NB: Two updates at once. Be proud. And I'm currently working on the next chapter as well. Enjoy the updates while they last!


The Pain Within

Chapter Five: More Than Meets the Eye.

Jasuto dragged Sakuto towards the castle, ignoring her random mutterings the entire way. The remainder of men had the afternoon off to either rest or recover from the splinters they had received in battle, so there were plenty of people around to offer her a congratulations, or death glare her. Sakuto appeared to have the kind of skills that could be either admired or despised for. She shrugged it off, either way as she entered the shadow of the castle.

Sakuto stumbled along in a daze, allowing Jasuto to guide her through the belly of the castle and up a series of flights of stairs and along long corridors. As she finally looked up, her gaze focused on a large wooden door standing right before her. Jasuto paused and glanced to her,

"Are you ready?"

"I'll never be ready." She muttered in reply.

"Good!" He cried cheerfully before knocking and waiting.

"Enter." Sesshomaru's reply rung clearly through the door and Jasuto did not hesitate to slide it open and drag Sakuto inside.

Sesshomaru sat before a large desk that was scattered with parchment, quills and pots of ink. Behind him was a series of shelves heavily lined with leather bound books of various sizes. There was a pile of books on the desk to one side, the covers not quite as dusty as the rest of the room appeared to be. Sesshomaru never looked up once as Jasuto bowed and forcibly pushed Sakuto into the chair opposite Sesshomaru. She could only sigh, thankful to get her weight off her feet as she tried to force her sore, tired muscles to relax, yet being confined in a small room with Sesshomaru was hardly a relaxing concept. Every time he so much as moved a muscle, Sakuto felt her body tense, as though expecting him to do something to her. She tried to shake off her sense of dread, but it only seemed to intensify. She couldn't understand why she felt so much fear and dread around him, this was certainly not how it had been between the two when she had been with her family. For a split second she entertained the thought of revealing herself to him, but why? What would it prove? It would only be a matter of time before whoever wanted her dead would find her. She shook the thought off, dismissing it entirely, not wishing to endanger anyone other than herself. Sakuto settled with remaining on her guard, knowing that any mistake could cost her life, at either Sesshomaru's hands or the unseen force pursuing her. There was more to this picture than met the eye, and she had to remain alert.

It was only as the door was slid shut did Sakuto realize that Jasuto had left and she was completely and utterly alone with Sesshomaru. As she glanced back at the door, she felt the inextricable desire to leap up and bolt from the room before Sesshomaru could do anything. Yet even with her demon speed, she doubted she could outrun him. She shivered at the thought and turned her gaze back to Sesshomaru only to find he head ceased reading his document and was watching her. She had to bite back a cry of surprise as his amber eyes burned straight through her.

"It is ritual that the victor be promoted to the rank of officer if the position is available." He paused to study the young man before him. Several minutes seemed to pass before he finally continued after making Sakuto squirm under his gaze. "You have received nothing but the highest praise from Jasuto, and most of the others believe your skills would be an asset." He stopped and rose before walking over to the window to stare out into the clear sapphire sky, speckled white with small, fluffy clouds. His eyes seemed to become distanced, as though his mind was elsewhere. Without warning his gaze seemed to darken and he dropped his gaze to the forest beneath the window.

"Yet I find myself hesitant to appoint you an officer, tell me, why is that?" Sakuto could do little but stare at him, not sure of what he expected. "I don't trust you." He added, glancing to her out of the corner of his eye.

"Why would you trust me? I am a human after all. Great demon lords such as yourself trust no one, least of all a human." She scoffed with a little more sarcasm than she intended.

"I don't believe you are human." He kept watching out of the corner of his eye, his voice steady and calm.

"What do you mean? Of course I'm human! Why wouldn't I be?" Her voice was verging on shrill and she struggled to remain calm.

"You're too strong to be a human." He turned to her, his gaze narrowed.

"Oh so that's it! You're threatened by the fact a human can be strong! You're just in denial! I am human, accept it!" Sakuto felt her eyes darting around the room, doing everything in her power not to have to look into his cool, amber eyes.

