Chapter 2

The Demon Lord's Castle

The moment that the 2 demons, and the young princess were outside the castle, they began to journey the long walk out of Takatenjin.

Izayoi had trouble keeping up with their long strides, and would once in a while, have to skip to catch up with them. Eventually though, the silence was too much, and she had to speak.

"Where are we going?" she asked, as she walked on top of a log, holding her arms for balance.

"To the western palace." Inu No Taisho replied without even glancing back at her, or slowing down.

"And then the bracelets will be removed?"

"No. Then we travel in search of a seer who can remove them."

"I see," Izayoi said, hopping off the log.

"So how did you come to wear the bracelet?" she asked curiously.

"Human," the younger demon said, "Be silent."

Inu No Taisho stopped and looked back at the city of Takatenjin.

They were far enough away now, that the people would not see them transform.

"What now?" Izayoi asked.

"Now, we run." Inu No Taisho's eyes turned a blood red, and he began to morph into his true form, the white dog that Izayoi had seen just the day before, the size of Mount Fuji.

Sesshomaru transformed as well, but into a much smaller dog. Then, grunting to himself, Sesshomaru picked up the young princess with his teeth, and growling a sentence to Inu No Taisho, they took off.

Izayoi was petrified. She couldn't see the landscape as they ran at such speed.

Her eyes watered and burned from the rushing air, and her body burned with such pain from the air pressure.

Finally, after 5 minutes, or what seemed like an eternity to Izayoi, they finally came to a stop, and Sesshomaru set her down, both him and Inu No Taisho returning to mortal form.

Izayoi lay numb on the ground, unable to move, until she felt herself being picked up, and was carried into the castle.

Her eyes wandered around the large palace in wonder. The western land's palace was MUCH bigger than the one at Takatenjin.

The walls were made of very expensive wood, which were painted over in a rich red color, with many golden statues plastered onto them, embedded with many jewels.

When Izayoi looked up to the ceiling, she gasped.

Instead of a roof, like at her palace in Takatenjin, was an opening that went up at least 7 or 8 floors, with a spiraling staircase going all around the cylinder form, up to the very top.

She felt herself being dropped onto her feet, and she looked ahead, to see several servants scrubbing the floors, and polishing the golden statues.

But-they weren't human.

One girl, she noted, had bright orange hair, and a small tail coming out the end of her kimono.

Another man she saw had a mix of blue and orange hair, with two horns sticking out of the top of his head.

All the servants here were demons!

All of them stared at Izayoi in astonishment, at the sight of a human in the western land's castle, and began whispering amongst each other.

"Chu Chui" Inu No Taisho called, and immediately, a young girl, with green hair and pointed ears, wearing a purple and white kimono, came running towards him, and bowed in front of him.

"Yes milord?" she asked.

"Take Izayoi to her chambers, and get her something suitable to wear. We leave tomorrow at dawn."

Chu Chui's eyes widened at seeing a human, but she bowed, and inclined for Izayoi to follow her.

Izayoi's eyes flickered back and forth, from Inu No Taisho and Sesshomaru, and back to Chu Chui, as she was uncertain whether or not to trust these demons.

But, she stood up tall, and followed after Chu Chui.

She was led down a long and grand hallway, and into the LARGEST bedroom she had EVER seen!

The walls were painted a beautiful light blue, reminding Izayoi of the sky on a sunny day. The floor was made of rich oak wood, and the large bed was covered in white sheets; flowers carved in its headboard.

"Is this room suitable to your liking?" Chu Chui asked her.

Izayoi was about to yell yes, and run up to hug Chu Chui, but she regained her pride, and answered in a lady like fashion.

"Yes, now please help me dress."

Chu Chui did as she was told, and within a few minutes, Izayoi was changed into her long, white nightgown.

The sun soon set, and as Izayoi lay in her bed, tossing and turning, she realized she couldn't sleep.

So, sighing to herself, she sat up, lit a candle, and began walking out of her room, into the dark hallway.

When she entered the main entrance, she saw that all of the lights were still on, and all the servants were rushing about.

Was I the only one who was sleeping? She wondered to herself.

Izayoi blew out her candle, set it on a nearby table, and very quietly, snuck around the large palace.

As she walked down the hallways, she came across many rooms…such as other bedrooms that were in no use, and soon, she came to the end of the palace, where, out in the darkness, was a small pool, which was somehow lit up at the bottom, as if lights were embedded in the stone walls of it.

Tiny fireflies flew around, lighting up the night, and the sound of crickets soothed Izayoi in a strange way.

Smiling to herself, Izayoi walked back into the castle, and began wandering around again.

As she was about to walk into one room, she quickly retreated back into the hallway.

Lord Inu No Taisho was in there!

She tried to stay as quiet as possible, and calm her racing heart.

"What are you doing up at this hour?" she heard his voice say, but it was different than before. It was-softer.

Izayoi stepped into the room, and saw that it was some kind of library.

"I-I could not sleep, my lord."

"Is that so?" he said, not even gazing up at her. He was reading a scroll, faster than any human eyes could read it.

"Yes, my lord."

His head turned and his piercing golden eyes met hers. "The scrolls say nothing of how to remove the twin shackles," he said expressionlessly. "At noon tomorrow we leave in search of a traveling seer. I know not where this seer is, so we may be searching for some time. The servants will give you two sets of clothes. One you will wear, the other will be stored in my steed's saddle. I am aware you possess some food; bring that also. You may consume it when I do not wish to stop. Do you understand?"

"Yes, my lord." Izayoi replied.

"Good. Now you may rest for the night. I have business to attend to so I will be very irritated if you create a disturbance that causes me to leave it. You are excused."

Bowing, Izayoi backed out of the room and nearly ran back to her chambers. Collapsing on top of the huge futon, she fell into a much-needed and deep sleep.

NOTE TO READERS:

I was asked to upload another chapter today, and I will say that I will NOT be putting up more chapters really soon.

I'm still finishing up "My True Self" and I only have 3 chapters of "The Man Who Learned To Love" made.

So please, don't be mad at me and I PROMISE another chapter will be up in a couple of days-one week maximum