Chapter 2
Insight
The Lord of the West sat at his study looking over scrolls that he would rather not be looking at. He hated this part of being who he was, all the pointless dealings with the surrounding lands. The only land he cared about, other than his own, was the East, and that was only due to the threat of war that loomed over his head.
Even now, small battles would sometimes be had, but it was never enough to classify as war. What truly worried him was the dwindling numbers of inu yokai. There were very little left of his kind, and if things continued the way they were, in a matter of years, he would be the only one left. It was quite obvious that nothing could take him down.
He was all-powerful and the mightiest of all in the lands. No one could beat him, and he had no problem proving that to someone if they wished to die. He leaned back in his chair, looking over the scroll once more. He had attempted to read it three times now, but could not concentrate on whatever it said.
He could not shake the feeling that, somehow, something big was coming. Something that would completely change his life. He wasn't scared of change. As he aged, and the times around him morphed, he knew he would adapt as well. No, what bothered him was the sheer wave of change it would bring.
He could easily tell this force could go either way for his controlled life. It could make it all the better, in ways he couldn't even fathom, or it could destroy him. While he may not die from it, the feeling of dread was still there. Whatever this change was, he would fight it. He would not allow anything to bring him down in any way, shape, or form.
A soft knock had the lord looking up from his scroll. With his demand to enter, three people walked in. Two belonged to his court, and the last was his retainer. His eyes fell first on the little toad, and that annoying feeling of guilt flashed deep in his chest.
Ever since that night seventeen years ago, anytime he looked at Jaken, he clearly remembered the female he had left. A week after the incident, his well-hidden heart had gotten the best of him. He had returned to where he had left her with the intention of giving her a proper burial.
Imagine his surprise when all he found was the lingering smell of death and the fading power of purification. The female could not have survived with the way he tore himself from her. Even he had suffered an injury from his actions. Of course, he had healed and told no one of what occurred.
His raping of the demoness was his secret alone. It was something he kept well-hidden to ensure that no one could ever use it against him. What most did not realize was the cold and stoic lord did, indeed, have a heart. It was just pushed behind many walls of ice.
In his position, he could not afford to let anyone know he was anything other than the ruthless killer he portrayed. If any were to find out, it could mean his demise. That is the only reason he did not kill his retainer that day. If he had, too many questions would have been asked. But now, he wished he had because he hated feeling anything other than the joy of killing, especially guilt.
Pushing aside the useless emotion, he turned his attention to the demon slayer and monk in front of him. He had found the two while patrolling his lands. The slayer had been badly injured and when he stumbled upon the distraught monk, he had originally intended to leave.
That is until the monk fell to his knees and swore his allegiance to him. After some serious thought, he had decided that having a warrior monk and a strong demon slayer on his side was better than having them on another's.
So he had accepted the monk's proposal and had not been disappointed. The monk's fighting skills and spiritual power were far greater than he expected, and he has proved his worth time and time again. The slayer was even more impressive. With her Hiraikotsu, she is able to take out many enemies with one blow, not to mention she has a high skill level with the sword.
It didn't take long before she was climbing the ranks of his army. Being a female, she had no choice but to push herself to prove that she was worthy to fight for him. The others in his army believed women to be weak, and while they were mostly right, she proved them all wrong. Within a matter of months, she became the Female General, and a trusted confidant. While he had to keep a male general to keep peace with the men who still did not agree with her status, she was his top fighter.
"Sango, Miroku, what news do you bring?" He asked, looking between the two. With a swift kick to his butt, Sango sent the little toad flying towards his feet with a scowl.
"Tell him, Jaken." Sango ordered, glaring down at the toad.
"Y-Yes, General Sango." Jaken squawked as he pushed himself from the floor. "Milord, I-I regret to inform you that one of the patrols has been attacked."
"When?" Sesshomaru asked, his anger rising. The coldness of his voice sent shivers down everyone's spines.
"Three days ago." Jaken answered before continuing. "They were attacked as they walked the border of the East and West."
"What is the damage?" The lord asked, clenching his hands into fists and cursing the East for their foolishness.
"Three were killed and ten injured." Jaken replied.
"That is nearly half the patrol!" Sesshomaru snarled as he stood abruptly. "What was my army doing to allow such a defeat!?"
"T-They were drunk, milord." Jaken whispered, knowing he was about to get pounded. It was his job to oversee the patrols, yet he was losing control of them.
The study was eerily quiet as everyone watched their lord close his eyes slowly and attempt to regulate his breathing. Sango and Miroku took a step back, knowing his wrath was coming, while Jaken fell to his knees and silently begged for forgiveness. He did not wish to die on this day.
"Why, Jaken?" Sesshomaru inquired, through tightly clenched teeth. He had his closed fists placed on his desk and was hunched over in his anger. His silver hair cascaded over his shoulders as he fought to keep his control.
"I believe that our army is losing hope, milord. They feel the weight of the upcoming war, and it is taxing them. Maybe they need a small break just-"
"Break! This is war, and you wish to send my army on vacation because it is too much for them to handle!?" Sesshomaru yelled so loudly, it caused the servant walking by the closed doors to scurry off.
