Living in the Moment

[Naraku]

A slight growl came from the dragon, he looks forward seeing the mass of servants and such from the other lords. ”Such will suffice.” The dragon lord slowly rose up to his feet and reaching for Ketsuniku that was resting beside him. He held the blade up to his side as he turns walking away from the table. ”I shall take my leave now that such is agreed upon.” Another slight growl seem to build from him as he walks out and into the hall.

The dragon clutch his blade tightly as he left into the hall. To be talked to in such a manner, when he was giving up this land for nothing really in return in his own kindness at heart. Even to actually sustain the pack from removing this Baku out of the equation who clearly was against the pack, and out for himself.

His own demonic aura would be radiating from him as was now walking down the hallway and into the center of the castle back into the open garden. To gather himself before leaving.

[Birdie]

Hitoshi nearly laughed at the way Ryuu left. He was all huffy, like a child throwing a trantrum. Ainu was no better. He wore a look of deep loathing for the child who stole his toy and only gave it back when forced, something like-

Ainu: Daddy Ryuu stole my toy and won't give it back...
Sesshomaru: Is this true Ryuu?
Ryuu: Noooo... Mommy gave it to me.
Sesshomaru: Did she now?
Ryuu: Yeah...
Ainu: I WANT IT BACK!
Ryuu: Only if I get to punch someone who isn't you really, really hard.
Ainu: That's not nice. Just punch me.
RYuu: -punches someone else- Ha! Now... I guess you can have the toy.
Ainu: Jerk -attempts attack-
Sesshomaru: Time out until you can calm down.
Ainu is sent away until he is quiet. He comes back and Ryuu throws him the toy.
Ryuu: Fine, I didn't want it that much anyway!
Ainu: I hate you!
Sesshomaru: Daddy needs a drink...

Yes.... Hitoshi had a hard time not laughing at the little play inside of his head. He had made a right joke out of a very serious situation.

---

Brigantia's brows furrowed as Ryuu swept passed her. She between the three sitting at the table but they did and said nothing. She did not know who to feel sorry for and she was very torn between all parties. After a long moment of hesitation in which she calculated who needed her more, she decided that Ryuu should be the one. She bowed to them before excusing herself and going after Ryuu.

It did not take long to locate his aura. She walked beside him in the gardens, one of her favorite places. "Please forgive my intrusion, my lord. I thought perhaps you would like some company? It is very nice out here no?" She cradled a nearby flower in her fingers. It was so vibrant in color. Brigantia turned dark eyes on the dragon lord. "A wonderful day as well." She was not very good at this was she?

[Lord Sesshomaru]

It could only be relief that washed over Sesshoumaru now that it was over. Anything that involved Ryuu was a pain. It didn't matter how Ryuu was leaving only that he was. Ainu was another matter. Although things were settled he was still worked up. But the formalities were over. Hopefully Brigantia will finally stay out of things. This was all Fumiko's fault anyway.

Standing up from his seat, he nodded lightly to his guest. "Now that things are done you may do as you wish. I have other issues to attend to." Like those reports. Eyes turning towards Hitoshi he hoped the panda would follow him out. The wolf was fine being left alone with his thoughts. All he really needed was a plate of food that the fox chef brought him and a beautiful woman to fill his cup. Fumiko had wisely stayed to keep the lord company.

Once they had left the room Sesshoumaru's shoulders sagged and he turned to Hitoshi. "You have the reports?" after accepting them he slipped them into his sleeve. "Things might be settled, but as long as they both reside at the western fortress they need to be watched. I do not wish to rebuild one of my pavilions." All he wanted to do was take a long hot bath. And he would once Ryuu and Ainu were taken care of. Unless...

"Observe them both until I return."

[Naraku]

Ryuu did not even turn when the female joined him. His head rose slightly while his aura seem to die down, though still remain strong, and a bit chaotic. ”I seem to have disturbed you once more.” He softly smirks as he turns back and faces towards her.

He places his blade against a tree making himself unarmed before stepping towards her. As she would be looking at upon some of the flowers. He kneels down beside her as he swipes his arm quickly and seemingly cut one of the flowers from the stem only to catch it between his fingers.

He lift it up as if to smell it himself, as each passing moment he seem to calm. ”Yes, it is... I remember spending most of time enjoying such days. Staring up into the sky, dreaming to break my own binds and to be able to one day accomplish my dreams. Though even now, I am far from accomplishing anything.

He turns back towards the half breed while putting the flower into a small pouch he had on him. ”I am curious to why you choose to follow me though.”

[Birdie]

Hitoshi followed his lord out of the room, giving Ainu the bow his station commanded. Once out of the room he handed over the documents requested with a heavy sigh. He was so glad to be rid of the scrolls, but was sad that such an interesting party had come to an anticlimactic close. The new request would be for some cause of amusement though and he happily accepted the task at hand. "Of course, my master. I am more than happy to comply," he said in a jovial tone. One last bow sent him off to spy on both parties.

