InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Handprint ❯ Chapter 5

Disclaimer: The characters of InuYasha are not mine, they are property of Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, Sunrise, and Viz. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

 

# Handprint part 5 #

 

“Sesshoumaru-sama, has something displeased you?” Jaken asked respectfully, the firelight flickering across his anxious face.

Rin, asleep on the other side of the fire, murmured in her sleep and curled herself tighter around her puppy at the sound of his voice.

Sesshoumaru regarded his little green servant with unreadable, pensive eyes. When no other reply than stony silence was forthcoming, the imp tried again.

“Sesshoumaru-sama, is there something that concerns you? Perhaps there is something I, Jaken, may do in service to you that ease whatever troubles you?”

“That won't be necessary,” Sesshoumaru answered Jaken at last, his eyes straying to the restless form of Rin. Never taking his gaze from the small girl, he continued, his voice impersonal and commanding, but not cruel. “Sleep, Jaken. There is nothing I require from you.”

“Yes master,” Jaken replied, reluctantly giving up as he moved to obey.

Sesshoumaru sat staring into the fire, letting his thoughts drift as they would. It wasn't until Jaken's rustling noises turned into even snores that he stirred. Switching the positions of his legs, he bent the knee of the left one upward as he straightened out the right one along the ground. Reaching out with his fingers, Sesshoumaru smoothed a fold of his pant leg out of the way to reveal a small, grubby handprint on the otherwise pristine white silk.

He scowled at it darkly, as if by the very act of his glare he could remove the stain. His clothing was made from the silk of youkai silk worms. That small handprint should never have soiled it in the first place; and by an exercise of his own will, he should be able to force the dirt free of the silk with his youki.

And yet, the small handprint remained, stark and tauntingly vivid against the pure expanse of the silk.

It could only be there because he, Sesshoumaru, wanted it to be there. For whatever reason, his subconscious wish for it to stay was stronger than his conscious will to make it disappear. Which meant that there it remained until he either replaced the silk, or he resolved his inner conflict.

In the quiet of the night, no one heard Sesshoumaru's muttered curse.

 

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