Howls of Insanity
A/n: This story has been in the process for atleast 2 LONG years. It takes place in the Point of view of two women: Lady of the southern territory; Ryu no Amaterasu and The relatively normal senior; Ryuko no Ame. ^x^ Tis is a OCXSesshomaruXOC story. This chapter is Amaterasu's prolouge. Next chapter will be Ame's. Enjoy and give me tons of feedback!
-Shiori
A loud keening caught my attention as my hands hold onto my okasan's bloodied figure. Her distant jaded eyes look on past me to the ceiling above our heads; her long star burst hair falling into her delicate features and onto my lap where I lay her. It's a strange reverse of roles. At one time, my okasan would have had my head in her lap, her elegantly long fingers pulling stray tresses that matched her own from my face. Most days as I lay like this, she would tell me stories of her life and how she met otousan that one fateful day outside her temple.
My mother was once a youkai miko… She once was. Never again will she be. Not after today. She is dead… Moreover, I cannot change that anymore than a human could... And that frustrated even me. Worst, I know who dared lay a finger on her. The first mate of that flea-bitten canine; Inu No Taisho. I presume she thought that if she killed my okasan it would make our families even. My otousan is sealed, Inu No Taisho is deceased. My Okasan is now dead… And now, I have the only motive I need. I want the son of Inu Taisho. I want his head… I want Sesshomaru's head as a centerpiece and I shall make his pelt a rug at my feet when I retrieve my position of Lady of the Southern-most territory. And I shall.
Placing my okasan gently to the tatami mat beneath my bent knees, I lean to place a kiss to her temple, allowing my eyes to dart across the room to my head maid; Uke. Who placed a thin hand to her paling lips. She held my otousan's fourth child within her womb. The only reasoning for her retaining her life was my okasan's pity. She felt that taking a child's life was an abomination towards all kami that watch over our heads. I, on the other hand, felt no remorse in the thought of repaying her sin in life. Standing upon my bare feet in the deep and almost scornful pool of Okasan's blood. Regrettably the same blood that ran through my veins. My hakama cover my feet and had become drenched in the downpour. With examination, I realize so had my haori and tabi. Lifting my bloodied fingers, a smile of slight insanity crossed my lips. For only true insanity could bring me to do what I was about to.
Brushing past Uke, I push her to the side only to see her fall to my okasan's side, her short ebony hair falling to mingle with the evident gore that even now continued to flow out and create a lake that consumed my okasan's angelic figure. Now that I look at her from a distance, I realize that she resembles the heroes in her many tales. She had always told me that once upon a time, she was a powerful miko. Someone that demons and humans alike feared, but all I remember thinking was that she looked too frail to had ever done that. I presume that it was true. The powerful miko; Izanami, actually existed. Was I wrong…
"Amaterasu-sama?…" My gaze drifts to Uke, who had moved to bow at my feet, her hands grasping at my hakama, her irises of pale blue staring up at me with much pleading. A pleading that in turn made me even more disgusted with her.
First, she throws herself at my otousan, begging and pleading for a child.
Then, she dishonors my entire household by crying and begging for her life and sanctuary for her and that bastard that my otousan sperm donated for. I know it. I know that my otousan loved my okasan and only gave into this temptress at a moment's weakness. But even worst was the moment that she confessed to me that I was to be siblings with that abomination. This human female has used up all my pity.
My foot pushes her away from me, my eyes boring into her with such venom that she shrank away, placing a hand to her swollen belly. I place my foot onto her hand, shifting my weight ever so slightly so that my heel dug into her flesh. She gasped out, her eyes lowering to my foot in shock.
"My lady?" She almost cried, but that only incurred my wrath. Such a parasite should be burnt off before she sucks us dry. Such an encumbrance should be destroyed. I should. I allow more weight upon my foot, my other foot steady on the tips of my toes. She cries out again and I hinder myself from stomping upon her stomach with no regard to anything. I bare my fangs, hissing deep in my throat.
"Consider thyself lucky, wench.. The only reason that this Amaterasu has not taken the life of this bastard child and you is for my okasan's benefit. She felt as if you held some sort of importance. I can easily change that… Your life is so fragile. Isn't it, Uke?… Do you think it holds value?… Do you wish to keep it?.." She urgently nodded her head, her other hand holding her up right for my foot pinned her helplessly to the ground below. Moving upward would bring her closer to me and she could get no closer to the ground. Just the way I wanted it. She was a worm slithering on the ground.
