InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Young at Heart ❯ Glades of Bees ( Chapter 8 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

By: Cierah

Chapter Eight: Glades of Bees

Inutashomaru broke through the trees, and glanced around him quickly, scanning the area for danger. Sensing none, he called out to the two children hiding behind the bushes. The area was not large, but also not a tiny spot, on either side stood tall trees, and a small spring trickled to their right. Smiling, Inutashomaru guessed the glade to be roughly the size of a small garden he had back home. Flowers littered the grass, and smaller bushes sprouted up in mismatched spots through out the glade.

Standing there, Inutashomaru thought long and hard over his decision. He had one of two choices to make. His first choice was to bring both children with him and then leaving Nurie at the edge of the village to find her home, which in turn might leave him vulnerable to being caught by the very men who accused him of taking her in the first place. This might lead to another problem of having his son involved should the Daiyoukai have need of confronting those men again.

The second choice was to leave both children behind while he searched for her parents, and brought them to her, leaving both children also in danger at being alone, which would lead to him being no where near them to protect them. Taking a deep breath, he missed the first tug on his hakama sleeve. The second one caught his attention and he looked down. “Sesshoumaru?”

“Father? Is something wrong?”

Shaking his head, Inutashomaru moved his gaze to the trees on the other side of the glade. “Go play, I need a moment to think.” Wandering back to his thoughts, he frantically tried to think of some reasonable way to keep both children safe, but keep himself safe as well. His son had already wandered off without thought, had been in danger one time too many. Rolling his eyes at himself he growled low in his throat. If he were honest with himself he would bring both children with him, but placing his son close to possible danger was overriding any plausible thought. Silently he wondered if his son would heed his words, should he leave them here alone. The pup was stubborn like his mother, and a wanderer like himself. Grunting, he took a deep breath. A great mix for such a small Inu. Cursing himself, Inutashomaru looked over his shoulder and raised his brows at the two children behind him, staring at him silently.

Snorting, he turned his head away again. He heard their small mutters behind him and he listened silently.

“He's scary.” Nurie whispered.

“No he's not. You should see him angry. Then he is really scary.”

“What's he doing?”

“He's thinking. He always gets that look on his face when he is thinking of something real important.”

“What's he thinking about?”

“I don't know, but it's something important. He grunts and stuff too when he thinks.”

Inutashomaru almost laughed. Biting down on his lip, he smiled to himself. Did he really grunt when he was lost in thought? Shaking his head, he lifted his gaze to the blue sky. Closing his eyes finally, he took a deep breath. This was going to be his hardest decision ever.

Nodding to himself, he turned to the children who stood behind him waiting. Kneeling down, he waved them forward. “We are getting closer to the mountains, near your village, Nurie.”

The little girl looked up and gazed around her confused. “I don't see my village.”

Inutashomaru nodded. “It lays over the mountains, child. “

“Oh.” She turned her head and met his eyes.

“Things will get a bit dangerous from this point on. The rocks are steep and sharp, and the sun doesn't shine in the mountain paths.”

Sesshoumaru allowed his gaze to wander around the small glade curiously. Something caught his eyes and he frowned. Drifting away slowly, he crouched low and started stalking the strange flying bug. It was dark, small, and incredibly fast. Grunting softly, Sesshoumaru saw it fly into one of the tiny bushes in the glade. Grinning, he crouched lower to the ground and leaned back slightly. Without warning he pounced right into the bush, growling with triumph. Quickly swatting at the branches, leaves went flying, along with broken sticks, and several small black bugs flew out of the bush as it was torn apart by the small inuyoukai.

Inutashomaru lifted his head quickly, and smirked at his son. Nurie turned around when she heard a small growl and she tilted her head curiously. “What's he doing?”

“Just watch.”

Inutashomaru let out a bark of laughter when his son disappeared into the bush, but moments later the bush broke apart revealing a tussled boy, with leaves and sticks hanging in his hair. Sesshoumaru was crouched where the bush used to be, watching the bugs fly towards another one.

