I don't own Inuyasha.
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They stayed in the village for a couple of days. Inuyasha approached Sesshomaru to discuss Rin once. He had smelled the change in her body too and told Sesshomaru if he planned to keep her in their village he could recommend a couple of good young men who'd be needing wives. Sesshomaru wanted some time to get used to the idea of her growing up before he made such a huge decision for her. They still had a little while, a few months at least.
After they left Inuyasha's village Sesshomaru took Melissa to a large city to get a heavy winter kimono. They left Jaken in the woods on the outskirts of town. These people weren't used to youkai and Jaken's obvious animosity toward the human race would cause problems. People stared at them as it was. Their fair skin and hair made them stand out, Melissa's exotic appearance often caused humans to mistake her for a youkai.
When they walked into the kimono store the owner's wife and daughter's' eyes lit up. Sesshomaru knew before he spoke that they would be there most of the morning. He told them Melissa needed warm, durable winter clothing, but they insisted on trying many pretty delicate kimonos and ornate obis on her first. Sesshomaru didn't mind, they assumed the two were married so he was allowed to remain in the changing room and watch them play dress up with her.
In the end they decided upon a midnight blue kimono with white and pale purple snowflakes on it. Melissa wasn't used to such extravagance, she tried to talk Sesshomaru into a cheaper kimono for her, but he wouldn't hear of it. He also bought her a blanket to ward off the chill at night then insisted on getting her a new silver comb.
When they stopped to sleep that night it was chilly but she didn't need her new blanket because Sesshomaru pulled her into his lap to spend the night curled against his mokomoko. He kissed her hair and stroked her arms and back as he drifted into a light sleep. The sun was cresting the horizon when he sensed a youkai approaching. He moved Melissa off his lap and stood to face the approaching youkai.
It was a young dog youkai who served his mother. She approached with her head lowered and eyes diverted submissively. "My lord, I bring word of a sea monster that is terrorizing the western coast of your family's territory."
Sesshomaru sat protectively next to Melissa's sleeping form as the youkai told him what was known about the monster that had eaten many humans and youkai alike, including two strong soldiers his mother sent to deal with it. By the time the youkai finished Melissa had awoken and Jaken had been sent to hunt for food for her.
"It sounds like Kraken." Melissa stated as she listened to the young youkai's description of the beast.
"What is Kraken?" Sesshomaru asked her. She told him about the creature, a giant squid that supposedly attacked ships in the Atlantic ocean across the world. He agreed, it did sound like a kraken. It also sounded like it would be too dangerous to take Melissa with him.
He knew of a cave on the way to deal with the krakken. It was a deep cave, deep enough that it stayed several degree warmer than the outside air and close to a small steam for water. He left Jaken with her for protection and to help her find food. Then he went to deal with the sea monster.
Sesshomaru arrived at the coast two days later and found the human villagers were gathered at the beach. Two middle aged people were crying and being held back by several men while a young girl was being forced toward the sea, they were trying to placate the monster with a virgin sacrifice.
Sesshomaru strode forward and glared at the men forcing the girl toward the beach as the beast's tentacles broke the surface of the water and reached for her. Sesshomaru flicked his wrist, slicing the monsters tentacles clean off. More tentacle rose from the waves, most headed straight for Sesshomaru but two of them scooped the severed limbs into the water.
Sesshomaru moved his arm in a graceful arc and severed the new tentacles. More rose from the waves once again, reaching for him as they swept the severed tentacles into the crashing surf. He again severed them. Honestly he was disappointed, he had expected a challenge based on what he'd been told.
Suddenly about a hundred tentacles exploded out of the water, sweeping and groping in every direction, grabbing rocks and driftwood and hurling the projectiles at him. The humans ran in terror from the raging sea beast. The girl they had been attempting to sacrifice did not escape, one of the groping tentacles wrapped around her ankle and dragged her towards the frothing sea.
