InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Surprise my mind ❯ Part XI ( Chapter 11 )

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

“O coward conscience, how dost thou afflict me!” - William Shakespeare

“Done to death by slanderous tongue.” - William Shakespeare

“O, how spring of love resembleth.” - William Shakespeare

“Pure has now become impure; impure has now become pure; good has now become bad; bad has become good.” - The village children's song; Vol. 39 of Inuyasha.

Chapter Eleven, Part XI

Inuyasha moved towards the forest and his eyes narrowed at the small amount of crouching demons. They had the red beads around their wrists, just as his elder brother had said, but there was something about them that made the hanyou slightly suspicious...Why was it that he felt so wary around these demons? Sesshomaru had informed him that they would not attack, but great danger radiated from them. Pursing his lips, he drew his Tetsusaiga from it's sheath and balanced it on his shoulder carefully. His golden eyes moved over the land and Miroku came to stand next to him, also scrutinizing the landscape before them. “There were more demons than this earlier,” the monk told him softly. His eyes flickered to the hanyou beside him. “Do you suppose that perhaps some others have moved in already?” Inuyasha made no move to respond at first, before turning to him with a frown on his face.

“They're probably going after Ryukotsusei before Naraku,” he told Miroku. “If that is the case, then - ” Inuyasha suddenly realized how tense the demons were. He sniffed the air, wondering if Naraku had left somewhere. No, he's still here, but... A roar of fury sounded throughout the forest. Birds scattered in the air and a shiver went down Inuyasha's spine. He realized too late that it wasn't Sesshomaru's demons that had eliminated Ryukotsusei. Demons were returning to their companions, looking irritated and frightened at the same time. Naraku has killed Ryukotsusei, Inuyasha thought, his blood going cold.

“You are the lord's brother?” Inuyasha turned his head sharply to look at the demon that had come beside him. The demon simply stared at him with calm, blank cerulean eyes. They reminded him too much of Sesshomaru's gaze, so he withdrew his own and stared through the trees. He nodded at last in response to the demon's question. “I see...I am Jinn, the...General, you could say.”

“Mind telling me what happened in there?” Inuyasha growled, not looking at the demon's face. For a moment, Jinn fixed his gaze towards the castle in which Naraku revealed. He didn't seem too bothered that he had let down his barrier. His arrogance, Inuyasha guessed, would be his downfall eventually. Inuyasha glanced upward at the sky that was being littered with birds and other creatures. His golden eyes moved back and forth in speculation before he turned his attention back to the castle. Another shriek filled the air with dread.

“...Nothing did,” Jinn growled. “That's the problem. We found Naraku and Ryukotsusei back in the den of the great beast himself.” He eyed Inuyasha. “Their partnership did not last long.”

“No,” Inuyasha agreed solemnly, “I suppose it didn't.”

“Disgusting swine,” Naraku hissed, burying his claws into Ryukotsusei. His body was slowly devouring him, but his head remained and the demon seemed intent on allowing everyone to hear his screeches. “Stop your screaming before I rip your vocal chords out of your throat.” He chuckled, running his tongue on his lips. “I'll chew on them in front of your very eyes and make certain that you remain alive while I do it.” He cackled, seeing the demon's eyes widen in horror and rage.

“You...third-rate...demon,” Ryukotsusei rasped. “Do you really believe that you have fooled Lord Sesshomaru?”

“Hmm?” Naraku raised an eyebrow and paused in his torture. “What do you mean?” The demon laughed, blood trickling down his chin.

“Idiot,” he whispered. “Lord Sesshomaru...is aware of your plans. I made sure of that.” His eyes glinted maliciously. “I told those demons what you were scheming to do and also had them get caught by Sesshomaru.” He let out a laugh. “I knew you would betray me, Naraku, but I wanted to make sure that...that I betrayed you first!” Ryukotsusei laughed in his delusional state, watching as anger built on Naraku's face.

“...You will regret your actions,” he whispered, before completely engulfing the demon into his body. Naraku snorted, glaring darkly at the ground. He was a weak addition to my body, the demon thought wearily. Damn Ryukotsusei...Was the fool bluffing or does Sesshomaru really know as much as my partner once did? “Kanna.” The pale girl stepped forward, holding the mirror. “Show me Sesshomaru.” The mirror changed and Naraku almost sighed in relief. Good. He is still sleeping with his girl-child. All the better for me. He gave a sour look and changed from his true form to the frail, human body. He threw the gorilla fur over him and stormed past Kanna, who watched him. “What is it?” He growled at her, pausing. “Get in here or you, too, will be drawn into my flesh.”

