Hatred. That was all she ever knew. Hatred. Nothing from her Mother but the horrid hatred. Nothing from her Father, her supposed to be friends. Nothing but hatred. At first, when she was just a young pup, she did not understand the scorned words, or rough touches. As she grew older, though, she began to realize why she was treated as such. She was an impurity. A blemish upon the Demon race. She was a disgrace.
A disgrace to her Fathers powerful blood, and her Mothers strong lineage. A burden on all around her. Any born with blind eyes was a burden. This was her disgrace. Her inability to see. She was born as a sickly weakened pup whose eyes were grayed with blindness. Her Mother had been distraught and begged her Father to allow her to keep her sickly pup.
Her Mother had been allowed to keep her pup, the belief being that the tiny thing would only live a few days before succumbing to its own weakness. Her Mother had cared for her till she began to realize the error of her decision. After three weeks of caring for her blinded pup, she left the tiny babe to be cared for by her very own hand maid.
She grew slowly, much slower that other pups her age. Her body was small, and her lungs poorly formed. Her hand maid stand in left her on her own at the age of five, and she raised herself from there.
When she lived past the expected age of her death, instead of realizing her strength, and loving her. She was hated even more, her presence becoming more, and more of a burden. She had grown up used to the sound of her mother's scorn filled voice, and her Father deep growls of malice.
They didn't realized that by leaving her on her own, she would develop ways to cope, ways to protect herself from attacks, and enemies. Her senses had grown stronger, taking place of her missing eyesight. Her hearing was hundreds of times better than her own Fathers. Her sense of touch so sensitive, she could feel vibrations through the ground.
The vibrations became her eye sight. She could tell when, where, and how far a being is standing from her. Their heart beat, their blood rushing through their veins… the air traveling to and from their lungs. Their muscles moving… She could make out exactly what they were doing. Even if her eyes never did work.
Now she sat, her back to a wall, a table in front of her. Her tea, and plain rice sitting before her. She had to teach herself how to make food, and this was all she could make, tea, and white rice. Her ears tuning out the hateful words, and her body sensing the location of everybody near her. She pulled back her sleeve, as she reached out with her chop sticks.
"Well, well, well! How's it going no sight!?" A deep, loud voice called as a body move to hover over her out of the way spot.
"Hello Akio. I must remind you that my name is Hitomi." She called gently, bringing her food to her mouth, and chewing gently.
Akio was a large Inu demon that enjoyed bellowing everything, just because he knew it hurt her ears. Even so, he was one of the few people who spoke to her without malice in there tone, just a simple teasing lit.
The large male chuckled, and took his place across from her at the small table. "Funny how your mother named you after a part of the eye." She stated taking up her cup and taking a sip.
"Yes. Very funny. Please do not drink my tea. It takes a very long time to make it, because the maids keep moving my tea sets." She sighed gently.
He set her cup back in exact spot that he got it from. "You know, No Sight, I don't really think you're blind." Akio sated tucking his hands inside of his sleeves.
She set down her chop sticks, and arched a brow as she took up her tea cup. "And why do you say that? You can see very well. From what I am told, my eyes are gray with blindness." She called gently as she sipped at her tea.
"Because I can never scare you. You always know where I am. You can find things that have been moved. Your eyes move about as if you are taking in your surroundings." Akio stated.
She nodded. "I can see nothing. I assure you. I however, must take precautions against my Fathers Royal guard, and My Mothers private six. They often whisper about killing me to please their Lord and Lady. It is always better to be prepared to run than to sit and die." She murmured softly.
Akio was silent for a moment. "There are whisperings of the Western Lord coming to visit. They are saying that He wishes to unite the Western and Northern Lands."
She grew still for a moment. "I have heard of these whisperings as well. That is what they are. Just whisperings. Mother and Father have no heir, and there is no way that they will risk dishonoring the Lord of the West by offering him a blind Mate." She murmured setting her cup down and taking up her chop sticks once more.
Akio cleared his throat and leaned forward. "I would not be dishonored if I were to have you for a Mate, Hitomi." He whispered so softly that only Hitomi could hear.
She smiled softly. "You have always been very kind to me Akio. I thank you for your kind words, but I cannot allow you to disgrace yourself like that. You will find a beautiful mate with pretty blue eyes, who can see, and raise your pups proudly. There is no need for you to lower yourself like that." She murmured.
