"They are close." Sesshomaru uttered quietly.
Night had fallen, and we were traveling through the forest once again. I looked around and sniffed the air. I caught a whiff of Inuyasha's scent: dog.
"Yep, that's Inuyasha all right. I'd know his scent anywhere." I replied.
I saw a flickering light that indicated a dying fire. I looked through the bushes and saw Kirara and Shippo, both asleep. I turned to Sesshomaru. He looked down at me, his long silver hair shining like moonlight in the dying fire.
"Thank you. For everything." I said sincerely.
I saw the corners of his mouth turn upwards ever so slightly. He nodded once. "Hn." he said.
I smiled and walked out. I saw Inuyasha leaned back against a tree, eyes shut and arms crossed in sleep. Walking over to him, I bent down and tapped him.
"Inuyasha?" I whispered.
He opened his eyes- he was always a light sleeper. I grinned down at him. "Look who's back." I said with glee.
Inuyasha's eyes widened and I was surprised when he pulled me down on top of him and wrapped me up in a tight embrace.
"I was so worried about you, Mitsuki!" he said into my hair. I blinked. Inuyasha was... worried
about me?
"Ack- well I'm- I'm fine... But Inuyasha, would you mind? I can't breathe..." It was true; he was crushing me.
"Oh! Sorry, my bad." He pulled away, a sudden fire in his eyes. "Where is he? Where's Sesshomaru at?" he growled, his voice going dangerously low.
I shook my head. "Inuyasha you've got it all wrong! Sesshomaru-" He cut me off.
"'Got it all wrong?'" he echoed me. I nodded and was about to say something when a cool and bored-sounding voice came from behind us.
"I-nu-yasha." came Sesshomaru's voice.
He stepped out of the shadows. Inuyasha smirked in his ever-so-arrogant way. He stood up and gently pushed me behind him.
"Sesshomaru." he said curtly. He looked over his shoulder at me. "Did he hurt you?" he demanded.
I went slack-jawed. "Hurt me? Inuyasha, no! Listen-"
But Inuyasha had already turned back to Sesshomaru. My eyes widened as he pulled out Tetsusaiga and growled. Sesshomaru chuckled.
"Do not even bother to try, little brother." he said lowly, his golden eyes hooding.
"Why not? It's not like ya don't want me dead!" Inuyasha spat.
I tugged at his hand. "Inuyasha if you'd just listen-" He turned on me.
"Listen? Mitsu he kidnapped you! I thought you were dead!" Inuyasha exclaimed.
"Well, I'm not dead and Sesshomaru didn't kidnap me!" I tried to explain to him. Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "Yeah of course he didn't! Why are you defending him?"
"BECAUSE HE SAVED MY LIFE!" My voice rose to a shout.
Inuyasha stared, while Sesshomaru looked on, and although he didn't show it on his features, I could tell he was faintly amused at the spectacle. Inuyasha looked from his elder brother to me.
"He- he what?"
Sesshomaru took over from there. "She is correct, little brother." He strode over to Inuyasha, looking very smug indeed. The mass of fur over his shoulder billowed out behind him as he walked.
Inuyasha glowered as Sesshomaru towered over him. "You would be wise to take my generosity and leave." Sesshomaru said.
"Generosity?" Inuyasha snarled.
Sesshomaru sniffed in contempt. "I returned her to you, did I not?"
Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "That don't mean you're off the hook!"
He swung Tetsusaiga wildly and Sesshomaru easily side-stepped. "As you wish. I try to be reasonable!"
~~~
Sesshomaru looked down at his little brother with a calm fury. Gold eyes met each other, one pair wild with the light of the imminent battle, the other a glare as cold as ice. The white-clad demon lord rested one hand on Tokijin, the demonic sword that remained in the sheath at his hip. He then removed it. No need to waste the sword's powers on a simple hanyō. That and it would be much more entertaining to prolong the battle and sharpen his claws on his little brother.
The Inu Daiyōkai cracked his knuckles and slowly extended his claws to a sharp and deadly point, deliberately taking his time. His upper lip curled to reveal a single white canine.
Inuyasha chuckled lowly across from him. With a single fluid movement he flicked his silver tresses over his shoulder. He and Sesshomaru entered a stare-down, both trying to intimidate the other into backing down.
Gold eyes met gold eyes again and Sesshomaru straightened his spine to remain regal and tall. Although his face remained expressionless, his eyes were bright with an intense, frosty glare.
