Chapter 36 - Ice
They lingered close to the base of the mountain, eventually winding into a valley which had been cut from the mountain by centuries of running water. As soon as the water was within sight, Rin slid off of A-un's back and raced for the river with glee, leaving the demons behind. The slow flowing water was a pleasant place to stop and allow Rin to splash and find something to eat. The gentle waves sparkled in the sun. Just below the surface fish swam and darted from rock to rock. Huge trees and boulders lined the shore, providing ample shade. Birds and insects sang, somewhere nearby, concealed in the foliage.
By the time Sesshomaru and Jaken walked into the clearing, Rin had lifted the folds of her yukata to her thighs and leapt into the water, laughing and splashing. Nearby A-un, dipped their long noses into the water and drank deeply from the fresh stream. Once they finished drinking, the large brown dragon plopped down beside the riverbank with a sigh that sent leaves and grass flying through the air. Apparently, it was his nap time.
"Master Jaken! Lord Sesshomaru! Hurry up! It's a perfect day to spend in the river!"
Apparently, they were stopping for awhile. Sesshomaru wasn't exactly certain how Rin had become the compass by which they took rest periods, but she most surely had taken the role by force. Acquiescing without comment, Sesshomaru walked over to the large oak tree which stood proudly beside the river. There he sat down, resting and absorbing energy from the strong tree.
Clearly astonished that his master was so compliant with Rin's wishes, Jaken grumbled irritably under his breath. Until finally, Rin splashed him with water, giggling as she did so.
"Come on master Jaken!"
Sputtering and soaked, the imp ran to the water intending to scold the girl, but ended up sliding down the bank and splashing headfirst.
"Oh Master Jaken… you're doing it all wrong! Here, let me show you how to catch a fish!"
Jaken, who had clearly not been fishing, came up spitting water from his beak and screaming shrill gibberish. It wasn't long until Rin had soothed his ego and convinced him that it was absolutely a life lesson, to know how to catch fish barehanded.
Amused, Sesshomaru watched from the bank, one knee bent, his elbow casually resting on his bent knee.
Is this what it would have been like, to be a child?
He couldn't help but wonder at Rin's carefree and effervescent nature. Sesshomaru had no memory of such carefree times, in his own years as a pup. Certainly he had never splashed in rivers, or picked flowers… or even really been given much opportunity for play. Perhaps, there were a few buried, dim, memories from outings with his father. Those moments had been freeing. Away from Unoshiro, and his mother's overbearing presence, his father had first introduced him to the real world. Nature. Sesshomaru had reveled in it. Toga had loved nature too, or at least he said he did at the time. His mother preferred her lofty palace, and almost never ventured beyond its cloudy borders.
What would it have been like to grow up without the strictly enforced rules of his mothers realm? Or the weight of the lordship he was gifted to bear? The pressure of knowing that he would one day have to take his father's place was enough, without the added burden of his mother convincing him that defeating Toga someday, was the only way to achieve true greatness.
Rin's laughter pulled him back to the present. His gold eyes watched her dancing in the shallow blue water, skipping from one foot to the other. She called encouragement to Jaken, who was stooped in the water, claws extended trying to catch a fish. The imp's attempts were clumsy, but Rin assured him that he could do it.
It is intriguing, the way Rin encourages those around her, to do what they feel they're unable to accomplish.
A scent teased Sesshomaru's nose, drawing his attention further downstream. It was a demon. One he once knew. With a smooth motion, he stood to his feet and began walking downstream, allowing Rin and Jaken to continue their fun in the stream. They should not follow anyway, it was unlikely that this was a social call, given the last circumstances of their meeting. He was still hesitant to reveal Rin's presence to anyone. Kagura knowing about Rin, was quite enough.
With deliberate but unhurried steps, Sesshomaru made his way downstream. Tall walls of rock rose on either side of the stream here. He paused only when he saw ice crawl across the top of the river, freezing its motion instantly. Yes. It was definitely her. Toran from the panther demon tribe.
"If it isn't Toran."
Lifting his gaze, Sesshomaru saw the shadowy figure of the demoness walking on the ice, approaching him from further downstream.
"It's been a long time Sesshomaru."
Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed at the blue clad figure. "I thought you were dead." It was rather unfortunate that she was alive. Seeing her stirred up all the feelings from fifty years ago. Anger being the most forefront.
"That's a fine way to greet someone." Toran chuckled. "This time I'm going to settle things once and for all."
Clearly she was goading him, against his better judgement, he knew it was working. He was thoroughly angry. Angry that she had survived, angry at the rising resentment from fifty years ago… just angry. "We settled things a long time ago, but if you insist. You won't be as lucky as you were fifty years ago."
"You're still as boorish as ever I see. I agree things will be different from how they turned out fifty years ago though. Our master is waiting for you."
"Master?" The thought of the panther tribe's master sent a chill down his spine. It was Toga who had slain that monster, long before Sesshomaru had been old enough to battle. Surely she wasn't suggesting that he'd somehow returned from the dead?
"Yes. The one who leads the panther tribe." She eyed him smugly, and pointed at Sesshomaru with a single finger. "I realize your dear father is dead, but our master is going to be resurrected. At long last."
Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes at her. Surely she was delusional. "Resurrected? For what purpose?"
"To attack the lands in the east once again, but more importantly to get our revenge. On all your kind."
All our kind? Who else is she referring to?
"I will personally see to it that he never breathes again."
She chucked. "I'm glad to hear you've accepted my challenge!"
Anger flashed through his body, he grasped Tokijin with his right arm, prepared to slash her to pieces in the very moment.
"Come now don't be so hasty, we won't battle it out here. Come to our castle." Wind blasted against him, breaking the ice into glaciers that floated downstream. Thick snow battered his face. "Then you can bring all of the reinforcements that you require."
As quickly as she'd shown up, Toran was gone. All traces of her snow and ice gone with her. All that was left was the peaceful running stream beside him.