Chapter Two: Abduction
A thick silence draped around us. Rin most likely did not understand the heavy meaning behind my words, but she sensed the tension between Sesshomaru and me, and remained quiet. Her lord on the other hand, now looked at me differently.
Sesshomaru looked at me with surprise and said, "My father?"
I answer with a snarl. "Is that not what I just said?"
"Strange, I never remember him killing a white wolf pack." he stated.
"It happened when I was only a pup, you may not remember it for that same reason," I pointed out.
"I am over 900 years old," he scoffed. "A wolf does not live as long as a true demon, like me."
I barred my fangs, not near as intimidating as my wolf form, but it got the point across. "I have been alive for over 900 summers as well cur, do not assume me to be young because I am a wolf."
His golden eyes held my own as he pondered quietly. "Your words stir my memory."
"You remember you father's slaughter?" I demanded.
"No," he replied curtly. "I remember the reason for you pack's death. They killed my mother."
"I don't believe that. The wolves from my pack were wise and noble; they wouldn't mindlessly kill without reason."
Sesshomaru smirked. "How would you know if they're dead?"
A deep snarl exploded deep within my throat. "I warn you now mutt, prod me any further and the soil will drink your blood."
"Is that why you have no pack?" He asked calmly, feeding my anger. "Who would accept an olden white wolf?"
A roar of anger voiced my answer as I leapt for Sesshomaru's throat. My speed took the dog by surprise and didn't give him enough time to defend himself. Sharp claws slashed across his face, creating an ugly series of scratches. Yelling in pain he quickly punched me hard in the side. The blow went straight to my temple and the world spun around me as I crashed to the ground. My vision blurred then focused on the sword that was now pointing to my neck. Snarling, I smacked it away quickly with a blurred motion and rolled back to my feet.
"Filth like you is the reason why so many believe that demons are evil. Demons who use their brute and stupidity to order others around. I promise you that I am not one of those!" yelling these last words I charged again.
Using my sudden burst of energy, I tackled him to the ground with every bit of strength that I could muster. Savagely snarling, I pinned him to the ground, barring my fangs a hair's breadth from his face. Two pairs of golden eyes stared back at one another, waiting for the other to make the first move.
"Release me wolf, before I reek of your filthy scent," Sesshomaru whispered in a deadly voice.
In answer I wrapped my longs claws around his neck and asked, "And if I don't?"
A flash of claws and Sesshomaru's claws were on my neck, holding me in a choking grip. "Then I will kill you."
Hearing the truth in his voice threw me into action, and in a fluid motion I rolled to the side and threw him away from me. Growling we each got to our feet, our eyes locked, and he rushed me.
Dashing into the trees, I tried to dodge the demon's attack. But he didn't relent. Realizing that he planned to kill me, I sprinted through the forest, dodging sharp branches and thorns as I leapt over logs. I ran for the river, planning to continue the fight with Sesshomaru there were the waters could be used to my advantage.
Exploding from the brush I bounded to the bank and spun around to face my attacker.
Silence met me…not even the air stirred.
My ears pricked forward, waiting for the surprise attack that was sure to come. I knew how demons hunted. How they used surprise and stealth instead of brute strength. I barred my fangs and waited.
He stepped from the shadows of the woods casually, his calm eyes quickly looked me over as he came to a stop.
"Why do you run, wolf?"
"Why do you chase me, dog? Am I that threatening?" I spit back at him.
His eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "Ancient wolves should all be killed. They are a nuisance to us Lords of the land."
I almost laughed aloud. "Was I a nuisance when I saved your precious Rin from the churning river waters?"
Sesshomaru had no clever response to this, but even if he did the chance was not given to him. For a shrill scream tore through the air and assailed our ears, jarring us to alert senses.
"Rin," the dog demon said to himself.
I was already plunging back into the forest and rushing to the child. Leaving her alone in the dense woods had been foolish on both of our parts. She would be a target for any demon within miles of the glade. Sesshomaru flew at my side, our fight temporarily forgotten. In a matter of seconds we sprang from the forest and back into the glade.
She was gone.
"Where is she?" Sesshomaru demanded.
Laughter erupted around us. The deep malevolent baritone registered familiar in my ears, making me snarl.
"Naraku," I growled. "Where is she?"
A shadowy illusion materialized before us, taking the form of the mutt Naraku. His black greasy hair shimmered in the sun's brightness, making him almost completely transparent.
"Hello Sesshomaru, hello Yukiko. What brings the two of you here?"
The dog demon beside me remained silent, his eyes filled with anger.
"No games mutt," I growled. "Answer me when I speak to you."
"Mutt?" Naraku scoffed. "I am no more mutt than yourself. Do not be jealous of me just because I have obtained more power."
Laughter bubbled from my lips. "Power? You call a couple of little rock shards power? The power of a true demon comes from what they alone can do. It comes from the knowledge of their ancestry and the abilities that they were born with. You have no power."
Naraku laughed again. "You would think that one who cared for the girl so much would try to not get her killed."
"Wolf—" Sesshomaru started.
I flashed a look to silence him, and then turned back to Naraku. "Then let me repeat my question: Where is she?"
"You know of it very well. In fact…you used to live there." His image began to fade.
"I have lived many places half-breed, be more specific," I commanded, my voice devoid of any emotion.
Sesshomaru tensed next to me, obviously disliking the carelessness of my words. But I ignored him. I knew what I was doing.
"The place of your origin," he said to me with a smirk. And then, with a stir of the wind, he was gone.
In a fit of rage, Sesshomaru roared and turned violently to face me. "You stupid wolf! Do not push him to make a hasty decision with Rin's life!"
Rolling my eyes, I met him gaze with a hard stare. "Even a cur like Naraku isn't that dumb. He's trying to trick us."
The dog demon's eyes flashed red in continued anger. He didn't believe me. Not a wolf.
"Listen, if he wants us to go to this place Rin has to be alive, and he knows this. We wouldn't go otherwise."
Sesshomaru glared at me and demanded, "Tell me where this "place of origin" is!"
"My birthplace," I answered bluntly.
"Your birthplace, why does he want to lead me there?"
"Us," I corrected him coolly. "And how should I know?"
"I refuse to travel with a mangy wolf," he stated angrily.
"Then you will have a difficult time finding the child."
Our eyes locked heatedly; his irate, mine tranquil. I was surprised at how ticked the dog demon seemed to be. Did the idea of traveling with a wolf bother him that much? A smirk flitted across my face.
"Decide quickly, me Lord," I spoke, mocking his title.
He snarled threateningly. "Decide what?"
Turning away from him I scanned the southern horizon, my golden eyes searching for the best path. "Whether or not you wish to accompany me into the southern land and retrieve Rin," I answered absentmindedly.
Silence met my words. I didn't plan on waiting with batted breath for his answer, and so when the silence stretched to minutes without him even moving, I began to walk away.
With a flurry of movement he matched my stride and walked parallel to me.
His arrogance walked with him, I could tell this through his next abrasive question. "How fast can a wolf run? I do not wish to be slowed by your sluggish pace."
Swiveling my head around to meet his gaze, my eyes flashed with the humor of his little knowledge of wolves. Immediately a flash of glowing white encased me as I summoned my beast form, shedding the human skin. Again I stood before the demon, this time on four paws, and pulled my lips back in a fanged playful grin.
With a twist of my lean body I spun around and ran south, striding fast and hard to make the demon sweat to keep up.