Dead Memories Chapter 1- Stone Heart
Sitting in the dark, I can't forget.
Even now, I realize the time I'll never get
Another story of the bitter pills of fate
I can't go back again
I can't go back again
A lone figure stood at the top of a large hill overlooking what used to be the village of the Taijiya. His long silvery hair swayed in the wind as his golden eyes pierced the night with their scowl. This man did not smile as he gazed upon the remnants of the once feared village. He rarely showed any emotions besides the hate and disinterest he showered the world with. His skin almost shone white in the moonlight, the only contrast being the magenta twin stripes on each of his cheeks and the sapphire crescent moon between his brows. He was stoic grace; barely moving an inch as his hakama danced in time along with his hair. Behind him stood a cave not known to very many men or demons, and in front of that cave two faces he thought he would never see again. The shorter of the two, a female, had long wavy off-white hair that had been tied back into pigtails at her jaw line; her hair was layered to frame her face, wisps covering her head down to her jaw line. On her heart-shaped face were single ocean blue stripes running across each cheek and on her forehead stood four matching blue ovals placed in a circular fashion. Her eyes matched her mother's brilliant chocolate ones although they did not hold the same warmth as their predecessors once had. On the top of her head stood two koinu ears that marked her as hanyou. She wore a soft blue kimono, one that had brilliant white cranes and clouds dancing all over the cloth. Beside her stood a male almost identical to her, except for the fact that his own eyes were gold, and his stripes a dark red. The male hanyou also stood about half a foot taller than his female counterpart. Bangs framed his face as well, although he kept most of his bone-straight hair tied at the nape of his neck. He wore a navy blue hakama and haori set, with stars splattered in clumps all over it.
"You have no right to set foot here." The taller of the two spoke out as Sesshoumaru's equal, malice tainting his tone. It was clear he had inherited his mother's attitude and lack of respect. This would need to be changed.
"You have no right to order this Sesshoumaru around, pup." The younger male glared, but was too slow to reply before his sister burst out her own remark.
"We have every right! It was you who walked out on us! How dare you show your face here, at her gravesite after you left her to fend off those youkai alone! You swore to protect all of us!" Anger ignited in the young being, marching straight up to Sesshoumaru and to whip him around and face her. Before she could lay even a finger on him he had her wrist in his grasp.
"You forget who your superior is, Kokoromi. At least your brother knows better then to lay hands on this Sesshoumaru unless he wishes death." Kokoromi glared with all the hate she could muster at the man that destroyed her family's life.
"That's not the reason Hideaki holds back and you know that. He holds back out of respect for Mother, Father." Malice coated her last word, making sure he knew where he stood in his children's hearts. "We have no respect for you. Not anymore." It was then that anger hit the stoic lord, his eyes flashing red at his own offspring's wicked tongue.
"You know not what you speak of, whelp." Taken aback by the harshness in her father's tone, the presence of such emotion in which she was led to believe was an emotionless being surprised her. Her kimono flapped as she took a several steps back to stand beside her brother, who immediately came to rest his clawed hand on her shoulder as comfort.
That surprise quickly ebbed away to guilt and pity as for the first time since that fateful day, Sesshoumaru, Cold Lord of the Western lands, showed an emotion other than anger or disinterest; he showed pain as the memories began to run through his mind.
But you asked me to love you, and I did.
Traded my emotions for a contract to commit
And when I got away, I only got so far
The other me is dead
I hear his voice inside my head
And we were never alive
And we won't be born again
But I'll never survive
"Sesshoumaru!" A booming voice called the young pup to his father's office. It was a rare thing to be called in, seeing as only the elders of the clan were allowed to be in the room. The boy stood a stark 5'6" at the young age of 200, the equivalent of a mere 15 in human years. His entire being had yet to cool with the coming of age. He wore an off white hakama and haori set made out of silk, with bright red flowers dancing along its edges. Wonder consumed the young one as he creaked the door open and popped his head in.
"Yes, Father?" The man to whom Sesshoumaru was addressing turned to gaze at his only son. Inu Taishou knew his son was wise beyond his years in the ways of battle and hunting, as was to be expected of the heir of the clan, yet this boy held such distaste for the very humans who would one day be under his rule. It saddened the Great Youkai's heart to know the future of his empire was at jeopardy right now because of his son's disregard for the human race, but hopefully this plan he had set in motion would fix everything. Sesshoumaru will learn that humans can be just as great as the demons they serve.
