Chapter 10: The Demon Clan Of The North

"Lord Sesshomaru, are we there yet?" Rin asked impatiently.

There was no response.

"Hush Rin," Hanako commanded her.

"But I'm really hungry…" Rin complained, "Lord Sesshomaru, can't we just stop now?"

"Rin…" Hanako warned.

"WOULD YOU STOP COMPLAINING?" Jaken shouted at her.

Rin whimpered slightly and then was silent. Bo held in bursts of laughter. Hanako rolled her eyes. That was exactly why she had been trying to quiet her. Sesshomaru let out a deep sigh. "Fine. Go."

"But Lord Sesshomaru! If we keep stopping Naraku will get away from us!" Jaken yelled. Jaken looked over at Hanako with thankful round eyes. "Why can't that brat Rin be like you Hanako? You are so silent and never complain."

Hanako gave an innocent smile. "Actually… um… I'm kind of hungry too… Can I go with her please, Lord Sesshomaru?"

Jaken mumbled under his breath. Sesshomaru nodded.

"I would like to go with Hanako," Bo said. Sesshomaru gave no response. Bo took that as a 'yes' and followed. Soon all three of tem had wandered into woods together in search of food. Jaken slapped his head. "It figures…" he said annoyed, "Where ever Hanako is, Bo is sure to be, and where ever Bo is, Hanako is sure to be. Those two are inseparable…"

That fact had only continued to anger Sesshomaru. Hanako was always hanging all over Bo, and paying attention to him, and embracing him, and talking to him. Sesshomaru had all of a sudden become negligible. Bo and him weren't even able to compared: Sesshomaru, the all great and powerful lord of the Western Lands, and Bo, the middle class semi-powerful quirky demon from a clan in the North. Sesshomaru knew he was better, and yet felt so small. He would never admit to himself, but he was jealous of Bo, and couldn't stand that he had all of a sudden become the center of Hanako's affections. It ate away at the back of his mind, and he could never stop it, for he was not the type to just go up to a girl and say 'Hey I liked it when you used to hug me when I came home,' or 'I'm fun to talk to. Why don't you talk to me instead of him?'

Sesshomaru's thoughts were interrupted by a high-pitched unearthly scream. It was Hanako.

He went running into the forest. He came to a field where there were mushrooms that were good for eating. But also there stood a large demon, which was squeezing Hanako in its overly large hand. She looked as if she were suffocating. He drew his sword and with ease, sliced off the demon's arm, and then struck the demon through its heart. Hanako was in the air, and soon began to fall. Sesshomaru reached out his one arm to catch her. All of a sudden, as if out of nowhere, Bo flew in and grabbed her out of the air, landing perfectly on the ground. He held her close to him, and sat her up. Her eyes fluttered open. Her hand went around her throat. She looked up at him and smiled.

"Thank you," she said, "You saved me, Bo-chan!"

Bo smiled back at her and set her down. She got up off of him, but fell down, holding her chest in pain.

Sesshomaru watched in disgust. Basterd… he took the credit for something I did…

Bo helped her sit up. "The demon must've hurt your chest when it was squeezing you…" he said sorrowfully, "You cannot walk?" She shook her head. He smiled at her, scooping her back up into his arms. "Then I will be more than happy to carry you, Hanako-chan."

Sesshomaru glared at them. Hanako did not need to be carried. She could just walk it off, or sit on Aun and he would have Rin walk instead. Bo just wanted to touch her. He gritted his teeth.

Rin clapped for Bo. "Yay, Bo-chan! You are Rin's hero!" she yelled. Bo laughed at being called a hero. "I'm no hero, Rin," he said, "I'm just helping out this damsel in distress!"

Sesshomaru turned and walked away from them in complete disgust. Rin, Hanako, and Bo watched.

"What is wrong with Lord Sesshomaru?" Hanako asked Rin.

Rin looked at watched after him with knowing eyes. She knew why he had been angry. Bo shrugged. "I don't know. Isn't he always angry?"

