InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Botanist and the Beast ❯ Chapter 5: Bruised Ego, Tender Id ( Chapter 5 )

Disclaimer: I don't own, Sesshou, Rin and all other inu char's Takahashi Rumiko does. “You are My Sunshine” belongs to Jimmie Davis, Charles Mitchell and the entire state of Louisiana. “My Girl” Belongs to the Temptations, Smokey Robinson and Ronald White. The characters from Alice in Wonderland belong to Lewis Carroll because I've failed to mention it before. I own none of those things. I barely own that beat to hell Dodge and they seem lest interested in owning it than I do.

 

The Botanist and the Beast

Chapter 5: Bruised Ego, Tender Id

Dear Alice,

Remember your lessons! A dog is not mad. A dog growls when it's angry, and wags its tail when it's pleased. I growl when I'm pleased, and wag my tail when I'm angry.  Therefore I'm mad.

- TheCheshire Cat

 

One good thing about traveling the stoic and creepy Inu-yokai was his sense of smell. In the months we had been on the road we never got caught out in the open during a rainstorm. Though the sometimes cramped lodgings we were forced to deal with where wearisome. The only thing worse than Jaken, is Jaken cold and damp in a confined space.

 

“Are you sure these are all of the blankets, woman? I don't see why we cannot start a fire! How long will this wretched downpour continue? Move your foot, Rin, I need more space,” and on it went in a whining diatribe of abuse for several hours. Rin and I where huddled with Ah-Un In the back of the cave under our blankets. The dragon's hide radiated a good deal of warmth and we where actually quite cozy, but every time Jaken moved to join us; both head of the dragon would face the belligerent toad with a menacing glare. Sesshomaru sat at the cave entrance, not far from us, but his unapproachable demeanor made the distance seem like miles.

 

I had been telling Rin an Irish tale about the War in Heaven where Donella and Uacteran died and Danu passed from the world. “What a sad story Donella-sama.” Her tearful eyes looked up at me and I gave her a gentle smile.

 

“I thought so too, when my Gran narrated it to me, and you know what she told me?” Her sad gaze had become thoughtful and she shook her head. “She said that even being immortal is no guarantee against death. Life is hard and sad for everyone, and more so for immortals because they see more, live through more and have to continue on as the same people. While we have fresh lives and another turn of the wheel to look forward too, an immortal's soul goes directly to heaven and spend eternity there, all their lessons learned.”

 

“Wow.” She said and slipped into thoughtful silence as I looked for something else to occupy my time.

 

“Rin, hon, your closer to the pack, would you please see of you can get my journal for me?”

 

“Oh, Yes!” She replied with a happy, eager nod before jumping out of the blankets and turning to Ah-Un's pack. Moments later she returned with the prize in hand grinning gleefully. I thanked her as she passed it to me. But before my hand had touched it she let it go. I snatched at it and caught the battered leather book, but the photo sleeve I kept tucked into its pages fell with a loud, “SMACK,” to the floor. Rin picked it up quickly and handed it to me. “Sorry.” She said and her downcast mien making me eager to reassure her that she had done nothing wrong.

 

“No it's alright, see,” I flipped my thumb over the five plastic photo pages making them shuffle. “The plastic protected them.” I said cheerfully.

 

Her eyes widened as she looked down and the photos I held. Her hand came up and she pointed a finger at the first picture in the book. “Donella-sama, that girl looks just like you!” She said and I looked down at the photo of my family and I laughed. Settling back into the blankets I patted her spot next to me and she too crawled back into the enveloping warmth.

 

“That is me, Hotaru, and the man holding me is my brother Matthew. That girl to our right is my little sister Elizabeth and the one standing on the chair is our baby sister Jane.”

 

“She doesn't look like a baby.” Rin answered pensively and it made me smile.

 

“No, she's eighteen years old…” I trailed off thoughtfully she was eighteen when I'd left. Maintaining my journal was one of the only ways I managed to keep sane during those years. Every page was dutifully dated from the day I fell into the cave, and thus I marked the passage of time. The date on my journal for that day was August fifth, one year after the cave. “I guess she's actually nineteen now.” I remarked bemusedly as I stared at the photo lost in thought. It had been taken during our last family trip to Ireland. We where all on the porch of the rented cottage; my brother Matt held me in his arms while I attempted to strike him with a book in my hand; Lizzy was on our right with a foam bat hitting him and Jane was perched on a chair behind Lizzy, pointing as she directed Uncle Pete to take the picture. Everyone was laughing and smiling at the camera. “We used to make a trip every year, a pilgrimage of sorts, back to the home country in Ireland with or parents and Gran, to see where the family came from and vacation by the sea. This photo is of our last trip before I came here.”

