The Exposition & The Complication: Sesshomaru

Nayoko, the Pretty Girl

Numb. That was the extent of what she was allowed to feel. She didn't dare clutch at the bedsheets or the mattress. She especially avoided gripping at a patron's clothes or skin in any way. Never touch a patron. They're only there for a singular thing: gratification. Show them nothing, give them everything. Endure it. That's how she's survived. Looking into the ceiling, she watched the tiles move in the same messy rhythm her body was forced to move. She dared not make a singular sound that encouraged the patron to continue in his rapture. She learned not to plead, not to give in, and not to respond. Her silence instead became a challenge to others. Many patrons stomped off if they were unsuccessful in making her produce a noise. Some even threatened not to pay, but you never withheld money from Rosanjin. He was quick to kill or harm another. Laughing at a patron for his bragging was a worse fate. She was beaten for the embarrassment several times.

Feeling this new man's member thumping inside of her was her telltale sign that he was at his end. It was almost over. She never looked at a patron when this part was happening. She remained silent and looked elsewhere. The heat and pressure in her canal built up enough for her to twitch a finger, but that was all she would give him. He was a noisy fellow. Noisier than most. He collapsed on her with his sweaty, heavy body and said something after he caught his breath, but she gave no response and wiggled her way out from underneath him. She didn't take his money. She closed her kimono and left the room to walk to the bathing room. The stinging and dripping of her genitalia were clear signs that bleeding may have occurred. She didn't rightly care. Perhaps, this would be the one mercy that the world would have left to give her. Tonight was her last night working here...

The guards were transitioning to either the next shift or going to the barracks to sleep. She was in the clear. Her chest was burning, ankles feeling pressure from overuse, and legs starting to ache from the long run. She kept running. She didn't look back. If death was the last bit of freedom she would feel, then she would accept that instead. It wasn't until she heard movement ahead of her and smelled food and fire that she slowed in her steps. She was quiet in catching her breath. A man walked past her. She hid behind a tree until she heard him yawn and take his time sitting down. He was covered in bandages and was a bit older in age.

"Good morning, gentlemen!" a woman greeted cheerfully. "Slept well?"

"Mornin', doc," the man replied. "Not as well as you with your snoring."

"I do not snore!" the woman said with some offense in her voice. She had a strange accent but playful vibrato.

"Nah, you just roar," a younger man teased, earning some chuckles. He was cute and wrapped in bandages as well. They must have been attacked somewhere.

Coming from behind a wagon was a young woman dressed in a green haori jacket and beige hakama pants. She was quite lovely and seemed warm. She was preparing breakfast from the looks of it and set things up for the men to eat. Rice, stew, and eggs were all placed in bowls of equal portions, but she placed an extra bowl in an empty spot and looked into the treetops to smile. She didn't look up to avoid looking at a patron. She had hope and peace in those light brown eyes.

'That woman... is a doctor?' she thought.

"Who's that bowl for, doc?" another man asked, curious as to why there was extra servings.

"I always leave extra for someone if they need it," she answered, turning back to her wagon to retrieve a sword. She strapped it to her person then placed a hand on her hips. "You never know who needs help in this line of work. So, I prepare for the occasion."

'She... can fight?' she thought, looking at the weapon. The doctor seemed too gentle to be able to fight, but if the men felt safe near her even while injured then she must be able to defend herself at the very least. 'Will you... help me? Hearing noises behind her and voices in the distance, she sharply turned behind her and shook her head. No... I don't... want to go back, but... I don't want to die either! Please... help me.'

Before she could turn to run, the woman had dashed past her and sliced a demon in two. Several demons had appeared, but the doctor handled each one with an enchanted sword. When the fight was over, she felt fear pounding in her chest and taking her breath away. She could barely breathe and the pain from running for so long through the woods finally kicked in. She didn't know when she started stumbling towards the doctor, but she clung to her body and let out tears.

"Please help me!" she begged, startling the doctor at first before feeling her turn around to embrace her.

"Little one, where did you come from?" the doctor asked, kneeling down to meet her eyes. "You've so many bruises."

