An Inu Yasha Fanfic by Hika-chan
Chapter 3: Color Reading
It was early in the morning when Yuki decided to bother Sesshoumaru again. "I hope your dressed Sesshie, because I'm coming in!" She paused for about two seconds before slowly opening the door, knowing that her host was easily fast enough to at least cover himself by the time he was in view. He must have been awake already, she thought, noticing him fully dressed leaning against the doorway to the balcony overlooking the rest of the compound as well as the land beyond it. His back was to her, but she could tell he was thoughtful, she wondered what about. Curiosity getting the better of her, especially since he had not yet seemed to notice her she conciously shifted the muscles in her eyes to view the youkai's aura
Most youkai could make out human auras. Humans could too, but they often lost the skill before they knew what it was, in fact most humans didn't know what it was after the fact. Seeing auras would be the reason why, in the future, children coloring with crayons would give people skin of odd colors like green or purple. But being told those colors aren't there they stop using those muscles in their eyes and they would atrophy.
But the youkai knew what it was, and encouraged and harnessed it, youkai could easily read the auras of emotional humans. With such a skill many could tell which ones would be most obedient, or if they were lying. Though when it came to other youkai, their auras would often appear cloudy, as they knew how to mask them auras from being read. However Yuki's skills were exceptional, not only could she read humans and youkai with equal ease, she could also see the magical auras in items. She could tell if they had "bit" someone as she put it. If they were cut enough and if it was recently enough she could even say who, as the weapon, epecially magical ones, would take on a bit of their victim's aura.
None of that concerned her now as she studied the aura about Sesshoumaru. She was quite surprised at the colors she saw. Never before had she seen this balance of colors in him. The magenta and purple that usually had dominance, representing his pompus nature and rulership over his domain, was set deep in the background. Along with it the black dignity and formality seemed to be more or less an afterthought. And the practicle side of him was barely visible at all. The pale yellow told he was deep in thought, wishful thinking, she noted. There were certain specks of light color, mixed in with a red, it's something he's become rather passionate about... and is that... "!!" Such affection! It's almost.. dare I say it? Love!... But for who? She squinted and studied it further, another surprise came to mind, He doesn't know!? Well that is very unlike him. The orange was a constant though, self-sufficient as always, and likely to get what he wants, he was just trying to figure out how.
Suddenly her attention turned from him as she noticed a stark contrast next to his bed. She looked over at his two swords, Tenseiga and Toukijin. Tenseiga was bright, shining bright azure, almost white, if she had not known already she would have known now that Tenseiga was a healing sword. It had been used on three.. no four people total. The two most recent people were odd though. It almost seemed as though it was used on one body but two souls.
Toukijin, on the other hand emitted a deep black aura with other hateful colors mixxed in. Black could often be a sign of an emotional shield but with this intensity, she had seen very few things like this before, it wreaked of death. It didn't even seem like the color black, or any of the colors at all. It was just a swirling aura of negativity and hate. "Goodness Sess-chan where did you ever find such an offensive weapon?" She asked, her voice puposefully louder and squealier than it had to be to shake him out of his reverie.
He turned in her direction, she was amazed at how easily he handled his emotions as she watched the swirling colors of his aura shift, by the time he was finished speaking it more closely resembled what she was use to seeing in him. "It was made to be Tetsusaiga's rival, made from the teeth of the oni that broke it by one of Toutousai's former students."
She narrowed her eyes on the weapon, "And was killed by it too it seems... You have only used this against Inu Yasha?" She asked, sensing the hanyou's aura had been bitten by the weapon
"And breifly against Tsukinoshi."
"I see.." She scanned the room seeing the aura of a third weapon in a box on the dresser. She is so fickle, Sesshoumaru thought, Her attention span is short enough to rival Rin's. She walked over to the dresser, pulling the dagger with it's white and purple aura out of the box. "This is-"
"Mother's dagger, indeed. Tsukinoshi had it."
