InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Reflected Past ❯ Enemy Revealed ( Chapter 8 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Chapter Eight - Enemy Revealed



The type of silence that comes with a snowy winter's night descended over the home of the western lord, a profound quiet that eventually allowed the troubled Midoriko to fall into a deep sleep, Kirara curled in a soft, purring ball beside her.

It was in this deep blackness that a firm, insistent voice suddenly echoed from within her skull, a chillingly precise order.

Kill him.

Midoriko's eyes opened slowly, groggily, not wanting to adjust to the dimness of her room. For a moment she wondered what it was that had woken her. Something distant rang in the back of her mind, lingering words, whispery. Had it been a voice? She could feel the warmth of Kirara's body heat next to her arm and absent-mindedly reached over to softly pet the youkai's fur before shutting her eyes once more and drifting off...

Again an impenetrable blackness blanked her mind, and the voice repeated its command, this time with more fervor.

Kill him.

Kill who? she voiced her confusion.

Your enemy. Our enemy. Go on.

Something bright flashed behind her eyelids and she sat up on her bed, feeling suddenly certain that the voice was speaking wisely. Of course. How could she have forgotten? Kirara's bright red eyes opened then as well, and she watched Midoriko with a curious gaze.

Get the sword.

Midoriko's bleary gaze found the sheathed blade resting on the table on the opposite wall and, with only a slight rustle of clothing to give sound to her movements, she left the bed, one hand reaching steadily out to grasp onto the leathery hilt. A resounding thrum surged through her fingertips upon contact with the weapon and, with slow precision, she pulled the sword from its protective sheath, the glint of metal flashing in the vague light that was drifting in from the night's moon.

Go on. He is nearby. You were angry at him earlier, don't you remember? You wanted to kill him.

Yes, yes. She did remember. The image of the person she had raged at earlier that day refused to come into focus, but she recognized the familiar wave of fury that swept through her and, feeling as though there was an unseen guide pulling her along, she left her room and entered the hallway, Kirara pattering uncertainly at her heels. Midoriko slowly wended her way through the house with barely a thought as to her intended direction, but when she finally came to a large, heavy door at the end of another corridor, she paused uncertainly.

He's in there. Do it quickly and you will be free of him.

Midoriko gave a mental nod and pushed the door open slowly, noiselessly. The silence around her was deafening as she slipped through the small opening, her bare feet feeling numb and far away as they stepped inside the darkened room. Only a very faint light could be seen from the lantern that hung on the other side of the screen door that led outside, casting enough of a glow for her to make out a form on the bed.

Hurry. Don't let him strike first.

Her heart gave a sudden loud thump, sending a surge of blood pulsing up to pound inside her head. This is wrong, something's wrong. But her sword arm rose on its own, and another startling explosion of warning flashed inside of her brain with enough clarity to make her stumble uncertainly backward. A soft questioning chirp issued from Kirara.

No...

Do it!

The figure on the bed moved then, rising to a seated position and, for a moment, Ashrem's face smirked back at her from the dimness. Her earlier anger returned full force and it was enough to overcome any misgivings. With a purposeful swing, Midoriko's blade reared back and then forward, igniting with a violent burst of energy that utterly destroyed the room.

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Sesshoumaru's eyes opened, all of his senses alert instantly. He could smell her approach, hear it, sense it, and so he was not surprised when his door began to inch open. He did find himself curious as to the purpose of so late a visit, but refrained from considering it further. Turning his head, he watched her silently as she slipped inside the room, noticing that her gaze was riveted upon him with an expression that he found himself unable to decipher. He noticed an instant later that she had brought her sword with her.

He sat up quickly, but before he could ask her what was wrong, the blade rose, hesitated for a moment, and then swung with deadly purpose. Sesshoumaru had only a moment to register his surprise before his demon instincts kicked in and he dove off of the bed, colliding with the floor on the opposite side of the room just as a magnificent violet-white explosion passed through where he had been sitting. It struck the outside wall, blowing it away with the ease of a stick of dynamite. He could feel that sickening purifying energy, the near miss making his insides feel as though they had suddenly liquefied.

The floor underneath him shook as the walls shuddered from the blast, splinters of wood embedding themselves in his skin like tiny knives. He regained his bearings quickly and leapt back to his feet, rushing toward Midoriko, who had been blown back into the hallway. She was still attempting to shake off the effects of the impact when he pulled the sword away from her, hurling it down the hallway. It slid easily across the slick wood floors before finally spinning to a stop.

