Hotaru was enjoying the ride on A-Un while Sesshomaru was flying ahead of them setting direction. He was silent, thinking about his encounter with Inuyasha; and she wasn't planning to disturb him. Instead she allowed herself to not think about anything at all and enjoy the ride. Naturally and instinctively knowing how to navigate and set directions, she loved flying, be it with Kirara or now A-Un. It felt exhilarating; the freedom, the sun kissing her skin, the breeze ruffling her hair and caressing her face…
She spread her arms wide, closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She wanted to scream at the hills below, but she only laughed with the childish joy she felt at that moment.
Sesshomaru glanced over his shoulder, to see what was so amusing to her and his eyes widened in surprise. Expression she had was a perfect depiction of pure carefree happiness. Like a sun attracting him to come closer, to join the fun. Quickly averting his gaze back to the front, he focused on the horizon.
When they reached Rin on the tiny clearing in the forest, Hotaru smiled warmly and jumped off A-Un before he touched the ground.
"Welcome back, Milord. You've claimed the sword I see." Jaken was walking towards them, "as expected of-Gah!" a small tornado ran past him and made him trip and fall.
"Hotaru-sama!" Rin was too delighted to pay any attention to Jaken. "You're back!"
"I'm back!" She crouched to catch the girl who launched herself forward, but Rin's force surprised her and she toppled backwards. Laughing. "Oh, I missed you!" Hotaru nuzzled her cheek against Rin's affectionately.
"Hmph, foolish women." Jaken huffed.
"Hm?" Hotaru glanced at him. "Wanna join?"
"Of course not! How could you even ask such an outrageous thing!"
A shadow crossed her face as she suddenly remembered the scene that jewel had shown her in a dream. The scene was all too familiar to this. The bubbly laughter died down. This was her reality. She could hug Rin, but she'd never hug her own children again. She shook her head and kissed Rin's forehead. It was not the girl's fault. "A-ah~. Did you eat properly, Rin?"
"Sesshomaru-sama caught me some fish the other night." Rin said proudly and looked at Sesshomaru with affection and gratitude.
"So generous." She smiled at him. "Thank you for looking after her."
"Hn." He noticed the change in her attitude. Well hidden sadness and longing lingered in her herbal scent. She was so joyful a moment ago.
Soon, they were back on the way, heading west. Rin was running around, playing word games with Jaken and Hotaru was walking close behind Sesshomaru at the front.
Hotaru glanced at him, assessing his mood, then asked: "Where exactly are we heading?"
"Bokusen-Oh's forest." He replied. "I have something that I need to verify with him."
"Is he something like a wise demon elder whom you seek for advice?"
He gave her a fed up look over his shoulder to which she nearly rolled her eyes, but she elaborated: "By you I meant demons in general, not just you personally."
"Hn." The side of his lips twitched. "I wouldn't know about that. He was an ally of my late father and he owes me answers."
"About Inuyasha's transformation?" She guessed.
For a moment, he kept silent, not sure if he wanted to have this conversation at all. She was perceptive, but she wasn't pushing him for answers. With an inaudible sigh, he aligned his pace with her. "You have seen him yourself. Are you not curious?"
Of course he would not ask outright. "Probably not more than you." By the corner of his eye he was watching her with a hint of expectation, so with a sigh, she continued: "He has demon blood too. Naturally, when his life is threatened, his demon side will prevail in order to save him, but as they told me… He had a hard time recognising his friends and he didn't know what he could do. He couldn't gain back control on his own. Myoga-sama said that half-demons lose their judgement and emotions like fear, remorse, guilt, pain and so on while transformed… Tetsusaiga helps to keep his demon side sealed which is one of the reasons why he's gotten the sword… Myoga-sama also said it would be even harder to control his demon blood now after he'd experienced the transformation as it had shown him the joy of killing. For that he cannot let go of the sword in the battle. But I wonder if there is more to it…"
"..." He looked up at the canopy. Because of his hate and prejudice, he knew near nothing about half-demons. He spent his life half-pretending they did not exist. Maybe that was a mistake, he would never admit. "Why do you think so?"
She sighed and looked past him. "I don't know. I just… It felt like Myoga-sama's explanation wasn't elaborate enough. I feel there is something more, something vital that is missing and I can't quite put my finger on it. Hmmm." She combed through hair with her fingers in frustration. "Wait, how old is Inuyasha?"
