InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Sedition of Will ❯ The Journey Begins ( Chapter 5 )

Sedition of Will

“The Journey Begins”

 

Rin sat in her room with her open traveling satchel in front of her. It was still very early in the morning and the sun phoenix had not risen from its birthplace in the east yet. She looked at her unfilled pack thoughtfully. `Whaaaat to bring?' All Lord Sesshoumaru had said was they were going to visit a lord named Ishimaru on the east. She always liked to travel light. It made her giggle when she thought of Inuyasha's priestess friend who lugged around that huge bundle on her back like a turtle. It surprised the young woman, who was not so much taller than Rin now, could carry such a heavy looking rucksack without toppling over. Rin grinned indulgently then turned back to her quandary. She determined she should definitely bring the provisions Kumiko had given her. She folded the beautiful pink kimono at the bottom of her satchel, deciding it was much too fine for travel. Rin would have to wear the plainer blue robe she wore now for the journey. She pulled her hair into a ponytail low at her neck and slipped the bone lotus blossom hair ornament at the base. The fan and small china box of Dream Moth dust were wrapped carefully in squares of silk and followed the kimono into her pack. The zori she set aside. She'd put those on as soon as she got outside. Rin needed to get used to their extra weight and this seemed like the perfect opportunity. Lastly she retrieved the Cricket Mask from her desk. She turned it over in her hands, examining it curiously as she had several times before. It looked so ordinary and not at all special. Rin bit her lip thoughtfully. Was it really as powerful as Kumiko claimed? Rin flipped it over and brought it cautiously to her face, hesitating only an inch from making contact. A bird twittered outside and Rin furrowed her eyebrows. `No time for this now.' She thought, and placed it carefully into her pack. Rin gathered up a few more trivial items and pulled the satchel closed with the drawstring. She exhaled gratefully with this task done and stood up, slinging the strap of her bundle over her shoulder. Taking her sandals in one hand she gave her room a little wave.

 

“Good-bye room! I'll be back soon!” She declared, as though she were bidding a dear old friend farewell. The childish phrase was something she recited before every journey, promising her meager belongings she'd return in time to care for them again. She closed the door and meandered cheerfully through the castle to the kitchen. Her heart always felt light right before they were about to take a trip. Rin sat down at a small serving table. Rin almost never ate in the dining room. It was much too formal and she preferred the cozy feel and smells of the active kitchen. Yamahara appeared at the doorway.

 

“Good morning Rin. All ready to go I see.” He bellowed merrily. Rin met him with a sly grin.

 

“Yep. Have you seen Lord Sesshoumaru or Jakken yet?” She asked of the pudgy chef, who was now filling a bowl of rice for her.

 

“Haven't seen the Lord. Jakken zoomed through here and ate his breakfast so fast I thought he'd choke. I suspect Lord Sesshoumaru told him to get Ah-Un ready, or something of the like.” Yamahara remarked, setting the bowl of rice in front of Rin. “You know how Jakken is. Any word from our Lord and he feels the entire world just turned and took notice of him.” Yamahara said with a hearty chuckle. Rin wrinkled her nose, smothering a giggle.

 

“That's Jakken alright.” Rin agreed. Yamahara's sense of humor was great morning repose. She pulled a pair of chopsticks from a clay cup and started on her breakfast.

 

“I wanted to say good-bye to Kumiko-san but I don't think there's time. If you see her can you tell her I said take care?” Rin asked.

 

“Of course.” Yamahara replied. “Though she's just like Lord Sesshoumaru. They hardly ever eat. But I'll tell her when I see her. But I know she'll be coming down for some tea leaves. Apparently you two have been working your tea ceremony.” He added. Rin clucked her tongue in her mouth. Tea ceremony was not her best subject. Rin finished her bowl and put it in the dish tub. She thanked the fat cook and bid him farewell. Yamahara pinched her earlobes lightly for good luck and shooed her from the kitchen.

 

Rin stepped into courtyard and toed on her zori, filling her lungs with the fresh morning air. The horizon was a turning bright reds and oranges, chasing the fleeing plum hues of night from the sky. The sound of Ah-Un's bray carried across the open air. Rin closed the distance to the stable, her sandals making `clack clack' sounds across the stonework. The twin headed dragon was lowering his necks obediently so Jakken could slip the reins over the two muzzles.

 

“Good morning Ah-Un! Good morning Jakken.” She chirped. Jakken grunted and struggled to pull the heavy dragon harness out of a trunk.

