Morning came as if it was never gone. Birds started singing,the clouds floated on the sky,nature was coming back to life,even if the sun refused to show itself. As it was decided,Shiloh left with Sesshomaru,Rin remaining in Jaken's care. Both couples went different ways,Jaken receiving orders to follow their path as for they will meet before the dawn.
Before leaving,Shiloh kissed the child's forehead and sat her on Ah-Un's back.
-Protect her or you shall not live to see the light of tomorrow.
-Y-yes my lady! The green demon bowed in fear and left.
The two daiyōkais walked through the forest,none of them speaking a word,not even looking at each other,just facing what was in front of them. A cold fresh air started making itself present as they approached the mountains. Their scent caught a strong miasma which came from the demon that lived inside the mountain they were about to walk its trail. The stinging smell made both of them frown in disgust,Shiloh even feeling nauseous. The scent was a mixture of rotten bodies,blood and burnt toxic plants.
The kimono served for her as a mask to stop the smell from sickening her. She was already feeling as if her powers left her body and those horrible scents mixed together almost made Shiloh colapse.
-Turn back if you can't continue.
-And to let you eat me alive pointing at me for the rest of my life how I left you with the tail between my legs? Hell no! She refussed with stubbornness to turn and leave. The cough that was caused by the miasma also made her feel as choking. That does it!
The vixen grabbed the handle of her sword and took it out from its shield. As she released it,the demon within the sword travelled through her body. She was weak and the doomed instrument was to capture her soul. Sesshomaru knew that if her soul and body were to end under the blade's spell,there would've been no turning point,her darkest,evilest,sadistic,blood thirsty true form would've taken over destroying what she was now.
Muramasa started pulsating bringing her senses to life. A deep breath she took as her hair started moving by the sword's will. A number of growles escaped from her as she struggled to contain the evil from rising,her fangs got bigger,her claus sharper but her hands trembled. Knowing that interfering would've brought serious injuries,even death to him,Sesshomaru had no other choice but to stand back and watch as his companion struggled with the monster in her to not show.
The tip of the blade was deeply pushed in the ground,Shiloh using it as a way of getting a hold of herself.
-You shall never control me. Her cracking voice whispered. Not for as long as I will be your master!
Her raging tone sounded in the entire area and a scream of anger made all the birds fly, a wave of power ruining the road they were walking on. A hit followed every inch of the trail, destroying it, cutting it in half,pieces of stones lying around. The sword,even if it created disaster,it eliminated the miasma.
She was tired once more and barely caught her breath placing the sword back in its shield.
-And you wanted me to turn back. Her sarcastic smile received nothing but a "hmph" from the dog demon. You're pathetic,thinking that I will ever fall under this monster's spells and control. I am made of much more than nice clothes and red hair,Sesshomaru. Now let's hurry,shall we? We don't have all day and I don't want that awful miasma to come back any time soon.
-You talk a lot for someone who's powers are all drained out. Sesshomaru walked past her leading the way.
She looked at him confused but then her attention was brought by her right hand which was still shaking. It was true,indeed,that the sword tried to take control over her,she felt it,she felt how her heart was almost eaten by darkness and a wish for killing was being born. With Muramasa in her hands,controlled by it,she could kill Sesshomaru without any remorse. Her body keeps fighting the posessed blade for never letting her destructive form arise and everytime it leaves her soul scarred.
She could not bare,imagine,taking her dearest's life,bathe in his blood,eat his flesh and then hold his skull,madly laughing,completley out of her mind.
Her mother once told her,that it is said that one of the previous owners of the sword,a demon lord,lost his soul to the spirit within it and it made him murder his wife,children,vassals and those on his teritory. It took him 3 days and 3 nights to devour every one of them and the night after,as he was sleeping,the sword turned against him. It flew from the shrine it was put in and searched for the lord,as it found him,it decapitated him. The moon turned red and the wind that flew on the halls of his castle sounded like mad evil laughter which rised to the sky. After the massacre, it disappeared,it was a mystery how the lord got in its possession but it is said he found it somewhere in a cave. Its evil aura drawn him to it thinking he will have power over everything around but the truth was that the sword was thrown away from Hell to have its first red sacrifice,after returning to the dark pits of the underworld.
Thinking about it,Shiloh's fears became more stronger. She looked at the silver hair which waved as he walked and turned pale. Her mind started playing tricks on her making her imagine how would it be if those white locks would've been covered in hot blood. She stopped moving. Sesshomaru too stopped at a distance and turned to her,he was terrified. He had seen the images inside her mind and he was turned to stone.
-You...
Her breaths barely caught up as she blinked in fear. She knew what he had seen. Her eyes stopped on him and her mouth barely spoke.
-If I'll ever run to hurt you,behead me.