The question caught him by surprise and he had to think back to the times when Inuyasha was born. "...slightly over 200 years. Counting the time he was sealed to the tree."
"... and he's never lost control up until now? A half-demon, perceived as abomination, hunted and hated by all? Why? He did not have the Tetsusaiga before." Disbelief displayed on her face. "It doesn't make sense."
He tilted his head, she had a point. And he wouldn't stop to consider this angle. His eyes widened as it dawned on him. "...he had nowhere to run this time."
"What do you mean? He is not the type to run."
"He does not have a death wish either." He countered. "Inuyasha, as the half-demon he is, was predestined to solitude. Demons would devour or destroy him and no humans would take him in. He was on his own and never before was he travelling in a group he felt protective of. Therefore, if he was attacked, and knew he was to lose, he could always run away or avoid the confrontation. And he usually did so."
"...but this time he had no other choice than to fight." She filled in. And you pushed him to it, giving him no other choice… "Sadly interesting." I'm glad that he's not alone anymore.
"Hn." He frowned and looked ahead. It was strange for him to talk about his brother. Yet, he did so. And begrudgingly, by extension, this conversation made him think about himself. Did I let them follow, because subconsciously I, too, long for a pack? It cannot be…
'We form packs and murders for a reason.' Soumei's words echoed in his head.
Inuyoukai were not solitary creatures by nature. But he chose solitude, as did Inuyasha, because it was convenient. No attachments. That way, he didn't have to care for anyone, provide for anyone or be loyal to anyone. For loyalty was engraved in the very blood and bones of his kin. They could be loyal to a fault, and once it formed, there was nowhere to run from it. Slip of Inuyasha's control had proven that even half-demons carried the trait. The very trait which caused his father's death. Lesson learnt, Sesshomaru refused to make the same mistake, he would not become loyal to anyone but himself.
'Because you can't lose anyone, if they are not there in the first place.' Tenseiga pulsed at his hip.
I, Sesshomaru, need no one. A low snarl vibrated in the back of his throat. Why were these thoughts invading his mind? He glanced at Hotaru and met her thoughtful eyes observing him; unshaken by his warning snarls. Swiftly, he looked back ahead.
"Hotaru-sama!" Snapped out of her thoughts, she spun around to face Rin lagging behind. "What is it?"
"Come quick! I found a caterpillar. It's so ugly it's pretty!"
"Kyah! Do not put it on my head! Foolish child!"
Soumei pinned Ichijou to the ground, one of his twin swords pressed to Ichijou's chest right over his heart. "I win again."
"Tch." Ichijou pushed the blade aside and sat up.
Soumei sheathed the sword and offered him a hand, which Ichijou accepted. Surprisingly so. "What am I doing wrong?!" He asked, annoyed that once there were no spells, no tricks and no youki allowed, he couldn't win against his younger brother.
Is he trying to make me think he is my honest friend? Or is this real? Soumei sighed and tied his hair into a messy bun. "You are impatient, your movement is jerky and predictable. Your stance is flimsy at times. Simply put, you lack the basics. I can see where you missed the training in favour of reading."
"I've always liked reading more." He huffed. "So? What do you propose?"
"Lets teach you the basics then." He smirked and shoved him towards the special training puppets, which repaired automatically thanks to a spell. Showing him one move, a simple slash from above his head.
Ichijou repeated it and Soumei corrected his stance, posture, and approach over and over again until he was satisfied. "Now that you know how, kill the puppet ten thousand times."
"WHAT?! I don't have time for this!"
He raised an eyebrow. "You cannot cheat on this, Ichijou-nii-sama. Do it or don't, this is the only way to teach your body." What a kid, even Sesshomaru managed it without complaining. … Thinking about Sesshomaru…
Sesshomaru pulled out Tokijin, weighing it in his hand. He needed to get used to this new weapon, its length and weight. It had been a long time since he was allowed to fight with a useful sword. He needed to get fully used to it and to fighting with it while missing an arm. The skills or balance didn't come without practice.
The whole afternoon, when Jaken, Hotaru and Rin were gone in the forests, foraging for herbs and food, he spent slashing and cutting and swirling with Tokijin. Again and again and again, to hammer all the movements into his body.
A flash of familiar youki.
Gust of wind with a black blur coming at him at incredible speed.