Her eyes widened slightly, she sniffed the blade as though that helped confirm the reason of her suprise. She analyzed the aura more closely. "It has been used recently?" It was barely a question, more asked in an effort to drag him into conversation.
"Yes, though not by me."
"Used on you?"
"No."
"Then please explain." Sesshoumaru sighed, and relayed the story of a month earlier, since he had not told her the details of Kagome's possession and Tsukinoshi he decided he would get that out of the way now as well. Conviently it answered her question about Tenseiga's use. During the tale Sesshoumaru was careful not to refer to Kagome by her name, calling her 'Inu Yasha's woman', 'the miko/girl/wench', Yuki would never let it go should he admit to knowing a human's name, especially a woman's. He ended the story after he awoke with his arm, not mentioning the dream, or any moments with Kagome that could be considered intimate aside from those reguarding the dagger. After the tale was told she nodded and crossed her arms in thought. "Tell me, did you taste her?"
Sesshoumaru raised a brow, "I'm suprised Yuki, you usually display much more tact on such subjects.
"Not that." She sighed in exasperation, "You bandaged her wound, did you taste her blood?"
He thought a moment, "I remember licking my fingers out of habit yes. Why?"
"Has anyone else been cut by this?" She asked, ignoring his question.
"I was careless the following day while cleaning it and nicked my palm. Again why?" She didn't seem to pay attention, studying the dagger and placing it back in the box. "Yuki."
"Hmm? Oh no reason, I just noticed it had two auras it had bit recently. I just wondered who it was."
"You have the curiousity of a cat Yuki."
She grinned at him, "Meow Sesshie."
He rolled his eyes away from her then noticed Juutsuma standing by the door. Sesshoumaru nodded to him. The tiger knew the signal and reported to his lord. "Sesshoumaru-sama the guests will be arriving soon."
Yuki turned to Sesshoumaru a bright smile upon her face, "More guests!?" He nodded. "Oh who!? Tell me I simply must know!"
"No. It is a surprise." That said he went over to the stand on which his armor sat and began to put it on.
Hikaru scowled slightly as she saw the group below her. They had passed her sometime the day before, but she was still somewhat dissapointed that they had beaten her. Of course she had been slowed by a natural form of flight, beating her wings against the air, as opposed to utilizing youki in order to levitate. She landed right behind them, a short distance from Sesshoumaru's castle. "It seems we shall be walking in together."
They turned at her voice Inu Yasha's face twisted up in annoyance, "Willing to share the attention are you?"
She leveled her gaze at him, a grin decorating her lips, "Whatever gave you the idea that I was so vain?"
"Keh," Inu Yasha simply turned and continued towards the castle door. Two minutes later.. two rather aggrivating minutes for Inu Yasha as Hikaru had appearently targeted him for verbal annoyance. He pounded on the gates of the castle much harder than he normally would have. Leaving a fist shaped dent in the wood.
The gates opened and about two seconds after that Kagome was tackled by Rin. "Kagome-neechan! Kagome-neechan! Kagome-neechan I have missed you SOOoo much!!" Kagome smiled and knelt down hugging the girl tightly before she let go and went over to the kitsune, "I missed you too Shipoo!" She smiled brightly as she hugged him. Shippo blushed. The kitsune soon then found himself being chased around by the girl.
Hikaru grinned, "-hmph- what are you people? Baby sitters?"
"I'm glad you all could come." They all looked up at the voice seeing Sesshoumaru, Hikaru was the only one who bowed. Do these humans have no respect!? she thought coldly, surely Sesshoumaru would kill them for such insolence. But as it was he currently took little notice of the stranger as he grinned at Inu Yasha. The sadisically happy look on his brother's face made the hanyou uneasy, suddenly remembering his "confinment" the last time he had been here. "And I am quite happy that you could make it Inu Yasha."
"And why the hell is tha-"
"Did you say Inu Yasha!? A female voice projected out into courtyard. Kagome had never seen the hanyou pale so quickly.
