InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Fallen Part One: Downfall ❯ Cold ( Chapter 11 )

A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT:

Alright guys, this is the last chapter I'm going to post for a while. Everyone is still confused so I obviously need to take the time to go back and clarify a few things and label when dreams start and finish because so many people are confused. That means that Iris won't be posting for a while. She will be rigorously reading and rereading her chapters to see if there is any way she can make this easier for ya'll to understand. (sorry I tend to refer to myself in the third person when I get agitated)

Note to Scitzy: You don't need to apologize for being confused. And I wasn't directing my a/n towards you. I actually had someone tell me I needed to rewrite my story (not in those exact words, but in a more subtle sense) and tell everyone exactly what's going on. I also had someone else tell me that my plot made no sense. While I have not had the chance to fully develop the plot, I suppose I should go back and find a way to make it so it does make sense, though only god knows how I'm going to accomplish that since I think my plot is kinda on the complex side. This isn't one of the cookie-cuter plots, but I suppose I'll have to remold it. Sorry I went off on a tangent but in essence, I wasn't referring to you in any way because I know how it goes. ^_^ I was talking about the people who said in their own subtle ways that I need to rewrite my story.

That means I'll be taking a break and then restarting this so I have a clear mind. I won't be back for a couple of weeks if all goes well. sorry guys. But on the off chance that there are some of you who like my story the way it is let me know and if the people who like it the way it is outweigh the amount of people who don't I'll leave it the way it is and take the time to get caught up on my chapters. But right now it doesn't look that way. Until next time everyone, enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 11: Cold

He let out an imperceptible sigh as his general knocked on the door to his study. It would be the same inane report as always. He granted permission for him to enter. There hasn't been much thrill lately. No adrenaline. No intruders. No Inuyasha. The shoji screen slid open, and the wraith like shadow entered. As much as he may deny it, Sesshoumaru greatly missed the to-the-death fights with his half-brother. The little bastard never ceased to amaze him. But alas, he made a truce with his idiot brother. No more fighting. No more fun. Of course, he would never let on to that one. If he did, then the little shit would slack off. It was bad enough he was hanyou, but to let him be weak would be the ultimate disgrace.

The guard stood before him, awaiting acknowledgement before he began to speak. It would seem that his lord was unusually lost in thought at the moment. The general stood there for several minutes and still no inkling from his lord. He began to fidget nervously, and several more silence leaden minutes passed. Finally Sesshoumaru looked up at his general and nodded slightly. If you could call it a nod, it was more of an imperceptible incline of the head, but that was indeed the signal to begin speaking so speak he did.

Bored out of his mind, Sesshoumaru, only half listened to his general until he came across something that caught his attention.

"… And in the Fenikkusu province there has been reports of a strange power of sorts that has traveled in. For the week or so it has remained stationary just on the border."

"What of this power?"

"The reports have been confusing, milord. Some have said that it felt like the power of a great miko, almost rivaling the great Midoriko's power. Others have said that it was the power of the Mythical Phoenix, but they are all but extinct and nonexistent in these parts. And others still have said that it feels like the power of a kuromiko, a very powerful one at that. And yet the black magic emanating from that area does not threaten the populace. It is a rare enigma."

"Deploy a small party to investigate. If it poses any threat, dispose of it."

"Yes, milord." And with that the general turned on his heel and quickly left to carry out his lord's orders. Sesshoumaru was left alone once more to stew in his thoughts.

~X~

//We kiss
The Stars//

An hour or so passed since he had had his debriefing with his general. Now he stood atop a hill that lay just beyond his gardens and watched the stars fade as the sun made its daily appearance. The mention of such a great power was of no consequence, but the fact that it could not be accurately identified troubled him greatly. The sky began to lighten from deep velvet black to a smoky gray. Soon the weakest of the stars had faded from sight, and only the strongest and brightest were visible. But they too eventually succumbed to the overwhelming brightness of the sun. The intensity of the golden colored orb reminded him of someone. She had closed a painful chapter of his life and sealed the rift between himself and his only living relative.

//We writhe
We are//

As the horizon took on a scarlet hue Sesshoumaru thought back to when the wench had finally put some sense into both him and his brother. He was shocked, by both her actions and her words. He allowed a small smile to overtake his features at the thought. She had forcefully pinned them down and kept them there until they resolved everything. She was quite the woman, even if she was human. Never before had he encountered such a fiery spirit.

//Your name
Desire//

Not only had said fiery spirit manage to subdue himself, which was a feat in itself, but also his brother, and she held them there for over a week to boot. She had heaped humiliation upon them both, though Inuyasha didn't mind. As a matter of fact, he was subdued by her on a daily basis. However, he himself was not accustomed to such treatment. It was unthinkable that such an inferior creature had the power to hold him. So naturally he did what any sensible, Ice Prince taiyoukai would do. He threatened her. In light of his new alliance with his brother he was quite merciful. He should have killed her. And to this day her very essence haunted his dreams, her name tugging at the back of his mind.

//Your flesh
We are//

He wanted her. Badly. Anyone with any kind of sense would want such a powerful bitch. She was not beautiful, but she was oddly pleasant to the eye in her plainness. It was her aura that attracted people and made her unnaturally beautiful to the men that surrounded her. It was not a physical beauty.

As the first of the golden sun made its appearance above the horizon Sesshoumaru mentally shook himself violently. What possessed him to think of her now? She wouldn't have the gall to enter his lands after his threat. There was no way. Violently he shoved all thought of her to the side and enjoyed the rest of the sunrise.

//Cold
We're so cold//

Turning from the pastel colored horizon, he hardened his features, taking special care to hide all emotions and headed towards his castle. A scowl marred his features as an errant mental picture of the smiling human entered his mind. This would not be a good day.

//We are so
Cold
We're so cold//

From the castle ran an exuberant young girl of about six. She came barreling through the gardens, her small pink kimono in no way hindering her running abilities. As she reached her lord, she came skidding to a stop, barely stopping before running into his legs. Looking up at him she smiled brilliantly and bowed. He looked down upon her for a moment, before he addressed her. Jaken could be seen running from the building, frantically trying to reach the child.

"Rin, what have I told you about leaving Jaken behind?"

For a moment her face scrunched up in a look of deep concentration before her face lighted up and she repeated what he had told her. "Umm, don't run away from him b… because he's a slow… in… incompetent fool. He is there for your protection!" she finished with a bright smile. Sesshoumaru nodded his approval. Jaken finally made it to his lord and prostrated himself before him, begging for forgiveness.

"Jaken," he stated in a warning tone. Jaken quickly shut up, only to be booted back to the castle. Sesshoumaru didn't need to remind his retainer of such trivial things as if he were a child. Rin began to giggle as Jaken made contact with the wall of the building with a sound splat.

"Come, Rin," Sesshoumaru stated as he headed back to the castle. She willingly complied.

~X~

The day had not been its usual breed of boring. Late in the afternoon, the party he had sent out had still not returned. He had decided to wait until morning to send another party, when one of the soldiers from the party he had sent out returned. He had been badly wounded. When he reached his lord, he informed him that they had been intercepted. A hanyou dressed in red had massacred the group. He had sent this last one with a message.

"He said, `the bitch is mine, leave her to me'," the soldier repeated. Sesshoumaru was seething. The only one that could fit that description was his brother. Sesshoumaru curtly ordered the soldier to the infirmary and headed out. He would investigate the problem himself and deal with the bastard.