"Grah!" He blocked the twin swords with his one.
"Good counter." Soumei chuckled. "Let's see if you still have the fight in you, you three-legged pup."
"What are you doing here, Soumei?" Sesshomaru jumped backwards, Tokijin raised. "Do you not have your duties to fulfil?"
"I do, but the guard leader is a good friend who lets me slip away from time to time." He looked him up and down. "I see you're getting used to your new sword and condition. Will you entertain me? No tricks, no spells, no poison. Just a good old spar. Show me how good you are."
His eyes narrowed. "Careful with your wishes, they might just kill you."
The only reply was Soumei's rich laughter.
######
"Stay behind me." She told Rin as they approached the clearing, where Sesshomaru was fighting with the tengu. So they do know each other. "Do you know that demon?" She asked Jaken.
"I do not. I have never seen him in all the time I've served Lord Sesshomaru. But…" He tilted his head as if listening. "He is not a foe. Milord does not like him, but he is not a foe."
"I never thought you, the oh-so-graceful lord, would once kick a shoe at my hand!" A catchy cawing laughter echoed from the clearing. "Allright, allright, I give up. You win this last one!"
"Eh?" She exchanged surprised glances with Jaken and they both stumbled out of the forest.
The earth was ploughed with deep furrows and cracks. Both demons were dirty from grass, soil and mud, dishevelled as they could be. But it stood out more on Sesshomaru's white kimono and silver hair.
And Sesshomaru was truly missing a shoe that was lying in a furrow next to one of the tengu's swords. Ah, he has normal feet. Hotaru thought amusedly.
The tengu was smiling widely, showing his joy, while Sesshomaru kept his expression unreadable. A vague, barely existing hint of smile was gracing Sesshomaru's lips, one she wouldn't have noticed weeks ago, which told her that he was also satisfied with their fight, or whatever it was.
"Milord, what happened to your kimono?! And the grass in your hair! Who is this disgraceful demon who made you dirty yourself so much?"
Sasshomaru glared at Jaken menacingly, but Soumei was faster to speak.
"What was that?" He looked at the imp and aimed a little of his killing intent at Jaken. "Do not run your mouth as you please. Show some respect towards your master, little frog."
"Eeep!" Jaken jumped in fright and ran to hide behind Hotaru. EH?! The crow is stronger than Sesshomaru-sama? "I am no frog!" He yelled from his hiding place.
Tengu shifted his gaze on her and she raised a hand in a both defensive and apologetic gesture. "We didn't mean to interrupt your… fun?" She smiled. "We can leave and let you continue, although I'd like to make dinner…" She presented 3 dead ducks and a water container.
"I think we are done here." Soumei nodded to Sesshomaru. "Until our-" Swirling around he fixed his eyes on her more intently. "How rude of me, pretty little feather, I have not introduced myself the last time we crossed paths. I must have been too focused on my own issues." He had to use this chance to both annoy Sesshomaru and verify his gradually increasing suspicion. He flew over to her and grabbed her hand in both of his.
The moment he touched her, he felt it, it ran through him like electricity. A part of him was a part of her, infused in her body, running in her blood, intertwined with her bones. Hidden by her own spiritual energy. There is no doubt. She has it… Impossible. How could I not sense it on the new moon? Part of his mind focused on his contracted wings and feathers, searching, detecting. It hasn't fully grown yet… how… Impossible.
Perfectly hiding his inner turmoil, he introduced properly: "My name is Soumei, I am the second son and general of Sojobo-sama's clan residing on Kurama mountain."
Oblivious to his shock that didn't display in ripples in his youki, she bowed her head with a respectful smile. "You're right, I apologise for not introducing myself either, it didn't feel appropriate. But you must already know my name, am I wrong?"
He let go of her hand and took a step back, grinning like a mischievous child. "I was found out. Yes, I know your name, Hotaru." Sesshomaru's barely audible growl in the back amused him. "Oh," he finally got to see Rin hidden behind Hotaru, carrying a basket of herbs and mushrooms. "And you are? A daughter-no," he cut himself a little too late, "you do not smell similar to her."
"..." Rin shifted. "I am Rin."
"Hmmm, still, the resemblance… you could present yourselves as mother and daughter, truly."
