"My lord, we await your command."
Standing regally upon the precipice of a rocky cliff and gazing absently down at the valley below was an ancient dog demon, a dog demon of a time when the earth was young and he even younger. His dull gray hair pulled back away from his face, a faint sign of age just barely showing around the corners of his eyes that were as cold as the icy blue color that shaded them.
The craggy rock beneath his feet had become a significant place over the thousands of years that had passed. This was where he would play dangerous games as a young pup to impress any who watched. This was the place he had stood with his father when he'd been informed that he would soon become leader of the Eastern territories. The talk had been long and finally it was revealed that his father had hoped that his son should become more acclaimed after his death.
"Yes," he replied to his subordinate as he continued to stare beyond the horizon. "Send the message."
"Very good sir." The eager young demon bowed quickly and turned to do as his master bid.
Ever so slightly, the older demon turned, but still did not look away from the valley below. "Sato?"
The young demon halted abruptly. "Yes, my lord?"
"Send my daughter to me," he commanded quietly, but firmly.
The young demon managed a smile in the direction of his lord. "Right away, Lord Nibori."
The old dog grunted his amusement as he returned his gaze to the valley below and beyond where the mountains separated the Eastern provinces from the fortress in the West. He had been leader of these territories for so long that he could not recall an exact number. However, his handling of them had been most turbulent. The times had been nothing but constant unrest and battle worn since Lord Inutaisho had become the Great Lord of the West. Every brigand fled the West and into the Eastern provinces out of absolute fear of the dog general and none would return out of that same fear of what would happen to them should they be found by the unforgiving demon.
'Inutaisho,' he thought with intense disdain and felt his lips curl over his fangs in disgust at the great name.
The moment Nibori had heard the name he had a feeling that it wouldn't be the last. Though Nibori would never have guessed exactly how the two of them would cross paths.
"You sent for me father?" the gentle voice of his daughter floated to his ears.
The old dog couldn't resist the pulling at the corners of his lips in a smile of comfort. "Emi, the message has been sent," he informed as he turned to gaze upon the golden figure of his daughter.
At first glance, he'd seen how she was able to strike the males of his species into mind-numbed twits. Her golden hair blew wisp-like in the breeze while his eyes stared back at him from the porcelain-like perfection of her face. But only he saw the same ambition in her that he held and her cruelty in the games that she mastered at playing in regards to others made him proud. He strongly felt that she was adequate compensation for the lack of having a son.
Upon that consideration, he was pained. Not simply for his lack of sons, but of the woman that his daughter reminded him of with her golden hair and features of perfection.
'Lady Takara,' he thought with a great longing. 'The gods are most certainly cruel.' He was certain the gods were punishing him. The daily reminder of his beloved paramour was nothing short of torture. His mate had been so distressed upon seeing that their child resembled the great daughter of the West that she lost all reason and plunged into madness.
Even so, hardly a day passed since his first meeting with the daughter of the West that he didn't spare her a thought.
Her beauty and warmth had been more than he could've hoped for when he'd been one of few clan nobles that had been offered her hand, as well as the chance of becoming Lord of the West. She was gentle, gifted, and clever. Her elegance bespoke of discipline and intelligence. How she could've chosen a rough-hewn battle driven demon such as Inutaisho had been beyond his reason. That was when he'd first encountered the dog general. The two met as rivals for not only the lands of the West, but the favor of the Lady as well.
In his mind's eye, Nibori could see her clearly and warmth still flooded his body after all these years. He was still in awe of her tender expression with eyes that held wisdom far beyond even her years. Her fluid movements she possessed to perform either the simplest or greatest of tasks inspired his pride when thinking of her as his mate.
Upon their first encounter there had been immediate amicable respect between them, but as time passed Nibori truly began to feel as though he had formed a bond with the beautiful demoness and not simply for a mere want of her father's lands. His disappointment upon her choosing of the great dog general was, by far, the greatest loss and he couldn't help feeling a strong sense of defeat.
"But Lady Takara, how could this be?" he asked gently, not wanting to increase the pain that he saw upon her lovely face. She'd beautifully confessed that she wanted to be the one to tell him of the final decision and he could see it was causing her distress.
"Lord Nibori, my intention was never to cause you distress," she professed in a soft voice. "I had a difficult decision to make and I had to do what was best for my clan."
"But Takara, we could've made a splendid realm once the Eastern provinces fell under our supreme protection," he reasoned. Upon a closer inspection he could see a strange light in her eyes and the ever slight lift of brows told him all he needed to know. "Y-you…you've bonded with that brutish demon, haven't you?" he spat in disgust.
Takara couldn't help flinching at his accusation. "My decision is based on more than mere emotion," she declared.
"Do not speak of something so trivial," he bit out. Nibori could feel his anger beginning to boil deep within him. This was, by far, greater than rejection. He would return to his eastern home humiliated, dejected, and dishonored.
Takara sighed, beginning to grow tired of defending her choice. "I am sorry if this has caused you pain," she added and turned away from him. "I had hoped that this wouldn't cause a disturbance in our relationship, but I can see now that was impossible," she stated coolly, her accusation of his being a sore loser very plain. She had warned her father that being forced to choose could lead to a civil war among the clan nobles.
