Chapter 3
How Sesshomaru Got His Name
Ming Yue woke up one bright and sunny morning to the sound of birds chirping. Feeling cheery and energetic today was the day he would officially begin his training under the Taisho and would learn the bases of Inuyoukai style and technique for battle, namely the Wind Scar.
After observing his abilities The Taisho made the decision to train Ming Yue in the arts of Inuyoukai warfare. At first figuring the child needed a better way to spend his time, instead of dancing and this was it. If Ming Yue could learn to be like a Fang then maybe he could become a Fang, and so he made up his mind to teach him. The child was strong and had power, which was unheard of for Lunar Hound, at least not the exceptional level of power he has demonstrated. He had never been more surprised and delighted at any discovery.
From then on he yearned to test his abilities and know his limits and to know the potential of Ming Yue's skills. The suspicion that his father was reborn as his son only grew, he eagerly persuaded the small boy to prepare for rigorous training.
That evening Ming Yue ate his first full course meal in months, and then some. His parent's especially his mother was astounded, though she didn't approve of the thought of Ming Yue being trained to live like a Fang, in her position in life as a second to her spouse she was at a loss with little influence on the matter—you must separate Ming Yue from his father… he will turn him into a rock.
From then on Ming Yue's health returned rapidly, and observing this White Moon could not complain. The boy was healthy, and to her he seemed happy. So for the first few months of training she said nothing. Yet the premonition remained. Ming Yue's skill was definitely superb, she had to admit. Almost too superb, almost to the point where even she began to believe that Ming Yue could become a Fang and take on the role in life as his father's successor, and that their lineage could be preserved through him without the need for her to bear a second. She couldn't help but think when something seems too good to be true, it usually is.
He will become a rock.
He never danced again and spent more time in the courtyard training then he did in the garden. He was still reclusive though, and would get mad whenever anyone would try to watch him practice, or even shower him with praise. He would run out of the room or out of view or snarl at them, so they would know they were invading his space and weren't welcome. The Taisho over looked this, continuously saying the he will learn… he will learn, he's only a child, but he will grow to learn proper manners soon enough. What was more he seemed to forget all about the capture and the moment he spent struggling with that unknown demon, Yomi.
For a year the training went well, Ming Yue and the Taisho were never closer, bonding as father and son through the arts of warfare and swords and swordsmanship. The Taisho even became so zealous over the child's abilities that he would cart him around with him to visit with friends and neighbors, great demons of the higher ranks just so he could show him off.
Just a year before the Taisho kept the boy bottled up with his mother at the main castle embarrassed at his odd behavior and stubborn constitution. But now that he was suddenly such a proper little boy it was as if all of a sudden he had a new son, and couldn't have been happier.
The child was beautiful—that is what everyone would say. Such an attractive young man—you'll have to chase away the ladies with a stick and they would laugh and muse, and all in good humor. Then marvel at his skill, his refine swordsmanship and respond astoundingly at the fact that his blows and strikes generate more force and power then the nation's top leading guards and even that of the minor lords.
Conversations over the praise would ensue and issue all sorts of various accounts from the Taisho and he reminisced in fine detail of all the most notable points that he could bring up about Ming Yue. Such as in one conversation the Taisho indulged his company in the tale of his first day of training with Ming Yue, the day he taught him the Scar of the Wind.
As the Taisho spoke Ming Yue sat quietly by and listened. His father's words resurfacing memories of his own. When Ming Yue was first told that he would be learning the Taisho's famous technique, the famed Scare of the wind he was delighted. To him it was like his entire life was about to change. He would learn the arts of Inuyoukai warfare, battle, fighting and ways to power and become a warrior. He will live in the footsteps of his father and become a great lord. He would be famed throughout the demon's world as one of the Daiyoukai, the great rulers of the Demon's plains. He saw it as if his entire life flashed before his eyes, and it was a vision of glory.
His eyes sparkled at the very thought, and so it was.
He would learn the Wind Scar just like daddy uses, and it would be just a start. Though he already knew this technique from previous life experiences, but at this tender age memory had yet to resurface such old and buried talents, skills from a life spent and past. And so on the morning of that day, after a quick breakfast of goat's milk, eggs and cheese he threw on his training robe and beginners armor, and ran to the courtyard where his father awaited.
When Ming Yue arrived his father greeted him graciously and lovingly, "So Ming Yue today you will learn the basis of Inuyoukai fighting, are you prepared?"
The boy nodded, his bright eyes burning with excitement, and it was the right sign the Taisho was looking for.
The Taisho smiled, "that's good, so you are ready then we will begin."
Again Ming Yue nodded. This was exciting.
"Alright then, now listen closely for every Inuyoukai the base technique we use is the Wind Scar, but this isn't a technique that I can simply teach you. You must learn it by discovering it for yourself. You must perceive it only then can it be mastered. Do you understand?"
Nodding was his signal, words simply did not come readily to him, but he was ready.
"Good, now the Wind Scare is a mystical path that forms when the auras of demons collide. By discovering this path, by perceiving it one can seize that combined energy and release it at his enemy, but only you can devise how this is done. Do you understand?"
Once more he nodded.
"Very well, now show me!" The Taisho backed away with his sword, just an ordinary training blade positioned in an offensive stance for an incoming attack. Seeing this Ming Yue did the same, and began to charge up his aura. His power emanated from his tiny form like a glowing blue bubble encircling him perfectly, reaching out to engage with the Taisho's aura of flaring gold and violet colors.
And then the clash, Ming Yue immediately felt the immensity of his father's power and just knew deep down that any attempt he would make at an attack would be minimal. That any attempt at cutting through the Wind Scar with his aura at the level it was that it wouldn't even faze him. Father is strong. He looked at his father's aura and then he looked at his own, and was sure of it, in his mind after scaling the difference he made his move.
Ming Yue flew directly at his father, but instead of aiming for the Wind Scar he struck head on and hit the Taisho's breast plate with his claws causing it to crack and break. He broke through the Wind Scar with his body so he took in a good deal of energy when he did, so the damage was more than the Taisho expected.
Catching his father by surprise, the Taisho hesitate taking a moment to assess the damage to his armor, then said, "Ming Yue did you not see it? Had you failed to perceive the scare of the wind? That you attack me directly?"
Ming Yue thought for a minute then just looked perplexed, but then like with every other response he just shook his head.
"Then explain if you can see it why did you not cut at it?"
Ming Yue pondered, and then gave the only answer he could and said, "I don't want to use the Wind Scar, I want to learn something else."
"What? Why do you say this? All Inuyoukai must know this the Wind Scar is for basic form. It will focus you."
But the boy just shook his head and said out, "because my scare isn't strong enough, hitting straight is better, it's stronger."
When the Taisho heard this he was stunned and he stared at Ming Yue. Not sure if this was a good answer or a poor one or was just plain foolish. Wondering, Ming Yue my son, do you have the eyes to gage your own power before displaying it, or are you just playing it safe? Or could it be because of doubt that you say this? Could you truly know what you are capable of before even trying?
As doubtful as this seemed, with demons anything was possible, a thought the Taisho always kept in mind, as it was something his father had also taught to him. "Ming Yue," he said abruptly, "I want you to come at me with your full force, but this time I want you to use the scare of the wind. Do this and I will judge your rank of power."
This excited Ming Yue for he nodded more compliantly than before and stood strait up, arms down at his sides like a little soldier. When given the signal he leapt, and obeying the Taisho's command sliced at the fissure where the power's collided releasing a blue ray of light at the Taisho.
The Taisho flinched, he had expected to meet with blades, but instead he got a blast of even pressure. It was fairly strong that he needed to brace himself or get pushed back, but it fed him all the information he needed to properly judge Ming Yue power.
So he doesn't form blades? Not even from his claws?
"Again," the Taisho demanded. Ordering Ming Yue to do the same, the child obliged and the attack he released was identical to the last.
"Again!" the Taisho insisted and it was the same, Ming Yue's power would not form blades, just blasts of great pressure. Now the Wind Scar was a very particular technique and without blades it loses its effect, and so as it turns out Ming Yue was correct, that attacking directly did prove more effective, but at the same time it left him exposed to a direct defense and assault in return, which the Taisho had observed quite keenly.
The child was quick and incredibly agile and his energy was potent and pure, his greatest weakness seemed to be his body which was discovered very easily. When the Taisho used his fist to knock him back the boy went down easier than he should, buckled down and lost consciousness… a Fang would have gotten up and kept fighting.
After wards the Taisho contemplated, so it's confirmed Ming Yue is a demon with the potential of great power yet he's a defensive fighter, his power generates to keep his opponents at a distance with incredible force, yet it's his body concerns me. He doesn't have the physical resilience of a warrior's build, born a Lunar Hound he's physically weaker than a male should be, it's his nature. I'll just have to train him to work with range. No more of these strait forward assaults and direct contact. He will master the arts of defense and offence when necessary. Right now with the level of energy he displays he could easy incinerate B level demons with his defensive power, perhaps higher, and without the need for anything, but his raw energy, and at his age, amazing. With the right training there's no telling how powerful he could become. The Taisho narrowed his eyes, there's no telling how soon it will be before he surpasses even me.
The Taisho told his story he spoke only of the most notable points, leaving out any reference to weakness and had gone incredibly out of his way to describe Ming Yue's defensive skills as new and creative. Likewise the boy's fame quickly grew and even demons of foreign nations began to hear about the tales and wonder of the likely future heir of the West, the son of the Great Taisho, Fang of the Westernlands.
After that first year the Taisho, began to entertain the thought of making Ming Yue his official heir of the nation and of power. However when he brought this up to his wife she seemed less than pleased over the prospect. Later on that night, and with strong words the Lady approached her husband and began what would later lead to the most monumental argument in all the period of their affair, and the most life changing moment for Ming Yue.
"Taisho," she called out, clearly revealing that she was displeased about something, "a word."
The Taisho knew this tone, and knew he was in for something. The argument commenced as this, "No, he's a Lunar Hound you cannot name him Heir of Power! It isn't right!" she hollered, attempting to reason, but the Taisho's mind was already set.