"Hey, I heard something over here!"

Eyes widening, the girl begged again, "Please help me!"

The doctor narrowed her eyes and turned to the direction of noises before picking the girl up and running to her wagon. She hurriedly placed her on the wagon floor before hiding her away in a tall basket. The doctor then instructed, "Don't come out unless you hear my voice. Do you understand?"

"Yes, ma'am," the girl answered, nodding hurriedly.

She sunk down into the tall basket and curled into a ball with her hands covering her mouth to stop from whimpering. She heard the volume of voices increase, a few swords being unsheathed, and then maybe a yelp or two from pain. After that, all was quiet again. There was movement on the wagon and then the sound of water being poured. Light trickled its way in the basket before the lid came off. She curled herself tighter in a ball until she heard that accented voice.

"Little one? You can come out now," the doctor said gently.

She opened her eyes with relief, looked up and saw the wagon roof had been opened. Trees and the sun pouring through them could be seen. Inside of the basket were herbs and flowers. Climbing out, the girl saw the doctor smiling at her and holding her hand out. The girl began to cry again and ran out to the doctor with a small smile on her face. The doctor was okay! As she washed her, the doctor took care of her bruises and cuts, brushed her hair, trimmed the ends, and gave her a fresh yukata.

"There was a pretty girl underneath all those scars," the doctor said, smiling when she was complete with her process. "Are you hungry?"

"Yes, ma'am," she replied.

"Is she okay?" the younger man asked from outside of the wagon.

He didn't notice the girl clutching at the doctor's pants from his voice. The doctor simply nodded, however, and replied, "Yes. Just a little frightened is all. She's had some trauma. We'll be out in a moment." When the young man left, she then asked, "What is your name, little one?"

"Nayoko."

"That's a pretty name for a pretty girl!" the doctor complimented, lightly chuckling. "I'm Meioshi. Nice to meet you!"

"Thank you, Dr. Meioshi," Nayoko said, smiling. "For giving me a second chance..."

________________________________________

After Nayoko is Laid to Rest...

Meioshi and Ohta were standing next to her flying boat at each other's side with serenity washing over their souls as they took one last look at their beloved Nayoko's grave. The doctor's promise to the children had been fulfilled and Shinju o Tateru was no more than burnt perfumes, overcooked foods, and ashes from wood. Sesshomaru and Jaken watched them quietly as the winds picked up the memorial flowers and petals that decorated the grave of the pretty girl named Nayoko from Kijiro's story. Ohta had surprised Sesshomaru greatly when he learned that the young teen had helped to burn down all of the okiyas. He dressed in a similar style to Meioshi: tight black shirt, cuffed hakama pants, brown and green boots, tiger fur belt, leather gauntlets and gloves, and Deer Horn weapons. His choice of weapon was the giveaway that he intended to be in close range of his enemy. Smelling the boy's blood, he rushed to the young one's aid and found him being ambushed by a group of samurai. Sesshomaru allowed Jaken to burn the particular building harboring Ohta's attackers to the ground. Ohta stayed behind to find someone, though, and begged Sesshomaru not to be involved no matter how much blood he smelled. His request was surprising but brave, understandable, and mature. It made the western lord wonder if acting as a guardian for the children he worked with made Ohta grow up in this manner, but he waited for Ohta outside as the boy went to face his enemy. When he did, he stood before Sesshomaru and started to cry, but his part of the mission was complete. Ohta had to wait for Meioshi to return to him. He was the one that led Jaken and the western lord to the grave.

Watching Meioshi be surrounded by flowers and embraced by the ghost of a young girl reminded Sesshomaru of something he simply hadn't acknowledged before: though powerful, his rival could still be vulnerable without being meek. Or, at the very least, she could be emotional without losing control. She knew how to time her external rage and control it into a strategic attack. It's something not often touched upon when looking at the life and prowess of a female warrior. She upheld her code of honor even to the dead. As she rose to her feet, and even as she was standing before him, his respect for her grew a bit more. Ohta, despite his bossiness and bravery, looked more like a child as Meioshi hung her arm over his shoulders and placed a hand on his head for him to lean on her. His youth returned to his delicate features, and his natural beauty took over to show the boy soon to become a man within a few years. In Meioshi's arms, Ohta was protected and nurtured. He still had time to be a child but was allowed moments to act as an adult.

