InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Demon Slayer Sango ❯ Chapter 5 ( Chapter 5 )

Chapter 5

 

Miroku wasn't exactly sure why but it irked him to suddenly see Sesshomaru carrying Sango in his arms, and he watched in disbelief as the pair approached, stopped and the demon lord set her back on the ground with a surprising gentleness-- it was as if he were trying to help avoid putting excessive pressure on her hurt leg. Next Miroku heard Sango explain something to Inuyasha about him coming for her. Coming for her? What did that mean? The haughty youkai lord famously disliked humans; in fact as a full blooded demon he was a natural adversary to her and pretty much everyone else present.

 

Sango caught the monk's puzzled expression and knew he would soon approach to ask questions. Her head still spun from the fact that she'd been carried in the arms of a youkai, and with apparent circumspect care. Never in her wildest dreams would she have imagined that Sesshomaru would assist her in anything, and yet here he was, saving her the uncomfortable walk back to the village by carrying her there himself.

 

Of course his purpose had simply been to get her to the village, but for Sango there had been after effects-- the experience had seemed almost...pleasant. She blushed remembering the feel of his body through his fine clothing, how solid and warm it felt and the way his silky silver-white hair brushed against her bare arm in the dusky evening light. The arms that cradled her had been like iron but he'd held her with the gentleness of a glass sculpture. Strangely comforting, this brief up-close contact with the famously cold and forbidding inu demon would stay in her memory for a long time. Sango's heart pumped fast in her chest.

 

She wondered if Sesshomaru's powerful youkai aura had something to do with her odd feelings. Recalling her taijiya training she knew that the aura of taiyoukai were especially strong and sometimes known to significantly disturb the space around them, occasionally to the extent of affecting the moods of other beings. 'Surely that is all it is, some residual disturbance from his powerful aura,' she thought. She averted her eyes as a slight tingle rushed through her body. 'Oh no, have I been staring at him?'

 

Sango watched while Inuyasha hovered closely behind his elder half-brother, shadowing him as he stepped inside the hut to observe little Takeo. Taking a breath of air she finally turned her attention to Miroku.

 

"What is going on? Why was Sesshomaru carrying you like that?" asked the visibly perturbed Miroku. He realized he probably had no right to possessive feelings and even less right to express them but found he simply couldn't help himself.

 

"I-I'm not sure. He asked me if I was in pain. " She indicated her bandaged thigh. "Then he just-- took me...I don't really know what he wants. I ran into that little girl who is always with him, Rin, a while ago-- I assume that is why he's here. He sent a messenger earlier to get me but I sent him away because of Kagome."

 

"What about Rin? What were you doing with her?"

 

Sango went on to explain the strange day she found the distressed little girl and her subsequent exchange with Sesshomaru.

 

"I'm guessing that is why he's back now. To bring me to her for some reason."

 

Miroku sighed worriedly. "Be careful Sango, that's all I ask. We've had dealings with that demon before. Sesshomaru can be very dangerous but you know that. I couldn't stand it if something were to happen to you," he declared and stepped closer to take her hands in his. Gazing into her shining eyes, Miroku longed to kiss her. There had only been a couple of times she let him taste the sweetness of her lips. Those memories were sweet and fleeting and he longed to recreate them as a vast wave of tenderness washed over his emotions.

 

"You are kind to worry, but I can take care of myself." Sango felt a tension building-- he wanted something. Needing to head things off, she gently stroked his cheek and pulled away.

 

"Sango!" Miroku snatched her body back to his, desperately clasping his arms tight around her waist. He did not want to let her go. Yearning lips claimed hers and searched in passion, but Sango did not return the frantic kiss but did she did not shove him away, either.

 

'Poor Miroku,' she thought feeling sad for him. 'Fate hasn't been kind to us'.

 

At that moment Inuyasha and Sesshomaru both emerged from the hut to the sight of the monk wrapped earnestly around Sango. The elder demon made no expression while Inuyasha furrowed his brow and ventured a warning. "Let her go Miroku." He could tell his taijiya friend hadn't exactly welcomed the monk's embrace and took a step forward.

 

"Its alright Inuyasha." Sango managed to disentangle herself and took a step back. She spoke seriously. "I'm sorry...I can't..."