 

“Your parents and you Gran aren't in this picture.” Rin's inquisitive voice broke my reminiscence.

 

“Oh, Gran passed the year before, and dad and mom so no point in going after she was gone. Dad went to Chicago for a business meeting, and mother was afraid the wind and the sun would make her look old so she stayed at home.” I laughed at that, “They weren't around much anyway and we had a lot of fun.” She was obviously confused about my remark, but didn't say anything as I flipped to the next picture.

 

Adrian and I smiled back at the camera from a California beach next to our sand sculpture entry of a sea turtle. Sand covered our knees, hands and powdered his black hair. His blue eyes where laughing as he waved an orange, plastic shovel at me. My hand trailed the happy features of his face sadly.

 

“That's him isn't it? The boy you loved?” Rin asked quietly and I nodded. “Where are your cloths?” The surprise in her voice made me laugh. I suppose a man in a pair of swim trunks and a woman in a bikini would seem naked to a girl in the feudal era.

 

“We are in bathing suits, it's what everyone wears to go swimming in where I come from.” She remained silent next to me as I flipped to the next photo. I stood Arms out stretched, long white dress and hair fluttered in the strong ocean wind and a dazzlingly sunset behind me. I looked like I might leap, wild and free from the jutting rock into glimmering Pacific Ocean below.

 

“Donella-sama! You look so beautiful!” Rin exclaimed her finger outlining my photographic self thoughtfully. I blushed.

 

“Matt took that photo, said like I looked like a roane returning to the sea.”

 

“What's a roane, Donella-sama?”

 

“It's an seal sidhe that sheds its skin to take a human shape and dance on shore, or to find a human mate, if you hide the raone's skin from them, they are bond to stay with you until they find it again.” He made a wordless sound of wonder before I flipped to the last photo.

 

My Granny O'Conghaile returned my smile from a rocking chair. She looked so prim in her sensible tweed dress, with her white hair in a tight bun, holding the family crest for the camera, I stood behind her, an awkward girl of seventeen, in a matching outfit trying to look proud and somber. “Who is that lady and what is that?” Rin asked pointing to the image of the plaque.

 

“That's my grandmother O'Conghaile and I. That thing she's holding is the symbol of our family. It tells people who we are, and what our ancestors have done. See there in the middle are two crossed swords saying we are warriors and protectors. You can't see it in this picture but that blurry thing right there is a Cusith and the loops around it are called a sidhe knot. The red and purple of the shield tell people we are one of the great noble houses.”

 

Her eyes widened as I said that and she looked at me with surprise in her face, “You are a Hime?” I laughed at that. Jaken had gone silent through the inventory of the photos, but was clearly attempting to see the pictures I held in my hand without being notice. I ignored his antics but sat the photo book on the ground near him and he quietly turned the pages.

 

“I'm not a princess, but a long time ago, when those things still mattered, my ancestors where kings, queens and princesses amount their people. Leading them to war and making the laws they all followed. There is even a story about a great grandmother who was such a fierce chief she refused to leave battle to give birth to her daughter and had the child right there among the blood of her fallen enemies and then strapped the infant to her back, continuing to fight until they had won the war.” A scornful snort came from the mouth of the cave at that.

 

“You wish to say something, Sesshomaru-sama?” I called to the derisive figure silhouetted in the fading light. I did not expect him to answer, but he did as I took the lantern from Ah-Un's pack and struggled with the flint to get it lit.

 

“It is an absurd tale.” His cold, condescending voice sounded bored. The lamp caught and I smiled sweetly in his direction as I settled back into my nest of blankets and Rin cuddle close, “It is absurd, but then so are many tales we tell about love, life and war, trying to make it all better than it is, and death more noble than it should be. A man kills another man for a cause and we call it just, good and right. Yet, the same act committed in a barroom, over a pint of beer occurs or a woman and we call it murder.”

 

“Ningen are stupid.” His dismissiveness annoyed me.

