Fic Post: Intertwined_Chapter 1
Title: Intertwined
Author: songoffate
Fandom: Harry Potter/Inuyasha
Pairings: Sesshomaru/Harry, Ron/Hermione, Inuyasha/Kouga, Sango/Miroku, mentions of Kagome/Hojo
Rating: M
Disclaimer: I do NOT own any of these characters, or the majority of the settings for that matter. I'm just borrowing them, and they will all be returned unharmed. Well. Relatively.
Summary: In an attempt to save his friends from the Death Eaters closing in on them, Harry manages to get his hands on a rogue portkey and doesn't hesitate to use it. It turns out, unfortunately, that the object wasn't a portkey. It was a Time Shifter that managed to send them careening into Japan's feudal era. Now, Harry, Ron and Hermione have to try to find their way back to their time while dealing with dangerous creatures, angry villagers, an evil half-blood, an unexpectedly good one, and one particularly infuriating demon lord...Sesshomaru/Harry (Inuyasha/Harry Potter Crossover)
*sigh* Yes dear ones. I realize that I have two other stories already in progress and one on hiatus and ‘why are you starting another one when…’ yes yes yes. I totally understand and I’ve had this conversation with myself a thousand times before and I’m sorry but I just couldn’t HELP it! I always thought that this would be a really interesting pairing and searched for it, only to come up sorely lacking…So, I thought to myself, I’ll simply have to write one of my own. And then THIS happened!
Now enough of that. On to the story!
DISCLAIMER: All recognizable characters and settings belong to their respective owners. AKA: I own NOTHING. I’m merely borrowing, and they shall be returned safely and intact, I promise.
Chapter 1 - And so it is.
Harry Potter stood back for a moment, amidst the bustling of other students around him as they hurried to get into the castle. He could hear Hagrid calling the first years to him, and prefects directing their classmates. New students huddled close together, as pure awe of the giant man mixed with their anticipation and fear. All the while, elder years met up with their friends chattering excitedly about their summers and the upcoming school year. The air was thick with laughter and the joy of his fellow students, even in these dark times, filled Harry with an inexplicable warmth. Just being together again, in this place where the air was still charged with excitement and wonder and life, seemed to bring back the smallest semblance of hope to everyone here. And for just a moment, they could forget all the terrible things that have been happening and just…live.
It was good to be home.
Harry closed his eyes and breathed in the familiar scents around him, letting the noise and chill of the air and the pure magic that surrounded Hogwarts welcome him back. He felt his shoulder’s descend with his breathe, like a tiny bit of the normal burdens he carried didn’t exist, if just for that moment. It was a nice feeling that lasted only moments before thoughts of Voldemort and his so called ‘destiny’ re-entered his mind, but it was a minor relief all the same.
A shoulder nudged his own in a familiar gesture and Harry turned to see the grinning face of Ronald Weasley looking back at him and nudged back, happiness flooding his senses once more. Ron was, for all his hot-headed temper, actually one of the most calming presences Harry had ever come into contact with. He’d come to figure it was mainly because Ron never hid anything from anyone. Never tried to lie or hide things from him or anyone else. Unless it was for a good reason, of course. In this age where you could hardly trust even those closest to you, where every interaction was filled with some kind of deceit, he was refreshing. Ron was a whirlwind of emotion and heart and Harry couldn’t have picked a better best friend if he tried.
“It‘s almost surreal isn‘t it mate?” His friend asked, voice quiet and contemplative in a way it rarely was. “Our last year…Blimey, Harry can you believe it?” Ron shook his head with an almost awe-struck smile as if the idea was almost unfathomable.
Harry nodded, smiling back.“ I know. It seems like yesterday we were just getting sorted…” Thoughts of the last six years flashed across his mind in a spiral of both horrible and wonderful memories. “ And yet at the same time it almost feels like it’s been forever.”
“An eternity’s more like it.” Ron returned, his gaze moved to mirror Harry’s as they both stared up at the castle. Hogwarts. The majority of the most important moments of their lives had taken place here. Their friendships, first loves, heartbreaks, had all happened right here. It was an amazing thought that this part of their lives…was almost over. “Though I gotta admit, Harry. There were a few times I didn’t think we were going to make it.”
Harry chuckled and shrugged the shoulder that was pressed against Ron’s, purposefully jostling his friend in the process. “That’s thought’s crossed my mind more than once, I’ll have to admit.” There’s still a chance we might not.
