The True Holder of Shikon
Disclaimer - Don't own Inuyasha.
Chapter 27 - The Visitor
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Sango awoke to the sound of her door sliding closed. She sat up and looked around almost frantically. Her eyes then rested on Rin.
"Rin! You scared me. What is it?" The little girl grinned cheerfully.
"Kagome-chan told me to come and get you! She wanted to see you before dinner is served." Rin then looked worried. "Are you feeling okay, Sango-chan? You look sick." Sango smiled slightly.
"I will be all right, Rin. I just...had a bad dream." The girl left with a smile.
"See you later, okay? We can go to my room." As soon as her door was shut, the taiji-ya let out a sigh. She still felt really sick. It wasn't an illness. It was...just a feeling. She was going to skip dinner. She couldn't possibly eat. Her nightmares were bad, too. They were worse than ever and she was surprised that she hadn't cried out or woke up screaming. Suddenly, she couldn't hold anything in. She buried her face in the feather pillow and cried. After a moment, Kagome knocked and entered. She looked very pale and worried.
"Sango...didn't Rin tell you that I wanted to see you? What is it? What's wrong?" The miko rushed to her side. "Sango!"
"I have this really bad feeling and then...I had such horrible nightmares." Sango put her arms around her best friend and cried into her shoulder. "I have no idea what to do. It all started when I heard that Sesshoumaru had a visitor. I just have this sinking feeling." Kagome soothed back the taiji-ya's hair and tried to think of something to say.
"I have a bad feeling, too. We should investigate it. Do you want to?" Sango looked up at her.
"Well, I can't just sit in here and cry. It has to have something to do with this visitor." The miko waited until her friend dried her face and changed into a red kimono with white lilies on it. Then they left the room and followed their senses out to the gardens. Sango led Kagome around the corner until they both stopped. There, stood a man with long black hair and startling emerald eyes. He was dressed very elaborately. He turned his gaze to the two girls.
"May I be of some service to you?" Sango looked at her friend and saw that there was no way that she was ever going to answer. So, she decided that she would be the speaker.
"Uh, no, my lord. We were just enjoying a walk through the gardens." She smiled even though she felt like jumping at him and stabbing him with whatever she could get her hands on.
This youkai is definitely the one emitting that awful aura. Who is he and why does he seem so familiar?
"Well, I do not believe that we have ever had the pleasure of meeting. What are your names?" He asked casually. The way he spoke to them in such a calm voice made her even more suspicious. Before she could open her mouth, Sesshoumaru appeared. The Taiyoukai stared at the girls.
"What are you two doing out here?" Sango straightened.
"I was just showing Kagome your gardens, Sesshoumaru-sama." She stated in a cold voice. He narrowed his eyes at her. She switched her gaze to the visitor.
"Sesshoumaru-sama, you did not tell me that you had such lovely maidens staying here." There was no doubt in Sango's mind that something was wrong about that youkai. "Would you mind introducing us?" The look on Sesshoumaru's face did not go unnoticed by any of them.
"Their names are Sango and Kagome." He stated evenly. "Now, shall we continue our conversation in my study?"
"Of course, my lord." Sango stared after them. She felt weak. How was she going to figure it out? There was no way of knowing what he was there for. Unless Sesshoumaru felt charitable, which she doubted severely.
"Sango?" Kagome pulled on her sleeve. "What just happened?"
"I think we have just found a reason to be careful." The taiji-ya sighed. "I am going to go back to my room." She walked back inside and hurried up to her room.
"Sango?" She turned around and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Houshi-sama!" Miroku closed her door behind him and walked over to her.
"You look pale. Is there a reason for this?" He asked in concern. She stared at him.
"Do you sense anything out of the ordinary? Kagome and I did." He nodded.
"Yes, I feel it. It is ominous. However, you look worse than I feel." Before she could utter a word, he placed a hand on her forehead. "You do not have a temperature. Do you feel well enough to be out of bed?"
"I feel fine." She walked over and sat on her bed. He sat down next to her. "I just...don't know what to do."
"Until this youkai makes a move, we can do nothing." He placed an arm around her waist and pulled her close to him. "Be careful, Sango. You worry me enough as it is." She hugged him. "Please promise me that you will not provoke anything and put yourself in danger."
"I promise not to do it on purpose." She stated with a small smile. "Houshi-sama, who do you think it is? He looked so familiar to me..." He felt her shiver.
"He? Well, what did he look like?"
"He had really long black hair and he kept it tied back. His eyes were a remarkable shade of green... But it was the look of complete composure on his face that got me." She explained. "There was this look under that mask of calmness." Miroku sighed.
"Sango, get some rest. Try not to worry." She nodded. Then he gently pushed her away and stood up.
"I will talk to Inuyasha about this. He was edgy earlier."
"Thank you, Houshi-sama." He smiled and left her alone. She sort of wished that he had stayed. Being with someone she trusted was better than being alone. She changed out of her kimono and into a yukata, hoping that this time, she would sleep better.
