Brave Hearts (Sesshomaru Fanfiction)

13. I Didn't Need Your Help

He was done letting this demon believe that it had the upper hand.

Grinning, the yokai glanced across at Hana who had been watching intently. Sesshomaru hoped that she would be able to defend herself in the event that he wouldn’t be able to jump to her rescue once more. A part of him wanted to know what exactly she would do if the yokai actually attempted to attack her again, while the other part of him wanted nothing but for her to stay out of harm’s way. He paused.

“Touch her, and I’ll be sure that your death is slow and painful.” Sesshomaru threatened. He raised his sword at the yokai.

“She is not your opponent.”

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Hana blinked.

Was Lord Sesshomaru being protective of her, or did he merely wish for the demon to fight no one but him?

Either way, she still felt somewhat useless just standing there.

She wanted to do something to help Lord Sesshomaru – to end this battle quickly. And as the demon glanced over at her with an evil look in his eyes, an idea struck her. Meanwhile, Sesshomaru was giving the demon a nasty look that had the words “I’ll kill you,” written all over it.

Hana knew that Sesshomaru wanted to see what she could do in times of danger - that he probably would be quite annoyed if she simply stood there and let herself get hurt - , but she also knew that he wanted to make sure that she was safe. Her shoulder was still slightly injured from her battle with her father, so she knew she couldn’t do much, but she would still help Lord Sesshomaru some way or the other.

That was when the demon quickly moved towards her, with Sesshomaru close behind. Suddenly, the demon appeared right in front of her, towering over her by a foot or so – claws bared and ready to strike.

But Hana didn’t move. She didn’t lift a finger.

For a split second, Sesshomaru’s eyes lit up with surprise at her unresponsiveness.

Hana looked up at the demon as he uttered the word “die” at her, and that was when she did the most unexpected thing of all.

She smiled at him.

She looked up at the yokai and gave him a bright, innocent smile – the way Rin would usually smile at her. The demon, who had been about to strike Hana suddenly stopped, clawed hand in midair with a dumfounded look on its face.

“Eh?” He muttered, before crying out moments later as Sesshomaru’s Tokijin sliced the demon in half from behind.

Hana fought to keep her smile as large drops of blood splattered onto her face and her kimono.

She’d had a feeling that Lord Sesshomaru would have been to one to regain their composure first, and she was relieved to know that she’d been right.

Looking in front of her, she watched as the yokai’s body began to slowly disintegrate due to the blow from the Tokijin and Sesshomaru sheathed his sword.

“You filthy wench.” The demon spat before his entire body disintegrated into nothing, and slowly, she let the smile fade from her lips. Soon enough there was nothing left between her and Sesshomaru.

She brought her eyes up to meet his, and noticed a slight look of disapproval in his eyes.

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When there was nothing left of the demon, Sesshomaru stood silently for a while, looking at Hana who gazed up at him with a look of curiosity in her bright hazel eyes.

Had she really just risked her life in order to help him (even though he hadn’t needed her help at all)?

“You could have gotten yourself killed,” he said, trying to make his voice sound as cold as possible. He was glad that her attempt at distracting the yokai had worked out but was still slightly annoyed at the fact that she had thought that he’d needed her help to defeat that demon in the first place.

 “Well yes,” she looked down briefly, “but I am alive. Besides, my shoulder still hurts when I move it, which means I wouldn’t have been able to do much anyways, so I thought I’d at least assist you.”

As much as he wished that he could stay annoyed or displeased with Hana for interfering, Sesshomaru found that he simply could not.
She had meant well.

“This Sesshomaru does not need your help.” He began walking away. He could see a slight frown form on her face before he had passed her.

“…but I am glad that you are unharmed.” He spoke softly but loud enough for her demon ears to hear.

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“So you’re not going to say ‘thank you’?” Hana looked up at Sesshomaru as she walked next to him. He looked across at her and replied:

“I know not the meaning of such words.”

She smiled sweetly at him.

“Sure you don’t.” There was a slight hint of sarcasm in Hana's voice.

“That filthy demon would have died by my hands alone eventually.”

“You’re welcome, Lord Sesshomaru.” She said the words anyway, still smiling. Sesshomaru seemed to have been slightly surprised at this. After a moment’s silence she heard him call.

“Hana,”

“Yes?”

“The scent of that demon’s blood is all over you.”

She supposed he was right.

“I’ll go bathe if it bothers you so much, but,” she blushed.

“I’m not the only one covered in demon’s blood – so are you.”

Sesshomaru closed his eyes briefly.

“Are you suggesting something?”

Hana felt her cheeks redden even more.

“Well no, at least I don’t think I am, or -,”

“If you wish for me to bathe with you, then just say it.” He interrupted. She wasn’t entirely sure, but for a moment, Hana thought that Sesshomaru had sounded somewhat amused.

Surprised at his comment, Hana stopped walking for a moment, looking at him and blushing even more than before.