First of all, I want to sincerely apologize for the lack of updates. Oh my gosh. I have become so busy. It's unreal. We moved again, and I had a Hell of a time getting an ISP, but now that I have one I will try to update more. I have to admit though that after all the time I haven't been updating, I haven't been writing much either. Hopefully I can find the time to write more, but rest assured I will try my best to keep the updates coming.
Okay, and uh…yah, that was a huge plot change, but I'm hoping it will work out! Oh, and MORELEN, yes, I want fanart. Sadly, I can not draw at all. Lol. I wish I were gifted, but I am as talent-less as they come, lol. I have no idea what I'm going to do with myself, but hopefully I'll figure it out, lol. Until then, I have hobbies like this one to keep me busy.
Okay, I am updating my sites, finally, so go ahead and check 'em out! Sorry it's taken so long. I got really busy after Spring break. Oh well, on with the chapter.
Chapter Thirteen: Every New Beginning is Some Other Beginning's End (it's an old cliché, but it fits)
Sango awoke the next morning and started to pack up all of her belongings. Sesshoumaru had left after telling her where to meet him at noon. She still didn't know what she was thinking. Why had she taken the job? Why had he asked her? 'Oh…what am I doing? Am I that desperate?' Sango mused to herself.
Was she that desperate to find a place where she belonged. She summed it up to her being willing to try anything once. Besides, he had made it sound like a challenge, and Sango never could say no to a challenge. Especially not one from a demon. She tried to ignore the little voice in the back of her mind that told her it was far more than that.
The voice kept reminding her that there were so many things she didn't know about him. It was hard to admit, but Sango was very curious. There were so many questions inside her head. Like, why is that little girl still with him? What does he do, exactly and what is she supposed to do as a guard? Sango shook her head, trying to get all of the questions to go away.
'It's just that I need a change,' she reassured herself. She didn't want or need to know anything about her employer, so long as he wasn't evil. Sango bit her bottom lip as she suddenly ceased all motion. 'Was he evil?' she began to think back to every encounter she had ever had with Sesshoumaru during the hunt for the jewel shards.
She knew that he was very cunning, but was he truly evil at heart; If indeed he even had a heart. Of this Sango was also unsure. She had caught glimpses of different emotions, but they had been only glimpses; only moments. Then his features would turn back to familiar ice and stone.
Sango furrowed her brow, trying to piece together all the fragments. He had been different during the battle with Sorikata, but things like that were always different when you were fighting on the same side. How could she be sure that he wasn't evil. After all, he used to make no secret of the fact that he hated his own brother, Inu Yasha.
Sango took another deep breath, 'But even that has seemed to change. Sesshoumaru no longer attacks Inu Yasha, so that has to mean something…doesn't it?' Sango again shook her head. She didn't have time to think about it right now. Besides, it was too late. She had already accepted the job, and she didn't really want to find out Sesshoumaru's policy for humans who welched on deals. Instead, Sango opted not to think about it at all. At least not until she was face to face with him again.
Thoughts of being face to face with him suddenly made her insides jumble. She remembered to precision exactly the way he looked last night. She remembered the way the fire reflected in his eyes and danced on his features. Sango recalled the low rumble of his voice. Almost as if he were growling. Sango let out a little, "Hmph," as she thought to herself, 'he probably was growling. And, if he knew what I was thinking right now, he'd probably be barking.'
With a little snicker at the thought, she continued packing up her things. She then moved over to where Kirara still slept, and she patted her head. When Kirara opened her eyes Sango smiled, "Good morning, my little kitty," she spoke softly. She had always called Kirara her little kitty-it was a nickname as well as an inside joke. Since in her true form, Kirara was anything but a 'little' kitty.
Kirara yawned and stretched before circling around the camp and getting something to drink. Sango came and sat beside her, "Kirara, I've decided that I won't be going back to the village for a while."
Kirara looked up at her with confusion. "Last night, I accepted a job from Sesshoumaru. I'm going to be a guardian of the Western lands. You don't have to come if you don't want to-"
Before she could finish, Kirara was in her true form and beckoning Sango to hop on. Obviously, Kirara didn't care where they were going, so long as she wasn't separated from her master. Sango smiled and grabbed their things before jumping on and telling Kirara where to go.
~~~
Sesshoumaru awaited his new guard with calm patience. He was early, after all, and needed time to figure out exactly where he would station her in his land. The Northern borders were always pretty populated with troublesome demons. The Southern borders were ten times worse, though. He finally decided that she would patrol the North first, then the South after he knew she could handle that. East and the very Western borders were his detail. That was where most of his bartering and exchanges took place. It was also where he received the most information and the whereabouts of enemies and potential enemies.
He would have to pay her, of course, but they had yet to decide a fee. Sesshoumaru's only goal for hiring her had been to give her purpose and to also protect his lands in the process. He wasn't sure where the idea had come from to hire her for the job, but he had been considering hiring someone to patrol. Sango just seemed like the logical choice-and she was. Where else did she have to go, anyway?
