The bubble of sleep breathing in and out of Jaken's nose popped when the heavy thudding of feet walked past him. He snorted, startling awake just in time to jump and grab onto the fleeing tail of Sesshōmaru's mōkōmōkō. "M-My Lord! You're back…! WHA-"
His voice was gargled by the rushing waters that curtained onto him after Sesshōmaru passed through, but his grip on the fluffy adornment did not relent. He panted, struggling for breath as his body dragged across the ground along the edge of the cliff, his eyes swirling. "Master…you're not carrying Goshinki's head…" His voice was frail, a large tear swinging like a pendulum bob from his eye.
But the demon lord did not respond to his ward. His golden eyes had darkened, his mind racing from the events that transpired inside of the cave of the Mount Zaō blacksmith. It was everything he had to contain the rage he felt when she so bluntly denied him. He lashed out in anger, but his poison claws only bounced off of an extremely powerful barrier that protected her and that white deer that was still resting, seemingly without a care in the world. While he could have easily destroyed her forge, it served no purpose for him. He abandoned Goshinki's head and stormed out without another word.
There is no mistaking the human scent in that forge, despite how well she might have been trying to hide it, he thought. Frivolous details aside, she still refused me, and the integrity of that barrier was not something I would expect a half-demon to manage…
He stalled, compelled to cast another glance at the cascading falls bathed in the ethereal glow of the setting moon. Much like his initial encounter with them, their beauty remained shrouded in a veil of mystery, the light only illuminating the shimmering dance of the water. The air surrounding the mountain exuded a palpable sense of enchantment, its warmth trying to embrace him like an old friend. Yet, amidst this serene backdrop, a pulse from Tensaiga surfaced again.
Sesshōmaru peered down at it, his expression twisted with annoyance. It pulsed again, and continued to throb akin to a slow and deliberate heartbeat. A grimace pulled across his face, one of his fangs gleaming. "She denied me, what is it you want? You're of no use if I can't even wield you to end her."
"Who are you talking to my lord?" came Jaken's dazed voice until he snapped himself back to attention. He noticed his master glaring down at the Tenseiga strapped to his side. He could see it pulsing, a bit shocked at the vigorous effort it displayed. "My lord! The Tenseiga is so outspoken tonight! What's got it so worked up, I wonder?"
The dog demon shot a menacing glance at the imp for a split second before he swiftly spun back around and marched onwards into the snow. He didn't want to talk about the tantrum his sword was throwing, much less anything more about the blacksmith. Nothing was magical about this place, especially one with nothing to gain. Unless…
"Where are you going?" It was Rin. She was standing outside the door of Yasu's dwelling, this time dressed in a fur-lined shawl. She watched as Kenkō loaded various supplies into a bullock cart hitched to a single ox.
The man heaved a roll of hides into the cart before gazing behind him, his blue eyes as crisp as the cool mountain air. "Little sneak," he addressed her before returning to his duties, this time heaving a woven basket of tea leaves. "I'm packing supplies to take up the mountain."
"Why?"
"Because that's what I do. You should run along now, I'm sure Yasu will have breakfast going for you soon if she hasn't started already. Her miso soup is delicious." With each haul added to the cart the ox flicked her ears but otherwise appeared unbothered.
"You're taking stuff up to that Ishimaru person, aren't you? Why does she need all this stuff? Why doesn't she just live down here in the village?" Rin persisted.
At this, Kenkō sighed heavily, his breath escaping in a thick cloud. "She wants to live up there," he started, moving to adjust the harness on his ox before giving her a scritch behind the ear. "You heard what I said last night: the village made a deal to protect her identity up there and provide her supplies and in return she gives us the tools needed to sow the land and protect ourselves. So that's what I'm doing."
"Can I come?"
"No." Kenkō sprawled out a thin drape over the cart and began to tie it down. At a lower corner, he stalled once seeing the butt-end of his kokyū nesting on a thick cotton cloth. He shook his head and quickly covered it, tying a careful slip-knot.
"Awh, why not? I have warm clothes now so I'll be fine!"
"I said no, now go back inside already, sheesh." Kenkō iconically scooted Rin back into the hut to escape her verbal grasp. Once she was tucked away, he took hold of the lead rope attached to his ox and began to lead her out of the village and on the sliver of a trail up the mountain. Initially he had made this trip once a month, but lately he went two to three times a month with lighter loads.
At first, he didn't know what to think. When Yasu made the deal he was outraged. He had been fighting to protect the village from demons for so long, and all of a sudden the elder was making deals with them? He felt betrayed, like a lingering cloud of doom was just overhead at all times. As time passed, however, it seemed as if the woman in the mountain was being faithful to their arrangement. She immediately provided well-crafted weapons for the village men to use, as well as upgraded tools for farmers. She provided means to build better housing, stability, and most importantly, hope.
