At the End

~At the End~

 

She was clean, methodical and everything a warrior should be.  Watching this demoness before me was like watching water move, she was all things grace and beauty and I had not even glimpsed upon her face.  She decimated her enemy with ease; taking off the Panther demon’s head with one swift swing of her sword.  Awed and enthralled, I slid forward in my chair; waiting impatiently for the moment when she might be revealed to me. 

She was a goddess.

Resentment and shame followed immediately after for thinking of another woman in such a way and I prayed to the heavens that Rin would forgive me from wherever she was.

The crowd of nobles cheered and my aunt clapped her hands along with them for the masked woman’s swift victory.  I could not; I was far too ashamed of myself and my unexplainable reaction to her.

I didn’t know how long the Gods would punish me for what happened to Rin, or how long I would punish myself for my failure.  If it was forever, then so be it; I would live out my eternity in this Hell.  It would be less than I deserved. 

A strange scream rose up in the audience down in floor below only to be deafened by the unmistakable howl of another Dog demon. 

Looking up, I met the golden hued eyes of the demoness that had so enraptured me, feeling compelled to stand as she sped towards me with the speed of a noble; double swords drawn.  Before I could grasp my sword, the pungent stench of brimstone and rotten flesh reached my nose and I snarled.  She screamed a moment later, yelling for me to take cover as she sent one of her swords directly at me.  I seemed to duck just in time and watched the pearl handled katana fly over my head. 

Blood instantly filled my nostrils, but it was not mine, it was far too repulsive to be any demon with invitation to this castle.  In fact I had not smelled such a foul stench since Rin had gone missing over a hundred years ago. 

It was the horrible reek of the Takada clan and their fir-breathers. 

My body turned on a pivot, a roar of outrage parting my lips as I bared my fangs at the revolting being pinned to my aunt’s palace wall; the sword of the demoness lodged deep within his shoulder.

Rage quickly coursed through my veins.  These filthy creatures had taken her from me; my Rin, and I would make this one pay!

One foot in front of the other I moved in stride towards my pray just as the Goddess of War herself came sailing over my head and landing with a graceful ease just in front of me.  She snarled and snapped like a wild animal and in that moment my curiosity renewed; I wanted so badly to see her face.

 The assassin as I could only deduce him to be, was struggling like a caged animal to break free of the sword that held him captive still.

I watched with a morbid inquisitiveness as the woman before barred her fangs in warning, hissing at him a holding the point of her remaining sword to his throat. 

Finally coming to my senses, I commanded.  “Enough!”

Turning to them both, I assessed the situation the best I could without killing him before questioning.  It was difficult in more ways than one.  I wanted to kill this best with my bare hands, and yet I wanted to torture the life from him and let him experience every misery he and his retched clan had subjected me to over the last hundred years; separated from my beloved mate.

Then there was her, my Goddess demoness.  Not being able to read her face made assuming her ulterior motive almost impossible.  Her eyes read easily enough though, they were swarming with fury; she wanted nothing more than to end this demon, but for what purpose? 

Was she with them, luring me into a false sense of security?  Or was he too close to being noticed and didn’t want him being questioned?

For some reason, I doubted either of my suspicions.  Something within my soul told me this woman would do me no harm.

“What is the meaning of this?”  I demanded impatiently, I wanted answers and I did not care who I had to cleave open to get them.

Fear rent the air as my prisoner trembled, the hilt of the masked woman’s blade shaking with his anxiety and I knew then I would be getting no answers at present.  Though he was terrified of me, his lips were set in a tight, thin line; denoting his arrogance and refusal.  It was of no matters, I still had other pressing matters to deal with.

This mysterious woman had much to answer for herself.  Why had she saved me so valiantly? 

“Guards!”  Quickly enough, I had at my disposal, twelve abled bodied men.   “Take this fifth to the barracks, I have questions for him.” 

They bowed quickly, moving with haste to remove him from my sight.  As one went to remove the sword of the demoness still standing to my left with her head bowed, overwhelming jealously rose up into the pit of my stomach and before I could contain myself, I growled deep and possessive.

“Wait,”  I called, raising my hand for them to stand down as I moved passed them.  “Stand aside.”

With little effort I jerked her weapon free and reviled in the pained cries from the intruder, his agony brought me a deep satisfaction; one that I had not felt since the day my wife disappeared from my sight.

“Jushiro, how fares my aunt?”  I asked as the men led the intruder away.

She was as expected, removed from the fight and secluded away into her room as soon as it was learned that security was breeched. 