"What's the matter, my lord?" Inuyasha spat mockingly. "At a loss for words?"
Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed into deadly slits. He kept silent, eyeing his younger brother with a look of disgust. Finally, he spoke.
"Didn't Father ever tell you to respect your superiors?" He chuckled lowly. "Oh, excuse me. You never knew him. And that human mother of yours, with her tainted blood. She could have hardly known the meaning of the word."
Sesshomaru had struck a nerve, and he knew it. He smirked haughtily as Inuyahsa growled. Inuyasha's comrades moved forward and the inu yōkai let a feral growl slip from between his teeth.
Inuyasha shook his head at them. "Don't interfere! I can take him."
"Disregarding help from your human friends, little brother? Do you truly confide in yourself that much?" Sesshomaru demanded icily as the others backed away.
Inuyasha didn't respond to that. His ears twitched and his eyes glowed. The hanyō curled his hands into fists and slid into an offensive stance, ready to battle. He raised Tetsusaiga and brought it forward.
Sesshomaru mentally chuckled. The half-breed had zero chance of defeating him, but nevertheless Sesshomaru allowed his brother to make the first move. He let a little smirk show as Inuyasha attempted to end him with a Wind Scar but failed to do so.
"My turn." the demon lord hummed predatorily as adrenaline pumped through his blood. He raised a clawed hand that dripped with his deadly poison. He sprayed a freshet of the flesh-eating liquid at the hanyō, who dodged with a yell. The poison missed him by the hairbreadth of an inch and splashed to the ground, burning a hole into the ground.
Inuyasha smirked. "Keh. You missed!"
Sesshomaru eyed him as one would eye a piece of garbage. Repressing the urge to strangle him then and there, he sneered. "Baka. I do not intend to miss again!" A poisonous green whip uncoiled from his claws and dangled limply. Sesshomaru snapped it forward and smirked in satisfaction when he felt it connect.
Inuyasha jumped back from the lash of the whip with a snarl. "Backlash Wave!" he shouted, swinging Tetsusaiga.
Sesshomaru sneered again as he moved to the side with little effort. "Do not waste your energy! It is pointless!" he spat contemptuously.
With that he turned and made to walk off. He growled and turned his head when he felt Tetsusaiga slash at his back. The sharp metallic scent of blood reached the dog demon's keen nose. Ignoring the sharp flash of pain in his back, Sesshomaru turned around fully to find the tip of the blade resting inches from his heart. He regarded his younger brother with a frigid golden gaze.
"It is dishonorable to attack an opponent when his back is turned." he stated cooly, his pride showing.
Inuyasha growled. "I will not rest until I've killed you, honor or no honor!" he snapped.
Sesshomaru smirked and his mouth twisted into another sneer of hatred. "Have it your way then, little brother."
With that, he retracted his whip. His eyes blazed red and his face elongated into a snout. His teeth sharpened into fangs and his claws lengthened. A blinding light engulfed him, and he grew until he was twenty times their size.
When the light finally died down, Sesshomaru had changed into a great white dog with blazing red eyes and deadly fangs- his true form.
Even on three legs Sesshomaru was perfectly balanced- something he had had practice with. He howled triumphantly, an ear-popping, gut-wrenching sound that made Mitsuki cringe and made everyone else jolt awake.
"What the-" Koga's eyes widened. Sesshomaru snarled. He saw Mitsuki gulp and she backed off slowly. Sango, that demon-slayer woman, was instantly on her feet, her weapon already in her hands.
"That's Sesshomaru! What's he doing here?"
The demon lord watched smugly as Mitsuki briefly explained to the slayer. She gulped. "Oh..."
Sesshomaru howled again and snatched Inuyasha up in his jaws. He felt his little brother squirm in between his teeth. "Oi, ya great lump of fur! Lemme go!" Inuyasha snapped.
"Inuyasha!" Sesshomaru looked down as Mitsuki cried out. Inuyasha struggled and smacked Sesshomaru on the nose with the flat of Tetsusaiga's blade. Sesshomaru growled.
"I have had enough of your insolence!"
As he made to bite down on Inuyasha and crush him into dog food, he heard a shout.
"Sesshomaru!"
He looked down and saw Mitsuki glaring up at him.
~~~
A thought popped into my head as I saw Sesshomaru about to kill Inuyasha. "Should I? No, Sesshomaru would kill me in a matter of seconds... Still, worth a shot!"
"Sango, back away!" I warned. She along with the others backed off, giving me space.
