Chapter 4: Rescue of the Human Children
He scented her even before her presence was announced by a red-faced Jaken. The toad Youkai had run up the stairs the instance she arrived, bearing urgent news.
"My Lord! Lady Rin is back and she wishes for your audience immediately!"
"Who is the human with her?" asked Sesshoumaru, his eyes lifting up lazily.
"I do not know Master but she came directly from her mission at Eilean. Miria is nowhere in sight."
He hadn't notice that. The scent of the human male had consumed him so much that Miria's absence had not affected him as it should have.
"Leave him at the gates and call her in," he instructed. Rin better had a good explanation for this. Just the thought of the two sharing a fire to sleep on their journey made him ready to slice off the human's head. Diplomacy or not, he wasn't about to let Rin loose to do as she pleases.
"My Lord? Why will you not come down and speak to us?" The woman in question came storming in.
"I do not trust him. Why have you brought a human to this castle?" He made sure she caught the edge of annoyance in his voice.
"So have you." She slapped her hands on the edge of his desk. "But this is not about me. This is your subject we are talking about. He needs our help. The children in his village have been taken by hyenas and I do not think the attacks will stop."
Sesshoumaru slowly rose to his feet, aware of what Rin was implying. "You dared to make decisions without seeking my consent?"
For a moment she simply looked at him, eyes wide and blank. When he stood at his full height, glowering down at her, she stepped back and bowed.
"I misjudged you my Lord." Her voice tinged of sadness, not of the remorse he expected. "I will escort Titus back to his village."
"You will do no such thing." He tilted her chin up to face him, taking in her scent – god was she intoxicating.
"Of course my Lord. As you wish." Sesshoumaru didn't trust her sudden acquiescence one bit but he allowed her to leave, knowing full well that he would have to go after her anyway. Rin was always landing herself in trouble even by doing nothing.
With a sigh, he took the back stairs down to the lower floors. There was only one place that Rin would be after a long journey with barely any supplies - the kitchen.
Keeping his back against the shadows, he kept still and listened to Rin's light banter with the human male and Nahia.
"Stone soup?" cried Nahia. "And I thought my cooking was dreadful!"
"I would still have eaten it Nahia," said Rin gently. "But I promise, I will teach you a few tricks when I am back. Lord Sesshoumaru was a bit too hard on you."
"Oh shush! Now let me get something for the two of you. What would you like to eat young man?"
Sesshoumaru heard the bustling of Nahia's skirts as she wandered from larder to larder in search of items.
"I'm sorry to have brought you this much trouble. It seems that he is not like his father after all. You were wrong, Rin."
"Don't worry Titus... he will come. He always does."
"Why do you even stay here? He sends you to do his work and yet he doesn't listen to your advice. You're better off with your own people Rin. Come and live with me."
Sesshoumaru ground his teeth tight. How dare the human suggest that he ill-treated her! He was about to jump in and severe the human's head when Rin started to laugh.
"Lord Sesshoumaru cares more than he lets show. This is my home… and he is the only family I have left."
"As you wish my Lady. But know that my village will always have its doors open for you."
Sesshoumaru had heard enough. One more word coming out of that human's mouth and he wasn't sure if he would spare the village. Stepping out of the shadows, he walked arrogantly towards the trio before stopping right in front of the human Rin referred to as Titus.
"First you take from my kitchen and now you wish to steal what is mine?" Golden eyes bore down into the human's.
"My Lord!"
Nahia and the human male immediately got on their knees. A quick glance at Rin and he saw her crunching on an apple, her feet swinging as she sat on the table.
"Rin, would you be so kind to get A-Un for me? I do not wish to harbour fugitives in my home any longer." He watched her put the apple down, chewing slower as though contemplating his request.
When she hesitated, he sighed. "Your human friend will be unharmed… but if you do not move now, I will not guarantee that for long."
Rin took her time leaving, all the while keeping an eye on him until she was finally out of the kitchen.
Keeping to his word, Sesshoumaru looked down at the human still on his knees. "How many were taken?"