 

“Do you expect me to believe you've never tried to justify killing someone in you own mind? You have never wanted to kill someone that, beyond a prejudice you held in your heart, deserved to live?” My words struck a cord, and a low growl came from his direction causing my heart to leap in fear.

 

“I expect you to remember your place. Don't presume to know what I think, ningen, we are not the same.” The angry warning in his tone made Rin gripped my hand and I put my arm around her reassuringly.

 

“Please forgive me, Sesshomaru-sama, if that is the impression my words have conveyed. I would not willingly evoke the notion of similarities between us. Please, believe me when I say that I personally cannot think of one such example.” My tone was a match for any of his sardonically arctic remarks and I was proud that I did not let the terror in me show, though he could probably hear the cacophony of my hammering heart from a mile away. He didn't respond and after a while my heart rate returned too normal. The only thing to be heard was the pounding rain, and the breathing of my comrades. Eventually I withdrew my pencil from the spine of my journal and set to writing.

 

Hours later, the rain stopped. I looked up from my journal at the sudden change in background noise to find Rin, Jaken and Ah-Un where all fast asleep and Sesshomaru gone from the cave entrance. Careful not to wake Rin, I set my journal down and extracted myself from the cocoon of blankets. Gingerly I stood, allowing blood to flow back into my cramped limbs as I made my way from our shelter into the damp night.

 

It was warmer outside, the humid August air caressed my shoulders and I breathed it in gratefully. The scent of ozone and wet earth was invigoration and I suppressed a joyful giggle of freedom as I strode away from the cave, thankful to be under the open sky and moving again after my days of confinement.

 

As I walked I thought of the photos I'd show Rin. I still don't miss them that much. Jane, Mat, Lizzy, Mom and dad they will all move on. Adrian and Gran are both dead and can't miss me. My thoughts went back to Adrian, and stopped in my aimless wandering. Regret and anger over his senseless, stupid death still haunted me, making me want to scream, cry and rage against the pointlessness of it, but I had done all of that too much already. He's gone, they are all gone; it's just me now and there's no way back. I thought of that too, and laughed over the daydream I had of telling them about inu-yokai's, bandit attacks, two headed dragons and talking toadmen. A very clear image of my brother shaking Sesshomaru's hand came to mind and I let out and explosive peal of giggles.

 

A breeze brushed my shoulders and I looked up from the ground at the sky. The vastness of it stunned me; the breaking clouds revealed millions of stars and the bright, full moon. I was filled with a sense of wonder. The universe is so big, and I'm so small compared to all that. It lasts forever and I'm just a twinkle in time. I smiled at my poetic turn of mind and was filled with happiness. Delight for being out of the cave, for the great beautiful night sky and for my bizarre life filled me to the brim. No one else in the universe could possibly have the same crazy story. An ecstatic a laugh escaped my lips and I gave a little bounce of joy. On impulse I began to run, for the sheer enjoyment of moving my limbs and the freedom of the motion.

 

Seconds later I caught a flash of white out of the corner of my eye and the sense of motion from it distracted me long enough to stumble over a rock and fall to the ground. Rolling with the impact I stopped facing the starry sky. Heart racing, adrenaline pumping, I preparing to run again, as I immediately pushed myself to a crouching position and scanned the clearing for what had caught my eye. Sesshomaru stood like a statue not four feet from me, arms resting casually at his side. “It's just you!” I exclaimed in relief as stood and brushed damp grass from my yukata. “You startled me half out of my wits.”

 

“Why are you here?” Does it always have to be the most obtuse question? Can't he for one just ask something obvious? Damn it, I was having such a nice night! I sighed in exasperation.

 

“Here as in outside in the moonlight running like a mad woman, or here as in why am I traveling with this eccentric band of misfits? Or are you looking for a more existential answer? Because all are valid questions and could be encompassed by what you asked.” I inquired boldly. He did not answer me as I moved a little ways to a nearby tree and leaned against it. “All right, I'm a madwoman then.” I responded acerbically.

 

“An obvious answer.” His habitual frosty tone was reassuring after the hostility he had shown earlier that night.

 

“I hope you weren't expecting a profoundly convincing answer, I'm afraid I am not in the right frame of mind to provide one.” I remarked offhandedly.

 

“You should watch your tone with me, ningen, I am not to be trifled with.” A note of warning slid over the condescending glacier of his voice. It must be exhausting to be that frigid all the time. I thought sadly.

