Chapter 4
Kojo No Tsuki
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha. All credit belongs to Takahashi, Rumiko-sensei.
Warning: This story is rated MA and may contain material that graphic material.
The ominous purple clouds that had hung over the western lands parted and gave way to the setting sun. The western shiro was painted in varied hues of purple, pink and blue as the last of the sun's rays filtered through the encroaching darkness. Sesshomaru stood at the entrance of his domain, although his mind was far from it, trapped in memories of old.
The enlarged moon illuminated the shores on which he stood, bathing the crashing ocean waves in white light. The roaring of the sea penetrated the eery silence of the night as strong winds pushed against him, bringing the heavy scent of brine and blood to his nostrils. Snow had begun to fall, slowly coating the lush greenery of the shore in a thick blanket of slush. He stood immobile, staring at the swaying fur upon his father's back sheltered between layered spiked pauldrons. The magnificent Inu No Taisho stood tall upon the hill above him, his familiar silver hair pulled into a high ponytail, two swords secured to his hip, another strapped across his back, he was dressed for battle as he gazed at the new moon. He had left that morning to subdue the infamous dragon of the south, Ryukotsusei, who had begun to terrorize the plains of Musashi. Although his mighty power was not enough to slay the dragon, his fang was able to seal him. Unlike the invasion of the mongol army led by Lord Hyoga and his son Menomaru or the gruesome war between the Panther King and his tribe, this time Toga had not returned to the western shiro. Sesshomaru had tracked down him down upon the request of his frantic mother, her youki striking out violently as she repeated over and over that something was not right. Had his blood not been soaring, his instincts clamoring priming his body with adrenaline as his pack bond seemed to cry out, he would not have set off in search of his father. Eyes dropping to the growing pool of blood at his father's side; he was entranced, each addition a new splash of crimson against white. Like elegant brush strokes, each path seemed to carry emotion, to convey the longing of its holder- the pain of his warring instincts.
"Father, do you insist on going?" His eyes searched for any sign of movement, as he tried to understand what continued to compel his father toward ruin.
"Do you intend to stop me Sesshomaru?"
Sesshomaru nearly scoffed, his father knew that he could not raise a claw against his alpha. The strength of their bond ensured this.
"I will not stand in your way, however before you go you must intrust the swords, so'unga and tessaiga to me."
"And if I refuse? Will you kill me, your own father?"
His question was met with silence.
"Hmm, do you desire power so much? Why do you seek this power my son?"
"The path I walk is the way of supreme conquest and it is power that will reveal the way for me."
Rumbling growl grew from his father's lips, the sound deep, slow and visceral.
"Supreme conquest? Tell me Sesshomaru, Do you have someone to protect?"
"To protect?"
The full moon rose higher into the night sky as the wind picked up around them, the harsh shriek of wind was now accompanied by thunder and heavy snow. His chest began to tighten, his pupils dilating further under the growing pressure of his father's immense youki. Submit, submit, submit his beast howled in pain. The urge to bare his neck strangled his thoughts, he bit his cheek and steeled himself.
"The answer is no, I, Sesshomaru have no need of such." his youki rising in order to protect him from his alpha's will. Youkis clashed for a brief moment before his father's swiftly dominated his. He was no match for his sire.
The pressure vanished. No more words were spoken between them.
Thicker clouds rolled in smothering the moon's light, forcing the land into darkness. The green glow of burning youki shone brightly now, as his father's humanoid form began to transform. Claws, fangs and fur stretched, bones crunched under the change, swords disappeared as they melded with his youki. A mighty roar pierced the night sky as his father's true form took to the sky, his side dripping with blood as the clouds parted outlining the massive dog demons form against the moon. He would never return, his wounds fatal even for a daiyoukai.
Sesshomaru's eyes focused on the rising moon, it was the same as it was all those years ago- large and imposing. He had despised his father's choice, despised his love and compassion for a weak ningen woman that had left the western lands in turmoil. His mother had fallen into madness when the mating bond vanished, along with the suffocating fear of newborn that riled her maternal instincts, it cut deep and drove her base instincts to take control as she fled the western lands. With the death of her mate, her ranking within their pack had risen to alpha, although he had become beta, he did not have the power to reach her. He turned his strength into unifying their broken clan. Without their alpha to maintain order, males and females fought amongst themselves in order to ascend their place in the hierarchy. It had taken 50 years before a sense of normalcy settled in the west. Forced by the urgency, by his burning desire to survive, his youki had grown rapidly, surpassing the levels of his father. Although he was merely a pup in the eyes of the court he fought in the ways of the old. Trial by claw and fang, through utter domination and annihilation of his rivals. On the cusp of his puberty, he claimed the position of alpha within the clan and brought order back to the western house. When his position as alpha was finally secured, his bond cried out to find his missing packmates and bring them to heel. He left the western lands with his retainer Jaken as de-facto alpha and traveled to his mother's ancestral home, the castle in the sky.