"Hai, Amaterasu-sama. Hai!" She shrieks back causing me to shirk back slightly. The sound of her voice was loud and annoying to my acute ears. I bit out a command for her silence, but she continues. Crying for her life and the life of her child until I place my foot harder onto her stomach. I could feel the fetus's form. I could feel it squirm for more room in this whore's belly and I can't help, but pull away a little.
"Leave."
"Nani?" She whimpered, eyes widening even further until the white of her eyes overwhelmed the blue of her irises. I gripped at my head with shaking fingers, my own eyes snapping to her's.
"I said 'Leave'!" I roared, pushing her over onto her side with my foot. My stance becoming stronger than it had been even though it was fiercer than I felt. I allowed my hand to reach out and grab her by the haori, yanking her upward so that I could make my point. "Leave and never return… If I so much as smell you within 20 miles of this estate, I will kill you and mount your head on my mantle. Understood?" Her head goes into a flurry of nods that made me suck at the side of my fangs, creating a 'tch' sound. Dropping her onto her bottom, I turn and begin towards the main household just across the garden and lake. It reminded me too much of my memories. Too much of what my… family… was… is…
To think that the only ones that still lived were my Niisan and I. The last of the Ryu bloodline. The sworn enemies of the Inu bloodline for half a century… And we were locked in war with each other. A war that would never end as long as Inu No Taisho's lineage still held breath. I will make sure of that even if Tsukiyomi does not. I will make them pay for ever life they have taken.
"My lady!" Again.
My eyes rise to look upon one of my servants. A male this time by the name of Kunimaru. I feel the weight of his hands on my forearms, his deep and almost soulless eyes raising and falling to examine my stained robes and body. My pale flesh was splotched with an ugly light brown. I caught his gaze and whisper with such monotone that I watched a current of fear work through his features. I know not what my expression betrays, but I know it cannot be one of benevolence.
"Thy lady lays deceased with our family temple… Onegai… Burn the whole thing down…" I said, removing his fingers and placing them to his hips. I held that position for a moment. My eyes closing as I listen to his pulse. "Kunimaru… Call for Lord Tsukiyomi as soon as her body is cremated. Announce her death to only those of close proximity… " He nods and quickly hurries away while I continue forward. My movements were strained. Even I could tell that I seemed like a marionette with invisible strings.
Making it to my room, I easily slipped open the paper doors and looked upon the large room, the futon situated in deep silk in the middle, the second set of paper doors that led to my closet, and the collection of katana on my walls. I grab at my obi and untie it, allowing the silk tie to fall to the ground along with my hakama and soon my haori. Then came the tedious task of sitting before my mirror to pull out the multiple pins that hold up my tresses in a suitable bun. Eventually, the star burst locks flow to my bottom with much ease, falling over each curve of my body and face.
Getting to my feet was a task, but I was able to accommodate the weight on my weakening legs enough to walk to the futon and thrown myself onto it face first. The soft material caresses my dirty flesh. The irritating itch that worked through my system did not seem to upset my growing somberness. It weighed down on my bare shoulders as I reached my hand to grab onto the rosary around my throat. It sends a small burning sensation through my nerves, but I do not heed it. I simply hold onto it harder, my eyes closing as my nose picks up the slowly raising scent of wood burning. I inhale deeply, rolling onto my side and curling myself into a tight ball, my hands reaching past my pointed ears to grasp my hair into my fists. My knees were tucked carefully into my chest, my legs crossed and my eyes closed so that tears would never fall…
"My lady…" I look up through the fog of the sleep that had educed my grogginess and scowl as I see Kunimaru shaking my figure softly to knock the sleep from my senses. I furrow my brow at the heavy scent of blood, smoke and salt from sweat. It created a lump in my throat. I swallow through the dryness that had set in despite the choking that soon ensued and the soreness arising like a blazing flame. I must have looked wan at this point, paler and noting the congression that set in my nose, I realize that it must look bright red. I allow him to lift my body and place my idle left limb over his shoulders.
