A/N: where we last left off, Sesshomaru and Getsu had been recuperating from the latest fight Sesshomaru and InuYasha had gotten into. separated from her pack, Korihime spent some time with InuYasha and his rag-tag crew of humans and bonding a little with them before tracking her sister's scent and then having a run-in/ squabble with Koga... and that's where this leaves off. enjoy!
disclaimer: i don't own InuYasha; my OCs belong to me.
Chapter 18: Howls: Knives and Blood
"…You ungrateful dog!" A rock was thrown at the imp's head, making him squawk and then fall off the back of the dragon.
Ah-Un lifted his heads at the sight of the two daiyokai walking towards them in the meadow.
"So who's being ungrateful?" The female sighed, lifting Un's head and scritching his cheek gently, making the dragon head grumble in satisfaction and bump his head into her chest, making her giggle. "It's obviously not Ah-Un, right you two? You're not bein' ungrateful, no you're not~." She cooed affectionately.
He rolled his eyes at her baby-talk, scowling at the imp.
"Lord Sesshomaru!" He hopped back onto the dragon, standing on Ah's head. "Before I continue in your service, were you actually testing your sword on me!?"
"Geez, you're as annoying as ever! It's a wonder Ah-Un didn't eat you while we were gone." She deadpanned.
"Keep quiet you insolent mutt!" The imp squawked annoyedly.
THWACK.
"That is my mate you're addressing so I suggest you keep your mouth shut unless you want to die. Also, I expected a more cheerful greeting than the raucous interrogation I received, Jaken." He declared after beating the imp with the staff he held, placing it on the dragon's back.
A large bump swelled on his head; she sweatdropped and smiled over at him. "Methinks you're finally softening up after a few centuries, darling." She said cheekily.
He snorted. "Shut up." He ignored the snicker from her.
The scent of blood blew in with the soft breeze that ripped through the meadow, making both daiyokai look up.
"Well I'm glad to see things haven't changed," a sigh sounded before the sight of the younger Okami-yokai came into view from the trees.
"Kori-chan!" Getsu balked at the sight of her sister bruised and cut up, her long hair slightly disheveled as there were a few rips in her kimono and scuffs on her boots; she sprinted to her side, throwing her arm over her shoulder and helping her to the dragon. "Korihime, what happened to you?" She asked alertly, helping her get onto the dragon's back and hearing her groan quietly.
"Koga, we… well, we had a bit of a disagreement." Korihime replied, looking at her sheepishly. "Onee-chan, I couldn't help it, he just pissed me off and… I'm sorry." She looked away shamefully.
Sesshomaru bristled at the sight of the injured she-wolf; even though Korihime was only his sister-in-law, she was still a member of his pack and anyone who hurt a member of his pack was either dead or going to die soon by his claws. "I told you I didn't trust him." He growled.
Getsu nodded a little and looked at her sister again. "There's nothing to apologize for, Kori-chan. You did what you had to do and I'm proud of you. Besides, I would imagine you sent him home with his tail between his legs." She reassured gently.
She cracked a smirk and huffed, wiping a smudge of dirt from her cheek marked with a silver star. "In a manner of speaking; I did kick his ass." She mused.
She chuckled, looking at her mate and noting that there was a proud glint in his gold eyes; she smiled, her ears twitching as another breeze stole past them.
Her silver eyes widened as his gold eyes sharpened.
Wolf stink… and human blood.
"I know this scent," he muttered, indicating the blood.
She nodded, looking at her sister. "Kori, stay with Ah-Un." She instructed quietly, following him as he took off into the forest.
She watched them leave and then sighed as she settled onto the dragon's back. "Am I glad to see you, Ah-Un." She mused.
The dragon grumbled in response, sounding happy; she smiled softly.
:::::::xXx:::::::
The stink of death reeked from the little girl.
She wrinkled her nose and growled at the faint scent of wolf that hung in the air, glaring at the trees. "I swear I'm going to kill him." She grumbled, watching him walk forward before she followed.
The fact that Korihime had fought with that arrogant mongrel was bad enough… but the new fact that he had his wolves kill a harmless girl just plainly pissed her off.
Poor thing, she was probably trying to find Sesshomaru when the wolves attacked her, she thought, frowning.
The sound of Tensaiga leaving its scabbard perked her ears, jarring her from her thoughts; she looked up at him and then at the drawn fang of Heaven, seeing it pulsate.
"You're not serious…" She began softly in surprise.
"I can see them; minions from the netherworld… I'll do another test, using the Tensaiga." He ignored her, his gold eyes sharpening.
"Another test!?" The imp blanched.