"He's a fine boy; his power grows by the day. He'll make a fine lord!"
"You only say that now that you've discovered he can fight, but just watch I'm sure you'll be shocked at the lord he does become!"
"You think speak less of him then I would have expected White Moon, he will learn."
"You are a fool; you cannot alter our son's nature to suit your whims! Sure your intentions may be seen noble, but in your ambitions you intend to brainwash our son to behave in a way not natural to him. I tell you it will amount to disaster! You will see. Ming Yue will never become a proper Fang Lord. He was born a Lunar Hound he will die one, there's nothing you can do to change that! It's his fate!"
"We will see."
The proper way for am Inuyoukai to inherit the rights of power is simple, he had to become a Great Demon a power in his own right and over throw the current lord. This was the tradition. In doing this the nation is assured a great ruler. It the way of succession for the last ninety thousand years, Great Fang the Taisho was the seventeenth generation ruler destine to be overthrown by the next. As it stood Ming Yue was the only demon in line for that position.
Not much more was said after that, or needed to be. The words were spoken and had remained with them both. Settling on the notion that only time will tell which of them was right, from who was wrong. Still Lady Moon looked for windows of opportunity to reengage the subject, but never found it. However as time went on within the following months the Taisho's overzealous, enthusiasm of Ming Yue's potential began to take an unexpected turn and that the Lady was about to see was a step too far.
She first learned of it, of this big change, when a servant came up to her and asked how she should address the new young lord of the castle. Naturally this was viewed as an odd question, but when she inquired the maid said something to her that as it turned out was more of a revelation then an inquiry on her part, "My lady, of course I speak of the young Lord Yin Ji n, or Silver Fang of the Inuyoukai."
Silver Fang, of the Inuyoukai—what…. who is she speaking of? Then it occurred to her.
Great Fang you didn't!
Lady Moon was shocked, and at first had thought the maid was speaking of some child she had never heard of, a child possibly a bastard brought in from one of his mistresses, of which he had a few and had the nerve to grant a proper title. Then after a moment her senses returned, and as sharp as ever realized the maid was speaking of Ming Yue. Yin Ji n… Silver Fang! The Taisho, she exclaimed in silent furry now he has done it!
How dare he! How dare he change Ming Yue's name like that!
Now nothing withheld her and she stormed the castle like she had never done and when she found him, laid into him like never before. Fortunately for her, yet hardly for the Taisho, he was not alone. His ministers and other company, minor lords of state among other nobles were there when she arrived. Her eyes flaring viciously—"how dare you!" she said out right. "How dare you change our son's name without informing me?"
That Taisho was shocked at this but kept his composure.
"White Moon contain yourself we have guests…"
She stormed into the room, "I don't give a damn about YOUR guests, yet another thing you failed to lay by me before engaging in your little party!"
"No because I have respected your wish for privacy." The Taisho countered, when she struck him a hard slap across the cheek. "I'll say it again; how dare you think you can just sweep him out from under me! You think you can just do as you please because you are Lord! You believe you can make anything happen because you have all the power. You put me aside, take our son and mold him like putty in your hands, is that what he is? You think you can just change his name, a name that has proper meaning for which he is… a name I gave him not you!"
"I have given our son a fit for his position in life—a position he had proven worthy of…"
"Little more than a year ago you won't even look at him, you were embarrassed because he liked flowers and dancing more than socializing with others or even caring about how they lived. Never once did he look at a sword. And you know why he didn't Ming Yue is a Lunar Hound!" she shouted. "Yet what is this, Yin Ji n nonsense I've been hearing about? Who in Hell is Yin Ji n? I know of no Inuyoukai by that name that's lived in centuries. The name of a proper Fang! WE don't have a proper Fang son, and by the looks of it my dear husband you're not likely to get one, because I am beginning to lose my passion with you." And she showed her neck, the marks that were placed upon her on their wedding day, her mating mark was faded.
The mating mark was a mystical scar that showed up on the flesh of the chosen mate of a dominate Inuyoukai, and or canine lord, or simply the dominate male and bound them together. The mark the Taisho left with Lady Moon was small like everything else about her, a petite, but bright purple line, much like the scars on her cheeks, but was easily hidden beneath the collar of her robe at the base of her neck. But now it could barely be seen, and once gone the marriage would be broken, her ties to the Taisho severed.
Should this happen, the Taisho would lose access to the only remaining 'proper mate' of their race and linage. Thus the chance for a son, or any further children of pure descent he could have looked forward to would be lost. Should Ming Yue fail, there would be no one to take his place. Ming Yue would be an only child.
The Taisho hadn't considered this.
"White Moon you are saying you would sacrifice the future of our…"
"Not me, YOU! You unbelievable fool! Why do you think this is happening? This mark was fine this morning! It's because of you! Fawning over Ming Yue like he's chameleon of possibilities and can be just anything you want. I told you once before continue down this path and nothing good will come of it. I'm about to leave you and our son will one day discover that his entire life has been a lie!"
"Is this true Taisho?" one of the guests inquired.
The Taisho felt a chill slip up his spine, as the realization of his company, demons he had invited that evening for the sole purpose of celebrating Ming Yue's promotion in stature, thus the changing of his name having bore witness to this outburst came crashing down. He turned to the guests. The room was silent and everyone was staring, dozens of eyes glaring at him waiting for an answer.
Fortunately he was glad Ming Yue; the newly renamed Yin Ji n wasn't there. It was late so he was already in bed, which was the only good fortune that evening had to offer.
"Is it true what the Lady says, about your son… he is Lunar Hound?"
"Is it also true you never discussed this with the Lady?"
It was well known throughout the higher standing demons that the Lunar Hound was mate of the Ruler. However rather or not this understanding was to the extent that it is simply what the mate of the lord was called as from the actual understanding of the difference between a Lunar Hound and a Fang was remains up to debate.
Still the point of this event's affairs was to celebrate the reckoning of a new potential Fang Lord, and yet the lady in protest addressed this potential lord as a Lunar Hound, the intended mate of the future lord? Confusion arose amongst the guest as they all at once began to utter and murmur amongst themselves, the mentioning of Lunar Hounds seeming to come up with every other sentence.
The Taisho was speechless, and could not bring himself to admit it was true. That Ming Yue was indeed born a Lunar Hound and at first he did reject him because of it. But now it was different, Ming Yue was… a demons fate that can't be changed, and yet here he was doing all he could in his power to turn Ming Yue into a Fang and was damn proud of the progress and result he was seeing… and yet, as the saying went was it too good to be true? Was Lady Moon right? Is what he is trying to do wrong… wrong for Ming Yue, and wrong for the nation?
He shook himself out of it, but before he could open his mouth, Lady Moon cut him off. And what she had to say shook his foundations. From which he never fully recovered the same level of confidence he had felt towards Ming Yue. "Let me just say this mister Great Demon," she began, "so you are… and should you fail to produce a second heir one day our son will meet a man and when he does THAT demon will become lord of these lands NOT him. Mark my words, Great Fang for that is the right and power of the Lunar Hound. We are the ones with the power to make kings not you!" And then she turned around and left, but before vanishing from sight she concluded the conversation by saying this, "Oh I wanted to inform you that I am leaving. I've decide to have a holiday in the east and I'm taking Ming Yue. I will be visiting with Hamot, and have already sent out and informant letter to announce our arrival so it's expected. There's nothing you can say." then she vanished.
It was a lie of course, and one that had just sprung off the top of her mind, to serve as a final moment of defiance, but the thought of getting away from there and from him certainly more than appealed to her. Not to mention to separate him from Ming Yue now having become her top priority. Just hopefully it wasn't already too late… he will become a rock.
It was true; this was the power of the Lunar Hound, for whoever they marry becomes the rightful lord and ruler of the nation. The Fang can marry from outside the clan, but their bride is always referred to as mistress, not Lady or Queen. Something the Taisho had also not considered—that Ming Yue did in fact possess the power to crown another demon Lord of the Nation, and he had the power to do this for any demon, nothing could discredit it.
It was the fang's duty to province a proper heir for succession, a Fang prodigy fit for rule, fit for the nation and fit for the Lunar Hound.
One day Ming Yue will meet a man, and that Demon will become the Lord, not Ming Yue.
Should you fail to produce a second heir.
Meet a man.
What man?
Far beyond troubled the Taisho stood there in silence and watched her go, knowing that if he did or said anything it would only have served to attribute more to the scene. The thought if he were lesser of a man he would have struck, but held back his fists—the nerve of her! He was outraged, but under these conditions and with the situation being what it was he couldn't. The guests were all standing around him still waiting for answers.
When he had little to say, but to confirm what Lady Moon had addressed the guests were less than amused and left. Once alone the Taisho burned with the desire to lay into Lady Moon as a punishment for her outburst but again thought better of it—could she be right?
'One day our son will meet a man and when he does THAT demon will become lord of these lands NOT him!' the words ran through his mind, 'We are what make you not the other way around…. Mark my words.' The Lunar Hounds have the power to create kings?
Thinking about it more he had to admit it was true. Lady Moon his wife, though she was considered his inferior was still a demon of the highest rank, supreme stature and possessed the greatest level of refinement of all demons in the known world. She was indeed a lady fit to be a king's wife, or that should any man marry her rather of noble rank or not he would instantly inherit the rights of a lord. Naturally a man would have to be viewed as worth in her eye first of course, but… still, should this fate ever truly come before Ming Yue, or rather the newly appointed Silver Fang, in whose hands will the nation fall? What manner of demon would Ming Yue choose?
No, I won't allow the risk. It is possible that I have been too hasty with Ming Yue, though changing his name was necessary should he fail in his mission we can't afforded him making a poor choice. Ming Yue is definitely the only hope for the preservation of our rule. For the security of the nation the land must have a Fang. So that is it I will live for as long as I can until a Fang can be born, and I will be certain to father this Fang myself, with or without White Moon.
Ming Yue will prove himself able to succeed me or fail at the hands of his brother should the younger Fang prove the greater demon, as it should be.
