So, here we are...finally. What was chapter two looks like it is going to end up being chapters two through four or five. If I can get over that hump, though (never was fully satisfied with how I'd mushed them together initially), then things will go more smoothly. It is really only this beginning bit I keep wanting to rework.
That said, life is what it is, and I don't have the free time that I did a few months ago. I'm not sure why or what changed, but I just cannot find the hours I used to spend working on these. Between this and 'Angels' I'm hoping for two updates monthly - one per story - but make no promises.
If someone wants to pay me, I'll change some names and pull a 'Twilight/50 Shades' - haha - but outside of that, no promises in concrete. It does feel good to finally get this out, though.
As far as vocabulary, where I do that thing some folks hate and throw a proper Japanese word in, I think we've already covered gaijin (outsider, bad connotation) and nodachi (field sword/great big fucking sword (though in literal translation, sans the curse, ōdachi would be the latter...but I went with nodachi due to the thing's actual use in the field).
- We join the yōkai, perplexed and perturbed as usual, with his own viewpoint overlapping just a bit with events previously described... -
No adrenaline shakes nor rapid heartbeat, no fear at all. Just that suffocating misery, lurking behind every word and action...
More than I hated mystery, I hated this particular riddle - what was this creature? Were there more, and could they pose a threat united?
Why is it that I care to ponder this at all?
To add that Naraku had taken such an interest was perplexing - the woman's sword held power, but wasn't so far above most other yōkai weapons; not enough to be worth such a waste of energy and resources.
The female did admit pure speculation, and does not seem to know his reasoning; was the weapon truly her best guess? Or, is she hiding something else, perhaps some relic or esoteric knowledge?
My instincts did not believe the woman intentionally deceitful, but without any better explanation I refused to discount the possibility in its entirety, especially watching her demeanor begin to shift in less than subtle ways as the enemy neared. That awful, melancholy fog began to clear with the woman's assertion that she was 'not of humans,' but I could not be wholly pleased, this new aura only adding further mystery and questions.
The whole charade grew increasingly tiresome.
"That answer was not useful, onna! You reek of human, what else would you be?" When she dared to walk away from me again my temper almost snapped, but I am not one to let others 'make' me angry...or anything else for that mater.
It was with admirable self control that, again, I placed myself calmly within the woman's path - unmoving, ensuring I would not be ignored, and adding an aura of intimidation to my orders. You would regret tapping my anger in full, I sought to illustrate.
I have enough frustrating me as it is.
Naraku does not often act so brazenly. No, he is one more likely to resort to tricks and similar cowardly vices, and it would be beneficial to discover exactly what kind of power might drive the bastard to risk openly sending hunters into my domain.
So, when the something met my eyes again, and her own lacked both sense and fear, I had no choice but to backtrack some assumptions. It was not bloodlust that I saw, nor even anger at my denial of her claim; the female held complete control despite the subtle changes. But that smile, and the craving in the woman's serpentine eyes, told me not to interfere...not yet in any case.
I had not taken this one for a predator, interesting...yes this I'll need to see. To see, and...
The first encounter might have ended differently, had she worn this look and not one of such infernal sadness.
...see and...
It was over before I could have ever had a chance to stop it - I'd never had reason to check my instincts before that moment - and recovered rational sense only after beginning to pull away from a...very close inspection of the stranger. What option did I have, after such a glaring indiscretion, but to step aside and allow her on her way?
What, exactly, did you just do to me? I thought, tonguing my slightly enlarged canines and channeling any uncertainty surrounding whatever instinct that had been into something more befitting of daiyōkai.
"Well, be about your business then, woman!" She hesitated, but only briefly before stalking off with mumbles of that odd and foreign name again.
"Hmph," I was the one who should have been incredulous; I hadn't even broken the skin. If anything, she should thank me and praise my mastery and hold over even that most primal and bizarre impulse, which was brought on by her strangeness in the first place!
Yes, and I myself still did not care what a se-fear-oth was, but did care to ensure the gaijin wouldn't turn back, before nearly collapsing against a nearby tree; I was able to breathe only in short bursts, fighting my own nature and wondering how in all of Hades she'd provoked such a thing. Wondering why, as well.
It's not poison, nor venom...breathe and pull yourself together!
It hadn't even been my intent to come so close, to...bah! But, well, she didn't even dodge or stop me; I was quite sure the woman didn't have to remain so still.
Too still...no, I would have tasted fear that close...
