Finding The Balance

Hoorah! Cheapter three! I catually wrote alot in this story before I hit writer's block, so I'm posting what I've got for now. Enjoy!


Chapter 3: Poisonous past


~Some Time Later~

Saiyuri felt sick when consciousness finally decided to return to her. Trying to reach up and feel her forehead, she found that her whole body felt heavier than if it had been made of lead; she abandoned the attempt. Her breathing sounded like the ocean to her own ears, too loud and with a rough swell and ebb. But when she heard a pair of very quiet feet padding closer and closer, she tried to open her eyes. As the door rolled open, she could only make out a blurry shadow against painfully bright light, and she snapped her emerald orbs shut again. The sound of a door being slid shut seemed too harsh for her senses and she winced in silent protest. She exhaled and the feeling of her own chest sore and aching sank in at last, as did other aches and pains. The hand that touched her face was soft and warm, and though her head still hurt, Saiyuri wondered who it belonged to.
It’s probably someone my age. she thought slowly, trying to apply logic. The hand was smooth and gentle and cupped her cheek, so she assumed the person could not be much older than herself, if at all. There was a sound of fabric shifting close to her head, she guessed, and something else brushed lightly across her face. It felt like feathers, or maybe hair, or something like that, her mind was still a bit fuzzy. She managed a sigh with a little bit of voice in it to indicate she was alive, though not really all that well.
The Demon Lord of the Western Lands was irritated with himself because of the nagging feeling in the back of his mind. Eventually yielding to this, he walked patiently over to the room in which he had placed Saiyuri. Always careful in his workings, he parted the barrier he had put on the room and stepped inside quietly. For a moment he stood there and looked at her a bit surprised to see the flecks of green appear for a moment, then vanish just as quickly. He quickly closed the door behind him and knelt beside her. For a brief moment, he hesitated, then carefully laid his hand on her cheek, feeling for a fever, as he knew might have happened when he used his poison on her. Moving slowly, Sesshoumaru leaned over her a little and a lock of his rich silver hair found its way past his shoulder to just barely touch her face. His bright yellow eyes widened ever so slightly when he heard that quiet little groan from her. Was she really regaining consciousness? If so it was rather quicker than he had judged it to be, which was saying something, as he knew his on abilities. Watching with concealed fascination, he observed the glass green eyes open again and blink several times as though her vision would not focus. However it was quite obvious when she finally managed it because her eyes became wide again as she stared straight at him. Saiyuri began to shrink back, away from him, as much as could be done, which was very little. She drew her breath in a gasp, and at that precise moment, the great Lord of the Western Lands placed his hand, with a good deal of nonchalance, over her mouth. All she could get to pass that particular barrier was a muffled protest at best.
“Are you done?” he sighed in a dignified sort of way. He was met with an anger growl and it seemed to him that the temperature of the room beat suddenly warmer. Sesshoumaru looked down at her with those cold emotionless eyes, with no exact expression on his face. Leaning slightly closer, so she could not possibly look away from his face, gave him the advantage of intimidation. “Listen to me little mortal, and be silent. There is no one here who can, or will, help you.” He spoke with such a calm, matter-of-fact voice that Saiyuri began to wonder why she was still alive. “And there is nothing to stop me rending you to bits.” He paused to enjoy the effects of his words on her for a few moments. “However, if you do as you’re told and behave yourself, then I may not kill you.” Her facial response was priceless as one eye widened more than the other. It looked as if one was glaring at him while the other was merely tired with the effort of doing so. And Sesshoumaru found himself fighting with the effort not to smile at the odd woman’s reaction. With a warning look in his eyes, he slowly let his hand slither away from her face. For a long time, nothing happened; Saiyuri simply laid there giving him that hard look, and Sesshoumaru being as proud, or maybe stubborn, as he was, did not look away. He didn’t even so much as blink. But eventually, the female yielded and glanced at the wall opposite him. The temperature in the room seemed to have cooled to normal again, and Sesshoumaru noticed this vaguely. “Very good.” he told her softly, his hand drifting to touch her face again, but she threw him a look that he could interpret as, ‘lay so much as a finger on me, and you won’t get that hand back.’ And to his own surprise, he hesitated. She looked away from him, and to the wall again, and seemed docile. The silence grew too think to be comfortable, and Saiyuri, eyes still on the wall, spoke quietly to the demon next to her.
“Why can’t I move?” Sesshoumaru gave a slight smile, and could tell she was quickly growing to dislike this.
“You most likely won’t move until this evening at the earliest.” he told her in that deep voice.
“What does that mean?” she hissed as she tried to get up and only managed to get three or four inches off the bedding before she fell back with a wince. Before she quite knew what it was, Saiyuri felt the soft palm on her face again.
