At War Against Fate
Prologue
He could feel the heat of the flames closing in on all sides, and the growing feeling of fatigue settling heavily on him as he fought against the human warrior, Takemaru of Setsuna.
"He's a tenacious enemy, this human of the Setsuna clan…..Tis a pity we're both going to die here." Inu-Taisho mused, as he blocked a blow to his already injured side, and thrust the Sounga deep into one of Takemaru's blind spots, getting a yowl of pain from his opponent as a result.
"It doesn't have to be that way, you know. I can help you." Another voice offered; to which Inu-Taisho simply sneered in derision at the suggestion.
"You? Help me? Do you take me for a fool, Sounga?" Inu-Taisho replied, skeptical and leery of his evil sword's offer.
"If you desire to live, Dog General, then I suggest you do as I say." Sounga stated, then added, "You do want you see your newborn son again, don't you?" Inu-Taisho froze, then glared at the sword in his hand. Sounga had seen the very deepest desire within his heart, and, in his moment of weakness, taken advantage of it.
"What am I to do? What other alternative do I really have?" Inu-Taisho wondered, as he glanced somberly at Sounga; sensing what the demonic blade wanted….and very reluctant to give in.
"Well? Are you going to listen to me or not?" Sounga asked, impatiently; feeling pleased as the inu youkai lord slowly gave in.
"What do you want?" Inu-Taisho asked, knowing that, in order to have his wish granted, the dark sword wanted something in return.
"Not much, Dog General. Just my freedom." Sounga replied, in a tone that was far too pleasant for Inu-Taisho's liking.
"And what will you do with your freedom, once you have it?" Inu-Taisho again asked, warily.
"Return to the Continent." Sounga stated, then asked, "Have you made your decision?"
"Yes. As much as I am loathe to do this….to actually be foolish enough to trust you….I must ask this of you; how are you going to get me out of this?" Inu-Taisho questioned, as foreboding settled itself firmly in his gut.
"Oh, that is the simple part! Since you are still too powerful for me to possess, (and you can thank your lucky stars for that) I am going to place a hibernation spell upon you, after I transport you somewhere a little less….warm? You will remain in deep slumber while your wounds heal, until both of your loathsome swords of the fang come into their full strength in the hands of their new owners." Sounga said, with disgust very evident in his voice when he mentioned Tetsusaiga and Tenseiga. Inu-Taisho sighed, and reluctantly nodded; he knew he had no choice, but hoped that his sons would be strong enough to combat Sounga when the time came.
"Be strong, my sons….Work side by side to destroy this evil….Fight as one… As brothers!" Inu-Taisho thought, before the hellish scene of the inside of the burning castle faded, and as Sounga's spell began to take effect….Unaware of what this split-second decision was going to do to his progeny………..