Chapter 79 - Deception
Silent as a predator stalking his prey, Sesshomaru moved through the strange misty air that seemed to inhabit Mount Hakurei. The air was thick with the strange fog, reducing visibility to almost nothing. Sesshomaru had to rely heavily on his sense of smell, which was also tainted by the oddly thick, hovering clouds. The scent of Kohaku was strong here, mixing with the fog in whirling eddies. The boy is very close, this scent is fresh. Wary, but unafraid, he moved farther up the mountain path. The deeper he ventured, the harder he found it was to keep going. The air was thick and hard to breathe, it seemed to press against him, as if trying to prevent his ingress. The more he pushed against it, muscling his way forward by force, the more resistance it gave. Finally, crackling blue flashes of energy seared across his skin, dancing across the metal of his sode armor. The energy all but stopped his progress. It was at that same moment that Kohaku's scent vanished. Finally, Sesshomaru stopped, gazing thoughtfully at the foggy peaks surrounding him. White hot energy continued to sizzle against his skin.
A sacred barrier. I can go no further. I came here following the scent of Naraku's servant, the boy Kohaku. But all of a sudden the scent stopped, like it was cut off. As if the boy himself had vanished into thin air. Sesshomaru looked around, scenting and watching for long moments of silence. There was nothing but fog and rocks. Naraku could not survive here, the sacred barrier is too strong for me to battle — surely a lesser demon like Naraku would be utterly destroyed if he attempted to climb the mountain.
Turning, Sesshomaru headed back down to where he had left Rin and Jaken. Yet it makes no sense. Why would Kohaku be on the sacred mountain? Why was Naraku trying to draw me away from it? It defied logic. There is something here that Naraku wants to keep hidden, but what could it be? Irritated by his lack of findings, Sesshomaru was eager to get back to Jaken and Rin. Perhaps we can journey to the far side of the mountain and discover more.
When the yokai reached the plateau where he had left them, he found Jaken alone. For a moment he was puzzled, then as he walked closer, he realized Jaken was in utter panic. The imp raced around talking to himself.
"Where is Rin?" Sesshomaru demanded as he stopped a few feet away.
Jaken whirled to see his master standing there, the look on his beaked face was one of utter terror. Sobbing, the imp threw himself at Sesshomaru's feet. "I'm so sorry Lord Sesshomaru! Please forgive me!" The tiny green demon slobbered all over the ground, snot mixing with his tears. "Rin ran off before I could stop her!"
Rin ran away? Sesshomaru felt a hot flash of anger simmer through his blood. Though the yokai couldn't identify who he was angry with, himself, Rin or Jaken. "Where is she?" He demanded from the blubbering imp. There was no response but high pitched wailing. Sesshomaru's eyes lifted to the mist enshrouded mountain. "Inside the barrier?" Why would she do something so dangerous? He questioned silently as he glared into the fog. Then… at a distance he saw a shadow moving in the mist. Rin. Stepping over Jaken, Sesshomaru moved toward the approaching shadow.
Jaken's wailing turned into a scream of horror, the imp moved surprisingly quickly to block Sesshomaru from heading further. "You mustn't go in there master! If you enter sacred grounds, even you will be instantly purified!"
Irritation hightening, Sesshomaru glanced down at Jaken briefly. "Be quiet, and look behind you." Lifting his gold eyes again, he gestured silently toward the approaching shadow. It separated from the mist now, forming the familiar shape of Rin.
"Huh?" Jaken turned to look behind with wide buggy eyes. "Is that… Rin?!?"
When the girl finally spied them through the fog, her face burst into an expression of absolute glee. "Lord Sesshomaru!"
The eager sound of his name on her lips tugged at his chest. Rin raced forward, skipping toward them with all the carefree joy he recognized, it softened his anger for a moment. A split second later, it returned harder than a punch to the gut. Her soft lilac scent was covered with the pungent aroma of that boy. Kohaku. Sesshomaru wondered briefly if the fog had descended lower on the mountain, because for a moment he felt that he couldn't breathe. Rin had not even reached them yet, when he heard the words spilling from his lips unchecked. "Kohaku, was there. Wasn't he?" It was an accusation, more than a question. He could feel the hot intensity of his gaze boring down at Rin, reading every micro expression.
Rin froze midstep. "Huh?" Her eyes were wide as she looked up at him.
That concern and fear from before, centered around Kohaku, lilted from her, on the wind. Suddenly, Sesshomaru realized that it was not the wind that brought those sensations to him — their minds were open, without him even realizing it. Rin's thoughts were laid bare to him like a scroll, one he found himself eagerly diving into with the hunger of the canine that he was at heart.
Lord Sesshomaru… do you intend to kill Kohaku?
For a moment, Sesshomaru wondered if she had spoken the words aloud. But she hadn't. They were uttered in her thoughts alone.
If he touched you, I will slay him.
The response, uttered directly from his mind, to hers, seemed to shock her. He saw the slight widening of her eyes, and her mouth forming a small "o".
Lord Sesshomaru… the thought was almost a whisper. You… can hear my thoughts? He sensed rather than saw, warmth rising to her cheeks.
All this transpired in a heartbeat of silence. Jaken's shrill voice broke through the still heaviness. "… now be honest Rin! You can't deceive Master's keen nose!"
Rin's eyes remained on Sesshomaru, their gazes locked with an intensity that rivaled the sacred barrier. "Uhh." Finally, she broke the silence, her eyes remaining bravely locked with the yokai Lord. "…the truth is, Kohaku helped me escape. There were lots and lots of demons in the cave."
Sesshomaru's eyes narrow. "What's that?" Demons? His thoughts abruptly pivoted away from dark imaginings regarding Kohaku, to focus on what she was saying. How could demons possibly be hiding on a sacred mountain? He pulled his gaze away to look at the mountain again, no longer focusing on Rin.
"Kohaku protected me from the demons. So… umm…"
Sesshomaru could feel Rin's eyes on him, pleading him not to harm Kohaku. He would have to deal with Kohaku later… right now there were more important things to consider. Demons behind the sacred barrier? Now I understand. Naraku's little trick. Sesshomaru couldn't help but admire the cleverness of Naraku's plan. InuYasha will never find him — but I on the other hand, will.