Part 11: Blades Bite
Moon cycles passed and the rumors that echoed in the palace halls were becoming even more and more disturbing. Seto stalked the halls now looking for his Sire but the Dog general still spent little time at home and when he was, his retainers declared him "unavailable." Inu no Taishō had no time for a troublesome boy. Seto was desperate for a reason behind his Chichiue's apparent abandonment.
The young prince thought long and hard about when his Sire had begun drawing away from him. It was easy to blame his change of attitude on the Niggin woman…but surely a mere human could not hold such power over a Dai Youkai's heart. Another likely candidate would be the three dæmon swords Inu no Taisho carried constantly at his side. Lord of the West had been classed among the greatest Dai yōkai Gaia had ever known, even before he acquired the magical swords. Setomaru had never trusted Sō'unga.
The sword of Hel dad great power there was no denying that the ability to cut the fetters that bind one to the Neither Realm was quite useful. But the Shushu spirit it housed was known to have driven lesser youkai mad. Inu Taisho had mastered it still it remained a negative influence driving the Dog general to periods of brooding depression.
Inu No Taisho's coldness toward this Setomaru became more apparent after Master Tōtōsai used the General's fangs to forge the twin Yōtō, Tessaiga and Tenseiga and now the Lord of the West was never seen without them. Perhaps these blades were as deceptive as Sō'unga inhabited by powerful intelligences seeking to manipulate the one who wielded them.
The inu prince had not had the opportunity to examine either blade. But the Castle guard redily confirmed that none could stand against Tessaiga the Sword of Destruction severed the strands binding Soul and body- killing 100 yōkai with a single strike. The healing Shiv isn't as impressive.
Tōtōsai insists that it can free 100 souls from the underworld but none have witnessed such a feat. The truth is, it is dull as a butter knife; impractical for offence or defense. It was even useless as a simple tool for clearing brush and brambles from your path. It was a common joke in the castle that Tenseiga's primary use is to break the wax seal on The Dog General's foreign correspondence.
Regardless of the Swords' actual usefulness, Tōtōsai's latest masterworks were powerful symbols of dominion over Power over Life and Death. Myoga fretted that their addition to the Inu Armory painted a target on the whole of the Westerlands. The Dragon clan and Panther yōkai are the most outspoken and dangerous enemies striving to take such power for themselves.
The scent of war was on the wind and it seemed the great Inu no Taishō was eager to meet it. Many came to challenge him. Many died, some Sō'unga sent directly to the afterlife leaving not even a body for the hapless victim's kin to mourn. Others, like the great Dragon Ryūkotsusei, would lay petrified until the final dawn when Judgment comes.
"Why are you doing this?" Seto cried but the bare walls of his chamber held no answer. This was not the Inu no Taishō he knew, the Chichiue he loved so dearly. It must be the swords. His Sire fought Sou'unga for control and mastered it perhaps these two new swords had sided with the hell blade feeding the bloodlust enough to overcome his sire's higher senses.
One evening Seto got word that The Lord of the West was, in fact, going to war to end the threat to his kingdom once and for all. The young prince was determined to stop him. He had not recovered enough strength to shift to his canine form so he had one of the attendants ready his two-headed demi-dragon so that he might ride as fast as he could to intercept the general before he met up with the Inu armies.
"Stop!" Setomaru called out in desperation. "It isn't worth it! You may be invincible but how many of our kin will die because of this war!"
Inu no Taishō stopped and turned to face his son. "It is necessary." He said and turned once more to the path he had chosen.
"Are you going, Sire, truly?"
"Are you going to stop me, pup?" the general asked flippantly but there was ice in his golden eyes.
"I will not." Seto shook his head sadly, He was far too young and inexperienced to challenge his sire for the mantle of lordship and the Great Dog General was not yet so far gone that he was a threat to the west was he? Surely not! Sesshomaru scowled. "I will not stand against you. I can not. But, before you go, I would have the fangs Sō'unga and Tessaiga be given into my keeping. They are my birthright are they not?"
'If I say I will not give them to you... would you kill your own Sire?" the general asked. As the younger inu closed the distance between them Setomaru could practically taste the cloying of scent Izayoi clinging to his Sire's clothing and hair; Perhaps the swords weren't the problem, perhaps it was the taint of the human female that had bewitched him. Seto's stomach churned at the memory of her filthy hands caressing the Moko-moko draped across the Dog General's shoulders.
The young prince felt his eyes bleed red and the venom building up in his veins. His claws began to drip and the vegetation at his feet sizzled and hissed as it dissolved into green mist. He closed his eyes and willed his control to return, the golden gleam returned only reluctantly. He breathed with difficulty past the lump in his throat. How could his Chichiue even ask such a thing? Had he lost sight of everything that had made him a truly great leader?
"Do you desire power so much?" The general could have been asking himself that question but Seto doubted it. Seeing him now it seemed Inu no Taishō had crossed a line some time ago. Now he was blind to everything but his own ambition. He saw everyone as a threat and he had somehow become a slave to the swords cravings. "Why?" Inu no Taishō asked. The frost in his voice chilled his son to the bone.
There was no going back. Seto's heart was heavy within him. 'What can I say?' The boy silently screamed, 'What reason can I give that he will listen to?' "Conquest." Seto breathed, "I must travel the path of conquest... power is necessary in order to walk that path. I need the swords."
'Please tell me that is a useless goal, an empty prize that would cost more lives than it was worth… including my own. Tell me I am too valuable to be sold at such a price. Please!' luminous golden eyes begged…and were refused.
Inu Taishō looked contemplative, "Conquest, hmm? Is there something you want to protect?" just for an instant Seto saw a flicker of the man he had so admired…then it was gone. That noble face twisted into a sneer revealing fangs and it seemed a stranger was staring out from behind his Chichiue's eyes. Seto's heart broke.
"Something to protect?" the prince shook his head, He schooled his voice to the same level of impassiveness his mother had perfected long ago, "I have no need to pursue such an endeavor," he announced. I don't want to kill you Oyaji, his mind cried. I want to save you but I don't know how. I don't want it to end like this. His heart twisted within him as he raised his hands to attack. But the great general transformed into his bestial form and ran off leaving his son alone.
The prince wept in the darkness until his dragon mount ambled over to him sniffing and nuzzling with its twin noses attempting to offer what comfort it could to the distraught youth…a pup no longer.