"Twelve my Lord."
"How many attacks?"
"We've… we've lost count my Lord," he replied, daring to look up at the Daiyoukai. "We waited for months, praying that aid would come… but the only news we received was the passing of your father. My condolences my Lord. I had the chance of riding beside him… he was truly an honourable man."
Sesshoumaru said nothing. If only this human knew the extent of his loss. Inu no Taisho may fashion himself as a human… but he was first a Dog Demon and Lord of the West. But to know that he was in the company of one who knew his father made the task of journeying south more rewarding.
/
A-Un was a beast made for emergencies. Arriving at the village within the day, they started by searching for Miria. The villagers had not seen her nor heard anything from her since they left four days ago to the castle.
Rin was starting to get worried. If Miria, a full demon didn't make it back by now, she had either tracked the children a long distance from Eilean or…
Rin didn't want to think about it.
"We'll find her," said Titus, his smile a warm contrast to the cold Daiyoukai walking ahead of them. "I've assembled my best men to accompany us. Hopefully this way, we can outnumber those hyenas."
Lord Sesshoumaru grunted at his comment. Rin had no doubt that he thought Titus a fool for thinking his army of humans could take down a Youkai pack. Rin felt otherwise for Titus was a leader with much heart, gathering trust and loyalty amongst his men who will follow him regardless.
Lord Sesshoumaru was very much like that if he would only take the time to believe it.
They were walking down the river bank when he suddenly stopped, pointing across the wide river stream.
"Miria went this way."
Rin looked at Titus and then at Lord Sesshoumaru. There was no way a pack of hyenas carried twelve human children across this river! The streams this far south were rapids, their current so strong it would crush anyone who dared cross its path.
"We will meet you at the other side," Titus said, coming to the same conclusion. "Might take us a full day at least but we cannot all fit on your dragon."
Lord Sesshoumaru nodded in agreement.
"Rin, hop on. I can sense Miria very close by. She had to have crossed this river not long ago." There was no time for arguments now.
A-Un was relentless as he hunted down Miria's scent. Lord Sesshoumaru hadn't said if he scented her alive. If they were too late… it was all her fault. She had ordered Miria to go after the children without thinking of reinforcements.
"Keep your sword close but stay hidden as much as you can."
"Yes my Lord."
"A-Un, keep watch in the sky. I have found her." He jumped off the dragon even before Rin could say anything. Looking down below, she could only see clouds and treetops. Clutching A-Un close, she stayed down, praying that Lord Sesshoumaru would find Miria safe… and whole.
/
When she saw him, Miria's eyes grew wide with worry; her head shaking as he approached.
"My Lord…no..." Her voice was barely a squeak. Lifting his hand up, he gestured for her to be silent, knowing full well that it was a trap. He had already scented the Youkais nestled on the branches, simply waiting for the right time to pounce.
Pathetic.
Tenseiga would be useless in this battle –its healing powers would be for later. Reaching for his other weapon – Bakusaiga –he gave a wide open sweep, channelling all his power to feed the blood lust of his blade.
A stream of golden light shone from Bakusaiga; annihilating the vermins even before they could pounce on him.
Sesshoumaru would see to it that every single one of the hyenas was slain. He swung his sword one more time, satisfied when severed body parts rained down around him; the stench of their blood reeking of human innocence.
Satisfied, he turned towards Miria, noting the red of her eyes – a sign that she had sustained too much blood loss but had not enough power to regenerate. Had they kept her tied like this for days?
Heaving his sword above his head, he gave two slashes, cutting the ropes holding each of her wrists and ankles to opposite trees.
The Daiyoukai crashed to the ground, coughing as her face landed at his feet.
"I will give you just enough time to pull those spears out of your body." His words spoken at a frequency only she could hear. "There are more coming."
Miria wasted no time – each of the spears forcefully torn out of her bleeding flesh, the gritting of her teeth the only sound she permitted herself to make. As the discarded metal clanged against the ground, Sesshoumaru could see that she was finally able to heal herself.