Her heart panged at his words. "Everyone is free to believe what they want. I would consider it disrespectful towards Rin's late mother to boldly present myself as such. But if the need arises…" She shrugged. If it was to protect Rin…
Rin looked at her feet, smiling proudly as she touched Hotaru's sleeve.
"Soumei." Sesshomaru's voice carried a warning.
"I am simply curious about your first companions. Whatever you might believe, it is not a weakness. Am I right?" He glanced at Hotaru.
"Depends on the situation. Caring and having something to lose makes you go an extra mile, but it can also destroy you. Like a double edged sword." It was ironic that Tokijin was exactly that. "Still, it makes life worth living."
"Hmmm, speaking from experience? Did you try dying, perhaps?"
"In all ways possible." She was catching on his word game quickly. "But what does that matter to you?"
"Very interesting." He turned to Sesshomaru with a teasing grin. "Then Tenseiga was not wasted on you, Sesshomaru."
"Hn. I simply needed to test if the rumoured powers were true."
"A lucky coincidence." Fate and the world can work in mysterious ways. So do we. A crow cawed and dived down, seating itself on Soumei's shoulder. He listened carefully to what the bird was conveying to him. "I see, I should head back." He spread his wings and took off. "Until our paths cross again."
"Until our paths cross again." She replied and bowed.
Her goodbyes are another proof. I need to talk with my father. Soumei was fast to fly away and she stared after him until he disappeared from her sight.
When she turned to head towards their small fireplace, Sesshomaru stood in her way. "You met him before. When?" He interrogated, forcefully subduing the twitch of his eye.
"The day of the new moon, he sought me out to refill a potion I left for you." She explained calmly, noting his irritation.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Is this something I need to tell you about? Me bumping into strange demons?"
His eyes narrowed. "..."
Before he could change his mind and tell her to forget it, she sighed. "I was planning to ask you about him, because he had the vial, so he apparently knew you. But I wasn't sure if he was a friend or foe… How do you know each other?"
"...we used to train together." He answered evasively.
So he does have friends. …
"Oh, how very interesting, Sesshomaru-sama. I did not know the legendary king of tengus, daiyoukai Sojobo-sama, was real and that you are acquainted with his second son... I thought he was all but a wishful rumour. It is good to have strong allies like the tengu clan you can rely on." He never once told me, or turned to them for help though.
He glared at Jaken. "I do not consider him an ally."
"But he is not a foe, either, right?" Jaken tilted his head, staring at Sesshomaru innocently.
"..." I don't know myself. "You shall attend to me after you eat." He said to Hotaru, who blinked in surprise.
"Eeeh?! She is?! Bu-bu-but my Lord! I am much better suited to attend to your needs." Jaken was ignored by both.
"Okay. Uhm… would you want one?" She raised the ducks to show him. "Three is too much for just the three of us."
"I told you, I don't need anything of the sort."
She glanced at him innocently. "You did bring food for Rin… Anyway, I'll leave it aside. If it's there when we return from our bath, then I'll take it further into the forest and leave it for foxes and crows."
######
"Father, I wish to speak with you." Soumei strolled into his father's chambers, in clean clothes and proper attire of a general. Not a guard's uniform or his usual attire he was more fond of. Yet, tengu lived by their own rules, so he threw all formalities out of the window; he was the last one who cared for them. "I need to speak with you."
"I was expecting you." Sojobo raised his head from a shogi board, where he was playing with himself. "Pour us tea and settle your feathers. Join me in the game and we will discuss all you need." Pointing at a steaming teapot and two cups, neatly arranged next to the board, he invited Soumei to take a seat.
He did as he was asked, while eyeing and deciphering the game. Finding out he was winning the battle, he smirked, moving a pawn on the wooden board. The game was played out to his tastes, as if his father was simulating the game thinking of Soumei as the opponent, but putting him in battle Soumei rarely engaged in. The old wicked crow you are, dad. "What do you know about her?"
Sojobo's youki scanned the room and enveloped them in a protective barrier no one could disturb. "I gather from the wind that you finally truly met the priestess."
"I have sought her before."
"You did not tell her your name before." He was focused on the board. "Unless we learn each other's names it is as if we have never met."
Soumei stared at his father, who knew more than he let on. "Who is she?"
"She is our redemption." He raised his eyes to meet Soumei's.
"Redemption?" He frowned. He said that before too. "What do we need to be redeemed from?"
"Have you read what Ichijou gave you?" He countered.
