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Chapter 13: Stealing Thunder

Sesshomaru rolled the tense muscles in his neck and popped a few joints while bathing in the small victory that gave him very little fulfillment. Time had stretched from when he left his Shiro to investigate the screams. Once he saw one of his villages getting attacked by rogue humans, he immediately slaughtered them and took care of their weapons that they boasted would handle demons like himself. Everything that was left of them were used for fire kindling for that village. While he stared into the light of the burning blaze that night, he realized he needed to get this under control and do it himself. He needed to send a message that his lands were his and thus under his rule and protection. And anyone, human, demon, or anything else in the middle would suffer if found in violation of any of his laws no matter of economic status or species. It mattered not to him.

The light from the heavens shined down upon him reflecting off the silver of his hair and brightened his citrine eyes. His feet stepped along the border of his lands. The sun had arisen over the grasslands of the Southeastern Territories of his domain indicating a start to another day. Blood soaked his clawed hands from the bodies he slaughtered and brought to his vow of justice. Humans and demons suffered the same price for their treacheries for breaking his laws. He made sure to start on the outer regions of his lands combing from the east to the west. Where the sound that caught his attention originated. His Shoguns, Daimyo's, and those of various positions in court and power suffered under his hand for their treasonous acts. They begged for mercy in which he reminded them with a swift flex of his hand that he knew nothing of the word. Of course, they threw in his face the compassion of his father in which he made sure with the slice along their necks that he indeed shared very little in common with his sire.

Upon his own personal quest of searching villages, settlements, valleys, and mountains of all lifeforms on his lands, he had found the foreign queen's words to hold value. Men and woman of status thought that his attentions were elsewhere and that he wouldn't notice a few grains of rice and shelling of gold would be unaccounted for. They were stripped of titles and new competent demons were put in their places. Men rampaged on horses terrorizing innocents no more. Their bodies melted with toxins of his poison. Written warnings to all that walked on his lands were given reinstating the laws that were in place during the night. His flag sat in spaces reminding all that lived on the lands of his ancestors. This would be the only and last warning they would ever receive.

Humans overstepped their boundaries threatening him. They showed him their kings and protectors that meant little to him. He gave them warnings as well. Well…his General and his proclaimers. Some humans stayed while others chose to move on. And then there were the others that desired to fight. His eyes roamed watching the humans now packing their belongings in their village and leave out of his lands with angry, terrified, and solemn glances. The very mortal King that self-proclaimed his land for his own were lying on his stomach strapped by ropes. His appendages along with his defense militia, laid like pigs watching their things getting strapped and shipped on wagons. His military personnel were standing about at the ready watching over the work being done. He looked at his hands and flickered the blood off of them going now in search of a river.

He flexed his aura feeling his military men spread throughout his lands with haste. Their assignment that early morning would be to officially take account of all the resources and people in the villages that he supplied protection for or lived on his property. Anyone found guilty of any crime were to be detained and taken to a makeshift camp for him to deal with personally. Word spread like fire among his people that the Lord was personally investigating everything that was amiss in his lands. The sorcery they had faced at Inuyasha's village was nowhere in sight. The humans threatening demons and vice versa had seemingly calmed on his lands. But the rumors of this happening on other lands had increased. He hadn't even covered half of his territory but by the end of the season he vowed nothing would be left untouched by his hand. His sword hummed content at his side while the other sat silent in agreement with his judgement and sentencing. A cleansing breath aired from his throat before he turned towards the last stop before journeying back home to prepare for another evaluation.

Ororo sat on the cushions of Sesshomaru's study glaring down at all the paperwork she had just sorted. Candlelight danced along the walls lighting the room in a soft yellowish glow. The window to her back let in the first few rays of morning light into the large study filled with documents. Everything was now set into piles and their contents and reports were questionable. Cerulean eyes roamed a few pages not liking the style in which long explanations of very little importance were written and the actual details of things were vague at best. She stumbled over quite a lot of phrases put into idioms and jargon that was nonsense to her. Reports were missing of specific times of transactions or about current events that were happening. There were hardly any checks and balances of resources from the mill to the accountant, yet she could see before that someone was keeping good record of it all. She consolidated the information and made a few notes of her own to present to the Inu Lord. She looked at her handwriting and cringed knowing that her command of the Japanese language needed much improvement. She compared her style to the lettering of Lord Sesshomaru's noting how eloquent and straight his writing was whereas hers was curlier especially towards the ends of characters.

