Hello again! Thanks a lot for the reviews, they were more than what I expected! First, some more boring stuff, I need to explain the background... If there are any doubts, ask me. I've added a Glosary at the bottom where I'll explain all the japanese words that may confuse you. One more thing, do you prefer Taiyoukai or Daiyoukai?
Replies to my lovely, lovely reviewers:
-Taraah36: I'm so very glad you like it! I hope this meets your expectations!
- DreamWeaver0509: Your honesty is heart-warming; first point, I'm waiting for the Microsoft Word program to arrive home so I can install it; second point, morn is, according to all the dictionaries I've come across, "a poetic way of referring to the morning" quote-unquote, so please, get your things right before correcting me. It's already hard writing this without additional wrong input to confuse the hell out of me.
-kate: I'm very sorry, I had exams and couldn't find the time to upload this. If it makes you feel better, I'll update at least once a week!
Disclaimer: Nothing but the plot of this fic is mine!
Of the Youkai
The youkai, often times called demons, apparitions and/or monsters are the most diverse species of Earth. There are thousands of subspecies, from those that embody an element like the koorimes (known in the human folklore as yuki onnas), their sisters of the water (also called mermaids), those of fire, etc.; there are others whose instincts are superdeveloped (be they prey or predator) who can take the form of the animal that gives them name, like the inuyoukai, kitsune or tanuki.
We can also encounter demons who can't take "human" form and are the equivalent to animals; youkai historians protest this term as demons already took on "human" forms a long time before humanity evolved from the monkey.
Most youkais consider humanity little more than animals because of this fact and consider them not yet entirely evolved. Sucesive investigations have reinforced this oppinion because of the unfortunated way humans react to youkais.
The vast majority of demons have developed an evasion strategy, they wrap themselves in ilusions humans can't break and don't have any kind of contact with them. Others, victims of the humans (because fear spawns hate) want them eliminated. Some just like killing them for sport.
Humans have defining characteristics which portray their different nationalities (something like the youkai subspecies); as demons don't have that, they can easily mingle with humans of every race who will be unable to directly place them as a race or another once they hide their most demonic attributes.
Youkais of the animal-type have a second self, a best made entirely by instint that primal and strong. That's why they are specially dangerous, and conform the noble and royal classes; the four Houses each lord over one of the four quadrants and are named by their cardinal points; that is the House of the East, West, North and South.
Those individuals born in the royal families, that met the necessary requirements to be given this name, are called Taiyoukais or Daiyoukais, the best of the best.
Among the mammals, there is no more powerfull, fierce or loyal race than the Inuyoukai; theirs is the House of the West, the House of the Moon.
That's why, when just a few centuries after the War and the signing of the peace treaty, the Lord of the House of the Moon took as his mate the second daughter of a family of renowned fame and it came to be known that to the most intimidating power of the royals, only people able of mastering the Art after the Great Purge, able to use a poison so strong it was capable of melting the strongest of materials would unite together with the power of resurrection and the talent to copy abilities; the excitement of the populace was mixed with the worry of the high classes in the other lands as the union of such powerfull families formaliced with the birth of a heir could be considered dangerous to the balance of power between the Four Houses.
After the peace treaty, the situation was fragile(...), if the offspring of the Lords of the West was considered unworthy in the Ritual of the Passing of the Century, the situation would degenerate in a civil war (...) that would end up triggering the start of another Great War.
Night falls, in the half light shined upon the shadows by the full moon, the soft whispers of the inhabitants of the castle blends with the soft noise of the rustling silks as they brush against stone; now, even the most insignificant sound is heard as a cacophony for those who anxiously wait for news.
The chamber is closed to all but the maids, who enter and leave without providing any information. To the person waiting in the outer chamber, the silence is opresive and his tangible tension spreads trough the place like fire, putting the nerves of all that can feel the burning sensation in their skin like a too heavy burden, on edge, in such a way they doubt wether to get away from the crushing presure or crumble.
The Lady is giving birth, as she has been since less than half an hour ago, but this is her first and the pup is terribly strong; altough it is not mentioned the posibility of this birth getting complicated hangs in the air visibly darkening the ambiance.
Suddenly, a scream rings into the night and there is no creature daring enough to obstaculize the Lord's path when he bursts in the labor chamber, place where no man should enter.
In the ebony bed, leaning against the ornate headboard plumped with cushions, the Lady rests while she watches over the small creature held in her slender arms; she is pale but composed and the opressive force of her mate's youki diminishes until it dissapears.
While all the maids leave, the midwife aproaches him.
"Tis a boy, my lord, and he is well enough; the lady in the other hand needs to rest... the pup's poison has damaged her womb, she won't... won't be able to conceive another".
He nods solemnly and sitting beside the new mother, he looks at his progeny, who opening his eyes for the first time mantains and returns his gaze.
"His eyes will be golden"-she says-"like myself"-and smiles as beautifull a smile as the one that made him chose her-"We both are well".
And forehead to forehead they greet the future Lord of the House of the Moon.
Outside, as the dawn aproaches, the world is silent.
Reviews will make me update sooner...
Glosary
Koorimes: For those of you who have neither watched nor read Yu Yu Hakusho (something you should do... now, if you don't wanna you can find info in wikipedia or if you want to, I'll make a brief summary in the next chapter), the koorimes are female ice youkais who live on an island placed high up in the sky and there are no men there 'cause they think they are the root of all evil. They reproduce when they reach a certain age, birthing a daughter just like them, having sex with males is forbidden. When they cry, the tears become precious stones very valuable called hiruseki stones.
Yuki Onnas: Women of the snow or ice, in the japan folklore they are beautifull ladies that appear either naked or dressed with a white kimono up in the mountains before people that are lost in the snow storms; depending on the legends they freeze them with their breath or they make them become lost so they die in the storm or they attract men so they can (like a vampire) suck their life force or they burst into people's houses and kill them all. Really nice women, don't you think so? On a more positive note, if they like somebody they let him go.
Nakama: Word used by Ichigo, protagonist of the manga Bleach (another one you should read...), talking about his most beloved people. But I have already explained this...
Youki: When I say youki, I'm talking about demonic power; reiki is the spiritual power of both monks and mikos.
El Arte: Magic, the art of magic.
I think that's all...