Sesshomaru rested his head against a tree and closed his eyes. He was tired, but no sleep would come. The closing wound on his chest was uncomfortably pulling at his skin and flesh, keeping him awake. For him it was a new and unknown sensation. His demon side calmed down since the two had left, but his thoughts were restless. He allowed a human to touch him, help him. No matter what he wanted to think, she did help him. And what bothered him more; he allowed it.
He looked up at the moon. Bokusen-Oh, huh? She thinks he will give her answers? And why is she using tengu's words to say goodbye?
There was no chance they'd meet again.
However, some part of him knew he was just trying to persuade himself about it. He wouldn't deliberately seek out the human, but he had already met her twice before. And… There was something about those parting words. As strange as they were, tengus had a reason to use them. The words carried a promise to meet again. For both. Like giving him a reason, an excuse, that would be enough for him to, if unconsciously, cross paths with her again.
Because he was curious.
Hotaru didn't get much sleep. When she woke up in front of Rin's hut, hugging the girl, her whole body was on fire. She took a deep breath, which rattled her broken ribs and focused. Because of the full moon, her spiritual power was high, but difficult to control and outward oriented, it was tricky to boost her body's healing. All she could do while exhausting a lot of physical and spiritual strength, was managing the pain and correcting her ribs. The healing was up to her flesh in the following days.
She carried Rin into the hut, treated her bruises and finished the salve. She sprinkled the powder from dried wild primrose over Rin's threshold and at the end of the trail leading to their house to keep all villagers from approaching and then, completely exhausted, she drifted to sleep shortly before sunrise.
Once she woke up, Rin was gone. In the dirt next to Hotaru were symbols for "Rin" and an arrow pointing to "demon" that she had taught Rin the other day. She went to check up on Sesshomaru. Good kid.
With a smile, followed by a wince of pain, she got up to treat her wounds. She'd need more sleep before she'd be able to leave.
######
Rin rustled in the bushes, before she entered the demon's meadow. She wasn't scared of him, but seeing his demon side that one time was enough to make her careful. Carrying only a few stalks of rice and some wild mushrooms made her feel inhospitable. The demon surely needed more food, but it was all she could gather as Hotaru's case was out of her reach.
Sesshomaru was staring into the canopy, enjoying the colours that the dawn offered. He didn't look at her.
"No thanks." He said.
She blinked and trotted towards him. She knelt by his side and presented the little food she had on a big leaf. She did her best to gather it, he could at least look at it.
"I told you, I don't need anything from you."
Hotaru told her so as well. Dejected, she sighed and let the leaf rest on her lap.
Sesshomaru's eyes were not leaving the canopy, but his nose told him the girl was injured. And came here alone. "Where did you get those bruises? Where is the priestess?"
Huh?! She glanced up at him with wide eyes.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to." He was frowning but still not looking at her.
She was dumbstruck. And once his eyes finally turned towards her, all she could do was smile broadly and laugh.
"What are you smiling about? I simply asked a question." He huffed. "I don't care, I'm just curious." Curious? Huh… He was surprised by his own words. What happened to them?
Rin set the leaf on the ground and got up. Before she left the meadow, she turned around and signed something he couldn't comprehend. But given she was leaving, it could mean only one thing she'd learnt from the priestess: 'Until our paths cross again'.
So she truly does not speak. He thought as he watched her leave.
He rested his head against the tree again and closed his eyes that felt heavy. He needed a few more hours of sleep until the wound would close up for good.
######
A distant howl interrupted his short and light sleep. Wolves. His eyes narrowed as he tried to understand their howls, different from those of his kin. They were hunting a traitor. Most likely. Which was none of his concern.
He leaned forward and touched his chest. The wound was healed, the scar it left was still fresh, the skin pink. It felt tight and uncomfortable. He growled in distaste as he pulled his kimono to cover it. But it healed and his youki and the armour started recovering too.
It was time he got up and went to find Jaken. He already felt and smelled that the imp and the dragon had landed close by. But they hadn't found him, or maybe they'd decided to wait for him.
