Chapter 3.
Please review.
No Flames.
Sesshomaru's POV.
Demon Realm.
Long after he was gone from the human realm, Sesshomaru, in his usual outfit, could still hear the girl's sweet, pure voice esounding in his mind like a peaceful flute. He didn't expect for her voice to be like sharp needles, pricking away at his stone heart. Sure, he heard the tales of her voice long before she was even born, and heard her voice in person when she was a baby, but what he heard that night was something he would never forget.
The beautiful innocence that floated along the melody of her voice, the purity in her tone... just thinking about it made him go insane.
"Lord Sesshomaru!" a male voice said.
In annoyance, Sesshomaru turned to the entrance of his bed chambers, regarding Ryura. He had a calm expression.
"Why are you yelling?" Sesshomaru asked, just above a growl.
Ryura bowed. "Forgive me, but something grave has happened." He said.
Ryura, looked to be 20 years old, had light brown skin, short spiky blue hair, red eyes, in his usual outfit.
Sesshomaru beckoned him closer. "What is it?" he asked.
By the forlorn look that enclosed Ryura's face, he could tell something grave really did occur, because, although Ryura possessed qualities of a human, never did he make expressions. His face always bore the same, emotionless expression. Even his eyes were void of emotion, but now, hidden within his eyes was worry.
Small, and wavering like a little flame about to die, it was there hidden in his golden yellow eyes.
Ryura scuffled towards the side of his bed, bowing once more before he spoke again.
"The Lord of the Western Lands...your father, Inu no Taishō, has fallen ill-" Ryura said but was cut off.
Sesshomaru continued to display a calm, calculating expressiom when Ryura didn't try to stop him. He narrowed his eyes, leaning toward Ryura.
"You want me to believe, my father, who is as indestructable as a roach has fallen...ill? Not even lower demons fall ill, Ryura. What kind of joke is this?"
Ryura pursed his lips, "It is not a joke, my lord. Your father has indeed fallen ill, and has ordered his sons to attend a meeting to discuss the throne." he said.
Sesshomaru stared off, not able to fully wrap his mind around the fact that his father was indeed ill. From the beginning of his life, he always remembered his father as someone who was the strongest entity in all realms, someone unable to fall victim to death and illness.
"What kind of...illness is it? I'm sure it's not something to be so grave about." Sesshomaru questioned, his throat suddenly going dry.
Ryura stared at the floor, his lips trembling at the words he was going to say next.
"It is the illness the last Lord of the Western Lands died of. It's...incurable." Ryura said.
Sesshomaru's chest heaved suddenly, as if he had just taken a blow from an unseen opponent but he showed no emotions. "Incurable?" he said.
Ryura nodded hesitantly.
"Where is he?" Sesshomaru asked, rising from his bed.
Ryura stepped aside. "In his chambers." he said.
Without another word, Sesshomaru walked past Ryura, and out of his chambers. He had to see his father before his brothers arrived to cast their lots. Perhaps, the only emotions he felt, was when his father was involved.
Sesshomaru remembered being harrassed by his younger brothers constantly but that stopped instantly when they were scared of him being angry. Always, when he was young he would spend his time next to his father, learning how the government of the Western Lands worked.
Even though, when he became older, Sesshomaru and his father stopped spending time, his love, and admiration for his father never ceased to exist. He just stored it deep within his petrified heart, for Hell was no place for such emotions.
Sesshomaru stopped in front of his father's chambers, nodding as the two guards bowed deeply in reverance.
"Lord Sesshomaru." They called in unison, stepping aside.
Sesshomaru walked inside the room, rushing to his father's bed chambers once he was out of sight of the servants. He stopped just outside the thick, satin red curtains raising his hand to knock on the side of the wall.
"Sesshomaru...?" a deep, resounding male voice questioned. "Is that you? Come in."
Without another thought, he went in, flipping the curtains away. Immediately Sesshomaru's eyes landed on his father, lying in his bed with his eyes closed.
