Miko of My Desire
By: Aurora Collins
Disclaimers: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters associated with it. I'm only borrowing the characters to amuse myself and hopefully others. ^_^
Ch. 8: To Be Found
It had already been three days and there has yet to be any sign of Rin or who took her from the castle. Sesshomaru knew that she had been kidnapped, but now he just had to figure out who had committed the crime. Sesshomaru knew that he had several enemies and it could be any of them. He didn't know how he could have let this happen and he noticed that he had been making a lot of mistakes recently; just like a pup would. He mentally brandished himself as a fool for not being more perceptive. Sesshomaru could have blamed Kagome for distracting him but that wasn't true, he simply had to take responsibility for his actions.
He was pulled from his thoughts when he felt a tug on his kimono. He looked down and noticed the little miko was glaring at him. She had sweat dripping from her brow and it looked like she was breathing hard; her chest heaving up and down from exertion. "Didn't you hear me Sesshomaru?" Kagome huffed out. Sesshomaru looked away and said curtly, "No." "I said lets take a break by this creek, but you were walking so fast that I was practically running to catch up. What were you thinking about that got you so distracted?" Kagome asked, now that they had stopped. Sesshomaru cleared his throat, "Hnn? It was nothing." Kagome knew better but she decided not to press the matter because he was obviously distressed. The longer the little girl was missing the more distant he became.
Kagome pulled Sesshomaru towards the creek and practically forced him down to sit, "I know you're worried about Rin but I gotta rest. I know I'm just a weak human but this hiking around is tiring me out." Kagome gave him a pleading look, hoping he would allow a five minute reprieve. Sesshomaru nodded his consent for her to rest while he thought of any other possible places she could be being held. Kagome got down on her knees and drank from the creek greedily; the water trickled down her chin and neck. She filled the water skin and offered it to Sesshomaru who took it gladly realizing he too was thirsty. Kagome wiped her mouth with her sleeve and sat on a rock near her master. "So where do we go next?" she questioned while brushing the hair out of her face. They haven't had a decent bath or hair brush for days and Kagome felt horrible. What she wouldn't do for a hot spring or some decent food.
"I'm thinking about it," Sesshomaru admitted. Kagome's eyes got wide, "You don't know? Well what about to the north?" "Hnn? Perhaps but I need to think logically about this. The more time we waste just wandering around then the less likely we'll find Rin," he went on to say. Kagome looked up at the tree canopy, "I guess I'm used to Inuyasha brainlessly wandering around." Sesshomaru smirked at her off handed comment, "He has a hard time finding his way around Japan. He gets lost easily and if he didn't have his nose to guide him then he would never know where to go." Kagome laughed, "This is true." Sesshomaru got up off his perch and said, "Let's keep going." Kagome followed and didn't ask where because she would know soon enough.
"I want my lord now! I WANT LORD SESSHOMARU NOW!" Rin yelled from her cage. She had been knocked out for days and when she finally came to she was no longer gagged. Rin didn't know who took her because it was too dark to see the culprit; she was not a happy camper. "Lord Sesshomaru!" she wailed once more. When Rui finally got to the cage, his eyes were wide, "What does this demon mean to you?" Rin glared at him, "This Rin is Lord Sesshomaru's ward and I want my Lord Sesshomaru now." She crossed her arms to make a point. "But Hikaru told me…" Rui face palmed him self and huffed. "Alright, we'll find your lord Sesshomaru," he sighed. Rui growled to himself for allowing this to happen.
He had, had no idea who this girl was and so he had taken Hikaru's word for it. Hikaru had still not returned from is errand. Rui wandered where the scamp could have gone. When that panther demon came back his head would roll. To take the lord of the western lands ward was like committing treason or suicide and Rui was by no means suicidal. Rui gulped down because he sure as hell didn't want to cross that dog demon. That is why he had sold that last slave to the man who had represented Lord Sesshomaru. Rui looked through the cage at the little girl and said, "Before I let you out you have to promise me something." Rin gave him a look that said she was listening. "Please promise me that you won't run away. If anything happened to you then I would die."
