Redemption through Blood

Chapter Six: Nature of the Beast

PAGE SEVEN OF SESSHOMARU'S JOURNAL

I had heard tales of elves as cheery little creatures with obnoxiously happy ways and habits of getting themselves into things where they were nether wanted nor helpful. It appears the last tidbit was true but the first one was highly overrated.

I once saw an American movie not to long ago that portrayed elves as beautiful immortals with a great skill in archery, and though I imagine the elves I met were better with the sword then the bow. They seemed to fit that profile much better the happy crazed things I had heard of in lore. Of course after meeting these elves in person I do believe I preferred the giddy version. These blasted creatures dared to tell this Sesshomaru that he is not allowed to take blood from his own property. How absurd.

The woman belongs to me. . .

And me alone.

Startling blue eyes rolled upward in silent boredom as the miko named Kagome starred at the three silver haired men in front of her. Her gaze would occasionally observe one of the stoic elves but she always seemed to find herself starring at the back of Sesshomaru's flawless hair. When he had agreed to follow the elves without protest moments ago she could not help but ponder over all the changes the older Sesshomaru displayed as she spent more time with him. He seemed kinder, gentler somehow, and even though he was still stoic his emotions were always on display in his amber eyes.

'Its so strange what time can do,' Kagome thought sadly as she followed the trio until the trees thinned out and they reached a large clearing. They were in the middle of the woods but the ground was covered in soft, pure white, sand. The circle of sand led to a large cave made of a pitch black stone that looked suspiciously like onyx. "Beautiful," Kagome gasped as the sun hit the cave at just the right angle, causing it to glitter darkly like the night sky splattered with stars.

From the endless darkness of the cave emerged an even darker shadow that sent wave after wave of warning tingles across Kagome's spine. The man, no demon, that emerged looked to be a handsome man in his early twenties. He had short black hair with two long bangs framing his face, while each strand had a splash of blood red running through it. His skin was as pale as marble like Sesshomaru's complexion, but the only marking he bore was two black dragon wings on his forehead. His outward appearance really didn't bother Kagome but his piercing gaze made her want to purify him on sight. He had silted pupils surrounded by red that faded to orange before blending with yellow, like a brilliant sunset descending into a pool of blood.

Sesshomaru's own senses went on alert as the demon made his way toward them. He carried himself like a noble tai, but still had a relaxed almost nonchalant ease about him. "It has been a very long time sense we have had visitors to this humble island," the demon remarked with a rich, cultured voice.

"Who are you and why have your vassals brought us here," Sesshomaru questioned, getting straight to the point. He could now smell the distinctive scent of wolf on all three of the men, but there was something different about it.

The black haired demon smirked, revealing a glittering fang before he answered Sesshomaru's questions," My name is Raven Wolfbane and I am the alpha of this island. The two men who escorted you here are not my vassals but my sons. As for your question of why you are here; is it not my prerogative of leader of this land to seek out all who enter it. Surely you must understand that."

Something in the way Raven had said that sent warning bells off in Sesshomaru's mind but he made certain to show no outward emotion. "Yes, I understand your reasoning. We will be leaving this island today, however, so there is no need," the ex-demon lord claimed with a decisive nod before turning on his heel and walking back to the edge of the clear.

Deep, sinister laughter filled the clearing as Raven remarked," I don't think so Western Lord. I believe you will be staying right here." His lips curled upward into a dark smirk that twisted his face into a smug sneer that seemed out of place on his handsome visage. "Cloud, Rizuku," Raven barked out, and instantly the two elves had swords drawn and pointed at Sesshomaru's neck.

Making no outward notice of the blades, a single golden orb swiveled around to stare at Raven with a look of boredom. "If you really know who I am, I must question your intelligence to challenge me thus with simple ningen steel," Sesshomaru commented as he pushed Rizuku's blade away from him with his pointer finger.

Raven gave a look of equal boredom as he gestured his hand and remarked with a feigned yawn," Cloud, attack."

The childish, bright blue eyes of the elf turned blood red in an instant as the air in the clearing seemed to freeze and cackle with power. Suddenly the elf was not an elf but a fierce wolf demon with deadly fangs and his simple ningen weapon morphed into a demon fang.

Leaping away from a skilled strike, Sesshomaru extended his claws and stared down his white haired opponent. Something was wrong. Something deceivingly magical.

Cloud twirled his blade with skilled ease, slicing the air in deadly silver arches. Nothing touched the vampire as he dodged each slash.

For once in many a decade, luck was on his side. Sesshomaru wasn't faster but he was more skilled and he had the advantage of years of experience on his side.

Finally the dance came to an end as Cloud made a mistake and Sesshomaru lashed out. His sharp claws dug through flesh and bone but his fatal course was altered as Cloud brought his glimmering blade down on Sesshomaru's exposed arm.

Resisting the urge to howl out, Sesshomaru flew away from the wounded Wolf demon and watched as his eyes returned to their icy coloring. Sesshomaru ran forward again to finish the demon off but Kagome's voice halted his assault.

"Wait Sesshomaru," Kagome called as she watched Cloud groan and hold his head tightly in his hands. Something was certainly off.

Icy blue orbs gazed up at Sesshomaru's imposing form with a look of puppy-like curiosity. "Who are you?" Cloud questioned, blinking owlishly.

If Sesshomaru was surprised by the sudden change in demeanor he did not show it, but he tilted his head to watch as Rizuku grasped his head in his hands as well before looking around the clearing in surprise.

A deep growl escaped Kagome's petite throat as she snapped," What did you do to your own sons, you monster!"

