X-stasy

Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha.

Chapter 4: -Masuku-

"Say it," Junko's silky voice rang through the dark cave. "Say you love me and only me, Sesshoumaru!"

"Never," Sesshoumaru barked. "Who do you think you are? This Sesshoumaru will never lower himself to love. Love is a weak human emotion. And I would certainly never debase myself by claiming to love one as low as you. You are nothing, dirt beneath my feet, nothing more. I will never give into your demands, cat."

"You lie!" Junko declared, letting her leather whip come down hard upon Sesshoumaru with a sickening crack. "You will fall in love some day, but I'm making things easier for you by choosing who. You will fall in love with me. Do you understand, dog?!"

"I understand that you are a pathetic and lonely bitch, who can't get herself a man without having to resort to cheap tricks in order to ensnare one!" Sesshoumaru growled.

"Shut up!" Junko cried as she began to become hysterical. "Just SHUT UP!!!" She started beating down on Sesshoumaru with her whip relentlessly until Sesshoumaru's chest was nothing but a bloody mass of flesh. Throughout it all Sesshoumaru did not utter a single scream or pain. "I will break you! I will make you love me! Why can't I make you understand?!" Junko's eyes were wide and her breathing was coming in and out of her in short, irritated gasps.

"I have already told you-I shall never love." Sesshoumaru drawled.

Junko started to laugh in a psychotic manner.

"I see," Junko started to herself as she brought a finger to her chin in thought. "I think I'm finally beginning to understand. Well, if that's the truth then you're only good for one thing-my amusement. Nothing more. I loved you Sesshoumaru, and thought I could make you understand. But I see now that you have a heart of ice. I understand now..."

"And what is it you claim to understand, bitch?" Sesshoumaru snarled at her.

"Why no one has come for you." Junko smiled with glee. "You are as incapable of love as you claim. That is why no friend, family member, or lover has come to set you free. You have locked up your heart, and because of it you have landed yourself here with me. We all dig our own graves Sesshoumaru and this is the one you had dug for yourself because of your cold and unfeeling heart! If you had even one friend they would have come, and may have even managed to defeat me...

But since you have opened your heart to no one even if it is not I who break you, or kill you, someone else will because you cannot live your life alone forever Sesshoumaru. Everyone knows that. No matter how hard you try life is made up of people, and the people we come into contact with shape our lives in different ways. You who have been unkind even to your servants have cut yourself off from life and therefore from living. You have sealed your own fate with your careless selfishness, your arrogance, and your heart of ice. I almost feel sorry for you, Sesshoumaru. Almost."

Sesshoumaru remained silent.

Junko slowly walked over to Sesshoumaru and removed a curved dagger from her leather belt. "You never should have used me like you did Sesshoumaru. You should realized that even youkai have feelings! What do you have to say for yourself?!"

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes at Junko. "It was you who seduced me with your spells and trickery. So how can you claim that it was I who took advantage of you?"

"I've heard ENOUGH!!!" Junko growled as she lunged at Sesshoumaru's prone form hanging in chains. Using a metal apparatus she forcibly took Sesshoumaru's tongue from his mouth. Raising the curved, blade of the dagger to Sesshoumaru's tongue she smiled. "I will hear no more lies from you! I hate you! I will make you suffer and I will break you!" Junko declared as the blade came down.

oooooooooooo

Sesshoumaru groggily opened his eyes and blinked in confusion when he saw the mysterious Noh mask hovering over him eerily. It took a few more moments for him to realize his head was lying comfortably on Isane's lap. She must have healed him again with her healing tears. Sesshoumaru sighed, and wanted to kick himself for once again getting himself in this pitiful sort of situation-one where he found that he wasn't in control.

Although he found he was sort of getting used to this strange out of control feeling...whatever it was. He sighed and let himself actually take in the scent of this enigmatic woman for the very first time. Before he had decided not to give her the time of day, but now...his curiosity about this strange creature was getting the better of him. She was a puzzle indeed. The smell of frankincense and myrrh flooded his sensitive nose and Sesshoumaru found himself strangely pleased by it. Sesshoumaru took another whiff to determine whether this mysterious being was human or youkai...

