I'm alive everyone! Sorry for not updating; all the stress these past few weeks slammed me head on into a depressive spiral. One of my parental figures is being all conspiracy theorist, and I DO NOT need that shit right now.

But I'm here now, and since I'm stuck at home, I'll update as often as I can.

Ciao!
🍂🍂🍂

When the wind whipped up in a strange howl, Nagomi stepped backwards in fear, before pride halted her feet. The force of this demons aura was overwhelming with power. It was unlike any other demon that she'd ever encountered.

Noro didn't quite know what happened. She simply locked eyes with Sesshomaru, and suddenly she knew that she needed to get Rin out of the way. White heat filled her, and Noro leapt up, tackling Rin to the ground, along with Nagomi and her servants, just as the air around them exploded with the force of Sesshomaru's demonic power.

When the dust cleared, it was plain that Noro's quick thinking had saved them. The trees around them had been blown down, the forest lying in ruins around them.

Noro stood up, pulling Rin with her. She brushed the orphan off before turning to Sesshomaru, the question clear in her eyes.

"A human was the one kidnapping children," he stated. "The wretch wanted to make a profit off of them."

"Liar," Nagomi hissed from the ground.

The demon lord did not appear to even notice the priestess's comment, only glancing at Rin and Noro before walking away. The two had begun to follow him, when Nagomi called out to Rin.

"Wait child," she implored. "They are demons. Humans and demons don't mix. They don't belong with us."

The three of them stopped, and Noro turned to watch Rins reaction. Sesshomaru too had tilted his head slightly to listen. The orphan looked thoughtful, and suddenly a thought occurred to the woman.

"Rin," Noro knelt down by the young girl, "you know that you can come with us only if you want too, right? You're a bright young child. You'd make a fine addition to any family, isn't that right, Lord Sesshomaru?"

The demon lord simply grunted, and began walking again.

It was then that Rin looked up at Noro and smiled brightly. "I know," she said, and ran off after the dai-yokai, arms happily spread wide.

Noro blinked, an unreadable expression crossing her face. Then she stood up and glanced after the two with an affectionate look, before the priestess spoke again, her words prying Noro away from her own thoughts.

"Why does she stay with you," Nagomi rasped softly. Noro glanced down at her.

Knowing full well that the priestess question was rhetorical, Noro answered. "Maybe because we gave her a choice. And because we don't make assumptions based on hearsay."

"But you're demons"-

Noro knelt down by the priestess swiftly, an angry look crossing her face.

"How many times do I have to tell you people that I'm not a demon! My family was cursed with the turn of the moon. I am no demon."

Nagomi smiled slowly.

"You're lying to yourself," she laughed, "but I'm not a fool. You're a demon alright, and you're the worst kind. Uncontrollable."

Noro took a deep breath when she stood up, and glanced down at the priestess as she turned and began to walk away.

"Believe what you want Priestess. But know that if I truly was a demon as you say, you would have been dead before you even saw my face."