CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
x.
The Dog-Lord strode through the forest, not looking back even once. His ivory hair rippled slightly in the wind, hiding his face. He could tell that Sesshomaru was not following him, but he could hear Inuyasha's rapid footsteps in the grass behind him.
But his elder son wasn't yet gone. If he had truly left, the Dog-Lord would have lost his scent; Sesshomaru could move as swiftly as the wind. He's staying nearby, the older demon thought. Waiting for my anger to subside, waiting for another chance to speak.
For a moment, he wondered if he had been too harsh in his treatment. Then he recalled what Kagome had said about Sesshomaru, and his heart hardened. He wouldn't let Sesshomaru off that lightly. He was the Dog-Lord's son, and had expressly gone against his wishes time and again. So the Dog-Lord would let him sweat it out for awhile... not that he could imagine his son doing something as earthy as sweating.
Just then, he realized that his anger had quickened his pace. And Inuyasha was running a few steps behind him, breathing raggedly. He was obviously not able to keep up with his father, especially with his injuries. But the half-human wouldn't say a word about it, just kept doggedly running.
Stubborn boy, he thought. Then, with a smile, he added, Just like his old father.
He slowed down on a grassy bluff, and Inuyasha skidded to a stop beside him. The Dog-Lord waited until his son was done gasping and gulping, and was able to stand up straight again. "How long have you and Sesshomaru been this way?" he rumbled.
Inuyasha's eyes wandered for a moment, as he tried to remember. Tried to remember, that was, a time when Sesshomaru HADN'T loathed him. "For as long as I can remember."
Then he flinched. His father's face was like stone, with a deep furrow between his heavy brows. Damn, Inuyasha thought, did I just piss him off again?
X.
On a neighboring mountaintop, a small girl in an orange robe was kicking pebbles into a stream, watching her reflection ripple. Nearby, a heavy two-headed dragon was watching the birds hungrily, and a small green creature was snoring contentedly.
Then a reflection of white and silver caught her eye in the water. "Lord Sesshomaru!" Rin cried, jumping up.
Jaken snorted loudly, and came awake with a loud splutter. "M-my lord!" he said quickly. "Is all well? I mean, you vanished so suddenly..."
Sesshomaru ignored the imp's babbles. He slowly looked to the east, in the direction of Inuyasha's human friends, and thought carefully on what he had seen. It seemed that his father had joined Inuyasha's little band, for whatever reason, and was at least partly in possession of his wits.
I will not leave so quickly, he thought. He slowly seated himself on a ledge of stone, and kept his eyes fixed on the direction that his father had gone in. "We will stay here, for the time being," he said grimly. "Jaken..."
Jaken bobbed into a bow. "Yes milord?"
"Go gather food for Rin."
"Y-yes, milord." Jaken hesitated. "Er, milord... what was it you were pursuing through the forest."
"Jaken."
"Yes, milord?"
"Be silent."
Jaken backed away, gabbling in his shrill little voice. Sesshomaru ignored his bowing and scraping, keeping his eyes fixed on the valley. He watched the smoke from a small campfire rising into the clouds, then turned away.
TO BE CONTINUED