When he reached them, Jaken was sitting atop the dragon, his back turned to Sesshomaru and he was playing his own version of 'he loves me, he loves me not?!' game, pulling petals off a flower. But Jaken's version went: "He was testing. He was teasing."
Sesshomaru huffed in annoyance, and stopped, curious what answer Jaken would come to. He was sure the whole game was about the fact that he had tested Tenseiga on the imp the other day, when searching for the dragon's claw to challenge Inuyasha. He had cut Jaken in half with Tenseiga and it had been more of a teasing than a test. He was aware that Tenseiga couldn't kill, he just needed to reassure himself. So he had been 90% teasing and 10% testing; Jaken had irritated him enough to be the guinea pig.
"He was testing…" The last petal fell.
He sighed and picked up a rock from the ground, already anticipating Jaken's big mouthed reaction.
"He was testing?!" Jaken jumped to his feet in shock. "Lord Sesshomaru! Would you have actually risked my life to test your sword?! You ungrateful dog!"
The rock hit the back of Jaken's head, with a thunk, knocking him off the dragon and it ricocheted back to Sesshomaru who caught it, thinking it could be of use one more time.
"Ah!" The imp was quickly back on his feet. "Lord Sesshomaru!" He hopped back onto the dragon and stood on top of one of its heads. "Before I continue in your service, were you actually testing your sword on me?!"
"I expected a relieved welcome from you Jaken, not an interrogation." He replied with a hint of annoyance in his voice.
Jaken's eyes widened and he was fast to correct his rude statement: "Right! I'm glad you're well. I thought you might be dead!" Naturally, with an even ruder one.
And there it was. The usage for the rock again.
Before Jaken could get up, the wind changed. It brought new scents to him. One of them was especially strong; fresh blood and the scent of wolves. Dozens of people were killed by the animals, but two scents stood out to him. The priestess and the girl. So they were not hunting only for the traitor…
Tenseiga was humming silently. Tenseiga? What do you want?
"Hmph." He huffed and turned on his heel heading in the direction their scent was coming from.
"Milord?" Jaken asked, afraid of being left behind again. He quickly grabbed the dragon's reins and followed after his master.
Sesshomaru found them relatively close to where he'd been. Rin's mauled body was first he found. She was covered in bites, facing the dirty road. Hotaru was lying further down the road, surrounded by bodies of dead wolves. Perhaps, they'd try seeking his help. The little girl had been definitely heading towards his meadow, but the priestess… He couldn' tell.
He stopped, taking in the scene, scents and tracks. The priestess let the girl run ahead while she tried to hold back the pack of wolves. There were eight dead wolves. Well, seven, and one was still alive, badly wounded, stuck under Hotaru's heavy wooden coffin-case. It was fighting, trying to get out, but with its hind legs unmoving, it had no chance. Its own kin left the wolf behind. Judging by the paw prints the pack chasing the two was at least 22 members strong. Hotaru had taken out a fair number, but the whole pack was not something an injured priestess could handle on her own.
Jaken, who just caught up with him and couldn't see the other body, staggered towards Rin. "Uh, what's this?" He poked her head with his staff. "Uh, shu, shu… She's gone now. Look at those wounds! Her liver is gone, but they left the heart." He turned to Sessmoumaru. "Do you recognise this pathetic human?!"
Pathetic? He thought, anger bubbling deep within him. Little did Jaken know what those two had done for him. They provided for him. And even though he didn't like human food and would never admit eating it, it helped him recover.
Tenseiga pulsed.
He grabbed the hilt. What do you want?
Jaken gasped. "What?! What are you doing, Milord? What are you doing?!"
He ignored Jaken and drew Tenseiga, pointing its tip at Rin. Is this what you want? Immediately, the blade started pulsing. And he'd swear that in the very back of his mind he felt a contra-question. 'Isn't this what you want?'