Part 2
The Easternlands was a realm renowned for its rules and principles and for its reverence for holy law and communion with the higher powers. Where demons acknowledge and honored the gods and this she felt she needed right now and what she believed would be best for Ming Yue. Figuring a little guidance in divine law and knowing what the gods want of them couldn't hurt.
As planned Lady Moon gathered her things it was her attempt at leaving under the guise of an outing, a holiday she called it, and perhaps for good and took Ming Yue. Fleeing to the lands of the East there she took refuge under the care of the Demon Lord Zemmed Hamot the great ruler of the Eastern Lands a kingdom that more than doubled the expanse and worth of her homeland the Beautiful Lands, territory of the Inuyoukai.
Unlike the Taisho, Zemmed was the sole ruler of the east with many nations under him, known simply as the Easternlands or as the Realm of God. A seventeen thousands year old able ruler and demon of God, Hamot belonged to the order of demons that served as advocates for Yate, yet one of the many names for God in the east. Born of the race of the ram, Hamot's appearance was that of an enormous man, broad and built to be strong with a great beard and the horns of the ram. A demon of sure greatness and stature, and who Lady Moon deeply respected, ever since she was brought before him with her mother as a girl, who were under similar circumstances she had sought to maintain a friend ship with.
Now she would do the same thing her mother did and bring young Ming Yue before the lord of the east in the hopes that he would come under the same impression as he had on her and as the Taisho did on him. Though this wasn't the first time Ming Yue would be brought before the eastern king, since Hamot was among the many demons that came to congratulate the Taisho and his wife over the birth of their son. At the time Ming Yue was only a baby and so bore little memory of who Lord Hamot even was. She hoped that in reintroducing him to Hamot that the reckoning of the experience would begin the process of resetting the boy's mind and revering all the ideas his father had put into his head returning him to the way he was before, or at the very least open the boy to a new array of influence. Guidance governed by Divine Law.
But she should have known, "mother I don't want to be here, where's father?" he came out and said to her one day it's what she was hoping not to hear. "It's too hot, I don't like it… when can we go home?"
After the training began with his father, not only did his appetite return but Ming Yue also found the means to speak. Still considerably more quiet then the average child once in a while he would come up with questions and comments whenever something out of the ordinary caught his attention. It seemed finding himself in a strange new country far away from home was just that.
"Who is Hamot? I don't like him. He's too big and ugly. Not at all like father." Lady Moon did not like this comment, and considering it far too ignorant for a child whose destiny it was to crown a new Fang, no matter who he may choose. "That's enough from you!" she snapped back at him, "Hamot is a great lord and his power and wealth exceeds even that of your father. You should show more respect."
The child grew silent after this. Though it troubled her, for she couldn't tell if his silence was due to him respecting her wishes, or if her sudden sharpness of temper hadn't upset him and caused him to withdraw like he was before. He is a hypersensitive child… you need to be exceptionally cautious with him not to upset him. Wise words from Lady Pearl, how she wished she had told her more, or made her demands more insistent.
That evening after Ming Yue had retired for sleep, she discussed these concerns with Zemmed. She told him and explained everything that has happened since the incident with the bandits. After listening intently Zemmed had this to say, "It seems your son faced quite a troubling experience."
"Yes, it was."
Though I see the ones having more trouble with it were you," referring to both her and the Taisho. "The boy himself came out of it alright; in fact you've explained he became stronger."
"Yes he did. He learned a new power, the ability to use poison."
"Ah, well poison is useful, so long as it isn't abused. I see, but this isn't the issue, you said that Miss Pearl explain to you that Ming Yue faced an additional experience with this demon he had encountered."
"Yes, she told me that he absorbed the feeling of bliss from him and got excited. It seems that instantly redoubled his power and he transformed and pursued the demon, but was stopped by his father."
"Do you know who this demon was?"
"No, unfortunately, I sent men out to search for him but they came up empty handed. So I was forced to give up."
"Well thieves are masters at being elusive. That's how they survive by eluding our people, your men were seeking a thief and one of them," as he said this Lady Moon just seemed to know he was speaking if the Silver Fox Gang, the most notorious band from amongst the demon criminal underworld.
"Well I knew very well that the likely hood of actually finding him was slim. But I just couldn't stand by and do nothing. Great Fang was so persistent in assuming Ming Yue's intent for desiring this demon was out of the need for vengeances. He was just so adamant about not pursuing him. It was just to angering for me."
"Indeed the Fang does seem to fall short sometimes. If it had it been my son I would have immediately sent out the guards, especially when dealing with them!"
"The Silver Fox Gang?"
"Yes," Hamot answered with a weary nod.
"Had trouble with them have you?"
"Not directly, in my observations they been smart and managed to avoid any direct confrontations with imperial law. Their targets are usually minor mansions and out of the way castles, though your story about them taking Ming Yue doesn't sound like the typical heist one would expect. The leader of the Silver Fox Gang a demon Yoko, known by the name Kurama a shape shifting spirit fox with the ability to manipulate plants is a demon well renowned for his cunning and flawless and swift executions. To think that he would just nab a child, that is obviously of high rank carelessly out of the woods and just run with him don't sound right to me."
"So you don't believe it was him then?"
"No I believe it was them. Only they slipped. But now that I think about it your story begins to make sense, since I've recently come aware that the gang is no more."
"What were they caught then?"
"No from what my recourses have informed me they broke up. This happened about a year ago. And I heard a story to, something that matches what you just told me. I was told that the cause for the dismissal of the gang was due to a foiled heist that was instigated by the gang's second in command a demon known as Yomi and ended in disaster, and that the Youko lost his faith in his followers and abandoned them.
I have a list of names and descriptions of known members of the Silver Fox Gang, if you can get a description from your son we might be able to figure out who he encountered that day, and get some more answers."
"Yomi?" the name gave a strange feeling, as if there was something about it like a vague premonition, "Yomi," she repeated it, "hm that's very interesting," it made her curios, and yet as weak as the feeling was, she second guessed it, "though I must say its a little nerve wracking sometimes that I really wonder if I really want to know. The demon could be a hideous thing for all we know. Great Fang saw him but all he said about it was there wasn't much to speak of."
"Well none of the demons in the Silver Fox Gang are known to be giants or are deformed. As I've said the Youko is too cunning for that, he didn't rely on the strength of his followers to get things done, to the most part they were just pawns, so he kept them simple, clean, yet beneath him. He was smart enough never to let a demon join him that could out match him to any degree, and should a member show such potential he wouldn't be slow to kill him off."
"Hum, so he's a demon that won't be challenged, typical enough for the ambitious."
"Indeed."
"But you are saying that rumors suggest it was this demon named Yomi that launched the attack on Ming Yue?"
"If the story I heard is the same, then probably."
"And what type of demon is this Yomi?"
"Not much is known about him other than he's not a demon of the west despite his name, which is probably just a title or assumed name. But of what is spoken he is known to be a reckless killer, bodies are said to be scattered in pieces each time he strikes. The demon seems to have a passion for blood."
"Again how typical, is that all?" The feeling remained.
"Offhand yes."
"Hm, well I suppose I could try to question Ming Yue about it though I am hesitant to bring it up since he seems to have forgotten all about it. I wouldn't want to reawaken any unnecessary memories just for the sake or possibly pursuing this demon now."
"It probably wouldn't do you any good anyway. The demon Ming Yue encountered is likely not to be on the list and even if it was Yomi he's a demon that can no longer be found. Reports came to me that he was killed back at the point where it all came apart. A spy observed it. The Youko betrayed him and hired an assassin to kill him."
"Oh so he's dead then."
A feeling of disappointment rose through her, it was bizarre.
"That is the information I received. After that the Youko disappeared, and the gang fell apart."
"I see."
"Now about your husband, you're explaining to me that he's tried to manipulate Ming Yue?"
"Yes."
"To turn him into a Fang?"
"Again yes."
Hamot shook his head. "How disappointing, I would have expected better of him then that. You know you're husband was a demon many have had great prospects over as well. He was expected to be perfect."
Lady Moon Sighed, "And for some years he was. Nothing he did was anything short of brilliance that is until the incident, and then for some reason his flaws became apparent."
"Well he isn't perfect, I knew that when he was announced the successor of the nation. His father spoke to me about it, old Mount Fang, where he had this to say; Great Fang has indeed grown into a fine demon, his power is unparallel in the west yet at the same time he leaves me with great concern. When I enquired he told me, he has earned his ground but he lacks the understanding of principle. He fawns too much over the weak and meddles with others for this he has a bad habit of making unnecessary enemies. Also he is still much too friendly with humans, I catch him in communion too often, but I'm afraid he has grown too old and too established for me to reprehend."
Lady Moon nodded, "Yes, well that is true. He does commune with them, and it's been an annoyance to say the least, but of course no one can say anything about it to him. My words have been disregarded from the start on that issue."
"Yes, the same went for his father's. It seems the Fang has trouble in abiding to the most basic of holy commands. That is to 'honor thy mother and thy father'."
"Great Fang, states that he doesn't follow the ways the eastern god, as he called it. He says he knows the way of the spirit, and would never accept the guidance of other sources."
"And all the more a fool he is for it."
This is all Hamot would say on the subject. So it was changed, "so you are concerned for your son's future?"
Again Lady Moon sighed, "I suppose yes. To me it just looks bleak. Especially with the arrangement Great Fang has molded for him. I can just see it now, Ming Yue striding down the road to become a great demon, on quest for power when the truth comes slapping him in the face. Just how will we face him when that happens?"
"You suspect he will meet somebody, a demon, but you just don't know what demon?"
"Yes, I do. It's a deep feeling I have."
"That is troubling."
"I know it is, but what can be done about it, unless Great Fang provides him with a proper mate there is no other path left for Ming Yue."
Hamot nodded, but then said, "There is one way."
Lady Moon raised a brow, "Oh, so you have something in mind?"
"Perhaps but it would require your son's approval."
"Ming Yue's?"
