Hello!
I had this idea for quite a time now and decided to give it a go.
- Synopsis:
After helping defeat Naraku and leaving Rin in the care of priestess Kaede in a human village, Sesshomaru travels back to the western lands to investigate the whereabouts of Meidenkai, an antique relic of his father, last seen in possession of the feudal lord of Kitami province centuries ago. However, the current feudal lord is at war against foreign demons who aim to invade and take over the empire, and is not willing to hand over the artifact so easily. Retrieving the relic is no simple task, and during his search, the inu daiyokai will find himself facing foul enemies, petty intrigues of humans and feelings he is not accustomed to.
- Characters: Sesshomaru and Jaken, so far.
- Rating: K+ due to scenes of violence
- What to expect from this story:
~ Spoilers. This story is chronologically placed after the events occured in The Final Act, and there will be mentions to past events.
~ Original characters, in all roles. All characters except for Sesshy and Jaken were created by me. However, Sesshy is still the main character in this story.
~ No adult content. Sorry =( I am more a light romance person.
~ Some spelling and grammar errors. English is not my native language, but I will do my best to give you a decent text.
- Disclaimer: Sesshomaru and Jaken, the two original characters from the series which appear in this fanfic, as well as Inuyasha series itself, are authored by lovely Rumiko Takahashi.
I hope you all enjoy reading it as much as I am enjoying to write it.
Approximately two hundred years ago...
"Toga-sama! Where are you?!"
Amidst devastated trees and roaring crackles of great flames, a blue armored samurai swiftly flew through the flaming grounds, followed by a dozen fellows. A wounded demon stretched out his paw on the ground and instinctively grabbed his foot quickly as he passed by, being immediately severed by a quick slash of his sword whose blade irradiated a strong pink light. The man and his followers kept their way valiantly, and soon they reached the edge of that huge crater, opened by the impact when the dragon demon fell just seconds ago.
Down there, standing at the bottom of the crater and facing the remains of the giant demon in front of him, the Great Dog Demon in his human form breathed heavily. The gashes in his clothes and armor, the ashes covering his body and his exhausted expression were traces of the arduous battle they had just won. One less enemy. One less demon to threat the inhabitants of the western lands.
"Toga-sama!" The human samurai immediately dove on the crater and landed next to his lord. "We exterminated all minions of Senbukotsu on the battlefield, but the red priests managed to escape."
"Let them go. With Senbukotsu dead, their powers are to wither soon along with their bodies. They shall have a painful and slow end of life to rethink their sins." The daiyokai answered while gazing at the sparkling crack on Tessaiga, his fang sword, before finally sheathing it. "Good work, Soujiro! Soldiers! Our enemy has been finally laid to rest. The western lands are safe once again."
"Soldiers! Victory is ours!"
Soujiro, the blue armored samurai, shouted with pride and force while lifting his sparkling sword, imitated by the group of men that surrounded him. The flames grew lighter and ardently, reflecting the fierce spirits of the brave men which risked their lives and achieved victory at the side of the Great Demon Dog they so worshipped.
…
"Soujiro. Come closer."
Bringing his blue horned helmet under one of his arms, the samurai slowly approached his lord, who stood facing the vast image of his beautiful and once again peaceful province. The view was privileged from the edge of the tall cliff where they stood. The evening breeze blew with the softness of a caress, carrying the daiyokai's long and tied silver hair and shaking the short black ponytail of his vassal, and finally bringing the scent of damp leaves and clay.
"Any news from my son?" He questioned while his golden eyes stared at the green fields spread by the horizon.
"Oyakata-sama[1], my informants last saw him leaving the western lands after annihilating the hideout of the red priests."
"Sesshomaru... Will he never learn the meaning of compassion?"
Soujiro kept his silence, knowing that no word could appease the melancholy in his lord's heart. However, he dared a new move, and so his gentle hand fell upon the daiyokai's shoulder pad, conveying to him a silent message of support. Toga returned his gaze from above his shoulder before turning to face him, thrusting his hand into his own armor and taking something out of it.
"My son was the one supposed to guard this artifact. He has the strength to restrain and purify it. But his heart knows only ambition, destruction and contempt for life. I cannot allow this power to be used for vile purposes. Thus…" The Great Demon Dog held out his hand to the man at his side, causing him deep astonishment. Demon and human exchanged deep stares, the golden gaze of the former shining severe and intensely over the latter. "Soujiro, I entrust it to you."