"Midoriko!" he barked, still caught solidly between fury and confusion, but when she turned her head to focus on him he noticed, for the slightest instant, the impression of a blue mark on her forehead, which faded away almost as soon as his eyes rested on it. A four-pointed star, he thought, recalling the strange observation she had made about the tiger youkai all those many months back. He was quiet for a moment, mind whirling as it put all of these things together. Indeed it seemed that his father's enemies had struck, and yet something about the situation appeared false. Subtle manipulation was unlike the tiger demons; they were brash, headstrong, and reckless. The very idea that they were even capable of such a skill was absurd, and if they were, he was certain they would have seen it before now.

It seemed most likely to Sesshoumaru that their enemy was being aided by another.

Midoriko blinked dazedly until Sesshoumaru's tense face blurred into focus. She noticed the scratches on his face, shoulders, and chest, the look of bewilderment mixed with anger, but what drew her attention most was the complete lack of an outside wall in the devastated room behind him. Moonlight poured in from the blackness outside, as did a soft swirling mix of snow.

"Sesshoumaru," she breathed in surprise, "What happened to the...?"

"You are being controlled," he told her without preamble.

"Huh?" she asked stupidly, feeling a familiar sense of blankness and confusion settle in her mind.

"You and your sword," he informed her, sweeping one hand to point at the weapon lying far out of reach down the hallway, "did that." He then indicated the destroyed room behind him and turned back to her with an eerie calm.

Struck speechless by his words, Midoriko rose to her feet and moved past him. The room looked like an explosion had occurred. Wood, debris, and part of the ceiling littered the floor, all of it quickly being covered by the insistent snowfall. She looked at the remains of the charred bed, the intricate carvings having been turned an ashy gray. Shuffling over to the table he had been working at earlier in the evening, Midoriko noticed a few ragged pieces of paper and picked them up, recognizing them as the maps he had been so carefully studying, a letter from his father...

"How could I have done this?" she whispered in disbelief, as though expecting him to reveal that it was all a prank. She suddenly felt foreign, as though she was inhabiting a body that wasn't really hers. This destruction was worse than anything she had ever done. And...why?

"You were being helped, no doubt," Sesshoumaru commented. The roof above them groaned warningly and a pale hand lashed out to pull her from the room.

"Then you and Inutaisho-sama were right. Someone is using me as a means to try to..."

"Kill me?" Sesshoumaru suggested grimly. "I gathered that."

Midoriko exhaled a shaky breath, pulling her eyes away from the disturbing state of what had once been his room. "Then do you think it's Tora...?

"Tora is an idiot. I cannot believe that he would have such abilities, but he might have befriended someone who does," Sesshoumaru voiced his suspicions, hands coming up to brush himself free of a thick coating of dust.

Feelings of guilt and fear gripped Midoriko as she helplessly eyed the disheveled demon that stood before her. Judging from the destruction that had been wrought on the house, she felt certain she had now reached a point where she was capable of killing even him. Certainly, if not for his instincts, she would have succeeded tonight. A knot formed in her stomach as, again, an image of a dead Sesshoumaru filled her mind.

"Please forgive me. I didn't realize..."

"Baka," he brusquely dismissed her apology before she could finish it. Frigid air from the outside brushed over him and he turned once more to inspect the remains of his room. Her power had grown. He was certain that if this had occurred in the interior of the house, a quarter of the building would have come down around them. The roof creaked loudly once more and he glared at it, as though holding it responsible for its own weakness.

Wordlessly, he led Midoriko back down the hallway, pausing only to gather up her sword. Kirara walked ahead, periodically stopping to look back apprehensively at her friend. Sesshoumaru walked with her back to her room, moving over to the table to place the sword carefully into its empty sheath, the snap breaking the silence.

"Take it with you," Midoriko requested woodenly, eyeing the blade with obvious apprehension.

He glanced back at her at that, appearing thoughtful. "I'm not going anywhere," he stated, and as though to illustrate that point, he settled himself on the floor beside the table that held the sword, legs bent and arms folded. "Your attacker tends to strike when you are alone. If I am here, perhaps I will be able to glean some information as to their identity. If nothing else, my presence might keep them from trying again."

"You're injured," Midoriko said in a quiet, regretful voice, kneeling to inspect the cuts and scrapes that marred his skin.

