Chapter Two
Sesshomaru opened his eyes and looked around. Rin and Jaken were sleeping heavily while Motoko was simply dozing. Ah-Un opened one eye to look at Sesshomaru but when he shook his head, the dragon went back to dozing. When Sesshomaru stood, Motoko looked up at him.
"Are they coming? What do you wish me to do, my lord?" She gathered herself and prepared to stand up.
"Yes, they come. Stay here, I won't be long." Not looking back, he walked away from her and out into the open and just stood there waiting. He looked brilliant in the moonlight and just as cold.
The wolf demons had been running stealthily but stopped when they saw Sesshomaru just standing there, waiting.
"So you knew we were here? No matter, it's good that you came to us; after we take care of you the rest should be no problem." The cocky wolf demon said flexing his arms. "Come on men, let's get this over with."
"Indeed, come." Sesshomaru raised his hand so that his forefinger and middle were visible. He waited until they had surrounded him and was but feet from him when he produced his glowing whip and turning quickly sliced the four into pieces.
Heads, arms and other bits flew about him and blood soaked the ground. Sesshomaru looked about him then noticed that Motoko had moved closer to see the carnage.
"Wolf demons are weak but these were even more inferior. It is demons such as these who hold your clan under siege?"
"I… I don't know what to say Lord Sesshomaru. As I said before we could have fought back but for the dark priests. Their mist makes us weak and powerless. Please, tell me you are still going to help us." Again she bent down and bowed her head. "Please my lord, I know that you are the only one to do so."
Sesshomaru was silent for a while. "I will come. Go rest, we will leave in the morning."
Motoko stood and started to walk away when Sesshomaru again captured her attention. His hand glowed and from his fingertips came a liquid; he spayed the body parts and they dissolved into the earth. Soon there was nothing left but a few dark burns in the grass. No one would be able to tell that bloody bits of demons had been there. Motoko wondered at this as she followed him back to the tree and then she knew as Sesshomaru looked over at the sleeping girl. He hadn't wanted her to see the massacre; he truly cared for the human.
Rin stretched and yawned as she woke up. Jaken was flat on his back snoring while Sesshomaru and Motoko were sitting and watching her.
"Oh, good morning. Have you been waiting on us to wake up? Are you in a hurry to leave my lord?" Rin stood and walked over to them.
"Rin," Sesshomaru greeted her. "We'll leave as soon as you've eaten something. We have a long journey in front of us." He looked over at Jaken still sleeping and stood up.
"Yes, my lord." Rin ran off to the river to wash up as Sesshomaru went to stand beside Jaken. He looked down at the imp whose arms and legs were spread wide with his mouth hanging open. Sesshomaru lifted his foot and kicked. Jaken rolled a few feet before hitting a briar bush.
"Ooo, owww! What is it? What's going on?" Prickly pain was Jaken's wake up call. Standing quickly he pulled briars out of his backside. Finally he looked up at Sesshomaru.
"Oh, good morning Lord Sesshomaru."
"Jaken, if you want to eat, I suggest you do it now, for we will be leaving shortly."
"Yes, of course. I'll do that." Jaken also headed for the river.
Sesshomaru remained standing and looking back towards the mountains.
"Lady Motoko, how many days did it take you to reach this place?"
"I have been traveling for seven days but it should not take as long to get back. I believe it was my wounds that slowed me down."
"Hmm." Was all that he said and he only turned when Rin followed by Jaken came running up to him.
"We're ready whenever you are my lord!" Rin was excited. They had a new companion and were going to help Lord Sesshomaru's clan.
Shortly they were on the move, Rin and Motoko on Ah-Un while Jaken and Sesshomaru walked ahead of them. It was mostly a silent journey except when Rin enticed Jaken to play word games with her. They traveled far that first day only stopping when Rin needed to.
On the second day, Rin decided to get to know Motoko a little better. The female demon proved to be more talkative than Lord Sesshomaru.
"Lady Motoko, what's your home like? How many people live there? Do you like humans?" Rin had turned sideways in the saddle so she could look at Motoko.
"Please forgive her, Lady Motoko." Jaken piped up. "Rin can ask a million questions in one minute."
Lady Motoko smiled softly and both Rin and Jaken gasped; she was even more beautiful when she smiled.
"It's quite alright. I don't mind answering some questions. Let's see, my home? Well before renegade returned, it was quite beautiful. We have lovely, magnificent homes, gardens in bloom and there's a waterfall nearby. Normally there are quite a few of us around, close to two hundred but with the strongest warriors gone to battle we are greatly reduced. Only about fifty of us remain. We should have been able to protect everyone but he took over before we could mount a defense and with the help of those priests, we were quickly overpowered. Even a few of the old men tried to protect us and ended up paying with their lives." Motoko stopped speaking and looked a little depressed.
"I'm sorry Lady Motoko; I didn't mean to make you think sad thoughts." Rin bent her head.
Motoko put a hand on Rin's head and smoothed her hair. "It's alright little one, don't worry." She cleared her throat. "So, your other question was? Oh, do I like humans? I don't know. I've spent my life with only my kind. You are the first human I've ever had any real contact with."
Rin perked up. "Then you're just like Lord Sesshomaru and me. When we met neither of us had spent time with humans or demons and now we're together all the time. I go wherever my lord goes and he protects me. I love being with him, Jaken and Ah-Un." Rin leaned over to pat one of the dragon's heads.
Motoko looked over at Sesshomaru. She was sure he was listening but he showed no sign of it. She was very curious about him because he was so reserved. Her elders held themselves apart and demanded respect but Sesshomaru didn't seem to care one way or the other. He was supremely confident and that made you be even more respectful of him and yet here he was traveling with a human. The girl was quite familiar with him and treated him like an older brother or father and in turn he was deferential to her needs. It would only take a few days to return home; maybe she'd understand more before then.
The days remained beautiful as they walked their way to a battle. By the third day Lady Motoko was basically healed and had begun to walk alongside Ah-Un. Had anyone glimpsed them, they might have thought a husband and wife were out with their daughter.
Soon they were in familiar territory for Motoko, she knew that only one more day would take them into the village but Sesshomaru strayed away from the path. At first she said nothing but since it was growing late she spoke up.
"Lord Sesshomaru, the way to the village is this way." She points to her left but Sesshomaru continues to the right.
Jaken slows down and looks between the two demons. "Umm, my lord, shouldn't we follow Lady Motoko's directions?"
Sesshomaru, Rin and Ah-Un continue on until Sesshomaru glances back over his shoulder.
"It is not yet time to enter the village. We must make another stop first." That said he continued walking.
"Yes, of course. Come my lady. We will enter the village shortly; my lord obviously has great plans." Contented Jaken followed his master.
Motoko didn't know what to think. Sesshomaru surely wasn't afraid of fighting these demons so why wouldn't he go and get it over with and free her kinsmen. She sighed heavily and turned to follow the others. Whatever the cause, she knew she couldn't battle without him so she'd just have to wait and see what was going on.
Normally they would have stopped by now for Rin and Jaken to eat but they kept on moving. Ahead was the north side of the mountains and it was a quiet and peaceful place. Not a soul could be seen or heard then all of a sudden they all stopped.
Jaken was worried that there was trouble. "What is it, my lord? Shall I ready the Staff of Two Heads?"
"Calm yourself Jaken, we have arrived."
"Arrived? Arrived where?"