Sesshoumaru furrowed his brow in confusion. It seemed she was neither. 'That can't be right...how can she be neither human, nor youkai, nor hanyou. She must be something. She does have a scent. She can't be made of thin air...unless of course she's a ghost. She's not of the resurrected sort like that dead miko Kikyou, whose scent is of death and decay. A ghost then...it is a possibility. However, she feels solid enough.' Sesshoumaru was so deeply in thought he failed to notice the way Isane was stroking his hair soothingly until that moment.

Sesshoumaru quickly pulled himself away with her with a growl-a growl that sounded more like a purr, which had been building up inside of him from her ministrations unfortunately. 'Doesn't this woman remember how I just snapped her neck?!' And yet as trusting eyes stared back at him he knew the answer to his question. She didn't remember anything of what he had done to her. But it still seemed strange to him that she had that look of trust in her eyes-it unnerved him since for some reason he was pleased to see it.

Sesshoumaru shook his head-his pride and stubbornness kicking in. He had decided long ago that it would be an impossibility for him to ever be 'with' someone, or to bond with someone and make them his mate. All because of the blood curse that he had inherited from his mother he knew he was destined to be alone in life. And he would not let this mere 'enigma' give him false hopes of something that could never be. But he couldn't help his eyes from wandering over her naked form...

She really was beautiful. Sesshoumaru hadn't let himself admit to that fact before now. Her body was flawless-an expanse of tempting, golden-hued skin that looked silky-smooth. Beckoning to be caressed. Her form was petite and supple, yet there was an underlying strength. And her hair...it was like red waves of the purest silk. A red so red it reminded Sesshoumaru of freshly spilt blood brining no small smile to Sesshoumaru's lips. But her face...Sesshoumaru growled in frustration. He must see her face!

Sesshoumaru made his way towards Isane and sat on his knees on the ground in front of her. "Remove your mask." He ordered simply. He was a lord after all, she should obey him.

Isane laughed musically, "I don't think so." She wagged a finger in front of him back and forth. "No, no, no."

"Why not?" Sesshoumaru growled trying to keep the anger from being apparent in his voice.

"Because no male can see this one's face. Unless...it is the one meant for this one."

"What do you mean by 'the one meant for this one'?" Sesshoumaru asked again clenching his first beginning to get irritated.

"The one that is meant for Isane." Isane placed a hand over her heart. "The one who Isane will love and who will love Isane in return. The one Isane will give her body, heart and soul to. The one this one will chose-" Sesshoumaru cut her off grasping her throat in his hand.

"Why not chose me?" Sesshoumaru drawled giving her a sharp shake.

Isane seemed unfazed. "You do not love, this one."

"So?"

"So you may not see this one's soul." Her mind must have been pretty rattled from having died twice in one day Sesshoumaru figured since he noticed she was speaking in the third person.

"We'll just see about that!" Sesshoumaru declared grasping out with his other hand to yank the offensive object from Isane's face. He was met with a nasty surprise. The mask was no ordinary mask indeed. He knew it was somehow enchanted of course since it was able to mimic the expressions of the face it concealed underneath, but he wasn't expecting it to contain any sort of magical power. As soon as he had tried to remove the mask, just as his hand had come into contract with it, a surge of intense magical power had surged through him, with such force that he was sent flying backwards several feet. It seemed he would not get to see the face behind the mask, at least not today. A force that could do that to Sesshoumaru, Lord of the Western Lands was a force to be reckoned with.

"You're coming with me, wench!" Sesshoumaru proclaimed walking over to Isane and flinging her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. He smiled to himself when she offered no resistance, finally she had learned her place, that it would be futile to try and resist him.

As Sesshoumaru flew with Isane through the air upon his nimbus cloud he could feel Isane's body trembling from the cold. 'She's such a weak, pitiful, little thing really.' Sesshoumaru smiled grimly to himself.

"Sesshoumaru," Isane whimpered. "I'm cold."

Sesshoumaru frowned. So she somehow remembered his name. 'She may appear helpless on the outside, but for some reason she possesses great power. Whatever she is. I must discover her secret! I must know everything that there is to know about her! I will solve the mystery that is Isane Rune and then I will kill her once and for all!'

Her shivering and whimpering were really getting on Sesshoumaru's nerves. Not wanting to deal with her incessant unvoiced complaints anymore he quickly wrapped Isane in his silvery, fur pelt. He then brought her roughly into an embrace meant to hurt her. She yelped at the pain he caused her, but was glad for his warmth, and the embrace nevertheless. In fact, she smiled a secret smile to herself, which she did not allow the Noh mask to show, that he had caused her pleasure with that harsh embrace.

