Chapter 2 Ming Yue
~1~
Whether it could be said that Sesshomaru was born a cruel and stubborn child, or one that ended up that way on the consequence of experience, anyone that knew him would say it's arguable. Born on a Sunday in the month of December during the coldest day of that year, as records told, and was the 14th at 12:30 in the afternoon, the year was 804 AD. Least to say it was an odd year, the Taisho, his father was anxious for the entire latter half of that year, as it was predicted earlier that their son would be born under foretelling circumstances.
The mystic that had spoke of this had said that on the day of his birth, at the instant his mother the Lady Moon showed her signs of labor a hundred white candle must be lit in the castle and kept burning until at least an hour following his delivery. Suggesting ominously that if they did not do this that darkness would be present and could creep into the child's heart, but also that a cherry tree must be in full bloom.
Suggesting that a cherry tree should be in bloom in the middle of December was difficult, but the Taisho brought in the best magicians in the land to enchant one tree in the garden to bloom when needed despite the season or the cold. The mystic also suggested that a blanket of wool be present to embrace the child once he enters the world. When the Taisho inquired about this, presenting it as the oddest instruction yet, the mystic only had this to say, "what I foresee, will be cold, and if not embraced in the proper fabric for warmth it will represent to him the child will grow cold." Knowing better not to doubt the mystic, for he had yet to be wrong in any of his predictions, the Taisho asked no more, but on the day the child was born the Taisho suggested that the boy be wrapped, not in wool but in fur he presented himself before the hour of delivery.
The fur was a strip of flesh he had taken from his own back and manifested into a long flowing boa, in his boyhood his father had done the same for both him and his brother, and his father before him going back for generations, and so not to cheat the heritage of tradition seeing that the child only needed to be warm he presented it, saying—"wrap him in this when you bring him to me, there is not a cloth or fur in the known world that is warmer than this for him." the handmaiden to whom this was addressed, knowing better what the mystic had predicted wouldn't dare remind him, bowed took the mokomoko as instructed. But when the time came the mystic snuck in the wool under it, so only the cloth touched the boy's skin rather than his father's fur.
When Sesshomaru was born there was not a whimper to be heard; only a brief wale like a complaint that lasted for about a minute before the infant relaxed and went silent, and his eyes wide open and unusually bright. When the mystic saw this he threw his arms into the air as if in praise and perceived what would be recorded as the child's fortune. "A child with eyes of white fire, yet the cool embrace of the moon on his brow will settle this child as a petal on the ground. No flower will be more envious than the rose of him, yet he will be like the jasmine. He will ride the winds with force that cannot be hindered, yet through a world he will not see, but with eyes grounded only in earth." When the Taisho heard this prediction his interpretation of it was dejection. As was his impression of the child himself.
Though proud, because he was the father of such a well formed and healthy son, in his private prayers he had asked for no more than an heir that would succeed him in any expectation, a Fang child to whom he could sculpt into a perfect lord. What he got instead was—that day the maidens came out scurrying from the delivery room carrying with them a bundle wrapped in a voluptuous puff of fur. So over abundant was the fur that the maiden that carried it was partially over taken, let alone the child cradled within it. Yet in spite of the burden they smiled and cheered with glee, "Congratulations my Lord, you have a healthy new son." In the instant he heard this he felt as though his entire being become lighter and his aura shifted from anxious to a calm pearly air—A new son, a new demon was born this day one for whom I am responsible, for whom will learn everything I have to teach.
One for whom I will love, as a father.
Happily he took the bundle from the maidens, not burdened by the fur for he knew just how to manage it moving aside the fur strands that were in themselves in equal length with the infant's body to have a look at his creation. Noticing the wool, he ignored it expecting to be delighted at the mirror reflection he had so long anticipated to see, but instead what he saw was a small face, almost feminine with delicate features, and the crescent moon birthmark on his brow—the child was a Lunar Hound.
He was told he had a son! Stunned he moved the cloth to peer lower and indeed the child's genitals were intact and definitely male. Nothing could speak of the disappointment he felt when he first saw that mark, he felt his life had been cheated of its proper linage and it's due right—The Taisho was the seventeenth successor of a long line of Fang Lord that had ruled the lands of Jia Tian, the 'Beautiful Land' since the day of their original ancestor, the first Inuyoukai Grace of the Moon the II, who lived over ninety thousand years ago—to think that he would be the first to fail to produce a Fang as his first born, was…
Absurd!
He wanted a Fang, a child he could train in his own image, but this boy would not take after him. He was a descendant of the moon, like his mother and would take after her, a demon rich with reverence for nature, but he would be solitary and indifferent, even cold. He will represent fertility over strength, and couldn't even be a warrior, he wouldn't even care.
What happened he had to ask—the candles were lit, the cherry tree was in bloom and he had personally seen to it that the child would be warm, so why this? Taking this as an ill omen he handed the child back to the handmaidens and marched in to the delivery to complain, accusing that this could be anybody's fault. "What have you done!" he shouted. His voice strained and echoed so loudly anyone in the castle could have heard it, even the infant.
"Have you spoiled my lineage?"
The lady sighed, and turned a little in her clean sheets, a sign that she knew this was going to happen, "what's your problem, you wanted a son I gave you one."
"A Lunar Hound, what's the meaning of it… the child's a male!" saying this under the preconceived notion that all Lunar Fang were and should be female, as to better suit the role. Growing up he knew little of the Lunar Hound side of the family. Where he had grown up there were only Fang, his father and mother both were Fang and his only brother Wind Fang. He knew that White Moon the daughter of the former great ant was Lunar Hound, but had little effect on his understanding of Lunar Hounds because she was female. In fact it was a well known fact that it had been centuries since a male of Luna Hound descent had been born. The last male to have been born of this nature, Silver Moon he was called, lived no less than eight thousand years before Sesshomaru was born. All the descendants of the Lunar Hound line were mostly female and that males were rare indeed, to him it's the way it was.
