Chapter 2: The Demon of Her Pain
They rarely talked that night, but there was no awkward silence. Sesshoumaru could see by looking at her, that there had been a lot on her mind. He did not ask of her more information then she cared to give and when she stopped talking, Sesshoumaru stopped asking. Marina knew this and dearly appreciated it. She wanted to tell him everything, but somehow she couldn't yet find the words. She wasn't ready for all to be known. Marina stayed very close to him though, which, strangely enough, Sesshoumaru did not seem to mind. He once again invited her closeness. Marina felt so safe when she was close to him. She missed this safe feeling. She missed it more than she remembered.
The next day they began on their way again. Marina was unsure of where they were headed, but she didn't care, as long as she was with Sesshoumaru. Jaken was once again legging behind. He was still very confused about what had happened the night before, since he had slept through it all. The explanation he got from his master didn't help him to understand much either.
"Lord Sesshoumaru! Are you sure letting this girl come with us is such a good idea?! We know nothing about her! Besides, she would just be in the way should we run into," "Jaken..." "Yes, Lord Sesshoumaru?" Sesshoumaru takes Jaken's staff from him and gives him a swift crack on the head. "She's coming with us. Understood?" Jaken rubs his tender head. "Yes... Lord Sesshoumaru."
Jaken did what he was told although he remained a little weary of Marina. As they continued on, Sesshoumaru's mind wandered back to a single burning question he had wanted to ask Marina but would not until she was ready to share it. 'Who had been the one to imprison Marina on that enchanted tree?' A burning hatred ran through him because for some reason, he cared deeply for Marina's happiness and any one who caused Marina pain would regret ever having been born. Sesshoumaru watched Marina as she walked by his side. Every now and then, she would smile at a ray of sun, or a butterfly, floating gently on the breeze. She would reach out a hand to a flower petal gliding on the breeze. Sesshoumaru smiled as he watched her. She seemed so peaceful. She was so frail, so gentle. He thought of her small figure fastened to the tree, binding her against her will. His fists clenched in fury at the thought. Marina looked at him with her gentle features and smiled. The gentle smile he received quickly dissipated his anger. He looked down at her and smiled in return. She was so beautiful.
Jaken, who was legging far behind at this point, was calling for them to wait up. Sesshoumaru paid little or no attention to him, but Marina turned in concern, and walked back to help the small toad who was tripping over his own feet in exhaustion. Marina, upon reaching him, bent down and helped the little one up. "Are you okay, Jaken?" Marina said concerned, although there was a hint of laughter in her voice. It was hard to contain her laughter, seeing the little toad struggle so hard. Sesshoumaru turned around to watch the spectacle. Marina looked so beautiful, standing in the sunlight. He couldn't stop watching her. He was completely captivated by her. Jaken stood up as Marina chuckled softly and dusted the dirt from his kimono. "Yes, I'm fine." Jaken said, with a bit of a harsh tone in his voice. Marina knew he was trying to keep a distance from her, so she tried whenever she could to help him so he wouldn't be so cautious of her. She didn't want anyone to feel uncomfortable around her. Jaken turned his head away from her and continued to walk past her. Marina chuckled again when tripped over a stone. She helped him up again, but this time they walked up to Sesshoumaru together. Sesshoumaru felt a light laughter well up inside him when he saw Marina laughing. He couldn't understand what it was he felt for her. He wanted nothing more than to be with her, to protect her. That, now, was his only wish. He just couldn't understand why. When the other two had caught up to him, Sesshoumaru looked at Jaken with his usual stern face and spoke very few words to him. "Jaken..." "Yes, m'lord?" Sesshoumaru turned and began walking again when Marina was by his side. "Do try to keep up, won't you?" Jaken bowed low before his master. "Of course, Lord Sesshoumaru." Then, he began his waddling again. The three of them continued on their way, Marina and Sesshoumaru in front, and Jaken legging somewhat behind.
