Mermaid Saga Chapter 1, an inuyasha fanfic

Mermaid Saga, Chapter 1

"…Aye, myths I tell you. " The imp spat, angrily turning the pages in the large book in his grasp. "Merciless sea witches! Initially craven, yet that is their lure." The slapping of another turned page was heard. "Better off at the bottom of the Koro, I always say!" Despite his opinion, Jaken didn't release the book. His very life depended on keeping track of it.

"It is, for our purposes, necessary." Came his master's reply, his voice smooth and nearly underlined with a dangerous and morbid intent. His servants were wise not to defy him.

He was virtually unreadable and stoic with a calm façade, minus the occasional rage that seared through his veins. Only those that had lingered in his company for centuries could seldom tell the slight changes in his demeanor. The briefest arch of his brow, or the faint spreading of his lips in a cruel smirk were the predeterminations of whether one would live or not, and many found themselves meeting a swift and painful end.

Sesshomaru was never one to tolerate disobedience, nor was he ever able to find any individual, demon or human, that wouldn't bend to his will. Fearing his methods of persuasion, scores of his men stood at the Koro Sea's dark water's edge.

They were in mermaid territory, and only dead men stood that close to its shores.

All surface dwellers knew of legends of drowned demons, humans, and animals that loomed too close to the Koro, though the young Taiyoukai of the West stood motionless, peering out intently at the water's vastness. A passing gust caught his white mane of silver hair, truly identifying him as a ruler over lesser, common breeds. His visage was otherworldly, beautiful even, sunlit eyes of fierceness, and a regal demeanor. In his grasp was blade Toukijin, its aura magnificent in its own right. His power was not to be trifled with, but the task set before him was difficult.

Capturing a single woman of the sea was easy, if one didn't have to deal with the several hundred that would attack. He was going to lose a few men due to that minor detail, but of course, if they weren't quick enough to dodge, then they deserved to die.

"…Jaken, stay back." He directed the command towards his head minister. Even as he spoke, he didn't spare a glance at the small imp.

"Uh, yes milord!" Jaken nodded repeatedly, scuttling back against the rows of men who resided behind his lord.

Lethargically, Toukijin was elevated and pointed outwards, parallel with the ground. Its wielder's arm extended forward, as if it was seeking some general direction or target. The scent of anxiety radiating from his men was unmistakable. They were afraid, very afraid, and it left Sesshomaru truly wondering. Had they not learned anything from his late father?

Time seemed to freeze, as the minutes simply ticked by in small increments, yet their leader remained in place, unwavering. His actions had to be timed precisely. They only had once chance, one single chance to catch the right siren over the dozens of crazy, sea dwelling banshees.

Sweat beaded Jaken's brow and his teeth chattered.

Then it began.

The water's surface broke with one head, the ripples spreading as a lone siren arched her back, exposing her humanoid torso, her rounded breast, lithe neck, and her heavenly countenance: full lips, almond-shaped eyes, and a slender nose.

Despite her splendor, Sesshomaru remained unfazed, unimpressed. She was not the one he sought after. He could smell it. He could smell the vile intent and the evil within her.

Her sisters emerged the same in a similar, alluring fashion, shamelessly exposing themselves in fluent, lethargic patterns, all dotted along the Koro. The waves rolled gently, and the women continued to remain fixated and the newly arrived surface dwellers.

Reasoning with them was beyond useless. No one even knew if they spoke the same language. Just as a majority of the men standing before them expected, one of the sirens threw her head back, releasing a screech.

The violent thrashing of water was heard as they all sprung forth. Their lips were peeled back to reveal jagged, sharp teeth, and their hellish screams were endless.

On shore, the men gasped out, shrinking away visibly, though their lord stood his ground. He needn't do anything else. About him, the wind picked up, the grass beneath him dying as a pulsation of his strong aura surged.

It always struck fear in his opponents and was the only warning of their coming demise.