People were mad and starving. Loved ones had been senselessly lost to the cold and ruthless environment. They wanted to leave, but were too scared to start a convoy for fear of being devoured by demons before making it out of the forest. For the better part of Kenkō's young life he felt nothing but sadness and despair for his people. No one was expecting some strange woman to approach them out of the blue one day and offer help as kindly as Ishimaru did. She weathered the horrid glares and distasteful names with the grace of a goddess, her offer to help never once on the edge of reconsideration. Old lady Yasu must have seen it immediately, as she was the only one to not give the demoness a cross look.
At first glance, she could have easily been mistaken as a regular human. She was dressed in traditional clothing, though hardly fit for the cold, and was carrying some sort of weapon with one end covered in a woven sack that never left the strap on her back. The one demonic feature she possessed was the small set of ivory, antler-like horns on her head. And then there was another feature that Kenkō was surprised to see…
He shook his head, the memory of that day playing like a dreamy reel behind his eyes. "C'mon girl, I didn't load you down too heavy this time I hope."
The ox released a gutteral bellow, a long stream of her breath rising into the winter air. The sun was just beginning to peek over the mountain top, the land showered in a glittering gold hue. Before, everyone was too worried about surviving to really notice the scenery. Now, it was normal to take a moment to enjoy the view. The people were happy, fed, and protected, just as it should have always been.
Kenkō used his kabanō as a walking stick to aid him through the snow. The sounds of morning birds filled the air, and he noticed a small herd of deer traveling with him just inside the treeline. They always did. It seemed like they were escorting him, protecting him during his travels. When the demoness first appeared she also had a deer with her; a strange looking one, white, with odd eyes. They were large and solid black, a stark contrast to its vibrant, etheric coat. After that, deer from the forest started coming into the village to just…be. They integrated as if they had always lived there. They weren't afraid of the people, but the people were terrified of them. Many thought it was a sign from the gods, some good some bad. No one dared to touch them, especially not to slaughter and use for food. The kids loved them.
Whatever Ishimaru was, she was unlike any demon Kenkō had ever encountered before, much less read about.
The two-wheeled cart came to an abrupt stop. Kenkō frowned as he gazed towards his ox who was staring forward, up the trail. "Hm? What's the matter?"
It took a moment for Kenkō to spot him, but there he was—Sesshōmaru, sauntering down the path ahead, his usual stoic expression intact. This time, however, he seemed to have downsized his entourage. No demon head in sight, and even the little imp looked like he'd been through the wringer.
Sesshōmaru stopped just in front of Kenkō and his ox, peering at him with his infamous gaze, as if willing him to move with his eyes. But the man held firm to his place. "Step aside."
Kenkō tilted his head from one side to the other, crackling relief shooting into his shoulders. "So, you get what you came for, demon?"
Furrowed brows, a dip in his lips, Sesshōmaru was in no mood. "Rin, is she safe?"
In return, the warrior's eyes sharpened as well, but with a different type of emotion. "Oh yeah, Granny Yasu's been spoiling her rotten—warm clothes, good food, the works. You owe her one, buddy."
The great demon didn't respond, his gaze staring at the cart the ox was pulling. It was a decent haul, but he couldn't see what was under the covering. Was he delivering to the forge up the mountain?
Jaken had already been humbled one too many times on this trip and was barely holding back, fighting to stay out of the electricity in the air between the two men. He'd never felt such fierceness exude from a human before.
Sesshōmaru stepped past Kenkō then, followed by the man's hard eyes. The demon made an attempt to reach for the tarp, but was instantly blocked by yet another barrier of the same caliber as he encountered back in the cave.
At this, Kenkō started walking again, pulling the leadrope. "Don't even bother, big guy. But I've got a hot tip for you: the village might not be the best place for your brooding sessions while you wait. Might scare off the tourists. How about a scenic perch in the trees instead?" He said this while waving with the back of his hand.
"She isn't forging anything for me."
Kenkō didn't stop. "Oh? That's even better!" he called out. "Thanks for coming! You can purchase season passes and souvenirs in the gift shop, but last I checked we were sold out! So long!"
Jaken couldn't stand it, he about fell out. "Th-Th-The NERVE OF THAT MAN!" he stammered. "Lord Sesshōmaru, p-please tell me you're not going to let him just walk away after insulting you!"
But he was, and he did. He was too busy pondering to entertain this human's pathetic jokes. There was a much more important task at hand: he wasn't ready to give up just yet.
