Author's Corner

I'd like to say a HUGE thank you to Demi-Angel2011 and StayStrong26 for their reviews on the last chapter, and to starrat for their continued support. I love reading all your comments and hearing what you think of the story so far. I'm a bit of a snail when it comes to writing but they definitely make me write faster lol.

I'd also like to say thank you to my silent readers, too. Whilst I would love to hear from you even if it's just a sentence, I appreciate that not everyone has time to review or worries that they'll come across as annoying (trust me, you won't).

I hope you all enjoy the new chapter. A lot happens in this one so bear with me!

EIGHTH BLOOD

Chapter 72: Life and death

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Octavia ran her fingers through Haru's hair whilst he slept. Mari and Hoka were lying on either side of him with their faces tucked into his neck. Ah-Un was curled around the three of them protectively, also asleep. Octavia smiled and covered the children with a tatty old blanket she'd scavenged from upstairs. Sensing the motion, Ah-Un cracked open one eye and peered up at her lazily. She stroked the head that was looking at her, which earned her a contented growl.

The rest of the temple was uncomfortably quiet. Despite there being multiple levels, most people had opted to sleep on the ground floor, huddled together like penguins. Even Kanetsugu was sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with Fuko and Aya, who were both dozing peacefully.

The majority weren't, though. Everywhere she looked, Octavia saw restless shifting and haunted faces. After all, how could they act like everything was normal when their home was lost and so many of their loved ones were either missing or dead?

Her eyes strayed to Sesshoumaru, who was sitting cross-legged in front of the two statues. His gaze was fixed on a web of ivy growing on the wall to his right, and his jaw was set. She wondered if his thoughts mirrored hers. Was he feeling equally helpless? Or was he in the midst of conducting some detailed scheme?

She still couldn't shake the feeling that he was planning on leaving to fight the usurper alone. Her chest tightened with panic. How could she make him see that he was more than just a pawn to be sacrificed? If he died, it would only make things worse. Without him, they'd never really be safe.

Keeping her eyes low, she took a deep breath. Then she opened her mouth and started to sing.

Hold me close and hold me fast
The magic spell you cast
This is la vie en rose

When you kiss me, heaven sighs
And though I close my eyes
This is la vie en rose

When you press me to your heart
I'm in a world apart
A world where roses bloom
And when you speak, angels sing from above
Everyday words seem to turn into love songs

Give your heart and soul to me
And life will always be
La vie en rose

After it was done, she managed to raise her head and meet Sesshoumaru's gaze. However, nothing could have prepared her for the array of emotions that were present on his face.

He looked like he'd seen a ghost.

"That was beautiful," a tall youkai sitting across from her uttered abruptly. "Where did you learn that? Or is it a song from your homeland?"

"No," she mumbled, feeling her face turn hot. "The original version is French. And the first time I heard it was on the radio. I thought it was brilliant."

"What's a radio?"

"It's a box that sings."

A yellow-haired youkai snorted loudly. "A singing box, huh? Wouldn't that be something? Next, you'll be telling us that your country has paintings that talk!"

"We do," she said. "They're called cartoons."

"Now you're just making words up."

"Technically, all words are made-up."

"Does anyone know the Sakura ballad?" asked a male youkai with deep blue skin.

The demoness sitting next to him scoffed. "If you must squawk, at least pick something good."

Octavia blinked in surprise as the blue-skinned youkai began to hum softly.

The song told the story of two immortals who were separated by a mountain. It took a thousand years to walk around the base, so their meetings were few and far between, but their love never wavered. Eventually, they abandoned their respective villages and scaled the mountain together, so that they could build a home for themselves on the summit. However, they were ambushed by a pack of hungry wolves, who devoured them before they could reach the summit.

Octavia smiled as a youkai with a baboon's head followed up with a song about a ferocious storm that lasted for a hundred years. Her smile faltered when she glanced up at the two statues and saw that Sesshoumaru was no longer there. Panic blossomed in her features. How had she missed him leaving? She should have known better than to tear her eyes away from him.

Kanetsugu must have sensed her distress because he locked eyes with her and discreetly pointed to the roof. She hoped that her eyes conveyed the depth of her gratitude.

Rising from her seat, she left the three half-demons with Ah-Un and headed for the stairs. The climb took longer than she'd thought it would. By the time she made it to the top floor, she was gasping for breath and her legs felt like they were on fire. You'll pay for this, Sesshoumaru, she thought, ambling over to a pile of rocks that had originally been part of the roof. She clambered over the debris and hoisted herself over the steep ledge at the top.

