Disclaimer: Don't own Inuyasha or related characters they belong to the respective owners. OC's are mine.
A/N: This chapter is a little bit of character development. So read and review.
Chapter Three: Five Dragons
Part One: Fire and Water
Years had gone by. The Eastern Lands still ruled by Ryukotsusei were a dangerous place. Currently one of the many dangers was riding across the valley having eluded their pursuers. A band of bandits, they'd recently raided a village and fled before the local lord's men could catch them.
At the edge of a massive lake they halted their horses and began dismounting. One of them spotted something along the lake edge, "Hey boss what's that?"
He turned to see a young maiden sitting on a log. He smirked to himself, "Well well, what do we have here?" He walked down to the woman, "Excuse me miss, but I see you're all alone here, you wouldn't mind joining us for some company would you?"
The woman turned cold ice blue eyes on the man, "I'm awaiting my brother. He should be along shortly."
The bandit leader snickered, "Well I'm sure we can arrange something for him when he arrives, but until then I must insist you come with me. My friends and I could show you a good time."
He grasped her wrist and pulled her up from the log. Her eyes hardened, "I see…so you are those types of men." Her free arm swung around and caught the bandit leader by the throat. His eyes bulged as the skin of her hands and arms turned to scales, "You should have waited for my brother…a death by fire is much quicker than a death by drowning."
Suddenly the water in the lake raised high in the sky and crashed over the group of bandits dragging them into the lake. The bandit leader alone remained in the grasp of the woman. She tossed him to the ground and he turned fearful eyes on her, "What kind of monster are you?"
The woman's lips turned up in a sinister smile, "I am the daughter of Ryukotsusei…and it appears my brother has arrived."
The bandit turned to see a man in armor standing over him. The man tilted his head as his face warped into the scaled face of a dragon. In moments the man had vanished and a massive dragon stood before him. The bandit had just enough time to relieve himself before a blast of fire turned him to ash instantly.
When her brother returned to his human form he glanced at her, "You could have killed them all without being so dramatic."
The Water Dragoness smirked, "But where's the fun in that?"
The Fire Dragon snickered, "Only you find slaughtering bandits fun. I have my hands full dealing with the yokai who keep rebelling in my protectorate."
His sister ran her clawed hand along his armor, "You smell of the Western Lands elder brother…what you were doing so far from home?"
He walked into the lake as he spoke, "I went to meet someone…she was most informative."
His sister frowned, "You left father's domain…and allowed someone to see you?"
Diving under then emerging from the water he responded, "It was Inu no Taisho's sister…she was in a spot of trouble and I gave her a hand."
His sister growled, "Our father's sworn enemy…you helped one of those mangy mutts?"
As he exited the lake the water steamed off of him, "She was cornered by a bunch of priests ready to purify her, what would you have me do, sit there and watch?"
Still snarling his sister returned to the log she'd been seated on, "Its foolish…what if she tells her brother?"
He shook his head, "Doubt she will. She was unconscious when I stepped in and I left her with a wandering samurai. I told him she was a young traveler I rescued from a highwayman."
His sister looked doubtful, "And he bought that?"
The Fire Dragon snickered, "He had to. I took one of the uglier priests' heads and told him I was going to collect the bounty on the man. He thought I was a measly mercenary."
The Water Dragoness smirked, "You play human too well for your own good. How is it they don't seem to notice your unnatural features?"
The Dragon crouched down, "Because some humans will do anything to not believe in us. They want to live their tiny little lives and ignore us." He turned to look toward a nearby mountain range, "So what are the others up to these days?"
His sister sighed, "Our younger brother is currently hiding out with grandfather, he irritated father on his last visit to the palace. Fourth born is most likely hunting, and youngest is with mother."
The Fire Dragon growled playfully, "Well then sis, I do believe we need to stir up some trouble. It's far too quite."
The Water Dragoness picked up her sword which was hidden behind the log. Her clothing which currently appeared to be that of a common villager flowed like water and turned into her armor, "I have heard of a bandit who has gathered quite the reputation. He had a thousand men under his command at last count."
Her brother thought for a moment then frowned, "But that leaves only five hundred apiece for either of us. That's not very sporting."
The Water Dragon smirked, "Alright, I propose a handicap." Her brother smirked as well, "We must only use our weapons and martial skills, no yoki and no elemental attacks."
