*I do not own InuYasha or any affiliated characters.*

Chapter One

Inu-no-Tashio thats what they called him. He was called great, powerful and the most revered Demon of this age. It was not just the other InuYokai either. All of Japan knew his name and trembled in fear at his approach. He had a reputation for ruthlessness in battle. He was considered an honorable ruler. His possession of So-ung was legendary, coupled with the fang of life none dared cross him. He was known as the greatest leader of all demon kind. His power and protection of what he considered his made life in the western lands peaceful. The unfortunate side effect of this was that Toga was lonely. Those who sought him out were looking for one of two things. Power in joining him, or (more often than not) Power at slaying him.

From the day of his birth he knew he was different. As time passed it became more obvious, he was one of the only Demons to establish a power structure. He mimicked humans, he held court, forged alliances and defended what he created. The manner of the InuYokai's creation was unique, and his power was attributed to it. Other Yokai at first mocked his methods but the order he commanded soon made others follow suit. He knew what he wanted and he went after it. He wanted many things throughout his long life and most things he got. A very few remained unattainable.

He wanted affection but he had all but given up on such things. He could take another to his bed, in fact he knew of several powerful yokai who would come running at his call but for some obscure reason, that he couldn't quite nail down, he did not want too. He did not want a repeat of his last attempt at what humans called love. He still had feeling for his sons mother but she had seen fit to sever their connection and move on. Sesshomaru's mother was long gone, and Sesshomaru himself was well beyond needing him. Toga had even gone so far as to leave him in charge while we "patrolled the lands" as he cleared his mind.

How long had he been walking? Felt like forever and yet no more than a moment. Telling everyone he was patrolling his lands seemed like a good idea at the time but in truth he simply wandered this way and that. He should have been hunting Yokai threats but as there were few or in most cases none he began stalking humans. It had been a very long time since he walked among humans. What he found was unsettling and disturbing. He recalled the days of humanities infancy and wondered what had happened. They seemed to be cursed beings. All of them were proving more and more worthless as time passed. What he once considered to be a fascinating species had degraded into a disturbing, blood thirsty and honor less scum. He was all for killing when it was necessary but these humans had taken it too far.

They were at war with everyone and no one. They fought other provinces, they waged war against other noble houses. They killed even among family. There seemed to be no rhyme or reason to it either. But what disgusted him most was that humans seemed to take the call to war and turn it into a reason to raid, pillage and rape. Toga snorted at the very idea. What pleasure could one get from taking something that should be given. He supposed that if he was to investigate closer he might learn the reason, but frankly he didn't care enough to. And so with little else to distract him Toga began systematically clearing his lands of not only Yokia but also the raiding humans. He did nor care who they were or why they raided only that such honor-less actions would be met with death. Some of them were obvious soldiers, armor weapons and colors to match some human lords. Other were simply bandits. All fell to him.

Toga was far into the north lands and had not met a human settlement for several days. He was thinking again of his home and all the responsibility's that awaited him, and with a long suffering sigh he thought that perhaps it was time to return.

The wind shifted and with it the scent of humans. The tang of iron was heavy in the air, not only from the weapons that were being used but also the blood that was being spilled. Toga breathed deep. No Yokai on the air. It must be another human war. Should he intervene again or let fate happen? He shook his head. He had started something and would not leave one small corner of his lands unlearned of his displeasure. Toga focused on the human hearts that beat rapidly in the distance. Racing toward the fear laced on the air.

What greeted him was wanton destruction. Hollow shells of the human homes burned brightly as fire licked at the wood. Blood, still hot pooled beneath the many humans that lay strewn throughout the small village. The scent on the air was thick with so many overlapping sources Toga wanted to retch. This was not a war, it was a raid.

A snarl ripped through his throat as he sought those responsible. When he found them it was clear they were leaderless and honor-less brigands, less than the earth robbers. Thirty some odd humans on horses circled some fifteen on their knees. Weapons were drawn and within no time those at the mercy of the brigands would have been dead.

Toga let his Yokai loose. Until that moment it was under tight control as he didn't want to alert any to his presence. He was so angered that his aura responded with an unnatural wind that whipped through the ruined village and immediately spooked the horses of the brigands. Panic struck as even the humans looked fearfully for the source.

Toga lashed out swift as only a demon lord can, within a few moments more than half the humans were dead. Those honor-less humans who managed to keep their mounts from throwing them attempted to bolt. Each was chased down swiftly and dealt a swift death.

Toga stood in the carnage and looked at the sword in his hand. So-ung sang a joyful song of death. It begged for more, vile thing! It was pressing against his mind again, trying to overcome him. He was not so weak and with his will alone he forced the sword to settle into its restless sleep again. Having it's aura still and under his power again he reined in his flaring yokai and the unnatural wind it stirred. He needed a new sword, one that could outmatch any other. Soon he would visit Totosai.

Toga turned quickly at a shuffling sound and found the fifteen humans who would have died without his interference. They watched him. With no weapons, clearly the defeated in this fight they still looked at him with confusion mixed in with overwhelming fear. With a dramatic show Toga wiped his sword clean and sheathed it slowly.

One of the men pushed forward, throwing himself into a low bow he called "Thank you great lord!"

The other men followed suit, a bit slower as though they did not want to but had too. The first man must be their leader.

"I detest honor-less beings" Toga said in response. He really had not considered the humans he had saved. It was not his goal. "Let it be known that such actions will be met with a swift death."

The first man to bow nodded against the bloody dirt "Yes great lord. May I know to whom do I owe my life?" He begged.

Surprised by the mans deferral and intelligence Toga pondered for a moment. Perhaps not all humans had fallen low with depravity and honor-less wars. Perhaps humans were still worth closer examination. "Who dares ask such a thing from me?" Toga demanded. Reminding these humans that they only lived due to circumstance.

"The humble Lord of this region. Nakatomi Giichi." The human said still with his head bowed. Toga was sure the man only did this to secure their lives. For all they knew he would turn on them next. Not an unwarranted fear.

"Tell me human," Toga began, a growl escaping his control. "If you are the Lord of these lands then why do you not protect what is yours?"

The human had the decency to flinch at the accusation. One of his men looked up and took it upon himself to answer for his lord, "Our province is poor and plagued by brigands from the north. As we are here and would have lost our lives you must know Great Lord that we were trying to protect what we could."

Toga, simply stared at them. The North was notorious for brigands and this village was close to the border. He felt a small measure of guilt at the death around him. He should have been paying more attention to what was his. He then nodded, waving the humans up from their prostrate position. There was no lie in their scent. Only fear sliding into apprehension. "I am the Inu No Tashio. The western lands are mine and I protect what is mine."

The men all murmured and some gaped at him. "We humbly thank you. How may I repay for your assistance and our lives?" The man, Nakatomi asked.

That surprised him even more, though he did not let it show. This human was polite and was seeking to repay him. Though Toga was not seeking to save them per say he liked the idea that this human was at least civilized. The human couldn't really offer anything he would want and Toga huffed at the presumption. He turned away deciding that he would let these men live. He took to the sky's and went in search of water to wash away the blood.

*End chapter*

**I have never found a reference to Inu-papa's given name but have read a few fic's that named him Toga so I just went with it as INU-NO-Tashio would be a pain to write over and over.**