They had finally stopped the bleeding and now it was up to their lord and kami. Wiping the sweat from her brow she offered the general a cup of water. He sat by a fire they had made right outside the tent that housed their lord. He took it with a sigh. Fingers lightly touching hers as he grasped the cup, electricity coursed through him and with the look on her face, she experienced it too; but she refrained from saying anything. Sitting down next to him for warmth but also she wanted this conversation not to be heard by anyone else. "So how is it that our lord is no longer a demon?"
Katsuro scooted minutely closer to her and whispered in her ear. "He never was…" He said simply.
The whispers did something to her that she hadn't felt before and she whined slightly when he pulled back. "How is that possible? I have only scent youki from him…"
Katsuro noticed the small whine and smirked. Bringing his claws up to her face, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, he caressed down her cheek to her neck. "He has worn a necklace his entire life, concealing the human scent and aura from others. Not even our Lord Sesshomaru knew…"
Yumi was still confused. "But I have been here my entire life and so have you! How is it that the West didn't know that he was hanyou?!"
Katsuro shrugged, bringing his arm around her small form to bring her closer to his body. Growling a hum in his chest, he nuzzled her neck, licking it slightly, earning a gasp from the female. "The Inu-no-Tashio was very clever. He kept his mate and the human hime hidden within the family wing while the hime was pregnant; he found a witch to conceal her scent from us and when she died unexpectedly, our Lady took it upon herself to raise Inuyasha as her own… Lord Diachi told me these things…"
She let her head fall back as he continued to show her neck attention. Feeling his hands grab her hips bringing her into his lap she gasped as he sucked on her neck. The slight ghosting of his fangs on her neck made her cry out, her arousal peaking, he growled out as he made her legs clasp around his narrow waist. Yumi felt his clothed member brush against her clothed core. Clinging to him she felt herself being whisked away. "What do we do now? The council will never allow him to rule…"
Katsuro nipped a line up to her ear and felt her shiver in his arms. He smirked at the small whimpers of pleasure he was causing her. "He turns back into a hanyou on the marrow. His necklace will be back in place. The council will never know…"
She threaded her fingers through his dark brown hair and claimed his lips with hers. Tilting her head to the side he deepened the kiss as he finally made it to his quarters in the barracks. He was surprised that they still stood after the battle, but only minutely. Crashing his body to hers, he claimed her body that night and he now knew what his Lord Sesshomaru felt for Kagome. His soul mate had been living in the same castle for a hundred years and he hadn't even noticed. He was truly blind…
Lord Diachi approached the Western citadel with a heavy heart three days after the battle. The citadel was completely destroyed. Having been burned to the ground or the walls having crumbled due to the explosions; he was worried about the servants, the warriors but mostly his nephew; it happened on the day of his most weakest. He only hoped that he didn't make the trip to not only help rebuild but to pay his respects as well… He approached the West's inner wall, seeing General Katsuro bark orders to the samurai. He smirked as he saw the general run and bow to him. "Come now Katsuro, no need for that…"
Katsuro nodded but continued. "I need to pay respects to every lord that comes to the West… Even if the West has fallen…"
Diachi gasped slightly. "So… Inuyasha has…" He couldn't make his voice make words. He felt the tears start to build but didn't let them fall.
Katsuro growled lightly; his lips in a hard line. "No my Lord Diachi; he still lives…"
Diachi let the breath he didn't realize he was holding go. But then he noticed that Katsuro was still angered about something. "Then why do you say the West has fallen?"
Katsuro stood, looking around, he sighed. "Come…"
Diachi was escorted to a tent in middle of what was once the courtyard. Nodding to the guard he pulled back the flap and entered; Diachi followed. He saw the healer, Yumi preparing a salve at her station. He continued to watch her as she went behind another panel. Looking to Katsuro he saw the general nod. He followed behind the healer and went into the smaller room. He was shocked. The man that she was taking care of was in bad shape. The male's chest was covered in bruises and bloody bandages; his breathing was shaky at best, and he felt that the male had a fever. He scowled. It was then that he noticed the hakamas that the male was wearing. Coming to the cot he fingered the material and gasped. "How is he still human?" He whispered to no one in particular.