Turning his eerie gaze on the girl, Raven gave an uncaring shrug before leaping forward with a oddly carved dagger. He flicked like a shadow in darkness as he struck at Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru was prepared for the attack and easily dodged it, but he was not prepared to see Kagome jumping from her place to the right and slamming into Raven's side.

The wolf demon groaned as he flung into a tree with the carelessness of a broken toy. Kagome snapped and snarled like a mad thing, her eyes bleeding red and that demented voice echoing in her mind once more. 'Kill him, rip his limbs from his body,' the voice commanded and Kagome moved to oblige.

"Stop," Sesshomaru order quietly but with the same force of a shout as he stepped forward and pulled Raven up. "You will not be killing like some wild animal woman, now snap out of it," he snapped before turning to Raven and without much thought sliced his head clean from his shoulders.

The body crumbled into a pile of ash, but from the ashes rose a true raven a epic proportions. Sesshomaru swiped at it, but missed. The bird rose higher and higher into the sky until it was nothing more then a dot, but Kagome would never forget the pupil's crimson orbs that adorned its countenance.

Shaking her head to clear the dark voice, Kagome returned her attention to the men in front of her. Her heart went out to the innocent-eye Cloud and ran over to his side. "Are you alright," she asked as she looked at the already healing hole in his stomach Sesshomaru had made.

"Yes, I am quite alright, it seems that my dearest father has been playing with our minds once more," Cloud spat out, sarcasm dripping from his words. He now sound more like an angered teenager then the wise man he had sounded like before.

"So it seems," Rizuku mumbled as he stood and brushed off some invisible speck from his clothing. His voice had changed as well; though he still sounded older than he looked his voice was more playful and less cultured.

Sesshomaru almost never trusted people when they said they were under control but the dark magic he had been sensing disappeared and he too noticed the subtle changes in the elves turned wolf demon that could not come from and act. "Do you know a way off this island?" Sesshomaru questioned once the two had seemed to gain their bearings.

Nodding his head wildly, Cloud grinned as he answered, "Yeah, there's a boat nearby you can use." With that said he ran back into the woods the way they had come and the small group followed quickly after them. He led them to a small alcove the held an old but stable looking raft. "Just take this back to main land but don't tie it up or anything. It will find its way back here on the tides," Cloud directed with the same boyish grin that revealed his particularly long fangs.

"Oh thank you so much," Kagome remarked as she gave Cloud a soft hug, weary of his wounds. Faintly, she wondered how he could be so energetic with a gaping hole in his side.

"No problem," Cloud remarked with a shrug before he head back to the lining in the trees. "Come on Riz we better go find Kara," Cloud called before he disappeared into the wounds again. Rizuku gave Sesshomaru and Kagome an indulgent smile and exaggerated role of his eyes at his brother before running off.

"What a strange pair," Kagome commented as she followed Sesshomaru onto the raft. Sesshomaru nodded in agreement as he sliced the line connecting them to shore and they were off. Nether of them had noticed the blood pouring from Cloud's wound had not attracted their attention or the fact that he had bled silver, not red.

Four agonizingly silent hours later, and Kagome was prepared to crack. She loved the ocean as much as the next girl and the sound of the waves lapping against the raft was very soothing, but with Sesshomaru's imposing form just standing there like a marble statue was getting on her nerves. "Finally Land," Kagome practically squealed as Sesshomaru directed the raft over to the land strip of beach they had been heading towards for some time.

Kagome leapt on the land and was prepared to kiss the sandy ground beneath her feet when Sesshomaru strode right past her and back into the wilderness. "Wait up, Sesshomaru," Kagome called indignantly as she followed after him.

"We need to hurry Kagome, there is not much time left," Sesshomaru remarked, not faltering his step in the least.

Kagome fell silent as she ran to catch up with her companion. 'How could I forget? Sesshomaru wants to stop himself from becoming a vampire and that would stop whatever the heck is happening to me,' Kagome inwardly scolded herself.

It was only five minutes later when Sesshomaru paused in his quick strides. He sniffed the air discretely and his eyes flicked from side to side. "There is a demon approaching, and fast," Sesshomaru answered Kagome's unasked question.

Kagome nodded and grabbed her bow and arrow from her back, thanking her lucky stars that they hadn't been destroyed in the fall. She saw a whirlwind in the distance and first thought it was Kouga, but something about the approaching Jaki was off and there was no sign of Shikon shards.

The whirl of dust stopped right before them and revealed on of the strangest wolf demons Kagome had ever seen. He had dark blue hair with two shocks of yellow streaks running through. His face was handsome but he held a look of aged wisdom about him. Two lightening marks rose from each check and touched the base of his eyes. The yellow of the marks seemed to leek into his vibrant yellow orbs. He smiled at Kagome and bowed lowly to both of them before greeting," Hello Lord Sesshomaru, my name is Kara, I believe you know my twin brother Rizuku."

A silver brow barely quirked upward as Sesshomaru stared down the odd wolf neither denying nor agreeing to the statement. He was dressed in a simple dark blue haori and hakama set but he carried and impossible large scythe on his back. Kara seemed to have expected such a response and he bowed again before saying," I just wanted to thank you for helping my twin and my elder brother. We are in you debt."

With his piece said Kara carried on past them, but stopped suddenly as he remembered something. He turned slightly to address Sesshomaru in a stern and warning tone," I forgot to mention, do not believe that Raven was killed that easily, and beware Milord for my father has heavy ties with the vampires." With that said, he was gone.

And the plot thickens.

I'm sorry that this chapter took SOOOOOOO long and I have no excuse. Gomen ne. I hope I still have at least one reader left. I'll try to write more often, but I can't promise anything. Also I'm sorry that this chapter is so short but I just had to stop it here.