I inhaled deeply and willed myself to change. I felt heat rush into my veins, replacing my blood with liquid fire. I growled as my extremities tingled. My claws shot out and curved, and I felt my mouth become full as my teeth elongated into fangs. My top canines drooped out of my mouth. A dark shadow enveloped me, cutting me off from the others as I grew to Sesshomaru's size. My face elongated into a snout and my vision sharpened. I felt my bones reshaping and forming, melding together and growing.
Finally, the fire in my blood ebbed away and the shadow dispersed, revealing my true form- a great tiger.
I growled at Sesshomaru, a low and menacing sound from deep within my throat. I saw Inuyasha smirk as he laid eyes on me and he crossed his arms. "You're in for it now, Sesshomaru!" he said.
I was only slightly smaller than Sesshomaru in height, but he still towered over me menacingly.
"You dare challenge me?" he spat, baring his teeth at me.
"Put the hanyō down, Sesshomaru." I said dangerously.
The demon lord looked down at me smugly. "And why would I do that?" he spat, gripping Inuyasha tighter.
I took a step towards him. "I will slaughter you if you don't, all promises aside!" I snarled. Sesshomaru chuckled lowly and chuffed.
"Baka. You don't have the stomach." he taunted coldly. I bristled at the insult.
With that Sesshomaru released Inuyasha and turned his red eyes on me. "I dare you, Mitsuki. Give me your best shot!" he sneered at me. Inuyasha scrambled to his feet and stepped back to avoid being crushed underneath our paws.
I growled at Sesshomaru and lunged. He easily dodged my attack and stepped back. He looked faintly amused. I lunged again, only to have Sesshomaru dodge once more. I realized with disgust that he was toying with me, observing my techniques and countering them.
Sesshomaru jumped on my back. I gasped in surprise and snarled at him. "Get off me!" I spat, struggling. He was so much bigger than I was and he easily brought me to the ground. I rolled over onto my back and narrowed my eyes at him. I transformed back, and his heavy paws threatened to crush me.
"I said get off, you arrogant wretch!" I shouted, squirming. Sesshomaru blew hot breath into my face and got off. He transformed back and I glowered at him. I gasped in surprise as he stuck the point of his sword under my chin. Inuyasha growled. "Sesshomaru!"
Sesshomaru ignored him. He lifted my chin with the tip of his sword, forcing me to look him in the eye. "Admit defeat." he said sharply.
I chuckled and propped myself up on my elbows. "You're really milking it in, aintcha?" I growled. I nervously moved the blade away from my throat with one finger and stood up. Sesshomaru eyed me suspiciously. I scowled.
"What?"
He put his sword away. "Hm. Intriguing. You threaten to fight with me, and yet you're afraid of a sword that cannot cut." I smirked, but secretly I was relieved that it was only the Tenseiga- a sword of healing- and not Sesshomaru's claws. "So that's Tenseiga is it?"
Sesshomaru smirked. "Indeed."
He began to circle me. "You hardly ever show your true form. Am I right?" he observed in an off-topic manner, giving me a calculating look.
I looked up at him with a quirked eyebrow and crossed my arms. "That's none of your business." I said tartly.
Sesshomaru replied, "But it is. I can easily tell you do not show your true form."
"Oh yeah? How would you know?" I retorted.
"Your moves are... sloppy. Uncoordinated." he said.
I gaped, slightly offended. "Hmph!" I stalked off towards Inuyasha.
"It was not meant as an insult, Mitsuki." Sesshomaru said. I whirled on my heel.
"So what are you suggesting?" I asked.
Sesshomaru grinned the faintest of grins. "I could teach you to control your true form if you so choose. I can show you how to master all of your abilities, as well as show you new ones. You would be learning from the best."
I snorted- it annoyed me immensely when Sesshomaru spoke so highly of himself and talked down to us.
"You wish to train me, is that it?"
Sesshomaru inclined his head in a nod. I scoffed.
"I appreciate the offer but I'm untrainable."
He rolled his eyes. "Nonsense, you silly girl. Nobody is 'untrainable'."
"Hmph! You would understand if you knew who I really was." I thought bitterly. I shook my head. "You haven't met me."
Sesshomaru smirked. "We shall see. This Sesshomaru will prove to you that I can train you to become as powerful as I am."
He looked down at me, awaiting my answer with a quirked eyebrow and a teasing smirk. I turned the idea over in my head, mulling over it. It was tempting, it really was.
A smiled tugged at the corners of my mouth, threatening to show. "Very well! I agree."
