Return

The rain had ceased when midnight came. The cave was quiet as its occupants sank deeper into oblivion. Yellow-gold eyes watched the stillness of the night, all the while scanning the shadows for any lurking danger. There was none. Only a foolish demon would dare trespass anywhere near his spread-out youki. Still, he would welcome anything and he would take great pleasure in killing it.

As Sesshomaru indulged at the idea, his molten-gold gaze perused the odd tome that rested on his lap. It was in his nature to be curious. For centuries, he sought out control, power, and knowledge, knowing that doing so would ascertain his status as Lord of the Western Lands. Everyone recognized his authority because he knew how to rule.

The miko's present was invaluable. Not only would it be an instrument to get a good glimpse of what was about to happen in this era, but Sesshomaru can also use it to his advantage to defend his lands in the wars to come. He glanced at her sleeping form curled between his ward and the kitsune inside that odd bedding of hers. Despite his sheer distaste for humans, he found her peculiar. She did not conform to this era. Her graceless movements, her strange use of the language, her unusual clothing… yet there was bravery and ferociousness in her that he found most fascinating.

Silently, his claws grazed the leather cover before scanning its contents. The Onin War… The Kaga Rebellion… The Battle of Idano… One particular section at the end of the book caught his attention. Interesting.

He read the title of the chapter—

An intruding youki instantly broke him free from his reveries. He leapt to his feet and scanned the cover of the woods. What filthy lowlife dared to enter his marked territory? Breathing deeply, he distinguished which scents were dangerous and which were not. He recognized the smell and he scoffed. Their prodigal companion returns.

With his right boot, he lightly nudged the monk who was dozing off near the entrance of the cave. "The hanyou is coming."

Sesshomaru resumed his post and ignored the sudden flurry of movements. He fixed his attention back to the book and tuned out the noises the humans made. If they woke Rin with that level of discordance, he would behead each of them.

The half-breed stumbled inside dazedly. He smelled of blood. The daiyoukai did not care. He was about to resume his reading when he heard the miko stifle a worried gasp.

From the corner of his eye, he watched as another odd bedding was unfolded and the delirious hanyou was carefully laid down. Sesshomaru felt no concern. His gaze followed the miko as she brought out the same box she used to cure Rin. Keen eyes and ears did not escape the trembling of her hands and the frantic rhythm of her breathing.

"K-K…" the hanyou was murmuring, followed by more incomprehensible words.

"I'm right here, Inuyasha." The miko's voice was steady. But the daiyoukai did not miss the hard edge of her tone. Her scent had changed. Gone was the happiness that had enveloped her. He could feel the flare of her spiritual energy as she worked over the hanyou. She was trying not to show weakness for the sake of the monk and the taijiya. But Sesshomaru knew differently.

"K-Kikyo…"

Everyone stopped breathing. Her companions exchanged glances. The miko's hands stopped moving. Sesshomaru studied the flicker of emotions that passed across her drawn face.

And then, she resumed cleaning the hanyou's wounds as if nothing had happened. Her scent had changed again. It was heavier. No one noticed as a single tear rolled down her cheek before she quickly wiped it away. But he did.