Akio growled to himself. "I have seen you fight, have seen you move. You are not a weakling! You have battled, and held your own against the two of your Mothers Six! They had a hell of a time explaining just who they got their claw wounds from, and just why their hair was stained orange for three weeks. I still cannot believe you got that dye all over them." He chuckled lightly.
Hitomi gave a light laugh as well. "They were new, Akio. It was just luck that they happened to chase me into the silk rooms. I have been out of my rooms to long. It was very nice to lunch with you." She murmured softly, gathering her dishes, and leaving the room.
When Hitomi finally made it back to her personal rooms, she was silently fuming with anger. The maids had once again decided that they did not want her in the kitchen, so they had bared the door closed. She ended up having to use the back door to take care of her dishes. It was not as If she even took up that much space! She hardly came up to a healthy male's chest!
Huffing lightly with anger, she forgot herself, just for a moment, and let tears fill her eyes. She hated this place! Her own Mother spoke of her with disdain! It was not fair! She had been born like this! There was nothing she could do to make her eyes live once more!
In her flustered, tear filled anger, she was not paying attention to her surroundings, so when the deep male voice called out, she froze solid.
"You are Hitomi." It was a statement. Not a question. She had heard such a cold voice in many others, and she was highly confused as to who was in her rooms.
Flaring her nostrils, and planting her feet firmly on the ground, she was shocked to find that she did not know this male. His scent was completely new, as well as the strong steady beat of his heart. He sat near her left, on one of the many silk pillows that filled her bed chamber. Her body was instantly on alert. This Male had been quiet enough that she did not hear him in her coming into her rooms, and large enough to have such a strong heart. It had to be one of her Fathers Royal guard. But… they all knew her…
"Yes. I am Hitomi. Are you one of my Mothers Six? I had heard that she had replaced some of you. If you are here to kill me, let me assure you that it will not be an easy task." She snapped, in no mood to deal with anyone at the moment. She wanted to sit down, and have a good cry, and then go wander through the gardens for some time.
"If I wished you dead, you would already be so. I am Lord Sesshomaru of the West." The cold voice snapped right back.
At this statement, Hitomi instantly sobered. She had heard the whispers of the Western Lord coming, but she had never believed them! "Oh… Please forgive me My Lord. The Maids seem to think it fun to ridicule me." He said softly, taking a seat far from the man.
"Hn. Then it is true that you are blind." He stated coolly.
She grit her teeth. "Yes My Lord. From birth. Perhaps you would rather speak to my Father? I could request a Maid to show you to his study." She mumbled softly, raising a hand to swipe away a few stray tears.
"If this one wished to speak to your Father, I would have done so. This Sesshomaru only wished to see if the stories were true. A blind Demon." He scoffed, his tone taking on a slight hint of disgust. If she had not been so used to picking it out of conversations, she would have missed it.
At his comment, her anger swelled. "Yes. A blind Demon! How frightfully disgusting! Excuse me for tarnishing your presence My Lord. These are my private chambers you see, and I normally run from that hateful words to here. Now however! It seems that I must face them even in my bed chamber! If you are so disgusted with my presence Lord Sesshomaru, by all means, your leaving will not offend me." She called in a gentle voice, all of her anger tightly reigned in.
Sesshomaru watched the tiny woman before him with a mild case of curiosity. She was a tiny little thing, the crown of her head would barely reach the bottom of his chest plate. Her long jet black curls hung about her as if it were a shield. Her face was that of a Pixies. Her Jet black markings arching gracefully across each cheek, only one to his two. Sat in the middle of her forehead was the Northern Symbol, a solid black five point star. Her blinded eyes were settled near his direction, and it was obvious that she was angered.
He had meant to rile up the female, seeing her waltz into the room with hot tears streaking down her cheeks, and her small hands fisted in anger had been an odd sight. She moved about as if she knew exactly where she was going, and held her head high, as if defying some overbearing God. Yet she had spoken to him with such gentle tone, as if speaking to a wounded child. What an odd creature.
"This one will leave when he wishes." Was all he said as he resettled himself, tucking his empty sleeve into his lap. The missing arm was still a wound to his pride, but he could feel the tingle of regenerating deep in his flesh, another six months or so, and it would start forming once more.