"So he is, a male as you wanted." She knew this was his belief and it amused her.
"Damn it woman, you know of what I speak! The first born is meant to be a Fang!"
Heh, she laughed, "Well perhaps the gods had something else in store for us sending him instead of a daughter. He does have an aura; and it is quite something maybe you can still work with it. Cheer up dear, it could be worse, you could have ended up with a girl, and then what would you be saying to me?"
She did have a point though a minor point it was, a girl would have upset him more, but it didn't matter. The demon he had expected to be born that day was the demon that was meant to challenge him and prove himself an even greater power, a demon of whom he could be most proud—a demon he would teach, a demon he would sculpt into a lord! A Lord he would create in his own image and watch him flourish into the perfect being, a hero, a guardian and a Fang, a demon of compassion and sympathy and worthy of legend and represented the qualities of a Fang. This is what he wanted… the first born was always a Fang!
Unfortunately Sesshomaru bore none of these qualities and as he feared he was just like his mother, though was by no means the cause for his name sake, in fact in the time of his birth his mother had called him Ming Yue, the 'bright moon' because of the glow she saw in his eyes. The Taisho objected to this only at first, disapproving that their child should be given such a common name, but came to dismiss it as readily as he came to observed the child's quick development, and bright eyes, but elusive and strange behavior. Saying that the name somehow suited him, though the moon was showy in the sky as in deed the child was beautiful, it was also hidden for half of the day and would hide its face, as he often did as if afraid to show that beauty.
Ming Yue did not remain an infant for long, wherein six months after he was born he had already developed into the stage of a four year old, and it would be in this form that he would remain for the next twenty years. In that first year however, Bright Moon would prove he was no ordinary Lunar Hound child.
~2~
For seventeen generations the Inuyoukai have served as guardians of the western lands of the demon's world, an age that has spanned over ninety thousand years. Their country, coinciding with most of the nation of China and incorporating Korea and Japan of the Human World, Jia Tian, which simply meant the 'Beautiful Land' was the largest of all the western nations, the most wealthy and beautiful.
The Taisho being the seventeenth generation Fang Lord had a lot to live up to; as well he was solely responsible for insuring succession for the future. His father Mount Fang the sixteenth generation Fang Lord of Inuyoukai rule was a demon of irreproachable repute.
Legend spoke of him as the perfect demon, blameless, faultless, flawless and immaculately beautiful, and most of all powerful. He was tall and fit, the streaks on his cheeks were perfectly smooth and strait, not showy like those on Great Fang, but were the same dark blue. It is said that the length of an Inuyoukai's hair is the same length as the fur on his body when he is in true form. Adjacently the length of the fur when in true form is always the same percentage to the length of the body for all Inuyoukai. Because of this it was often said that one could judge the strength and power of an Inuyoukai by the length of his hair and his refinement by its color and luster. The eyes of the late Mount Fang were graceful and fair and golden yellow over the more common honey gold or amber and his main was thick and glistening and pure white that cascaded to just below his knees, and standing at an impressive 7 foot and 9 inches tall, wearing only light armor, a modest white robe and a cascading fur was a sight to behold.
For Great Fang, he was model and inspiration for an entire life. His life, and was the demon he not only had to be like but had to, somehow, surpass. Wherein the end he did and succeeded. With the reputation as the successor of the great Mount Fang, indeed had much to uphold of the family's legacy, for not only was his father beautiful and powerful but also heroic and noble, wise and fare with his enemies and his subjects. He never lost a battle, and he always chose his fights, never allowed an enemy to get to him or sway him in anyway. All this Great Fang had struggled through life to attain and master—to be exactly like him, to be better, and in the end all this he had achieved, but with one difference.
The most impressive thing Mount Fang was known for is he never allowed his relationships with anyone especially his enemies to exceed being anything more than a mere acquaintance. For this he was very distant, often referred to as a demon of few words. Being elusive and secretive, was his trademark something Great Fang could never be, born a socialite Great Fang was a demon that loved to commune, especially with humans.
To him humans bore a certain charm that both touched and amused him, their earthly struggle were a calling to his heart endowing him with a special weakness that always drew him away from his duties. In time he would rationalize this with his duties and would ultimately result in his downfall, his father always told him, "You shouldn't commune with humans; though the temptation is there resist it. At length you will discover it is better for both you and them, and even better that they don't know we exist at all, less you draw them from their place in life or you from yours. Should this ever occur then I'm afraid my son there is no absolution."
He never listened.
When Ming Yue was born, the demon that would later be known as the Demon Sesshomaru Lunar Fang of the Inuyoukai, Great Fang had settled on two thoughts one occurring sometime later than the other. The first being of disappointment, but the latter was one of new hope, and perhaps of unprecedented possibilities.
In his first year of life, Ming Yue was to prove he was no ordinary child one night when he was seven months old and stated to his father, "Father why do you always go outside?"
Viewing this a as strange question, the Taisho merely answered while thinking nothing more of it, and said, "of course we must leave the castle, Ming Yue it is the duty of a Fang to patrol the land and to insure all is in its right place."
Ming Yue responded, "but then why do you leave, if everything is supposed to be in its right place isn't the land our castle?"
The Taisho was shocked, and had no response.
It was only then that he noticed the large and bright golden yellow eyes staring back at him—his father's eyes.
At the time he was at the stage in development equal to that of a two year old, and he was reprehensive, disapproving and observant. After this he shocked his father again by stating that the guards outside the castle walls should keep their heads at the same height as the horizon, so they don't get too big for themselves and end up falling from cliff sides at the ends of the world. After he heard this, the Taisho walked away with a headache unable to believe it—his father used to say the same thing.