"Take out the last one and pick up your sword," he ordered, throwing her sword by her side. "And don't get yourself killed this time."
Miria staggered to her feet using her weapon as an anchor. "Thank you my Lord…"
Her words fell on deaf ears as he had caught a sudden movement in the bushes behind them. Sword armed, he kept still, paying attention to every minute detail – from the light scrapping of leaves to the gentle breeze carrying an unpleasant blood-drenched scent…
"Well, well, well… if it isn't the Lord of the West – oh wait, that's right. You're not the Lord of the West yet." A hyena in human form crept up behind him, the familiarity of his voice like sandpaper to his ears. "We see each other again, Sesshoumaru."
"Fillip…"A loyal pet of his uncle Inu no Jiro. Was it coincidence?
"I see my last warning to you was not enough," said Sesshoumaru, gritting his teeth. He should have killed them all back then, for daring to touch Rin.
"Your father had the same look of disgust when he saw me," said Fillip as he threw his head backwards in a howling laugh. "But you should have seen his face when he drew his last breath. Pathetic! The great Lord of the West on his knees? Never in a million years would I have thought to see that. And now…"
Sesshoumaru didn't think anymore – his sword sending a sweep of blue fire towards the Youkai. This scum had been the one to kill his father? Had Inu no Taisho been so mortal that he had succumbed to the taunt of such a lowlife?
Now, Filip would die.
But instead of collapsing, the fire went right through his body– how was that possible!
"Surprised?" Fillip was barely a flash until he reappeared just next to his shoulder, his sharp claws slashing deep into the side of Sesshoumaru's cheek. The flesh burned where the Youkai poison hit him.
"My Lord!" He heard Miria scream; heard her footsteps as she came charging towards them.
But Fillip had other ideas. Disappearing in another flash, he caught her from the back, a claw thrust into her still healing torso. Poison; a green branching web spreading from her heart outwards.
"Miria!"
"Too late. I don't think Tenseiga can save her now. It is just a healing sword isn't it? Why would the Lord of the West leave his heir with such a useless sword?" howled Fillip, a wicked grin on his face as he disappeared into thin air.
Sesshoumaru swore before marching back to his wounded comrade.
"My Lord…" One hand clutching the edge of his robes. "Leave me…find… the children."
"No, the hyenas will return." He lifted her in his hand, making sure to avoid her wound. Looking up into the clouds, he kicked off, soaring into the air as he searched for his dragon.
"Lord Sesshoumaru! You found her!" Rin received the dying Dog Demoness in her arms; adjusting her body so that Miria was resting on top of the woollen saddle.
"She's been poisoned by hyenas," he explained. "Watch over her. I will call for you when it is time."
A gentle hand gripped his just before he jumped off.
"Be careful."
Always Rin. Always.
/
He followed the scent of the hyenas – their trail of slime spattered on the tree trunks and rocks heading towards the coastal caves. Was that where they hid the remainder of the children?
Not predatory in general, hyena Youkais usually scavenged for dead animals or stole the kills of their much adapted hunting cousins, the wolves and the leopards. It therefore concerned him how they have come to develop a taste for fresh meat, especially that of humans.
Sensing the hooves of horses, he paused. Sesshoumaru had not expected Titus and the humans to catch up with him that quickly. It was much better without interruption.
"My Lord, we found a makeshift bridge made out of logs halfway down the rapids. It had to be how they were crossing," reported Titus.
Sesshoumaru doubted that. Logs across a gushing river? Hyenas were not that intelligent to think of such a ploy. It was meant to be a distraction – one that was purposeful in their bid to trap the heir to the Western Lands. The only problem now was why.
"Their scent continues down this path towards those caves," he said, pointing ahead. Turning his attention to Titus, he then nodded at the horses. "Those will have to stay. Their scent betrays your intentions."
Titus looked at his men and his horses. "Merkel, you stay here with the horses. The rest of you, arm up."