“Naraku...” She said softly, slowly. “I sense a great foreboding. Inuyasha and Sesshomaru's demons are outside the castle. Your barrier is not up, either...”

“Inuyasha can tear through my barriers easily,” he pointed out to her irritably.

“...Sesshomaru does not know of your plan with young Rin,” Kanna told him at last. Naraku paused in his silent, furious rants and gave a questionable look to his creation. “You did not tell Ryukotsusei and he did not find out.” She went forward to his side. “He is unaware of what will happen to his girl-child.”

“...Kanna.” He smiled and caressed her cheek. “How loyal you are to me.” He brushed a kiss over her cheek. “Yes, you are right. Sesshomaru does not know of what I plan to do with the little one...Excellent. Of course, I still have the problem of Inuyasha on my hands. What a pest.” He snorted to himself, before moving inside his castle, Kanna following him faithfully. “We shall see who the stronger demon here is.” He chuckled. Sesshomaru...Loving that girl will be your downfall. I assure you of that.

King James moved restlessly in his chambers. He had sent for Sesshomaru hours ago! Why wasn't the youkai here yet? As he paced back and forth with his bed robe swinging around his ankles, he wondered vaguely what was taking the youkai so long. Perhaps his young ward wished to come with him, the king thought in distress. He paused, smiling lightly, his heart lifting the slightest bit. It is obvious that Lord Sesshomaru cares a great deal for the girl. It is only he that is unaware of the truth. A knock came at the door, before Sesshomaru was admitted. His amber eyes flashed with petulance and another emotion that James wasn't sure he wished to identify.

“Lord Sesshomaru, you are here at last,” he said with a sigh. Sesshomaru eyed him like he was an insect. The king was feeling less and less like a king these days... “Please. Tell me what your plans are to defeat Naraku and Ryukotsusei.”

“I sent my brother to Japan to take care of the matter for me,” Sesshomaru replied calmly. Normally, the youkai wouldn't want to admit to even being partially related to Inuyasha, but he wasn't in the mood to be picky about the words he used in his sentence or what he revealed to anyone. He had been sleeping pleasantly that morning with Rin curled in his arms before a servant had pounded on his door. Of course, no one was allowed in his room, so the servant naturally walked in like the idiot rookie she was. He could remember the rage that had been running through his veins when she had handed him the message from the king and how her eyes had widened as she looked upon the sleeping female in his bed. Though she was dressed, it was still bizarre for any woman to be found in Lord Sesshomaru's bed. A very odd occurrence, indeed. It took all the effort not to rip the flesh off that servant's face. Instead, he snarled at her to leave the room. She hurriedly did so, too. Rin had woken up a bit after he had finished reading the king's message. He could tell as soon as she woke up and comprehended where she was how embarrassed she was. Then again, Sesshomaru thought dully, frowning over at James, I shouldn't have invited her in my arms.

“You sent your half-breed brother, Inuyasha, to take care of it?” James groaned in agony. “Noo...Lord Sesshomaru, how could you? He will ruin everything! Why did you not go yourself?” What was he thinking? The king thought mournfully. Sesshomaru is the type of demon that likes to take things in his own hands, so why did he send Inuyasha in his place?

“Why I did not go is none of your concern,” Sesshomaru told him in a cool voice. “There are things here that I need to take care of and cannot be abandoned.” Sesshomaru wouldn't abandon Rin either way. He would assassinate the king before he left her at the mercy of any demon - or himself, for that matter. The thought of him ever harming her - or being forced to - made disgust bury in the pit of his stomach.

“I see...” James said slowly, his wild eyes narrowing a bit. He continued his pacing, pulling at his dark hair in desperation. “Then you have no idea what's going on over there? Nothing at all?”

“Inuyasha and I have contact, but not enough,” was all the youkai told him. Sesshomaru wasn't in the mood for this stupid buffoon. Why was he here? He didn't want to be here. He was getting sick of this king. He was beginning to hope that Naraku did murder the stupid fool. What am I thinking? He thought to himself. Naraku will order the death of every human in England, along with all his youkai enemies, which includes me. A wave of heat floated over Sesshomaru and he closed his eyes, knowing that it was the fireplace in James' drawing room. It seemed to Sesshomaru that the fire was always fed and never went out...or something. “Whatever happens in Japan, happens. That's the bottom line of it.”

“But - ” Sesshomaru turned a dirty look to him and the king flinched. “But what about me? What if your brother fails, dies, and Naraku comes here?”