"They'll be gone within the hour," he carelessly informed her. "Go to sleep."

She shook her head, frown marring her features as brown eyes swerved up to meet his. "Do you really think I'll be able to go to sleep after this?"

"You'll have to eventually," he offered reasonably. "Being excessively weary will likely only make it easier for him. That is probably why he seems to attack during sleep. It would explain what occurred while you were in the bath."

"Explain what?"

"Precisely. You still cannot tell me what happened or reveal why it was that you were hurrying to find me for a reason that you could not recall by the time you did. Does that not strike you as odd?"

"Yes," she admitted hesitantly.

"Good. Go to sleep."

She shook her head again, this time more vehemently, feeling a sudden rise in irritation. "You're abnormally calm for someone I just attempted to murder tonight," she accused, and she realized that something in her would oddly prefer if he was a bit angry, rather than this all-knowing, all-seeing calm he appeared able to summon at a moment's notice. "What makes you think I won't try again? And what if I actually succeed next ti---?"

"You won't kill me," he told her with a certainty she did not feel.

"I wish I was that confident," she murmured.

He eyed her for a moment before finally speaking again, voice sounding as though he was giving in. “Kirara." The cat perked up immediately, tails swishing as her head swung toward him. "Bring me Tenseiga."

Instantly Kirara transformed into her larger form amidst a whoosh of flames and shot back out of the door, returning less than a minute later with the sheathed Tenseiga in her mouth. Kirara allowed Sesshoumaru to take the blade before promptly detransforming, and he set it in his lap, fingers hanging loosely over the sheath. That soul-scouring golden stare settled on Midoriko again and she knew her confusion must have been obvious.

"This sword is a healing sword, as you have seen," Sesshoumaru explained. "It can revive the dead, as I have told you, but it serves another purpose as well," he said, one of his claws stroking lightly over the hilt. "It will prevent you from taking my life."

"How can that be?"

"If Tenseiga is with me, it will protect me. If it finds itself overwhelmed, it reacts by literally pulling me from a battle and transporting me out of range of death. I know this, because it has happened before," he told her, looking less than grateful.

Midoriko eyed the sword speculatively, but did not look thoroughly convinced. "But what if...?"

"There is no need for concern," Sesshoumaru insisted. He recognized the look of fear in her face and what it was meant to convey, and forced his voice to soften some. "Why do you persist in worrying over needless things?"

She turned an expression on him that said far more than he had expected and he found his instincts instantly at war with each other, one liking the idea of drawing closer, the other demanding that he pull back. He settled for doing neither. How did this happen? he wondered silently. This girl…where had all of that emotion for him come from? It amazed, repulsed, and drew him all at once, something that was completely unacceptable, yet oddly welcome at the same time.

"You don't understand," she began in a halting, whispery voice, eyes locked on his face. She was suddenly caught by the face that was staring back at her, and many, many months of feelings felt an overwhelming need to express themselves. "Sesshoumaru," she said softly, almost as though afraid he would hear her, "I..."

"Don't say it," he stiffly interrupted her, knowing instinctively what was about to come from her lips. If not the words, then the sentiment. As always, she was so simple to read. He did not want to have to say to her what would be necessary if the subject was broached, and he was surprised at how desperate he was to preserve her feelings, but something made him say it aloud, tried to summon the nicest way to convey it.

"Midoriko," he said quietly, "We can never..."

"I know," she said quickly, drawing away from him and averting her eyes. What was I thinking? she ranted silently. She had been about to blurt out her feelings, so rattled was she by the night's events. He must think I'm so stupid, she thought with sickening surety, because she certainly did. It was all so utterly ridiculous, and being surrounded by him as she had been lately had only lessened her grasp on reality.

"Sometimes matters are decided for us, Midoriko. There are some things that cannot be changed. This is one of those things.”

The look of sick misery on her face halted his speech. What was it that he could say? She was very young. She did not know what she really wanted...or what was good for her, for that matter. He decided there really was nothing he could say to improve the situation, but as he sat and studied her, gaze locked on a face that refused to look back at him, he considered all of these many months, how she had changed, and how he had changed with her, adapting to her, befriending her, protecting her....

She had not altered his feelings toward her species, but she had altered him in some way he could not name. He wasn't entirely sure what motivated him; curiosity, affection, or the desire to pull her out of that humiliation that was so plainly evident from her body language and averted eyes, but he leaned forward, allowed the one moment....

