Author's Note: Thank you so much for reading, enjoy this chapter. Just a note: All chapters following this will be within the same length.
Chapter Two
"Sesshomaru" she sobbed, collapsing to the ground as her small hands fisted into the plowed terrain. But, her sobs fell on deaf ears...Freezing she only trembled, tears stirring slightly at the retreat of his heavy tread...
Years Later
Soft chirps echoed through the evening air as the last rays of the day warmed the Earth. Melodies began to rise from the environment; songs of night, the violins of the crickets and the flutter of nesting birds answered the soft whistling of the breeze. However, a sudden shift in the air caused the tender flutter of feathers to flee rapidly- small birds taking flight into the beams of light.
"Kiki, Kiki! Kiki, hurry, hurry!"
"Haiek! No, Haiek, wait. Wait Haiek!"
Two children assailed through dense forestry, traversing past green shrubberies, blooming flowers and past beams of moon light dappling the moss ridden floor.
"Kiki!" the boy slowed turning towards his young companion, who was now trampling through the undergrowth holding her long obstinate hair out of her face with a tiny fist. Her petite oval face was flush red from the hasty trek. Kiki snatched an ample amount of her skirt shaking it free of twigs and leaves. The dress was of softest silk; dyed an entrancing violet. It's lengthy skirts proceeded into a tight child's waist with bell sleeves, white flowers were fixed into place upon the elaborate embroidery. Kiki panted softly with miff while tromping with irritation closer to her comrade.
"Kiki, we have to hurry-" Kiki looked up, her ebony hair cascading about her small child-like shoulders, "I've lost my ribbon, Haiek, does that mean nothing to you? My ribbon Haiek, my ribbon! I've lost it!"
The young boy murmured a sigh, "Kiki..." he said softly, outstretching his boyish hand, "It's just a ribbon."
Kiki peered up sharply, discontinuing her vain search of the forest floor, "Just a ribbon? Just a ribbon! It may be just a ribbon to you Haiek, but I love that ribbon, it's my favorite ribbon...my favorite ribbon, Haiek...Oh, Haiek, Haiek, my ribbon...Haiek."
She peered back down at the rich forest floor letting her full skirts fall with a whimsical expression of lost. The edges of her skirts, already tinged brown with dirt, swept fallen leaves of the summer trees as they settled at her ankles. Her tiny fist untangled its self from her tresses, "My ribbon..." she repeated. "My orange ribbon...my favorite...ribbon." She glanced down at her feet that filled small, flat, black shoes. The wind began to whisper across the forest sending the leaves at her toes into a modest tango across the ground.
A coarse finger drew her innocent face up towards chocolate brown eyes of guilt. "I'm sorry Kiki, I'll get you a new ribbon. It will be of the finest silk, fit for a queen!" Kiki's brown eyes widened at the thought; fit for a queen! "It will be light and beautiful and of the purest orange..." Haiek mumbled tenderly, looking over his companions head and about. "The purest orange", he said again leaving Kiki and moving around her slowly. His bare feet made a soft thud as he crossed a small distance to a quaint flower bed and then a sliding of fine linen was heard as he bent to pick a single blossom. "The purest orange", he said turning again to Kiki proceeding until her nose almost touched his chest, "as pure as this blossom..."
Kiki peered up at Haiek, his long eye lashes half hiding his comely eyes; eyes of an angel. "I believe you," She whispered looking at his larger hands that surrounded the dainty flower. Kiki ventured a timid glance,"Though, you have to promise..." she whispered peering trustingly into his sultry eyes. "You have to promise," she demanded anew, not sure he had heard her.
Haiek nodded his agreement pulling away and capturing her soft hands to give her the blossom, however, she kept her fists clenched shaking her head vigorously.
"No! No, no, no!" Kiki chanted, "You must say it! Haiek, You must tell me, you must promise." Her eyes met his stubbornly, "Say it."
"I do." Kiki stared at him as if she did not hear his reply and instead waited with forbearance, a worried expression present on her naive face.
"Why must I say it?" Haiek flicked a long wisp of ebony hair away from his eyes with a practice jerk of his head, "You do not believe me?"
Kiki merely stared back, her soft pink lips quivering; her eyes wide, she would not answer; he must promise.
Haiek buckled, "I promise." he proclaimed in a low husky voice.
Kiki tilted her head inquisitively, corking an eyebrow, "You promise what Haiek?"
Haiek pushed the exotic blossom towards her, "I promise to buy you a ribbon."
"Of?" Kiki persisted.
Haiek looked down, his patience fading, his eyes narrowing; he was tiering of this game, "Kiki, I Haiek, do so promise to buy you a ribbon of the finest silk, a ribbon fit for a queen; a ribbon that will out match all others in its brilliant color," Kiki's hand opened and graciously accepted the blossom.
"Thank you."Kiki smiled up at Julian as he looked away angrily.
