The Secret Kept

Lonely Steps

Senshi: Japanese for warrior or soldier

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They came to a stop before the great forest that had been his destination since setting out from his ancestral castle. A messenger had been sent to him delivering a request for his presence in this forest before an old and ancient friend and advisor to his family. Not many could be so bold as to make request on him at all, but this one had made them of his father and his great grandfather. For this one being exceptions can be made.

He turned to look at his group, his eyes falling on each one of them, and gave an inner sigh, unheard, on seen by them. None of them were strong enough to fight of an attack of a strong demon. Each and every one of them depended on him in times of need. They couldn’t accompany him into the forest, for only the strongest of demons could survive a trip in there. He would have to leave them here.

“Jaken,” he said, his mind made up.

The little toad demon looked up from where he sat leaning on his staff, watching the little girl his master had insisted on keeping. “Yes, lord Sesshomaru.”

“You and the Ren will remain here, while I continue alone.”

“Yes, lord Sesshomaru”

“Rin,” he continued, looking at the lively little girl running in the field, her clothing playing in the wind.

The child stopped her antics at the sound of her father’s voice. “Yes, Sesshomaru-sama.”

“You will remain with Jaken till I return.”

He watched as her eyes filled with tears of sorrow and fear. He had no idea what previous troubles his child had had, but whatever they were they left her with a fear that she would lose him at some point. That fear caused her to remain close to him at all times. To be told now that she would be left behind had brought it on in full, but no exceptions could be made here.

“Must I, Sesshomaru-sama?” came her tear-filled voice crying out to him.

Though his heart was breaking at the sight of his daughter’s cry the lord held his composure. “Yes Rin. You must, I’ll return shortly,” he confirmed as he turned to leave.

“Hai, Sesshomaru-sama,” was her reply, choked with her fear.

He would have taken her with him but the dangers were too great. Even he could not guarantee the safety of his child in this forest.
Not often did the western lord wish for anything, but at that moment he wished he could have held her and told her why he had to leave. It was an impossible wish coming from him; he had long since cut himself off from expressing any emotions, ever. To show one emotion could only lead to him wanting to show more and then he would no longer be able to hide the longings of his heart from the world. He continued to walk, even as his daughter trembled with her tears, unable to hold her to show anything to her, to and the world.

The humans had named this forest ‘The Forest of the Damned’ due to the high concentration of demons living there. Most likely, some fool priest had come up with the name, still thinking demons were evil creatures. Humans were simple-minded creatures, often trying to categorize what they see either good or bad. The world couldn’t be defined by categories of black and white, more like shades of gray. While demons were not all evil, there were some that loved the taste of flesh far too much, and had no compunction about where they got the flesh. With all the demons in the forest, it was difficult to tell between the ones that had the smell of blood over them and thus dangerous, from the ones that meant no harm and were merely passing by. Even with his sharp nose he could not accurately tell where the enemy was coming from, and guarantee the safety of the others.

He walked steadily through the forest, cloth-covered feet falling on a path that the years had long since carved beep into its heart. The forest children stretched incessantly towards Izanagi’s warmth, their long limbs blocking out the Amaterasu’s light. The actions had created thick shades below that covered every inch of the land decorating the forest in darkness. Soon the screen yielded a small portion of its secrets to him, showing him the demons of different kinds, from the soaring birds to the crawling insect. Though the lady’s glow did not pass much beyond the thick leaves of the canopy he could see the many different blossoms that in habited these woods. His canine senses picked out the minutest of details, every shape, and every colour was assessable to his eye, even in this darkness.

With a sigh, the lord came to a stop before an old Magnolia Hypoleuca. To call to tree large would be an insult. The trees trunk was thicker than the largest mans arms spread wide, and measured from fingertip to fingertip. Its thick roots broke from the land wide and long enough that one could mistake them for individual trees themselves. No one could see the plant and not immediately no it for the ancient being it was.

He looked up at the ancient Hypoleuca that towered over him, its great form half cast in a shadow beside him. This was the reason he had come to this place, at the very edge of the western lands. This tree and no other had called dared to summon Lord Sesshomaru, it was well past time that the reason presented its self.

“Bokusenou, answer me why did you call me here?” He look up into the overcastting tree, expecting and immediate reply, as was his right.

He watched as the circular area of the bark facing him began to move and twist, slowly shaping itself. It molded as if made of clay, taking the withered visage of an elderly man. The tree looked down on him, wooden eyes filled with the many swirls that counted his presences on this plain.

“Sesshomaru,” the old, cracked voice boomed down at him, each vibration filled with every bit of the demon’s undiminished power, “you are well into your 400th year. You are a capable and well respected, sometimes feared, lord. Do you not think it is time you finally accepted all that your father left you?”

I hope you guys like this chapter. It might be a while before I update, but not to worry I will up date :-)