"Servants, you may leave." Inu no Taishō said.
Sesshomaru moved away from the door, allowing the servants to leave. Once they were out, his father stretched his right hand to him.
"Come." Inu no Taishō said.
Sesshomaru did as he took a seat in a brown wooden chair beside Inu no Taishō's bed on the left side.
Sesshomaru stared at him, feeling overwhelmed by the aging he saw in his once youthful father. His face was naturally pale, but it was now ashen, and resembled flour. His lips were set in a small smile, that most likely just formed at his entrance.
"Father, why?" Sesshomaru asked.
The smile on Inu no Taishō's face brightened.
"Why have I gotten sick, or why have I not told you?" He asked, his tone gentle.
Sesshomaru's eyes burned with anger, "Why haven't you told me? I've been conquering new territories, and adding to your work when you're not even fit to do so. How long?" he asked.
Inu no Taishō lifted his left hand slowly, placing it on Sesshomaru's right hand.
"It was to get you to be independent of me. I...needed you to become who you are now. If you would have known of my illness you would not have left my side." Inu no Taisho said gently.
Sesshomaru looked to the floor in silence. His father was right, he would never have left him if he would have known he was sick.
"I wanted you to become strong. To become renown in all realms, you, my son, the heir to the throne of the Western Lands. I knew this from the day of your birth."
Sesshomaru kept his eyes lowered, seeing the many years he spent with Inu no Taishō pass before him like clouds in the sky.
"Sesshomaru." Inu no Taisho said.
He looked up quickly, meeting his father's frozen water eyes staring at him in an emotion rarely shown in the Lord of the Western Land's eyes: Love.
Inu no Taishō, his white hair is seen in a very high ponytail, tan skin, has pointed ears as well as fangs and claws. He has wide, jagged purple-blue stripes on the sides of his face and amber irises, wearing his usual outfit, a white kimono and hakama, armored boots, and a long flowing sash, grey breastplates, with a spiked rim, with the addition of Chinese vambraces and armored gauntlets, as well as layered spiked pauldron on each shoulder, a parted pelt that extends from both shoulders and trails behind him as he walks.
Sesshomaru put his head down as his eyes burned like fire with the threat of tears. He felt his father's left hand weigh down on his head gently.
He didn't cry, but it was the closest he had ever been to crying, and ever would get to crying. The mere fact of coming close to crying was seen as a disgrace, but he knew his father didn't think that way. He knew that if he did somehow manage to cry, his father would only sit there and let him, pretending not to notice in order to spare him the shame.
"I...can't...father. How am I going to live without you?" Sesshomaru asked calmly, feeling an unbearable amount of shame for speaking that way.
Inu no Taisho tsked, drawing his left hand away from his head. Sesshomaru looked up, just as Inu no Taishō , with great effort, sat up.
Inu no Taishō turned to him, his frozen golden eyes piercing Sesshomaru in his heart of stone like only he could.
"I've been bearing this illness from the time you were born, and I will continue to bear it. I have many more years in me, son. You will not live without me just yet, thoughts like those will only drag you down." Inu no Taisho said
Sesshomaru nodded, reasurred as, just for a moment, he saw a flicker of the father from his childhood.
After a small space of silence, Inu no Taishō chuckled.
"So, I've heard you have taken a job as the protector of a mortal. Not just any mortal at that, but the one spoken about in the prophecies of the Seers. Does she live up to the prophecies?" Inu no Taisho asked.
Sesshomaru leant back in the chair nodding, "Yes, I have." he said, thinking back to the song she sang to him.
"I'm not sure. I haven't had the urge to..." Sesshomaru said.
Inu no Taishō raised left eyebrow, "To suck her life force?" he asked.
Sesshomaru felt his face heat up immediately to his dismay. To discuss such a thing with his father was not something he found comfortable, no matter how close they were. Sucking the life force of any being involved intercourse. Although, there were many other ways to suck a being's life force, just not as entertaining.