Katsuro stepped into the room, guarding the door. "I know not. His demon was released during the battle. He killed Ryu's brother, Shin, in battle, but killed Saiyuri, his sister and nephew within milliseconds; I have never seen anything like it before Diachi. But I am afraid that he used up all of his youki during that fight. He may regain it again once he awakens… But I know not what Kami's plans are now…"
Diachi sat down beside his nephew, threading his fingers through his now dark black hair, finding purple highlights glittering in the light. He sighed, taking a deep breath, he found no youki radiating from him. He rubbed his face in exhaustion. He had to think of something; fast…
He called the council to the North a day later. He left the West in the care of General Katsuro and came up with a plan. On the way he visited a witch; the same one that was commissioned to help conceal Inuyasha's human side from the world. She smiled at the deviousness of the plan and was paid with a sack of gold, she took it was a crooked smile and was asked to forget the meeting with the Northern Lord. She of course did as she was told; fore she knew that others would call on her later…
The Northern Lord made it back to his home a few hours before everyone else started arriving. He called his head servant into his study, placing a barrier around the room for silence. "Umeko. I need you to listen to me carefully. I want you to serve the tea today for the council and the other lords…" Pulling the vial out of his sleeve he gave it to her. "I want this mixed with the tea and I want you to serve it to everyone, except myself. I will be served sake…"
Umeko was wide eyed. "But my lord? I do not understand…"
Diachi sighed. "Something has happened in the West and I am uncertain if it can be fixed. I need all of them to see that my word is law. I will, undoubtedly, be punished by Kami for this, but know this. You will never have to answer for my transgressions on this day. Please do this for me and…" He sighed.
He was desperate; she had never seen him like this in all of her years serving him. "My Lord Diachi, worry not. I will do what I am asked…"
The council and Lord Haru arrived an hour later. He escorted everyone to council chamber and motioned for Umeko to serve the tea. Diachi smiled when everyone was drinking the tea and he was served his sake. He let the liquor run down his throat and burn him. He let it coat and mellow his stress; if only for a small time. He opened his eyes and saw that all in attendance had drunk the tea that Umeko prepared. He could tell that the potion had worked because he could see all of them had a vacant look about them that only he could see. Smiling he called the council to order.
"Councilmen and reigning lords of Nippon; I have some distressing news from the West."
Murmuring was heard, but no one said anything.
Diachi continued. "The West came under attack by the family of the late Lord Ryu. They were all killed by my nephew, Lord Inuyasha. However, Inuyasha was injured during the siege."
Murmuring continued.
"Somehow, he was put under a spell that has turned him into a human."
Councilman Takashi spoke then. "Did you contact someone that might can break the spell?"
Diachi smiled. "Of course; that was the first thing I did. Unfortunately, they were unsuccessful. For the immediate future, it seems the spell is permanent…"
Seeing Takashi sigh and sit back down he continued with his ruse. "As a son of the great Inu-no-Tashio, he is to continue being the reigning sovereign of the West, and after his death, either myself or General Katsuro will take his place…."
Everyone, including Lord Haru nodded their heads in agreement. Diachi continued. "Also, as the elder Lord of Nippon, and great uncle to the late Lord Sesshomaru Tashio; I hereby disband the council for destroying the West and its family…"
Of course there was an outrage but nothing more than that, no one was to question Lord Diachi; especially now that the potion was taking its toll on the council and other lords. Diachi smiled. "From this moment on, the reigning Lords of Nippon will make the ultimate decisions of the lands. Councilman Ai will continue as the Lord of the South, since it is her homeland. Haru will continue in the East and Inuyasha, though human, will continue to reign the West until his death, and once, again, either myself or General Katsuro will take his place. And I, Diachi, will continue to rule the North. Are there any questions or comments?"
Looking around the room he saw no one asked any questions nor did they comment. Diachi smiled. Looking to his left he saw the record keeper take the notes of the meeting. "You will bear witness to this. As of this moment, the council has been disbanded and we are all in agreeance. Correct?"
The record keeper saw everyone nod and his hands were tied. He knew that something didn't seem right about this whole situation but he couldn't say anything. He wrote in the log all that was said and sighed. The council was no more; and it was all Lord Diachi's doing.
He groaned as he tried to open his eyes. He felt so weak and he was so cold; kami he hated the cold! Turning on his side he realize quickly that he wasn't in his bed. He fell onto the cold ground and cried out as he landed on his sore side. Gasping for breath he heard, someone come in. "Oh Inuyasha-sama! Here let me help you!"
Landing harshly in the cot he looked up and saw Yumi looking down at him. "Yumi? What the hell happened?"
She sighed getting a cup of something, it was steaming and smelled horrible. "Here drink this; it'll help with the pain…"
He sat up, taking the cup with a lot of effort, gulping it down in one shot. He gaged and almost retched. "What the fuck was that?!"
She smiled. "Feel better?"
He laid back and sighed. Folding his arms across his chest and huffed. "Keh…"
She giggled but then her smiled turned sour. "Inuyasha-sama? What do you remember?"
He closed his eyes thinking back to the last thing he recalled. Sighing he finally spoke. "I remember killing Shin, then looking toward the citadel, thinking about all of the work I have to do to repair the citadel and the West then… everything went black…"
She sighed. "Do you remember Katsuro coming for you?"