I can't help but worry that, for a moment, I resembled the mongrels that give our kind a bad name - eyes red and claws extended while the internal struggle for control concluded. Such a thing could ruin the reputation I've worked very hard to cultivate.
Yes, that was the root of my concern; nothing else.
Reluctance, among other things, aside, I knew there was only one way to proceed. We would call it a draw and simply not speak or think of the interaction again; I'd barely scratched her, and this one has no need to give an explanation. For all the woman knew, such actions were not abnormal for yōkai such as myself. I doubted she had much evidence to the contrary, either way.
That was very far from normal, though. Why does my body suddenly betray me to such base and useless drives, and towards one so below my station?
At least the odd sensation had begun to fade, even as my mind joined the apparent mutiny against good sense and asked just how I might define the woman's station, given what I'd perceived a few moments ago.
Vexing as the question was, at least it was an alternative to dwelling on the former topic.
What the fuck is she? Scent is scent, and should be near immutable, but hers changed...was changing rapidly. It wasn't adaptation, and did not seem reactionary, but...but what? Maybe it wasn't changing, maybe I was just close enough to break...what, some illusion?
Perhaps the girl had lost her mind and memory somewhere? Was it not impossible that scent was of the strange and lesser-known lines whose ancestors mixed with eccentric yōsei clans? No, this was unlikely given that, despite peculiar speech patterns, the strange woman didn't seem that insane or out of touch with reality.
Outside of her precarious situation, courtesy of exasperating me, anyway.
Probably isn't even trained in the arts of a proper consort...not that I...it was just a train of thought.
A few minutes passed with me just standing, displeased and staring daggers into the large oak against which I'd been leaning earlier. Smartly, the tree remained silent, or was it taunting me?
Enough! It is just a stupid tree. Perhaps Bokusenō...no, I would have to kill him for knowing of the indiscretion, and that old tree is useful in other ways.
That I could not identify her nature was...something in and of itself worth noting.
This is your fault woman! Shouldn't have remained so still...
Be assured, the ningen concept of conscience does not apply to my kind, and could not be used as explanation, but some-fucking-thing prevented me from turning around and heading back to my own...my own 'pack' as it might be called.
Dammit...of all the thorns to be driven into my side...
Settling on annoyed as an appropriate reaction, and ruminating on whether to follow and how far, the simplest plan occurred. The onna's strange nature had been such a distraction before, but in truth a simple solution existed all along!
I would take that sword, denying Naraku his prize, once the lower class demons finished the eccentric mortal off. Perhaps this stranger's corpse could answer questions that her impudent mouth would not. And if it didn't, well the thorn would still be gone. I sensed twelve or so approaching, and they were all stronger than those worthless minions from the forest.
This Sesshōmaru had no plans to interfere on the creature's behalf, of course.
Pity, I almost wasn't bored, but curiosity is fleeting, and certainly is not caring or true interest. I told myself that it was a good thing, this farce of a chase coming to an end so quickly. I have more important matters to tend to anyway. Yet...
Always a fucking yet these days, eyeing Tenseiga warily, as if it was at fault, rather than just the catalyst for what may one day be the complete destruction of my image, I grudgingly considered an alternative.
This was not without a healthy eye-roll and some choice cussing, uttered under my breath, of course.
Yet, few things amused me anymore. Still, it would be a shame and a waste of energy to bloody my hands with the stink of lesser yōkai. Some so far below my station barely warranted a passing glance, and as long as they did not dare approach, I should leave them to their savagery. Watching, though, that might tell me something useful about the gaijin woman.
I will watch, that is all.
It did not take long to find the battle, and though I had expected the odds to be imbalanced...I had not expected such to be in the woman's favour, nor so greatly. If I did not know better, I might've thought she was prolonging things; not toying with them, exactly, but taking time to learn their fighting habits.
A chance to study, then...the reasons do not matter, I thought, watching the fight from a distance and wondering when last I was so entertained. She did hold herself well, for one who reeks of human, I will grudgingly admit. It was becoming obvious, though, that this creature was something...something else, and entirely not...of humans.
Who speaks like that anyway? Strange...
I did not bother to suppress the smirk, pleased to not require interaction with such weak things just to prolong my interview. And that interview was certainly a thing that must continue, observation confirmed. The minor demons Naraku had sent would be no match for...for whatever this female-shaped entity was.
Fascinating, that is what the woman was. But how and still, why?
I could not explain it, and wondered for a moment if I was being manipulated by some outside force.
Using her to trap me, that is more like Naraku than this farce of an attack.