'Admirable...' Sesshomaru thought.

"It is done," Meioshi said more to herself than aloud, closing her eyes to let the wind take her hair. She took it out of the bun and roningasa hat she wore earlier. She then said, "It amazes me how one mission becomes several more in a short moment. I don't know why you decided to stick around but thank you for helping me and Ohta."

"Well, Lord Sesshomaru knew Ohta was in trouble," Jaken said, giving Sesshomaru more of the credit. "I just made sure that safe house got the same amount of fire as all the others for ACTIVELY TRYING TO HURT A YOUNG LAD! The absolute nerve of some people!"

"Yeah, not a fan of ambush tactics on my butt," Ohta said with a light laugh and embracing Meioshi around her waist. "Thanks for making the safe house extra crisp, Lord Jaken."

"You should've just let me burn the whole village down myself. I had enough firepower," Jaken said, placing his hands on his hips with pride in his abilities.

Meioshi chuckled gently before saying, "I wouldn't have let you. I spent a lot of years waiting for this day. I lost many a fight and legal battle in this place, and all because of one man's greed and inability to escape his own demons until he became one himself. He was too far-gone for anyone to save. All the times I was either beaten, humiliated, or even thrown in the mud prepared me to accept the end results in a way. Nothing satisfied me more than giving the village master exactly what he wanted. A steady income equivalent in worth to the richest person he knew."

"Oh, I kept forgetting to ask who that was," Ohta said, looking up at the doctor.

"You," Sesshomaru replied, locking eyes with the doctor. "Your estate in Heiwa is similar in design to the one on the outskirts of the village, but the cliff overlooking it is missing. Whatever you had up there must have been burned down. It no longer has worth unless you rebuilt it the way you essentially built Shinju o Tateru."

"Very astute observation, my lord," Meioshi said with a cat-like grin and elfish chuckle. "Hopefully, you use that skill in your own investigation and find your murderer. What you've mentioned so far is beginning to concern me. The black wall demon we faced shouldn't have had any lingering power over this world when I purified it. I worry another is using that to his or her advantage. I know you don't particularly want my involvement in this, but please don't hesitate to find me if the situation escalates."

"It already has," Sesshomaru replied. "The rally has started. I had the men return home before you burned everything."

Meioshi's eyes widened before they returned to normal and she sighed. She then asked softly, rubbing Ohta's shoulder, "There's nothing you can do?"

"My next steps are already underway," Sesshomaru replied with a huff. He turned around to walk away, stopped, and then said over his shoulder, "The ambassador's meeting place has to be close by."

Meioshi gasped lightly, smiled, and then said, "Good luck, Lord Sesshomaru."

Ohta looked down at his feet for a moment, smiled gently, and giggled at his next choice of actions. He ran to Sesshomaru while he was still turned, blushed, and then quickly embraced the western lord from behind and almost whispered, "Thank you. Oh, you, too, Jaken!"

"Huh? Oh! That's not - !" Jaken started, unable to escape Ohta's small hug in time. He slumped his shoulders, relaxing in Ohta's embrace, and said with a smirk, "Necessary. You stay out of trouble from here, little one. It'd be an awful shame if you got yourself hurt after all of this."

"And you two stop wandering into different towns like you're homeless," Ohta lectured, releasing Jaken to say those words. "Take a bath, relax, eat, sleep on a bed. Not every person on the face of the earth is out to get you! If I hear the doctor so much as mention you sleeping on a boat the next time she sees you, I'm snatching you off it by that beak of yours and the swordsman by those pointy ears!"

"I'll have you know Lord Sesshomaru and I have traveled the country for nearly a century and not once - !" Jaken shouted, interrupted by Ohta.

"And not once have you slept more soundly than at the estate. Admit it," Ohta argued, placing his fists on his hips and narrowing his eyes with a puff of his cheeks.

