Author's Notes: Yes, Sesshomaru is an asshat. Let's try not to hold it against him (too much). He's fighting against something he grew up with, and it takes A LOT to break down 900 years' worth of prideful arrogance. But, we know that he doesn't think as poorly of humans as he did when IY started (thanks, Rin!). He can see their worth; he is having difficulty stomaching his romantic feelings for one. We will begin to see some more development soon once he is confronted with someone more radical than he ever was.
Happy Reading!
Nocturne - Chapter Ten: The Onibaba
Rated - M (for suggestive adult themes, references to some violence, and coarse language)
o - o - o - o - o : Indicates scene or POV change
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.
o - o - o - o - o
Sesshomaru merely eyed the woman, not giving any indication of acknowledgment. It would be a gesture of deference for him to do so, and he was not in a position to allow this mainland yokai to infer anything.
The woman, Tsering, flashed another slight grin. She seemed amused but shrugged, her massive fur pelt pressing into her cheek. She nuzzled against it and eyed him coyly.
"Hmmph. Lord Sesshomaru, I presume," she stated.
Sesshomaru looked upon her with indifference. She was attractive enough, he supposed. "You presume correctly, Lady," he responded finally.
Tsering turned around and roamed around the grand room, sighing audibly. "This will have to do, I think."
She occasionally stopped to run her hand over different items, picking them up and placing them back down and finally pausing to view a set of hanging scrolls. The scrolls were painted silk depicting diverse landscapes. Simple, yet elegant, Sesshomaru supposed, as many humans tended to be.
During her wandering around the room, Tsering would peek out at Sesshomaru from beneath her lashes. It seemed she was assessing him just as much as she was the room.
"My, how droll," she said, running her finger down the silk scroll.
The coronet upon her head, which he remembered to be called a fengguan, was delicate and looked as if it could fall from her head with any sudden movement. Wings jutted out to the sides of the coronet, and gold links dangled, weighted down by gemstones that clinked against one another. Sesshomaru figured this was how the mainlanders subdued their women by making it difficult for them to move unrestrained, but on the other hand, alluded to the fabled grace of their women. Tsering seemed unperturbed by the fengguan, likely accustomed to its weight, and moved with a grace appropriate for a yokai of her stature.
"Do as you will. I have no use for these items. They are of no importance to me," Sesshomaru replied to her observance. He had no use for material wealth; that was true.
"Am I also of no importance to you?" Tsering all but purred, walking towards him with a steady stride. She casually placed a hand upon his cuirass and traced along with the metal with bold fingers, all the while giving an uneven smile.
Sesshomaru side-stepped her advance with a disinterested gaze, moving further into the room. Jaken had announced her entourage as well, but Sesshomaru did not see anyone else present, which struck him as off.
"I trust your journey was uneventful," he said. "Jaken will see to it you are settled appropriately."
Jaken had all but disappeared into a corner of the room. The woman cowed him before Sesshomaru had arrived, and it was evident he wanted to stay outside of her reach for some reason. The imp sprinted forward, his staff in hand, and nearly went prostrate in front of Tsering, "Yes, master! I will ensure the Lady wants for nothing."
There was that smirk again, Sesshomaru noted, as he saw Tsering give a subtle eye to his lackey.
"Your imp has been ever so gracious once we arrived ahead of schedule. Though he did try to deny me access once he laid eyes on my retainers," Tsering laughed, causing Jaken to flinch and shuffle back towards his master.
Sesshomaru's interest was piqued, and he wondered why ever the imp would presume to deny his future bride entry into her new household based on her retainers. He peered down at Jaken, who looked more nervous than usual.
"Keyuri," Tsering called out, not raising her voice nor breaking her gaze from Sesshomaru. She studied his face intently, waiting for any reaction.
A woman stepped forward from the shadows, veiled somehow from Sesshomaru's senses, or it was the sheer surprise. A hanyo! His eyes widened with mild astonishment before he schooled his features back into insouciance. But what a shock this was. Tsering allowed her smile to deepen in satisfaction before she turned to watch the woman approach.
The woman walked up to Tsering, her eyes fixed on the ground before her, never once looking up. Telltale ears rose delicately out of long, silver tresses, and similar amber eyes could be noted, though they were ringed by dark circles and lowered deferentially. Her attire was also demure, being unremarkably bland, compared to her mistress, who wore bold and vibrant colors cut from expensive and rare cloth. Sesshomaru found that despite the difference in attire, there was a striking resemblance from one to another.
Jaken sputtered, "I tried to tell her, milord, that half-breed filth was not allowed on the premise." He waved his staff, pointing it in the hanyo's direction accusatorily.
The hanyo did not react to being called filth, standing meekly by Tsering, who toyed with the woman's unbound silver hair as if it were her own. Being treated so casually must have been ingrained into her, judging from her demeanor.
Tsering scoffed, "I did remind your toad that my entourage goes where I go."
Sesshomaru had been taken aback, "Your entourage, you say?"