"Sesshoumaru.. tell me it's not-"
"Inu-CHAN!" She squealed as she burst out of nowhere and hugged him. Inu Yasha winced as his ears flatened on his head, trying to protect themselves from the decibles she was emmiting. Kagome was not too happy with it either having been standing next to Inu Yasha, her hands over her ears. In fact even the humans had to wince. "It has been just SO long! How have you been!"
"Stuck to a tree Yuki," he muttered.
"Now now, what have I told you to call me?"
Inu Yasha sighed, happy that she had at least lowered her voice. "A...aneeue..." he grumbled.
Kagome and shippo gasped, aparently the only ones to hear and decipher his grumbles out of their group. "And what delicious people you brought with you! Such friendly auras they have!" Yuki did not give them much time to think on her odd remark though as she turned to Hikaru. "And who is this pretty young hanyou girl? Is she your girlfriend. Ohh it's so aDORable! You match!" Yuki cooed, referring to the colors both wore.
"What!? I am NOT seeing this.. this... this mutt!"
"Keh! Like I woud ever find you attractive! The only thing you're probably useful for is pillow stuffing."
"I BEG your pardon!?"
"Ohh you two are so CUTE!"
Sesshoumaru cleared his throat and got the attention of the bickering hanyou's. "You are Akahuu-sama's daughter?"
She turned to him quickly, suddenly emmiting formality about her. She bowed, "Hai Sesshoumaru-sama. As you know I came to discuss certain things with you on my father's behalf."
"And why is it he has sent you in his stead?"
"My father has recently been involved in a battle, he is currently recovering from his injuries and the poisons."
"I see. Jaken."
"Hai Sesshoumaru-sama?"
"Lead her to the audience chamber, I will be there in a moment."
"hai!"
Sometime during that encounter Kagome had dumbly witnessed Yuki drag Inu Yasha off to catch up. "Ne Sesshoumaru?"
"mm?"
"Yuki... is Inu Yasha's..."
"Half sister yes."
"So then she's your..." Miroku started, now seeing what surprised Kagome earlier.
"Older sister."
"That is.. amazing," Sango stuttered.
"What is so amazing about it?"
"Well," Kagome started, how should she put it, from what she had seen so far she thought that Yuki, while still being reguarded as eccentric would fit in much better in modern Japan as compared to Sengoku Jidai. "I mean she's just so.. so..." Eccentric? Vocal? Animated? American? Definitely American if they knew what that meant. "bouncy," she finally decided.
"Indeed." He rose a hand and Youtei, the hawk youkai that they had fought before, stepped forward. "Youtei will show you to your rooms, right now I have business to attend to." Before he dissapeared into the building Kagome called out to him, he paused, "Yes?"
"Did you call us here just so Inu Yasha would distract Yuki?"
"Of course not miko-sama, Rin wanted to see you." He answered curtly, but Kagome could not help but notice the mischiveious twinkle in his eye, and shook her head as he turned back towards the audience chamber.
"Akahuu's daughter..." Sesshoumaru mused aloud, "Your name?"
"Hikaru."
"Yes I remember now. You are hanyou?" She nodded. "And what exactly is the pupose of this visit?"
"My father wishes to offer you his support in your reign."
"He is early then, I, Sesshoumaru, have not yet taken my place as Lord of the Western Lands."
"He is aware of that, but having been a close friend of your father he wants for you to know that he supports you reguardless."
Sesshoumaru raised a brow, "He just as easily could have sent a message."
"I was also sent to serve you during my stay."
"I have no need of female services."
Hikaru felt a the tension in her shoulders release, "No offense intended Sesshoumaru-sama, but I am very greatful for that. But I do have other abilities that may make me useful."
"Such as?"
She looked around the incrediby bare room for a target of some kind. There was the carpet, the throne, and some tapestries. Other than there there was only her, Sesshoumaru and the toad Jaken. She tried to hide her grin and gestured to Jaken. "May I? He will come to no harm."
