Disclaimer: I'm not Rumiko Takahashi.
It was sun set when I came home. I went in, grabbed Jaken and left with out saying a word. I had no time to talk. I needed to court Sango and fast, before I loose control. We traveled for some time and stopped in a small sand pit when it was completely dark.
"My lord, what are we doing here?", Jaken asked.
I turned to him with my usual emotionless mask.
"You dare question your master, Jaken?", I narrowed my eyes, expecting an answer from the toad.
"Wah! My lord, please don't take it that way! I was merely wondering what you needed me for!", he responded in his normal, annoying tone.
I averted my eyes from the helpless imp and looked up at the stars.
"Well, since you asked, we're here to make glass.", I told him.
"Glass! For what my lord!"
"We're making a gift for Sango. And if you don't help me, I'll kill you.", I threatened simply, as if it were a mere greeting to someone who didn't matter.
I heard Jaken shudder and choke, as if the threat were new to him. When he finally composed himself he asked,
"How are we going to make glass, my lord?"
"Simple. I will make a whirl wind of sand and all you have to do is shoot fire at it from the staff-of-two-heads. I will do the rest by forming the glass. Just do as I say so and it will be successful."
I heard Jaken gulp. He was probably thinking it wasn't possible, but I didn't care. I took a step or so more then jumped into the air. I swirled a few times, creating a light wind before landing again. I jumped, leaped and ran in circles, creating more wind and a massive whirl of sand. I waited and finally, Jaken shot fire at the whirl wind. I jumped towards the fire and fused the sand and fire together, watching as it formed glass. I shaped the glass in the form of a swan and stopped the whirl wind. I caught the glass figurine and looked at it with pride and joy.
I landed back on the ground and marveled my work. A small figurine it was; it fit perfectly in my hand. Its neck was bent over, as if it was examining something underneath it. A small hole was in its little beak; it was small enough to maybe stick the stem of a small flower inside it.
"It's wonderful Sesshoumaru-sama! I think she'll love it!", he told me that with a slightly nervous tone in his voice.
I chuckled and started to walk away. Jaken followed after me. We reached a small meadow that was quite a site. Many flowers of different colors, shapes, sizes and scents swayed in the light breeze as fire flies danced together in the wind. I knelt down before one of the smallest yellow flowers I've ever seen. I plucked it and slipped it through the hole in the swan's beak.
'I can only hope she will accept it...', I thought and turned, walking back to my father's castle.
OOO
My eyes snapped open from the nightmare I was having. I sat up in my sheets and heaved a sigh of relief. It was only a dream. In my hand, I clutched Kohaku's shard, as if it were for my life.
'Kohaku... Why?', I thought and got out of bed.
I pulled out the medicine box and placed the shard inside. Sighing, I stood and changed into my yukata. I silently walked through the castle and then outside. The snow was rapidly melting, only to be cleared for the new comming snow. I walked across the abandoned court yards and outside the gates, walking up a nearby hill. I sat down, only to jump again in surprise when I felt the grass was wet from the snow.
I patted my bottom slightly then settled back down, trying to ignore to wetness. I looked up at the stars and sighed. Where was Sesshoumaru? I sure hoped he was alright. My state of content was interrupted when I heard a rustling sound from behind me. I turned, startled, and was relieved to find Sesshoumaru standing behind me.
He was alone. There was no Jaken. Perhaps he sent Jaken away? Or maybe he killed him? I could only hope. I looked up at Sesshoumaru. He looked slightly nervous, yet content, calm. His eyes were filled with emotion, from what I could see. He walked up to me and sat down beside me.
It was silent between us for a long moment. Someone needed to break the ice. I scratched the back of my neck as I thought of what to say. I then smiled to myself when I remembered Rin.
"I taught Rin how to ride Kirara today...", I told him quietly, hoping this would start a conversation between the youkai lord and me.
He was silent, as if thinking of a response. I looked at him then looked away, blushing. I haven't realized until now how handsome Sesshoumaru was. Wah! What am I thinking! He hates humans such as me and I'm supposed to hate demons! So why am I think-
"This is for you. I made it myself."
I paused and looked down at my lap. There, sitting with its marveled beauty, was a small glass swan. In its beak, it held a beautiful yellow flower of the smallest size. I gasped and picked the swan up, looking at its wonderfully shaped form.