 

“As you've said on more than one occasion, Sesshomaru-sama,” I responded wearily staring into the night sky, “I assure you, I don't posses a suicidal disposition, and therefore have no intention of even attempting such a ridiculous endeavor.” My weary tone was not lost on him.

 

“You say the words; yet they are insincere.” I pushed away from the tree and looked at him directly.

 

“My words are quite sincere, I do not wish to annoy you anymore than I wish to continue having this same conversation with you over and over again. I am fully aware that at anytime you choose, you could fillet me like a fish and there would be nothing I could do to stop you. You are a scary, creepy yokai, fine, I get it; but if you expect me to cower in the corner every time you say boo I should probably leave now and save you the trouble of killing me for my impudence. Because I've had it up to my eyeteeth and I can't bring myself to give a damn anymore.”

 

“You are walking a dangerous path, ningen.” He warned taking a menacing step closer.

 

“Say it, say, `I will kill you' and I will believe that, but in the time I have traveled with you I have quietly endured to many barbs and off handed remarks. I've cowered and tiptoed too much. I am tired of the wretched pettiness of it. So just leave me be and find some other way to amuse yourself.” Before I could even blink his fingers where around my throat and his red, luminous eyes bore into mine as he, one handedly, pinned me to the tree by my neck.

 

“I should kill you right now and rid the world of your insufferable mouth.” He growled and I felt his claws graze the skin of my throat as his grip tightened, unable to speak around his crushing grasp I just returned his burning gaze as calmly as I could with my heart pounding in my throat. I gave him a pained smile. A furious growl escaped his lips as he lifted me by my neck and whirling, threw me across the clearing. I landed hard in the wet grass and did my best to relax into the fall trying to turn it into a roll, but despite my efforts my left shoulder took the brunt of the force and would be bruised for days to come.

 

Not bothering to stand I turned to face him, “Feeling better?” I asked in a hoarse whisper. Wordlessly he moved to tower over me. A brisk wind blew his hair and the sleeves of his kimono wildly. I stared in fascination as the one covering his left arm blew like a flag all the way up passed where his elbow should be. Huh, only the one arm all this time. How could I have over looked that? The gold had returned to his eyes and, apprehensively, I pushed myself into a sitting position; careful not to meet his eyes again or move suddenly. And the night had been so pleasant, my throat was raw as I said, “We both know you're not going to kill me.”

 

“You are so sure?” He pronounced from his place on high. I narrated agitatedly.

 

I heaved yet another long-suffering sigh, “I suppose you could loose it and kill me unintentionally in a fit of rage, but that seems unlikely since you are the most self-contained creature I know.” He continued to glare down at me as I experimentally rotated my arm. It hurt, a lot. That'll leave a mark. “I also know Rin would wonder were I'd gone, and my sudden disappearance would cause her no end of worry and alarm. I am more certain than anything else in this life that you do not wish to be the reason for that child to suffer like that.” He did not reply, but he moved from me in the direction of the cave.

 

“We leave at dawn.” He said over his shoulder as he strolled away abandoning me to the quiet clearing. I sat there for a long while, in my damp cloths, thinking and taking in the night air before following him back. I was grateful to find him still absent as I wander to my blankets, and fell into my troubled sleep.

 

The next morning my shoulder was a mound of pain, and my yukata was a grass stained mess, but I ignored it all as I made my morning tea and ate cold rice as Rin quietly packed the blankets and Jaken gawked at my messy attire and the ginger way in which I moved my arm with an inscrutable expression on his face.

 

I did my best to pretend nothing had happened as I we made our way down the road, and even with the swollen pain in my arm, it was not hard for me to be cheerful on the sunny summer morning. We were free of the confines of the cave, the breeze was brusque and the sun was warm on my shoulders. I sang as we went, teaching Rin children's songs like `You Are My Sunshine' and even a mangled version of `My Girl'. We did not stop for lunch but with my uninjured hand I plucked roadside flowers for Rin and she occupied herself from Ah-Un's back by braiding necklaces and flower crowns as we ate cold rice balls and passed the afternoon away pleasantly. I tried to tease Jaken out of his gloomy funk, but he remained uncharacteristically quiet and withdrawn; becoming even more reticent when I directed my laughing cheerful tone his way. I eventually ignored him and listened to Rin's animated story about catching fireflies in a field much like the one we where passing.