We ended up losing fourteen of our soldiers from the lower ranks; the cursed Takada clan only lost two with another in my custody and one who retreated like the cowards that they were.

I held the hilt of the pearl handled sword in my hand and could feel its power singing to me like a familiar song.  It was a truly remarkable weapon and it only added to the growing list of questions I wanted to ask her.

Finally free of distractions, I handed the sword back to its owner, although hesitantly; still unsure of her intentions.  Yet I couldn’t find it in myself to see her as a threat to me.  “It is a truly magnificent sword.” 

She merely nodded her head in response, and for some reason her silence bothered me, so I tried again.

“You fought well, I am indebted to you.” 

With her gaze glued to the planked floor below, she remained silent but I could see her body slightly trembling.  What she did next shocked and angered me to the core.

Without word she threw herself into my arms, wrapping her arms around my neck like I might disappear should I let go.  She was a sobbing mess, muttering incoherent things I could not understand as her mouth was muffled by the robes that covered my chest.

Guilt ate at me as my thoughts drifted to Rin and what she would think about this harlot draped about my person like a jeweled necklace. 

With a snarl of indignation, I pushed the thought aside and with it, the demoness. 

I knew I most likely wore a look of shock and disgust as I snapped at her like a lowly whore.  “I know not who you are demon, but know that only my Lady is permitted to touch this Sesshomaru!” 

She looked just as astonished by her actions or perhaps it was that I pushed her away so callously after saving me.  But I could not forgive her actions so easily.  “I will forgive your transgression only because you saved my life, but be warned, should you do so again will lead to your death.”

Even as I said the words they seemed to turn to ash in my mouth.  It felt off to reprimand this stranger for such a thing and that in itself was odd.  Why would I feel guilty for pushing a woman who wasn’t Rin aside?  Had I grown so soft?

She trembled forcefully, her sobs wracking her body so hard I feared she might collapse.  Remorse ebbed its way into my soul once more as venomous tears trickled from her eyes; I had reduced a fierce warrior to a weeping woman. 

She gave me a heartbreaking glance from behind her mask as a pained whimper left her throat.  “It’s true then, you have taken another for your mate.” 

It wasn’t a question on her part and sounded more and more like a heart wrenching realization.  She believed me to be mated for a second time?  Or did she somehow know me from years ago and only realized I had taken Rin for a mate?  Did she somehow know Rin?  Had she seen her?  As more questions raced through my mind I became thoroughly confused. 

“What do you mean by ‘another mate’?  Who are you, Warrior?  Remove your face covering.” 

She looked as confused as I felt, but my patience was running thin and I did not have time to let her work out whatever she was going through.  Before thinking my actions through, I stepped forward and took her by the shoulder; fully intending on shaking the answers from her.

“Answer me, woman!” 

She smiled a genuine smile and opened her mouth to speak, but all that came out was a gargled spray of blood that splattered across my face.  My eyes widened as the trialed down her bodice to the pointed end of a blade protruding through her chest. 

Too late, I realized, that there was still another assassin loose on the grounds, a now another price must be paid. 

Blood red eyes held mine from over her shoulder, a cruel smile held firm on his face.  He winked at me before he twisted the blade and jerked it from her back.  The demoness let out a wet, choking sound as he legs failed her and she sank to the ground with a dull thud. 

I watched in absolute horror as blood ran like a raging river from her chest, but that horror quickly gave way to fury.   Without giving him warning I drew Bakusaiga and thrust it deep into his chest.  He would not recover from a wound from my sword and he would not die swiftly.  I wanted him to suffer. 

As he slid to the ground, unable to move from the poison flowing within him, I turned my attention back to the woman at my feet.  It was obvious she was in great pain and yet she was struggling with slippery fingers to remove her mask. 

“Let me help you.”  I told her, moving to kneel beside her.

She mumbled something then, garbled and distorted, but it sounded like she called me ‘Maru’, but that was impossible.  There was only one person walking the earth that has ever called me that name and lived to tell about it and that was….

As I pulled the final strap free of the wooden mask that kept her face hidden, the scent of her blood finally wafted to my nose.  Muddled, I dropped her mask to the floor and stood horrified, elated and angry. 

“RIN!”  I cried as I pulled my long lost wife to my chest; nuzzling her hair. 

I had to be dreaming again, I just had to be.  But the warm blood that spilled from her body didn’t lie and I quickly understood that this was no dream…

It was my nightmare.