Other than some unexpected vibrations from Tenseiga, though - and they did not feel extremely foreign, nor tainted - I sensed nothing of the sort.
And I have been quite bored lately either way.
Observing, I did begin to understand Naraku's want of the bizarre sword, if that was his true goal. The weapon was unforgiving, going so far as to cut beyond it's senseless length by emitting waves of power; it took nearby trees and rocks, as well as demons, down with ease. I did not recognize this power, and it didn't seem like natural yōki...yet it also did.
But the reverberations felt ancient - far beyond what I saw as possible for the one who held it. Concentrating too hard on that power left an itching, crawling vibration lingering in my bones, daring me to solve its riddle.
I need to face, or somehow learn of this magic. What is it?
Enticing.
That fucking power was intriguing, addicting in a way no puzzle had ever been before. I had to find her secret!
It reminds me of what I sensed within the female creature, herself, for that too-close moment. It is yōki, but like none I've ever felt before.
Again, I had trouble deciding if the power's source was the sword, or the woman...and if the latter, what kind of demon was she?
How dare the onna remain cloaked in mystery; I will find these answers! After the demonstration ends, of course; there is more to learn.
Next, I watched very closely the one who would wield that an impossible weapon with such grace. The spectacle was not unpleasant, this one will admit, at least with certain caveats. Not unpleasant, but do not take that to mean this one enjoyed himself; she was wasting time and could have ended the tussle ages ago.
I know it to be true - why else would the woman corral the lesser things this way and that, keeping me in her line of sight even as I roamed around and along the treeline?
Testing?
Confirmation came when she seemed to call forth the power of lightning itself to eliminate all but two of the remaining foes. This action seemed to cost something, and the woman faltered for a split second, almost mis-stepping but recovering in time to block the next attack. That one paid with his head, just as she shook hers to throw off the remaining exhaustion, and just as two of the crystals embedded in the sword's hilt faded from a soft glow. One had been blue, and the other green; I'd assumed them decorative in nature.
Neither were anything I recognized, but I found that aspect of cost intriguing. Moreso, though, was the woman's surprise - seemingly more in reaction to that price than the results themselves.
Hrrmph, I sighed, thinking to myself, certainly and with no shreds whatsoever of doubt - and surely not with any semblance of admiration - that I could wield the weapon better, if I wished to. Perhaps I could call a storm in its entirety with such tools?
Bah! Doesn't matter anyway, the blade does not suit me, I confirmed internally, eyes locked not on the sword, but upon its master.
The nodachi's length was undignified, and I had no wish to fight whilst holding such a thing; my only goal was to vex Naraku. That said, I am a warrior, and pride still allows a warrior to recognize and appreciate another's skill. That damn thing was taller than she stood, yet the woman made no unnecessary moves, and retained an expert's control through every arc. I would not have thought this possible, had my own eyes not been the things to witness such a feat.
Perhaps if I could find that sword's maker, I might have him create for me a worthy weapon. Surely it is some magic that allows such grace and ease of use. Imagine channeling that into something useful, into a normal weapon...
Lost in thought, and cursing myself for the slip, the female's voice close by nearly caught me by surprise.
Not so nearly, in truth, but I hid the shock well. And her - she wasn't even winded, and dodged back as if expecting this one to lash out automatically like some animal might. Silence and a glare made my offense known.
No, I had not heard her approach; I had not even realized that her battle had been won. It was very clear, though, that the woman's scent had changed; that is what surprised me and why I didn't detect her. Still the woman reeked of human, but something else lurked just under that disarming scent...
Yes, quite troublesome. Quite intriguing. Perhaps she is a succubus?
No, the woman did not wish to seduce me. In fact she seemed to be trying yet again to drive me off, despite returning the grim smile I hadn't bothered suppressing.
"Death, it follows me even to this place. I do not need another companion."
She went on some tangent - 'it is not so easy as to lose on purpose' - the usual human garbage concerning life after death and eternal lands of promise, though it was of mild interest that she considered loss in battle a form of suicide. I had stopped listening, for the most part, and chose to watch instead. It took only a few minutes for the cloud of misery to reform, completely masking the predator I'd seen.
It was like snuffing out a lantern, only much more perplexing. Possibly even troubling, had I capacity for such nonsense.
Still and fucking yet, I waved the story on with an air of impatience, hoping either to goad the creature back to life, or to give myself enough reason and annoyance to leave her there and to her gloom.