Closing his eyes he thought back to the darkness; thinking how if the enemy knew of his weakness they would've attacked at night then…he remembered being carried… "He carried me…"
She smiled. Patting his shoulder she stood up. "Now that you're awake, you can see Katsuro and Diachi. They have been praying to kami to bring you back…"
He sighed. "I guess they need me to stay on this plain for a little longer then. And Yumi…"
She turned from the panel waiting.
"Congratulations. I'm glad you found someone…"
She smiled but blushed; fingering the mark that now lay on her left side of her neck. Nodding she exited the room to seek out her mate and the Northern Lord.
Inuyasha growled. Rubbing his face he scratched his cheek and was shocked to find blunt nails on his hands. Pulling his hair into his field of view, seeing the inky black of his human hair he sighed. "So this is how you want me to live… I will die before I can see the West return to greatness. This truly is my punishment. Sesshomaru, Kagome, mother, father, I am so sorry for shunning our name…"
It took him almost a month to heal. He found that in this human form that he needed to eat more as well as sleep more; it unnerved him to no end. While he was a demon he could go for days and not eat or sleep; getting many things done. Now, being human, he needed to eat and sleep more and more often! He hated his weakness…
He walked the grounds looking at the progress of the citadel. It was coming along; he wanted to make it the greatest citadel of Nippon. One that would withstand the tests of time; one that when he was reincarnated, Sesshomaru would be happy with his brother… He sighed; going up to the architect's tent, looking at the plans. "So is this what you wanted Inuyasha-sama?"
Looking to his left he saw the man, no hanyou, with large blue eyes sitting in the corner sipping tea. Smiling he looked at the blueprints. Since his human form was now permanent he had become more humble to others and he tried to see the good and potential in everyone. Seeing this particular hanyou, Jinenji, he asked him to come to the West and help out with the reconstruction. Not only was the hanyou proficient with herbs and healing, he also had constructed the headman's hut where he came from. Inuyasha was astounded at the marvel of it! Why hadn't anyone thought to build a citadel up, instead of out?! From a tactician's point of view, you would always had a high ground and you could condense the land for other things besides living quarters. Inuyasha was ecstatic!
Looking at the plans now, he smiled. Jinenji had done a fantastic job! It was a marvel in itself. The main castle had three levels. The second level extended throughout the entire complex with more living quarters. The first level was where the gardens and barracks were housed. The best part of it all, the entire complex was to be built up and raised so the citadel could be seen for miles and miles. He was pleased. "When can we start?!"
Jinenji smiled. Standing up he towered over the lord. In a soft spoken voice, he answered his lord, "We already started my lord. We broke ground yesterday… I hope that was okay?"
Inuyasha smiled. "That is perfectly fine Jinenji. When do you think we will be done?"
Jinenji sighed. "With demons working we could possibly be done in a couple of years, but since the construction is something completely different and new, I want to make sure that it will stand and not fall. I want to do this right my lord and have no casualties…"
Inuyasha smiled, placing a hand on the hanyou's much larger arm. "I agree Jinenji. I want this done properly and in a timely manner; but foremost, I want this done safely."
Diachi made his way to the West six months after Inuyasha had turned permanently into a human. He sighed; he wished that he could do something to restore him to his natural form. He had gone to many witches in the past few months and nothing, they had never heard of anything like this happening. Of course, most of them had never worked with hanyou…
Landing in the West he was surprised at the makeup. The main complex was now built up and they had started on the second floor extension. He was impressed! Maybe he needed to employ the hanyou to come to the North and make some improvements there…
Walking up the tent he saw his nephew eyes deep into paperwork. He laughed. "Well Inuyasha, I see that they aren't letting you rest…"
Looking up from the report he was smiled. Standing up he walked over to his uncle giving him a hug. The elder was surprised but completed the embrace. "So how have you been?"
Inuyasha sighed. "Well we tried to use some of the materials from the old citadel, and it seems that most of it wasn't able to be recycled. I'm making trades with the South for timber and stone. I really want the West to be grand again, like father and Sesshomaru made it. I am saddened that I will not be able to see it come to pass…"
Diachi took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Still not smelling his nephew's youkai he sighed. "I can help in any way my nephew… Is there anything I can do for you?"
Inuyasha returned to his desk and picked up a piece of paper, looking at it he sighed. Bringing it to his uncle he sighed. "When the time comes, I want you to give this to Sesshomaru when he's reinstated to greatness…"
Diachi looked at the paper and sighed. Looking at his nephew, he saw how much stress he was in, but also how much older he looked. Time was not his friend… "I promise Inuyasha…"