"Thank you," she said in a melodious voice that sent a shiver down Sesshoumaru's spine. He only growled threateningly at the woman in response. 'She better stay quiet or else I shall end her life sooner than expected.' She seemed to understand his unvoiced warning and was quiet the rest of the trip snuggling up to him.

oooooooooooooo

Isane slowly blinked open her eyes and once again found herself in unfamiliar surroundings. This room was not her own, she knew this on an inherent level, but she also felt the room was somewhat familiar just the same. She realized she really must figure out a way to remember things, so that she wouldn't be taken advantage of by him. Him? Him who?

An image came to Isane's mind-a male youkai with piercing golden eyes...who wrapped her in a fur pelt when she was cold. She felt herself smile at the memory. There was something she knew about him. Instinctively she knew she had some sort of a hold over him, more so than just the usual power a woman holds over a man even. She had some sort of special hold over him. This she felt. All that she remembered where these feelings Sesshoumaru had instilled in her. Her soul would remember him she realized even if her own mind failed her.

But she still knew she had to figure out a way to remember certain things she simply could not forget. Unbidden a thought entered her mind, 'Is he the one? Is he the one meant for me and only me?' Isane shook her head to clear her mind of such thoughts. She barely remembered this man to entertain such thoughts. But she couldn't ignore what she felt, what her heart and soul felt as she remembered that image of him in her mind.

Isane slowly got out of bed, again finding herself in a new kimono. She walked around 'her' room wondering if she could find anything of use to 'remember'. She saw that there was a small desk and thought about using regular paper to write down such thoughts, but then she realized these thoughts could then be easily discovered. Isane sat herself down at the desk with a sigh and noticed that it was a very interesting sort of desk. There was a wooden flap, which she lifted to reveal a built in music box that began to play. Before Isane knew what she was doing she had mindlessly pressed down on the one the heads of the little figures of the music box. This caused the music box to disappear as a hidden compartment was revealed.

'What's this?' Isane wondered as she saw there was something there in the compartment. It was a book. 'It must be a diary...but whose diary is it.' She wondered. There was a thin layer of dirt, which she brushed aside with her hand. It revealed a crescent moon. She opened the diary to a random page and started to read...

Yellow 15th moon

Father is being unreasonable. He wishes to marry me off to the Lord of the Western Lands, a youkai I've never even met, all for the sake of an alliance between the South and West. It is the fate of a princess of the blood, however, and I cannot fight my destiny. But I can't help wanting to be free, it's a part of my nature. I want to choose whom I will have as my mate not to have this decision imposed upon me. I want to be treated as an equal and not an object. I wish to go to battle side by side with my husband, and not be a mere dressed up trinket he keeps hidden at home.

I wore my red furisode with the golden birds, along with my golden obi. I like the way it brings out the color of my hair.

Green 13th moon

Today is the first time I've laid eyes upon the Lord of the Western Lands. Such power! Father took me to witness a battle between the inu army against the feline youkai of the East. He was simply magnificent, such power, along with such deadly grace. I can almost imagine giving my heart to one such as he. He may be a worthy adversary after all, and who says love is not battle. And all is fair in love and war...

I wore my pink yukata with the green bamboo pattern, and light green obi.

Red 6th moon

I believe I've actually fallen in love with him, my future husband. Only I fear our marriage night. What will really happen I wonder? He does not know of my...unique tastes. Will he reject me once he finds out the truth? It is a blood curse that I carry within my veins. My people are the descendants of the God Feng and his union with mortal women. The spawns of Gods and mortals. His strong, passionate blood flows through my veins...causing me to find pleasure in inflicting pain on others, a strong taste indeed. But it is more than that, it is a urging, a calling in my blood to command, to control, and I fear the Lord of the Western Lands would not be too happy if I tried to dominate him. I fear he will not love me. For the first time I feel ashamed of what I am. But if he tries to rule me...No, I will not allow him to break me.

I had on my sky blue kimono with the white birds, and the white obi.