 

“It might have been good but Two-Heads here decided it would be fun to play hard to get. Had to chase him all around the stable before they'd behave.” Jakken huffed. Rin giggled and gave each had a long scratch behind the ears. The wizened dragon winked his slitted eyes playfully at Rin who brought a finger to her lips, sharing in the private joke. She helped Jakken lift the saddle onto the dragon's broad back and buckled the cinch securely. Rin gave the dragon a reassuring pat on his russet-green scales, eliciting a low grumble of pleasure. Jakken led Ah-Un out of the corral by the reins with Rin trailing behind the dragon's great swaying tail. The sun was just peeking its sleepy face over the faraway tree line, and as promised, Sesshoumaru was waiting silently in the courtyard for his rowdy troupe. He was fully armored with Toukijin and Tensaiga resting at his hip. A vagrant wind swept by, brushing the dangling length of fabric of his yellow sash. He fixed his impish retainer who was shuffling up with a silent inquiry.

 

“Everything is as ordered Lord Sesshoumaru!” Jakken declared proudly. Sesshoumaru shifted his gaze to Rin.

 

“Are you prepared?” He asked, raising a brow.

 

“Yes Lord Sesshoumaru!” She replied, flashing a wide grin and patting her hand against her satchel. He nodded and with a wide sweeping gesture he mounted the dragon settling easily in the saddle. Ah-Un's twin heads rose to attention, eager for instruction. Jakken took up his usual seat near the dragon's tail, clutching his Staff of Heads covetously. Rin hesitated. Her cumbersome sandals might make this tricky. Sesshoumaru seemed to notice her distress and extended a clawed hand to her. Smiling gratefully, she reached up and took his offered hand. He grasped her forearm and hoisted her up. Rin almost gasped in shock when he placed her in front of him and snaked his arm around her waist. Normally Rin sat behind her lord encircled in a cloud of his swirling white mane, gripping the seat of the harness for stability. Before she could even think, Sesshoumaru gave a tug on Ah-Un's reigns and they reared up. Rin bumped back into the stiff chest plate of his armor, nearly being unseated, but the powerful arm held her in place. The dragon let out an unrestrained roar and they soared into the air, quickly leaving the ground behind. Rin never failed to grin in wonder as they took flight, though they had done it countless times before. Far below her the castle grew smaller and smaller until it finally disappeared.

 

Sesshoumaru detached his arm from Rin's willowy waist and took up the reigns in both hands. Rin's skin tingled underneath her robes where his claws had rested, still warm from the contact. A petite smile tugged at the corner's of Rin's mouth at the consideration her lord had taken for her safety. She stole a glance at him from time to time as they glided through the crisp blue skies. His glorious white bangs were swept back from the chiseled angles of his face and his golden eyes were trained ahead. Rin gathered her ponytail from her back and held it to her chest, worried it might whip into his face. Seemingly endless stretches of green forest spread far below them dotted by the sapphire blues of streams and lakes. After some length of time she spotted wisps of smoke from a small village in the distance, telling her they were approaching the boarders of Sesshoumaru's lands. It amazed her how fast they traveled on the dragon's back.

 

Throughout the journey the three travelers, or four, depending on whether you counted heads or bodies, were quiet, simply content to enjoy the changing landscape. Rin's mind wandered from topic to topic, quite at ease to revel in her daydreams. The ethereal setting of the sky travel always encouraged her active imagination. She thought about Kumiko's toujistu lessons and her sad story of the human price long dead. Rin felt great sorrow on behalf of her kind teacher. Without thought Rin leaned into the warm softness of Sesshoumaru's fur mantle. She glanced up at her lord, heart full of gladness that unlike Kumiko, she had in her own way, someone to keep her company. The more she thought about it, the more it seemed like Kumiko was just biding her time, waiting for death to finally claim her so she could rejoin her lost love. Rin couldn't fathom just how much Kumiko really must be suffering, despite her easy smiles. How lonely she must be. Rin unconsciously shuddered at the thought of ever being without Lord Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru must have felt her gazing at him for he slowly lowered his golden eyes to her meet hers, puzzled by her absurdly large grin. He lifted a questioning brow.

 

“I'm just so happy I'm with you Lord Sesshoumaru.” She admitted truthfully. She looked positively radiant nestled in his fur, beaming up at him. Rin was such a baffling girl, but he inwardly appreciated her cheery presence. Without her riding beside him, he had to admit, it would just be another day in his long life, exceptional in no way. He gave her the slightest of smiles and turned back to the endless skies. If it were possible, Rin's spirits lifted even higher and she was certain her skin must be glowing. Well into the day the dragon and his riders chased the horizon until the sun plunged ahead of them, beginning its final retreat towards dusk.