 

"I know." Miroku released her hands and looked back at Inuyasha. Then he returned his sad gaze to her. It crushed him to realize Sango felt nothing, nothing at all. He'd kissed many women before and knew when affection was returned. She'd stood stock still as he searched her with his tongue, not resisting but not acknowledging or returning his advances either. Sango just didn't feel that way about him, not any more. He took a step back, and his shoulders sagged. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have--"

 

"It's alright, I understand. But you can see now..." She squeezed his hand to offer some comfort.

 

"Thanks for not whacking me." He grinned in an attempt to break the tension.

 

Sango laughed out loud and smiled sweetly. "Oh don't worry. But if you ever do that again I'll break your fingers, monk!"

 

Realizing things were back to normal Inuyasha relaxed his tense stance and approached the pair while Sesshomaru waited, his impassive, cool mask firmly in place. 'Tiresome humans,' he thought.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

"The pup has been whelped," grumbled a rough, deep voice.

 

"How soon can our plans be put forward?" murmured a second weaker one.

 

"Our contacts in the valley will keep a lookout for the best possible moment--"

 

"Are you sure this will succeed? It will mean our lives and worse if we fail."

 

"Just listen to me and follow orders. Our day will come. Sesshomaru will be no more, and we will have our puppet."

 

"A quarter inu? How will they follow a near full-blooded human whelp?"

 

"Don't worry about that. Just do as I say."

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

The wind rushed past her ears and Sango gripped Kirara's fur tightly as they flew together, the double-tailed cat having transformed into her larger form to carry her friend over the treetops. Rather than fight the uptight demon lord Sango had given in and agreed to accompany him to the Inuyoukai Palace, and he now sailed just ahead of them.

 

In the end Sango had reasoned the trouble of refusing simply had not been worth it. Surely Sesshomaru was taking her to Rin, and the taijiya actually didn't mind seeing the girl again.

 

The situation at Kaede's looked good. Kagome and the baby were thriving-- the child ate and slept while youngsters in the village brought gifts and food to the new mother and her baby. Inuyasha proudly stood guard over his new family, gruffly accepting the congratulations of passersby.

 

Before their departure the hanyou had called Sango aside in an attempt to persuade her not to go. He simply did not trust his pain-in-the-ass, power-tripping youkai brother. How many times had the asshole cursed him as a filthy half-breed? How many times had they battled over their father's fang? How often did Sesshomaru make it known that he wished he'd never been born? Inuyasha offered to create a distraction by starting an argument with Sesshomaru so that he would leave and forget about her. Sango said her thanks but declined, reminding her friend that he had more important personal matters to look after.

 

"I'll be fine Inuyasha. Go to Kagome and Takeo, they need you now."

 

He shrugged. "Whatever. Its your ass. Go off with him if you want, but don't say I didn't warn you."

 

Now that they were en-route to the stronghold of the inuyoukai community Sango realized she had questions. Sesshomaru had confirmed that the purpose of bringing her to the castle was Rin, but she wanted to know more. While thinking about how to bring up the issue the taijiya found she was unable to help staring at his back, and admired the satiny magnificence of his long hair. The late afternoon sunlight had tinged it in shades of copper and gold, and feathery tendrils danced in the wind. She berated herself for wanting to touch it. 'What would father think-- His daughter seeing beauty in a demon?' "Is Rin well?"

 

He spoke with his back to her and Kirara. "Yes. She requested your presence. I decided to grant it." A fine, dangerously clawed hand adjusted the fur pelt on his shoulder.

 

In truth Sango resented being treated like a plaything for a child but decided to keep her opinions to herself for her own safety. "How long must I be at the palace, Sesshomaru-sama?" She tried to sound respectful.

 

"As long as I wish it, huntress. But it shouldn't be for long."

 

"So I am to be a prisoner lord Sesshomaru?"

 

"If you wish to see it as such that is your affair," he said. "You will be compensated for your time. By the way, I have not forgotten your disobedience."

 

'So what, you ice block of a demon!' "I have duties to the human villages. I can't just take off this way. What if I decide to leave now--"

 

"You will be destroyed." His tone was distinctly deadly and Sango fell silent.