The breeze was a welcome companion. She closed her eyes and let it cool her skin before continuing on. To her intense relief, she found Sesshoumaru sitting on the arch above the entrance. He didn't speak as she wandered over and perched herself beside him to admire the view. The entire mountain range was visible from where they were, stretching out for miles in every direction, and the sky was a perfect indigo, with stars sprinkled throughout like grains of salt. They all paled in comparison to the moon, though, which was positively gargantuan.

"You're still here," she muttered happily.

"Hn."

She slipped a hand into her robes and fiddled with the Prophecy-Breaker anxiously. She couldn't stop thinking about his horrified expression. "I'm sorry if I upset you—"

"You didn't."

"Don't lie to me. I saw your face." She inched closer so that their shoulders were touching and whispered, "Don't clam up now. Talk to me. Please."

His eyes found hers and he sighed. "Fine. If you must know, I was remembering a time long passed . . . When we were in the tombs, my mother sang to us. They were simple melodies, but they were enough to drown out the sounds of those dying all around us. Whenever she stopped to rest, I heard them, surrounding me, crushing me with their pain . . . It felt like I was dying, too."

"And I reminded you of her?"

"For a moment, yes."

She rested her hand on his knee. "You're not there anymore. It's over."

"No. It isn't." He laid his hand over hers and squeezed. "Death is ravenous. Its hunger is never fully sated; therefore, it always wins."

"You make it sound like some kind of war."

"That's because it is."

She shook her head. "You're wrong. It's like you said before – everything dies eventually. Death is inevitable. But so is life. You can't have one without the other."

He averted his eyes, seemingly contemplating her words.

"You needn't have come all the way up here on account of me," he said quietly.

She used her other hand to gently turn his face towards hers. "I know. But I'm glad I did."

His eyes slid closed and he leaned into her palm. An imaginary coil tightened in the pit of her stomach when he pressed his lips against the heel of her hand, planting slow and deliberate kisses there. Her breath hitched when he lowered his mouth and kissed the pulse point in her wrist.

"That song–" he murmured against her skin, "–what made you choose it?"

Her cheeks burned. "What do you mean? It's a classic."

"I thought you might have had ulterior motives."

The urge to give in was strong, but she was too far down the rabbit hole to stop. Plus, the rush she got from teasing him was worth stalling for. "Well, you thought wrong."

He met her gaze and chuckled. "I forgot how stubborn you are."

"I was only gone a month. It's not my fault you have a rubbish memory."

"Then I'd best not let you out of my sight ever again."

Her chest fluttered. "So, you'll stay?"

"If you'll have me."

"I meant here," she said, fully serious now. "Don't leave. Please. I know you want to fight, but promise me you won't sneak away without telling anyone. I'll never forgive you if you do."

His gaze turned unexpectedly gentle. "I won't," he promised. "I give you my word."

Unable to suppress her smile, she turned so that she was facing the horizon instead. Smirking, Sesshoumaru released her wrist and buried his face in her neck. She shivered when she felt him trail his lips along the column of her throat.

"You're wasting your time," she said, fighting the urge to laugh. "I'm immune to your charms."

He kissed the underside of her jaw. "Are you?"

When she failed to answer, he drew back and caught her by the chin, forcing her to look at him. The sharp tips of his ears looked slightly flushed, and his gold eyes were darkened by desire.

"Tell me to stop," he commanded, brushing his lips against hers.

She fisted the front of his kimono and whispered, "I don't take orders from you."

His hand moved to encircle the nape of her neck, but that was all he did.

She opened her eyes and saw that his pupils had shrunk considerably, and that his attention was elsewhere. Puzzled, she followed his gaze to a dense gathering of trees. Her eyes widened when two moving dots emerged from the treeline and trudged up the grassy slope.

"Are those—"

"Don't move unless I tell you to," he said, then leapt down from the roof and landed on the ground in front of the entrance.

Octavia's heart raced as the strangers spotted Sesshoumaru waiting for them at the top of the slope and carried on as normal. Weren't they afraid of him? Or had they anticipated a confrontation and taken precautionary measures to defend themselves?

She squinted her eyes in an effort to see them better. They were too far away for her to pick out any distinguishing features, but there was something inherently familiar about the leading youkai's small stature and large walking stick, which was twice its height.

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Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed menacingly as the two figures strode up the slope to meet him.

"Jaken," he said as the imp completed his ascent and stood before him, panting from the steep climb.

Sesshoumaru examined Jaken's companion closely. He was a snake youkai with pale yellow eyes and a forked tongue that shot out every so often to sample the air. His robes were an off-white and bore the crest of Ryukotsusei, whereas his armour was as black and shiny as obsidian.

