AbhorsenSabriel87: Yo peoples! Here's more of the fic! Now, my "faithful muses" sorta left, so I'm stuck doing this all by my lonesome self.
Chibi Jou: Have no fear! Chibi Jou is here!
Sabriel: --sighs-- Fine. C.J., do the polls.
Chibi Jou: YAY! Answer one, you'll find out right now, now won't ya?
Sabriel: --sweatdrop--
Chibi Jou: Answer two-
Sabriel: That's for me to know, and you to wonder about.
Chibi Jou: --sweatdrop-- And answer three, Mom's hair is actually brown, but she dyes it, I have blonde hair, and my sister has a genetic glitch (or two) that make her a freak of nature!
Sabriel: --boots him out of room-- Onto the fic.
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Emotion is the chief source of all becoming-conscious. There can be no transforming of darkness into light and of apathy into movement without emotion.
Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1961)
Two weeks ago…
---A young man walked through a quiet wood, followed closely by a two-headed green dragon, a toad-like imp, and a young girl fast asleep on the back of the dragon. The girl's age was nearly impossible to determine, as her thick, knotted, raven's hair was covering her face as she slept, but by her size, you could easily tell she was a child. The dragon on which she rode seemed a proud beast, its two heads each held high and dignified as each of its four-clawed feet stepped quietly and deliberately on the soft grass beneath it. The toad was standing upright, as a man would, his body in an earth-colored haori and his three-fingered hands clutching a wooden staff, which, in itself, was a remarkable piece of craftsmanship, bearing not only the head of an old man, but one of a beautiful woman with ebony hair that twined around the base. But none of these remarkable travelers measured close to the man who led them onward.
---The man, although seemly barely five-and-twenty, held the air of a noble with even just the way he walked, with his head high and slender shoulders straight, his clawed and red-tattooed right hand holding the reigns to the twin-headed dragon. He stood taller than any in the group, being over six feet high, and would be stunningly handsome… if the world didn't know what traits were common among demons. Yes, this man was a demon, his silver-white hair reaching well past his waist, his steps silent, his elfin ears alert, and his golden eyes wary as they walked. His face was also that of the elves of lore: a sharp jaw with soft features betrayed only by his cold eyes. Two red markings shaped like claw slashes touched either cheekbone, and, although shadowed by his bangs, a pale blue waning crescent moon tattoo imprinted his high forehead. His white and red kimono top and gi pants were also covered at his midsection by a piece of black armor; around the waist was a gold and blue sash. At his left side, the sleeve of that arm hanging limply down his side, were two swords, both sheathed and looking very menacing.
---The man stopped in the midst of the trees and gazed about as the sunrise started to fade into afternoon light, feelings masked by his apathetic composition. Something just didn't sit right with the demon lord about these woods; the scent of it seemed familiar and warning to him. "Milord Sesshoumaru?" came a voice to his right and near to the ground. The man glanced down and saw that his imp-like follower was looking up at him with confusion, caution, and hesitation. "Forgive my impudence, lord," the creature muttered, bowing slightly, "but I just wish to know why we stopped. It doesn't seem as if we are very close to our destination." The man said nothing, but simply held the toad's fearful and questioning gaze with his own calm golden one. After a moment, the man dropped the reigns of the dragon and began to walk away. "Milord?" the imp questioned.
---"Stay here with Rin, Jakken," the demon named Sesshoumaru replied. "Do not follow me, I shall return in a while. Be sure to keep Rin in your sights at all times, and make sure Ah and Un get some water and rest." He stopped and turned to give the imp a commanding glare before he set off, running faster than a horse, quieter than a cat, and following his nose and instincts.
---As the young demon lord ran through the trees, he noticed that they became thicker before they got sparser and that the unusual smell he had picked up earlier was now growing stronger and he could easily tell what it was now. Still, something compelled him to continue on, to find out exactly who, or what, created such a foul scent to arise. By the time he'd reached the end of the forest, the scent had grown thick enough for him to realize that more than a few people had died in the direction he was headed. As he stepped out to the edge of the cliff side at the forests' end, he saw a most grievous sight to any who had a heart.