"How long was I asleep?" I inquire as he carries me forward. My feet felt numb and did not want to work so did not force them to. I allow my main servant to bear my little bit of dead weight. From the stiffness in my bones and joints, I would have to guess in good conscience that it had been at least 2 weeks. And his response was only conformation.
"2 weeks or so… You have been comatose, my lady… Tsukiyomi-sama was wan with worry." Allowing a laugh, I pat his forearm and got to my feet, working over the tingling ache sensation as I walk ahead of Kunimaru towards my bathing chamber. Two female umi-youkai stand in attendance as my fingers pull open the paper door of the room. Both held basins in their petite hands. Twins garbed in light blue kimonos with white obis. Their cobalt heads fell in respect, voices docile as they greet my presence. They seemed new…
"Ohayo, Amaterasu-sama." I nod curtly, walking past the two to take a seat on the small stool just in the middle of the room. Kunimaru follows, standing off to the side, arms crossing over a broad chest. The first umi, umi-ichi walks behind me, pulling a blue ribbon from her sodegochi to tie around my tresses, lifting them from my nape and into a bun.
"Susano-o-sama is here as well…" I huff a frustrated breath, my brows furrowing to wrinkle my face. It was amazing how much gall that bastard has. He doesn't send any notice of his safety, his longevity for 50 years. The only reason we know of his survival was a random complaint that a village was destroyed or vandalized. Not to mention his little habit of 'breaking in' every new servant that crosses his path when he does come home. As long as she is female and has a pulse, you can expect to hear him humping her. Oh, the nerve! Even if he is the High Lord, it does not mean he is above all of us in god-like proportions as he puts it. 'A kami in the flesh' and I do quote him down to the period.
"Kuso." I spat out as Umi-ichi pours the first basin of water over my spine then pulled the rag to scrub at the dirt from my flesh. On my left side was a trail of scales downward into a swirl at my lower back. The water smelt of sakura and honeysuckle. A haze fell upon my vision as I remembered that this was how my okasan once smelled like. The sensation only brought about sighs of contentment as all my stress was scrubbed away. Umi-ni was on her knees before me, scrubbing my feet and up the lengthy span of my legs. This all deterred my attention until Kunimaru spoke once more.
"What would you have me do?" With another rinse of hot scolding water over my curves, I turn my head to the redheaded man and answered.
"I call for their consult and… your's as well, Kunimaru. I wish to answer the question of the Inu Youkai… With my okasan's death, I finally feel the resolve to start this war of Ryu and Inu that they desire so very much. Your lady craves too eagerly for thine enemy's blood." He blesses me with a graceful bow then walks through the thick haze that hung over us and dispersed into absolute naught. A laugh bursts forth. For all the emotions that swirled within my gut and soul like sewage. Perhaps, I felt the need to remedy this. Perhaps… If I felt more pain. I would finally go numb.
Reaching my fingers to my wrist, I dig my nails through the flesh straight into the muscle. Past all the initial flow of blood. It seeped from the wound in a copious river over my fingers and to my knuckles. I cough out another laugh, digging my talons deeper and watching with a heightened enjoyment as the crimson liquid slipped down into the drain at my feet. I felt nothing. I was truly going numb; maybe blood was the medicine to cure feeling. If that is true than I shall shed as much as I can to forget the look on my okasan's face as she died in my arms. I watched through dead eyes as the Umi-bushins moved to clean my wounds, ripping my own nails from the bloodied mass that once was my limb and poured hot water over it, bringing a hiss from my throat.
Ironic… I guess blood isn't the remedy…
Onegai, Okasan…
Tell me what the right herb… the right mixture is so I won't feel what I do right now…
Onegai…
It didn't take long before I thundered dangerously through the halls towards my study on the third floor of my home; Takama-ga-hara. My fingers reach downwards to grab onto the silken material of my obi and tighten it around my evident waist. I had pulled on a furisode and it happened to be my favorite of all. It was made of crimson silk with golden and silver embroideries of the sun and moon together in a beautiful collage that explained my relationship with my Niisan all too well. I smiled as I yanked the celestial silver sash once more to fasten it to the point of showing my curves in an almost provocative way. I had pulled off the ribbon in my hair and allowed my curling ivory locks to fall over my proud shoulders and down between my shoulder blades until they dipped to my buttock. A subtle kanzashi tucked into the left side of my head, bringing the tresses from my protruding pointed ears in the form of a silver comb with the sun etched into the metal.
