Journey Anew
Chapter 05 : Sense of Smell… OUT!
Author's Note: Good day to you all :waves: In this chapter we see a little more of Severus and his personality. I hope everyone enjoys it! Review too! Hehe!
Warnings: Profanity… herm, not much really…
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha!
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Severus dropped Rin's unconscious body onto a make-shift bed. He glanced over his shoulder and then plopped down into his chair and tossed the westernized hat onto the floor. He sighed. He really hadn't enjoyed that little encounter…
"And look at what I've got now… a sniveling brat." Severus mumbled aloud. He'd set up base in a hole across the forest, and travel tonight would be futile. The storm would escalate.
"Wonderful weather…" Severus bitched to himself and poured a glass of wine.
"Lord?"
"What?" He asked… Severus frowned… what was his name? Oh well. Wasn't important. Just some random servant of the council.
"Sesshomaru and his companions have decided to stay in the cave tonight."
"Well. Sesshomaru's no fool and he knows that I wont be doing any traveling tonight either… so no use in getting worked up…" Severus mused out loud, "We'll probably encounter him at least once before we even make it back… prepare the men."
"Ah yes, but my Lord, isn't Lord Sesshomaru a member of the-"
Severus rolled his eyes, "I know already exactly what you're about to ask me… with base so close, couldn't a dog sniff us out?" Severus looked expectantly at the man, who averted his eyes.
"Well… couldn't he?" he stuttered out and bowed his head slightly.
"He could if things were regular circumstances. Rasha and Nichol have already taken care of his nose…" Severus stared at the man, "You'd like to know how? Well you see, because mother nature is on our side tonight, the winds are to our advantage. Using mixture brewed specifically for instances like this, when ones enemy has a heightened sense of smell… it cloaks our scent and pretty much everything else. Sesshomaru-sama wont be able to smell a thing tonight!"
"That's… genius…" The man smiled.
Severus frowned, "Is it really? Hmph. I didn't think of it like that… just basic tactics… leave, I want to be alone."
"Yes my Lord." The man saluted and then walked out of the room. Severus sighed once more. What a troublesome thing, this job was turning out to be…
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Kouga sniffed the air once more, "There's no trace of Rin…"
Sango stood beside him, her face drawn with anxiety and worry. They'd traveled to the closest village and she had bought a fine sword, as well as some daggers to hide in her clothing. She picked up some powders and mixtures to create her own sort of hand grenade. She'd already put together half a dozen. After the trip to the town, Sesshomaru had unexpectedly ordered them to return to the cave. This time, she didn't question him. But she couldn't help the building desire to scream at him and ask him just what the hell was going on.
"She's alright for now," Kouga said aloud, staring off out of the cave's entrance, which was mostly blocked by fallen rock and debris, "Since she's sort of being held as… ransom I guess."
Sango frowned, "Rin-chan…"
Kouga looked at her, "Everything is going to be okay, Sango-san," Kouga smiled encouragingly, "They don't know who they're messing with."
"That youkai seemed to know Sesshomaru…" Sango muttered, staring at the ground. She then smiled slightly, "But thank you Kouga-kun."
Kouga laughed, "I wasn't talking about Sesshomaru, Sango. I was talking about me and you. They wont know what hit them. Heh. No one messes with the-"
"Stop your chattering." Sesshomaru spoke from behind them. Both turned and stared at him. Sesshomaru continued speaking, "They've polluted the air so that our noses can't pick up on Rin's scent. That's why there seems to be no trace, wolf."
"Ah! But didn't you say Sesshomaru-sama that the specific scent for the mixture was all around us! Hah! Pathetic wolf, couldn't you smell it in the air!" Jaken taunted, pointing his crutch at Kouga. Kouga rolled his eyes and crossed his arms.
"Well… I did notice a funny smell, but how am I suppose to know what that is? I've never encountered something-"
"Of course you haven't," Jaken laughed, "Because it's something only high class youkai can get their hands on. A lowly wolf prince, such as yourself-"
Sango snapped, "This is no time to be acting like a child Jaken. Please Sesshomaru, you look like you have more to say… tell us something…" Her eyes looked at him pleadingly.
Jaken's eyes were wide, but he closed his mouth slowly and looked dazed. He would have corrected Sango for not using the title of sama, had he not been struggling to accept the fact that she had repirmanded him and it had worked. Kouga humphed in agreement. Sesshomaru sniffed in what seemed to be amusement before looking at Sango, "Severus is full of flashy tricks, like the one he used to vanish before our eyes… I know he's not too far but the weather will make it impossible to attack him. Our best course of action would be to remain in the cave for the rest of the night and wait the storm out. I am positive that he will be doing the same. I do not intend to return to the council, so we will attack him before he returns."
"Hah. I bet he wouldn't think we'd do that, since he has Rin and all…" Kouga grinned, "Good idea."
"He knows." Sesshomaru said quietly. "He is… an old acquaintance of mine."
"Really?" Sango said, "Were you friends?"
"I would not say that." Sesshomaru replied and then walked away. Sango stared after him and then she looked at Kouga.
"There's much more to this than we know." Kouga said.
"I agree." She mumbled, "But for now, we'll just have to do what he says and focus on saving Rin."