They were silent for some time as they walked. Marina would occasionally look over at Sesshoumaru. She saw so much sorrow in his heart. He carried such a heavy burden. She decided it was the right time to ask about their destination. "Sesshoumaru..." Sesshoumaru looked down at the small figure keeping pace beside him, whose image bore so deep in his mind. "Yes?" Marina stopped for a moment to wonder how to ask. "Where... are we going?" Sesshoumaru looked ahead again, with a more stern expression on his face. "I'm looking for the power to destroy an enemy..." Marina looked at Sesshoumaru. She would not pry. If he stopped there, she would not ask further. But he didn't stop there. He continued. In his heart he wanted her to know...everything. "A demon I once had a truce with betrayed me, as I expected him to, but he betrayed not only our truce as I had hoped." Marina kept her eyes on him while he spoke, never faltering. He was bearing his soul and she listened to every breath. She watched as Sesshoumaru clenched his fist as he remembered the events of the betrayal. She wanted to take his hands in hers, to hold back the trembles of rage. But she resisted. All she wanted was to ease the pain in his spirit. Sesshoumaru continued. "He was the darkest of demons. He is vile beyond compare. Even his name is a plague." Marina was almost afraid to ask, but she did. She had to know. "What was his name?" Sesshoumaru looked first at her and then forward. It was as if he spit the name from his mouth. "Krad..." Marina stopped abruptly in her tracks; she didn't move; she didn't breath. She stared straight ahead into the distance. Sesshoumaru spun around as soon as he had realized she had stopped. "Marina! What's wrong?" Marina began to weep uncontrollably. The tears were streaming down her face, but still she did not move. "Marina?" Sesshoumaru ran to her side. As he began to run, Marina began to collapse to the ground. Sesshoumaru reached her in time to catch her before she hit the ground. Sesshoumaru knelt to the ground so that both of them were sitting on the ground. Marina held tightly to Sesshoumaru's kimono, still weeping. "I...I remember." Her voice was cracking from the unstoppable crying. "I could never remember the name of the demon who imprisoned me." She continued to weep as she spoke, but she didn't stop her explanation. Sesshoumaru held her tightly in his arms hoping somehow it would reassure her. He felt strange feelings inside of him as he held her, but he would not let go. Marina continued. "His name was so strange. No matter how hard I tried to remember, I always forgot his name as soon as he left me. It seemed the more I tried to remember, the harder it was to remember. Then just as I would remember, just as I would try to speak the name, it would escape me again. But...now I remember." Sesshoumaru was somewhat confused even though he had begun to put pieces together. He prayed he was wrong. He preyed she would call him a different name, but she didn't. "His name...was ...Krad ..." Sesshoumaru's eyes widened and he filled with a rage and a hatred he had never before felt. How dare him! He could betray Sesshoumaru, but how dare he hurt Marina! He had kept her caged in the forest, like she was his pet! He would pay dearly!
