InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Story of Two Sisters ❯ Elandra's pledge ( Chapter 9 )

Sesshoumaru sat next to a large tree trunk at the edge of a stream watching as Rin and Jaken herded fish closer to the bank to catch them for dinner. Though he never said it or had ever shown it on his face, he found times like this relaxing. But the peacefulness did not last long, soon his mind would return at the problem at hand…Naraku. Soon Rin's laughter and Jaken's complaining about getting splashed faded and Sesshoumaru rose from the ground and began walking along the banks of the stream.

So deep in thought he failed to notice another demonic aura until he was to close to avert it. Returning from the depths of his thoughts he found Elandra before him knelt down at the edge of the stream washing her face and filling her water pouch. She froze waiting to see what kind of encounter she would have with him this time.

After a few moments of silence Sesshoumaru questioned the girl with suspicion, “Are you following me?”

“No.” She said simply. “I told you before my purpose here is to try and find my sister.”

Sesshoumaru did not have time to question her again she went on to explain freely about her situation. “Our father was the ruler of the Black Panther clan on the island to the south. We lived many years without war and we had even found a way to coexist with humans on our island. But the reason for that peace was a treaty my father had with the White Tiger clan on a smaller island to the east. Many times they would have meetings and debates on the treaty until finally my father agreed to new terms for the treaty. One of the key terms was for my sister to marry the prince of the Tiger clan. For her own reasons she did not want to and ran away. The ruler of the tiger clan took this as a violation to the peace treaty between the clans and attacked. Unprepared and still reeling from the death of my father our clan was almost wiped out.” Elandra stared into the water watching it pass as silent tears fell from her eyes.

“And so what is your plan now? What do you plan to do when you find your sister?” Sesshoumaru asked curiously.

“I don't know what I'll do; our clan no longer has a future on our island. Now with father gone and the clan almost wiped out, she is all that I have left.” Elandra looked up at the demon lord with teary eyes.

Sesshoumaru made no comment and only stared at Elandra as she rose to her feet. She looked to the ground keeping her eyes diverted from the demon lord. “I do not know these lands nor do I know the people who live here. I am taking only the well worn paths searching for my sister…” she returned her eyes to Sesshoumaru.

“I do not help cases of charity.” Sesshoumaru stated in a cold stern tone of voice.

“I am not asking for charity.” Elandra replied. “These are your lands are they not? And you have a purpose to your travels, correct? If you will assist me in finding my sister then I will serve you.” Elandra bowed deeply. “If you do what I ask then I will lay my life down for you.”

Sesshoumaru made no comment or wore any expression on his face to show his acceptance of the offer. He turned to walk away leaving the girl standing there. But there was a tiny pinch of sorrow in his heart; perhaps it was from living with Rin for so long that he learned this. He paused dead in his tracts closed his eyes and released a silent sigh.

“If you show any signs of betrayal I will waste no time killing you.” He replied and continued walking. Elandra thanked him and vowed to her word again as she followed him back upstream to Jaken and Rin.

The two were sitting around a fire roasting fish. The sounds of the river bank at night began to fill the air as the sun began to sink in the sky. Jaken sat quietly giving the young girl an evil look of distrust and wondered quietly to himself why Sesshoumaru would have brought this girl back with him. But he had learned long ago not to question Sesshoumaru's actions. Rin had also sat quietly for sometime watching the girl and offered her fish they had cooked.

“She's very pretty.” Rin leaned over and whispered to Jaken. “Do you think Sesshoumaru likes her?”

“Foolish child.” Jaken replied annoyed by the idea.

A while later Elandra began to pick up the scent of sulfur, a hot spring near by. She looked around and noticed that Sesshoumaru had disappeared without a word. She looked over to the little green imp that was dozing off to sleep.

“Where did Sesshoumaru go?” she asked.

“Sesshoumaru goes and comes as he pleases.” Jaken replied hatefully. “Now go to sleep.”

Elandra stood up and decided she would go for a soak in the hot spring near by. As she began to walk away from the camp she felt the presence of someone else. She turn around to see Rin dart behind one of the trees.

“Rin is that you?” Elandra asked.

Rin stepped out from behind the tree. “Are you leaving us?” she asked innocently.

“No, I am just going for a soak in the hot spring. Would you like to go?” Elandra replied.

“Hot spring?” Rin said cautiously. “Are you sure there is one around here?”

“Yes just behind those rocks.” Elandra replied pointing to several huge boulders.

Rin followed Elandra to the hot spring and both of them were quick to undress and wade into the hot soothing water. Elandra lay back on one of the rocks and gazed up into the sky staring at all the stars while Rin splashed and played in the water. It wasn't long before the warm water finally took effect and Rin was ready to sleep. Elandra offered her the cloak she had been wearing to curl up in so that she could stay and soak a while longer.

Rin had been sleeping for quite sometime when finally sleep began to tug at Elandra's eye lids. During her relaxing soak she had felled to notice there was someone watching her from the trees. As she came back to her senses she began to feel their presence, their eyes watching her closely. She waited hoping it would fade, but the feeling never did. Finally when no one appeared and she could not pick them out of the trees she decided it must be her own imagination. She was just being paranoid in this new land with these new people.

But someone was watching her and to his amazement there was some small pleasure in just watching her. Sesshoumaru had originally sought them out to make sure Rin was alright, but now he continued to watch because it seemed to give him the same quite pleasure as watching Rin and Jaken catch fish. But there was something different to the peacefulness he felt, it did not fade as quickly.

Elandra rose from the water under the moonlight. The trickles of water beaded together and raced down the curves of her body leaving shining streaks upon her body in the moonlight. Her slow graceful moves excited Sesshoumaru in a way he had never been before. He longed to touch her, his instincts as a man began to take over his mind. He watched her as she stepped out onto the cool green grass and began to dress. He watched as she pulled her skirt up her thighs and shimmy it into place by working her hips side to side. Unable to look away he watched as she slid her top down her arms and over her breast and finish lacing up the front and tying the leather strips into a bow. She propped her self against a boulder and began sliding her boots over her small delicate feet and pull them up over her soft white calves. She then picked up her belt and wrapped it around her waste buckling it in the front and sheathing her sword at her side.

It took everything Sesshoumaru had inside to keep himself from making himself known in more ways than one to the young girl. He continued to watch as she then knelt down and picked up the still sleeping Rin and walk towards the camp where Jaken was alone asleep. Once back at the fire Elandra lay Rin between her and Jaken and stoked the fire before lying down to sleep. Before she drifted off to sleep she looked around for Sesshoumaru one last time, but he was still no where to be seen.