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Monster

Chapter 4

But you always come back.

Original Publish Date: 4/14/2018
Minor Fixes: 4/16/2018

"I can't deal with this!"

Sesshomaru was in his smaller study with literature about the veil between worlds, relatively far from the shouting couple, but his sensitive hearing picked up their voices from across the castle. It was the third breakdown Izayoi had in recent years as the regret of a decision she made long ago gradually chipped away her sanity. No hanyou that was made could keep their human heart from constantly struggling against their new youkai blood. Even Inuyasha as a birthed hanyou needed outside assistance in the form of Tessaiga when his life was in danger, a fact his father didn't inform him of until months after he lost his arm. In his eyes, it turned the once mighty sword into a crutch for a weak hanyou, and he no longer desired it.

"Izayoi, lower your voice…" As if it mattered, the whole castle already heard them by now.

"No! Everything hurts!" Why his father accepted her soul, he would never know. Power could not have been his reason. Long ago, his sire drilled it into him that it wasn't worth the price. If he deeply cared for her as he claimed, why would he damn her to such fate? Did he believe she was different than others? That she would somehow defy centuries of failed attempts?

Sesshomaru closed the book with a soft sigh, rising from his chair and leaving the castle grounds from his balcony. He may not have cared for the woman much, but the sound of pain in her voice was very real, so was the helplessness in his father's. He would give them some privacy.

Absently, he flew over the mountaintops and over the rolling plains of navy-blue long grass. In this entire time, he found nothing about how the girl could heal his wounds. Any texts related to humans only spoke of feeding and nothing more. How strange it was that there was so little about this unfortunate codependency his kind had on humans, though he was guilty himself of not giving it much thought till now, always so preoccupied with making himself stronger.

He recently got through half of the castle's massive library (the realm's largest wealth of knowledge) and discovered something strange, the age of books. Nothing older than 300 years. The library was a place he scarcely visited anymore as he never needed it aside for teachings of Math and Science. For ancient history, he relied on stories from his father and mother during his upbringing, but he knew for a fact he could easily find older books in the mortal world. It was simply impossible that no texts here, a realm of beings that lived for centuries, were older than that.

Lost in his thoughts, he didn't realize how long he was flying. It had to have been at least a few hours, as his father soon joined him.

It didn't surprise him anymore. Since the moment in his study, his sire had taken to almost stalking him - or was he avoiding Izayoi? Perhaps a bit of both. Sesshomaru had told Rin of his father, he had only visited her twice in the past three years due to his sire's persistent presence. He couldn't bare that he had a secret. Sesshomaru took a bit of spiteful glee from it. After all, Touga had done the same when he was sneaking off to meet with Izayoi, under different circumstances. "I hope I'm not interrupting."

"You are not."

Touga sighed, "I apologize. You shouldn't have to leave your home for peace."

"It does not bother me." The two continued directionless across the darkening sky. When the fake sun dipped below the horizon, it was his father who broke the silence.

"You haven't fed in awhile." Sesshomaru's most recent visit to Rin was two months ago, unintentionally on the night of her 16th birthday. The teenager treated his appearance like a great gift despite his lacking of one. That time, he was strangely rejuvenated from her company, not needing to fed for weeks after. It seemed he was doing less and less hunting now that he truly thought on it. "Son?" He looked at his father who watched him with a curious expression, "Perhaps we should hunt together. There is a human I have been prepping for some time now."

Oh? He hadn't hunted with his father for decades. "Who?"

"Takemaru Setsuna."

He recognized the name immediately, Izayoi's former husband. The man had an unhealthy relationship with her, more of a one-sided obsession that turned abusive. The night Touga had officially brought Izayoi home after taking her soul was when Takemaru had nearly beaten her to death, thinking she was with another man. He also started to go mad after the woman disappeared. "We don't hunt for vengeance."

"The humans have failed to bring him to justice. I will not."

"Vigilantism is frowned upon."

Touga chuckled, "And since when do you care for the rules set by the council?"

"Never. Lead the way."