Sesshoumaru stared straight ahead, thinking of the terror he would unleash upon Krad should they ever cross paths. He hoped beyond all hope now that they would cross paths. Nothing would have made him happier then seeing that demon bleed. To see him pay for what he had done. Marina had managed to gain control of herself and stopped crying. She wiped the tears from her eyes and looked up at Sesshoumaru. He was holding her so tightly. He wasn't hurting her, but she couldn't believe that he was holding her like this. This man, who had tried so hard to seem so cold, held her so gently. She let herself be pulled to his embrace. She was however startled by the look in his eyes. They had become so dark and filled with hate. "Sesshoumaru? Are you alright?" The sound of Marina's gentle voice called him back. He looked down at the worried look on her beautiful face, and in an instant, the hatred dissipated. She was so beautiful. As she lay in his arms, Sesshoumaru began to lose himself in her eyes. He couldn't understand what was happening to him. This girl, whom he had only just recently met, was dearer to him than his own life. He would give anything for her. He wanted nothing more then to stay there with her...forever. He drew himself closer to her without even realizing it, for he was still lost in her gaze. Her eyes widened as he came closer and closer to her. Sesshoumaru, suddenly realizing what he was doing, pulled away. They stared silently at each other as Sesshoumaru came to a realization. 'Am I... in love with her? How can I be? She's only a human... isn't she? Why is it I feel so strongly about her?' Sesshoumaru put a hand on his face in confusion, yet he still held Marina with the other. 'She cannot know... but...I cannot hide it.' He lowered his hand from his face and looked back at Marina. She lay there, in his embrace, never trying to pull away. She was looking back at him. Sesshoumaru was the first to move. 'I can't stay here like this.' He thought, 'I may lose myself again.' He stood with Marina still in his arms. He was so reluctant to let her go. Somehow he felt complete this way. Never the less, he put her down when he stood up. "Are you okay, Marina?" He said, worried about what Marina would think of him now, or if she even noticed what had happened. "I'm okay. Thank you, Sesshoumaru. I'm sorry I didn't mean to break down like that." Sesshoumaru was a little surprised. 'Had she not even noticed? she feel the same way?' Sesshoumaru stared at her again before responding. "Don't apologize. He is the most vile creature of all!" Sesshoumaru's rage began to rise, but once again, upon seeing Marina's face, his rage soon faded quickly. He wanted her to know that, no matter what happened, he would protect her. "I promise you, Marina, I will never let him take you away." Marina looked at him. His face showed something she had never seen before. 'Could he... truly care for me? No one has ever cared for me this way. He has such a gentle spirit beneath his hardened exterior. He truly is an angel.' She walked up to him and looked into his beautiful golden eyes. He gazed back into hers in response. She burst into tears again and hugged into Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru was a bit thrown off by this, but he wrapped his arms around her in comfort. She spoke so softly as, what appeared to be, tears of joy streamed down her face. "Thank you." She said weeping into Sesshoumaru. He laid one hand on her hair and the other he kept around her. He leaned over and whispered in her ear, (he had to lean, for he was considerably taller than her.) "Marina, I will always protect you..."
They rarely talked that night, but there was no awkward silence. Sesshoumaru could see by looking at her, that there had been a lot on her mind. He did not ask of her more information then she cared to give and when she stopped talking, Sesshoumaru stopped asking. Marina knew this and dearly appreciated it. She wanted to tell him everything, but somehow she couldn't yet find the words. She wasn't ready for all to be known. Marina stayed very close to him though, which, strangely enough, Sesshoumaru did not seem to mind. He once again invited her closeness. Marina felt so safe when she was close to him. She missed this safe feeling. She missed it more than she remembered.
The next day they began on their way again. Marina was unsure of where they were headed, but she didn't care, as long as she was with Sesshoumaru. Jaken was once again legging behind. He was still very confused about what had happened the night before, since he had slept through it all. The explanation he got from his master didn't help him to understand much either.
"Lord Sesshoumaru! Are you sure letting this girl come with us is such a good idea?! We know nothing about her! Besides, she would just be in the way should we run into," "Jaken..." "Yes, Lord Sesshoumaru?" Sesshoumaru takes Jaken's staff from him and gives him a swift crack on the head. "She's coming with us. Understood?" Jaken rubs his tender head. "Yes... Lord Sesshoumaru."
Jaken did what he was told although he remained a little weary of Marina. As they continued on, Sesshoumaru's mind wandered back to a single burning question he had wanted to ask Marina but would not until she was ready to share it. 'Who had been the one to imprison Marina on that enchanted tree?' A burning hatred ran through him because for some reason, he cared deeply for Marina's happiness and any one who caused Marina pain would regret ever having been born. Sesshoumaru watched Marina as she walked by his side. Every now and then, she would smile at a ray of sun, or a butterfly, floating gently on the breeze. She would reach out a hand to a flower petal gliding on the breeze. Sesshoumaru smiled as he watched her. She seemed so peaceful. She was so frail, so gentle. He thought of her small figure fastened to the tree, binding her against her will. His fists clenched in fury at the thought. Marina looked at him with her gentle features and smiled. The gentle smile he received quickly dissipated his anger. He looked down at her and smiled in return. She was so beautiful.