Rin thought about it for a moment and said, "I'll promise on one condition." Rui could not believe that he was bartering with a little human girl, but he had no choice if he wanted to keep his head. "Name it," he said in a hushed tone. Rin smiled, "I want sweets, tons of sweets." She said while emphasizing her words with her hands. Rui nearly fell over, "Sweets? Are you kidding me?" Rin nodded, "Nope Rin is not kidding. This Rin never gets sweets because lord Sesshomaru doesn't allow it." Rui thought for a moment, this was like playing with a double edged sword. If he left her in the cage then he would be blamed for retaining her unnecessarily and if he gave her all those sweets he would be blamed for making her fat. Rui growled to himself, "Alright, all the sweets you want, but don't make yourself sick."
Rui unlocked the cage and Rin got out instantly. She ran around Rui's legs laughing, "This Rin gets sweets!" Rui grabbed Rin by the hand to make her stop, "Stop running around and just sit on that stool by the table. I'll get you some cherry tarts, does that sound good?" Rin nodded as she ran to the table and jumped onto the stool. She gave him a smile and said, "READY!" Rui just wanted to kill himself and he wondered how the great lord could handle such a mischievous child. Rui had one of his men take care of the little girl and entertain her. In the meantime he would send out a scout with the girl's hair tie to try and locate Sesshomaru. He wondered how he would explain this to Sesshomaru. He thought for sure that he would be a dead demon by the end of the day. Rui just hoped that Hikaru showed up to ask a few heated questions about the girl and where exactly he got her. Rui did not take kindly to being lied to especially when his life was put on the line.
Rui sent his fastest man to go and get lord Sesshomaru. Rui hoped that this little conjecture would be over by the end of the day, and if he had any luck at all his head would remain firmly on his shoulders. He gazed to his side and saw the girl stuff a tart into her mouth with a delighted giggle. He couldn't believe that he had been so close to selling her. He shook his head as he walked over to Rin. He sat down on a chair close to hers and ate a tart himself. Rin gave him a questionable look as she chewed. Rui wanted to get to the point, "Who stole you Rin?" Rin shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know." "Do you know who Hikaru is?" Rui continued his interrogation. Rin thought for a moment and replied, "This Rin doesn't know a Hikaru. I know a Sesshomaru, and a Jaken. I also know Inuyasha, Sango, Miroku, Shippo and a Kagome!" She said the last part with a broad smile gracing her tiny mouth.
Rui flinched back, "Kagome! A woman who claims to be a miko?" Rin nodded, "Of course that Kagome. What other Kagome would this Rin be talking about? Kagome saved Rin one time and she loves this Rin. I don't know if she likes lord Sesshomaru though…" Rin continued to ramble on as Rui mentally killed himself. He had probably committed two unforgivable crimes in less then a month. Maybe he should quit being a slaver before he died doing the trade. "Have you seen Kagome lately?" Rui asked. "Not in a long time. I know she is staying at the castle, but lord Sesshomaru says that Rin can't see her yet. This Rin wonders why." She began to eat the last tart on the tray. Rui knew that he would have to get another treat for her soon or she might try to leave. Rui snapped his fingers and one of his men came right away.
"Get her some cake or something," Rui whispered to the man. The man nodded and ran off as fast as possible. Rui hoped that it wouldn't take too long. "So tell me Rin, how did you become his ward?" Rui was now getting curious. "Lord Sesshomaru saved this Rin and he allows me to be with him all the time," she said it so simply that Rui wondered if it really was that simple. Soon enough a double decker chocolate cake arrived and was set in front of her. Her eyes got wide and (her mouth became) an 'O' shape. Rui smiled and doubted that the little garbage disposal could consume anymore. He was proven wrong when he saw her dive into the cake with a new vengeance.