She suddenly became aware of the lack of stimulation coming from the male in her chambers. She settled her palms on the floor lightly, and studied his form once more, the veins, and muscles slowly beginning to form a picture in her head. His Left arm was missing, and had been for quite some time… The blow that had taken it had been harsh, and brutal. Many of the blood vessels had been severed with jagged edges.
"You're missing an arm." She stated, nearly smiling to herself. An imperfect Demon being disgusted with another. How hypocritical. She could say with honesty, that she hated her race.
Sesshomaru nearly glared at the woman, and had to check once more that she was indeed blind. She wasn't even looking at him! But in the complete opposite direction! "How do you know about this one's missing limb Onna?" He demanded in a deep growl.
Hitomi only smiled. "Very odd for an imperfect Demon to call out another. Don't you agree, Lord Sesshomaru?" She demanded lightly, raising her palms from the floor, and settling them in her lap.
Sesshomaru was silent, his anger slowly mounting. A blind demon was all that the Northern lands had to offer him! He had not even bothered going and speaking to the Lord and Lady. If it were true that their only pup was blind, there could be no business deal made, but now, as he sat looking over his proposed offer, he began to think.
She was blind, yet she could easily see. She tried, very hard to ignore the scored words of others, but from what he could see, it was beginning to wear on her soul. Her body seemed to always curve in on its self, and her head was always held high with fake pride.
If he were to take her on as a Mate, the word of his choice would spread, and all would come to bear witness the Great Lords choice. When they saw her ability to see… He would grow in name, and she would bring followers to his Land. What Lord had a blind mate? No Lord.
Now, if she could battle… Without a second thought, he grasped candle stick from the small table beside him, and sent in flying towards the small woman.
She paused as an odd whistling came to her ears. He was throwing things at her now!? With a light growl, he lifted her hand just in time to catch one of her candle sticks. The long round body sliding through her pointer finger, and index finger, till she felt the cold metal brush lightly against her cheek.
"It is unfair to throw things at one who cannot see. Get out of my Chambers, I may not be loved by my Mother and Father, but I am still royal Blood. You are in my chambers, and you have disrespected me. Leave now, Lord Sesshomaru." She snarled, finally having enough for that day, a she set the candle stick down in front of her.
Sesshomaru stood, and left her chambers instantly. His mind reeling with the sight of her quick reflexes, and haughty words. Never before had any dared to speak to him like that! Not even when he had been a pup. His Youkai had been powerful since the day he was born, and all near him felt it. He had always been treated as a deadly creature, having such a small woman, a blind one no less, order him from her chambers was a complexly new thing to him.
She waited till she was sure that he was gone, before she took up the candlestick and sent it hurdling across the room. She listened with satisfaction as it gave a deep thud, imbedding itself into the wall. Her anger bubbled it's way to the surface, and she could feel her inner beast clattering at it's well kept cage, begging to be let out so it could take them far away from all of these beings.
Once more, she denied its request for the millionth time in her life. Telling it that they had to prove to everyone around them that just because they had no sight, did not mean that they were weak. She did however not try to keep her anger at bay. With a quiet cry of outrage, she rose to her feet and started towards her garden. She had begged her Mother to give her just a tiny garden. It did not even have to look pretty. All she had wanted was a small pond with a bubbling stream, and a few fine scented flowers.
Instantly, her request had been denied. Her Mother too much of a Lady to say that she hated her own child, and instead saying that they did not have any spare men that could work on it. Her Mother hadn't even the kindness to gift her own child with a garden! So, she had traveled into town, and with the meager coin that she had managed to earn by washing dishes, and keeping after some of the children of the palace, and hired a team of three men to build her garden.
Those three and Akio were the only four beings in her life that had ever treated her as if she were a living creature, and not some uncouth beast! They often stopped by to see her, or she would often go into town and visit with them. They were Kitsune Brothers, Mitskuni, the youngest was a golden Kitsune and was three years older than Hitomi herself. He was a very sweet, quiet man that preferred gentle touches to manual labor.
Takashi the middle brother, was a red Kitsune, that unlike his younger brother, Loved to speak, and often formed long winded tales just to entertain Hitomi.