He had been led to believe that Tsering tolerated humanity with barely veiled impartiality but loathed hanyos with an intensity rivaling the sun. That rumor could not have been any further from the truth. Here and now, the mainland yokai pat the top of the woman's head and leaned her head upon the woman's shoulder in a companionable gesture.
"I would not dream of leaving my Keyuri behind," Tsering rose and purred into the hanyo's ear. "She is much more practical to have as a servant! Long-lived, loyal, and it would be unseemly to have another yokai as a slave," she sniffed at Jaken, scrunching her tiny nose in distaste, "even a lowly imp yokai."
Jaken bridled at the insult, sputtering, but did not say anything in response to the cruel words for fear of upsetting his master.
Sesshomaru's brow furrowed. "It would seem we have contradictory views of hanyos, Lady."
"So it would," she said. Releasing the hanyo woman, Tsering turned away, "Keyuri, my pet, I've grown tired of you." She waved her hand casually, "Go back to your corner until you are next called upon."
The woman whispered in a barely audible tone, never once bringing her head up, "Yes, milady," and walked back to stand in the shadows of the room.
Tsering gave a wicked smile, "I am as surprised by your stance as you are of mine, lord. Especially after hearing the rumors…" she trailed off, leaving the rest of her statement shrouded in intrigue.
His breath hitched inside his chest for a second. How had this woman from a distant land learned of his tryst with the mortal? Was it plainly written upon him?
Tsering waved her hand in front of her face, "Having a half-breed brother, after all."
Sesshomaru allowed himself to breathe. "That," he uttered with an air of finality, "is none of your concern." His brother had been a strain upon his pride, but time had tempered his outlook. He must grudgingly admit that even being of mixed blood, his brother was capable of incredible feats and had not sullied their honorable father's name and legacy.
The arrogant woman ran her hand down her fur pelt and gave a speculative look. "It seems you have a soft view of them, Lord." Her face hardened. "You should not," she urged.
"And why may that be?" he asked, taking her bait. This inu-woman was increasingly difficult to read, even despite her frivolous tendencies. Like with his mask of stoicism, she, too, wore a mask shielding the true nature within.
Rather than answer, Tsering laughed. The laughter was melodic and gentle, but it grated upon Sesshomaru. She continued giggling as she walked from the room, leaving Sesshomaru with more questions than answers. He reminded himself why the woman was here in the first place.
Jaken ran forward as soon as the inu-woman was out of sight, "Apologies, master! I did not know she was to arrive so soon!"
At a different time, Sesshomaru may have kicked the imp out of annoyance. Instead, he looked down upon his lackey, "Keep her entertained until my return, Jaken." It was not the imp's fault that the inu-woman had come sooner than intended. Another ploy in an intricate machination of intrigue, he thought.
He looked pointedly towards the corner where the hanyo woman stood, shrouded in shadow and eyes focused on her feet. Whether the woman could feel his cold stare, he was unsure, for she gave no indication of acknowledgment. He would have to have words with Tsering about the appropriateness of leaving her "pet" unattended. There was nothing to be done for it now. He would have to deal with this later.
Jaken gave his master a pleading look, one that urged he not be left alone with his new mistress. Sesshomaru held some pity for the underling, but only some. He left the estate and his new intended behind in an instant, not even bothering to see to her comfort.
o - o - o - o - o
Kagome led the reluctant Bullet down the trail. The woods surrounding her were dark and had an ominous feel despite the sun shining overhead; as she passed along, the sound of birds dissipated into silence, an eerie silence. There was no way to know how long it would be until she found the witch she sought, but she had to be close.
The horse finally came to a dead stop, refusing to move any further. Kagome nudged the horse forward, but all the beast did was stamp its hoove into the ground impatiently and let out a tremendous, shuddering breath. "Come on, Bullet, I can't imagine the place is much further. You don't even have to go in! I get to do all of the hard work. You just have to take me there," Kagome pressed.
The nag adamantly refused to move, and Kagome lowered herself down, muttering in frustration. The witch could not be far, she thought, not if the horse were acting this way. There were too many signs pointing to her proximity.
She found a solid-looking bush and tied the horse's lead rope to a reliable-looking branch. The horse let out a little whiney and nudged Kagome with its warm and velvety soft muzzle. She patted the horse's neck, "Fine. You stay here then. I'll be back."
Kagome made her way forward alone. The path looked desolate enough, dreary as it was, but that would not deter her.
The songbirds did not frequent this part of the woods. The eerie quiet from lack of song overhead was marked, but a confident crow cawed as she walked under the tree where it had roosted. She looked up at the lone bird as it cawed at her, likely warning her to stay away from its nest or maybe something more ominous.
Walking another few miles, perhaps hours had passed, Kagome was not sure. It certainly felt like hours, and her feet hurt something dreadful. There was a curve coming up in the trail, one of many she had already passed. Once she came upon the turn, she could see what looked to be stone slabs stuck into the ground in what seemed to be a haphazardly placed staircase.