Just as Rui was about to continue his interrogation of Rin he saw the one person he wanted to kill most in the world. Hikaru strutted into the encampment with a couple more slaves to add to the litter. He handed the women over to one of the men and then headed straight for Rui, not knowing how much trouble he was in. That is until he saw the little girl was awake and moving. Rui saw Hikaru gulp down as the panther demon continued forward. Hikaru stopped in front of his boss and said, "How did the brat get out?" Rui smirked as he stood up from his chair, "I let her out of course." "Why would you do something like that?" Hikaru questioned his voice filled with worry. Rui came up to Hikaru and picked him up by his throat. "She is the ward to Sesshomaru you ignorant ass! Now you better tell me the truth on how you got her and by Kami you better not lie to me!" Rui threatened as his grip tightened. Hikaru clawed at Rui's hand, but the fox did not release his second in command.
Hikaru coughed, "I won't tell you a damn thing." "Pity," Rui replied as he threw Hikaru down. Rui grabbed the back of Hikaru's shirt and dragged him far away from Rin. The last thing Rui needed was to have the kid complain about two adults being mean to one another. Rui slammed Hikaru against a tree and growled, "How could you betray me like this, after all we've been through? You think you can just do whatever the hell you like? If Sesshomaru comes here then we're all dead men." Hikaru smiled, "That's the glory of it all he won't ever find out." Rui punched Hikaru in the face bringing the arrogant panther down, "I already sent someone to get him. Are you trying to die! No one double crosses Sesshomaru and lives to tell about it. I'm protecting my own hide by getting the dog and I'll make sure I hand your dumb ass over to him, so he can ask his own questions."
Hikaru picked himself up from the ground and tried to hit Rui but the fox was too fast for him. Rui made Hikaru land on his back once more and this time Rui kept his foot on the traitor's chest. "You dug your own grave, now you have to lay in it," Rui explained as he restrained Hikaru. He led the impotent pup back into the encampment and to the, post where they normally kept the slaves. Rui had Hikaru tied and bound with a special talisman that would keep him and his demon energy at bay. Demons were too strong for ropes but not strong enough to break holy instruments. After the bout Rin got the courage to go up to Rui. "Why did you do that?" she asked, without knowing why anything was happening. Rui kneeled down to her eye level and responded, "This is the demon who wanted to sell you, but he doesn't want to tell me how he got you. We'll wait until your lord gets here so that we can find out why he would do this." Rui then wiped some chocolate from her face a cloth and led her back to the table. Now all he had to do was wait patiently and pray.
Hours passed and there wasn't a single sign as to Rin's location. Kagome panted as they climbed a large hill and she had to wonder how Sesshomaru did all this traveling without breaking a single sweat. "Why can't we use your red cloud again?" Kagome asked as soon as they got to the top. "I can sense things better down here," Sesshomaru stated. "That's all fine and dandy for you I guess," she didn't want to complain but this was getting to be too much. She also didn't want to slow him down but she knew she was. She wouldn't regret coming though because she wanted to get Rin back too. "We can stop if you're tired," Sesshomaru offered. Why didn't Inuyasha ever do that? Kagome was going to take his offer but she declined hesitantly, "I-I'll be fine. Let's just keep going." After stating that she continued to walk and caught Sesshomaru smiling as she passed him.
Before anymore could be said there was a demon running right for them. Sesshomaru pushed Kagome behind him as he barred his fangs. The demon coming at them slowed down and he asked, "Are you lord Sesshomaru?" "Who wants to know?" Sesshomaru shot back. "I was ordered to ask every demon I crossed if they were Lord Sesshomaru. It's about a little girl," the demon stated. Right after he spoke Sesshomaru slammed him into the ground. "Did you take her?" Sesshomaru asked with a menacing look to his eyes. The demon backed up, "No! I'm just a messenger. I was told to give you this." The demon held out a hair tie and Sesshomaru knew instantly that it was Rin's. Sesshomaru grabbed it and clenched it in his fist. "Where is she?" Sesshomaru demanded. The demon pointed behind him, "In a grove, a few miles to the east by a waterfall and river. You can't miss it. Ask for Rui."
