InuYasha Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Breathless ❯ Opportunistic ( Chapter 20 )

Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon or Inuyasha.

 

 

Chapter Nineteen.

 

 

`Opportunistic'

 

 

 

Sesshoumaru could hear his ward's voice as he and the solemn taijiya walked back through the forest to return to his followers.

…When he saw something far ahead that made him snap to attention…

A blonde head crouched beside Rin's black haired one, staring at some daisies.

`That girl…' the Taiyoukai thought

 

 

 

“If you're going to kill me, stop dallying around the issue and DO IT already!!” she demanded so loudly that Sesshoumaru turned to look at her sharply when she shrieked “Are you waiting for me to get distracted, is that it? What kind of sick evil creature are you?!”

 

She'd barely had time to finish her outburst when a clawed hand shot to wrap around her throat, squeezing in warning.

 

…and just like that, he suddenly ceased his hold, letting her fall to the ground.

 

“You're more trouble than you're worth” he muttered turning around and walking away.

 

Once again Usagi only stared after him mutely in total bewilderment, though this time it was for different reasons.

 

She felt something inside her clench.“I'm sorry”

 

He slowly turned his head to look at her from the corner of his eye. Then, as fast as he'd paused, he turned back forward and resumed his pace.

 

“Go home, human”

 

 

She'd been left thinking of him for days… the silver haired man.

 

 

Every time she remembered the way she'd insulted her savior, her heart ached. It didn't seem as important that he'd killed a human being anymore; the more rational part of her mind insisted that it'd been in self defense. Their defense… his and hers. If that man had killed him… what would the other thieves have done to her next?

 

 

The more she thought about it, the more she realized she'd been in the wrong; the more she realized the wrong of her reaction…

 

 

And she'd desperately wanted to make it up to him, somehow… Find that silver haired man again… and thank him properly… like any normal good person would.

 

 

Or so she told herself that was the reason for all this trouble.

 

 

The truth was… she also wanted to see him again; not just to thank him, but see him again. She didn't know why she was feeling this way, neither did she ignore that it was a bit strange: to feel such an intense desire to meet once more with some stranger… because, savior or no savior, that was what he was to her yet.

 

 

Still she couldn't make deaf ears to a voice in her head that was wishing to reunite, have him standing in front of her so she could figure out what this odd pull that she felt in her heart was. She'd felt it the very first time she turned to look his way, and felt it again later when he left her by herself near that clearing, to be found by Aku… It was like a hunch, an intuition that this man and her were connected, somehow, even though remotely; and that to discover what kind of connection it was that joined them would help her recover a crucial part of herself that was missing.

 

 

It sounded so much like nonsense, it was laughable… yet that was the reason she'd pleaded and pleaded to her youkai friend so she could come here, searching him.

 

 

The apology and gratitude were just the excuse…

 

 

These had been the thoughts in Usagi's mind after she'd left Aku, as she walked her way in the direction he had indicated, expecting to meet there with the person she had come to find.

 

 

What she'd never expected was, in the very place where her friend had told her she'd find the silver haired stranger's group, that there'd be a little girl climbed atop a most unusual creature, swinging her legs back and forth as she was singing a made-up melody and working with some flowers; another, smaller green creature snoring at her feet.

 

 

“La-la-la-la-la! Lalalalala…Sesshoumaru-sama, where could you be? Jaken-sama; he fell asleep again…” the little girl sang while sitting on the back of the two-headed dragon.

 

 

Usagi had stopped at the side of a thick tree-trunk, one palm resting on the bark as she stared on, eyes wide in astounded silence; slowly pondering the situation when the child spotted her.

 

 

“Oh..! Hi! Can I help you?” the little girl glanced so innocently at her that Usagi immediately felt at home to make some conversation.

 

 

Stepping away from the side of the tree and forward, and then clasping her hands together behind her back in a humble gesture of self presentation, she smiled kindly at the dark-haired child. “Hi there! I couldn't help but notice what beautiful flowers you've got there… are you making crowns for your friends?”