"M-Meidenkai?" Soujiro gasped as he glimpsed the purple jewel shining at the palm of his lord's hand. "My lord, I couldn't-"
"Yes. Meidenkai." The deep voice interrupted the vassal. "This artifact has the power to absorb and transform the demonic energy of dead demons and channel it to its holder. This is a great source of power, spiritual and demonic alike, depending on the nature of who wields it. I do not know for how long I shall dwell in this world, protecting the western lands. My enemies grow numerous and stronger every moment. I entrust Meidenkai to you, Soujiro, my oldest and most loyal human ally, so you can guard it with the same effort you have been putting to fight for me. It shall aid you in protecting the people you have under your wings. For you are the feudal lord of Kitami, and it is your duty to surround with safety the humans and demons which live in your lands. One day, perhaps Sesshomaru may learn the value of this purpose. And when he does it… only when he does it, he will be worthy of inheriting Meidenkai. Until then, I trust your family to keep it safe."
After listening quietly and carefully, the man picked up the item, watching it sparkling in the palm of his hand. Meidenkai irradiated an intense light from its core, greeting its new guardian. Soujiro felt a wave of new energy, powerful and exotic, flowing from his arm into his entire body. Meidenkai had accepted him.
"Toga-sama…" With his other hand, Soujiro unsheathed his glowing sword and bravely stuck it on the floor beside him. He then lowered himself on his knees, his free hand and forehead touching the ground to compose the most respectful bow. "This Sakagama Soujiro, lord of Kitami, humbly accepts the task you entrust to him. I shall guard and protect Meidenkai with my very life! I swear to not use its powers except for the good of my people!"
"Good. I believe in you."
The Great Dog Demon turned his back once again to the samurai and advanced a single step further toward the cliff, from where he could see, hear, and feel practically everything across the great province below, sprawled in thousands of houses, roads, and lakes by the horizon.
"You have always been, above everything else, a kind and caring man..." Toga stated, attracting Soujiro's attention as he raised on his feet again. There was a strange sadness masked in the daiyokai's usually severe voice. The feeling of guilt, perhaps. "Make sure to pass these good qualities on to your children. And that they pass them on to their own children, and so forth. To protect someone… is the most genuine path to the true power. Remember that, Soujiro!"
"Yes, Toga-sama. I shall remember it."
Chapter 1
The trap of the fox demon
"Lord Sesshomaru?" Jaken called, curious about the sudden stop of his lord and his vigilant glare to the east.
The daiyokai laid erect in his elegance and stoicism. His white clothes and light armor presenting a faint blue tone as it blended with the darkness of that cold night. A vast set of sparkling stars beautified the skies above him. His golden gaze, however, remained pointed as an arrow in that particular direction for a few seconds. An icy breeze embraced the daiyokai, carrying his long silver hair and bringing him the confirmation for his suspicion. The unmistakable scent of human blood. A large amount of it, indeed. And...
"Jaken, stay here with A-un." He ordered with his usual calmness while turning around and taking that direction.
"Aye, Lord Sesshomaru." The imp answered, guiding A-un by its reins to a bush that he could eat. As his master took fair distance, he grunted. "He is quite distant and attentive these days, isn't him, A-un? I hope he comes back soon this time…"
Meanwhile, as he walked, the golden gaze of the silver-haired daiyokai fell discreetly to one of the two swords sheathed at his waist. For some time now Tenseiga have been emitting strange vibrations in random situations, with no distinct pattern. As if wishing to alert him, to draw his attention to something that he was yet to uncover. During his rare rests, the energy of the sword would penetrate his dreams, showing him strange visions of Meidenkai, an antique artifact of his father, and a flowered province which he knew he had visited many years ago. Tenseiga... The Heavenly Rebirth Fang. For a long time he kept it untouched in its sheath, unused, carrying it out of pure respect for his Father although it was more a sting in his pride than a memento itself. It was just recently that he discovered the sword's true power, but then he found himself forced to hand it over on behalf of the paltry hanyo with whom he shared his father. He almost discarded that sword back then. But it still had some value.
Finally, what else did it wanted to show him? Why was Meidenkai so important?