Sesshoumaru nodded, "Harm him if you wish." Her brows raised in surprise as Jaken began to sputter protests. The red of Hikaru's irises spread to the rest of her eyes as they glowed. Wind poured into the room and Jaken was enveloped in a whirlwind. The Staff of Heads came flying out and landed in Hikaru's hand. Sesshoumaru hid his amusement as his retainer was sent spinning and flying around the room. The whirlwind came and hovered in between Hikaru and Sesshoumaru and quickly dispelled dropping the dizzy toad on the ground. Sesshoumaru looked down his nose at the unconcious Jaken. "Interesting."
"I am able to do more outdoors, or in larger spaces."
Sesshoumaru stood, "Feel free to wander the grounds, Jaken will show you to your quarters when he awakens."
"Thank you Sesshoumaru-sama."
Yuki sat alone now, having since let Inu Yasha go, and was currently analyzing the guests she had seen earlier in her mind, she had not seen much of them but the main colors of their aura's was enough to give her a good idea. Inu Yasha's aura, had of course been mostly maroon and crimson, just as she remembered. Moody, competitive, ready for a fight, volatile and yet warm. Ahh yes her little brother was still quite the spit fire he had always been.
The monk was mostly green, the opposite of Inu Yasha. More thoughtful in his actions and likely to make the most of any situation. He would be quite easy to get along with, she was sure. The huntress was navy blue and black, faithfulness and trust along with the formality of convention. But she had the same gray in her as the monk, denoting fear and uncertainty in their fates. Yuki knew that most of this was not directed at Sesshoumaru or her, true they probably had some towards her, it only made sense she was a youkai after all, but it was deeper than just present company. Something that they wanted to confront and put an end to lay out in the world.
The kitsune was of course so innocent, white and ultramarine filled his essence. So innocent and pure with a dedication and faithfulness based almost purely on affection, that brought her around to Kagome, the one who must have been the object of his faithfulness.
Kagome was a wonder to her, never had she seen an aura in a person of her age. Pink and azure consumed most of her aura, it was amazing really. She must have made friends so easily, hell the girl was probably bordering on a magnet. However this also meant she was easily hurt, but ironically quick to recover as well. The pink also indicated that jealousy and anger, rather than consume her, should, more often than not, end up consumed by the love within her. She was so willing to serve and help others... that brought her to the unselfishness that the azure spoke of. She had learned the this was the girl looking for the Shikon shards and yet she had no need or want of the tama herself.
Yuki grinned to herself, No wonder Sesshoumaru let her live. He must be quite fond of her, even if he doesn't see it. Oh he had not given any clues in his tone of voice or expression while he had told her the story earlier, but that meant little to Yuki. She was an absolute expert at reading people's swirling aura's especially that of her stone faced brother. There had been tiny fluctuations in his aura as he told his story, puposefully skipping some details and not mentioning her name.
"Yuki."
Speak of the devil.. she thought. "Yes brother dear?"
"Time to demonstrate some of that usefulness you implied earlier. What do you think of Akahuu-sama's daughter?"
"Oh she seems like she'd be fun. Don't you think her and I-"
"That's not what I meant. I was speaking of her intentions."
"She's very loyal, my guess would be that this loyalty lies with her father. Whether or not you trust her should be based on whether or not you trust Akahuu."
Sesshoumaru nodded. Indeed, how much did he trust the hawk?
-------------------------
Aneeue (sp?)- "Big sister", I think it's an older more formal way of saying it; it's the same way Kohaku adresses Sango (and I think it sounds cool.)
Hika-chan: What? Did you think Yuki was a romantic rival? :)
Oh and that whole aura thing, not made up. though I don't really know if I got all the colors right b/c I was combining something about colorology and aura/chakra stuff >_
Well it's probably going to be at least a week before I get the next chapter out 'cause I have a paper due in three days that I haven't started yet. ^_^'