"I am sorry, milord! I should have never suggested such a thing!" Jaken pleaded, throwing himself flat against the floor.
"Leave my sight before this one rips your head from your shoulders. I do not want to hear of such a disappointment again." Sesshomaru snapped.
All watched as the little toad scurried from the study, desperately thanking the Kami for his spared life. The lord sat back in his chair with a tired sigh. If he could show his wariness to anyone, it was the two in the room with him. He trusted them more than he trusted any other.
"Milord, it seems it is you who may need a break." Miroku gently stated, hoping not to anger the demon even more.
"I am a lord. This Sesshomaru does not have time for a break." Sesshomaru replied, looking up at the two in front of him. "What else do you seek from me?"
"There is a rumor of a powerful being that travels these lands. It is said that the creature holds great spiritual power and fights alongside yokai, even though it is human." Sango began, as she sat in the chair across from the desk.
"We believe if we can find this person and get them on our side, we will have a great advantage." Miroku finished. Unlike his wife, he was not comfortable enough with the lord to sit in his presence so he continued to stand, ensuring he showed his respect.
"How powerful is this being?" Sesshomaru asked, just about grasping at straws now. He had to find some way to make his army feel as if they had a chance again. If they already believed they would lose, they would no doubt fail.
"This person is said to be the only human who can use its spiritual powers to become immune to time. They are not affected as others are." Miroku answered.
"I have also heard that they are a master with a bow and sword. No one really knows just how great their spiritual powers are though." Sango continued, her fingers playing with the hilt of her sword. "We have come to ask for permission to leave and search for this being."
"No." Sesshomaru answered, shocking the two people in the room. When Sango opened her mouth to argue, the lord raised his hand to silence her. "I will search for this being. If we wish to gain the strength everyone claims this person has, the honorable thing to do is for the lord requesting them to be the one to give the request. This one will leave in the morning. You two will run the shiro while I am gone."
"Yes, milord." Both Sango and Miroku said with a small bow before they turned and left the study.
Sesshomaru leaned back in his chair, silently wondering if this was the change coming for him. He would find this person, learn more about them, and then decide what his actions would be. If only he realized just how different his life was about to become.
-sSs-
Kagome looked around her, her eyes searching for any signs of danger. Between her and the very tall inu demon beside her, not many could harm them. It had been three days since they left the kitsune village, and Kagome had to admit she'd missed the thrill of adventure.
She hadn't worn her armor in so long, she had been worried it wouldn't fit. The black, form-fitting cloth was made from spiders' silk. While the thread itself was soft and weak, once combined to make the clothing, it strengthened considerably. The pink armor that rested on her shoulders, knees, and stomach were made from the hardest stone, but weighed next to nothing. A red obi was tied around her waist, just so she had somewhere to place her sword. Her bow was never off of her back or out of her sight. She was deadly with either.
Youta was also a fine warrior who she was immensely proud of. His own natural attacks consisted of poison, and they had yet to find anything he couldn't melt through. Between his poison whip and his deadly claws, he was a force to be reckoned with. Add a weapon to that and he was unstoppable. His own sword hung at his side, and he was just as skilled with it as she was, even though she had been wielding a sword for quite a few centuries.
He was easily able to catch up to her in the weapons department. While most would be upset at being overthrown, she was happy her son was so strong. It meant she would not have to worry about him as much for he could take care of himself.
Seeing his strength often made her wonder of his sire. Just how powerful was he? Who was he? She knew his blood mother was not the strongest out there which told her all of her son's strength came from his father. It was a little nerve-wracking to be searching for such a demon, but it confirmed one suspicion she had. A demon of that caliber would not be taken out easily.
It was very likely the one they sought after was still alive. Now she just needed to think of how to find him. She did not know his name, or his origins. Her only clues were the memories of that night and that was what they were going to follow. As if he was able to read his mother's thoughts, Youta decided now was the time to speak.
"Where are we going?" He asked, looking down at the woman beside him.
It still startled him just how small his mother was. He worried for her constantly and always had to remind himself that she was strong. While he stood at just over six feet tall, she stood at just under five. She came up to his chest and always appeared fragile.
He knew of her skills, and abnormal reiki, but she was still his mother. The idea of seeing her fight was not something he wished to witness. He would never tell her how he felt, though he was sure she probably knew. She had the ability to read just about anybody, no matter what kind of mask they held.
"To the place where it all started." Kagome answered, pulling him from his thoughts.
"You mean where I was conceived. By now, any trace of my sire would be long gone." Youta observed, his thoughts wondering on what she could possibly be thinking.
"I know, but it's a start. I still remember which way he traveled when he left, and that will be the way we go." Kagome replied, looking towards her son.
He watched as her eyes trailed over his body, and he suddenly felt exposed. He had on his dark blue kimono and black tabi. He wasn't either underdressed or overdressed so he wasn't entirely sure what her gaze was taking in.
"You need armor." She stated, setting his mind at ease.
"We have discussed this. It costs too much to forge armor big enough to fit me." He scoffed, looking at his mother as if she was overreacting.
