Chapter Four: The Chosen Path of Certain doom
"Pluck up they spirits man, and be not afraid to do thine office; my neck is very short; take heed therefore thou strike not awry, for saving of thine honesty." (St. Thomas More)
Kagura looked upon the pleasantly irritating face of her rescuer, her eyes darkened, as she said less enthusiastically than he would have hoped,
"Again you save me, Sesshoumaru-san, I owe you a great many favors." A small cynical smile crossed his lips and he said,
"There's no need to thank me, Kagura-san. My own actions are quite selfish." Kagura raised her eyebrows in surprise, and then noticed the intensity in Sesshoumaru's voice and the pregnant pause that loomed treacherously in the air. She asked,
"Where is the girl?" Instead of answering Kagura, Sesshoumaru turned on his heel and walked away, attempting to hide his weak anger from Kagura. Kagura, however was more perceptive and rose slowly from the ground, and began to walk slowly toward the demon lord.
Suddenly, a cruel hand, and a sharpened set of glistening claws enclosed her throat, and Sesshoumaru glared his golden eyes of steel directly at Kagura. She grew limp from fear, but to her surprise she was gently lowered to the ground. Sesshoumaru, after lowering Kagura down, continued to walk away.
Ever more curious, Kagura continued to pursue Sesshoumaru, as she hoped that her fears regarding the girl were true. Cautiously, she put her hand upon Sesshoumaru's shoulder and asked softly,
" Sesshoumaru-san, was it Naraku? Did he take Rin from you?" To Kagura's surprise, Sesshoumaru did not retort, nor leave the range of her hand that lay upon his shoulder.
Sesshoumaru, instead, turned and faced Kagura, looking honestly into her eyes, not concealing his emotions. He said darkly,
"Hai, Kagura-san. It was Naraku. He sought to manipulate my affection for Rin...in hopes that I would relinquish you into his control." Kagura nodded knowingly, avoiding Sesshoumaru's eye contact, not wishing to know what his eyes said.
"Is that so?" Kagura murmured contemplatively, as she stared blankly into the bright sky. Sesshoumaru observed Kagura very closely now, and thought,
' What is she thinking? Does she think that I, Sesshoumaru could be manipulated by such a low trick, or that I would so easily betray her?'
Warily, Kagura glanced back at Sesshoumaru, who stared silently at her,
'Why does he stare so? What could he possibly be thinking? Does he see my fear and loathing of Naraku? Does he see that I am weak?' Suddenly, Kagura rose and said bravely,
"Naraku is hideous to do that to a girl such as Rin! I will assist you in gaining your precious girl back, Sesshoumaru-san." Sesshoumaru looked up at Kagura, and was amazed.
"Did you just say...that you would assist me in gaining back Rin?" Sesshoumaru was nearly speechless, and Kagura said with more confidence,
" Naturally, Rin is too innocent to be entwined within his webs of poison." She gave the demon-lord a proud smile, and Sesshoumaru was about to open his mouth, but Jaken came, huffing in as he held a large pail of water more than half the size of his body,
" Sesshoumaru-sama, I got the wat—What is she doing here!" Jaken demanded, pointing to Kagura, who did not exactly look insulted.
"Jaken," Sesshoumaru said so coldly that Jaken twitched nervously, and spilled the entire bucket of water, " Kagura has agreed to assist us in gaining back Rin."
Both Sesshoumaru and Kagura were amused as Jaken groveled, and apologized like a courtier who had spilled red wine on his revered lords doublet. Begrudgingly, the toad went to get more water. Kagura and Sesshoumaru were alone together.
Kagura, in the depths of her mind found for herself, the unpretentious and pure joy she received from an abundance of good Kharma. Yet, despite her desires to unleash this newfound joy, it was necessary for Kagura to maintain her arrogant nature. If she displayed otherwise, she would get lost in the deed and perhaps grow fond of the emotion it created. With her secret thoughts locked in the chasms of her mind where darkness once existed. Kagura said proudly,
"Sesshoumaru-san, I hope you have no difficulties trusting me. Naturally, you know that I have no bond or willing kinship with Naraku." Staring off into the distance, Kagura could detect his uncertainty as he answered slowly,
"No, I do not Kagura-san. Once before you had intentions of persuading me to slay Naraku."