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Sesshoumaru did not trust his guest. Masaru was not to be trusted. He saw the way the youkai looked at Sango. He could tell that she had felt unease and fear at his arrival. He had certainly felt something. Just being in the same room... However, Masaru had pleaded for his help. He was supposedly being hunted. By whom, he hadn't said.
If he does anything, I will kill him. He is not important to me.
He had seen the youkai before. He was an advisor to one of the lords of the east.
Why would he be this far from his territory? Unless...
He had no leads on who would hunt such a worthless being but he was not unmerciful to those who had helped him. Masaru had helped him once. He had given him valuable knowledge. Perhaps whoever it was hunting the youkai wanted some sort of information. But he was pressed to find out what was wrong with Sango. It was then that he had thought of something. Masaru's aura had never been like that. Yet, he knew that auras changed pretty easily. He could have killed many innocents and changed his aura. He had much to do and such little time.
But Sango came first.
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Sango had been fitfully sleeping when she felt someone shaking her. She opened her eyes to see nothing but darkness. Then a blurry picture appeared. She sat up and stared in surprise at the person in front of her.
"What are you doing here?" She asked quietly. Sesshoumaru frowned in concern.
"You are not ill?" She shook her head.
"I feel a little better but I was sleeping nicely..." She rubbed her eyes and stifled a yawn. "What's wrong?"
"I was concerned for you. You seemed very disturbed earlier." He watched her closely.
"I am fine. It was just that...youkai's aura made me nervous." His eyes narrowed.
"Masaru made everyone feel that way, hm?" She blinked then frowned.
"His name...is Masaru?" The Taiyoukai nodded. "Are you completely certain?"
"I know him. He is one of the eastern lord's advisors." He explained. She relaxed. "Still, be careful. I did not like the way he looked at you." Her eyes widened.
"You saw it, too? I thought it was just me." She pulled her legs up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. "He...inflicted fear into my mind. His youki...it was so dark." She looked up at him. "I was scared and I didn't know what to do." He reached up and touched her face.
"I will protect you. No matter what I have to do." He pulled his hand back before standing up. He stopped when he got to the door and turned around. "Sleep well." After he was gone, she felt a little better.
I know he cannot see everything...but he will protect me as best as he can.
Most of her feelings of nervousness and sickness had passed. But she still had a bad feeling about Masaru. She sat there for a few moments before she lay back down and fell asleep.
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The next morning, Sango was on her way to the stables in her taiji-ya uniform. She had gotten tired of long sleeves and had relented to the call of her uniform. Kirara had been staying with Rin. She missed her neko's company. She was almost outside when she froze.
"Hello, young maiden. I believe your name is Sango, if I am not mistaken." She whirled around to see Masaru standing in a doorway. He had a smile on his face. It was a smile she didn't trust at all. She kept quiet, just staring at him in distrust. "Where are you going in such attire?"
"Not that it is much of your business, but I am going to the stables." She stated calmly.
"Do you like riding horses?" She shrugged.
"It passes time." He frowned at her. "Now, if you have nothing more to say to me-"
"Are you that anxious to leave my presence?" He asked quietly. "Does my aura bother you that much?"
"Do not be absurd. If I let your presence get to me then how will I kill Naraku when I get the chance?" The cold chill in her voice made him smile wider.
"Naraku, hmm? Why do you wish to kill this youkai?"
"That hanyou has ruined my life in more ways than one. He is a vile, self-conscious bastard that only cares about himself and the suffering of others." She turned and left the castle. Masaru stared after her with a puzzled look on his face. Just the name had gotten her angry...
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Miroku picked a white stallion, Kagome had her usual mare, Inuyasha took out a brown stallion, and Sango took Karasu. The children rode on Kirara. They went into the woods, along the wide riding track. Sango looked at Kagome, who rode next to her.
"I ran into that youkai again just before I came outside. Sesshoumaru came into my room last night and talked to me. I guess his name is Masaru and he is an advisor to a lord out in the east. He said that he knew him from before. We still have to be careful." She stated quietly. Then she explained about her conversation with Masaru.
"Sounds like he's pretty twisted. Did you sense him?" Inuyasha asked.
"I wasn't...really paying any attention. If I did sense him, it did not bother me as much as yesterday." The look on her face scared them. "I do not trust him. I have no idea why he is even here."
"Sesshoumaru won't say anything?" The hanyou queried. Sango shook her head.
"He told me that he did not like how Masaru was looking at me." Kagome frowned.
"Neither did I. It reminded me of...Naraku." The taiji-ya froze. She stared into the trees.
"Naraku..." Inuyasha exchanged a look with Miroku.
I do not like this. Sango may very well be in danger...
The houshi felt a sinking feeling. He did not see this youkai but he wanted to find him and suck him into his hand.
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Sango walked back to her room in a daze.
