Heavy breathing rapidly released from a young demon's mouth as he ran through the forest. In his hand was an important scroll that he was to deliver immediately to the lord of the western lands. As he ran up to the castle the guards paid him no attention. They knew who he was and what he had been sent to do. His legs burned as he raced up the steps and ran down the hall to his Lord's study. Sesshomaru saw his messenger running up to his castle beforehand as he stood at the large windows behind his desk.
"My lord...I..." The boy tried to catch his breath.
"I have word from the east, I was told to get back to you as I could." He breathed out and bowed handing him the scroll. Sesshomaru took the scroll and opened it. Reading the letter before him made his jaw clench as he threw the scroll across the room.
"Get out." He said sharply.
The boy did not hesitate and quickly exited the room. Inukimi was taken back by the rushed demon as she attempted to make her way into the room.
"I'm so sorry my lady! Please forgive me!" The boy exclaimed before running off. InuKimi said nothing but raised a delicate eyebrow as she entered the room. Her son sat at his desk with his fingers pinching the bridge of his nose. By her feet was the scroll that the boy had delivered. She picked up the letter and examined it. The letter basically stated that if the western lands wanted to keep its peace with the east he would agree to unite their families through mating. Refusal would be considered an insult and result in war. Inukimi carelessly dropped the scroll and walked over to her son. She gently placed a hand on his shoulder in attempt to comfort him.
"Go away." Sesshomaru said without looking at her.
"Now Sesshomaru, is that any way to talk to your mother?"
Sesshomaru released his nose and glared up at his mother.
"Go away please." The tone was mocking but Inukimi did not mind.
"Nice try."
She then sat on the edge of Sesshomaru's desk and folded her arms.
"So, what are you going to do?"
Sesshomaru leaned back in his chair. "It appears I must go to war."
Inukimi rolled her eyes. "Is the idea of mating really something to go to war about?"
"I have no need for a mate, and this Sesshomaru will certainly not be threatened for one."
"Well, this Inukimi would not mind some grandchildren sometime in her life."
Sesshomaru glared at his mother. He had no interest in finding a mate.
Inukimi sighed. Her son was so stubborn. He insisted on keeping that little girl around but refuses to give her what she needs, a mother figure. If that were not enough, she herself would like to see her son settle down and have an actual family. She figured after his precious ward almost died and now that Naraku was gone, he would finally see that nothing is more important than family.
"Have I taught you nothing?" Inkimi said shaking her head. "Finding a mate is important Sesshomaru. We live for a vary long time, and although solitude seems all right now but after a while you will see just how lonely it can be."
"You taught me the exact opposite actually." Sesshomaru stated looking out his window.
Inukimi looked down. "Perhaps its my fault then. However, I'd like to repeat the advice that I gave you before, in that I think you really should make a radical change in your lifestyle and begin to boldly do things which you may previously never have thought of doing, or been too hesitant to attempt. So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man's living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun."
Sesshomaru turned his head slightly while listening to his mother.
"If you want to get more out of life, son, you must lose your inclination for monotonous security and adopt a style of life that will at first appear to you to be crazy. But once you become accustomed to such a life you will see its full meaning and its incredible beauty. And so, my dear, in short, get out of this castle and hit the Road. I guarantee you will be very glad you did. But I fear that you will ignore my advice. You think that I am stubborn, but you are even more stubborn than me. You had a wonderful chance on your way back to find yourself someone wonderful after all this nonsense with Naraku. But for some reason incomprehensible to me you wanted nothing but to bolt for home as quickly as possible, right back to the same situation which you see day after day after day. I fear you will follow this same inclination in the future and thus fail to discover all the wonderful things that is placed around us to discover."
Sesshomaru raised his eyebrow. He did much traveling, and has seen many things in his life time. Since when is such trivial aspects of life such as nature and mating become so important to the woman in front of him.
"The only person you are fighting is yourself and your stubbornness to engage in new circumstances." Inukimi stated.
"The answer is still no mother." Sesshomaru stated before making his way to the exit. Inukimi huffed.
"Well now where are you going?!"
Sesshomaru did not answer her.
Sesshomaru knocked lightly onto Rin's bedroom door before entering. Rin sat on the floor playing with some dolls as she looked up at her visitor. A large smile claimed her face as she dropped her dolls to go meet him at the door.
"Rin, we are leaving." He said calmly. Rin smile faltered slightly, but only from her confusion.
"Where are we going Lord Sesshomaru?"
"Some place safe."
Rin was still very confused, but knew better than to question Lord Sesshomaru. In do time all would fall into place and she would understand. Sesshomaru gather Jaken and Ah-Un and made his way North. The journey its self was rather uneventful. A few demons who had to be put in their place but other than that the walk to the north was a quiet one. In two weeks time they had made it to their destination. The Northern Castle.
"Mi'lord, if you don't mind me asking...why are we here?" Jaken asked. They had not been to the northern castle in years.
"I have something to discuss with my allies." Was the only explanation Sesshomaru would give. As they approached the castle they passed a number of guards who made no notion to stop the group from entering. They either knew who he was or thought him no threat. He assumed the first. The doors where let open and a mouse like girl looked at them with a slightly startled expression. Her attire claimed she was a servant and her expression showed she was not used to company showing up unannounced.