-Don't be a fool,I will no-
-Kill me right away! Please...set my soul free. Do it before I do you any harm or those around.
-I wanted to say I will not let myself defeated by a posessed version of you,more,killed. This Sesshomaru is a match for no one.
He continued his walk keeping in mind what she just said. That desperate cry-she was afraid. But how could he kill her? She is not like others but she would be only a beautiful appearance rotten on the inside,her true soul eaten by the monster.
-Sesshomaru.
Once again he stopped as he heared her fading voice and waited.
-If I'll die,destroy Muramasa. Don't let it come after you,I will be in no power to stop it.
He understood and looked at her with sad eyes. It hurt him to see her struggling like this but her wishes were clear and he was willing to fulfill them just so she could rest in peace.
-Let's go. The demon waited for her but before they left,his fingers moved away the messy hairs that covered her face. «You poor tormented soul.» Sesshomaru thought. «How could a pure creature as you be destined to a life of destruction?» Indeed,how could a happy child as Shiloh be condemned to such an ill fate? Why would a father give such a heavy responsability to his young daughter? Maybe he saw in her something others lacked in. Maybe indeed she has the power to tame the evil that feeds the sword. But the truth, even he did not know.
The woman gently grabbed his hand and shy, but full of love, kissed the back of his wrist. On the inside,his heart was crying but on the outside he was calm and touched by her.
-Could you just shut up and stop singing?! You are an annoying little brat,that's what you are. Jaken shouted frustrated at Rin who stopped singing. Finally, peace and quiet.
-You're the annoying one,Jaken-sama. The child always had something to say back to the forever-unsatisfied-loyal-servant. More, she even sticked her tongue out at him.
-What?! Why you... He tried to calm down squeezing the staff between his hands. Why do I even bother? I still don't understand why Lord Sesshomaru was fine with you following us. You are just a tiny human,a spoiled little girl who does not know her limits. Lord Sesshomaru should've been harsher on you so you could learn where the line is. But now that I think about it, lady Shiloh has something to do with your stay too,keh…Lord Sesshomaru can't say no to that woman…
Jaken turned and saw that Rin and Ah-Un were gone. Panic captured his body and then anger.
-Rin! Rin! You spoiled ungrateful brat,come back here! Where are you?! His tiny feet ran back to where he last saw them, Rin of course found herself something to do-catching fish to roast and eat. I am tired of taking care of you!
-Master Jaken! Quick,help me! Her giggle and innocent face made Jaken once more sigh and give in.
It was impossible to say "no" to such a cute face,her big eyes always kept happiness inside.
«I can't wait for you to grow up to get wiser and stop playing around.» The green yōkai said to himself squinting at the girl. Suddenly he got slapped by a fish which jumped from the water causing him to lose his balance and fall over in the river,the current taking him away./p
-Rin! His desperate scream made the girl throw away what she caught and run after him but the current was too strong. Both screamed for help, luckily Ah-Un was there to save them both.
As the two headed demon took out of the water the small creatures, Rin started laughing pointing at how soaked and exhausted master Jaken was.
-Stop laughing,you foolish little girl!
-But master Jaken,you look awful and you're so cute.
-Our food is gone and all you do is laugh! Stop it right now!
Ah-Un's growling caught Jaken's attention as he saw how the dragon yōkai kept on fishing and putting the prey on the grass next to him.
-See,master Jaken? We will not starve,Ah-Un helped us.
-Yes but…He looked at the child and smiled,then softly laughed. I will soon go mental. In a couple of years my sanity will be long gone after decades of serving my lord. My lord from who I never heard a "thank you, Jaken,thank you for being there for me,thank you for being my loyal servant,THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME TEST MY SWORD"!
Rin and Ah-Un looked suspicious and a bit terrified by the outbust of the green demon,the child not knowing if she should ask something or not.
-…master Jaken,are you alright?
-Huh? He stopped and looked at her with wide eyes. Ah,yes Rin,of course! How can I be alright when I serve an ungrateful dog who does nothing else but to use me?! His temper was again starting to boil.
-Don't be silly,master Jaken,I'm sure Sesshomaru-sama cares about you,he just does not show it,and I think he has also feelings for lady Shiloh. Oh and he cares for his brother, lord InuYasha,too. If he did not,he would've killed him some time ago.
This made Jaken stop from his fit and think a little. The child was right,his lord usually gets what he wants with his own hands,mostly hand now since InuYasha had cut off his left arm. He had the chance to kill his servant so many times and he did not,maybe Sesshomaru, he thought,does have a heart. A skillful demon that lacks in showing affection. «Maybe it's something that runs in their veins,that InuYasha too is stiff and cold when it comes to affection and blind when is shown emotion.» Jaken's mind said in disappointment but after all, a demon is incapable of loving someone…or that is just a myth passed on since the beginnings.