---

Brigantia was surprised when Ryuu drew close. She watched his actions carefully and flinched slightly when the flower was cut. It caused a moment of discord amongst the melody as its life no longer added a beat. She smiled kindly at him as he spoke on personal things. Brigantia felt as if she were spying, as if she were not meant to hear such things. Yet he spoke them to her and she listened none the less.

Caressing the flower petals she replied, "It seemed you were very upset and I hope that I could some how help you or at least distract you from that which caused you discomfort. I do not like to see people in pain or unhappy." She let go of the flower and turned towards him. "Perhaps you are closer to completing your goals than you perceive? I can not pretend to know what your dreams are, but sometimes there are lucky happenstances which surprise us, my lord." She brushed her long, silvery hair behind an ear. She was again reminded of her poor dress in his presence. Of the general abandon of her appearance. She was only fit to be seen by the servants at this time.

[Naraku]

He did not go into more details of his wish, as he just listens to her. ”You do not have to concern yourself with me. I do not understand these customs these pack folk follow. I can already tell you already heard of my actions, yet I killed their traitor who would of doomed them all and they refuse to do anything about it. Yet to carry on such for one like that I cannot understand. Then to be insulted when I am giving up land for hardly anything is quiet unacceptable, but such things are all things that will pass.”

He holds his hand out lightly to her to help her back up while he softly smiles back to her. ”Onto other matters. How is the Lady Brigantia?” He changes the the subject somewhat quickly to try and lighten up the mood and not disturb the female more then he may of already.

[Birdie]

Brigantia wondered at his inability to understand that connectedness which filled a pack. She understood it very well, as she was constantly connected to everything. She never had a single moment to herself and she liked it that way. Her alone time was always spent with the rest of the world as a whole. The only time this stopped was when she became a human. It was certainly a distressing and disorientating time.

She had not realized that her thoughts had turned inward until he held her to stand correctly. She flushed softly and nodded. "I am well, though I do wish that everyone could get along peacefully." She paused, still wondering how to might explain to him what it meant to be a pack.

Brightening a little she said, "I think being in a pack is a little like a hand." She held up her own for demonstration. "While you do not need all of your fingers to function correctly you will always be more comfortable with them. And let us say Baku-san was a broken finger. Just because the finger is broken does not mean we should chop it off. That would be silly. You would feel the loss more keenly. It would take a long time for the bleeding wound to heal. There would always been an invisible pain and dull awareness of what should be there but is no longer. Instead time is given to heal the broken finger. As with Baku-san, instead of chopping him off would it not have been better to bandage him up and give him to to be rehabilitated?" She blushed again at her words. "I mean, it goes much deeper, the feelings between a tribe and its people, but I think this is an appropriate metaphor, my lord."

What if he thought she was crazy? Or much too forward? Or maybe he thought that she thought he was stupid? Oh this certainly wasn't the case. She began to wish she had not spoken on the subject and let everything be changed. She held her hands together tightly in front of her as she stared off into the gardens, awaiting some form of punishment for her insolence.

[Naraku]

He softly shook his head slightly as he looks back up into the sky. ”The issue was the finger was diseased, and if it was not removed it would not only destroyed the hand but the whole body.” He did his best to use her own metaphor though no longer expected anyone to understand logic.

He relaxes himself as the dragon looks over the garden now. His eyes scanning over as he seem to be remembering things from his own past, remembering back of how the castle once looked. Slowly his eyes fall back onto the female as he just lightly smile, still trying his best not to upset the half breed.

”I guess it is over now though. Though I have a question, one more personal and I am sure such is over stepping my own bounds with this.” It was something that has been bothering him since he has met her and it was eating at him, almost like many things on this trip due to so many things being hidden that he thought should be open.

“I must ask, what is the connection of Sesshomaru and you, and I do not mean about you serving him as even I can detect it is more then such. Why is it, you chose to serve here?”

[Birdie]

It was sad that he would think of Baku as a diseased finger. It was sad that he did not allow for medication to be applied to said diseased finger in order to make it right. Nothing was right about the death of another living being... She did not press the conversation topic any further. Instead she just listened as the wind tousled her hair and the sun shone brightly in the sky.

She blushed at his question. "Well... Ah... He saved my life and I owe him a great debt. I must serve him until the debt is repaid." She spoke definitively. There was nothing that could shake her convictions. It was what she needed to do. Would the dragon lord understand something like this? Perhaps, it could be perceived as honor bound. But in reality it was the discordance of the universe which bothered her most.

[Naraku]

Ryuu stares at the female demon as she spoke and told how he saved her life. Such seem a bit out of place for Sesshomaru, but he did not question such as it been many years since he last seen the dog lord.

He seem a bit speechless at first and not only from hearing the demon saving the half breed but as how such explains nothing of the emotions he has picked up between the two. Even from Sesshomaru who clearly went out of his way to step between the two at the time. He pauses as his eyes seem to widen slightly. Catching onto the meaning as he steps away from her.

”I see... this is unexpected I must say. I shall not pry any more.” He looks around before walking back to the tree his blade rested upon. ”Maybe you should see to your lord. I hardly doubt he is in a well mood at this time.”

