Disclaimer: I don't own Inu-Yasha or any of its characters. However, Suya, Rossel, and Ryna are my characters so don't steal them.
Author's note:
We're back with Sesshoumaru this chapter. Warning he's a bit OOC again.
Here is the voting for couples:
Inu/Kagome: 7
Sess/Kagome: 7
They're at a dead tie. Please keep sending me your votes. Thanks for all the reviews. Now that I'm out of school I should be able to update more. Please enjoy this chapter.
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Ch. 9: Realization and Vexation
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(Sesshoumaru)
He hadn't moved in over three hours. Even when the violent storm outside blew open his ceiling to floor windows and pelted him with stinging hail and icy rain he still didn't budge. The storm matched his mood perfectly. Intense emotions once kept so strictly in check now rolled off of him in all its silent, extremely violent, fury.
Not even Rin dared come near him while he was in his current state of mind. He had gone from a silent, nonchalant lord to a vengeful and very violent dog youkai. Nobody wanted to be near one of his kind when they were full into a breakdown. Especially since he was one of the strongest of his race and his bloodline. Yet his two closest friends, Rossel the wolf demon and Suya the fox demon, had been summoned to him.
All of a sudden the half-crazy youkai lord surged to his feet and began stalking around his room ranting and cursing at all the gods he knew of. The soft clearing of two voices made him stop dead in his tracks.
Rossel's deep brown eyes looked at him with confusion and concern. He'd known Sesshoumaru a long time. They were very good friends.
Suya's features spoke of barely leashed fury. His fur stood on end as he silently fumed. Something had effectively gotten under the fox demon's skin.
A third person stood just behind Suya. He hadn't noticed her until Suya had moved to start ranting and pacing.
Focusing on the small female servant he said, "What are you doing here? This is not any business for a female to attend."
The female, a kitsune, backed towards the door then said, "My lord, my name is Ryna, and I was the lady's maid. I went to tend to her only to find that she was not in her room any longer. With the storm and all I feared for her ladyship's safety so when I saw your lordship's two retainers I followed them so that I could request their help in finding the lady. Please sir, I meant no harm."
Before he could say anything Suya had backed the terrified servant into a corner.
He said, "Where is the vixen?"
Trembling at the warrior's uncharacteristic show of violence in the presence of a female she said, "I-I know now, sir! Please let me go! You are hurting me!"
The valorous fox demon paled, released the frightened servant, mumbled an apology to her, then said, "I knew something was amiss! The fair vixen came to me in tears. My lord, as I hold my vows true, if I find out that it was you that harmed her; you will feel my wrath! You are my friend, sir, but my protection was sworn to her. I never should have let her leave from my sight."
Sesshoumaru was very still as his most trusted retainer's words sunk in. Never had Suya threatened him.
Rossel, being the only one of his right mind, showed Ryna the door, then said, "My lord, shall I search the castle grounds for her? She couldn't have gone far."
Amber eyes focused on the wolf demon as Sesshoumaru said, "Don't bother Rossel. She's not in the castle anymore."
Two voices chorused a confused, "Sir?"
Anguish, horror, and anger echoed in his voice as he said, "I knew the moment she was gone."
He cast his gaze to the ground.
"I felt as if a light had left the darkness of this place. She was like a star fallen from the sky, an angel knocked from the heavens. Her light would have died here."
He clenched his hands into fists.
"My exact opposite. Mortal, human, soft, weak, gentle, kind.... A light to the darkness of my life, a strange warmth to the eternal cold that exists in my soul, and yet.....Yet I can't help but feel that this was for the best. I never should have agreed to keep her here."
(Suya)
Suya's anger quickly gave way to concern as he saw his lord's perilous condition and fragile state of mind. He had never seen his lord look so down trodden. His concern tripled when he saw the dark drops of blood on the carpet.
Sesshoumaru had not been careful of his razor sharp claws and had injured himself when he clenched his hands into fists.
Gently grabbing the larger youkai by the wrist he said, "I must speak with you in private for a moment, m'lord."
He then pulled the other youkai over to the balcony window.
Now out of Rossel's earshot he looked Sesshoumaru right in the eyes and said, "Sesshoumaru, my friend, what is the matter with you? I've never seen you in such a state of absolute disarray. You look horrible."