After this the Taisho began allowing Ming Yue to accompany him on his routine patrol of the lands. Later in life Sesshomaru would reflect of these excursions being amongst his fondest memories from his boy hood. Those few times he had to spend quality time with his father, since he would soon grow up mostly under his mother's care. But those times when it was just the two of them, just father and son left so great an impression on him that to him he couldn't have asked for a more perfect life.
One day during these excursions young Ming Yue met with an unfortunate experience. The Taisho was observant, over time he had grown increasingly impressed and curious about his son's strange knowledge and behavior. He both behaved, and yet didn't behave in the way expected of a child or a proper Lunar Hound. The similarities to his grandfather continued to show, and by this time he had begun to suspect something extraordinary.
Could he be? Had he been reborn?
If it were true that his father, the great demon Mount Fang was reincarnated as Ming Yue then Great Fang knew what to expect from the child, Lunar Fang or not. Mount Fang was a warrior at the top of his class, and when demons are reincarnated, though rare it is, always retain the skill from the previous life. And so if Ming Yue was Mount Fang then the power he is expected to have would be beyond any hopeful expectation for an Inuyoukai. Indeed, for not only does a demon retain their level of power from former lives, but being reborn anew with that level of power to start off with redoubles the expectant potential of the demon several fold.
And so on that one fateful day when Ming Yue had his encounter with Yomi and the gang the Taisho was observant. He had known that these demons were in the land, and he knew who they were. The Silver Fox Gang led by the renowned Youko Kurama, a self-evolved spirit fox and local native, a demon he had been aware of for many years. A demon that he knew and had once charmed him with great interest. He saw potential in the quality of the spirit whose energy he could detect so easily, and had expected great things from. The fox was known for his trickery, sly ways, had a very bad habit of steeling things—a thief, he had a lethal mind and could control plants. But in the end when it turned out three hundred years later that the fox only amounted to becoming the leader of a band of mere thieves, he was disappointed.
'So he returns does he and with his followers, and they are headed for Ming Yue, hmm interesting.'
'Son what will you do?'
'Will you prove my suspicions to be correct or will you…'
Ming Yue was in the forest playing by himself along a stream not far away. The Taisho usually let him wonder off while always keeping a conscious eye on him by keeping track of his aura, as he carried on with his patrol. The demons drew in, Ming Yue, completely oblivious to the danger kept playing in the stream. He expected to see proof, but what he got was disappointment. Ming Yue ran. He wasn't surprised when the child growled and snarled, but when he tried to run away he just lowered his head and sighed to himself. Perhaps he was wrong. Ming Yue just resembled his grandfather and he was putting more in it then there really was.
As a father he wanted to see more to see him stand and fight, as a Fang would, but young Ming Yue wasn't the type. If he wanted proof, he got it Ming Yue was a Lunar Hound. The demons caught him easily and were running. He watched it all by reading the aura and from the scent of the wind. He knew that Ming Yue was scared. He allowed them to get to the midway point between him and the sea before he transformed.
The fox ran off, the rest scattered, only one remained a threat, Yomi. Though not knowing his name, the Taisho new who Kurama was but he knew nothing about Yomi, he could sense that the demon had power but that he wasn't utilizing it. Figuring that his demon was either not aware of his potential or was just not fired up enough to have tapped into it. Sensing the danger of him being in direct contact with Ming Yue he approached with caution.
Fortunately as soon as he arrived, the demon fled, apparently scared off by his thundering aura and immense size. Ming Yue was clearly upset. He could smell the poison used to subdue him, a common toxin of a certain toxic wildflower that was indigenous to the county.
How cruel, he thought, poisoning a child to serve their greedy needs, but then something happened that once again struck him with surprise. And he began to feel a certain rise of power, Ming Yue began to stir, his aura tripled then re-tripled, eyes bulging red and snarling he transformed.
The poison completely overcome, he howled and ran, bolted after the demon which whom he was struggling. The Taisho was astounded, and alarmed. Could it be? Was he doing what he thought he was doing? Was he going after him for revenge, a Lunar Fang child bent on vendetta?
Was it wrong?
Nonetheless there was no denying the child's power. No it can't be….
Father it can't be you!
Why my son, why Ming Yue?
It's only been a century sine's you died. Why Father, why have you come back so soon?
Then something stirred a memory from his childhood, when something similar to this happened to him and he fussed over getting even, he father said this to him, "Never seek the means to an end through violence if you can help it. The punishment will only be reflected back onto you in due time."
Ming Yue pursued the demon, and as he did these words echoed through the Taisho's mind, wise words from a wise demon. "Ming Yue," he tried to call out. "Ming Yue stop!"
"Come back!"
This was wrong, Mount Fang would never have chanced down a demon over such a petty struggle. The thief was no threat; though he had power it wasn't that much. So there was no need to be excessive. He charged at his son, and with a single swipe of his paw threw the pup off his path and sent him tumbling into a brush.
The child whelped, but he ignored it, and came down upon him a massive paw on either side. His disapproving growl intimidated the pup and he turned back. The Taisho as well changed back, and as he did, "Ming Yue whatever do you think you are doing?"
The child was silent but it was clear he was struggling to hold something in.
"What Ming Yue, did you think you could just take on the demon. Did you have a reason? A minor assault, do you think that's a good enough reason to lose your temper?"
The child shook, holding back his tears. "No!" he cried out. The Taisho was baffled. Ming Yue never cried.
"Ming Yue, do you have words?"
The child shook more. "No… I!" then it seemed he could hold in no more and leaping into his father's arms, burst into tears. "No I want…" he stated crying and calling out.
"I want him!" he shouted, "I want the demon!"