Only after the fall of infamous Naraku is that Sesshomaru found himself free to investigate the foggy message which Tenseiga was trying to convey to him. Its signals brought him to the borders of the western lands in search of Meidenkai. It had been reported that the artifact was last seen in possession of Sakagama Soujiro, a certain human who had been a loyal ally of his father for his lifetime. It was known that Soujiro's family still wielded the lands of Kitami. Therefore, his search would start there.
Sesshomaru followed the small trail, knowing that a human village laid a few steps ahead. The screams of terror muffled in the air soon fell silent. As he crossed the last trees that separated him from the small village, he was greeted by the vision of the carnage he expected. Human corpses of men, women, elders and children laid lifeless on the ground, covered with grisly wounds and blood, flooding the entire soil of the village with a fetid dark red. However, another was the target of the demon's attention. The golden eyes stared sharply at the debris of a specific shed.
"Reveal yourself."
His deep command echoed to the destroyed building, which responded with a strong vibration. The daiyokai spread his hand, revealing his claws and preparing for a possible attack that did not come. The hidden figure shot out of the wreckage, swirling in the air and falling to the ground in an offensive stance. A fox demon of snow white fur, dressed in a yellow and red kimono. His pupilless eyes were red, and red were also his hands and claws at that moment, bathed in human blood.
"Who could ever presage this? The great lord Sesshomaru in person! Have you come to save these useless humans? Oh, how unexpected of you." The fox of bloody eyes and sharp voice taunted.
"I have come to ascertain why is there a lowly demon defiling the lands next those of my Father. I expelled you all years ago, but it seems that you always return in flocks, like the rats you are." Tranquility and contempt were old acquaintances in Sesshomaru's voice.
"You cursed arrogant demon! I, Nogitsune, should tear you apart and devour your innards!"
"You are invited to try." Sesshomaru stated with a most subtle grin, lifting his hand to the height of the fur in his shoulder, making visible the green poisonous mist surrounding his claws. "You may find it more difficult than slaying feeble humans."
"Silence!"
Nogitsune opened his wide mouth and poured a burst of red, foul-smelling smoke that surrounded and covered the infuriating intruder completely. He grinned victoriously and prematurely, only to gasp at the sight of the elegant silhouette of the enemy emerging unharmed from the smoke and coming towards him. The poisonous claws lacerated the neck of the fox demon, which jumped and skidded back.
"Curse you!" He squeaked, pressing his hand on the wounded spot in his neck squirting blood and green poison.
"Before I send you permanently to the other world, you shall answer my question." An impassible walk brought Sesshomaru nearer to his prey, still showing his claws, those now colored with the black of Nogitsune's blood. "The castle of Kitami, home to the Sakagama family. Where is it?"
"You are far from defeating me, blasted dog!" The fox dashed against him once again, performing a horizontal slash with the long claws aiming for the middle of Sesshomaru's torso, which was easily avoided. However, the fox's claws detached from its fingers and flew along with a fair amount of that red smoke, forcing the daiyokai to jump far behind in order to fully evade it. Nogitsune laughed. "Hahaha! Sesshomaru, I would love to stay and play with you, but unfortunately I have more urgent matters to-"
He silenced suddenly, turning his gaze to the entrance of the village. Sesshomaru could also hear them: dozens of horses swiftly approaching the village, bringing the scent of more humans with them.
"How wonderful! This is the perfect timing!" Some sudden happiness took over Nogitsune's expressions as he turned to Sesshomaru with bright red eyes shining. "Two rabbits with one stone! You couldn't have appeared in a better occasion, dog!"
"Silence. I will put an end to your pathetic existence at once." The dog daiyokai stated before launching himself against the fox.
"Try me!"
Several consecutive blows rained down on the fox, who barely blocked the daiyokai's claws with his own. It was evident the disparity of strength, agility and dexterity in Sesshomaru's favor, and it would not take long before his enemy's defenses subsided. However, the daiyokai was surprised when the red smoke erupted again from Nogitsune's mouth, disrupting his vision for a second, enough for the fox to pull the body of one of the dead villagers to the front of his last blow. As the smoke dissipated, Sesshomaru found himself with his hand and claws buried in the chest of the human corpse.
"Farewell!" Nogitsune laughed before jumping very high, turning himself into a red mist.
