CHAPTER THIRTY NINE
Sesshomaru
By midnight, the two of them still had not fallen silent. Rin, ever since about an hour ago, had been bombarding Mikage with questions. Even though most of them were somewhat personal, some entirely foolish, Mikage did not fail to answer every one.
The fire flickered, cracking like brittle wood. It continued to send little orbs of amber into the air at the same speed of a frog's tongue flicking. In the distance, locusts hummed. Crickets chirped softly, and the quiet trickle of water splashing of a nearby stream filled my ears. My eyes ran over the ground, the sprawled-out body of Jaken littering the grass. A quiet snore escaped from him, vibrating his entire torso. Both Yuuhi and Ah-Un lay, curled up near the fire. The bright orange of the flames reflected brightly, even from his dull scales. Odd bugs I had heard before but never received the name twined their high-pitched cries through the darkness.
Mikage glanced my way, offering me a smile I didn't return. Her sky-colored eyes fell over me, giving me a kind, innocent glance.
"That new kimono looks nice on you. I never thought I'd see you in black," Mikage complimented, long brown hair sliding down her shoulder. I grunted in response, turning my gaze to look at the blue tinge that fell upon the nearby grass field. In the gentle, blue breeze, the tips of the blades waved ever so slightly.
Because Rin thought the kimonos we wore were too far gone, and because of Mikage's footsteps now traveling beside ours, she insisted that we received new ones. The one I now wore was a deep coal black, decorated by simple, swirling dragon insignias. Rin had also decided that the armor bound to me previously was too simple for the likes of this new kimono, the armor strapped to my abdomen was also new. I glanced downwards at the shining gold shoulder guards forged out of serpent scales. They glimmered with the fire, curving with ease over my broad shoulders. They mimicked the style father's old armor was in, and in addition, the moko moko now dangled from my back. Or shall I say two. Because after Father perished, and Bakusaiga was made from my body, I had fully inherited the 'Lord of the Western Lands' title.
I pressed my back against the hard tree, gazing momentarily at the other dog demon across the camp. Her new kimono was a snow-pale white color, decorated with pearlescent sakura. Her legs were covered in silver fabric, the new swirling hakama drifting with the light wind. The armor she wore was forged out of pure white quartz. She now seemed to be intently listening to Rin's ramblings again.
It went like this for a rather annoying while, and though I attempted to tune it out, it was becoming increasingly difficult.
"Rin? Aren't you tired...?" Mikage asked gently. Rin's mouth opened in a yawn, before she nodded slowly. To my surprise, Rin had already begun warming up to Mikage already. This was evident as the girl curled up gingerly in the daiyokai's lap. I saw Mikage's neck arch slightly, shoulders tensing. Not long after, though, her eyes softened like butter, and she lay a small hand over Rin's back.
I let out a sigh through my nose, before gliding my eyes back to the horizon. In the distance, the nearby village down the hill had turned all but a few lanterns off. They glowed like fireflies in the deep blue night as I stared. Why was it that Rin had trusted her so easily?
I turned my head to face forward again, my own eyes pressing to close. Whatever the case, this Sesshomaru would not be so easy to please.