InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Free Wind ❯ Chapter 9

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

He knew she was near. He could smell morning dew on the evening breeze mixed in with the acrid smoke from a campfire. It only made sense she would seek out his brother. After all, Inuwarai likely wanted to meet his other grandson. Sesshoumaru felt a stab of what could only be described as remorse. He quickly pushed it away and focused on the scent of the wind goddess. The emotions this arose in him were no better.
“Sesshoumaru-sama, Rin is tired,” the girl yawned.
Sesshoumaru felt unsure for the first time in his long life. He could not just stride into their camp, toss his hair imperiously, and order Kagura to protect Rin in the event of his unlikely demise. The witch would laugh herself to death at that one. Hell, even the Kagura that was under Naraku’s eye would have laughed at that one. She had never feared him.
Perhaps that was what was drawing him to her. She did not bow to lord nor prince. As infuriating as this was, she had a freedom he, Sesshoumaru, would never have. He would always be slave to his rank and the traditions that lately were becoming a noose around his neck. Even when she believed her very existence was held in Naraku’s grip, she had been more free than he could ever dream of being.
He shook his head. These thoughts were unacceptable.
“Sesshoumaru-sama?”
He glanced down at Rin. The child was struggling to keep her eyes open, and the back of a dragon was no place for a good nights rest. They would make camp for the night, he decided. Let her come to him. This Sesshoumaru did not need to pursue any woman, kami or not.

Kagura was glad that Inuyasha and Inuwarai were getting along. As much as the old dog got on her nerves, he was a good man. Satisfied that she would not be missed for the night, she began walking in the direction the breeze had whispered to her.
It wasn’t far, perhaps three miles. Through the thick trees she could make out a figure shining pale in the moonlight, pacing a small clearing. Pacing? I would not think he would be the type to pace. She laughed. Sesshoumaru doing something so common as pacing. How surprising.
Almost against her will she paused, unable to interrupt him in his undignified state. She did not bother to shield her presence. She was sure he was already aware of her, and relished this view of him unguarded for once. He had removed his armor, and his kimono was creased where the demonic metal had twisted the fabric. It gaped open slightly in the front, the obi loosely tied. She could sense his companions a short distance into the trees, all asleep but the dragon.
“I know you are there, sorceress,” he said softly, jolting her from her reverie. She looked at his face to see a bitter smile on his lips, surprising her. She had really never seen him smile. He took a hesitant step toward her, “surely a kami such as yourself does not fear a demon?”
She closed the distance between them. There were shadows under his eyes she was sure were not there before. She quickly looked down to avoid meeting his glance. Her gaze fell on the empty sleeve of his kimono, so obvious now without his armor. Even I can not bring back what has been taken. She thought sadly.
Lost in her own thoughts and regrets, she did not see the feather, her feather, tucked into the folds of his obi, nor did she see the emotion in his eyes. Sighing, she took a step back, unable to stand so close to him any longer. After all, he would one day die. She would go on and on, outliving him, his race, his very world. Closing her eyes, she willed the visions of the scent of carrion on the wind, rot, and despair, to leave her be.
He cleared his throat. She looked up at him, his face once more wearing its customary bland mask. “What business do you have with me, kami?”
She pulled her kimono tighter around her, conscious of his earlier comments. Turning her face to the moon, she said, “I knew you were following us, Sesshoumaru. What business do you have with me?”
He surprised her by sighing. What was with him? “Sesshoumaru?” she asked uncertainly.
He stepped up beside her, his shoulder nearly touching hers. She noticed he had no weapon at his hip. He clenched his only hand.
“It has come to my attention that I may….not always be there to protect my charge,” he said through gritted teeth.
His charge? Oh, the girl. She smiled. “True, you are only mortal,” she answered.
He tensed. Giving her a long suffering glare, he continued, “I wish to have your word that you will look after the girls affair’s should the impossible happen.”
“And why should I care for the welfare of a human child?” Kagura retorted. Carrion, rot, I smell it on the wind. It isn’t real, not Sesshoumaru, I couldn’t bear it!
He grabbed her by the arm, surprising her more with the fury in his eyes, “Give me your word!”
She shuddered at his touch. She could easily slip his grasp, but something was wrong. The blue light was once again emanating from his hand trapping her in his grasp. This is pure energy! Only gods, and a few humans, have this power, never a demon! she thought.
“Sesshoumaru,” she gasped, “what are you doing?”
He was oblivious to his own power, anger and fear in his eyes, frightening Kagura more than any purifying power he should be incapable of. “I can not fail her as my father and grandfather failed me, promise me!”
Kagura looked into his eyes. So carefully guarded for so many centuries until a weak human child entered his life. Emotions she could have sworn he was incapable of were now flooding his face and causing his voice to break.
“Please,” he whispered.
She lifted her free hand to his face, grazing his lips with her fingers, “No…it does not become you to beg,” she whispered.
His eyes widened at her touch, but he made no move to stop her. His grip loosened, the light wavering.
“I give my word, I will not let you die and abandon the child,” she whispered, soothing him while the wind blew leaves and detritus around them.
He then pulled back, wrapping his coldness around him like a cloak. “This Sesshoumaru thanks you, Kami.” He said, gazing at nothing and only seeing Kagura.

He could still feel her fingers on his face. For a split second he had thought he was going to lean in, press his lips to hers. He had remembered who he was and pulled back at the last moment. Somehow, this thought did not comfort him.
He had made an ass of himself. He had allowed his emotions reign over his actions, which was unacceptable. He had seen fear in her eyes. He looked down at his hand, wondering what he had done to frighten her. She had been Naraku’s wench, and was as old as time itself, surely she was not unaccustomed to the touch of a male. Dismissing this train of thought, he glanced down at the woman next to him. He almost smiled when he saw her kimono had slipped off her shoulder again.
He briefly considered walking away. He had what he wanted, why was he still standing here, breathing her scent? Noticing the moonlight on her pale shoulder…no this wouldn’t do. He turned to walk away.
“Sesshoumaru?” He halted at the sound of her voice.
“Yes?”
He heard her take a deep breath. “Why did you try to bring me back?”
It took him a moment to understand her question. Finally he comprehended her meaning, and he laid his hand over the feather he carried with him.
“It did not please me to see you die,“ He didn’t mean to answer her, but he did anyways. He didn’t mean to tell her the truth, but his mouth was not listening to him.
“Oh,” she sounded shocked, “why?”
He quirked his eyebrow. “You dare question my motives?”
“Forget it,” she said, rolling her eyes.
He glared at her impudence, “perhaps you should just be content this Sesshoumaru honored your request not to die alone, when he did not have any duty to do so.”
She smiled then, nodding her head, “perhaps this Kagura should.”
He looked at her, expecting her to have a mocking grin. Instead he saw her small smile. On a whim, he returned it.
“I truly did not wish to see you die. It affected this….me…more than was acceptable,” he admitted.
Rising up on her toes, she pressed her lips against his. It was so quick, so painfully short, he did not have time to register his surprise.
“Thank you,” she said, then dissolved into the wind and she was gone.
Drawing into himself, Sesshoumaru made his way to Rin and Jakken. The lock on his box broken, the lid finally open.