And Midoriko sensed the movement, turned to face him only to find that he had closed the gap between them with a suddenness that caused an instant of mild panic. In the next moment, his lips were pressed lightly against hers, an expression of affection, and before she could register much more than dumbfounded surprise, the kiss was ended and he settled back once more, amused at his effect on her, which quickly became a furious blush and a faintly happier expression. She looked as though she had been forgiven.

"Go to sleep," he ordered again then, slicing through the moment as his hands fell back to rest on Tenseiga.

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Booted feet sloshed through the dismal mixture of mud and melting snow as Ashrem made his way through the dripping forest. The day had dawned unreasonably warm, considering that the past several days had seen so much wintry precipitation, and it was making the journey to meet the forest guardian, Rouyakan, messy and difficult.

He had sent word to the youkai as soon as his attempt on Sesshoumaru's life via Midoriko had failed. The girl was stubborn. If she had acted when he had instructed instead of resisting, Inutaisho's son would likely be dead now. Midoriko's pathetic feelings for the demon were making matters difficult, but there was always another way to achieve a desired outcome. If the demon slayer would not come to the demons, then he would be glad to send them to her.

When he arrived at the clearing that had been designated for their meeting, Ashrem found Rouyakan already waiting. Upon noting the human's presence, the demon pulled himself up to his full height and attempted an expression of fierceness. Ashrem's step did not falter.

"What is it that you wanted, human?"

Ashrem decided to buy into the youkai's posturing. "Rouyakan-sama, forgive me for disturbing you, but I wished to speak to you on a matter that greatly concerns you and your kind." He gave a dramatic pause, noting the spark of interest in the other being. "You know that I have long been a friend to the youkai population, particularly so to Lord Inutaisho. It is for that reason that I have come to inform you that the demon exterminator Midoriko made an attempt on the life of the lord's son, Sesshoumaru, only last night."

"Are you certain of this?" Rouyakan exclaimed in a booming voice, clearly astounded. His enormous yellow eyes grew as wide as boulders. "Sesshoumaru-dono seemed to have befriended ---"

"Yes, he did consider her a friend. And do you see how she repaid him? The girl is clearly unstable. If she will attempt to slay a demon that has been nothing but kind and honorable to her, what mercy will she show the rest of you, I wonder?"

Rouyakan paused, appearing to be deep in thought and Ashrem could barely suppress a smile of victory. This is far too easy...

"Then she must be destroyed," Rouyakan finally concluded.

"Agreed, as much as it pains me to say," Ashrem nodded, feigning an expression of sadness. "I, too, was rather fond of her, but for the sake of peace between our kind, this matter cannot go without response. I trust that you and your forest-dwelling youkai will see to the matter?"

Looking hesitant, Rouyakan finally nodded.

"Thank you, Rouyakan-sama. Your Lord Sesshoumaru will no doubt be most pleased to see you rise to his defense."

The beast seemed slightly cheered by this statement, but then ended the discussion by returning to the depths of the forest to recruit those who would be willing to stand up to Midoriko. It would be a massacre, Ashrem judged as he, too, turned to leave.

She would have no choice but to destroy them all.

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"Agh! Kirara, don't splash! Just because it's melted doesn't mean it's not cold!" Midoriko complained with a laugh as she watched the huge cat make another swipe in the pond for a fish. Glittering scales were visible for an instant before they swished away again, and Kirara bounded around to the other side of the pond, watching with keen interest, tail swishing expectantly as she waited for signs of movement beneath the water.

She was as glad to be out of the house as Midoriko, who had never been one to enjoy being cooped up indoors. Winter had always been difficult to endure and though Inutaisho's home had many things within its walls to divert her attention, the desire for fresh air had driven her outside at the first signs of a melt.

Sesshoumaru watched them from the steps that led up to the house. He had not let his guard down since the incident two nights earlier, and, thus far, nothing had happened. He could not decide whether that was more welcome or irritating. So long as the attacker left Midoriko alone, there was no hope of finding any clue as to his identity. But, again, as long as he left her alone, she was normal and in control of her senses.

A great weight seemed to have lifted from her in the past day or so. She was frolicking about with Kirara as though she did not have a care in the world, though he had noticed that she had removed the sword from her room and stored it in another part of the house. Despite how much happier she seemed, she clearly did not trust herself. He had agreed to her request to keep Tenseiga with him. It was unnecessary, but if it lessened her worry he was willing to do it. They had enough to focus on without the addition of petty squabbling over that damnable guardian sword.