"Then where did you gain such impressive skills, for a human?" Sakuto paused to chew her lip nervously under Sesshomaru's shrewd glare. "Well?"

"That is something I see no reason to tell you." She snarled, knowing it was the last thing he wanted to hear. Well, one of the last.

"You dare refuse me?" He replied, almost daring her to continue. She could only bite her tongue and swallow the words of rage threatening to spill forth. The look of pure venom in Sesshomaru's eyes told her it would be a dangerous thing indeed to speak right now.

"Why should I make you an officer?" He questioned with surprising calm in his emotionless tone.

"Easy. You shouldn't. I couldn't care less." She remarked before leaping to her feet and heading for the door. She expected to have Sesshomaru appear before her and strike her, but he didn't move from his place beside the window, even though his eyes were burning into her back as she slid the door closed behind her.

She stormed back through the corridor, her teeth clenched as she muttered to herself.

"What business is it of his? Why should I tell him anything when he can't even ask nicely?" Sakuto was seething as she pictured his harsh amber glare in her minds eye and wished for nothing more than to wipe the smug look from his face. She sighed at last, her rage slowly evaporating as the realization slowly dawned on her. He couldn't help but question her; it was obvious there was something different about this young man who had practically appeared over night. Something inhuman. As she wandered down a flight of stairs she entertained the notion of leaving before this got out of hand and Sesshomaru did discover the truth.

"If it gets any worse, if his suspicion doesn't die soon, I'll leave." She told herself, doubting he'd probably recognize her anyway, and wasn't even sure if he did have anything to do with her family's demise. He probably didn't, but she didn't see the point in stirring up a past Sesshomaru had clearly forgotten.

As Sakuto's thoughts returned to the present, she cursed as she realized she was completely lost. With a frustrated sigh she tried to sniff out Jasuto's scent, but found too many human scents to narrow it down to the path he took to get out. He was outside now, she could sense him on the other side of the wall she was standing beside, but didn't think Sesshomaru would appreciate it if she made an alternate exit though the wall. She groaned in frustration, getting ready to bash her head against the wall when a little servant girl walked around the corner and gave a strangled cry at the sight of this ragged young man leaning against a wall looking rather murderous. She nearly dropped the pail of water she was carrying when Sakuto turned her gaze to meet hers.

"Oh jeez, this is embarrassing, but I'm lost." She muttered sheepishly. The girl smiled as she put the pail down and walked forward.

"That's ok, you just scared me, that's all." She grabbed Sakuto's arm and pulled her along the corridor and around a few bends, never ceasing her idle chatter.

"My name is Emiko, what's yours?"

"Uh… Makita."

"You're a soldier aren't you? What are you doing wandering around the castle?"

"Well…" She didn't bother waiting for an answer as she prattled on about nothing special. Sakuto stopped listening, too busy thanking the heavens that she hadn't transformed into a woman when those men had come across her in the forest. This was the kind of idle chatter was enough to drive anyone crazy!

The sunlight blinded her as she found herself standing on the top of the steps, Emiko still hanging onto her arm unnecessarily.

"Well, thank you, Emiko." She gave the girl a strained smile just as Jasuto caught sight of them.

"Will I get to see you again, Makita?" She asked sweetly, batting her eyelashes playfully. Sakuto's eyes widened with shock and disgust as the girl hugged her arm tighter just as Jasuto mounted the stairs.

"What's this? Has our new officer found a girlfriend already?" He teased as the girl blushed a bright red.

"The new officer! Oh my! I'm so sorry, my lord!" She cried, hastily bowing.

"I'm not the new officer." Sakuto snarled in reply and stalked off down the stairs.

"What? What happened?" Jasuto gasped, not hesitating to follow as the trembling young girl quickly wandered back inside.

"Sesshomaru doesn't trust me, and I refuse the position."

"You can't!" He cried, just as the other eight officers cut her off.

"Well, boy, your strength and stamina is highly impressive. Come here and show us something." One of them remarked slyly as he shoved a bow and arrow into her hands and pulled her onto a marked spot at one end of the field, the wall of the castle behind them.