This must be it. There was no sign of life anywhere, and there was no feeling of yoki, which was also another strange thing about the place. Kagome had expected to sense the witch's presence long before she came upon the residence, but that had not been the case. There had not been a cause to use her miko abilities as of late, and she'd had some trouble sensing things, but she wrote that off to pregnancy symptoms.
'Maybe the witch is not a yokai? Maybe she's just an old woman...living alone...in the darkest, scariest part of the woods,' Kagome thought. That was the only plausible explanation in her mind.
She set up the stairs, taking careful steps. The stones were uncared for, with green moss and leaf debris littered upon them. The slant to the hill was not steep, but one wrong step would send her tumbling. Kagome looked up and could not see above the top of the hill. The witch, Yamauba, must be just beyond. Her chest twisted with anxiety, and taking a deep breath, she continued.
Once Kagome reached the top of the stairs and only mildly winded, she could see several yards beyond a dark and decrepit old shrine. The shrine had been abandoned, evident by the brown, peeling paint from the once vibrant torii-gate marking the entrance. The main hall just inside the gate looked as though it had been turned into a domicile. The roof had caved in some spots, and there were holes in the outer walls that seemed just to have disintegrated with time. How could anyone live here, she wondered. Even the air smelled stale.
Kagome took tentative steps forward and prepared her bow. Even if she could not sense a yokai, she had to be ready for anything, and Kaede had not painted the witch out to be particularly benevolent.
From within the decrepit building, Kagome could have sworn she heard shuffling. 'What am I doing?' she questioned herself. This was crazy, but she had to have answers.
As she drew closer, she could see through one of the many holes in the hall's exterior a light shining from within. There was someone here. It must be Yamauba.
Once she stepped onto the step leading up to the dwelling, it creaked underneath her weight, groaning loudly. Kagome gasped and removed her foot, looking up to see if the witch within had heard her.
She could hear scraping again from a corner of the house, her head darting towards the sound. The shuffling sound could be heard again, and a voice startled Kagome.
"Don't linger on the doorstep, child! Come in, come in!"
Kagome gasped again when she saw an older woman appear at the door. The older woman seemed kindly, if not frazzled, and bent over upon herself. The old woman waved Kagome in and smiled with a bony hand, revealing decayed and missing teeth.
"Are you Yamauba?" Kagome asked, putting her bow down at the sight of a harmless old woman, and immediately felt sheepish.
Hesitation was marked upon her countenance, and the old witch shambled out and put a welcoming hand upon Kagome's, urging her inside. She stood no taller than Kagome's chest and wore tattered but fine robes. "Come, child, come. It's ghastly outside. Come and warm yerself by the fire."
Kagome allowed herself to be led into the decaying house. 'I'm just going to have her answer some questions and then be on my way,' she assured herself.
"You are Yamauba, right?" Kagome asked again. "The witch?"
The old lady patted her white hair and smiled, "Whoever told ye that, dearie? It's been an age that I've last had a visitor."
"Do you live here alone?" Kagome inquired. The old woman made her way around the ancient shrine, turned into a house, and began picking up odds and ends. "Is-is there anything I can help you with?" Kagome tried. Yamauba kept picking items up, shaking her head, and sitting them back down, looking for something in particular.
"It's just been so long, dearie, so long. Isn't that right, Mamu?" Yamauba asked no one in particular, looking at nothing or no one in particular.
Kagome looked around to see who this 'Mamu' was but saw no other living being. She did note a large, black cauldron that sat over a fire, its contents bubbling. The smell that came from the pot did not smell edible, whatever it was.
Doubt began to set in. Kagome began to regret her decision to come here alone. Maybe this wasn't the witch she had searched for. Perhaps it was just a lonely old woman exiled to the wilderness by force, or more likely by choice due to her unique nature. 'Unique' was putting it lightly.
Kagome watched as Yamauba continued moving about the room aimlessly and finally decided that this had not been such a good idea, and she would return home. She had all but reached the door when she felt a bony hand wrap around her wrist and pull her back. Kagome looked to see the old woman by her side, smiling. 'How had she gotten over here so quickly? She was just on the other side of the room', Kagome thought, alarmed.
"Leaving so soon? Ye all but just arrived!" Yamauba exclaimed. She tugged Kagome back into the house with a strength surprising of such an old, stooped woman.
A/N: Whew, well, that happened. A couple of new characters. I wonder how they will impact our MCs? Hmm. And we finally meet the onibaba for reals! She's a crazy one for sure. She has a real "Ravenous" vibe to her. If you've ever seen the movie Ravenous (with Guy Pearce and Robert Carlyle), you'll know what I mean. You can always check it out on YouTube by watching "The Cave" scene from Ravenous. The music is just perfect for Kagome's meeting with Yamauba.
I have a picture of her out on my Tumblr if anyone is curious. Just search momorhea, and it's in there somewhere!