Sesshoumaru believed that the upswing in her mood was likely more to do with the new understanding that had developed between them. Even though the matter had not been discussed since he had shown her that rather uncharacteristic display of affection, he was certain that she was aware of what he had been trying to say. She was his friend, and his rejection of her was not because of her as an individual. She knew of his responsibilities to his family and to his father's lands. At the same time, he also understood that somewhere along the way, for whatever reason, this human girl had decided to love him. How very strange, but then they were such odd creatures....

The cawing of a bird caused him to glance up at a brilliant cerulean sky. A distant black dot was flapping toward his house, one that was quickly recognizable as a crow.

Midoriko noticed the messenger, too, and shielded her eyes against the sun in order to get a good look at it as it circled the home once and then descended to drop a letter in Sesshoumaru's outstretched hand. She left Kirara to the fishing and hurried over to the steps, wrapping her cold hands in the long sleeves of her heavy kimono.

Sesshoumaru scanned the letter rapidly before finally looking at her, a vague glint of victory in his eyes. "They've captured the leader of the tiger youkai."

"And what will they do with him? Kill him?"

"Knowing my father, he's likely plotting the best way to execute the bastard as I speak, if he hasn't already lost his temper, that is."

Midoriko blinked in surprise. "Really? Inutaisho-sama always seems to be so calm and even-tempered...."

"As a youkai lord he is rather mild-mannered," Sesshoumaru granted, "but as a warrior he is brutal. There is a reason why his enemies fear him. I expect that pieces of Tora will be found in several nearby provinces."

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Sudden light infiltrated the damp, stone-walled chamber in which Tora was bound, causing him to blink at the sudden onslaught. His demon senses were failing him due to the severity of the wounds he had been dealt in the battle against the youkai lords, and they were slow in returning, much to his frustration. Furu had taken great pleasure in throwing him into the deepest, darkest cell his fortress possessed. And Tora knew his entire tribe had been decimated without even having to form the question. It was to be expected.

His weakened sense of smell prevented him from discovering the identity of his visitor until booted feet became visible in the dimness. The imperious form of Inutaisho walked steadily toward him, pausing briefly to settle an oil lamp onto a rocky ledge. A brown-tinged glow filled the small room and Tora looked down to discover that several spiders were crawling over the shreds of clothing that clung to his body. Giant gray rats drank from puddles of dark, brackish water before skittering away to safety.

Tora did his best to work up a defiant look for his captor, who stared down at him with an unsettling coolness.

"I trust you are relatively comfortable, Tora? Furu-sama's original recommendation was for your accommodations to be a wooden box underneath the ground. Fortunately for you, I had a desire to speak with you. I hope your answers won't disappoint me."

"My death is assured. What could I possibly gain by speaking to you, mutt?" Tora spat back, feeling a quickly boiling rage well up within him.

Inutaisho ignored the disrespect, appearing unconcerned. "We can negotiate as to whether I will spare your life. You are aware that the women and children of your tribe remain alive?"

Tora was taken aback by this revelation. It was unexpected, particularly considering the obvious wrath that had been behind that last battle. Barreling through that human village had turned out to be a bad idea; it had set Inutaisho on him like a rabid animal. "No, though I am certain that their executions will quickly follow mine."

"Ah, but that's where you and I differ, Tora," Inutaisho corrected him, golden eyes glittering in the faint light. "I do not kill children. However, there is the matter of your women...many of them are trained warriors and fought alongside you. By rights they should die as well, though it does not suit me to leave children orphaned. Your answers to my questions will dictate my response to the survivors."

"Agreed," Tora replied through gritted teeth. In his mind's eye he could see the four youngest of his children. His mate had been alive when last he had seen her. Perhaps not all would be lost...

"I received a letter from my son yesterday morning," Inutaisho began. "It seems that a young woman, a demon slayer named Midoriko, attempted to murder him while he slept."

"Your son should choose his women more wisely."

Inutaisho's face darkened and he lowered himself to Tora's level, tone becoming more dangerous by the word. "In this letter," he continued, as though Tora had not interrupted, "it was revealed that the girl appeared to have been controlled by an outside force. On her forehead was a mark, one that we are familiar with as it was also present on the tiger youkai you sent to attack my home many months ago."