I felt my ears twitch as they picked up the sound of shouts coming from the very place I was heading for. It was evident through the paper walls of an argument and when I finally made it to the door, it was wrenched open before I could even attempt to hook my hand into the metallic door handle. My eyes connect with a pair of identical one's. The same deep golden rod. I raise a brow as I focused onto my twin brother's stoic face.
Honestly, if I wasn't sure that I was looking at my Niisan, I would have thought that I was staring into a mirror. The only difference between us was that he was paler in complexion and his hair was shorter, falling just above his shoulders. His lips were pressed in a thin line, but opened to allow his soft monotone voice to fill the air.
"What took you so long, Ama-chan?" My eyes scan him for a long moment before I brush past, looking over the serene scene before my eyes. The servants had set up a traditional chanyou. In the middle of the floor was a small square hole that Kunimaru was busy placing a ladle of water into the hole. I smelled a slowly burning fire and smile as the scent of ocha came to my nose. Tsukiyomi takes his seat across from Kunimaru and beside a bulky and sake guzzling man. His hair was long, wild and a pitch black that fell over his masculine features all too perfectly to even consider him a drunkard, but he was. He wore no Nagajuban, just a long black haori, a pair of matching hakama and a pair of tabi over his large feet. His chest was bare except for the trail of green scales down his left pectoral and the many packs of muscle just above his stomach. I frown at the sheer arrogance of my nii-sama, but sigh as I shuffle forward and take my seat beside Tsukiyomi and across from Susano-o.
He placed down his jug of sake only to glance at me, he gazed up and down in an inebriated stupor.
"Oi! Is that you, Ama-bozu?" I flinch at the use of such an honorific then growled when I felt the need to assert my authority. The audacity! He brought both hands up in a mock gesture of defense.
"Oh, ho ho. Calm down, Imotou…" I furrowed my brow in annoyance and leaned inward so that our eyes were connected in a singular gaze. My lips parted to allow another low hiss to escape.
"We have no time for such stupidity, Susano-o… Okasan was slain by that of the Inu youkai!" I blurted. This seemed to bring him into an enlighten state of mind for his eyes cleared and he slammed his sake bottle onto the table before me. His hand reached for me, but was deterred by that of Tsukiyomi's. He grabbed our Niisan's wrist and lifted it above my head. Even when this was going on. I held my ground and kept my place, boring my gaze into his.
"Our okasan is dead, Susano-o! She is dead and you didn't even know because of your blatant disregard for informing us of your location or even coming to visit! It's been 50 years!" I shriek and before I knew what I was doing. I lost control and brought my balled-up fist hard against his strong chin, dislocating it from its current position to lopsided.
He simply reached up to his displaced bone and pushed it back into place, flexing his jaw before setting his own glare on me. He sent a current of what seemed like white electricity through his fingertips and into Tsukiyomi's metallic arm plate causing a spray of the energy. Tsukiyomi swiftly knocked Susano-o's arm back while his other reached for his blade; Shirohime, drawing it and placing arching a swing at our brother. By now, I had moved to the right, watching with Kunimaru as the two clashed swords.
Shirohime versus Kurohime. Both were majestic which posed the question of: 'How did Susano-o come to possess such a katana?'… In truth, I would have expected that Tsukiyomi would possess both of the 'hime' blades. They were known for their beauty and poise in battle… I was greatly surprised when otousan rewarded him with such a beauty.
Kunimaru grips my shoulders tightly as I watch Tsuki and Susano-o lock swords and eventually push back on the force, shoving each other away from the evident clash. Life seemed to fill me as I brought my hand to Reimaru's hilt and swiftly unsheathed him. His blade was lucid and the color of the night unlike his lacquer handle which is decorated with the smoke covered effect that instantly cleared with my fingers. Lifting him valiantly, I brought him against Kurohime and pushed him backwards before sending Shirohime away as well with a kick of my leg.
"End it," I shriek, pointing the blade at their throats. "You are acting like a bunch of infants! Now I called 2 out of the 3 of you here so that we could organize a war against them so if you could act like your age and help me we can avenge okasan and otousan!" I stopped to catch my breath and keep my anger under control despite the annoyance that should rightfully be etched on my façade. With Reimaru clasped in my hands, I felt stronger. More than certain of my abilities for he was the strongest of my otousan's blades.