"Hmpf. So this was your plan."
Sesshomaru tighten his eyes, annoyed about letting the creature escape, but he had other priorities at the moment besides chasing down a petty demon. His ears caught the metallic tinkling of armored soldiers moving behind him, encircling him. Nogitsune was a cunning one. The soldiers reached the butchered village just in time to see the long silver haired daiyokai alone, removing his hand from the innards of a human corpse, which slided back to his cold death bed in the floor.
"You!" The seeming commander jumped down from his horse and pointed his spear at the daiyokai's direction, followed by the other soldiers. "Demon! It was you who slaughtered the people in this village!?"
"Surrender!" Another soldier yelled.
"You will die!" And another.
"Are you another of Kamatari's minions?" The commander inquired only to obtain no answer, not even a glare. "Bastard! You will pay!"
Shouting an audible howl, the samurai launched himself against the supposed killer, branding his swords against him. The blade shattered as soon as it touched the poisonous claws. More soldiers rushed forward to his commander's aid, sending blows that Sesshomaru countered with a single whipping of the strand of green-yellow energy that sprouted from his two fingers, knocking the blades back along with their yielders in the process. He scowled as he realized with the corners of his eyes that a rope suddenly fell around him. Did those petty humans think that they had him restrained inside a lasso?
"Commander! We got him!" Cheered the soldier in the other end of the rope, pulling it with all his strength available in order to keep the lasso as tighten as possible. He didn't notice that his enemy didn't move a single inch.
Sesshomaru was ready to reduce the rope to lints, but he held back as promising words touched his ears.
"Good job, soldier! Let us take him to the castle to be interrogated. He may give us valuable information about Kamatari's whereabouts." The commander ordered as he sent a gesture to the other soldiers, which wrapped the invader in more ropes.
"Interesting..." Sesshomaru thought, relaxing his body inside his frail prison. "These humans will lead me to the place I seek."
...
"As I expected, Lord Sesshomaru is late. What?"
Noticing that a convoy of horsemen was approaching from the road, Jaken threw himself against the bushes, pulling A-un with him. While hidden, he waited for the crowd to pass by and then slip his head out of the leaves, peering at them. He gasped as he identified the distinct figure seated inside the large cage escorted by the convoy, circled by ropes and spiritual seals, although apparently comfortable and absorbed by deep thoughts.
"L-Lord Sesshomaru?!" Jaken struggled to retain his voice and not to draw the attention of the soldiers. "Lord Sesshomaru was captured by mere mortals?! This is not possible! Lord Sesshomaru, I will save-"
Jaken branded Nintojo and was ready to leap from the bushes to the road and reduce those humans to ashes, but the ominous gaze he received from the daiyokai comfortably caged froze him in place. No one except for Sesshomaru seemed to have noticed his presence. Jaken stepped back, watching his master and the convoy disappearing beyond the road.
"He... prevented me from intervening! Is it possible that… he let himself to be captured? Why?" Jaken walked in circles. "I got to do something. I can't be left behind. What do I do? What do I do? What are you planning, Lord Sesshomaru? Where are the humans taking you? Come, A-un! We have to watch our master closely."
The imp decreed as he jumped gallantly to the animal's back and pointed in the direction of the road. A-un took the skies, following the troops from afar and from the heights, imperceptible by the soldiers.
...
Around fourty minutes of fast paced walk separated the small convoy from the heart of Kitami province. Strategically placed, the castle was built at the top of a great mountain, accessible only by a long spiral road which circled the elevation.
"Lady Sakuya! We have returned from patrol and bring you news!"
The soldier ran to the front yard of the large building, where several civilians and castle servants were traveling and performing daily activities. His target was the couple under a red tent, gathered around a chabudai[2] which held various papers and military scrolls. Sitting down in the wider zabuton[3] was the young feudal lord of the castle, a woman in her almost thirties, distinguished by the exquisite kimono of light colors compressed under an elegant red armor with golden pleats and other adornments inherents of her position. The man at her side was a counselor, also recognizable by his civil and exquisite uniform.
"What happened?" Sakuya placed the scroll she was reading on the chabudai and lifted her head to face the soldier, which seemed troubled.
"The Gokaida village was slaughtered, my lady! By a demon!"