"You see that tree with the red target on it across the field?"

"Yes…" Sakuto had to squint to see it.

"Watch." He notched an arrow and drew the string back. He aimed carefully and let the arrow fly. It sailed across the field and hit the target, just off center. Sakuto only glanced at the man with a raised eyebrow as he motioned for her to give it a try. She shrugged, clearly not having much choice in the matter. She grew back the arrow and smirked as it flew from her grasp. The thud of the arrow hitting the target echoed across the field as all eyes turned to her in amazement. The arrow was dead center.

"Looks like you lose, Ikasu!" The others laughed, thumping him on the back as he scowled and sidled off to the side.

"Right! A race around the castle, starting now!" Another yelled and raced off. It took Sakuto a moment to digest his command with a sigh took off after him. As she ran a few meters behind him, he threw comments back to her, remarking about her lack of style and heavy breathing. Finally they rounded the last corner and her patience snapped. She sprinted past him, catching him completely by surprise. He yelled out and tried to make up the lost ground, but to no avail. As Sakuto reached the other men she stopped and collapsed against the castle wall panting. The men surrounded her, trying to hide how impressed they really were.

"Well let's see him up close with a real sword." Jasuto only smiled at this suggestion and happily tossed her favorite sword at Sakuto's feet. She groaned as she grabbed it and rose slightly unsteadily.

"Ready yourself, boy." Another smiled coldly before lunging. Sakuto blocked his string of attacks, not having the strength to attack him herself. Instead she contented herself with blocking and searching for a weakness. Before long she found it, his sword was too heavy for him and he struggled slightly to regain control after a swing. With a smirk, she waited until he made another lung, which she easily dodged. As he struggled to lift it once more, she dropped and spun, kicking his legs out from underneath him. He was sent crashing to the ground and Sakuto stood over him, her sword blade pressed to his neck.

"Unbelievable!"

"He just defeated our best swordsman!"

"Your best?" Sakuto smirked as she stepped back, allowing the others to help their friend to his feet. "If he was your best, this army is doomed." She sneered, too exhausted to care that she had just insulted not only all those standing before her, but Sesshomaru as well. That was, she didn't care, until she caught Sesshomaru's scent from behind her and spun just in time to block Sesshomaru's sword, which had been aimed at her head. The metal clanged together, sending Sakuto stumbling back with surprise. Sesshomaru pushed down on the sword with surprising force, giving Sakuto an extremely difficult time holding him back. She flinched, her muscles quivering with pain as she stared into his amber eyes helplessly before collapsing to one knee. He released the pressure, raising his sword over his head and bringing it down in one swift motion. He wasn't using his demon speed, hinting that he had no intention of killing her; else she would probably have been dead by now. She managed to roll out of his way, the sword embedding itself in the ground as Sakuto kicked his legs out from underneath him. As he fell, Sakuto leapt up, pointing the sword at his throat just as she felt the prick of a sword at her chest. She froze, muscles still quivering painfully as the scene slowly digested itself in her mind. Sesshomaru lay beneath her, studying her wide eyes suspiciously as she quickly jumped back, allowing the sword to slip from her fingers.

Sakuto strangled back a cry as she dropped to her knees before Sesshomaru as he rose and dusted himself off. She could feel herself shaking in fear and exhaustion.

"You will be the new officer." He stated simply before turning and vanishing into the forest. To her disgust he did not go far. In fact, he was standing just within the line of trees, watching. Sakuto groaned and fell forward, resting on her hands as her muscles began to seize up.

"Incredible! I've never seen such stamina!"

"I've never seen anyone take such a beating and still be conscious!" Their comments brushed over her as she hung her head, panting and shaking. For a demon suppressing her true powers, this was too much. One more movement and she knew she's be unable to maintain her human form. With her remaining strength she rocked her weight back onto her knees and sat back to glare at the men surrounding her.

"Come on Makita, let's get you to bed. You really need to get some rest after all this." Jasuto and another man helped pull Sakuto to her feet and supported her as they dragged her inside and up a flight of stairs. She felt a soft mattress press against her back and before another word could pass her lips, she had slipped into a deep, dreamless sleep.

