A week passed, mostly without Sesshomaru around. He had just returned and the group followed behind the man silently. At some point, flying had been chosen as the best method of transportation. A cloud formed under Sesshomaru, and A-Un took to the air as well.
"Nazoki! Do you want to ride A-Un with Rin?"
Shaking her head, Nazoki shifted and followed suit. Flames formed around her feet, and she glided to Rin's side. The girl called the skill amazing, yet asked if it was possible for her to fly as in her regular form. Shifting, Nazoki smiled and nodded. It seemed effortless for the woman. She clasped her hands behind her back, and closed her eyes. Red curls danced over her face, yet Nazoki ignored them.
"Of course I can! But it seems indecent to do so in a skirt."
The vixen motioned to her green yukata, which fluttered behind her in the breeze, and Rin nodded. An anklet of fire trailed behind Nazoki, and Rin mirrored the woman's smile. Sesshomaru glanced at Nazoki from the corner of his eyes, and allowed his gaze to linger for a second.
"Lord Sesshomaru where are we going? The borders of the western land are right there!" Jaken piped in from his spot on Sesshomaru's mokomoko. Of course, the Lord did not respond. He paid Jaken no mind, and returned his gaze to the area ahead of him.
"Rin wishes she could fly..."
Peering at Rin, Nazoki tried to think of a way to fulfill that wish. Sesshomaru was obviously fond of the girl, it seemed like a big risk. Then again, her job was to entertain Rin... Nodding, Nazoki extended her hand towards the girl. Rin peered at it curiously, and her eyes widened.
"Really?" The girl asked and Nazoki nodded once more.
Sesshomaru glanced at the pair in time to see Nazoki helping Rin off A-un, and balancing the girl on her hip.
"I don't want you to fall..." The vixen murmured. Rin was too busy looking around. It was much different from riding on A-un. Frowning, the man gazed at the pair. Rin was grinning, and holding her arms out as if she had never flown before. Nazoki was intensely watching the girl, yet would offer a small smile, when Rin looked at her. Dubbing it as okay, Sesshomaru turned back to the area ahead of him, yet could not keep from glancing at the pair occasionally. As long as Rin was safe...
When evening approached, the group stopped for the night. Rin ate, and in near silence, the group relaxed. In the middle of the night, after all had drifted to sleep, an eerie cry awoke Nazoki. It was too far for Rin to hear, and while she assumed Sesshomaru heard it, she wondered if he knew what it was. She did. Peering into the darkness of the woods, Nazoki rolled over from her comfortable spot on the grass; opting to lay on her side. She ran a single hand through her hair, and bit down on her lip. The haunting sound echoed, and Nazoki's ears twitched. Anxiousness swelled inside of the woman and she gazed at Sesshomaru. Finding that the man was watching her, she quickly averted her eyes.
If he did know what the sound was, it would be a slightly embarrassing situation. If he did not, well that could be more embarrassing, but the cry she had heard was undeniable. Another Vixen was in the woods, looking for a mate. How primitive. But then again, natural urges can be overwhelming. Discomfort swelled within Nazoki and she pushed herself to her feet. It would be impossible to sleep with such thoughts, and Sesshomaru staring at her. The man seemed to consider her some form of entertainment. If he grew bored, he could be found stealing glances of her. But it wasn't in a romantic curiosity type way. With his constant serious expression, it seemed more unnerving than anything.
As the vixen started to conceal herself in the shadow of the forest, Sesshomaru spoke.
"Nazoki, come here."
Suddenly halting in place, Nazoki turned to peer at the man. He had leaned up from his spot on his mokomoko. A moment of odd hesitation passed, and she slowly nodded. Reluctantly walking to Sesshomaru's side, she knelt beside him.
"Yes?" The woman fixed her gaze on Rin's sleeping form against A-Un.
"Where do you think you are going?" Intensely glaring at the woman, Sesshomaru waited for his rightful answer. He knew exactly what that sound had been, and his kitsune sneaking off into the forest immediately afterwards was not a good sign. Anyway, it would be annoying if she ran off to shriek in some unknown dark corner of the forest.
"Eh... I was just going back to sleep..." She murmured in response, lowering her eyes.
"Hn. Stay near this-"
The thought of him saying "This Sesshomaru" swelled in her mind, and Nazoki combusted. Pausing, Sesshomaru allowed a slight frown to crease his brow.
