The Long Road to Freedom Part 1: The Dastardly Prince

Aftermath 2

        As she made her way back to camp, Kuroihi contemplated what she would tell Sesshoumaru if he asked where they'd been. She couldn't exactly wash the smell of sea and salt from both herself and Kaijou well enough to be overlooked by a daiyoukai's keen sense of smell.

'Speaking of scents...'

She paused as the wind brought her the smell of wolf, and she traced it to the spot in the grasses that Kaijou now rose from. She was not irritated that he had followed her, only that she hadn't expected it. She would have done the same in this situation, after all. A quick glance to the horizon told her she'd been gone far longer than she had meant to be. He was bound to have woken at some point to find her far from where she should have been.

The expression on his face told her he'd been there for some time. There was no use trying to hide what had happened. Instead, she continued the trek back to camp, Kaijou joining her in mutual silence for a time.

***

Kaijou groaned internally, though he was not surprised to find the fire had gone out when they arrived back at camp.

This is all her fault, stupid bitch, she can re‐light it, and she's not using my flint to do it, either, he thought, and he told her as much as he settled back into his sleeping spot in the sand.

He did watch, though, admittedly curious as to how she would manage such a feat. After arranging the remaining wood, she clicked her claws together sharply, creating a shower of sparks that leaped to ignite the wood almost instantly. It was an infant flame at first, but it rose quickly, and soon his feet were warm again.

I think I'm beginning to understand Lord Sesshoumaru's fascination with you, woman...

His eyes followed her as she settled herself carefully in the sand, her dead eyes reflecting the rising flames. Her voice was equally empty as she addressed him.

"How much did you overhear?"

He considered his answer for a moment. He didn't owe this woman anything, as far as he was concerned, but after what he had heard...

"I heard enough. Now, shut up and go to sleep. We're leaving as soon as the sun rises. This field trip of yours is over."

He felt her gaze shift and opened his eyes again to find it resting on him. He'd give her this much, at least, there was no weakness or defeat on her face.

"What will you tell him?"

"Tell who?"

"Lord Sesshoumaru."

Kaijou growled.

"Look, if it'll make you shut up and go to sleep, it's like this: I'm on loan right now, but I work for the General; you're the one that works for Prince Barbarous, and your business ain't mine to tell."

She seemed to smile, nodding slightly before laying herself down in the sand to sleep. She almost seemed to be saying 'thank you' for his discretion. He snorted and rolled onto his back to watch the progress of the sky from night to dawn.

'What a pathetic creature. Bad enough to be a half‐breed, but to have come from parents like that, discarded at the first chance like a lame cub, and have no pack... How does someone continue on after something like that?'

He frowned. Was he feeling sorry for her? No, it wasn't sympathy, at least not in the pitying sort of way, more akin to an affirmation born from mutual suffering. After all, she was just as trapped in the castle as he was.