Kouga nodded, "Yeah…"
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Kagura swept the last bit of dirt and leaves from the porch and set the broom aside. She'd never done such a task before, it had been strange. She looked over at Mayura, who was bent down clearing weeds out of her vegetable garden.
"Tell me, is this how everyday life is for you?" Kagura asked, leaning against the side of the house. Mayura jumped slightly and turned to look at the sorceress.
The older woman smiled, "Today is a little slow, but-"
"Never mind." Kagura shook her head, "Where's Shinto?"
"He went to the village to get supplies." Mayura replied, returning her eyes to her garden and the treacherous weeds infiltrating it. She pulled one out of the ground, "But he's taking a little longer than I expected. How will I ever start lunch without…"
Kagura stopped listening after that. She looked down at her feet. What exactly was she doing? Staying with these people… these humans. Talking with them and working with them and eating with them… and even… laughing with them. It was absurd! She was a youkai. She was different from them. She'd never be able to understand them, just as they would never be able to understand her. There was no point… so why did she stay?
She'd taken advantage of their kindness. That was all. They were simply useful at the moment. Soon enough, once she had an idea as to what she would do with the rest of her life, she'd leave them and forget about them.
Kagura's head snapped up when she saw Shinto come running towards Mayura. The older woman got to her feet at a surprising rate and was standing before her husband in the blink of an eye. He held her hands for a moment, saying something and then they both turned and ran to the house.
"Hey! What the hell is going on!" Kagura shouted, shocked at the worry in her voice.
Shinto turned, "The village! The village is being attacked by youkai!"
Kagura's eyes widened. Youkai? "Well… where are you going?" She fumbled, moving forward and then stopping.
"We have to do what we can." Mayura said, "Come with us Kagura. We might need your strength to help protect the villagers-"
"Go with you?" Kagura snapped, "To fight my own kind? What for? They're not bothering me… and why should I care about what happens to those humans? I don't even know them… they're no concern of mine."
Shinto narrowed his eyes, "It's a shame really. That you still think that way." Kagura took a step back in surprise. Shinto stared hard at her for a moment, then turned to Mayura, "Get the swords and I'll retrieve my medical satchel. Hurry." He kissed her forehead and then turned and moved away.
Kagura was silent. She saw Shinto return from inside the small hut, holding his medicine in his arms. He tossed it across his shoulders. Mayura joined him, helping to secure the sword she had brought around his waist. Kagura noted the two daggers hanging from Mayura's hips. She looked at Kagura and stopped as her husband ran ahead toward the village.
"Its alright if you don't help," Mayura said softly and smiled, "Its your choice… and know that you may stay with us regardless."
Kagura nodded slowly. The older woman smiled before following after her husband. The sorceress stretched her arm out and wrapped her fingers around the broom, pulling it close to her chest. She stared hard at her feet and suddenly released her hold on the broom.
It clattered to the ground.
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Yep yep. That is all. Unfortunately. :P
I hope you all enjoyed this chappie very, very much! Hehe.
Almost seems like Severus can read minds huh? Well… he can't but he's incredibly intuitive and can even read Sesshomaru a little. Lets see… words to describe Severus… pompous, intuitive, humorous, easily bored, easily amused, intelligent, and deadly. Hehehe.
He and Sesshomaru know each other, obviously and enough so that they already have each other's moves predicted. Hmmmmmm…I think Kouga was on to something when he said that there was much more to the whole ordeal than he and Sango know… :X hehe
The mixture used to cover smells is something I came up with on a whim. : ) I should probably name it, but uuuuh… maybe one day when I revise the story… tee hee… if I ever do that… haha… er.
Just to go ahead and say, Mayura and Shinto are middle-aged, not elderly… I'm not sure if that point got across, so I'll state it here. They're about 40-42 years old.
Okay! Now, to the comments! Eeeeehhhh :giggles manically:o.O
Mornings Light – Ah! I see now what you were talking about:smiles: I'm really glad that you're enjoying this story. Please, tell me what you think about this chapter. Well, I hope you keep reading! Thank you and bye!
Sango fan! – Hehe. Yeah, Sesshomaru's kinda edgy.. I mean, Rin-chan did just get snatched up right before his eyes… and by Severus no less. Sango just said the wrong thing at the wrong time. Well, Kouga-kun's like that. He's sweet. Hehe. Aw, I'm glad you liked it and I hope you like this little installment. Bye for now!
YoukoSangoHiei – Well… actually, you're supposed to be confused. Hehehe. Sorry :X but I can't say what pairing it is! Keep reading and you'll find out! Hehe, bye bye for now and thanks for your review!
Tylec Asroc – Oh yeah, I did get Severus's name from Harry Potter. Tee hee. I wanted a snake youkai and I'm a lazy author, so I decided to borrow the name :smiles: Ah, I've seen those episodes… Hehe. And as for Sesshy, well I do agree with you that he's not 'completely' apathetic… I just think he acts apathetic. That's all. Well, I hope you enjoy this chapter and thank you for your review! Bye now!
Nightfall2525, Yaten's her, Wolfdogcat41, and everyone else who has reviewed this story in the past and who will review it, thank you so much!
Bye bye!
Oh! And just to let yall know, if you ever want to see if anything new is going on with me or my work, check out the section of my bio where it says NEWS. That should help. Hehe. (Assuming that anyone gives a crap :wink wink: Bye again!)
- Taijiya