Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of its characters.
Chapter 3:
Several days later….
Sesshoumaru walked to the corner of a dark street bordering City Park. His silver hair shimmered in the odd mixture of moonlight and flickering streetlight. At Fortune's suggestion he had decided to, at times, drop his illusionary glamour, which hid his uniquely youkai features—facial markings, silver hair, claws—under a more ordinary human-like guise. According to Fortune, they would blend in with the odd looking mix of humans flooding the streets of New Orleans these days. The city seemed to attract a strange crowd, or possibly, upon arriving, something about the feel of the city caused them to lower their inhibitions and express their extreme, bizarre or perverse sides. Not to say that there were not 'normal' looking residents and tourists walking the streets, but the outrageous minority stood out enough for Fortune and Sesshoumaru to pass freely. Thus, his youkai appearance proved acceptable for many of their nightly wanderings.
Sesshoumaru paused, waiting. A few moments passed and Fortune appeared.
"Sesshoumaru, are you ready to hunt?"
"I will accompany you, yes."
"You can't tell me that someone such as yourself does not relish the thrill of the hunt." Fortune smirked as the two strolled into the park. The park was well utilized during the daytime, usually overrun with children and families. But at night, like most isolated areas in a city, it became a bit sinister. A few small groups of people milled about talking, drinking, and relaxing; taking in the unusually temperate spring air. The two continued talking as Sesshoumaru followed Fortune to a more deserted and seedy area of the park.
Fortune paused near a bench where a shabbily dressed man sat, slumped over with an empty bottle, unconscious. He had obviously consumed far too much alcohol and he reeked of it. Fortune sat down beside the man.Sesshoumaru wrinkled his nose a fraction. He was a bit surprised to find that this man smelled worse than the boy from the previous night. He decided to try not to breathe too deeply.
"Have a seat." Fortune patted the bench in a playful way. "Let us enjoy this exceptionally pleasant evening." Fortune watched as his youkai companion gingerly took a seat on the other side of the unconscious man. He had gotten quite used to his companion's stoic nature. Even though he did not appear to possess any capacity for emotion, the youkai was intelligent and had a sarcastic sense of humor that suited Fortune just fine. A sarcastic comment coming from someone with an impassive face could be quite humorous.
"To answer your question, yes, of course, I find some pleasure in hunting prey. However, that was not for which I was primarily trained."
"What exactly were you trained for then?"
"To fight and kill the enemies who seek to threaten my family's lands with whatever weapons happen to be at my disposal."
"Oh, what kinds of weapons?" Fortune thought back to when he'd first seen Sesshoumaru and how he'd used that green whip and his claws to attack the vampires.
"I was first trained in the use of my natural abilities; my claws and my poison attacks."
"Poison attacks, in what form?" Fortune found that he was curious about this ability he had yet to witness.
"Yes, I have a natural immunity to poison, as well as the use of my own poison." Sesshoumaru held up his hand and a green glow slowly formed around it.
"Poison claws... Sesshoumaru, you grow more formidable by the minute." Fortune smirked.
"Indeed," Sesshoumaru did not appear to recognize the jest, "I am glad to have impressed you. But, these abilities are fairly typical of my kind." Sesshoumaru leaned back against the bench, studying the nails on his right hand in an almost feminine way. "Furthermore, I have countless other natural abilities with which I have been trained to fight, as well as weaponry; swords being my personal favorite."
Fortune's attention was beginning to waver. He was getting the distinct feeling that Sesshoumaru could spend all evening describing his battle prowess if he let him. However, an interesting phrase caught his attention. "Did you just say a sword that revives the dead?"
"Yes, the sword is called Tenseiga and was left to me by my father."
Fortune was finally intrigued. "How does it work?"
"As I said, it has the power to revive the dead. I have used it to revive both humans and youkai."
"So, theoretically, you could revive my victims after they are dead." Fortune pondered the implications of this power.
"Theoretically, yes, if I wanted to chase you around the streets of New Orleans each night reviving your victims. However, it is also up to Tenseiga. I have learned over the years that Tenseiga seems to have a mind of its own. But since the sword is not here, this is only speculation."
"Oh and where is the sword now?"