Sesshoumaru let out a calm breath. It was all very logical…yes, that is what he kept telling himself. She was only human, though, and the work would be hard and very taxing to her frail body. Sesshoumaru rethought that concept…there was really nothing frail about her, he reasoned. She fought with determination and courage that matched his own. She was human, yes, but she was also an exterminator. Sango was also very young, but very wise. She had seen more than most humans her age. He found it odd that she had not immediately chosen the life of an average human after all ties to her former life had been severed.
Most of her kind didn't go around worrying about purpose, but only about survival. Sesshoumaru remembered his first encounter with her right before they fought off the Satsubatsu. She had the look of someone ready to die…someone begging for death. Her eyes were a mix of cold emptiness and internal fight, yet she radiated nothing but warmth. Then, when he held her limp, bleeding form, her eyes were filled with determination for life. Not survival, but life. It was as if she had realized that she hadn't truly lived before. Her eyes shone with new revelation.
He shook his head, what did he care anyway? It wasn't his problem and he wasn't about to ask her to confide in him. He didn't want her to confide in him. He didn't want to be friends. All he desired was a capable guard for his lands, and in her, he was sure that was exactly what he'd find. Nothing more. He was her employer, and she worked for him now. That was all there was to it.
Sesshoumaru was brought out of his musings when he picked up Sango and her pet's scent approaching. He turned in time to see them landing about ten feet from where he stood. Sango dismounted and approached him. "I'm here. Have you decided where I'll be patrolling?"
Sesshoumaru stared coldly toward her, "You'll be around the Northern borders. It's a four day journey from here. If you can keep up."
Sango smirked, "Oh, we'll be fine. Lead the way."
Sesshoumaru shook his head, "First we need to discuss your fee. You're a professional demon hunter, surely would require payment for your labor."
Sango straightened, she hadn't thought about that. She had seen this as a new path and a new beginning, she hadn't even considered asking for payment. Now that he brought it up, however, Sango would name her payment. Although, she was sure it would sound a bit unorthodox to him, "All I ask for, in return for my services, is the right to live and die on this land if I so choose to do so. I will build my own hut and provide for myself. I wish to be free to decide if I want to keep this agreement or not. I am not a servant, and I refuse to be treated as such. This is simply a job-a purpose."
Sesshoumaru fought back the urge to put her in her place for posting demands instead of a fee. He had to admit it was spoken like a true hunter, but he simply regarded her coolly, "If that is your fee, consider it paid."
Sango nodded her head and extended her hand, an offering to shake on it to confirm the deal. She wasn't surprised when he declined the human gesture. She mentally rolled her eyes as he turned and walked ahead of her. He obviously didn't want to waste any time getting there. 'As if time is precious to someone who doesn't age,' Sango mentally conceded. This was going to be a long journey; Yes, a very, very, long, long journey.
~~~
It was the second night of their trek. Sango leaned against the trunk of the large oak tree, fighting off sleep. She looked through half-closed eyes, marveling and wondering at how little Sesshoumaru seemed to sleep. He stood a mere five feet away with his back toward her. It was just as the night before.
He had done this same thing on the first night, and she wondered if this was to be the habit during this journey. She also wondered if it was habit for him to stare mindlessly at the moon. For she caught him staring away often, as if he were thinking about something-or some moment-far away from here. As if he were remembering something important. However, whether it was a painful memory or a happy memory, Sango was unsure. His ever present mask always adorned his features, making it impossible to read him.
She was startled out of her thoughts when she heard his voice, soft yet commanding, "Do you intend to rest sometime tonight, or are you going to stare at me for the remainder of the evening?"
Sango was stunned silent. She could almost feel him smirking. She rolled her eyes, then rethought the tone he had used. Was he actually being sarcastic with her? Was it possible that he was being something other than emotionless? Did the great Sesshoumaru have a sense of humor?
Before she could get carried away he turned to face her, an scowl on his face. He was obviously annoyed with her fight against her own need for sleep. She finally gave in, deciding that it was pointless to analyze Sesshoumaru's behavior. He was puzzle-
But a puzzle she now felt determined to piece together.
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Okay, I'm so sorry this is so short, but I couldn't find a better place to cut if off. I know it sucks, but I really thought this was the best place to cut it off. Anyway, like I said, I'll try to be more timely with my updates. I'm really sorry you guys, please forgive me! I'll try harder. In the meantime, don't forget to review.
By the way, thank you all for all of your reviews. They've kept me motivated when I was the least bit determined. I think I've had a bit of writer's block. That or I just couldn't fathom the possibility of sitting still for so long and typing like I usually do, lol. I have a hard time with sitting still. That's the down side to writing. I can't do anything else, lol. I have to have music in the background too, or it will be too quiet for me to concentrate, which I know is completely back-ass-ward, but what can you do? Lol.
REVIEW DAGUMMIT!!!