 

 

Surprised at those words, which might be an indication of kinship in spirits, the little girl smiled warmly. “Yes! These are for Ah-Un and Jaken-sama! You're not afraid of youkai?”

 

 

Amused at the child's straightforwardness, the blonde laughed. “No. As a matter of fact, I know a few youkai myself”

 

 

Laughing too, the little girl jumped off the slumbering dragon's back and run to meet the teenager. “So do I! The other kids and grown-ups I've met are always afraid of youkai, but I'm not because Master Jaken, Ah-Un and our Lord always protect me... I am glad that you aren't either!” she exclaimed enthusiastically “My name's Rin! What's your name, um” she hesitated for a second “… miss?”

 

 

Usagi giggled. The child was adorable… “Nice to meet you, Rin-chan! My name is Usagi…” she daid courtly in a playful voice, crouching down to the little girl's level “Are you and your friends here by yourselves?”

 

 

“No, there's also of course Sesshoumaru-sama!” an excited Rin replied.

 

 

“Se- … `Sesshoumaru-sama'?” Usagi asked, blinking…

 

…He threw her a scathing look over his shoulder. “Don't try this Sesshoumaru's benevolence, human, unless you wish forhim to finish you where you stand”…

 

 

Her big eyes widened once more.

 

 

`It… it was him!' she gasped.

 

 

Trying to hide her shock, the older human nodded. “That's wonderful, Rin-chan. You've got someone to take care of you… right?”

 

 

“Hai! Rin was very lonely till Sesshoumaru-sama found her”

 

 

Tilting her head to the side, Usagi wondered aloud, “Why was that?”

 

 

At this question, the little girl's smile fell down a little, bright brown eyes suddenly downcast and saddened. “Because Rin-chan's Father, Mother and Brother were killed by night bandits”

 

 

Her own surprised eyes also saddening, Usagi's open mouth formed an `O', and her heart went out for the little girl, aching painfully. She was going to say she was sorry to have pried when the sound of a third voice interrupted them, making them both turn around.

 

 

“Mm, Rin… stop making so much noise” a sleepy Jaken scratched his head with his staff as he slowly opened his eyes.

 

 

…In time to see Rin talking with a yellow haired girl.

 

 

`…!”

 

 

“RIN!!!” the small youkai squeaked as he got up in a flash, blanding his Two-Headed Staff. “RIN!!! Get away from her!” he shouted as he threw himself towards the blonde in full speed, ready to hit her with his `weapon'.

 

 

“Jaken-sama, NO!!” Rin shouted as she stepped in the way “Don't hurt her! She's a friend!”

 

 

“Friend?” the toad stopped to blink, only to narrow his eyes, getting more angry “friend?! Rin! Lord Sesshoumaru told you not to talk to strange humans! Silly girl, don't you remember what happened last time?!”

 

 

“But she's not going to take me to some human village! She likes youkai… like me!” the little girl protested.

 

 

“Foolish brat” the toad demon grumbled “and you believed everything she told you?! She could be lying!”

 

 

“NO! I believe Usagi-san!” Rin argued, fisting her hands and stomping her foot stubbornly, surprising Jaken.

 

 

“Usagi―wha?-san?!! …Wait till Lord Sesshoumaru knows about this, you ungrateful child!”

 

 

“Wha-? Oh. Oh no, Jaken-sama!” at the prospect of upsetting her beloved Taiyoukai, out of the blue Rin saddened. She felt torn between her loyalties to her Lord and her newfound liking for her new and first female friend.

 

 

Closing his yes and huffing, the toad crossed his arms satisfied. “Ha! That'll show you not to give trouble to Sesshoumaru-sama…”

 

 

“Um. Excuse me?”

 

 

“And you, yellow human! What do you want?! Go away and leave us alone, you're a nuisance!”

