a fountain or catch a deer to snack on. Sesshoumaru had been on many long voyages with his father in the past, but this one was different. He didn't know where they were going and soon became restless. He yearned to return to his homeland and familiar hunting grounds, but he knew he was bound to stay by Kaori's side. When the sun set, Kaori decided that it would be best to rest for the night. Sesshoumaru sniffed around until he found the perfect place free of humans and other Youkai. Kaori swept a bed of leaves into a pile with her tails and paced on it, packing it down into a nice soft bed. Sesshoumaru watched her and silently wondered if each tail possessed a mind of its own. Each one seemed to move independently of each other yet one would stop what it was doing to help another, then continue on with its task. All the while she hummed and paced around the bed. Once the bed was just right, she backed away and allowed her Lord to lie down first. He stood up and sniffed the bed before resting on it. She bowed her head and crawled into the bed beside him, curling up. He rested his head on her shoulder and drew in a deep breath. She twitched her ears and closed her eyes slowly.
"Kaori?" Sesshoumaru scooted a little closer to her, making sure she was warm enough.
She twitched her ears and smiled, "Yes, My Lord?"
"Tell me about China. I've never been there."
"Well, it's not completely different from this land..." She slowly opened her eyes and tilted her head up to the heavens. Sesshoumaru followed her action and stared up at the stars above. Kaori told him about everything she could think of. The people, the government, the landscape, the cuisine...
"What about the Phoenix. Where does he reside?"
She twitched her ear again and curled her tails around him, "The Phoenix Lord resides high above the clouds in a floating palace. Few creatures have ever been there." Suddenly, she twitched her nose and growled, turning to stare at a figure standing in the shadows.
Sesshoumaru quickly snapped free from the daydream and growled, glaring into the shadows, "Ryuu-Kogane!"
The Great Dragon Lord stepped from the shadows, in human form. He stared at the two large demons and grinned, "So that is where you've been hiding yourself, Kaori. In the arms of the Demon Lord of the Western land...or at least the one who wishes he were the Demon Lord of the West."
Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes, but held his tongue, choosing to stay silent.
Ryuu-Kogane grinned and crossed his arms, "You see? His silence proves my statement is true. He is not the chosen heir of the Western Lands. His weak father favored an equally weak half-breed!"
Kaori stopped growling at once and looked to Sesshoumaru, "He's lying, isn't he, My Lord?"
Sesshoumaru rose up and sat back on his haunches, "He speaks the truth. My father did favor my half-brother, but he did not leave his lands to him. As the first born, that makes me the true Lord of the Western Lands!"
Ryuu-Kogane threw his head back and laughed, "You see? He is no rightful Lord. He is but a common dog! He only claims to be the ruler of the land."
Sesshoumaru sneered and turned away from them, muttering under his breath, "I was his first born. I should have been the one true heir by right. The hanyou fled from his title and instead chose to live as a filthy bastard rogue. So I claimed the title and took care of my father's territory."
Kaori stared at Sesshoumaru, unable to speak.