Now more baffled, want him? "Ming Yue what do you mean, what are you saying?"
"I want him… I want him…the demon!"
The child was clearly upset. And not liking the sound of it the Taisho turned right around. "No!" Ming Yue protested. "The demon!" But the Taisho's mind was set they were going home.
The child wouldn't have it "the DEMON!" he screamed. And began to kick and struggle, ands crying out "the demon…. The demon… I want… I want…" until the Taisho on alarm threw his hand over the child's mouth to silence him. His grip clenching down like a vice, "that's ENOUGH!" he hollered.
"What has gotten into you?"
But the child grew still; it was then that he noticed the scent of blood coming from him. Blood that wasn't his own but that of the demon that was with him. Simply by smelling it he could tell the blood sent was taken in hostile defense and that it was coming from his mouth.
~3~
Ming Yue remained in tears for the remainder of that night. His parents tried to speak to him, but all they could get out of him was, "no, I want the demon! Go get him!" he kept saying this, nearly pleading. Neither the Taisho nor his wife could quite understand it. Ming Yue never cried, not even when he was born. He never pled, nor had he ever asked for a thing, which they already thought was very peculiar for a child.
The only reasonable conclusion was that he wanted revenge; he wanted the demon captured so he could be punished. Put to death or perhaps even tortured. But the Taisho would have none of it, however when he would mention it—"No Ming Yue, you cannot allow yourself to dwell on your anger! You must let it go!" the child would become more persistent and cried even more, "No Ming Yue, I will not retrieve this demon for you! No…. NO!" until it came to the point where the child just turned away giving the impression that he had given up, but not in a good way he fell silent.
Broken in defeat, there was no compliance in his expression. No sign of obedience or understanding, but bitterness. Tears still glistened in his eyes, but didn't fall. After that he just stared and nothing more. That night he went to bed without eating, and in the morning as well he refused any offering of food. The following night and the next morning were the same, and then the next and so it went.
For months this went on, the child would not eat or drink, or even say a word. In the mean time his parents concern only grew. Time went on and eventually Ming Yue's health began to slip and he fell ill. By this time he had already lost a third of his body weight and had become sluggish. The light in his eyes had dulled and color in his cheeks was gone. Soon he was confined to his bed with a fever brought on by malnutrition.
The Taisho and his wife were at a loss, still struggling to understand the cause till one day the Lady Moon approached her husband with a thought. Several months had passed since the incident occurred, so there was little hope that the demon he had encountered could be reprehended. Still, with this thought in mind. "No I will not do it!" he shouted.
The Lady retorted, "Just why not there has to be a reason, why not go after him? It couldn't be that difficult for you to track that demon down?"
"It's been months; I doubt he's even in the land anymore," said the Taisho dismissingly.
The lady's brow furled causing a fine line to appear over her nose from her aggravation, "And since when is that an excuse! You've gone after demon's you haven't seen in years and yet you still managed to find them. Anyway we know to whom the demon was tied. Was it not the Silver Fox and his men that passed through the land that day? Track down the Youko if you want information about one of his men. Sure enough you can do that."
"The Youko was involved; it was his poison that polluted him."
"And he absorbed it no harm done; in fact it's only made him stronger. Now he has the ability to use venom. He had already demonstrated that, now hasn't he." And this was true; one night when Ming Yue expressed his anger and sprayed a green acidic fluid from his claws and spit. The fluid melted the walls and his saliva the small holes in the stone floor. They had him examined and it turned out that his body had absorbed the poison the fox demon had contaminated him with rather than repelled it as they originally thought. "We have no reason to be hostile towards a demon whose reckless actions added to our son's development. This I'm sure you could portray well enough."
The Taisho grunted, "Perhaps you don't understand my meaning, I say I won't. I mean I won't. I have no desire for this to continue any further."
"So you are saying you care not to understand your son? It is because of this that he is now ill and still you refuse to resolve it?" The lady persisted.
The Taisho seemed to grow, his presence more demanding, "I am saying I will not give into the demands of a child! The demon is of no concern to us and that is the end of it! We will let him go!" The subject was closed and he went to leave, but the lady was not intimidated, "so it's all about pride is it?" Stopping him in his tracks and he spun around, his eyes flashing angrily at her, "Do you wish to shower such a child with his every whim? What kind of demon do you believe he will become!"
Seriously she wanted to punch him, but knowing that her meager fist would do little good, she brightened her eyes and flashed back at him, "how dare you assume this is about spoiling, our son had definitely been affected by something, and I want to get to the bottom of it."
"The child is just out for vengeance, he was crossed and now…"
"Perhaps," she said loudly cutting him off, "if he was like you that might be the case, for that is the way you think, but let me remind you that our son is a Lunar Hound! Believe me his nature is of a different sort! You know this! Somehow I doubt his persistence is over vengeance. Fang, I want that demon caught so this matter can be examined more thoroughly."
The Taisho stood silently. Indeed, she had a point, it did arouse some curiosity in him and it would be interesting to observe Ming Yue's reaction should the demon be presented before him as a prisoner. That his insistence over the likelihood that his behavior was caused by his need for vengeance. If this could be proven to be wrong…He wasn't prepared to take the risk and allow the child to come under the wrong impression believing that the prisoner was caught to be executed… Ming Yue had to learn to control his temper… Mount Fang was never so hostile.
He thought of mentioning suspicions of his father's reincarnation to Lady Moon, but held his tongue. Wanting to be absolutely sure first, rather than to allow his beliefs make him seem like a fool. To suggest the Ming Yue was Mount Fang would be like saying that Ming Yue, a Lunar Hound was meant to inherit his father position as Fang, which to him was an option far too absurd to consider.