Sesshoumaru looked to the right of his father to see a small figure standing next to him. She was a good foot shorter than he, with long flowing raven locks and eyes as cold as granite glared back at him. She wore the garb of a priestess in training, a mere human fledgling. On her forehead, however, sat the most odd of birthmarks the young lord had ever seen on a mortal. It looks to be four shards of something imprinted between her brows in the shape of an addition sign.
"This is Midoriko. She is to be your peer in all of your training from this day forth. The human villages have shunned her, marking her as a demon priestess because of her odd birthmark and exceptionally strong power. I have personally taken her into our home to be under our protection. Is this understood, son?" His eyes squinted into a glare as he held back a snort of disapproval. He, Lord Sesshoumaru, future Tai Youkai of the Western Lands, to train with a weak mortal? His father must being going mad in his old age.
"Why must we consort with human scum, Father? If the humans did not want their own filth then cast her off and be done with them. They need not our pity, but our mercy." They young lord glared at the human child as he spoke, making a point to make sure she knew where she stood in this conversation. Her eyes ignited with the fire of anger as she challenged his gaze, her life's blood pumping faster at the challenge. When she spoke though, her voice was soft and calm, one that demanded respect.
"My Lord, if I may?" With a nod from the Great Demon she turned her gaze towards the younger lord before her. "If you ever speak low of my race again, demon, I will purify your soul into hell. Lord of the Western Lands' heir or not. I may not have had much training in the ways of the priestess, but I do know how to purify you to a crisp. If I am to live with you here I demand respect up until the day you are no longer an heir. Especially considering you are not a Lord yet." Eyes wide from her blatant brash rudeness, Sesshoumaru huffed, already disliking this heathen. Even the Lord's eyes widened slightly at her crassness and straightforwardness, something he would normally not tolerate with his own heir. These few years ahead would prove to be quite…entertaining.
"You will train with her, son, whether you approve or not. Her wording might be primitive, but it is the truth nonetheless. She will be an asset to this court and you will respect that. Understood?" His Father's voice boomed authority as the young youkai nodded. His mind was reeling at the mere thought of training with such a primitive whelp, and already he had thought of several ways to 'accidently' dispose of her. That thought alone allowed him to hold a straight face where a grimace wanted to be.
"Yes, Father." With that Sesshoumaru bowed towards the elder youkai, glared at the young human, and turned to leave. Once his back was turned he grimaced as he heard the female's giggle, and resisted the urge to visibly gag at her atrocity.
With dead memories in my heart
Dead memories in my heart
Dead memories in my heart
"Come on Master Baka, you can do better than that! That whip of yours barely even scratched me!" In the months that followed her arrival into the castle, the young maiden Midoriko had well proved her worth to the court. She matched Sesshoumaru blow for blow in strength, leaving a few to wonder if perhaps she had been born a demon. The woman was covered in scratches from his whip, bleeding quite a bit for a human, and yet here she stood taunting him still.
"Such insolence from a wench. Do you humans not know the meaning of respect or must I beat that into you along with today's training?" Midoriko smirked, fire alight in her eyes at the challenge. She would win this demon's acceptance eventually, even if it killed her. Since that day in the office so long ago she often found herself fancying over him in her spare time, however little there was. When his father and members of the court were nowhere to be seen the normally well-tempered Sesshoumaru turned into a cocky, self-absorbed spitfire… and she liked it.
"Bring it on, mutt." She quickly readied her sword as her playmate became a blur before her. His strike was quick, too quick for the young human to react; with one swift movement the miko in training was knocked flat on her butt, the young lord poised over her, fangs bared and claws stretched towards her throat. His eyes gleamed with smug victory as he sneered down at his prey. Midoriko's eyes widened in shock as she let out a gasp, her heart rate accelerating. For the first time in all of the goading and sparring the young human feared for her life.