Sesshoumaru kept his senses on high alert; the human soldiers close behind him. It felt almost strange leading them into battle. Never in a million years would he imagine himself working with humans for a common goal.
"Can you sense the children my Lord? Are they… alive?" whispered Titus as their group reached the mouth of the caves.
"Be quiet," he responded before gazing up in the sky and blowing a whistle with his two fingers. There was nothing more frightening than entering a lair with a five headed dragon in tow.
"Do not be alarmed," he warned when the beast descended, whipping up a gust of sand in their faces with its wings. "A-Un and I will enter alone. Titus… you stay here with Rin and Miria until I summon you."
"But… but how will I know my Lord? I do not have hearing as keen as yours."
"You will know." The human had to trust him. Did he really think a Daiyoukai as powerful as him had no way of communicating telepathically if he wanted? Fool!
Focusing now on his dragon, Sesshoumaru channelled his powers into the beast, rubbing his hands on A-Un's necks as he whispered soft comforting words to the agitated beast – something inside those caves was indeed setting off its alarm.
With a roar, A-Un reared its head back, the beast pushing itself to reveal its true form – a five-headed fire breathing hydra, slave only to the Daiyoukai before it.
A tug on A-Un's reins and the pair stepped into the eerie darkness of the caves, the scent of salt water on the limestones and faint traces of human blood lined the walls. Adjusting his eyes to the darkness, Sesshoumaru continued, guided only by the soft sobs of the children and a growing stench of hyenas… Just past this wall of stones.
His hand patted the jagged rocks trying to find an entrance. Had the hyenas dug a hole or found a secret tunnel through the caves? Otherwise, further ahead was a dead end and above them only bats and crawlies marbling the cave ceiling.
"A-Un." A gentle command.
The beast gathered its head together; fire focused on a spot on the wall, the flames melting the stones into liquid at his feet.
There! He could see them! As the hole got bigger, Sesshoumaru felt his eyes widening at the sight before him. Children, bound and gagged were cramped into cages, the dirt on their faces bearing streaks of blood and tears.
Savages! Humans or not, those children were innocent.
Drawing his sword, Sesshoumaru smashed the remaining section of the wall, sending the stones crumbling before them.
Howls and whimpers erupted in echoes; Youkai hyenas – some in human form, some in animal form –scattered about as they sought shelter from his wrath.
And out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of their leader.
"Fillip," he growled.
The Youkai was unrepentant, chuckling as he drew his own sword. "I would never have pegged you as a human saver! Like father, like son it seems!"
There was no need for words now. Sesshoumaru could feel his face stretching; fangs elongating as his eyes turned into red with each expanse of his power. No sword would be needed once he revealed his true self. This pathetic excuse of life wouldn't stand a chance then.
Then he felt it, the throbbing heartbeat of his father's sword. Tenseiga? You wish me to draw you?
"Very well then." His eyes returned to its normal golden glow. Picking up speed, he headed straight into the Youkai, his sword slashing through, drawing no blood.
"Oh Sesshoumaru! Did you think that rusty blunt blade would kill me?" Fillip roared with laughter, slapping his knees as he looked at Sesshoumaru standing a few feet away. "I can't even –"
The humour suddenly flickered out from his eyes; as though something had punched him in the stomach.
"What… what did you do to me?" he rasped, hands wrapped around his throat. "You took…something…"
Sesshoumaru said nothing, simply watching as the Youkai sank to his knees. Looking away as his body disintegrated in flakes, Sesshoumaru turned his attention to other hyenas hiding in the rocky crevices.
"I have warned you before and I will do so one last time. Harm another innocent – human or otherwise and I will hunt you down till every last one of you is discarded like trash."
A-Un's roar added a finality to his words; the flames from the dragon licking at the ceiling of the cave.
Now, his job was done.
/
Rin had assisted in the extraction of the children; her female presence a soothing welcome for their cries. Titus and his men had broken down the cages with axes and spears; their desperation and love for the children pushing them to do so with a determination that was awe-inspiring.