One year later

Black 7th moon

I tried to be his ideal wife, submissive and demure. I couldn't take it anymore. I showed him what I really was...I forced him into submission, and into sinful pleasure. He was not too pleased with me. I think I've pushed him into the arms of another woman-a mere human female to be exact! What have I done? This is the fault of my blood curse. I should have tried to bottle these emotions harbored within me with more care, but alas I could not. The blood...its call was too powerful I could not fight it. It is too big a part of who and what I am.

I wore the white kimono with red, chrysanthemum pattern along with my red obi.

Blue 9th moon

Oh my son, I can see it in the fire of Feng in your eyes, the curse of my blood has been passed down to you. You are just like me. My dearest Sesshoumaru how can you ever forgive me? I only hope you will not suffer as I have. I hope...you will be able to give into the call of the blood of Feng, which flows within you. Perhaps, you will be able to find a suitable mate, unlike I. I am afraid for you, my son. Your father seems to abhor this look in your eyes that he has recognized from mine. He plans to beat the blood curse out of you somehow. He does not realize you will never be truly happy if you fail to answer to the call of the blood. The taiyoukai will make my son ashamed of who and what he is. I cry out for my son! Why is it that we both find ourselves trapped in a golden cage? We should be free...like the God Feng...flying on red-gold wings to the moon.

I wore the black kimono with gold stitching, and with my gold obi. Truly it brings out my eyes.

Brown 19th moon

I fear I will smudge the ink with my tears. My son...my poor Sesshoumaru. I can see what your father is doing to you, even if you cannot. He is caging your heart. With harsh training and very little love he plans to freeze your heart of fire. And there is nothing I can do to stop him. Does he realize the harm he is doing to his own son!!! I will never forgive him for this.

I wore the dark purple kimono with gold flowers, with gold obi.

Two years past.

Red 16th moon

Your eyes, my son,...the fire in your eyes has almost been put out. Your passions and love...are almost all gone. All that is left is a cruel, heart of ice. It should not be this way! Sesshoumaru, your heart should be free to love the way you wish to love! To love as thou wilt as the ancient Holy Script of Feng advises. You should be able to give into the darkness in your heart. If you fight it...you'll only be fighting yourself. This will do you no good, only harm. You will never be truly happy my son because you will never know love...

I wore the gold kimono with the red obi.

Yellow 8th moon

He's done it. The taiyoukai has finally managed to squelch the flames of passion in my son's eyes. My son what happened to you? After you arrived back from the human village your eyes held nothing but anger, and hate. What did those humans do to you? Will you ever have that look of love you had saved for me again? You will not talk to me about what happened but somehow I know that whatever has caused it you have shut your heart from the world for good. You plan to never love. Do you hate humans now so much? I can see it in your eyes when you look at your own brother...you blame him for something...or at least you blame half of him for whatever happened. I wish you would tell me of what happened. My poor son. I wish I could make you understand that you have no reason to be ashamed of that part of yourself, nay you should be proud to have the blood of a God flowing in your veins! I can only pray that you will one day find a suitable partner...and then if you can freely give into the darkness in you heart, your heart and soul will be set free.

I wore the pink and gold kimono with red obi.

Three years later.

Green 16th moon

I can no longer stand to be under the thumb of that stubborn, and arrogant Lord of the Western Lands. I hope you can forgive me my son but I must leave you. I cannot allow my heart and soul to be caged any longer. The only way to escape my prison is through death I'm afraid. Through death I will give my soul wings...I will fly to the heavens and be with the Gods Feng and Huang for all eternity, where I can love as I wilt! Goodbye my son. I wish you the best of luck. Hopefully Huang will see fit to answer my prayers and send you someone...someone to set you free my little caged bird! Goodbye...I love you so much.

I am wearing my wedding kimono I think it is a fitting end to a new beginning. It is a beautiful light blue...the color of the sky.

Isane closed the pillow book with a frown. 'Was this the pillow book of the mother of the man in my memory...the one with the harsh, golden eyes? Sesshoumaru...that must be his name. And this must be his house...and this was his mother's room. He brought me to his mother's room...Sesshoumaru. I will not forget. Not this time.' Isane skipped over to the bed and acting like a teenaged girl-child she opened the pillow book to a blank page and wrote:

I was cold...Sesshoumaru wrapped me up in a fur pelt. He held me...and I was not angered or disgusted. He let me stay at his home in his mother's room. He let me wear his mother's kimono.

