Sunday, May 15, 2005

The Price You Pay: Cost of Blood
*episode 2*

Seeshomaru, lord of the western lands, son of the great dog general, master of his own fate and anyone else’s he chooses to take interest in, is resting in the shade of a tree. In a field before him, his servant…ward…pet, Rin is gathering flowers. His vassal Jaken is following her complaining about his dignity. Later, the girl will shower her lord with her collection. In her time with him she has developed a keen nose for flowers; seeing that Sesshomaru would only allow the ridiculous procedure if the offering was not offensive to his sensitive sense of smell. Suddenly, he picks up a vaguely familiar animal scent and the iron stench of blood. He rises and looks into the wind. He sees a cat demon flying toward him, bearing two riders. One is a beautiful woman; drenched in her own blood and quite dead. The other is a boy, also covered in blood. They land and the boy carries the woman’s body as he approaches Sesshomaru. It seems absurd to see the child carrying someone so much larger then himself; but she is slight of build and he has unseen muscles. He lowers her before Sesshomaru and remains on his knees. “Please lord Sesshomaru, you have to save her.” Kohaku says. “I have to do nothing.” The demon lord says. “I can’t see any reason why would I want to help her? She rejected me, for a mortal no less. I can’t think of a single reason to restore her life.” Kohaku says, softly crying, “Please, I’ll do anything. Just please, bring her back.” Sesshomaru lowers himself to one knee. He places a finger on her cheek and whispers, “So beautiful, even in death.” As the demon touches her face; the boy’s hand forms a fist. This small gesture does not escape the notice of the lord. “You don’t like it when I touch her.” he says. “What if I made that my price? What if I demanded her flesh in exchange for her life?” Kohaku’s fist closes tighter, but he answers, “If that is your price, so be it.” Sesshomaru asks, “And what if I demand that you never see her again? That you never get to reap the fruits of this exchange?” The boy nods. “What if I ask for your life? Are you willing to die to see this done?” Kohaku pauses then he nods again. “And if I tell you to kill? What if I desire your sister’s head?” “No ” the boy says. “Not her. That’s the one thing I won’t do.” The demon asks, “But you are willing to kill? If I tell you to kill innocents, you would do it?” “I’ve done it before.” Kohaku says. “How many do you want? Ten? Twenty? A village?” Sesshomaru regards the boy. He says, “Stay here; I will return. Do not fear child; she will not spoil in the time I will take.” In a bound, the lord crosses the field to another tree. He sits down to think.
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