"Yes, I was thinking instead of worrying about it I could have my daughter Hanna Marry your son, that way his future as a lord will be secured."
"Hanna?" the Lady inquired stunned. Princess Hanna, daughter of Hamot was an elegant woman, resembling her father only that she to bore the upturned horns of the ram. Her form was that of a tall and slender woman with long brown hair and dark eyes. A Lady Moon remembered well and reassessed her as the only woman or demon in all of demons world that more than qualified for Ming Yue. She was only four centuries younger than her father and at thirteen thousand had long established herself as a renowned worldly leader, only second to Hamot in the east.
"Really, isn't she already married?"
Hamot shook his head, "No, she never married. She had kept herself single for this very purpose. Her stature can easily grant any man the rights of passage to become a ruler."
"So could Ming Yue though, but for our nation, which is much smaller. Are you sure you would want to betroth them?"
"You son is already a fit match. He has nothing he needs to prove, the engagement can be made right now if we wanted."
"Interesting, however I'm hesitant to tap that road, since it's the same thing Great Fang is doing only from a different approach. I still think in the end the result will be the same. He could marry Hanna, but what bothers me Ming Yue is a Lunar Hound and a male and so he is bound to be only attracted to other males, at least that is the understanding."
"Hmm," Hamot hummed as he gave thought to this, "are you certain he's expected only to find attraction in the males?"
"That is the understanding of Lunar Hounds that are born male, there has never been a case in our history where a Lunar Hound male had ever expressed affection towards a woman or ever married one. It has been said that all Lunar Hounds are bound to the rightful successor of the nation, and which is of course always male."
"Interesting, that is a very peculiar development."
"I suppose, but true more than likely."
"Well I would still like to entertain the idea that he would accept. How about we do this at the turn of his adolescence you or we approach him with the offer. The hand of my daughter Hanna for when the time comes and he inherits the nation."
"Interesting, well Hamot I came here expecting no such thing but… agreed. I will notify you when he breaks from boyhood. But for now I would like to discuss other matters… "
And so it was arranged, without any need for approval of her husband Lady Moon had agreed to have Ming Yue betrothed to Hanna daughter of Hamot, Over Lord of the Eastern Lands. After this lady Moon remained in the east with Ming Yue for half a year, during this time she had enrolled Ming Yue in the school of Sacred Learning.
Hamot advised it, rather than to entrust him simply to a tutor but suggested that he see through a through course and receive the basics under traditional guidance, and she agreed. The house of Sacred Learning was among the oldest schools in the demon's world, it taught everything from morality to rights of common living, current to ancient history, mathematics, reading, writing and the arts to the study of scripture and Divine Law.
In the Demon's World, especially in the east, despite common misconceptions that the only thing that mattered in the demon's world was power, all schooling and or system of study was considered sacred, for to demons, in the real demon's world learning was everything, for knowledge was Power.
And so Ming Yue attended the school of Sacred Learning, though his period of study last only for the first semester before he eventually fell ill.
"I want to see father," he began complaining. "It's too hot here, and I don't like the food."
Ming Yue had stopped eating, and as before his physical condition began to decline. Lady Moon's alarm was heightened at the quickened pace of his descent, yet she was surprised. The lands of the east were not the west; here Ming Yue was subject to drier air and hotter temperatures not to mention the lack of vital forests and rich vegetation. The scent of the flowers was different, he liked the jasmine but found the cactus flower repelling. Also he complained that the water tasted different and that there was the scent of too many demon's in it. Ming Yue never drank water if it bore any trace of the scent of others and so during his time he drank little water.
But over it all she knew that the main cause was simple because he missed his father. Dehydrated and fasting Ming Yue's health slipped fast. Lady Moon felt she had no choice but to return him to the homeland, and back to the Taisho. However as a precaution before she went had one final word with Hamot over Ming Yue, "I would like you to send missionaries to the west and establish a school there so Ming Yue will have a place for study and a private tutor as well. We need more productive reasons to keep Ming Yue aside from his training and separate from his father as much as possible, but also because it will be good for the nation for the demons to have a chance at higher learning."
Hamot agreed to this, and so Lady Moon returned and the Taisho and son were reunited. Upon her return Lady Moon said little more to her husband then what arrangements she had managed to work out with Hamot, the Taisho merely stood by and complied to all of it. Much of which he agreed to and seemed quite pleased with. The only thing he had trouble with was the idea of the school, "I can allow tutors to come into this land and preachers, but missionaries establishing schools that I don't know about." But it was the arrangement with Hamot's daughter Hanna that took his interest, "ah a good arrangement Hanna will make a fine bride for Yin Ji n."
Lady moon winced at the name, but let it go. To her he was still Ming Yue, and it would be months before she would learn to address her child by any name other than the one she had chosen but eventually the Taisho's stubbornness prevailed and she broke in. But regarding Hanna, she knew Great Fang would be pleased, for it literally doused the flame of warning she had ignited with him over Ming Yue and his expected preference for men. So long as he marries Hanna there won't be any worry as to who he choose to become the next lord, and should another Fang exist he would have a much fitter opponent with whom to prove his might.
The Taisho was indeed pleased with this.
Part 3
As expected once he was returned Ming Yue's strength and vigor sprung back like new grass in early spring. The Taisho had him back up and reviewing their lessons in a week. It said enough, and the Lady felt her heart drop over the obvious prospect that from here on there was nothing more she could do to
She was told to take him and keep him from his father. The heavens knew nothing good would come of their affection for one another, which was most definitely a shame, since it is as things should be. The relationship between father and son, once so far apart now so close, yet she could already sense the darkness of the future closing in and she just knew, Ming Yue would suffer for this. She had made plans to betroth him to Hanna, but that is a future that, as she expects would make no difference for Ming Yue.
The arrangement was just to secure the future of the nation. Nothing more was expected of it. Ming Yue himself would remain incomplete without a Proper Fang… no woman could ever fill that void. Ming Yue will require a man to fulfill his heart.
A likelihood she was eager to point out, one night as the Taisho was commenting on the prospect of Ming Yue's and Hanna's engagement, speaking of what a good fortune it would be, Lady Moon said this: "you can look forwards to it, as will I. it was an arrangement I couldn't refuse since he offered. But nonetheless I doubt Ming Yue himself will be thrilled about it. Hanna's is a beautiful woman but she's thirteen thousand years his senior, and an already established ruler. I doubt he would even entertain the impression of an attraction to her."
When the Taisho responded to this he asserted his words with sure confidence, and exactitude, "regardless Hanna is not of the kind that is stubborn about with who they breed," referring to the complications regarding mating marks and the necessities of attraction. "so long as there's an heir that's all that matters."
Lady Moon laughed when she heard this, "Oh indeed, dear husband I for one am looking forward to it. To imagine our grandson a hoofed Inuyoukai with horns, quite the hybrid. Wouldn't that be interesting? To think… and raised knowing such little love I'm sure, adhering to his mother."
"Do you mean to suggest Hanna would make a bad parent?"
"I was speaking of Ming Yue. Hanna I'm sure would make a fine mother."
With the weeks that followed Lady Moon became aware that the topics she had discussed with Hamot were apparently more of a problem then she thought. She learned from a servant that the Taisho has been seen communing with the humans more frequently than usual. It seemed that in her absence he found the liberty to renew a few old ties he had once established with some of the higher noble ranked families of the human's world, but that he had also went so far as to establish a few new ones.
She always hated this, when he would commune it was like he was ignoring his proper duties. Or more or less that he took on unnecessary responsibilities that only served to complicate things over a more straight forward way of life. An Inuyoukai's main duty was to guard the lands and fight of enemies that threatened it, and represented an example of demonic perfection no more no less. The Taisho was just never satisfied with this and without her prying eyes breathing fire down his neck, he was more than free to do as he pleased without the threat of complaint, yet now that she was back, "oh just why do you bother, I'll never understand it," she commenced lecturing. "Divine Law boldly states that it's forbidden, that those humans shouldn't even know we exist."
"If you'd take a moment to think White Moon," he countered, expressing in his gestures that he was becoming annoyed, "it's because they do know that we exist that I address it! Humans are perfectly aware that we exist. Many demons are seen in plain sight every day, they complain about it all the time. Constantly I hear about it! Our existence isn't something we can just hide."
"So tell those demons to avoid it, or else. Make it the law!" she argued.
"Law, when have we the Inuyoukai ever asserted such laws? The law of the lands is the law of nature that's the only law we defend!"
"How ironic to hear you say that, you with your principles and your weaknesses tell me those are not bound to certain rules. In the past the service to Natural Law was the way of our forefathers, but that was before the boundaries between our worlds became so thin. It took a lot more for humans to be aware of us in those days that such rules weren't needed but clearly that isn't the way things are now. Just as you've stated the humans can see us, common people can see across the boarders just enough to view the vermin and it's enough to make them cry. This is why I say you must come down on them so they know to be more careful. If you would just assert your will even the lowest of apparitions wouldn't dare defy it."
"Assert my will, new rules… and I suppose you are the one to invent them?"
"Invent? No my husband, I will abide to Divine Law. What about you?"
"Peh, Divine Law… that's nothing, but hot wind from a world that would repress us."
"It is not! Don't you dare say that!"
"Then how would you explain it?" the argument carried on, covering many points from both sides, but then came down to this, "Why should we hide what we are? So the humans can come up with their own reasons why to fear us, because they do not know any better? I go to speak with them to explain things so they have an understanding and have more a mind to behave rationally to their fear. There are plenty of powers in the world they cannot control, and we are just one of those powers and it is a threatening power. I want all to know peace and have the strength to have a peace of mind when challenge comes to it."
There was no arguing with him, and yet she had to admit he did have a point. However by his logic if humans only understood demons better then perhaps they wouldn't fear them so much. Thus peace could exist between their kinds? She wasn't so sure, but as with most arguments she found little sense in continuing. Perhaps he was right, and maybe he wasn't. He could be on to something, or maybe he was just being naïve, or overzealous, like he was with Ming Yue. The Taisho was a predictable man in that way. Always so overzealous, he was with Ming Yue and now he was the same way over the humans. Passion was his way, but ironically, aside from his wayward interests this was the one thing she liked about him. She only wished he'd direct such passion towards the right things, like his Inuyoukai duty.
