CHAPTER 33

ZADNIM KHODOM

(Russian: In Reverse)

Previously at "To Arms!"

"Were you a guest at master Rylanion's castle, lord Sesshoumaru?" the name was a little tricky to say but Fedor tried to make it sound right.

"No, this one is not. But a member of my household was his guest."

"The lady Zariana?"

Sesshoumau noted Fedor glanced at the tent where Rin took Kagome. "I take it you know lady Zariana quite well?"

"Ye…yes…quite well. In fact she was the mistress of this land but she…she…" the headman looked away from Sesshoumaru.

"Was?" the tawny eyes narrowed.

"She…she died, my lord," another glance at the tent. "But apparently I am in error."

"How so?"

"Lord Rylanion killed her."

"I hope that you were not lying. " Sesshoumaru looked at Fedor intensely making the old man quake in his threadbare soft soled shoes.

"N..no, my lord!" Fedor shuffled some steps back, clutching his equally threadbare tunic. "I do not lie. I told you the truth. She died but I don't understand why…" he indicated the tent with a nod.

"And your explanation about attacking my camp was a lie." Sesshoumaru's steady gaze rattled the man more knowing his life could end violently.

"I…I…my lord…" Fear so full of tang oozed out of Fedor like honey. In another time it would have given Sesshoumaru immense satisfaction to smell this from anyone.

"However, I killed your hunt. I will recompense in kind. You will accept it." The tone doesn't brook any argument.

Fedor was speechless. "May…may I…" but the tall lord was already walking away when the headman turned back.

"Fedor, do not turn down lord Sesshoumaru's generous offer." The toad said in warning. "Come."

"Where?" the old man asked, fearing that he would be executed in secret…and probably eaten. Gods!

"Lord Sesshoumaru has questions for you." The toad, whose name he remembered as Jaken motioned him where the tall youkai was heading.

"My…my people…" the old man thumbed behind him.

"…will stay here until your talk is finished." The toad pointed. "Lord Shippo has something for them."

Shippo set down a big woven basket on the snow. "Lord Sesshoumaru hunted this meat himself. Take it and feed your people."

Fedor looked back at his family mingled with the villagers and beckoned. They looked at each other and hesitated. With impatience Fedor beckoned, he looked back where the youkai lord stood prominently on an outcropping.

"Fedor…"

With shaking hand he beckoned his frightened wife, "Olya, come quickly, give these to the people. Tell them to make camp here and tell the people to behave."

Olya grasped his tunic, "But where do you go?"

"He wants to talk to me."

Olya was terrified, "No, Fedor. He will kill you." But Fedor shook his head.

"Nyet, woman. If he wanted to, we, all," Fedor gestured at what was left of his people, "we'd all be dead even before we ever saw him." The old man pushed his wife towards the basket and beckoned more. "Hurry, he will not wait for long."

"What do you think he wants?"

"I do not know."

"Will he help us?"

But the old man just looked back at the youkai on the rocks. "I do not know."

~{0}~

A shiver ran through Kagome as Rin plied the damp cloth on the miko's sweat drenched brows. The paleness worried the captain and she wondered if the affliction was back. The captain dug into her pack hoping that she still has some willow bark to bring down the fever. With relief Rin found the familiar leather pouch and immediately poured a small measure of dried bark into her palm. She then poured it into a cup of hot water and let it steep. When the water turned color the captain made the feverish miko drink the bitter tea but there was a commotion outside; it sounded like fighting.

"Halt!" Shippo's voice rose amidst screams.

As Rin rushed out of the tent, Shippo was confronting someone when he was struck down. Rin went to the fallen kitsune and helped him up. He had a nasty gash on his forehead.

"Better stay there, boy." Said Rylanion as he and a group of fighters passed them by and stopped before the inulord. "Ah, Sesshoumaru, I didn't know you were here. Why didn't you stop by the castle to say hello."

"I would have but something else caught my attention," said Sesshoumaru. Behind him he could feel Fedor shaking in his boots at the sight of Rylanion.

"What was it?"

"Something dangerous."

"Oh my. We don't want that," Rylanion noticed the old man cowering behind Sesshoumaru. "Ah, it was a good thing you have caught these ragtag pests. I've been having some problems with them. Did they bother you?"

"We had a misunderstanding."

"A misunderstanding?"

"Yes."

Five seconds passed with Sesshoumaru comfortable in not giving further details. "I…see," Rylanion cleared his throat, "Very well, these people will come with me."

Sesshoumaru unsheathed Bakusaiga and pointed its deadly business end at Rylanion, it stopped his men in their tracks. "These people will stay with me." Rin and Shippo stood on either side of their lord. Jaken stayed near the people.

"What?" Rylanion could not believe it. "These people are thieves and rascals. They bring trouble," Rylanion came close as close as one could get to Bakusaiga's tip. "Better let me take them off your hands. I know how to take care of them." He whispered behind his hand but audible enough to be heard by Fedor who gasped.

'They. Will. Stay. With. Me," said Sesshoumaru softly. Bakusaiga moved ever so slightly and a red dot spread on Rylanion's tunic.

"I do not think I made myself clear. Sesshoumaru. I want these people rounded up."

"And I made myself very clear. Of what interest are they to you?"

"The reasons aren't important! I told you these people are not welcome here."

"I will see to it they cross the boundary."

"That will not do. I have men who will see to that." Rylanion insisted. "I rule here."