A Lunar Hound cannot be a Fang, they simply aren't made for it. It was simply a matter of fact. Mount Fang was too great and outstanding a lord to be born into the role as a second, or worse a servant. The thought made him wince. Which made him think—the mind of a Lunar Hound is different, if this was really true then maybe there is something else going on with Ming Yue… he doesn't think like a Fang then he can't be Mount Fang.
He's just Ming Yue.
"Hm, I'll think about it" he grunted, reluctantly then said no more. The conversation ended there, and the Taisho walked off. The lady remained disgruntled, getting him to comply by just saying he'd think about it was a start, but she wasn't convinced it would be enough to persuade him to commence a hunt. So she had decided to go over his head and send out men of her own, though they had little luck.
By this time Yomi was already under the care and watch of Gordon, and would remain so until he would be back on his feet. The men Lady Moon had sent out, though their search was quite thorough returned empty handed and so she was forced to let the matter drop. More time went on and Ming Yue's condition didn't improve.
Eventually it came to the point in resorting to drastic measures, and arranged for a letter to be sent to her ancestors that dwelt in Heaven. Several days later a visitor arrived at the castle requesting a private audient of the Lady. The visitor's name was Lady Pearl, the sixteenth generation Lunar Hound and mistress of Lunar Estates in Heaven, and Inuyoukai and the great aunt of Lady Moon. Lady Moon had summoned her to examine Ming Yue, hoping that her expertise could divine the cause of his condition, and since those in heaven have the advantage of knowing more about what goes on in the world below, Lady Moon hoped she could give her some headway on what happened the day he was attacked.
Lady Pearl was an extravagant woman. She stood a good deal taller than the Lady Moon and wore a dark robe that bore patterns of white and pale rose flowers. Only the sides of her hair was pulled up and bound with combs, adorned with strings of pearls. Everything else about her resembled Lady Moon, even her cold demeanor, and static speech, but she was compliant and after examining Ming Yue, had only this to say to Lady Moon. "Well his condition has progressed more than we had feared, but of course you know he will not die."
"Die," Lady Moon scoffed, "perish the thought he's our only son."
"Indeed the same, for you know the child is precious to us as well," answered Lady Pearl. "Your son is a special child. Perhaps he is more special then you know."
"Oh, is he now," Lady Moon inquired.
"He is, which is what permitted me to be here today. We as well are equally concerned over his welfare, your son is far more important to us then you know. Perhaps too important, and it had even come to the point at times we've considered taking him away from here."
"What do you mean take him?"
"Well more away from your husband. Since we sense a bit of disapproval in him of young Ming Yue, this will not serve the child considering how he looks up to him. We would highly suggest a separation, and would sooner like to see you in charge of his development than him."
Lady Moon grinned at this, "well I could if it was an order, but under the circumstances I'm afraid this is a man's world. I could try and take him, but all he needs to do is stand in the way and block the door."
"Yes, I know. I will see what I can do."
"Another thing, since you have divine sight, you must tell me you know something about the demon Ming Yue encountered?"
Lady Pearl stood silently for a moment, then smirked and said, "oh him, I don't think you have to worry much about him. Not for some time anyway. He's someone that, well let's just say his future is left unwritten for now."
"Unwritten? So you do know who he is?""
"We do know him, but like I've said he's not your concern."
"And what about Ming Yue, I want to know what that demon did to him."
"He didn't do anything more than you already know to him. If anything I think the child just liked the taste of his blood, and would have liked the demon for a servant. It would be beneficial for him a bloodletting servant with his type of energy would help keep the child on his toes."
"Bloodletting?"
Lady Pearl laughed, "Well he was a goat demon after all."
"You are saying Ming Yue could have eaten that demon? A mere thief? I find that hard to believe, Ming Yue spits up even clean food if the chef who cooked it was having a bad day."
"Well that because the negative energy the cook experienced gets absorbed into the food and that is what makes him sick. But that bandit, well he was in bliss when he encountered your son. Simply overcome, Ming Yue sensed that and it energized him. He probably wanted the demon, because it made him feel good to be with someone that was that excited over him."
"He absorbed the bliss?" Lady Moon was stunned.
"It would be highly beneficial for Ming Yue to be around someone that would love him unconditionally, perhaps even worship him. So he can absorb that love and help lift him. I told you your son is a very special demon, he's hyper sensitive to the world and will either open up to or shut out what he sees and experiences. And in his case he reacts in extremes, though I don't think this is a feature that will last in him for long. Once he sees that expressing anything does him no good he'll shut down and cease to show any emotion at all. He'll become like a caged bird unable to spread his wings, and you should know what it is like to be a bird that cannot fly."
"No, I think I do know."
So she is saying we don't love him enough, or is it he needs more than just a parent's love, mere concern for a child.
"I'm sure you do. All us Lunar Hounds share the same weakness do we not? Unfortunately the same goes for the Fang, they're always a fool, which is why we always run away from them."
"Hm, sounds tempting."
"I think you will eventually, you husband seems he's the type that excels in this. He's stubborn, and it's based in his pride which we never endear as virtue. I'm sure you'll tire of him soon enough, but at least stay long enough to see to your son he will require it."
"So you are telling me Ming Yue liked the feeling and the taste of the blood of the demon he encountered?
"yes."
"So could you tell me where I might find this demon?"
"You can't." Said Lady Pearl sternly, "he isn't available I'm afraid. I know what you want of him, but I'm not at liberty to give that information. The demon has a course of his own to follow, the meeting with your son was just a milestone, and one he had already met with and has moved on. He'll absorb his lesson from it later in life."
"I see, so he's out of the picture then."
"Yes, so don't look for him. Your path will be blocked if you do; the gods are keen in protecting the course lines of those they observe. Because I am from Heaven the very fact that I've given you any of this information would be seen as an obstruction to the flow of the way things should have gone."