Her memory rekindled, Kagura realized something different. In this matter her escape was not likely,
"But I have chosen this path," she mistakenly exclaimed aloud. Sesshoumaru swiftly turned, and inquired,
" What path have you chosen Kagura-san?"
Avoiding Sesshoumaru's eyes, Kagura answered,
"The path I have chosen is of little importance to your goal, you need not be curious, Sesshoumaru-san." An indiscreet smile graced Sesshoumaru's lips, as he politely bowed, and turned away again to face the sky beyond.
In an unsure place, Rin sat in the encompassing darkness as the miasma of Naraku continued to weave about her. She whined has harsh whispers from demons invaded her young ears,
" Now my dear girl," Naraku drawled as he loomed insidiously above Rin while he sat on his cushion. She stood but a few feet away and fought back frightened tears. " Do you like my castle?" he asked Rin. She looked down onto the clean matting and said nothing to Naraku; her fear of him was immense. Slightly irritated, Naraku said indignantly," You do not have to answer me girl, but if you do not wish to converse you will be sent away."
Rin still stood mutely in front of Naraku, and with a wave of his hand he dismissed her to be sent away by one of his vassals. A single tear of fear dripped from her eyes, Rin wanted to scream but in her horror she became silent.
In her dreary quarters, Rin sat, huddled in the darkened corner, and quaking cry burst through her lips as she moaned in terror. Tears of agony streamed down Rin's cheeks. In all her sadness, she said quietly,
"Sesshoumaru-sama?"
Naraku sat deep in thought. His dark eyes did not waver from the thick, poisonous air, which he penetrated through. For Naraku, the perpetual miasma only served to strengthen his malicious intentions. He knew that deep down his heart was black as his blood ran, but a black heart can still bleed. A black heart can still be touched by human emotions; the emotions are merely tainted by the darkness. Instead of feeling love, pure and honest, he felt a jealous rage that names itself as love, and instead of feeling gratitude, he felt ingratitude for what has not yet been bestowed upon him.
Naraku despised Sesshoumaru for not just being superior to him in demon blood and skill, but also because Sesshoumaru did not feel the blackness he himself felt every day. Kagura was free, his aura touched nothing but the very fringes of her mind, and her heart was free from the darkness that once entrapped it. He even despised Rin for being loved by someone.
Suddenly, Naraku felt an unlikely emotion creep into his black bile, pain. This pain was not the kind felt when stabbed by a dagger; the pain was too dull it was a pain that invaded his very mind. He felt the pain of an unknown wound that struck in the dark like snakebite or scorpion's sting. In rebuttal of this sudden wound he snarled,
"Bring the girl to me!" The loyal vassals quickly rose and sought out Rin, Naraku continued to embrace the darkness and let it strengthen his resolve.
Kagura's discomfort was exemplified as her eyes skirted around Sesshoumaru's glance. This he noticed and marked well as he thought,
' What path have you chosen?' As Sesshoumaru turned and said very curiously,
"If you insist, Kagura-san." Kagura's mind continually questioned Sesshoumaru as she failed to understand why thoughts of him persisted to linger in her mind.
"Sesshoumaru-san, it is not likely that gaining Rin back will be easy. Even with my assistance you still have to battle through what traps Naraku will have set to greet you." Sesshoumaru shook his head and smiled almost sadly,
"On the contrary, Kagura-san, it will prove to be simple. And it seems I would have your assistance to thank." Momentarily confused, Kagura said harshly,
" If you mean to assume because you know the way to Naraku's castle the journey will be easy you would be greatly mistaken. Getting there alone will prove difficult." Sesshoumaru sighed, and said with some annoyance, but also regret,
"It would be a fool who would assume otherwise, Kagura-san. Perhaps by your presence alone the traps which Naraku set would fall silent and useless." Kagura shook her head, and walked away from Sesshoumaru, saying silently,
"I am not that potent, Sesshoumaru-san, not while I still feel his breath." Sesshoumaru felt drawn to Kagura, as her voice grew low and she fell back. His eyes could not help but follow Kagura as she spoke silently.