- Shekhinah would rather not be bothered, and is happy to skip the details. -
"So, as you see, white one," I could see he saw, the demon-man could not tear his eyes from the violence I had wrought, and the testing of materia had been worth the drain, I think.
It was about time we tested that anyway. The things grow stronger, and I should know before I need.
At least this one didn't revel in the gore, as some others might and have before. Destruction was interesting to his kind, based on what I'd witnessed. These that call themselves the yōkai are quite strange, but at least the white one kept his dignity. Some few times before, an attack like this might invite others to their death - drawn in by some sort of lust for blood, I think, but do not know for sure.
And I knew it did not matter in the longer term.
Task complete, I continued on my path, hoping the Sesshōmaru might now leave me without challenge. And I said again, just to drive the point in true, "Not human, just a tool of death and devastation. A monstrous thing..."
*Sigh*
And again, my path was blocked. The chest that filled my vision was not as nice as Sephiroth's, perhaps due to its covering; this made it not as soft as well. It was not as pleasant, no, but some part of me did not mind the view, nor the wintry woodsy scent.
I realized I had been alone too long, perhaps, wondering if it was my eyes or mind that broke when I saw my angel for a moment, superimposed for just and only one breath. A blink of lids, and all I saw was the white one's look - it was...difficult to read under the veil of constant indignation, which he wore something like protective armor, I'd noticed.
What interest could I hold? He is not weak as those others...but surely he sees that to fight me is not worth the effort...
"Tell me of that sword, woman." This close, he did feel of what they call the yōkai here, but...different as well. The white one's essence was more clean, somehow; as if he was superior to any I'd encountered so far, not just in power, but in...existing. This being would not need such a sword as mine, I think.
But the question was troubling all the same, this because I think he meant the magic just as well.
Science, Shekhinah! Magic implies a lack of basic understanding, the voice I'd be happy to never hear again corrected, loudly ringing in my mind. It was good I did not flinch this time, and also it was decided I would speak some on the topic of the sword, if only to drive that voice and memory back and very far away.
*Sigh*
"The blade is named Masamune, and I will return it only to Sephiroth - this sword is not for you, either. Though, hmm, you would be better for it than the purple one, at least. I do not think him strong enough to wield this properly, and so do not worry on the matter much." And in truth I did not; his minions' strength increased, but were still far below my true skill or power. Even before the change, before the thing tried to woo me with promises of familial love and immortality, I could have beaten those creatures easily. I was less sure about the white one, and still did not wish to test.
"Baka! I would never wield such a ridiculous blade!" He had not shouted, but had been pushed close. Quickly, though, the demon calmed his demeanor to ask the real intended question clearly. "But I wish to know its maker and where to find him. And I have told you, onna, look to me when you speak!" The white one sounded annoyed, perhaps even angry. I did not wish his attack, and would avoid being forced to harm him; even the thought brought troubling memories of those last moments in my home. Or, at least, that place that was more my home than this...I do not believe constructs like myself can have true homes.
Fine. I will look! I will stare until he grows disgusted, as everyone always does! When the demon understood what I truly was, perhaps he would leave me be, also like the rest. Even Zack had turned on us eventually...in his own way.
He always knew what to say...why didn't he know what to say when it mattered? 'Are they monsters?' Of all the things to say just then...Fuck! Present!
I stared, as icily as I ever had, back into the demon's eyes, though not without some difficulty; they were golden, and beautiful despite their hardness...they held many of the same hidden things Sephiroth's used to. Both of us were known as cold, and in truth we never...
We knew ShinRa would have interest, even before we understood the full of why, and couldn't risk an accident.
Human or not, though, we were living things with needs.
To think, five years to live without that secret comfort; five years with no touch or teasing of that fine line between what brings pleasure versus pain. Broken as we were, just to be close and hold had been enough.
The memories caused painful longing, and risked breaking through to surface. It was strange to think that I might lose, that I might be the first to break the look, but in sadness not disgust. Did the demon even know it was a contest? "My apologies, white one-" I started, but did not look away just yet.
"Lord Sesshōmaru to you, woman."
"My apologies Lord Sesshō-maru, most find my gaze...disquieting, and I did not wish to trouble you. Masamune is named for his maker, and his maker is neither of this land, nor living still in mine. That is all there is to know. I am unimportant here, and would take my leave now, yes?"
Perhaps his kind are less prejudiced, somehow, than humans; the demon's face remained passive, but I saw him almost question my statements of unimportance.
Or, perhaps not, I thought, fighting urges to smirk or smile in my...somewhat victory. Rather than cause him fright, my presence seemed to cause the demon anger and discomfort.