A few moments passed and they listened to sounds of the tranquil night. Kiki peered to her left for Julian was still standing close, she could feel his body heat and it stopped the coldness from prickling her creamy skin. The time was needed for the boy's anger to fade, but Kiki didn't mind, she enjoyed being close to him; she could hear his shallow breathing. At last Haiek peered down at the girl who was looking else where. He grinned at the sight, her eyes were darkened with interest, enraptured with some far off place, as they usually were. Her hair was mused slightly; futilely tucked behind her ears. She was so small, only coming up to his twelve year old chest; perhaps she would grow taller when she got older... perhaps when she got older-
"Haiek?" Kiki question tentatively, interrupting his thoughts.
Haiek met Kiki's gaze of her upturned face and quickly looked away, "Hmm?" He replied.
"Today..." she ventured, as if being careful of what to say.
Haiek readily replied, reading her thoughts, "It was only make believe."
"Oh..." Kiki looked down at the blossom twirling it between her fingers. Make believe... She slowly peered past him, noticing a small withering dandelion, the soft breeze bullying it to the ground.
Uramohsses-Sama once told me,...That if you can successfully blow away the seeds, and make a wish...The wind will carry your wish to a place where all dreams come true...
Before she could contemplate further on her wish, on the words of the wise something caught Haiek's attention.
'What's that sound, Kiki? Do you hear that...' he asked, straining to hear more of the addiction. Coming to stand next to him Kiki also tuned her ears to the sounds of the forest..
A soft melody, chanting, begging- ushering, the sweet notes of a flute.
Come..children-
Years Beforehand
"You don't know, but Sesshomaru-Sama has been seeking strength for a long time. No doubt he will obtain the powers of an ultimate Youkai and establish Sesshomaru-Sama Empire. Once that happens, I'll become a Minister of that Empire!" the small toad explained, looking at his fish with hunger. Taking a large bite he instantly regretted it. 'Ooh!' he screeched, panting from the heat that rolled across his nerves. 'It's hot!' he exclaimed, fighting the urge to claw at the tender flesh of his mouth.
Sitting in silence the girl merely blinked a bit at Jaken, as a look of miff crossed her innocent features. "Wh-What will I do in that Sesshomaru-Sama Empire?" she questioned carefully. Her chocolate eyes flickered with a bit of sadness. Jaken, who had now collected himself took another small bite from his fish before discontinuing his consumption of the morsel.
Grunting softly he peered at the child skeptically, "You plan on following us all the way there?" His sentenced hadn't been finished before the young ward launched herself at him, shaking him fiercely as the fish jostled within his grasp.
"Why not! Can't I come?" She seemed a bit panicked at his questioning and stared at him hopefully. Jaken promptly swatted her away, and she released her grasp, intent on his response.
Taking another thoughtful bite of his fish he grunted again, seeming distressed that he had to give an explanation to the small human. But, there she sat, hopeful; kneeling by his side. "Even for Sesshomaru-Sama, building an Empire can take many years. For us, a hundred years is no big deal. But for a human like you... by then, you will probably be long dead." It was all too casual- stated as a precise fact; as if it were common knowledge.
Rocking back on her heels again, her face became agonized as she fought the tears that tempted gravity. "That's not true..." she resigned, not seeming to notice that Jaken was now enraptured with his meal and would no longer offer himself to the conversation.
As the sun set and darkness weighed upon the travelers slumber over took them. As the stars twinkled upon the forest Rin muttered in her sleep, rousing slowly. Sitting up she looked at her sleeping companions, Ah Uh and Jaken, who were both snoring softly.
"Jaken-Sama is silly, we'll be together always..." Her eyes scanned the forest for a moment, searching for her Master when suddenly, the sweetest song entered her ears. Utter seduction twisted her nerves as she rose slowly, following the notes of commands that played havoc upon her senses.
As the soft crunch of leaves echoed through the silence Jaken began to stir, staring with drowsy eyes at the retreating form of Rin. "Rin?" he questioned softly, but she merely began to disappear... "Rin!" he called, as he leaped to his feet in fright, attempting to catch up with her, but she was already sheltered by the dark wings of night; gone from sight.
Present
The villagers had gathered around the young woman, masculine mutters and feminine sobs pressed upon her small shoulders urgently. The red top she wore billowed around her petite form as the evening air caused her heavy braid to sway across the small of her back.
'I shall find young Kiki and Haiek, worry not...' she had reassured them before grabbing her staff. But, it was all in vain, for the villagers had already made conclusions themselves. The missing children had fallen victim to a Youkai, one that lured small children into a cave, before consuming them.
As she tread carefully through the foliage she hung her head, her chocolate eyes scanning the ground for traces of the children's journey. The night bore down on her, threatening her shoulders, which already held the burden of children's souls, to buckle. Exhaustion etched itself into her bones and her steps became leadened with it. Sighing the young priestess braced herself against her staff and the rough bark of a nearby tree.
The young woman peered up, her pale oval face reflecting the gleam of the moon. Hadn't she... years ago fallen into the same fate as Kiki and Haiek. Back then, with her...
Sesshomaru...