 

 

Finally Lord Sesshoumaru signaled to his scaled steed to begin his descent. They were still over heavily forested lands, though they'd long departed the familiarity of his boarders. The dragon landed softly in a grassy clearing, ruffling the nearby trees with a whoosing gust of wind. Sesshoumaru dismounted and Rin quickly hopped down after him, giving the dragon a well deserved pat. Jakken released his death grip on the dragon's tail and fell to the ground, standing up promptly and straightening his robe, as if it had never happened. Rin stretched her limbs gratefully. Riding dragons all day could be exhausting. Sesshoumaru scanned the clearing for any unwelcome company. Only the subdued sounds of the forest met his senses.

 

“Jakken. Make camp.” Sesshoumaru instructed over his shoulder and leaped into the air, disappearing into the trees.

 

“Yes Lord Sesshoumaru!” Jakken called after him, nearly dropping his Staff of Heads. Rin chortled and watched the break in the trees where her lord had vanished. He often patrolled their campsites for hostile youkai, sometimes not returning until she'd fallen asleep. Rin turned to Ah-Un and began removing his harness. The dragon shook his mane and rumbled delightfully. Somewhere behind her, Rin could hear Jakken dragging sticks around.

 

“I think I saw a stream not too far from here, wanna go catch some fish in a bit?” She asked over her shoulder. Rin slid the saddle of Ah-Un's back and he moved away to graze.

 

“I don't want fish.” Jakken grunted. He dropped an armful of branches into a heap and pointed his staff at it. A skinny blaze of fire shot from the staff to the wood pile and it crackled to life.

 

“Suit yourself frog breath!” Rin teased and moved off to find the stream. Jakken might not be hungry, but she was famished. This was the first time they stopped all day and all she'd had to eat that day was the meager bowl of rice at breakfast. She left the clearing behind her and admired the fresh feeling of being in the forest again. It had been nearly half a year since Sesshoumaru had taken her with him on one of his voyages beyond the castle. Rin didn't realize how much she'd missed the outdoors. She spotted a cluster of wild mushrooms growing at the base of a tree and clapped her hands with delight. Rin had a natural green thumb, and had learned quite quickly in her childhood what plants were edible and which were poisonous. She'd even learned a few naturally occurring medicinal properties of the forest provisions. Rin gathered up a handful of the toadstools, popping them in her mouth occasionally as she strolled down the wooded path.

 

Finally Rin came upon the stream she spotted on their descent from the skies. It was a gorgeous brook that burbled pleasantly. She slid off her heavy lacquered sandals with relish. They certainly were heavy, and thus far hadn't served any other purpose than to make her feet feel like boulders. She tucked the hanging sleeves of her kimono into her sash and hiked up the hem of her robe to her knees. Rin shivered as she stepped into the chilly water and the smooth river stones tickled her toes. She giggled to herself. How she did love the wilds on pleasant evenings like this. The sun would be setting quite soon and she was determined to catch her dinner first. Rin clapped her hands together and rubbed them in a practiced gesture. She then slowly spread her arms, hovering just above the surface of the water. Rin stood motionless, patient as a tiger in the trees waiting for its quarry to wander too close. Suddenly she thrust her hands into the stream and yanked up startled looking catfish. It struggled and flapped in her arms and she tossed it on the shore. Rin repeated this process several times until she had four fish all together, flopping their objection on the sand. Rin decided this was quite enough to feed both herself, and the stubborn imp, who would no doubt change his stance on fish as soon as he smelled them roasting over the fire. Rin splashed around the stream triumphantly, kicking water in all directions.

 

“Has the stream offended you?” Came a low question behind her.

 

“EEEE!” Rin squealed and spun around. Standing on a tall boulder by the shore was a very bemused looking Lord Sesshoumaru. Rin placed a hand to her chest and tried to slow her rapid heartbeat.

 

“You…you startled me.” She managed between gasps.

 

Sesshoumaru inclined his head slightly. Rin waded to the shore and bowed, grinning sheepishly.

 

“You shouldn't wander this far from the fire alone.” He intoned lightly.

 

Rin nodded obediently, offering a silly apologetic grin. Rin wondered if he'd come out this way to find her. It flattered her when he expressed concern over her. Sesshoumaru never acted out of capriciousness. Every action he took he did so with sincerity and intent, and it made her feel honored. Rin's cheeks blossomed a soft pink and she smiled at him in earnest gratitude. Then Sesshoumaru's easy gaze seemed to change, and he was looking at her very intensely.

