InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Tale of Sesshoumaru ❯ Kindness is Weak ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer: I do not own copyright to any of the Inuyasha characters. Wish I did. I make no profit off of my fan fiction. Wish I did.

 

Disclaimer #2: I do own the character of Akanesuji and Smart Ass. If you would like to use them, please contact me at skycladstrega@yahoo.com

 

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“The letter” was all he said as he held out his hand in expectation.

 

Ass dug through a pile of letters and rolled up scrolls in a second satchel, his letter being somewhere near the bottom. Running into Sesshoumaru had been the last person on her list, not one of the first. She had hoped to avoid him really, giving the letter to a someone else to deliver, but obviously that didn't work.

 

My dearest Fluffy,

I shall make this brief since you ignore me anyway. I plan to disable your brother and deliver to you your father's sword. In return, I want the lesser Tenseiga. Maybe then you will find respect for me though I no longer require it from you. I pray for your peace of mind.

 

I no longer expect you to call me home and go through with the marriage. I have made a home here where I am at now. I have the respect of my people and their number grows every day. I have found much happiness in serving as their ruler.

 

I await word that you will hand over Tenseiga on delivery of the Tessaiga,

Wet Nose

 

Ass circled around him and was able to read it over his shoulder as the fire light illuminated it. “Oh my Gods! She called you Fluffy!” Ass was in an uncontrollable fit of snickers and giggles.

 

“Stop it Ass,” Jaken warned with real fear in his eyes. “Our Lord Sesshoumaru will kill anyone who calls him that.” Sesshoumaru tightened his lips and in less than the blink of an eye he had his hand around the laughing demon's throat, choking off her airways so that she could not make the hideous sound of that name again. Her golden eyes popped out and her face turned an ugly hue of yellow. “Get her my lord!” Jaken cried, “Get her!”.

 

The angry demon lifted her off her feet as she scratched and clawed at his single arm. Her feet dangled in the air. “Where is Wet Nose now, Ass?” he seethed under clenched teeth sarcastically, but Ass could not make a real noise from the tightening grip over her throat. When she could not answer, Sesshoumaru dropped her like a brick into the ocean, letting her crumple on the ground. She coughed and hacked, spittle dripping from her face and her nose dripping.

 

“I don't know.” she said, grasping at her throat. Sesshoumaru kicked her, sending her several feet. “I swear, I don't know. We split company five days ago. She ordered me not to give you your letter until last.”

 

That wretched woman. She would not get to Inuyasha first, killing him and making this Sesshoumaru look weak, he said to himself. Inuyasha was a half demon, but she was full and would have the advantage.

 

But then again, he thought, she wouldn't. She was never trained in the martial arts. She would get herself killed by Inuyasha and that would release him from his father's contract with Akanesuji's mother. It would all be Inuyasha's fault and then all the noble demons would have cause to go after him for her death.

 

But then again, Akanesuji's mother would blame him for driving her to do such a thing, and the whole demon kingdoms would know it. She said she had a land of her own now, and a population to serve her. Who would they believe? Him or Akanesuji's mother? Akanesuji's mother of course. Everyone hated him. It would give them all cause to go after him with armies. He could best them all in single combat, but against sheer numbers he wouldn't stand a chance.

 

But what if she succeeded? He could have the most powerful sword of his father and a crafty dog demon to serve underneath him. Had she changed so much over the years from prissy little courtier to toughened warrior? Would she continue to be a faithful lesser noble?

 

Sesshoumaru looked around for the battered Ass, but time had already slipped away and she was curled around the sleeping Rin protectively in her little tent. She was surely awake, as demons didn't really need to sleep, but he would not chance waking Rin. Rin being human did need her sleep, or else she would sit on Ah-Un's back all day half asleep as she had before. He sat down once again at the base of the tree and spent the night in deep thought. He prayed that his father's lessons on tactics and maneuvering would serve him well.

 

In the morning Ass woke up to Rin attempting to play the shamisen outside the tent. She snuggled her face into her quilt and sniffed deeply. The silk still smelled like silk, the squares cut from her old kimonos. There were pretty plum blossoms and cranes in black and white on red. She checked her hair for color, making sure the red dye was still bright and covered up all of her white. Grabbing for a water gourd filled with a thick greasy ointment, she rubbed some into her eyes to keep their color yellow. A second gourd was filled with the fat of a slain horse demon, which she rubbed inside her clothing, into her armpits and groin and all over her belly. Opening the tent flap, she saw Sesshoumaru staring at her most blankly. It seemed like that was all he ever did.