"No," Hanako said, "Not up till just recently…"

Rin looked at Hanako. Should she tell her? She was already amazed how dense she was acting. She hadn't even noticed how envious he was. She decided against it. She knew Sesshomaru well enough that he would not want anyone knowing about his feelings. He always tried so hard to hide them, and most of the time was pretty damn good at it, but this time his expressions showed all over his face. He must really like you Hanako… Rin thought.

Bo carried Hanako back to where they had left their things, with Rin following at his side. Bo was delighted to be able to hold Hanako, his believed to be future wife, in this way, his hands all over her light and fragile body. They came back to Aun, and Rin climbed up on him. Jaken pulled on Aun, and once again they were off.

Bo could hardly wait to find his clan. The sooner he found them, the sooner he would take Hanako as his wife. All clan members had to get approval from the clan leader on who they would mate with. And since the clan leader was his elder brother whom he was very close with, Hanako would automatically be approved. He figured she would have been approved anyway because she was a very fine young woman, but that was just a plus for him. He had not yet mentioned to Hanako that he planned on marrying her, or Sesshomaru who he also needed approval from since she was his property, but he was confident that all would go according to plan.

Hanako lay in Bo's arms. She was a little uncomfortable with it, but showed no signs. She remembered being in Sesshomaru's arms, or more like on his back, all the warmth and comfort she had felt, the way her body had fit perfectly into his. She felt none of that now, in Bo's arms. She only felt like she was being carried by strong hands, and nothing more. No sense of security or love. She let herself lightly dangle from his arms, not bothering to hold him back. I wish I could be with him instead… she thought.

Sesshomaru could not handle knowing Bo was touching her anymore. He was about to break out of his emotionless shell and order his to put her down on Aun, but stopped himself.

He remembered what she was. A thing. Perhaps even a human though he highly doubted it. His property. A slave. His own merchandise, not worth any more or less than his own shirt on his back. Then why did he not think of her that way? Something had always stopped him from treating her as what she was. He had always treated her as an equal, having conversation, letting her rest and play and eat normally. He even helped her when she was in trouble. He could replace her whenever he wanted to. What was it that was causing him to have such mercy? And what were his feelings toward her? Definitely not those that are appropriate for a lord to feel toward his slave. They were much too great and strong, but he was not able to identify them. He dismissed them constantly from his mind, fearing what they may lead him to do.

He dropped the entire subject from his thoughts. He should not even have to care what happens to Hanako, his stupid little slave girl whose existence might as well not exist because she would never become anything special because she was enslaved, even though her aura was rather peculiar and powerful. But none of it concerned him, he finally concluded. He started to ponder about his money situation with the war. Where would he get the money?

Rin looked at Hanako and then to Sesshomaru. Poor Lord Sesshomaru. I wonder if he even knows how sad he looks right now? It wasn't so much his facial expression, but his eyes that looked so depressed. His once fiery amber eyes that burned all that they touched upon now appeared faded. The fire they once possessed had gone out. If only Hanako knew what she was doing to him…

Look how blue the sky is today… Jaken thought.

All of them were interrupted from their deep thinking by sudden movement up ahead.

Many demons were moving about ahead of them, all of them wearing similar kimonos to Bo's. Bo looked at the demons, his entire face lighting up when he saw them, "My clan!" he shouted. He ran to them as fast as he could, still carrying the startled Hanako with him. "Bo-chan…where are you taking me…?" she asked.

He shouted to them, taking one hand away from Hanako so he could wave. "Hey… HEY!"

One of them turned around. It was a demon who looked similar to Bo, but with longer hair and it was in a braid instead of a ponytail. The demon's eyes widened, as if surprised. "Stop!" it shouted. All of the demons stopped running and turned around. The demon approached Bo who was still holding Hanako, who was desperately trying to get her own hair out of her face that had been blown around when he had been running. "Bo!" the demon said, "Where the hell have you been?" he looked down at Hanako. "And who is the doll-faced girl you have?" Hanako looked back at him. "I am doll-faced?" she asked.

Bo looked down to Hanako. "This is Awane, my elder brother, and leader of the clan of the North."

Hanako stared deeper into Awane's eyes. "This is… you clan?" she said to Bo, "You found them?" Bo nodded.

