Authors note: 76 days of daily Barefoot writing! I have thoroughly enjoyed it so far. This week will be really busy for me, with work, and frankly I'm just utterly exhausted. I didn't realize How exhausted until I fouled up last night's chapter and didn't catch it before posting. I will likely take about a week off from updates, and return on Monday the 20th. Thank you guys for being amazing. I'm so grateful for your love support. Feel free to find me on X and IG. I'll post updates about how soon I'll get back to daily writing, on there.
Chapter 76 - Hunt
The lush greenery of the woods swallowed Sesshomaru, casting him once again into invisibility. His mind was far from the woods though.
So, Naraku is sending an entire band of efficient murderers after those who seek to end him. Is it in hope that they will succeed? Or does he know that they will not succeed, and he is willing to sacrifice them, in order to gain more time in hiding? The first option seemed the most likely to Sesshomaru. Naraku had to be aware that these pitiful jewel shard fueled humans were no match for the Tetsusaiga that InuYasha carried, or for Sesshomaru himself. They would not pose the least threat, only inconvenience.
For a moment, he stopped. Considering his next options. I could go meet up with Rin and Jaken, and we could continue the search together. Or. I could go hunting for further clues alone — I can move much faster alone. There was a third option — to follow InuYasha. He would be alone, the only one of his band still able to battle if the need arose. All the humans were incapacitated, and needed healing treatments. Sesshomaru pressed his lips together. It isn't my concern. I already did my duty, to protect his clan while he was negligent in his duties, InuYasha should expect nothing more from me. No, Sesshomaru's focus had to be on what directly concerned him. Which was finding and destroying Naraku. Both for his own sake, and that of Rin. As a byproduct, InuYasha would also benefit once Naraku was dead. The attacks on his clan would also cease. Then I will go alone, to find the next clue. Once I've found it, I will return to claim Rin and Jaken, before I take aggressive action.
Course of action decided, Sesshomaru leapt into the air, bursting from the tree canopy above, and into the bright clear sky. He flew low, over the treetops, skimming just above the green leaves. His gold eyes were narrowed, sweeping back and forth, searching for any indication of Naraku, or anyone who helped him. Kohaku would be the best one to find, since Naraku seemed to use him as an errand boy, to do his dirty work.
For hours Sesshomaru scoured the foothills, flying back and forth as he scented nearly every inch of the forests and valleys south of Mount Hakurei. With every passing hour his frustration grew more and more intense. I know the boy is here somewhere. How could one small human child evade me so effectively? As darkness fell, Sesshomaru smelled smoke, then saw a glowing blaze in the distance. For a several long moments he watched it, wondering if perhaps it had something to do with Naraku. When he saw a blazing light flare, energy from Tetsusaiga, he knew it was a battle that InuYasha was involved in. It has nothing to do with me. However, if InuYasha was battling with one of the mercenaries sent by Naraku — certainly Kohaku would be lingering nearby to report back to Naraku.
Sesshomaru landed in the woods, and cautiously moved toward the source of the blaze, keeping himself well hidden in the shadows of the forest. For a long time, there was no indication of anyone. Sesshomaru had almost reached the hilltop building that was ablaze, when scents finally became tangible. The fire was the most potent. From where he stood concealed in the flickering shadows of the woods, the yokai could feel the heat and hear the crackling of the roaring fire. It appeared to be a human temple that was ablaze. InuYasha's scent was heavy in the air, along with occasional whiffs of graveyard soil as the wind changed direction.
He must be battling one of the resurrected phantoms. What was it that the villagers called them? The Band of Seven. Shifting his gaze away from the blaze, Sesshomaru focused on the woods around him. Kohaku must be here. He moved back into the darker shadows amidst the trees, ensuring he would not be spotted. Carefully, Sesshomaru made his way in a wide circle around the burning building. He paused every few paces to listen and scent the wind. Sesshomaru was about to give up, and take to the sky, when the faintest hint of a scent reached his nose.
That's him. That's the boy, Kohaku. Smiling darkly, he carefully moved between the trees, following the scent. I don't want him to realize that he's been spotted, or Naraku may decide to whisk away to another hiding place. No… I need to be able to follow the boy back to wherever Naraku is hiding himself. It was moments later, that Sesshomaru finally spotted the boy he hunted. The young human, now dressed in the clothing of a demon slayer, was standing in an ancient tree that overlooked the goings on, in the temple below. There he is. Sesshomaru felt the slight race of his pulse, a canine response to a successful hunt. He had to take a breath to remind himself, finding Kohaku was only the first small step, in the larger game of killing Naraku.
He looks… sad. Sesshomaru glanced in the direction that the boy was looking. He appeared to be watching InuYasha, who was just barely visible in the distance. The hanyo was bent down amidst the smoldering ruins of the temple. What he was searching for, Sesshomaru could not tell from the distance. Returning his attention to the boy, he felt the swell of success in his chest. He is here, and his scent is strong… I can go collect Rin and Jaken. Following his trail from here will be no issue. Satisfied, Sesshomaru marked the location of the tree in his mind, the sun was just beginning to cast gentle light against the darkness of the night sky. The yokai lord turned in the direction of the place where he had left Rin and Jaken to wait for him. Time for the true hunt to begin.