EIGHTH BLOOD
Chapter 38: Homecoming
.
.
Sesshoumaru changed back into his sealed form before they came within range of the stronghold, then landed in the gardens where the first shadow had revealed itself to them.
Octavia and Ah-Un weren't far behind. As soon as the dragon's paws touched the grass, Octavia was out of its saddle and staring at the Daiyoukai's turned back. She scratched behind Ah-Un's ears whilst she waited for him to acknowledge her, causing Ah-Un to growl in contentment and lean into her touch.
Sesshoumaru didn't even look at her. His silence unsettled her. Had she done something wrong?
She opened her mouth to ask, but he was already walking away. Frowning, she left Ah-Un sunbathing on the grass and marched after Sesshoumaru, whom she'd lost sight of. Determined to catch up to him, she climbed onto the engawa and entered the castle the same way he had. The corridor inside was empty. He couldn't have gotten far—
"Hello again, little mouse."
Octavia flashed Kanetsugu a tight smile. "Hi again. Long time no see."
The Daiyoukai loomed over her like a giant, pinning her with his dark eyes. His cobalt hair glistened like the night sky, except that it was devoid of stars. She saw the muscles in his wings flex and ripple as he unfolded them. They were bigger than she'd remembered. "Where have you been hiding?" he asked. "No one's seen you since the incident in the gardens. My sister has been asking after you. I didn't realise the two of you were so close."
"We're not."
He looked her up and down before saying, "Your right ear is disfigured. I suppose that's rather tame, though. Mortal bodies are more fragile than ours. Sesshoumaru-sama ought to be more careful with you in future."
She grimaced at the mental image of Sesshoumaru biting her earlobe in a frenzy of passion. "First of all, that's not how it happened. Second, ew!"
Kanetsugu seemed unconvinced. "Where have you been these past few weeks, then?"
"If you must know, we were on a very important mission."
"What kind of mission?"
"The kind that involves killing monsters."
"I don't believe you." She tried to stride around him, but his hand shot out and closed around her wrist, holding her in place. "Don't walk away from me, human. I'm not finished with you yet. If you don't start telling the truth soon, that ear will be the least of your worries."
Octavia laughed. "You're just like him."
"Who?"
"Sesshoumaru. You really are like brothers."
Kanetsugu gasped and let go of her wrist. "How dare you—"
"You should be kinder to your sister. You might have lost everything else, but at least you still have each other." Octavia held his gaze and added, "I don't know the exact details of your situation, but I do know how it feels to be an outcast. I've never belonged anywhere, either."
"What would you know?" he snarled. "You're just a feckless little slut who doesn't know when to shut up."
She ignored his attempt to antagonise her and marched past him. "Don't ever call me that again," she said without turning around. "If you do, I'll tell Sesshoumaru that you've been spreading rumours about him behind his back. Then it'll be your life on the line, not mine."
He didn't follow her.
.
.
"Sesshoumaru-sama!"
Rin bounded down the corridor like a hare, heels screeching to a halt just in front of him. Composing herself, she flattened her arms against her sides and dipped her head in greeting. His expression radiated approval as he did the same. "How have you fared, Rin?" he asked.
"Very well, thank you. I missed you, though. So did Jaken-sama and Ah-Un. Why didn't you take us with you, my lord?"
"It was too dangerous," he replied.
"That's never stopped you before."
He resisted the urge to raise an eyebrow. "This time was different."
"Why?"
When he didn't answer, she crossed her arms and tapped her foot, causing him to sigh. "I had enough to worry about without throwing the three of you into the mix, as well."
"How come you took Octavia-san, then? And what was that thing that attacked us in the gardens? I've never seen anything like it before."
"It matters not. Besides, the monster is dead. It shan't bother us again."
"You killed it?" she asked.
"We did," he confirmed.
Rin's brow furrowed. "We?"
"The human's powers proved to be useful on several occasions."
"I know you're hiding something from me." He stiffened. Why did she have to be so perceptive? "Well? What is it?"
"It is done," he said. "That's all you need to know."
Her scent flared with anger. "Why won't you just tell me? I thought you trusted me—"
"As did I."
Her eyes softened and she unfolded her arms. "I do trust you, Sesshoumaru-sama. It's just . . . I felt so useless. Like I was a little girl again. I know you're trying to protect me, but it feels like you're shutting me out. I don't want to be coddled. I want to help."
"You already do. More than you know."
The comment seemed to catch her off guard. Since the beginning, Rin had been an escape from the monotony of his immortal existence and the pressure of living in his father's shadow. She made him forget his troubles, even if she didn't mean to. That was the reason that he kept her around. It had nothing to do with Inuyasha. Nothing at all.
That's why you helped Rin, isn't it? You were trying to fix your mistake.
"I take it you behaved during my absence?"
She rolled her eyes. "Here it comes."