The Fire Dragon nodded, "Alright, the first to finish their five hundred get's to take the leader's head."
His sister nodded and they departed to find their quarry.
Part Two: Lightning
A massive storm lashed the roofs of the small huts with rain as lightning crashed along the horizon. The villagers were praying at the shrine begging the kami to end the storm and spare their lives, their livestock, and their crops. It was not long before harvest and they would not have enough to pay their tribute to their lord, and survive the winter.
Desperate the Village Head made his way up the rocky slope of the mountain where an ancient Dragon was rumored to live. It was told the beast had many heads and was more dangerous than any other creature in the land. Some had even said the beasts name was Orochi, and that he was the same dragon from the legend.
Pushing his fear aside and gathering what little courage he had left he steeled himself and began the final climb up the slope to the cave. He'd almost reached the ledge were the cave was said to be when the rocks he was standing on gave way under the rain water, and began tumbling down the slope starting a devastating rockslide. He thought he'd surely seen his last sunrise until a clawed hand shot over the edge and clasped around his wrist.
With less effort than it would take him to lift a wet kitten out of a stream he was hoisted up onto solid ground. His rescuer stood before him, a young man with long hair and sharp features stood assessing him.
The Headman dropped to his knees, "Oh great Lord Orochi, please help my village."
The young man's head tilted, "I think you have me confused with someone else."
The Headman looked up in confusion, "What do you mean?"
The young man pointed toward the cave, "I am not Orochi that is Orochi."
The Headman turned to see eight dragon heads staring at him from within the cave each had a long serpent like neck that ran back to a massive body that was just barely visible.
The Headman glanced from the multi-headed dragon to the young man a few times before turning completely toward Orochi, "Oh great Lord Orochi, please help my village."
Orochi transformed into his human form, "You plead to me human to help your village, yet it is beyond my power to aid."
The Headman looked up at the being before him, "Please, if this storm does not cease soon our livestock will perish, our fields will be drowned, and we won't survive the winter."
Orochi sighed, "It is not for me to contest the Kami's will. If doom is the fate of your people, what power do I have to contest with fate?"
The Headman pleaded, "Please great dragon, we beg you please. I know you are powerful, you who survived a mortal wound during your legendary battle. There must be something you can do."
Orochi turned to his grandson, "Is this storm of your design my youngling?"
The Lightning Dragon shook his head, "No grandfather, it is of father's doing."
Orochi nodded, "I see, as it is not the Kami who sent it forth I do believe we can do something about it."
The Headman looked between the two dragons again, "My lords?"
Orochi smiled, "Do you have a son human?"
The Headman worriedly nodded, "One my lord, my wife died in childbirth."
Orochi motioned for his grandson to step forward, "Give it to him."
The Lightning Dragon pulled out a trident spear, "Give this to your son, have him go to the center of the village and point the spear into the heavens. When he does this he and only he must remain outside, everyone else must stay inside and shutter their doors and windows. If even one person glances outside, or your son isn't the one to do this I will devour your son, understood."
Nodding profusely the Headman took the spear and hurried his way home. Upon his return he told all the villagers to return to their homes and not look outside until the storm had passed. He then made his way to his house and called for his family.
In all honesty he had lied to the two dragons. His wife hadn't died in child birth, she was alive and well. He also had more than one child, but he had been truthful when he said he had only one son. He in fact had six daughters along with his one son. The youngest daughter was the twin of his son.
He turned to his wife, "I do not trust the dragons, but I must do as they say."
His wife bowed, "Your son knows his duty."
The Headman sneered, "Why risk my son when he has a sister who looks so much like him, cut her hair and give her some of his clothing."
Unbeknownst to the Headman the dragons hadn't trusted him either. They'd followed him back to the village using the storm clouds for cover and now rested upon the roof. Their superior senses had heard every word.
They watched as the girl not much older than twelve dragged the spear into the village center and tried to lift it. Each try ended in failure. Finally the Lightning Dragon appeared before her, "Your father should not have tried this deception."
The girl dropped the spear, "No! You lied, the spear did nothing."
The Lightning Dragon approached causing the girl to back up. He then picked up the spear and raised it to the heavens. Immediately the storm ceased and the clouds parted to allow the sun's rays to dry the soggy earth. The Dragon then returned the spear to its sheath, "This was a test, a test to see if your village was worth saving. My spear would not have worked for your brother either, as it will only work for me. If your brother had come I'd have used the spear and spared your village."