"I will not have my son so exposed. I will speak to the blacksmith at the next village we come across." She replied, looking ahead. Her voice held that motherly tone that basically said arguing was a moot point.
"And how do you plan to pay for this?" Youta asked, while crossing his arms and hiding his hands in his large sleeves.
"Maybe I'll sell myself." Kagome teased, her eyes holding a spark of amusement at the low warning growl she received.
"Do not tease on such matters." He reprimanded, his eyes not leaving the forest in front of him.
"Hey! I am the mother! You don't get to discipline me!" She growled, quite impressively for a human.
Then again, she did have to learn the ways of the inu. Raising her son had been difficult until she did so. As a pup, he relied mostly on his instinct which meant she had to as well. When she would put him down for a nap, she would make her way to a stray inu pack that stayed near the kitsune village, and just watch.
She learned quite a bit from the pack and soon started applying that to her parenting. It worked wonders. Raising Youta had become much easier than it had before, but there was still only so much she could do. Hence the reason they were now searching for her son's sire.
"Mother, can I ask a question?" Youta started, ignoring her last comment.
"That was a question, but yes, you may." She replied, ignoring the annoyed glare she received.
"Why have you never married? You are over five centuries old, yet not once have you taken a husband." Youta asked, noticing the way his mother went deep into thought.
"I guess you could say a human will never be enough for me. I will not die of old age, and while I can die of wounds, I've had plenty of time to hone my fighting skills so inflicting those wounds on my person are nearly impossible. Taking a human as a husband would mean I would have to watch them grow old and die." Kagome answered, still thinking more on her answer.
"I assume that is why you surround yourself with demons." Youta observed.
"Well, that, and demons are easier to get along with. They don't rely on their emotions as much. While I believe having emotions is a good thing, having too much can be dangerous. It's all about knowing how to use emotions to your advantage." The small woman answered, her eyes scanning for anything fishy as they walked.
"Well then, why not take a yokai as a mate?" her son asked, wishing he could see his mother truly happy.
"Because I have not met one that can keep my attention. Sure, the physical attraction is there, but there is no guarantee that that will last. When that does fade, I will be stuck with someone I am not physically, or emotionally, attracted to. I guess I just haven't found the one who could hold both." She replied, laughing at the scowl now present on Youta's face.
"I did not need to know about the physical part." He growled, his cheeks flushing at the thought of his mother rutting. He shivered, trying to shake away the disgusting image.
"Son, I am over five-hundred years old. Did you really expect me to not have had sex in that time? I may not have rutted since you were born, but I have had partners before."
"Okay, Ma! I really don't need to know this!" Youta barked, trying to get his mother to stop talking about such things. Little did he know, his sweet little mother enjoyed seeing the blush on his cheeks, and she would do anything to keep it there.
"In yokai custom, rutting is no big deal. It is quite often that yokai orgies occur, which you have seen in the village. The topic of sex should not embarrass you so. There will be a day when you take a female. I can watch and give you pointers if you'd like." Kagome teased, unable to hold back her laugh as her pale son turned the shade of a ripe tomato.
"I should have left you at home." Youta grumbled, looking away to try and hide his embarrassment. He sometimes forgot just how cruel his mother could be.
"We will be arriving soon. I can tell there is a very powerful demon not too far off so keep your eyes open." Kagome warned, causing the light air around the two to suddenly thicken.
They walked in silence after that, both able to feel the enormous aura that seemed to be approaching them. Kagome was confused as to why this demon would seek them out. He held no ill intent, only curiosity. She knew better than to let her guard down, though, because while he may only be curious, that could change any moment.
Entering the clearing she had not set foot in since that horrible day, she looked around and was not surprised to find it looking no different. Her gaze automatically went to the spot where the woman had died, the earth still scarred from the male demon's claws as he had raped the female. She noticed how her son looked down to the same spot, and she knew he was smart enough to figure out where they were. His next words confirmed it.
"This is where my mother was raped."
"Yes. I granted her dying wish so she could pass peacefully." Kagome answered, her eyes holding sadness as she thought back on the old memory.
"Her dying wish being that you birthed me." Youta stated, not really needing an answer. He was thankful for what both of his mothers did. Not only did he get the gift of life, he also got to meet the wonderful woman who birthed him. Neither one got a chance to say anything before a deep baritone voice interrupted their conversation.
"Explain yourself, Miko."
Two sets of eyes, one golden and one blue, turned to the owner of the voice. While Youta had no idea who he was speaking to, Kagome knew. She remembered the markings, silver hair, and gorgeous face. Most importantly, she remembered the sad eyes that seemed so lost. She remembered everything about the man that sired her son. The man who now stood in the clearing with them.
-sSs-
Chapter 2. I do have to say, I actually like writing in third person. It is making writing in first harder than I expected, but I still wish I had someone to beta my work. Kagome's attire is Sango's armored outfit in the anime. In this story, Sango will be wearing something different. You will learn more about the disappearing inus later on in the story. I hope you enjoyed. Please review.
I do not own InuYasha.