“Oh my,” the tinkling sound of an all too familiar voice flitted between them, amused. “It seems I’ve missed something.”
Harry and Ron grinned widely. “Hermione!” They chorused, rushing up to embrace the witch, who couldn‘t seem to help but giggle happily at their enthusiasm. “Ooff!” She laughed while trying to wrap her arms around the both of them at the same time. “You’re both in quite a mood aren’t you boys? What brought this on?”
They had both filled out quite a bit during the summer, Hermione noted. Ron had grown even taller and his shoulder’s seemed broader, his stance less gawky and more sure. His hair was just as fiery red as his temper always was and his skin had darkened, lightening his freckles and what on earth was he wearing because he
smelled bloody fantastic and…She was stopping. Right now.
The stray thoughts brought a blush to her cheeks that burned so hard she had to hide her face in the boys shoulders, but she leaned a tiny bit more towards Harry, just to be safe. Harry seemed to have changed as well. He was even taller then Ron now by a few inches at the very least and while he hadn’t bulked up as much as Ron had, she could feel the subtle strength in the lean muscle of his frame. She smirked lightly to herself. Not even Harry’s body would belie his strength. It seemed to be an unconscious shield against his enemies as they always seemed to underestimate ‘scrawny little Potter”. Big mistake.
“A mood?” Ron squawked loudly, doing his best to sound offended. “Of course not!”
Harry grinned toothily. “Since when is it a crime to be excited to see our favorite girl?”
Hermione froze slightly at the tones of their voices. That one that never meant well for anyone except the boys themselves. She eyed them suspiciously, “Don’t let Mrs. Weasley hear you say that.” She said slowly, trying to assess from their grins as to what they were going to try to do.
For once, she was too slow.
Sure enough, Harry and Ron smirked at each other over her head then, in a united move, wrapped their long arms around each others backs with her stuck in the middle as they began to squeeze the life out of her until she squeaked and started flailing, smacking them both on their backs in an attempt to get them to release her.
“Ronald! Harry! Let me go!” She struggled, trying to sound stern, but failing miserably through her smothered laughter. In reality, after everything that had been happening lately, Hermione couldn’t help but think that it never felt so good to be squished.
“Well if it isn’t our resident menage a trois.”
They all jumped apart, glaring fiercely at the intruder who ruined their moment. Harry and Ron moved instinctually to stand side by side in front of Hermione, who huffed and rolled her eyes. Overprotective boys. Honestly.
“Sod off Malfoy!” Ron spat, face glowing with embarrassment and anger. Malfoy smirked back at them, his characteristic smugness rolling off him in waves. He was alone, which Harry found very odd, arms crossed over his chest and eyes flashing with bitter amusement. Really there wasn’t anything obviously wrong with him, as he seemed relatively normal. But something just seemed…off about him. Harry just couldn’t quite put his finger on it.
“I’d be watching my tongue if I were you. “ Malfoy drawled in that infuriatingly arrogant voice of his. Harry glared icily, still studying the other teen but held Ron’s arm as his friend tried to approach the Slytherin. “You seem to be in great danger of losing it.”
Ron growled, fists clenching. “Is that a threat you overgrown ferret? I should just rip you’re fucking head off right now shouldn‘t I?! Rid the world of one less useless little maggot? I would be named a hero!”
Harry winced internally. Ouch. It was gonna be one of those spats. Malfoy, of course, was going to have a retort for that one that sent Ron raging, he‘d thought, bracing his hand on Ron‘s arm again to make sure he didn‘t jump out to attack Malfoy. The last thing they needed was to get a months worth of detention before they were even properly returned to school.
But instead of snarling back an equally venomous comment like he usually did, like they expected him to, the blonde stiffened, frozen and silent, eyes glazing over as his stance fell only the slightest bit. A wry smirk was the only expression left on Malfoy’s face and only because his face didn’t seem to know what else to do as he lost himself in a faraway land in his own mind. Harry couldn’t help but think it was a rather disturbing sight to see the pompous Malfoy so uncharacteristically mute.
His silence made Ron falter somewhat, brow furrowing in a strange mix between curious and wary. He shot quick glances to Harry and Hermione who both looked slightly horrified and more then a little curious as well. Why wasn’t Malfoy saying anything?
