Chapter 58 - Vermin
Rin!
Sesshomaru whirled around and raced across the path in the direction Rin had walked, and the direction where her lilac scent wafted from. Her screaming intensified, Sesshomaru blurred with speed as he burst through the trees. He did not even realize that he had drawn Tojikin, but it was ready in his hand as he leapt into the air. Some sort of green demon held Rin in its filthy claws. Rage filled his heart, with one mighty swing, he amputated the arm of the demon freeing Rin. The yokai landed in a crouch, the arm fell to the ground, Rin yelped as she landed in a bush somwhere behind him.
Jaken came waddling up, almost casually. "You are absoluely brilliant Lord Sesshomaru!"
"You're so dashing, Lord Sesshomaru!"
The second voice was Rin. Sesshomaru didn't move a muscle, the battle was far from over. He glared at the hand that had fallen, there didn't seem to be a body attached... just a hand and an arm.
"Hm."
The arm seemed to writhe, and then the green skin dissolved into a swarm of samiyosho. Either they were acting on prior orders, from before Naraku disaappeared, or the demon had left traps set in case he was followed. Either way, this was no accident. Rage swam crimson before his eyes. He's trying to take Rin... again! You will not be so lucky this time Naraku.
Jaken gasped behind him. "The samiyosho! Naraku's poisonous insects!"
Rin made a whimpering sound of fear, hearing Jaken speak Naraku's name. She remained peeking out from the bush that she had landed in.
"Stand back, out of the way." He won't touch you again, Rin. Sesshomaru stood to his feet, Tojikin at the ready. "That Naraku. You left behind some annoying vermin." The swarm of samiyosho reformed into a giant green clawed hand again, angling for the yokai Lord. "Jaken, there should be a hive located nearby."
"Yes!" Jaken sqwaked. "I'll go look for it!"
The clawed hand launched into the air, aiming directly for Sesshomaru this time. It used it's long claws as blades, meeting his defensive sword posture and slashing at him with intent. Sesshomaru leapt back, as the claws lunged, instead of hitting him it sliced a tree in half. The shattered wood fell to the forest floor with a resounding boom. Hovering in the air, the yokai lord spun, then cleanly sliced the arm in half. Each half melted into a swarm of insects. They flew up over his head and escaped into the trees.
"Jaken." Sesshomaru looked around. Both Jaken and Rin had vanished into the trees, presumably looking for the hive of the insects. Anger seethed from the yokai, filling his chest with venom. He stood still, listening, finally he heard the faintest sound of Rin's voice somewhere amidst the trees. Angling toward it, he launched into the air. In seconds he came upon the scene. Rin was on the ground, crouched with her hands over her head. Jaken stood over her, swatting at the insects with his staff, the charred remains of others were scatted on the ground all around. The poisonous vermin swarmed, angling to try to get around Jaken, to Rin.
"Jaken." Sesshomaru called, he stood a good distance away, separated by trees and brush. The imp looked up as Sesshomaru summoned energy into Tojikin, the blade began to smoke with demonic energy. Jaken cried out and fell to the ground as the demon lord loosed a powerful blow, slaughtering almost all of the samiyosho, and the nest in the tree above. The tree itself took the blow, and fell to the ground with a mighty crash. Once the energy passed, both Jaken and Rin popped up from the ground, beaming at their master. The imp raised his arm, waving in the air. As if Sesshomaru hadn't already seen him.
"You saved me Lord Sesshomaru!" The little demon cried in delight.
"Thank you Lord Sesshomaru!" Rin called.
Lord Sesshomaru. That one was not audible. It was in his mind. He was still caught somewhere between rage and battle, so the sound of Rin's mature voice only further frustrated his nerves. And now - there was nothing left to vent his anger on, and no leads by which to track Naraku.
Jaken's sudden scream drew his attention, several samiyosho hovered over the imp, then rose quickly in the air and flew away.
A chance - there was still a chance he could find Naraku. "They should lead me to him." There was no hesitation as Sesshomaru turned and raced through the woods and leapt into the air, following the insects. His rage and eagerness to defeat the demon, overwhelmed his senses. Sesshomaru neither realized that Jaken was injured, neither heard Rin calling after him as he fled to follow the insects. In his mind, he would find Naraku, here and now. This will be over.
Sesshomaru blurred into a ball of light, intent to overtake the samiyosho as quickly as possible. They didn't really have much of a scent, so his only chance was to follow them by sight. They veered out into the open, following the path toward the local villages. The faceful of InuYasha's scent, that hit the yokai, did not improve his mood. What is he doing here?
Initially, his plan was to ignore the humans - he included InuYasha in that category - but as he passed he realized that his brother's little group was gathered around the insects. They were dead on the ground. Rage made his vision blur. Sesshomaru materiallized just beyond where the group of humans stood.
"Sesshomaru." InuYasha said, as the older brother swept the scene with his gold gaze.
"What happened to the samiyosho?" He demanded, trying to keep his voice temperate. "Did you... kill them?" He had little doubt that his irrational trigger happy brother had slaughtered the little devils instantly, without considering the advantage they could provide.
"Samiyosho? You mean those poison insects?" InuYasha glanced down at the withered bodies at his bare feet.
"You're so short sighted." The anger was beginning to filter into his voice, regardless of his attempts to quell it. Now I am back to nothing! I have no way to track Naraku.
InuYasha looked at his older brother as if he had lost his senses. "What?"
"I was following them to Naraku." Must I truly explain everything? Is he truly such an idiot? "But now I have nothing to lead me."
"Let me make one thing clear! I didn't kill those bugs!" InuYash cast back, anger making the hanyo's voice rough.
So. He's an idiot AND a liar. I thought him better than that. "You have an excuse for everything." Sesshomaru reached over and pulled Tojikin free of his obi. "It does get so tiresome."
That made InuYasha angry, his fist balled as he yelled back at his brother. "HAH! I don't have to make excuses for you! I'M telling the truth!"
Kagome, who stood just behind InuYasha spoke up finally. "InuYasha isnt't lying. He didn't kill them."
But it had already gone too far. Sesshomaru's fuse had been lit the moment he'd heard Rin's terrified scream. InuYasha pulled out the Tetsuaiga.
"Stay out of this Kagome. He's so stubborn, he never understands."
Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed. "InuYasha. I'm not feeling particularly magnanamous today. I won't go easy on you, like I have in the past."
"Aw cut the crap." InuYasha snarled. "And don't come crying to me afterward." Then the hanyo leapt at Sesshomaru, Tetsuaiga ready. The yokai mirrored his brother, they leapt, blades meeting midair. They split, momentarily, each landing far apart, before slashing to meet again. From the background, Kagome yelled for them to stop. Neither of them heeded her in the least.