"Group." He stated, finishing the sentence in a way that caused disappointment to swell inside of the vixen. For the first time, she felt truly ridiculous. Of course, he would not say that. It was obvious that Sesshomaru did not think anything of her, his expression never changed, he barely spoke to her, and he never so much as laughed or offered a friendly smile. What really got her was the thought of the kiss. Surely he had only indulged her, maybe out of amusement, or annoyance, but from the way things appeared there was no other explanation.
Sesshomaru stared at the flames around the woman as they shifted from a deep crimson, to dull brown. Slightly confused, the lord tried to decipher the color. He had not expected kitsune "heat" to be literal, and if it was, this probably was not it. Nazoki offered a brief nod, and without a single word rose to her feet. The vixen managed to suppress her fire, and sighed. She did not even look at the man before she moved away. Nor after she picked a spot on the far edge of the grassy clearing, partially concealed by the blanket of night. Annoyed, Sesshomaru turned to peer at the vixen. He had literally just told her to stay near the group. Not even two minutes ago. And being a smart ass, she picked a spot where the only visible part of her was a single arm; as if that was close to the group.
Another eerie bark pierced the night, and Sesshomaru sat up. With that noise, and his thin patience, the lord would not get back to sleep. Deciding to deal with Nazoki first, he gracefully pushed himself to his feet. Nearly silent footsteps behind Nazoki caused her to lean up. Turning over she glanced towards the group, only to find herself internally groaning with dread. The Sesshomaru approaching her did not look happy. Not in the slightest. When he reached her side he knelt down, resting on the balls of his feet.
"What did I, Sesshomaru, just tell you?" Peevishly staring at Nazoki, the Lord once again frowned as flames consumed her. Why did that keep happening? Twice in one day was somewhat excessive. But then again, she had done it twice earlier as well. Four had to be a record. But he was unsure of what was causing it.
Nazoki placed her hand to her head, partially covering her face.
"Forgive me. It does not seem to be a good idea to-" The words were cut off with a loud shreik from the forest. It was almost as if it was getting closer. Shaking her head, Nazoki lowered her gaze.
"That is really annoying, is it not?" She sighed, not bothering to complete her previous sentence. Sesshomaru offered a slight nod, and the vixen locked her eyes to a single blade of grass.
"I could go take care of it..." The woman suggested in a low tone.
Knowing that offer was a trap, Sesshomaru shook his head. It was obvious that if she got away, she would not be trying to find another vixen. Unless there was something he didn't know about kitsune, but the lord was positive that she was trying to trick him.
"No. You will stay here. Move back towards the fire." The man commanded. When Nazoki didn't respond, he reached into her flame and forced her chin up.
"Understood?"
Staring at the man, Nazoki lifted herself into a sitting position, keeping her legs folded beside her.
"And if I do not wish to?"
Surprise flickered across the man's face, yet only for a fraction of a second. He immediately hardened his gaze, tightening his grip on Nazoki's jaw.
"You would defy me, this Sesshomaru?" His voice held a harsh edge, and unexpectedly, Nazoki smirked.
"What if I did?"
This question caused all form of patience within the lord to snap. To challenge him in such a manner was unacceptable. What could Nazoki have been thinking to allow herself to speak to him in such a manner? Sesshomaru's expression was that of ice, and Nazoki raised herself to her knees. She stared straight at the man, and her flames died down.
"If I were to go against you, what would you do?" She repeated, managing to maintain eye contact. Without warning, the vixen gripped his collar, and pushed her lips to his. Sesshomaru remained in place, not responding, or moving.
When Nazoki pulled back, she studied him.
"That had no effect on you? You didn't feel anything? Nothing?"
Her words made it clear; why she was behaving in such a manner. But Sesshomaru was too irritated to truly respond. He wondered how he should handle the situation. If she wanted to leave, it did not really matter. She could disobey him, and run off. After all, he had obtained a new item of power, and Rin had been entertained for a while.
Seeing that she would get no answer, Nazoki shifted her gaze.
"I see... Forgive me." Backing away, the woman bowed. The scenery around her suddenly warped to a stone building, resembling that of a castle. Sesshomaru studied the new surroundings, and lifted himself to his feet.
"What are you-" Before he could even complete the question, Nazoki leaped back, and seemed to disappear into thin air.