 

She rubbed her neck, checking for soreness. Fluffy had choked her hard, but not hard enough to really do her much damage. She could have kicked him in the shins while he did it, but then she would not be able to lure him into a false sense of strength over her if she had. She was weaker a demon than he was, but she wasn't that weak. With nimble fingers she flattened her bangs over her forehead to make sure her crimson red demon stripes did not show.

 

How lovely Sesshoumaru's stripes were, gracing his cheeks in purple. His looked so nice, while hers just made her look angry, like two down turned eyebrows. She never liked her demon stripes. He even got a pretty crescent moon. She got an ugly arrowhead shape. Frowning, she even envied his silky hair. Her hair was like a bears, all wild and tangly. It took a whole bottle of almond oil to get it smoothed out.

 

She sat before her tent, pulling on soft well worn socks after inspecting her toe nails. They were getting a little long. Out of sheer spite she pulled the socks back off again and bit at the hard nails. She watched Sesshoumaru watching her. She spit a nail out and continued with the next, easily bringing her foot to her mouth and switching to the next. When she was done, she put the socks back on and then the tabi boots, making sure they were very tight at the ankle. Next was her hair, which she struggled with using a large toothed comb of carved wood. She slept in the cords keeping her hair up off her head, but the tails were terribly knotted from Rin playing horsey with them. When she was reasonably finished, she pulled the corner of her quilt out and brushed her teeth with it, getting last nights sludge off of them. It really didn't matter though. If she wanted too, she could release a poison into her mouth that would kill just about any nasty thing growing there and clean her teeth at the same time too. A dog's bark was not worse than it's bite in this case.

 

“Come here Rin,” she said, signaling her with comb in hand. “I will brush your hair.”

“Thank you, Horsey Lady.” Rin replied. “Jaken combs my hair for me, but he sometimes pulls too hard.” She sat down in Ass's lap and she began to comb starting from the bottom going up. “What would you like for breakfast Rin? I have dried fish and octopus, more tofu, some green tea, some dried beef, seaweed and rice cakes. I even have a boiled egg from yesterday if you would like it.”

 

“Oh yes. I would really like the egg.”

 

Ass made hot tea and rice for Rin, slicing the egg into a pretty flower shape that sat on top. She too drank a cup of tea and popped dried seaweed into her face. “Would you like a cup of tea Sesshoumaru-sama, Jaken?”

 

Jaken nodded no, but the master nodded yes. Ass poured the tea carefully into the blue bowl and handed it to him only after first bowing gracefully to her knees without spilling it.

 

“Are you versed in tea ceremony?” he asked.

“Hai, my lord.”

 

“Then perform it for me.”

 

“But I do not have a proper tea pot or ladle.”

 

“You may use Jaken's. I do not wish to use Lady Akanesuji's bowl.” The short servant let out a gacking sound, but ran to go get it from Ah-Un's saddle bag. It was a very small pot, only meant for one, but it was a lovely metal one engraved and enameled. With it Jaken brought a plain black cup.

 

Ass took the tea from the bowl and poured it into Rin's now empty bowl, directing her to drink it so that it would not go to waste. A fresh pot of water was put on the coals to boil. Ass went back to her tent and put on the only kimono she had with her, a brightly colored yukata used for bathing and resting in. It was the best she could do. She wrapped a simple sash around her waist as a makeshift obi. When she crawled out of the tent, Sesshoumaru was sitting upon his knees and shins waiting for her. Rin sat next to him in the same position and Jaken was behind him as a retainer should. Ass immediately straightened, her posture changing to that of a noble lady.

 

Her steps were even and metered to the exact distance of the coals. When she dropped to her knees, she did so with precision. Her arms moved to the exact height and angle required, her sleeves held back one at a time with the other hand just as she was trained to do. After filling the tea pot, she gracefully carried it to the waiting participants.

