Intrusion

1573, first year of the Azuchi-Momoyama Period, early Spring

Kintsuke pursed her lips slightly as she listened to the report from her recently-returned scout.

"This human… What was he called again?"

"Oda Nobunaga."

"I see; and you're sure about this?"

The bird-like sprite perched on Kintsuke's fingers bobbed her head.

"I overheard the human clearly and was able to get a good look at his map. He will continue pursuit of the religious human sect he hunts, which will bring him even closer to Fuji-san. I have no doubt his ambitions to unite all the human colonies will bring his forces here as well in the near future."

Kintsuke nodded, continuing to listen as Tabi prattled off what she'd picked up along the way about the progress of a 'Sesshoumaru' to the north. The news was everything Kintsuke expected and feared it would be, full of violence and death and rage.

She restrained the grimace that threatened to sully her features so fair.

'Are you still searching for power, oh bloodthirsty daiyoukai? To what end? What is it all for? You've claimed the northern, eastern, and western provinces; will you come here next…?'

"Thank you, Tabi. Please, rest now."

She didn't have to tell the sprite twice. With a flick of the half-demon's fingers, Tabi fluttered off into the trees on the eastern face of Omuroyama. Tucking her arms into her sleeves as she mulled over the news, Kintsuke strolled leisurely back down to the safety of her underground fortress.

'Even I avoided the humans' Kyoto colony when I first returned. If this Oda person was able to take control of it by force, then he and his soldiers are not something that can be ignored like the rest.'

She could hide down here and avoid the coming fire altogether, but she had the residents of the mountains depending on her now to keep them safe. They were of average power, at best, and most were smaller even than she; definitely not a force to be taken into battle, even a defensive one on their own land.

'What to do…'

She was still considering her options when Yoichi arrived for his usual visit, and over a small meal she shared Tabi's news along with her own ideas

"Humans move slowly, especially in a force large enough to be a concern," he mused, "I expect we have at least a year or two before we start hearing of them nearby, let alone see them. Still, we should begin preparations."

Kintsuke nodded.

"My thoughts exactly."

The 'what' was easy enough to figure out; it was the 'how' that posed a problem. It would be simple enough to outfit the cavern and its connected systems of smaller caves to house the various demons under her protection; but what to do about food and water, fresh air, concealing the entrance? Neither she nor Yoichi knew anyone skilled in the demon arts of magic, and she did not usually fare well with water demons of any stripe, so she could not barter a deal with one to search her cavern floor for a hidden water vein.

She would have to employ her allies and resources again instead. Kintsuke didn't exactly enjoy asking for help from them, but the stinging of her pride was far less than the self-loathing she would feel if she failed to keep her word to the demons of the mountains.

"Yoichi, do you think Pappiri-san would be willing to lend us a hand tracking down an underground water source?"

The earth demon fingered a lock of his evergreen hair in contemplation for a moment before nodding.

"With appropriate recompense, I believe she could be convinced."

Kintsuke winced internally. She knew exactly what would garner favor from Pappiri, but it would mean sacrificing at least one healthy mortal; Pappiri had quite the love of a good human roast. Yoichi seemed to pick up on her displeasure, already knowing what she was thinking, and offered her a calm half-smile.

"If it will put you at ease, I will go with you."

Kintsuke returned his smile, but it was more one of pity. He truly was too kind for his own good. She desired his company and support, though, and agreed to let him come along. They headed out shortly after lunch. As they made their way to the surface, the pair continued to flesh out their plans. Kintsuke had nearly convinced Yoichi to handle the actual kidnapping of the human when she tasted it on the wind. She didn't want to believe it, but her nose didn't lie.

'Sesshoumaru.'

He had come; the last person she wanted to have to deal with right now.

Yoichi blinked at her as she stood, frozen to the spot, ears straining and eyes fixed on an invisible point in the sky. He recognized this shift in her demeanor; he'd seen it many times before years ago in the fight for Hachiokayama.

"Kintsuke-chan?"

"Go on without me, Yoichi-kun; I'll meet you and Pappiri-san at Lake Sagami."

He frowned slightly.

