InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Pinkie Swear ❯ Ribbon ( Chapter 2 )

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=#= Ribbon =#=
Sesshoumaru looked down on the seaside port town, grimacing as the shifting direction of the wind brought the scent of rotting fish, unwashed bodies, and raw sewage to his nose. The diluted scent of the village was enough to drive any sane youkai far from here; but he was here for a purpose and until he accomplished it, it would take more than just a strong stench to dissuade him from his task. His resolve, however, was not enough to keep him from thinking derogatory thoughts about humankind, youkai who made their home among them in general, and the single youkai whose home was in this town in specific that he’d come to see.
Without making any effort to disguise himself, he strode purposefully into the small town, passing by gap-mouthed fisherman, their sturdy, stinking wives, and numerous, squalling brats. Covering his intense dislike and acute discomfort at being this close to so many humans with a false nonchalant façade, he stepped off the main dirt road and wound his way through some questionable back alleys to reach the stoop of a dingy little shop front. He opened the door for himself, sacrificing his dignity to the practicality of knowing that if he did not do it himself he would be left standing outside the door indefinitely. Irate to the point of already being in a foul mood, Sesshoumaru eyed the cheerful little bell that chimed to announce his entrance with the single minded determination of someone who is deciding which unfortunate thing–be it person or object–will be the scapegoat of his temper.
With a smile that was dazzling and eyes that glowed with petty satisfaction, Sesshoumaru crushed the bell completely in his fist, feeling immeasurably better all of a sudden. He turned towards the owner of the shop, his keen edged smile still in place.
“What may I hel–YOU!” the crab youkai screeched. “OUT! OUT!!”
“I seek a ribbon,” he stated bluntly and blandly, ignoring the crab youkai’s outraged protests.
That stopped the sea witch up short. The old hag blinked her slightly bulbous eyes at him owlishly. Having tangled with Sesshoumaru’s father–because she was harvesting human parts from living humans to make her charms–and summarily losing to the point that she was under a geas set by his father to never do it again, it was understandable that the sea witch hated all inu youkai. It was also understandable that she treated all of them with caution, Sesshoumaru especially.
However, that did not include hospitality when on her own turf. Having entered her dwelling willingly, Sesshoumaru had made himself vulnerable to the charm set across the threshold. Any harm he did to her would come back to him threefold–not that it would keep her safe though.
“A ribbon. A ribbon? Why in the mother sea’s vast stretches do you need a ribbon?” the sea witch jabbered, her incredulous sarcasm thickening in her voice with each word.
Sesshoumaru’s foul temper returned. Reaching down, he closed his hand on Toukijin’s hilt and let the sword release its menacing jyaki into the air.
“Do not question me,” he warned in a voice that was close to a growl. “You will give me a hair ribbon, of quality silk, that wards off nightmares.”
The sea witch was speechless for a few moments, her large cheeks inflating and deflating furtively like a bellow. Her large round eyes were wide as they bulged in comical disbelief. Sesshoumaru stood in stiff, tense, uncomfortable silence, waiting for her to regain her composure.
Her eyes narrowed and she pinned him with a hard stare.
“Don’t think you can just waltz in here and demand that I give you anything, you gangly pup. I may have lost to your father but you’ve got eons to go before you become a proper threat to me!”
Sesshoumaru’s entire body went still as every muscle within him clenched in outrage at her insult. His temper burned hot and his grip on Toukijin’s hilt tightened until his knuckles turned white. The corner of his vision clouded with red and he struggled grimly to remain impassive.
“I did not come here with the intent of exchanging insults with rabble. I have brought four complete scales–plucked, not shed–from the dragon Ryfor trade. I believe they are more than adequate payment for a ribbon,” Sesshoumaru finished in a low, tight voice; every word of his dripping with ill concealed menace.
The change in the sea witch’s demeanor was instantaneous. Plucked scales came with minute traces of dragon’s blood on the root–and to gain both four scales and the traces of blood on them was enough to make her salivate. He knew and she knew what kind of powerful charms she could make out of the scales and the atrocious prices she could charge for such charms.
Incredibly, she was suddenly all smiles, bustling around her dusty, dirty, cramped quarters as she rooted around for what he requested. After some moments she straightened with a triumphant cackle, holding a packet of water stained rice paper in her hand.
