A/N: Because I love how Sesshomaru can say one thing and do another.
A/N: And animal FYI: Swordfish are one of the fastest species of fish.
Clownfish
"What do you mean you can't find it?" Sesshomaru spoke in clipped tones and Jaken's tiny claws scrabbled over the map lest they be shorn off by words alone. In the pitch of night, the bright amber in the dog-demon's leer glowed like hot coals.
"I-I-I…um…" Globular eyes rolled over the map. "Oh…it's upside-down."
Striking his useless vassal with one hand and snatching up the parchment in the other, Sesshomaru studied the map himself. It wasn't that Mikan didn't ring any bells, but finding the concise location was proving a task that hacked away at the dog-demon's waning patience. It must have been a small stretch of the coast because no sooner had he flown over what he believed to be one district, Sesshomaru recognized as another. After accosting some residential yokai, he learned that they'd just overshot Mikan.
Suppressing a snarl, the daiyokai closed his eyes and sniffed. He would find this wretched beach before Rin departed to it. Just in case…
"Has milord's superior senses detected a trail? A clue? A – "
"Jaken. Shut up."
The little imp sighed. Sesshomaru wasn't the only one at his wits' end. "M'lord, what are we looking for?"
Pointedly, the dog-demon held his silence. Jaken privately suspected his liege just might have a poor sense of navigation. He certainly didn't want to rule out the possibility considering how long it took them to find Naraku in the first place. Jaken half wished there was a wind-witch or dream-sorcerer to point them in the right direction this time.
Then, after a stretch that even his retainer had trouble recalling his own question, Sesshomaru spoke. "Tangerines."
"That's what we're looking for? I thought 'mikan' was the beach not the fr—"
Sesshomaru called for silence with the heel of his boot. "The coast is named after the local citrus, dolt."
From his worm's eye view, Jaken followed Sesshomaru's line of vision up to the looming trees and the last tangerines of the season that filled their branches. Fireflies illuminated the grove, their collective radiance casting soft glows on the summer's crop. It was a once-a-year sight. When the trees blossomed again it would be winter and there wouldn't be any fireflies to dance among them.
"This way."
While Rin might have appreciated it, Sesshomaru didn't give the scene longer than a second's glance, pressing on to what lay beyond the groves.
"M'lord? We're going inland." Jaken scratched his scalp. Was Lord Sesshomaru's sense of direction that lacking?
The comment only sped up the daiyokai's gait as he strode through the tangerine groves until at last they yielded the indicator he sought. Beyond the trees lay a cliff's sheer drop, one that – in his haste to catch up with his lord – Jaken ran straight off.
"Waugh! Lord Sessho—"
A bright band of yoki curling around him, the imp was tossed back on to solid dirt in an eyeblink. Sesshomaru suppressed a sigh. His lackey always did have a stunted sense of direction.
Refocusing on the forest below the cliff, the daiyokai picked out debris of a long abandoned human settlement. Although vegetation had encroached upon the entrance and the central structure's remaining charred beams stuck out like twigs among the surrounding pine, the outline of the courtyard was still visible from the ledge where Sesshomaru stood. A chill wind that whipped up his silver mane rushed the dog-demon with scents he'd rather forget.
So this is part of what they now call 'Mikan,' huh?
The ruins of a centuries' old castle were all that remained of the previous ruling family. It served as a grim reminder of the careless destruction caused by human and yokai unions. This particular site had stolen from Sesshomaru his last illusion of order in this arbitrary world. Whom he once saw as righteous in will and terrific in power was brought asunder at this last little human dwelling. To coexist with mortals was to beggaring for calamities.
Over the course of two hundred years, as the land changed hands, more local residents moved away, unwilling to be associated with the history. People eventually renamed the district to what they thought was a more palatable description. Sesshomaru thought otherwise. Mikan – a bitter fruit with rotten memories.
Ironic Rin would choose to visit here tomorrow.
Rin.
Without raising one alarm, she – only a meager human girl – had managed to cross the border from tolerated to treasured.
Humans are permissible if selected, the dog-demon had safely concluded. But did he select anyone in Hell? Sesshomaru couldn't even remember picking and choosing among Inuyasha's motley pack during their last perilous battle against Naraku.
And what of hanyo?
Sesshomaru shook his head. These weren't the sorts of matters he meant to drudge up tonight. Pivoting on heal, he called for Jaken.
"M'lord?"
"There's nothing here."
I could have told him as much. Jaken remembered not to roll his eyes and groan. He liked having a spleen.
Later, once the premises were scouted, Sesshomaru collected Ah-Un and prepared to send it over as promised. If he'd done his part, if Rin's judgment was as he'd hoped, then gradually he could start trusting her.
She'll be in good company.
oOo
After a close run-in with a shark, Kichiruka came to the conclusion that perhaps the "scenic" route back to his place wasn't the best idea.