Electricity crackled, illuminating the blade in Sesshomaru's grasp. Within the blink of an eye, an azure energy shot out from Tokijin's steel, completely obliterating the approaching mermaids. Their wails came as their bodies became ash. Those in the water gasped before hissing loudly, eel like tongues snapping out at him.

Those that had gotten passed him sunk their many fangs into the jugulars of the hesitant men, their tails flickering about dangerously, each whipping with enough force to break a demon's bones.

The first line of defense broke, sending the second wave of demons in to fight off and kill the ones they could.

"Throw the nets!" Jaken squawked. This was the only opportunity they'd have before they all vanished from the surface, and he knew it. His lord's attack was the signal. Once they were stunned, they'd be captured.

As instructed, several large demons bounded forward, casting a strong net about the wildly thrashing sea beasts. Some escaped, though others further tangled themselves by struggling. They bit and clawed, resorting to snatching and breaking off their own limbs an effort to get away. Crimson filled the waters, but the nets were still drawn in, taking the power of the west's strongest warriors.

"Milord!" The little demon worked to trace after his master who passively paced towards the violently squirming mermaids, "These creatures couldn't possibly be pure!"

"There is one." Was his only response as the sirens were dragged across the sand. There had to be one siren that fit the description found within one of his father's strategy manuals.

Often times, he dwelled on the riddle: 'Pure, yet not of the pure, maturation is the difference.'It was repeated several times on the pages listed with his father's experiences when dealing with battles that were fought nearest the Koro. He had discovered a remedy for all illnesses by using the scales of a mermaid or a siren. The only complication arose with designating the difference.

Sirens were frightful creatures, while mermaids were not. Sirens could appear as though they were peaceful, but could alter their forms into grotesque creatures. Mermaids rarely rose to the surface, while sirens made it a habit of investigating the shores of their homes. Despite it, none of them could resist the aura of a demon. A demon's flesh brought longevity. Because of this, the odds of them having one pure mermaid of the ones captured had been increased, exponentially, or so Sesshomaru hoped. With his prize in hand, the silver-haired youkai proceeded off.

"I'm sure he knows that the ceremony is tonight…" The old man groggily spat, digging around his pointed ear with his clawed index finger, "But who is foolish enough to remind him?" Totosai questioned, glancing around the table of advisers.

Of course, chuckling was heard, each elderly man understanding that annoying their young leader meant death. Pestering him about the arriving mating ritual was nothing short of a death sentence. Scores of women, those of noble blood, were going to be visiting the castle in hopes that they'd find themselves chosen to carry Lord Sesshomaru's heir and would have their placement at his side.

"He's not interested. His main focus has been that child." Kaguya spoke, the only female seated at the table. It was indeed an honor to be the firstwoman among the finest of advisers serving their lord. "That human." She pursed her lips, her dark eyes flickering about before she stared into space, "Rin."

"Hopefully he decides to go ahead and eat her." The man on her left said with a scoff.

"She's still ill, so near the brink of death that he went to the Koro this morning." Kaguya continued on, running over the male's words, "I doubt there will be a ceremony tomorrow."

"These rituals and ceremonies are always large and blown entirely out of proportion!" A small voice spoke as the flea, Myoga hopped onto the table, "Besides. They're back. He needn't concern himself with any other girls. He's knee-deep in naked women already!"

Brain matter exploded from underneath a heavy boulder as a siren's skull was smashed in. Blood pooled under the large rock, her lifeless tail lethargically flipping in her last death-throws. Heaving the rock aside, the massive ogre demon cast his one-eyed-gaze to the hissing and cowering women pressed against the cold walls.

Those that were not mermaids were killed, as Sesshomaru had no use for them. Their scales would only poison Rin, not heal her.

Against the wall, several sirens remained in their sea form, yet others had sprouted legs. They screeched, cried, snarled, sobbed and fell repeatedly trying to stand. They stumbled over the bodies of their deceased sisters, some resorting to trying to eat their decaying relatives in hope to gain eternal youth.