Tora shook his head vehemently at the subtle accusation, wishing suddenly that his hands were at least tied loosely enough for an attempt at freeing them. He would love to die with his fingers around the dog lord's throat. "It was not I who ordered the attack on your home."

"Then you know who it was."

"Yes. Guarantee that my life will be spared and I will tell you all you need to know."

Inutaisho nodded benevolently, as though suddenly deciding that this would be a fair exchange, and Tora felt a mild sense of relief. He knew that Inutaisho was the type of man who would hold true to his word, though he was a little suspicious at the ease with which his terms were agreed to.

"I was approached nearly two years ago by a human man, a sorcerer of some type. He wished to ally himself with me because he knew I meant to destroy you. He said he was weary of your stranglehold on the west. I agreed to allow him access to some of my men for his purposes because he had demonstrated his ability to effectively control the body of another, to draw off of their power as much as enhance it. Unfortunately, he discovered too late that his ability to manipulate weakens as it is split into many different minds. That was the disaster that occurred at your home."

"And who is this man?" Inutaisho said with disturbing calm.

"His name is Ashrem. I am not surprised he decided to use the exterminator as a means to destroy you. You created her, did you not? Quite a predicament, Inutaisho," Tora mocked, feeling more confident.

"Ashrem," Inutaisho repeated, the name coming out like a curse.

Tora watched apprehensively as the youkai lord's claws curled up into fists, his expectance for survival waning as he watched the fury gather in his enemy's face. He fully expected to be killed then and there, but was pleasantly surprised when, instead, Inutaisho backed away from him, that easy, calm expression seizing him once more.

"Thank you for your cooperation, Tora."

Without further comment, the demon lord turned to leave, which prompted the still-securely-bound Tora to call after him. "Wait! You agreed to spare my life!"

Inutaisho turned then to regard him with a smug coldness. "Are you deceased? I did spare your life. Perhaps you can work out a similar arrangement with the eastern and southern lords," he offered the option, tone scolding, as though speaking to an ill-mannered child. "You've made them very angry, Tora."

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Midoriko was thrilled to find that she eventually wore Sesshoumaru down enough for him to allow her to return to her village. He, of course, accompanied her like a white shadow. Her spirit buoyed as soon as she caught sight of the small clustering of wooden houses from high up on Kirara's back. A glimpse of the charred remains of her own house on the ground below her brought her mood down a bit, but the grin returned as soon as she caught sight of people inside the village walls pointing up at her approach.

Kirara swooped down into the village with her usual gracefulness, Sesshoumaru doing the same an instant later. The villagers regarded him hesitantly for a moment before settling their full attention on the returned Midoriko, who accepted their welcomes as well as their admonishments over her absence. She was practically knocked over by the force of Lia's embrace, and her ears rang with the sound of the young woman's voice as she immediately set about trying to inform Midoriko of every detail that had occurred during the days that she had been gone.

"You're here to stay now, right? We've all agreed that we will rebuild your house if that is your wish, but I wanted to speak with you first. I'd prefer that you live with Mama and I, but..."

"Lia," Midoriko laughed off the chattered plans, "surely we can discuss this indoors. It's cold out here."

"Oh, of course!" Lia blushed. "Come inside. Are you hungry? Mama's made plenty of her soup...Midoriko?"

Midoriko's attention trailed off when her eyes lit on a small circle of children playing with a ball not far away. They kicked it back and forth, squealing and laughing, apparently oblivious to the chill in the air. Feeling oddly disturbed, Midoriko looked around her at the adults who were either speaking amongst themselves now or watching the children play. A deep sense of dread filled Midoriko's heart, her attention finally diverted from the scene by Lia's insistent voice.

There was some rather obvious discomfort about Sesshoumaru's presence. Midoriko understood Lia's reticence about allowing a strange demon inside her home, but was glad to see that the memory of his attempt to save her husband was enough to cause her to move past that enough to graciously invite him inside. He looked distinctly out-of-place in the small house. It was thoroughly clean and organized, but the ragged nature of the objects within contrasted greatly with the gleaming perfection of Sesshoumaru's expensive-looking attire. He looked faintly ill at ease, as though he liked the idea of being in Lia's home about as much as she enjoyed him being there, but his manners were impeccable, if not more than a little frosty.