The girl looked fearfully at the dragon, "Please…spare them, and take me as punishment."
The Lightning Dragon sneered, "You are but a child you have nothing that interests me. I will only take that which your father and I agreed upon."
An explosion drew the girl's attention back to her home. Her family had been driven from the house as a massive form crushed the building. From the ruins an old man came dragging an unconscious figure, too late she recognize her twin.
Turning back to the Lightning Dragon she prepared to beg for his life, but froze when the human form was replaced with a massive dragon with streaks of white and yellow lightning shooting across the scales of his underside. Her brother was tossed into the air like a ragdoll and disappeared between snapping jaws.
Dropping to her knees, "No please I don't want to be alone."
The Dragon turned his gaze on her as she looked into one of his massive red eyes.
She stood and held her arms up, "If you're going to take him, then take me as well."
The Lightning Dragon glanced to his grandfather who merely shrugged. Turning back to the girl and without a sound snapped down on her making her vanish between his massive jaws as well. Then without a look at the headman the Lightning Dragon soared into the sky and quickly disappeared from sight.
The Headman turned to Orochi, "Please, no, give my children back."
Orochi sneered, "You knew what the price would be, yet you tried to deceive us. Let this be a lesson to you all. Now I'll allow you half a day to gather what you can and leave before the storms come again. If you are not gone your village will be utterly destroyed." Orochi then took his true form and departed as well.
Many miles away and several hours later the girl woke up to her brother looking down at her, "You're awake, thank Kami."
The girl looked confused, "We're alive?"
"Of course you're alive, what do you think I am a monster?" The siblings turned to see the Lightning Dragon coiled nearby.
The girl frowned at him, "But I saw you eat my brother…and the last thing I remember…"
The Lightning Dragon raised his head up, "I'd suggest you not ponder it too deeply, your minds aren't quite ready to fathom such things. Suffice it to say all dragons have pouches just below our tongues where we store prey we capture until we can eat it in peace. I merely stored your brother and you there until I landed here."
The girl became concerned and backed into her brother, "So you're still going to eat us?"
The Lightning Dragons tilted his head then transformed into his human form, "No, I wasn't planning on it. Unless you rather be eaten that is?"
The boy shook his head, "No we're fine."
The Dragon nodded, "Well good, besides you urchins taste horrible, when was the last time either of you had a bath."
The boy stood and faced the Dragon, "If you're not going to eat us, what are you doing with us?"
The Dragon frowned, "Well in all honesty I'm not too sure. You see I can't let you go home as by now your village is nothing but ruined huts. Your people are now scattered trying to make a new home for themselves our moving in with relatives in other villages. I can't let you return to your family seeing as they believe you're dead and digested."
The girl squeaked out, "You could let us go?"
The Dragon looked at her like she was crazy, "It would be very irresponsible of me to let two children wander around aimlessly, besides less scrupulous yokai would devour you in less than a day." He took on a thinker's pose, "Hmm, guess it can't be helped. I'll have to take you with me."
The two children looked surprised. The boy answered, "Take us where?"
The Lightning Dragon looked emotionlessly at him, "I'm going to head to the Northern Lands for awhile. It won't take long for my father to realize it was me who brought a pause to that storm and allowed your people to escape. I would much rather be out of his reach when he comes looking, and the Northern Lands is the one place he wouldn't dare go."
The girl looked toward the north, "Why?"
The Lightning Dragon chuckled, "Because the yokai there aren't too friendly with him. I've heard there are dragons living there as well, I'd like to meet them and learn how they escaped my father's control. As he's the master of all dragons, it is quite difficult to escape his slimy claws." He began walking, "Well we should be off, a long way to travel before we reach the border between lands."
The two children shared a look then hurried to catch up with the dragon.
Part Three: Earth and Air
"Get back here you little sneak thief!" The larger Dragon yelled as he chased his much smaller brother around the palace. He'd just returned from a successful hunt and was relaxing to eat his kill when his younger brother distracted him and made off with the ox.
The Air Dragon snickered, "What are you miffed about, you can just go catch another?"
The Earth Dragon growled, "What I'm miffed about is how you just stole my meal, after I spent all day hunting it."
The Air Dragon gave a doubtful expression, "Hunting? Brother oxen are domesticated animals. All you did was flying into a poor human's field and stole the oxen from him, probably straight off the plow by the smell of it."