I knew he reminded me of someone. I just cannot believe it was Naraku. Masaru...cannot be Naraku. I mean, Sesshoumaru would have killed him if he even caught his scent. It just does not make sense. I don't understand.
She stopped at her door before going in. She closed it behind her and leaned against it. Her mind was spinning.
What am I going to do?
When she looked up, all the air was forced from her lungs. Masaru grinned at her. His green eyes glinted.
"Good evening, Sango." He walked forward until he was right in front of her. She couldn't even scream. She was so scared. The look on his face...it was just like Naraku's. "You look frightened. I thought you were more of a spitfire than that."
"W-What are you? How can you hide your scent like that?" He smirked before his green eyes changed to their normal crimson color.
"Simple, my dear. It is very simple. All I have to do is use the power of the shards and cast a spell on all of those with sharp noses." He leaned close to her face. She sent a small blast of power at him but he blocked it easily. "You cannot harm me. Your fear is...so potent." Her eyes widened.
"G-Get away..." She whispered. "Leave me alone." Her fist made contact with his gut and he fell back. However, he grabbed her shoulder to steady himself.
"Not this time, taiji-ya. You will not escape me." He chuckled before pushing her hard into the door. He pressed his lips against hers so harshly that she thought it would bruise. While he was slightly distracted, she gripped his arms in her hands and let her power flow through them. He pulled away and let out a cry. She slid open the door and ran out, frantically trying to sense Sesshoumaru. She looked behind her to see no one following her. Naraku was not pursuing her. He wasn't risking it. He fled from the castle. Sango raced to Sesshoumaru's study, tears running down her face. She had one hand over her mouth. When she reached it, she slid open the door and saw the Taiyoukai standing by his desk. A few servants were working around the room and delivering anything their lord asked for. They all stared at her with wide eyes.
"Sango?" She ran to him and buried her face in his chest. He was so startled that he could hardly grasp the situation. "What happened?" He placed his hands on her arms and gently pushed her away.
"Naraku..." She whispered. "He...disguised himself as Masaru and used the Shikon shards to cast a spell over the castle so his scent was hidden. He..." She looked up at him and he wiped her tears away. "He is gone. There is no use looking for him now." His thumb brushed against her lips and she flinched. He growled.
"Did he touch you?" She could sense his anger. She knew that it would be no use lying to him so she nodded. "What did he do?"
"He kissed me... That was all." She looked away in shame. "I could not fight against him." The next glimpse of his face that she got made a shiver run down her spine. "W-What are you going to do?"
"He could not have gone far." She grabbed his arms and stared up at him in fear.
"Don't go after him! It isn't worth it!" He glared at her.
"Never say it is not worth it. He is going to pay for attempting to take you. He will pay for touching you."
"Sesshoumaru-" His eyes flashed red.
"You are going to be mine. That-" She shoved him away from her.
"I am not some prize that can be owned." Her eyes were hidden beneath her bangs. "I am sick of hearing you and Naraku use that line. I understand what it means but I can't stand hearing it. I am a human being. I am my own person." She turned around and walked toward the door. He stared at her. His anger suddenly cooled.
"I apologize." She looked back at him. He fell to his knees. "I was wrong for saying such a thing. I have no excuse for my behavior." Her eyes widened. "How could I...have let him in?" She looked at the floor.
"You didn't know." She closed her eyes. "None of us did."
XxXxX
The word spread around the castle quicker than anyone could have imagined. Sango and Sesshoumaru didn't really care. All the Taiyoukai cared about was leaving.
"We have to stay until the ceremony, Sesshoumaru." Sango stated; watching him pace around his room. She was sitting on his bed, running her fingers across the soft sheets. "It is what you wanted." She bit her lip. "It's tomorrow, isn't it?"
"Yes." He answered. She sighed before pulling on his arm and forcing him to sit next to her.
"Just two more nights. That is all that's left. He is not going to come back after what happened. Calm down." He stared at her.
"You expect me to calm down?"
"If I can, so can you." She replied shortly. She took his hand and intertwined their fingers together. "I do not blame you."
"I know." He sighed. They were both silent for a while. "Stay here with me." She looked up at him.
"W-What?" He pulled her into his arms and buried his face in her hair.
"Stay in this room with me. Then I know you will be safe." She wanted to protest but going back to her room was a shaky thought.
"All right." She whispered. "I'll stay." Her arms wrapped around him and she closed her eyes. It was then that she realized how fully exhausted she was. "Let me sleep for a while. I want to rest before dinner." He nodded. Then he stiffened.
"Do your friends know?" She shook her head.
"I do not have the energy to tell them." He pulled away and kissed her forehead.
"Get some sleep. I will handle everything." She smiled.
"Thank you." He left her by herself. She stared at the door.
It is times like these that I have no idea what I would do without him.
She smiled and lay back, resting her head on his pillows. His presence was everywhere in the room. She felt so comfortable that sleep came easy.
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That's all for this one. Man, these chapters are flying by! This fic is so fun that I just get lost in it and, before I realize it, another chapter is done!