Disclaimer: Don't own Inuyasha or related characters they belong to the respective owners. OC's are mine.
AN: (1-26-15) In preparations for completing the sequel for this story and doing the third installment I will be going though this chapter by chapter cleaning it up. Started with the most glaring error on this chapter 'one a millennium' is now 'once a millennium' as it was always meant to be. This chapter still has some work needed I'm sure. Enjoy and review.
Chapter One: The Rise of Inu no Taisho
In the long lives of yokai the leadership of the Inugami only changed once a millennium. The change of power occured when the eldest son of the previous leader rose up to challenge his father, this time that had once more come to pass.
At the peak of a tall mountain dozens of Inugami stood watching as two massive shapes fought high in the sky. The observance of the battle in the sky came only due to the ground battle having finish. A slender female approached her elder brother whose face bore several deep scars. She bowed to her brother as she spoke, "I have bound our siblings who sided against us along with their soldiers."
The scarred Inugami nodded then turned his eyes back to the sky, "How many sided with father?"
The younger sister did not hide the sadness in her voice, "Only we and those following us remain faithful to brother."
The scarred one nodded then spoke coldly, "If brother does fall, I will have to attack father immediately, or he will kill us for what we've done this day."
The sister nodded then followed her brother's gaze into the skies. Far above the earth the two massive dogs clashed once more. The elder and larger of the two swept a clawed paw toward the younger yokai's throat. The claws barely brushed the other beast's fur, and in returned the younger lunged at his elder's throat.
Age had slowed the elder yokai's movements, and before he knew what happened he was plummeting to the ground far below. As the elder plummeted he began to change into his humanoid form. Crashing into the ground he grasped his throat and struggled to stand.
When he finale managed to rise to a knee he looked up to see all fighting had ended, and he was now staring into the burning golden eyes of his eldest son. The old ruler chuckled too himself as he shook his head.
The eldest son glared at his father, "I see no reason to kill you father…you and all those who followed you have been beaten. Surrender and I'll show you the same mercy I've shown to my sibling who stood with you."
The old ruler glared at his son, but knew he'd been beaten. The old one prostrated himself before his son, "You have proven yourself a strong and just leader…I surrender to you my son. May your rule be as long and prosperous as my own, and may you too one day feel defeat at the claws of your own son."
The eldest brother turned to his two faithful siblings, "Sister, make sure father and our remaining siblings are well cared for."
The sister bowed then moved to assist their wounded father. As they moved away the eldest spoke to his scarred brother, "Prepare my armies brother…I have a vision for this land, and it will make the Inugami clan the most respected of all the yokai clans."
The scarred brother bowed to his elder brother, "As you wish…Inu no Taisho."
One hundred years later, camp of the Inugami army.
Inu no Taisho stood on an outcropping overlooking his army. His ranks had quickly swelled over the years as they marched across the western lands. Not only did the Inugami Clan bow before him, but countless kitsunes, tanuki, wolves, and many other yokai found themselves under his command.
The scarred brother approached his elder and bowed, "Brother…I bring a missive from father. He begs you to cease your conquering. He believes you've reached the limit of your power. He fears if we encroach upon the neighboring lands we will encounter enemies we cannot defeat."
Inu no Taisho smiled at his brother, "While I may no longer kneel before our venerable father. I will heed his advice. Our clan will rule the western lands…and I will build a palace, like those the humans have."
The scarred Inugami frowned at his brother, "We are a nomadic yokai brother. For what reason do we need a palace…it will only draw attention from the humans."
Inu no Taisho nodded, "Brother, I rule all yokai within this domain…it is only fair that I commune with the humans whose land we share. If we show them they have nothing to fear from us, we can all live in harmony and peace."
The younger brother's frown deepened, "I have traveled and lived among the humans brother. Showing them that we have a lord ruling over us will not change their opinion. They fear and hate what they don't understand."
Inu no Taisho placed his hand on his brother's shoulder, "I know you have bad history with the humans, but that was ages ago. Please brother, do not argue about this with me."
Lowering his head the scarred Inugami huffed then spoke, "I know a lord who is old and has no heir…I once saved his life when he was but a young man. We can go to him, and I'm sure I can convince him to will his estate to you my brother."
