And in a blink of an eye, he became serious once more, his tone lowering.

-Never call me a bastard. The demon proceed on walking forward.

-Bastard!

He turned like a storm, his whip coming for her but she blocked it with just a hand move, leaving a burn on the back of the palm.

-If you think your moves are faster than my thinking, you are wrong. Again, he insisted with the whip, lashing her a couple of times but everytime she rejected the hits. When will you ever learn? I do not consider myself a match for you but you must admit we have the same strength.

-Just because you were raised by my father that does not entitle you a great demon. Sesshomaru said with a cold voice.

-I am a full demon, just like you, my father was a general, my mother was a warrior too and fought against my old man. I may not come from a royal family as you do but you have no right to look at me as if I am no worthy. I need to let you know this, Sesshomaru, my mother had the blood to stand up against InuTaishō and challange him to a battle, just the two of them, they did not throw themselves to the ground bleeding, but remember this, she was strong enough to put him down. Shiloh stressed the words when she talked about her parents, for Sesshomaru to know from what blood she was born of. My father fought with your father, side by side, protected each other and this I know, the great dog demon did not let everyone to fight as his right hand. Believe me when I tell you this, my elders' blood runs through my veins, their powers combined and all your father did was to teach me how to use them. Your father and mine were close companions, treated each other like brothers, and you know how hard it is for a demon to trust another.

The white demon listened to everything the fox was saying, in a way he was becoming curious of her origins, of her story. This was the first time Shiloh ever discussed about her parents and Sesshomaru wanted to know more. She walked up to him and grabbed his left sleeve dragging him to continue their way back to Rin and Jaken.

-Explain to me, why did your mother fought against your father? His eyes observed her surprised expression and waited.

-Well, from what I remember, my mother served for the army which was ruled by emperor Go-Toba, foe to the king which my father served so after declaring war to each other, the kings sent their armies to fight. For the first time my father saw my mother, he had fallen in love, she was a rare beauty and her desire for winning attracted him even more. Everytime they clashed their swords he looked in her green sparkling eyes, he did not want to do her any harm, he had fallen for a woman who was covered in blood and as strong as he. In the end, he had won, my mother returning to her king to announce the defeat. Of course she was accused of betrayal and sentenced to death but because she was a demon, she killed everyone from the palace, burning it down. One day, as my father came with his army to claim the palace, there was nothing left but a pile of ashes and dead bodies, her scent was all over the place so he went to search for her. My mother had left because she was embarrased and found a place somewhere in your father's land, she ran away from the North to be left alone. Shiloh stopped remembering what Sesshomaru wanted to hear and all she did was being carried away. Why didn't you stop me?

-Because this is the first time I hear about your parents. He said calmly. Please, continue.

She was delighted, Sesshomaru showing interest was something rare and had to take advantage of the moment. The woman smiled and started again./p
-This happened before your parents met, keep that in mind. Where was I? Ah yes, the Western lands. One day she was preparing to bathe in a river and as she was undressing, your father showed up from behind, he did not have his armour on and the river where they were was near his place.

-Tell me the old man did not do what I think he did.

-Oh no! No no. It would've been so wrong and we wouldn't be here now. Shiloh laughed and them thought about what whould've been if Inu no Taishō ended up with her mother, right away she made a disgusted face. Why would you think of that, Sesshomaru?

-Because I know his habbits. Women were his biggest pleasure in life, other than killing.

-...after he met your mother I do believe he settled down, and what happened with InuYasha's mother, well, it is normal for a demon to mate with someone else, because in our world, marriage is not looked upon as humans do. I'm not saying we can't have many lovers because often, we stay faithfull to the one we have near but there are times when you fall for someone else, and your parents were already seeing each other as the ones that made you and not as lovers. Your father and mother loved each other and respected after their relationship ended, he was still at the castle because he was InuKimi's general. Eitherway, back to my story. Her hends hit against each other. He was not happy to see an intruder on his lands but because she was female, he looked at her differentely. Of course she was hard to approach and tried to slit his throat with her sword but he blocked the blade with his sword. As a gentleman, he introduced himself and so did she, he took her to his place where he arranged a warm bath for her. I have to say, your father managed to seduce my mother but not enough to let him go further. They ate together and spent the rest of the day talking about their lifes and what brought her there, night catching them in each other's arms. The next day my father came, at first he thought, like every man would do, that she and InuTaisho were concubines.

