Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.
After some wilful and cunning wheedling, Touga had managed to convince Nami's guard to wait for them outside of the dell. The soldier, roughly twice the size of the determined whelp, had leant down and solemnly charged the young demon with protecting Nami with his life. Sombrely, but with the eagerness of a child, Touga had sworn it.
In high spirits, the two inuyokai whelps ventured into Bokensou's glen. Touga was eager to show his new friend the tree that had counselled many leaders to victory and many tacticians to triumph.
Though curious, Nami was cautious and clung to his sleeve, her delicate claws pricking at the fabric. Touga moved confidently and perched jauntily on one of Bokensou's gnarled roots.
"You have brought me a visitor, young one?" Bokensou murmured in his ancient, unflappable voice, leaves rustling gustily.
"This is the future Lady of the Western Lands, Nami-sama," Touga introduced the silent princess proudly. Though her eyes were large and round with wonder, she managed a polite bow at the old tree spirit.
"Yes," Bokensou shifted his branches woodenly, "I know your honourable father. He speaks highly of you, little moon."
Nami wonderingly touched the crescent moon on her brow. "Chichi-ue-sama comes to seek your wisdom, elder?"
Bokensou chuckled. "I am his elder too, little moon. He still carries many of the follies of youth. Yet, this new peace between the West and the North is commendable."
Touga nodded eagerly. "Ryuukotsusei is visiting the shiro!"
"Where is the little dragonling?" Bokensou enquired.
Touga wrinkled his nose. "Last time he scorched your bark, this time he decided to stay in the shiro."
"Cautious," Bokensou appraised, "but this old tree is not so easily burned down."
Nami still retained her white-knuckled grip on Touga's sleeve, even as she peered around him to ask a solemn question. "Is it hard, being confined to this glen?"
Bokensou's chuckle rasped, his leaves rustling. "Now, why would you think I am confined, little one. In being stationary I have a wisdom that those with momentum overlook. My roots spread far and wide; I am hardly closeted."
"Bokensou-sama is amazing," Touga told the little demon princess softly. The girl met his gaze with trusting eyes and smiled up at the tree spirit. The trust in those cynical eyes was reserved for the courageous pup and for him alone.
Ancient eyes saw this sapling take root and wondered what might be garnered in the end.
A/N: This is the expanded version of a drabble originally written for iy_unsung_heros prompt Elder and was first posted on February 2nd 2011. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed this enough to offer a review!