Ok, this is an idea that has been buzzing around in my head for a while now and I finally decided to start it. I wasn't going to until I finished one of my other stories but my "write this thing down" instincts kicked in and I just couldn't resist it anymore. I hope you enjoy it!

A Door Closed, A Flame Ignited

Prologue

The simple elegance of the Western Palace was always admired by those who lived or visited the home of the Lord of the West, Inutaisho. The walls were wood paneled with paintings of sakura trees and cherry blossoms spread out evenly, many that he himself had painted. Swords, spears, and other forms of weaponry hung in between the paintings for decoration. The wood of the floor was made from bamboo that had been imported from the continent. The ceiling held skylights, the natural lighting opening up the halls and rooms. Inutaisho would be the first to admit that he had some faults, but that interior decorating was not one of them. At least that was one thing that he and Arisu agreed on.

Arisu was, for all intents and purposes, was Inutaisho's wife and mate. It was true that she had a mark at the place where her shoulder joins her neck, but it wasn't a traditional mate's mark. It was more of a symbol of an alliance with the Great Dog General of the Western Lands. Arisu was the daughter of the Lord and Lady of the Southern Lands, who were also dog demons. The marriage between Inutaisho and Arisu was nothing more than a political strategy on both sides, an arrangement decided by their parents that would unite the West and the South.

In the beginning, Arisu and Inutaisho had tried to ignore each other completely, but that only works so well when you live in the same house and have to share the same room. Eventually, they grew to a point where Inutaisho was beginning to like Arisu and she…well she never really liked him, but she could at least stand being around him. In a way, it worked.

Things started to change about three years into their marriage. Arisu became pregnant and gave birth to a little white haired, golden eyed boy. Inutaisho wished to name the child Masa, since the name represented everything that he hoped his first born would grow up to be. But Arisu insisted on the name Sesshomaru because she was convinced that he would grow into a fine warrior. Inutaisho thought the same thing, but he didn't want his son to be labeled a killer because of his name. Unfortunately, he also knew that Arisu was never satisfied unless she got what she wanted, so he conceded.

Sesshomaru was Inutaisho's pride and joy. Once the boy reached the age of seven, Inutaisho began to teach him about the culture of humans and youkai alike, the arts, and how to distinguish threats by the way something or someone smelled. His demon marks began to show up when he was thirteen, beginning with the stripes on his cheeks. Inutaisho began training Sesshomaru to use his claws to defend himself. The Dog General was shocked when Sesshomaru slashed at a target one day and his claws had glown green and had practically melted the wooden dummy. Poison claws were a rarity among dog demons, the skill only belonging to those who would become powerful taiyoukai; Arisu was definitely pleased and had given Inutaisho an "I told you so" look when the event occurred. Once the crescent moon, his final mark, appeared on Sesshomaru's forehead at the age of sixteen, Inutaisho taught Sesshomaru how to control his full form, a large white dog. He also explained to him about the mating process; Sesshomaru was of age and he needed to be prepared for when his inner youkai selected his mate.

As Sesshomaru grew older, Inutaisho had hoped that his son would bring him and Arisu closer together. In a way, they did grow closer; they talked more often and she was less snitty towards him. The Lord of the West was even beginning to think that he might be learning to love Arisu when Sesshomaru was fourteen. Fortunately for Inutaisho, the demon world had been at peace for six years; one of the longest spans in recent years and the first since his father's death nine years prior. He utilized this time to spend time with his wife and son.

Then things began to go downhill. On Sesshomaru's eighteenth birthday, Arisu received a letter from the Southern Palace. Apparently her mother, the only surviving member of the family other than Arisu's older brother, had fallen ill and was on permanent bed rest. She left that day, refusing Inutaisho's offer for Sesshomaru and himself to accompany her. She was gone for over two months before she returned, shaken. Her mother was not doing well and her brother had been away for a while and was not prepared to take the throne. So she was gone every couple of weeks to prepare her brother for succession. Inutaisho trusted and felt terrible for Arisu, but for some reason, his inner youkai was bristling around her.

Within a year, Arisu's mother passed on. Her brother became the Lord of the Southern Region, and he happened to be a very good ruler. Inutaisho could tell that Arisu was having a hard time coping with it all, despite her cold shell. He offered for her to have one of her family's close friends stay with them for a while to help her cope with her loss. She didn't hesitate to accept his offer. Inutaisho wasn't necessarily pleased when she chose another male, she was his wife and possibly he was in love with her, but she said that her father had been close to the young youkai's family and he was the only living member of the family, so he agreed to let the male stay.

However, Inutaisho could be very trusting of people; it was, sometimes, one of his faults. Sometimes his trust was misplaced and that could get him into some sticky situations. This time, though, he may have just put his trust in two of the worst people he ever could have.

So, this is my third story, but it's my first about characters who aren't some of the main characters. Well, except for Sesshy but he's not the main focus here. I hope you like this little introduction to the rest of the story. Please review, they make me happy and more motivated!