"How are your studies?"
"They're fine. My reading is basically perfect, and I can even write long words now. Like supercilious and patronising, to name a few."
"Impressive."
"I know, right? And I'm getting pretty damned good at the jo-no-mai dance."
"Do you speak to your dance tutor with that mouth?"
"Sometimes."
He fought the urge to smirk. "Perhaps Jaken was right about you requiring a stricter education."
She giggled. "Jaken-sama being right about something? Wouldn't that be a first?"
Despite being human, Rin was wilder than many of the demonesses that lived in the castle. Underneath the guise of a sweet-natured girl, she was a ferocious little savage. Inuyasha and his friends weren't entirely responsible for her feral nature. After all, Sesshoumaru himself had influenced her just as much as they had, if not more.
He reached out and ruffled one of the buns in her hair. They made her look like a bear cub. How fitting, he thought as she ducked out of his grasp and whined about how it had taken her ages to fix her hair that morning. Wild streak aside, she was still a self-conscious girl on the cusp of womanhood, and men were starting to take notice of her. Sesshoumaru wasn't sure how to feel about that. Not when he was dubious that any man – mortal or immortal – would ever be worthy of her.
"Octavia will be looking for you," he said. "Go and find her before she ends up burning someone."
Rin's brow creased. "You used her name."
"What else would I call her?"
Smiling, Rin clasped her hands together behind her back and turned to walk away. "I also learned how to write oblivious," she said, tossing him a knowing look.
.
.
Grinning, Octavia sprinted up the stairs and banged on the door to Rin's private quarters. Her grin faded when she learned that they were empty, but there were plenty of other places she could be.
Something sharp burrowed its way into her neck, making her shriek and squish the mystery object with her palm. A muffled groan sounded from under her hand. Removing it, she found a tiny creature squashed against her skin. "Owww," the flea moaned. "That was quite a slap, milady."
"Is that you, Myoga?" she asked. "Sorry about that."
He shook his head. "I'm the one who should be sorry. I shouldn't have snuck up on you like that. It's not your fault that your blood is so delicious."
One drop is all it takes. One drop of her blood and he will live again.
"Don't worry about it," she said. "Besides, I should be thanking you. You were right about the island. You were right about everything."
Myoga beamed when her eyes flashed purple. "That's fantastic news, milady! Tell me, what was it like there?"
"It was beautiful. The trees looked like they were made of diamonds, and the people were all so kind. Did you know that there were demons living there? And hanyou? They all seemed so happy together. I even met the heir to the—" She cut herself off before she could expose Nagisa's secret. "How did you know about the island, anyway?"
"I know lots of things," he said. "When you've lived for as long as I have, you're bound to pick up a fair amount of knowledge along the way."
"In that case . . . Have you ever heard of the Iwa Faction?"
He rubbed his chin. "I can't say that I have. The name sounds oddly familiar, though. What is it, anyhow?"
"I was hoping you could tell me. They seem to be a group of demon exterminators, but that's all I know. Their second-in-command is a young woman called Asuka. She has a rope infused with miko blood and a ring that can make her disappear. Their leader is apparently searching for me. I don't know why."
The boy will not rest until he's found you. Not when you're so very precious to him.
"Two halves are required to make a whole," she whispered, remembering the shadow's words.
"I seem to recall Totosai saying something like that once," Myoga said. "Would you like me to look into it for you?"
"You would do that?"
"Of course. It would be an honour to serve you, milady."
She flashed him a warm smile. "Why do you call me that? I'm not a noblewoman. I'm not even a proper mage yet."
"Maybe not, but you are powerful, and power demands respect."
She shifted her attention to the door in front of them. "You haven't seen Rin anywhere, have you?"
He shook his head. "I'm afraid not. Sorry."
"No worries. Thanks anyway. Look after yourself, Myoga."
"Likewise, milady." The flea jumped out of her hands and bounced away.
Rubbing the bite on her neck, Octavia ventured back outside. Ah-Un lifted both heads as she passed, but didn't budge from its position on the grass. She followed the path along the edge of a large pond, which led her to a wooden bridge reaching across the water. The red paint was blinding in the harsh sunlight; however, there was a spot in the middle of the bridge that seemed darker than the rest. Upon closer inspection, she discovered that it was actually a small puddle. Her reflection gazed back at her, tinted crimson by the wood underneath.
A raindrop landed on her forehead and rolled down her nose. She wiped the moisture away with her fingers, frowning as the smell of iron drifted into her nostrils. The puddle by her feet had a distinctly metallic aroma, too, and the water on her hand was as red as the bridge.
Another droplet plopped onto her cheek, prompting her to tip her head back and study the trees above her. Her ensuing scream could be heard for miles.
.
.
Author's Corner
Jo-no-mai = a traditional dance that is a key part of Noh plays