"Can I h-help you?" She said nervously.
"Inform the Lord and Lady that the Lord of the Western lands wishes to speck with them." Sesshomaru said calmly. The girl hesitated for a moment before running down the hall. While they waited Sesshomaru looked around the main entrance. It had been many years since had stepped foot in this castle and it seemed not much had changed. There was however something different about the atmosphere. Something different that Sesshomaru could not quite place.
"Why hello there stranger." A velvety voice spoke. Sesshomaru turned and was greeted by non other than the Lady of the North herself, Annika. The woman before him, much like the castle had not changed much either. Her long blonde hair was in a high ponytail. She wore a red and back kimono with slits on each side of her legs that lead to her hips, beneath were black pants and knee high boots. She was what he remembered, but at the same time something was different. She looked, different.
"It has been a long time Annika. You look well." Annika smirked.
"Too long, but I suppose I can forgive you. How are you old friend?" Before Sesshomaru could answer Annika looked down and spotted Rin, hiding behind his leg. Her eyes widened.
"And who is this?! I had heard a human child had been following you but I couldn't believe it."
Annika crouched down and stuck her hand out to Rin.
"Hello there little one. My name is Annika, whats yours?" Rin looked from Annika to Sesshomaru who gave a curt nod. Rin smiled and took Annika's hand.
"Im Rin!"
Annika smiled. "It is so nice to meet you Rin." A cough was heard off the the side. Annika's head turned to see Jaken standing with his hands folded behind him and his chin in the air.
"Hello to you as well Lord Jaken." Annika greeted politely.
"Annika." Annika looked up to meet Sesshomaru's eyes.
"I have something I must discuss with you."
Annika stood up. "And here I thought you had just stopped by to say hello. Alright, lets go to the study."
Sesshomaru looked at Jaken and the imp nodded, knowing he was to keep an eye on Rin.
When they got to the study Annika sat down behind a desk and placed her elbows on its top, while resting her head in her hands.
"What is is I can do for you Lord Sesshomaru?"
Sesshomaru was about to answer when a realization came to him.
"Where is Isamu?"
Annika frowned at the mention of her mate. The frown was then replaced with a sad smile and light laugh.
"Isamu...he is...gone."
"He left you?" Sesshomaru asked, his toned barley above a whisper.
Small tears formed in Annika's eyes. "Something like that...no...Sesshomaru...Isamu is dead."
Sesshomaru's eyes widened slightly.
"Of course you would have known that had you been home in the past 80 years. I sent you a letter, and your mother showed up. Told me you were off to find supreme power..or something like that and didn't know when you would return."
Sesshomaru felt a small pang of guilt hit him. Annika was close ally and friend. During his time with Rin Sesshomaru had learned a bit about the feeling of those around him, and he knew what it was like to lose someone you cared for. Isamu was a good man. He and Sesshomaru had very different perspectives on a lot of different things, but that never changed the fact that he did what he thought was right by his people, and by his mate. Sesshomaru was around when Annika and Isamu met, as well as when they become mates. Although Sesshomaru to this day did not understand those who desire mates, if he were to ever hope to it would be through Annika and Isamu.
"How did that work out for you anyway? Your little power quest?" Annika asked with slight sarcasm.
Sesshomaru thought about it. "Different than I had expected."
Annika nodded silently.
"I'm sorry for your loss Annkia." Sesshomaru said.
Annika gave a weak smile. "Me too."
With a deep breath Annika shook her head. "Enough of that. What is it you came here for Sesshomaru?"
Sesshomaru nodded. "War may be braking out between the East and West."
Annika raised an eyebrow. "Over what?"
"It appears my rejection to mating with the Lords oldest daughter is a war bringing matter."
Annika's eyes widened in slight shock. Rejection usually hurt pride and bent alliances lightly but it did not usually lead to war. The Eastern Lord must have really taken the rejection personally.
"So you need men? For the army?"
Seeshomaru nodded. "Yes but I also have a more delicate request. Rin. Should I have to plan a war I do not want her getting hurt in the cross fire. If someone where to get past our deffenses and to her-"
Annika lifted up a hand to stop him.
"Say no more. Rin is more than welcome to stay here."
"I plan for this war to end quickly but these things can be unpredictable. I simply cannot be two places at once."
Annika laughed lightly. "Sesshomaru, stop explaining. Its okay that you want help to make sure Rin is safe. You should know me well enough to know I would never mock you for that. I'll mock you for a lot of other things but never that."
Sesshomaru glared at her lightly. Annika rolled her eyes.
"Always so serious."
"I will be informing Rin and Jaken of my plans and make my way back to the west."
"I'll have a servant ready some rooms, but Sesshomaru...War is unpredictable, so be careful."
"Hn.." Sesshomaru scoffed lightly. "I have no plans to die anytime soon."
Annika frowned. "None ever do."
Okay so thats Chapter one. I used to be a big InuYasha fan but never really write any fanfiction about it. I have been reading a few different Sesshomaru fics and there are ones I like and others that I feel dont have enough...idk personality? Like Its a human, or a half demon who end up being saved by Sesshomaru and now they owe him and it is a lot of the same stuff so I wanted to try a slightly different approach. I hope you guys are interested and if so leave me a comment and or a heart so I know Im not just writing for myself!
Thanks a bunch