"Oh, Sesshoumaru... It's beautiful!", I exclaimed and looked up at him.
He was still sitting next to me, but he was looking away. He didn't say anything or even respond. I went from looking at his long, silver hair down to his left arm...or what was left of it anyway. I decided to take this chance. Petting and examining the glass swan, I told him about the imp who could regenerate body parts.
"Is this really possible?", he asked.
"Oh, yes. I've watched it myself when she regenerated my father's foot. She does an excellent job..."
I looked into Sesshoumaru's golden eyes. He had a look of need in his eyes. I smirked.
"We should go there. I'm sure she'd be more than happy to help you..."
Sesshoumaru smiled at me and I smiled back. We both stood. I held the swan in one hand and patted my bottom again and before I knew it, I was in a warm embrace. I blushed slightly when I realized that Sesshoumaru was hugging me. Has he really lost his mind? I felt my heart pound and my stomach flutter. What was he doing?
I looked up at him in question and he looked down at me with a calm half-smile. I blushed even more and watched as he lowered his face closer to mine. Before I knew it, our lips had collided in my first kiss.
OOO
I watched as Sango slept soundly in her bed. I sat against the wall of Sango's room and watched in silence. We kissed. I can't believe that I actually kissed a human...the woman that I felt was the one. I looked down at my lap and not only felt my erection, but witnessed it. Growling lowly, I tried getting some sleep, but it didn't succeed. My heat was getting worse by the hour and I needed relief, but I also didn't want to rush Sango. Humans are too fragile for that.
Glancing at the window, I took note that it was finally dawn. Sighing with relief, I stood and got ready for the trip to the mountains near Sango's home village. The anticipation inside me was growing. I was eager to get my left arm back.
'Then it would be easier and much more enjoyable to fuck the human, now wouldn't it?', a voice inside me sneered.
I hated that voice, my inner youkai. I growled slightly as I finished getting ready. I walked back into Sango's room and observed as she slowly woke up. She smiled and sat up, stretching and yawning as she did so. I walked over to her and helped her up on her feet. She blushed and I grinned. I wrapped my arm around her and held her.
"Sesshoumaru...", she whispered, barely audible.
"Yes?", I asked, gripping her waist tighter.
"We should get going if we want to get there before sun down."
I chuckled and let go of her, walking towards her bedroom door.
"Come out when you're ready to leave."
OOO
I watched him leave the room. He was awfully lovey-dovey...nothing like the inu-youkai-sama Inu-yasha had always described. Quickly, I dressed into my taiji-ya uniform and grabbed Hiraikotsu. I grabbed some other necessary things and walked out of my room. Sesshoumaru was talking with Jaken and Rin, telling them that they couldn't come along this time.
I walked up to him. He nodded at me and I nodded back. I gave Rin a small hug before leaving with Sesshoumaru. In the court yard, Sesshoumaru stopped and looked at me.
"It'll be a whole lot faster if you ride on my back...", he told me.
I looked at him through suspicious eyes. He took my first kiss last night, could he possibly be hiding something behind that mask of his? I looked into his eyes and found nothing but cold emotion. I nodded and watched him kneel. Placing my hands on his shoulders, Sesshoumaru stood up and grabbed my right leg. My left leg clamped tightly onto his waist. In one fluid motion, Sesshoumaru leaped into the air and soared towards the eastern mountains, where Kusadai-sama waited.
I was surprised to see the mountains in about an hour. That was fast. Sesshoumaru landed on the ground in the middle of a very large garden filled with many herbs and spices. Sesshoumaru sneezed as I reluctantly got off of his back.
"Bless you.", I said in response to his sneeze.
He thanked me as we walked closer to the cave. Out of nowhere, a pot of freshly picked herbs was tossed in front of us and broke. We both looked to our left, the direction from which the pot came. There, with a terrified expression on her face, was Kusadai-sama, the regenerating imp. She was old and her wrinkles proved it. Her skin was a dark brown and her hair a light brown. She wore a light pink and yellow yukata, which didn't quite match her, but who the hell cared?
"W-Who are you people? What do you want?", she hissed, staggering to get on her feet.