With bare hands, Titus had pushed apart the bars of a cage, his hands curling around a child; slipping her through the gap and into his arms.
It had taken them the latter half of the day; the rescue running through to dusk.
"We should set up camp closer to the river. The children need food and rest before the trip back home," suggested Rin.
"We will then. Close enough to the river, the fish Youkais may be willing to spare some river stones for a soup," replied Titus, his voice heavy with weary. Lifting his head to Lord Sesshoumaru, he gestured towards Miria. "But for you my Lord, what do you plan for her?"
Rin looked over to Miria and saw that she was barely breathing; her face bearing webs of green from the hyena's poison.
"We will see in the morning. For now, she should not be moved much."
Rin had seen Lord Sesshoumaru heal from much deadlier wounds before so if he said to wait, then there would be nothing any of them could do.
As the men began setting up camp and heading to the river to collect stones and river weeds, Rin helped to clean the children; wiping their faces clean of the dirt and blood that caked their skin.
"That's much better," she whispered to a little girl, not more than five years old. It would have been better if they could all take a dip in the river but in the dark, Rin didn't want to risk it. Taking out the comb securing her own tresses, she carefully threaded it through the child's hair; her fingers luxuriating in its softness and innocence.
She continued doing this until all the children were cleaned; their matted hair smoothened out as best as she could.
"My men are starting the soup so you can have dinner soon. You've been tending to the children non-stop. It is my turn now," said Titus kindly, his hands resting on her shoulder.
She smiled at him but made no move to leave the children, simply watching him from a distance away as a few of them huddled around the campfire. Out here in the open forest, the children seemed more relaxed and deservedly so since they had been trapped in the dark and cramped surroundings for the past weeks.
However, only ten had survived out of the twelve that were taken. By the look on Titus's face, she knew that one of those who didn't make it was his sister. He was doing a very good job at keeping a strong appearance for the children as their village leader but Rin knew his heart was a wreck. She was about to head over and comfort him when a deep baritone voice startled her out of her thoughts.
"Rin."
"My Lord."
"I've been watching you. You tend well to the younglings," he said, taking a seat next to her on the grass. "Do you wish for children of your own?"
Rin angled her head towards Lord Sesshoumaru and smiled. "Yes, but I suppose that would involve taking a mate." Getting up, she gave a small bow. "Excuse me. I have something that needs to be taken care of."
It pleased her to see the annoyance on his face when she walked towards Titus to sit on the log beside him.
"They don't want to sleep in the tents. I don't blame them," he said.
Neither did she. "They'll be safe. Do you need extra blankets?"
Titus turned, shaking his head slowly; his face bearing shadows of fatigue and despair. Rin said nothing else, simply listening to the night around them and the sound of gentle breathing from the man beside her.
Silently, they sat for a long time, watching the crackling flames – two humans paying homage to the lost innocence from the tragedy. Only when the embers required rekindling did Titus stand up, prodding a stick into the fire.
"Maya was only ten" he whispered, sitting back down beside her "All I can think about now are her smiles." His voice was weak, the control snapping into pieces.
But it was his haunted eyes – an abyss of darkness –that got to Rin. How many times had she seen her own reflection, mirroring that same turmoil and hopelessness? Those were the nights plagued with nightmares… her only comfort was the warm, gentle embrace of the Dog Daiyoukai as he held her till the morning.
"Come with me," she said.
Titus didn't resist, following her by the grip of her hand over his wrist. Only when they were alone a bit further from the group did she speak – whispering the words she never wished to repeat since that fateful day a decade ago.
"When I was ten, a group of bandits came and burned my whole village." Rin swallowed down the memory, feeling the dryness in her throat. "They stole everything and killed everyone."
And here… was the shameful truth. "I only survived because I was playing in the nearby woods."
Titus looked up at her, his watery eyes echoing hers. "I'm so sorry Rin…" he said, covering her hand with his.
She kept her hand still; understanding that touch was an anchor for some.