Centuries ago, in a beautiful spring morning when every bird was singing, steps across the wooden floor of the Dojo were harshly pressed. Isao, the fox general of the north came to visit his friend, the great dog general of the west, but it was not an ordinary visit, her scent was the one that brought him there.

-Touga! His deep voice sounded in the mansion.

-That must be my friend, excuse me, my lady. The dog demon left alone the beautiful redhaired fox yōkai who remained enjoying her tea.

InuTaishō walked in the direction of his visitor opening two doors and with a joyful tone and spreading his arms, he greeted the man.

-Isao! What is my friend doing here so early? Come, have a drink with me, I have to show you someone.

-Is she here? The general asked not moving, even if the white demon tried to pull him which stopped having a good look at him.

-What do you mean by "she"? There is a woman with me here, yes indeed, and you must see her, she is stunning, as if all fire dances around her.

-Tell me, Touga, is the redhead here?

-So you know her! Ha ha! The silver haired general slapped his friend's back pushing him in the room where they were e joying their drink.

As Isao entered the room, his eyes fell on her,and she was more beautiful without the armour. Her body was dressed in one of InuTaishō's kimonos, her red hair touching the floor. Her cold emerald eyes catched his gaze and sipped from the cup arching an eyebrow.

-Don't just stand there, introduce yourself. Touga tapped his shoulder making his way. Ah nevermind, darling, this man over here is my friend, Isao. He's the strongest general from the north.

-I know who he is. She shortly cutted the dog general's line.

-Oh...alright then, Isao take a seat. We were just talking about tactics for battle. You'll be surprised how many she knows. The white haired yōkai said as he sat next to the woman.

-Of course she does, since she was the leader of emperor Go-Toba's army which I fought against.

Inu no Taishō looked surprised at the standing general and then turned his head facing his visitor. She looked familiar but did not know from where.

-Why did you set everything on fire? Isao insisted in knowing the truth.

-First of all, watch your tongue. I am not a slave so don't treat me as such. Her cutting voice draw his attention. I set the palace on fire because that's what I do. I am a demon, fire is my element. After you defeated me I returned to the castle and told the king, he accused me of betrayal and had men to kill me, but before the sunrise I was the one killing them and burnt everything.

-You let me win.

-I did not! She raised her tone to the Northern general.

-I saw your eyes, you let me defeat you, you weakened your sword, why?

-Understand that I did not let you win! The woman shouted once more.

-Yami. His lips slipped her name.

She looked at him with hate. How did he knew her? InuTaishō was in the same position as her, only surprised. Again he turned his head facing the red beauty, he should've known.

-Or should I call you by your real name Kitsune no Yami?

-You're the daughter of Akki no Yami, grand daughter of Akuma. The dog general looked at her with a slight hate in his eyes. I know your father, I fought against him when I was younger, my father too had the misfortune to fight against him.

-I know and you were the last one my father went in battle against.

-What do you mean?

-We assumed that he died. But he did not die soon after, the wounds you created him where not the ones that caused his death, entirely. One day he just disappeared. He left somewhere and no one knows how he perished. The ground shaked violently one night, the moon turned red and the wolves howled loudly.

Akki no Yami and his father Akuma were the demons that ruled all the North which back then expanded on half of the Eastern lands. Akki was the strongest general ever known, he was in fact half demon, but not the one born from a human. He fought against every enemy that had the courage to cross his lands, he built and empire which pushed the boarders of the Western ones also, angering the one that was then in charge, InuTaishō's father, Inu no Kenji, the ruler and king of all the West.