' His hold is that deep upon her mind. Naraku must posses amazing power to reduce one as strong as Kagura-san into fear.' Sesshoumaru thought as his eyes became glued to Kagura's lonely figure in the clear sky.
Kagura noticed his eyes sudden attachment to her, and turned to face Sesshoumaru, she had so many questions to ask him, but she could not bring herself to say them. Kagura's heart felt so much, but a great deal of it she did not understand.
Sesshoumaru knew it would be wisest to break his glance from Kagura, but felt compelled by the overwhelming and odd softness that beamed from them to continue looking. As if the softness was a hypnotizing song that compelled him to not waver his stare from Kagura.
'Is it with pity he looks upon me? I wish he would stop staring at me as if I am some entrancing freak. I have never desired his pity, or attention...I do not deserve it.' Turning from his stare, Kagura rebuked his pity or attention and said harshly,
"Time is not on our side, Sesshoumaru-san. If you wish Rin to be saved there is no time to dally." Sesshoumaru nodded in agreement, and said,
"Naturally, but I cannot leave until my servant returns Kagura-san." Sighing, Kagura acknowledged Sesshoumaru's point and began to pace as unease and dread now filled her mind.
"Sesshoumaru-sama! I have the water!" Jaken exclaimed, huffing as he rushed from the wooded path. Sesshoumaru said coldly,
"Good Jaken. We are now leaving to find Rin." Jaken rushed to the large carriage and readied it for his lord and master. Sesshoumaru awoke Kagura from her thoughts with a light tap upon the shoulder, and wordlessly she pulled her feather from her head. Kagura led the way to Naraku's castle, dreading every gust of wind, which pulled Kagura closer to her doom.
Authoress' note: Well hiya'll...I don't exactly care that you don't review but I do have to thank some one very nice person for reviewing my last chapter (3)...Zero-san! She is my good buddy that she is!!! Neways, this latest chapter I hope you enjoyed it took a lot of work to get done...maybe someday I'll be a quick updater
Cya'all! (until my next chapter)
"Pluck up they spirits man, and be not afraid to do thine office; my neck is very short; take heed therefore thou strike not awry, for saving of thine honesty." (St. Thomas More)
Kagura looked upon the pleasantly irritating face of her rescuer, her eyes darkened, as she said less enthusiastically than he would have hoped,
"Again you save me, Sesshoumaru-san, I owe you a great many favors." A small cynical smile crossed his lips and he said,
"There's no need to thank me, Kagura-san. My own actions are quite selfish." Kagura raised her eyebrows in surprise, and then noticed the intensity in Sesshoumaru's voice and the pregnant pause that loomed treacherously in the air. She asked,
"Where is the girl?" Instead of answering Kagura, Sesshoumaru turned on his heel and walked away, attempting to hide his weak anger from Kagura. Kagura, however was more perceptive and rose slowly from the ground, and began to walk slowly toward the demon lord.
Suddenly, a cruel hand, and a sharpened set of glistening claws enclosed her throat, and Sesshoumaru glared his golden eyes of steel directly at Kagura. She grew limp from fear, but to her surprise she was gently lowered to the ground. Sesshoumaru, after lowering Kagura down, continued to walk away.
Ever more curious, Kagura continued to pursue Sesshoumaru, as she hoped that her fears regarding the girl were true. Cautiously, she put her hand upon Sesshoumaru's shoulder and asked softly,
" Sesshoumaru-san, was it Naraku? Did he take Rin from you?" To Kagura's surprise, Sesshoumaru did not retort, nor leave the range of her hand that lay upon his shoulder.
Sesshoumaru, instead, turned and faced Kagura, looking honestly into her eyes, not concealing his emotions. He said darkly,
"Hai, Kagura-san. It was Naraku. He sought to manipulate my affection for Rin...in hopes that I would relinquish you into his control." Kagura nodded knowingly, avoiding Sesshoumaru's eye contact, not wishing to know what his eyes said.