"I have heard about your ruling, Rylanion."

"Good."

"I disagree with it."

Rylanion stepped back, infuriated. "Sesshoumaru you seem to have forgotten you are on my land."

"You seem to have forgotten your land is under my jurisdiction."

"You are too far away from your land, your territory."

"Not so far when the entire realm is covered under that jurisdiction," Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed. "Or have you forgotten, Rylanion?"

"What are you going to do? Impose your power over me?"

"It has already been imposed," Sesshoumaru smirked. "You would have known it had you been the real Rylanion."

"I am confused at what you were saying."

"I do not think so. You know what I am saying."

"What do you mean if he's the 'real' Rylanion?" Kagome asked.

"All youkai know and fear me. I govern all the realms, but that one was unaware. Therefore what happened to the real Rylanion?"

"Then who the hell are you?" Kagome demanded at Rylanion.

"Yes, please do tell us who you are…impostor."

But instead of replying Rylanion took out a dark object from his waistband; it was elongated, like a stick with a red gem at its end. It glowed when he waved it over his head.

~{0}~

Sesshoumaru tensed as he looked at the stick but suddenly Rylanion vanished. The man was nowhere to be found including his men.

Hn, good riddance. He was a little disappointed that the man was such a coward, he thought, as Bakusaiga returned to its scabbard. Well then, I could now be left at peace to hunt. Sesshoumaru could still scent that giant moose he was tracking before that craven youkai appeared and challenged him. Ah, there he is… and without further thought he leapt to air to follow the trail of his prey. Hunting always keeps him in a good mood.

~{0}~

Rin tensed as she looked at the stick but suddenly Rylanion vanished. The man was nowhere to be found including his men.

What the f…? The captain looked around. Oh thank goodness, she sagged in relief at her almost slip up. Good thing Sesshoumaru wasn't around to scold her for using a crass word. Where the hell did he go? Can you believe that guy? He went into a hissy fit for picking up a few berries and he even called some of his men to drive us away. "All for just a bunch of berries? Unbelievable."

Hey, more berries! Oh that sweet Ah-Un! He left some berries for me! I better get these before he comes back and finishes it all off. Rin sat cross legged at the base of the tree with her find. "Hey, Ah-Un! I'm eating your berries! I'm gonna eat all of it! Last chance!" But the dragon was nowhere. She tried to listen to Ah-Un's noises but maybe the dragon fell asleep by the stream. "Huh! Typical." Rin smirked. "Oh well, I'll help him gather up more later." She giggled at the thought of Ah-Un crying after he saw Rin ate all of his berries.

~{0}~

Kagome tensed as she looked at the stick but suddenly Rylanion vanished. The man was nowhere to be found including his men.

She turned around, skittish as a horse, wary that he might spring from above. Her hands glowed strongly with their twin power ready to scorch anyone who attacks. "Where are you? Show your face Rylanion! What despicable things have you been doing at the dungeons? You disgust me. Turning against the very people who seek your protection. Where are you! Rylanion!"

Only the echo of her voice came back for her to hear her challenge. "Rylanion!" The echoes came back as she called his name over and over again. There! There he is! "Rylanion!" Kagome sprinted quickly as Rylanion tried to flee by dodging between trees. "Come back here!" Dammit! He's trying to get away! Oh no you don't! I'm gonna kick your ass!" Frustrated at the stinging and snagging vines slowing her down, Kagome took to the air.

~{0}~

Shippo tensed as Rylanion brandished the stick but he suddenly vanished. The man was nowhere to be found including his men.

But the kitsune wasn't fooled. He'd done enough sleight of hand one too many like that. He threw some colored paper in the air; if Rylanion and his men were out there trying to fool him they're not going to succeed.

The paper colored the snow on the ground and vanished but no Rylanion appeared hiding under a spell to Shippo's confusion. Oh-kay….you want to play, let's get you guys warmed up. Foxfire like dragon's breath lit the shadowy forest for a moment but no one screamed in pain or came out rolling on the ground on fire. "Hey, asshole! I'm gonna find you!"

Shippo began by sniffing the air to get a lingering whiff. Hm, there…very faint. Better than nothing. And I'll take that better than nothing. Without further thought he focused is senses on the trail and in no time he too vanished in the shadows.

~{0}~

Everyone tensed as Rylanion brandished the stick but he suddenly vanished. The man was nowhere to be found including his men.

Fedor was happy that Lord Sesshoumaru defended his village and his friends helped them settle back in their houses inside the castle walls where they used to reside before Lord Rylanion drove them out after the death of Lady Sariana. The powerful inulord, whom he was terrified of at first, was surprisingly generous and gave him a small bag of gold coins to buy supplies not to mention the stock of newly hunted seal meat. His wife is happily busy being headwoman again supervising the equal distribution of the meat for each family. The families were given a new home depending on their household size.

Fedor couldn't help sigh in contentment. It was amazing…more than amazing to be from a wandering vagabond to a settled village once more. No more children would have to die in winter. His own grandchildren died three winters ago, it devastated his son and daughter. Fedor looked at his only remaining grandchild, Danil, and vowed that he and the other children under his care would grow up strong and healthy.

~{0}~

Everything is well….

The casement lid closed with a click, the occupant inside the yellow glassy pane is now protected from the elements. They have to make haste and attach them for harvest. His blue eyes gleamed in heady anticipation at the feast he will be enjoying tonight.

~~[O]~~