Title: One hundred Candles

Author: landofthekwt

Rating: PG-13

Prompt: kaidan Inukaidan

Word Count:863

Pairing: Inu no Taisho/SessMom

Warnings: Character Death Movie 3

Summary: SessMom receives some unexpected visitors when playing Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai (100 candles)

A/N Katakiuchi is a Japanese form of feud or vendetta

The night was dark. No moon shone tonight. She had assembled her ladies in waiting for a game of Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai. As each of them began their kaidan they would light their candles. Ninety nine candles were now lit. The reflection of the light in the garden rivulet which flowed under the bridge glowed eerily.

She had a purpose in the game. It was said that one could summon a spirit when the one hundredth candle was lit and the one hundredth kaidan was spoken. It was his spirit that she desperately wanted to see again. She lit and the last candle and began to recite her kaidan.

Shouting was heard at the entrance to the garden. Servants were screaming as intruders broke into her sanctuary. The ladies in waiting each took their candle and ran for the exit. When the commotion ended three very large men stood before her. She sat unmoved, her face only visible by the single candle which she gazed at intently.

"My lady, we have come for you. Your son, Lord Sesshoumaru wishes you to attend his installation as Inu no Taisho. Our orders are to remove all of your personnel and property from this castle before we leave. We would like your cooperation, but Lord Sesshoumaru's orders gave us little leeway in dealing with you."

She did not respond, but instead touched a small jewel which was draped around her neck. None of the generals could actually remember what happened next. It was as if a gateway to hell had opened. Out of this hell hole came a black hound of enormous size. It leapt upon the nearest general, seized him in its mouth and returned whence it came. The road to hell closed as quickly as it had opened.

The generals gazed at the Lady in fear of what might happen next. An apparition of a giant dog began to form on the bridge. Its shape became more apparent as it padded across the bridge toward them. It was clearly that true form that the Inu no Taisho had worn during his lifetime.

None of generals had ever expected to see him again. They trembled in fear at his spectral form.

Finally, it stopped behind the Lady of the West. She remained in a trance like state, but began to speak with the voice of another.

"How dare you come here to remove my beloved mate from the house which I built specially for her. I should cast all of you into the pit of hell for this, but you may have some use as messengers.

"I am declaring Katakiuchi against the clans of Ryukotsei and Takemaru of Satsuma. The dragon lords, the head of Shimazu clan and the Regent at Kamekura are to be informed of Katakiuchi. If they interfere with my revenge I will not be kind to them. If you fail me in my revenge, you will share the same fate as the fool who is now lunch for a hell hound."

" Give this message to my son Sesshoumaru. This castle belongs to my mate, the Lady of the West. He can have the Western Shiro and title of Inu no Taisho only when he has grown up and become a daiyoukai. He must learn to stand on his own and not look for help from me. The Lady has been given instructions that will aid him in his quest for manhood. She will await his coming.

Now go and do not return until you have completed the tasks that I have set before you In the future you will obey the orders of the Lady of the West until I tell you otherwise.."

Bowing and cowering the generals fled the garden and the castle in the air. The Lady stood facing the giant spectral dog that once was her husband. Only a single candle illuminated the entire garden.

" My lord, I thought you had left me without saying goodbye. I have been trying desperately to contact you, just to see you one last time."

" I am sorry, dearest, that you were left alone by my passing. I hope that you can forgive that I went to save my concubine and her son before I died. I would never knowingly hurt you. You are and always will be my mate. No one will ever replace you in my heart"

" Remember the lessons that Sesshoumaru needs to learn. It will not be easy to teach him about fear and mercy, but if anyone can teach him, you can. Eventually, he will become the daiyoukai that we want him to be, but he must not take the easy path. His path will be the road to hell. If he survives there is hope for him."

She reached up to embrace the spectre, but her arms only found air. He slowly began to back away from her across the bridge. As he did his form disappeared into nothingness. Still she seemed to hear his voice in her head.

" Call on me if you need me again. I await you, my love, on the other side of the bridge."