It was at Lia's table, steaming cups of tea set before them, that Midoriko finally explained a half-truth as to why she had not returned to the village. She revealed that her presence in the village was likely to provoke many more attacks now that the youkai population was sufficiently angry with her. She left out the distressing matter of the mind-control issue, not wishing to concern the more highly-strung Lia any more than was necessary. Midoriko let her believe that her house had been destroyed by a youkai as a response to her retaliation over Shijin’s death.

"You know that we can help you, Midoriko. The exterminators all stand by what you did. We're proud of how powerful you've become. Trust us."

"I do, Lia," Midoriko began, "but..."

"The fact remains that she will be safer under my supervision. My father rules over the demons in these lands. That is a much more effective means of protection than a group of human exterminators," Sesshoumaru spoke up from where he stood near the door, tone lightly resting on the word 'exterminators' as though he was gifting them with such a title.

Lia was quick to reply to that, face politely empty. "You'll forgive our village, Sesshoumaru-sama, if we don't accept that easily."

"I will?" he mildly questioned her presumption. "I brought her here because she would not cease prattling about her desire to see you. She will return with me."

"Please quit speaking about me as though I am not here," Midoriko demanded irritably. A headache was starting to throb deep inside her skull and their well-mannered bickering was only making it worse. "I can decide on my own...," she added, but stopped speaking as a familiar blinding flash went off behind her eyes. Her headache instantly tripled, hammering inside her head as her senses simultaneously warned of approaching danger.

Before she could even say anything, Sesshoumaru had wrenched open the door and stepped outside. She followed him, a knot of fear balling up in her stomach, expecting to find exactly what she saw. She was suddenly grateful that she had allowed him to convince her to carry her sword with her back to the village.

"There's a lot of them," she spoke as though asking him to verify it.

"Yes," he agreed lowly. "A horde of them. I cannot distinguish their individual scents."

Midoriko nodded, her eyes cast upward toward the dark, distantly billowing cloud that was coming in their direction. She looked around her at the villagers who were busily attending to their daily tasks. They had yet to notice what was approaching them. Finally forcing herself into action, Midoriko turned to Lia, who was standing behind them at the door.

"There will be a youkai attack. Please warn the exterminators," she ordered her friend.

Lia's eyes flickered fearfully up to the sky, squinting as though trying to make out the exact nature of the threat. Without another word, Midoriko ran from the house, hurtling down the road to the building where much of the spare exterminator weapons and gear were stored.

She shoved open the door and hurried inside, her eyes taking a moment to adjust to the darkness. She noticed various pieces of armor lying carefully placed on a work bench and headed toward them. Sesshoumaru appeared at the doorway in time to watch her tie some shoulder guards in place, nervous fingers working nimbly, her pounding head focused entirely on the moment. She could not allow herself to think of what was coming toward them because doing so only brought on the why of it all, and that was more guilt than she wanted to consider right then.

"What do you think you're doing?" Sesshoumaru asked her, frowning as she reached for yet another piece of armor. The demon-bone material made it heavy, but she would need all the help she could get if she was going to try to battle so many youkai at once.

"I'm going to fight them. They're coming here for me. If I leave the village to meet them, they won't have a reason to destroy it," she offered reasonably.

"You honestly believe you can wage a battle against so many? I credited you with more intelligence than that."

"Then what is it that you propose, Sesshoumaru?" Midoriko asked angrily, whirling around to find him completely blocking the exit.

"I'll handle it," came the snapped reply.

"Today? And what about tomorrow? And the day after? Are you going to be my guardian for the rest of my life? Are you going to destroy the respect other youkai hold for you? For Inutaisho-sama? They'll call you a traitor. You knew this was going to happen. You've warned me ever since the first day you came to show me how to use this sword. I created this, so let me finish it."

She moved to shove past him, but he gripped her arm and held her back, watched as defiant brown eyes locked on his face. "My father created this. All of it. Place the blame where it belongs."

"He can't see the future, Sesshoumaru," Midoriko said softly, her anger deflating. "He didn't know that I would be so irresponsible. If I had not disobeyed him, it wouldn't have come to this."

Sesshoumaru remained as solidly in place as a brick wall.

"Have some faith, my friend," she said, smiling for his benefit as she reached to wrap a hand around the wrist that held her back. "I will not lose. I promise."

"No, you won't," he agreed, finally shifting his stance to let her pass through the doorway. "Because I'll be fighting with you."