"Kusadai-baasan! You may not remember me, but I'm taiji-ya Sango. You regenerated my father's foot years ago..."
Kusadai immediately stood and ran at our feet. She took my hand in hers and smiled widely.
"Yes... Sango! I do remember you so well. What can I do for you today?", she asked.
"I need a new arm. Sango told me you were the one who could do that.", Sesshoumaru stepped forward and explained, staring coldly at Kusadai.
"Ah. Please, come in, come in. We must hurry if you want your arm back. Regeneration isn't a fast process you know..."
We were led into a large but nicely decorated cave. Kusadai led us up to a bed that was made up of white sheets and many colored flowers.
"Alright, young man, strip yourself bare from waist up.", she simply commanded.
Sesshoumaru looked over at me with a raised brow. I nodded towards him and he did as he was told, folding his clothes as best he could and set them on the ground next to the bed.
"Lay down on the bed. I need to examine your arm...or what's left of it."
Sesshoumaru did as he was told. Kusadai sat down and examined his left bicep. I peered over her shoulder.
"Well... Can you do it?", I asked.
"Of course. It'll be easy, Sango."
I smiled and watched as Kusadai walked around and found different herbs. She put the herbs in a cup of hot tea and gave it to Sesshoumaru.
"Drink this. It'll make you fall asleep. I will also need a strand of your hair.", with that, Kusadai plucked a single silvery strand of Sesshoumaru's hair.
Sesshoumaru quickly drank the hot liquid and soon fell into a deep sleep. Kusadai poured many herbs into a large pot of a bubbly liquid. I watched curiously as she wrapped Sesshoumaru's hair around a few wooden sticks.
"What are the sticks for?", I asked.
"They will act as his bones while the arm regenerates. When it's done, the sticks will turn to real bones because of the hair strand."
I smiled slightly and looked back over to Sesshoumaru. He looked so innocent when sleeping. I sat by his side and stared, not taking my curious eyes off of him. I blushed when I saw how muscular he was. He wasn't super buff and yet, he wasn't really scrawny either. I sighed and looked over at Kusadai.
"How much longer?", I asked.
"Hah! It is done!"
"Already? That was quick..."
"It was only three hours, dear..."
I nearly chocked. I was staring at Sesshoumaru for nearly three hours? I really let myself get carried away! I watched in awe as Kusadai pulled Sesshoumaru's new arm out of the pot, the strand of hair still wrapped around it. Quickly, the old imp scampered over to Sesshoumaru's side, facing me, as she took out a needle and used the hair strand as thread. Slowly and very carefully, she sewed Sesshoumaru's new arm to the rest of his body.
I watched with astonishment when his bicep and arm blended together and became one limb. I gaped, absolutely amazed. With great talent, Kusadai yanked the hair from the skin, having it still attached to the needle she was using.
"There we go. Good as new.", she told, walking over to her collection of pots and placing the hair strand into an empty one.
She labeled the pot then put it back on the shelf.
"Let him rest now. It'll be a few hours at least before he wakes. The herbs are very strong.", she looked at me and smiled. "I'm going to continue working in my gardens. You are welcome to make yourself at home."
And I did just that. I curled up in a ball on the cave floor next to Sesshoumaru's bed and fell asleep.
OOO
Silently, I got off my horse and patted its neck. I walked forward and stared at the soil in front of us.
"My lord... Is something wrong?", one of my soldiers asked.
"Nothing at all my good man. Get back on your horse. We're not done searching."
Naraku-sama sent me on a mission. He told me to search for the resting place of an enemy of his to look for their Shikon jewel shards. I've been looking for days and still no shards. The search was getting more and more difficult. Come to think of it, I still haven't found the resting place yet. I looked up at the sky and took note it was nearly sun set. I turned to my men with a smirk.
"We make camp here!", I announced and then bathed in their cheers.
I smirked then suddenly felt an urge. I walked into the nearby forest when nobody was paying attention and disappeared into it. I found myself in a very large clearing, close to a big willow tree. I studied the tree then walked on, suddenly comming upon a dreadful scene. Human and demon corpses, gathered in one place, rotting away. I plugged my nose and looked around. This must be the resting place. I searched through the corpses for an hour or so then came to the conclusion that the shards were not here...
OOO
To be continued...