“Yes well,” Malfoy finally murmured, gaze still glassy. “Wouldn’t that be something?” With one last blank lift of his lips, he was gone. Disappearing into the last of the remaining crowd into the school.
The three of them stared at the place he had stood for a few minutes before breathing out three completely different sounding sighs. One puzzled, one frustrated and the other triumphant awe. It made an interesting sound, really.
“That was…odd.” Hermione blinked when she managed to recapture her jaw from the temporary residence it had taken up on the floor.
Ron snorted, flailing his arms. “Are you mad?! Did you see how he just walked away? Bloody coward, he probably realized that he just wasn’t gonna win this time! Good thing he did too, because this year Ronald Weasley is done taking crap from any and all Malfoys!” He crowed, chest puffing proudly out as he started towards the entrance doors. He was obviously pleased with himself and Harry really just didn’t have the heart to ruin the mood for him with Malfoy’s strange behavior.
Harry shared a look behind his back with Hermione and by her baffled frown, he could tell that the whole exchange was bothering her as well. Harry shrugged his shoulders at her, smiling reassuringly and motioning that they should follow Ron. Whatever was wrong with Malfoy, they weren’t going to concern themselves with it right now.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
“Stupid girl!” Jaken screeched at Rin, as he held his staff held out protectively in front of him. “It’s going to be your head on a spit when Lord Sesshomaru - BE GONE INGRATES!” The heads on his weapon spat streams of fire at the four panther demons slowly closing in on them but to little effect. They jumped swiftly out of the way, easily dodging his attempts and chuckling lowly at his expense as they stalked closer. Rin whimpered from his side, clutching his kimono tightly, her eyes clenched shut fearfully.
“I’m sorry Mr. Jaken!” She cried, a sob breaking her words. “I just wanted to bring Lord Sesshomaru some flowers!”
“So you run off by yourself?!” He growled, swinging his staff again to keep the damn felines back just those few more feet. “And what would Lord Sesshomaru want with a bunch of flowers? Idiot!”
“I’m sorry!” Rin sobbed again and Jaken sighed internally. Damn girl. He almost felt bad for yelling at her. Except for the fact that she was going to get them killed.
One of the panther demons sneered at them hungrily. “I do love it when my food likes to play back.” He chuckled again, joined by his brothers as he cracked his knuckles menacingly, “But play time’s over little toad, now hand over the human.”
Jaken’s grip tightened on his staff and gulped nervously. He took a deep breath and managed to glare defiantly at the cat. “She is not mine to give! She is the ward of Lord Sesshomaru and you would do well to turn around and leave us be!” The staff spun with flame once more, surrounding himself and Rin in a ring of fire that managed to catch a couple of the demons in the cross fire, scorching their grabbing claws.
The felines jumped back growling angrily, their fangs extended as they stalked around the ring to look for some kind of opening. Jaken’s brow furrowed in confusion at the lack of fear the demons showed at the mention of Lord Sesshomaru as Rin gripped his kimono sleeve again. Who did these low class dolts think they were?!
“Jaken what are we going to do?” She yelled over the roar of the fire.
Jaken was beginning to sweat from the fire and the energy it was taking to keep their barrier up around them. “Lord Sesshomaru will come for us.” He managed shakily, but without a doubt in his mind. Their master always came for them. He would take care of these insolent whelps if Jaken himself couldn’t.
…Hopefully he would get there in time to at least save the girl.
Mentioning their Lord’s name seemed to bring back some of Rin’s confidence. “R-Right.” She nodded quickly, trying to smile at him as she unconsciously mirrored his own thoughts. “He always comes.”
A litany of shrieking growls startled them both and Jaken’s fire wall shifted lower for a moment. Unfortunately it was just enough for one of the panther demons to jump safely into the ring with them. He smiled darkly, blood dripping from his muzzle from an earlier kill, the fire dancing in patterns across his fur. Jaken yelled loudly trying to keep the barrier between them and the other three while keeping this other one at bay.
“Stay back you mangy beast!” Jaken ground out, one arm tucking Rin behind his small back. “You shall not have her!”
The demon crouched, ready to strike. “We’ll see about that little toad!” He growled, launching into the air, his claws poised and ready to tear into them. Jaken panicked, there was nothing more he could do. He tucked himself around the girl as they both screwed their eyes shut. Rin screamed in fear, trying to bury herself in his arms and he held on tight. Forgive me Lord Sesshomaru, I failed you! I failed Rin! Please please forgive me, I just wasn’t strong enough..