Mori was the oldest Brother, and even though Hitomi enjoyed his younger brothers, Mori was her favorite. He was a proud, large Kitsune that loved his Brothers dearly. He was a very family oriented Demon, and Hitomi admired his personality. When Mori had found out about the scorn given to her from her parents, he had instantly taken Hitomi in, and treated her as his own. It was an amazing thing for her to experience.
With a loud Huff, she settled herself near her small pond, and willed the gently bubbling of the water to calm her nerves. She was angered, yes, but it was not unjustly so. It was no surprise that things were beginning to get to her. This usually happened about a year or so, all of the hatred directed towards her would slowly wear her down till she could take no more. She would usually go into a good cry, throw some of her personal objects around, and then go into town to see Mitskuni, Takashi, and Mori. Usually Akio would find her and walk her into town, and even sometime purchase her lunch.
Angered tears streamed down her cheeks, and she swiped at them with anger. It was stupid to cry. Nothing was solved with womanly tears. Nothing at all. All that could be done, was to hope that the Lord of the West had left, and would stay gone.
Her right hand set out to dip her slim fingers in the freezing water of the pond before her. The soothing cold calmed her, and slowly her tears stopped. She could not allow her emotions to get the better of her like that! She had to be strong, cold, and distant. It did not matter if what she really wanted was to crumble to her knees, burst into tears, and beg her Father to take her into his arms and comfort her for the first time in her life. No. It did not mater, what she wanted.
She let her fingers splash about in the water as she sat in the slightly chilled fall air. First snow would be soon, and she wanted to make sure that her rooms were prepared for the cold winter months. Perhaps she would traveling town today, and fetch The Kitsune Brothers. They would gladly help her, so long as she promised to return to their home and have supper with them.
Nodding slightly to herself she decided that that was the best thing to do. Suddenly, a thought hit her. Did the Western Lord have to prepare for such a winter? After a moment, she smiled at her own stupidity. Of course he had to prepare his Palace for winter. From what the Kitsune Brothers told her, on clear days, The Western Palace could be seen clearly in the distance from town.
If that were true, and she had no doubts of it. The winter here, and there would be the same. Lots of snow, and very cold nights. The Lord though, did not have to hire people from town to help prepare for winter. He just had to command it and it would be done.
Sighing softly, she pulled her fingers from the water, and held them aloft to allow the water to drip from them. Now that she had calmed considerably, she could make the trek into town much easier. She had been saving all of her coin, and hoped that she now had enough to purchase a horse. A horse would make walking into town much easier.
Rising, she set out to the small gate that lead from her gardens to the main dirt path leading o the large sprawling village that was now her destinations. She didn't mind the walk, but had to be extremely carful to mind her surroundings. The rode often had debree from the forest on either side of it, fall into her path. It however, did not take her long to make her way into town.
The voices of the common soothed her nerves, and brought a small smile to her face. Most of the Demons living here did not know of her blindness, and if she was sure to keep her head down, and her paces even, she would never be discovered. Passing groups of children playing, and men working, she finally made it to the Kitsune home. She didn't even have to call out to her friends before she was scooped into the large, strong arms of Takashi.
"If it isn't my lovely Hitomi! I have missed you! What are you doing wandering about without a cloak? It is too old for you to be out with nothing but that thin Kimono!" The Kitsune called in his deep voice, as he held her to his chest.
Hitomi only smiled and clutched the male back. "I am sorry. Thing at the Palace have become increasingly worse so I left quickly, where are your Brothers? I have missed you all greatly." She stated in her gentle tone.
Takashi laughed deeply. "Mitskuni is off trying to court a young Panther, and Mori is inside preparing supper. Do say that you will stay and eat at least!" Takashi demanded as he pulled her into his home, and let the straw mat that covered the opening fall closed behind them.
"Of course I will stay. I do love Moris' cooking." She laughed, allowing the middle Brother to lead her to his oldest Brother, as soon as she was close enough, she was gathered into his lap.
"Hitomi. I have missed you, you should know better than to stay away for so long. I have found myself craving your scent." The massive male murmured into the skin at the bash of her throat.
Hitomi responded in the traditional Inu apology, by lapping at his cheek gently. "I am sorry Mori. Things have been hectic. The Western Lord appeared in my rooms today, and was disgusted with my state. It was very irritating." She murmured, bringing her finely clawed hands up to groom Mori.
The male beneath her went stiff. "What did the Western Lord want with you?" He demanded, his voice gruff.