"Those teeth were awfully big," Rin commented dryly, after the bubble slowed to its normal pace and not some frenzied careening flight.
"It was a simple animal. I could've taken it."
"Then why did we suddenly go zooming off in the other direction?"
"It's called evasive action." Kichiruka huffed and crossed his hands into his sleeves. "Could you imagine if I went around slaughtering every threatening animal? It'd throw off the whole food chain."
"Then it seems you've just deprived some poor creature of lunch."
While the dolphin yokai kept pace with their easygoing banter, Rin noticed a capsized cruise ship came into view. Its splendor in shambles, barnacles studded the belly-up hull and starfish stuck to the deck overhead. Splintered beams peeked from the hull's fatal hole. Rin was about to ask what Kichiruka did when it rained…then remembered they were underwater.
How weird. It's so like my world…and not.
An overgrowth of kelp creeping out of one window kept the old ship from looking too inviting. It looked eerie, abandoned, and dark…And kinda cool. Rin smiled. "This is yours?"
Kichiruka smirked without looking her way. "No one else's."
They stopped at – Rin tilted her head, trying to see the structure right-side-up – the main entrance, and Kichiruka placed a hand on the bubble, steadying it. If she didn't know any better Rin would've said that the demon practically talked to the sphere. When he whistled a command she felt the surrounding surface quiver in response.
"I'm telling it to stay," Kichiruka interpreted.
Rin tugged at a loose lock. So he is talking to the bubble.
Glancing between Rin and the decrepit ship, Kichiruka considered inviting his guest inside…then recalled the state he'd last left the rooms in. "Ah, wait here a moment." Zipping over the hull, he disappeared around the back of the ship. Rin heard the creak of splitting wood, followed by the sound of something breaking. Is that a cat yowling in there?
Everything went quiet for a second, then Kichiruka's alarmed squeal shot through the stillness, followed by his nervous stammering. Though it sounded like human speech, she couldn't make out what was being said. Rin recognized the second voice, its harsh snapping overriding her friend's pleas. Two seconds later, Kichiruka scrambled out the main entrance, sliding the door shut and pressing his back against it.
He smiled weakly. "It would seem I have unexpected company." Then the door scraped open again and a webbed claw smacked Kichiruka aside.
"Tch, quit polluting the water with your –" Bright yellow eyes narrowed and noticed their company. "How'd you get down here?"
"Master Tensai!" Rin recognized the swordfish straightaway, even though his nose was a veritable lance in comparison to the last time she saw him and the illusion of hair was replaced by a single, spiking sail. From the skirted ends of his hakama lashed a powerful tailfin. Each muscled sweep thrashing in annoyance. At me? wondered Rin. His eyes are different, too. Nothing like small, clear human ones. But, for Rin, this was a change for the familiar. She smiled into the large yellow orbs, her grin only growing when they narrowed. It reminded her so much of Jaken!
Tensai didn't know what to make of the human in their realm. Or why she was smiling at him. Would it have been rude to order her to stop? For the first time in centuries he shifted self-consciously and found himself wishing for a guise that would be more familiar to the girl. But a human countenance was difficult for the old demon to maintain if he wanted to keep his tail. Unlike Kichiruka, Tensai relied heavily upon his caudal fin and, after forfeiting the teleportation technique to his student, needed it more than ever.
"Huh. Sorry for not looking more presentable."
Rin waved her hands. "Oh! No, my apologies for disturbing you in your home."
Tensai rolled his eyes. "Miss Rin, I'm offended. You think I'd live in this scrapheap?" He jerked his pointed chin in the direction of the capsized cruiser.
"Hey!" Kichiruka objected boisterously. Then, in delicate tones, declared, "It's my scrapheap."
A black sleeve flagged emphatically in the bubble's direction. "And why in the seven hells is she here?"
"I told Rin I would take her to visit Mikan. You were there, Master Tensai."
"I remember no such thing."
Well, you were practically drunk so… Kichiruka bit his tongue.
"And you're toting the poor girl around like that? A cat's carrying basket is larger," Tensai snapped. Swishing past his student, he glided over to the bubble, pressing a three-fingered hand to it. The surface gave, but it didn't break under the pressure. "Huh. Durable."
"Actually, it's semipermiable by the spellcaster." There was no hiding the pride in the young demon's voice.
"That's stupid," Tensai grumbled. "With your idiocy, you'll try to pass something through it and forget that particular property, ultimately breaking the sphere."
Rin listened to them argue about technicalities for a minute until finally Kichiruka sighed and just conceded, "Well, that's why we came here."
"Then at least make the girl more comfortable. She looks cramped in there." Scooping up a clam, Tensai passed over. "Adaptation, eighth degree. Go."