Flushed with enthusiasm, she approached him quite flippantly; then with an abrupt start and scowl, checked her head long rush. She eyed him, as if it was his fault she’d forgotten he was a potential threat, and then stepped behind her counter and spread the rice paper out so that he could see the neatly folded, sunshine yellow, ribbon inside.
Immediately and with authoritative assumption, Sesshoumaru reached out to pick it up and ascertain that it was indeed what she said it was. When she defensively snatched it away from his fingers, his cold amber eyes flashed dangerously, but he held his peace.
“I don’t think so,” she scolded him. “I want to see the scales first.”
He watched her, deliberately pausing so that she could see the deadly intent in his eyes, then lowered his lashes and withdrew the folded silk bundle from within his kimono. Placing the silk on the counter with a dainty, graceful movement, he withdrew his hand, making sure not to brush his skin against hers as she eagerly reached out to unfold the silk. As the last corner fell away and the scales within were revealed, the sea witch gave a small gasp, her entire attention riveted on the sight before her.
Sesshoumaru gathered up the ribbon, leaving the rice paper, and tucked it into his kimono. Dismissing the sea witch from his thoughts as effectively as he turned his back on her, he exited the small shop.
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Sesshoumaru returned to his companions that night, saying nothing of where he’d been. Another day passed; filled with Rin’s chatter and Jaken’s complaints, and he lead the party on a leisurely pace, retiring early for night in a forest glade that held a small spring. That night he listened to the sound of Rin’s whimpers and endured the scent of her tears as she spent yet another sleeping period in the grips of her night terrors. He watched her rise, cold and shivering with her own sweat chilling on her skin, to go bathe and fish for her breakfast. He watched her smile brightly and pick flowers and chatter incessantly at Jaken all through the daylight hours. He watched her cheer vanish as darkness fell and she tried to sleep.
He endured it for three more nights. He decided he was done waiting for her to discover where he’d tucked the ribbon away in Aun’s saddle bags. As Rin and Jaken finished the food they had cooked by the campfire and were settling in to rest for the night, he spoke up.
“Rin, there is a blanket in Aun’s saddle bags. Use it tonight,” he stated, his words an obvious command. His gaze never left the small girl’s form as he watched her struggle to pull the blanket out with keen interest. A few seconds later, his patience was rewarded as Rin’s face lit up with delight.
“Ah! Jaken-sama, look! Rin found a ribbon!” she called out happily, waving the yellow silk ribbon under the toad demon’s nose. She did a little dance around the befuddled Jaken, humming sweetly to herself.
Jaken crossed his arms, the staff of heads cradled in the crook of one arm, and eyed the bundle with a suspicious, disbelieving gaze.
“Rin, if you found it in Aun’s saddle bags, then that belongs to Sesshoumaru-sama,” he cautioned warily.
Immediately Rin’s exuberance dimmed, and she turned large, questioning dark eyes to meet Sesshoumaru’s direct stare. Caught in the act of observing her, he hastily looked away, belatedly remembering to feign disinterest.
“Does this belong to you, Sesshoumaru-sama?” she asked innocently, her entire face hopeful.
“I, Sesshoumaru, would never own such a thing,” he replied a little too forcefully, knowing that she would assume ownership of the ribbon if he denied it was his. His gaze strayed until he could see her face out of the corner of his eye. He saw the way her face instantly relit with its cheerful enthusiasm and her bright, warm smile.
Satisfaction unfurled in the inu youkai’s being–satisfaction that was only caused by having rid himself of the irritation of her nightly noises, he assured himself.
Still, his attention was caught and held by Rin as she badgered Jaken into tying the ribbon onto her side ponytail.
More prancing and twirling of the ends of the ribbon ensued before Rin finally settled down to go to sleep.
Sesshoumaru sat leaning against a tree, his eyes fastened on the dying embers of the campfire. When the last glow faded, and Jaken and Rin were both deeply asleep, he rose and strode over to Rin’s sleeping form. Kneeling, he allowed himself to bury his claws in her dark hair and lift the silken strands of her hair and the ribbon so that they trailed through his fingers as they fell.
“Sleep in peace, little one,” he whispered, his gold eyes shining gently in the moonlight and a soft smile turning up the corners of his mouth ever so slightly.
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