Jaken, who was legging far behind at this point, was calling for them to wait up. Sesshoumaru paid little or no attention to him, but Marina turned in concern, and walked back to help the small toad who was tripping over his own feet in exhaustion. Marina, upon reaching him, bent down and helped the little one up. "Are you okay, Jaken?" Marina said concerned, although there was a hint of laughter in her voice. It was hard to contain her laughter, seeing the little toad struggle so hard. Sesshoumaru turned around to watch the spectacle. Marina looked so beautiful, standing in the sunlight. He couldn't stop watching her. He was completely captivated by her. Jaken stood up as Marina chuckled softly and dusted the dirt from his kimono. "Yes, I'm fine." Jaken said, with a bit of a harsh tone in his voice. Marina knew he was trying to keep a distance from her, so she tried whenever she could to help him so he wouldn't be so cautious of her. She didn't want anyone to feel uncomfortable around her. Jaken turned his head away from her and continued to walk past her. Marina chuckled again when tripped over a stone. She helped him up again, but this time they walked up to Sesshoumaru together. Sesshoumaru felt a light laughter well up inside him when he saw Marina laughing. He couldn't understand what it was he felt for her. He wanted nothing more than to be with her, to protect her. That, now, was his only wish. He just couldn't understand why. When the other two had caught up to him, Sesshoumaru looked at Jaken with his usual stern face and spoke very few words to him. "Jaken..." "Yes, m'lord?" Sesshoumaru turned and began walking again when Marina was by his side. "Do try to keep up, won't you?" Jaken bowed low before his master. "Of course, Lord Sesshoumaru." Then, he began his waddling again. The three of them continued on their way, Marina and Sesshoumaru in front, and Jaken legging somewhat behind.
They were silent for some time as they walked. Marina would occasionally look over at Sesshoumaru. She saw so much sorrow in his heart. He carried such a heavy burden. She decided it was the right time to ask about their destination. "Sesshoumaru..." Sesshoumaru looked down at the small figure keeping pace beside him, whose image bore so deep in his mind. "Yes?" Marina stopped for a moment to wonder how to ask. "Where... are we going?" Sesshoumaru looked ahead again, with a more stern expression on his face. "I'm looking for the power to destroy an enemy..." Marina looked at Sesshoumaru. She would not pry. If he stopped there, she would not ask further. But he didn't stop there. He continued. In his heart he wanted her to know...everything. "A demon I once had a truce with betrayed me, as I expected him to, but he betrayed not only our truce as I had hoped." Marina kept her eyes on him while he spoke, never faltering. He was bearing his soul and she listened to every breath. She watched as Sesshoumaru clenched his fist as he remembered the events of the betrayal. She wanted to take his hands in hers, to hold back the trembles of rage. But she resisted. All she wanted was to ease the pain in his spirit. Sesshoumaru continued. "He was the darkest of demons. He is vile beyond compare. Even his name is a plague." Marina was almost afraid to ask, but she did. She had to know. "What was his name?" Sesshoumaru looked first at her and then forward. It was as if he spit the name from his mouth. "Krad..." Marina stopped abruptly in her tracks; she didn't move; she didn't breath. She stared straight ahead into the distance. Sesshoumaru spun around as soon as he had realized she had stopped. "Marina! What's wrong?" Marina began to weep uncontrollably. The tears were streaming down her face, but still she did not move. "Marina?" Sesshoumaru ran to her side. As he began to run, Marina began to collapse to the ground. Sesshoumaru reached her in time to catch her before she hit the ground. Sesshoumaru knelt to the ground so that both of them were sitting on the ground. Marina held tightly to Sesshoumaru's kimono, still weeping. "I...I remember." Her voice was cracking from the unstoppable crying. "I could never remember the name of the demon who imprisoned me." She continued to weep as she spoke, but she didn't stop her explanation. Sesshoumaru held her tightly in his arms hoping somehow it would reassure her. He felt strange feelings inside of him as he held her, but he would not let go. Marina continued. "His name was so strange. No matter how hard I tried to remember, I always forgot his name as soon as he left me. It seemed the more I tried to remember, the harder it was to remember. Then just as I would remember, just as I would try to speak the name, it would escape me again. But...now I remember." Sesshoumaru was somewhat confused even though he had begun to put pieces together. He prayed he was wrong. He preyed she would call him a different name, but she didn't. "His name...was ...Krad ..." Sesshoumaru's eyes widened and he filled with a rage and a hatred he had never before felt. How dare him! He could betray Sesshoumaru, but how dare he hurt Marina! He had kept her caged in the forest, like she was his pet! He would pay dearly!