The demon cowered and Sesshomaru didn't have time to deal with the runt at the moment. Sesshomaru came up to Kagome and gave her an order, "Get on my back." Kagome immediately complied and climbed onto his back, as she had done so many times with Inuyasha. They whizzed through the woods faster than she thought was even possible. This dog demon's immense power spoke out on many different levels. She could feel his muscles contract and retract with each move he made just under her finger tips. Soon they came to the grove of trees the messenger had mentioned, and that is when Sesshomaru slowed down to a halt. He let Kagome down and they began to walk at a normal pace.
He whispered down to her, "Have your bow and arrows ready in case there is an ambush." Kagome nodded as she took out her weapons. She hoisted an arrow onto her bow and prepared it for a battle. They went past the grove of trees until they came to a clearing next to the river. It was a big encampment with over thirty tents that provided shelter for the inhabitants. There were cages full of human women and that is when Kagome paled. It all looked familiar now and she even recognized the wagons. This was the same band of miscreants that stole her and sold her into slavery. Kagome gulped down as her steps became more and more hesitant the further they traveled into the camp. Sesshomaru noticed this and looked back. He gestured her forward and she followed her lord in hot pursuit, trying to ignore the past.
Soon the people of the camp noticed the intruders, Kagome and Sesshomaru were surrounded quickly. "Where is Rui?" Sesshomaru demanded in his usual icy tone laced with a hard edge. "What do you need with the boss?" a insolent demon responded. Kagome stepped up and announced, "This is lord Sesshomaru and we're here for Rin. Now where is Rui?" The demons backed off and pointed in the direction they needed to go to. Sesshomaru wondered why they weren't being stopped. He wondered what kind of trap this was and how this Rui character was involved. They soon came to the middle of the camp and sitting at a table was Rin, consuming a cake of large proportions. There was chocolate everywhere. Sesshomaru strode forward and that is when he was stopped by yet another idiotic demon, a certain fox who would lose his head if he wasn't careful.
"Lord Sesshomaru?" the fox asked. Sesshomaru nodded and said in an irritated tone, "Yes?" Rui smiled and said, "I'm Rui and…" Before Rui could finish he was punched in the face and he flew back a few feet. Dust spewed up where he hit and Sesshomaru was going forward to get his revenge. Rui coughed up the dirt and yelled out, "Hey man I was just…" Rui was cut off again as Sesshomaru picked Rui up by his hair. Rui yelped and that is when Rin saw her liege lord. She jumped off her stool and said, "Wait lord Sesshomaru! Wait!" Sesshomaru looked at Rin as she ran up to him and grabbed his leg with her sticky hands. Although Sesshomaru was slightly irritated about his clothes being ruined, he was happy to see her again. "Rin release me. I must take care of this demon," Sesshomaru said. "No lord Sesshomaru. This demon helped Rin. Please let him go," Rin pleaded. Sesshomaru grunted but dropped the fox. Rui hit the ground once more and this time it took him a minute to get back up.
"You better explain yourself," Sesshomaru demanded in a low menacing growl. Kagome came to Rin and picked her up as the two males talked. Kagome wanted to make sure that Rin was out of the way in case something ensued further. "I was trying to until you attacked me. This is what I get for doing the right thing," Rui muttered. Sesshomaru growled, "Get to the point." Rui jumped, "I wasn't the one that stole your ward. It was my second in command Hikaru, but he refuses to tell me how or where he got her. I tried to make him talk but he won't confess." Sesshomaru eyed Rui with a glare, "For your loyalty you'll be spared." Rui breathed in relief to the lords words. "Now where is this Hikaru?" Sesshomaru questioned. Rui led the dog demon to the posts and pointed to the culprit, "That demon who's bound. That's your man."