"My lady, please," came his plea to her ears. She halted in her steps, but did not turn to face him. "I bear you no ill will, but can you not understand my perspective."
"I do, and I'm sorry," Takara apologized once more, but it would be the last. "Good evening, Lord Nibori."
And with that, he'd watched her walk out of his life.
Nibori's first impulse had been to challenge the demon general, but even he knew when he was outmatched. Should he be defeated then he would have no choice but to return in shame and dishonor. Very rarely was seppuku required of a demon, but the immense shame that would follow him, undoubtedly the rest of the clan nobles would demand that he take his own life. So instead, Nibori attempted to cope with his personal defeat.
Through the years that followed, he would see Lady Takara at meetings. Upon each meeting, all he could feel was immense contempt for InuTaisho, for their happiness and the successes that followed the new regime of the West. Eventually, he began to greatly resent Lady Takara. His mind began to fill with nothing more than revenge against the demon that had stolen her away from him. The last time he saw Lady Takara, her belly had been large and rounded with the dog general's child.
'Lord Sesshoumaru,' he thought with a calculating smile. The young lord reminded the old dog very much of the great general. He'd inherited nothing of his mother's golden look, only the blue crescent of the bloodline and the poison that she had used to heal. If nothing else, that alone would prove to be the demon's downfall. Just as it had been his mother's.
'Now is the time', he thought with a devilish grin.
He may never have Takara again in this life, but he would take her lands that had been stolen out from under him by the wretched dog general as well as seek revenge against the blood of InuTaisho.
Sango continued to follow along behind Sesshoumaru with Rin chattering beside her while the young girl led two-headed Ah-Uhn. Jakken sat quietly upon the two-headed demon and Sango was blissfully thankful that he had ceased his continuous squawking.
However quiet though it all was, Sango's thoughts were practically shouting in her ears to the point she was fearful that even Sesshoumaru could hear. As much as she knew that she must fulfill her obligation to Rin in repayment for her life, Sango couldn't stop the nagging feeling that she had other things to do. Not to mention, Kagome and the others would begin worrying. Sango knew once they'd figured out she wasn't at her village then it wouldn't take them long to find her.
"Look, Sango!" Rin cried happily as she pulled on the slayer's hand and pointed excitedly. "We're almost there!"
Sango was literally dragged from her thoughts and looked at Rin's pointed gesture. All she could see was a mountain range ahead of them and nothing more.
'Does Sesshoumaru live in a cave?' she wondered quickly, but one look at the brightly colored silk opulence of his attire and his cool demeanor and she was fairly certain that he'd never roughed it by sleeping in a tree like his half demon brother.
Without a word, Sesshoumaru began to ascend to the sky as well as Ah-Uhn. Sango would've liked a warning, but nudged the small Kirara who was nestled comfortably in Rin's arms. The kitten mewed, but not in protest and jumped out of Rin's arms to transform into her larger form.
Rin and Sango wasted no time in climbing onto the demon feline's furry back in hopes to catch up with Sesshoumaru who had already disappeared from their sight. Sango caught sight of Ah-Uhn, but what grabbed her attention afterward nearly left her breathless.
A magnificent, ancient donjon emerged through the green of the trees and craggy rock overhangs as the structure led the eye to a sprawling fortress deftly hidden within its natural wonders. There were several paths that wound in and out of baileys, gardens and courtyards. It was a maze of buildings, high stone walls, and breezeways.
From the air, Sango could see the sparkling waters of ponds nestled amongst lush gardens and forests in different areas of the grounds. The roaring sound she heard were waves that crashed against the opposite side of the sheer cliff which encompassed some part of the grounds.
To say that Sango was in awe would be quite the understatement. Once, as a child, she'd been given the privilege of seeing Himeji Castle in all its lavish wonder, yet Sango felt that even it could not compare with what she was seeing before her eyes. But then questions began to arise.
How could a demon so cold and so fierce create and inhabit something so beautiful?
Sango felt her lips twist into a wry smile. 'To show off', was her answer. That was easy enough. So the seemingly indifferent lord wasn't beyond having an ego after all.
Kirara began her descent and landed in what Sango presumed was a small bailey that surrounded the main donjon. Sango surveyed her surroundings. The grounds were more intimidating on the ground than in the air. She'd never find her way around this place. This place was the size of several small villages.
"Come on, Sango," Rin insisted as she slid from Kirara's back. She couldn't wait to find out where Sango was going to be staying. She would, of course, have to find out from Lord Sesshoumaru.
"Wait a minute," Sango said as she dismounted, dragging Hiraikotsu along with her. "Where are we going?"
Rin just flashed Sango her toothy grin. "To find Lord Sesshoumaru," she replied and scampered down a gravel path leading past the donjon to an assorted group of buildings.
Sango, no longer in the lord's presence, allowed herself a great sigh that threatened to knock over the giant donjon before her.
