Chapter 25

Seishi sighed as she set the pail from the well down beside it. It was another cold day on the lonely and barren Mt. Borehime. She stood there in silence a moment… then a growl rose in her throat and she kicked the pail, sending it flying into the wall of the sage's temple like house.

This was getting ridiculous… It had been a month since Seishi found the sage she sought, and all Sakaju did was make her do stupid errands or chores around his place. She had gone from seeking helping to being his personal maid. How did she, a noble born demoness of her caliber, sink this low? Now she wasn't dense enough to let pride blind her, but really, was he ever intending to actually help her?

Sighing she moved over to retrieve the pail… she wanted to go home… we Alexander still there waiting? Or had he given up and returned to England… not likely, her brother was as stubborn as she was. Did Rin miss her? She knew Jaken wouldn't… Did Sesshoumaru even care she wasn't there? Or was he glad to be rid of her?

She put the pail back where it belonged and headed inside. She'd ask Sakaju again for his words of wisdom on her situation… if he tried to shrug her off today, she was going to say screw it and go back. She was a patient person, but no one should have to put up with someone like Sakaju this long. He as a perverted drunkard and she was tired of having to hop at his every beck and call.

"Sakaju… It's been a month since I came to you… wont you advise me now?" She knelled down in front of where he sat. Her old clothes had been ragged with travel and time so she now was wearing an kimono Sakaju let her have… why he had women's kimono's she would never know… or want to know… and she found servant labor and long hair didn't mix well, so she had taken to wearing her long wavy hair twisted and pinned up out of the way.

Sakaju looked at Seishi for moment, then took a sip of sake for the jug on his wrist, "Tell me Seishi, what is it you want advice on?"

Seishi frowned, "I don't even know... I just did as Totosai told me."

Sakaju frowned, "How do you expect to learn anything with your heart and mind like that? Even since you came here everything you have done has shown your general disconcern and lack of interest in anything. You came here just because that senile old fool told you to? Must others always do everything for you and give you all the answers? I'll ask you again... Why are you here?"

Seishi dropped her gaze, "I don't know. I guess I was lost and didn't know the direction I should go. I guess I just didn't know what else to do with myself."

Sakaju took another drink of sake, "Do you know why Totasai refused to repair your sword?"

"Because he said it would be to dangerous to return it to me as I am now..." she returned her gaze to the old man.

Sakaju nodded, "Correct, right now lost as you are... If your sword were to be returned to you it would only be a matter of time before you went berserk again. Your guilt and shame are clouding all other things in your mind. Tell me, why is it you felt such guilt and shame over what you have done? Many demons would never think twice about it."

Seishi frowned, "Life if life… be it demon or human… I have seen enough senseless killing in life to know how meaningless it is… With what happened… I became the thing I hated most…"

Sakaju lied down on his side and took another drink, "But they were all revived weren't they? So what turned the once proud Seishi into this whimpering dog with her tail between her legs?"

Seishi blinked, "Revived? What do you mean?"

Sakaju blinked, "Don't tell me he never told you?"

She gave the sage a very confused look, "Tell me what?"

Sakaju sat back up in partial disbelief that she had never been told, "Although I haven't left this mountain in over 300 years, the wind brings the news of the world to my ears. After so long I can read them all like a book. On the same day the winds told me of the rampage of female dog demon I received another piece of news. It told of a white dog demon that wields a sword that never cuts but can restore life to the dead, cut through the aura of death that hung over the village and all the villagers that had been slain miraculously came back to life. I find it hard to believe that so much time has passed and you didn't know."

Seishi stared at Sakaju… the dog demon with the sword to restore life was Sesshoumaru, of course… why hadn't he ever mentioned to her that he had restored the village. She wasn't sure what to think of this… she still was guilty, but if they were restored, then in truth she didn't really kill anyone. All this raced though her head and she found she was starting to get a headache. "He never said anything… and I didn't leave the castle until he made me go to Totosai with him…"

Sakaju shrugged, "I'm even more amazed by the fact that he did it at all. It's a well know fact that the Lord of the Western Lands hates humans. He's done more then enough to prove that much."

Eyes were locked on the floor just in front of the sage; did he do it for her? If he had, why hadn't he told her? If she had known… She even more confused now… She needed to go back… needed to see for herself if it were true…

"I starting to see some conviction in your eyes young lady... have you made your decision?"

Seishi turned her pale blue gaze to the sage, "I am going back. I want to see for myself if what you said is true… then… I don't know… but I need to know for sure…"

Sakaju nodded, "and if you find out it is? Then what will you do?"