The two daiyoukai arrived in a closet that was about the size of an average bedroom. Since the sun had just set, they couldn't simply run out, snarl and be done with it. It was too early, adult humans don't believe there is something lurking in the dark at this time, so they had to make him believe. First, it was little things. Moving a throw pillow, turning off or on electronics and lights, dropping items from shelves, rattling dishes - they nearly had full reign of the large, high-rise penthouse as his belief was too weak for him to physically see them so they behaved as mischievous ghosts. When Takemaru's heart began to race as he fixed their disturbances, they started to move more carefully.

Touga lowered the thermostat all the way as a silent signal to begin, and Sesshomaru turned on all the burners at the gas range before slipping into the utility closet nearby. "What the hell?!" They heard the man scream in the kitchen as he frantically turned off the range. The younger daiyoukai found the breaker box and waited until he heard his sire drop a vase down the hall - "Who's there?!" - and the human run over before he switched off every breaker except the central air unit to keep the place dark and chilly. The younger daiyoukai left the closet, transformed into his dog form, as large as the massive two-story penthouse allowed, and blocked the front door. "Why don't you leave me alone?!"

He crouched low when he heard the human returning from the hall, and snapped his jaws dangerously close just as he passed. "Ahh!" Takemaru scrambled backward, hitting a lamp and falling onto the sofa. Sesshomaru took this moment to hide before the human got on his feet again. "What? No… There was a dog… I saw it…"

The human stammered as he ran his hands through his black hair. For a moment, there was silence - only the humming sound of the AC pumping cold air. "I'm going crazy-" Touga's deep growl vibrated the apartment, trembling the wall of windows across from them. The bulkier canine form emerged from the darkness, standing on the loft that overlooked the first floor. As he stepped down, his form grew to accommodate the extra space, glowing red eyes never leaving Takemaru's.

When the human made a break for the hall again, Sesshomaru jumped forward from hiding and snarled, forcing him back into the living room. Takemaru backed into the glass, cornered by two large muzzles, baring teeth larger than him. That was when Sesshomaru unleashed his youki and held him in place, as his father smothered the human's soul.

This wasn't a feeding. His sire was going to break him.

As Touga pushed, bearing his overwhelming energy on the human, Sesshomaru began to hear a strange buzzing in his ear. After not being able to place it, he tried to ignore it. In his mind's eye, he could see his father rampaging in Takemaru's head - a withered fortress with crazed guards trying to protect a twisted soul - using his paws, tearing through his defensives. He briefly wondered how it must feel, to have a monster in your head and be powerless to stop their assault. The man was now frothing at the mouth, eyes rolled back and his back arched unnaturally. The younger daiyoukai looked at his sire, making a gruff noise.

Takemaru's mind was gone. Touga looked at him and nodded, they both returned to their humanoid forms.

"His paranoia rose rather quickly… How long have you been toying with him?" Sesshomaru asked, wincing when the buzzing got louder. Rin. He didn't know why, but that was what his instinct told him.

"A while." His father answered vaguely, watching the human slump into unconsciousness. Sesshomaru searched for her, but couldn't find her as if she was blocked from his senses. Wolves? Wolf youkai hunted in packs, they shroud the location in darkness with their youki to hide it from other predators and overwhelm their prey. There was no other reason why he couldn't find her - despite it being hours earlier for a usual wolf hunt. Thankfully, he visited her enough times to know exactly where the home is.

"Sesshomaru?" He didn't hear his father as he opened a portal and left him behind.

It was nearly pitch black in the room, difficult to see even with his heightened senses. He heard two feminine screams and the yipping and howling of at least six wolves. He sneered, Six? For two girls? One of the more confident animals charged at him, and his whip of light wrapped around its neck and with a flick of his wrist, he slammed it against another wolf. The alpha got the pack roared for a retreat, knowing he would not be able to protect them. Once all six wolves jumped into their own small portals, the darkness in the room eased as the moonlight returned, filtering its soft light through the open curtains.

Sesshomaru's eyes landed on the two forms huddled together on the bed and his eyes narrowed at the stranger who looked to be the same age as Rin and held her against her chest. Silver hair that didn't reek of chemicals and purple eyes that were not laughably fake - he sniffed the air, she was a hanyou, a bat hanyou. He also caught the scent of Rin's tears, who was desperately wiping them away as quickly as she could.

