DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters, all rights belong to Rumiko Takahashi and the respective producers.
EDIT: Finally, a re-upload of the chapters. I have not done a lot of revision other than re-arranging the chapters around because their order was messed up last time while I upload it. Please read and review! :)
Chapter 1: Of Wine and Celebration
"To health, to security amongst the Western Land and to our great leader, long live Inu no Taishou!" crowed a red-faced demon as he stood among the crowded mass of heaving bodies, lifting his plate of wine towards the sitting dog demon.
His salute was followed immediately by cheers, applauses and lifted wine plates as hundreds of grinning faces looked up. Sake* passed from hand to hand rapidly, the clear liquid flowing generously from its vessel into many warriors' stomachs. Wine plates clattered busily as their owners toast one another before downing the strong liquid, showing no sign of stoppage until they have truly drink their consciousness away.
Weaving in between the warriors were human servants carrying beverages and dishes, happily complying with the warriors' cuisine needs. Tonight, they were to give thanks to the warriors for protecting them once again. Had it not been for these muscle-packed demons now giddy with liquor, the villagers would have met their demise long ago.
The land that was partitioned off to the West – the Western Land – as it was more commonly referred as, functioned under a strange system: it was the only land where humans and demons coexist in harmony. The demons, superior in their physical abilities, were responsible for protecting the land and all its inhabitants; the humans, in turn, toiled the soil and coax it to life with vegetation and lifestocks. Yet despite the appearance of peace, occasional quarrels erupted, usually ending with the banishment of those who were audacious enough to challenge the laws.
The leaders of the Western Land, the household of the dog demons, have done an ample job on keeping unrest at bay. Leader after leader, generation after generation, the royal household had kept the land alive and prevented it from crumbling into chaos.
Touga – known as Inu no Taishou – beamed back at his warriors, relieved that the recent battle with the panther tribe had finally drawn its curtain. It was a fierce battle that raged for two days and one night. The panther tribe, both outnumbered and wearied, retreated back to their lands. It was an opportune retreat, since Touga's army was also reaching its limits. Notwithstanding, his throne and land had endured through another threat.
He would have likened to join in among some of his offers, to celebrate another hard won achievement. But he was ever conscious of the restraining hand of his wife, who was scowling since the start of the celebration. She was the mistress of the land, entitled to sit next to him and join him in overlooking the crowd.
Every time Touga made an attempt to join his officers, she would stealthily pinch his palm or clutch onto the folds of his sleeve, shaking her head ever so slightly (Touga wondered how she managed to keep her neck so still while moving only her head). Sometimes she would utter a low-frequency growl when it seemed like Touga would ignore her tactile warnings. She made it clear from the start that they would not partake in any of the activities, much less become part of the rowdy crowd.
"It's fine, darling, they are perfectly decent people," Touga soothed quietly to his wife, whose already pale skin seemed even paler under the moonlight. He could tell from her expression that she was tired from sitting there rigidly for hours.
The female dog demon slid her golden pupil across to his face, and then corrected in an icy voice, "Adequately decent." She held up a finger – the only obvious gesture she had made since the start of the event – to stifle Touga's protest and continued on, "I would have you know that we would not be seen as part of such a filthy crowd. Just look at them," she tilted her head in a general direction towards the people, "those red drunken face and impish grin, protruding such blackened fangs. Look at those callused hands that are no better than shrunken mess of skins and bones! Or that amputated leg! Such coarseness is not for fine people like us. Our role is to sit and smile, to urge them on, that is all." A fold of her hands delicately across her lap as she sat straighter, "you are only going to defile Sesshoumaru's image by mingling with those people." She exhaled a barely imperceptible sigh at the end of her sentence, as if wearied by such a long speech.
Touga could only smile hopelessly. His wife was all about elegance and royalty, but that was what made her all the more appealing. He studied her closely: her abnormally fair skin held a deep contrast against his tan ones, but were similar in that both skins were broken by fine demonic lines carving illustriously across the surface, its dark purple splaying brazenly. Her hair and eyes, equally as silken and golden as his, shone eerily under the moonlight. Unconsciously, his mind traversed back a few years to where he first met her.
The row of potential candidates filed into the empty room, lining themselves with perfect grace. They all wore their best attires, made from the finest silk and dyed brightly to attract attention. Each of them was the epitome of a masterpiece, so cleaned and kept. Even with the traditional loose gown of Japanese culture, the curves of their ripe body can scarcely be hidden. They were all well-bred and delicate creatures, prepared only for the height of worldly pleasures. Their role in life was to be pampered and married off, only to be pampered more.