Pained yowls and the morbid, tearing sound of flesh being ripped apart suddenly broke through what the toad demon had been sure were going to be his last thoughts. Jaken slowly opened one eye and had never been more relieved to see the death of other demons.
“Lord Sesshomaru!” He and Rin exclaimed together, matching smiles on their faces.
Sesshomaru was deadly silent. Only the sound of his light whip and the screams of the panther demons proof that he was even really there at all. Jaken watched, awestruck once more at his master’s sheer strength and grace as he dispatched all four of the demons with only a few minute flicks of his wrist. It never failed to amaze him just how powerful Lord Sesshomaru was.
Jaken’s ring of fire was long since extinguished and as soon as the last demon’s corpse hit the ground, Rin broke herself out of his grip and took off at a run towards their master and dropped to the ground at his feet as she bowed.
“Lord Sesshomaru we knew you would come for us!” She smiled up at him with childlike wonder, eyes shining with emotion. Sesshomaru dropped his gaze down to the human girl kneeling at his feet.
“Rin.” He said simply, voice without inflection. Still, the girl seemed to realize the unspoken question posed to her. She dipped her head forward, smile sliding off her face as her cheeks heated with shame.
“I’m so sorry! I wanted to get you a present, but there weren’t any flowers around so I wandered a little farther from camp than I should of and then those demons found me and Jaken was there because he was trying to bring me back and I --” She stopped herself, sniffling. Obviously pained at the thought of disappointing her master. She bit her lip to keep the sob from escaping her throat and Sesshomaru tilted his head to the left in a minute gesture that one would never catch if they weren’t looking intently at him. His cool gaze shifted from Rin to Jaken and the toad demon found himself gulping down the knot in his throat.
“Jaken.” Sesshomaru finally addressed him. “I find it disconcerting that you cannot keep control of one human child.”
Jaken winced at the reprimand, clasping his hands on his staff sporadically.
“I-I..She was very determined my lord..” Oh Gods, that was not the right thing to say.
Sesshomaru’s eyebrow ticked upward slightly and Jaken tried really hard not to hyperventilate. Any type expression from Sesshomaru did not bode well for him.
“Perhaps I should leave you in her care, as you seem incapable of accomplishing the simple task of keeping her out of trouble. “
“N-No my lord. It was all my fault.” Rin broke in suddenly and Jaken openly gaped at her in surprise, his natural instinct to scold her for interrupting Sesshomaru stayed by the fact that she was jumping to defend him. She looked up to meet the demon lord’s eyes, a brave feet for any being, her face red and tear streaked. “ I wouldn’t go back like he told me to and when he tried to make me, I ran. And then the demons found us and he did everything he could to protect us until you got here. Please don’t punish him Lord Sesshomaru!”
Sesshomaru studied his ward silently, face impassive as one hand came to rest on the hilt of his sword and Jaken thought for a fleeting moment that he was actually going to hurt the girl. He was shocked when instead, his master swiftly turned on his heel and simply began to walk the other way. Rin blinked at his back for a few moments before smiling at Jaken and taking off after the white clad figure, trailing merrily at his side when she caught up to him. Jaken stumbled a bit before scurrying after the two of them. “W-wait for me!”
Sesshomaru’s ear twitched slightly at his servant’s plea. He knew the toad would follow him, and even if he didn’t, it was of no consequence to him. It would merely be an inconvenience to lose Rin’s guardian. The human girl hummed happily as she stayed two paces behind him, pleased that nothing had happened to the toad demon. She always seemed to be remarkably unaffected for a human that was almost constantly attacked by demons. Sesshomaru resisted the urge to shake his head. Such a troublesome child.
A warm breeze brushed passed his face suddenly. Sesshomaru momentarily stiffened, head tilting to the sky at the unfamiliar scent that flew in with it. It was faint, but held an…interesting feel to it.
“M-my lord?” Jaken stammered, staring up at him with wide eyes. “Is something wrong.”
Sesshomaru’s eyes narrowed slightly as he tried to identify the strange scent, but before he could begin to analyze it, it disappeared.
“No.” He answered, starting off again. The scent was gone but the lingering feeling of awareness sliding up his spine left Sesshomaru with the knowledge that something…something strange was coming.