 

 

`…Yellow human?' Usagi didn't know whether to be thoroughly confused, or thoroughly insulted.

 

 

“A-I am sorry… I don't mean to be a bother…”

 

 

“Jaken-sama, that's not nice” Rin reprimanded in a whisper, and the blonde felt tempted to agree with her aloud. “Please let her stay with us for a while?”

 

 

“NO!”

 

 

“Jaken-sama, be nice!” the little girl said as she run to him and non-the-wiser started shaking him back and forth whereas she continued to insist with her distressed pleading “Please be nice, Jaken-sama!”

 

 

“Argh! Alright Alright!” he finally gave in, throwing his arms out with exasperation before turning his back on her with a squawk “She can stay till Lord Sesshoumaru returns with the taijiya, but after then she's gone!”

 

 

“THANK YOU, JAKEN-SAMA!”

 

 

Watching this, Usagi chuckled. “You know what, Rin-chan? I think you and I might have a lot in common”

 

 

Once all had been said, the dragon Ah-Un, who had awakened sometime during all that ruckus; gave the odd human girl a last wary stare before dropping its two heads and going back to its previous slumber.

 

 

 

Minutes later.

 

 

“…and Jaken-sama doesn't like Rin putting flowers around his head when he's asleep… But Ah-Un likes it. Will you help me put this crown on Ah's, the second head, so that he doesn't get jealous of Un… Usagi-san? That's what you told me your name was, right? I think it's a pretty name…Your hair's very pretty, too”

 

 

“Thank you, Rin-chan” the older girl giggled with her.

 

 

“By the way, Usagi-san… your clothes look a lot like Kagome-san's. Do you come from afar, like her?”

 

 

“Kagome-san?” the blonde questioned, blinking

 

 

…“Girl, are you related to the girl Kagome, the one that travels with the half-breed, Inuyasha?”…

 

 

“I'm sorry, Rin-chan, but we haven't met… yet you're the second person who asked me that these days”

 

 

The child shrugged well humouredly. “It's okay… You will probably see her if we bump into Inuyasha-san” she explained, as if thinking Usagi would stay indefinitely with their group.

 

 

Inuyasha…

 

 

Kagome…

 

 

`Those names again'

 

 

“Who is Inuyasha?”

 

 

“He―”

 

 

“―Rin, I told you not to talk to strangers” Sesshoumaru briskly cut in, arriving unexpectedly with Kohaku behind “Jaken, what is this human female doing in our camp?” he questioned severely.

 

 

“My Lord!” the toad youkai squawked, rushing to prostrate himself before the stoic Demon Lord “I tried to keep her away, but that brat Rin wanted her to stay! It wasn't my fault!”

 

 

The Taiyoukai glanced down at his ward briefly before his eyes returned to the blonde.

 

 

“It's you!” Usagi gasped, getting up instantly “I've found you!” she said happily.

 

 

“Uh” Rin turned to look up at her curiously “Usagi-san… you were looking for Sesshoumaru-sama?”

 

 

“Hai!” the teen giggled, ecstatic with her triumph.

 

 

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes at her. “Why do you seek this Sesshoumaru, wench?”

 

 

“My Lord! Do you know this woman?!” the toad exclaimed in amazement as a surprised Kohaku remained silent.

 

 

At this point of their acquaintance, where he'd already saved her lfe once, to Usagi the term “wench” almost sounded like an endearment. That was why she ignored it to merely walk closer to the Demon Lord, a mystified look on her face.

 

 

“Sesshoumaru-san…, no” she suddenly shook her head, taking a breath to calm herself “Sesshoumaru-sama…” she said with wonder, repeating the title she'd heard from his companions. “I've been searching for you because… I, well, I wanted to thank you”

 

 

The Taiyoukai raised an eyebrow. “Thank me?”