Several bushes later, and still no answers, Sesshoumaru sat on all fours pouting. A buzzing caught his attention and he lowered himself to the ground watching intently as a fat yellow and black fly buzzed past his nose. Sniffing the air, Sesshoumaru lifted his head slightly and followed the buzzing fly. The little bug landed onto a small flower, and Sesshoumaru stuck his nose close to it watching intently.

Narrowing his golden gaze, Sesshoumaru saw the small legs gather some pollen, and he frowned. Sniffing and moving closer, Sesshoumaru blinked when the black and yellow bug attached itself to his nose. Freezing, he felt the little legs on the small point of his nose, and it crawled upward. His golden gaze crossed slightly, watching the bug, but before he could react, he yelped and jumped a foot into the air.

Yowling, he landed on his feet and brushed his nose with his hands frantically. Blinking back the tears in his eyes, he whimpered at the burning sensation in his nose. Shaking his head and rubbing his nose, he twisted around again and was immediately knocked off his feet when he collided with something hard.

Lifting his tearful gaze, his father knelt down in front of him chuckling. Pulling Sesshoumaru's hands away from his face, he used his own clawed fingers to remove the stinger and he held it out showing his son.

Holding his nose, Sesshoumaru glared at the offending thing in his father's fingers, and he whimpered. The burning feeling was still there and he rubbed his nose again with his hand. Clenching his eyes closed, he rubbed his nose harder.

“Stop rubbing it Sesshoumaru.” Inutashomaru sighed. Lifting his son into his arms, he carried him back to the giggling Nurie who had witnessed the whole thing.

“You got stung.” She giggled. “I've been stung, it hurts.” She lifted her foot. “But I got stung on my foot and it hurt to walk, and I couldn't wear my sandals for a week. My foot got all swollen.”

Whimpering, Sesshoumaru buried his face into his father's shoulder, and rubbed his nose against the soft cloth of his hakama. His hands were locked in his father's grip to prevent him from scratching at the sting, so he resorted to rubbing it against the shoulder that was available.

Inutashomaru rolled his eyes. “You will only make it worse, Sesshoumaru.”

He got a whimper for a response.

Chuckling, he lowered his son beside Nurie, and took in the slightly red and swollen mark on his son's nose. “Next time, leave the bees and wasps alone.”

A muffled comment was missed, as his son buried his face into the sleeve of his hakama.

“Stop rubbing it Sesshoumaru.” Inutashomaru said firmly.

“But it burns.” He moaned, his face still buried in his sleeve.

“I know it does. Leave it be.” Inutashomaru pulled Sesshoumaru's sleeve away from his face, and knelt down again. Looking over at Nurie, he smiled. “What are your thoughts on dogs, child?”

She clasped her hands in front of her and giggled excitedly. “Oh, they are so cute and cuddly; they have drooly tongues and soft fur, and are so friendly. I have a puppy at home that plays with me all the time.”

Chuckling, Inutashomaru shook his head, and then glanced at his son who had his eyes narrowed. Glancing back at Nurie, he nodded. “You do not fear dogs then?”

She shook her head. “No, they are too cute to be afraid of.”

Standing he nodded again. “Good, because you are going to be riding one when we get to the mountain paths.”

She frowned and looked around her confused. “I am? I don't see any dogs around.”

Looking down at the children, he noticed Sesshoumaru roll his eyes and sigh in exasperation. “My father is an Inuyoukai. Shesh.” He said as if he were stating the obvious. She looked up at Inutashomaru with wide brown eyes. Golden eyes met hers and she smiled shyly.

“Do you have ears too? Like my puppy does?” She asked with the innocence of youth.

Chuckling, Inutashomaru raised his brows playfully. “You will have to wait and see. We still have a ways to go before we get to that point. Shall we continue?”

Sesshoumaru grumbled rubbing his nose again, and mumbling something unintelligibly under his breath. They continued on through the glade, and Sesshoumaru glared at the flowers as he passed them. As he passed one flower, he heard a distinctive buzzing which successfully unnerved him, causing him to yelp and jump into the air in a fit. Giving the flower a wide birth, he quickly made his way to his father's side and grumbled again.

Inutashomaru chuckled. “Don't bother them, and they will not bother you.”