It was of no concern of his.
Author: songoffate
Fandom: Harry Potter/Inuyasha
Pairings: Sesshomaru/Harry, Ron/Hermione, Inuyasha/Kouga, Sango/Miroku, mentions of Kagome/Hojo
Rating: M
Disclaimer: I do NOT own any of these characters, or the majority of the settings for that matter. I'm just borrowing them, and they will all be returned unharmed. Well. Relatively.
Summary: In an attempt to save his friends from the Death Eaters closing in on them, Harry manages to get his hands on a rogue portkey and doesn't hesitate to use it. It turns out, unfortunately, that the object wasn't a portkey. It was a Time Shifter that managed to send them careening into Japan's feudal era. Now, Harry, Ron and Hermione have to try to find their way back to their time while dealing with dangerous creatures, angry villagers, an evil half-blood, an unexpectedly good one, and one particularly infuriating demon lord...Sesshomaru/Harry (Inuyasha/Harry Potter Crossover)
*sigh* Yes dear ones. I realize that I have two other stories already in progress and one on hiatus and ‘why are you starting another one when…’ yes yes yes. I totally understand and I’ve had this conversation with myself a thousand times before and I’m sorry but I just couldn’t HELP it! I always thought that this would be a really interesting pairing and searched for it, only to come up sorely lacking…So, I thought to myself, I’ll simply have to write one of my own. And then THIS happened!
Now enough of that. On to the story!
DISCLAIMER: All recognizable characters and settings belong to their respective owners. AKA: I own NOTHING. I’m merely borrowing, and they shall be returned safely and intact, I promise.
Chapter 1 - And so it is.
Harry Potter stood back for a moment, amidst the bustling of other students around him as they hurried to get into the castle. He could hear Hagrid calling the first years to him, and prefects directing their classmates. New students huddled close together, as pure awe of the giant man mixed with their anticipation and fear. All the while, elder years met up with their friends chattering excitedly about their summers and the upcoming school year. The air was thick with laughter and the joy of his fellow students, even in these dark times, filled Harry with an inexplicable warmth. Just being together again, in this place where the air was still charged with excitement and wonder and life, seemed to bring back the smallest semblance of hope to everyone here. And for just a moment, they could forget all the terrible things that have been happening and just…live.
It was good to be home.
Harry closed his eyes and breathed in the familiar scents around him, letting the noise and chill of the air and the pure magic that surrounded Hogwarts welcome him back. He felt his shoulder’s descend with his breathe, like a tiny bit of the normal burdens he carried didn’t exist, if just for that moment. It was a nice feeling that lasted only moments before thoughts of Voldemort and his so called ‘destiny’ re-entered his mind, but it was a minor relief all the same.
A shoulder nudged his own in a familiar gesture and Harry turned to see the grinning face of Ronald Weasley looking back at him and nudged back, happiness flooding his senses once more. Ron was, for all his hot-headed temper, actually one of the most calming presences Harry had ever come into contact with. He’d come to figure it was mainly because Ron never hid anything from anyone. Never tried to lie or hide things from him or anyone else. Unless it was for a good reason, of course. In this age where you could hardly trust even those closest to you, where every interaction was filled with some kind of deceit, he was refreshing. Ron was a whirlwind of emotion and heart and Harry couldn’t have picked a better best friend if he tried.
“It‘s almost surreal isn‘t it mate?” His friend asked, voice quiet and contemplative in a way it rarely was. “Our last year…Blimey, Harry can you believe it?” Ron shook his head with an almost awe-struck smile as if the idea was almost unfathomable.
Harry nodded, smiling back.“ I know. It seems like yesterday we were just getting sorted…” Thoughts of the last six years flashed across his mind in a spiral of both horrible and wonderful memories. “ And yet at the same time it almost feels like it’s been forever.”
“An eternity’s more like it.” Ron returned, his gaze moved to mirror Harry’s as they both stared up at the castle. Hogwarts. The majority of the most important moments of their lives had taken place here. Their friendships, first loves, heartbreaks, had all happened right here. It was an amazing thought that this part of their lives…was almost over. “Though I gotta admit, Harry. There were a few times I didn’t think we were going to make it.”
Harry chuckled and shrugged the shoulder that was pressed against Ron’s, purposefully jostling his friend in the process. “That’s thought’s crossed my mind more than once, I’ll have to admit.” There’s still a chance we might not.