 

That night Jaken disappeared after starting the evening fire and did not reappear until dinner had been consumed. Though I saved him a bowl he seemed uninterested in eating, so I gathered the rest of the dinner things, and together with my normal bath items I made my way to the river. I was stunned when I arrived to find the shallow pool that we had discovered while preparing to make camp had become a deep steaming spring. Someone had painstakingly moved enormous rocks to excavate the pool and somehow managed to heat the water to a warm, inviting temperature.

 

I immediately assumed that this was Sesshomaru's doing. Though I had never actually seen evidence that he bathed, his immaculate appearance spoke of frequent maintenance. Probably went to get the VO5 or whatever he uses to keep his hair so shiny and fluffy, and with that flippant and resentful thought, I turned to go back to camp unwashed, and was greeted by Jaken awkwardly standing on the path.

 

“Jaken?” I inquired in surprise. The kappa did not look at me, but stared at the water, his staff clutched nervously in his hands.

 

“Sesshomaru-sama is a good master, but sometimes he loses his tremendous capacity for patience and can be ferocious in his punishment. I am certain whatever you did you deserved what you got, but hot water will help you shoulder heal faster and…” He paused apparently out of words, “baka, just don't leave because of this!” He exploded.

 

“What?” I asked confounded by the kappa's actions and his bizarre outburst.

 

“Baka, woman, it would be stupid for you to leave so far from other humans, your company isn't abysmal and your cooking isn't horrible. So you shouldn't go away over something so idiotic.” I was over come, who knew the little bastard cared? He turned to leave but I quickly caught him in a severe embrace.

 

“As if I would leave Rin alone with you. You ugly, rude, ungrateful, dear, little toad.” and giving him a quick kiss on the cheek I let him go. His usual gruffness returned as he muttered about my crazy, dimwitted antics, spitting and sputtering as he angrily scrubbed his cheek with his sleeve.

 

I threw a dirty cup at him, “Just go and leave me to enjoy my bath in peace, you unpleasant little thug.” But the cup missed and I said it laughingly as he left; still grumbling angry retorts over his shoulder. The hot soak did wonders for my shoulder, I hummed happily as I finished the dishes and returned to camp. I fell asleep that night thinking about what I could do to repay Jaken's aberrant kindness.

 

The next day Jaken was completely restored to his disagreeable self as we wandered down the road and he complained about the miserable heat and windless day. To his credit, this time his complaints where not unwarranted. The day had been humid at dawn and was miserable by early afternoon. Our stoic leader appeared unaffected by the melting heat, but then I didn't expect such mundane things like discomfort to affect his generally impervious disposition. I was however surprised the mordantly arctic creature didn't melt into a pool of foul smelling acid.

 

When we again left the shelter of the trees and where walking along the river my resolve to bear Jaken's complaints and the heat cheerfully, cracked. Without warning I threw the whining kappa into the frigid water. He surfaced screaming bloody murder and threatening me with grievous bodily harm and I laughed at him. “You're supposed to be a kappa you fool, you should like the water!”

 

His face was furious as he waded from the river. Aggressively ringing his cloths out as he screamed at me, “Swamps, woman, we live in swamps and pools not rapid frigid rivers, and we do not prefer to swim if we don't have to!” I laughed again as he caught up to our still marching group.

 

“But you're cooler now aren't you?” he paused at that and muttered something under his breath about that not being the point, but I ignored him as I thought longingly about a swim for myself. Well it's not like I won't be able to catch up, and it would be so nice. “Rin, do you know how to swim?”

 

“Not very well, Donella-sama, but I never go deep enough to have to.”

 

“Ah.” I said understandingly. “Well I do know how to swim and that's just what I plan on doing,” I announced quickly shedding my boots and tieing them to Ah-Un's pack before rushing to the water, “see you down stream!” I called as I leaped into the water. The last word was punctuated with a loud splash as I broke the surface and deftly swam out to the deeper water. The current helped push me down stream and I was soon past even Sesshomaru's lead. The cold water was a shock and helped numb my poor shoulder while cool my overheated body. Invigorated, I swam back to the bank several minutes later, laughing happily as I dripped on the shore and waited for the company to catch up.