Inu no Taishō bent over in hearty laughter, trembling as he tried to compose himself. Running his right hand through his hair, he turned to Sesshomaru, his eyes glinting in mischief.
"There's nothing to be ashamed of if you have!" Inu no Taisho said. "Just when I thought you were a man. Have you not even had intercourse yet? How old are you Sesshomaru?"
Sesshomaru looked to the door, making sure no one was listening, satisfied, he turned back to his father.
"Unlike you, father, I don't plan to have concubines. I just want one woman, one that I will be pleased with forever." Sesshomaru said.
Inu no Taishō smiled. "You've always been such an honest boy. I'll tell you this though, you will not find one decent demon female. You might want to check on some angels, I've heard they are very loyal. Or you can go with a full breed, nothing wrong with that, me and your mother was one."
Sesshomaru nodded, thinking of his mother. She was beautiful, at least the pictures he'd seen of her in his father's private study. Inukimi, once had fair skin with pointed ears, slanted golden eyes lighter than Sesshomaru's with slit pupils, and knee-length white hair that was in 2 ponytails with short white bangs, a lavender crescent moon on her forehead that could be seen beneath her bangs, 1 purple stripe on each cheek, a magenta stripe on each eyelid, and dark purple lipstick, in her usual outfit, a purple and white kimono with green and yellow butterfly designs on it, and wore a dark blue outer wrap that had a fur pelt, which wrapped around her chest, at the end of her outer wrap, there also was another fur pelt, and a light blue necklace with an amulet of the Meidō Stone.
"She was so beautiful, her innocence was like a sweet, savory scent. I loved her so much that I didn't even know it myself until she died." Inu no Taishosaid, glancing at Sesshomaru. "You know you look like her."
Sesshomaru show no emotions. "You've told me that so many times father." He chuckled, "But what you haven't told me was what she occupations were. You've always told me she was a great full dog demon." Sesshomaru said, not expecting the serious glint that overcame Inu no Taishō's eyes.
Inu no Taishō looked away. "You'll find out soon, I suppose." he said.
The sudden serious air around Inu no Taishō made Sesshomaru suspicious, he knew very well his father was often serious when it came to just the two of them, unless it was something...well, serious.
"Go call your brothers so we can hurry and get this meeting over with." Inu no Taisho said, his voice icing over in his kingly tone.
He knew that meant it was the end of their conversation, with a bow he left to go get his half brothers.
...
1 hour later.
The Meeting.
Sesshomaru looked around at his brothers, not showing any emotions as they talked amongst themselves. Including himself, Inu no Taishō had six children, not including the bastards that must have been born as a result of his playing around. His young half brothers were all a couple centuries younger than him, and all of them hated him with every fiber of their being but he didn't care.
He sat in a chair in the middle of a row of chairs that was asked around Inu no Taishō's bed, no longer was he in the seat next to his father. The 2nd and 3rd oldest were Hiten, a yōkai with human-like characteristics, looked to be 18 years old, tan skin color, red eyes, long black hair which he keeps in a braided ponytail, short bangs, the most prominent of which are two strands of hair that fall on either side of his forehead, his hair is not parted to either side, small ears which are pointed, a feature common amongst most demons, arched eyebrows, thick eyelashes, in his usual outfit, very elaborate armor orange shoulder pads and other portions, a white shirt underneath his kimono, which is colored blue around the collar and shoulder, armor, fitted around his lower torso and padding on top of this, shoulder pads are roughly shaped like cogs, with spikes roughly in the shape of the letter "z", two pads on his forearms which extend over the top of his hands are bound by gray rings to his right arm, on top of the pad on his right arm is an armored plate, on which a kanji from name is inscribed, meaning "heaven" or "sky", two rings encircle his left wrist and right elbow, blue jewel is set on the tip nearest his elbow. The identical plate on his left arm is not connected to his forearm, but on his arm and elbow. As with the plate on his right arm, the plate on his left arm also has a jewel set on the tip nearest his elbow, however it is red and not blue. He has an extra ring, not connected to the plate, around his left wrist, to match the one on his right. He has an orange coil around his right bicep, and Byakuya, a humanoid yokai that looked to be in his early 20s, had fair skin, purple eyes, back length black hair, which is tied in a ponytail, lips appear to be painted red, in his usual outfit, a light blue haori with red patterns on it, brown hakama with them, a dark blue vest with yellow markings on it, white socks, brown sandals, and a bladeless sword tied to his back along with his medium sized gourd, were.