The youkai lord was silent for long moments before he said, " I let her get too close, Suya. She just appeared in my life and she's already become a necessary part of it. My servants adore her, most of my stronger retainers protect her including you, and my precious pup cares deeply for her. I fear that I have become a victim of her charms as well. I may soon find myself protecting her as closely as I guard Rin. I don't know why, but when I heard that she was gone I was horrified and relieved at the same time. I want to follow her when she leaves my presence. Suya, the other day she fell from a tree. My heart skipped a beat when I saw her. It was the first time in my life that I had stayed by a human's bedside and fought so fiercely for a life. Even Rin doesn't command that much of my attention."
Suya put his hand on his friend's shoulder, squeezed it reassuringly, then said, "Could it be possible that you care for the fair little vixen?"
(Rossel)
Before Sesshoumaru could answer the kitsune's question Rossel approached them and said, "My lord, earlier today I heard something that chilled me to my soul and filled my heart with such sorrow. Do you know what it was?"
Though the wolf had heard the sound before he still wanted his lord to hear of it.
Sesshoumaru shrugged then said, "That was me Rossel."
"But lord, it sounded like a wolf mourning the loss of its mate."
He watched as the silverish white fur of the lord's tail stood on end. The last time such a sound had been heard was when the lord's mother had died.
(Sesshoumaru)
He couldn't believe his ears. Had he really sounded like that? He'd known that it was quite eerie, but really had it been that bad?
'I knew I should have suppressed that sound.'
He had never felt such extreme emotion and, at the time, he hadn't figured anyone could hear him. He faintly remembered his father's anguished, howl like sounds upon his mother's death. Had such an eerie, mournful should actually come out of him? Apparently so.
Walking over to lean against the wall he said, "Did I really sound like that, Rossel?"
The wolf youkai nodded at his lord then said, "It sent chills down my spine, sir. I've never heard one of your family do that before."
A smirk came on his features as he said, "Inu-Yasha has done it twice. Once when his mother died and once when he thought his wench was dead."
Rossel smiled then said, "Shall I leave you to your business, sir?"
Sesshoumaru nodded then glanced at Suya and said, "As to your question, Suya...... I'm not really sure how I feel about her. Emotions aren't exactly my strong point. When she is around me tis if all my years of loneliness are nonexistent, but when she leaves there is this strange pain."
He put his hand over his heart.
"Right here."
"Sir, I know she was in your company. Why did she come to me in tears? The vixen has been very happy here up until today. Tell me what happened!"
At Suya's impassioned words the youkai lord flinched. His hand came up slightly then dropped back to his side. He had been trying to forget what had happened, but Suya wanted to know and nothing could dissuade him in this.
Sighing slightly he said, "After she fell from the tree I decided to bring her to the closest room. At the time is was mine. I used the Tetsuiguia to heal her wounds. Then I left the room to let Ms. Paely get her into some clean clothes. When I returned our guest was resting so I went to my desk to finish a letter I had started. I suppose I fell asleep because the next thing I remember is being shaken awake by the female. Disoriented as I was I allowed her to move me somewhere more comfortable than my desk. When she tried to leave I woke up the rest of the way and stopped her."
Suya interrupted as he said, "Why?"
"Because it had occurred to me that we had never been introduced."
"Oh."
"Anyway.... I, of course, introduced myself properly, but when her turn came....."
(Suya)
Suya held his breath. Had the lord learned the vixen's identity? His question was answered when Sesshoumaru said, "She pointed out to me that she was not proper enough to be introduced to a lord."
Suya sighed in relief then said, "What happened next, m'lord?"
Apparently the youkai lord wasn't listening because he sounded dazed as he said, "Gods, she looked so beautiful.... Like an angel encased within a mortal shell."
Suya stared at his lord a moment before saying in an amused tone, "My lord, I believe you have been around me too long. You've picked up an ear for poetry."
He watched as his long time friend shook his head to clear his amber eyes.
Then Sesshoumaru said, "Suya, never in my long life have I met a human who so closely matched to the terms minx and vixen. A goddess by looks, an angel by attitude, a vixen by her charms, and a minx by how quickly she stole this lord's heart."
Suya smiled. " Now you see why I saved her, why I protect her. You are not the first to loose your heart to the vixen and her charms. I fell prey the first time I laid eyes on her, though, tis more brotherly affection I feel."
A faint tint of red rose up on the lord's cheeks as he said, "Unfortunately for me, Suya, I do understand. The fair maiden has thrown my entire world into chaos, yet I know not her name. Strange how something as trivial as her name frustrates me with it's elusiveness."
Little did they know that Rossel was on his way with news that would bring the full force of Sesshoumaru's wrath upon them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That's the end of this chapter.