"In Japan. Airplanes are rather strict these days." Sesshoumaru always regretted leaving Tenseiga, and even Tokijin, behind when he traveled. The days of great sword battles were past for the most part, but he still missed having the two resting against his hip. More practically, Sesshoumaru also worried about leaving Tokijin unmonitored for extended periods. Though the powerful sword was sealed, its' evil power always struggled to free itself and yearned for bloodshed. Sesshoumaru hoped that he would not return from his travels one day to find a foolish human thief on a bloodthirsty rampage through the streets of Japan, possessed by the evil sword.
The wind shifted, sending the scent of unwashed human into Sesshoumaru's sensitive nose. "Fortune, the vagrant," Sesshoumaru nodded towards the sleeping human, "his smell is increasing. Let us move on."
"Him, why he's dinner," Fortune grinned, patting the unconscious man on the shoulder in a way that would seem quite friendly if Fortune hadn't just made the previous statement.
"Dinner," Sesshoumaru arched an eyebrow, "there is no challenge for you in this. You might as well be ordering dinner at that awful human restaurant you dragged me to the other night."
"Masperos," Fortune clarified.
"Yes, at any rate, feeding off of this man's blood is about as far from hunting as I can imagine."
Fortune ignored the last statement. "You mean, you didn't enjoy Masperos," Fortune asked, mock hurt in his voice, "some believe it to be the epitome of casual New Orleans dining."
Sesshoumaru thought back to the night before. Fortune insisted that he accompany him to the restaurant. Sesshoumaru had sat across from Fortune, his heavy silver hair trailing down the back of his chair and onto the floor. He had wondered what strange amusement Fortune was deriving from watching him eat dinner. He had flipped his hair over to the side and away from the floor and sighed. Youkai hair was so high maintenance. Fortune had ordered what he had called 'a New Orleans' specialty' which Sesshoumaru had proceeded to pick at like a finicky four-year old. "Is there something wrong with the food," Fortune had asked.
"I do not like rice."
"I thought Japanese were supposed to love rice."
"Yes, humans and even some Youkai consume this nauseating food constantly, but I do not enjoy the taste." Sesshoumaru hesitated, "And it is a bit spicy."
At this, Fortune had chuckled.
Sesshoumaru was jolted back to the present by another sour scented breeze. "Fortune, a vampire stalking its prey must involve more of a challenge than feeding off of a nearly comatose victim."
"Well, they are only humans. It is simple to hunt them. What resistance could they offer me, after all?" Fortune sighed. The worst times were when even taking a victim was unexciting.
"There is still some pleasure in the hunt."
"Is there? How would you describe it, Sesshoumaru?"
Sesshoumaru paused. It had been a long time since he had hunted game in the forests of Japan. The forests had dwindled, and Sesshoumaru had become a city dweller, blending into society and occasionally, even though it was rarely required, he would even consume human food. But never rice, Sesshoumaru reminded himself.
"I haven't hunted in many years. There are less and less forested areas these days. When I hunted, I would seek to catch the desired scent on the wind. As the source of the scent grew closer, it could become quite," Sesshoumaru paused, as though he could not quite find a word to describe this particular feeling, "stimulating." Sesshoumaru wondered why he hadn't engaged in this particular activity in so long in the available areas. He was an inu-youkai, after all. Living like a human could only suppress instinctive urges so long.
Fortune realized that his new companion must have a very sensitive nose. Before he could comment on this, Sesshoumaru continued.
"Which brings me to another point. If you feed off of this human, his unpleasant scent will follow you for the rest of the evening."
Fortune grinned at this statement and stood up. "Then let us leave and find more suitable prey."
The two once again headed off into the darkened streets surrounding the park, crossing over Carrollton and into the eclectic neighborhoods beyond. The man on the bench slumbered on, not realizing that his bathing practices had saved him from certain death. Fortune led them onward down Esplanade, leaving the pleasant houses and gardens behind for somewhat seedier neighborhoods.
"You are always certain to entertain me in the nicest areas of the city, Fortune."
