The land had no scent. The hardness of the ground beneath him was so very different from the other places they had traveled. The smell of forests and flowers were nearly obliterated against the bleak nothingness of the air. The invisible currents moved all about them. Their courses diminished the presence of the earth to produce a feeling of weightlessness. The youth's eyes were wide as he stared out over the space before him.
"This is your first time. . . . being so high up." The deep voice rose like quiet thunder.
The youth's golden eyed gaze moved to the figure just at his side. The bleakness of the environment nearly hid the armored demon lord. "Father." The youth's voice was hushed against a sudden upsurge of wind.
A deep chuckle came from Inu no Taishou. The dog general stepped further out onto the cliff. His fluid steps were silent. The chuckle died away as he stopped and stood a few paces ahead of the youth. The wind moved all about him, but his body stood as immovable as the mountain. Only the long length of his hair moved according to the wind's desire. It was as if the world consisted of the heavens, the earth and him. The youth found himself as silenced by his father's presence as much as from the wind.
"Gaze out before you, Sesshomaru." Inu no Taishou spoke as his face stared forward.
The youth raised his head with proud awareness and gazed out. The duo stood upon a barren cliff. The land jutted out from the mountains as if an outstretched finger. Beyond the cliff, clouds could be seen below. "Clouds." The boy's face studied the area. "Nothing but clouds. They stretch on into forever."
A gentle laugh quietly rebuked the boy. "Forever only exists for the young." A smile creased his lips. "No, there are more than clouds there."
Sesshomaru glanced at his father for a long moment as he listened. "Father, why are we here?"
With his eyes still forward, Inu no Taishou responded. "To answer your question." The powerful dog demon's face became expressionless. "What was the question, Sesshomaru?"
"'What is a lord?'" The youth spoke. His kimono moved about with an annoying flapping as the wind gusts blew upon them suddenly. It was as if the very mountain were testing them.
As the wind died down, the resounding voice of the demon lord rose. "Here, beneath the clouds is your answer."
As Sesshomaru gazed forward, the blinking light of the sun washed over all around him. . . .