She shrugged, "He stated that he wished to see if the stories were true. If the daughter of the Northern House was truly born blind. He apparently wished to create a bond with Our Palace, but since I am unable to see, he obviously has no choice but to forget his wants." She stated softly.
Takashi scoffed. "I do not see why you are so looked down upon. If you would just once, go to your Father, and tell him of yo ability to see, He would see just how wonderful you are! Hell! You kicked my ass last week over a damn sweet!" he nearly yelled.
This had always been a tender subject with the Kitsune Brothers. They did not see why she took the Scorn of her parents, with no argument. Why she refused to show any but them her true ability.
"It is not that simple Takashi. Even if I were to do what you ask of me, nothing would come of it. My Father is not the kind Northern Lord that you all know, but a cold hateful man. If I were to ever speak to him like you wish, he would kill me without a second thought. I do not wish to die. My hopes are that someday, I will be able to take a Mate, and move from the Cold words of my home." She spoke, relaxing her hands into her lap.
Mori made a sound of disgust in his throat. "He may be the Lord of these Land, but he is n more than a speck of dust in my eyes. For him, an Inu, to growl with disdain at his own pup is sickening!" The eldest brother snarled, his grip tightening on Hitomi.
It grew silent for a long while. "There is nothing to be done. I have some coin Brothers. I was wondering if perhaps you would take me to the stables, and aid me in finding a horse. As well as travel back to the Palace and help prepare my room for the coming winter." Hitomi murmured softly, reaching into her sleeve, and producing a worn leather pouch priming with gold coins.
Takahi laughed lightly. "This is why you have not come to see us. Cleaning dishes again Hitomi?" He teased lightly, as he pulled the pouch from her palm, and lifted her to her feet with gentle hands.
Hitomi smiled. "Yes, and even watching a few stray pups. Will it be enough?" She questioned lightly, having never bought something that would cost as much as horse.
Mori lifted himself from the ground with a chuckle. "I would imagine so. You should be able to get a fine saddle as well. I will have Mitskuni walk it to and from town, so It knows the way, and you will not become lost." He called as he guided Hitomi from the small home, and into the large, bustling Market.
The Market was her favorite place to go, even if it were a little hard for her to make out bodies. There were so many Demons at the Market that she could hide well, and did not really have t worry about her Fathers guards killing her in a place so public.
/
She was settled in her rooms, late that night, her belly full and her body relaxed. Mori had just left, and bid her good night, telling her that he would return early the next morning to finish preparing her rooms. They had nearly finished when the sun had set.
Sighing softly, she curled under her blankets, and instantly fell into slumber.
An odd scent filled her nose. That is wood burning. She groaned to herself softly, and pulled her blanket up to bunch over her nose. It did not help. Who was burning wood? A blast of heat suddenly stuck her, and she knew. Her rooms, they were on fire.
Reaching out, to the bedside table that she knew o be on her left, she grasped th only thing her Father had ever given her. A small, jeweled Tanto. He had given it to her on her sixteenth day of Birth. His exact word had been; "Your disgrace against the Northern lands may be ended with this."
She had known that he wished for her to end her own life, but she had taken the gift with tears of gratitude. She had thanked her Father for the gift, but had not thought of it as a killing device. She had thought of it as a gift, and simply that.
Standing, the tonto clutched in her slim fingers, she stumbled forward, as rage filled her system. This wasn't accident. She knew it in her heart. This was planned. Not thinking of anything but getting revenge, she moved forward, through flames that licked at her clothes, and smoke that filled her lungs.
With a deep snarl, she threw the door to her rooms open, and leapt from the room. "Did you hear that? Perhaps she is trying to fight off the flames now." A male voice snicker from around a corner little ways down the hall.
She knew this man. It was her Mothers fourth Guard. A snake youkai that called himself Kore made Tanoshī. He was a pig of a man! Rage leading her, she dashed forward, and before the man knew what was upon him, Hitomis small hand was plunged deep into his chest.
She stood for a moment. "You, and The royalties of this house have disrespected me for the very last time." She whispered, as he clutched at her forearm. With a growl, she ripped his beating heart from his chest, and squeezed it. It gave a sickening pop, and warm blood splattered on her face.