Hiten sat back not speaking to anyone either, with a smug look plastered on his face, probably knowing that he would get the greatest inheritance out of everyone.
Inu no Taishō sat up slowly, his face void of any emotions.
At once, the talking ceased and all eyes were on the Lord of the Western Lands.
"I'm sure all of you have been waiting eagerly for the day I would give up the throne." Inu no Taishō said, his eyes scanning over each of them, stopping for just a moment to meet Sesshomaru's eyes before looking away.
"I have called you here to discuss my throne and who I deem fit enough to succeed me." Inu no Taishō said, calmly stopping to look at Hiten. "Age does not matter."
Sesshomaru glanced at Hiten to see his entire body had gone rigid with rage, but no matter how short tempered he was, Sesshomaru knew he wouldn't attack Inu no Taishō, after all, even in such a weakened state he was still capable of defending himself.
"One of you will be the sole ruler of the Western Lands. The other one will be the second in command, while the rest of you will have smaller territories to watch over, yet you will be under the command of the ruler I choose." Inu no Taishō said calmly.
Sesshomaru felt the tension in the room rise, the brothers who, just moments ago were laughing and talking to one another were now shooting daggers at each other.
"You may leave now." Inu no Taisho said.
With the help of two servants, Inu no Taishō laid back down, closing his eyes.
Sesshomaru left first, not wanting to be caught in the aftermath. All his brothers knew that Inu no Taishō valued him more, so he would never hear the end of their slander if he stayed.
"You. Sesshomaru." A gruffy voice called.
Hiten.
Sesshomaru turned around in veiled annoyance, he already knew what was coming.
"What, Hiten?" Sesshomaru asked.
Hiten stepped closer narrowing his fiery red eyes in suspicion.
"You have cried to father haven't you, scum! Knowing he'd listen to you, you waved your pretty face around him, pretending to be the victim! You always was his favorite-"
Sesshomaru smirked. "With all due respect brother Hiten, I have no time for you nor your accusations. If you feel that way go to father not me." he said.
Hiten's eyes dilated in anger. "You dare turn your nose up at me? I will crush-" he said but was cut off.
"Hiten-niisan..." A soft, but firm voice called.
Sesshomaru look to the source of the voice, the third youngest, Magatsuhi, a humanoid demon that looked to be 20, had pale face, back length shaggy grey hair, red eyes, sclera and blue stripes on his cheeks, blue lips, in his usual outfit, a set of dark armor, was standing not too far from where they were.
Hiten growled, pushing past Sesshomaru.
Magatsuhi stared at Sesshomaru intently, his red eyes seemingly disinterested, but Sesshomaru knew better, without a word, Sesshomaru turned around and walked to his compartments.
"Sesshomaru-niisan." Magatsuhi whispered, his voice silent but reaching Sesshomaru's ears with ease.
Sesshomaru paused, and turned back to Magatsuhi.
For a long moment, neither of them said anything, just staring. Sesshomaru stared with no emotions, for he knew Magatsuhi had the power to look into a beings' past, present, future, and even their hearts if that person was not guarded but it didn't know on him because he had a strong mind.
After a while, Magatsuhi smiled, a lazy smile.
"I guess it is no use trying to read you Sesshomaru. You do not even trust me?" Magatsuhi asked, in veiled amusement.
Sesshomaru didn't reply, displaying a calm, calculating face. Even though Magatsuhi hadn't harrassed him along with his other brothers before most of them became afraid of him, he never helped him either. He only watched as his brothers committed horrible acts against him for a moment, staring at him with the same lazy smile, and disinterested red eyes.