His eyes widened. "Interesting." Creatures appeared in front of him. Creatures he had seen and employed before when trying to trick Inuyasha. Tenseiga revealed them to him. Minions of the netherworld, pall-bearers; they were crawling over Rin, harvesting what was left, preparing to carry her to the netherworld.
"I'll do another test. I'll use the Tenseiga."
"Hhhhh, another test?!" Jaken asked in shock. "What are you doing, Milord? What are you doing?"
Sesshomaru swung his sword, cutting down the creatures from the netherworld. As Tenseiga cut through them, they sizzled and vaporised. Hn, so there is something you can cut… And then there was another thing he had to confirm once and for all. He knew the sword couldn't kill, but… Could he really bring back the dead?
Never before had he tried to save a human. But these two deserved a better ending than death on a muddy road in the middle of nowhere.
He sheathed the sword and made a step towards Rin. Her wounds were rapidly closing. He knelt on one knee and used his arm to lift up her upper body, just to see what was happening. Her wounds closed and slowly, her heart started beating again.
Rin opened her eyes and looked at him.
He helped her stand and got up, looking down the road on Hotaru.
She followed his gaze and when she saw Hotaru's body, she covered her mouth in a silent scream. She ran towards the priestess and turned her body around so she wasn't facing the road, but the sky instead.
"Move away from her, child."
Rin swirled around with tears and a hint of defiance in her eyes.
"Move away." He repeated and pointed the tip of his sword at Hotaru.
"W-w-what do you…" Rin blinked and touched her throat. My voice? What…
Sesshomaru used the girl's surprise and pushed her away. She didn't protest this time.
"Milord? What are you doing? Haven't you already tested the Tenseiga?"
"Once a fluke." His eyes narrowed in focus. "Twice can be coincidence." He slashed the minions of the netherworld occupying Hotaru's body. "Thrice is a skill." He revived all 8 wolves, just for the sake of proving his ability.
The animals, partly demons, were fast to recover. As they got up, they stared at him, confused. Dogs and wolves were not friendly enough to help each other like this. And Sesshomaru wasn't helping them. His eyes flashed red and he snarled at them. 'Be gone, but never forget.' The wolves hesitated, but after another warning growl, they turned tails and ran towards their leader.
He cradled Hotaru's frame like he had done with Rin before. Hotaru was still cold as ice, her wounds healed, but she wasn't waking up as quickly. As if something was holding her back. He frowned. The wolves he didn't particularly want to revive were long gone. And the priestess who actually deserved to be saved was not waking up. What is the meaning of this? Do you wish to live, or do you not?
"Uuuhm… Uh… What's… What's happening?" Rin asked, carefully shuffling closer to them. "Will she… wake up?"
He glanced at the worried girl. "She will-"
Ba-dump.
His eyes widened. It was faint, and Sesshomaru had to turn back to the dead young priestess to make sure he didn't hear wrong.
Ba-dump.
He wasn't wrong. Her heart started beating. Slowly, carefully at first, but it was getting stronger with each beat. He could feel it with his hand supporting her back.
######
Hotaru was standing in the darkness and in front of her was a door. A huge rock-grey door with torches at each side. An unusual script, which she didn't know was written around the door, across the door and all over it. It was neat and at the same time it was messy. At some places the script was layered, one character on top of another, unreadable.
"Where is this?" She asked aloud. "I thought there is nothing once you die. Is this a door to the netherworld?"
"No."
Hotaru spun around, but didn't see anyone. "Where are you? Who are you?"
"I'm here." She spun, but she didn't see anyone. A swarm of fireflies circled around her. "Where I should. But you. You shouldn't be here." Multiple voices overlapped, childish, manly, cawing, buzzing, growling.
"What do you mean?"
The swarm flew around the door and formed a humanoid form in the size of a child in front of her. "Are you not scared?"
"Of what? I'm already dead. What should I be scared of?"
"Hell, for example?"
Hotaru shrugged. "If hell is where I belong, then so be it. Are you here to lead me there?"
Appreciative hum, but no real answer.
"Who are you?" She demanded. "What is this door?"