Jaken fumbled his words at that before saying, "You, humans, just enjoy taking the credit for your conveniences! Your service was greatly appreciated, but - !"

"Aht!" Ohta said, pointing a finger at Jaken and smiling brightly. "You admitted it. In all your travels, we were the best hosts of the century!"

"Wha - ?"

"No take backs!" Ohta claimed, closing Jaken's beak with his two fingers.

Meioshi chuckled gently before commenting, "That's quite the statement, but I believe our baby grapple bears will start to get nervous soon. Are you ready to go home, my Ohta?"

"Home?" Ohta asked, eyes welling up now that his freedom was a reality.

Meioshi leaned over, held out a hand, and said with a bright smile, "Home."

"Let's go, Jaken," Sesshomaru called, continuing his walk. "Your staff is needed."

"Yes, Lord Sesshomaru! Farewell, humans!" Jaken said, waving goodbye to Meioshi and Ohta and running ahead of his lord.

_______________________________________

Takamuku's Final Message

Men,

In the event of my death, I don't want you to cremate me. Death will complete my transformation. Being honored seals my fate as hell's soldier. I don't know what I will become, but the House of Inu, Shinju o Tateru, and the Mujina Woodlands are going to be hell's territories soon and I am being forced to potentially protect it. There are others like me. Demons and halflings that have been lured into this cavern of jewels and silks. We are treated kindly and prepared for a feasting before these masked creatures come to us. They bite us, drain our yoki, and steal pleasure from our bodies. When they have had their fill, they close our wounds by freezing drain points. They continue to do this until we are empty husks. I have been trapped in the queen's dungeon for several days after I left the village to assist Lord Sesshomaru in the investigation. His involvement with the people of Shinju o Tateru confused me. There was a human joro he was with while we were there. She wore a crown of tassels and trinkets and was often with children. They seemed to be friendly with each other. She could be an ally of his, but I couldn't tell. I was captured after I spotted them in town. You may have to inquire about her for information.

If you find this letter in time, you have to find Ambassador Norihisa's wife quickly. Norihisa did something to her. He claimed he made her into his servant and wishes to keep her in hell. This woman that I had the displeasure of finding plans to avenge a nurikabe, or wall, demon that once served her. She's been instigating the situation in the Mujina Woodlands so that she can capture more demons to serve her in the living world. She's looking for the murderer of the nurikabe, and I fear she's after the House of Inu because one of us was involved in the murder. I don't want to believe that Lord Sesshomaru had something to do with it, but I'm not entirely sure. I don't know the extent of this woman's and the nurikabe's relationship beyond a master and servant, but she is powerful and swift. Her attack pattern matches the one that's been killing the demons in the woodlands. Norihisa is a traitor! He purposely brought us to Shinju o Tateru to offer a few of the soldiers to his queen to feed her!

I don't know how much longer I will survive the feeding, but this woman intends to keep me. I will make haste in trying to escape her clutches and save Lord Sesshomaru, but, if I don't survive, stop her from capturing the House of Inu. Shinju o Tateru might already be hers. The Mujina Woodlands will be hers as well if Lord Sesshomaru doesn't stop the rally from turning into a war. He may confront this woman, but I fear she'll feed off him the way she's been feeding off me. My only wish... no, my last wish, is for him to be safe from this creature. If you find me dead, relay this to him for me.

Lord Sesshomaru, it was my honor to fight at your side against the Panther Tribe. It filled me with great pride to see you rebel against customs. The others may not have believed in you, but I did. The reason I do is tied to your sensei, our sensei. When I trained under him before you took up the sword, he mentioned that the court wasn't always like it is now. I didn't understand him at first - hell, no one does, honestly - but I think you showed me what he meant in our talks. Your speech was moving during your ceremony. I want to tell you this because I know in my heart that no one else will. The court hid away a sword that our sensei said belonged to the true ruler of the inu line. Your mother was supposed to receive it, but something happened to her when she was fairly young and she denounced the inherited weapon. I fear that this vampire queen might try to claim it for herself. I don't know much about the weapon, but sensei does and he might help in stopping her. I believe you should be the one to do it, however. Something in me truly thinks that sword will help you in ruling over the House of Inu the way you truly wanted to before you had undergone the ceremonial punishment for your father's actions. Regardless, I will do all I can to serve the House of Inu by protecting you on my last breath. I wish we could have been friends again, but it seems my fate will be spent elsewhere. I will protect you, Lord Sesshomaru, at the very least from this creature who has been killing me.