She scanned another document before growing frustrated and placed it back down. She thought maybe his advisers or scribes would have found something regarding the Ororo looked over at the map that was a replica of Sesshomaru's brother's map to see markings where villages and demons were affected by the Giga Shadow or Shadow Creatures. Or even if they spoke about possessed demons or humans. Nothing about little black possessive spirits were mentioned anywhere. Ororo played with the idea that maybe his advisors may have the records hidden but then she thought against it noting the inconsistencies of select items. Had his people really been that fortunate to not suffer from the attacks? Her mind combed over a few facts.

A few villages that they had encountered Sesshomaru left to deal with his lands were already upset and ready to attack another group. But no signs of demons were anywhere. The only thing that stood out was more men and women of spiritual nature were up in arms about destroying demons and vice versa. The few times they did encounter the black beings they seemed to hesitate to attack them. And those creatures only inhabit bodies that are weak of the heart and filled with rage to be used as puppets. She imagined at any time a war between the two groups could possibly result. Her eyes widened suddenly, and she wrote all of this down. Her finger tapped her chin upon realization of this.

"Maybe this is the point. Someone wants the two groups to fight. But why? What is there to gain from having spiritual men and women war against demons? A radical maybe?" she spoke out loud wishing to speak to Lord Sesshomaru about her findings. Her mind thought of Inuyasha and Kagome and their shared story. They seemed to be getting targeted the most until recently while Sesshomaru was out patrolling and cleaning up the political and economic turmoil of his people. "Could it be because Kagome's a miko and Inuyasha is a Halfling?" She wrote an additional note to send a letter to Kagome at once to really document the behavior of the creatures and the frequency of attacks to the village. She looked at the map and saw how the reports were around his borders with barely any reports of sightings at the core of his lands or near the Shiro.

Ororo looked at more documents with keen bright eyes. She would advise Lord Sesshomaru in the future to always have several scribes create duplicates for documents and signatures from everyone involved in each activity, even the scribes. Maybe an investigation of his Western territories needed to be investigated by them both. Her eyes trailed slowly with minor difficulty reading the numbers on a page when something heavy fell on the paper she was holding. She looked curiously moving the scroll to the side to see a creature of her own crawl up.

Its golden shell flickered, and she stood acknowledging its request. Her eyes looked up to see another one of her beetles, scuttle along the wall to her right. Immediately she stood and dug into her bag at her side to take out her weapons. She opened the door to exit the room taking note of another with a red jeweled back that made clicking noises alerting her. She followed the trail of her loves to wherever they were taking her. She roamed down a familiar hallway, one in which she had recently just left. Her heart was beating fast when she realized where the trouble lay. Without hesitation she rushed forward ready to kill whom-ever dared to touch her newfound treasure.

"No, Rin!".

Sesshomaru's feet took him deep into the wooden forests. The smell of asagaos surrounded him while he walked along the knowing path to seek guidance. Thick moss entwined with dark bark and the rays of the sun was blocked from the cluster of treetops and trunks that hugged each other and whispered about their royal visitor. A powerful ancient aura was felt upon closer reception. His boots marched along the dirt until the face of the one he now sought could be seen coming into view looking expectantly down at him with a knowing gaze. Upon his approach the tree spoke to him.

"Lord Sesshomaru, you have returned. And for good reason." The ancient tree spoke, his deep voice echoed throughout the area.

Sesshomaru's eyes cut at his jovial demeaner, not in the mood for any riddles or pleasantries. "Bokusenō, I have foes that seem to be cowardly fleeing the wrath of my sword. And foes both in and outside my home using foreign weapons against me."

Bokusenō hummed to himself. "Yes. The two you search for are the cause of much of your strife if not all." He spoke in agreement. "One lay in your home and the other lies outside the borders of your lands." The tree investigated his gaze, showing the wrinkles in the grains of the ancient wood in which he was bonded to. "It is good then that the Queen of Tempests is here to guide you as well as share knowledge on this new foe that uses strange yet familiar magic to fulfill these wishes." The tree bristled and leaves fell off of his long limbs that they previously were attached to. A few birds flew out from the ruckus in hopes to find a spot much calmer than the one they previously occupied.

"And who are these enemies that threaten what's mine?" He questioned bluntly, his patience wearing thin as well.