"A door. A seal. A curse. A test. A hindrance. Protection. Purpose. Confusion. Life. Death." The words in the script glowed once the voice read them, as if becoming alive. It was moving, changing, flowing around the door. And it also uncovered a crack in the surface. "Choose whichever you want."
"A seal." Was the first thing rolling off her tongue. She was utterly confused now. "A seal to what?"
"You." The darkness was eating up at the edges of the door.
"Me? My memory?"
"You? Your memory?" It parroted with the cawing sound of a crow. "Future or past? Will you ever open it?"
"I'm dead." The darkness was getting stronger. She was disappearing. "I won't. So tell me, show me. What is there? Let me know who I am at least in death!"
A ray of light reached through the darkness.
"Mmm… Not dead yet, I see. There is light." The humanoid form broke and fireflies swarmed towards the light. "Someone's calling you back, child. Go."
"Wait! Is it truly a seal?!" She asked desperately, but she could feel the pull. The darkness was getting lighter and lighter. The door and the fireflies were disappearing. But she needed to know! She needed more time! "Tell me! I need to know!" She reached her hand out, almost touching the door, but she was being pulled back to life. Her heart was beating again, she was starting to feel her body again.
"And you will." The fireflies vanished. She was jerked back to life.
For a moment she didn't see anything. However, she was back in her body. Her wounds and injuries didn't hurt anymore. Someone was holding her in a half-sitting position. The seal she found had turned into a faint memory that would soon be forgotten. You can't forget it… She told herself. You can't.
"Mmm…" Her wounds might've been healed but her body was stiff and aching. She frowned, then opened her eyes, not sure about what she'd see.
A mixture of silver, white and gold. A soft fur was tickling her cheek. A pair of golden eyes observing her.
Sesshomaru.
And he was holding her close to his body. She could feel his warmth, his scent.
Her eyes widened and she blinked at him in confusion. What was the meaning of this?! Why was he here?!
"Ooooh, she came back to life! I thought she wouldn't." Jaken was awed. "Lord Sesshomaru, you've resurrected that human woman with the power of the Tenseiga?!"
"What?" She asked in confusion, her eyes darting between Sesshomaru and the weird green froggish-looking imp dressed like a nobleman. "Sesshomaru, you-"
"Hotaru-sama!" Rin squealed in relief.
"Rin? Your voice. Eh? What?" She didn't know which way to turn and what to deal with at the moment. She was overwhelmed by numerous feelings. Relief was above them all and tears welled in her eyes.
"Oh, Rin. You're alive." She scrambled out from Sesshomaru's grip, and jumped at Rin squeezing her in a tight hug. She needed to physically feel that the girl was whole and safe. "Thank goodness you're alive!" She rubbed her cheek against Rin's, crying and laughing at the same time. That barrier didn't show up this time.
Sesshomaru silently stood up and turned to leave. Her gesture was so familiar, yet so strange coming from a human. He remembered such treatment from his mother and how much he disliked it as he grew older. Hn… Tenseiga, today you compelled me to save a human life. But why did she take so long to return?
"Uh, hello? Lord Sesshomaru?" Jaken glanced at him, not happy to be ignored. He scoffed at the pathetic duo, all crying and happy to be alive. "Lord Sesshomaru saving a human woman is surprising enough. But then again, more importantly, did he say he was going to test the power of the Tenseiga once again? T-t-that would mean when I was cut down there was no guarantee for survival!" He started crying. "And to think I devoted myself to you all these years!"
"Hm?" Hotaru swiftly turned to see Sesshomaru quietly walking away from them. Her heart squeezed. Why did the proud demon's back look so… lonely? Hm? Lonely? "Sesshomaru, wait!"
He stopped, but didn't turn.
"Thank you, for saving us."
"No need to. I was simply testing my sword."
Hotaru grinned at his back. "Testing or not, the outcome remains. I'm alive and fully healed now thanks to you. How is your wound?"