Sesshomaru turn around and walked away as he grew tired of his younger half brothers.
...
Human Realm.
Konohagakure.
The day was beautiful, with the sun floating lazily in the sky causing the clouds around it to turn a mellow orange. The surrounding clouds behind those were blushing a light pink shade, shying away from the sun's warm embrace.
Crystal, her hair down and in her usual outfit, an orange kimono with light blue flowers on them and orange sandals, and dark blue glasses, reclined on a wooden bench in a quiet park, the one that was forgotten by most inhabitants of the town because of its lack of a playground and Konohagakure Village.
Although no one was in sight, Crystal did not feel lonely in the least, she was used to being by herself, and she did not want to change it. Being alone allowed her time to think and...breath. She felt so suffocated being around people. Crystal looked up at the sky, taking in a long contemplative breath which she withdrew with a short soft sigh.
"Why the sigh?" a male voice that reminded her of silky velvet floated from behind her, and with a start she turned to the intruder.
A lean-muscled young man that looked to be 19 years old, had fair skin, round ears, slanted golden yellow eyes with slit pupils, and long white hair that reached his thigh with short bangs, a spiked pauldron that covered his left shoulder attached to the upper section of his cuirass and "lotus petal" faulds, both his armor and his long flowing sash had a decided Chinese influence, as opposed to the customary Japanese armor and obi, his kimono was mostly white with a red and white cherry blossom flower crest at the collar and sleeves, showing that he was of royal birth, a sashinuki hakama which were gathered at the ankles, producing a "ballooning" effect, footwear consisted of black ankle-high boots, also reminiscent of Chinese influence.
Crystal softly blushed at how this man was generally very handsome. Tried as she might to look away, she found that she was strangely drawn to his golden yellow eyes and no matter how much her mind screamed at her to look away, her body refused to obey.
As if knowing the struggle that was happening in her mind, the corner of the man's perfect lips jilted upward in amusement.
"May I sit?" the unknown male asked gently.
Before Crystal could even form the words on her lips, the unknown male moved towards her causing her body to shyly make room for him. As the unknown male sat down on the left side of her, Crystal shyly looked away, trying to hide her uncomfortability and shyness.
For a long moment though, the unknown man did not say a word, and neither did she. Gradually, the tension in her body melted, until Crystal was as close to relaxed as she could get around a stranger.
"You look sad." the unknown male whispered quietly, almost as if he was talking to himself.
Crystal suddenly turned to him, to see his attention was riveted on the sky, just as hers was moments ago. She shyly looked away as her blush was gone.
"I-I'm... I-I was just… thinking." Crystal said, stealing a quick glance at him to see he was still looking up at the sky.
Crystal looked away shyly again. "A lot of things have happened. Things that...I'm not even sure are real myself." she said, softly.
She paused, wondering if he would say something, most people would around this time. Asking strange questions at that one little statement. When he made no move to speak, she continued.
"I mean, it's sort of as if I have been living a lie my entire life. It's kind of scary too… My mother and father… doesn't even know about it yet, I was too frightened to tell them... For some reason, they just look so fragile, I couldn't break them by telling them what I saw..." the unknown male said.
Crystal sighed softly again, looking up at the sky.
"I understand. Many of us grow up thinking our parents are indestructible gods, incapable of being killed, or hurt. Until as we age, it is as if our eyes are opened-we can see just how weak they actually are." the unknown male said. "Then we make it our duty to protect them, instead of them protecting us. Children are weird that way."
Crystal glanced at the unknown male in a mixture of surprise and awe. His voice was melodic, and if she was a young child she might have been lulled to sleep, but what amazed her the most, was his philosophy. Although he looked around 19 years old, what he spoke was from someone who was far older and much more wiser.
Crystal no longer felt uncomfortable, and tense, although she still felt shy and that this stranger had a certain oddity about him she placed it at the back of her mind. After all, he seemed like an intelligible person to talk to.