My presence usually causes only fear, so this was at least a different sensation to be having. In some way, I enjoyed the moment...at least until my mind processed these things fully.
Different, but no less painful.
I would rather be ignored, truly, by this almost doppelganger, and could not help but wonder. Was this place some parallel, or a punishment for the things we'd been goaded into doing by the thing that called herself our mother?
It did not matter, and I forced myself to move, to walk far from this scene of senseless death.
If only they had listened, I did ask them to leave me be...
"That is not all," the demon blocked my path again, and I suppressed the urge to flinch away, standing my ground instead. I was not afraid, but did feel a sadness at so easily angering this one who called himself a lord. This, coupled with the memories - pain as raw as the day I'd shoved them down - was sapping my resolve.
"What answers you give are cryptic and vexing! You roam my lands, creature - I would have the full truth without riddles to decipher. You will tell me what you are, and how you came to wield this thing, and this is just to start! After that I will decide what is important." Outwardly calm, despite the words, Sesshōmaru the demon-lord moved very close to me, but not in a way that caused worry. The closeness may have caused some feeling, but that feeling was neither worry nor the intimidation he must have meant to cause.
I have never claimed to not be broken.
But you also have a mission! It's the memory clouding your judgement, that is all, rationality scolded, prodding me to stop thinking of the way his teeth had scraped - no, caressed so lightly...confusing...
Corrupting your mind with silly dreams, SOLDIER has no time for that! The image of Hojo's face morphed into Lord Kagewaki's, ...corrupting the whole castle. Come with me, where it's safe.
He'd been right, everyone new I'd come to know, to almost feel comfortable around, was dead. They were dead, but they were still walking, moving towards us with shambling, lurching steps. Their limbs moved in jerks, poorly puppeteered by strings that connected them to, to him. I could see the strings, and the Lord wasn't anymore, so I ran.
I've been running ever since.
You've been standing here, silent for too long!
My SOLDIER mind hollered unkindly, though the grounding and familiarity was welcome. It was an embarrassment, blinking back to the present to find demon Sesshōmaru's head tilted sideways with a furrowed brow. He'd stepped back, though a slender, clawed finger hung in the air about halfway between us.
As if poking something ever solved a problem, why is that always first in thoughts to try? Humorous and lighter thoughts followed that, and just as quickly as I'd lapsed, I was back with full attention. If there is one benefit to being broken and half-mad, I would say it is the ability to pretend that one is not.
So when the demon dropped his hand and did not speak, face already back to stone, I took the cue and pretended nothing strange had happened. And, wary of his sword arm - at least there was only one - fished the primitive canteen from within my cloak. One long, refreshing pull of water was all it took to be myself again.
The white one seemed to think highly of himself.
Perhaps it is just a curiosity for this one...yes, that is and must be all. He seems rather prideful and sees my enemy as his and his alone, I reasoned, sensing less danger from Sesshōmaru than his last words and tone implied. I would think, perhaps, his irritation was the lack of explanation for how out of place I was.
Yes, this one, he believes himself master of his own domain, and I do not fit neatly into place.
This gave me back some courage; and I tried to read him further, planning words with care. It would require tact, and some humility on my part, to keep him safely far away. I believed that would be for the best. Yes, for all I did not wish the less-demonic demon harm, my search for a way home was much and more important. So important that I might set aside my own pride.
The one skill in which I could always surpass Sephiroth as well...
"As you wish, Lord Sesshō-maru, I did not know I trespassed." I spoke quietly but clearly, turning to look again upon the carnage I had caused and left behind, "But I do not wish to discuss things here, among the reminder of my nature - soon, the scavengers will come. If you truly wish to know trivial details, such as what life brought me here...*sigh* I would return to the lake, I think; it is nice there." When working with this tactic, it is important to keep the power balanced; many men - human or these yōkai - would pounce on perceived vulnerability. Soft words must be followed by quick action, action such as leaving without giving time to argue.
The demon growled as I left - I did not think he would take kindly to my...disobedience? In thinking that is how he'd see it, I flew off without waiting for that rage to show. I would not shed that one's blood if possible, but could not help but make the demon angry, hoping frustration would prevail and cause him to give up the chase. It would be best if he grew bored enough to abandon the pursuit, but that one valued and controlled his pride more than I was used to.
At least the walk would let him cool that anger, if he chose persistence.
Surely one like him has more important things to do than follow.
I had provided a clean exit, had I not?