Steed

1404, early-Muromachi Period, late Summer, Musashi

"A wise choice indeed, sire. These are an interesting breed, different from most dragons in that they live in small groups instead of on their own. It's usually a family group or one that will soon become a family, and once chosen they will remain loyal and defend their group unto death. They can be vicious at times, but are usually calm and compliant."

"I see."

Sesshoumaru examined the gathering of twin-headed dragon beasts in the clearing beyond the trees where he stood, waiting. He had no qualms about ridding the one of his choosing of its family group, but he was aware that such an action might alter the temperament of the creature. He had no desire to find himself needing to reign in his steed in a dicey situation, so instead turned his focus to the ones on the edge of the gathering, ones that seemed solitary.

He watched the dragon he preferred wander farther from the rest, one head grazing while the other kept watch. None of the other beasts seemed to notice or care about its distance from them, and from what he could tell it did not care either.

"Jaken. Fetch me the one that wanders on its own."

"M-milord?"

Sesshoumaru gave the imp a cold look. His order had been more than clear. Jaken picked up on his master's irritation and swallowed his argument, not keen to find himself ground into the dirt under his master's boot again.

"Aye, milord, I shall fetch the beast."

Sesshoumaru watched him waddle his way through the tall grass, approaching the creature from the side. He wasn't quite sure what Jaken was thinking as he scrambled his way onto the dragon's back, earning him a glance from the watchful head. Jaken kicked his feet against its hide.

"Come on, now, beast, giddyup!"

Sesshoumaru could tell this would neither be a successful attempt nor end pleasantly for his servant. He circled around to approach the dragon from the front as Jaken continued yap orders at it. A quick flick of its long tail sent the imp sprawling into the grass in front of it and into Sesshoumaru's path.

The heads quickly disregarded Jaken to focus on the daiyoukai that now stood before them.

The imp recovered himself, flailing his arms as he shouted angrily about the dragon's impudence. Sesshoumaru gave him a good kick, paying no mind as Jaken tumbled through the air to land several yards away. The heads growled low at Sesshoumaru, the wild black manes that ran down their necks standing on end. Sesshoumaru growled back, staring the creature down.

It was a contest of jyaki now, Sesshoumaru easily engulfing the two-head in his even as it pushed back with its own. Eventually, it conceded, dropping its heads with a submissive gurgle.

'Good. It knows its place.'

By the time Jaken returned, Sesshoumaru was standing with a hand on each snout as the creature took in his scent, the heads still ducked meekly. He let his poison flow, though not enough to injure the creature. It would need to know this smell as well.

"Well done, milord!" the imp gushed, "It would seem the two-head has accepted you as its master!"

"Indeed."

'Well, that was easy. I fully expected the creature to demand more of a contest.'

"Once you've broken in this steed, you will never have need to search out another, I assure you!"

Sesshoumaru barely gave the imp's words recognition, turning from the two-head and taking several steps before glancing back at it. The creature glanced between the daiyoukai and its own kind, taking a tentative step towards the former. Sesshoumaru growled deep in his chest, a low and almost soothing sound. The dragon responded favorably, allowing Sesshoumaru to lead it away from the others, Jaken not far behind, but it only followed him so far. A good distance way from the other two-heads, it suddenly snarled at Sesshoumaru, tail high and poised, lightning sparking in its fangs.

Here was the fight he'd expected. The imp cried out in surprise, quickly rushing to place himself protectively between the creature and his master.

"How dare you act in such a manner towards Lord Sesshoumaru! He is your master now, you ungrateful creature!"

"Jaken."

Sesshoumaru said calmly, cracking his claws, eyes locked once more with the dragon's. Jaken glanced back.

"Uh, yes, milord?"

"Move."

***

1404, early-Muromachi Period, late Summer, Shanghai

Mitsurigou Kintsuke could only gaze in awe at the grand structure rising up before her as she and Jian finally arrived at his master's castle. On the banks of Lake Tai, they caught the private ferry to the largest island across the water. They rode together, a series of extra boats carrying the tribute she and Jian had collected for his master following along behind. The air was blessedly free of salt, instead the mild fog smelled and tasted as crisp and clean as fresh snow. She focused more on these things than on the boat ride itself, which was unenjoyable for her. Being around this much water made her nervous.

Feet on solid ground again, she relaxed. A stone path cut through a well-tended orchard, continuing on to crawl its way to the very top of the six-tiered castle. The whole place shone like polished brass, the tops of various towers glinting like adamant. She took in as much as she could as she and Jian slowly scaled their way up. The outside seemed to be constructed almost completely from metal with large and finely detailed braziers on either side at every level, each blazing with a different colored flame. Most she'd never seen before, but there! There was her green; and there, her purple!

As she came to the level baring the brazier with green flames, she branched off, still awestruck. It was surreal, seeing these flames not sparked by her own hand. Jian noticed a moment too late, scrambling down the stairs and across the walkway after her.

"Miss Kintsuke, do be careful those flames are-!���

He choked on his words as she drew back her sleeve, gliding her hand into them. They did not burn her, instead seeping under her claws and along her veins, and she could feel that they were seeking out the fire within her. Her demon blood stirred, rising to meet the call of the flames, to commune with its own, but Jian's voice, quivering with apprehension, drew her back to the present.

She glanced back at him as she shook away the fire that clung to her, realizing she had erred against decorum, and followed him back to the staircase where they continued their ascent.

"My apologies."

She said softly. He didn't respond.

As they came to the final landing, he turned to her, frowning.

"You told me nothing of your affinity for the black flame."

She blinked at him a couple times, gauging her response.

"Forgive me, I was not aware that it would be a matter of immediate concern."

"Only members of the master's bloodline are capable of this. You are able to, and also from the island, as such there is only one conclusion I can draw from these facts. It does not bode well for me that I must now be the one to inform the master of his traitorous daughter's return."

He was probing.

"If you failed to mention it, then you would not be omitting a truth."

She explained simply, for she was not the child of this 'master'. His frown deepened.

"Who are you, exactly, and tell me true this time, half-breed."

"If it's all the same to you, I'd rather answer that in the presence of your master so I do not have to repeat myself."

Jian scrutinized her thoroughly for a long moment before finally leading her inside to change their slippers and she begrudgingly handed over her tonfa when he demanded them. It wasn't that she needed them; it had just taken forever to find a craft-able material that could withstand her fire. He led her to a waiting area and disappeared behind an intricately decorated set of doors. As she inspected the burned-in designs, she could hear Jian's feet tapping swiftly across a great distance before finally coming to rest. There was silence for a time. Then, she heard them return.

Jian was pale as he opened the door, wiping his hands nervously on his hips before bowing.

"The master will see you."

Kintsuke nodded and followed him into what seemed to be more of a hallway than a room. Everything here was silver and black, glinting with gems and gently scented with mint. Great sheer curtains of silver flanked the walkway, which was bordered in black tiles. Smaller braziers burned angry yellow and red beneath the windows and behind the curtains, creating just enough of a breeze to make the sheets ripple like quicksilver. It was all so soothing, perhaps to compliment-or to counteract- the severe-looking man that sat at the end of the expanse upon a thickly lacquered throne. The might of his jyaki filled the room, an almost suffocating weight, but it did not unsettle her much; after all, she'd felt two others stronger than this, one infused with unspeakable bloodlust.

There was that pang in her heart again…