"Healed." He turned to face her. She was already on her feet, her torn clothes were hastily fixed to hide as much skin as possible, but his keen eyes noted hints of scarred skin. She was collecting her stuff; the wooden case and her weapon.
"That's good to hear." She glanced at him. "Uhm…"
Why am I lingering here? He wondered, observing her. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other. Hesitating. Then she took a deep breath and made her decision.
"It might be audacious of me. But would you care to consider letting us come with you? I know th-"
"Hiiii! You want to follow Lord Sesshomaru?! You rude, unworthy human!" Jaken shrieked.
"Silence, Jaken!"
"Ah, yes, Milord." He slouched and took a few steps back. "I apologise."
His eyebrow went slightly up in surprise. He was surprised by the request and also by the fact that he was truly considering it. "You want to follow this Sesshomaru? Why? You don't know where I am heading."
"You are right. I don't know the first thing about you." She smiled at the old fashioned way he addressed himself. "And your companion is not wrong. We're humans. Maybe I am a witch, but I am a human. We will slow you down. And I don't wish to disgrace you or cause problems to your position and status, or give rise to strange rumours... But you didn't kill me yet. On the contrary, you saved my life. Test or curiosity, it doesn't matter." She shifted her weight and decided not to question his ability as of yet. "You see, I have no memories from the time before autumn. When I died I saw, urgh," a skull splitting pain washed over her.
"Hotaru-sama?" Rin touched her elbow with a worried expression.
She took Rin's hand and pressed the other to her temple. "I'm fine, it must want me to forget, uh… there was a… door? A seal? And I met a strangely sounding creature, guarding it? Perhaps. I don't know what to make of it."
Sesshomaru frowned. "Your memories. To find out who you are, that's why you are seeking Bokusen-Oh."
Hotaru nodded. "So you remember. Don't be mistaken, I am not seeking your protection or escort, though I admit my chances for survival are higher in your presence. If we happen to get to Bokusen-Oh-sama at some point, it will be enough. And I might be of some use to you as well. I can sense the Shikon jewel if it is in my vicinity and I can heal demons as well."
"Hmpf. Be of use?" Jaken huffed. "You were just killed by a few measly wolves! Lord Sesshomaru had to revive you! How can you-" he retreated into himself under Sesshomaru's glare.
He eyed her up and down. "Hn." She knew exactly where she stood as a human. It was his decision to make.
He couldn't care less about strange rumours. Losing an arm (and no one really knew about Inuyasha) was disgraceful. After that he'd faced numerous attacks. But he always stood his ground and defended his position. His kin, although refraining from attacking, looked down on him for being ineligible as a 'three-legged dog' no matter his real strength; it also meant he wouldn't get a strong worthy mate, or a normal pack of his own blood. But he was never truly considering settling down, not after his father's tryst and betrayal he couldn't understand to this day. Long ago, he resigned on bonds and trust. He was better off alone.
'We form packs and murders for a reason.'
Long suppressed feelings made a low growl echo in his chest as he breathed out. That foolish crow.
The sound didn't scare her. She remained looking at him, patiently waiting for his answer. She was aware her request was daring. With Rin by her side, she couldn't carelessly travel on her own. The death changed her perspective. And what if she was a puppet? What if one day she turned on Rin? She needed someone else by her side. Sesshomaru just happened to conveniently cross her path. And because his presence soothed her rather than scared her and he somewhat reminded her of Inuyasha, it wasn't that difficult to ask.
She tilted her head and shifted the heavy case to sit more comfortably on her back. He had every right to refuse. Was she allowed to follow? Or was he too worried about damaging his image if he allowed a human to follow? Would he keep up his kins' expectation? She wouldn't push if he said 'no'. But she had a feeling he wouldn't refuse.
Another rumble. Soumei had planted stupid ideas into his mind. HE decided who he let to follow him. It was HIS decision, and no one else's.
"Follow, if you so chose." Saying that, he turned on his heel and started walking down the trail, away from the village.
"Let's go then."
A/N: Let me know what you think but remember, reviews are appreciated but never necessary.
S.