"Return to Sesshoumaru's castle, from there I am not sure… I guess depends on how I am welcomed…" again she wondered if her brother waited and if Rin missed her.

Sakaju face then turned a bit grimmer, "About that man… Sesshoumaru... I have one more thing for you to do. I can already feel some of the clouds of guilt lifting from you but some still remains. They only way to be rid of it is through penance. I have already consulted with the powers that be and they agree with me."

Seishi frowned at his words… what would her penance have to do with Sesshoumaru, "Agree on what?"

"We feel that Sesshoumaru is a menace upon the lands. Time and time he has shown himself to be a truly ruthless and callous individual. You punishment is to... kill Sesshoumaru."

Seishi started at the sage… she could have sworn her heart skipped a beat, "You're not serious… There is no way! I refuse!" She jumped to her feet.

Sakaju narrowed his eyes, "If you believed your crimes to be bad, they pale in comparison to what Sesshoumaru has done." Sakaju stood up and walked over to Seishi, "I'll show you Sesshoumaru in his truest form." Sakaju placed his fingertips on Seishi forehead and a flood of images raced into Seishi's mind. She was shown most of Sesshoumaru more heartless acts. The killing of humans for simple crime of being in his way, legions of samurai slaughtered for talking back to him, even his cruel treatment of his half brother InuYasha and the human girl from the future.

Seishi stepped back with a growl. She couldn't deny what she had seen, but she had heard some of what Sesshoumaru had done from InuYasha and Kagome themselves. Still it wasn't a pleasant thing to see… but if she learned anything, it was not to judge one side of a story. She got extra lesson in that when Naraku tired to turn her against Sesshoumaru. She… just couldn't even think about it…

"I still refuse… I know he's not a saint, but you yourself said he saved a whole village of humans. People, even demons, can change. I have seen him with his human pup, as cold as he acts, he is gentle when handling her. He has saved my tail on more the on occupation and… I just won't. I would rather live with my guilt then kill someone for my own sins. If you want him dead, then you kill him yourself, I will not be your tool to do it." She was just pissed by the idea of it.

Sakaju thought for minute, "So you believe that he has changed and is no longer the cruel monster he once was?"

Seishi hesitated, then calmed down some, "Sesshoumaru is hard to read, he hides behind a cold emotionless mask. But I believe he has changed, and a lot of that because of the human girl Rin."

"Hmm well how about we find out..." Sakaju stood up and walked over to a storage chest. He opened the lid and rummaged through it until he found what he was looking for. He then closed the lid and walked back over to Seishi, "Here you are... a present for you."

Seishi hesitated, and then held out her hand for whatever it was he was going to give her, "What is it and what is it for?"

Sakaju placed the item in Seishi hand then withdrew his own hand. In the Seishi's hand was a leather cord with a blue gem that was emitting a soft blue glow attached to it. "That is the Amulet of Insight. When it is near someone with little or no evil in their heart it glows blue. However when it get close to someone who's heart is filled with malice or evil, the jewel turns red and emits a red glow based on just how much evil is present. The brighter it glows the eviler the presence is. Use that to see just what is truly in Sesshoumaru's heart. If it stays blue or even a dull red I will accept what you have said. But if it's bright red then I must insist that you kill him."

Seishi frowned looking at the jewel, then at Sakaju, "I understand…" she closed her hand around the amulet then let it drop to her side.

Sakaju nodded, "I should tell you that the amulet never lies. Nor is it ever mistaken. Anger is not enough to set the amulet off, only malice, intent to do harm, and the like will it respond to. Also it only responds to those with demonic blood. There are some amulets that exist to detect humans, but that one is energized for demons."

Seishi nodded, then sweatdropped, "Um… must I climb back here to return it to you?" really didn't look forward to the climb a second time.

Sakaju shook his head, "I have no attachment to that old rock. I never really need it in the first place. I held onto it because some crazy fellow was so desperate to have it..."

Seishi sweatdropped again... so this was the thing that guy asked her to keep an eye out for... "Young guy? Silverish hair? Hanyou?"

Sakaju blinked and thought for minute, "was he young... I thought he was an older fellow..."

Seishi shrugged, "There was a young hanyou I met on your mountain. He said you had something he wanted and asked me to keep an eye out for it, and not to mention it to you."