 

Ass's eyes never left the spot between the pot and Sesshoumaru's knees as her arms did their dance with pot, whisk, ladle and bowl. When the bowl was properly prepared, she handed to it Sesshoumaru with deepest solemnity. When Sesshoumaru drank from the single bowl, it was passed to Rin who like him, took a sip, turned the bowl and sipped again. She was careful to mimic everything she saw.

 

That was when Sesshoumaru knew that Ass was something different. She was a lesser noble of some sort or no ordinary servant. Her movements were too trained, to graceful, to precise. She made it look natural and unstudied, and yet not. She had conquered the paradox of the ceremony.

 

When the drinking was done, and the utensils put away, he pointed for her to sit again before him. “Tell your lady Akanesuji that I should like to trade the Tenseiga for the Tessaiga.” he said.

 

“Hai.”

 

“In which direction shall you meet her?” he asked.

 

“I do not know my lord. I must finish delivering her other missives. Undoubtedly I will catch her scent somewhere and find her like I have done before.” Ass blatantly lied. She could not tell him that she herself was Akanesuji.

 

“Is that how she does her business?” he asked, hoping that Ass would not think he was trying to find out where Akanesuji was.

 

“Yes my lord. I do not know where she is at. Sometimes she stays in caves, sometimes in hot springs. Many times she stays with humans.”

 

“With humans?”

 

“Yes my lord. They love her and they treat her very well.”

 

“I see.”

 

Rin spoke up. “Horsey lady, can't we travel together a little longer?” She grabbed Sesshoumaru's kimono sleeve with tight anxious fingers. “I want to learn to play the shamisen.”

 

Ass grinned. “Rin, I cannot teach you the shamisen in a few days. It takes many months to learn to play it and I cannot spend many months with you, though I would like to.” She looked to his lordship's face and caught him looking at her with a small, curious look on his face. She could not tell if he was pleased or if he was just pondering something.

 

Sesshoumaru thought for a few moments. He really did want to please his Rin in some small way. “In the winter, when it is too cold for Rin to travel, I would command you to join us. You may teach Rin the shamisen then.”

 

Ass was shocked. “My lady will object.” she stammered. “I cannot come to you in the winter.”

 

“Your lady will likely kill herself in this stupid quest against Inuyasha and it will not matter what she objects to. You are my subject. I will command you as I please.”

 

“You do not care if she dies?”

 

“No. I do not care.”

 

“And yet you care if a lowly ass like myself attends you or not?”

 

“You serve a purpose.”

 

There was a long pause as Ass carefully chose her words. “What did Lady Akanesuji do to earn your dislike?”

 

There was another long pause, but this time it was Sesshoumaru who carefully chose his words. He would not show the long held hurts over her, or the joy he once had in her smiling face. “Akanesuji chose the world of the courtier. She became shallow and insincere. She used her beauty and charms to secure herself a greater place in the palace. I have no respect for a whore.”

 

Ass jumped up quickly with shock and horror in her eyes. “I...I cant believe you would say such a thing! She loved you! It was her mother who forced her to become a courtier. She had no choice.”

 

“She had a choice.” Sesshoumaru said with interest. He knew he was right. “She always had a choice.”

 

Tears started to run down Ass's face. She turned away to hide them and ran to her tent, stuffing everything into sacks until the tent was last thing. Leaving the cut saplings she used as poles, the canvas sheet was crammed half way in. “I will tell her of this. She deserves better than you. She is the kindest, gentlest woman I have ever met.”

 

“Kindness is weak” he said, but it didn't matter. Ass was beyond listening and Rin was looking at him confused. “She is weak.” he added. “Akanesuji manipulates with emotion.”

 

“And you are much better?” Ass said. “You who pushes everyone and everything away because you fear emotion? You who seeks power and strength because you think yourself less than your half breed brother? Oh yes,” she spat with heavy sarcasm, “You are so much stronger than she is.”

 

Sesshoumaru drew his sword. “I will not be spoken to in such a way. I will show you just how strong I am.” It did not take much for him to stand and push Rin back behind him to Jaken, who dragged her back even further.

 

Ass dropped everything and drew out two wakizashis from the first bag, one for each hand. She hiked the yukata up to free her legs, tucking the front opening corners into the makeshift obi. “I am her champion. It is my duty to defend her honor.” Bright red stripes graced her thighs and Sesshoumaru was instantly drawn to them. Ass was beautiful when she was angry.