"He actually came…" Muttered the hanyou, before she looked at Rin with concern. "Are you okay?" She nodded, not looking up as she fought to collect herself. When he took a step forward, the hanyou pushed Rin slightly behind her, placing herself as a shield between them. He raised an eyebrow at her foolish courage. If she couldn't scare off the group low-born wolf youkai, what did she believe she could do to him? "You aren't playing with her, are you? She called your name. Why?"

Sesshomaru glared at the insinuation, as if he had to answer to her. The hanyou may have been talking tough but her body trembled and her breathing was unsteady. When he took another step forward, a red barrier flashed around the bed. There was no question. "You are Tsukuyomaru's daughter." Her fear spiked further with his words, and the barrier cackled enough for him to take a step back.

"Shiori." Rin placed her hand on the hanyou's shoulder, causing her look over, "Lord Sesshomaru is a friend." Friend? "It's okay."

"Are you sure…?" He heard her whisper, and Rin nodded.

"He won't hurt us." The hanyou still looked unsure when she lowered the barrier, keeping her eyes on him. At least one of the teenagers in the room realized how dangerous he truly is. "Lord Sesshomaru." Rin was looking at him now, her eyes were still teary when she smiled at him. "Thank you for helping us."

His gaze shifted to the hanyou, Shiori, "What are you doing here?"

"She's my friend!" Rin chirped, wrapping an arm around the hanyou in a half-hug, "We go to the same school. We were having a sleepover."

"What she said." Shiori agreed. "But what are you doing here?" She asked him, her tone was no longer accusing but bewildered.

Rin butted in, "I told you. He's a friend too!" The hanyou looked at the human like she was insane.

"Father said he was a heartless, mean, egotistic brat." Shiori whispered into Rin's ear. He glared at the hanyou but it went unnoticed. Apparently, her father didn't mention his superior hearing.

The human gasped loudly as if she had been personally insulted, "No, he isn't! He's nice!" Nice…? He wasn't nice. He was no one's friend. Sesshomaru took a deep breath as the two teenage girls continued to argue back and forth about his character - something that either clearly knew nothing about - oblivious to his rising displeasure.

"Enough!" He snapped and the two girls immediately shut their mouths. His eyes landed on Rin first, "I told you not to speak to any monsters."

"I don't." The teenager huffed, "The ones who were hurting her just because she looks different are the monsters. I don't talk to them." Shiori smiled at the human and Sesshomaru frowned at her response.

"You know what I speak of, Rin."

The human stubbornly shook her head, "Monsters like hurting people. Shiori doesn't, she doesn't hurt anyone."

He shifted his attention to the hanyou, "You endanger her with your presence." Inuyasha learned while attending school that any friend he made would slowly start seeing through the guise his father created to hide his ears, regardless of their previous level of belief in their kind. It made them easy targets for feeding afterward.

The hanyou didn't like his words, her sharp tone returning, "No more than you." Had Rin not been in the room, he would have made sure the girl regretted her comment instantly.

"RIN!" The sound an older woman's yell made the two teens jump, "We're back!"

"I'll go downstairs so they don't try coming in here." Rin said as she rose from bed, then adjusted her fuzzy flower pattern shorts. She looked at him first, "Don't go yet, please?" He wouldn't leave until he was sure the wolves didn't damage her mind, but he said nothing with the hanyou watching them both. He didn't need to, Rin smiled and mouthed another 'thank you' before leaving. When his attention diverted to Shiori again, he swore he saw a bit of humor in her gaze. She got off the bed and stood a respectable distance from him.

"Lord Sesshomaru. Thank you for getting rid of the wolves." She bowed, "And I swear on my father's grave, I won't tell anyone about you two."

He ignored the gesture and her odd tone, "The wolves persisted their attack after they likely scented your hanyou blood. Why?"

The bat hanyou shifted uncomfortably, "I don't know."

"You know something." He growled, sensing she was withholding information.

Her gaze dropped to the floor, "I don't know anything… but I think someone has been watching my mom and me, ever since father passed."

"Your mother lives here with you… She is hanyou?" The tan teen shook her head and told him she was a normal human like Rin. That was impossible. "How, then, were you conceived?"