With honor,

Takamuku

______________________________________

"Pardon my inquiry, Lord Sesshomaru, but what is Nintojo supposed to be looking for? Is our rendezvous point meant to be blanketed by demon power?" Jaken asked.

"It should be hidden away to protect the villagers in the woodlands if the situation was as tense as before," Sesshomaru replied. "There had to be a reason for Norihisa to have two meeting points other than relaying information to me. Shinju o Tateru has no political relevance to our situation and shouldn't have involved humans unless it was meant to be a place of refuge."

"Well... the ambassador did seem to like the luxury of the village," Jaken offered, looking to the sky as though the clouds had answers. "I wonder if that's a clue. When we saw him, he acquired a vacant manor as a camp and not tents. The wine and meat he ate was of fine quality unlike the foods the soldiers brought. He even offered it to you, but it didn't seem like he was trying to please you. It looked more like he was just sharing."

Jaken had a fairly good point. Enough to make the western lord stop walking for a moment. A lone dandelion seed caught Sesshomaru's attention and made his eyes follow it as it landed in the grass. They had been walking for a few days now, trying to find this other meeting place, but it felt like they were going in circles at this rate. He had to think. Shinju o Tateru, he now knew, was rebuilt into the village they saw as part of an agreement Meioshi had with the village masters. The masters were Rosanjin and a house mother, who allowed Meioshi to take the children and young adults away to summer school if she helped the village maintain a certain amount of annual profit, and they too enjoyed a luxurious lifestyle for some years before the doctor burned everything to the ground. Meioshi had to have been involved with foreign tradesmen at one point because the wine Norihisa drank was not a locally made product. Wines of this land were not red in color. While the meat he ate was of local origin, Norihisa ate raw beef instead of enjoying it cooked to perfection. Flesh and blood seemed to be to Norihisa's tastes, or should he call the blood wine spirits?

What of the manor, though? They've been looking for some type of building this whole time already and came up short. Something must be off in their approach here. Was Norihisa trying to make him comfortable before? Speaking of which, the black wall demon that possessed Ichi made the halfling call Sesshomaru a brother. That's how Norihisa behaved at the manor. Like he knew him in an intimate space or that it was okay to indulge a little in his presence. The soldiers mentioned to him that the village wasn't a place that they knew... but he knew. The ambassador was coaxing them into something. What would be the clue then? Strictly luxury? No. What about...? Wait...

"Jaken," Sesshomaru called, earning the imp's attention.

"Yes, me lord?" the imp responded, turning to him.

"Where would you go to for safety?" Sesshomaru asked.

"Your side, of course," Jaken answered, earning a smug huff sound that seemed to be a laugh getting cut off. This fool!

"If you didn't know your enemy and you were being chased, where would you go to properly assess your situation?" Sesshomaru asked again with more specifics.

"I'm not sure I understand your inquiry," Jaken started, putting a finger under his chin, "but I suppose it depends on where I am. If I'm being chased in a forest, I could hide behind a tree or inside of a tree. Maybe there's - oh! Some kind of hole! Badgers burrow in the ground! The Anaguma clan are badger demons that burrow! Our rendezvous point might be underground or surrounded by trees blocking the entrance!"

Well, shit... the little imp caught on fast. Sesshomaru was almost proud of him. Almost. Jaken hurried to climb onto a boulder and took a deep breath to connect with Nintojo. The staff rattled once it knew what to find and shifted to the right.

"It's saying this way, me lord!" Jaken said, hopping off the boulder and leading the way again.

"Only a snake would choose to meet his prey underground," Sesshomaru whispered to himself.