Disclaimer: Don't own Inuyasha or related characters they belong to the respective owners. OC's are mine.

A/N: This is a companion story to my Family of the Dog and takes place in the same continuity. This story follows the rise of the Lord of the East who was the son of Ryukotsusei. It will be a more in depth of his life leading up to his battle with his father and his eventual meeting with the Inu tribe of the West.

Chapter One:


Orochi, the great eight branching snake as he was known to the humans, he entered in his human form to the great hatchery, the place where those of his family had been hatched for generations. Today he comes to check on the offspring of his one remaining son Ryukotsusei.

His son was not the eldest or strongest of his own children, nor was he the cleverest. What he was? He was the cruelest of them all. He tricked his siblings into traps which cost them their lives. He like all those before him was the youngest of five.

His sister was the first to die. Her death had remained a mystery for years as one day she'd just vanished from the palace. It wasn't until many years later when her skull was found by the eldest brother that the mystery was solved. Ryukotsusei had apparently tricked his sister into spending the night outside the valley, were some self proclaimed dragon hunters had slain and skinned her. It was never proven but even Ryukotsusei's father believed the youngest had paid the men.

Next to go were the second and third oldest males. Ryukotsusei had tricked the two into fighting over the same female, and while the battle would never end in the death of either they were so focused on their fight they never saw the volcano. The numerous gashes in their hides allowed the lava to do their younger brother's work for him.

This of course left Ryukotsusei and his eldest brother. By this time said brother was on to his youngest brother's twisted plots and was cautious. What he wasn't ready for was the arrival of a dragon hanyo who was paid by Ryukotsusei to kill the elder. Ryukotsusei had promised the young hanyo that he'd save the boy's mother. Ryukotsusei made sure Orochi was present shortly after the assassination. The great lord easily destroyed the hanyo while Ryukotsusei dealt with the boy's mother.

With no other options available Orochi turned the Eastern Lands over to his one remaining heir. That decision had haunted the old dragon ever since. Ryukotsusei was a menace to everything he laid his eyes upon.

This included his own hatchlings. As Orochi entered the pit he found the shattered eggs and the five young dragons that were huddled against their mother's side. From the dull color of their scales it didn't take a sage to figure out what had happened.

Orochi turned to the Dragoness that was snarling at him, "You allowed this to happen?"

The Dragoness lowered her massive head to show her mask like face, "Your son wishes none to be stronger than him. He ripped them from their eggs."

Orochi took his true form, "Leave them to me. I will make them far stronger than their father could imagine."

The Dragoness consented and five of Orochi's head's lowered and gently scooped up his grandchildren in his jaws. He then took flight and flew away.


Fifty Years Later…

Orochi lay in his cave as five human form dragons trained before him. The eldest with his fire breath melted a block of metal into slag, his sister raised a hand summoning water to cool the metal, the third eldest bowed his head and a bolt of lightning struck the brittle metal shattering it, the fourth crushed his fist fusing the metal back together into a ball, the youngest then blew air sending the ball of metal out the mouth of the cave.

Orochi smiled, "Well done my younglings. You've proven yourselves ready."

The Fire Dragon growled, "So it's time to teach father a lesson."

Orochi shook his head, "Not yet, first you must make him drop his guard. Remember, Dragons cannot kill one another, no matter the amount of damage we do to him, he will not die as long as the injuries are inflicted by our claws."

The Lightning Dragon gained a thoughtful expression, "Grandfather, you said eldest uncle was killed by a Dragon Hanyo correct."

Orochi nodded, "A Hanyo of any clan can slay us."

The Earth Dragon grunted, "So what? One of us goes out and gets a human pregnant?"

The Air Dragon chuckled, "Yeah brother, the women will just be jumping at the chance to sleep with us. We're Dragons remember."

The Earth Dragon snarled at his younger sibling then turned back to their grandfather.

Orochi chuckled at the antics of his grandsons. For whom their father is, Orochi was greatly surprised by how they turned out. On the few occasions he allowed them to leave the cave with him they'd proved to be quite honorable. Even showing kindness to humans they'd encountered.

Thinking on that Orochi turned to his one granddaughter, "You have been quiet my dear."

The Water Dragoness bowed to her grandfather, "Wouldn't just going out sleeping with a human for that purpose make us no better than father. You've told us you believed that hanyo was in fact our own sibling."

Orochi smiled at his granddaughter and one of his heads snaked down and nudged her so she'd look up, "You are quite right my little one. In any clutch the Dragoness in normally the heart and conscience that guides her brothers. That was the reason your father removed his sister first."

The Fire Dragon moved protectively toward his sister.

Orochi noticed the movement and chuckled, "And that of course makes you, the leader and protector, the strongest. Always remember to heed the advice of your siblings."

The Air Dragon spoke up, "Well…if she's our conscience and big brother is our leader. What are we? Chop liver."

The Lightning Dragon smirked, "You…most likely."

Orochi chuckled, "Do not tease your little brother." Orochi took his human form and approached the Lightning Dragon, "You make smart remarks, but you are also cold and analytical. You are the brains of this operation; always remember that, because your elder brother might forget to take your advice." Orochi turned to the Earth Dragon, "Your eldest brother may be strongest in pure raw power, but when it comes to physical strength you are the one your siblings will always turn to." Orochi then went to his youngest grandson, "And you…you who can keep a positive outlook no matter the situation. Your antics are merely for show. Agility is your strength, and as air is your weapon, combat in the skies is yours to command."

The Fire Dragon spoke, "Grandfather…isn't it time?"

Orochi nodded, "Yes, it is. It is time for you all to meet your father."


Eastern Palace…

Ryukotsusei sat in his human guise. He rarely took this form as he felt it weakened him, but his mate wished him to appear as such when he first met his children. Ryukotsusei grumbled, he'd thought they'd never return after his father snatched them away fifty years ago.

Orochi entered the audience chamber first and bowed to his son, "Good day Ryu, how have you been my son?"

Ryukotsusei leaned forward and snarled at his father, "Enough crap old man. You and I both know you despise me. Where are these children of mine?"

"Here father."

Ryukotsusei watched as five Dragons entered the chamber and stood before them. Each was in their Dragon form and their scales brightly shined. Their backs were covered in the dark coloring like his, but their undersides showed their elemental affinity.

The one he identified as having a fire affinity came closer and spoke, "Father, it is good to see you. May we serve you honorably with all our strength?"

Ryukotsusei grinned, "Welcome home my son. Please, take your human forms."

The Fire Dragon nodded to his siblings and they all underwent the painful process to change their form.

Ryukotsusei clapped his eldest on the shoulders. He was proud his children had made no qualms about following the disguised order, plus they'd showed no signs of the pain he knew they'd felt. He looked over them all then returned to his eldest, "My son, you will stand at my side from now on. One day I may ask you to govern a portion of my lands or oversee them while I'm preoccupied. I will be leaving in a few days; you will accompany me on this journey."

The Fire Dragon bowed his head, "Of course father."

Ryukotsusei then turned to his other children, "The four of you will remain here with your mother. She can no doubt find things for you to do. There is plenty of game in the valley to eat, and several villages nearby to terrorize as you like. Just remember, no decimation. Only I can utterly destroy a village."

The other four bowed, but hid their revulsion well.

Unnoticed Orochi slipped from the chamber. As he left the palace he smiled to himself. He'd set in motion the events that would lead to his own children being avenged, and he'd use his own grandchildren to accomplish it. Though, in all truth they too had every right to be avenged against their father.


End Chapter One