I See You [Sesshomaru]

Chapter 47

        After the lords and lady returned to their households to protect their lands the West immediately felt the affects without Lord Seiichi's fighters. Naraku's demons hit them hard with one of his reincarnations leading the assault. The battle lasted for days and even at the household those inside could hear the fight raging on from the distance. As a safety, a section of the forces had been stationed around the household just in case the enemy managed to slip through and get this far in. They had no doubt that Lord Sesshomaru wouldn't allow that to happen, but their guard was up the entire time for their own good.

        Meanwhile, to be sure that no one caught sight of Akiko and in case the enemy somehow managed to sneak a spy inside their walls, the young woman's quarters were moved into a section of the dungeons. The area had not been used in decades, having collected dust and cobwebs as the maids cleaned every square inch of the place before a mattress padding, sheets, pillows, candles, kimonos, and other smaller items that had been in her room were all moved in. A few sheets were hung from the ceiling to block out the wooden bars of an empty cell across from the one she was to sleep in in order for her to use for changing. It was rather dark underneath the estate. There were no windows to even give a hint of light, only coming from the torches in the hallway leading further back out of sight. It wasn't homey. Not in the slightest, but Akiko knew this was only temporary and necessary given the situation. Rin was sad because their rooms were no longer close and that they couldn't venture out to the gardens either. But the child promised to visit her as much as possible and Akiko was thankful for the company.

        The only member from the pack around the household was Tatara, who was helping to guard Rin as she went about. She never thought that Sesshomaru would agree to it, with Jaken having been her only guardian for so long when the lord was away. She personally missed Tobi's comfort by her side. But they had to keep up the illusion that with her death the Beta would have no one to guard and would be ripping through the battlefield alongside Aisu. There were few times in the evening when the young woman would slightly wake feeling the shifting of the mattress below her as a large cool body would collapse against her side. Reaching over Akiko's fingers would find Tobi's slightly damp fur from when the blood and dirt had been washed away and would hold on tightly for comfort. Or cuddle into his side, as the Beta would hum tiredly. He wouldn't be the only one to join her in the dungeon, catching sight of the rest of the pack resting in shifts in the open cell and throughout the hallway.

        Surprisingly Jaken was kind enough to bring her reading material from the library when there was nothing to do as she waited for news on the outside.

        Slowly but surely, Naraku was beginning to spread his forces. The human villages were warned and many fled to avoid the oncoming danger. Of course there were a few that remained behind. Whether it was being stubborn or the fact that they were not in the health to make the trip the decisions were made. A handful traveled enough so to not be far from their home as room was made to accommodate the amount of people moving. Others were bold enough to make the journey far south towards Lady Sanjou's territory where the demon welcomed them. But even if Naraku was pulling back slightly from the West to protect all sides of his location Akiko barely saw the lord.

        Rin would ask about his whereabouts when they were together or before she fell asleep beside Akiko in the dungeon. The young woman found it hard to answer because even she didn't know. But one evening she was pleasantly surprised when awaking, even if it was in the middle of the night, to see Sesshomaru crouched down beside the bed. His hand gently caressing her hair was what caused her to stir, slowly sitting up so not to wake Rin or Tatara at the edge of the bed. There was a torch lit at the bottom of the staircase leading up to the main floor, but the two moved in the opposite direction becoming more covered in the dark shadows as they spoke lowly.