Rin glanced between the two. A pop quiz? Was she the subject? Rin scooted back in the bubble a bit. "Is this going to be performed on me?" she squeaked.
"Yes," both demons answered in unison.
Somehow that knowledge didn't make Rin feel any better. "Will this hurt?"
"Nah." Holding the bivalve in one hand, Kichiruka cracked it open along the fissure. "Oo," he marveled, plucking out a pearl. "Here." He passed it through the sphere to Rin, but kept his eyes on Tensai. "See? It works."
"I was referring to larger items, fool."
Rin admired the little pearl for a second only to wish she had taken her time. Kichiruka had just popped into his mouth whatever previously inhabited the shell.
He swallowed. "Heh. Had to clean it, right?"
Kneading his brow, Tensai groaned. "I should fail you."
"Master!" Kichiruka speedily made the proper hand motions as he clicked a new spell. Blowing through the shell several holes appeared. "All done."
"Wait," Tensai grumbled, holding out his hand expectantly. "Don't want her to drown." After inspecting the shell for another minute, he handed it back to Kichiruka.
"Here ya go!" The young yokai passed it through the bubble to Rin.
"Kichiruka," she said apologetically, "I don't think this shell is big enough to—"
He rolled his eyes. "It's ensorcelled. Why doesn't anyone trust me?"
"Because unlike you we have half a brain," drawled Tensai.
Cautiously, Rin touched the clamshell to her chin. At the instant of contact, the seashell grew, then molded to all the contours around her nose and lower face. It fit with all the comfort and customization of a demonslayer's mask.
"Now take three deep breaths," Kichiruka instructed, holding up the proper number of fingers.
Rin breathed once, twice…On the third time Kichiruka popped the bubble.
Rin gave a little eep! instinctively holding her breath and squeezing her eyes shut.
"It's okay, Rin," Kichiruka's voice came out warm and clear over her shoulder. "By breathing into that shell all your senses will be temporarily adjusted to this environment as well as water pressure."
"For real?"
Tensai snorted. "Well, her head hasn't exploded…yet."
She glowered. Definitely like Jaken. "How long does it last?"
"About ten hours," Kichiruka answered. "We'll be back before then."
"Where are you going?" The muscles in Tensai's forehead drew together and Rin noticed for the first time that he didn't have eyebrows.
"I was just going to show Rin around," Kichiruka answered.
"And if you run into anyone? Have you considered what Ichikawa would think?"
"Well…heh…" Kichiruka smiled feebly.
Yellow eyes slanted. "You didn't."
Now that she was freed of the bubble, Rin tread water away from the source of mounting yoki. For someone so thin of frame, Tensai radiated his own deal of power, charging the water like an electrical current. Rattling against its scabbard in response, Rin had to place a hand over her blade's hilt to steady it.
"What. Did. He. Say?" Tensai ground out each word. "Verbatim."
"'Keep her…After an interview I may decide to introduce Rin,'" Kichiruka quoted smoothly. Although the words were correct, Rin noticed that he had carefully edited the information, leaving out anything that might elicit further concern. And maybe my expulsion.
"In that case, he would prefer to keep her presence unnoticed for now." Tensai rubbed a hand to his jutting chin. Though he only turned in her direction, Rin could feel his gaze dropping to rest on the sword at her side. "Don't take your eyes off her."
"I know that." Kichiruka folded his arms.
"Stay in this area."
"Of course."
"That means avoiding the city."
"Master Tensai…"
"And, above all else…" He looked Rin up and down, eyes now wandering freely over her body, "don't let yourself get distracted."
Kichiruka quickly whirled around, catching up Rin's hand in his. "Aaall righty, Master Tensai, we'll be off now." But, before they drifted too far, he leaned over to Rin and whispered, "Besides, you can't make out with that mask on."
"I heard that, boy!" Lashing his tail, the swordfish swept off into the other direction. He had a good idea of his pupil's favorite haunts if he needed to track him down. In the meantime, Tensai had new material to mull over while this encounter was still fresh in his mind. If Ichikawa wanted to introduce this girl, Rin, then he must have seen or sensed a sort of value in her. But what? She was just a human girl.
With an affinity for yokai.
Tensai thought of Rin's sword. Over an infusion blade? No, base matter with a demon's power wasn't that uncommon. But the strength of which yokai? Tensai had paid careful attention when he flared his aura in Rin's presence. As predicted, her infusion blade had responded, but it had a call he hadn't expected – it wasn't just a plain old reaction of one demonic influence scraping into another; that sword's was refined. Daiyokai without question. Perhaps a blood seal to keep such tremendous yoki in check. Rubbing his finger tips together he tried to remember some of the more sophisticated points, beyond the power pulsed a dogged possessiveness and barely-contained, corrosive venom.
Tensai knew of only one strain of poison-using greater demons, an old line of the canine clan was infamous for their venomous properties. But theirs was a proud family, none of them would ever deign to affiliate with humans.