"Is that so?" Kagura murmured contemplatively, as she stared blankly into the bright sky. Sesshoumaru observed Kagura very closely now, and thought,
' What is she thinking? Does she think that I, Sesshoumaru could be manipulated by such a low trick, or that I would so easily betray her?'
Warily, Kagura glanced back at Sesshoumaru, who stared silently at her,
'Why does he stare so? What could he possibly be thinking? Does he see my fear and loathing of Naraku? Does he see that I am weak?' Suddenly, Kagura rose and said bravely,
"Naraku is hideous to do that to a girl such as Rin! I will assist you in gaining your precious girl back, Sesshoumaru-san." Sesshoumaru looked up at Kagura, and was amazed.
"Did you just say...that you would assist me in gaining back Rin?" Sesshoumaru was nearly speechless, and Kagura said with more confidence,
" Naturally, Rin is too innocent to be entwined within his webs of poison." She gave the demon-lord a proud smile, and Sesshoumaru was about to open his mouth, but Jaken came, huffing in as he held a large pail of water more than half the size of his body,
" Sesshoumaru-sama, I got the wat—What is she doing here!" Jaken demanded, pointing to Kagura, who did not exactly look insulted.
"Jaken," Sesshoumaru said so coldly that Jaken twitched nervously, and spilled the entire bucket of water, " Kagura has agreed to assist us in gaining back Rin."
Both Sesshoumaru and Kagura were amused as Jaken groveled, and apologized like a courtier who had spilled red wine on his revered lords doublet. Begrudgingly, the toad went to get more water. Kagura and Sesshoumaru were alone together.
Kagura, in the depths of her mind found for herself, the unpretentious and pure joy she received from an abundance of good Kharma. Yet, despite her desires to unleash this newfound joy, it was necessary for Kagura to maintain her arrogant nature. If she displayed otherwise, she would get lost in the deed and perhaps grow fond of the emotion it created. With her secret thoughts locked in the chasms of her mind where darkness once existed. Kagura said proudly,
"Sesshoumaru-san, I hope you have no difficulties trusting me. Naturally, you know that I have no bond or willing kinship with Naraku." Staring off into the distance, Kagura could detect his uncertainty as he answered slowly,
"No, I do not Kagura-san. Once before you had intentions of persuading me to slay Naraku."
Her memory rekindled, Kagura realized something different. In this matter her escape was not likely,
"But I have chosen this path," she mistakenly exclaimed aloud. Sesshoumaru swiftly turned, and inquired,
" What path have you chosen Kagura-san?"
Avoiding Sesshoumaru's eyes, Kagura answered,
"The path I have chosen is of little importance to your goal, you need not be curious, Sesshoumaru-san." An indiscreet smile graced Sesshoumaru's lips, as he politely bowed, and turned away again to face the sky beyond.
In an unsure place, Rin sat in the encompassing darkness as the miasma of Naraku continued to weave about her. She whined has harsh whispers from demons invaded her young ears,
" Now my dear girl," Naraku drawled as he loomed insidiously above Rin while he sat on his cushion. She stood but a few feet away and fought back frightened tears. " Do you like my castle?" he asked Rin. She looked down onto the clean matting and said nothing to Naraku; her fear of him was immense. Slightly irritated, Naraku said indignantly," You do not have to answer me girl, but if you do not wish to converse you will be sent away."
Rin still stood mutely in front of Naraku, and with a wave of his hand he dismissed her to be sent away by one of his vassals. A single tear of fear dripped from her eyes, Rin wanted to scream but in her horror she became silent.
In her dreary quarters, Rin sat, huddled in the darkened corner, and quaking cry burst through her lips as she moaned in terror. Tears of agony streamed down Rin's cheeks. In all her sadness, she said quietly,
"Sesshoumaru-sama?"
Naraku sat deep in thought. His dark eyes did not waver from the thick, poisonous air, which he penetrated through. For Naraku, the perpetual miasma only served to strengthen his malicious intentions. He knew that deep down his heart was black as his blood ran, but a black heart can still bleed. A black heart can still be touched by human emotions; the emotions are merely tainted by the darkness. Instead of feeling love, pure and honest, he felt a jealous rage that names itself as love, and instead of feeling gratitude, he felt ingratitude for what has not yet been bestowed upon him.