 

My clothes clung wetly to me and without the aid of a bra my yellow tank top revealed a bit more than I would have been comfortable with in a public setting. Yet I doubted that any of my companions really cared as they came upon me. Rin yelled a hello and I splashed my feet in the water. However, the moment Jaken caught sight of me he complained habitually about my immodesty. “Jaken, where I come from we usually wear far less when swimming.”

 

“That's true, Jaken-sama,” Rin spoke up as Sesshomaru passed me with out a glance and standing I waited for Rin and Ah-Un to draw abreast of me, “didn't you see the picture of Donella-sama and her lover in their swimming cloths?”

 

“I was trying to forget! Tiny squares of cloth do not a garment make! The people where you come from, woman, must be complete degenerates.” The toad stopped to glare at me and I kicked some river water in his direction.

 

“Yes, well, in a lot of ways your right, Jaken.” I answered seriously as I stood and joined the part once more.

 

“Nani?” He asked, surprised I agreed with him.

 

“Where I come from is much less civilized in a lot of ways. I wouldn't be attacked by band of marauding bandits or insane yokai there, but the odds that something just as bad would happen are much higher. In one small city, in my time, there live more people than populate this entire island. The city I lived in there where over four million people and that number continued to increase every year. When humanity gets that concentrated it's harder to avoid the bad ones. Unfortunately, most humans are no smarter than sheep, content to cower in fear from the wolves rather than to stop them, and so the wolves increase.”

 

“It doesn't sound like a good place.” Rin remarked sadly and I smiled at her.

 

“It can be good, most of the time, but people do horrible things to each other no matter where you go. Where I come from could be a great place, but the fight to improve it is like rolling a bolder uphill, a lot of work and little gain. Adrian was one of the good ones, trying to make it better where he could, but even he knew that we would never see it really progress in our lifetime. He always told me we just had to push the rock of a little way, and then hold it there for the next generation, and eventually we would win the war.” I smiled at the optimistic memory.

 

“Your lover was a fool.” Sesshomaru stated condescendingly, and I was startled that he'd even been listening.

 

“Yes,” I agreed, and his step slowed at the unexpected answer as I ponderously continued, “But he was a fool I wanted to believe, others devoted themselves to and who did a great deal of good to help those who needed it the most.”

 

“And now he his dead.” Again I was more stunned that he'd listened and remembered such a long ago remark than the emotional wounds his words where intended to inflict. Yet, I felt a need to defend my dead lover against his brutal scorn.

 

“Yes, five years ago, to lymphatic cancer. He spent everyday he had left on this earth fighting to get others to care for the poverty-stricken people in our country, and none of it cursing his fate or bemoaning his condition.”

 

“I suppose you think that's noble.” He remarked in a bored tone.

 

“I'm not sure, but if it doesn't fit under your definition I would love to hear what would.” I replied distractedly as I struggled to remove my hairbrush from Ah-Un's pack while walking. I pulled it free triumphantly, lost my balance, wobbled backwards and fell on my butt hard, slamming my bruised shoulder into a near by boulder. The pain made me cry out and Rin leaped to my side, “Donella-sama are you all right?” The alarm in her voice distressed me more that the pain in my shoulder, and I laughed through the hurt as I stood. “Rin, there's no need to worry about me, I just fell against this rock.”

 

“But how did you hurt yourself in the first place? It looks awful!”

 

“You've been waiting to ask that one all day haven't you, Hotaru?” I smiled at her as I notice the whole caravan had stopped, and even Sesshomaru was watching the unfolding mini-drama with hooded eyes, “It looks uglier than it is, and I fell while running in the dark two nights ago.”

 

“Was something chasing you?” she asked curiously, all signs of worry gone as I gingerly lifted her onto the dragon's back with only a wince to show that it hurt me.

 

“No I was running for the fun of it, but I did see something that scared me, and it made me fall before I realized it wasn't anything to worry about.” It's not a lie. I thought to the twinge of conscience I had for the deception.

 

“Oh,” she said and giggled, curiosity apparently assuaged, “I did that once, I imagined that a tree was really a monster…” She began to prattle on into her story of imagination run wild, as Ah-Un advance forward, and the procession began to move again. Hours later the tantalizing aroma of the sea reached me, and by that evening we where camped in a rocky alcove above the shore.