Another muffled response. Glancing around him warily, he heard more buzzing. However to his growing horror this wasn't a single buzz he heard this time, but several. Feeling his eyes widen drastically, he edged closer to his father. He wasn't afraid, that wasn't it. Urgently trying to convince himself of this, he found himself pasted to his father's leg, successfully dislodging his father's footing causing him to stumble and both Inutashomaru and Sesshoumaru found themselves on the ground in a tangle of limbs.

Grunting, and pushing himself up onto his hands and knees, Inutashomaru glanced at his son. “Will you be walking under my feet the entire way?”

Shaking his head firmly, his eyes darting around him searching for where the buzzing was coming from, he grinned sheepishly.

Nodding and smiling, Inutashomaru got to his feet and grabbed the back of his son's hakama lifting him up off the ground. Holding him in front of his face he stared into wide, uncertain gold eyes. “What am I going to do with you?”

Sesshoumaru remained still, like a puppy would being held by the scruff of its neck. Blinking rapidly, Sesshoumaru grinned wider.

Shaking his head, Inutashomaru lowered his hand, but continued to carry Sesshoumaru by the collar of his hakama, hanging limply from his grasp. Safe for the moment, arms and legs dangling above the ground, Sesshoumaru shifted slightly. Those buzzing bugs wouldn't get him in his father's grasp, would they? His eyes darted out across the glade uncertainly.

Nurie smiled as she followed them. The little girl was getting excited upon her return to her mother's side.

They slipped into the woods on the other side of the glade, and the Daiyoukai lowered his son to his feet. “You think you can make it from here?” He smirked.

Sesshoumaru nodded as if nothing had happened, and scampered off down the forest path, fully intending to put as much distance between him and those buzzing insects as possible. Still keeping within his father's sight, Sesshoumaru finally felt he had gone a safe distance and stopped when he heard a grunt on his left. Stepping away from the grunt, he maneuvered to the other side of the path slowly. What was with this place? He thought silently. Everything was out to get him. Backing up still, he realized too late that the path had ended and he flipped over backwards into the bushes at the paths edge. Propelling his arms trying to keep his balance, he fell with a thud into something thick and sloppy. Looking down at himself, he realized he had landed in a nice pile of mud and water. Groaning, he crawled to the edge of the path, lifting his gaze to his father who had a brow raised at him in question.

Grinning sheepishly, Sesshoumaru got to his feet, lowered his eyes to his muddy figure, and shook his hands, sending blobs of mud in every direction. Eyes widening with realization he lifted his gaze and saw his father's eyes now closed, and spots of mud littering his clothes and face. Nurie poked her head around his legs and peered at him in surprise. She also had failed to miss the spray of mud.

“Finished?” Inutashomaru asked wiping the mud from his face. Sesshoumaru nodded slowly, and saw the amusement on his father's features. “Shall we continue?” Shaking his head, holding his laughter inside, Inutashomaru turned away from his mud covered son.

Sighing, Sesshoumaru took a step and gritted his teeth at the mud that slipped between his toes. Shaking that foot, he took another step and mud slipped through those toes. As he walked, he would take a step, shake the foot then take another step. Nurie giggled behind him as he shook his left foot. Glaring at her, he took another step and shook his right foot with a growl.

What seemed like forever to him, Sesshoumaru glanced down at his feet which now were drying nicely, however his feet were now caked with leaves and dirt, and small sticks. Rolling his eyes, he yelped when he was yanked up by his collar and brought over to a small clear pool. Squirming in his father's grasp, he gasped when he was released and dropped unceremoniously into the cold water.

Breaking the surface of the water, he glared at his father who stood on a rock and stared at him with his arms crossed over his chest. Swimming to the edge, he climbed out and stood dripping in front of his father. Lifting his gaze quite miffed at being dropped into such cold water, he shivered. Taking a deep breath, he tried to undo the tie holding his hair up.

Inutashomaru stepped forward and undid the hair, allowing the long silver strands to drop heavily about Sesshoumaru's face. Brushing the hair back, he pointed to the water, and waited while his son turned, and began to prepare himself for a rather cold bath. Growling in irritation, Sesshoumaru dove into the water quickly.