Isane smiled at what she wrote and quickly ran over to hide the pillow book in the hidden compartment again. No, this time she would not forget.

Allowing the invisible servants to once again dress her in what Isane realized must have been one of Sesshoumaru's mother's kimonos Isane planned to wander about the palace in search of the man who had brought her here. The kimono the servants had chosen was a beautiful black one that had intricate golden stitching of a pattern of golden birds, along with a golden obi tied about her waist. She subconsciously placed the Fenikkusu at her side knowing the sword was hers.

She wandered about until she noticed how beautiful the gardens looked and went to investigate. The gardens were simply breathtaking...there were so many different types of plants and flowers, most of which were in bloom. She noticed the cherry blossoms and had a nostalgic feeling as she walked beneath them. The soft, pink petals floated in the air around her making a dreamy atmosphere. She continued to walk until she saw a sort of hedge maze up ahead and then she saw a small girl-child. She was quite adorable-with brown hair, part of which was up in a ponytail, and large, chocolate brown eyes. She laughed when she saw Isane and skipped into the maze.

Isane blinked wondering if the girl had been real or just a specter. She remembered the line in the pillow book 'Do you hate humans now so much?' Isane suddenly felt worried for this little human girl to be so close to one like Sesshoumaru, who harbored a hate in his heart for humans. She decided to go after her.

Isane wandered through the hedge maze vaguely aware that she had no idea where she was or where she was going, all she could do however was follow the sound of the girl-child's laughter. It was a soothing sort of laughter that filled Isane's heart with warmth. She soon realized the girl or specter was playing with her. Isane finally made her way until she came upon a circular opening in the maze where a stone fountain was in the center. The fountain was of a giant inu youkai, water spouting from its open jaws that revealed rows of sharp, long teeth. A shiver went down Isane's spine as she looked at the terrible beast. And there sitting on the edge of the fountain was the young girl, who was swinging her legs innocently as if she didn't know what kind of danger she could be in.

Isane quickly went up to her, "Are you alright little girl? Do you not realize it's not safe to be here? Sesshoumaru doesn't like humans very much and you could be in danger? We should get you someplace safe."

Rin's smile broadened, "Rin is in danger? Well then we should go hide! Will you hide with Rin?" Rin stifled a giggle.

"Yes, I'll go with you until I'm sure you're some place safe," Isane smiled, and in turn the Noh mask's face turned into a slight smile.

"Are you smiling underneath that mask?" Rin asked as she hopped off the fountain's ledge.

"Yes," Isane admitted, "The mask mimics my emotions, but I can hide some emotions that I don't want revealed...with a mask of indifference."

"Just like my Master," Rin mused aloud. "I think I understand now."

"Your...Master?" Isane questioned.

"Nevermind that now," Rin started, "You said Rin might be in danger we really ought to get hiding." Rin said taking Isane's hand and starting to run off deeper into the maze. "He'll never find Rin in Rin's secret spot."

"Secret spot?" Isane asked, dazed as Rin dragged her along.

They ran quickly through the maze until they came to what looked like a dead end. Rin walked up to the hedges and then mysteriously disappeared.

"Little girl!" Isane cried worried. But when she felt the hedge where Rin had seemingly disappeared she found there was a hidden door there. Isane cautiously opened the door and walked inside. It was a secret garden.

The site before her took Isane's breath away...so many flowers were in bloom so close together it was almost overwhelming. Everything was so beautiful and yet wild. Rin had obviously been doing a bit a gardening to help this secret garden thrive but since she was no professional the garden had an untamed feeling. It was wonderful-a garden that was truly wild and free. There were many roses, daffodils, violets, forget-me-nots, lilies, and a large willow tree. The willow tree had a swing that had been woven from its very branches. Rin was sitting in the swing using her legs to push herself back and forth.

But something else caught Isane's eye...a statue that was covered in ivy. Isane felt drawn to this state and skipped over to it. She then began to tug and pull at the ivy to free the statue from its confines. Rin saw what Isane was doing and ran over to help. Together they were able to free the figure until it was revealed before them. It was a statue of two birds. The birds were beautiful with long, slender necks, and tail feathers resembling those of a peacock.

"The demon phoenix gods..." Isane trailed off breathlessly. "Feng and Huang."

"Feng and Huang?" Rin asked curiously.