“Then you will die, now won't you?” Sesshomaru asked, raising one of his smooth eyebrows before leaving the drawing room. Staring after him, the king collapsed into a chair, shaking. He could hardly believe the answers he had received from the youkai. He had expected more from him! I guess I should have expected he'd play a little `game' with me...A game of my emotions, he thought in exhaustion. Ever since he had employed Sesshomaru, it had been a guessing game, a naming game, and just a game in general. Yes, Sesshomaru was very resourceful and extremely helpful, but the fact that James couldn't really read him was agitating. I probably will never learn to read him...

Rin sat in her room, watching the carriages and curricles drive by the large estate of her master, Sesshomaru. She sighed, wondering what had called him away so early. She had woken up just in time for the youkai to tell her that he was leaving on an errand. She had rubbed her eyes and muttered a tired, “Okay” and had left to her own room to get ready for breakfast. Now, as she rested her cheek on her hands, staring out the window, she wondered to herself why she was so close to the youkai. He has such pretty hair, Rin thought distractedly, straying from her original thought. I wish I had long, pretty hair like him. It's so soft and nice-smelling. A smile curled her lips. I wish I had a furry boa like his, too. (A boa is the fluffy thing that Sesshomaru has on his right shoulder.) She straightened and frowned to herself. When Lord Sesshomaru first brought me in, I was afraid of him because he was a demon, but now I feel really close to him. “Hmm...” Rin frowned harder, thinking of what a servant had asked her.

“Rin?” A young servant approached her, twisting a blonde lock of hair round and round her finger. “Can I ask you something?” Rin set the books down on the table and smiled.

“Sure, what is it?” The servant looked around, then leaned forward, as though to tell a secret. Rin blinked her brown eyes and leaned forward a bit, too.

“Are you...smitten...with the master?”

“Huh?” Rin appeared confused. “What's... `smitten'?” Rin had no idea what this older girl was talking about. Just what did `smitten' mean?

“You don't know what that means?” Rin shook her head. “Well...I mean...Do you like him?”

“Of course I like Lord Sesshomaru,” the younger of the two said indignantly. “Why wouldn't I like him?”

“You misunderstand me! I mean do you really, reallylike the master?” Rin almost sighed aloud. The other female was making no sense. It was like she was speaking Russian...Or Spanish - or any other language! What difference did it make if she liked her master or really, really liked her master? Rin never found out, because Julia came in, scolding the servant for ignoring her duties. What does `smitten' mean? Rin wondered.

I never found out, Rin thought to herself, escaping the memory. Determined, she left the window and ran downstairs to where Jaken was arguing with a servant, before the young boy gave a grunt and left, a broom in hand. Jaken turned to Rin, frowning at her. “Master Jaken?” She questioned politely, standing beside him, looking down at him. “If I ask you anything, would you answer it?”

Uh oh, Jaken thought, feeling his blood freeze. I don't like where this is going... “Certainly, Rin,” he responded uneasily.

“What does `smitten' mean?” He eyebrows shot up in surprise and she blinked at him, tilting her head to the side slightly. “Master Jaken?”

“Why, it means that you're in love with someone, Rin. Why do you ask?” Jaken had been expecting something much worse. After all, Rin was thirteen and all sorts of questions could spring to mind to a teenager.

“Oh, well, I was just curious, that's all. I read it in a book I was reading,” she lied, and then with a bright smile, she left back to her bedroom. She sat at the window again, staring distantly out at the land of England. Am I in love with Lord Sesshomaru...? She blinked slowly. I don't...thinkI am, but I don't really know what love is. What does love feel like? She sighed and stretched. “Ahh.” A knock came at her door and she turned. “Yes?”

“Hello, Rin,” Julia greeted with a smile. “Would you like some tea?” She set the tray down on the table and Rin clapped her hands in glee.

“Oh, yes please! Are there cookies, too?”

“No, but there's some strawberry tart,” Julia answered.

“Oh, even better!” Julia watched Rin eat and drink her tea and could see that the female was beginning to get sleepy. Her eyes narrowed as the young girl slid off the chair, eyes sliding closed. Her tea cup crashed to the floor, tea and glass spreading out on the ground. Julia glanced behind her and waited. Satisfied that no one had heard the noise, she hurried and knelt next to the girl.

Good, she's fast asleep, Julia observed and picked her up. She left the room and after going through the house, avoiding Jaken, she left through the parlor doors and hurried away into the gardens.

“Do you have her?” The demon growled to Julia.

“Yes, I do.” The demon's deformed face leered and he grabbed Rin from the elder woman. “...Just as promised.”

“Just as promised,” the demon agreed, tossing a heavy coin bag to her. “Naraku will be pleased.”

“I suppose he will be...” Julia murmured, her gaze drifting to the soft features of the young girl. Rin.