Who was he? And why had Jaken brought him here?

"Speak," Sesshoumaru growled impatiently. "What is the meaning of this? Where is Rin?"

Composing himself swiftly, Jaken straightened his posture and cleared his throat. Sesshoumaru waited for him to fall on his knees and beg for forgiveness, but he did neither of those things. In the end, he decided not to speak at all, which disturbed Sesshoumaru greatly. Furthermore, the imp seemed unable to look him in the eye as he rooted through his satchel for a roll of parchment that had been bound shut with a wax seal.

Jaken broke the seal and read what was written on the parchment aloud.

I Tsunayoshi, Son of Ryukotsusei, challenge you Sesshoumaru, Son of Touga, to a duel to the death in seven days' time.

I issue this challenge in order to reap justice for the crimes that your family has committed against mine, and to cement my new status as Lord of the Western Lands. You will arrive at the rendezvous point on the dawn of the agreed date to engage in one-on-one combat against yours truly. You are welcome to bring reinforcements, but they will be no match for my men, who have spent their entire lives preparing for this moment.

If you agree to these terms, no harm will befall your home and subjects. However, should you refuse, then rest assured that I will destroy everything you hold dear – starting with the ones you call Nagisa, Cyril, Kannika, and of course, your beloved Rin. If you disregard this warning and march on the stronghold, they die. If you involve the Northern, Southern, or Eastern Courts and convince them to fight your war for you, they die. Choose your next steps wisely.

I will await your response eagerly.

Tsunayoshi,
Firstborn and heir to Lord Ryukotsusei and his esteemed mistress Rayna.

"He was no lord," Sesshoumaru snarled, his eyes bleeding crimson. "Ryukotsusei was a blight on these lands. He needed to be dealt with. This vile offspring of his has no right to threaten me."

"How dare you," the snake youkai spat. "Tsunayoshi-sama is the rightful Lord of the Western Lands. Show some respect, you filthy mongrel."

Sesshoumaru bared his teeth. He had every intention of puncturing the snake youkai's throat with his claws, but the desperate look on Jaken's face forced him to reconsider. The imp was staring at him now, still reeking of shame and resentment. Interestingly, though, the latter wasn't directed at Sesshoumaru. His hatred was reserved for something else.

"Are they hurt?" Sesshoumaru asked, trying to hide the strain in his voice. "Is Rin . . ."

Jaken shook his head. "No. In fact, she was taking tea in the gardens with Tsunayoshi-sama when we left. She's perfectly safe, I assure you. And the others are fine."

Sesshoumaru arched an eyebrow at Jaken's use of the honorific. If not for the uncertainty in his voice and the way his hands trembled around his staff, Sesshoumaru would have been outraged, but Jaken had clearly been backed into a corner. Although his name hadn't been included in the letter alongside the other hostages, his life was still at risk. If he hadn't sworn fealty to the usurper, he presumably would have been killed on the spot, leaving Rin helpless and alone. Sesshoumaru felt dubious about her supposedly exchanging pleasantries with the usurper, but it wasn't impossible. After all, when had a prisoner ever been permitted to refuse their captor?

"How did you find me?" he questioned, making Jaken squirm.

"The same way we found your father's gravesite," the imp muttered, letting his head hang in defeat. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. The Nintoujou is wasted on a coward like me. I should've refused, but he was going to . . . I couldn't let him hurt her."

Jaken's eyes shone silver. The sight of his tears only served to make Sesshoumaru even angrier.

Despite his constant complaining, Jaken had always done everything in his power to keep Rin safe. Even in the beginning, before she'd garnered the courage to start speaking again, a part of him had been moved by her childish innocence, as evidenced by his increased nagging and fussy nature. Rin had brought out a side of Jaken that Sesshoumaru hadn't known existed, and although he'd tried to hide it by acting callous, Sesshoumaru had seen right through him.

"I see," he said calmly. "In that case, tell this Tsunayoshi that I agree to his terms."

Jaken sniffed.

"We will," the snake youkai replied, then shot the imp a sharp look.

Jaken blinked away his tears and dove back into his satchel for a small cream envelope, which he gave to Sesshoumaru.

"This letter contains the location of the rendezvous point," explained the snake youkai. "It's a day's walk from here, so make sure you arrive on time. Tsunayoshi-sama loathes tardiness."

"I'll be there. I swear it."

"Good. You have a week to prepare. Don't waste it, pup."

He didn't bother telling the worthless cretin that he'd been fully grown for decades. Only the weak resorted to name-calling in an effort to belittle those stronger than them. His mother had taught him that. He'd caught on to the other warlords' disdain for her long ago – despite them refraining from speaking ill of her around him and his father – and asked her how she bore it.