Unless the stories are true.
Tensai felt his blood run cold. Impossible. When he heard the account it was a human girl-child, not more than eight years old, and even then he'd written it off as heresy, baseless gossip that might have given the ocean hope that the Lord of the West could be persuaded.
But how many years had passed since Tensai had heard that fish tale? He did the math, working in the rapid human aging process. That then-child would be Rin's age…
And they ran into Ichikawa…The opportunist would press every angle he could find.
Damn…Kichiruka, of all the humans in the world…Lord Sesshomaru will eat you alive.
oOo
Before she met Kichiruka Rin never knew yoki to be such a smooth, soothing substance. Sesshomaru's varied from the crackle of a thunderstorm to, on very few occasions, gentle buffets, whereas Shippo's, not unlike Jaken's, pittered along the lines of anxious mischief. Maybe it was having the ocean as a medium that did the trick, but Rin could feel Kichiruka's aura surrounding her, enveloping her like a blanket and guiding her gently along as if she were a leaf in a stream.
It's like…water.
They coasted along and whatever questions she had – no matter how common they must have been – he answered. Kichiruka radiated pride and pleasure at the chance to share his knowledge of his home element.
"If your teacher and Lord Ichikawa are anything to go by," Rin mused aloud, "I'd say that unsplit hakama are popular down here."
Kichiruka nodded. "A lot of us shape-twist, relying on the powerful flukes and caudle fins of our true forms to propel us through the water." Pressing his arms and legs close to his body, the water demon twisted and twirled around Rin in a liquid motion that reminded her of his true form. "But since I can teleport and now walk quite a bit, it's not really necessary for me to shape-twist."
"But it looked like Ichikawa had feet, I think…" Rin tapped a finger to her chin, trying to recall.
"He also has a steed," Kichiruka pointed out. "And wings." He fanned his hands and flapped his arms, mimicking what Rin had previously mistaken for a large cape. She laughed at the sight and Kichiruka mourned that the sweet titillation was muffled by her mask. To make up for it, he pushed the fringes of her bangs aside and pressed his lips to her forehead.
Rin warmed, feeling her toes curl. Goodness…he's a sweetie. But how could she present him to Sesshomaru? Rin didn't quite see the stern daiyokai clasping his claws together in celebration for a demon suitor because she "wuved" him. Certainly not if Sesshomaru went to such great lengths to groom Kohaku into a first-class slayer. There has to be something more to it.
"If you don't mind me asking, what do you do around here exactly?" Rin fished.
"Lots." Kichiruka laughed; then noticed her expression to continue. "Well, I'm usually busy, you see."
Rin nodded. "I noticed you disappear for days at a time. And you're always on call."
His smile curled just bit and he felt enough confidence to let her in. "I'm part of court."
Brown eyes brightened. Just what she was looking for. Kichiruka might not be up to par with Lord Sesshomaru, but he must have had high status enough to be in a yokai counsel of the seas. Maybe that's why Ichikawa had such an interest in him and why he had his very own teacher – he's probably being trained as a vizier or something!
Noticing how much this tidbit of information impressed Rin, the demon puffed his chest out a bit more. "Yes, I am the honored court jester."
"A what?"
"Well, it's an idea Lord Ichikawa adapted from one of the yokai from the Occident – like comedians who lighten up the mood of political dinners and other events. It's taken well with our region in general. I'm just glad he spared me from wearing the motley."
Rin threw her hands up, trying to sort all the facts at once. "You're telling me your profession is being a clown?" She laughed. "No, seriously, what are you?" Then she saw the hurt in those deep blue eyes.
"I joke a lot, dear Rin," Kichiruka said, sheepishly scratching behind his neck. "But I'm not at the moment."
"Oh…" Uh-oh… This wasn't the sort of more Rin had expected to find. Not a diplomat, not a consultant, not even a plain go-for – a jester. "So…you tell jokes to earn your keep?"
"And I juggle." Kichiruka waved his hand through the water, trying to get a small sphere going. "It's more difficult underwater."
Rin's head was still reeling. "If you're only a jester, why do you have a private instructor?" Please don't say Tensai's one too, and that all the spells you're learning are just parlor tricks.
"I'm not sure."
It wasn't a much better answer.
"Lord Ichikawa just assigned Master Tensai to me after a few weeks into my stay. Heh. He wasn't much too pleased with the arrangement himself – Tensai, I mean. Each of Ichikawa's kids studied under him, so I guess it must've felt like a demotion to get sent to a…wanderer." Kichiruka paused. For a moment his eyes dulled, but their luster returned when he started talking again. "Ichikawa says he sees an 'investment' in me, so I don't ask questions. And after the first three years, Tensai stopped complaining." He shrugged. "Jesting's my job, but it's not only thing I'm good at." A claw tapped the shell around Rin's face. "Does my unusual situation change anything?"