 

 

“Yes” the blonde said, bowing respectfully as was the Japanese costume when showing gratitude; and everyone else but the two of them fell silent. “I wanted to thank you for what you did for me seven days ago… You saved my life from those thieves and I only acted disrespectfully. I desired to find you so I could apologize… and say that I'm deeply ashamed of my behavior, Sesshoumaru-sama… I only hope you can find the mercy in yourself to forgive me”

 

 

“…Just great! Another impudent human!” the toad growled lowly with displeasure, but they all ignored him.

 

 

 

―“Wow…All thoseformal apologies that we rehearsed with Usagi-sama have certainly paid off” Aku muttered from his new hiding place in the bushes, continuing to listen in―

 

 

Despite the toad's intrusive comment, something in Usagi's poise had gotten to Sesshoumaru. The sincerity of her heart-felt words had privately pleased him… he couldn't remember the last time a human had addressed him with such manners and the proper deference owed to his status… unless they wanted something more substantial from him, and this girl only requested being excused for past behaviors.

 

 

…Or did she?

 

 

“Girl, what is it that you expect to obtain from this?” he demanded.

 

 

“Huh?” Usagi's head snapped up immediately.

 

 

“Who sent you, human?” he repeated with newfound suspicion “Humans are a most opportunistic herd; so… what do you hope to gain by apologizing to me in this manner?”

 

 

― “Drats! This is not good! Not good at all!” an onlooker Aku mumbled frantically―

 

 

“Nothing!! No one sent me!” the girl exclaimed urgently, scandalized “I am doing this on my own accord, by my own will… and I don't expect anything else from you, but your acceptance of my apology! Believe me… I beg of you” she finished in an upset whisper.

 

 

The Taiyoukai looked at her humble eyes for a long while. “We shall see” he concluded with distant regal dignity, before turning around and starting to walk away. He was walking away from her once more. “Jaken, Rin, Kohaku… we're going”

 

 

Kohaku, the young taijiya, and Rin gave the blonde a sympathetic glance before following their leader, but Usagi didn't see either, for her disappointed, incredulous blue eyes were still trained on the Demon Lord's back.

 

 

Then she reacted.

 

 

“Wait! Sesshoumaru-sama!” Surprisingly he stopped to look at her from the corner of his eye, as if waiting for her to finish what she last had to say to him.

 

 

“Wait, Sesshoumaru-sama… I'm not like that. I don't attempt to gain people's good favor to take something from them afterwards, I don't; at least… I don't want to be! I never want to be like that!” she said passionately “Sesshoumaru-sama, I don't have many friends…” her voce broke “I don't know that many people… I just- I just wanted you to know me”

 

 

“Usagi-san” Rin whispered softly.

 

 

―“How dare he make her cry?! That BASTARD!! Oh, how I wishfor Master Naraku to order me to kill him!” an enraged Aku growled from his hiding place as he spied on the whole group, righteous male anger fueling his courage ―

 

 

“I am sorry” the teary eyed sniffled; wiping her tears from her eyes again, smiling rather bitterly “I don't mean to disturb you or put you to any inconvenience with my problems. I shall not bother you anymore…” she started to walk away as well.

 

 

“Usagi-san!” Rin called out after her in worry, and the blonde suddenly stopped, turning around.

 

 

“That's right… I almost forgot to give you my token of gratitude, Sesshoumaru-sama…” she took out from one pocket her infamous star shaped locket, crouched down and put it on the ground before standing right back up, her back once more to the Demon Lord, her hands closing at her sides “I once wondered if you had a home to return to, and I see that you have… I am glad” her head bowed down, exposing the back of her fragile neck to his golden stare “…Good bye…”

 

 

With that, she ran away from him.

 

 

“Usagi-san” Rin mumbled. `The way Sesshoumaru-sama treated her …wasn't right'

 

 

Meanwhile, the Taiyoukai behind her was distracted by a similar fact.

 

 

`Tenseiga, once more you're pulsing… for that girl?'

 

 

To Be Continued.

 

 

A/N: Definitely longer chapters, these last two were. So show me the love, people! So I can update again! :)