~~~
The next afternoon, after we had traveled for quite a while, we sat down to take a break. I sat down next to Inuyasha, and I could sense that he was more than unhappy that his elder brother was traveling with us, but he didn't say anything on it.
"Lady Mitsuki!"
I heard Rin's bubbly voice and grunted as she threw herself into my lap. She giggled. I smiled down at her.
Sesshomaru looked down at us. "Come with me, Mitsuki." he said, gesturing for me to rise. I gave Rin to Sango and stood up. Sesshomaru smirked ever so slightly. "Clear a space." he said, more to the others than to me. They backed off, giving us a wide berth and watching with wide eyes.
"Go easy on her, Sesshomaru." Inuyasha said.
Sesshomaru rolled his eyes. "It is not up to you how I train her. I shall go as easy or as difficult as I so choose." he replied.
Sesshomaru set me with a calculating golden gaze, and I gulped audibly, suddenly nervous. He chuckled softly.
"There is no need to be nervous. I have no intention to harm you." he assured me. I nodded quickly.
The first thing Sesshomaru taught me was a new ability, Poison Claw. "It is one of my deadlier abilities. Difficult to master, but you shouldn't have any trouble, being a full yōkai yourself." he'd said.
He'd shown me how to let the poison flow, to will it into my claws. I'd imagined it as a river within me, a river which I had control over. I had let the 'river' flow into my extended claws until I had felt them dripping acidic poison onto the ground. Sesshomaru had smirked and praised me.
"Good, good! Soon you will be able to control that poison into a spray or perhaps a deadly blade." he'd said in his low voice.
Sesshomaru had trained me in different techniques, showing me both defensive blocks and offensive attacks. I found myself enjoying it actually. Finally, when it was near dusk, Sesshomaru said, "The last thing I will teach you for today is how to learn how your opponents think. Now, I want you to charge at me." he instructed. I blinked.
"Um, okay?" I charged at him. I lunged, thinking I would bring Sesshomaru to the ground, only to find that I had landed in the grass with him standing over me. I rolled over onto my back and sat up. "Hey, no fair! You moved."
Sesshomaru smirked haughtily. "I did not say anything about fairness. Now get up and try again."
So we practiced the same thing over and over, and each time I missed. Sesshomaru, I noticed, moved with a pattern: left, right, right, left. Even though I tried to follow his pattern, I grew more and more frustrated. Sesshomaru was just out of my reach every time.
I huffed in frustration. "This is pointless! You're much too fast."
I sat down, bitter and disappointed. Sesshomaru loomed over me. "I refuse to see you give up so easily." He grabbed my hand and pulled me up. "Try again." He backed off, giving me room to charge.
I grumbled but charged again. I lunged, expecting to hit grass once again, but I found cloth instead. I gasped in surprise as I felled Sesshomaru, landing on top of him with a grunt.
The others clapped from the sidelines. I immediately sat up off of him. "Sorry." I said meekly, blushing. I was startled when I saw Sesshomaru was chuckling in real, geninue amusement. I looked down. He smirked up at me, looking me in the eyes.
"Do not be sorry!" He stood up and pulled me to my feet. "You did well Mitsuki." he told me. I smiled bashfully.
"Thanks..."
Sesshomaru smirked. He walked off to go sit with Rin. Later that evening, after we had eaten, I went to my bedroll beside Inuyasha. Inuyasha yawned and smiled at me sleepily. He gave me a quick, friendly hug and rolled over. In seconds he was snoring once more.
I laid down on my back and looked up at the stars. I tried to go to sleep but my mind was still wide awake. I kept thinking about how Sesshomaru had praised me earlier, how he had looked deep into my eyes with that golden gaze of his.
"Well he is handsome, I'll give him that. And strong... And-"
I shook my head to clear it. What was I thinking? Sesshomaru was the great demon lord of the West, the son of the Dog General, the Inu no Taisho himself! I'd never have a chance with him. Wait, why was I thinking like that anyway? It wouldn't be possible even if I did like him! I shook my head again, fiercely.
"What's the matter?" I heard Shippo's sleep-thick voice nearby. I looked over at the young kitsune and shook my head with a shrug.
"Nothing. A bug was in my face, that's all." Shippo nodded and yawned. He curled up next to Kirara and went back to sleep.
I sat back with a sigh. What was wrong with me? I yawned and shut my eyes, but no matter how much I tried to put it out of my head, the question kept reoccurring.
Was I in love with Lord Sesshomaru?