Besides your chances of survival…"Not a thing." Rin smiled and gently placed a hand on his spotted cheek. "That just explains your sense of humor."
Now if only Lord Sesshomaru had one.
oOo
Silencing the incessant blaring, Kichiruka picked up his conch. "Master Tensai?"
"Did you lose track of time?" the voice through the shell snapped. "Hurry up and get over here!"
"Huh? Over where?"
"A courier arrived right now as a reminder, saying that Ichikawa was expecting you and…oh, just give me your coordinates and sit still."
Kichiruka relayed something in clicks, then the shell's line went dead.
Rin looked up at him. "Is something wrong?"
"I don't know. I can't remember being assigned to perform and it is a bit early for any dinner parties to start."
"So is Tensai supposed to come over here or – ?"
Suddenly, an enormous pike that looked like it should have been the bow of some war vessel stabbed into the coral structure behind Kichiruka. The dolphin yokai rushed to protect Rin from any flying shrapnel, but when he looked over his shoulder to whatever demon had just come charging in he didn't seem very angry or upset. Judging by his flashing smile, Rin thought he seemed thrilled.
"Wow, you didn't have to go through all that trouble to get here so fast." After moving Rin to a safe distance, he loped over to the monstrous fish thrashing to pull its needled nose from the coral.
The great swordfish was smaller than Kichiruka's true form, but it was still the size of a large pond. Rin grinned at the clouds that swirled around his fins. Pupiless, yellow eyes leered up at her. Don't even start, they warned. Tensai twisted back into his smaller, preferred state, and slipped his sore nose free of the rough coral. He gingerly touched the tip, checking for broken bones, then thrust it in Kichiruka's direction.
"I'll return the girl from here," he said authoritatively. "You had better hurry up to the city's court."
Rin paddled over. "Wait, you're returning me where?"
"To the surface." Tensai crossed his arms matter-of-factly.
"Aw, can't she stay?" Kichiruka appealed.
"No, it's far too dangerous."
"How about if I wait at Kichiruka's?"
"For cryin' out loud! You'll see each other tomorrow and go through the same confounded routine all over again," Tensai snapped.
Maybe not, doubted Rin.
Kichiruka took note of her somber expression. "Yeah, but when's the next time you think Rin'll get to be out here?"
"And I do have to be back by a set time, too," she added and tapped the mask. "Why not just make the most of it?"
The sail on Tensai's head quivered. We're wasting time at this point. "Quit holding up the show then."
Kichiruka nodded dutifully. "I've got to have Rin back by dusk. I promised. And Ichikawa only needs me around but a couple of hours." Then, before his teacher could object, he swirled out of sight.
Rin glanced over at Tensai, expecting to see a vessel or three popping in his neck. Instead, he only appeared mildly annoyed, and rubbed a hand to his chin, approval in his eyes.
"Has he gotten adept at teleporting?" Rin tried to keep the subject light.
"Among other things." He turned to swim elsewhere, without waiting to see if Rin would follow. Well, guess he figures I don't have any other options. She tried to keep up, kicking with all her might, but the strength of the swordfish's tail gave him a speedy, superior advantage.
"Master Tensai? A little help here?"
Stifling a grumble, an arm with sails matching the one on the demon's scalp seized Rin's shoulder, tugging her along. "Humans," he muttered coupled with a disgusted sigh. "Here, just cling on." Taking the girl's hands, Tensai set one on each of his shoulders. Then resumed swimming, albeit at a speed slightly more conducive for her grip.
"I liked the clouds," she said suddenly.
"Tch, yoki overspill. It's an aesthetic nuisance." He lapsed into silence again and Rin feared that their whole trip back would be one long, boring stretch without a word exchanged. But then Tensai spoke, "Did you see his true form?"
"Yes."
"What did you think?"
"Was I supposed think anything?"
The bony shoulders under her hands rolled in a shrug. "You're an odd human. Most mortals are terrified of yokai."
"True, and most yokai are repulsed by human company," Rin countered lightly. "You're very complacent with me yourself, Master Tensai."
"Out of necessity," the old demon harrumphed. "It wouldn't do Kichiruka any good to hear objection from me or vice versa; a poor disposition would hamper my student's performance."
Got an answer for everything, don't you? Rin rode quietly for bit. Though, now that she was sort of talking with perhaps the person closest to Kichiruka, she didn't much feel like letting the conversation lull. She sifted through what she could say. Each option kept coming out jumbled, then stymied by a predicted remark of Tensai's. As the silence rolled into another minute, Rin tensed. I have to say something!
And, finally, a small voice did pipe up – quiet and soft, like the first time, so it sounded as if it were someone else speaking in her head. It was a tone she wasn't used to using with near strangers. But the swordfish might've been the best thing to a confidant right now. "I liked seeing him as a dolphin."