"Why am I here?" she questioned the sky with her brows knitted and raised in mock helplessness. She didn't mind that she should be Rin's companion for a while, but now as she stood looking at the vastness of what was minimally referred to as a 'fortress', Sango was fast beginning to have second thoughts.
A life debt could be as fleeting or permanent depending on the situation. As it stood now, Sango simply had things to take care of before she could simply devote her life to one child, no matter what the circumstances. But ultimately the decision was Sesshoumaru's.
"Sango!" Rin's far away voice cried.
Grudgingly Sango obliged the child by following after her. Maybe it was time to get a few things straight around here.
Sesshoumaru lightly padded along the wooden inlay of the breezeway that led to his ultimate destination. To say that he was aggravated was a masterpiece of understatement. Once again, in his pursuit of Naraku, he'd failed in ultimately destroying him. To add insult to injury, he had acquired a human woman at Rin's behest. Not just any human woman, but one that exterminated demons and traveled with his brother no less. The whole idea left him in a perpetual state of agitation.
Only recently had it occurred to him that Rin would soon need to learn how to cope with her human body and mind. His first impulse was to allow a demoness to handle the situation, but there was so much danger in that respect. Humans and demons did not develop the same either physically or mentally. And he refused to abandon her to a strange human family. He had no choice but have someone to teach her what would be happening to her as she grew. However…
Of all the meek human females that vastly populated the island, he, the Great Sesshoumaru had to acquire the one that didn't seem to have a meek bone in her body. The more he thought, the more Sesshoumaru was beginning to have second thoughts.
"My lord, you have returned," a smooth voice announced as Sesshoumaru entered a modest room.
While the rest of the fortress had its ornate markings and décor throughout, the room that had been a place of solitude and decision making was less so. Throughout the fortress were certain architectural achievements and various designs throughout the grounds that spoke of dog demons long since gone, but effectively left their mark for the coming generations. However, the floor-to-ceiling cedar shelves within the study that held contained an innumerable amount of scrolls were the greatest testament to the history of the great clan of the West.
A rather distinguished looking dog demon stood from his kneeling position at a large desk and stepped away to the side with a respectful bow.
"Kiyoushi," Sesshoumaru acknowledged with a subtle nod of his head. "I trust everything has been kept in working order," he queried with a bit of edge to his voice.
"Smoothly, my lord," he replied confidently despite sensing his Lord's displeasure immediately. He looked on in confusion at Sesshoumaru's back. His abrupt manner was nothing knew, but his stiffness in movement could only be the result of immense discontent. Why the attitude? He could practically hear the crackling of his aura.
"My lord, if I may speak?" he inquired carefully as he assumed a casual stance: feet apart and hands at the small of his back.
Sesshoumaru turned to face his right hand and most trusted friend. Rigidly, he nodded his permission.
"Is it safe to presume that you were unable to slay this Naraku character?" he asked cautiously as he examined Sesshoumaru. The quiet demon strode to the balcony within the study and Kiyoushi knew for certain then that something was amiss.
Most recently had Kiyoushi heard of this villainous demon and immediately had the guard scour the territories, but all had returned with nothing. Apparently this Naraku had some form of sense as he never ventured into the feared territory of the West.
"You presume correctly," the demon lord replied, his voice dangerously low. "I must give the demon credit. He is most cunning." Naraku had managed to elude him yet again. He had been lured to his father's gravesite only to find that Inuyasha had already begun to engage the evil incarnation in a futile battle.
Only at the last minute was Sesshoumaru able to deal a debilitating blow to the abomination that dared call itself demon, yet he hadn't been completely destroyed. Once again, the demon would disappear only to resurface again with additional power. How was it even possible?
Kiyoushi was still left a bit confused. This was not the first time Sesshoumaru had returned empty-handed. Why the sudden agitation?
That's when he caught a powerful scent. At first it had only been a gradual whiff of something quite earthy, but now the gaining intensity was baffling his poor brain. One glance at his long time friend and Kiyoushi was completely at a loss. At the very least he thought such a strange scent would provoke some sort of reaction of his lord.
"Lord Sesshoumaru?" a tiny voice asked from the open doorway.
Both demons turned their eyes to see little Rin's dark head poking around the corner of the door frame. Kiyoushi allowed himself a slight grin in regard's to the child's presence. He'd know her scent anywhere.
'The unmistakable scent of curiosity', he mused silently.
"Yes Rin, you may enter," Sesshoumaru consented with a graceful wave of his hand. With that, Rin took small steps, her hands clasped daintily in front of her.
Kiyoushi watched in utter astonishment upon not seeing Rin, but of what followed behind her.
Another human female?
A grown woman?
Kiyoushi couldn't stop his eyes from darting no better than an inexperienced pup from the young woman to Sesshoumaru and back again.
"I need to speak with you," her dulcet voice practically commanded.
Quite possibly for the first time in his life, Kiyoushi winced.
Author's Note: First I'd like to say "Thank you!" to my reviewers. Once again, if you find any discrepancies, please don't hesitate to tell me.
Also, if you'd like, you can type in "Himeji Castle" into any search engine if you'd like to see what it looks like. It really is quite beautiful.