"When a man and a woman love each other-" Sesshomaru allowed some poison to seep from his claws. Shiori frantically waved her hands in front of her and apologized before continuing, "I'm only telling you because Rin trusts you... Mom could touch father."

"How?"

Shiori shrugged, "Father said it was because mom loved him so much, she gave him life, but... I think he was just being sappy."

"Your grandfather claimed he was going to leave the realm behind. Was that true?"

"He didn't say. The last time I saw him, we were eating okonomiyaki mom made for breakfast. He said had to take care of something and he'd be back by the time school was over. But…"

He was killed. Sesshomaru finished internally. His eyes widened, her father was eating breakfast...

"Alright. Coast is clear." Rin announced as she came in, locking the door behind her. Her hand hovered over the light switch, "You've never been here this early in the night… if I turn on the light, do you disappear? Or does it hurt or…?"

Shiori laughed, "That's not how it works. He'll still be here." He tilted his head in agreement and Rin suddenly flushed, flicking the ceiling light on.

"Well, you two were still standing in the dark, I wasn't sure!" The human crossed her arms under her chest, walking over to both of them. She looked at Shiori, "Do you know Lord Sesshomaru?"

"Not personally." The hanyou replied. His eyes swept over Rin's form, looking for any abnormalities. Her heart rate was a bit quickened but it had been during his last visit as well. "I, uhm… uh. Gotta use the bathroom!" The hanyou suddenly blurted out - it was a lie - and rushed out the room. The abrupt departure seemed to embarrass Rin for whatever reason, as her cheeks flushed a soft pink and her eyes were glued to the carpet.

"Are you unharmed?" He asked as he checked the state of her mind. Her meadow was scarred, but no walls were being built. He frowned, Why hasn't she put up a single wall yet? It was not normal for one of her age to still have such an open mind. Combined with her troubled childhood, she should have had a fortress by now, built from loneliness, shame and mistrust.

She squeezed the arms around her tighter, "I'm fine, thanks to you."

The answer left him dissatisfied, despite having checked himself. Her behavior was peculiar, it was unlike her to not look up at him smiling. "Rin."

She glanced up for only a split second, "Yes?"

"Look at me."

Her eyes slowly trailed up until they met his and he heard her heart pump louder. Was she ill? He didn't smell sickness on her. "You are acting strangely."

She swallowed thickly, repeating herself, "I'm fine."

It wasn't a lie. He was at a loss and pinned her strangeness on the awkwardness that plagues every species around her age. "Very well."

When he turned, she stepped closer and her hand made a move to grab him but pulled back, "Wait! I- Uhm, when will I see you again?"

"When?"

Rin finally smiled, the corners of her eyes crinkled, "You always come back. It seemed silly to ask if you will. Is your father still following you around?"

"Yes. I left him to come here."

She paled, "He saw you? Are you going to get in trouble?" She buried her face in her hands, "Oh nooo, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have called for you. I won't do it again-"

"Rin." She brought her eyes back to his. He remembered his father's paws crumbling Takemaru's castle to dust and the man's distant eyes before consciousness left him. What would happen to her if a youkai got close enough to run free in her mind? "You will call me if you are in danger."

"But-" The human stopped her protest when he narrowed his eyes with a defeated sigh, "Okay… Can I call you if I'm not in danger?"

"Why?"

"... To see you." He blinked slowly. Rin squirmed. "And talk."

"We already do."

Her face started to redden all over again, "I mean..." She started rubbing a lock of her long hair between her thumb and index finger, a sign of nervousness. "I'd like to see you more often." Rin shifted her feet and her gaze hit the floor again, "I-if that's okay…" Her heart was pounding and the color on her cheeks rivaled a summer tomato. "I don't want to bother you or anything." She was combusting before his eyes and he couldn't phantom why, but he felt a touch of amusement from the sight.

"Yes."

The large sigh of her relief was second only to the happiness brightening her eyes, "I'll see you later then." He nodded, this time leaving her home and landing in the castle's courtyard.

There was the possibility that someone in this realm knew about Tsukuyomaru's 'day-walking'... Perhaps trying to get rid of Shiori and her mother as they were proof that their kind didn't have to stay stuck in this dark place. He began walking to the doors as he thought, Who would benefit from keeping it a secret?