“Oh my,” the tinkling sound of an all too familiar voice flitted between them, amused. “It seems I’ve missed something.”
Harry and Ron grinned widely. “Hermione!” They chorused, rushing up to embrace the witch, who couldn‘t seem to help but giggle happily at their enthusiasm. “Ooff!” She laughed while trying to wrap her arms around the both of them at the same time. “You’re both in quite a mood aren’t you boys? What brought this on?”
They had both filled out quite a bit during the summer, Hermione noted. Ron had grown even taller and his shoulder’s seemed broader, his stance less gawky and more sure. His hair was just as fiery red as his temper always was and his skin had darkened, lightening his freckles and what on earth was he wearing because he
smelled bloody fantastic and…She was stopping. Right now.
The stray thoughts brought a blush to her cheeks that burned so hard she had to hide her face in the boys shoulders, but she leaned a tiny bit more towards Harry, just to be safe. Harry seemed to have changed as well. He was even taller then Ron now by a few inches at the very least and while he hadn’t bulked up as much as Ron had, she could feel the subtle strength in the lean muscle of his frame. She smirked lightly to herself. Not even Harry’s body would belie his strength. It seemed to be an unconscious shield against his enemies as they always seemed to underestimate ‘scrawny little Potter”. Big mistake.
“A mood?” Ron squawked loudly, doing his best to sound offended. “Of course not!”
Harry grinned toothily. “Since when is it a crime to be excited to see our favorite girl?”
Hermione froze slightly at the tones of their voices. That one that never meant well for anyone except the boys themselves. She eyed them suspiciously, “Don’t let Mrs. Weasley hear you say that.” She said slowly, trying to assess from their grins as to what they were going to try to do.
For once, she was too slow.
Sure enough, Harry and Ron smirked at each other over her head then, in a united move, wrapped their long arms around each others backs with her stuck in the middle as they began to squeeze the life out of her until she squeaked and started flailing, smacking them both on their backs in an attempt to get them to release her.
“Ronald! Harry! Let me go!” She struggled, trying to sound stern, but failing miserably through her smothered laughter. In reality, after everything that had been happening lately, Hermione couldn’t help but think that it never felt so good to be squished.
“Well if it isn’t our resident menage a trois.”
They all jumped apart, glaring fiercely at the intruder who ruined their moment. Harry and Ron moved instinctually to stand side by side in front of Hermione, who huffed and rolled her eyes. Overprotective boys. Honestly.
“Sod off Malfoy!” Ron spat, face glowing with embarrassment and anger. Malfoy smirked back at them, his characteristic smugness rolling off him in waves. He was alone, which Harry found very odd, arms crossed over his chest and eyes flashing with bitter amusement. Really there wasn’t anything obviously wrong with him, as he seemed relatively normal. But something just seemed…off about him. Harry just couldn’t quite put his finger on it.
“I’d be watching my tongue if I were you. “ Malfoy drawled in that infuriatingly arrogant voice of his. Harry glared icily, still studying the other teen but held Ron’s arm as his friend tried to approach the Slytherin. “You seem to be in great danger of losing it.”
Ron growled, fists clenching. “Is that a threat you overgrown ferret? I should just rip you’re fucking head off right now shouldn‘t I?! Rid the world of one less useless little maggot? I would be named a hero!”
Harry winced internally. Ouch. It was gonna be one of those spats. Malfoy, of course, was going to have a retort for that one that sent Ron raging, he‘d thought, bracing his hand on Ron‘s arm again to make sure he didn‘t jump out to attack Malfoy. The last thing they needed was to get a months worth of detention before they were even properly returned to school.
But instead of snarling back an equally venomous comment like he usually did, like they expected him to, the blonde stiffened, frozen and silent, eyes glazing over as his stance fell only the slightest bit. A wry smirk was the only expression left on Malfoy’s face and only because his face didn’t seem to know what else to do as he lost himself in a faraway land in his own mind. Harry couldn’t help but think it was a rather disturbing sight to see the pompous Malfoy so uncharacteristically mute.
His silence made Ron falter somewhat, brow furrowing in a strange mix between curious and wary. He shot quick glances to Harry and Hermione who both looked slightly horrified and more then a little curious as well. Why wasn’t Malfoy saying anything?