Sesshomaru swung the fang down on the supposed-minions that seemed to surround the girl's body, kneeling to lift the girl into the crook of his arm.
Getsu's eyes widened as her brow twitched before she opened both brown eyes up at the Inu-Daiyokai. "It worked." She said softly in awe, feeling relieved that the girl had been saved.
He set the girl down, turning to walk away from the trio.
She tilted her head to one side, following to sidle up to his left side. "Something wrong?" She wondered.
"I didn't bring her back for you, y'know. I was just testing Tensaiga." He informed, perking her ears.
She nodded and sighed, folding her arms behind her head. "I knew that already, you don't need to point it out. But I'm glad you brought her back; she didn't deserve to die like that." She replied quietly, lowering her gaze.
He glanced at her before huffing quietly. "You catch on quick, as usual." He mused.
The sound of smaller feet trotting after them made their ears twitch before a hand tugged on the bottom hem of her obi; she blinked and stopped, looking to see the girl had followed them.
"Oh, you're better!" She smiled and crouched to eye-level, meeting her brown eyes. "I'm glad to see you're up and running."
The girl nodded, smiling back. "Thank you for bringing me back to life." She declared, her words for the stoic Inu-Daiyokai.
He scoffed quietly. "Come along, Getsu; knowing your sister, she's probably bored out of her mind right now." He beckoned, continuing to walk.
She stuck her tongue out at him, straightening and letting the girl cling to her right sleeve. "You never told me your name." She mused to the child.
"Oh… Um, I don't remember my name." She mumbled humbly, making her ears twitch.
"Aww, hmm well we'll just have to give you a new one, then! Now let's see, what kind of name should we give you…?" Getsu tapped her chin with a finger thoughtfully, scrunching up her face and earning a giggle from her new friend.
"Rin." Sesshomaru looked back at her silver eyes that blinked in confusion. "Her name is 'Rin'." He stated, turning back.
She nodded and looked at the girl, "well how about it; do you like it, Rin?" She asked kindly.
"Rin is so pretty, I love it!" The human child beamed.
She chuckled, "then 'Rin' it is!" She said lightly.
Oh great, another female, Sesshomaru inwardly groaned and slapped his forehead. Stupid insolent curiosity…
"Look, Master Jaken, a slain demon, just as Lord Sesshomaru said it would be here!" The girl chirped, looking up at the blue-haired female that came to a calmer halt at her left side. "Kori-onee, could you also tell there would be a demon here like Lord Sesshomaru could tell?" She asked innocently.
Korihime nodded, smiling down at her and tousling her brown hair. "'Course, this keen nose picks up anythin'! I'm not a wolf demon princess for no reason!" She puffed out her chest proudly and did the same to her cheeks, scrunching up her face.
Rin giggled.
"But who could've done this?" Jaken rambled confusedly, making both females look at him and blink simultaneously.
"InuYasha." Sesshomaru answered solemnly as he and Getsu came forward from the fog with the latter's arms folded behind her head leisurely. "He did this, although I doubt he was able to escape unscathed."
Getsu sniffed the air and her lip curled. "There's something off about his scent, though. It smells strange…" She mused thoughtfully, tapping her chin with a clawed index finger, her ears twitching as he stepped away from her side to move closer to the dead demon and lift the head by one of the beige horns protruding from its head.
A surprised scream came from the girl, making the other two females' ears twitch and they cringed at the sudden noise.
"Sesshomaru, you're taking the head?" His mate wondered in confusion as he carried it over his shoulder and walked ahead of them further into the fog.
"Yes, now come along. And Rin, stop that noise." He answered casually over his shoulder.
The girl snapped to quickly, silencing. "Yes, milord!" She piped up.
The sisters shared a look before the younger sighed and scooped up the girl to give her a piggy-back ride. "C'mon, Rin," she smiled lightly at her.
The older trotted forward to sidle up to his left side, crossing her arms in the sleeves of her kimono top again. "You do realize the demon you're carrying the head of broke Tetsusaiga's blade? And another thing, your brother's scent didn't smell like that of a half-breed…"
"It smelled of full-demon, just like mine and my father's. I'm aware of that." He glanced at her and threw her a teasing smirk. "Your keen nose is starting to falter, I'd suggest you keep up with mine." He mused.
She blushed shyly and then huffed, looking away. "Piss off, idiot dog." She grumbled.
He chuckled quietly at easily stumping her and making her look cute in one fell swoop: he was getting better at doing that lately.
A/N: Sesshomaru has taken the remains of the slain Goshinki from his death site.. but for what reason? what use does he have for a dead demon's head, a demon that was an incarnation of Naraku no less? you'll have to find that out in the next chapter of 'Watch the Throne'.
until next chap, see ya!