“Lie still.” he told her firmly. “The poison I used is still wearing off. Trying to move will only do more damage.” There was a look of grave submission to impossible reality on her face as he spoke to her. Dimly, she registered his hand on her wrist, pressing carefully to test the pulse. She was working through what she had learned from their small conversation. She was stuck, she realized, here with this maniac and that poor little girl. Or at least she was here until she learned enough to get the hell out.
“Why did you bring me here?” she asked, and the dazed tone of her voice made him blink. At his hesitation, she looked at him with searching eyes and elaborated. “You could have easily left me back there in the woods, so why didn’t you?”
“I could arrange for you to be taken there in your present state.” he remarked a little testily.
“That’s not what I meant and you know it.” her tone matched his in irritation and she tried to sit up again. A hand on her shoulder pushed her back down, and she would have protested, if not for the growl that rumbled softly in the air around her.
“I thought I told you not to move.” the sound of his velvety voice now so harsh with anger, scared her again and she gave up the attempt. She was again calm as anything, but he did not remove his hand from her shoulder. “As for why you are here,” she looked at him with suspicion and curiosity in equal measure, “that is my decision and is no longer your concern.” She arched an eyebrow in response, but never got the opportunity to make some catty retort. Sesshoumaru looked away sharply towards the door, and Saiyuri listened, though she could hear nothing in particular. As she glanced back up at Sesshoumaru, she only observed his amber eyes narrow a little, then close as he sighed. There were quiet little feet on the floor outside and a soft knock soon accompanied by a child’s voice.
“Lord Sesshoumaru?” the little girl asked. Saiyuri knew that voice, it was the little girl named Rin. She sighed, and thanked, whatever god that happened to be listening, for keeping her safe.
“Come in Rin.” he replied and the door slid slowly open. Rin stepped tentatively inside and stopped beside the Lord of the Western Lands. Her arms gave him a brief hug, then she looked at Saiyuri, still laying rather prone on the futon.
“Lady Saiyuri, are you going to be okay?” the child’s expression looked so worried that she seemed about ready to burst into tears. Saiyuri smiled gently at the little girl, and Sesshoumaru felt some surprise at her response.
“I’ll be fine sweetheart. I’ve survived worse than this when I was your age.” The two adults watched at the only child knelt beside the futon and smiled slightly. Saiyuri returned it again. “Are you feeling alright Rin? You look a little pale.” At this, the child blushed slightly and giggled.
“Rin,” the deep male voice drew the attention of both females. “Go to the kitchens and find something for Saiyuri to eat, then bring it back here, alright?” he requested, Saiyuri noticed with some amount of surprise. Rin leaned over to give Saiyuri a hug, hopped up and momentarily hugged Sesshoumaru then was off like a little pink rabbit.
“You shouldn’t have bothered.” the young woman sighed and felt his penetrating gaze on her again. “Not sure I’ll be able to keep anything down.” she added a bit ruefully.
“You’ll need to eat sooner or later.” he stated without emotion and Saiyuri only gave a quiet “Hmm” in reply. The quiet that followed was soothing, but alas, it did not last. “What did you mean when you said you’d survived worse?” The tone he used was gentler than before, and it made Saiyuri looked at him with slight confusion.
“It’s not anything important.” she said in a guarded manner, and wondered why he was asking in the first place.
“I asked you a question, I expect an answer.” Sesshoumaru hissed in that quiet, chilly voice. At her irritated sigh, he could tell she was growing tired of the constant verbal battling.
“Fine, if you must pry,” she paused to look annoyed at him then went on, “When I was about six, I got very sick, and came very close to dying.” Suddenly her face held a bitter, grim smirk. “I probably would have too, thanks to that idiot doctor.” her eyes closed and the smirk widened a bit.
“What exactly happened?” he queried after a moment. The green eyes eased open as if she were drugged again, but then focused on the ceiling.
“He didn’t want to give me the medicine I needed. Then he made the mistake of telling my mother that she and my father would probably have to have me hospitalized at least once a year, around the fall.” She chuckled a little at a memory he could not see. “I think that’s the only time I ever saw my mom actually punch someone’s lights out.” she actually laughed a bit at the memory and then winced again.
“The knack at nerve must run in your family.” he remarked, not unkindly.