The great lord of the west made his way to Hikaru and Sesshomaru was thinking of every way he could kill the demon who took his ward. Hikaru could hear the voices and his heart began to race. Before he had time to react the great Sesshomaru was in front of him and he didn't look too happy. Sesshomaru tore the post from the ground with Hikaru still attached. "You better talk you little bastard or this Sesshomaru will end your life very slowly," Sesshomaru threatened, Hikaru did not doubt his words for a minute but he couldn't betray his sister so he kept his mouth shut. "Not talking?" Sesshomaru said as he threw the post down. Hikaru hit the dirt with a grunt. "You'll regret not telling me what I want to know," Sesshomaru said, as the beating commenced.
During this time Kagome had taken Rin somewhere else so that the girl could not see what her lord was doing. Kagome wiped Rin's face of the cake and Rin looked so cute. "This Rin missed you Kagome," Rin said as she hugged the miko. "I missed you too Rin. Were you treated well while you were here?" Kagome asked. "Yes! Rui took care of me" Rin admitted. Kagome blinked, "Rui took care of you?" "Yes he did. He fed me lots of treats and he talked with me" the little girl said with glee. That is when Kagome sensed the fox demon behind her. She twisted around and gripped her bow with a new found emotion. Instinctively she brought her hand back and slapped him hard across the cheek. His head rolled to the side and she saw the red mark she inflicted. Rui's head came back to its position and she hit the other side just because the first time felt great.
Rui allowed it but that was only because she belonged to someone else, and maybe he deserved it; a little bit. "I told you I would get even you jerk!" Kagome said in a near scream. Rui shrugged his shoulders, "I suppose I deserve that." "If Sesshomaru ever found out what you did to me he would have your head." Rui paled at that notion, "Are you really going to do that to me?' "I should tell him, but since you took such good care of Rin I suppose I could overlook your indiscretions." "Why would you just do that?" Rui asked. "Because I know that you were just doing your job but you still deserved that slap. Maybe you could get yourself a girlfriend if you weren't such a womanizing prick." "That's hitting a little below the belt you know. I have never slept with any of my merchandise. I assure you. I never sexually touched you did I?" Rui dared her to argue with him. "The first time you caught me," Kagome spat out. Rui huffed, "That saved you I hope you know. You're lucky I checked instead of giving you to my men like they wanted me to. I actually take good care of the women I capture. They're not mistreated unless they acted like you did. They are bathed, fed, and given clothes; shelter from the elements. I don't abuse them."
Kagome looked away because she really couldn't argue that because she never saw Rui treat the women badly, just his men. "You should get out of the slave trade business," Kagome said. "I was thinking about it actually," Rui mentioned. "Good," was all Kagome could say. There was not much else she wanted to talk to the fox about.
Meanwhile Sesshomaru was beating Hikaru to a pulp. "You better talk or you'll be crippled in my dungeons for your whole life. One name is all I need and I can end this pain," Sesshomaru offered the panther. Hikaru coughed up blood and said in a murmur, "Clay." Hikaru hoped that in giving that name that his sister would be safe. "Where is he?" Sesshomaru asked. "I don't know. I really don't," Hikaru said weakly. Sesshomaru glared down at Hikaru and continued his questioning, "How do you come to know Clay?" Hikaru looked up at Sesshomaru and said, "I can't tell you." "Why not?" the dog asked. Hikaru coughed once more, "I just can't. I would rather die." Before Sesshomaru could give Hikaru what he wanted Rui interfered, "Wait Sesshomaru. I think I know something that could be important."
"Rui no!" Hikaru wailed. Rui bent his ears back, "I'm sorry Hikaru but the lord wishes to know and you have failed to give him the truth." "You can't!" Hikaru screamed out. "Hikaru has a sister lord Sesshomaru. Her name I think is Itsuko. Hikaru talked about her once or twice. I don't know if there is a connection there but it might lead you to your answers." Sesshomaru's fangs were bared as a growl reverberated from deep within his chest. Hikaru was still protesting when Sesshomaru had had enough of the whelp. Sesshomaru did the panther a service by cutting his head off with his poisoned claws. Rui grabbed his throat when he saw the execution. "Don't worry. That won't happen to you as long as you are loyal to me," Sesshomaru reassured Rui as he passed him. "Right," Rui said as he followed Sesshomaru with a gulp.