"Awane, this is Hanako, a friend of mine."

"A pleasure to meet you Hanako."

"…Thank you…"

Awane patted Bo on the back. "I got to hand it to you kiddo, she's a pretty one. Where'd you get her? I want one just like her."

Hanako blinked a few times. Bo turned scarlet red.

Sesshomaru appeared behind Bo and Hanako. He silently observed the scene before him, the filthy middle class demons from the north. Wearing their dark blue kimonos and their improper language. He looked at Bo, and then to the rest of them. He fit right in.

"I see this is your clan," he said, eyeing all of them. Awane raised and eyebrow. "And you are?" Sesshomaru said nothing to introduce himself, so Bo answered for him. "This is Sesshomaru, the lord of the Western Lands, and owner of Hanako. I have traveled with them for a few days now."

Awane nodded. "We thank you for caring for my brother."

Another female demon with fiery hair came up behind Awane, "Owner? Is that girl a slave?" she asked, pointing to Hanako.

Hanako nodded. "Yes I am."

Awane shook his head. He took Hanako's hand and brought it to hid mouth, kissing it teasingly. "What a shame, that such a lovely lady had to be enslaved. But no bother." Bo took Hanako's hand away from him, and set it down back on Hanako's lap. He set her down. Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow. And I thought Bo was a terrible flirt. His brother is even worse… he thought. "Do you think you can walk?" Bo asked. She took a few steps back to Sesshomaru, returning one more to his side. She nodded to him.

Bo became increasingly nervous. This was the time. His life would soon change forever. His heart was bursting from his chest.

Sesshomaru lightly tapped Hanako's shoulder. "We are leaving now Hanako. Say goodbye to your friend and we will go. And hurry."

Hanako went over to him. She gave him one last embrace. The rest of the members of the clan watched, sensing that something was about to happen. She bowed to him. "I am very sad that you are leaving me, and I am not good at goodbyes," she began, "But this is your home, eh?" she managed a weak smile, even though she again wondered what she would do when she was alone again, and who she would talk to by day and night. "It has been very nice meeting you, Bo-chan. I will never forget you. Will you forget me?" she asked innocently. Bo's heart almost broke at hearing her words. "Never." He stated. "I will never forget you Hanako-chan." His voice was quivering slightly. He couldn't do it. He couldn't find the courage to ask her what he had always wanted to ask her. There were "aws" coming from around the clan. Sesshomaru just rolled his eyes. How pathetic… he thought.

"Goodbye. Maybe I will see you again?" she said quietly, daintily waving to him, backing up to Sesshomaru's side again. "…Yeah…" Bo said. He couldn't handle it. He never wanted to say goodbye. Never…

He shook away all of his fears and doubts. Hanako and Sesshomaru began to walk away. He ran after them, catching up quickly. He pulled her arm until she was facing him. He stared down into her large golden eyes that were like the sun, her eyes that he loved so much.

He planted a passionate kiss onto her lips. He never let her go, not once. He pulled his head away. She stared up at him, completely in awe. She lightly touched her mouth.

Seeing Hanako being kissed was like being stabbed a million times in the chest for Sesshomaru… His eyes quivered at the sight. That horrible sight. He felt a large weight heave itself on top of him. Why?

He brought his hand to her cheek. He smiled, a loving heartwarming smile. "I have wanted to do that… ever since I first laid eyes on you, Hanako."

Hanako was breathless.

Both of his hands were on her face now, Gently stroking it. He tucked her soft white hair behind her ears, revealing her pale glistening face in all of its beauty.

"I am so in love with you." He said, his voice shaking even more.

Sesshomaru almost died.

Bo reached into his pocket and pulled out a bracelet, made of a golden stone with smaller purple ones that was on a beautiful silver chain. Hanako gasped at the sight of the beautiful bracelet. "Wh-what?" was all she could say.

"I will never forget you, and you will never forget me," he said, wrapping the bracelet around her wrist. "Because I am to be with you for the rest of my life."

Sesshomaru's heart stopped.

Bo took her hands close to his heart. "Hanako," he whispered, "the most amazing being I have ever met," he began,

"Will you marry me?"