The tree gazed into Sesshomaru's eyes noting the deadly gleam growing brightly. "I am telling you for the safety of your pup that lay sleep in your home and the great ruling daughter of nature who watches protectively over her." The tree took a hard gaze upon his being. "Young Lord, I cannot tell you who it is in your house as my hand does not stretch that far. But the energy is felt upon the wind and this even you cannot deny. However, the foe that rest outside your home isn't just one but two sides of the same coin. Two that you have not faced yet, your father has during his time alive."

Sesshomaru raised his eyebrow at this. "My father?"

"Your father has faced men like these. Men that despise the nature of demons. But even more so that despise the cohabitation of both and the mixing of the two in symbiotic nature." The tree looked to him gravely. "I have heard men of the cloth speak in strange tongues and capture the bodies of demons and their own people in the name of cleansing Japan of its filth. Monks, they call themselves." Bokusenō elaborated. "Black creatures unnatural to this world gaze into the souls of others in search of even the smallest seed of hate. They need the hate to possess their body and use the body for their purpose of their Masters. I have witnessed both humans and demons possessed by this magic. Once possessed they attack the other faction until subdued. Upon death, the creature releases the body and vanishes into the air. I gather the monks and these creatures work together. The forests of all the lands have shared these doings and it has traveled far among us floating on the wind and riding on leaves. I believe war is not far."

Sesshomaru's eyes slanted at these words. Bokusenō agreed with his growing wrath and the hostility in the young Lord's aura. The threat was also a threat to the tree as well. "For what purpose, it isn't clear. But more villages are attacking the other with blind fury and I believe this will only worsen."

"You have seen these monks? Where are they?"

Bokusenō nodded but let out a heavy sigh. "I have not an answer to this question. They are purifying and so this is even dangerous to myself. However, I sense that if you follow where there are seemingly no demons reported…the blind spots…that should be the best place to start. But, trust your instincts. When your father sensed something wrong, he was always right. My advice in this situation would be to keep everyone in your sights and leave Rin under the protection of the great Egyptian Queen. She will be most safe there."

Sesshomaru nodded in understanding. Lady Ororo, he had found to be more than competent and knew that she would be a wise choice in keeping Rin safe. But there would be a time soon when they must depart to go in search of these monks that used possession to kill his kind. Then the question of, for what purposes did they use this magic to possess both demons and humans? Why possess your own if your aim is to exterminate the enemy?

Sesshomaru looked to his ancient adviser. Bokusenō was a tree filled with centuries of knowledge that advised his father during his reign. Bokusenō was one of the few beings in this world his father trusted and so Sesshomaru carried on those respects. Bokusenō's mouth opened to continue the conversation with the young Lord before his mouth shut into a thin line. Sesshomaru watched tensely hearing the wind whistle and the trees blow through his leaves. Something was off. His body felt odd and his senses increased. Sesshomaru could feel his heartbeat quicken and his head turned towards the direction of his castle.

Bokusenō's eyes moved to look as if seeing something behind him as well. The wind whistled and ruffled his branches. The alarm on his face grew. Thick lines in his bark etched along the wood. "Lord Sesshomaru, flee quick to your home. The females of your pack are in grave danger and need you. Go now!" Lord Sesshomaru stood for only a second before disappearing in a flash of blinding white light.

Ororo ran towards Rin's corridor holding her weapons tightly in her fists. She rushed pass the early risers and the servants that gasped in shock at her state of dress and her draw upon weapons. Her aura was stifling, and electricity bounced along the walls of the castle. Her night gown clung to her, and she contemplated cutting it to allow her legs freedom to move. Her eyes misted over into white pearls and the sound of thunder boomed outside. The skies darkened blocking the morning sun. A shrill scream from a servant was heard and she immediately ran faster. The servant that screamed was currently hitting her skin aiming for her loves that crawled along her body. Ororo waved her hand and the beetles jumped away from the demoness attacking herself and disappeared from sight.

Her multicolored jeweled beetles were everywhere crawling along the walls calling to her and applauding their success. She rounded a corner and paused in her stride with a grimace. Her pearl like eyes stared at Rin's door that was now covered in jeweled beetles for protection. She took careful steps forward looking up above the door noticing the beetle that she set to watch over Rin was missing. Immediately, they scattered everywhere upon her arrival while some turned into sand and vanished.