 

I told Rin the story of Aibhlinn who longed for a child so much she left her husband's bed and called forth a roane from the sea to father it. Only to have the chimerical taken from her by his natural father, as she lay dieing by the sea from her husbands rage. The story made her so distraught that I told her an abbreviated version of the little mermaid to sooth her and mentally kicked myself for my callousness and melancholy frame of mind. When she had drifted off to sleep I left the glow of the campfire and the shelter of the stones to sit on a rocky outcrop above the sea and watch the moonlight dance on the water as the wind whipped my hair wildly.

 

There was nothing about his approach that would have given his presence away, but my protracted time in his company had made me acutely aware of some emanation of power from him. If I was not distracted, I had learned, I could sense when he was near. As the telltale aura approached my perch I pushed down a rising sense of annoyance. Without turning I spoke to the yokai at my back, and was please by my calm tone, “Am I allowed no peace? Is it some fiendish compulsion of yours, this habit of disturbing every quiet moment I get and turning it into something unpleasant? Because I find it implausible that you do not do it intentionally.”

 

“Perhaps.” He replied softly and I realized he was even closer than I had first thought. Turning slightly, I saw the billowing fabric of one leg a whispers length from touching the bruised skin of my shoulder. Self-consciously I scooted to my right, putting more distance between us and, apparently misinterpreting my actions, he sat beside me.

 

I ignored him as best I could, the peace of my refuge lost, but pride would not allow me to stand and relinquish my right to it. I was here first let him leave, and I refused myself even curiosity as I stared blankly out to sea and struggled not to think at all. “I threw you.” He said without preamble and my numb mind struggled to make sense of his words.

 

“Excuse me?” I managed dazedly as I turned to look at him. The wind had made a long silky flag of his hair and the moonlight made his face glow as he continued to look out at the water. I wonder if he calculates where to sit and stand to the best advantage of his appearance, or if he just naturally looks that good everywhere? It's probably the former, machinations bastard.

 

“You did not fall, as you told Rin, I threw you.” The pieces clicked into place as I returned my vision to the sea.

 

“Well if you want to be technical I fell and then you threw me, but since my fall led to the events causing you to throw me I don't see a need to make a distinction between the two episodes.” I replied evenly.

 

“You should have told Rin the full truth, I do not need you to conceal my actions.” I chuckled at his arrogance and conceit.

 

“I didn't truncate the story to conceal anything. I just saw no need to waste my time upsetting Rin over something so inane.”

 

“Inane?” It was his turn to look at me as I refused to meet his gaze.

 

“Oh please, you had no intention of killing me, and it's not like you damaged anything seriously. I've gotten worse bumps falling off my mountain bike.” His only response was a considering “Hmmm,” and so we sat for a time in an almost companionable silence, watching the eternal motion of the sea.

 

“We shall reach a human village in two days time.” So soon! I thought in distress over leaving Rin, Ah-Un and even Jaken, but my voice was untroubled as I replied.

 

“Ah, and then you will cheerfully be rid of me and my abrasive nature.” I said merrily.

 

“Indeed.”

 

“So why come all the way out here to tell me that, instead of just spontaneously broadcasting the news in front of everyone?” I asked.

 

“Rin is quite fond of you and I did not want to deal with her outburst so soon.” I nodded my understanding.

 

“Well you have my thanks, I am not fond of tears, and there will be enough of them when we reach the village.” I responded softly as I pulled idly at a string from my fraying shorts.

 

“When the time comes, you will not weep.” Is tone was colorless and I could not discern if it was a statement of fact, or a divine edict.

 

“What makes you say that?” He stood abruptly.

 

As he slowly departed he remarked over his shoulder, “You are not the kind,” and again, I was left sitting on the ground; mystified by his words and too stunned to immediately react.

 

Authors Notes: So many People to thank for this chapter!

Wandering Hitokiri and Tootsiepop254thanks for being there from the beginning and the Gaelic hurrah! I didn't expect the mixed media to go over well.

Arvael, Feathergriffin and DARKeNeD-ANGeL-RaiiRi: Thanks so much for the great pins-and-needles reviews. I will try to keep my updates timely and well done.

Arya:wait until chapter 6 please, you won't be disappointed (I think :) . If I've missed anyone I'm sorry! Please chide me and I'll personally send you virtual flowers and possible the title to that pesky van, though it's stopped running… j/k ;)