He had found her reduced to a mindless state within its elegant halls, unable to control her transformations she remained in her humanoid form, her true forms doggish features more prominent. Driven by instinct, by fear, she bared her fangs and attacked. He could still remember the taste of her blood as he clamped his own fangs around her throat, the burning pain of her poison as her claws tore into his skin. His beast had seethed in anger that a weak alpha would challenge his claim, the urge to rip out her throat permeated his thoughts. Instead his youki rose pressing down upon her as he sank his fangs deeper.
Under the crushing weight of his youki she should hardly breathe, her beast clawing to be released unwilling to submit. Her eyes began to turn purple as his the fangs pierced her jugular, her body weakening under the strain. His chest pressed against hers, forcing each inhale to become shorter and shorter. Trapped within his iron grip, her youki unable to come forth, her beast finally acknowledged him as alpha. Purplish red cleared from her eyes as amber took over, she had raised her chin enough to bare her throat, as her body relaxed in full submission. It was the only reason she still lived. She had never apologized, but the pain of what she had done was expressed each time she looked upon him that day. After she submitted, he had commanded her to to return to the western shiro. She had clenched the opening of her tattered kimono above her chest, as disbelief filtered across her face.
"You would welcome him in, after everything? That bastard half-blood?"
His lip raised brandishing his fangs in warning. Although contempt festered in his blood, the instincts of an alpha reigned supreme.
"Can you not feel it, Mother." his tone mocking.
He began to walk away, dismissing her.
"He is pack."
It had taken a fortnight to find his brother, heavy rains had washed away most of his father's final battleground, all that was left was the bodies of decaying ningen soldiers and the charred ruins of a mortal house. He continued to travel far into the eastern lands at the insistent tug of his bond, it guided him through the heavy forests of this unknown land.
He had found him nestled in the branches of the sacred tree, Goshinboku. His youki had set the pup on edge, the hanyou's weary but expressive eyes locked on his form. Instantly he was on his feet, although his blood was diluted, his instincts were strong. Fang and claws bared, he prepared for an attack. Sesshomaru held his gaze, taking a moment to imprint his brothers essence to memory. He seemed so small, so weak, yet nothing could deny his heritage and connection to the deceased western lord. Silver hair, golden eyes, his father's youki still lingering within the magic of his fire-rat robes and the unmistakeable scent of magnolia. He would bring shame to their house by connection to blood alone. In that moment he decided that he would ensure that would not happen.
"What is your name pup."
His triangular dog ears flattened against his skull, his features melted into a blank stare as he crouched down further.
"Why are you here? Why can't you youkai leave me alone?"
He was tense, too tense.
"Use your nose pup"
Ears slowly raised as confusion crossed his face, his head coming up as his scented the air. His arms lowered as his tried to make sense of Sesshomaru. He lept from his branch and cautiously took a step closer, his nose working harder as he realized who had come for him.
"You're pack?"
Sesshomaru stood taller as he looked into his little brother's eyes. They were the same familiar shade of amber as his sires.
"Now, what is your name."
Replying quickly as a sense of calm entered the boy's body.
"Inuyasha."
"Hnn"
Nodding his head, he turned and began to walk away. He stopped after a few steps and turned slightly before continuing.
"Come."
Inuyasha fiddled with the sleeve of his haori, before running to catch up.
Sesshomaru reached for the sword at his side, the only heirloom left to him by his father. Tenseiga, the heavenly sword that could not cut. He had refused to carry the sword in the beginning, but as the years went by, he found it to be a soothing reminder. He rested his hand against the grip, before he made his way through the Western shiro's entrance. Bokuseno's claim still fresh.
A woman.
Another woman.
A woman had caused the near ruin of the western lands, A woman had come between a mates bond, A woman had caused the death of his father. A woman nearly ended the life of his brother. Now, a single woman, stirred men and demon into another war. Was this the curse of his bloodline? Doomed to repeat itself, once more?
He would find this woman and end her before more damage could be done.
Screaming, endless screaming filled her ears as she pressed down on the gaping wounds of the villager below her. Her hands began to shake as her eyes watched his blood soak into the cloth she held. The smell was overwhelming nearly making her gag, it was a metallic scent that mixed with putrid decay surrounding them. Kaede hands moved with practiced ease as she stitched the wounds on his chest. Her face never flinching as she cut off the the dead skin that still klung to the ragged edges. The man's fellow soldiers tightly gripped his legs and arms, trying to keep their captain from thrashing and lashing out at the two women. She could feel the other men's eyes upon her back, her stomach rolled at the thought. Leering dirty eyes that followed her around the campsite.