 

She wondered what in the world this strange youkai had in store for her when they got arrived at his home. Was it really just for Rin? She had personally seen him strangle a snake demon to death, working deftly and disinterestedly as if it were a walk in the forest. Sesshomaru could be deadly, this she knew. Would he try to hurt her? She had Hiraikotsu and a katana but wondered if they would be enough to defend herself should the need arise. What about Rin? Surely he wouldn't harm her right away if he was bringing her to attend the child...

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

"My lord." Tamaku bowed low to Sesshomaru. "There have been reports of disturbances near the southeastern border. Jitsuo's clan makes noises about breaking away from the confederation. Matuko is here and he urgently requests an audience." The noble inu demon accosted Sesshomaru as soon as the small group had been sighted approaching the gates of the palace. The demon lord had held him off and said a few quick words to the gatekeeper who then quickly led Sango and Kirara inside.

 

Returning to his grave looking assistant, Sesshomaru walked briskly with him to an audience hall where the loyal clan lord Matuko waited with a report.

 

A squat, burly inu demon, Lord Matuko had fought in Sesshomaru's army at the time of the insurrections just after Inutaisho's untimely death. He had remained loyal to the son as he had been to the father, and what he'd learned recently troubled him greatly. Warriors were being recruited and massed off the southeastern edge of the territory, close to his own stronghold situated nearer to the center of the Western lands. There had been grumblings of moving against the central authority-- Sesshomaru's authority.

 

"Make your report, Matuko."

 

"Sesshomaru-sama, I personally saw numbers of warriors being trained with bow and arrow and lance. They were Jitsuo's people. Low-class, filthy dogs if you ask me."

 

"I don't want an opinion. Make your report."

 

"Yes my lord." He bowed and continued. "At night there are gatherings in the forest-- Jitsuo and his generals make speeches to inflame the warriors. There is drinking and shouting and fighting--"

 

"What was said?"

 

"I couldn't make all of it out, Sesshomaru-sama. But it sounded distinctly aggressive to my lord..."

 

"Aggressive in what way?" Sesshomaru had long realized his southeastern border was a weakness. The demons of that area had historical and cultural differences that separated them from the rest of the inuyoukai community. They even looked different physically, most having reddish-brown hair with hazel eyes, and a stockier build. Their cousins in the rest of the territory tended to be darker and more reedlike in stature. Incidentally, Sesshomaru's (and Inuyasha's and now Takeo's) rare light coloring resulted from a genetic variation passed down from Inutaisho's paternal line. Some called it the royal mark.

 

The conscious and unconscious differences between Jistuo's inuyoukai and those in the rest of the territory occasionally led to resistance when the central authority worked to assimilate them. Over time there had been numerous skirmishes and reprisals against Jitsuo's clan for raids on other inu settlements. Sesshomaru had seen to some matters personally. On one occasion he had to discipline Jitsuo, effectively humiliating him in front of his generals by slashing his face with Toukijin and leaving a disfiguring scar.

 

"I believe they mean to move on the central fortress, my lord." Sesshomaru shot a hard stare at the grave looking demon. If true this was outright rebellion. He made a turn about the room, seemingly lost in thought. Finally he spoke.

 

"I see. You have done well, Matuko. We will see to this...activity. If Jitsuo has not learned his lesson I will have to teach him again." The demon lord spoke in the same even voice he used to describe the weather. Dismissing the squat youkai to return to his lands, he indicated that Tamaku should remain.

 

"Have him followed. I mean to know what is really going on," said Sesshomaru. "And contact our informant in Jitsuo's court. Find out why no report has been made. Take appropriate action." Tamaku nodded and promptly retreated from the hall to carry out his master's orders.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~

 

"This is quite a place Kirara," remarked Sango while they proceeded along the vast corridors of the inuyoukai palace. Her thigh ached only a little bit now though she still walked with a slight limp. The cat had returned to her smaller form and leapt to Sango's shoulder; the pair of them followed behind a young servant girl to what presumably would serve as their quarters for their stay at the palace. The taijiya gawked at the sights around her. The walls of the ancient dwelling were high and appeared very thick, and the hallways and galleries were expensively floored in elaborately decorated patterns, none of which she recognized. Great vessels, tables and objects she did not recognize stood everywhere, and all gleamed and appeared freshly polished.