Akki and Inu no Kenji fought many great battles, all of them ending in rivers of blood. Their last battle consumed only between the two of them, in the mountains, in the lasn of the West, showing their true forms, the demon of the air and the one from Hell. The story was to repeat itself years later regarding his son. Due to serious enjuries and exposure to great hits, the father of InuTaishō collapsed to the ground and with one last breath, he told the victorious one that the lands he took from him are now his.

As he found his father lifeless, Touga walked to Akki no Yami's castle declaring war over his elder's death and reclaiming the stolen lands. The then ruler was impressed and accepted the challange, the first battle taking place in the middle of winter, just to give the boy an easy head start. The dog was prepared and knew his opponent was not someone to play around with, his army was outnumbered by the fox, many lives were to be taken that night. Harsh words were spitted, his hate towards the keeper of the Northern lands was growing with each passing minute but InuTaishō did not let those thoughts take away his mind.

-I underestimated you, Inu no Nishi. The man spoke to the young general.

-Touga! The name is Touga! His feet pushed his body against the demon, his sword hitting the blade of the other. You came to my land and killed my father, you shall not live to see the daylight again! The young man's voice echoed in the entire area, his voice raising to the sky. I will have my revenge and take back what was his. I will make the entire Western lands mine and rule over them! And I will not let a malicious demon as you to ever have the callousness to lay a foot in my empire! Nor your children! The power in his tone shaked the snow from the mountains, the devotion was clearly heard and felt. His blood boiled and his arms managed to reject his opponent.

Nothing around him counted anymore, all he wanted was the older general's head rotating in thin air.

-You will make a strong general one day, Touga, but don't let yourself taken away by the lust of blood. Your father taught you well.

-Shut up! Don't you dare talk about my father!

-Stubborn. You have potential, but do you have the strength? Akki surprised the young white haired general with a strong blow from his sword, throwing him away. One of the most important rules when it comes to a battle: never let hate take control over your mind and body.

-Curse you…damn you to Hell! Touga had no intention to stop and rushed to fight again, the blades creating music with every slide on one another.

-I come from Hell, I am the son of the devil himself. May I tell you, you are talented in the arts of battle, my daughter will make a good opponent for you.

The daughter the fox general reffered to was his only one, Kitsune no Yami. His only heir, which now was for a bit younger than the son of the western dog emperor. The stage she was going through was the training one, her father insisting on making her a warrior, the next general, which rejected the desire and offer of becoming the empress.

-Your daughter will be no match for me. Touga shortly said as he managed to cut deep into Akki's flesh.

-You will be surprised. She will either put you under a spell of have your life taken with her sword.

The fury in the young general's eyes was as the same as the uncontrollable waves of the ocean. His legs jumped over everything to get to the northern ruler, using his claws to catch him. This fight turned more into one of revenge than reclaiming what belonged to him. He wanted his fingers to be stained with the one's blood.

-Youg man, you should know this. Your father was weakened when we started fighting. He just came from a battle, the old man did not had the energy to put up with me. As much as we fought, we cared for one another, we were not just simple enemies. I cared for him and seeing him die before my eyes was not something I wanted to be part of.

-You murdered him!

-The wounds he was suffering from were caused by another demon! Akki stressed the words. You are barking at the wrong tree, young dog.

Touga stopped and looked at the demon fox. Now that he remembered, the scent was mixed with another one.

-I do not care since you are the one who sent him into the house of Death!

-Inu no Nishi! Pay attention to my words. He told me he is no longer for this world and dying on that day is ment to be. I have to say, he did a good job standing on his feet, more, using his true form. Your old man was a true opponent, strong, skilfull, determined, smart, just as you will be one day. I wish, in fact, for you, to surpass the late emperor and rule over this known land. You still have a lot to learn but you will, in the end, have a glorious life.

Akki no Yami turned his back to the boy but before he left, he had one more thing to say.

-You will always have to choose, Touga. A short life but full of glory or a long life spent in the shadow. A demon like you will pick the right side.

The ruler left for good, returning to his castle with the ones remained from his army.