“Yes well,” Malfoy finally murmured, gaze still glassy. “Wouldn’t that be something?” With one last blank lift of his lips, he was gone. Disappearing into the last of the remaining crowd into the school.
The three of them stared at the place he had stood for a few minutes before breathing out three completely different sounding sighs. One puzzled, one frustrated and the other triumphant awe. It made an interesting sound, really.
“That was…odd.” Hermione blinked when she managed to recapture her jaw from the temporary residence it had taken up on the floor.
Ron snorted, flailing his arms. “Are you mad?! Did you see how he just walked away? Bloody coward, he probably realized that he just wasn’t gonna win this time! Good thing he did too, because this year Ronald Weasley is done taking crap from any and all Malfoys!” He crowed, chest puffing proudly out as he started towards the entrance doors. He was obviously pleased with himself and Harry really just didn’t have the heart to ruin the mood for him with Malfoy’s strange behavior.
Harry shared a look behind his back with Hermione and by her baffled frown, he could tell that the whole exchange was bothering her as well. Harry shrugged his shoulders at her, smiling reassuringly and motioning that they should follow Ron. Whatever was wrong with Malfoy, they weren’t going to concern themselves with it right now.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
“Stupid girl!” Jaken screeched at Rin, as he held his staff held out protectively in front of him. “It’s going to be your head on a spit when Lord Sesshomaru - BE GONE INGRATES!” The heads on his weapon spat streams of fire at the four panther demons slowly closing in on them but to little effect. They jumped swiftly out of the way, easily dodging his attempts and chuckling lowly at his expense as they stalked closer. Rin whimpered from his side, clutching his kimono tightly, her eyes clenched shut fearfully.
“I’m sorry Mr. Jaken!” She cried, a sob breaking her words. “I just wanted to bring Lord Sesshomaru some flowers!”
“So you run off by yourself?!” He growled, swinging his staff again to keep the damn felines back just those few more feet. “And what would Lord Sesshomaru want with a bunch of flowers? Idiot!”
“I’m sorry!” Rin sobbed again and Jaken sighed internally. Damn girl. He almost felt bad for yelling at her. Except for the fact that she was going to get them killed.
One of the panther demons sneered at them hungrily. “I do love it when my food likes to play back.” He chuckled again, joined by his brothers as he cracked his knuckles menacingly, “But play time’s over little toad, now hand over the human.”
Jaken’s grip tightened on his staff and gulped nervously. He took a deep breath and managed to glare defiantly at the cat. “She is not mine to give! She is the ward of Lord Sesshomaru and you would do well to turn around and leave us be!” The staff spun with flame once more, surrounding himself and Rin in a ring of fire that managed to catch a couple of the demons in the cross fire, scorching their grabbing claws.
The felines jumped back growling angrily, their fangs extended as they stalked around the ring to look for some kind of opening. Jaken’s brow furrowed in confusion at the lack of fear the demons showed at the mention of Lord Sesshomaru as Rin gripped his kimono sleeve again. Who did these low class dolts think they were?!
“Jaken what are we going to do?” She yelled over the roar of the fire.
Jaken was beginning to sweat from the fire and the energy it was taking to keep their barrier up around them. “Lord Sesshomaru will come for us.” He managed shakily, but without a doubt in his mind. Their master always came for them. He would take care of these insolent whelps if Jaken himself couldn’t.
…Hopefully he would get there in time to at least save the girl.
Mentioning their Lord’s name seemed to bring back some of Rin’s confidence. “R-Right.” She nodded quickly, trying to smile at him as she unconsciously mirrored his own thoughts. “He always comes.”
A litany of shrieking growls startled them both and Jaken’s fire wall shifted lower for a moment. Unfortunately it was just enough for one of the panther demons to jump safely into the ring with them. He smiled darkly, blood dripping from his muzzle from an earlier kill, the fire dancing in patterns across his fur. Jaken yelled loudly trying to keep the barrier between them and the other three while keeping this other one at bay.
“Stay back you mangy beast!” Jaken ground out, one arm tucking Rin behind his small back. “You shall not have her!”
The demon crouched, ready to strike. “We’ll see about that little toad!” He growled, launching into the air, his claws poised and ready to tear into them. Jaken panicked, there was nothing more he could do. He tucked himself around the girl as they both screwed their eyes shut. Rin screamed in fear, trying to bury herself in his arms and he held on tight. Forgive me Lord Sesshomaru, I failed you! I failed Rin! Please please forgive me, I just wasn’t strong enough..
