Bring Me To Life by Ladyfifi

Doubt Me Not

Their travel was much the same as the day before, silent. Their thoughts never left the confines of their own minds as they moved over the rolling hills leading to the border of the Western lands. Both of them had come to a silent agreement that casual words would not really be necessary. At one time, this would have gone against her very nature, but her own thoughts had been her only company for so long, she no longer knew the ease of sharing one's musings. A chill crawled down her spine, bringing her attention back to her surroundings.

She glanced up at the slate gray sky, watching as a lone shadow in the form of a raven flew in spirals above. A specter that radiated a familiar malice. The wind pushed the hood of her cloak from her face, before tugging strands of long black hair from its leather binding. Stopping, she closed her eyes, seeking, feeling.

Sesshomaru stopped, turning impatiently as he felt the aura of the woman behind him pause. The reprimand he was going to give never left his mouth. He watched, fascinated as she stood, hands loose at her sides, head raised to the sky. The gloom of the day did nothing to hide the onyx shine of her hair as the wind swirled it around her. Her eyes slowly slid open, searing him. They were no longer cobalt, but glowed ultramarine, their depths seemingly endless. The wind blew toward him carrying her scent, mixing it with his. He barely stopped a snarl at the intrusion, uneasy with how easily they merged. The wind changed direction, bringing new scents. He once again faced the west, eyes narrowed.

"Woman."

"I know. We will soon have company. Many. They were sent by the Eater."

"He has an army?"

"No. He can manipulate the souls of the weak-willed and those already corrupted by evil. He is the devil whispering in your ear. He wishes to provoke me." She said as her eyes dimmed to their original color. "He brings them to me... should they die, he will feed from them. He attempts to force my hand."

"You cannot save them."

"No ... I cannot." She said softly. "I have given you my word." Those eyes pierced him again, grave, having no less effect on him than before. "I will have to live with my choice. Their faces will be burned into my memory ... just as they will be in yours, doubt me not. Remember with each swipe of your claws, each stab of your sword, we condemn them to nothingness." She pulled the Red Sword free of it's sheath and he watched as the red glow faded until its aura was gone, leaving nothing but a tool for killing. "Remember them...they deserve that much."

He had no chance to tell her that her words were foolish and nonsensical as the first wave of youkai and human alike bore down on them. Their eyes held a desire for only one thing, the death of the two travelers before them. Screams rang out as the onslaught fell under blade and claw. He caught glimpses of the silver cloaked female as she grimly felled one foe after another. Pain tinged her aura, dulling it, though a quick inspection showed she carried no wounds on her person.

He turned back as a massive bull youkai roared, swinging a deadly fist. He lunged to the side, avoiding the attack. He called his poison whip to him, cleanly severing it's head from it's body before twisting around, narrowly missing being hit by the scythes swung by two human soldiers.

"Below you!" he heard shouted, even as he was already leaping high into the air. Soil exploded as a hebiyoukai erupted from the ground, fangs reaching for limbs not quite out of reach. (1)

Thump.

A sword flew through the air, piercing the hebi cleanly through its skull. It hissed as it crumpled to the ground. His glare turned to the woman a distance away.

"Girl, do not interfere with --" He watched as a tsuchigumo threw its webbing, successfully binding the woman's legs to the ground, making it impossible for her to move. She cursed, yanking a small tanto from her waistband, trying to cut away the sticky substance. Two oni began to close in on the entangled woman from behind. It was clear that she would not be free in time. Foolish girl, he thought, she does not know the cost of her illogical sacrifice. (2)

Her time was up. His eyes sharpened as she finally got one leg free. It was too late to dodge the iron club as the oni raised it above her head. Sesshomaru did not remember running across the field, he did not remember pulling the pulsing sword from the place it rested at his waist, nor did he recall killing both oni with one slash of the blade. But he would not forget the look of surprise on the woman's face.

"Lord Sessh --"

"Retrieve your sword woman. We are ... even now." She cast a lingering glance at the transformed sword still in his hand before nodding. Questions could wait until later. A roar split the air as another wave of human and youkai rushed over the hills. Wave after wave came, and one by one the fell.

It was only when the battle had ended, when the hills were covered with the bodies of slain enemies, and the female and him were the only ones left, that Sesshomaru realized what sword he had wielded and what having used it meant. His mind rebelled against it. I was simply paying back a debt.

He eyes glanced down at his feet, seeing the dead face of one condemned, starring back. 'Remember them.. they deserve that much.'

"Do you doubt me now?" The question came on a trail of wind, faint and hollow. She stood in the midst of the carnage, sword not raised in triumph, but lowered in defeat.

"This Sesshomaru knows not what you speak of." Without another look, he began walking, by all appearances, unaffected and unconcerned. But deep down, he knew that he deceived not only her, but himself.

1. Hebiyoukai - Snake demon

2. Tsuchigumo - Spider demon

*I got these translations off the internet, so I don't know if this is right, I hope it is for those that are familiar with the language. I apologize if they are not.*