Tensai frowned, but tilted his head to show she had his attention.
"He winked at me." She tittered and even to Rin it sounded girlish as hell, but she hardly cared. "And the spots made more sense. He's still very much…Kichiruka." Rin paused, reflecting on the sound of his name and associating it with the droll dolphin she'd just met. It clicked. "No matter what the situation he's always Kichiruka. It made me feel like I got a little closer to…knowing him completely."
"Knowing?" Tensai chuckled.
"Okay, fine, to loving him, is that how you'd say it?" she snapped. Geez, now I sound like you, old yokai.
"Hmph. Love, huh? Have you told him that yourself?"
"Well, no." Rin shifted her grip on the thin shoulders. "I guess that makes him the romantic between us. Don't actions just speak louder than words anyway?"
Tensai huffed and Rin saw his gills flare accordingly. "Sometimes, no matter how foolish you might think it sounds, people need to hear such things. And, sometimes, you need to say it just to affirm it from yourself to them."
Rin noticed that Tensai wasn't swimming as swiftly as he was earlier. Only the tip of his tail swished slowly as they drifted. "Do you always tell your wife…?"
Tensai's gills flipped closed.
Is he holding his breath?
They fanned open again as he retorted, "Do I look like the type to get married?" Shaking her off his shoulders, he swung around to face Rin. His mouth set in a grim frown on his gaunt face. Tensai tucked in his chin and puffed out his chest, daring her to contradict him. Rin waited for his scathing rebuke, but suddenly Tensai's fists unclenched and his shoulders sagged until his frame became at odds with his terse, graveled tone. "If you're so fortunate as to choose on your own, you wed for the intent of family."
Rin's memory quickly drew up the image of the pretty human woman that Tensai, then under the influence of alcohol, had briefly conjured during their first encounter. "You never wanted a family?"
"Mind your own business." Whirling around, he reached back for Rin's wrists and slung her into position again like a pack.
When Tensai's pounding yoki subsided to a low thrum, she spoke again. "I want to see Kichiruka perform."
"Out of the question." The heavy caudle fin kept swishing along. "When he's jesting the place is even more riddled with yokai."
"Oh." Rin paused. Then added, "You seem very fond of Kichiruka."
"Huh. He keeps me employed."
"So is dating advice part of your job description?"
Tensai pinched the bridge of his nose. Ever since Kichiruka had started seeing this girl he'd been craving old vices. A stiff drink would've been nice right now. Shrugging her off his back once more, he turned around to face the hopeful brown eyes. "If I take you to that fool's show will you stop picking my brain for personal questions?"
Although her smile was masked by the shell, Rin's eyes twinkled her delight. "Promise."
An irritated grumble reverberated from Tensai's chest, but with the way she beamed at him, he felt as if it were one of the few things he could do right. "It is a possibility," he at last conceded. He canted his head to one side, analyzing her. "You're a small, little thing."
Rin frowned. "Problem?"
"Not in the least." The demon chuckled. "More like an advantage."
"How do we get in there without being noticed?"
Shrugging out of the black robe on his shoulders, he draped it over the girl. "Now this brings back memories." Tensai smiled, a bit of charm in his usual smirk. Rin wondered if he was ever handsome in his younger days.
Then, bright white against the darker blues of his gi and hakama, she spotted what looked like a tusk tucked into the swordfish's sash. What's that for? It didn't look like much of a sword or even a dagger.
"Hold still, fidgety wench," he grumbled and bent to adjust the collar so it fell like a hood.
"Will this make me invisible?" she asked.
Tensai barked his single-syllable laugh. "No. Nothing can truly become invisible for more than a few seconds. But you can become dim."
"Dim?"
"Yes, like a forgotten doorway or even an old scroll. Something you see all the time, misplace or overlook, and never see even if it's right before your very eyes. People who don't know you won't look twice in your direction."
"But won't something of yours make me noticeable?"
"Only as an extension of myself, which is why no one will recognize it as – ah, I'm ringed by fools!" Smacking a hand over his eyes, Tensai just motioned for her to follow. Then remembered the lagging flounder she identified as swimming. Propping her over his back again, he carefully warned, "Once we get there, it'll be your responsibility to keep up."
Rin dug her fingers into his overshirt, but before she could wish for the heart-racing trip to be over, Tensai slowed.
"Here we are." Trying to keep the cloak in place, he carefully set Rin beside himself. "Get a good look of the city now, girl. It's the only one I can afford you."
Peering from under the collar, Rin blinked to make sure she was seeing right. The city had everything you'd expect to see on land, but some of the fixtures didn't make any sense. Like why do they have bridges? And if everyone swims, why roads?