She could see the muscles of the Guard, one of her Fathers, the Snake had been speaking to twitching, the air in his lungs had frozen. Without a word, she sashed out, her claws sinking deep into his throat, curling her fingers, as he ripped everything she could grasp away.
He gave a gurgled screech, before slumping over dead at her feet. Tucking her Tanto into her obi, she reached down, and lifted the two men with ease. Tossing them over either shoulder, she turned and started towards The Lords, and Ladies Chamber.
Gone was the quiet, gentle Hitomi that had lived with the hatred for years. Now stood the true Powerful Inu that Hitomi was. Her breeding may have been imperfect, but she had taught herself the ways of battle. Listening and watching the soldiers of the Northern lands train. Studying the way their muscles moved, how they breathed.
She had practiced against the Kitsune Brothers, and had bested the all with time. She had kept this all secret, not wanting her Father to send his Guards after her all the quicker. Now, she did not care. This was the last push she had been able to stand.
Without pause, she shoved the door to the chamber open, and strolled inside. Her Mother let out a feared scream, and Her Father growled, neither knowing what had woken them. Hitomi let the bodies fall to the floor, reveling in the deep thud that they made. "Mother, your Fourth. Father, Your second." She stated, in a cold hard tone.
As candles were lit, her Father roared at the sight of his most hated Daughter standing before him and his Mates Futon. Two Guards dead at her Feet. Her small body, the snow white sleep wear upon her, stained with their fresh blood. Her Black curls hung free, and wild about her face. Her face was that of a beautiful Demoness, but as she stared directly into his own eyes, with her dead, grey ones, he felt nothing but disgust.
Her lips pulled back to show her perfect teeth in a snarl. "I have brought you your guards. Killed by my own hand. They have set my own rooms a blaze." She snarled, her slim shoulders shaking with barely controlled rage.
Minuo, Lord of the Northern lands only scoffed. "Do not spout your lies to me disgusting pup! Be glad I do not kill you by my own hand this night!" The large man snarled, rising from his bed, and standing before his unwanted child.
His words did not hurt her. They only made her smile slightly. "Lies Father… Lies. Tell me Father… What is it like having a child that you so with to kill, but knowing you cannot because that would bring dishonor to your name?" She questioned, her hand running lovingly over her gifted Tanto.
Minuo was shocked for a moment. "You are a disgrace to this Lords name, and Bloodlines! It is sickening to see you!" He snarled.
She smiled once more. "Do you wish to know what I believe is sickening, Father? I believe it is sickening for a Father to scorn his own Pup because of something that he had no control over. Tell me. Do you know what it is like to never know what your own Mother looks like? Your own Father? To never see their faces?" She questioned once ore, ignoring her Mothers mewling cries.
"I care not for what you believe is sickening, you ungrateful Pup!" He bellowed, his anger rising.
"You know, when I was a child. I came up with a picture of you and Mother in my head. Mother was the most beautiful thing I had ever known. Her Hair long, and the color of rich forest earth. Her yes a beautiful Green. You… You were no less than a god in my eyes. The strongest demon known in all of Japan. Strong shoulders. Kind blue eyes. Long black hair. I worshiped you. My childish mind concocting fantasies where you and Mother would come to me, and tell me that you never meant such cold words or hateful growls. You would take me up on your shoulders, and allow me to spend time with you." She murmured, her smile turning to a frown.
"Do you wish to know what you look like now? Mother looks the way scum on pond smells. Her hair has shifted from it's beautiful brown, to disgusting green. Her eyes are the ugliest color I have ever imagined. You… You look the way the rotted meat I had to pick from the rubbish bin not only smells, but tastes. For an Inu to toss away a child of their own blood. You are both disgusting creatures." The nearly mumbled, noticing how her Fathers heart sped up just slightly.
Minuo was silent for a very long time, his mind trying to come up with some type of retort. He could not. His daughter spoke of a great wound that was deep on her soul. No matter how he tried, his instincts screamed for him to act as the Father that he should be, should have always been. He refused to listen to them. His child was a weak, blind, sickly disgrace.
"I care not for your words, or how you view me or my Mate. You are a runt that does not deserve the breath you draw." He stated, his voice that of ice.