Sesshoumaru stared straight ahead, thinking of the terror he would unleash upon Krad should they ever cross paths. He hoped beyond all hope now that they would cross paths. Nothing would have made him happier then seeing that demon bleed. To see him pay for what he had done. Marina had managed to gain control of herself and stopped crying. She wiped the tears from her eyes and looked up at Sesshoumaru. He was holding her so tightly. He wasn't hurting her, but she couldn't believe that he was holding her like this. This man, who had tried so hard to seem so cold, held her so gently. She let herself be pulled to his embrace. She was however startled by the look in his eyes. They had become so dark and filled with hate. "Sesshoumaru? Are you alright?" The sound of Marina's gentle voice called him back. He looked down at the worried look on her beautiful face, and in an instant, the hatred dissipated. She was so beautiful. As she lay in his arms, Sesshoumaru began to lose himself in her eyes. He couldn't understand what was happening to him. This girl, whom he had only just recently met, was dearer to him than his own life. He would give anything for her. He wanted nothing more then to stay there with her...forever. He drew himself closer to her without even realizing it, for he was still lost in her gaze. Her eyes widened as he came closer and closer to her. Sesshoumaru, suddenly realizing what he was doing, pulled away. They stared silently at each other as Sesshoumaru came to a realization. 'Am I... in love with her? How can I be? She's only a human... isn't she? Why is it I feel so strongly about her?' Sesshoumaru put a hand on his face in confusion, yet he still held Marina with the other. 'She cannot know... but...I cannot hide it.' He lowered his hand from his face and looked back at Marina. She lay there, in his embrace, never trying to pull away. She was looking back at him. Sesshoumaru was the first to move. 'I can't stay here like this.' He thought, 'I may lose myself again.' He stood with Marina still in his arms. He was so reluctant to let her go. Somehow he felt complete this way. Never the less, he put her down when he stood up. "Are you okay, Marina?" He said, worried about what Marina would think of him now, or if she even noticed what had happened. "I'm okay. Thank you, Sesshoumaru. I'm sorry I didn't mean to break down like that." Sesshoumaru was a little surprised. 'Had she not even noticed? she feel the same way?' Sesshoumaru stared at her again before responding. "Don't apologize. He is the most vile creature of all!" Sesshoumaru's rage began to rise, but once again, upon seeing Marina's face, his rage soon faded quickly. He wanted her to know that, no matter what happened, he would protect her. "I promise you, Marina, I will never let him take you away." Marina looked at him. His face showed something she had never seen before. 'Could he... truly care for me? No one has ever cared for me this way. He has such a gentle spirit beneath his hardened exterior. He truly is an angel.' She walked up to him and looked into his beautiful golden eyes. He gazed back into hers in response. She burst into tears again and hugged into Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru was a bit thrown off by this, but he wrapped his arms around her in comfort. She spoke so softly as, what appeared to be, tears of joy streamed down her face. "Thank you." She said weeping into Sesshoumaru. He laid one hand on her hair and the other he kept around her. He leaned over and whispered in her ear, (he had to lean, for he was considerably taller than her.) "Marina, I will always protect you..."