"Nani[4]?!" She stood up on her feet in a flash, imitated by the counselor. "Where are the survivors? Did you end the slayer?"
"The demon killed everyone, my lady! It was a terrible carnage."
"Curse it…"
"This is awful, my lady." The counselor at her side remarked, with calm and seriousness. He was an elderly man of medium stature, dark clothes, white hair and sparse beard, owner of a naturally cold gaze. Okina Takashi was the name written on the small plate nailed to his uniform on his left breast. "As my lady is aware of, Gokaida was our main source of iron. Without the raw material harvested by the villagers and the blacksmiths to aid us, our arsenal will be impaired greatly."
"How many casualties?" Sakuya asked, with her head lowered and her hands pressed above the chabudai.
"Approximately three hundred and seventy civilians killed, my lady." The soldier answered, watching the daimyo[5] clench her hands even more above the table and retain a silent fury. "We captured the demon! We brought him to the castle to be interrogated. We can find out if he is related to Kamatari."
The news were delivered at the same moment that the cavalry finally entered the courtyard, drawing the pair's attention. The soldiers who came in front of the crowd kept the civilians away, while those behind pushed the cage. Sakuya widened her eyes as she caught a glimpse of the imprisoned slayer. Long silver hair, pale blue moon painted in his forehead, two purple markings on each side of his face, visible claws, the elegant fabrics beneath the light armor and the handful of white fur on which he lay comfortably as he sat in the cage.
"You fools..." Sakuya muttered in thoughts, stricken a bad feeling. "This is…"
"Oyakata-sama, this is the murdered we cap-"
"Enough of this farcical act."
The deep voice came from the creature in human form inside the cage, interrupting the commander. A bright strand of green-yellow energy traveled in the air, tearing down the cage entirely from within as if it was made of paper, alarming the troops. Amidst screams and running servants, the soldiers immediately formed a circle around the cloud of dust that rose up and from which the daiyokai slowly emerged. Indifferent to the spears and blades pointed aggressively to him, Sesshomaru kept his gaze at the distinct couple below the tent. The soldiers fulfilled their task well, and he no longer owned them any more attention.
"Are you the daimyo of Kitami?" He inquired, directly facing the stern armored woman with long, dark brown hair and garments proper of feudal lords. "Descendant of Sakagama Soujiro, I suppose."
"Curse you demon! Soldiers, kill him!" The male commander growled before the daimyo could answer.
Five soldiers from the circle advanced towards the demon, stumbling violently upon each other when he simply jumped too high to be reached and landed face to face with the feudal lord, staring at her with inquisitive eyes.
"My lady! I will not let this monster harm you!"
Another young soldier set off on the daiyokai's direction branding his sword from up to down, aiming for his head, only to have his blade grabbed in the air by the enemy's hand without injuries or difficulty. Sesshomaru pulled him with his sword and all, hurling him at another soldier who tried to flank him from the other side.
"Your soldiers are weak and precipitated." He concluded to the woman in front of him.
Immediately after the statement, he found himself forced to jump backwards in order to avoid the wide wave of spiritual energy which suddenly erupted in front of him. That was the trail of a quick slash performed by the daimyo, surrounded by a fiery pink aura. After silencing the daiyokai's insult to her soldiers, she sheathed her strange sword again.
"I see. Unlikely these soldiers, you are not an ordinary human." He concluded, not only because of the powerful spiritual energy that irradiated from her, but also noticing the exotic hilt and sheath of the sword resting at her waist.
"Neither a fool one. What exactly happened in Gokaida?" She inquired impatiently as she recalled the more than two hundreds of lives lost in that village, without receiving any answer.
"My lady! Are you unharmed?!" The commander came quickly in her aid, along with a handful of soldiers. They gathered between Sesshomaru and the pair, with their swords pointed at the former. "Damned demon! We shall burn you alive for what you have done to those innocent civilians!"
"It looks like you got the wrong killer, dear friend." Takashi stated with a calm smile while gazing at the silver haired daiyokai.
"Nani?"
"Look at him carefully. There are no traces of dirt or even blood in this demon's complexion." The counselor analyzed, inviting the soldier to look at Sesshomaru from bottom to top and coming to the same realization. "Moreover, one does not need cleverness to conclude that you are not capable of touching him. Why would he harm simple civilians, but spare the soldiers?"