 

All at once she felt his strong hand at her waist, drawing her forward. Rin gasped in surprise and she stared into her lord's golden eyes, now only inches away from hers. Her bottom lip trembled and it felt like jolts of electricity were thrumming up and down her spine. She watched in slow motion as he raised his other hand from his side and brushed her ponytail away from her face, just barely grazing her neck with his claws. Rin's eyes were wide and she felt something wholly indescribable washing over her. Her neck was suddenly stinging and Sesshoumaru released her, holding something pinched between his thumb and index finger.

 

“Myoga.” Sesshoumaru growled coldly, opening his hand and revealing a rather flat flea demon.

 

“Really Lord Sesshoumaru, you needn't be so forceful! I just wanted a small taste!” A small voice cried from his palm.

 

Rin chest ached and she realized she hadn't been breathing. She took a deep swallow of air, her nerves still dancing under her skin. It was only Myoga the flea demon, the old vassal to Sesshoumaru's father.

 

“What are you doing here?” Sesshoumaru glowered.

 

“I came to taste the virgin's blood.” Myoga replied matter-of-factly.

 

Sesshoumaru slapped his hands together, squashing the flea again. He flicked him away into a bush. Rin thought she heard a faint `oooowww…' coming from the bush.

 

“Come Rin.” He commanded. Rin gulped hardly trusting her unsteady feet. She quickly toed on her zori and gathered up the fish on the shore, trotting after her lord. The determined flea jumped from the shrubbery, landing on Sesshoumaru's shoulder.

 

“Always a pleasure to see my Lord's eldest son.” Myoga chirped pleasantly. Sesshoumaru's face remained a stone mask, but Rin could tell he was irritated.

 

“Aren't you going to ask why I'm really here?” Myoga pried.

 

“No.”

 

“Mm. Well I suppose coming all the way out here to taste her blood is reason enough.” Myoga snickered, motioning to Rin. Rin blushed, not at all comfortable with the tone of his voice. A low growl emanated from Sesshoumaru's throat. Myoga situated himself comfortably on Sesshoumaru's shoulder.

 

“As you know,” The flea continued. “Your younger brother Inuyasha and the priestess Kagome married last spring.”

 

This was certainly news to Rin, but apparently not to Sesshoumaru. She moved closer, trying not to make her eavesdropping so obvious.

 

“That is no concern of mine.” Sesshoumaru retorted.

 

“Oh no? Well I just thought you should know you're going to be an uncle soon.” Myoga answered casually. Sesshoumaru's eyes widened and he slowed to a stop, staring straight ahead. Rin bumped into his leg, but neither seemed to take notice, so great was their shock. The forest was suddenly very quiet as if it too, were in the midst of gasping.

 

After a moment Sesshoumaru picked up his pace again, saying nothing. Rin's head was spinning. Her Lord Sesshoumaru an uncle? She was nearly left behind before she realized Sesshoumaru was getting farther ahead of her and she scampered after. They made it back to the campsite where Jakken and Ah-Un were waiting.

 

“Lord Sesshoumaru! Welcome-..” Jakken didn't get to finish because Sesshoumaru knocked him forcefully out of his path, sending him sprawling into a pile of leaves. Sesshoumaru strode past the fire and sat down with his back against a tree. A slight look of consternation mingled with his typical stoic demeanor. Rin knelt by the fire and busied herself with cleaning the fish, casting an occasional worried glance at her lord. Did the thought of Inuyasha and Kagome bearing children really trouble him that much? It certainly surprised her, to say the least, but she could only guess how Sesshoumaru was feeling. He certainly did not look pleased.

 

“Sesshoumaru, I thought you'd be happy to know your family is growing.” The flea piped. Sesshoumaru didn't even seem to hear him. “Ah well. I think Inuyasha will make a stupendous father. He's got that priestess to keep him in line.” Myoga chuckled.

 

Jakken reappeared, picking leaves and debris from his robes. He looked first at his lord then at Rin. Rin saw his reasonable confusion shook her head ever so slightly, signaling to keep quiet. Jakken knelt beside her, for once offering a helping hand. Only wise old Ah-Un remained untroubled by Sesshoumaru's behavior, and continued to graze uninterrupted.

 

“Anyway, she's due to whelp in six months or so. Hard to say exactly. Not too many quarter blooded demons born these'a days.” Myoga rambled.

 

“It would seem father was right about Inuyasha.” Sesshoumaru finally replied. Jakken and Rin both turned their heads to their lord, no longer attempting to conceal their curiosity.

 

“Mmm?” Myoga queried.

 

“My father predicted Inuyasha would carry on the family name. Not me.” Sesshoumaru replied. After another quiet moment he added: “I suppose he'll be useful after all.” A unreadable leer touched his beautiful lips.