"They are savages…" Jaken squeaked loudly, hiding his trembling form further behind his master.

One after another, the sirens were tossed in the direction of the stoic taiyoukai, and with a brief disdainful glance over their faces, they were shoved in the direction of the ogre. He hadn't found what he was looking for.

The sirens began to dwindle in numbers, the smell of their blood in the room becoming intoxicating. Those left clung to one another, nearly balling up tighter than knotted string. The guards worked to yank them apart, being weary of their snapping jaws and the black voids of their eyes.

Another girl was tossed in Sesshomaru's direction, and she would have fallen, had it not been for his powerful grasp at her slender forearm.

She was terrified.

Unlike the others, her azure eyes remained widened in anxiety, her breathing harshly labored. She had not transformed into a hellish creature.

This intrigued the demon lord.

She was cowering before him, her entire body shuddering over from the chilling air, and her fear. For the most part, she wasn't standing on her own. Had it not been for him, she would have been crawling on her belly.

"…Is that the one?" Jaken blinked, peering out from behind his lord's white hakamas.

Sesshomaru couldn't determine if she was indeed a mermaid, not readily. His free hand laced over in poison, the green mist glowing about his fingers. All the while, his face remained a blank, unreadable slate.

The girl was sure that she was about to meet her demise. Her legs finally gave weigh, and she slumped in his grasp. Regardless, she directed the hardest glare she could muster towards her current tormentor. Her eyes blurred over in tears, a lump catching in her throat, but she made no move to hurt him. She couldn't.

He had his answer now.

The poison died out, and he momentarily released the woman. "She is the one. Destroy the rest. Jaken, prepare the remedy."

If the antidote failed, then he'd be brutally killed, Jaken very well knew. Though he had been in his lord's company the longest, the little human girl had wormed her talkative, playful, and annoying way into the unattainable- Sesshomaru's care.

There wasn't one person the small imp could identify that his liege actually adored. He once thought that he was caring for the girl out of a sense of pride and honor. Few knew of how Rin tried to coax him back to health after a near-fatal battle.

However, as their lord stood beside the sick girl as she steadily drank the concoction of the mermaid's scales and other contents, Jaken was no longer sure about their relationship being a matter of pride.

She was like an adoptive daughter.

The very idea made the little demon cringe. How much longer would she stay around? Days had turned into weeks, weeks into months, and months into a year now, and still the little girl followed his lord wherever he went, on his rounds, throughout the castle, and even in public appearances.

Rin took another gulp from the cup, the liquid thick as it went down her throat. Her nose wrinkled, her entire face contorting in distaste. "It's gross, Sesshomaru-sama." She weakly croaked.

It brought a small leer to Sesshomaru's features, since her words amused him. It vanished once he began to speak, "The taste matters not, only the effects."

She only had a small portion left to swallow, but she doubted she could manage further. With a sharp intake of breath, her body sputtered before she began to cough, the sound ragged. The cup turned over in her lap, her small hands reaching to cover her mouth.

Each coughing spell usually left her weak with blood dribbling from the corners of her lips as the copper taste filled her mouth. She grew light headed, immediately falling backwards onto the plush pillows behind her. "S-Sesshomaru-sama." she whimpered, rasping his name out as the pain engulfed her chest.

The imp could feel the heaviness of his lord's aura as the girl's condition worsened. She fought to grasp at her lord, wrapping her small hand around one of his long, clawed fingers, her actions growing frantic.

'We must've captured the wrong one…' Jaken's brows knitted, his beak lowering into a frown.He hated to admit it, but he had gotten used to having the child around. He closed his eyes tightly, feeling tears bubble to the surface and slide down his green cheeks.

Sesshomaru's orbs remained eternally locked with her fearful, large eyes. He pressed the back of his index finger against the dying child's brow, helplesslyobserving as her body's convulsions finally ended.

Even the demon lord himself figured that she was now of the dead. Behind him, Jaken's wails grew in volume, mostly out of fear for his own life. He surely had a right to be afraid.