"If you've a confrontation to handle, I would prefer to remain nearby. These are my mountains as well."

"It's nothing of that nature. I won't be long, but please, go."

She did her best to make her tone kind but urgent, and a slightly reassuring smile seemed to convince him to not argue for the moment. She waited until Yoichi had sprinted down the mountain face and out of sight before casting her gaze up. The clouds were soft and wispy today, the chilly spring breeze sweeping them aside to reveal a form she knew well.

Their eyes locked and he tilted his head slightly as though considering her from on high. He alighted down, landing softly to stand before her in all his grace and amaranthine beauty. The fresher, purer wave of his scent that fell around her made the edges of her claws itch for something she couldn't quite describe, and she ran them along her fingertips out of sight to try and ease the sensation away.

The silence between them was awkward somehow.

"Welcome to my territory, Lord Sesshoumaru…" she said softly, but pointedly.

She would not allow him, so haughty and entitled, to forget where he was now. He flicked his eyes to give the area a polite consideration before nodding slightly to accept her welcome.

"Finding you almost proved challenging."

His voice dripped with superiority in the way she remembered so keenly, and as he stepped to close the distance between them, she shifted to take the higher, more dominant ground, maintaining the space.

"As it always should."

Her tone was polite, if not a touch suspicious. What was he doing here? She'd heard nothing from her allies of his presence or actions, so he had to have come directly to her. Why?

"What can I do for you?"

He almost smiled at her petty power play and let it pass, tucking his arms into his sleeves leisurely as he examined a nearby tree.

"Word has reached me that the contention in this area has been quelled."

"You're a little late with the 'congratulations',"

She jeered at him, knowing that wasn't why he was here, but she couldn't pass up the opportunity. He didn't miss a beat, tone needling.

"Your opponents must have been formidable for it to take you and your 'friends' nearly a decade-and-a-half to settle things."

"What makes you think it took so long?"

"News on the wind, among other things."

She narrowed her eyes as she grew curt.

"Complications arose and we dealt with them accordingly."

"Complications?"

"Challenging enemies."

"Of what nature?"

"The kind that are now dead."

"By your own hand?"

"A combined effort."

"I see."

She squared her shoulders, finding authority in her tone.

"My turn, if you don't mind; why the interrogation? What is it you're after?"

Slowly, he turned his head to fix her with his honey gold eyes, sending a shiver down her spine to coil tightly in her stomach.

"You are, no doubt, aware of my own recent exploits. Surely you can imagine what my next course of action will be."

"I could, but that would be mostly supposition."

"My goals have not changed."

"Perhaps not, but who's to say I understood what they were back then, let alone can anticipate them now?"

She did not waiver under his chilled gaze.

"Speak plainly, Sesshoumaru, or leave; I have things to do and no time to waste on circular conversations."

She felt his jyaki thrash for a moment before he pulled it back under tenuous control, rage flashing across his features just so.

"You dare speak to this Sesshoumaru in such a manner…"

Kintsuke squared her shoulders.

"In my own lands, yes, I do."

It all happened in an instant.

He was before her, their jyaki coiling and bashing against the other; his claws hovering just above the flesh of her throat. His eyes blazed, reflecting her own and they each bared their fangs, though her snarl was nothing compared to the sound that rumbled in his chest and belly.

Its undertones spoke directly to her soul, her knees threatened to give in, and she fought the urge to expose her throat. There was something else under all his indignant anger, something coldly passionate and primal, and even in its fear, her demon spirit cried out for it.

Slowly, he withdrew his hand, bones cracking under the strain as he tucked it away under his sleeve again. Her ears flicked as the warmth of his breath tickled the tufted ends.

"I 'will' have further words with you, and soon. Handle your business, Kintsuke, but do not make this Sesshoumaru wait."

He stepped, pulling along the mokomoko that had settled around her feet, and was gone.

The weight of his sudden absence now was too much to bear along with everything else, and Kintsuke let her trembling body fold into itself at the base of a nearby tree. Her heart still thundered in her chest, the encounter leaving her with a frozen and hollow sensation. Slowly, she calmed, understanding, but refusing to admit to, the underlying desire that made her croon.