Sesshoumaru breathed in the cool night air. It was quiet here. No memories of death and carnage. It was only a few miles from the border between his lands and the southern ones. There had always been peach between Him and Gorro. They both had very young wives considering their age. Ember and Kailo had gotten along very well when Karu wasn't around to help with the pregnancy. They were closer to each other, if not in age than in maturity and she and Karu. Because of the friendship between the south and west no battles have ever taken place here. It was the perfect place for Sesshoumaru to gather his thoughts. He'd felt something. Really felt for the first time in years. He was actually kind of upset about Kagura's death. And yet... a part of him was happy that she was now free. She was no longer in Naraku's clutches. She was the wind.
Behind him Sesshoumaru heard a sudden burst of flames. That meant one of two things; either Ember was behind him or, more likely Totosai. This was the last thing he needed. Totosai was much like Mioga, a pesky flea who didn't know when to keep his mouth shut. Occasionally Sesshoumaru listened to what he had to say. This time he wasn't sure if he was in the mood. But when Totosai's ridiculous steed landed the stunted old demon looked Sesshouumaru straight in the eye and said, "Sesshoumaru, it is time to re-forge the tenseiga."
Sesshoumaru's ear twitch. He didn't expect that of all things. He was used to being lectured about how great his father was and how he and Inu Yasha were living up to his expectations. What expectations did Inu Taisho have of the Tenseiga?
"Give me your sword."
Sesshoumaru pulled out the Tenseiga and handed it to Totosai without thinking much about it. He had no love for the blade. It had its uses but there was no real use for a blade that could not kill. To say he held onto the blade for sentimental reasons was a joke. But with slight interest in what Totosai had to do when it came to 're-forging' the Tenseiga. The squatted demon chose a large rock and blew fire onto the blade until it was white hot. Sesshoumaru could not explain what Totosai did to his sword but when he handed it back to him Sesshoumaru could feel the change in his blade. "Now strike down your opponent, Sesshoumaru."
The already darkened sky turned black. The demon lord turned around to face a giant ogre. The Tenseiga pulsed. Without a second thought, knowing it wouldn't work, Sesshoumaru lifted himself into the air and brought the newly forged blade down on the demon. It sliced through it but soon there was that shimmer that meant that its flesh was about to repair. But then a crescent shape suddenly opened behind the demon and its remains were sucked into nothingness. "Meido Zangetsuha." Totosai said softly. "The power of the tenseiga revealed. You have always known that you've inherited the power to defy nature. You can give life back to the dead. And now you can send your enemies straight to the underworld." Sesshoumaru took a long, hard look at his blade. He could feel the power. "As you grow stronger, Sesshoumaru the Meido will grow larger until it is a full circle."
"Why now?" he asked in spite of himself. "What's changed?"
"Your father told me that I was to re-forge the tenseiga when it called for me."
"What does that mean?"
"The Tenseiga has sensed a change in your heart. You have cared for another. And for the first time you have stopped your desire for your brother's sword, the Tessaiga."
Sesshoumaru felt something snap. Any calm serenity that had followed Kagura's death was gone. He glanced down at Jaken and indicated for him to take Rin for a walk. After they were out of human hearing range Sesshoumaru's claws lunged out and wrapped around Totosai's throat. "The last thing I said to my father was that Ember was the love of my life and that I would protect her. My father trusted you to deliver this sword to me so where the hell were you when my son died!" he was shouting now and Totosai was slowing turning blue. "I could have saved my child. My son's blood is on your hands!" He dropped the sword-smith and pointed the Tenseiga in his face. "I should kill you now."
Totosai didn't even blink. "Even when Ember was by your side you acted so human as you are now."
"I'm not a human." Sesshoumaru snarled.
"Thank the gods. Because if you were you wouldn't be able to make this right."
With surprising speed and agility the old smith slipped out from under the Tenseiga and took off. Sesshoumaru looked down at his blade. He didn't know what Totosai meant by making this right. If he thought that he was going to go crawling back to Ember now... well... he already did that. He closed his eyes and sheathed the blade. For now he had to focus on perfect this new technique. He needed a full Meido. Naraku wouldn't be able to escape that attack. He would have a one way ticket straight to hell. He needed to find out more about his inheritance. There was no one left to ask. No one but... Inu Kimi. His mother.
In reality the last person he wanted to see was his mother. Their relationship had been frayed from the beginning. But since she abandoned Ember with her duties of the western lady he had absolutely no desire to lay eyes on her. But there were answers that he needed. Answers that only one of two people could give him. And one of those two were dead.
Ember's head broke the surface of the dark waters and breathed in the cool, damp air. It was completely dark. Not a single flicker of light to be seen. Yet. The northern lands had many of these underground cave springs but what made them truly amazing was that when the moon hit the right spot on the outer pool the cave was illuminated from below with an eerie blue glow. These caves were called the mirror springs as they were lined with crystal so fine they reflected everything in the pool. It was a beautiful sight. But for now Ember wanted to see nothing. She needed to be away from everything.
The events of the last few hundred years haven't gone by quickly, but it wasn't like they crawled by. A great many things happened. Not including the unfortunate events with Ash. Onigumo had always been a threat in Ember's eyes. She'd met him when Kikyo was caring for his burns. The Priestess had brought Ember along one time to see what the mistress of fire had to say about his injuries. Ember had concluded that they might as well put him out of his misery. His burns could not be healed. Even if the skin was to be repaired he would always be in the pain. It would be merciful to give him the strongest pain serum Kikyo had and slit his throat. Ember had offered to do it for Kikyo as she had a kind soul and killed only youkai who approached her village threateningly.
Ember left Kikyo to her to heal Onigumo. But she always wished that she'd gone back to kill him. There was always something off about him and she could not understand it until the events that followed. But before Onigumo or Naraku there were others. There were the panther demons. In the south there were the cobra youakis and in the north the wolves stirred up a little trouble. There has always been enough trouble around the separate lands for Ember to pass the time with. That along with whatever was going on in the angel city. Even when Ember avoided Ash to all ends she was still enough trouble.
Ember opened her eyes just in time to see the moon begin to illuminate the cave. They said these caves gave the angels their powers in the beginning of the world. That even to this day if an angel returned to the springs they would feel their powers grow stronger than ever before. But like many other aspects of Embers life the discovery of these caves lead to nothing but disappointment. Now they were nothing but peaceful spots to think where no one could disturb her. And on the few occasions she finally got over her anger or frustration she could admire the beauty of the mirror caves.
But tonight she saw right through the glimmering beauty of the caves. She wanted to find peace within herself. She'd come here when she found out she was pregnant with Ash too. But Ember could not bring herself to love the child of the line. And she wasn't sure if she could bring herself to love this child who could end up exactly like Keru. She fixed her eyes on the reflection of her stomach. Soon enough she would be showing and the whole world would know the truth. And in nine months when the time finally came to birth the child... what would happen? Would she be too weak to bring this child into the world too?
As the light of the moon passed Ember was doused in darkness once again. She stroked to the edge of the cave, braced herself against the wall and dove to the bottom of the pool to get out. She reached the small opening and crawled through. She swam to the surface and reached the shore in a matter of seconds. She dressed without drying herself and started walking north in a brisk pace. She wanted to reach the Northern castle before daylight. Karu and Miraz were early risers. She didn't want anyone to know she was there except them. By the time Yuki would recognize the scent of his old babysitter she would be gone. And by the time Adamar and May figured it out she would be out of the northern lands.
The northern castle was covered in vines that covered the beautiful gray stone. In early spring, like now, the vines were covered in small pink buds that would soon turn into full blown flowers. But for now they were the scene of a romantic walk. Or a walk for a demon couple who finally reached the point beyond their prime and were satisfied with simply being in each other's company. It was rare to see a demon going old and gray, but Miraz and Karu were two of the lucky ones. Inu Kimi would be one of the lucky ones. Sesshoumaru would be one of the lucky ones.
They must have caught her scent because they turned to face her before she reached them to talk to them. Karu was still graceful and Miraz still regal. Karu had just reached out to hug her when everything seemed to overflow again and Ember burst into tears. She cried for twenty minutes before she finally calmed down and explained. As she hadn't seen them for over twenty years she told them about Ash, Naraku and her newly discovered pregnancy. She told them what happened to the boy Karu and how it led her into Sesshoumaru's arms again. She told them that she didn't know where Sesshoumaru fit in her life anymore or if she should even tell him that she was pregnant with his child.
As he was still held in high esteem for his complete honesty with the other Lords, Miraz took his queue to leave the women to speak. Karu instantly took Ember to the guest chambers so they could continue speaking in private. "So after Keru you still had a child of your line?" Karu asked and Ember nodded. "But I thought that spell was broken when you discovered you were an angel."
"So did we." Ember took a shuddering breath. "But it turns out having a child of the line is in my lines blood. It keeps the line going as long as there is one angel remaining."
"That's amazing." Karu whispered and Ember knew she couldn't help but be impressed. "No other demon has that kind of ability. It's an evolutionary trait singularly to your family."
"It truly is," Ember whispered. "Except when having that child is exactly what you don't want."
"Ember," Karu sighed. "Having a child, whether you want it or not, is a blessing. In some cases, its well disguised. I'm sure you'll realise that Ash has her own blessings one day."
"And what about this child?!" Ember cried, clutching her stomach. "It was an accident. I was upset, he was there, if it had been anyone else..."
"You would not have slept with them." Karu interrupted sternly. "First of all your mark prevents you from doing so. And second because you still love him." Ember looked up at her and Karu continued. "Ember, this child was destined to happen. This is your second chance with Sesshoumaru. The second chance you two have been waiting for. Of course this child cannot replace Keruko, no one can replace the son you lost. But this child..." Karu reached out and put a hand Ember's flat stomach. "This child can be the thing that brings you two back together. And you two will be one as you were meant to be."
Ember took hold of Karu's hand and held tightly. "How am I supposed to explain to him that after two hundred years, I want to love him again?"
"No one said it would be easy."
Ember began to tremble again and a few more tears fell from her eyes. Karu stayed with her until a servant came in and told Karu that Miraz had summoned her. Ember leaned against the headboard of the bed and pulled her knees up to her chin. Moments after Karu left Ember heard the door open again. She looked up. A tall figure stood in the door way. His hair black as night reflecting blue in the dim light. His eyes, black as coal. His face more serious than his youth remembered. The spitting image of his father in his younger days. Adamar.
She sat up not caring if he saw her cry. She had been week the last time she saw the demon standing at her door. Her power had only been fueled by strong emotions and a desire to protect herself. Now she was strong. She could truly fight him now, not merely defend against his attacks and get a few lucky shots in. She was proud now. As proud as any Lady or head of a line. When she spoke she did so in a cool voice that matched her distaste for the demon. "What do you want?"
"I thought I smelled your faint scent, young one." He said in a smooth voice and inhaled deeply through his nose. "Fresh rain and a new day."
"Not so young anymore, Adamar." She replied sharply.
"Perhaps not," Adamar smirked. "But just as beautiful as you were the day I met you."
"I would hope my beauty has matured. It has been two hundred years and when you first met me I was an underfed, servant whelp. If you thought I was beautiful then I'd like to hear the true words you use to describe me now."
Adamar took a few steps forward into the room. "Ravishing, perhaps." He whispered. "But even that doesn't truly scratch the surface." He kept moving forward until he was standing right in front of her. Though he was still shorter than Sesshoumaru, Ember had forgotten how tall he was. He reached out to brush some fire red hair from her eyes. She did not flinch nor did she slap his hand away. His hand continued down her cheek, to her neck, avoiding the mating mark, and down to her arm where the scars of her servant days were still very visible. "Your scars still shine brightly, my angel."
She grabbed his fingers and pushed them so far back she felt them break. He withdrew, snarling, to straighten the temporarily broken bones. "Too familiar, my lord," She snarled. "I am not your angel, nor anyone else's. My scars are a part of me. They remind me of my past. They remind me of where I came from."
"You came from a royal bloodline of angels." He whispered.
"That were thought to be humans for thousands of years." she snapped back. "No matter how you look at it I come from a human line. And I am as proud now as I was the day we met because of that line. My family has survived thousands of years of war. What's not to be proud of?"
"Angels are strange creatures," Adamar said softly. "You would have done better at my side, than Sesshoumaru's."
"No," Ember smirked sadly. "If I were at your side you would have killed me when I lost my son." Adamar began to growl but she ignored it. "I am tired." She said and looked away. "I wish to be left alone." Adamar stood up stiffly and walked back to the door when Ember called out once more. "But if you see your brother, tell him I would like his company."
She smiled as Adamar growled before leaving the room. He could no longer ignore a direct order from Ember. He wasn't the heir to the northern lands anymore and held no claim to disobey her and thus, twenty minutes later, Adamar's little brother Yuki, was standing at her door. The brothers looked much alike. They shared the black hair and eyes and the northern crest on their foreheads, but Yuki was smaller. Shorter and less muscled. His eyes were softer and his hair was shorter. He bore the signs of a good man. Or in this case, demon. Ember always knew he would turn out better than his siblings. He was definitely sheltered from them. He smiled softly at Ember. "Hello, old friend." he said in his soft, melodic voice.