"You insult this Sesshoumaru with your remarks, bitch. Learn your place. Take head, you are only tolerated because my Lord Father wishes it so." With that the adolescent demon rose, dusted himself and walked off. After getting over the initial shock, Midoriko herself rose from the dirt and followed behind, brows furrowed as she paced herself to catch up. Her hands flung out forwards as she neared him and before even the adolescent demon could register he was enveloped in a hug from behind. He could feel the heat rise from the girl's face on his back, as well as the small wet marks starting to form on his training haori. Sesshoumaru stopped in his tracks as heat began dusting his cheeks at the outward public affection this mortal was giving him.
"I'm sorry, Sesshoumaru. Please, don't be angry with me." Midoriko's grip tightened slightly on his waist. Sesshoumaru's gaze turned to his feet, obviously embarrassed. He was at a loss for words, as was a regular occurrence when it came to this girl. He hated it. He hated how this one girl could get under his skin like no other; he hated how she could make him feel things he wouldn't normally. Not for a demon, and especially not for a human. He once again cursed the day his father had brought home his most favored pet. Midoriko tested the aura around both herself and Sesshoumaru and when she could see no hint of anger she let him go, a soft smile on her face. Sesshoumaru didn't even give her time to walk around him as he moved as swiftly as he could to his quarters to retire for supper. Wide-eyed, Midoriko just watched him walk off with a giggle.
Looking on from his study, Lord InuTaisho smiled to himself; it seemed as if his son was finally learning the value of a human soul.
You told me to love you, and I did.
Tied my soul into a knot and got me to submit
So when I got away, I only kept my scars
The other me is gone
Now I don't know where I belong
And we were never alive
And we won't be born again
But I'll never survive
The Lord of the Western Lands had called a meeting earlier that afternoon. It had not boded well for anyone within the clan and to be fairly honest left Midoriko quite pissed. The Panther tribe with which they had been quarrelling with had finally made the move to declare war against the Inu. All of the generals had been called into the meeting, Sesshoumaru and herself included. They had spent hours talking strategy, when they would move out, who would be in control of which squadron. It was only after the meeting that her Lord asked her to stay behind so that he may have a word with her in private. Being head of the medical team she thought he would want to discuss supplies she might need and such, but instead he dropped the bomb on her.
She was to stay here in the castle while everyone else went to war.
She was fuming. She had proven time and time again she was just as good, if not better than most of the demons the Lord was to lead into battle. She was a match for his son even, and yet because of her frail skin and slower reflexes she was to stay here with the other maidens of the court. She would show them, she wasn't just some lowly village girl; she was a miko! And a fairly good one at that!
It was some time later that she heard a short knock on her door. Growling to herself, she swung open her door ready to zap the person who dared bother her while she was fuming around her room. She stopped herself however, when she realized it was Sesshoumaru. Instead, she glared at him.
"What do you want?" Her tone begged him to start and argument. Sesshoumaru merely raised an eyebrow as he walked in past her uninvited and moved to sit down on her futon. He looked around the pigsty of a room and grimaced. She had never been one for being tidy. Her clothes were strewn all across the floor, her wardrobe wide open with half hung clothes, her bed was unmade and it appeared as if she had tossed several pieces of china at the wall.
"Must you always be in such disarray, human?" Midoriko scoffed and sat down a ways away from him. Tonight would be the last night she would see him for a while; all the men moved out in the morning, without her.
"Only when your Lord father refuses me when I wish to assist in this war. I want to be there Sesshoumaru. I want to help fight. I can. You know I can. It's just because I'm human and not a demon… I'm too fragile." She was near tears with her frustrations. Sesshoumaru exhaled as he stared at his companion. He was soon to get an earful, and possibly zapped with miko powers. The thought alone left him cringing inwardly.
"It was I who suggested to my Lord Father that you stay behind. This is a war between demons, it's no place for a human to get involved." Her gaze snapped from the floor to his own eyes to try and find a lie in his words. The young master looked sympathetic as he met her stare. He knew how badly she wanted to contribute. Many a day she had confided in him that she felt like a burden to the castle, and didn't appreciate the glares she received from the court because of her blood. Her disbelief turned into a feeling of total betrayal. She stood up and backed up as far as she could from him.
"Get out." Sesshoumaru gave her a questioning look. Was she really ordering him around? "Out. Now. Get out of my sight." Tears were welling in her eyes as she pointed to the door, her face stern. With a sigh Sesshoumaru moved to leave. It wasn't until he reached the door that he heard her faint whisper. "I thought you were my friend." As he shut the door he could hear her slide to the floor and begin to cry.