Please read and review.
Author's note:
We're back with Sesshoumaru this chapter. Warning he's a bit OOC again.
Here is the voting for couples:
Inu/Kagome: 7
Sess/Kagome: 7
They're at a dead tie. Please keep sending me your votes. Thanks for all the reviews. Now that I'm out of school I should be able to update more. Please enjoy this chapter.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ch. 9: Realization and Vexation
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Sesshoumaru)
He hadn't moved in over three hours. Even when the violent storm outside blew open his ceiling to floor windows and pelted him with stinging hail and icy rain he still didn't budge. The storm matched his mood perfectly. Intense emotions once kept so strictly in check now rolled off of him in all its silent, extremely violent, fury.
Not even Rin dared come near him while he was in his current state of mind. He had gone from a silent, nonchalant lord to a vengeful and very violent dog youkai. Nobody wanted to be near one of his kind when they were full into a breakdown. Especially since he was one of the strongest of his race and his bloodline. Yet his two closest friends, Rossel the wolf demon and Suya the fox demon, had been summoned to him.
All of a sudden the half-crazy youkai lord surged to his feet and began stalking around his room ranting and cursing at all the gods he knew of. The soft clearing of two voices made him stop dead in his tracks.
Rossel's deep brown eyes looked at him with confusion and concern. He'd known Sesshoumaru a long time. They were very good friends.
Suya's features spoke of barely leashed fury. His fur stood on end as he silently fumed. Something had effectively gotten under the fox demon's skin.
A third person stood just behind Suya. He hadn't noticed her until Suya had moved to start ranting and pacing.
Focusing on the small female servant he said, "What are you doing here? This is not any business for a female to attend."
The female, a kitsune, backed towards the door then said, "My lord, my name is Ryna, and I was the lady's maid. I went to tend to her only to find that she was not in her room any longer. With the storm and all I feared for her ladyship's safety so when I saw your lordship's two retainers I followed them so that I could request their help in finding the lady. Please sir, I meant no harm."
Before he could say anything Suya had backed the terrified servant into a corner.
He said, "Where is the vixen?"
Trembling at the warrior's uncharacteristic show of violence in the presence of a female she said, "I-I know now, sir! Please let me go! You are hurting me!"
The valorous fox demon paled, released the frightened servant, mumbled an apology to her, then said, "I knew something was amiss! The fair vixen came to me in tears. My lord, as I hold my vows true, if I find out that it was you that harmed her; you will feel my wrath! You are my friend, sir, but my protection was sworn to her. I never should have let her leave from my sight."
Sesshoumaru was very still as his most trusted retainer's words sunk in. Never had Suya threatened him.
Rossel, being the only one of his right mind, showed Ryna the door, then said, "My lord, shall I search the castle grounds for her? She couldn't have gone far."
Amber eyes focused on the wolf demon as Sesshoumaru said, "Don't bother Rossel. She's not in the castle anymore."
Two voices chorused a confused, "Sir?"
Anguish, horror, and anger echoed in his voice as he said, "I knew the moment she was gone."
He cast his gaze to the ground.
"I felt as if a light had left the darkness of this place. She was like a star fallen from the sky, an angel knocked from the heavens. Her light would have died here."
He clenched his hands into fists.
"My exact opposite. Mortal, human, soft, weak, gentle, kind.... A light to the darkness of my life, a strange warmth to the eternal cold that exists in my soul, and yet.....Yet I can't help but feel that this was for the best. I never should have agreed to keep her here."
(Suya)
Suya's anger quickly gave way to concern as he saw his lord's perilous condition and fragile state of mind. He had never seen his lord look so down trodden. His concern tripled when he saw the dark drops of blood on the carpet.
Sesshoumaru had not been careful of his razor sharp claws and had injured himself when he clenched his hands into fists.
Gently grabbing the larger youkai by the wrist he said, "I must speak with you in private for a moment, m'lord."
He then pulled the other youkai over to the balcony window.
Now out of Rossel's earshot he looked Sesshoumaru right in the eyes and said, "Sesshoumaru, my friend, what is the matter with you? I've never seen you in such a state of absolute disarray. You look horrible."
