Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or any of its characters.
The next evening…
Sesshoumaru felt the dark presence of the vampire suddenly behind them. With a display of lightning quick reflexes, he sprang back and struck with his claws. He felt an impact, and his claws were slicing through skin and bone, and then, nothing. Sesshoumaru was left swiping at air. Fortune was gone just as suddenly as he had appeared.
And, another evening after that….
Sesshoumaru made his way towards the meeting place near the park. When he arrived, Fortune was not waiting for him. Sesshoumaru snorted. First the vampire fled and now he is apparently too cowardly to show his face. How disappointing, he thought. Sesshoumaru guessed that Fortune obviously recognized and feared his superior strength and skill—he was a taiyoukai after all. However, he was not without mercy. He would not kill the vampire. His hair would grow back soon.
Sesshoumaru continued alone. He decided to focus on the appealing mixture of sights and smells which the city provided in abundance. He walked. He watched. He sniffed. He even walked briefly into a crowded club—but, after his senses were assaulted by the overpowering smell of human sweat and arousal, he made a hasty departure. After a few hours on his own he was quite bored and toyed with the idea of heading back to the hotel. Not that he needed much rest or sleep—in fact, Sesshoumaru had rarely returned to his hotel in the evenings or daytime hours. Mainly, hotels served as a secure resting place for his sparse luggage.
Unexpectedly, he felt a tickle of power at the edge of his consciousness, as if someone, or something, quite powerful were lurking just far enough away to avoid detection. He was being watched How did he not notice before, Sesshoumaru wondered. And, he had a good idea who the 'someone' was—Fortune. Sesshoumaru realized that he had missed his new friend's presence—just a little, he thought, toying with his torn lock of hair.
If Fortune was determined to stalk him without revealing himself, then perhaps, Sesshoumaru decided, he could demonstrate a few skills of his own. Two could play at this little game. Sesshoumaru leapt skyward and began to fly over the city, obscured by the low hanging cloud cover. After a few miles, he landed, walked for a time searching for any trace of Fortune's presence and finding none, and then taking off again. Sesshoumaru repeated these steps several times, before he recognized, by the scent of fresher air and the wet, woodsy smell, that he was nearing the edge of the city. He landed and felt pleased that Fortune was somewhere, miles away, wondering what the hell had happened.
But, then it happened again. Sesshoumaru felt the tickle of Fortune's presence somewhere out there, in the darkness. Their little game was turning into a battle. Frustrated, Sesshoumaru jumped on top of a near by building, and from there onto the sturdy tree branch. He looked carefully and sniffed, trying to discern just were Fortune was hiding—he was determined not to let Fortune to get the best of him. When he could not detect anything, Sesshoumaru dropped to the ground and began swiftly moving through the trees and into the wooded area.
Sesshoumaru began leaping gracefully from tree to tree deeper into what seemed to be a nature preserve. Several times, Sesshoumaru encountered a flurry of feathers or the screech of some animal startled by his sudden proximity. Otherwise, he moved noiselessly and found that traveling amidst the trees was quite pleasant—the movement making its own breeze, a welcome respite from the still, humid air typical to this sub-tropical climate. The forest about him began to change from mixed hardwood and pine to gnarled cypress and long expanses of waterlogged grasses. Crickets and Frogs sang their nightly song, undeterred by his presence. Sesshoumaru balanced on a cypress knee jutting out of the swamp and paused. Mentally, he reached out into the dark swamp around him and felt…absolutely nothing. Around him, only a few pairs of reptilian eyes stared back at the youkai. "Humph," Sesshoumaru allowed himself a snort of derision at Fortune, and silently applauded his own skill. Apparently, Fortune was not adept at maneuvering trees and forest, perhaps becoming disoriented at the unfamiliar sights and sounds of the forest and swamp. Sesshoumaru had to remember to tease Fortune about being so helplessly urban, that is, if he ever decided to speak to him again.
As he stood quietly balanced on the cypress, the crickets and frogs began to step up the volume of their chorus to 'defeaning roar'. Sesshoumaru decided to celebrate Fortune's defeat with a few victory leaps across the swamp's cypress knees. Leap, land, crouch, leap, land, crouch, leap, land, "SPLASH".
Bakeru! Sesshoumaru cursed as he felt his feet sink into the water of the swamp, and twisted his body hastily to right himself. Unbelievably, he felt himself slip ungracefully back into the thick mud of the swamp with a "squish" sound. "Bakeru!" Sesshoumaru cursed again out loud as the watery mud sucked at his feet and splattered on his pants. Where the hell had that cypress knee gone? It was there when he landed! Sesshoumaru suppressed the urge to throw a violent little tantrum and shred a nearby tree to ribbons with his claws. Acting on such undignified impulses had already caused him enough grief for one evening.
The swamp was now quiet except for several choice, angry curses muttered in Japanese. Sesshoumaru leapt through the trees towards the city, feeling relieved that, at least, Fortune had not been there to witness his slip. Additionally, Sesshoumaru contemplated spitefully, he had the satisfaction of knowing that that the vampire appeared to fear him enough to avoid him for the time being. Quite wise on his part as well, Sesshoumaru added. This line of reasoning was helping to bolster his bruised ego a fraction. And, as Sesshoumaru entered the city, he was feeling better about the whole thing. He decided to file the incident under, 'things that never actually happened, and are best forgotten, quickly'. Sesshoumaru flew towards the center of the city, eager to get rid of the evidence, his wet, muddy clothes, and forget the incident entirely.
Did I mention that Fortune is pronounced "for-tu-nay"? Thanks for the name, Uncle Fortune!
AN:I realize I am updatingquite quickly, but this has been posted on AFF for awhile so I figured I'd better hurry and get up to speed. I'd better see some action, review-wise, or I'll assume that no one is reading this story! Whaaa!(well, except for your, my dearStarry eyes!) Review if you want another quick update.