Favor
Kohaku shouldered his way through a crowd of youkai soldiers with an attitude of ease. Some soldiers sneered at him, knowing what profession he held; while others simply couldn't be bothered.
"Oi, do you know where Sesshoumaru-sama is?" Kohaku asked a passing youkai.
The soldier curled his lip in disgust, and hissed in his face, before striding away.
Kohaku pinched the bridge of his nose. Alright, so that didn't work.
He turned his attention back to the crowd, looking for anyone who might be of use. Ah ha! Kohaku reached out and grabbed just the person he was looking for.
"Hey! Let me go, you imbecile!" Jaken wailed and thrashed his body around, doing his best to free himself from Kohaku's strong grasp. "What is the meaning of this!?"
"Calm down. I just want to know where Sesshoumaru-sama is." Kohaku explained, holding up the wiggling toad youkai in the air, frustrating the creature even more.
"Put me down!" Jaken screeched.
"Not until you tell me."
Jaken's body sagged in his robes as he finally admitted defeat. His bulbous eyes glared at Kohaku before narrowing, making his irritation known. "Okay, okay! Lord Sesshoumaru is over by the main gate confirming plans with the troops."
Kohaku set him down with a pat on the head. "Thank you, Jaken."
"Filty human," the toad youkai murmured in an irate tone as he quickly scurried away.
Kohaku followed Jaken's instructions and found Sesshoumaru where Jaken said he would be, handing a scroll to a foot soldier near him. "Take this to Ieyasu. Tell him to move out at dawn."
"Yes, my lord."
As the courier left to do as he had asked, another stood in his place.
"Sesshoumaru-sama." Kohaku said in greeting.
Sesshoumaru's dark amber eyes examined him with scrutiny. There was something different about the human. Sure, he appeared to be healed from his outward wounds, but the despair and gloom that clung so desperately to him before seemed to have lessened. Was it possible that Kagome had the ability to heal the spirit as well?
He had been slightly surprised that the slayer had not left already. Then again, it wasn't any of his business, and he really didn't care.
"What do you want? Are you here to haggle for more payment?" Sesshoumaru asked, not hiding any of the annoyance he felt.
"Ah, no. You paid me generously, but I would like to ask a favor." Kohaku explained.
"No." Sesshoumaru replied flatly. Could the human not see that he was busy? War was on their doorstep and now he wanted a favor from him?
Kohaku furrowed his brow. "You don't even know what the favor is!"
"No." He said simply, turning his attention back to table covered in papers he needed to approve.
"Sesshoumaru-sama...please."
The daiyoukai looked up from the scrolls, and focused his intense gaze on him. The boy was on his knees, bowing his head to the ground in respect.
"I would like to join your army, to be under your command. I could continue to do reconnaissance."
Sesshoumaru said nothing for several unnerving moments. Kohaku resisted the urge to fidget or move, as if it were a test of wills.
"Why?" He asked curiously. The request had caught him off guard.
Kohaku opened his mouth, floundering for a moment. "I, uh, I have been wandering for the last ten years, and I feel like it is time to stay in one place for a while. I believe in fighting for your land and people."
Hm...not a lie, but... Sesshoumaru knew there must be more to it than that.
A chill went up Kohaku's back, and it had nothing to do with the frightening daiyoukai in front of him. Someone was watching him.
The slayer turned and looked over his shoulder, looking around the busy moving crowd behind him. It only took a few moments to realize the gaze did not come from a youkai, instead standing on a balcony on the third floor, stood Rin. The bright torches illuminating the palace cast flicking shadows across her face. She still wore her sleeping yukata, but she had wrapped herself in thick white furs to protect against the chill of the night. Her long black hair framed her face, and fell around her shoulders, a stark contrast against the white fur around her.
There was no mistaking it. She was watching them with a keen eye.
Sesshoumaru looked past Kohaku to see where his attention had gone.
Ah, Rin. His gold eyes slid back to the human in front of him.
"You wish to court her."
Kohaku whipped back around to Sesshoumaru with eyes wide open. His heart raced with fear that she would have heard or understood them, which was ridiculous given how far away she was, not to mention she wouldn't hear anything of the roar of the soldiers.
Sesshoumaru watched with fascination as the human's face turned red.
"I...I..." Kohaku grasped at anything to not have to say aside from the truth. How would he react? Would the fearsome lord strike him down right there for such a suggestion?
"Stand," Sesshoumaru commanded as his attention drifted back to the petite woman on the balcony. Rin continued to watch them.
Even though he often wore a neutral appearance, Rin had no problems seeing right to the core of him. Yet, he could not do the same for her anymore. She had gotten older, changed. She no longer wore every emotion and thought on her sleeve. She had become a stranger, but at the same still familiar. It would take much more effort to care for her now than when she was a child.
The young man continued to stare at him in horror for revealing his intentions. Should he grant this slayer his wish? What would Rin want?
Glancing at the table, he slid a blank piece of parchment his way. Dipping his brush into the ink, he wrote a quick note.
"Is this truly what you wish?" Sesshoumaru asked, sliding his eyes back to the boy. No, he was a young man now; not the same child who lost his life and childhood trying defeat Naraku.
Kohaku stared at Sesshoumaru, completely at a loss. Is he really going to let me court Rin? He felt that he was too damaged to be a husband to anyone, but what he did know is that Rin believed that she could help him recover from his never ending torment. She had listened to him, heard some of darkest fears, and did not condemn him. For the first time since before his life was destroyed by Naraku, he felt hope. A small bit of the suffocating guilt lifted from his chest. Thoughts of marrying her were out of the question, but he had to remain near her, to protect her. Kohaku assumed the best way to accomplish that would be to join the western army. Wherever Sesshoumaru was, Rin was sure to follow.
"You must swear allegiance to this Sesshoumaru."
Kohaku straightened up with a look of determination in his eyes.
"Of course, my lord."
"Hn." The daiyoukai rolled up the small parchment and handed it to the slayer.
"Take this to Takeshi. He will instruct you further."
Kohaku took the scroll with a small bow. "Oh, uh Sesshoumaru-sama...which general do I need to leave out with?"
Sesshoumaru's right eyebrow twitched ever so slightly with irritation.
"None. You will remain here and train with the remaining soldiers."
"I assure you that I have had plenty of..." Kohaku started to say before Sesshoumaru's glare gave him pause.
"I uh...yes, my lord. Thank you."
"Hn."
Kohaku didn't know whether to feel insulted that he wasn't allowed to go with the rest of the troops, or relieved. At least this way, he would remain close to Rin.
"Slayer." Sesshoumaru's voice made him turn back around to him.
"If you wish to court her...that is her choice." If Sesshoumaru had learned anything about this strange new Rin, it was that choice mattered to her.
"I understand." Kohaku said feeling the woman-in-question's gaze on his back. He had no doubt that he would have to explain what he was doing to her. She probably assumed that he meant to leave in the middle of the night without saying goodbye.
Turning around, he looked up to the balcony to meet her cool gaze. No emotion showed on her face, yet he couldn't help but feel her concern.
As if a moment of understanding passed between them, she nodded before swiftly slipping back inside the palace.
Sesshoumaru returned his attention to the duties at hand. There was a lot of work to accomplish before the army set out. What did it matter that that foolish human had in interest in Rin?
It wasn't his business and he didn't care.
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Author's note: So...this chapter happened because I forgot to add it to the last one. The next chapter will start the next story arc, and hopefully I will be able to update tomorrow. Thank you so much for all the reviews!