Nodding in satisfaction, Inutashomaru glanced over his shoulder, watching the little girl play nearby. At the moment she was running around with her arms spread above her head trying to catch a butterfly. Shaking his head, he tried to think of why he insisted on bringing the children with him, when leaving them would probably be, in the end, safer then having them enter a world of hate and contempt.

When ever Inutashomaru would leave his son behind, it was to keep him from seeing the battles. Not all were successful, and his son had already seen too much. Taking a deep breath, he turned his head back to the small pool and saw Sesshoumaru climbing out of the water. At least his son was clean.

“Father, what was that grunt on the path?” Sesshoumaru asked curiously, standing beside his clothes and staring at them.

“Probably a wild boar or some other kind of animal.” Inutashomaru muttered absently. He was still deep in thought.

“That thing that bit my nose was a wasp?” Sesshoumaru asked, still staring at his soaking mud covered clothes.

“That was a bee, and it stung you, not bit you.”

Sesshoumaru's mouth opened into a big `Oh.' Lifting his head, he glanced over at his father who stood there silently. “All my clean clothes are with the pack.” He grumbled.

Inutashomaru nodded. “That means you will have to wash those ones.” Shrugging out of his shoulder armor, he placed them on the ground. Taking off his outer hakama, he held it out for Sesshoumaru. “Here, put this on until your clothes dry in the sun.”

Sesshoumaru lifted his gaze to his father and took the offered hakama. Pursing his lips, he slipped his small arms into the sleeves and stared at the extra material that pooled on the ground at his feet. Blinking and smiling, Sesshoumaru lifted his eyes to his father and shrugged.

Shaking his head, Inutashomaru smirked. Kneeling, he rolled the sleeves, and used Sesshoumaru's sash to tie the waist. “Sit.” Standing and walking over to his son's clothes, he dropped them into the water and scrubbed the material clean.

Sesshoumaru blew his wet hair out of his face and watched his father scrub the mud covered clothes. Turning his head, he found Nurie in the trees chasing a butterfly like he had done days ago. Tilting his head to the side, he wondered if Rendromaru was in fact right about the humans. She was pretty brave in his eyes. Most humans would have run, screaming in fear. At least he thought they would have, and according to Rendromaru, who was the wisest rat youkai he had ever come across, who had been right about everything else; humans were terrified of everything different.

Nurie was fearless. She seemed to not care about being in their company, and he smiled. The little girl played with him which made him happy. Sesshoumaru didn't have much opportunity to play, or run around carefree when he was back at home. Rendromaru always saw to that. He said youkai never played. His father had played with him, so why did Rendromaru tell him that playing was a dangerous thing?

Frowning, Sesshoumaru wondered what the rat youkai would do if he saw them. Shrugging, he looked back at Nurie. In truth he liked her. She was fun. Talked too much, but she seemed to be happy. He felt a hand on his shoulder and he brought his gaze to his father's.

“What are you thinking about?” Inutashomaru asked, seeing the frown on his son's forehead. Seating himself down cross-legged, he waited patiently, placing the clothes on the rocks to dry.

“Can we keep her?” Sesshoumaru asked curiously.

Inutashomaru twitched startled. “Nurie?” Shaking his head, he sighed. “Sesshoumaru, we can't keep her. She has a family of her own, and she misses her mother.”

Sesshoumaru nodded sadly. “She plays with me.”

Looking at his son, he felt his own frown mar his forehead. “Yes she does.”

“No one else plays with me.” Sesshoumaru whispered.

“What about Dezurie? I thought you two were friends.” Inutashomaru asked, thinking of the small youkai that lived within his house. He was the son of his commander and was roughly the same age as his own son.

Sesshoumaru shook his head. “Rendromaru says playing is weak.”

Inutashomaru growled low in his throat. “What else does he tell you?” The rat youkai had always been a faithful companion to him, giving advice when needed. However this rat planting these thoughts in his pups head was becoming irritating.

Sesshoumaru shrugged. “He talks a lot about humans mostly.”

Nodding and looking away angrily, he would have to straighten this old rats thoughts out. “He prevents you from playing with Dezurie?”

Sesshoumaru nodded slowly. “He always has me training in the dojo. Rendromaru gives me lots to do, saying it will help me become stronger and more powerful.”