Who was to say how his lord would react? The girl had already been returned to the world of the living before by the power of the healing Tenseiga, a blade he rarely used. It was useless now, since it could only call a person back from the dead once. It was expected, since a life was supposed to be limited and not trifled with

"She cannot be saved." Were his only words as his dejected orbs cast over her form for a lingering while. He cut his eyes backwards to view the cowering imp behind him.

"Lord Sesshomaru, please don't kill me! I'll go back to the Koro myself and find a suitable mermaid!" He rambled nonsense, complete gibberish in fact.

"Be quiet." Sesshomaru commanded, his voice barely above a whisper. Before him, the child's body had begun to glow, the soft humming of the radiating light meeting his ears. The color sluggishly returned to her cheeks, and groggily, her eyes once more filled with life.

"Rin." He breathed as the little girl worked to sit up.

Jaken squeaked, quickly shuffling his way over, "Rin!"

"I feel...I feel better now." She managed to murmur out, eyeing the slightly surprised face of her lord, "...Master Jaken!" She pulled the small imp into her grasp, hugging him tightly.

The mermaid's scales worked.

"Hmmm…Lord Sesshomaru…" The demoness purred, tasting the name on her lips. Anchoring her head back, Abi's eyes closed, "He'll be foolish not to choose me." The creaking and rocking of the large, lavished carriage was heard as a four legged, bird like, beast tugged and lugged the vessel forward, down a worn path. In front and behind it were armored men, bearing the same weapons in their right hands. Their steps were so calculated, and in synch that it sounded as if only one man was walking. They were of the East, thoroughly trained underneath their Mistress Kyoko, and her daughter, Princess Abi.

"Careful, now." The elder demoness murmured, "I've known of him since he was a child. Hundreds of years have passed since then yet also have hundreds of people fallen to his feet. Make not a wrong move. Otherwise, you'll find your head severed." She entirely disliked the idea of her offspring mating with any of the flea-bitten mongrels of the West, yet her daughter insisted.

"Oh but mother, he is beautiful, strong-" She began to drone on and on.

"Arrogant and prideful." Kyoko snapped, her white brows narrowing, "You'll learn your place beneath him, mark my words. Abi, you are not his equal, and never will be, try as you might."

"What do you have against him anyway?" Abi griped, her upper lip twitching, "You've been against our alliance with him from the start."

"It is no concern of yours. If you wish to wed the Dog General's son, then do so, but I am only here to warn you."

She was thrown into ice-cold water, unlike the comforting waves of the Koro. She broke the surface, choking weakly as her injured tail attempted to press through the pain and aid her in swimming. She clutched at the sides of the large tub of some sorts, her grip strained.

To be chosen over one's siblings in a matter of life or death was a blessing, and a curse. She merely wanted to join them, rather than live alone without her clan. Her heart beat became deafening, fearfully glancing about the enclosure she was placed in.

Guards flooded into the room, and an all-knowing presence was directly behind them. Sesshomaru scanned the area of her enclosure briefly. She was in the regular bathing area, but she'd be moved to his mother's lake soon.

For now, he was the only lord out of the four that could raise his armies from the dead and could fight off illnesses that traveled through his land. His empire was shaping, slowly, but surely this was surely the beginning.

"Murderer!" She screamed, her voice sorrowful as she waded in the water.

"S-she s-she can speak!" Jaken stammered, fumbling with the staff in his hands.

"So, she can." Sesshomaru passively spoke, shifting his fingers around in their joints until a sickening pop was heard.

"How could you?" She screeched, her voice trembling.

"Shut your mouth girl!" Jaken squawked, "You won't talk to Lord Sesshomaru that way!" He was thrown back when she harshly batted water with her tail, slinging a wave on him.

"Dress her." Was Sesshomaru's only command, turning on his heel as he left the room, "Place her in the room next to Rin's. Lock the windows and the doors." He didn't need his prize escaping.