“I don’t know.” she sighed, and said nothing else for a time. Sesshoumaru’s thoughts were working fast. So that was why she was not so scared as he had expected her to be. She had been through a situation like this when she was just a child, no older than Rin in fact. He had an image of Rin lying on a futon, sick, barely able to move, or even draw breath, and a woman, much like Saiyuri, hitting a doctor because he had suggested the little girl deal with this every year of her life. Knowing that that little girl had been the woman who lay before him, made something twinge painfully inside him again, but this time he knew what it was. He, the ruthless, cold-blooded killer, the Great Dog-Demon Lord of the Western Lands, had felt for the six-year-old form of the human right here in front of him. If it had been Rin who had fallen ill and anyone suggested that she deal with it on a yearly basis, he’d have taken that person’s head off right then and there for such an idea. But there was something else that confused him even more. Saiyuri had had every opportunity to tell Rin to run, to get help, to get as far away as possible, or anything else really. Why hadn’t she done so? For an instant, he debated with himself as to whether or not to ask her, but he decided against it… at least for the time being. His long silver hair flicked over his shoulder as he looked in the direction of the door again. He could hear Rin walking, occasionally stumbling, closer to his current location. Clearly, she had done exactly as he had asked and a small, more gentle smile formed on his lips. He stood, opened the door and met Rin just as she was rounding the corner. Taking the tray of food from her, he sent her to go rest for now or, if she wasn’t all that tired, she could go pick flowers in the garden. Rin had looked faintly disappointed, but then smiled again. She hugged him a little harder than usual, and actually kissed his cheek before skipping off to entertain herself. His free hand found the cheek she had kissed, and he shook his head slightly. Humans really were strange creatures. Again he entered the room that held Saiyuri, and sat down, resting the tray to his right. Thinking carefully, Sesshoumaru was left with only one option as to how to feed her. Since she was still too weak to sit up, he would have to help her do so, and also she had indicated reluctance to even try to eat anything. Well, there were ways around that as well, though he found the idea none too calming at the moment. With a sigh and an internal grumble, he put both hands on her shoulders, and was not the least bit surprised to see her looking highly affronted.
“What on earth do you think you’re doing?” she had actually snarled at him, but she could not tell if this had made any impression on him. She stiffened a bit as one of his arms held her securely in his lap. He had her situated such that she was sitting on he left thigh and her legs fell limply in between his. Not that he cared, or thought anything of it, naturally; or so he hoped.
“I’ve already told you, you need to eat something. If you intend to gain your health again, you’ll do as you’re told.” Sesshoumaru stated evenly, and in a bored tone. With his free hand, he picked up a pair of chopsticks and manipulated a piece of fruit in between them. When the fruit made its way into Saiyuri’s line of sight, she only turned her head away a bit, indicating she would not eat, or for that matter be an obedient prisoner. With a soft growl, he placed the food in his own mouth. Quickly shifting their position a little, he fastened his mouth over hers. In her shock, Saiyuri had opened her mouth, but instead of a tongue, which is what she had expected, she tasted something sweet, the fruit. Since she had no desire to choke, she quickly swallowed, and glared at him.
“You,” she started and was sharply cut off.
“You will eat one way or another human. There is no point trying to starve yourself.” He stated, and pressed another piece of food against her slightly parted lips. Again she resisted, and the process was repeated, though Saiyuri gave an annoyed growl this time. “If you prefer, I could just shove this down your throat.” he remarked in an edgy tone, and the female in his arms heaved an exasperated sigh. He could tell he had won this round too. So he pressed a third piece of food to her lips with the chopsticks and this time she took it without complaint. After a little while, she spoke as he chose another bite of the food for her.
“This is degrading.” she grumbled, not really intending him, or anyone else to hear it. But, of course, he did.
“Then do as I have repeatedly told you to do and behave yourself.” she glared at him, but just took the food he offered her.
“That’s easy for you to say.” she pointed out after she had swallowed.
“Meaning?” he asked as he set the chopsticks down on the now empty tray.
“You’re not the helpless one here, I have no choice and you’re taking advantage of the fact.” She said saucily.
“Would you rather I take advantage of something else?” he could tell that inquiry had shocked her, or failing that, disturbed her. But she stayed silent for a long time and did not look at him. Sesshoumaru didn’t mind that she still sat in his lap, and when the realization of this broke through, he wondered why it didn’t matter.
“Can I ask you something?” her voice brought him back from his trance-like thoughts.
“I dare say you find you can.” he replied, tonelessly, still watching her, though she would not turn to him.
“What exactly are you?” She still did not face him, so she did not see him blink in confusion. After a moment, his fingers drew her face to look up at his.
“What do you mean human?” he asked, and Saiyuri had a tough time deciding whether or not to answer. But her curiosity proved greater than her fear, and she went on.
“Well, you keep calling me human, or mortal. So what does that make you?” Sesshoumaru knew perfectly well that this was not the only reason she was asking, so naturally, he had to point this out.
“It’s more than just that, isn’t it?” he could feel her nervousness, and nearly smell it on her, but it seemed that she was just stubborn enough to keep herself in control this time.
“You don’t need me to tell you that, you’re just stalling.” she remarked, which earned her a prick from the claws on her face, and she winced again.
“I am Lord Sesshoumaru, Lord over all the Western Lands.” His voice was low, but suggestively dangerous.
