DarkWind was outside, seated on the ground. Him and Kagome were going through a large pile of bandages, bandage tape, lotions, creams and other first aid items. He was helping her put together several smaller kits that she would then give to each of them, so everyone had access to some things.
Sango had just returned with some water to drink, when Miroku stepped out of the hut carrying his bamboo fishing pole.
Sango grinned at him, "Going to try your luck?"
"That lake is deep enough that there should be some good sized fish in there. No offense to you, Kagome, but it would be nice to have something fresh tonight."
"Oh, I'm not offended in the least. Eating things from boxes, cans and cartons gets old after a while."
"InuYasha is getting some firewood for tonight. I think, if DarkWind is feeling up to it, we can probably be off again tomorrow. I'd like to see how Kaede is doing in this drought."
Kagome nodded.
Miroku paused, and then spoke.
"DarkWind?"
"Yes, Miroku-Monk?" The Kageri looked up from his bandages. He hadn't been sure how they would treat him, after seeing his beginnings. That he had been a free spirit, and one of immense power. That in the world of the Kageri, he was not just another Kageri, he was DarkWind, eldest of the Children of the Vangen, Youngest of the Kageri.
But they treated him normally.
Well...except for the monk, who was treating him as a friend.
"Have you even been fishing?"
DarkWind blinked, and looked up at Miroku, "Fishing? Ah, no. My masters were not interested in fishing, and so I have never learned."
"Would you like to?"
DarkWind studied Miroku curiously, "I believe I would be interested, yes."
"Come on, then, and I'll teach you."
DarkWind blinked, "Now?"
"Why not? I have everything we need right here, save for a worm or two."
DarkWind looked at Kagome, who nodded, and made shooing motions with her hands.
Smiling, the Kageri stood up, and fell in beside the Monk as they walked towards the river, "So...exactly how does one convince the worm to hold it's breath and stay on the hook, Miroku-monk?"
Miroku's voice drifted back to them, "Uhh..well..."
Izumi folded her fan, and tucked it into a pocket in her robe. Here in the forest the air was cooler.
It's been so hot and dry. I suppose it's a sign of the coming war, but I wasn't expecting this, and neither, I think, was my Lady. The innocents, those not involved in this war, should not be suffering...
"You are deep in thought, Izumi."
Izumi blinked, and looked up.
Sesshomaru stood before her, tall and slender and silver, his golden gaze on her.
"My apologies, Lord Sesshomaru, I did not see you there."
Sesshomaru seemed unperturbed, "Did we not discuss the dangers of that already? Or are you looking to be pinned to a tree again?"
Izumi blinked. Sesshomaru seemed put-out by something...possibly her, but she had no idea what it could be.
"Are you troubled by something, Sesshomaru?"
He narrowed his eyes, but looked away, "The heat is stifling."
"Ah. Yes. It's making us all rather cranky. How is Rin?"
Sesshomaru looked back at her, "You have been visiting InuYasha."
Izumi blinked, "How did you know?"
"His scent clings about you."
Izumi blinked, then smiling, shaking her head, "I forget the power of your noses, both of you. Yes, I stopped by to visit him and his friends."
She had been hoping he would ask after them, but was dissapointed when he did not. He seemed to study her intently, as if looking for something. Izumi began to get the odd feeling she should be doing or saying something.
Before she could speak, he said, "You were punished by your Goddess for ...attending me." Even now he could not actually admit she had rescued him.
Izumi blinked. She looked startled, then nodded, "Ah. Jakken."
"Just so. Jakken." His voice was oddly edged.
"I do hope you didn't harm him. He's a very loyal little thing, you know, and was quiet upset when I asked-"
"And why did I need to hear this from Jakken?"
Izumi fell silent, looking at him, confused, "I...do not understand."
He narrowed his eyes, "You knew you would be punished. By your Goddess. Your Amaterasu, the one you live for, and yet you still attended me."
"Ye-"
"Why?"
"Why?"
"Can you not hear me?"
Izumi's face darkened slightly, "Do not take that tone with me. If you have a question, ask, and let me answer!"
There was a pause, his face returning to that impassive mask, "Very well."
Izumi studied him for a moment, then spoke, "I didn't want you to know."
"Why?"
"It's not exactly something someone would like to run about bragging about, that shortly they are going to be huddled in pain. I am certain there are other topic of conversation much more pleasureable to discuss!"