"Well done." She spoke approaching the door and noting someone tried to sneak in. Claw marks on the sliding door was seen along the wood. Ororo ran her finger over the marks before she immediately went into Rin's room. She looked ahead with relief to see Rin snuggled securely in the tangles of her blankets breathing contently on her futon. Ororo grabbed her weapons and looked around the room carefully to not wake Rin and scare her. Her heart beat wildly in her chest from the possible intruder lurking in the halls of Sesshomaru's home. Not finding anything, she made a quick exit from the door and placed another beetle above the entrance where the previous one once rested. Her eyes returned to their normal blue hue and the sound of a storm brewing vanished until the chirping of birds was once again the only sound heard.

She smiled closing her eyes at having found the attacker. She could feel her creatures call to her. The blood and skin of another ran through her bones. Her eyes opened knowing her beetle had embedded itself into Rin's attacker. She looked to the crowd of other beautifully colored gem beetles with warmth in her eyes and pride.

"Alert me quickly when she awakens. I wish to be there for her."Ororo stated to her creatures before walking back to the study. She paced along the hall with her weapons still held tightly in her hands. She looked down the halls wondering where the guards were. Surely, at the sound of fright someone would have come to investigate. Her mind thought of demonic protocol. She had known of a few demon kings that did not like others especially men near their females. Maybe she needed to investigate Inu behaviors as to this may solve why guards weren't placed on the higher levels except at the end of halls. She would talk to Lord Sesshomaru to request additional security methods for Rin's safety.

She walked through the halls seeing more demons and servants filling up the area staring at her and whispering various rude comments regarding her presence and scandalously dressed one at that. Ororo lifted her weapons making sure they caught sight of them and understood that she was not one to be bothered with at the moment. She was already upset about Rin's predicament. She looked down to see she was draped still in the Lord's hirori but thought nothing of it in her haste to get to the root of the problems that dwelled in his home. It took everything within her not to scoff at the shocked and offended expressions around her due to her lack of modesty. Electricity arose in the air around her gliding over everyone's skins and stinging all those standing about doing nothing. This made her angrier as she walked along the path to the Lord's study. The people in his home had more time to gawk at her rather than go see to the safety of little Rin. "The stupidity he surrounds himself with." She muttered. "No wonder he's in foul mood so often and yearns to kill."

Ororo made it quickly back to the study before stopping at the door. Her body was still tense causing her to pause. She did not feel comfortable leaving Rin alone under such incompetence. Her senses shrieked in her mind and within seconds she moved in time to avoid a sword being rammed down her side. She looked quickly with eyes ghosting white as her attacker flashed again to her side and used his claws to attack her. Ororo used her twin Khopesh weapons to deflect her attacker when her eyes widened to see who it was.

"Nnadhill." She grounded out and pushed him back with all the strength she could muster surprising him. "You dare to attack me, General?" She questioned. She'd eyed the demon before her wearing the western colors. His appearance was recognized, and anger boiled inside of her. Her mind reeled. Have I been setup? Her eyes misted over, and rage bloomed inside of her from the thought.

"You attack our own. And you roam dressed to captivate, but I have seen pass your hellish games since the first time I laid eyes on you. You will die here!" He spat at her. His white and black hair hung into his very young-looking face while he glared daggers into her with his brown eyes. He wore the colors of the Western house while dressed in a black garb.

She sneered at him. "You dare to accuse me without proof or consult? But of course, this is coming from a General who couldn't secure his majesty's house, let alone his lands. I'm not shocked." She finished before she immediately went on the offense and moved to slice him in half. He barely dodged her attack before running back to put space between them. She didn't allow him to do so and watched the dog demon General Kenji meet her attack with his sword. She twirled flinging Lord Sesshomaru's black hirori off her shoulders and into his face causing him to stumble back and snatch the garment away.

"You will pay for this!" She yelled as lightning struck the ground outside and the skies began to rumble her fury. He moved out of the way but she caught his side and sliced him along his ribs. He hissed clutching his side. She smirked and titled her head before moving in to slice him into bits.

He yelled out orders and she looked back to see men come rushing towards her. Very quickly she sliced the lower half of her nightgown off to free her legs before dropping down and defending herself against her attackers. She smirked and vanished in mist to appear before her enemies and began battling them hand to hand. "I will kill you all for this betrayal." She vowed.