"Do you know why I am doing this Kagome?"
"Iie"
"These parts are already dead, to leave them would kill him much faster. We must connect the healthy tissue. Do you understand child?"
"Hai"
"Now, when I tell you, release your pressure on his abdomen, I must untangle his intestines before closing the wound."
Kagome's face paled as she looked to Kaede. Her wrinkled hands moved quickly as she tied off the last stitch, turning to the side she dipped her hands in the bowl of clean water, washing off the blood that covered her hands. Once clean, she turned back and nodded her head. Kagome jumped back as she released the pressure, the sight of his mangled intestines was clear once more. Kaede's reiki swelled around her hands as she pulled on the organs, untwisting and shoving parts back into the man's gaping hole. His screams became erratic shrieks as he trashed violently, there was a slight crack as he bit down upon the rod in his mouth. Sweat rolled down the faces of his men as they struggled to hold him down, the heat of the day still lingered. The others turned away, unable to continue watching, she could hear a few of the men retching in the background.
"Child, I need more light."
Although the full moon was swollen this night its light barely filtered through the thick canopy, as they struggled under a single ray of its light. Kagome signaled to one of the men to come closer-they did not have many torches to spare. One of the men hold him cursed as his captain dug his blunt nails into his forearms. Kagome could only watch in shock, she had been trained but she had never seen wounds this bad. Kaede continued to work, stitch after stitch, never flinching, never gagging as she seemed to settle into a rhythmic calm.
"Kagome, there is one thing left, we must set his bone. Come."
Kagome moved closer as Kaede showed her where to push. Bits of ivory colored bone jutted out from his thigh the sharp pieces covered in bits of muscle and flesh. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before she started to push down. Quickly, quickly, quickly, she could hear Kaede's voice mumble. She pressed harder and faster, the man nearly throwing her off as he thrashed. She flinched at the sound of bone snapping together. Her eyes remained close as she exhaled. One thought raging within her mind.
Dear kami, please let him live.
Kaede watched Kagome closely, her eyes closed tightly as fresh tears streamed down her face. She was proud of how well Kagome was handling it all. It was village after village that they encountered, men, women and the worse of all, orphaned children that begged for food or medicine. She could not remember how many graves that they had dug together- the words of the resting prayers and funeral rites came so easily now. She quickly wrapped the man's leg in bandages and asked Kagome to grab the sticks needed to keep his broken leg stabilized. Kagome quickly wiped her tears on the sleeves of her haori before leaving. As she waited, she began to apply ointment to the wounds she had already closed. Thankfully the man had finally passed out, he would be much easier to work with. Her mind drifted to the reason they were traveling in the eastern lands
They had received a letter several months ago from a fellow Miko. Her village had fallen to ruin, its once prised location the cause of its current turmoil- it was nestled too closely on the outskirts of the eastern shiro. She had pleaded for assistance, they had food, they had materials but they did not have enough skilled hands. Although the war lord had left, there was countless victims of his violence that struggled to live and so few that could save them. Kagome had pleaded with her for days, yet she continued to refuse.
Kaede new she was being hard, but there was an ominous feeling that came every time she thought of going east. She feared, feared for Kagome, her sweet child. She had done everything within her power to ensure she would never suffer, but she knew if they travelled east Kagome would be exposed to the true horrors of war. She feared the men most of all. Kagome's beauty could never be ignored, she attracted men and demon alike. The villagers exposed to it through her childhood seemed to grow accustomed, no longer pulled in by it at every turn. Yet each time a new group of merchants or soldiers came through the village, she would take Kagome deep within the forest. It was hunting practice, miko training, herb tests, any and everything she could think of teaching her while keeping her hidden. She did not know what drove her these sixteen years, but she was compelled to keep her shielded. She had hoped the spark she felt within Kagome would develop into reiki, an extra defense should the need arise. Kagome's powers were fleeting and weak-no amount of her training could cultivate them, yet she had persisted. She had prayed and pleaded.
Kagome had come to her under the light of a crescent moon, horse drawn and bags packed. She looked so determined, so sure.
"Okaa-san"
"What is this Kagome?
"I can't sit by and ignore those in need. I know you don't want to go, I won't make you, but I'm old enough to go alone and I will."
Kagome walked over to Kaede who was standing in the doorway of their hut. She reached out and took her hands. Rubbing soothing circles as she talked.
"It's selfish of me to want you to come with me, I know we can't leave the village without a miko, but I love you so much."
Kagome took a shaky breath, tears collecting under her cobalt eyes.