She listened to his words, with a straight face. Stepping forward, she reached out a tiny hand, and clutched the front of her Fathers sleep wear. Moving forward even farther, she allowed her cheek to come to rest against his lower chest. The first time she had ever touched her Father. Sighing lightly, she slid the Tanto from her obi and pressed it against his stiff palm. The jeweled sheath cold and unforgiving. "Then kill me. Kill this runt that is not worthy of your care or compassion, you love and understanding. Be rid of the disgrace I bring upon you and Mother. I can stand this no longer. An Inu is meant to have pack, to have others. I have no one of my own blood that wishes me near. This is no way to live, Father. This is hell." She whispered, turning her nose into him and inhaling deeply.
Minuo could hear that his Mate had quieted, she was no longer crying, but silent, waiting for him to make a decision. The Tanto sat in his palm, cold, and deadly. A simple flick of his wrist and the disgrace of the Northern Lands would be gone. Within a few years, a century or so, she would be nothing more than a well forgotten memory. But, as she leaned against him, taking in his scent, him mind faltered for just a moment. What was she asking? For him to kill her, to be the hand that ended his own pups' life.
She waited, her breathing even, her mind, and heart detached from her body. This would be the night she died. The night that her misery would end. She accepted this. Such a sick thought, her mind registered. It mattered not. She would so be away from her body, and no one could judge her any longer.
Minuo closed his fingers about the Tanto, and pulled it from his Pups hand. She stiffened, only slightly against his chest. Bracing for the blow that was to come. He waited for the pungent scent of fear to lift from her skin, but was nearly shocked when there was nothing but the quiet, bitter scent of sadness emanating from her pale flesh. Before he could second guess himself, he unsheathed the blade with a flick of his thumb, and buried in deep into his pups belly.
Pain ripped through her body, and with a slight gurgled cough, blood spilt from her lips. Her hands tightened on her Father, as tears of some type of emotion filled her eyes. The blood bubbled up once more, this time, flying violently from her mouth. Her knees gave out, and her body collapsed to the floor. The Tanto still firmly in her belly. Breathing became hard, and she could feel on odd coldness seeping into her flesh.
This was death. This coldness. This horrifying, un wanted feeling. It scared her. She was scared. She did not wish to die alone. Her mind tried, desperately so, to pull an image of the Kitsune Brothers. It could not. It was dying. Dying with no one. Dying alone. She drew a deep breath. "I loved you so much Father, Mother. It… It had always… Been a dream of… mine… to be near with you… To groom you… To take meals with you…" She rasped out, her mind trying to keep alive. Doing all that it could to keep from shutting down. It was not really even aware of what it was saying.
Minuo felt a sharp pang in his chest as he looked down at his dying pup. Her words had struck a chord with the Inu instincts deep inside of him. His Pup… He had just killed his own pup.
"Such a lovely birthday gift… To… to… be taken away… from so much hatred." She murmured on a ragged breath, and with a last struggling effort, she drew one more breath. It shuttered out of her with a stream of blood, and she was gone, her sole no longer living.
"Her Birthday… Minuo… It is the day of her one hundred and fiftieth year." His mate called from her place on the bed, a hand covering her mouth.
This last bit of information tore Minuo in two. His instincts rising, and his logical side battling. He had killed his own pup on her day of birth. What had he done?!
"Do not act so foolish Minuo. You know what you have done. Murdered your own Pup." A cold, hard voice called from his left.
Looking up, The Great Lord of the Northern Lands saw the cold, ever fearsome Lord of the West Sesshomaru, standing in the door way to his rooms. He had stayed the night at the Palace, his reason being that he wished to discus the bond between their lands. He wore only a simple pair of Hakma upon his legs, the rest of his body bare.
Instantly, Minuos eyes fell on the stump that was Sesshomarus' left arm. Such a weakness, but the Lord was even more fear some that Minuo himself. He was a deadly creature, whose Youkai milled about him where ever he went. Thick, and nearly choking in the air. His missing limb did nothing to damper the fear that followed his every step. Clutched in his right hand was an all-powerful blade. The Tenseiga. The resurrecting blade.
"It would not be outside of my rights to kill you. Any Inu who has killed his own blood goes against the very primal law of the Inu clans." Sesshomaru stated, moving forward. His voice was cold, and his face held no emotion.
Minuo bristled at his words. "She was a disgrace against my Lands. I have not over crossed any laws!" The man bellowed, moving to stand in front of his mate. His ever restrained beast roaring at its Masters words.