Opaline by Aviel
It's Off To Work We Go
Disclaimer: Though it saddens me to say it, I don’t own anything relating to Takahashi-sensei’s Inuyasha. However, the plot of this drabble series does belong to me as well as any OCs that may show up along the way.
A/N: None. :)
Chapter 4: It’s Off To Work We Go
Sesshoumaru smelled her long before he heard her soft footfalls upon the earth.
He raised his head and took in the scent on the wind, ears perked in the female’s direction. His nose was immediately bombarded by a sharp tang of purity, followed by a teasing whiff of innocence, sweet and untainted.
A miko?
He almost growled at the thought, but another nuance of her scent made him pause. Strangely enough, she also smelled like rain and the forest – natural and wild, like an animal.
The daiyoukai crouched low beside the bush he’d been lounging behind, eyes trained intently on the worn, dirt path of the road. His patience paid off when a dark blur streaked across his vision, leaving behind a bitter perfume of fear. For a moment, he resisted the urge to chase her down, opting to wait and see what had her so frightened in the first place.
He almost regretted that decision as soon as the overwhelming stench of human men filled his nostrils, making his eyes water.
Disgusting filth… Have they not heard of proper grooming?
While he shook his head to clear his nasal passages, Sesshoumaru couldn’t help but to overhear the group’s conversation as they stopped to catch their breath.
“Damn that brat! Where did she go!?” a burly one said, punching the tree next to the silent inu-youkai, making his ears twitch in irritation. “When I find her, I’m gonna skin her alive!” His head was large and balding, and he surprisingly lacked eyebrows. Sesshoumaru thought the man was hideous even by human standards.
“Calm yourself, Manten, lest you lose any more of your precious hair,” another male drawled, tugging on the tiny braid at the base of the ugly one’s neck.
“Shut it, Onigumo! You’re just jealous because I’m gorgeous and you’re not!”
Onigumo didn’t comment, knowing the man was too far gone in his own delusions to be swayed by a few words of truth.
Rolling his eyes while he smoothed a hand through his wavy locks, he faced the others. “In any case, the girl must be found. Demon or not, she is powerful. When the old crone finally dies, we can force her into submission and make her our tool.” Several cheers sounded in the air, and Onigumo went on, “But if beating her isn’t enough, there are…” A malicious gleam entered his eyes. “…other ways she can be tamed.”
The men laughed raucously, sniggering amongst themselves with dark gazes, and continued on their way to find the elusive female.
Once he was sure that they were gone, Sesshoumaru let loose a vicious snarl. He didn’t know why, but the fact that those savages were planning on doing the unthinkable to the girl bothered him.
Now, Sesshoumaru was a cruel being, but he was still honorable. And although he didn’t possess compassion for humans, the whole situation just didn’t sit right with him.
Perhaps he would go hunting as well.
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Original Posting Date: August 23, 2012
Prompt: For Phae’s Word Prompts, Unseen
Words: 500