InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Rulers of Four Directions ❯ Of Demons and Shinigami ( Chapter 3 )

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.

Summary of Previous Chapter: Sesshoumaru, along with Jaken and Kohaku, started his journey to take Rin to the eastern lands. On his way, he encountered Sakki, a shinigami who aimed to deliver Rin's soul to the afterlife.

Chapter 03: Of Demons and Shinigami

 

“What are you?” Sesshoumaru asked the mysterious female, who only answered with silence.

 

The yokai lord narrowed his eyes, his mind working to determine what kind of being she was. She was neither yokai nor human, that he was sure of. A ghost was his other guess. But what business would a ghost have with him? Or could she be one of the spirits of the forest?

 

Whatever she was, she could not be a creature of this world, he decided. If only he had time to spare, he would be tempted to find out what she was. It had been a while since he saw something that intrigued him. But Rin's life was in the hands of time. And even the haughty yokai lord himself would acknowledge that time was not always merciful.

 

“I have no time to entertain a mute.” Sesshoumaru stated as he returned Bakusaiga back in its sheath. He turned around and started to walk away.

 

“That girl...” Sakki said, much to his surprise. That soft, alluring voice caused the male to halt his steps and looked at her over his shoulder. Even her voice carried mysteries. “...She is going to die.”

 

A frown appeared on the yokai lord's face as he heard her forewarning.

 

“... And who are you to decide?” He asked her.

 

Sakki did not answer. She found it futile to explain the concept of her existence to a mortal. Sesshoumaru stared at her, this raven haired... thing. His eyes narrowed as a suspicion grew in his mind.

“... Are you death?”

This question caused a smile to appear on Sakki's face, much to her surprise. It had been a while since she felt the will to smile, since she felt that uplifting tingle inside.

“I am nowhere as important.” She told him.

“It does not matter what you are...” Sesshoumaru said as he unsheathed his other sword, Tenseiga. “If you are a threat to Rin's life, then I simply have to eliminate you.”

“Umm... Sesshoumaru-sama...” He frowned as he heard Jaken's meek voice coming from above him, prompting him to lift his gaze upwards. Jaken and Kohaku had steered Ah Un to hover just above the opening he had previously created with Bakusaiga.

“Sesshoumaru-sama, who are you talking to?” Kohaku asked him. His eyes wandered around, searching for his lord's unseen companion.

A deeper frown appeared on the daiyokai's face upon hearing the boy's question. Immediately, he shifted his gaze back to the mysterious female before him. She still stood there, merely a few steps before him, patiently waiting.

`So I, Sesshoumaru, am the only one who is able to see her.' He concluded.

Sakki stared at the new presence that interrupted her unfriendly exchange with the demon. Her vision was glued to the girl securely strapped to the saddle of the two-headed dragon. Her shinigami eyes were able to see the light of life within the girl that was indeed dim, very dim. It would not be long before that girl reached death.

Her eyes shifted back to this demon named Sesshoumaru, whom she had guessed to be a lord of some sort. Why he had been able to see her was still an unresolved question. He should have been like those wards of his, blissfully unaware of her existence.

“... Do you wish to fight me, demon?” She asked him calmly.

Without wasting another breath to answer, Sesshoumaru charged forward, swinging Tenseiga in one strong, confident swipe. Sakki dodged the attack effortlessly, leaping above the daiyokai's head, the long sleeves of her kimono fluttered like wings of a black butterfly. Within the split second while she was above him, as if he had anticipated her movement from the start, he swiftly turned around and delivered another clean swipe. She sensed the second surprise attack just in time to push herself away from the sword's reach, but just barely.

Sakki landed on the far opposite side of him and once again, they stood face to face. She lifted her right arm to stare at the damage he had caused to her kimono sleeve. The sword's graze had burned the fabric of her garb and turned the lower portion of her sleeve into ashes. She could still spot the bit of lingering flame along the tattered rim of the fabric. The aftermath of their spar had left her in disbelief. Though she had avoided his attack from the start, mainly because she loathed the idea of being cut, she never thought there was even the slightest possibility that he would be able to maim her. Her garb, just like herself, was not of this world. No mortal weapon should have been able to touch her. Was it all because he could see her?

“You picked the wrong demon to mess with.” The male's icy voice pulled her out from her own musings. He already took his stance, prepared to launch another attack.

But before Sesshoumaru could make his next move, his opponent disappeared right before his eyes, leaving behind only silence and a strange chilly wind. He closed his eyes to concentrate all of his senses to locate her, but he could no longer feel her presence. He remained still for a moment, his senses heightened to check his surroundings. But he sensed nothing of significance. Once he was convinced that she had vanished, he placed Tenseiga back in its sheath.

“Wha... What just happened, Sesshoumaru-sama?” Jaken asked. He and Kohaku had watched their lord's strange behaviours with great bewilderment. In their eyes, it seemed the daiyokai spoke to someone who was not there, and tried to use his sword to cut something that did not even exist.

Sesshoumaru ignored the imp's question.

“We are leaving.” He simply said.

Unbeknown to the yokai lord, Sakki reappeared immediately following his departure. She perched on top the branch of a tree, hiding beneath the shadows, quietly watching him through the leaves. This time, she was purposely cautious and suppressed any presence she might have. The male, followed by his dependants, had returned to the sky to continue his journey.

“...That was close, Sakki.” A sudden voice startled her. She turned around to find a young boy standing on the same branch as her, merely a few steps behind. He was raven-haired just like her, though his shimmering eyes were the colour of ruby.

“Hakuou-sama...” She said. “You did not have to come all the way here for a small matter as this...”

The boy did not respond. He merely fixed his eyes on the object of her attention, the inuyokai flying high above them.

“Are you curious about him, Sakki?” He asked without shifting his gaze. “Do you want to know why he was able to see you and touched you with his sword?”

She did not answer. But even so, they both knew the answer was `yes'.

“He is the wielder of one of those swords...” The boy said.

Sakki frowned. Hakuou-sama must be referring to the dull blade the demon had used to strike her. She would never have guessed that it was one of those swords. But now, everything made sense. The sword enabled him to see and touch her as if she was just another mortal being.

“Be on your guard, Sakki.” Hakuou said. “You were fortunate enough to have only your kimono suffer his attack. But the slightest touch of that blade on your skin will turn you into ashes. Should that happens... Even I, the Death God himself, will not be able to revive you.”

Hakuou stared at his right-hand shinigami as he proceeded with his words.

“Reap that girl's soul and leave them as soon as you have performed your duty.” He commanded. “Do not involve yourself with him any further.”

There was a silence before she lowered her head and answered,

“Yes, Hakuou-sama...” She said faintly.

Sakki aimed her gaze back at the figure of that inuyokai, slowly diminishing into the blue sky. As she continued watching him, a certain flicker appeared in her amethyst eyes.

`Sesshoumaru...' She repeated his name silently. `I will certainly make you pay for what you have done...'

-To be continued-

 

Yay, another chapter finished! I hope you all enjoyed it. As always, reviews are greatly appreciated. Many thanks to SesshyFan, AshleyDavis, and Sesshylover978 for the reviews.

-Chiaztolite-