Pained yowls and the morbid, tearing sound of flesh being ripped apart suddenly broke through what the toad demon had been sure were going to be his last thoughts. Jaken slowly opened one eye and had never been more relieved to see the death of other demons.
“Lord Sesshomaru!” He and Rin exclaimed together, matching smiles on their faces.
Sesshomaru was deadly silent. Only the sound of his light whip and the screams of the panther demons proof that he was even really there at all. Jaken watched, awestruck once more at his master’s sheer strength and grace as he dispatched all four of the demons with only a few minute flicks of his wrist. It never failed to amaze him just how powerful Lord Sesshomaru was.
Jaken’s ring of fire was long since extinguished and as soon as the last demon’s corpse hit the ground, Rin broke herself out of his grip and took off at a run towards their master and dropped to the ground at his feet as she bowed.
“Lord Sesshomaru we knew you would come for us!” She smiled up at him with childlike wonder, eyes shining with emotion. Sesshomaru dropped his gaze down to the human girl kneeling at his feet.
“Rin.” He said simply, voice without inflection. Still, the girl seemed to realize the unspoken question posed to her. She dipped her head forward, smile sliding off her face as her cheeks heated with shame.
“I’m so sorry! I wanted to get you a present, but there weren’t any flowers around so I wandered a little farther from camp than I should of and then those demons found me and Jaken was there because he was trying to bring me back and I --” She stopped herself, sniffling. Obviously pained at the thought of disappointing her master. She bit her lip to keep the sob from escaping her throat and Sesshomaru tilted his head to the left in a minute gesture that one would never catch if they weren’t looking intently at him. His cool gaze shifted from Rin to Jaken and the toad demon found himself gulping down the knot in his throat.
“Jaken.” Sesshomaru finally addressed him. “I find it disconcerting that you cannot keep control of one human child.”
Jaken winced at the reprimand, clasping his hands on his staff sporadically.
“I-I..She was very determined my lord..” Oh Gods, that was not the right thing to say.
Sesshomaru’s eyebrow ticked upward slightly and Jaken tried really hard not to hyperventilate. Any type expression from Sesshomaru did not bode well for him.
“Perhaps I should leave you in her care, as you seem incapable of accomplishing the simple task of keeping her out of trouble. “
“N-No my lord. It was all my fault.” Rin broke in suddenly and Jaken openly gaped at her in surprise, his natural instinct to scold her for interrupting Sesshomaru stayed by the fact that she was jumping to defend him. She looked up to meet the demon lord’s eyes, a brave feet for any being, her face red and tear streaked. “ I wouldn’t go back like he told me to and when he tried to make me, I ran. And then the demons found us and he did everything he could to protect us until you got here. Please don’t punish him Lord Sesshomaru!”
Sesshomaru studied his ward silently, face impassive as one hand came to rest on the hilt of his sword and Jaken thought for a fleeting moment that he was actually going to hurt the girl. He was shocked when instead, his master swiftly turned on his heel and simply began to walk the other way. Rin blinked at his back for a few moments before smiling at Jaken and taking off after the white clad figure, trailing merrily at his side when she caught up to him. Jaken stumbled a bit before scurrying after the two of them. “W-wait for me!”
Sesshomaru’s ear twitched slightly at his servant’s plea. He knew the toad would follow him, and even if he didn’t, it was of no consequence to him. It would merely be an inconvenience to lose Rin’s guardian. The human girl hummed happily as she stayed two paces behind him, pleased that nothing had happened to the toad demon. She always seemed to be remarkably unaffected for a human that was almost constantly attacked by demons. Sesshomaru resisted the urge to shake his head. Such a troublesome child.
A warm breeze brushed passed his face suddenly. Sesshomaru momentarily stiffened, head tilting to the sky at the unfamiliar scent that flew in with it. It was faint, but held an…interesting feel to it.
“M-my lord?” Jaken stammered, staring up at him with wide eyes. “Is something wrong.”
Sesshomaru’s eyes narrowed slightly as he tried to identify the strange scent, but before he could begin to analyze it, it disappeared.
“No.” He answered, starting off again. The scent was gone but the lingering feeling of awareness sliding up his spine left Sesshomaru with the knowledge that something…something strange was coming.
It was of no concern of his.