The council members would undoubtedly lose grip on their power if their constituents were able to cross over without them - consisting of his father, Abi, Kaguya, Shishinki, and Hoshiyomi who hasn't been seen for 3 months now. His father was out of the question. Abi was there when the bat daiyoukai was killed and a good friend to the bat clan. He had spoken to her a couple of times since his death - the phoenix didn't know any details surrounding his life in the mortal world.

Hoshiyomi was rumored to be in love with a human but there was no evidence that he knew of, and the other two were ambitious, power-hungry daiyoukai… but he couldn't picture any of the wolf tribes working with them. They were an isolated people who lived on Mount Reiku at the eastern edge of the realm or in the ice forest to the north, and neither liked people of the court.

Lost in his thoughts, he was startled when his father snuck up behind him once he was in the hall and having just passed his study, "Sesshomaru."

He turned to face him, his sire's face unreadable. "Yes, father?"

"I had a pack of wolves tell me there was a rabid, white dog interfering in their hunt. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?"

It was unsettling that he couldn't read his father. "I do." Touga said nothing, raising an eyebrow, waiting. "It was I."

"They were rather unhappy… it isn't exactly protocol. They claimed their prey called you by name. Is there a human out there that knows your name?"

Nothing. Absolutely no emotion on his father's face or voice. "Yes."

Touga gestured to the oak doors behind him. "Sit. I'll return shortly." Sesshomaru did as his father ordered. When his sire returned, he had a fresh bottle of bourbon and two glasses. He sat beside him, instead of behind the desk, set the items down, then served before asking, "What's her name?"

He narrowed his eyes, suspicious of his father, "Why?" But Touga did not respond. When his sire was asking questions, you answer - you don't ask. He took a sip before replying, "Rin."

"Rin…" His father repeated, his golden eyes appeared to be scrutinizing every inch of him. "You left so quickly, I was concerned. You hardly move so hastily for anything."

"It was not my intention to worry you."

"Hmm…" Touga drank quietly for a few sips, contemplating by the look on his face. "You heard her voice." Did his father know something about that?

"No."

"You heard something."

"Yes."

"Hmm…" It was quiet again. His father continued enjoying his drink. It was in these rare moments where he understood certain frustrations others had when he simply 'hn'ed. "Do you know what you are doing?"

He blinked, "I don't know what you mean."

"Her safety-"

"-Is not your concern."

Touga scoffed, doing a terrible job of hiding a smile behind his glass as he spoke, "Brat."

He sneered, "You were watching me." He manipulated the entire discussion for what? A laugh?

His sire shrugged, "I left when Shiori did." He let out a sly chuckle, his eyes seemed to be plotting something he didn't understand, "The poor girl split so fast, I thought I should too."

"I don't like your face."

Touga nearly choked on his drink, laughing, "Oh? What about it?"

"It's suggestive."

"I am only teasing. As for the wolves… I will look into why they attacked this Shiori and your Rin so recklessly. Do not pursue it." When he opened his mouth to retort, his father shut it down. "That is an order, Sesshomaru."

Sesshomaru exhaled through his nose, setting down his glass with a hand that tried not crack the fragile cup as he rose from his seat. "Is that all, my lord?"

The older daiyoukai frowned and mimicked his action, then set a hand on his shoulder as he does when he is trying to calm and 'connect' with him. At the moment, it only felt patronizing. "My son, you must understand. -" An earth-shattering roar quaked the floor of the castle. Both looked out the towering window to see the massive form of Ryūkotsusei flying in the sky, waiting for a response to his challenge. The dragon spirit did this ever so often when he got bored of floating around the realm and the demon graveyard, he would find his way to his father's lands for a fight. The two would rage for hours, neither would win, and go back to their respective lives until the next time.

"I don't understand why you allow these fights to continue." Surely his sire was powerful enough to kill and be done with him.

"Shishinki and Ryūkotsusei, along with myself, are the oldest living youkai, as you know. I suppose it's some strange form of camaraderie that stops us from the killing blow…" The dragon began spitting balls of electricity into the deep gray sea as if impatient, "Hōsenki will not be pleased if he trashes the coast. I must go." His father opened the window and jumped into the sky, taking on his true form before he dragged the fight far out into the plains.