"But I want to help, I need to help. I feel it deep in my soul."
Kaede pulled her hand from Kagome's grip, and reached up to stroke her cheek.
"My sweet stubborn child. I knew you would resort to this."
Smiling as she dropped her hand from Kagome's cheek, she turned and called out to her guest. A short young woman pushed open their door, she was dressed in the familiar red and white.
"Miwa is my cousin and a sister of the miko order, she has agreed to act as temporary miko while we travel in the east. Now stop this crying and help me pack."
She was rewarded with Kagome's blind smile and a fierce hug. They set out the next day at dawn.
"Thank you for your assistance miko. Will he survive?"
Kaede quickly recognized the man as second in the command. He was shorter than most men she had seen- what he lacked in height made up for with muscle. His armor had been discarded as the night wore on, she assumed to help with the stifling heat.
"I cannot say for sure, but with proper care we have given him a chance. I will leave instructions and ointment for you."
"Won't you stay the night, as an appreciation of our gratitude, all sorts of nasty monsters are prowling tonight."
Kaede's eyes narrowed as she followed the direction of his gaze, his black eyes locked on Kagome's form as she walked back. She quickly scanned the other men, some stared blatantly while other took quick appreciative glances at her daughter. When Kagome reached her, she took the sticks and set them on either side of the commanders legs, working quickly she wrapped his leg once more.
"Iie, thank you for the offer. We will leave once this is finished."
Anger passed through the man's eyes for a brief moment, he readjusted the swords at his hip before giving her a curt nod.
"Kagome get the horse ready."
Kagome recognized her steely tone and left to prepare. There was no time to question or argue, that tone meant danger.
Inuyasha paced as he read Sesshomaru's letter, the bastard had forced him to take over the Eastern lands until another pureblood Lord could be found. He cursed under his breath as black strands fell into his view. He hated nights of the new moon when his demonic blood would recede and he would be forced to endure the night as a human. Fucking pathetic. He hated how weak he would become and what was worse, worse than death in his eyes was his diminished sense of smell. Scent was everything to him, everything to inuyoukai- it was an extension of his being. Without it he felt blinded- suffocated. His room was being guarded by his second in command Shin. The inuyoukai was the only one who knew of his condition-he had sworn under blood oath to Sesshomaru, bound to keep his secret under penalty of death. He had read the letter over and over unable to believe what it contained. His brother wanted to know about the type of women Noritaka liked. He had followed the bastard for years, each time missing him by days or hours. It was frustrating, it was maddening. Now Sesshomaru wanted him to relive each experience, to pour or every detail. He knew he did not need to. Snarling as his stomach began to churn, as his hand began to shake. He hated his human emotions, they were always stronger in this form. He had hated finding them, there was always a room full of them. In the beginning, it was only one or two women, usually older, they had slightly similar builds, similar features. He had thought they must have been real beauties before Noritaka got ahold of them. The smell, oh how he wished he could forget the smell, but it was seared into his brain. Multitudes of bodily fluids, of semen and blood, of piss and shit-of tears and sorrow. He would rape them and slit their throats, why, he did not know. Fucking twisted bastard. As time progressed the count got higher. He'd always find them in the the room Noritaka had chosen as his own, corpses displayed like demented trophies.
Noritaka must not have been very happy with the women, because after a while, he'd start finding them in pieces, scattered throughout the room. Strung up by their own entrails, initials carved into their pale skin. Inuyasha ran his hands through his hair as he let out a shaky sigh. He felt like he wanted to retch, his stomach felt like it had climbed in this throat. He hated remembering. This last time he'd found them in a room off the southern wing of the eastern castle. Children and women, more than fifty of them piled up. Their bodies more mutilated than they had ever been. Their blood had soaked deep within the walls-splashed across the ceiling and furniture. The children had been the worse, some looked no older than six. He made sure to burn down the entire wing.
Inuyasha stopped pacing and walked over to his desk, taking out a piece of parchment he called Shin into the room. His eyes glazed as he wrote a reply to Sesshomaru, his hand scribbling quickly.
-Black hair, pale skin, young, delicate features, slim build.
None of them got to keep their eyes.
-Inuyasha
"Have this delivered to the Alpha Immediately."
Aurele:
Thank you all for the wonderful support and reviews, I apologize about the late update. I plan on releasing new chapters every 2-3 days. This week was just to chaotic to take a moment to sit down and write. This chapter is much longer than others to reflect that.
Side note: Kojo No Tsuki which translates to "Moon over the ruined castle" refers to a Japanese song written in the Meji Period. The song was inspired by the ruins of several castles. (Oka, Aoba and Aizuwakamatsu.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Leave a comment or critique. (they are welcomed and encouraged)
Until next time~