He flicked his wrist again and freed the girl then drew Bakusaiga and swung it in a wide arch, hitting several of the groping tentacles. The damage done by his sword began to travel along the tentacles but they broke off before the damage could reach the main body as more burst forth from the water. Now that was interesting!
The tentacles once again began hurling objects swept from the beach at him. Tentacles that could not grab objects stretched far beyond him and began attacking from all sides. He swung is sword again and again the damaged tentacles were dropped before the damage could spread. He would have to hit the main body, somewhere underwater.
He decided if he let it catch him it would likely try to eat him. That would be the fastest way to get to the body. He quit dodging and a tentacle wrapped tightly around his leg and pulled him under.
He spotted the body, it was eating the reclaimed limbs and growing new ones in their place. He raised his arm but more tentacles wrapped around him, around his arms to that he could not swing his blade. He struggled but the creature was stronger than he thought. It pulled him toward a gaping mouth lined with razor sharp teeth.
His one chance was to swing at precisely the moment it placed him in it's mouth, before it could move the tentacles away and close those teeth on him. The creature placed him in it's mouth but started to close it's teeth down on it's own tentacles, not giving him a chance to swing. He felt the teeth tear into his flesh as the beast began to devour its own living limbs to keep him captured. Then the tentacles went slack as they were cut in pieces and he swung bakusaiga with all his might.
The kraken disintegrated around him and he swam up out of the cloud of blood. As he neared the surface he saw the virgin floating with blank staring eyes. She hadn't been fast enough to escape after her freed her. He swept her limp form up as he broke the surface of the water and flew with her back to shore.
He knelt down laying the body on the sand while catching his breath. The villagers had been watching from up the beach and the dead girl's mother was the first to reach them. She shook the dead body begging her girl to breath. He watched the poor woman break down in tears and looked at the dead girl. She wasn't any older than Rin.
Tensaiga pulsed as he stood, dripping blood into the sand. He took a moment to examine his chest and feel the wounds on his back. Severe, but he'd live. He'd need to take a couple of days to recover before he returned to his pack.
The other villagers had run down the beach and were consoling the mother now. Sesshomaru was disgusted, they had been so willing to kill the girl and now were acting as though they had no part in her tragic death. Several looked up and ran in fear when Sesshomaru drew Tensaiga.
"Get her out of my way." He told two who stood nearby. They nodded and quickly moved to do as the youkai said. They had no idea what his plans were, but were not about to disobey the man who had vanquished the sea monster. They grabbed the sobbing woman and pulled her from her daughter.
Sesshomaru swung his word, striking down the minions of the underworld who had come for her soul. The girl opened her eyes and sat up looking up at him in confusion. Everyone watching froze in astonishment as the girl stood back up. The mother broke loose from the men and embraced her little girl sobbing hysterically. Then she dropped to her knees and bowed her head to the ground before Sesshomaru, still unable to speak.
The girl looked confused, she clearly didn't understand what had happened but she copied her mother. Then her father bowed to the ground before him. Slowly one by one the villagers dropped to their knees. Sesshomaru walked away from them into the forest.
He saw a squirrel scampering in a tree as he walked into the woods. He killed it and picked up the two halves. He sat against a tree and began to eat the animal. He wasn't up to hunting large game right now but the small snack would help him recover.
As he finished the squirrel he heard a rustling in the bushes followed by whispers. He looked in the direction and heard a girl whisper "Quiet, I think he heard us."
Sesshomaru stood and faced the bushes. "Show your selves!"
Three young women in fine kimonos emerged from the bushes. "I'm sorry my lord, we meant no harm, we just wished to see the man who vanquished the monster. I owe you a debt of gratitude. The girl chosen was a mere commoner, but any of my friends might have been sacrificed next if the monster had not been slain."
"Your friends? You did not fear for yourself?"
"My father is lord of this city and the surrounding lands."
"I see. You were in no danger of being sacrificed."
"No, but I am thankful anyway. Perhaps I can demonstrate how thankful I am, My Lord. Ask anything you want of me." She purred.