Inu no Taisho nodded then followed his brother an old castle estate in the mountains. Inu no Taisho liked the look of the estate, and knew enough about geography to realize it was near the middle of his domain. Not use to being the one in the lead the younger brother turned to his brother as they approached the gates.
"Brother, I will go in first and speak to the human lord…then I'll come and tell you what he says."
Inu no Taisho nodded then leaned against a tree as his brother approached the guards. He was surprised how the two human guards nearly fell over themselves bowing and speaking platitudes to the scarred Inugami.
Within the castle's entry plaza the old lord watched as the yokai that had saved him so many years before casually approached him. The lord raised his hand signaling the yokai to stop when he'd reached ten paces from the lord, "That is close enough my old friend…I know if you came to take my life you saved on that dark night so very long ago…I'd already be dead."
The yokai smiled causing several of the scars on his face to twist, making the overall impression more intimidating than it was meant to be, "That is true my friend…and for saving your life was not my only intention the evening. You see my lord, you and I are in fact family."
The lord allowed the surprise to come to his face, "What trickery is this?"
The yokai frowned, "No trickery is intended…you see your family has been under my protection for many generations. In fact since I myself was but just a young pup…" The scarred yokai took the time to sit where he had been standing as this was a long tale to tell, "…as you're no doubt aware on rare occasion we yokai mate with humans. While it is more common among the lesser yokai, I was a rebellious youth. I disobeyed my own father on numerous occasions. When he finally grew tired of my disobedience I was cast out by my clan. Neither my elder brother, nor any of my siblings could convince him to forgive me. So I struck out on my own. During a particularly cold winter I wondered into these very mountains, your ancestor not knowing of my true nature offered me shelter and food once I found my way here. He had two children, a son, and a daughter that was most beautiful."
The scarred yokai had not failed to notice his brother enter the plaza and crouch in the shadows.
The lord was so engrossed with the tale he'd in fact left his seat and had moved closer to his yokai guest. The tale continued, "My natural instincts warned me away from the girl, but your ancestor mistook my armor and noble barring to mean I was the son of a neighboring lord. He and his wife both saw a good match. I was young and had gone many months without bedding a woman. She came to me willingly, even after she herself realized what I truly was." The yokai stood, "I took the daughter as my mate, or as you'd call it my wife. The priest that did the ceremony did not even realize what I truly was." The yokai smiled at the lord, "Unfortunately as she was human it came to pass that she went to the grave as I continued to roam the world."
The lord pulled a white handkerchief from his sleeve and wiped his damp eyes, "That is a very moving tale, and I'm grateful to know you have been watching over my family in her name for so many years. I know this tale was not the meaning of your visit, so what is the true reason for you to appear to me again."
The scarred yokai bowed, "I have but a humble request. I know you have no heir, nor do have any relatives who could claim your lands. Recently, well in my terms recently, my brother became the leader of our clan, and now rules all yokai within the western lands. He wishes to build a human style estate, so as to facilitate dealing with you humans."
The lord noticed some movements within the shadows at the edge of the plaza, "I take it your brother has accompanied you."
The scarred yokai nodded, "I'm sorry to say my brother was never one for patience. I know if you refuse this request, he'll just want us to hurry on to the next possibility."
The lord waved him off, "No need, as you very well know this estate has been failing for many years…as far as a human estate we're far too distant from the trade roads. Though I'm sure that won't bother you yokai. Though, I'm only worried of what would become of the humans who live here."
Inu no Taisho stepped from the shadows, "They will be given the choice to remain here under my rule and protection, or to set forth to find their own paths in life."
The lord bowed then scrutinized the two yokai, "Well there is a definite family resemblance between you two…must have been a hard time telling the two of you apart before whatever happened to him."
Inu no Taisho looked sadly at his brother, "My brother had a hard life when he wondered on his own…and he suffered for those mistakes."
The lord nodded then spoke over his shoulder as he walked away, "I'll draw up a new will, and then when I die you'll inherit this estate and all the lands connected."
Inu no Taisho waited till the old human had left then turned to his brother, "I thought your human mate was the daughter of a yokai exterminator?"
The scarred brother smiled mischievously, "She was."
Inu no Taisho chuckled as he and his brother left the estate.