"I am… that is why you must stay. You will be safe here." The young master whispered to himself as he paused on the other side of the door. It irked him that he had made her cry, but he knew that giving his fighting skills at this point in time, there was no way he could hold of the panthers and make sure his companion didn't become too injured in the battle, or worse. His brows furrowed at the thought. No, Midoriko would be safest behind these walls.
"It seems the young Master Sesshoumaru has become quite fond of the human." Sesshoumaru's head whipped up to find his mother standing not four feet away from him. "I have to wonder what you see in such frailty that has you so concerned with her safety?" His eyes widened a fraction before he regained his composure.
"Mother." Sesshoumaru bent slightly at the waist in her direction. The Lady of the West was not amused with his avoiding the question. She cleared her throat and gestured towards the door he just stepped out of.
"Answer your mother, Sesshoumaru. Have you fallen for the little miko?" Her voice seemed to mock him, beg him to say yes so she could berate him. Holding his composure merely out of respect, Sesshoumaru glared as his brows lowered into a furrow and his eyes grew cold.
"No, Mother. This Sesshoumaru cares not for the miko. However, she is an ally and an asset to the clan. This Sesshoumaru only wishes that this asset will not break under the pressure of battle." The answer seemed to satisfy his mother as she smiled.
"Well then Sesshoumaru, I am pleased you are thinking about the clan's future, but I do recommend retiring for the night shortly. You march out at first light." With a nod, the younger demon headed down the room to his own quarters for the evening.
At morning's light, Midoriko and the ladies of the court met with the soldiers at the gates to bid them farewell. Midoriko could only glare at Sesshoumaru as he sent her a look of apology before bowing low before her and his mother. This was the first time he ever had to wear his armor, and in all honesty it was awkward for him. The spiked metal shoulder guard weighed down his left side, and his breastplate was a bit too big. His father had said he would eventually fill it out. Sesshoumaru was given a standard blade, just like any other soldier in his father's army.
"We wish you a safe return, young Master." Sesshoumaru lifted his eyes to the girl on his mother's right whose head was turned away from him. It seemed it would be a while before the girl would forgive him.
"Thank you my Lady Mother, Lady Midoriko." With one last look at the girl he turned to leave, the siren a call to all soldiers to head out. It wasn't until the last demon soldier left that Midoriko turned to leave, heading straight for her room. Quickly she scurried around the room, ignoring the calls for meals, gathering everything she would need. Once she was sure she had everything she would need for the next several months, Midoriko turned to leave. She paused at the mirror, smiling to herself at she stared at the armor she had been gifted for her birthday. Under her breastplate and shoulder guards she donned the garbs of a miko. Sword at her side, Midoriko nodded and masked her scent and began to make her way down the empty corridors to catch up with the army. One thing she was certain of:
There was no way she was sitting out of this battle.
With dead memories in my heart
Dead memories in my heart
Dead memories in my heart
Dead memories in my heart
Sesshoumaru took his gaze back to the village below, opting out of facing the two young hanyou behind him. They would never know the wonderful woman that had birthed them. Never know that it was she who had saved him countless times in battle. Never know that it was her who had saved the war from a Panther Tribe victory. They would only hear stories of the human woman who could stand up to an army of demons. Never meet her in person. And that was his fault and his fault alone.
Without saying another word to either hanyou, the great Lord of the Western Lands took his leave, damning himself for ever thinking to visit such a place that had stole his heart from him so long ago.
Dead visions in your name
Dead fingers in my veins
Dead memories in my heart
Dead memories in my heart
Dead memories in my heart
Dead memories in my heart
A/N
Okay, redid this one because it was bugging me. I didn't like the middle or ending very much and it didn't really leave room to continue the story line much either. I know Midoriko's character sounds a lot like Kagome, there's reason for that but that will be explained later on in the story. For now, I give you a better version of chapter 1! And for those that are still waiting patiently for an update on "A Hanyou" don't worry, that will be coming out shortly. I recently moved to Israel and my mac broke about a month and a half ago, lost everything and just managed to fix it myself. So for those waiting, just a little more patience! I have to rewrite what I had done for chapter 7. Song is Dead Memories by Slipknot
Until then! Cheers.
Shurokami