---Although the background was pleasant enough; sporting high and snowy mountains to the north and forest land surrounding a large clearing, but that is where all the pleasant sights of scenery ended. Below him in the small valley, a bloody battlefield lay, still fresh as if the attack had happened just the night before. 'It may have,' Sesshoumaru thought. 'That was the reason I came out here.' He leapt easily off the cliff and landed gracefully at the bottom, the stench of blood becoming greater every step he took towards the burning village. The front gate had first been bashed in, and then burned to the ground. A thought came to the young lord's mind as he picked his way around the demonic bodies littering the bloodstained ground that he didn't know this species of demons. Judging by their tails and ears, these were cat demons, but he didn't recognize the breed. 'So how does one go about finding such a community,' he thought as he entered through the pile of ashes formerly known as the main gate, eying the finely crafted weapons littering the ground, 'and how does one go about massacring it?'
---His sharp eyes caught the fact that although most of the village was either burning or ashes, one small shrine in the very center of town was left untouched by fire. True, the white stone pillars and landing were splashed with blood, but no permanent damage was done or visible. Sesshoumaru stopped his calm pace directly in front of it, using his knowledge of ancient Feline to read the small signs depicting what rested on the twin podiums on the landing. "Hisarew Rawn Khistuha Felina," he murmured aloud. "The fabled Sacred Book of Cats. I thought that had been destroyed centuries ago." He looked to the other sign, spotting a word he did not understand. "Sishta Rawn Seharown Celticsa Hisstor Mewon?" he mumbled. "The Book of Celtic Magicks and Lore? Who are these 'Celtics', and why do a group of felines have their books?" Before he had realized it, the young demon had stepped up onto the platform and picked up the second book, barely aware of the warmth that flowed through his arm as his bare skin touched the soft, yet obviously tough pine-green leather book.
---The book was not only the colors of the forests, but had a way of looking like one was trapped within the cover in the correct lighting. The title was placed in the center, but in a language that Sesshoumaru did not know. The words were nothing like the sharp strokes of katakana, nor the gentle strokes of hiragana, or even the complex combination of kanji, but instead soft and looping designs looking like none he'd ever seen, not even in his research extending to the godly languages. The title was imprinted into the leather, the indents filled perfectly even with solid gold. Fading gold-colored marks of the same bizarre language flitted across the cover and spine, as well as being written neatly on the slightly yellowing paper within. Something about this book made him wish he knew all its secrets, wish he could read the intricate looping language, or perhaps have known about these people before this village was massacred.
---Shaking his head, Sesshoumaru picked up both of the books and tucked them under his right arm, then ran back to the cliff, springing easily to the edge of the forest. Had he paid slightly more attention, he would have noticed that among the bodies were humans. A closer look would have told him that every single one of the humans was decapitated as well. But for now, he simply ran as quickly as he could, cursing himself for spending so much time away from his companions, for now the sun had reached the highest part of the sky. He didn't want the others following him to this place.
---And he certainly didn't want Rin to see that bloodbath.
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Sabriel: So, how was that for a weird twist-o'-fate?
Chibi Jou: But nothing happened!
Sabriel: Yes it did. You're just too dumb to see it.
Chibi Jou: WHAT?!
FeralCat: Inara, don't call your brother dumb.
Chibi Jou: Yeah.
FeralCat: And C.J., don't critisize your sister's writing.
Chibi Jou: --whines-- What? Not fair!
Sabriel: It is too. Now, onto reviewer responses!
Keiko Ookami – Thank you, I most definitely shall!
Sabriel: Anywho… wow, that's a short list, but that's it for now, so review if you want more and give me some constructive criticism every once in a while! Ja ne! (That means "see ya" in Japanese!)
OnizukasOlderBrother: ..Why am I here?
Sabriel: Everyone, meet my step-dad, OnizukasOlderBrother, OOB for short.
OOB(for short):The polls are, 1) What will Sesshoumaru do with the books?
Sesshoumaru: Question 2 askes what happens if I read the books.
Sabriel: Hey! You're not supposed to be in here! --boots Sesshoumaru out--
FeralCat: And Question 3 is will anyone ever bearpoor Miroku'schild?!
Sabriel: Not on his life... At least, not 'till Naraku's dead. Anywho, sayonara my friends! Review please!