"So you were ashamed."
Izumi blinked, "No, not that."
"What, then?"
"I was not ashamed, but...saddened. Upset. Is it truly important that we discuss this?"
"And yet you still attended me."
"Yes, of course."
Silence. He continued to study her.
Izumi watched him back, and started growing uneasy. It was a strange feeling for her...she hadn't felt like she was off her mark in a very long time.
For his part, Sesshomaru studied her, trying to see...something. Something he could put a name to, an image around. There was something about her that drew him, both physically and spiritually. Certainly his found himself physically attracted to her...but he also found himself wishing to hear her voice, her laughter, and it was starting to drive him to distracting, trying to figure out just what she had done to him. A spell? An incantation? Surely he would have felt, sensed, some kind of ritual, or spell. And she had known his father, had earned his father's friendship and trust.
Images swamped him. The two of them, him and Izumi, walking along the path of the forest, arm in arm, as she spoke of the Shadelings and shadows. How she had blessed the Tensaiga. How she often smiled at him. Saying things that made him smile faintly...how she seemed to amuse him.
An image, of her holding onto him, granting him a gift from her Goddess, that gift being his arm, because he was a warrior...and would need it in the times ahead...
How she had given him, when they had walked from his captor's place, just enough strength that he was able to walk out of there, head up, with his honour in place.
How she had known she was going to be punished by her Goddess...and still came, knowing he was not going to join her side in this battle, but remain Neutral.
"Sesshomaru?" Izumi's voice was unsure as he did not move, a silver statue, just gazing at her, "Is anything wrong?"
"Wrong? No." Sesshomaru came back to himself. He glanced down at his returned arm. Not a replacement, but his own, real arm, re-grown. She could have given him anything...
He looked back up, and walked towards her, "This War of the Twilight Lands...how goes it?"
Izumi looked up at him as he stood before her. She was a tall woman, the top of her head coming to the tips of his ears.
"It grows closer. Doorways will start appearing, I think, allowing Keimetsu's forces in. That, I think, is when the trouble for this world will begin."
"I see." Sesshomaru looked into the forest, as if seeking something there. She studied his face in silence.
After a second, he looked back at her, "You know I will remain Neutral. I will not join your Lady's side."
Izumi nodded, "I know. You have alre-"
"However," he said, cutting her off, removing his Tensaiga and holding it out to her, hilt first, "I offer my blade to you."
Izumi blinked, backing up a step, completely silent in her shock. Sesshomaru stood there, watching her, face still impassive and calm, eyes still a cool gold.
"Wh...what?"
His voice was steady and calm as always, matter-of-fact. "Tensaiga is yours, when you have need of it. I will weild it if you are in need of it."
Izumi continued to stare at him, unable to speak. For a second, she was silent, then found her voice.
"You can't do that!"
He slightly arced a brow, "Can't I?"
"You...you can't offer your sword to someone who's not even involved! If you offer your sword to me, you are offering it to my Lady!"
"No. I offer it if you are in need. Not Amaterasu."
"You can't do that!"
"It is my sword. I am the Neutral One. I do as I wish."
They both remained there, Sesshomaru holding out the hilt of Tensaiga, Izumi with one foot behind her, looking at the demon lord as if he was a giant preying mantis about to eat her.
Sesshomaru looked amused, "Will you not accept?"
"I..."
"Surely...Izumi is not afraid."
She flushed slightly, "No, of course not! It's just...never been done, is all!"
"Until now."
Flustered, Izumi reached out and touched the hilt of his sword with her fingers, "I accept your offer, then, Lord Sesshomaru, though I am not sure when...or even how...I will call on your for this."
"It does not matter, my Lady. Things happen as they will." He turned, starting away.
Izumi spoke, "I have told you before, Lord Sesshomaru. Please do not call me "Lady". I have no claim to that title."
Sesshomaru paused, and looked over his shoulder at her. His normally cool golden eyes seemed heated. He spoke again.
"Things happen as they will...My Lady."
He turned again, walking back along the path.
Izumi blinked, watching him walk. The possessive tone in his use of the title "My Lady" startled her greatly. She watched his long silver form dissapear into the forest.
She couldn't have heard him right. He was teasing her, was all.
A very faint shiver ran up her spine, and she was unable to get the memory of his eyes out of her mind for quite a while.
End