"Well I suppose I can understand that. So he's observed is he."
"Yes, he is, but that's all I can tell you, but do take care. And do try to keep your son from his father as much as possible less his disapproval of him will turn him into a cold rock. I will address the matter in Heaven and see what can be done, but in the meantime if I were you I would do all I could to take him away from here. Your husband wants' a Fang child, and he will have one at any cost. So be on your guard, should you fail to produce one."
Lady Moon sighed and after that Pearl left.
Should I fail, huh? Dismiss me would he… well we'll see about that.
That night when the Taisho returned from his conference with the lords Lady Moon just watched him, thinking. Pouring over everything she had learned, about Ming Yue and bout the demon, and Ming Yue's apparent impression of him. So she said Ming Yue liked the demon who tried to capture him? He liked him…. That it isn't the need for revenge like Great Fang keeps saying—what a fool! He just assumes Ming Yue thinks the way all men do. Pearl's right all Fang are the same, I would be glad should I never be forced to bear one. And yet, '… be on your guard' she said to me, 'should you fail to produce one.' Great Auntie Lady Pearl, she who has the power to divine secrets from others she sets her sights on.
Interesting.
She considered the thought, of taking Ming Yue away yet had no excuse, or reason, just speculation and a warning—Great Fang would disapprove of Ming Yue and for that cause him to lose his heart?
~4~
Weeks passed and Ming Yue was still upset. His fever had passed thanks to a magical broth Lady Moon concocted, but he still wouldn't talk, or eat and just kept to himself in the garden. One evening, he had woken from a dream at the sound of a woman's voice calling to him. It wasn't long after he had lain down and had just drifted off. The voice came from outside and was so enchanting that he climbed out of bed and made his way to the tall pained windows to peer out.
Beyond them in the distance he could see a glowing figure, it was female and very beautiful floating in the air, and signaling to him. "Come," she was saying, "little boy… little boy are you up set…. Come." Even since his experience with the bandits he had no ounce of fear so opening the window he climbed out and went to the place where she floated. She drew back so he followed her.
He followed her into the forest till they came to a clearing. Then she landed, and her mystical ghostly form came to full manifest. A beautiful woman with long flowing locks of hair that took on the color of the scenery around her, and since this was late at night was a deep black with streaks of grays and blues as the wind blew at it. Her robes were white with incredibly long flowing sleeves and sat light as silk upon her. And her face was the loveliest he had ever seen.
"Do you like fruit," she asked as she came up and sat next to him in the grass. He didn't want to say no, though he rarely ate any he knew that some fruit were very sweet, so he nodded. The woman smiled then reached to the other side of her as if to take hold of something that wasn't there, but then when she turned back she was holding a basket of fruit.
She held it out to him suggesting that he should take one. Now dog demons are not nocturnal, at least his race weren't, and yet it barely fazed him that even through the darkened night he could see and make out ever kind of fruit that filled the basket. Her light seemed to make even the fruit and the basket itself glow, and looking he could see it was full of cherries, and plums aside peaches and dates. There was what appeared to be grapes and even some loose berries the sort he would find growing wild in the forest. He was glad to see though especially because they were among the few fruit he would eat.
So he took one and slipped it into his mouth. It was sweet, a good ripe juicy one his favorite, enjoying the flavor so much that he even smiled and took another."Good, eat." She said to him then placing down the basket beside him she stood up.
"Do you like dance," she asked him?
Ming Yue already had his third berry in his mouth as she asked, and didn't know of what she spoke because he has never seen a dance before, though he knew the word. He shook his head.
"Have you ever seen a dance?"
Again he shook his head, and went for another berry.
"I see… a shame for I believe all should be aware of the beauty that is dance." And as she said this she began to move. Lifting her arm into the air with her fingers fully extended yet not tense just as if she were reaching up to touch the air as delicately as she was sure not to cause a ripple the way movement can on air. Then lowered it in the same slow fluent motion, then she turned and bringing her arm over she cupped at the wind and then turned her palm to face herself and moved as if bringing the air, inviting it to her being. As she did this she began to hum a very pretty and complementing tune.
Ming Yue was entranced; he had never seen anything so beautiful. The way she moved and appeared, he even valued the color of her robes and the way they glided on the wind and air like the fins of a carp through crystal clear water.
He was so mesmerized that he had even forgotten what fruit he was eating, and went to reach for one more of the same to pick a peach instead, and without realizing what it was took a bite. The shock of the peach juice and the flavor shook him out of it and he held up the fruit to look at it.
"That is a peach," the ghostly woman said while still moving, "they are good fruit very sweet and soft. Feel its skin."
He did, and ran his fingers over the side of it. And thought for a moment that it should have been some kind of an animal because why else would it be so fuzzy? "Do you like it?" she asked.
Realizing that the flavor wasn't bad, and was sweet as she said, he nodded and took another bite. With this one he decided he liked it, and happily accepted it.
"There is a dance called Dance of the Peach Tree, would you like to see it?"
He nodded, anxious and fascinated now in this thing called dance he gazed on as she began. Her movement once again took on that fluent motion only it was slightly different, yet no less enchanting. Soon she stopped, and was suddenly staring off in into the space behind him. Ming Yue looked to find the illuminated figure of his mother standing behind him staring back at the woman.
There was no anger just aggravation, but no less she called out, "Shining Moon, I am surprised to see you out of your room."
He didn't know what to say, he was still holding the peach, not yet finished it. She noticed it and was baffled, "you're eating fruit?" then she looked again at the woman, "I see, it's enough."
After hearing this, the woman nodded then faded away. Ming Yue wanted to say something, to tell her not to go, but couldn't. He still couldn't muster the will to make his voice work, at least not in his mother presence.