"Kagome you need to stay here and look after Rin for a bit. I will be back before nightfall," Sesshomaru stated as he began to leave the camp. "Where are you going?" Kagome asked. Sesshomaru looked over his shoulder, "To a cabin in the woods." Kagome gave him a confused looked before he disappeared from his speed. Kagome grumbled to herself, "I can't believe he just left me here in this stink hole." Rui heard her and growled, "Hey! I live here you know." Kagome smirked at him, "I know."
Sesshomaru ran through his forests because he knew exactly where Itsuko was. He put her there and made sure she was well taken care of and this is how she thanks him. Sesshomaru wondered how Clay and Itsuko knew one another and then it hit him. Clay used to sneak into the harem and sleep with his women. Maybe those two were lovers. He would bet his soul on it. Soon he came to the cabin, which was covered in vines and honeysuckles. It was isolated and pretty far from the castle, but she should have been happy to be taken care of her whole life and not have to work for anything. Itsuko should also be bed ridden. He came to the path that led to her home. He went up the three steps that came to the front door. Sesshomaru didn't even knock as he slammed the door open.
Itsuko woke up with a fright as she heard something bang in the room. She looked up and saw that it was the lord himself. "L-Lord Sesshomaru?" she asked with surprise. "What are you doing here?" she continued. Sesshomaru gradually walked up to her bed and sat at the edge of it. He looked down at her form, which was still in the beginning stages of healing. Sesshomaru would not feel bad about executing a traitor. "I came here to tell you that your brother Hikaru is dead," Sesshomaru said with no emotion. Itsuko's eyes got wide, "What are you talking about? My brother is fine." "I killed him Itsuko and the only name I got was yours and Clays," Sesshomaru said a little white lie, but if he could get the truth out of Itsuko then he would have all the evidence he needed.
"What does Clay mean to you Itsuko?" the lord questioned. Itsuko pushed herself back into her pillows, "You're not getting anything out of me." "That's what your brother said, but look how I got it out of him. Torture is such a useful device. Was this kidnapping bit your whole idea? Was it?" Sesshomaru was now grabbing onto her arm and was slowly breaking it. "Answer me or you'll have no arms to use." Tears fell down Itsuko's face as she felt the pain, "Yes damn it! Now let me go!" Sesshomaru automatically released her as he got up from her bed. "Why would you swindle Clay into doing such a thing? What did you get out of this?" Sesshomaru said this as he turned about her like a vulture.
Itsuko's chest rose and fell as she was being cornered, "It doesn't matter anymore because I know you're going to kill me." Sesshomaru nodded, "Of course I am. You took my ward, someone who means a lot to me. I just want to know why. Was it revenge? You were always so selfish." That is when Itsuko burst out, "That isn't true! Everything was fine till that bitch Kagome was brought in. I was on the back burner and you hadn't slept with me in years! Then she charred me and you had the harem closed! It was like I meant nothing to you!" "There was nothing ever there Itsuko. You belonged to my father and I had no use with so many women. You should have counted your lucky stars that I was putting you up, giving you a home and taking care of you instead of forcing you onto the streets. I would have eventually found you a husband, but like I said before; you're selfish," Sesshomaru finished.
"I would have never known about Rin if it wasn't for Kagome. Just thought I would let you think that one over before you killed me," Itsuko sneered out. Sesshomaru grunted, "I don't care how you found out. Kagome would never intentionally put Rin in danger like that. Knowing that miko she was just probably trying to make you see something that you didn't want to see." Itsuko's face got red, "Damn your soul to Hell Sesshomaru!" "On the contrary; it is you who will be going to Hell," Sesshomaru said that last bit before he reached his claw at her chest and literally tore her heart out. A scream gasped out of the woman before she died. Sesshomaru shook his clawed hand of the blood and walked out of the cabin without another thought to the woman. Now it was time to go home.