Author's Notes:
This is something very short. It came to me randomly a couple of days ago as I walked home from dinner. It's kinda a train of thought thing. The only thing you really need to know is that I'm incorporating my idea from AQD that one member in each generation of the Inu Youkai ruling family has the Gift of Sight. Uh, yeah. So, enjoy.Thankies:
SM, for reading this before posting and having to hug Sesshie after reading it. ;o) Fuu-chan! IronRaven, cause I think I know you'll feel something reading this one. :o) Tweety! DRAGON DAGGER-SAMA!!!Disclaimers:
These people aren't mine, baka! They all belong to Takahashi-sama!Legacy
My name is not important. My title, my lands, they mean nothing. I am dying, and when I go there are only five things I will leave that are of any importance.
My wife, for one. She is human, but I have learned more of love from her than from any of my youkai wives. She will die not long after me; I See it in her eyes, the already burgeoning shine of illness. Then there will only be four things of consequence, my lasting legacy to this world.
The Swords. Forged from my fangs, one will destroy and protect, the other renew and heal. Two opposite sides of one blade. I can think of no better things to leave as inheritance than protection and renewal. Others would disagree. I care not what they think.
My sons. I have two. One took to bushido as though it nursed him more than his mother's milk, not that he ever tasted that. He is still young, and impetuous behind the samurai's mask he wears. He does not think things through as he should, young lord that he imagines himself to be. He will not understand my gift to him, not for a long time to come. I know. I See.
The other is only an infant, but already I See a road ahead for him filled with pain and blood. I love neither of my sons more than the other, but this one holds a special place because of his vulnerability. He needs me, as my other son never has. He needs me, and I am going to leave him. No one will love him, no one will shelter him from the evils of both youkai and men, no one will teach him the things he needs to know. My wife will do what she can, but she will not live long enough to teach him everything. I fear. So I leave him my protection, what his brother does not need.
The old man returns. My wife sits at my side, listening as the sword smith tells all that the Swords are, what they can do, as per my orders. Her eyes are fearful; she knows what I do, how my elder son cares little, if at all, for his younger half-brother. Her thin, frail human's hands clutch my thin, frail youkai's hands as she begs me not to give the first sword to my first son, then she gasps and looks away, apologetic for insulting my son. I assure her I think no ill of her for the statement. How can I, when she only speaks truth?
Fire flares through my body. My wounds are worsening. Only my previous strength has kept me alive this long. But the world is growing dark around me. My wife's face becomes a dim shadow, her eyes two points of radiance in the encroaching darkness. I ask the sword smith to make certain the healing sword is delivered to my eldest son. Then I ask my wife to leave so my other instructions may be given in complete secrecy.
I tell the sword smith what I want, where to go, and what to do. He protests; this is not his usual line of work, and I know this. But he is the only one I can trust to see this done, to go to the correct person, to understand WHY it must be done. I do not hear the sword smith leave to see my instructions done, I only know he has gone.
Perhaps, one day, my infant son will understand why I had this done to him. Now, however, now I only worry he will not live long enough to understand.
No. No, he will live. I See. Gods, how hard this life will be, however. I am sorry, my son, my little one.
My Inuyasha.
End.