Naraku despised Sesshoumaru for not just being superior to him in demon blood and skill, but also because Sesshoumaru did not feel the blackness he himself felt every day. Kagura was free, his aura touched nothing but the very fringes of her mind, and her heart was free from the darkness that once entrapped it. He even despised Rin for being loved by someone.
Suddenly, Naraku felt an unlikely emotion creep into his black bile, pain. This pain was not the kind felt when stabbed by a dagger; the pain was too dull it was a pain that invaded his very mind. He felt the pain of an unknown wound that struck in the dark like snakebite or scorpion's sting. In rebuttal of this sudden wound he snarled,
"Bring the girl to me!" The loyal vassals quickly rose and sought out Rin, Naraku continued to embrace the darkness and let it strengthen his resolve.
Kagura's discomfort was exemplified as her eyes skirted around Sesshoumaru's glance. This he noticed and marked well as he thought,
' What path have you chosen?' As Sesshoumaru turned and said very curiously,
"If you insist, Kagura-san." Kagura's mind continually questioned Sesshoumaru as she failed to understand why thoughts of him persisted to linger in her mind.
"Sesshoumaru-san, it is not likely that gaining Rin back will be easy. Even with my assistance you still have to battle through what traps Naraku will have set to greet you." Sesshoumaru shook his head and smiled almost sadly,
"On the contrary, Kagura-san, it will prove to be simple. And it seems I would have your assistance to thank." Momentarily confused, Kagura said harshly,
" If you mean to assume because you know the way to Naraku's castle the journey will be easy you would be greatly mistaken. Getting there alone will prove difficult." Sesshoumaru sighed, and said with some annoyance, but also regret,
"It would be a fool who would assume otherwise, Kagura-san. Perhaps by your presence alone the traps which Naraku set would fall silent and useless." Kagura shook her head, and walked away from Sesshoumaru, saying silently,
"I am not that potent, Sesshoumaru-san, not while I still feel his breath." Sesshoumaru felt drawn to Kagura, as her voice grew low and she fell back. His eyes could not help but follow Kagura as she spoke silently.
' His hold is that deep upon her mind. Naraku must posses amazing power to reduce one as strong as Kagura-san into fear.' Sesshoumaru thought as his eyes became glued to Kagura's lonely figure in the clear sky.
Kagura noticed his eyes sudden attachment to her, and turned to face Sesshoumaru, she had so many questions to ask him, but she could not bring herself to say them. Kagura's heart felt so much, but a great deal of it she did not understand.
Sesshoumaru knew it would be wisest to break his glance from Kagura, but felt compelled by the overwhelming and odd softness that beamed from them to continue looking. As if the softness was a hypnotizing song that compelled him to not waver his stare from Kagura.
'Is it with pity he looks upon me? I wish he would stop staring at me as if I am some entrancing freak. I have never desired his pity, or attention...I do not deserve it.' Turning from his stare, Kagura rebuked his pity or attention and said harshly,
"Time is not on our side, Sesshoumaru-san. If you wish Rin to be saved there is no time to dally." Sesshoumaru nodded in agreement, and said,
"Naturally, but I cannot leave until my servant returns Kagura-san." Sighing, Kagura acknowledged Sesshoumaru's point and began to pace as unease and dread now filled her mind.
"Sesshoumaru-sama! I have the water!" Jaken exclaimed, huffing as he rushed from the wooded path. Sesshoumaru said coldly,
"Good Jaken. We are now leaving to find Rin." Jaken rushed to the large carriage and readied it for his lord and master. Sesshoumaru awoke Kagura from her thoughts with a light tap upon the shoulder, and wordlessly she pulled her feather from her head. Kagura led the way to Naraku's castle, dreading every gust of wind, which pulled Kagura closer to her doom.
Authoress' note: Well hiya'll...I don't exactly care that you don't review but I do have to thank some one very nice person for reviewing my last chapter (3)...Zero-san! She is my good buddy that she is!!! Neways, this latest chapter I hope you enjoyed it took a lot of work to get done...maybe someday I'll be a quick updater
Cya'all! (until my next chapter)