"Well... this is..."
"Nogitsune." Sesshomaru's severe voice ressounded from where he stood, motionless. "This is the name of the creature you seek. He had already annihilated the village along with your humans when I arrived."
"Nogitsune?!" That piece of information astonished Sakuya, who suddenly pulled a specific piece of paper from the chabudai to the front of her eyes. "I see… So this is the vile creature who is attacking our supplying villages."
"Yet you let yourself be arrested, did you not?" Takashi inquired, staring sagaciously at the dog prince. "Sesshomaru… Is is not?"
"You know me?" The daiyokai frowned.
"All lords of Kitami know your name and that of your great father. Although it has been several years since the last dog demon was spotted in these lands." The daimyo answered him before gesturing to the soldiers, who hesitantly opened a path between her and the intruder. "You have let yourself be arrested in order to be brought to the castle? Well, I am Sakagama Sakuya, feudal lord of Kitami. Soujiro is my ancestor, father to my great-grandfather. What do you want from us?"
"Meidenkai."
Sakuya widened her eyes as she listened the creature in the shape of a man voice that particular word. Takashi frowned, staring discreetly and suspiciously at the daimyo with the corner of his eyes.
"Meidenkai, is what I search for." He patiently yet seriously repeated, surrounded by his old known serenity. "An antique relic of my father, last seen in the hands of your ancestor. Where is it?"
"Meidenkai? What is it...?" The whispering of the soldiers to each other could be heard.
"Lady Sakuya! We arrested another intruder!"
The announce which disrupted the tense silence came from another soldier. A couple of men who Sesshomaru early saw guarding the walls approached the yard, with their clothes partially scorched, bringing with them a familiar imp of green skin tightly tied up by at least five pounds of ropes, yet clinging bravely to his two headed staff.
"Lord Sesshomaru! Please forgive me! I am very sorry!" Jaken cried.
"Jaken. You disobeyed me."
"Forgive me, my lord!" Jaken insisted, his big and teary eyes shining. "When I saw you being dragged away by the humans in that cage, so depressed, sad and thinner, I knew I had to assist you. But these morons caught me when I tried to cross the walls! Damn mortals!"
"So you thought that I needed aid against mere humans?" Sesshomaru flung a cold gaze with the corner of his eyes towards his ward.
"Oh... that... is... I didn't... Lord Sesshomaru! This is not what I meant!"
"Where is A-un?"
"Well, he is..."
The imp looked up high, followed by Sesshomaru and the others in the yard. And there it was, the twin-headed flying dragon, floating in his blue cloud at a safe distance from others hands, peacefully gazing at the crowd down there.
"DEMON!" The soldiers stirred and started to throw swords, spears, stones, sticks and shoes upwards. "Capture him! Do not let him destroy the castle!"
"Unbelievable." Sakuya pressed her hand flat on her face, trying to figure out which soldier should be punched first. Then she sought the counselor at her side, only to notice that he had disappeared. "Takashi?"
"You cowards! Stop harming A-un!" Jaken cried and tried to fight his prison while A-un simply breathed heavily while watching the only slipper which almost reached him landing on the roof of the castle.
"They are overwhelming us! Call reinforcements!" The commander, desperate.
...
"Huhuhu... Lord Kamatari, where are you? I bring glorious news!"
The shrill voice echoed through the wooden walls as the red mist spread through the thin corridors. As he approached a specific room, whose outer walls flaunted pictures of dragons in various scenes of war, the fusuma [6] slid open, inviting his passage. Once inside, Nogitsune could glimpse the shadow of his master, sitting with his back faced to the entrance, wrapped in the darkness he so admired. Slowly the evil fox demon abandoned his ethereal form and materialized.
"You are late, Nogitsune. I was worried." The male and extremely kind voice filled the air. Although it sounded so warm, somehow the room seemed to grow colder.
"Forgive me, master. I was delayed by an accursed dog demon. But I dealt with him and successfully accomplished the mission you entrusted to me!"
"Dog demon?" Kamatari poured a relaxed laugh. "And who would be this terrific being, powerful enough to steal valuable time of my most efficient fox?"
"Sesshomaru is his name, my beloved master. A wretched demon, full of himself, who thinks that he owns the land!" Nogitsune mocked, with his ego inflated by his master's praise.