"But Lord Sesshoumaru found me… and he took care of me, without complaint, without reward." She leaned forward, her knuckles rubbing against his cheek gently. "So trust that he will watch over you and your kin the same way. Never again will anyone mourn for another lost sibling."
When he stepped closer to embrace her, Rin made no move to push him away, keeping her hands to her side as he leaned his forehead on her shoulder. He needed this; the comforting touch of someone who understood, who wouldn't judge.
Like a sponge, she was hugged tight; absorbing what little pain she could from this fellow human who had no qualms about baring his emotions. If only a certain someone was like that.
"Thank you Rin…" he finally whispered against her neck before pulling away to look down at her face. "Will you be with me tonight?"
Titus with his kindness, generosity and loyalty would have made the perfect mate for her and Lord Sesshoumaru would have preferred it. Hadn't he pushed her away? Their kiss a mistake in his books?
But in that moment, she regretted the words that came out of her lips. "My heart belongs to another Titus…"
"He wouldn't know… not for this once," he murmured; a desperate kiss planted at the crook of her neck. Rin should give in; allow herself a chance at happiness… right?
"You will forgive yourself for this moment of weakness tomorrow morning. And I will bear no judgement for it," she whispered, pushing him away as gently as she could. Though his eyes no longer had the hollowed sadness, Rin knew that his nights would still be filled with the monsters that plagued her own dreams. But for tonight…
"Get some sleep Titus. You've deserved it."
And she let him go.
Walking back alone towards the campfire, she stopped as she passed by a cluster of thick bamboo.
"I know you're there."
/
Did she think he would have left her alone with another man? Stepping out of the shadows, Sesshoumaru approached Rin; his golden eyes burning with betrayal.
"You allowed him to touch you." It wasn't a question. "I ought to kill him."
Knowing there was not an answer satisfactory for either of them; Rin ignored him and continued to walk towards where A-Un was hiding.
"How is Miria?" she asked instead.
"She will die," was his grim reply. "We cannot heal from Youkai poison."
Whatever annoyance she initially reserved for him melted away as Rin dashed towards Miria, crouching down by her side in despair. He didn't need to hear her ceaseless apologies to know that Rin blamed herself for Miria's attack.
"You would have only gotten in her way," he simply said. Instead of torturing her like they did with Miria, they would have killed Rin on sight – or worst.
"I left her…" Rin was on her knees, her head hung low. "Everyone around me dies."
He understood that. Sesshoumaru would even forgive her this once for sharing that bit of her past with another man other than him. For Sesshoumaru, she had given her nightmares.
He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Miria is a Daiyoukai. A pack of hyenas means nothing to her. Whoever did this was no ordinary Youkai."
Rin stepped away, tilting her head up in confusion. "How?"
"It is not clear to me at this moment, but I intend to find out." Tenseiga had told him to draw its blade. Why?
"But… you'll be able to save her right?" Pleading brown eyes stared up at him.
Such unconditional trust – something only Rin was capable of, seeing that he had saved her life once, the first time they'd met.
Tenseiga was then, an adornment on his sash; a useless sword that neither cut nor harm. And yet, it had throbbed with such desperation at the sight of her helpless bleeding body. The blade had gleamed white as he raised it above her body and there it was – the guardians of the afterlife; crawling all over her.
Tenseiga had never given him such a vision before but when he brought the blade down, it had cut through each guardian, bringing Rin back to life.
Still, it wasn't a weapon that worked at will.
"Only when you learn compassion does the sword reward you greatly Sesshoumaru."
Such useless words from his father – as was the sword. Why had he given him the Tenseiga when it was the Tessaiga that he craved most?
"We will see," he replied.
Rin lifted her head slowly; the distant coldness returning to her eyes. Whatever empathy she had a moment ago for Miria was gone, replaced by a deep annoyance directed specifically – at him.
"Then I suppose… there is nothing more for me here. The children need me."
He should be the one annoyed at her! That human's head should have been on the ground for daring to touch her… daring to ask her for a night he had no right to.
