Warmth

11

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Snow gradually turned to slush and finally grass as the now expanded caravan traveled down the mountain and into the wide expanse of meadows and gentle hills below. The biting winds lost their ferocity and the once stunted trees stood tall with heavy branches of vibrant green leaves. Thinned ice melted into tiny streams that danced over mossy rocks and roots before snaking out of view to soak into the moist earth. The path, once treacherous and narrow, widened and softened as the wind now carried the smell of wildflowers bursting in bloom in a riot of colors – purples, yellows, and whites.

The warmth was well received, enough to allow Rin to drift into a peaceful slumber atop Ah-Un's back while Jaken waddled along beside him, his feet finally shaking the numbness of cold. They had traveled so far now, almost across the entire continent, to now turn around and head...where?

"My Lord," Jaken started quietly to not disturb the snoozing girl. "Might I ask where we are going now? This isn't like when you tried to commission Tōtōsai, why did we leave the forge?"

The tall man continued at his brisk pace, the warm breeze combing through his long, white hair. He didn't look at Jaken as he replied, "She claimed she doesn't have the necessary materials to forge my sword at this time. But before I go and retrieve them, I need to verify what Kaijinbō reported."

"Doesn't have the materials?" Jaken parroted, confused. "She had plenty of weapons and tools to give to those humans before we left! Do you suspect she has lied to you My Lord?"

"Do you think I could be fooled by a mere woman?" His response was curt, amber eyes peering over towards the imp now.

Jaken fumbled, his staff hopping from one hand to the other in a panic. "Of course not master! I am only observing that she appeared to have everything she needed!"

"Stop barking before you wake Rin," the demon ordered, looking forward. "Even she is aware that I didn't commission some ordinary weapon. It's obvious she has only crafted one other weapon of extraordinary power, and that is Kenkō's kabanō."

The green imp peered behind him at the wagon a small distance behind them. His eyes narrowed as he watched the human adjusting the aforementioned weapon on his shoulder before looking ahead once more. "He does have a strange weapon indeed, but why did you bring him along, my Lord?"

"Collateral."

"Ahh, I see, excellent idea my Lord!" Jaken nodded fervently. "And what of this information you are needing to verify?"

"The identity of her master. Now, enough frivolous questions," Sesshōmaru quipped, no longer wishing to humor the imp.

"Y-Yes my Lord!"

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Kenkō was slouched over, his breath ragged as he struggled to put one foot in front of the other. Finally, his body fell forward in a cloud of dust. Hirōmu stopped to turn her head around to look at him, a loud Moooooo! bellowing from her throat.

Ishimaru had been in and out of the cart throughout the journey thus far, and happened to be walking behind Kenkō when he fell over. She stopped to lean over him curiously, poking him with a stick she'd scooped up some time before. "Kenkō, maybe it's time you take a break and rest in the cart?"

A grumble of stubborn discontent sounded from the ground.

"I promise I won't call you Princess while you ride," the woman smiled, her tone teasing.

That didn't excite Kenkō to get in the wagon, but he knew he couldn't go on any longer. This was the most he had walked in a long time, if not the most in his entire life. The journey down the mountain was about two days, but the pace Sesshōmaru had them moving cut it down dramatically and there had been no pit stops up to this point. He gave Hirōmu credit for toughing it out this far.