"You are right. My parents try to keep up this tough, hopeful travesty but I can see through it... They probably could have deceived me when I was younger, but now, I'm really tired of it. I know they are hiding something from me, but I don't know what... Should I ask…?" Crystal said, shyly glancing at him, just as he glanced at her.
Meeting his exquisite eyes caused Crystal's heart to leap in nervousness, but she maintained eye contact for a moment longer than she wanted to before shyly looking away. Crystal easily blushed, for his eyes seemed to be piercing into her very soul. What was most nerve wrecking though, were his eyes...they were familiar, but she knew she had never met him in her life.
"Your parents...are the kind to keep a disaster a secret in order to protect you?" the unknown male asked.
Crystal nodded slightly. "Hai. This time, though, it isn't anything normal… So it's hard to approach them on it…" she said.
"Well, if you know for certain that they are hiding something, and they believe by not telling you they will protect you why would you want to hurt them by showing them their method of protecting you was unfruitful? They will want to believe they protected you until their death, if you cared about them you would not confront them on the matter. However, I am only a stranger, do what you will." the unknown male asked.
Crystal stayed in silent contemplation. The unknown man's words were straight, and blunt, he told her only what he thought. Yet, she found that she agreed entirely with his words.
Crystal looked at him suddenly; he returned her gaze with a leveled one of his own.
"W-who are you...?" Crystal asked.
"You can call me Sesshomaru. I am only passing through this town." Sesshomaru said, calmly
Crystal blushed softly. "I-I-It's nice to meet you Sesshomaru… I am Crystal Uzumaki... Where are you from…?"
Sesshomaru looked off into the distance then. "I'm from a far away village." he said.
She made a confused expression before glancing up shyly at the darkening sky.
"Before, you said that you understood me… A-are you going through the same thing as me…?" Crystal asked shyly.
Sesshomaru didn't show any emotions. "Sort of. My father has an incurable disease, and he has had it for his entire life, yet, I have just found out about it. I have always thought he was invincible, nothing could stop him..." he said, looking at Crystal.
Crystal frowned, shaking her head sadly. "I'm so sorry... That is horrible, and here I was complaining about my parents. That must have hurt, finding that out..." she said softly.
Sesshomaru continued to show no emotions before continuing.
"It did. It was almost like getting punched in the gut. It takes you by surprise, and for just a moment you forget you are not breathing. I still remember how fragile he looked, laying on his bed..." Sesshomaru said.
Crystal stared at him, riveted by his recount of his father. "Your mother must be grieved by this too." she said, sadly.
Sesshomaru's eyebrows furrowed slightly at her words before he whispered. "She would be, if she were still alive. She died a while back, just after I was born. She was a-" he said, looking at her with no emotions before saying. "A beautiful woman."
"You have suffered a lot, but at first glance you don't seem to have suffered anything... Y-you are really strong, I would have been crushed…" Crystal said.
Sesshomaru looked at her again, with no emotions before he continued. "Yes, I am, but you are too. You are just unaware of it. Only a strong person can feel sincere pain for another's problems as you do." he said.
Crystal met his gaze, noticing that this time, her heart didn't act up. Sesshomaru's eyes were deep, and soulful, letting her know he meant what he said. She did notice though, that there was this odd pulling at the center of her chest as she continued to gaze.
"Thank you." Crystal said, shyly.
Sesshomaru continued to show no emotions and nodded.
That is when she noticed the street lights, they were illuminating the park. She looked up into the sky quickly, seeing the sky had transitioned to a shade shy of indigo. Crystal turned back to Sesshomaru with a frown.
"Um… I have to go home..." Crystal said, shyly.
"It is getting late." Sesshomaru said.
Crystal stood up slowly, reluctant to end the conversation so fast.
"Will you...?" Crystal asked, shyly.
"Be here tomorrow?" Sesshomaru questioned. "No, but I will be the next day. Will you?"