She sighed, my husband always the fool.
Leaving things as they were for the time being, within those passing weeks Lady Moon grew accustomed to a number of things that enabled her to become more passive. One was the issue over Ming Yue's new name, Silver Fang, the announced heir of the nation, and Heir of Power. Eventually she gave in altogether, and lost her attachment to the name she had chosen for the new, and it wasn't long before she began to use it as well. "Yin Ji n," she called out one sunny afternoon, "your father has summoned you. Go and see what he wants."
The boy was fiddling with a Chinese puzzle, trying to arrange the pieces together in the right spots to create a proper cube, but dropped the cube and its pieces onto the bench where he was seated as soon as he heard and went. That evening he attended a party with the Taisho at the head estate of one of the Taisho's newest acquaintances of the human world. In the wake of that year Yin Ji n was to attend many parties like this with his father. During these visits you Ming Yue would put on a vision of perfection, and the Taisho could not have been prouder.
Beforehand the Taisho had drilled him on what he expected of him and insisted. Ming Yue soaked it all up and did not disappoint. He never scowled or showed disrespect or did anything to express the way he really felt just as father wanted. Anything father said he did, no matter what. This is what he knew and nothing made Yin Ji n happier then pleasing his father, that is until one day.
The Taisho had been away for about a week. He was communing again and it seemed he managed a new friendship with the lord of one of the smaller noble estates from the country of China. He had spent a week getting to know the lord there and had come fondly aware that he was very interested in learning about the demon's way of life. So one day the Taisho announced he was having guests.
Yin Ji n was at home the whole time without seeing much of his father, and so he had the time to revisit as well as to rediscover some of his earlier pastimes. Old habits returned fast and so after completing his exercises in swordsmanship which he would do obediently every day he would retire to the garden where he'd spend the remainder of the day.
It seemed like forever since he had taken the time to marvel at the simple beauty of the flowers, and indulge in the silence of the castle garden like he used to. It was a relief, returning to the peaceful way of life he enjoyed before and for a time life was back to normal.
Then one day, "Yin Ji n, come." He heard his father's voice. After a week's absence Ming Yue got excited and ran to him. He was anxious to show off the new technique he had been practicing and had finally mastered, but stopped dead in his tracks when he reached him and discovered that he was not alone. There was a man standing at his side and beside him where two young women. Right away he could tell they were human. The strange man looked almost identical to the numerous human lords they had visited. They bore the same features and style of garb, pale skin with dark hair and eyes; it was the look of humans he knew.
This made him feel put off, like all his excitement had just hit a wall. He was never comfortable around humans, something about them always made him feel ill, or uneasy. It was the same whenever he was forced to commune, and it wasn't just with humans it was with most people, demons to. The Taisho was his refuge, him and the castle garden.
And yet there his father was the demon he wanted more than to world to see accompanied by strangers in his private sanctuary. To him it was like a cruel invasion of space, private space. He would have expected the Taisho to have known better.
But it wasn't only that, for not only were these humans invading his space—unwelcomed creatures in his private sanctum, but they interfered with his reunion with the Taisho a demon he had not seen or heard from in a weak. This time he could not hold back the sign of a scowl that came over his face at the mere sight of them.
He did not want these people here. He did not like them, or want anything to do with them—the same feeling he always got, but never allowed himself to express it or risk upsetting his father, and that was the last thing he wanted.
To see that angry disapproving face scowling down at him, enough to break his heart or at least threaten him—does father not love me anymore? Ming Yue was well aware that his father did not love him very much before his training, but then all of a sudden he did and they have been close, and so he was afraid that if he ever did anything wrong to upset him that he could lose that and the Taisho would forsake him. He was very conscious of the fragility of their relationship and that it could go either way very quickly should the Taisho decide he didn't like him. So he has done everything in his power to be the perfect son.
Literally straining to go along with it, biding through the attention, holding back every urge to bark harshly whenever someone would speak to him or from shrinking back whenever someone even looked at him. All this was very hard on him. He hated the attention, the complements, the questions, the conversation, he hated the scents the fragrance of the perfume they would wear to try and cover up their human musk which turned his stomach—there was no perfume in the world that could cover up the scent of musk from a dog demon. He even hated the elaborate ways they adorned themselves or wore fresh flowers in their hair. To him it was like adorning themselves in the misfortunate severed heads of lovely, defenseless and pure plants, perfect and beautiful things taken up to be molested by the vanity of these—people. He recalled thinking to himself how he wanted to rescue them and burry the poor things in the woods far away from these creatures—creatures that seemed to believe they could make themselves as beautiful as the flowers by cutting and wearing them, to him it was sacrilege.
How would they like it if I cut their heads off and thought it'd make me look pretty by wearing their faces like it were my new cloth? Then we could all be ugly monsters.
Before him both girls were dressed in the same overly garnished attire with fresh cut flowers in their hair—those flowers better not be from my garden! He thought human creatures they better not dare ruin my flowers. Don't you dare touch them!
But of course he never said any of these things to his father. He just held it in, however nothing as bad as what would happen this day had ever happened before. The Taisho, sensing no more but perhaps a little discomfort from him, chose to ignore it and commenced, addressing his new friend at his side, "this is my son, Yin Ji n." tension
Then with the same friendly expression he always used when socializing he turned to Ming Yue and said, "Yin Ji n, this is," so and so, introducing Ming Yue to the lord and his daughters, which Ming Yue simply regarded as human intruders 1, 2, and 3"they have come to join us this evening from…" Ming Yue didn't care. He wanted them gone, to leave, to be removed from his garden and out of his sight. So many times he had put up with this, and why he couldn't understand.
When he was brought to their world and into their homes he understood that he had to behave and act proper. Be gentle, because it made sense. He never got the impression that the humans he was forced to visit ever didn't want to see him, or ever felt rejected by then, or afraid. But more like they were welcoming and just curious, but he didn't care, no matter how welcomed he was he never wanted to be there. So why was he, why was his father—why did they have to talk to this people, it didn't make sense. None of this made sense—they're not demons so why are they here? We are lords of demons so why am I being forced to communicate with humans?
I don't want to talk to them, nor do I need to. I don't care to. It makes no sense!
Something in Ming Yue clicked that day. Perhaps it was that he had decided it was enough, that he had put up with this for long enough. The Taisho was clearly out of line with his overly friendly habit of his continuously communicating with these beings—beings they should have nothing to do with. As if a memory from deep within had suddenly come back to him, and he scowled.
Despite his father's presence, in defiance of this 'intrusion' no matter how it would upset him, for why should it, the Taisho, his father lose love over him for rejecting to the presence of beings that shouldn't be there? He should know that they shouldn't be! That he has even been told! Many times he was told—that he had told him… told him before!
The Taisho was talking and hadn't yet noticed the expression in Ming Yue's face when he again turned to him, "ah Yin Ji n our guests have decided they would like tour of our garden, would you like to show them around, for sure enough no one know this garden better than you Yin Ji n." the girls, teenagers easily between the ages of fifteen to seventeen started gigging. He couldn't guess why, but it only aggravated him more, and his face began to turn beet read. It seemed the company mistook this as bashfulness for they became all the more affectionate towards him because of it, and began to say things like "aw how cute" and "he's adorable, aw look at that pouty face, and those cheeks like ripe cherries I just want to pick them."
Then they started asking questions like, "are those markings natural?" referring to his crescent moon crest.
"Yes," the Taisho answered, "it is his heritage birthmark."
The girls seemed to thrill over this, "Does it mean anything, is it magical?" they both asked vibrantly and with much enthusiasm. The Taisho answered, while being sure to avoid any mentioning of Lunar Hounds, as he spoke Ming Yue felt his face get redder and redder till it felt as though it would burst.
One of the girls noticed the younger one and bent down to her knees as if to have a better look at him. Her powered and painted face glaring almost playfully at him as if he were merely an object there for her amusement, and said in the same manners as before, "ah I believe he's blushing." Then the elder bent beside her and stated affectionately, "oh he is, then he must be a shy little thing, oh how sweet." Then she stood up and said to the Taisho, "W ng Ji n, we had no idea demons could be so sweat and cute, he's such a dear… how enlightening." And both girls commenced giggling. Ming Yue sensing that the attention was all on him stepped back and held his breath, not appreciating any of this and restraining himself as best he could—the thought gradually crossing his mind, that maybe practicing his wind scar on their faces could prove a useful endeavor. Maybe with them he could learn to form blades like the Taisho does, despite the fact they aren't demons.
"Yin Ji n?" the Taisho queried, noticing Ming Yue's changed in demeanor, "do you not wish to guide our guests through our magnificent garden?"
Still with his breath caught in his throat he shook his head, the scowl now obvious on his face. Finally the Taisho noticed it, and as he did his expression changed as well. From friendly and happy and approving to that unloving, disapproving face he had so feared to see, and yet it changed back to sociable once he turned back to readdress his guests—those humans.
He smiled and was friendly with them, "I apologize it seemed Yin Ji n has withdrawn, come I'll show you. He can be quite shy at times."
"Aww," said one of the daughters, the older one, "but that is so adorable, your son must be such a sweet little dear, W ng Ji n." the younger just giggled and seemed to adhere to her sister, "I love his hair, the way it shines."
"I know it's like stands of perfect silk." The elder agreed and the father as well grinned, and nodded, "he is indeed a fine child, and modest, a good virtue."
Hearing these complements, despite Yin Ji n's apparent lack of cooperation the Taisho's aggravation grew alight, yet was still keen in making sure Ming Yue knew he was less than pleased by his disobedience, and gave him a look, then led the guests away down the path.
Though by the way they kept looking back at him made it perfectly clear they were more interested in him than the garden.
