Nocturne - Chapter Nine: Unexpected Tidings
Rated - M (for suggestive adult themes, references to some violence, and coarse language)
o - o - o - o - o : Indicates scene or POV change
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.
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Maybe it was true that it was not wise to travel alone to visit a witch while pregnant. That was a notion that Kagome pushed out of her mind. She'd decided to get this over with, and that was precisely what was going to happen. Never mind that it did not make sense for her to do this. Maybe if she'd had an answer, she could make sense of her feelings.
Her exit from the village was hasty. Kagome did not have a mind to take up a conversation with Sango or Rin at this time. Not when they would only attempt to persuade her not to follow through on this foolish venture. She did not need them to convince her of the folly when she knew full well of her plan's stupidity. Yet, it was something she was going to do all the same.
Before leaving, Kagome had borrowed a horse from one of the villagers who owed her a favor. Apparently, doling out medicine, tending to wounds, and helping to birth babies had its kickbacks. Asking the family to stay quiet about the horse would make the news gossip-worthy, so Kagome claimed she had business to attend to in a neighboring town. No one questioned a miko on her business, and the news would spread at a snail's pace, hopefully not making it to Sango before Kagome concluded her journey, and a horse's speed would shorten the trip.
Kagome had never traveled unaccompanied before. Not here in the Feudal Era. Even during her quest to find the Shikon Jewel shards, she'd always been among her friends. That was all different now. To place an unnecessary burden on Sango was not fair and not something Kagome would ask. The woman was busy enough with her children now. Even had Inuyasha been around, there was no way Kagome was prepared to share her secret with him.
The journey to the witch would likely only take a day or so. Kagome recalled taking a trip to Mount Fuji in her youth, but the trip had been by car and only lasted a couple of hours. Of course, that knowledge did not help her now as she set forth on what could only be described as a nag. Beggars could not be choosers. The villagers lent her only what they could afford to lend out and not the reliable steed she had eyed. Even so, she was thankful not to make the trip on her own two feet.
It was not long into her journey that loneliness set in. There was no playful banter to watch, no meaningful conversation to pass the time, only quiet introspection. The hours passed agonizingly slowly, giving Kagome plenty of time to worry. Despite the trip being relatively short, she prayed that Inuyasha would not return while she was gone. He would most definitely come looking for her, and she was sure she was not that difficult to find.
Another of Kagome's fears was that she would be set upon by bandits or yokai. Traveling alone as a woman was not necessarily the wisest of decisions, but her ability with a bow, coupled with her status as a miko, ensured she was not bothered. It was still considered a time where women of a certain status could travel unaccompanied, and no one would bat an eye at them.
The first night was equally lonesome. Kagome set up camp, rationing out some of the food she'd packed, and tended to the mare, tying the harness a bit closer than necessary to ward off the chill of the night and to provide some level of company.
"We should get there tomorrow afternoon, Bullet," Kagome said to the horse.
The old mare picked at some of the shoots of grass surrounding her tie-in, ignoring Kagome's words. She'd named the mare Bullet in jest, seeing as how the horse was anything but speedy. It may have been apter to name the horse 'Snail' or 'Lolligag,' but if anything, the horse was sure-footed and got her where she needed to go much faster than she could on her own.
Morning came too soon, just as Kagome had fallen asleep. Sleep, it seemed, was just as evasive as the mastery of her feelings.
With a groan and the persistent nudging of the mare for a morning meal, Kagome rose and put her sleeping gear away.
"I'm coming, Bullet. Hold your horses," she laughed.
After finishing a quick meal, Kagome set off on the last leg of her journey. The mountain loomed before her, looking large and imposing even from a considerable distance. The dark woods that encompassed the mountain's base seemed thick and lush, hiding her destination from view.
The remainder of the journey turned out to be pensive for Kagome as she went over different scenarios in her head. What if Sesshomaru had already found the witch? What if he was there? What if Inuyasha found her out? Too many 'what ifs' rattled through her mind.
Hours later, Kagome broached the perimeter of the forest. She pulled Bullet to a stop and looked around. Kaede had not said exactly where the witch could be found, but Kagome was confident she could sense the yokai once she came near. Now Kagome had come to a literal fork in the road. She could go left or right, either way, possibly being the direction of the witch's home.
"Which way should we go?" Kagome asked aloud.
She looked down and patted the nag's neck reassuringly. Whether she was reassuring the mare or herself, she did not know.
The horse lifted its head suddenly, peering towards the right with its ears forward at attention. Something had caught its attention. The horse began to dance towards the left without a guiding hand, pulling the reins nearly from Kagome's hands.
"Woah!" she called, grasping the reins tightly. "What's wrong, girl?"
The horse did not seem to want to go down the path that led right — all the more reason for Kagome to go that way. The horse could sense something ominous and possibly foreboding. Kagome pondered on why she could not feel anything. Putting the strange thought to bed, she steered the reluctant horse down a lightly traveled path.
o - o - o - o - o
It had been prudent to secure a suitable domicile with haste. Sesshomaru had entrusted Jaken with the task and knew it would be so by the time he'd returned. The instructions left for the imp were simple, locate his human vassal with the largest estate in his lands and have them vacate the premises immediately.