“Powerful?” Inutashomaru grunted. “Sesshoumaru, power is not what makes one stronger. Dedication and loyalty is strength, determination and compassion is power. There is much you have yet to learn, but you are still a pup. Enjoy your youth while you can.”

Sesshoumaru nodded and sighed. “Playing isn't weak?”

Inutashomaru turned his head back to his son, smiling. “Playing is not weak. It helps build speed, dexterity, stealth, plus many other things that will aid you in life.”

Sesshoumaru smiled. “Smiling isn't weak either?”

Grunting, Inutashomaru would really need to have a word with that blasted rat. “Let me guess. Rendromaru told you showing emotions are a weakness.”

Sesshoumaru nodded.

Inutashomaru stood up. Walking to the edge of the pool, he watched the sunlight flicker on the surface. “Showing emotion in battle is a weakness, Sesshoumaru. However, showing emotion while you are with those you care about is not.” Turning around and facing his son, he sighed. “Are you hungry?” He needed any excuse to go off and think.

His son nodded.

“Nurie.” Inutashomaru called. The little girl stopped her pursuit of the butterfly and looked over at him. He waved her over. Once both children were at the rocks, he turned away again. “Both of you stay here.” Without another word he darted off into the trees on his left.

Sesshoumaru sighed and pulled his father's hakama closer to him.

Nurie blinked and then looked at the boy. “Where'd he go?”

“To get food. I think he's angry.” Sesshoumaru sighed, putting his face on his knees.

“Why?” Nurie asked sitting down beside him.

Shrugging, Sesshoumaru reached his hand out and pulled his clothes closer to him. They were still damp. Lifting his hand to his hair, he fingered the wet locks and sighed again. Turning to the little girl, he smiled. “What's your home like?”

Nurie grinned. “It's nice. We have trees and flowers, we play kemari, and lots of other stuff too. It's pretty there.”

Sesshoumaru nodded.

“Have you ever played kemari?”

“No, what is it?”

“You kick a ball in the air and keep it in the air. It's really hard.”

Sesshoumaru nodded.

“Maybe we can play sometime. I think you would like my friends.” Nurie wrapped her arms around her legs, pulling them to her chest. “What's your home like?”

Sesshoumaru shrugged. “It's alright. It's in the mountains. It's pretty dangerous there.”

Nurie gasped. “Why?”

“We live in the western lands. There's always fighting going on outside my father's home.”

“Wow. Are there humans there?”

Shaking his head, Sesshoumaru peered at her. “You're the first human I've met.”

“You're the first demon I met. Demons aren't so bad.” Nurie observed.

Sesshoumaru snorted. “Not all youkai are nice.”

“Oh. Well that's okay. You and your daddy aren't bad.”

“Daddy?” Sesshoumaru lifted his gaze to hers.

“Oh right.” Nurie waved her hand. “You call him father. It's the same thing. Like mommy and mother.”

Sesshoumaru nodded. “How old are you?”

She blinked. “I'm five.” She said holding up her hand with five fingers splayed apart. “How old are you?”

Frowning, Sesshoumaru looked at her fingers. “Add one more finger. I think.”

“You're six?” Nurie giggled when he nodded.

“Why's that funny?”

“Well my mommy told me youkai age different and live forever, and only die when they eat something bad.”

Sesshoumaru blinked. The bushes rustled, and both children froze, but sighed when Inutashomaru came out carrying something large and brown over his shoulder. Dropping the dead carcass on the ground, he turned to the children. “Are your clothes dry yet?” He asked smiling.

Sesshoumaru fingered the material and shook his head. “Damp.” Lifting his eyes up again, he looked at the animal. “What is that?”

Inutashomaru looked down. “It's a boar.” Rolling his shoulder, he winced. “We'll camp here tonight.”

Sesshoumaru noticed the wince. “What happened, father?”

“Nothing to worry about, Sesshoumaru.” Inutashomaru grinned, kneeling beside the boar.

Nurie grinned suddenly. “Hey, the people at my village use skins to make kemari balls out of. If we find grass and grain we can make a ball and play.”

Inutashomaru looked at her. “The skin would have to be cured, Nurie.”