As soon as he could Ming Yue ducked away and hid behind a giant fern sniffling and holding back tears—tears he couldn't believe he was experiencing. In the instant his father looked at him with that disapproving face was the breaking moment—the last straw. He couldn't stand it anymore, but what to do how to speak up and let his father know how he felt? That this was going too far.
How to reprehend one's own father?
He bit his lip to hold back his tears; it was the second time in his life he ever felt the sensation to cry. Back when he was nearly kidnapped, that didn't scare him because he knew his father was there, and because that demon was strangely interesting. But afterwards when he wouldn't listen to him, when the Taisho only disregarded him as a brat or as a fool that's what upset him. He felt it instantly when he was reprehended and stopped in his pursuit of that demon. When the Taisho came in contact with him he felt the disapproval and couldn't bear it. He was feeling it again now, but this time it couldn't be justified.
As the Taisho made his rounds showing his guests all the various point in the garden that were noteworthy. Pleasuring over the understanding that his guests were particularly fond of nature, he didn't mind it when gradually his company drew apart. Whist in deep in conversation with the father the young women decided they wanted to linger a moment under a certain young cherry tree.
It was spring so the blossoms where in full bloom. Which was one of the reasons for the visit, for it was said that the garden at the castle of the Inuyoukai was among the most exquisite, especially in spring—Ming Yue's favorite time of year.
The blossoms were pale pink and abundant which made the tree seem to glow in the morning sunlight. The girls were dazzled, and commented that they assumed the blossoms at a demon's palace must possess mysterious powers. They entertained the thought for several minutes all the while Ming Yue remained hidden nearby; reluctantly over hearing they're every word.
He didn't care if they thought the tree was magical, because it was. What did upset him was that it was the same tree he used to play beneath and where he had preformed his dances, but furthermore it was also the tree the Taisho had planted in the garden that was enchanted to bloom in December for the day he was born. This said t0 Ming Yue that… that was his tree, that if anything was particularly special to him it was that tree.
Gardenias were his favorite flower, but that cherry tree was his favorite of all trees, because it was his. Every branch, the bark, the wood the roots and especially the flowers were his, even the ground around it from where it drew its nutrients… even the gardeners knew better than to sweep the petals from the stone walk way that lead alongside it or risk Ming Yue coming aware that they had touched his petals. The child would scowl and bark and put up a fuss and refuse to eat for days should anyone touch his petals or even go near his tree.
Only the Taisho was allowed, or his mother, but even that would aggravate him. And yet there were these two human girls dallying beneath the boughs and handing the delicate blossoms, as if it were just any tree grown for their amusement at a park. Now this he wouldn't stand for—that was HIS TREE!
And nobody touches his tree!
At once he burst out and ran at the young women. A most displeased and angry expression on his face. The girls startled, but he stopped before the end of the tree's shadow. Both girls were on the root mound beneath the boughs caught up in the shade of the blossoms. Memories of his days as a secret dancer came back to him and how all the more special that place felt to him for it, all the more the outrage that these to trespassers… these invaders were transgressing on his spot, his most private space.
He began to growl and his expression went from an angry scowl to fierce and menacing, his eyes glittering and were almost at the point of turning red.
"Oh no, what's so wrong?" asked one of the girls alarmed at the child's sudden harsh, even frightening behavior. But as soon as she opened her mouth the barking commenced. He did not use words, since he cared not to speak, but sent chilling signals of anger, disapproval and disgust charging at them. The girls recoiled, much in the same way they would at the sight of a guard dog that had suddenly caught sight of them after crossing into it's territory.
"Yin Ji n!" he heard his father's voice cry out, loud and reprehensive. "What are you doing? How dare you assault our guests! I am astounded with you!"
The child spun around and cried out while pointing hastily back at the tree and the two trespassers beneath it. "But…" to him it was like catching a thief red handed, and had all the evidence and right to demand punishment right then and there, but to the Taisho, "You disappoint me Yin Ji n, I've expected more than this from you!"
"But… my tree!"
His tree… the special tree that was enchanted to bloom at the moment he was born.
"That tree is a part of this castle's property and as lord of this castle that means it is my property as well. I have given these humans my personal blessing to be here and to pleasure of in all they would delight in that the castle has to offer! You a mere child have no right to object to what or to whom I have bestowed my blessing! I am shocked and astounded with you!"
"But…"
"I will hear no excuses. I am disappointed with you Yin Ji n! I don't wish to look upon you!"
"But…"
"Be gone with you!"
The child grew frigid and his face froze staring blankly.
"Yin Ji n did you not hear, I said leave from my sight this instant!"
Ming Yue couldn't comprehend it, the words coming from his father's mouth was not the common language he easily understood. Though it was proper the proper speech of lords he knew very well, and was thoroughly fluent in the arrangement in which they were coming at him and accompanied by the tone didn't permit them to register properly in his mind, but were more like angry bubbles that had yet to burst sending their harsh messages, their terrible messages tearing through him. When he didn't move the Taisho shouted even more. But it wasn't until he took a step forwards to emphasize on his anger that the bubbles popped, and Ming Yue's face suddenly changed.
He went from anger to shock, then to an expression that was almost impossible to read. His face was beet red, his mouth remained frozen, but his eyes were wide and larger then they had ever been seen before, glassy and glittering with the pretence of tears.
The tears from before he had successfully pushed back and were dry by the time he overheard the maidens and became aware that they had trespassed against his tree…and thus against him. But this time it was different, for these weren't ordinary tears.
"But…" he struggled to utter the word, but was harshly cut off by the instant assertion of the words "Ming Yue!"
"No!" he cried out! "I'm not!" his voice was like a scream. And altogether whatever continence remained with him broke and he shook his head and screamed then ran towards the tree jutting his body behind its narrow trunk, as if trying to hide.
"Ming Yue!" the Taisho not even realizing he had reverted to addressing him in the way he had before he came to accept him, and yet it felt right and came out much more naturally than the new name he had attempted to impose on him. This was not the behavior of Yin Ji n the Silver Fang of the Inuyoukai, but of Ming Yue the Lunar Hound, a cold and reclusive being that cared not for the affairs of others, nor of their needs, and or demands.
Right before his eyes Ming Yue reverted back to the child he knew before he learned to take up a sword. Before he leaned to be social and to behave like a proper little boy, not a secretive, reclusive hideaway—that danced and wore dresses!
The girls were still under the tree when he ducked behind it, and they gasped and recoiled at the sudden approach of the upset child. Ming Yue ducked behind the tree, but it only took a moment before he reacted to them and growled and nearly hissed swinging his claw at them like a cat would in self defense. Both his face and his eyes were scarlet red, and his fangs shone brightly beneath his tensed red lips.
The human father more than alarmed quickly drew the girls back from the tree and to the safe distance from the apparently apposing demons—Father and son opposing each other. The reasons for this turn of events they could not comprehend, yet one thing was clear and that their harmless little adventure into the home of a friend, supernatural though it was had become a dangerous endeavored for insight into another world.
The father didn't know if he should be upset or fascinated at the spectacle he was witnessing, but he put his two daughters behind him regardless and withheld his demand for an explanation for a more opportune moment.
The Taisho was furious, he couldn't believe Ming Yue's behavior, and after everything he had taught him! All of a sudden this, as if all the progress he had shown was suddenly wiped clean and erased, and Silver Fang ceased to exist right then and there. But no, rather the child known as Silver Fang never excited at all, just Ming Yue. "Your mother was right; I never should have put my faith in you."
"No!"
"Ming Yue if you don't come out of there and apologize to me and our guests this instant I will revoke all that I have endowed upon you!"
"No!"
The Taisho couldn't tell rather or not this rejection was a sign of expressed emotion or was just in defiance. Either way, "Ming Yue, will you not obey your father's command!"
"Will you leave him alone!" hissed a woman's voice.
The Taisho froze, but only for an instant. The voice came from behind, though he needn't turn to know who it was.
Lady Moon stood to the back of the Taisho only several feet away her face almost identical to the child's only without the red tint and womanly. Her eyes glistening with furry, reddened only that the whites had turned to a blushed pink and her amber color a tint redder.
"You know that tree is sacred to him, or have you forgotten? How dare you allow these mortals near it."
The moral lord was stunned, he had no idea. The Taisho said nothing of the sort, as he walked them through and past this tree. He merely pointed it out as just another fine arrangement of ornamentation. Yet he was even more stunned to discover there was another demon of the Taisho's likeness present, someone to whom he had yet to be apparently introduced.
What was going on here he was beginning to wonder.
"White Moon this is not the time…"
"For what?" she cut him off, "to stop you from making a vicious mistake! I am this child's mother and your proper wife how dare you tell me this is no time to speak up!"
The Taisho spun around now asserting his attention on her.
"A vicious mistake?" he repeated the words, the very use of them sounded absurd with every syllable, "What exactly are you addressing? The child, he is out of line!"
"No you pompous oaf! YOU! Didn't I warn you before not to upset him? Nor me?" her eyes blazed, "not only did you invite these mortals here, yet again without even addressing me of your plans, but you fail to see where you've erred with your son."
"Error, I have done no such thing, you speak of nothing."
"Do I?"
"Indeed, Ming Yue is…" in that instant Ming Yue leapt out from beneath the tree and ran to his mother. His arms reaching out and grabbing her around the skirt, it was the first time he had ever showed any sign of affection towards her, yet it was she that understood him, and finally he could acknowledge it.
"Mom," he cried, this time unable to stop his tears from falling, "tell dad to make them go away!"
"Them?" she queried.
"The humans! Make them leave! Make them go away!"
Lady Moon glared at the morals standing to the side apparently mortified and just a little more than confused. Naturally understanding that none of this was their fault, she turned back to the Taisho. "You should have known," she said to him, while placing her hand over Ming Yue's head as he wept into her skirt, "that he would never have accepted this. It was enough of you bringing him outside to visit with these beings in their own land; he behaved proper and understood that. But this garden is his special place, his sanctuary, and as I've told you before your whims can not change this child for who he really is. Born Ming Yue a Lunar Hound, and is not meant to be the heir of this nation. And so he has no need to give into your demands of submission especially should it come opposed to his true nature."