He did not require a conventional home, instead preferring to migrate through his lands on an endless pilgrimage. This was not to say Sesshomaru did not have an estate. That could not be further from the truth. There were houses and castles, yes, plenty as befitting a daiyokai lord. The reality of the matter was residing in a structure that seemed useless and frivolous to Sesshomaru, who preferred to be on the move and unshackled to things and responsibilities that seemed beneath him.
Owning and maintaining such things were a necessary nuisance that he obliged by delegating tasks to his retainer and his human vassals. Lording over the western lands had its perks. Even though Sesshomaru held humanity in disdain, he could not turn his nose up to his subjugates. The humans who resided in his territory paid him tribute for protecting their homes and livelihood. It would not honor him or his name to turn his back on all that his lineage had amassed.
Sesshomaru flew westwards swiftly, riding upon the currents of his yoki and sailing gallantly through the sky towards a sprawling estate. Too much time had been wasted amusing himself with the human woman. He had allowed himself to nearly give in to that most profound temptation that tickled the edge of his senses and that would cost him later. But her haughty responses were scintillating, and it made things more difficult. He could feel a tiny smirk tug at the corner of his mouth, but he quashed it neatly before landing on the ground at the terrace of his new abode.
The lesser yokai imp, Jaken, waited patiently nearby, sensing the return of his lord and master. The green toad shambled over to bow low, waiting for an acknowledgment before he would prattle on about useless matters. Sesshomaru raised a brow and awaited the imps news.
"Great Lord Sesshomaru! I've graciously awaited your return! Just as you instructed, I've procured the largest palace in your lands," Jaken explained. "The previous tenants, they whined and complained, those ungrateful humans!"
"Make sure to clean the entirety of the grounds. The smell of mortals lingers here," Sesshomaru sniffed. He looked around at the vacant palace and could nearly hear the loneliness echo through the halls. So, this was to be his home. It seemed like a cage, he thought as he took in the building.
Jaken sputtered, "B-but M-mi-Lord, it will take nearly a fortnight for the scent to dissipate on its own."
Sesshomaru looked down at Jaken, who trembled from the annoyed stare being directed at him. "There is no time for that. My bride arrives before the next full moon, and her people have little tolerance for humans." He paused before adding, "Even less for toads who question their masters."
Jaken nodded profusely, "Y-yes, Master. Which leads me to tell you-"
Sesshomaru, ignoring Jaken's quibbles, began to move swiftly towards the house to assess the area more thoroughly, leaving the imp to rush along behind him.
"Master! Master!" Jaken called.
There was much to do and little time with which to do it. The marriage alliance brokered by his mother was precarious at best. Sesshomaru's intended was from the mainland and accustomed to certain fineries. The elite yokai from the mainland were revered as gods, which they were in comparison to the mortals who revered them. Long-lived and all-powerful, the yokai had no respect for creatures considered the lowest in the world's hierarchy.
The mansion seemed to be well furnished, all of which the previous tenants could lay thanks at Sesshomaru's feet. Due to his protection, they were able to accumulate wealth, wealth, which was their Lord's by proxy.
"Continue with the preparations, Jaken. There is another matter I must attend to before the next moon," Sesshomaru instructed as he walked.
"Master! Please! There is something you must know!" Jaken urged. The small green man was hesitant to impede upon his lord's musings.
"Have you learned the whereabouts of the witch, Jaken?" Sesshomaru inquired in a harsh tone, turning to face the imp.
Jaken pulled up short, his large yellow eyes widening in surprise. His master rarely spoke directly to him, mostly preferring to talk at him or in his direction. It was a matter of deference that Sesshomaru did not look the small yokai in the eye unless it was a matter of great importance or annoyance.
"Mi-Lord, I have learned of the onibaba, yes. It is Yamauba, lord."
"Yamauba?" Sesshomaru asked, testing the name. "I have heard of this oni before?"
"Yes, Master! Your honorable father battled the oni Yamauba many times. I did not know she still lived, but I did find her," Jaken said. He looked around, seemingly nervous of Sesshomaru's reaction. "But Master," he pressed.
Sesshomaru turned and continued walking down the hall, making mental notes of the surroundings. "And?" he asked, still walking.
Jaken paused, confused, "And?" he repeated. "Oh! And the onibaba is to the east on the mountainside. She has been dormant, only plaguing those who pass her residence. Why are you concerned about a haggard old oni?"
He turned a corner into the castle's great hall. "It is none of your concern," he replied coolly.
"Is it a concern of mine, beloved?" a voice called from within the room.
Before him, within the great hall, stood a small woman. Her amber eyes gleamed with a pearl of age-old wisdom that belied her youthful features. A small, knowing smile adorned her face as she looked up at Sesshomaru. Despite her stature, she brimmed with a power that was surprising given her appearance.
The woman, clearly yokai, wore deep red outer robes that covered a delicately embroidered ruqun printed with cranes and a dark, un-tied sash loosely draped over her arms. Much like Sesshomaru's own, a large fur pelt overlays her outer robes around her shoulders, making a warm collar. The woman's hair, also white, was worn up, and the top of her head was crowned with an intricate ornate headdress.
The woman gave a dip of her head, and her golden headdress tinkled with the movement.
"Lord Sesshomaru," she addressed him.
Sesshomaru shot daggers at the imp, who whispered, "Master, I was trying to tell you…"
Jaken cleared his throat and bowed, "My Lord, may I introduce Lady Tsering Dawa and...um...her entourage."
A/N: Ooh, my, we are meeting a new character here! I wonder what she's all about? Hmm.
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