InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Rulers of Four Directions ❯ The Killing Intention ( Chapter 2 )

 

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters in this fan fiction are the property of Rumiko Takahashi. The original characters and plot are the property of Chiaztolite, who is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise.  No copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter 02: The Killing Intention

 

News did not travel from east to west so easily. During the 500 years of his life, Sesshoumaru had not heard much about the eastern lands. Surrounded by soaring mountains and deep forests, their geographical location did not give them the advantage of easy passage for both man and demon. Although the yokai lord knew of its existence: the lands beyond the mountains, he had never set foot there. The span between his lands and theirs were so great that one would not cross the distance merely for curiosity.

 

It would take them three days of flying without pausing to reach the eastern lands. He did not know for sure how the human boy would handle that length of a trip without resting. But time is off essence. Even the slightest delay can put Rin in even greater danger.

 

They had been flying since last night, and it had been quite some time since they saw dawn this morning. The sun was at its prime, though the cool spring breeze kept them comfortable. His youki carried him easily, Ah Un followed not far behind. Kohaku and Jaken had securely strapped Rin's body to the dragon's saddle to prevent the sleeping girl from plummeting to the ground. They too, had been dozing on and off ever since they left the meadow by Inuyasha's village.

 

The meadow reminded Sesshoumaru of the most recent conversation he had with his mother. And also most disturbing. To learn he had a younger sister was naturally, a startling revelation. How and why his mother concealed that fact were beyond him. Pride she had said, he scoffed inwardly. Pride was the most convenient excuse, and perhaps most believable. Most pure-blooded yokai and needless to say, him, understood pride very well. And yet, there was something in his mother's demeanour that caused him to doubt her reasoning.

 

“...Are you not just a tiny bit curious to meet your sister? Don't you think it would be a pleasant change to have a sibling whom you have no desire to kill every time you both meet?”

 

He scoffed at the memory. Blood related or not, if she happened to have even the slightest gut to stand in his way, he would cut her without any hesitation. And why on earth would he be curious? He had lived 500 years of his life without her and never once had he felt something was missing. As far as the yokai lord was concerned, that female inuyokai his mother referred to as his “sister” was a complete stranger who can be eliminated with reasons.

 

His two vassals observed him quietly from their steed. Naturally, they still felt the aftermath of the revelation Lady Isha had made on their lord's lineage.

 

“Jaken-sama...” Kohaku called the green imp riding behind him. He had to whisper to ensure his words would not reach Sesshoumaru's ears. “Does Sesshoumaru-sama really had no idea that he has a sister and a grandfather who is still alive?”

 

“Hmmm...” Jaken thought for a moment. “He did seem genuinely surprised... And I've never heard anything mentioned about a sister and a grandfather before yesterday.”

 

“Do you think Sesshoumaru-sama is excited to meet them for the first time?” The boy asked.

“Sesshoumaru-sama is excited?” Jaken returned the question after a period of silence. “...That in itself is a scary thought...”

 

The toad yokai almost screamed when he saw his master looked over the shoulder immediately after he finished that sentence.

 

“Did he hear me??” He asked anxiously as he hid his small body behind Kohaku's back. “Did my Lord hear me??”

 

“Umm...” Kohaku could not be certain as to why the yokai lord had turned around all of a sudden, even though it was just for a brief moment. It was as if he needed to ascertain something. But clearly, he did not look back because of what Jaken had said. He did not even lay his eyes on them, but merely to the empty blue sky beyond them.

 

“Jaken-sama... I don't think he heard you.” Kohaku calmed the panic imp down.

 

Sesshoumaru felt restless. He had a hunch that they were being followed though by who, he was not sure. Strangely, his nose could not smell the scent of the culprit. The only indication that they were not alone in their journey was that wary feeling he had. Nevertheless, his sharp intuition convinced him there was something out there watching them. Another mystery was where their unknown companion was hiding. They were flying mid-air, constantly moving. There was nothing around them but blue sky, and no place to hide.

 

He shifted his golden gaze lower. Below them was a sea of trees, as far as eyes can see. It was the forest that separates western from eastern lands, said to be so deep and so dense with old trees that sunlight could not penetrate the layers of leaves. In many ways, it was the perfect habitat for demons, and the perfect camouflage for their mysterious companion.

 

`From below, huh...?' He said inwardly. To be able to follow them this far when they were flying full speed... Even Sesshoumaru had to acknowledge this thing had at least some decent skills.

 

“Stay above the trees.” He told his wards. Ignoring their surprised faces, he dived into the forest. Even before his feet touched the top of the trees, his hand unsheathed one of his swords, Bakusaiga. With one smooth swing after another, he chopped off those tree trunks that prevented his smooth landing.

 

The yokai lord landed on his feet, perfectly balanced. Rays of sun pierced the darkness of the forest through the hole he had created using Bakusaiga. He narrowed his eyes, scanning his surrounding cautiously. All his senses were focused on locating the culprit who was obviously hiding somewhere in the darkness. He was surrounded by trees. Old trees, their barks were twice as thick as an adult's embrace. What a perfect place for a spy to hide, he thought to himself. It was deadly quiet. Much too quiet...

 

“Show yourself.” He commanded, demanding the unknown creature to come out of its hiding place. He waited for a few seconds, but the creature was more stubborn than he had expected. But now he was surer than ever that someone, or something, was indeed following them. Though he still could not smell its scent, he could feel its eyes on him. Watching, lurking... Was it waiting for the right time to pounce?

 

“Show yourself, creature.” He demanded again. “You are grating on my patience.”

 

But the stubborn creature remained in hiding, somewhere beneath the shadows. The yokai lord's eyes narrowed into a pair of golden slits. He truly had no time to play games with whoever tried to test him. If the creature would not go to him, then he would destroy it, along with this entire forest.

 

Streaks of green lighting started to form along his sword. They sizzled, crackled, seemingly impatient to destroy everything around them. Just mere seconds before the daiyokai released his Bakusaiga, he saw something that stopped him in his track.

 

It was a female. She was clearly not a human as her features were too fine and too ethereal to be one of those lesser beings. Her skin was the colour of pearl white alabaster. Her pair of shimmering purple eyes was like twin amethysts, staring at him with expression even he could not read. Her garb, modest but refined, was a plain black kimono with plain white obi fastened around her slim waist. A plain black choker adorned her throat. A sudden, strange chill wind blew, tousling her silky raven haired that cascaded down to her lower back.

 

The female continued to stare at him without uttering even one word. Her face was as blank as a lonely tombstone. There was an eerie air about her, delicate yet fierce at the same time, that caused Sesshoumaru to realize she might not be a yokai either. Could any mortal possess such an otherworldly appearance?

 

`A ghost...?' He wondered.

 

 

Sakki never expected this mortal creature before her to sense her presence, ever. In her thousand years serving as the Death God's soul reaper, she never encountered anyone who could see her. This situation she stumbled upon was never in her prediction and thus, she did not know how to react. She was not even sure how this all happened. She could only blame her own curiosity.

 

As the right hand of the Death God himself, it was not her duty to personally harvest all those poor souls whose life on earth had reached their expiry. Her minions, the dwarf creatures of the underworld, were enough for that purpose. However, she had realized there was one soul that for some unknown reason, kept escaping death. The name first appeared on her list some years ago. Those hell creatures were sent but no soul was returned. Once again it happened, only to have the same result.

 

Then, it was the third time the same name appeared on her list. And this time, she was not going to leave without it...

 

 

Wow, I finished Ch.02 way faster than expected. Hope you enjoyed it. As always, reviews are greatly appreciated. See you in the next chapter.

 

-Chiaztolite-