Sakaju blinked again, "Young guy eh... I don't see many boys up around here. I prefer girls. But it's strange he knew I had it... I got that about 400 years ago and never told anyone of it..."

Seishi frowned, "I see... well then... I suppose if I am going home, I best start. It's a long walk..."

Sakaju nodded, "Of course, it was nice having you here. Guess it means the chores are not gonna get done again..."

Seishi gave the old man a look, "Ever think of doing them yourself?"

Sakaju sweatdropped and suddenly fell to the ground cradling his back, "Oh! There goes that crick in my back again. It's not easy being old..."

Seishi's expression was easy to read: 'idiot faker'... "Well you could give up being a lecher and take a mate to do your cleaning."

Sakaju looked up at Seishi and cupped his hand by his ear, "what was that lassie I could quite hear you?"

Seishi rolled her eyes and turned, "well then... I will be on my way...Take care of yourself old man." Headed toward his door. She didn't have much but what she had on, but that was how she arrived after all.

Seishi panted some as she slowed in her run… she was now in the Western Lands of Sesshoumaru. Though the trip home took less time then her search for Mt. Borehime, it seemed forever before she walked the familiar forest. Now that she was nearing her destination, she felt unsure… She didn't know what kind of welcome she'd get… and she was weary of the amulet she carried… If it came down to it, could she fight Sesshoumaru seriously? Try and kill him?

She passed on a familiar slope, startled; she looked down at a village that was rebuilt and busy with every day activities. "So he did save them…" Seishi felt a slight burn in her eyes, before she turned and moved back into the trees… she didn't want to be spotted and scare the villagers…

She would need to thank him… even if he decided he no longer wanted her here; she owed him for so much… And she was sure the amulet would not show bright red… it just… couldn't…

Seishi paused as she came upon the castle… she wouldn't have seen it if she hadn't known it was there. A protective spell to keep unwanted visitors from finding the Western Lord's home… She closed her eyes a moment… Alex was here… but she didn't sense Sesshoumaru inside… maybe that was for the best… give her a chance to get a bath and a change of clothes before having to face him. She moved forward, toward the front gate.

Rin was in the courtyard running circles around a exhausted looking Alexander Ironfang. "Again, again, again! Please Alex-sama?" She pleaded at his using the cutest begging face she could conjure up.

Alexander sighed, "But we've done it five times already today... I need to take a rest first young one..."

Rin pouted and was about to start begging again when she noticed a butterfly flutter by. She giggled with delight and broke away from Alex chasing the seemingly uncatchable insect. The butterfly fluttered closer and closer to the entrance and Rin made a big lunge at it, but misjudged the distance and fell flat on her stomach. She picked her face up off the ground blushing at botching her butterfly hunt so badly but then she noticed a familiar figure at the entrance and he eyes went wide, "S... Seishi-sama..."

Seishi's blue gaze moved to the little girl laying on the ground, she couldn't help the warm smile that reached her lips, "Rin-chan… you're getting your kimono all dirty…"

Rin was on her feet in an instant and ran towards Seishi squealing, "Seishi-sama! Seishi-sama!"

Seishi went down on her knee; arms open to welcome her. She scooped Rin up as the little girl flung herself at her. Giving Rin a tight, but gentle hug, she then pushed the girl away enough to look at her, "I think you might have grown some since I saw you last…"

Rin returned Seishi's hug with equal vigor then when Seishi pulled away the questions came out. "Seishi where did you go? You never been away for that long before? Sesshoumaru-sama and Alex-sama told me not to worry but I couldn't help it. I missed you!"

"Shh-shh… it's ok I'm back now… I had some things to take care of… but they are done," Seishi drew her into another hug, and then stood up, picking Rin up and propping her on her hip. "I hope things have been going well? Anything exciting happen while I was away?"

Rin shook her head, "No it's been very quiet her without you Seishi-sama. Sesshoumaru-sama was always leaving on these long patrols so he was rarely here to keep me company. But it's ok, Alex-sama is so much fun to play with. He knows all the games you taught me and even a few more."

Seishi chuckled, "You haven't been running my poor brother ragged have you?" carried Rin inside… she wanted to get a bath and change of clothes, then a decent meal would be nice, and Rin would probably want to join her in both her bath and meal.

Alexander called out as Seishi walked past, "Well you seem more like your old self. You never did say hi when you come home when we were younger."

Seishi glanced over at her brother, "You'll get your hi and hug AFTER I've had a bath and a decent meal." Stuck her tongue out at Alexander and carried Rin inside.

To Be Continued…