His bigger brother snarled, "So what? It's still mine."
The smaller brother smirked, "Alright, alright let's play a game then."
The Earth Dragon scowled, "What kind of game?"
The Air Dragon smiled, "How about a little game of chess?"
His brother frowned, "I haven't heard of any battles lately."
The Air Dragon pointed out a window, "Well you see brother the other night I slept with a young maiden in a castle in that direction while using the form of a young man from a castle somewhere over in that direction. I just so happened to be caught and now the two sides are angry enough. With just a little coaxing we should be able to set up the board."
The Earth Dragon agreed and they hid the prize so no one could steal it.
Just as the youngest dragon said the two sides were gearing for battle. The maiden's father apparently assumed the young man's kinsmen freed him as an explanation for his escape from his dungeons. The young man's lord was gearing up to defend his land from what he saw as false accusations.
High above the two armies the two dragons stood in the air watching them. The Earth Dragon sneered, "I guess I'll take the side of the Lord whose daughter you slept with."
The Air Dragon snickered, "Naturally. So that leaves me with the other one. Remember no cheating by attacking. You can only possess the Lord's tactician."
The Earth Dragon nodded, "I know little brother, let us get this over with before by ox rots to nothing but bones."
Dropping into their selected camps the two dragons possess the minds of their targets then prepared for the battle. The two armies clashed on the field with the sounds of striking metal and yells echoing high into the air. All day the two sides fought back and forth, neither aware their orders were coming from dragons.
As the sun set both armies lay decimated upon the field, the only victors were the crows this day. The two dragons hovered over the scene puzzled. The Air Dragon frowned, "Why did you send the lord to the front?"
The Earth Dragon huffed, "I didn't he went on his own. Don't forget they have free will."
"Very interesting you successfully ended two powerful lineages in one day." They turned to find Orochi hovering above them chewing on the leg of an ox.
The Air Dragon looked surprised, "Grandfather where'd you get that ox?"
Orochi looked at the leg, "Oh this? I found it buried just north of here. Whoever hid it there was very dull-witted, the sun baked the earth and allowed the scent to permeate through the soil covering it."
The two younger dragons face palmed.
Part Four: Fire and Water again
The Water Dragoness pointed toward the man sitting near the fire pit at the center of the camp, "That's him; he's the leader of this bandits."
The Fire Dragon crossed his arms, "Not much to look at, but slaughtering these bandits should be fun, at least four the next hour or so."
His sister nodded and they both leapt through the air landing with enough force to send up a massive dust cloud within the center of the encampment.
The bandits had mere seconds to realize what occurred before the first few were sent to the next world by bone crushing punches and skull shattering kicks. Around sixty bandits had fallen before they recovered their senses and drew weapons upon the two supernatural attackers. The first man who picked up a war hammer barely registered the scraping noise of a sword leaving its sheath before his head went flying through the air.
The death toll was around a hundred and ninety before any reasonable attempt at a coordinated counter attack was mounted. A group of five men had surrounded the female attacker their weapons ready to skewer her. That was until with a flash of steel they all dropped missing their heads.
When over six hundred bandits lay dead, panic and fear stated to set in on the mortals. A few tried to abandon their weapons and flee, but merely ran into the attackers and died. Their screams being the only warning their surviving comrades had of their fate. Others tripped over the dead and soon found themselves joining the fallen.
After thirty minutes the dust cloud finally settled completely to reveal the carnage that had been wrought. Standing next to the fire the bandit leader watched fearfully as his last two lieutenants slid to the ground dead. He looked at the two beings standing before him, "What the hell are you?"
The Water Dragoness looked sadly at the bandit, "So brother it looks like we tied."
Her brother nodded, "It appears so favorite sister of mine."
His sister glared, "I'm your only sister."
The Fire Dragon snickered, "Then obviously you're my favorite one then."
Together they turned to the one surviving bandit. The Water Dragoness spoke, "So how shall we decide this?"
Shouldering his sword the Fire Dragons smiled, "Being the charitable brother that I am, I'll let you end his pathetic life."
His sister smiled, "So generous of you brother dearest, I'll have to think of some way to repay you, perhaps a feast or maybe something more useful like a young maiden."
The Fire Dragon glared, "What do I look like father? I'll take the feast; forget the maiden…for now."
The siblings laughed as the sister lazily flicked her sword arm and the bandit leader fell dead.
End Chapter Three