 

“You might as well drop your weapons and take your punishment. You are no match for me.” he said, thinking that he might cut out her tongue and solve her mouthy nature.

 

“I would die before I give up.” With her right hand sword she motioned for him to come get some. Sesshoumaru ran at her with his sword in the first position, high above his head. When he was within range, he let it down hard and fast, but she was quick to move four inches to the side, letting the sword slip beside her. He was where she was most comfortable. She was an inside fighter and dropping her weapons, grabbed his elbow, twisting his arm up behind him and into a lock. Ass pressed the pressure points of the wrist, forcing him to disarm and butted him in the back of the head which forced him to bow down further and pulling his arm up higher. She meant to dislocate his shoulder but found his arm too strong and limber.

 

Sesshoumaru squatted low and pushed back hard, landing them both on top of her. Though the force did pop his shoulder, he winded her and she let go. Quickly he butted her head back and rolled to the side, pinning her torso to the ground with a knee. Ass's hands went up to her face in a faint and she punched directly into his groin.

Her foe crumpled forward a few inches and she grabbed at his ears, twisting them around until he was off of her. She punched her thumb into the soft place behind the ear, but he was just as quick using his weight to push her back to the ground. They both were grunting and panting, both in pain, but nothing too serious. His shoulder hurt from being dislocated and she was at an advantage because his other arm was gone. Quickly he did a violent shrug to relocate the bones. A giant pop was heard.

 

Ass could not get her pinned legs free, but still held on to his ear with a fury. She poked him in the eyes with her free hand, which commanded a very pissed growl from him. He placed his weight over her more, taking the breath from her. With his good hand he grabbed her nose and twisted.

 

Jaken had never seen his master wrestle around on the ground in a battle before. He was quite sure Sesshoumaru would win, but the fight was very interesting. Rin stood with her hands near her mouth, not knowing who to cheer for. She would always support her lord, but it was awfully cool to see a girl give him a run for his money.

 

The demon woman bit at his hands, finding his pinky knuckle too near her lips. Sesshoumaru grunt in pain and pulled away.

 

The two stood up facing each other in low wrestling stances, their weapons tossed all around them. Ass growled, her lip snarling up. He responded in kind. The smell of his sweat hit her nose like a ton of bricks, a hot masculine, dominating scent. She smelled like ginger, cinnabar and horse sweat. His claws started oozing green poison, and when she saw it, she opened her mouth to reveal a dark bloody colored acid saliva dripping from pointed fangs. Sesshoumaru looked down to find his hand burning from the poison spittle, a light smoke raising from it.

 

“You little bitch.”

 

“Call it a tie?”

“Never.”

 

They jumped at each other again, this time locking each other around the head, neck and shoulders. Ass curved her leg around his, bringing him down and to the side with his own weight. Poisoned claws dug into her shoulder, tearing flesh as she bit into his neck. It was a turning point in their fight. They both started changing into large dogs, biting and snapping at each other. The noise was all growls, yelps and the sounds of tearing flesh. Sesshoumaru's fur stood up on end, making him look twice again as big. There was a whirl of dirt and leaves around them, kicked up particles of soil and forest rubbish. The fight was now just a blur.

 

It ended when Sesshoumaru stood above her, her neck in his mouth, triumphant. Puncture wounds were dotted all over them both, he had a torn ear. She could not move. There was no way for her to turn over, to kick out, to bite at him back. They both drew deep breaths, trying to regain their oxygen.

 

They stood for many minutes, until she relaxed her muscles in submission. She had no choice. There was no place to go, no special move to turn to. Ass was whipped. She turned back into her human looking form, trusting that he would not bite her head off, collapsing completely on the ground.

 

She was his to do with as he pleased now. He had won in total dominance. She closed her eyes and waited for the killing blow. She would die honorably in battle.

Sesshoumaru wiped his lips with the back of his hand, getting the taste of her out of his mouth. His eyes were still wide and wild, his hair a tangled mess. She lay on the ground dirty, red fur and white fur pulled in tufts all around. He noticed her eyes were closed, and a peaceful look was on her face even though tears had put their streaks down her cheeks. She wanted to die. She waited for it.

 

He would not give her what she wanted.

 

Sesshoumaru signaled to Jaken and Rin, picked up his sword and walked away.