Crystal smiled softly and nodded quickly. "Hai... I'll see you then. It was nice talking to you Sesshomaru..." she said before turning away.
Night Time.
Uzumaki Clan compound.
Her house.
That night Crystal, in her night clothes, laid in bed thinking about that guy in the park, he was the most intriguing person she'd ever met. No one she'd ever seen seemed to be able to command such gravity around them.
Merely looking into his eyes was comparative to looking into a fire. The more she stared, the more she felt as if she were slowly, but surely getting burned with the fire that seeped beneath her skin. Not only that, but his eyes seemed to hold the mysteries of the world. She wondered what those mysteries were, and if he would ever show them to her.
Crystal shook her head in annoyance at her thoughts, there would be no way he would do that. After all, they were strangers, she didn't know more than his name-she knew about his father and mother. But he knew about her parents too.
She couldn't wait to meet him again, and talk to him. She imagined the conversation they would have. This time, would it be about the stars, the solar systems, the flaws of humanity or the values of life?
Thinking about such things made her exhausted, and her eyelids suddenly became extremely heavy. She could no longer fight the sleep that lurked in the shadows of the night.
Just as she closed her eyes though, she heard a faint sound. She tried to open her eyes, but her muscles would not move. The faint sound came again-louder this time. She could make out that is was a voice. Not just any voice though, a voice that sounded oddly familiar. It held a certain amount of gravity-deep and resounding, reverberating through her body.
"... Crystal." a male voice said
She tried to stir, but again, her body wouldn't obey her.
"Crystal..." a male voice said again.
Crystal slowly opened her eyes and she was still in her room, the moon was shining bright through her window. It was shining so bright in fact, that it almost lit up her entire room with a milky light.
Crystal sat up in her bed and took her glasses off of her night stand with her right hand put them before she looked around slowly. It was almost as if she was searching for something, but whatever it was, it was not there. All she could see was her vanity to the far right of her room, her closet off to the side, and she could just make out the faint lines of the posters of flowers and pictures of family that cluttered her wall.
Crystal cared so much about her family and flowers but mostly of pink roses because it was her favorite flower ever since she was a little girl.
"Crystal." A male voice said.
Crystal's heart seemed to shiver in her chest at the sound of her name being called in the middle of the night. She fought to control her breathing and not panic. So what someone was calling her from outside her window, so what the voice was virtually familiar.
Crystal slid her legs out from under the covers, planting her feet on her plush rug. The touch was soft and served as a friendly reminder that she was still safe. Merely looking out her window was not going to kill her, unless of course, the person attached to the voice calling her name had a sword.
With a little courage, Crystal stood up from her bed and advanced to her window. It took only a few steps before she was at her window staring down at the back yard.
"There was no one… out there…" Crystal thought.
Crystal softly sighed before she turned back around, instantly wishing she hadn't. A scream somewhere deep inside her was waiting to be released by her sealed lips. Clammy, cold fear swept over her, embracing her. She never knew that fear had the power to disable body movements. Her body felt strangley like lead, and her heart beat was so fast she heard it in her head.
As if sensing her fear, a small smirk played at his lips. It was Sesshomaru, the same demon from that other time. Crystal never thought she would see him again, and the reality that she was seeing him again was positively frightening. Seeing him that time was frightening but after she was able to convince herself that he was a figment of her imagination.
Seeing him again would make it harder to convince herself, unless she had suddenly felt crazed.
"You have no reason to be fearful." Sesshomaru said, his voice reminding her of a soft melody.
Crystal stared at him in a mixture of shy, fascination and fear. Such were an odd combination. She wondered if she could speak, but she doubted that because she couldn't even feel her throat.
As if to show her she shouldn't be afraid, he leaned against her wall-opposite of her- with his arms crossed. He stared at her with no emotions or expressions on his face.
"I can sense your fear, you know." Sesshomaru said. "Fear controls everyone if someone is stronger than or rage"
That piece of knowledge did interest her long enough for her to forget the abnormalty of his prescence. Crystal made a sad face, touching the wall behind her with both hands, she leaned against it for support. Her limbs were weakening.