"You are saying a child shouldn't be disciplined?"
"Only for doing something wrong yes, then I would agree with you, but in this case I'm afraid it was you that had erred, and if you cannot see how you have then I am sorry for you, my dear husband."
The Taisho did not respond as if he had become at a loss for words, and had to think. Of what was she speaking? Ming Yue was out of line, his behavior was appalling not to mention an embarrassment to say the least, and in front of what he considered important guests—an error, where had he erred, how had he? What was she seeing that he could not? Was she even correct?
Ming Yue had gone to her for comfort, and had refused to apologize. He had disobeyed his father and upset their guests, he even threatened them. How was discipline not the proper solution to such a predicament? Is she wrong, was she just babying him, spoiling him?
Or… could it be because she understood him, perhaps in a way he never could. In the same away dogs could never understand the nature of cats, a Fang wouldn't understand a Lunar Hound. Only she could because it was her nature as well, one in the same, like mother like son, the same.
He sighed, and turned around placed his back to the both of them, "fine then take him away. We'll discuss this later."
White Moon felt it was enough and attempter to urge Ming Yue to accompany her out of the garden, but he wouldn't move. He just said no, and detaching himself from her he ran back to the tree. Now this seemed to perplex her, he wouldn't leave, but seemed to want to protect what was his own, that tree.
It seems the ones that needed to leave were the humans.
The Taisho stared at Ming Yue studying him he did indeed seem entirely needy to protect that tree. So much that nobody can even go near it—if only he could assert that much passion in protecting the lands and it's people then a great ruler he could be. He thought to himself, then sighed inwardly, trees are not land, nor are they people, as he is Ming Yue could never inherit the nation at least not by family tradition. If this is the demon he is and would always be then he would never accept being overthrown by him. More over it is demons like Ming Yue that he fought to protect these lands from—Ming Yue doesn't qualify for the role as a Fang Lord… and so he shall be the mate of one that does.
With this settled in his mind he turned to his guests. "I apologize for this; it seems I was mistaken on account of things. Here I shall escort you…"
Ming Yue stood behind the tree listening to every word. His tears had not dried yet they seemed to only ball up in the corners of his reddened blood shot eyes. White Moon was eyeing him, wanting him to leave the garden and to go with her but it was clear he was not leaving the tree—his sacred tree.
She looked upwards at the cherry blossoms, remembering the first time she saw this tree bloom while it was still so small. In the midst of December a deep chill in the air and a blanket of snow on the ground, yet amidst all that was white and frosty blue was the pale pink color of the cherry blossoms. It was the third day after Ming Yue was born and she had recuperated enough strength to get up, make her way to the garden to see it. It was a beautiful sight, and significant it was no wonder Ming Yue found it so special.
Get Ming Yue away from his father as soon as possible—Pearl was right. Do it before he sees him for who he really is, and expresses his disapproval.
She looked back at Ming Yue. He was hiding his face. His form was hardly hidden from view due to the slender trunk of a tree that was no more than ten years old, just a sapling when it was planted, yet he managed to fully conceal his face. She could tell he was still crying though his cheeks had lost their shine from the streaks and had gone dry.
Should a child's tears dry up, yet he still cries… he'll become a rock! When those tears dry up completely, when he learns to ignore the pain and to block it out… he can't dance, he can't do what he wants… then what would be left of him? What would he express what would he feel?
"Taisho," she said out abruptly. "I'm leaving."
The Taisho stopped dead in his tracks and in mid speech, having been currently in the middle of an explanation for the unpleasant spectacle, when she spoke.
"I'm leaving here and I'm taking Ming Yue."
He paused, but did not turn around.
"I will return to my castle in the clouds, Ming Yue will know a life of solitary confinement there where he will be free to do as he wishes till the day comes for his betrothal." And she stepped towards him, as she did she said this, "Now my dear sweet husband, as I'm sure you know you will require a new child to take the place of what he cannot. I will leave that entirely up to you, but keep in mind that whoever you choose will bare not only the burden of the security of this nation, but he will contend as the proper mate for Ming Yue. I will manage the agreement I made with Hamot over Hanna and Ming Yue's betrothal personally. She will be the future Fang's only rival for Ming Yue, so I urge you, choose wisely who your next mate will be, the quality of her child will make all the difference over who Mug Yue chooses, and the difference for the future for all the ages to come."
Then she left. Ming Yue remained in the garden unmoved from the tree, and the Taisho escorted the humans from the garden to another area of the castle. Once they were gone, Ming Yue crept down alongside the tree and knelt in the moss covered dirt that was laden with pink flower petals. One by one he started picking them up and put them in his hand. Then he noticed the ones that had been stomped on where the human girls were standing and placing aside the bunch he had gathered already to remove those.
As he was gathering them up, and sniffling he failed to notice the quiet stranger who came silently back to the garden, apparently out of concern for him. The woman's name was Jai Lan and she was the fifteen year old daughter of Fúyún governor of a county in the kingdom of what is today central China. Moderately considered a lovely girl, Jai Lan had a chronic weakness for children, especially stubborn ones.
Earlier when she saw Ming Yue's teary eyes after his father had begun to yell at him, her heart went out to him. She had to fully strain herself from not going over ceasing him and to cuddle him to her breasts to comfort him. Missing the point that it was she and her sister that had upset him in the first place, she snuck away from her father, sister and their host to return to the garden in hope that she could do just that.
Ming Yue was certainly a child that was much too adorable and apparently precious, as to cry over the concerns of a cherry tree, to leave untended especially after the scene she had witnessed. The fear of his flaring red eyes and snarling sharp teeth and lunging claws already cast out of her mind to be replaced with warmth sympathy and the undying urge to cuddle the silky haired child. When coming from a world where everyone's hair was dark or black was something she just didn't see every day. She loved hair, especially long hair, and Ming Yue's like both his parents flowed in glistening perfect locks down his back. How could she not want to touch it?
Ming Yue was focused; he wanted all the damaged petals removed from amongst the pure ones. To him they were damaged, and tainted like many bruised apples in a barrel. He feared the damage could spread and make the entire area look bruised and ugly. His father's words running through his mind as he gathered the ruined petals into a meshed up bunch in his tiny palm. The redness from his cheeks seeming to transfer to the darkened color of the petals as he smashed them together to make room for more… so many damaged petals.
'You disappoint me, Ming Yue… I am astonished! I've expected more than this from you… that tree is a part of this castle's property and as lord of this castle that means it is my property as well… meaning it belongs to me not to you!
Be gone with you!'
His paced slowed, and he began to feel a bit sluggish. His passion for gathering the broken petals already beginning to wear thin, wondering if he'll ever manage to gather all the ruined ones, before their taint could defile the entire garden, and spoil his special sanctuary.
Father forgot. He forgot he planted the tree for me so I could be born happy. He forgot that's what it was supposed it do.
Father forgot he was supposed to keep me happy. That's what he was supposed to do.
Why did father forget?
With all these thoughts going through his head, the young woman was able to sneak up on the stone path without being noticed by him or anyone else. Not a guard or a maid, no one was around but Ming Yue within his private sanctuary.
"Little boy," she called out softly.
Ming Yue froze. The voice was not his mother's, and no one ever addressed him as 'little boy'. From whom the voice came it was clearly an intruder.
Jai Lan adored addressing the child as a boy, it was all the more endearing to her that he was. A girl wouldn't nearly have been as cute as he was. When she first saw him she assumed he was a girl, and she delighted in the sight of the pretty little girl, but then when the Taisho introduced him as his son, she could have leapt out of her skin in boisterous joy. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined a child quite like this, especially a boy child, the hair of a girl and a face to perfect to describe.
"Hey there," she began saying, "are you alright?"
Ming Yue could feel the cluster of meshed flower petals in his hand more intently, as he drew even more aware of the presence that was coming up from behind, the intruder. The fragrance of perfume and musk and the scent of a woman's breathe filling the air around him, as she spoke. "Little boy, are you alright… look here," she said while hold up a white hibiscus flower. The large blossom she had picked because no one was around was in its full glory laying there in the palm of her hands… like a little severed head.
Ming Yue didn't turn around, his body felt too stiff, as if it itself couldn't believe what it was experiencing. The constant presence of another unwelcomed being, in other words—it was still happening. The intruder returned, where was his father the Taisho, and his mother where did she go? Why they weren't in control… why was this intruder still here? And why was she talking to him…
How dare she talk to him.
"I brought something for you," she said while inching forwards. Ming Yue didn't move, yet his teeth clenched and he began to growl. She stopped, holding the plucked flower head closer to her, understanding that the child must still be upset, just why he was still eluding her. The gesture made her feel more determined to help the child, to cheer him up. So swallowing her breathe again began to inch forward, "it's okay, I won't hurt you, look I brought something for you."
She stepped forward, the instant she passed under the tree's boughs and arrived in the tree's shadow, Ming Yue's eyes turned blood red.
~3~
Lady Moon was furious, but expressed her emotion only at the pace she walked. How dare that fool dismiss our son, he should have known better then to expose him to humans, and to dismiss Ming Yue's attachment to that tree. What is he thinking?
Though it matters not we're leaving here Ming Yue won't have to experience his rejection anymore where we're going. I'll make sure of that.
She was half way across the castle and headed for her quarter with the intention to inform her maids to gather her things for the move, and Ming Yue's when she heard a scream. That and accompanied by a surge of power, instantaneous power.
Someone had just been attacked!
She spun around, images of the scene instantly springing to mind—Ming Yue!
~4~
The Taisho sprung to action the instant he felt it. Instinct serving him exceptionally well and arrived at the scene in an instant. His eyes widened and unbelieving. Before him was a girl, wearing a fine regal dress and the same fresh cut flowers in her hair he had seen before. Only she wasn't as he recalled of her, since she was unmoving and half of her being was covered in a deep red color.
Blood, she was dead.