"Ming Yue I will not refrain from saying I am pleased to see you eating, but as for leaving your rooms that's another matter." The basket on the ground had also disappeared. Yet the peach remained, though he no longer felt like eating it.
"I do not want you running off to commune with strange spirits, if you wish to be entertained we can arrange for that. There are plenty of dancers in the nation." Listening fully yet without response Ming Yue stood up but let his eyes drop till he was staring at nothing but the dark ground. "I do not say this to lecture you," she went on to say, "but as a warning to you. That I'm sure you could appreciate after your recent experience. Though I will say you were lucky this time, that maiden that was just here was a minor wind goddess we call Chiwoo, the wind dancer. She's not dangerous and is known to look after children especially unhappy ones, like you have been, but she is just one spirit. There are many such spirits like her in the world and not all of them are very friendly. Some will even trick you with what you like so they could lure you out to kill and eat you.
"Chiwoo is a benevolent spirit; though I'm still surprised she managed to get you to eat those fruit. You didn't eat too many did you?"
Recalling Ming Yue could only recount having eaten no more than half a dozen berries and little more than half a peach. So he just shook his head.
"Though it's good, too much of something strange could upset you, and you'll get a ach in your stomach."
Still he just shook his head, "chi…woo." He said.
"Uh?"the Lady responded in surprise.
"Chi-woo," he said again, then asked in the lightest tone she had ever heard him speak, "will she come back?"
"I do not know, she isn't known for revisiting. Once she is seen it is usually said that she never reappears."
With that Ming Yue just turned to walk back to the castle, saying nothing.
As he walked back she felt sorry for him, but also knew she couldn't take the risk of leaving him with the spirit knowing that he was being condoled. She just wasn't sure if it was the real Chiwoo, there have been imposters as she had already explain spirits that will take on her likeness to fool demons and humans alike so to feed upon them. She knew that the only way to be certain was to confront her, if it were an imposture the apparition would have left instantly. No phantom or ghost would chance a confrontation with a furious Daiyoukai mother acting in defense of her child, but the real Chiwoo would wait showing she meant no harm but just wanted to help.
Since the spirit didn't flee, showed it was the real Chiwoo, and this saddened her. If there was any other way to know she would have done it, rather than have interrupted and end up sending her away. She sighed, oh what ever should we do, such a difficult child.
Ming Yue returned to the castle feeling disappointed, he wanted to see more, but was certain from his mother's words that she wasn't returning. Returning to his room, he placed his half eaten peach on his bed side stand and crawled back into bed. Licking the stickiness from the juice that had begun to dry on his fingers, he tried to envision everything he saw in his mind the woman, her beauty her movement, dance and imbedded it all to memory, then as the memory played on he slowly fell back to sleep.
That night he did not dream, but woke up in the morning with an odd feeling. He looked over at his night stand to find that the peach was gone. Surely the maid came in took it and threw it away. He didn't care really, since he had already decided he wasn't going to finish it and didn't need to have half eaten fruit laying around to rot in his room.
Getting up he let the hand maiden wash and dress him then lay out his breakfast which of course he just ignored and went straight out to the flower garden. It was a bright sunny by, but since the day was still early the light was still soft in the garden, almost white like the goddess's flowing gown.
He thought he wanted so much to see it again those glowing garments and that fluid movement that when he stepped in to the garden and came into the light he lifted his hand to look at it. To view the way the sun light reflected on his white flesh, and was pleased to notice that as it did there was a slight pearlescent glow.
He had never noticed this about his being before but he realized that it was pleasing and found it very pretty. He also liked the way his claws shined and appeared to be perfectly clear like ice without that bluish cloud that distinguished it from water beside the fact of being solid. He wondered at what else about himself was like this, pretty or pleasing to the eye.
He looked at his hands, at his clothes, then kicked off his shoes to look at his feet, and then his hair. But knowing this was not all of it he turned around and ran back out of the garden and all the way back to his room where there was a tall standing mirror that he had never cared to peer into before. But this time when he returned to his room he went straight for it.
And there in the mirror was the reflection of a child with a round shining face adorned with showy golden yes, birth markings and little pink lips. His hair was perfectly white and appeared to be very soft and was long enough for him to feel proud—long like his father's.
And he realized he was a very beautiful being, he smiled at this. It felt as if a great burden had been lifted and he was free. He went to his closet and pulled open the large wooden doors to unveil shelves and shelves of robes he's never worn. All fancy garments suitable for a prince and were all intended for him. his eye passed over them, pulling them out if he thought something about the color interested him but when he looked more closely he's put it aside and move on.
Gone through it all he discovered he was disappointed, none of the robes there were what he wanted—there was a look, a certain look he needed to see but it wasn't there. None of these were right, and then he recalled seeing the servant girl, a child not much older than he was wearing a beautiful robe of pastel rose adorned with winding patterns of morning glories in blues and purple. He recalled how much he liked it that he a thought came to him, to find the look he was seeking he needed to look in a girl's room.
So he went and found his way to the servant girl's quarters, went to her closet and began pulling out robes. Amongst them he found just what he was looking for. So he took it and headed for the window, leapt out and returned to his room. Cautious not to be seen by anyone, he ran along the outside of the castle until he came to the outside wall of his own quarters and snuck back in again through the window. Glad the room was empty he stripped off the robes the hand maiden had dressed him in and unfolded the robe he took from the servant girl's closet. Holding it up, he paused while glaring at himself in the mirror, at the boy with the pretty face in the mirror, wondering for a moment if he even knew who that was—is that really me, then put it on.
The garment he chose was a powder blue hanfu, with just as pale pastel flower print on the sleeves and down the skirt. When he saw it he immediately thought it was much prettier than the hanfu he saw the servant girl wearing before. It came with a white sash that he was very please with because it was so much like the robe the goddess wore, as if it was a part of it.