"I-I d-didn't know fear was like that." Crystal said, shyly.
"I'm sure you also didn't think it possible for my kind to exist." Sesshomaru said.
Crystal remained silent because she didn't know what to reply to that but was too shy. She thought she should laugh a little bit, but that didn't seem right, so she just nodded once and avoided his gaze.
"Why are you...here?" Crystal asked, shyly glancing up at Sesshomaru and instantly locking gazes with him.
Sesshomaru's eyes were just as Crystal remembered-like the golden gates. She knew that she should look away, but something within his eyes immobilized her. Never had she ever seen such beautiful eyes.
"I am merely doing my assignment." Sesshomaru said.
"U-um… What is your job…?" Crystal asked, shyly.
Sesshomaru continued to display a calm expression. "I am the Heir of the Western Lands and I was summoned long ago to protect you." he said.
Crystal pressed her lips together in response, Sesshomaru knew she already knew that and he only said that to mock her. Basically, he was telling her that he had the right to be in her room. With a firm snap, she came out of her thoughts to notice that he had begun to advance to her.
Out of reflex, Crystal quickly backed up, only to notice that her back was already pressed against the wall. Watching him advance on her, Crystal was reminded of how a lion corners its prey and then plays with it. She took a deep breath, in a sorry attempt to control her rising hear beat.
Finally, after what seemed like centuries, Sesshomaru stopped walking as he was in front of Crystal. Their bodies were now only an arm's length away. Now that he was so close she noticed a strange smell that reminded her of the grey smoke of a fire.
Being within such close proximity Crystal also felt a strong pull from the center of her being to him. It took all her will power to resist inching closer to him.
Crystal blushed furiously and held her breath as he lifted his right hand to cup the left side of her face. Sesshomaru's hands were warm-like the sidewalk during a sunny day. She bit her lip to keep from sighing with the pleasure that the warmth gave her.
Crystal shyly looked up, something that she thought was probably not a good idea after she met Sesshomaru's magnificent golden yellow eyes. She instantly became weak she inched closer, finding that her body wanted more of his warmth. Sesshomaru's right index finger swept over her lips, like he did before, except this time with a kinder touch.
"Will you sing for me, Crystal?" Sesshomaru asked, his voice remained calm.
Crystal couldn't reply, she only opened her mouth and began to sing. She stopped abruptly when he enclosed her into a warm embrace, her eyes widened. Immediately Sesshomaru's heat seeped into her, making her want to melt into him, Just as abruptly though, Sesshomaru moved away from her and the warmth immediately left her.
For a time, neither of them said a word until Sesshomaru took his right hand away from the left side of Crystal's face and crossed his arms again. He narrowed his beautiful fiery red eyes at her.
"Do not sing for anyone else, only sing for me from hence forth." Sesshomaru said.
"H-huh…? B-but… w-why can't I anymore…?" Crystal asked shyly, sad that Sesshomaru just said.
"It is simple. You have been my property since the day of your birth. If I tell you not to do something then you will not, unless you would like to pay the consequences of trying my patience." Sesshomaru said.
Crystal shivered at his words, the objective way he looked at her made her realize that Sesshomaru really wouldn't care about hurting her. From the way he acted, she could tell he was used to hurting things.
Sesshomaru uncrossed his arms and lifted his right hand to touch the left side of Crystal's face again. The warmth was like a lightening strike, but Crystal quickly moved away, remembering what Sesshomaru was.
As if knowing Crystal's pattern of thinking, Sesshomaru drew back his right hand from the right side of Crystal's face again, his eyes hardening.
"Remember that I am always watching you. Your voice is only for me." Sesshomaru said.
With that his Mokomoko-sama moved as if blown by a strong gust of wind.
Crystal closed her eyes as a warm blast of air swirled around her room. When she opened them, Sesshomaru was gone, and she was cold.
End of Chapter 3.
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