After All This Time?

Moonlight ~Sesshomaru

"My Lord..." spoke the little imp.

I turn my head to him, not saying a word. The imp swallowed a knot in his throat, I presumed he hoped to not offend me. He continued with his squeaky voice, "we are very near that human village..."

He becomes quiet, I could see the sweat pouring off of his disgusting green skin. He noticed the disdain in my eyes. He began trembling. How pathetic he remains after all his years of loyal service to me.

"What of it, Jaken?" I spoke sharply. My expression was cold, slightly angered.

I could see the imp stumbling to try to form the right words to not upset me. He shook his head, releasing the fear in his body, but it could still be heard in his voice as he began to speak again.

"My apologies Lord Sesshomaru, but... it's been several years since you last saw--"

I refused to hear any more of what he had to say. I turn my feet and walked away.

"You stay here with A-Un."

Jaken complied with my command, sighing under his breath.

I walked for a while to clear my mind. To think of nothingness. The wind was breezy, stirring what I could smell was the scent of flowers as I was approaching an open field. I found myself in a meadow of irises and watched them dance with the wind. The flowers seemed to glow under the moonlight.

I look up at the night sky to see the first crescent moon of the lunar cycle, and I gazed at how it was still capable of giving off such a strong light. I stood there for a moment, feeling the cool wind against my face as the aroma of flowers consumed me.

My efforts to clear my thoughts failed me, however. This feeling I had in the center of my being just won't go away, and it hasn't for years now.

What was wrong with me?

This cannot continue, Sesshomaru!

I scoffed hearing the old miko's words echo in my head.

I knew we were close before Jaken began to notice. I knew what he was trying to suggest. I smirked because I found it interesting that Jaken would even bring up the human village after all this time. My pathetic half-brother, his bride, and their comrades live there, what other reason would I need to ever go there.

"None of them matter to me."

""

Moments went by and I returned to where I had left Jaken and A-Un, the imp tried to beg for my forgiveness for what he was trying to imply earlier, but I paid him no mind.

"Let's go, Jaken."

"Umm, to where my Lord?" Jaken replied, confused.

I was silent for a moment.

"Away from here."

Jaken, again, complies, following behind with a low whimper.

The imp knows by now. I'm deliberately trying to stay away from that village. I have to. For her sake.

I heard rustling up in the trees and became alert. The rustling stops, but I keep my guard up. Something had been following me for a while and wanted to make their appearance.

Jaken noticed as well, "Did you hear that?"

It was strange. I couldn't smell their scent, but a could sense they were hiding in the trees. From what I could tell, it was just one of them. But who would be foolish enough to try to engage with me? And what did they want? I revealed my claws as I flexed them, hearing the loud cracking of my knuckles.

Suddenly, I hear something shooting out from atop of the trees towards me, but I quickly deflect with my whip of light. Shurikens lay broken on the ground.

Ninjas. How annoying.

"You are very impressive, Lord Sesshomaru." A voice spoke from the trees.

"Who goes there and what do you want!?" Shouted Jaken. The imp brings up his nintojo to prepare to blow fire from the old man side of the staff.

Loud laughter roars in the trees. A figure jumps down onto the ground in front of them, dressed in tapered clothes and light armor on the shoulders and chest. Their face was covered except for their eyes, and the look of them told that they were yokai.

"A demon ninja, huh?" I spoke coldly, not threatened by someone so weak.

"Indeed, Sesshomaru. And I want your blade." The ninja spoke smugly.

My blade? Surely they're not talking about trying to take my Bakusaiga. I place my hand on its hilt.

I grin at the hilarity.

"You must be joking. You? Wanting my Bakusaiga?"

I drew my sword and pointed the sharp tip towards them. Its demonic aura emits off the blade, ready to strike at my command.

"Oh I know I'm not capable of taking it from you just yet, Lord Sesshomaru." The ninja spoke, putting their hands behind their back.

I raise a brow at their words.

"Then why are you here before me now? Are you asking for a death wish? If that's the case, I won't be granting it for you today." I returned Bakusaiga to its sheath.

The ninja sinisterly narrows their eyes, revealing they were hiding something behind their back, and throws it onto the ground. A cloud of black smoke engulfed us.

"This won't be the last time you'll see me." the ninja spoke as they jumped back into the trees and escapes.

I was unbothered by the smoke bomb, however, Jaken was having a coughing fit and was growing angry by the minute, stomping and throwing his tiny fists up in the air.

"Who did they think they were? How dare they make such a ridiculous claim and then run away!" Jaken screeched.

"That's enough."

Jaken froze mid-movement. Slowly turning to me in confusion.

"But my Lord, are you gonna go after them?"

I scoffed at him.

"There's no need. They are not worth my time."

I proceed to walk forward and decided to change directions slightly, veering away from where the ninja had fled, and farther away from where the village resided. However, I had an uneasy feeling about the ninja being nearby. I decided that I wouldn't go too far out, for now.