[Birdie]

Brigantia fidgeted. Why was that so unexpected? Had she been right in her first assumption that her lord would lose face for having saved her life? It was not as if she were a demon. Simply a hanyou of no particular worth. She ran her fingers through her soft hair. "If that is what you desire, my lord, I shall do as you ask of me. I wished to see you well and happy. I hope I have helped lighten your mood." She offered him a small smile. Once she had received her reply, she bowed deeply and left Ryuu to his own devices.

Where was Sesshomaru? She reached out and found his aura before starting toward it. He seemed to be near the hot springs. Should she interrupt him there? It did not seem wise or proper. Maybe she should find Fumiko or Makoto... She made it part way towards her destination before she paused, brows furrowed. Brigantia had no idea what to do with a day off. The concept was rather unnerving to her. She did not like this listless, useless feeling it caused. Where should she go? What should she do?

[Lord Sesshomaru]

As soon as the cold air hit Sesshoumaru's skin the troubles of the day returned full force. But he forced them all back with relative ease as he left the heat of the water behind. His hair was damp and a thin robe was wrapped around his wet form. It was decent enough for the small walk from the hotsprings to his bedroom.
It didn't seem so decent when Brigantia was standing in the hall. He held back the subconcious urge to readjust the thin kimono.

Eyes narrowing he read into her posture and expression and huffed. "Do you need work to do?" He had thought that a day off would be good during such an eventful afternoon. But the way she had involved herself in everything that occurred today showed him otherwise. Was she really that much in a hurry to pay off the debt and escape his clutches?

Irritation creased he brow at her response. Maybe he should help her along.

[Birdie]

She came to realize she had made it to her destination when the still wet visage of her master turned out into the hall. She sated at him wide eyed. A huge blush rose across her cheeks. She was not sure why she should be embarrassed to see him this way. He had seen her all wet haired before. She took a step back, ready to run away when his words caused her to pause. Her face brightened and her whole being perked up. "Yes!" She spoke a little more loudly than she had intended. Looking properly abashed, she repeated herself much more quietly. "Yes my lord. I would be most happy to do anything you ask."

Brigantia brought her stance to something a little more closed than it had been before. The initial shock of seeing him had caused her to appear much too relaxed. She folded her hands in front of her and cast her dark eyes toward the floor. Inwardly she berated herself for her lack of decorum.

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Brigantia was so quick to answer that it only fed his irritation determination to put his plan into action. If she wanted to work, then he would make her work. "Come, then." He ordered, leading her down the hall and sliding the door aside into his personal room. It was simply adorned, but with beautiful painted scrolls of inu dogs in the sky that hung above the desk where his new clothes were already set out for him. He kept a watchful eye on Brigantia as she entered his bedroom. Was she considering her task? Was she still so ready to pay off this debt?

Unsatisfied, Sesshoumaru began to tug at his obi, loosening it. "You will help me dress." Since he had regained his right arm, a servant to dress him had become unnecessary. But this was what she wanted, after all. She wanted to serve oh so badly. He was only doing what she wanted.

[Birdie]

Brigantia silently followed her master back to their living quarters. Why would she be lead here of all places? Maybe she was to clean something? The idea made her happy. But it soon became evident that this was not the case. He opened the door to his room. A place she had never gone before. She paused at the doorway as he entered. Was she really allowed to come in? Should she wait? He feet shift uncomfortably as she watched his feet.

Suddenly his garments fell to the floor. She saw them pool together. A quiet, horrified sound escaped her lips. She clasped her hands in order to keep it under check. A blush to rule all blushes covered the entirety of her face and even wandered down to her neck. Tears sprouted from her eyes. She was embarrassed. For him and for herself. Unable to keep herself from doing it, her eyes wandered upward, taking in all of him.

She barely heard his words. Her mind was all fuzzy and funny. Her heart was racing at a million miles an hour, leaping about in her throat. She lowered her hands for a moment. Her mouth opened but no sound came out. Unsure what to do, she let her fingertips rest against her lips.

Brigantia had to do as she was asked. She was bound by duty, by a debt she had to pay back. Brigantia took a step but her legs felt as if they were made of lead. 'Walk forward. Move. Don't look at him. Just do it.' Despite all the things she attempted to think in order to make herself do as she was told, she could not. Her body would no longer respond. Tear filled eyes looked up into his face. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry!" She turned on her heel and ran from the room.

She could not really remember turning from him and running away. One second she had been looking at his face and the next she saw the world outside. She kept running. There was so much going on inside of her that she just did not know what to do with it all. Running felt good. It made her thoughts less distracting.

It was wrong. So very, very wrong what he asked of her. She was a lady. Even if she were nothing but a hanyou to a demon, she was still a pure lady. Did he have no shame? She was mad at him for asking her to do something so impossible. She was made at herself for being unable to preform this duty given to her.

Her body could handle no more. She collapsed somewhere in the middle of a meadow. Which one and where she could no be certain. Nothing worked properly. Her legs felt like jelly. Brigantia buried her face in her hands and cried. She hated herself for crying. She shouldn't be like this. 'STOP!' The command went unheard by her eyes and the shuddering gasps which escaped her.