A firm hand gripped her by her arm, pulling her closer towards him. "Your place is here, with me. Our business with them is over."
She looked up in defiance, struggling against his hold. "It is my choice."
His grip only tightened. "I am not giving you one."
"Why?" she whispered, going slack against him.
"Because you belong to me."
As their eyes met, he saw the depth of eyes, almost black in the night, swirling with emotions he could not comprehend. When it came to Rin, there was much he still needed to understand – like this consuming need to kiss, to mark her, to let everyone understand she was his.
Sesshoumaru bent his head lower, his teeth elongating in anticipation –but then the hitched breathing of Miria stole his attention.
Letting go of Rin reluctantly, Sesshoumaru walked towards the Dog Demoness. This was it. The end.
A scratch would have healed easily but Miria had sustained too much blood loss and poison to survive the ordeal. Right till the end, she had fought and stayed loyal to him, protecting Rin even when she had barely known the human.
"Miria…" Rin laid beside the dying demoness; her face on the ground next to hers. "I'm so sorry this had to happen. I would do anything, anything at all to be in your place right now."
"Do not say silly things Rin. I will never allow you to be in danger," he said sternly. "Now stay still."
She was too distraught by the unmoving Miria to argue. So be it. Raising Tenseiga, Sesshoumaru waited for the familiar gleaming light but… nothing.
"She's gone…" Rin lifted her head and looked at him; the usual hazel of her eyes clouded by a shimmer of wetness.
He hated seeing her hurt; hated the pain that wrecked her voice when she spoke. For Rin, there should only be happiness and laughter. No more missions, no more deaths. He should never have let her leave the safety of his castle in the first place.
"Rin." Putting down his sword, he got to his knees and pulled her into a comforting embrace; her head buried against his fur stole.
Sesshoumaru had barely felt her relax against him when he scented the annoying presence of a human intruder.
"My Lord… is she… dead?"
Golden eyes flashed angrily at Titus. How dare he interrupt this private moment? This man who dared to claim skin privileges with his Rin?
Sesshoumaru was about to strike Titus to the ground when he felt it –
Tenseiga? The heavy beating heart of his father's sword throbbed in his hands. There!
The scowling underworldlings looked up at him; their hands eager to take away the soul of the demoness before them. He would have let them if not for the tender human clinging to him in despair.
For Rin then.
Still clutching her in his arms, he brought Tenseiga down in a single stroke; cutting away at the guardians, invisible to everyone but him. And in that instant, he heard the sharp intake of Miria's first breath, returned to her by the power of his blade.
"Miria?" Rin suddenly snapped her eyes open, releasing the grip she had on him, to rush to Miria's aid.
"You owe her your life once more Miria," said Sesshoumaru, turning his back to the three of them.
"My Lord!"
What now? Sesshoumaru chose to keep his back to the human, aware that Titus was bowed low, bent at the waist in respect.
"I have heard of your greatness and your power… but what you did… you are most kind and merciful my Lord!"
"I do not do things out of kindness. Never mistake that, human."
Sesshoumaru turned so quickly that Titus fell to his knees; shocked at the sight of Tenseiga's tip aimed at his throat.
"Please my Lord…" he rasped; eyes cast down on the blade inches from his neck. "Accept me as your humble servant – my village and my people are forever in your debt and in your service."
"I do not have a need for such." But he pulled back, satisfied with the thundering heartbeat of the human ringing in his ears. That would be enough for now. Should he touch Rin again, it would not be the merciful Tenseiga by his throat.
Titus went further on his knees, hands on the ground. "Then please let me finish what Lady Rin had initially set out to do. I will personally convince all the human villages to pay their due tributes and pledge their allegiance to you."
That caught his attention. Yes, perhaps…
"Then do not fail me."
Disappearing into the night, Sesshoumaru gave a final glance at Rin – the only human capable of reawakening Tenseiga's ability to revive a life.
/
NB: Don't you just love Sesshoumaru? Even I am rooting for him to get a move on Rin already! He takes tentative steps in the next chapter –so stay tune.