Soumei made a sour face. "Tch, I thought he was trying to help, but he made fun of me, while I am trying to truly teach-"
"What were those scrolls about?"
"It was a cookbook and hairstyle instructions." He replied puzzled. What could be hidden in such a book?
"For whom was it written?" Sojobo was patiently asking, while he took Soumei's horse.
"..." So it's not about the content of the book. He tilted his head, all cogs and wheels spinning. The scrolls were over four millennia old, written in old symbols which were not used anymore. A cookbook and hairstyle guide, he hadn't deciphered it entirely, but it must've been for - he gasped. "Women… Tengu females. But that's not… We do not sire daughters."
"Correct. We do not. Not anymore."
"Not anymore?! You told us we have always been a solely male species, we need humans to procreate and we still do become full demons if we want to survive for more than three centuries!"
"Your focus is somewhere else." He raised an eyebrow and attacked Soumei's fortress. "Did I teach you that? Really?"
No… you never said it has always been like that. You simply told us it IS like that… "Tell me what happened to tengu females?"
"I gave my word. I cannot tell you."
"Who is that priestess?"
"A witch you mean?"
"Urgh! Dammit! It is the same thing!" He flipped the board game angrily, letting the pieces clang on the rocky floor and fly through the room.
"It is. And it is not." He picked up the table and put it back in its place. "Do not lose your temper. Place all the pieces back the way they were. And think about what you really wish to ask me."
Soumei took a deep breath. His patience for Sojobo's riddles had always been thin. But he did as he was told and he was surprised by himself. He actually rebuilt the battle on the board step by step as it had been played from the beginning. All pieces fit in the right place. The unusual way it had been played on his side… Defensive battle. Or protective. Who am I protecting? Who is the king of this game? … her. Why?
"Our redemption, you said… She owns something of mine that doesn't exist yet. And she cannot remember her past."
"Something that does not exist," he repeated and added: "...yet."
"...It is not the past she cannot remember." It dawned on him what Sojobo was highlighting for him. Even the Bokusen-Oh's bough used to carve her case has not grown yet. "It is the future. Or rather, her past lies in the future and she does not belong here."
"Does not belong, but has always been here." He agreed and disagreed in one sentence.
"Why is she here?"
"I already told you, she is our redemption."
Soumei sighed. "What is her future now? Will she redeem us?"
"Her future has been clearer yet unsure before, but since Sesshomaru entered it, it has become blurry. With the son of Toga in the picture, I have not seen all the pieces yet either. But she cannot die again, for Sesshomaru is overestimating his abilities."
Overestimating? He frowned. "Is he a good or a bad influence?"
"We will see. Now that both fangs were unleashed, he is facing his own rite of passage to truly become the great demon he can be. Inuyoukai are protective of their packs even if they claim otherwise. She is safer with him than on her own." He made a hole in Soumei's defence.
"Shouldn't we just bring her here?"
Sojobo shook his head. "Redemption must be earned, not forced. You cannot force a witch, for she will cause more harm than help."
"Hmmm…" And since I can't leave the mountain for a long time, I wouldn't be able to protect her on my own. Not with all the responsibilities. "Why can't she remember her life?"
"She carries more than your non-existent feather. A cursed seal. It is complicating everything, but that is perhaps as it should be…" Sojobo tapped a finger against his huge nose and pulled at his long beard.
"Why would anyone go through the trouble of creating something so elaborate as a cursed seal to hide the memories of a mere mortal witch?"
"Love or hate or maybe faith." He killed Soumei's king and won the game. Soumei's time was up. He looked at him intensely. "Whatever the reason is, do not tell Ichijou about her for now."
"Why?"
"Once you uncover all the pieces, you will know. He is your brother, but he is also searching for his answers."
"His answers…?" He ran fingers through his messy hair and sighed in frustration. In other words, Ichijou would kill her, or make her his by force if necessary. Both of which make my skin crawl. "Fine." So the tengu females got extinct for some reason and they were not born ever again. When? Why? She surely can't be a priestess to birth a tengu girl, right? Or can she? Urgh. I hope that's not her bloody fate. He shuddered at the idea.
"Now. Let us practise your sealing abilities." Soumei froze and Sojobo smirked. "She did refill your wound healing potion. You have no excuses."
A/N: Let me know what you think but remember, reviews are appreciated but never necessary.
S.