They walked in – strides synchronized to one another – and lined themselves up. After that, they knelt down gracefully onto the wooden floor, the folds of their shirt falling in a halo around their bodies. They made a strange appearance: all demoness of well-known families from all over Japan, so different in their demonic markings and features, yet so similar in their attitude and aura.
It was then that Touga entered the room, trailed by his counselors. Immediately, all candidates lowered their head and uttered the greeting phrase that they took so much pain to learn. All had the same tone of voice, the same suppressed softness. All except one.
She stared boldly across the room, right into Touga's eyes. Although she was kneeling, her back was erect, and she held her head high like a Goddess surveying her creation. If the other women were clay statues, she would have been sculpted of ice. When their eyes met, she narrowed hers dangerously, as if daring him.
Immediately, Touga knew whom he would choose and pointed towards her, saying to his counselors, "She will be my bride."
Not long after – despite the protestations from his counselors who said she was 'beyond rude' – they were married. In a year or two, their first and only son was born.
Up till now, Touga was still fond of his wife. She held an untouchable aura about her, the defiant look that seemed to stand against all odds. Touga smiled inwardly again and kissed her cheek gently. His wife, not in the slightness embarrassed (though slightly annoyed), pushed him equally gently away, motioning with a slight jerk of her head that they were under the sight of many people. Luckily enough, no one noticed the silent exchange between them, or else Touga would hear no end from his wife. Right after, she gestured with her hand that someone was approaching.
Touga turned to behold another pair of golden eyes that mirrored his own: that of his son, who strode towards them casually. His physical appearance leaned more towards his mother's, his face seemingly more feminine, having not acquired the masculine roughness that comes with age.
Aforementioned, he was striding towards his parents with a cool expression unmatched by any children of his age. Unfortunately, that chillness had won him a circle of envious 'enemies' rather than friends. Nonetheless, Sesshoumaru was not in the least perturbed by such a fact. Rather, he enjoyed watching his so-called enemies making attempts to ambush him. It always ended with the aggressors returning home with bruises and cuts, whilst Sesshoumaru emerged unscathed. What made it even better was the fact that their parents were lesser lords that dared not complain about his behaviors; hence he was able to do as he pleased.
Nearing his parents, he inclined his head slightly, saying in his young, tender voice, "greetings, Reverend father and mother."
"And what of my son this evening? Does he feel like joining the people?" Touga asked curiously, teasing his son and hoping that his son would agree, so that he would have an excuse of joining the crowd.
But the young demon merely replied with a "This Sesshoumaru will not join those filth." Even though he still spoke in a childish third person point of view, the content of his sentence was anything but. He placed himself beside his father, surveying the bodies beneath him with a bored expression. "How disgusting."
The smile on Touga's face froze.
He looked questioningly at his wife, who in turn diverted her attention elsewhere, pretending that she didn't notice his look.
Due to his busy schedule, Touga rarely had any time with his son. Internally, Touga admitted he was at fault for not taking his share of rearing his son, but there were other priorities. Therefore he left the job of teaching to his wife, who taught him many things, including how to use poison. She had been known for her unusual talent in the field of toxicity, allowing her to look-out for herself. It was only natural then that she taught Sesshoumaru what she knew.
Touga was not too particular on that subject though. In his opinion, poisons were shameful ways to defeat an enemy. Swords were more honorable and noble-looking. Yet Sesshoumaru didn't seem to be the type of demon that would go about waving a big sword; he had the demeanor of a cold-blooded killer. It would suit his image better if he waved around an elegant poison whip instead.
Another aspect that Touga noticed recently was Sesshoumaru's attitude towards others. He suspected that this new arrogance was a result of his wife's influence. He made a mental note to talk with her about it later.
"I see."
That was the only reply Touga came up with, and even he himself found it pathetically weak. But rather than trying to persuade his son, he opted to just leave the young demon be, hoping that in time, he can still amend his son's point of view.
He leaned back into the lush cushion of his seat – not without earning a reprimanding look from his wife –, compelled to ruffle his son's hair in a fatherly manner, but knowing all too well that Sesshoumaru detested such cuddly actions. Another aspect influenced by his wife.
He smiled contentedly up at the heavens. A son, a wife, a whole kingdom, what more was there to ask for?
Yet the thunder crashing in the far distance challenged him, foreboding troubled times in the future.
A/N:
Notes:
* Sake – Japanese wine, read as sah-keh.
The concept of "Sesshy's" mother teaching him poison had not been conjured by me. The idea was taken off a Chinese fanfiction which is just beyond amazing. I would love to acknowledge the author's brilliance had I not lost the link to it. :(
Last but not least, forgive me for my lack of knowledge in Japanese culture. Most of what is said here had been derived from an extension of imagination based on Chinese culture.