Fortune snorted a half-laugh, not bothering to respond. At Sesshoumaru's prodding, Fortune began describing a vampire's version of stalking prey. "I don't catch a human's scent and follow it, per say. Humans are easy targets. Most are less aware of their surroundings than, say, a beast in the forest. I simply approach a lone human and feed. Not to say I am not discriminating."
Sesshoumaru interrupted his description. "So, your main satisfaction is gained through the act of killing or feeding off of your prey?"
"Quite right." Fortune had begun following a pair of humans he'd spotted earlier. "But as I was saying, I am discriminating, and part of the enjoyment of the act can be choosing a victim, which may involve some stalking." On a whim, Fortune gave up following the pair and walked down a street lined with dilapidated shotgun-style houses. From the end of the street, a young teenage girl came walking towards them. This was not typical for the time of night. The girl's clothes looked grubby, with her hair pulled back in an untidy ponytail. Fortune laughed to himself. He sure knew how to pick them.
Sesshoumaru watched the girl as she shied to the opposite side of the street in order to avoid the two males. There was something familiar tugging at the far corners of his mind. The girl reminded him of someone; her expression seemed so lost and forlorn.
Rin. In some vague way the girl reminded him of Rin.
In one swift movement Fortune had the girl. The vampire crouched down to feed.
Sesshoumaru was beside him instantly "No," Sesshoumaru barked out, yanking Fortune off of the girl. The metallic scent of blood tickled Sesshoumaru's nose and, for a moment, he thought the girl might already be dead. But within seconds, she was on her feet and darting off down the street. She managed to find her voice and let out a high pitched shriek.
Fortune sprang back from Sesshoumaru's grip and hissed. "What the hell do you think you are doing?"
Sesshoumaru turned and began walking casually back down the street as if nothing had occurred. As if he had not just come between the vampire and his prey, again. "She reminded me of someone." Sesshoumaru shrugged indifferently.
"I see." Fortune was angry and was currently examining the benefits of attacking a different sort of prey; a certain silver haired youkai to be exact. I was wondering just how his blood would taste. What better time than the present to find out? Fortune felt no hesitation, only a strange light feeling of elation as he sprang forward. In one swift movement, Fortune was on him, sharp teeth sinking into Sesshoumaru's neck. It was rich, powerful blood, just as Fortune had expected. The blood flowed over his lips and into his mouth where it burned like fire and pounded like electricity through Fortune's veins. Fortune grasped the back of Sesshoumaru's shirt tightly, surprised at the intense heat radiating off the youkai. He could feel Sesshoumaru's heart beating steadily Does this youkai remain calm even in the face of death? Fortune gripped the back of his shirt even tighter as he sought to draw out more of the delicious, intoxicating blood.
Just as suddenly, Fortune was forcefully thrown back, his fall broken by a metal electrical box. Fortune shook his head and picked himself up from the crushed metal and faced Sesshoumaru. Fortune was immediately amused by the sight. Sesshoumaru was standing there, looking just as calm and collected as always, albeit with a quickly healing wound at his throat.
Fortune laughed. Was there nothing that ruffled the emotionless youkai? Well, at least he doesn't appear angry. Fortune's attention was drawn to what he clutched tightly in his hand. Lifting his hand to inspect it, Fortune realized it was hair; silky, beautiful silver hair that had been ripped from Sesshoumaru's head during the scuffle.
"Oh, this is nice." Fortune held the hair up for closer inspection. "Not only do I get your blood, but a bit of your lovely hair as well."
Sesshoumaru's eyes widened at the statement.
Fortune didn't know if he expected Sesshoumaru to find this funny, but what happened next caught him completely off guard.
Sesshoumaru's youki flared and formed a red aura around him, his hair whipping about in the turbulent force of the energy. And his eyes began to glow red with rage.
Fortune could hardly believe his eyes. Sesshoumaru's calm visage had completely disappeared and he was now enraged. Sesshoumaru was finally ruffled, and was all because of his damn hair. Fortune could barely contain his laughter. What a prissy youkai he is.
"You fool," Sesshoumaru growled his voice harsh and menacing. "How dare you."
Fortune disappeared before Sesshoumaru could charge.
After he calmed himself down Sesshoumaru walked alone back to his hotel. The sun was rising as he walked up the steps to the hotel lobby, worrying the pieces of torn hair.