"Where is he going…?" Sesshomaru glanced over his shoulder at the tired, female voice. Izayoi had snuck into the study and was walking toward the window, her weary brown eyes squinting as she looked into the distance. "Is that Ryūkotsusei?"

"Hn."

"Oh… He will be gravely injured when he returns then, won't he?" She looked at him but he continued staring forward to the plains, "Your father keeps so many secrets, sometimes it's hard to remember that he is not a bad person…" A feeling of deja vu crept on him - as a boy on the dais talking to his own mother. What made her say that all the sudden? "He killed Takemaru."

It wasn't stated as a question but he replied all the same, "Yes." The human undoubtedly killed himself after he regained consciousness.

"I asked him not to. I didn't care what happened to that man anymore, but I didn't want him killed." From his peripheral vision, he could see the bags under her eyes had aged her significantly. Her skin was almost a dusty color as the blood in her veins was cold. The transformation had not been kind to her health in the long run, she looked a decade or more older than she was. "He always makes sure we are taken care of, with our honor intact, with us nearby him." She tucked a loose lock of her hair behind her ear, "He would do anything to convince your mother to move back in here, you know? He's also been looking for relics or enchantments to help Inuyasha stay here longer, forever."

Sesshomaru resisted the urge to scoff, "Inuyasha would not agree to that."

"Touga does not look for approval, he demands it." The bitterness in her voice surprised him, she always spoke softly, especially about his father. While a part of him wanted to reprimand her for the slight, another part of him couldn't help but agree… And it reminded him of a time when his mother had said the same. "He would wait until there is no other choice… to make sure we are all close and happy. Even if it means cursing a blade... or blocking his son's way for every time he edges closer to the way out."

"That doesn't interest me." Sesshomaru had never let his desire to leave this place be known, not to his father, or mother - anyone.

"I know it does, and if I do, your father does." Izayoi met his gaze, "He would never intentionally hurt you… but I worry about what he might be planning." She gave a glance to Tensaiga on his hip, "He can be a bit obsessive about the future."

"Why are you telling me this?" Should he even give weight to anything she said? Even if she seemed lucid now, he knew she wasn't stable. What if it was only the ramblings of a mad woman?

"I know you hardly tolerate my presence, Lord Sesshomaru… I believe this is the most we have spoken since I arrived?" She let out a small chuckle, he smelt the salt of tears she didn't allow to fall, "I want to see you leave, because I can't. No one deserves to be stuck in this place forever." The former human cleared her throat and smoothed out her clothing absently, the glassiness in her eyes retreating, "You should know, he killed those wolves." That didn't sound like a diplomatic solution, the ways his father always seemed to push on him, not to mention out-of-character for him, but the woman was telling the truth. "Your father was anxious. I imagine it was to keep another secret of his safe or… to find out one of yours?"

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes, that hit far too close to what happened. Touga now knows who and where Rin is, and with the wolves dead and not knowing which of the many tribes they belonged to, Sesshomaru couldn't interrogate them about Shiori and had no lead. No, he thought, Father wouldn't harm two innocent young women for anything. Izayoi is insane… but why kill the wolves and not tell me? Their relations with the wolves were already rocky at best. Even if they don't all belong to the same tribe if it was known that Touga slaughtered an entire pack for a legitimate complaint...

Her hand gently touched the empty sleeve of his kimono, bringing him out of his thoughts and he was too curious of what else she would say to scold her, "I know it's not much consolation, but I pulled Inuyasha's ears pretty hard for that." His lips quirked but he said nothing. "I should get going." The woman turned to leave but paused at the doorway and whispered in parting, "Please be careful, Lord Sesshomaru."

End of Chapter 4

Author's Note: This was supposed to be posted yesterday, but I kept changing it at the last minute… D: Sorry!

Also, this story is going to be a bit longer than I originally planned, mostly because the first chapters are shorter than what I usually do. Probably 12.

Thanks for all the reviews, favs, and follows. Hope you guys liked this one! The next chapter should be ready next weekend. c: