Merry Christmas everyone! I know, a few days early, but oh well, lol. So, I'm loving being off at this point and time. My last day of work was the 21st and I don't return until the 3rd of January. Yay for time off! Boo for the fact I have chores between now and then, lol. At the least I got my new computer this week, so hurray! I need to get everything fixed up for it, but it's kind of hard to do since this week is heading into Christmas. Other than that, good times all around with life for the most part. Looking forward to staying off the rest of these wonderful days.
Thank you Katanna for your review. I really enjoyed getting to read it. And to all those that read this story, I do encourage you to review. I really love hearing your thoughts on what I wrote. Good or bad, I love hearing feedback from those reading, so feel free to tell me what you really think about my story.
Well, that's it for me on this round. I will be back after the New Year. Enjoy!
Chapter 7
Heavily panting as sweat slid down his face and his breath was visible due to the coldness of the air, Iya suddenly found his body starting to sway. Without warning, Ketsaiga reversed it's icy transformation and returned all the way back to it's normal smaller katana form. Trying to stabilize himself, he attempted to dig the sword into the ground, only to fail and fall face first onto the cold ground beneath him.
Flipping over onto his back, the hanyou laid still for several moments, letting his chest heave up and down rapidly. Looking up at the clear night sky, he started shaking his head and wheezed out "I can't… do anymore… tonight…"
All around the hanyou, ice coated the ground, making the springtime field look more like a cold winter one. Scars were carved within the ground, revealing the telltale signs that a battle had once taken place in within the past few months.
"It's no good… No matter what I do, I can't get complete control of it. When I set out to create a new technique, I knew it would be difficult. It's what I expected from the start. Even though I've developed the basics of it, I'm nowhere near ready to use it in battle. I only have a few more months left before we try to end this war and here I am still unable to use this new technique. I thought by this point and time I would have this technique completed and be ready, but I at this rate, I don't know if I'll even be close before time is up."
Smashing his empty hand into the ground, he ground out "Damn, this is so frustrating. Why in the hell did I agree to this nearly six months ago! I really wish Sesshomaru had not put this kind of pressure on me. It was bad enough with The Thirteen, but to add this on top of everything!"
Just the mere mention of his elder brother's name in his mind made the hanyou lowly growl out in frustration. Sliding his muddy brown eyes shut as his breathing evened out, he allowed himself to become lost in his thoughts of how he had ended up in the situation he was in.
000
000
Entering into the open door of his brother's study, the black haired dog hanyou silently slid the shoji shut behind him. Spotting his brother seated behind his desk, Iya approached and bowed as if on cue to his brother.
"Sit, Iya."
Sitting down onto his knees, the hanyou glanced across the desk at his elder brother. The demon lord was silently signing a few documents and seemingly paying no heed to him.
"You asked to see me, Lord Sesshomaru?" Iya questioned with respect ringing in his voice.
Looking up from the last document he had signed, Sesshomaru gazed into his younger brother's eyes. For a moment, he felt himself becoming nostalgic, but quickly pushed the feeling away.
"This Sesshomaru has an order for you that you must prepare for while at the border."
Brow furrowing as he glanced down at his hands neatly folded in his lap for a moment before returning his gaze to his brother, the hanyou asked "What must I prepare for?"
Staying silent for a moment and running his amber eyes over the face of his younger brother, the dog demon at last smoothly responded "To face the Lord of the South in combat."
"Are you worried you won't make it to the fight in the Southern Lands?"
Ignoring the concerned words of the hanyou, Sesshomaru silkily answered "This Sesshomaru will not fight him. You shall, Iya."
Sitting in silence for nearly a minute, the black haired hanyou slowly asked "Why are you asking this of me, Sesshomaru? You've defeated him once."
"This Sesshomaru is well aware of that fact."
Gripping his knees tightly and raising his voice slightly, Iya remarked in a demanding tone "So why are you not willing to fight him again! He is the true enemy of the West, the one who betrayed us all and broke the peace so that he could try and destroy everything our father fought to protect throughout the years! You are the Lord of the West; it is your duty to kill him!"
Receiving no answer for several moments and growing further infuritated, the hanyou started to stand. "You are one of three heirs to the Western Lands, Iya. Father entrusted these lands to not only me, but to both Inuyasha and you. We are his legacy that will stand the test of time. He also left tests for each of us to prove our worth and to show the world that we are the true heirs to the Western Lands. Mine and Inuyasha's test was in the form of the Sounga."
"However, your test was held back. It is now time for that test in the form of a battle with the Southern Lord, where you must prove you are truly the son of Inutaisho."
Remaining quiet and looking away from his brother quickly, Iya sat silent for nearly a minute before he gradually returned his gaze to his brother. Chancing a glance into his brother's eyes, muddy brown met amber for a moment. Confirming the words that his brother had spoken, he felt somewhat somber.
"Father would trust you with such a task. And I trust you the same. Will you accept this test that your father has put before you, or will you shirk off from a task that you are more than capable of performing?"
Staring down at his clawed hands still gripping his knees, the hanyou lowered his eyes beneath the shadows of his bangs for several moments. At last looking up and into his brother's eyes to reveal muddy brown eyes filled with resolve, he calmly responded "I promise to defeat the Southern Lord with my own hands."
000
000
Still laying on his back with his eyes shut, the dog hanyou couldn't help but groan from the pain and soreness starting to creep into his mind.
"Ever since arriving here nearly six months ago, I've been training whenever possible between battles. I came up with this new technique but I've still yet to get full control of it. If anything, I only have possibly completed half the training needed to control it. I'm just not able to keep up the level of power necessary to reuse it repeatedly."
"Father would trust you with such a task. And I trust you the same…"
The words of his brother rang throughout the hanyou's mind suddenly, forcing him to peel open his eyelids. Finding he still had hold of his sword, he tightened his grip on it and started pushing himself up off of the ground and onto his feet once again.
"Can't give up… I have far too many people counting on me to defeat the Southern Lord. I have to remember what I'm fighting for. I have to win to bring peace back to the Four Lands, to end this stupid war, and more importantly, to end all the needless killing. No matter what, I can't let myself quit. Sesshomaru has confidence in me to let me take on an opponent of this caliber. That in itself tells me that he believes in me and trusts me to do what I must to end this war, once and for all. So I can't just lay here and let him down!"
On his feet and in a ready stance to continue again, the hanyou turned his eyes down towards the sword in his hands. Calling forth the transformation of Ketsaiga, he watched the sword change into it's halberd state that resembled a large fang. Glowing with white demonic aura, the fang was coated in ice with frosty steam pouring off of the blade itself.
"Let's go once more, Ketsaiga!"
000
000
"Ah, that hit the spot." Lilly commented with satisfaction in her voice as she gulped down some cool water from a bamboo canteen.
Beside her on the log the pair sat on and drinking from her own canteen, Yoshe flashed a smile at the neko hanyou, saying "I agree."
Casting a fanged smile, the neko remarked "It's a good thing we decided to train out here today rather than back in the middle of the gardens at the stronghold. I'm certain Sesshomaru would kill us for the damage we would have done."
Scanning the training grounds they were in, the ice demoness took in the numerous scars upon the ground and destroyed trees, along with several chunks of ice scattered throughout the area. Letting out a light chuckle, she simply nodded her head.
"No doubt Sesshomaru would have both our heads for this. Then again, if he would ever want to reside within the same bed with me and ever have a chance to lay with me, he would get over it quickly."
"He is so whipped and you're so cruel, Yoshe."
Letting out some light laughter, the demoness smirked, saying "It seems the only way I can keep him in line."
Chuckling herself, the neko became somber after a moment. Letting out a soft sigh, she glanced up at the clear blue sky and inhaled the soft scents of the springtime air.
"Have you heard from Iya recently?"
Not even looking in the direction of the ice demoness, the hanyou shook her head. "He hasn't written in the last two weeks."
"The last time I saw him was a month ago. He's only written me once since then, so I guess I should be grateful he at least remembers he has a mate."
Frowning at the words of her friend, Yoshe pursed her lips for a moment before asking "What do you mean? He hasn't been unfaithful, has he?"
"He would never." Lilly was quick to counter. Dully, she muttered "Iya could never leave me, that much I'm certain of. It's just that his other mistress has firm hold of him and he cannot seemingly let go of her for anything in this world."
Not understanding the words of the neko, the ice demoness pondered on them for a few moments in her mind. At last, she inquired "What do you mean?"
Casting a feeble smile, the hanyou retorted "His duty is what I speak of. He was very busy when I went to see him last time and barely had any time to spend with me. More or less, he has been rather busy taking up the assault on the defenses of the Eastern and Southern Lands. As well, he seems to be training additionally hard. I only got to spend a few hours with him the night I was there, and that wasn't hardly enough to satisfy my desire to be with him."
"He tried to tell me that nothing was bothering him also, but I can tell that something is plaguing his mind. Rather than tell me, he just hides it and tries to assure me that nothing is wrong. It's so frustrating to deal with."
"I think all of the Taisho men are like that." Yoshe commented warmly. "Sesshomaru never wants to burden me either with what troubles him. I hear that Inuyasha tries to do the same to Kagome."
Folding her arms over her chest and letting out a small snort, the neko remarked "They're all just proud, stupid men. If they'd just open up a bit to us, we would help shoulder their load and alleviate some of their fears and concerns."
Chuckling softly, the ice demoness softly replied "That's just how they are. Perhaps that's why we love them so much. They seem invincible and untouchable, yet deep down they do feel pain and sadness. However, they never want to burden their mates with it, so they bury it and protect us from the things that concern even them."
Releasing her arms and picking up her canteen, the neko let out a sigh, saying "I guess so. It's just hard to deal with him sometimes."
"You have nothing but my sympathy. Sesshomaru is just as bad at times, however, he knows when to back down."
Standing up and smoothing the creases out of her kimono, the demoness smartly said "I suppose we should really get back to work."
"I suppose." Lilly remarked as she stood herself and brushed her battle skirt down. Swishing her tail about behind her for a moment, she quickly returned it so that it was wrapped around her hips like always.
Looking out over the training grounds, the ice demoness let a small smile play upon her face for a moment. "You've come a long way, Lilly. Since three and a half years ago, you've managed to become rather efficient in Kidō. To learn up to level sixty in both types of spells without an incantation is impressive."
"It's not enough for me …" the neko muttered irritably. "The level sixty spells are far more useful in binding a person, but I still cannot do one without having to use the incantation."
Placing a comforting hand onto the hanyou's shoulder, the demoness smiled and said "You've accomplished much, so don't let that fact get you down. The level sixty spells are difficult to learn to do without incantation. It took me some time to do them without the incantation also, so try not to worry about it too badly."
Mutely nodding her head, but allowing a smirk to appear onto her face, the hanyou replied "At least your skill with a sword has improved."
"Maybe even a match for you, sensei?" Yoshe questioned with mischief in her eyes.
Rolling her eyes at the ice demoness, Lilly mockingly remarked "I wouldn't get too cocky about your new skills. After all, Sesshomaru or Iya could bring you down a few pegs, if I don't."
"Why that sounds like a challenge, Lilly Taisho."
Throwing a grin at the ice demoness, the hanyou smugly commented "It sure did."
Shaking her head as she laughed softly, Yoshe let out a light sigh and said "First we should work on our teamwork and then perhaps some double Kidō spells."
Grunting, the neko tightly retorted "I hate double spells."
000
000
"When are Momma and Poppa coming back, Aunty Rin?"
Gently rocking her slumbering son in her arms and softly humming, a beautiful young woman in her early twenties looked up and slightly smiled at the child that asked the question. Her free hanging hair was ebony black and reached down to her lower back in length, but had a single light blue ribbon in it to hold her bangs back on her right side. Chocolate brown eyes showed kindness within their depths. She wore an open light blue kimono that had several pink flowers embroidered into it, along with circular white flowers also. Peeking out from underneath of the kimono, she wore an orange and yellow checkered inner kimono that appeared to have a green obi sash. On her feet, she wore white tabi socks and a set of light brown sandals.
The young child in the woman's arms was two years old and seemed content to sleep within his mother's arms. He had dark brown hair that was short, but shaggy at the same time. Dressed in a light brown haori and pants, he nestled gently up against his mother as he silently sucked on his thumb in his sleep.
Waiting patiently on an answer was a young dog hanyou girl of eight years old. Her bright amber eyes were fixed with an intense look on the human woman holding the child within her arms. Black and silver hair spilled down her back till it reached her calves in length. The purple and black kimono that she wore allowed her more than enough ability to move fast when needed, but at the same time had a certain bit of elegance to it.
Softly smiling at the young hanyou, Rin sweetly replied "I'm sure they will be home soon within the next day or two. Try not to worry about them, Izayoi."
Letting out a sigh and plopping down onto the stone bench that Rin sat on, Izayoi murmured "I miss both of them. I want them to come home."
"They will be home before you know it, little one." the dark haired woman commented in a comforting tone. "I'm sure they wish they could be here with you just as much as you want them to be."
Nodding her head in defeat, Izayoi looked out into the gardens that the pair was surrounded by for a moment. Kicking her dangling legs up and down a few times, she quietly remarked "It would be so much more fun around here if Uncle Iya or Aunt Lilly were here."
Remembering how in her own past she often felt so bored without a certain demon lord close by, the young woman couldn't help but feel sympathy for the young hanyou girl beside her. Deciding to change the subject, she asked "Did you like spending time in your mother's era?"
"Not especially." the hanyou answered. "The era Momma comes from was strange, plus it smelled awful when you were outside. Grandma tried her best to make it easier on us, but the candles she bought didn't really help too much. Momma and Poppa tried to do their best to help also by bringing stuff from home to help give us some comforting scents. It somewhat worked, I guess."
Casting a weak smile at the young girl, Rin remarked "At least you got to spend some time with your grandmother. You have an uncle there too, don't you?"
Brightening a bit, the little girl warmly said "Uh huh, his name is Uncle Sota. Unfortunately, he wasn't around too much while we were staying there. Momma told us that he moved out and lives on his own now. She said that he had a lot of work to do, plus he's courting someone."
Smile faltering, she added "It's a too bad Akira and Akina didn't get to come live with us here."
Hearing mention of the twin fox hanyous, Rin let a small smile escape and remarked "I bet they are just as mischievous as ever."
"They wrote me recently." Izayoi commented nonchalantly. "I sounded like they've not been into much trouble with everything that is going on. I guess they decided Aunty Sango and Uncle Miroku didn't need the extra problems."
"I'm sure they're just trying to help."
Staring down at the ground, the little hanyou slowly nodded her head, saying "I guess so. I wish I could do something to help, but it seems the only thing I can do is wait. I really wish I didn't have to."
Reaching over and placing a hand onto the child's head and ruffling her hair a bit, the young woman smiled and said "What you're doing here Izayoi is very important. You're keeping your brother and sister safe, and that is very important."
Shoulders slumping a bit, Izayoi murmured "I guess. I just wish I could do more."
"Try not to take on too much. Remember, you are still young and should try to enjoy it. Don't be in a rush to grow up. It's hard to not do, especially in these trying times, but remember, you're young yet and have a lot of life ahead of you. I think being a kid was always far better than growing up into an adult."
About to speak, the hanyou was cut off by the sound of two more young children racing up towards the pair with their laughter filling the air.
Screeching to a stop in front of the three were twin hanyous of the age of four years. Though they were twins, they were not identical and each shared traits of one specific parent. The boy of the pair had free hanging raven black hair that reached down to his mid-back in length and chocolate colored eyes, as well as a black puffy tail, all traits he had inherited from his mother. The girl though was different, with silver hair bound in a ponytail that reached mid-back in length also, violet colored eyes, and most of her father's looks.
Smiling brightly at the pair, the boy spoke up, asking "Are you going to sit around and sulk all day, sissy!"
"Yeah, Daike and I want you to play with us!" the girl chirped.
Looking back at her brother and sister, Izayoi muttered "I really don't want to play, Asami."
Both twins' ears immediately drooped and their eyes began showing the telltale signs of tears about to spring from their eyes. Spotting the signs they were about to cry, the elder hanyou quickly waved her arms at the pair, saying "Please, don't cry!"
"Then you'll play?" Asami sniffled.
Biting her lip, the elder of the siblings inwardly sighed. "I fell for it again…"
"Yes, I'll play."
Brightening instantly, the pair reached out and practically dragged their older sister away, each chattering loudly about what they could play.
Watching the three disappear into the gardens, Rin let a small smile appear on her face and released a stifled giggle. "Those two sure know how to play her like a harp."
000
000
"Poppa, are you done yet?" whined a small voice.
Not bothering to look up at the front of the desk, Sesshomaru couldn't help but feel a touch of annoyance towards the owner of the voice.
Standing in front of her father's desk was a three year old demon child. She had beautiful long white hair that extended down to her butt and hung freely. Her bright light blue eyes stared intently at her father, waiting expectantly. On her forehead was a purple crescent moon, a signature of whose daughter she was. The indigo kimono she was had several sunflowers embroidered into it, giving it a strange look, but a look that seemed to work for her.
Moving behind the desk and glancing over her father's shoulders, she looked down at the paper he was signing and frowned. "Poppa, will you please take me out for a walk in the forest?"
Setting his calligraphy brush down for a moment and reaching his right hand up to pinch the bridge of his nose, the demon lord slid his amber eyes shut for a moment and tried to quiet his mind.
Taking offense to her father's reaction, the small demon child started tapping her father's right shoulder, asking "Poppa, please? I just want to go outside for a while. I promise I won't ask again for the rest of the day!"
"Yumi, it is far too dangerous to take you outside the stronghold. You are the Princess of the Western Lands, thus you must realize how important you are."
"Nobody would ever hurt me if you're with me, Poppa. You'd scare them too bad!"
Rolling his eyes, the dog demon smoothly replied "It does not matter how much you try to play off of your father's ego, we cannot go out into the woods today."
Puffing out her cheeks and folding her arms over her chest, the small child turned away and muttered "You're so mean."
Pulling his daughter unexpectedly into his lap, the dog demon stared down at her. His amber gaze caught her light blue one with the two looking into each other's eyes for a moment. Embracing his daughter in a rare show of affection, he pulled her against himself and inhaled her scent. The day she had been born, he had memorized her snow and aspen smell, but even on occasion when he checked up on her at night he would inhale it just to make certain she was real.
Releasing his hold on his daughter, the dog demon moved her before himself and tenderly said "I will take you to the gardens to play instead. Would that suffice?"
Breaking out a wide smile, Yumi quickly nodded her head and leapt forward to embrace her father once more. Pulling back, she excitedly asked "When are we going?"
"Let me finish these last few papers. Until then, rest on those cushions."
"Okay Poppa!" the child brightly replied and quickly clambered off of her father and moved over to the cushions he had implied that were beside of his desk. She immediately settled and remained perfectly quiet with her hands folded in her lap.
Returning to his paperwork, the dog demon allowed a small smile to appear on his face as the words of his youngest brother rang throughout his mind.
"You've gone soft."
000
000
"Lord Iya, you have a visitor."
Eyes fluttering open and slowly focusing in on the flap to his tent, the hanyou stood up from where he had been meditating and said "Let them in."
Opening the flap to his tent, two wolf demon guards dressed in brown furs entered. Standing on each side of the doorway, the pair stood at attention as a third entered into the room with both men bowing their heads in the man's presence.
Wearing his trademark brown furs, black chest plate, black running shorts, fur headband, and white strips of fabric wrapped around his feet was the Lord of the Northern Lands, Kouga. His shiny ebony black hair was pulled into it's traditional long ponytail that reached down his back. On his left hip strapped in by his fur obi like always was his sword in it's black sheath.
Folding his arms over his chest and putting a cocky smirk on, the wolf demon's aqua colored eyes focused on the hanyou momentarily as he said "Seems you're doing well out here, Iya."
"You look well, Lord Kouga." Iya formally answered. Crossing the tent, he neared the demon lord and was met by a hardy hand shake. "What brings you up here, Kouga?"
"Speak to Lord Kouga with more respect, half breed!" the wolf demon barked from the right side of the doorway.
Moving so fast that the guard didn't catch the movement, Kouga was before the guard with his right fist pulled back and ready to be released into the face of the guard. In a low snarl, the Northern Lord grit out "Iya is one of three heirs' to the Western Lands. You will treat him with the same respect you would me. Do I make myself clear!"
Mutely nodding his head, the guard waited until the demon lord pulled back his fist and fell into a deep bow, asking in a pleading tone "Forgive my mistake, Lord Kouga."
"Both of you just go outside and wait for me."
Silently, the pair quietly bowed out and left the tent, leaving the wolf demon and dog hanyou alone. Chuckling lowly, Iya smartly remarked "You sure know how to pick your guards. I figured if you were traveling you'd bring Ginta and Hakkaku for protection, though not like you would ever need it."
Scoffing as he settled in the floor with his feet pulled in, the wolf demon retorted "Those two are on an important assignment."
"Oh, care to share what?"
In a serious tone, the demon lord answered "They're protecting Ayame and our son. She's carrying our second child and I was damned if I left her home without someone I could trust to protect her with their lives."
"I see."
Letting out a huff, Kouga muttered "This whole damn war has been a pain in the ass for trying to create a family and resurrect the wolf demon tribes. When Naraku was defeated, it kind of gave me the signal to begin rebuilding all that we lost during his reign of terror. Kagura, one of his incarnations, wiped out most of the clan I belonged to under that bastard's orders and left only three of the clan behind. Sure, we made do with what we had and I took up the responsibility of hunting down that jackass, but we were severely limited."
"We were trying to rebuild the clan slowly, but that surprise attack on the Western Lands caught us off guard, so we've had to yet again hold off. Of course, I did accidentally get Ayame pregnant a few weeks ago."
"You couldn't tell she was fertile?"
Glaring at the hanyou as he growled lowly, he grit out "I wasn't thinking about it at the time."
"You were thinking with something other than your head." Iya teased.
Turning a slight shade of crimson, the wolf was quick to fire back "Not like you have never been guilty of such a thing! I dare you to lie that you don't!"
Rolling his eyes and turning away to hide a slight amount of blush that was creeping up on his cheeks, Iya mumbled "Whatever… Anyways, why are you here, Kouga? I still have a few days before I'm to return to the stronghold."
"Afraid not." the demon lord remarked as he folded his arms over his chest. "Sesshomaru sent me to pick you up and take you with me on a diplomatic mission."
Turning to face the wolf demon with a look of curiousness on his face, the hanyou asked "A diplomatic mission? To where, and more importantly I suppose, whom?"
Rubbing the back of his head as he moved over to a low table, Kouga took a seat and once more folded his arms over his chest. Waiting for the hanyou to follow his lead, he slid his eyes shut but soon heard the hanyou sit down.
Opening his aqua colored eyes, the wolf lord calmly asked "Tell me Iya, have you heard of the name Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni?"
"That's a name I haven't heard since I was young and still being taught the history of Japan." Iya answered as his brow furrowed. "He was said to be one of the most powerful demons to ever have lived within Japan. From what I recall in my lessons, he was a fire demon that was famous for his battle prowess, along with his strong sense of justice. I also remember he was quite old. He was said to be at least one to two thousand years old. From what I recall, he died around four hundred years ago."
Nodding his head in agreement, the wolf lord retorted "You got all of it right. Lord Yamamoto wrote several books about preventing war and trying to make peace last. He was a demon unlike any other. For all the power he had, he had an even stronger sense of not wanting to see war."
Cupping his chin, the dog hanyou remarked "From what I recall, he rarely fought. In fact, I'm pretty certain that after the most famous of his battles over a thousand years ago, he never fought again in a war. I know also he went into solitude not long after that. Father met him at least once I think, but I doubt if Sesshomaru ever did."
"It was a rare honor to meet him, according to my father and grandfather." Kouga stated.
"Why do you ask me about this legendary demon? Not like we can go meet him now that he's dead."
"That's true, we can't, but let me ask you something else. Did you know he had disciples?"
Watching the hanyou slowly shake his head, the wolf demon grinned, saying "To be exact, he had three disciples. Lord Yamamoto took them on about seven hundred years ago and completed their training two hundred years later. Very few know that he trained them."
Frowning as he digested the words of the Northern Lord, the dog hanyou slowly asked "Why was this fact hidden?"
"That old demon kept it secret from almost everyone, other than the Northern Lord at the time, my grandfather. He only let my grandfather know due that LordYamamoto resided within the Northern Lands. It was part of a pact that Lord Yamamoto had agreed to when he decided to live within the Northern Lands. In fact, I'd be willing to wager that only the Northern Lords have been privy to this information throughout the last thousand years."
"These three, who are they? And more importantly, do they all three still live in the same place?"
Shaking his head, the wolf demon remarked "No, they do not live in the same place. Two of them left the Northern Lands, but the one remains, though she moved away from the place where Lord Yamamoto lived. The three's identities may come as a shock, but I will tell you."
"Each of the three was trained by Lord Yamamoto himself, so you can imagine each are very formidable warriors. As well, the three were said to have specific qualities highlighted that Lord Yamamoto wanted to be more dominant."
"The first of the three disciples was a panther demon who came from the Southern Lands. He was the most difficult and different of the three demons that Lord Yamamoto trained. His fiery temper was infamous, though he knew better than go against his master's wishes. Still, that didn't stop him from trying to do so from time to time. He ended up leaving shortly before Lord Yamamoto's death and traveled throughout Japan for about four and a half centuries."
"What became of him?"
Glancing up at the ceiling of the tent and staring at it for a few long moments, the wolf lord answered "He ended up in the Southern Lands, where he eventually acquired the position of general of all Southern Forces."
"You don't mean Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez was one of Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni's disciples!" Iya demanded with surprise and a touch of fear in his voice.
Earning a silent nod from the wolf demon, the hanyou couldn't help but let out a low grunt of irritation and ran a hand through his free hanging hair. "It's not as if we already didn't have enough to worry about with the Lords of the East and South, but now we have to throw a general in that was trained by one of the most powerful demons in the history of Japan. Tell me the other two are not affiliated with either set of lands."
"Wish I could." Kouga wearily commented. "The second of the three disciples is a bat demon, whom came from the Eastern Lands. He stayed with Lord Yamamoto through his death and remained there with the other disciple afterwards. Eventually, he left and wasn't heard from or seen in about three hundred years."
"However, he resurfaced during the rebellion in the Eastern Lands when Lord Sasuke was crowned as ruler of the East. If you haven't already guessed, he is the general of the Eastern Lands."
"Ulquiorra Cifer…" Iya whispered. "So two of the three former disciples of Yamamoto have become generals for the Eastern and Southern Lands?"
"That's right."
Glancing down at his clenched hands, Iya unclenched them and clenched them back for a few moments before he slowly asked "What of the third?"
"She is the one we will visit." Kouga remarked with his trademark smirk on his face. "Lady Neliel Tu Odelschwanck is the last disciple of Lord Yamamoto. Of the three, she is the only one that has remained true to her master's will."
Sighing, the wolf demon added "Ever since Ulquiorra left her behind, Lady Neliel has moved and created a village full of hanyous and other mixed demon and human blood people. She protects it and has created a group of powerful fighters to help her in doing so. However, they've remained in seclusion for the most part. Only due to the Lords of the North keeping an eye on them and certain relationships with her is the reason I know where she is."
"Relationships?"
Looking away for a moment, the wolf lord let out a sigh before replying with "My uncle, who was the true heir to the Northern Lands, fell in love with Lady Neliel."
"What happened?" Iya prodded.
"My uncle and Lady Neliel courted for some time. During this time, Ulquiorra Cifer was still within the Northern Lands. Unfortunately, a demon mage attacked during this time. The mage had the power to take control of a person's mind. He did so with my uncle and pitted him against Lady Neliel. Ulquiorra Cifer fought the mage and tried to break the spell while Lady Neliel was forced to defend herself against my uncle. In the end, during the battle, my uncle ended up getting killed by Lady Neliel before the mage was killed. She was beside herself with grief from the results of the battle. My father told me that he had never seen someone who had been so in love before as those two, nor had he ever seen someone suffer so much because of that love when one died."
Remaining silent for a few seconds, he picked up the story and said "Lady Neliel became distant after that and rarely met with others. She immersed herself in spending time with her younger hanyou half sister and …"
"Wait, she has a hanyou sister?"
"Yeah, she did. Unfortunately, her sister passed away while she was rather young yet from a disease. That pushed Lady Neliel even further away from all contact." Kouga explained.
Regarding the wolf demon silently, the hanyou slowly asked "How long has it been since you've met with her?"
Turning his vision to the ceiling of the tent as he contemplated the question, the wolf demon slowly lowered his gaze and answered "It's been at least eight years since I've last met with her. My father rarely got to meet with her also after my uncle died."
"So, what do you hope to gain by visiting her?" Iya inquired.
Staring down at his hands for a moment, the wolf demon quickly retorted "I wish to try and convince her to join the Northern and Western Lands as an ally in this war. With the potential close to this war fast approaching, we need all the allies we can get to mount our final offensive on the Southern and Eastern Capitals. Lady Neliel knows both the generals of the South and East the best. My hope is she can speak with them and negotiate with them to surrender peacefully. However, I'm guessing those two generals won't back down seeing how they have already come this far."
Brown furrowing for a moment, the hanyou softly asked "What makes you think she would be a valuable ally, other than the fact she is a former student of Yamamoto?"
Letting out a small huff, Kouga smirked and replied "She was the strongest of the three. Lord Yamamoto himself praised her frequently as being the strongest of the group. Lady Neliel was quite capable of defending herself against the likes of Ulquiorra Cifer or Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez without any aide."
"Thus the reason you want her to join. You think if things do turn ugly, you can at the least turn her loose on either of the generals on the opposing side."
Shrugging, the wolf lord continued to smirk and said "Yeah that would work. I just think Lady Neliel would be a very valuable ally to have for the upcoming battles. I'm hoping that she'll join us, but I'll warn you now, she is quite stubborn and will try to cling to her master's principles more than likely. My hope is she'll realize that all of Japan is on the line and that if we can't end this war soon, there may not be a second chance for her to join."
Pondering on the words of the wolf demon for a few moments silently, Iya at last spoke up, asking "Do you think she'll actually join up?"
"I… I don't know."
Mutely nodding his head, the hanyou let a small smirk appear and said "I will help you."
"Good. When can you be ready to leave?" Kouga asked.
"I can leave whenever you're ready. How far is it?"
Throwing his trademark smirk back at the hanyou, the wolf lord remarked "It's a few days away from here. Let's get going!"
000
000
"Shippou, do you have to go?" a young woman's voice softly asked.
Stiffening at the sound of his mate's concerned question, the kitsune slowly began dressing once more and preparing for his departure. Starting to pull his long butt length orange and brown hair back into it's traditional ponytail, he came to a stop for a moment as he stared at the baby blue ribbon he held in his clawed hand. Fond memories of his younger childhood floated into his mind of the days when his father still lived and took care of him. A flash of sadness filled him suddenly as he remembered the last time he saw his father.
After his father had been killed by the murderous Thunder Brothers, he had found his father's baby blue obi and had taken it to use as a ribbon to hold up his hair. Although it made him look more feminine, he had decided to keep the obi as a hair ribbon. Years had passed since then and he continued to use the same old ribbon, mostly in memory of his father.
Snapping out of his memories, he quickly tied his hair back into it's usual ponytail. Adjusting his baby blue top, he ran his eyes over his darker blue pants to find they were in place. Sliding on a light metallic battle skirt, the kitsune tied a baby blue obi around his waist. Picking up the nearby gray and black breast plate, he slid it on and tied the shoulder pads to it so that the two held each other in place. Swishing his long blonde tail behind himself once, he glanced into the mirror before him to find his jade eyes staring back. Brushing a few strands of loose hair behind his pointed ears, he stomped his foot to test the light blue boots on his feet. Grabbing his small nodachi sword and sliding it into his obi on his left hip, he turned towards his waiting mate.
Staring straight at him with a sad expression on her face was a young female fox hanyou, whose shiny reddish-orange hair reached just above her rear and a pair of cone shaped fox ears on her head that had white on the tips of them twitched. Her eyes were an auburn color and her body petite, other than the visible bulge on her stomach, giving signs she was with child. Behind her, a similar colored tail with white on the tip of it, swished. She wore a beautiful golden colored kimono that had a vivid scene depicted within it. On her feet were a set of wooden geta that seemed well made.
Letting out a long sigh, the kitsune crossed the distance between himself and his mate quickly and drew her into a tight embrace. Picking up the scent of salt, Shippou couldn't help but feel tears beginning to well up within his own eyes, but pushed them back.
"It's not that I want to go, Ayaka." Shippou whispered into her hair. Drawing back a bit, he stared into her auburn eyes, saying "Inuyasha came and asked me personally to come help him. I can't turn him down."
Sliding his eyes away, he murmured "I owe Kagome and Inuyasha both my life for taking care of me and helping raise me when I was a kid. If not for them, Sango, Miroku, and Kirara, I would have long since been dead."
Looking away, the kitsune hanyou wrapped her arms around her waist and turned away from her mate. "I … I just worry about you going out into this battle."
"Ayaka, do you remember what I told you when we started courting?" Shippou asked. Moving behind his mate and wrapping his arms protectively around her waist, he pulled her into his chest and buried his nose into her hair.
Remaining silent for a minute, Ayaka whispered "You promised to always return to me, no matter what happens."
Reaching up and placing a clawed hand onto her mate's arm, she added softly "I want to believe you, but I'm scared of losing you. This war, it's claimed so many people from this village. I know this village is nothing more than a village that aides other villages and helps protect the borders, but even so, we've lost so many. I'm scared you will one day become one of the ones we lose."
Tightening his embrace, the kitsune raised his head up to his mate's ear and quietly replied "I can't predict the future. One day, my time will come but not until I've had a long life by your side and seen our child raised. Long ago, I never dreamed I would be this far along in life."
"Much like how Kohaku never thought he would be married and have a child of his own. The same could be said about him resurrecting this very village we live in."
"Ayaka, I ask that you have faith. Nothing, not even death itself, will ever take away my desire to return to your side. I will do everything possible to return to you."
Turning to face her mate as fresh tears spilled down her cheeks, the kitsune hanyou mutely nodded her head. Laying her head onto her mate's chest, she slid her eyes shut for a moment and whispered "I love you, Shippou."
"I love you too, Ayaka."
Leaning down and tilting his mate's head back, he tenderly kissed her on the lips. The kiss did not last long, only a few seconds, but said more than words alone could.
Backing away, the kitsune reached out and delicately touched his mate's stomach and sadly smiled for a moment. "I hope to be home and this war is over before our child is born. I would hate for he or she to come into this world with such sadness."
"They would be loved, no matter how things are." Ayaka warmly remarked with a small smile forming on her face.
Nodding his head, Shippou smiled kindly at his mate before once more embracing her. Pulling back and kissing her on the forehead, he softly said "I've already asked Kohaku and the others to take care of anything you need done. Don't be afraid to ask them."
Playfully, the hanyou commented "You worry too much."
"Maybe." the kitsune retorted with a smirk. Moving towards the door, he stopped at it's frame and picked up a beautifully crafted naginata made of solid oak with a sharp blade on the tip and red horsehair on the other end. Lifting up a red shield that laid beside it, he placed the shield onto his back and secured it.
Turning back once more to look at his mate, he smiled brightly, saying "I will be back within a few months. Don't worry, I'll return home before our child comes."
"I know you will, Shippou. Be safe."
Inclining his head in acknowledgement, the fox demon stepped out of his home and headed towards the outer gates of the village. His steps were heavy with each movement he made, all the while his heart felt as if it had had a knife plunged deep into it and spun around and around.
Gripping his naginata a little tighter, he whispered to himself "I will return. I promise, Ayaka."
Thanks everyone for reading the chapter. Now, if you could do me a kind favor and review to let me know what you think of the chapter, I'd appreciate it. Till next time!