"Stay close," Tensai repeated under his breath. Rin didn't think he would say it a third time. She tried to get another glimpse, this time of the yokai residents, but thin, knobby-jointed fingers were already at the base of her skull, bowing her head down. Drat. Limited to just the occasional flash of scales or fins, she tried to content herself with the colors she could pick out on the road. And realized that maybe none of this yokai city had to make sense. The streets alone shimmered like gold. Rin noticed that they were paved purely for aesthetic design. The people here must relish their surroundings. She also noticed when the glittering streets gave way to murky, roughly cobbled trails, then nothing urban-looking at all. Rin felt the pressure on her neck abate, but maybe it wasn't time to look up yet. She considered speaking up, but what if that blew their cover?
Then she collided head-on with a granite wall.
"Watch where you're going, girl."
Thanks for the advice. Pulling the robe close, Rin followed after Kichiruka's instructor.
He led her through a small grotto, anemones closed at their passing and slowing fanning out again. "Don't waste time staring," Tensai hissed, giving her hand a jerk. "Hang on." Tail pumping, he swept them up alongside the sheer cliff.
A bit of amethyst winked out of the corner of one rock. Tensai moved toward it and passed straight through the chiseled surface. Rin gawked at the sheer rock. Can I do that, too?
A webbed claw reached back out and yanked her in by the arm. "You're supposed to follow."
Without any normal gravity to kill her momentum, Rin flew into the room, the robe slipping off. A strong arm wrapped tightly around her waist prevented her from careening out the open window on the opposite side.
"Clumsy," Tensai grumbled.
He'd better not mean me. As Rin got her bearings she took a quick look around. And didn't have much need for a second take. It was little more than an alcove, just enough for sitting, standing, and some meager furnishings that imitated benches. Impossibly, light from outside streamed in to illuminate the underwater niche.
"Where are we?"
"Consider it like a private box. We're here and the rest of the court" – he made a sweeping motion toward the window – "is down there."
Rin's head swung from Tensai to the window. "We're in a tower?"
"Ha. Nothing so conspicuous. Only three people know of this place's existence, myself included." Since they were too high up to recognized by anyone from so far below, Tensai tugged back on his robe. "Kichiruka should be out there by now."
Peeping over the stony window sill, Rin looked around for Kichiruka. It was surprisingly easy. The dolphin yokai stood smack in the certain, the long spikes of his steel-gray hair fanning out, swishing and swirling with his every dramatic gesture. A jester, Rin thought. Still cautious not to lean too far out, Rin tilted her head trying to listen, but all that greeted her ears were the squeaks, squeals, and clicks of Kichiruka's oceanic tongue.
"What are they saying?"
"It's mostly colloquial," Tensai said, his knuckles mooshed into one side of his face with his elbow propped on the uneven rocks of sill. "A few political gags and some lampoons you wouldn't dare say to visiting yokai." He laughed abruptly. "That was a good one."
"Hm?"
"Ah…a few are rather inappropriate for ladies."
Rin looked and saw Kichiruka tug at his waist-tie in time with the next punch line. Oh. Eh…Awkward. She glanced back at Tensai, but he was already reclined on one of the benches, eyes rolling leisurely over some sort of reading material.
"I've heard 'em all at this point," he droned.
Well, I said I wanted to watch. Returning her attention back to the scene, Rin waited to see if Kichiruka would glance her way. Caution to the wind – or waters as it was – she wondered if she could catch his eye from her perch. Does he even know where to look for me? Much less that I'm even here.
Blue eyes strayed toward Tensai's tiny hideaway. Rin flashed her palm in a furtive wave. For a second, Kichiruka's grin widened, then he returned to his act. He couldn't see, but he hoped Rin was smiling.
Then, with a devilish grin, Kichiruka scooped up a conical seashell and centered it on his face. His wasn't so much a disguise as warping the features he already possessed into a caricature. He called for a volunteer. With biting chirps and clicks, he doled out one set of directions only to loudly refute them the next, jabbing the shell's pointed end after participant's tailfin. A full cacophony of guffaws and cackles filled the court's basin, and Kichiruka stole a second to waggle his eyebrows in Rin's direction. Obviously making an effort at a joke he hoped Rin would get.
Tensai popped an eye in the direction of the young woman's laughter. "Dare I ask, what's so funny?"
Automatically slipping a hand over her mouth – or at least where the shell mask was – Rin tried in vain to hide the smile that worked its way into her eyes.
"It's me, isn't it?"
Rin nodded. A fresh set of giggles threatening to erupt.
Tensai harrumphed, just like in Kichiruka's faultless imitation, and that was all it took to send her into more peals of laughter. Finally collecting herself, she checked the swordfish's ego. "You aren't offended?"
"He generally keeps it to a minimum. And I'm directly under Ichikawa's protection." In a careless gesture, Tensai folded his arms and slid his eyes shut.