Sesshomaru frowned, he could see where this was going and he was not interested. Not in her. He was turning away when he noticed she wore pearls. He had once asked Melissa if she desired pearls. She hadn't given him an true answer, but what woman didn't like jewelry?
"That necklace, was it purchased in this town?" He asked turning back to the promiscuous girl.
"Why yes my lord! We have a jeweler who makes lovely pieces from pearls. And a kimono shop and a kabuki theater..."
"The jeweler is all I care to hear about."
"Oh, but we have so many fine things! But all these nice things and my poor father doesn't have a son. I am his oldest daughter whomever I decide to marry will be lord of it all one day."
"Then you should choose a willing suitor soon, or your father may force you into a marriage you do not wish to be in when he learns you are pregnant. Now, where may I find this jeweler?"
"I... I'm what?!"
"Pregnant. The jeweler?" Her 'friends' could barely hide their smirks as they stepped forward to answer his questions as the girl broke down in hysterics.
The jeweler was assembling a strand of pearls when Sesshomaru walked in. The jeweler took in Sesshomaru's bloodstained but expensive silk clothing and his face lit up. "How may I help you today my lord?"
"I wish to purchase a pearl necklace." He told the man, though he hardly thought he should need to explain what he sought. The man set about laying out a dozen pretty, shiny strands in white and cream colors. They were beautiful. They were boring.
"My woman is not a typical woman, she is a rare and beautiful[ creature and I would not dishonor her with these pitiful baubles."
"Pearls come in other colors, but they are rare, more expensive." The man explained, already setting out different necklaces and bracelets. Shades of gold, pink, and a couple of black. He looked them over carefully. Most of them were still quite boring.
There was one that was different. It was gold and black, the colors alternating. lovely. But it didn't scream Melissa.
"Show me your seconds."
"But my lord, seconds are lower quality, imperfect. Surely your lady deserves better than..."
"I know her tastes, I wish to see the seconds. You will be paid the same if the craftsmanship is the same." The man reluctantly retrieved a basket of pearls he considered inferior, pearls that might have been sold cheap to artists and peasants.
Sesshomaru sifted through the basket, most of these pearls were misshapen, some had discolorations. He was looking for pleasant imperfections. One of the white ones was tapered on one end, it looked like an egg. He set that one to the side and continued to search. He found another egg shaped pearl, this time black. Another was two toned, pink and gold, as though the oyster didn't know what color to make it. It looked like a peach.
He wasn't sure how long he sifted through the pearls, but he finally had a good sized pile. This would be a one of a kind necklace, unlike any other. He hoped it would please her.
"How long will it take you to make a necklace with these pearls?"
"A day or two." The jeweler replied with a shrug.
"The fact that you are unable to appreciate the beauty of these pearls does not mean I will tolerate poor quality. How long will it take?"
"I don't think it will take more than two days, however if another customer commissions a piece..."
Sesshomaru held up a hand and curled his finger toward him to casually examine his glowing green claws, "It will wait. This necklace is to be your number one priority. I will return for it at dusk in two days time."
When he returned the man was just clearing away the supplies he had used for the day, but the necklace was nowhere in sight. "It is ready?"
The man turned and bowed to him. "It is. I made a slight modification to it my lord. you indicated you desired a quality necklace. With the eclectic selection of pearls you chose I felt it needed a focal point." He took the necklace out of the box he'd placed it in and showed it to Sesshomaru. He had added a silver seashell to it, he was right, the necklace had needed it.
"Do you still have the gold and black necklace?"
"Yes, my lord, I do."
"I will purchase both. Wrap this one, I will take it now. My servant will come to collect the other one in a few days time."
"And how will I know your servant?"
"Do many kappa patronize your store?"
"No, I have never had a kappa in my store."
"Then that is how you shall know him."
Author's note, Jaken's has an errand to run, bet you can guess what happens next chapter...