It held a strange aura to it that surpassed even that of the 'himes'. For light and darkness has no bounds of spirit. A spirit can be as wild and untamed as it pleases and Reimaru pleases which brings us into an understanding. He is my animalistic side and I am his cultured side…
Pushing my hair from my shoulder, I tap the metal against Susano-o's Adam's apple and felt the vibrations from each of his harsh breaths. The urge to simply slit his throat now and collect that lump like a piece of succulent fruit on a hot summer's day is strong now, but that would be uncivil wouldn't it?…
Sighing to myself, I remove the blade with a metallic clink and brought a crooked smile to my face.
"You… You and I have never been at one in thought, but I would have thought that maybe you would help. And it is my misfortune to announce that yes. Yes! Our okasan is dead, but so is our otousan! Tell me Susano-o. When is the last time you've seen our okasan? When is the last time you've talked to her?... Yet you have the audacity to raise your katana to me! The only person who was there to hold her body and the only one that was here for her cremation." That was a hit to both Tsukiyomi and Susano-o. They deserved it. They deserved to know how much their okasan cried for them to return and wanted to hold them in her arms like she did when we were all children.
I stayed here with her. She and I were not close despite the fact that we lived together. We never have been. We communicated just to communicate. I was always her little doll to play with and mold into her shape, but I wasn't… And that frustrated her. I live as a shell. I have no family to call my own. I am even a virgin…
Tsukiyomi left to live in seclusion. His life was the complete opposite of our brother's and mine. For he left, but he had no true fun. No life. He was by himself. He was there only to hold himself at night.
Susano-o left to travel the lands, fuck tons of human and demon women and skip out on them if they dare utter his poison. His weakness was a sentence. Three little words that could or not mean something. They could have been worthless, but still he'd run.
We all have our problems…
But, all I wanted right now was to kill every dog that I saw…
And I would as soon as we got this war started.
The only one to start talking now was Susano-o, he stood to his bare feet and rotated his bulging bicep. He towered over my body in such a way that I had to take a cautionary step backward. Tsukiyomi was at my side in a moment and so was Kunimaru. They all looked to me.
"Call it, Ama-bozu." His large hand clasped the back of my head as he brought my forehead into his scaled chest. "I want that bastard's head more than I want yours." It was strange how nothing seemed to make sense anymore. I felt a sense of obligation towards that of my okasan… Our family brought about her death. Our family… killed her… The youkai miko was dead…
Izanami, our okasan, his wife.. Our life and our liability was dead… And that brought about the destruction of three of the Ryu royal family… and the damnation of the Inu clan.
A/N: -Sighs- Aye dios mio! It took me forever to get that just right. =_= AYE AYE AYE! Your author is tired and needs a break after writing this big bitch. 9 pages now that I look at the Word Processor page count…(T.T) Amaterasu's personality is closely related to mine. The same 'You idiots piss me off' attitude that bring forth such an eye roll. XD It took me forever just to thing her up and pick the right name. Amaterasu is the sun deity in Shinto religion.
Honestly, all the characters except for Ryukotsusei, Kunimaru, Sesshomaru are from Shinto religion.. Well at least, the names are:
Uke: Uke Mochi, the goddess of food. (In the mythology, Tsukiyomi kills her… MIGHT happen..)
Susano-o or Susanoo-no-Mikoto: He is the god of storms and in some cases the god of the sea. He is known as a trickster god and there is a record of sibling rivalry between him and Amaterasu. (=_= No explanation needed.)
Tsukiyomi or Tsukuyomi-no-mikoto: He is the god of the moon. After killing Uke Mochi out of disgust, Tsukiyomi is surprised to find that Amaterasu can never face him again. Hence the sun and moon to be in different parts of the sky at different times.
Izanami: Izanagi's wife and sister. The first female as well as the goddess of creation and death. (Hint Hint) She dies shortly after giving birth and is followed to the underworld by her husband who fails to bring her back. The martial spat between the two symbolizes life and death.
Amaterasu or Amaterasu-O-Mi-Kami: (Loooong name!) She is the goddess of the sun. He name means "Great Goddess" or "Great spirit who shines in heaven". She is considered to be the primary god.
Yes, Your very welcome. I will write more… Until then…
-Shiori-chan.