 

"Exterminator. Welcome to the Palace of the Inuyoukai. That will be all, Saki." A dignified looking demoness emerged from the shadows and stood before them, placid but stern. The young servant girl then retreated-- presumably off to her regular duties elsewhere in the palace.

 

Hisako's eyes trailed slowly over her new guests. Noting the human woman's odd uniform of black and pink, she concluded it probably had something to do with to her demon slaying work but wasn't sure having known no other adult human female to compare her to. She considered her appearance otherwise pleasing-- the young human had a lovely figure and pretty face. 'Her eyes glitter-- this is an intelligent one,' thought Hisako. She imagined the newcomer would be quite striking garbed in appropriate feminine attire and properly dressed hair.

 

Hisako caught herself briefly wondering if Sesshomaru's only motive in bringing the human woman to the palace had to do with Rin. On the one hand he was known not to have significant relationships with females per se, but she had heard tales of his taste for bedroom activity with the occasional court noblewoman. Could not some personal interest in this creature have played a part in his decision to bring her to the palace? Hisako considered the possibility for a few moments and then dismissed it, remembering the master's general dislike of humans.

 

The demoness recognized Kirara as a neko youkai, probably one who could change shape and size. She noted the katana and huge, oddly shaped weapon the young woman carried on her back. 'How ugly it is. We will have to do something about her clothing, and that horrible thing she's carrying'. Tactfully she refrained from commenting. "I am Hisako, and will be looking after you for the duration of your stay. Come, here are your rooms."

 

"Sango! You're here!" An ecstatic Rin suddenly appeared and ran to the huntress who swept her up in a warm embrace.

 

"Rin-chan! You are looking well."

 

"I'm so happy you came! Sesshomaru-sama said you'd be here. Can we go fishing Sango-san? Will we catch something and then cook it to eat? Can we paint pictures? I want to show you my flower paintings--"

 

"Wait Rin. The huntress has just arrived. She needs to settle before she has time to play games with you. Now you just return to your nursery and I will be there in a while to help you with your lessons."

 

"Yes, Hisako-sama." Rin bowed slightly to the stately demoness and then turned again to her friend. "You will eat supper with me, won't you Sango-san?"

 

The taijiya looked from Hisako to the earnest face of the little girl. She smiled and said, "Yes of course, Rin. I'd be happy to. We can catch up then." With that, the girl turned on her heels and ran off back to her own rooms at the end of the corridor.

 

"That child has taken a strong liking to you I see," said Hisako. "Usually she has no interest in anyone but the master. This way, huntress."

 

Sango's jaw dropped as she entered the chamber that would presumably be hers. The beauty of the furnishings and decor were things she'd never before witnessed. Richly textured carpets, elaborate wall tapestries and expertly carved furniture tastefully decorated the large room. A large thick sleeping mat lay several feet from the spotlessly clean hearth near the center of the room. She noticed that the bed was draped in some sort of billowy, airy covering that promised a most comfortable rest.

 

"This is where you will sleep. The bath is just beyond this chamber. There is also a sitting room where you will take your meals if you are not eating with Rin in her nursery or summoned by the master...Are you alright, girl?"

 

Hisako noted the stunned look on Sango's face. 'Poor thing. She clearly has never experienced such fine surroundings before.' "I will leave you to rest and bathe. I took the liberty of selecting some appropriate garments for you to wear."

 

"Thank you, Hisako-sama." Sango walked to one corner of the room where hung a large number of silken robes in all colors of the rainbow-- yellow, blue, pink, violet, white, green, and in a number of shades from the palest to the most vivid. "These can't all be for me surely."

 

"I wanted to give you a choice. If you need assistance with your bath I will send Saki."

 

"You have been most kind lady Hisako, but I can take care of myself." Just as the demoness prepared to depart, a messenger appeared in the doorway. He bowed to Hisako and glanced briefly at Sango.

 

"My lady. Lord Sesshomaru wishes to see the human woman. She is to appear in the library within the hour."

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~