"Sesshomaru, the dog demon..." Suddenly, the mysterious lord enveloped by the shadows seemed thoughtful. "Isn't him the son of Toga, the famous dog daiyokai who ruled over the western lands two centuries ago?"
"Aye, master! This is the man, that arrogant bastard." Nogitsune gritted his teeth and showed his long and sharp claws trembling with anger. "My desire was to tear apart bloody that puny body, piece by piece, let it bleed to death, and then devour it!"
"I see. " Kamatari muttered simply. "Ah, did I hear you say that you have dealt with him? May I ask… how?"
"It was a master plan, my lord!" A smile full of sharp and white teeth emerged in the creature's face, which rejoiced his victory. "While the infamous bastard took a beat from me, human soldiers came to check on the village. I deceived them into believing that it was the dog demon the one who killed those poor villagers. While I retreated, I could watch the exact moment when he was caught like a sheep in a cage. At this very moment, he is probably face to face with that viper of a woman. If his fame is well deserved, he will slaughter her and her soldiers with a single strike."
"And this is it?"
"Aye." Nogitsune moved his eyes up to the ceiling while rubbing his claws against each other. "Curious. I have just remembered that, before I started to spank him, he asked me where the castle of Kitami was… Maybe he intended to do it from the beginning."
"Or, perhaps he had other matters to discuss with the feudal lord." Kamatari explained, calmly. "And… you made their meeting easier."
"Ah? What do you mean, my lord?"
"Now..." The fox yokai had an impression that his master was smiling. "If he was in search for the castle, why not simply let himself be guided by the soldiers? Or… perhaps they took him to another place?"
"N-no, master. I... heard sound and clear when they said that they would take him to the castle to be interrogated."
A sepulchral silence filled the room, causing a somber chill to travel down through the fox's body, which now came into realization of his error. A subtle fear consumed him as he saw the shadow of his master slowly rise from his comfortable seat. Kamatari stood motionless, with his back still facing his servant.
"Do you know anything about the story of the Sakagama family, my dear fox?"
"..."
"But how silly of me. Of course, you do. My servants are wise and well armed of information about my enemies, after all." He stated with his usual subtlety. "Surely you know that, at some point of the history, the feudal lord of Kitami served Inutaishou, the Great Dog Demon, in battle. And how ferocious they were… They won every single battle they fought together."
"Hm..."
"But this, fortunately, stood in the past. Inutaishou is long dead, after all." A short pause. "Imagine how detrimental it would be for us… if this alliance still existed nowadays. If, by some miracle of the destiny… or by someone's contribution, of course-" Another icy chill lacerated Nogitsune's soul as he finally realized what was being implied. "- our enemies, the Sakagamas, which so fiercely have been preventing us from dominating the shores… managed to attain as an ally a great demon as strong as Toga."
"M-master, I..."
"It would be really inconvenient, don't you agree?"
Nogitsune opened his mouth in order to try to squeeze an answer. Before he could, however, he was surprised by a shadow and a pair of bloody red eyes that suddenly advanced toward him as fast as lightning. He felt his back crashing violently against the wooden walls behind him, and wooden barbs penetrating his flesh. However, the excruciating pain he felt was coming from what seemed to be a long blade which was now completely impaling his belly, keeping him pinned against the wall. A huge demonic energy raged inside this blade, freezing Nogitsune's movements to the point that he could not even scream. Blood and red mist poured down from his wounds.
"My canny fox..." Kamatari's dark silhouette now stared at his servant from very close, with only his two red eyes visible, bathed in fury, fulminating him. "You do know what you have to do. Do you not?"
"L-Lord... Ka... ma... tari! F...forgive... me! I.. know..."
"Do you? Why, I am insecure…"
"D-des... troy... the... enemy…"
"Good." The blade slowly slided back from the yokai's flesh with a guttural sound. Nogitsune fell on his knees on the ground, relieved from the demonic energy that was eletrocutating his body. "Go, then. I expect from you always the best news, Nogitsune."
"Master! Wait for me!"
Nogitsune cried, with his hands pressing his wound while he rose up and launched himself between stumbles to the exit of the room.
"He seems quite determined in repairing his error..." A ghostly yet sweet female voice echoed in the room soon after the fox left.