The youkai lord was silent for long moments before he said, " I let her get too close, Suya. She just appeared in my life and she's already become a necessary part of it. My servants adore her, most of my stronger retainers protect her including you, and my precious pup cares deeply for her. I fear that I have become a victim of her charms as well. I may soon find myself protecting her as closely as I guard Rin. I don't know why, but when I heard that she was gone I was horrified and relieved at the same time. I want to follow her when she leaves my presence. Suya, the other day she fell from a tree. My heart skipped a beat when I saw her. It was the first time in my life that I had stayed by a human's bedside and fought so fiercely for a life. Even Rin doesn't command that much of my attention."
Suya put his hand on his friend's shoulder, squeezed it reassuringly, then said, "Could it be possible that you care for the fair little vixen?"
(Rossel)
Before Sesshoumaru could answer the kitsune's question Rossel approached them and said, "My lord, earlier today I heard something that chilled me to my soul and filled my heart with such sorrow. Do you know what it was?"
Though the wolf had heard the sound before he still wanted his lord to hear of it.
Sesshoumaru shrugged then said, "That was me Rossel."
"But lord, it sounded like a wolf mourning the loss of its mate."
He watched as the silverish white fur of the lord's tail stood on end. The last time such a sound had been heard was when the lord's mother had died.
(Sesshoumaru)
He couldn't believe his ears. Had he really sounded like that? He'd known that it was quite eerie, but really had it been that bad?
'I knew I should have suppressed that sound.'
He had never felt such extreme emotion and, at the time, he hadn't figured anyone could hear him. He faintly remembered his father's anguished, howl like sounds upon his mother's death. Had such an eerie, mournful should actually come out of him? Apparently so.
Walking over to lean against the wall he said, "Did I really sound like that, Rossel?"
The wolf youkai nodded at his lord then said, "It sent chills down my spine, sir. I've never heard one of your family do that before."
A smirk came on his features as he said, "Inu-Yasha has done it twice. Once when his mother died and once when he thought his wench was dead."
Rossel smiled then said, "Shall I leave you to your business, sir?"
Sesshoumaru nodded then glanced at Suya and said, "As to your question, Suya...... I'm not really sure how I feel about her. Emotions aren't exactly my strong point. When she is around me tis if all my years of loneliness are nonexistent, but when she leaves there is this strange pain."
He put his hand over his heart.
"Right here."
"Sir, I know she was in your company. Why did she come to me in tears? The vixen has been very happy here up until today. Tell me what happened!"
At Suya's impassioned words the youkai lord flinched. His hand came up slightly then dropped back to his side. He had been trying to forget what had happened, but Suya wanted to know and nothing could dissuade him in this.
Sighing slightly he said, "After she fell from the tree I decided to bring her to the closest room. At the time is was mine. I used the Tetsuiguia to heal her wounds. Then I left the room to let Ms. Paely get her into some clean clothes. When I returned our guest was resting so I went to my desk to finish a letter I had started. I suppose I fell asleep because the next thing I remember is being shaken awake by the female. Disoriented as I was I allowed her to move me somewhere more comfortable than my desk. When she tried to leave I woke up the rest of the way and stopped her."
Suya interrupted as he said, "Why?"
"Because it had occurred to me that we had never been introduced."
"Oh."
"Anyway.... I, of course, introduced myself properly, but when her turn came....."
(Suya)
Suya held his breath. Had the lord learned the vixen's identity? His question was answered when Sesshoumaru said, "She pointed out to me that she was not proper enough to be introduced to a lord."
Suya sighed in relief then said, "What happened next, m'lord?"
Apparently the youkai lord wasn't listening because he sounded dazed as he said, "Gods, she looked so beautiful.... Like an angel encased within a mortal shell."
Suya stared at his lord a moment before saying in an amused tone, "My lord, I believe you have been around me too long. You've picked up an ear for poetry."
He watched as his long time friend shook his head to clear his amber eyes.
Then Sesshoumaru said, "Suya, never in my long life have I met a human who so closely matched to the terms minx and vixen. A goddess by looks, an angel by attitude, a vixen by her charms, and a minx by how quickly she stole this lord's heart."
Suya smiled. " Now you see why I saved her, why I protect her. You are not the first to loose your heart to the vixen and her charms. I fell prey the first time I laid eyes on her, though, tis more brotherly affection I feel."
A faint tint of red rose up on the lord's cheeks as he said, "Unfortunately for me, Suya, I do understand. The fair maiden has thrown my entire world into chaos, yet I know not her name. Strange how something as trivial as her name frustrates me with it's elusiveness."
Little did they know that Rossel was on his way with news that would bring the full force of Sesshoumaru's wrath upon them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That's the end of this chapter.
Please read and review.