"Yes, they are true and everlasting love incarnate. It is what they symbolize. What they embody. I can't believe Sesshoumaru has a statue like this at his palace..."

"Maybe Sesshoumaru wants to find true love?" Rin wondered aloud with a dreamy look in her eyes.

Isane's musical laughter filled the secret garden. "Sesshoumaru want to find true love! Impossible. This garden is obviously not Sesshoumaru's it...was someone else's." Isane remembered the pillow book she had found of Sesshoumaru's mother. 'Perhaps, this was her garden...'

"I suppose, I don't think Sesshoumaru knows this place exists." Rin agreed. "Or maybe Sesshoumaru got afraid..."

"Sesshoumaru? Afraid? Of what?" Isane questioned.

"Of love...of getting his heart hurt. Maybe that's why he's so cold to everyone." Rin mused.

"Sesshoumaru...he's your master isn't he?"

"Rin is his ward. Sesshoumaru...is like my father." A slight blush crept upon Rin's face as she remembered how Sesshoumaru had saved her life.

"I see," the smile upon the Noh mask widened. "So we've been running for nothing."

Rin laughed her childish giggles echoing. "That's right! And you fell for it Isane! You know, you're not that scary." Rin admitted.

"Scary?" Isane asked taken aback.

"When Rin first saw you she thought you were scary...because of that mask you have on. But Sesshoumaru told me I shouldn't judge others on appearances alone. And so I decided to give you a chance...to see if I could figure out what you were like behind that mask. Kind of what I did when I decided to become Sesshoumaru's friend. I decided to see what he was really like. Deep down...Sesshoumaru is not all bad. He's a powerful warrior and feels he has to be strong to protect what matters to him. He feels he's alone in the world...he's always been alone. But he doesn't realize that Rin is here with him, so he'll never be alone. That's why Rin stays with him. Forever."

Isane was a bit startled by what this little girl was telling her. Truly, she cared for Sesshoumaru very much. Perhaps, the girl-child even had a slight crush on her would-be father. It was hard to say, it could have been just pure admiration for him. An emotion stirred in Isane for a moment, one she was not familiar with. Could it be...jealousy? Isane shook her head wondering at herself, why should she feel that way about someone she barely remembered in the first place.

"Rin how did you come to live with Sesshoumaru?" Isane questioned curiously, her head tilted to the side.

"Sesshoumaru saved Rin's life." Rin revealed a starry look in her eyes.

Isane's breath caught in her throat. "I see. He must truly care for you..."

"Sesshoumaru saved you too. Perhaps, he cares for you as well." Rin said innocently.

"Sesshoumaru saved me? I don't remember...I have trouble remembering things. I doubt he cares for me though...it would be hard to care for someone whose mind has been broken. Sometimes I'm sure I don't make much sense either. Someone like me..." Isane shook her head. "I'm destined to be alone now...after what happened. You see, he will come for me. I can feel him one step behind me always. And then I don't know what will happen...he will put me in a golden cage again. I hate him. So I know I won't be able to stay here very long because I know he is coming to get me." A harsh wind began to blow through the garden ominously.

"Who is he?" Rin questioned getting frightened. Dark clouds had begun to gather overhead foretelling rain.

"Someone I defeated long ago..." Isane trailed off when she suddenly sensed something. 'No-it can't be! It can't be him! I can smell his hideous scent! Has he sent another foul creation to try and capture me?!' Isane knelt and wrapped her arms protectively around Rin while the wind began to pick up speed swirling around them. The willow tree's branches were swaying causing them to look like snakes, leaves were being tossed into the air around them, and the distant sound of thunder could be heard...

'He's close...coming from that direction!' Isane stood. "Rin I want you to run back to Sesshoumaru's palace in that direction. It's not safe here." She pointed in the direction she felt was safest.

"Rin can't leave you alone," Rin objected.

"Rin Sesshoumaru would be sad if something happened to you. Do you want Sesshoumaru to be sad?" Isane looked at Rin sternly and the girl-child shook her head. "Then go back to him Rin. Go now!"

Rin quickly ran from the secret garden leaving Isane to fend for herself. Isane unsheathed the Fenikkusu and held the sword out in front of her waiting. 'He's here...'

A pair of solid red eyes peered through the hedges at his prey.

To be continued...

Japanese translatio notes:

Masuku: mask.