“That’s who you are, not what you are.” Saiyuri said softly, clearly fearing reprimand again. He tilted her face so that they were locked, eye to eye. This woman really was a bizarre case, even for a human.
“You honestly have no idea.” More a comment than an actual question, and Saiyuri nodded as best she could. “And you’re not lying either.” he commented and at this, her face looked both irritated and perplexed.
“Why would I ask something like that if I already knew the answer?” he had been expecting that but even so…
“You forget your place human.” Again the claws pierced her skin and did not stop until she let out a pained gasp. He let up and she looked away again, not wanting him to see the tears in her eyes; he didn’t need to see that he had breached a wall. But his hand would not leave her face, and he pressed so that her head rested on his shoulder, his slender, dangerous fingers tracing idle lines over her throat.
“I am a demon; a dog-demon to be more precise. Does that clear things up?”
“Not really.” she said, and the tone she used made him stare at her. Saiyuri’s eyes were wide but her face was calm, it was a very odd expression. Sesshoumaru sighed and was otherwise silent. Before too long, his sensitive ears had picked up the deep even breathing, and he glanced down at Saiyuri. As he had thought, she was sleeping soundly against his shoulder. The dog-demon could not help the slight smile on his lips. It was interesting how she could be so scared of him, and then fall asleep against him only a little while later. He tried yet again to make some sense of this as he laid her down on the futon to rest.
There’s no way she trusts me enough to be that comfortable around me, not yet. For a long moment, his thoughts paused as the shock of his own train of thought hit him again. However, it’s quite likely she wore herself out again. Yes, that had to be it, she was just so frazzled that it had taken its toll on her physically again. To his own surprise, he realized his eyes had been closed, and now that they were open, Sesshoumaru felt a slight blush in his normally pale face. He was nearly nose-to-nose with Saiyuri. Her scent was beckoning him to come closer and take a good whiff. The young woman’s soft skin begged to be brushed lightly with his own. She’s HUMAN! The Lord of the Western Lands had to sharply remind himself, and he was at the doorway before he could give it a second thought. But just as he was about to close the door, there was movement from behind him, and he looked back at the young woman. She had rolled onto her side, facing him, and snuggled her face into the pillow. From out of nowhere, or so it seemed, Sesshoumaru had a sudden image of her snuggling against his own bare chest. Silently cursing himself, he left and headed straight to his private rooms. Still deeply irked, he paced around the various chambers for awhile, then made his way out to the garden. Finally there, he paused to close his deep golden eyes and inhale the mingling scents of plant-life. With little, if any surprise, he found Rin’s scent freshly there too. It took him maybe thirty seconds to find her; she was curled up in a little nest of flowers and tall grass. She’s human, his brain reminded him as he picked her up and carried her to the room he had designated to be hers. But she’s just a child. And the implications that this brought were not exactly comforting, since Saiyuri was an adult. He had decided he would not go the way of his father. A long sigh of weariness escaped his lungs, and he felt amusement poke at him as Rin rolled over and snuggled into her pillow, almost exactly like Saiyuri had done. Was this sleeping pattern a habit of all mortals? Or just the females? Shaking his head slightly, the long silver waving, he walked back to the garden. Planting himself under what had come to be his pondering- tree, Sesshoumaru relaxed and breathed deeply again. This was his sanctuary, which made it all the more remarkable that he didn’t mind Rin popping in and out of it. Rin was like a cute little kitten that followed after the nearest adult creature, regarding that as its parent. The dog-demon wondered, with little doubt as to the answer, if Rin thought of him as a father of sorts. It wouldn’t have surprised him; Rin had no parents, and the people in the village she had lived near had not been so much as civil to her. For all I know, I’m the only person she remembers caring what happened to her. This fact made him wonder about the newcomer Saiyuri. She had not even known he was a demon, which most likely meant she had thought him human. But how could anyone be that naïve? he wondered as he leaned back into the tree’s bark. Maybe I should just send her home. he thought, but ended up deciding against it. He had no idea where she came from, and seriously doubted she would tell him, willingly or otherwise. Plus there was a good chance she would not immediately recall which direction her home lay. And of course there was an equally good chance that she had no home to speak of, just as had been the case with Rin. Perhaps Inu-Yasha’s woman might have some idea? It wasn’t beyond the realm of possibility and it sort of made sense. Both of them had a serious attitude, both were combative, and they both had a distinctly similar lack of proper clothing, and it didn’t seem to bother them. The breath he let out was exasperated. If he was really going to attempt this, he would have to do so carefully.

Author's Request: If you're still reading these, THANK YOU. If you've reviewed at all, I LOVE YOU PEOPLE! If you've read all this and still haven't reviewed, your hit number has been forwarded to the FBI LOL just kidding