Tying it around his waist he turned to look at himself in the mirror, and there before him was not a boy, nor a demon but a god, a small god like she was, and one that could be like her to.
Again he lifted his arm into the air precisely in the way the goddess did, imitating the motion at best he could. The next thing he knew he had begun to dance. Satisfied with his movement he grabbed a light cloak that was hanging in his closet and threw it over his new hanfu and snuck back out to the garden, his favorite place in the world to be.
And so he would dance, in secret, gracefully moving just like she did. After a while he began to come up with routines and would name them, one he called his 'Rose Dance' another was his 'Wind in the Cherry Blossoms', and 'the Dance of the Gardenia,' which of course was his favorite.
After a while the servants and his parents began to take notice, and were alarmed by what they considered to be 'odd behavior'. First the servants, then his mother who chose to ignore it if it appeared to make him happy, but when his father found out—"it has come to my attention that Ming Yue has been stealing clothing from the maids recently." He addressed his wife one afternoon.
Pretending as if she hadn't heard a word of it, answered as if bring up an entirely different conversation, "I've ordered a new set of wardrobe for Shining Moon; it appears he lost interests in his regular garb."
"Eh you spoil him, I won't put up with it. Wanting to wear women's clothing is one thing, but stealing is another."
"I'm sure it's just a phase." She turned, choosing her time to indulge in him. He noticed but ignored it, "This dancing of his has got to end." He said.
"And why is that?" she, failing to see the problem with it.
"Ming Yue an Inuyoukai, and with his strength he can become truly great it's not fitting for him to go around wearing dresses and dancing."
"Well correct me if I'm poorly informed, but from what I heard most of the greater demons of this world are known to be rather eccentric. And if that is what are son is, well them you're probably right. Anyway from what I can tell he enjoys it, and there is little it seemed he enjoys in this life so far, why take it from him?"
"I don't like the influence it is having on him, he's likely to grow up confused?"
"Confused," she laughed, "our son? Perish the thought, he may take on the likeness of a goddess or a maiden if he likes if anything it will just make him more an appealing sight."
"A young man should grow up to become a man, not take on the likings of a woman."
"And why not, in his case, he was born a Lunar Hound, which means he is intended to be mated with a male anyway so what wrong with him taking on the likeness of that role now?"
The Taisho flinched, as the meaning of the word Great passed through him, Bright Moon, my son… my only son a Lunar Hound, the mate of the Fang, women's clothing… dancing, and with the lingering suspicion of his father's soul in Ming Yue… how could this be right? It is common knowledge for Inuyoukai to know what is expected of the nature of a Fang and Lunar Hound of pure descent, the Fang were strong, hardy, warrior types that saved the day and protected the weak. They guard the land and uphold justice, while on the other hand the Lunar Hour were just the opposite. Figuring the Fang could deal with those affairs of other, they were the mates, either male or female and their spouse was always a ruling Fang, and male.
Lady Moon was of course Lunar Hound herself, she had tiny blue curling stripes on her cheeks which showed she was of pure descent but it was the showy deep blue crescent moon on her brow that marked her as descended from the branch of the moon and just like their son—so he took after then, a Lunar Hound.
The thought made him wheeze, as he could feel the embarrassment of a having a cross dresser for a son just setting in, even though he knew that femininity ran in the Lunar Branch like strength and ardor ran in his.
That afternoon, he went to garden Ming Yue was there and hiding from sight—an Inuyoukai does not hide, he thought to himself. "Ming Yue," he called out, his voice rather demanding. "Your father summons you! Bright Moon, come!"
Before long a little face appeared, peering out from around a hydrangea bush. He had to admit the child was adorable. "Ah, Ming Yue today is a good day." He said sure that he had a bright smile on his face to shine down upon the boy. It worked and he stepped out onto the pathway and went straight to him. Relieved to see he was normally dressed, and not adorned in his 'play clothes' the servants came to refer to his silly hanfu.
The boy with his little face, and bright golden eyes and crescent moon birthmark stared up wonderingly with both his arms down by his side and standing up right, please to see this the Taisho smiled, "to day is the day you will learn what it means to be Inuyoukai!" As he said this he smiled, expressing that it was in fact a good day. Something to be pleased about, like the day they were about to have a father to son chat about the birds and the bees, but instead claws and fangs and how to protect the nation.
"Come." Ming Yue followed, and the Taisho lead the boy from the garden to a different courtyard this one with less plants or ornamentation of any kind. A servant awaited then and when they approached he bowed and handed to the Taisho what appeared to Ming Yue as a pair of sticks and a third that was made of metal.
With these the Taisho turned and presented one of the sticks to him, it was the metal one and held it up, "this, my son is what we call a sword. Do you know what these are for?"
The question was strange and confusing, but as Ming Yue's eyes glared at the weapon the confusion didn't last long, for somehow the answer just came to him, "to kill the bad demons." He answered, and his father smiled. "Yes, Ming Yue, but just the evil ones, not all demons are evil, not even the bad ones. Only certain demon can be evil. That'll be important for you to remember."
The training began here, when his father passed to him a wooden sword, and told him to demonstrate how to swing it, young Ming Yue did not disappoint, in fact in the instant he took the wooden blade he excelled all expectation, and began to display superb skill as well as strength in both his swings and attacks, as well as style. And what was more the style was familiar, too familiar.
The Taisho thought to himself, I knew it.
Up next Chapter 3 How Sesshomaru Got His Name, coming soon :D
Ok for anyone that's interested there is an ending song I picked out for this story, its a song called Der Letzte Tag, by the band Elis: http(dot)(slash,slash)www(dot)youtube(dot)com(slash)watch?v(dash)sdtl9VCS4