Her self-assured answer had remained with him ever since.

"I don't intend to," he said.

He watched them walk back down the slope and crushed the envelope in his fist. Jaken turned and looked back at him from over his shoulder. The imp's eyes were full of regret. Sesshoumaru felt like there was a thorn digging into his heart. He wanted to slaughter the snake youkai and liberate his former retainer from the usurper's clutches, but if he did, Rin and the others would die.

Forgive me, my friend, he thought as Jaken and the snake youkai disappeared behind the treeline. But I must rely on more than physical strength to best this foe.

He floated up to the roof and landed beside Octavia, who was lying flat on her stomach.

"I didn't want them to see me," she explained, sitting up and meeting his gaze. "Who were they, anyway?"

"One of them was Jaken."

Her eyes widened. "What? Why didn't you invite them in?"

"They came to deliver a message from the usurper."

She froze.

"You were right," Sesshoumaru continued. "He is the hanyou son of Ryukotsusei and Rayna."

"What was the message?"

"He has challenged me to a duel in seven days' time. We have until then to prepare."

She frowned. "Why does he want to fight you? He's already won."

"He desires revenge for what my father did to his family," he replied. "Though I suspect he also wishes to make a spectacle of it. The other warlords will not be pleased once they hear of this. Killing me is the most effective method to dissuade the three of them from attacking the stronghold and taking it for themselves. After what happened with Nagisa, Taiki in particular would leap at the opportunity to appoint one of his sons as ruler in my stead, and Arashi would support him wholeheartedly. I cannot say for certain how Susumu would react, but I wouldn't pin my hopes on him. The usurper must prove his strength if he wishes to keep them at bay."

"But you're gonna beat him, right?"

"I certainly hope so."

Her frown deepened. "What's with the humility all of a sudden?"

"It would be unwise to underestimate him. He may only be a hanyou, yet he managed to snatch the Western Lands from right under my nose. Who knows what else he's capable of?"

Sesshoumaru could practically see the cogs turning inside her brain. "If Jaken got roped into working for him, does that mean . . ."

He nodded. "Rin lives. As do Cyril, Nagisa, and Kannika. You were right about that, too. They're undoubtedly the reason that Jaken agreed to switch loyalties. He's protecting them."

Octavia's eyes shimmered and she covered her mouth with her hands. "Oh my god," she whispered through her fingers. "Are they there now? Are they with the usurper? Has he . . ."

"They're at the stronghold," Sesshoumaru confirmed. "That's all I know."

She lowered her hands and nodded slowly. "But they're alive?"

He couldn't help but smirk. "Yes. They're alive."

She threw her arms around him and laughed. He leaned into the embrace and buried his nose in her copper hair, inhaling her comforting scent. How had he survived without it for so long?

"When this is all over, I'm going to give Jaken the biggest, grossest kiss he's ever had," she declared loudly.

"He won't believe his luck."

She drew back and met his stare, which held traces of amusement. "What now?"

"We must inform the others."

"And then?"

"We gather our allies. The usurper has forbidden us from contacting the other courts for aid – not that we could, since we parted on bad terms – but they are not our only options. The Eastern and Northern Wolf Tribes will most likely lend us their strength, and our newly forged alliance with the Panther Tribe may prove to have been useful after all."

"What about Inuyasha?"

Sesshoumaru tried not to grimace. "He doesn't deserve to be dragged into this mess."

"But he could help."

"He could, but it would be wrong to involve him after everything I've done. I don't wish to cause him any further suffering. He deserves to live a peaceful life in Musashi, far away from me."

Octavia's eyes softened. "You don't have to cut ties with him. He's your brother. It doesn't matter that you had different mothers. Siblings should look out for each other."

He was about to point out that her sibling was actively trying to kill her, but decided against it. After all, the two situations were nothing alike. She and Augustus had been close once, but he and Inuyasha had been at each other's throats from the moment they'd met, and it was entirely his fault. The divide between them had been one of his own making. He'd been spiteful and cruel—no, he'd been nothing short of monstrous. No wonder Inuyasha hated him so much.

So no, involving him simply wasn't an option.

"I know you treated him badly," Octavia said, seemingly reading his mind. "But that doesn't necessarily mean that he hates you. If you regret it, tell him. He might not forgive you, but that's not the point. Just tell him you're sorry. You owe him that much, at least."

He was silent for quite some time, before eventually saying, "I will if I survive."

She smiled. "You will. You always do."

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Author's Corner

They're driving me insane. Just bone already, jeez.