Three years later the lord died of natural causes and the Inugami clan moved into the estate. Many of the humans left the estate taking stories of the Lord of the West to the neighboring lords. It was only months later that emissaries of a number of lords arrived to discover the intents of the new yokai lord.
Inu no Taisho sat in the grand meeting hall flanked by his brother and sister. A group of nervous humans were ushered into the hall by one of the human servants. The servant prostrated himself before the powerful yokai, "My Lord, these men have come from our closest neighbors and have requested an audience with you."
Inu no Taisho nodded, "Thank you, you may leave us. Please prepare rooms for our guests."
The servant nervously bowed as he fled the chamber. Watching the servant flee the self elected leader of the group marched closer to the lord. He stopped when the yokai lord motioned for the man to stop. Inu no Taisho glared at the man, "I am not up on the most current protocols of court, but I do believe you do not approach a lord whose unfamiliar with you unless you've been addressed to do so."
The man, who had expected the yokai to be savage, stuttered a surprised response, "O…of course. Ha…How stupid of me." The man bowed, "If it would please you my lord, may I and my fellows approach so we could perhaps discuss your recent rise in power."
Inu no Taisho nodded then watched carefully as the humans approached then knelt within twenty paces of the three yokai. Inu no Taisho smiled friendly to the group of men, "I'm sure you all have concerns with the recent changes around these lands, but I assure you we're sure to find a solution we'll all be pleased with."
A rather gruff looking man snorted, "The only solution my lord and I will be pleased with is if you went back to whatever hell you came from."
Inu no Taisho chuckled then turned to his brother, "I think this human smells familiar…oh right…I was born in the cellar of your lord's castle…" Inu no Taisho's gaze turned hard on the man as he spoke, "Maybe I should annex my home town into my lands."
The gruff man froze with fear as a more regal man spoke up, "I'm sure my colleague is merely tired, we have all traveled a long way. Though I must admit, for this land being under yokai rule, the roads were surprisingly safe."
Inu no Taisho turned a smile on the man, "I am glad you noticed. I rule not only this estate and the conjoined lands, but all yokai within the western lands."
The man that had brazenly approached the yokai lord then spoke up, "I'm sure there are some yokai who don't heed your commands."
Inu no Taisho nodded, "There are fringe elements no matter if you're yokai or human…" Inu no Taisho indicated his brother; "…my brother can handle any such problem makers."
The meeting carried on for some time, but most the humans left the room feeling more comfortable with the yokai lord than they did with their own human lords.
Over the next two hundred years Inu no Taisho built up both the human and yokai sides of his domain. His palace, known as the Western Palace became a common meeting ground for humans and yokai as both knew it as neutral ground. Higher in the mountains was a private mansion which was converted to house Inu no Taisho's father and sibling he couldn't trust. Barriers kept those yokai where he wanted them.
During those years Inu no Taisho also found a mate and soon they were expecting their first child.
Inu no Taisho walked into his palace after dealing with an upstart group of wolves trying to make a name for themselves. He entered his quarters to find his pregnant mate sitting on their bed reading. She smiled slyly to him, "Welcome home my mate, did you have any trouble with those mangy wolves."
Inu no Taisho smiled, "They weren't prepared for me to come in person. They expected me to send soldiers to handle them. They surrendered and handed over their leaders before I even opened my mouth."
His mate smiled again then placed her mate's hand on her very pregnant belly, "Any day now, and your son will be joining us in the world."
Inu no Taisho's face fell, "I wonder if this is how my brother felt?"
His mate sneered, "Doubtful, he probably felt shame for bringing such abominations into this world."
Inu no Taisho glared at his mate, "My brother has no reason to be shamed. He had a family; he loved his mate and their children. I only wish I'd the chance to meet them, but we cannot undo the past."
His mate lowered her head in submission, "I'm sorry my mate, I should not have spoken so of the dead."
Inu no Taisho raised her head with a finger to her chin and caught her lips with his own.
A week later Inu no Taisho introduced his son, Sesshomaru to his court.
End Chapter One
A/N: I started this story after being inspired by another family based story in the Inuyasha world. Also, my currently unnamed dog yokai ocs will probably remain nameless the same way Inu no Taicho and Sesshomaru's mom are basically nameless in the manga/anime. Also make some guesses about how the scarred dog yokai became that way, I'll post the screen names of anyone who gets it right, yes I already have a whole back story for him.