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Sakuto slept for an entire day, none daring to disturb her. One the second morning she woke surprisingly early, when the sun was just barely peeking over the horizon and dragged herself from the bed. She froze a moment, recalling everything that had happened and didn't need to be told that she'd slept for an extremely long period of time. Her eyes darted around the room, simplistic but comfortable before landing on some folded clothes and a towel. She grabbed them, knowing that if she didn't work her muscles, they'd seize up once more.

As the lake came into view, Sakuto couldn't help but stare, slightly confused as she watched the ripples pass over the lakes surface, trying to comprehend why they were there. Gradually it dawned on her that someone else was in the lake. She shrugged, caring little as she shed her clothing and dived into the biting cold water. Sakuto started slow, easing her muscles into a rhythm before eventually picking up the pace. Unable to shake the feeling of eyes on her, she paused at the shore to catch her breath and allow her eyes to roam the now calm, quiet surface of the lake. As she turned her head, she found herself staring into the cold, amber gaze of Sesshomaru. Biting back a cry of surprise, she sighed and muttered,

"Sorry, didn't realize you were here."

"Are you related to a demon?" He asked simply.

"Good morning to you too." She remarked dryly as he growled, still waiting for a reply. She paused, dwelling over the question before answering,

"I am." Sakuto stated calmly, finding this to be the simplest way out of a possibly difficult situation.

"Are you aware that you were capable of wielding a sword made from the fang of a demon?" This question caught Sakuto completely off guard. If she had been wielding such a sword, she would have to have demon blood flowing through her veins. She felt like sighing with relief for her previous answer.

"My mother… was a half demon." She whispered, unable to look him in the eye lest he see through the lie.

"She must have been powerful indeed to be able to wield my sword. Most full blooded demons cannot even hold it." Sakuto swallowed nervously, feeling his gaze staring straight through her.

"My family… has been dead for years." She stared into the gently rippling water, knowing this part wasn't a lie.

"A quarter demon." He seemed to be speaking more to himself. "You did not belong to the village that the other men came from, so why are you here?"

"I have nowhere else to go. When my family was killed before my eyes, I took to wandering the lands, searching for a purpose to my life."

"Have you found one?" He asked, cocking his head slightly, almost curiously.

"I believe I have." She half smiled to herself before turning her gaze to him. His expression remained unchanged. Sakuto realized what she said was the truth. If she were to stay here, she would have found purpose. She would no longer have to wander from village to village in order to protect her identity. Even though the longer she stayed her, the more likely Sesshomaru was to find out her true identity, it was a risk she was willing to take. It was like she would be able to regain a part of her old life. This way, she'd have to work in close proximity to Sesshomaru, almost like the old times. Such a thought brought a smile to her face. She may have only seen him a couple times a year, but as the years had passed, these visits used to become more frequent. He had been on good terms with her parents, they trusted him and held a deep respect for him. Sakuto blinked to herself and realized for the first time since she had arrived, she felt partially comfortable in his presence.

Sesshomaru pulled himself from the water and shook himself off before dressing. His body was as toned and muscular as usual, perhaps even more so. She smirked to herself and quickly pushed the thought aside when she realized he was staring at her.

"Report to Jasuto after breakfast. He will be leaving in a few days, so learn your duties quickly. You are to take over your old group." Sakuto nodded in understanding. "I'm not impressed that you lied to me. You said you weren't demon."

"Well, it's not exactly like you are compassionate to those who aren't full demon. Well, in my experience you aren't compassionate to anyone, except maybe that human child of yours." He glared at her but remained silent. He turned to leave, but hesitated, as though there was something else he wished to say. He slowly turned back, something different about his gaze as he held her sapphire gaze.

"You seem… different." He cocked his head once more before shaking it slightly as though disgusted with himself for admitting such a thing and vanished into the forest.


If you're wondering - Sakuto gets her revenge in the next chapter. Hehehe... Thanks for reading!