"Ah, Sesshomaru will shred him to rags before he can even say two words."
"Sesshomaru... Do you really believe that he can aid the Sakagamas against us in any fashion? He is a nomad, pursuing always his own interests only, and despises humans..."
"It is always good to take precautions. I don't know what he intends in the castle." Kamatari's shadow returned to his seat, the cold tranquility didn't leave his voice tone. "I have heard that he fought alongside humans, and even his bastard hanyo half-brother, against a common enemy recently..."
"Oh, how unexpected." She laughed softly. "And what do you intend to do?"
"Nogitsune, my poor fox, will die like cattle. He is giving me some unpleasant trouble recently, so I will let him perish. He might even take some civilians with him..." He paused before whispering with discreet delight. "Umanohiro, however, can prove himself a little more... effective."
...
"I apologize for the mistake and the overly hostile treatment that my soldiers extended to you in Gokaida and now. These are hard times. As you may have observed... we are at war."
Sakuya explained softly, while returning to her seat at the chabudai. At her command, harmony has returned to the yard. Although wavering at first, the soldiers returned to their posts, leaving the daimyo, the daiyokai and his imp servant with relative privacy in the vast yard, accompanied by the cold breezes of the winter soon to come and a handful of sparkling stars lining the dark skies.
"Against Nogitsune, the fox demon?" The imp holding the two-headed staff inquired.
"Nogitsune is only one minion of the true evil mastermind behind him: Kamatari." She answered while accepting and thanking the cup of tea which a young lady handed to her. She watched the servant try to direct the same courtesy to Sesshomaru, being solemnly ignored. Sakuya sighed. "This mysterious enemy… Kamatari arised from the seas a couple of years ago, trying to invade the empire from our shores and spread his domain through our lands. We have been preventing him from doing so until now, but with winter at our doors, our resources are compromised. Now, it seems that he opted for new approaches. Gokaida, the slaughtered village… was built over our most important iron mine. The men and women which lived in there were responsible for mining and forging the majority of our weaponry. With them out of scenery, our arsenal's production will be halted for some time."
"And to think that that bastard tried to put the guilt of the massacre on Lord Sesshomaru's hands!"
"Nogitsune tried to be clever. He probably knows of your master's feelings towards humans and tried to sow hostility between us." She explained with a serious yet collected tone, despite the risky statement. "If properly disturbed, how long would it take for a daiyokai like Sesshomaru to exterminate my army along with this castle? That would greatly ease Kamatari's life."
"Oh, I see! What an evil and calculating mind. But it wasn't enough to manipulate the great Lord Sesshomaru." Jaken suddenly lowered his voice, as if muttering a loud thought for himself. "It's true that Lord Sesshomaru does not feel any regards for humans, but lately he has become involved with them more than- OUCH!" And was silenced by a slap.
"Unfortunately for him, I do not have any interest in Kitami, neither its wars." After punishing the imp, Sesshomaru stated coldly and serenely, while placing his golden gaze once again upon the daimyo. "Meidenkai is my only subject with this land."
"Having been last seen in possession of my ancestor, is that the only clue you have about it?" She asked.
"Silence." He commanded as he turned his face towards a specific direction, now glaring severely at the castle's walls.
"Nani?!" Sakuya, annoyed with his sudden rudeness.
"That petty fox is here."
That creature's stench, still mingled with human blood, was unmistakable. Sakuya widened her eyes at that revelation, and before she could draft any other reaction, she found herself covered by the light figure of the daiyokai, which repeled a bunch of sharp claws surrounded by demonic energy that was hurled at her direction. A sound explosion broke through the castle walls, raising dust and debris, spreading heavy commotion and panic among soldiers and civilians.
"SESSHOMARU!" The shrill scream of the fox yokai almost cracked every ear it could reach. "WHERE ARE YOU, BASTARD?! I HAVE COME TO DEVOUR YOU!"
To be continued...
[1] Oyakata: master, person in charge, paternal figure, etc.
[2] Chabudai: short legged tables used to sit on floor, commonly used for meals and meetings.
[3] Zabuton: cushions used by people to sit by chabudais, replacing the chairs.
[4] "Nani?": "What?"
[5] Daimyo: feudal lord.
[6] Fusuma: sliding panels that act as doors and walls in old japanese buildings.