“Cured?” She asked blinking. “What's that? Is that like a sickness?”

Chuckling, and shaking his head, he closed his eyes. “No, the skin rots if it isn't cured properly. It would need to dry, and lay in the sun for a few days with salts and constant stretching for it to be useful.”

“Have you played kemari?” Nurie asked.

Inutashomaru nodded. “I did when I was younger.”

Sesshoumaru gasped and his eyes widened. “How come I've never played it?” Inching forward, he scooted closer to his father.

“I thought that you had. This will be remedied once we return home, Sesshoumaru.” Inutashomaru felt that irritation return at the thought of his son missing out on his childhood due to his cranky caretaker. “Many things will change when we get home.”

Sesshoumaru smiled and nodded. Inutashomaru stood up and walked back into the trees, and exited moments later with straw and sticks to start a fire. The sky was growing darker, and the slight breeze picked up. Inutashomaru started a fire, and started his work on the boar. Nurie wrinkled her nose and swallowed hard when the Daiyoukai started skinning it and gutting the dead animal.

“Oh yuck.” She grumbled turning away.

Inutashomaru looked at her curiously and chuckled. “Don't look then child.” He smiled, glancing at Sesshoumaru who watched with interest. He watched as Sesshoumaru glanced at the girl and smirked.

“It's not that bad.” Sesshoumaru grinned, flashing his teeth.

Nurie shivered and groaned.

Sesshoumaru felt his grin broaden, and he crawled up to her. She looked slightly green to him and he looked over his shoulder to his father confused. Inutashomaru shook his head, and went back to his work. It was sometime later when they finally sat down to eat. Nurie now feeling better was eating as if she hadn't had a decent meal in weeks, and both youkai looked at her amused.

The sun had set over the horizon casting everything in a pale blue color and Sesshoumaru looked up trying to find the moon. Seeing it, he got up to make his way to where he would see it better, but he was stopped by his father's hand. “First get your own clothes on. I would like my hakama back.”

Sesshoumaru looked down at himself suddenly remembering he had his father's hakama on and grinned sheepishly. “Forgot.”

Inutashomaru nodded. Once Sesshoumaru changed into his own clothes that were slightly stiff from the sun, he handed his father's hakama back. Touching his father's shoulder, silently asking to watch the moon, he noticed his father wince. Frowning he lifted his head.

“It's nothing to worry yourself over, Sesshoumaru.” Inutashomaru sighed, rolling his shoulder again.

“What happened?”

“Where was my armor when I went hunting tonight?”

Sesshoumaru looked back to where his father had shed it earlier. Gasping, he turned back to his father's golden gaze. “Did the boar hurt you?”

Inutashomaru smiled. “It took longer to take down then I thought it would, the tusks caught me unaware. As I said it is nothing to concern yourself over.”

Sesshoumaru nodded. Crawling into his father's lap, he saw Nurie staring at the moon also. Inutashomaru grinned and whispered into his son's ear. “Do you think she would like to watch the moon with us for awhile?”

Sesshoumaru frowned then nodded. “Nurie.” He whispered. Waving the little girl over, he pointed to the moon which was clearer where he and his father sat.

Nurie walked over, shivering slightly, and she lifted her head, smiling despite her being cold. Inutashomaru wrapped his arm around her and pulled her beside his son in his lap. “The stars will appear shortly.” He muttered.

Nurie nodded, and sighed. “My mommy lets me watch the stars before I go to bed.”

Smiling, he watched the two children point out shapes and patterns in the sky. Soon he felt them both relax and shaking his head, he placed Nurie on his fur pelt, and wrapped her tightly. Then he laid Sesshoumaru down onto his own pelt, and sighed. Silently he wondered how Nurie's family was making out due to her disappearance. `Soon, child, you will be with your family again. I am certain they are worried about you.' Seating himself down by the fire, he watched the flames dance across the logs, lost in thought about his own feelings on how he would react should his own son go missing. Inutashomaru knew he would loose whatever sense he had, frantically looking for his child, and if something like that should ever happen he would kill the abductors without a second thought. Taking a deep breath, he wondered how Nurie's family would react upon finding him returning her to her home.