With a shrug and a smile, Rin turned back to watch the rest of the spectacle. Between Kichiruka's exaggerated expressions and swagger, it wasn't that difficult to interpret.
Then, for the second time that day, Rin's bubble was popped.
"Get down." The instruction was spoken like a spear, sharply insisting Rin do as ordered. When the girl looked over her shoulder she noticed the illusion of the rock wall flickering into transparency. In the next heartbeat, Tensai's robe flung protectively over her, its owner at the forefront.
"Who goes?"
"First servant to Lady of Ichikawa," a feminine voice purred. "And two guardsmen. We heard of the human down here and will take her now."
Tensai moved to block the cave's only entrance. "And this human stray is supposed to be here because…?"
"Word runs that she came in with your student. He's out there, she's not. But here you are cozy and ensconced. Gee, wonder where she could be." Rin peeked from under the heavy fabric and spied a human-like face. Well, human in shape. Lurid eyes without white or pupil were set in a sharp-featured face; her dark hair pulled back in a neat braid, she looked a like a working woman. Er, demon, nymph, something.
"That's sorry logic," Tensai snorted.
"It's reason enough." Extending an arm, she motioned for the guardsmen to advance. "Search this room."
Rin only glimpsed Tensai's hand pass by his side. In the next second he snapped his wrist and the small tusk spiraled into a full-length staff, its ends twisting like double lances. "Enter and be cursed for nine generations," he threatened in a low, deep tone.
While the guardsmen wasted time wondering if he could even do that, Tensai expertly spun the staff in his hands, leaving broken wrists and ribs in his wake. Taking out his frustrations with every swing, he drove the intruders back from the cavern. I should have known better! Dammit! He couldn't let Rin go with them, not without his input. In his two-hundred and eight years of service, Tensai could not recall Lord Ichikawa spoken of as cruel. But everyone knew of his ambitions for a terrestrial connection with only the most prominent yokai clans. If he learned of Rin even the stars above couldn't predict what he might scheme. And no one knew better than Tensai not to tempt desperate men.
He rushed the demoness next. His second mistake. Tensai gasped, the wind knocked out of him. He doubled over, dropping the staff from numbed fingers.
"Master Tensai!" Unable to sit idly by a second longer, Rin stood up from her hiding place.
Idiot. He wheezed for breath. Then fingers with razor-edged nails wrapped around the nape of his neck, dragging him back to the alcove.
"Relax, old man. Huh. Some teacher. This girl has better sense than you." She eyed the human girl. "But I wouldn't recommend reaching for that sword." Although she didn't much care for the look Rin threw her, the naiad grabbed both of her wrists in one long-fingered grip without comment. And turned back to the fallen swordfish. "Not very trusting are you?"
Tensai slipped a hand into his breast pocket, palming a small vile, but one of the guards staggering to his fins took notice. The finger-like extensions of one fin hooked into Tensai's collar, giving a shake rough enough to drop whatever last-ditch plan the swordfish had. Thin lips curling, the guard smiled at him face to face. "Not so fast."
Kichiruka's teacher glared back. And slashed out with the length of his sharp nose. The guard roared in pain at the fresh gash welling on his face, and slammed Tensai's back against the wall hard enough to rattle the teeth in his head.
"Don't kill him!" Rin pleaded.
She didn't know if she had been ignored or acknowledged as the second guard steadied his partner's hand, but Tensai was dropped like a dead weight to the cavern's floor.
"Geez, kid, save the drama. We couldn't if we wanted to." The demoness sounded disappointed. "It's against Lord Ichikawa's policy to kill in peacetime without his go ahead. Ironically, under penalty of death." She smirked then looked at Tensai. "Hey, swordfish, if you're still conscious know that this lass will be returned in good health."
Sails flexed then fell. It wasn't Rin returning that he was concerned about, it was a matter of her going at all. He debated gathering his strength for one more go. But slipping into unconsciousness at this point won't achieve anything. Tensai lay still.
"C'mon, girl. Quit dawdling; he's damn near immortal compared to a short-life like you."
Tensai half wished Rin would protest, run, hit, do something to delay her capture. Instead, without a word, she went with them.
Damn. Why?
Just after they had gone, he heard Kichiruka's audience explode in applause. Tensai groaned, painfully pushing himself upright and falling flat again. It was his worst performance yet.
.
A/N: Well, the academic quarter is starting for me, so updates with Hooked (no use using quotation marks anymore, it's gone way past the novella limit I first intended, lol) will be posted on a weekly basis as opposed to twice a week; though I'll try to keep the chapters at their usual lengths (though this extended one broke the record). Thank you for reading, the encouragement of your reviews is always appreciated. And here's a few concept sketches I completed finally completed: feral-instinct. deviantart. com/#/d2ynpb0 (please remove spaces before use).