The Taisho looked up and there was Ming Yue standing there snarling and bearing his fangs in his transformed sate. The scent of the maiden's blood emanating from his fangs, there was blood mixed in with his fur and his fangs were stained pink.
"Ming Yue you didn't!" The Taisho uttered in disbelief.
The child in his dog form growled, showing no remorse.
He did it he killed her. Why Ming Yue do you truly hate humans that much?
I was wrong about you Ming Yue, your hearts is cold and you are truly cruel.
You could never become a Fang of Power.
And you are not my father.
The Taisho gazed sorely down at the lifeless girl, this ruins everything. The thought gripped his jaw as he clenched down on it and his eyes turned red.
~5~
Lady Moon ran as fast as she could, charging in full speed towards the power she felt which lead her back to the garden. In the instant she arrived she transformed.
The Taisho was already unveiled and towering over the cowering and dwarfed form of their son. His fangs showing fiercely and the scent of blood in the air told her everything that had happened. Without hesitation she charged forward and rammed into him.
The force of her blow was enough to barely faze him, but it did serve the purpose of distracting him from Ming Yue. With just enough leeway to force herself between them, while releasing a fierce growl and bark of her own. The Taisho unwilling to accept her interference barked back, even more enraged.
Ming Yue drew back against the back wall of the garden the presence of both his parents appearing in their true form within the confines of the castle garden was suffocating. The Taisho himself spanning the entire length of the garden and then some, that one of his back legs was propped up on the raised stone wall that separated the garden from the deep woods outside. His long curling tail extending out over the trees, with its long flowing fur brushing over the tree tops.
His snout nearly pinned down on Ming Yue when Lady Moon struck; fortunately the pup was not hurt, not yet. She made it in time. Ming Yue was terrified and began to back away along the wall. He had never seen his father in such a state. Though he had been with him when he transformed many times, he had yet to bear witness to his true ferocity when angered. In only his mere eight years of life he had yet to even observe the Taisho take a life, or to display his power in an actual battle. The times of recent years had been peaceful, and so the Taisho had been at ease merely observing and that's what Ming Yue knew.
The only action he ever saw came up in training or on the day the Taisho transformed to chase Yomi away during the time of the kidnapping, and came at him with an angered thundering aura, but that was it. Never in his life could Ming Yue have imagined that such a frightening power would ever be turned on him, at least not like this.
He shrunk away and unable to retain his emotions he turned and ran. The Taisho attempting to run after him but the lady leapt up and ensnared him with her claws and grasped his throat in her jaws. Knowing that her meager strength wasn't enough to hold him, she struggled, buying just enough time for Ming Yue to escape.
~6~
The sound of their struggle could be heard throughout the castle and for all the land around. The ground shook and the air vibrated with waves of powerful demon energy. Ming Yue ran, leaping from the castle walls he plunged into the forest and sprang through the trees, transforming back into his medial form and ran to a place far away. Largely forgotten, but not abandoned and weathered by time was an old temple. Running at full speed he vanished into the shadows of its narrow corridors. There was a lit place deep inside where several oil lamps burned along the walls. Panting and still trembling and the feeling of having been betrayed he paused before going into the light.
His tears had retuned though he couldn't feel them. All he could acknowledge was what happened, the image of his father's snarling angry face, his bearing fangs and an odd and highly disturbing feeling of something on his head. He threw his hands over the spot as to protect it from the feeling but it was no use. He began tugging at it, but the feeling remained.
There was nothing there or at least nothing now, but just a few moments ago… the memory could play back in his kind like images from a frightful dream. Fractured and chaotic flashes of what just took place.
Anyone would have thought it was something very nice, a thoughtful and nice thing to do to console a distressed child. And perhaps if it were any other child maybe it would have eased him and won over his trust, but not Ming Yue. A child whose nature was so reclusive and so private that even the wind blowing from the wrong direction was something of an omen to him, a child so overly sensitive that he could feel the distress of the cherry blossoms when they were being crushed underfoot by those unaware that such things even have feelings at all. Perhaps not in human world do they, but here in the demon world they did, in fact everything did, and Ming Yue could feel it.
A child that could pick up on the emotions and intent of anyone he comes in contact with like an instant input of information directly into his mind, a child that did not like being touched. The girl was harmless, and her intentions were pure but she had made the mistake of assuming kindness had any affect on a child like Ming Yue. That was her first mistake, the second was returning to the garden alone and unguarded. The third was touching the white hibiscus flower and severing its head from the plant, and that was something Ming Yue also hated. Cut flowers were like severed heads to him, but the worst mistake of all was thinking she could comfort the child by placing the severed head, hibiscus flower into the locks of his shiny silver hair.
In the instant she touched him he transformed. Her body was in his mouth length wise and he shook her like a ragdoll. That's all it took. He spit her out and in the same instant the Taisho appeared, appearing shocked and clearly outraged.
He could still taste her blood in his mouth, but what was more he could still feel the touch of her hand on his hair. He spotted an oil lamp on far wall across from him. Its low flame casting an eerie light into the corridor to make the space seem even smaller, defined amber colored space between shadows of pure darkness. The scent of the oil was thick in the air, and pungent to his sensitive nose. Still he ran to it and pulling it down from its holder tilted it letting the hot oil spill out over his hair.
~7~
The following day a messenger arrived at the castle with an urgent notice for the Taisho and for Lady Moon. The messenger was a small demon monk, and the letter was from the priest of the temple on the east side of the forest. After reading the message, both the Taisho and Lady Moon arrived at the Temple within minutes, though they did so separately.
The priest greeted them, though his demeanor was somber. Quickly he led them into the temple and to a room where he explained the reason for his letter. There on an old straw bed was Ming Yue lying unconscious upon thin sheets. He was wrapped in bandages from head to toe. As they looked closer they could see the signs and evidence of severe burns covering one full side of his body.
Neither parent spoke, while the priest explained to them what he saw.
Ming Yue had burned himself.
When he was finished silence ensued, until it was Lady Moon decided to break it. Saying coldly to her husband, "now do you understand? Ming Yue is not like you."
The Taisho said nothing, but just turned and left. He fled the temple and returned to the castle. Leaving Ming Yue and his wife behind at the temple, while he set forth to prepare for the coming aftermath.
~8~
In the month that followed, the Taisho reexamined Ming Yue's records, everything personal about the child had always been fully documented and stored away in carefully guarded files deep within the castles archives. The reason for this search was simple, the Taisho wanted to revoke his earlier intentions of naming Ming Yue or rather the demon Silver Fang as his heir.
When he found the document he needed he quickly read it over and frowned. It was Ming Yue's birth certificate. When he had rewritten this form several months ago he did so with great enthusiasm and pride over the prospect of renaming his son and entitling him Silver Fang, Heir of Power, a Lunar Fang—the great lord he could have made, but not now. Not after such a terrible display of his nature, it was understood that lunar Hounds were reclusive and cold, but they were never very powerful.
If compared to other demons of common class or to lower lords their power was considerable. Clearly refined and superior, yet paled in comparison to a Fang, the Lunar Hound was never really a threat, but not Ming Yue… Ming Yue was different, powerful. And now after having been given a taste of the prospect of power, the Taisho shuttered, at the mistake he had made.
Ming Yue was indeed a demon with the potential to over thrown him if given the opportunity his mind could only scream out at the prospect; I can never allow that to happen! White Moon was right; you just wait until you see what type of lord he will become. Her words now echoing though him, you cannot change our son's nature to suit your whims!
Damn her. I should have listened.
Taking a pot of ink and a brush he dabbed the brush in the ink, his eyes set on the names on the paper. Ming Yue's birth certificate, the names 'Bright Moon' of the Lunar Hounds, and Yin Ji n the 'Silver Fang' of the Inuyoukai, standing out like old jewel both which had shined so brightly to him before now dimmed in his eyes like perfect beauties that were revealed to hide dark secrets, secrets he wanted bared from the world. Do not hesitate, he told himself and applied the tip of the brush to the paper.
The black ink made the first mark, and he knew there was no turning back. The first name that was blotched out was Ming Yue. He smeared it with ink covering it completely, he could have done no better to have reached that name then if he had tore it from the paper and burned away, the next went Yin Ji n. a name he had only wrote down several months before, now lay entirely erased before him, and just like that the demon upon whom he had endowed such affection was suddenly nameless, no one as if he had been complete defaced or never existed at all—no. he knew he could not do that. His son was only a child, still no more than a stage four year old—there was still time.
Still time he thought to make things right. He can learn. Everything he had shown so far was rooted in childish immaturity I will leave his true fate for when he becomes a man. Only then will we know his true nature. Until then… he had thought of disowning him, of seeking a new son, a replacement, but could not there was still some trace of love for the child he brought into the world even if it was rooted in the hope that he would prove himself a better man once he matures.
If he pleases me and I approve of him then I will pass all rights to him and he shall inherit that nation, but if he doesn't then I will revoke everything, he will get nothing. So be it. This is what he wanted to be his plan and yet, one day Ming Yue will meet a man, and when he does that demon will become lord here not Ming Yue.
The Taisho could not shake it; the possibility was indeed a true threat. If not Ming Yue then someone else… this cannot be, I know what I must do. I must fulfill our family's legacy by siring a Fang, only through him will the nation's future be secured.
My first born son, the Lunar Hound will have his challenger, one to who he will accept as his mate and to whom he will lose. There will be no foreign powers having their say here! This child isn't born yet, he will be. All I need is a mate.
A new mate, but who?
For this I will search, but in the mean time my son will seek power. I set him on this course, it was a mistake, but is my fault to bear. I will bear it, and the first thing I will do is insure that everyone will know what to expect. What type of demon my first son will be from here on—I will not pray that I am wrong, for I know that I am not… I can already smell the blood in his future, the senselessness I have unleashed, and no matter how much it will come back to haunt me I will never regret the decision I shall make this day.
With this as his objective once again he dabbed the brush in the ink and touched the tip to the paper, then with perfect precision inscribed a name in ancient Chinese of a name that in any language would mean only one thing, 'to be a perfect destroyer' the name of a killer, Sesshomaru.
