Behind Ancient Mists Chapter 12, an inuyasha fanfic

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of "InuYasha" by Rumiko Takahashi nor do I own the world as put in place by Saranne Dawson's Secret's of the Wolf.

A/N: Now back to the main story—sorry about the wait, but thanks to my vacation I now have of the most adorable photographs of coyote pups— mind you it was no wolf which I am disappointed about, but 'hey' that's honestly closer than I ever imaged I would ever see one!

I would like to give a huge thanks to my reviewers from the previous chapters, elemental573, Jerabear, Nameless Little Girl, Samairi, Illusion of the Black Mage, oldestmaiden, and Crow Skywalker. You all really flatter me too much. I'm so happy!

Now, onto the real reason you all are putting up with my jabber and my 'aww-ing' over cute, adorable, little coyote pups . . . which were so worth going all the way to Wyoming to see: chapter twelve

« Behind Ancient Mists »

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Chapter Twelve

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It was nearing dusk just along the edge of the Dark Mountains. Past the flowing hills of green and thickly charted mists that carried the delightful scent of pine and moist earth, past all signs of life sat a lone, morbid estate trapped within ashen trees and greenless valleys. Slow pillars of smoke piled out from its chimney, at the heart of the structure, and melded effortlessly with the graying of the sky as the sun set. Inside sat a burly man, hidden in shadow except for the flare of his nostrils, which were warmly illuminated thanks to a fresh pipe that had been lit.

Taking a slow puff before lumbering out from his chair, the man grasped a few pieces of timber and started himself a fire. Dully noted—as the man grunted amorously—the fire offered little warmth, but it opted enough light for reading. Taking out his spectacles and streaming them through his jet-black hair (gleaming with streaks of gray) his visage ruffled and his fingers moved to massage his temple.

It was now dusk and the elder's tiresome leader sat alone in by the fire, reading a few short letters from the inland Mountains and some from his own men. Most letters past through his mind rather quickly, without the slightest care, while others produced light grumbles or sighs, but never a smile. Once he came upon a lovely letter from one of the many young children living within the Youkai Mountains innocently recounting the days events and pleading for a little extra food once he arrived for the festival, but the man scoffed loudly, "Bah!' and tossed it into the fire. The elders had enough to deal with presently without having to worry about children—besides he was waiting for a telegram from the three elders he had sent off into the midst of Sesshoumaru's clan. He had sent the three off early, while preparations were underway, partly because he wished to get an early insight on the lord's progress since they had last spoken on the topic of the outsider Jira— whose presented problem had been handled 'quietly' — and partly to get them out of his skin, for they could be quite the nuisances to the old man. After a few days he had begun wondering whether and when his wretched men would contact him, while simultaneously trying to suppress the constant reminders of his rather more unpleasant week.

The more he stared at his piling paperwork, the more he could her the taunting jeers of those elders even twice his age. Only just recently had he taken over the position of High Elder after the previous elder Wister and now he—the elder Jeridiah— had succeeded from the old ways and now sought 'changes' to the elder tradition of servitude to the Youkai. The elders themselves were a dying breed, but Jeridiah knew from years of on looking what the simple solution could be, yet none believed him—in fact, since Wister's decline he had begun to face many of the accumulated problems from his reign: loss of food supply, decline in supplies, as well as the increase in casualties due to the crumbling terrain. Each elder that had been in favor of Wister held the exact same face of gloating upon them and had on several occasions reminded him of all the terrible things that had happened within the last few months—even natural disasters.

The new High Elder's pulse hastened at the thought of the accusations for they were neither fair, nor true. How was he—even if he had years of experience behind him as Wister had—supposed to have stopped crumbling bridges and landscapes?

Over the last week a grim mood had gripped the valley, which had reflected itself increasingly upon him. In recent times most of the elders had gone into migration, while few still reported to him he did have the power to summon.

Looking again over the letter of complaints and malfunctions, Jeridiah closed it swiftly and cast it to the side of his desk. Taking yet another large puff of his pipe, he leaned back further into his chair, looking about the room dismally. Then—a sound was heard on the outskirts of the structure and then the very room where Jeridiah sat. The pace was slow, but urgent, and as Jeridiah froze he heard a distinct cough resound just behind his ear.

"High Elder Jeridiah—my name is Masa and I am one of the elders currently residing in the area near the Sesshoumaru clan; it is urgent that we speak if you will allow me entrance."

Jeridiah held back his surprise and forced his voice to remain void of any reaction. "Have you not seen the three I sent? Why have they not come to correspond?"

"If you will forgive me, High Elder, as well as them, for recent events have them preoccupied and they are unable to come at your request."

"Very well then— what is there to inform?"

Awkwardly the man, who only understated him in age by a few years, meandered around the High Elder's chair and found himself a place to rest. Still, he did not begin speaking immediately, even as Jeridiah's gaze beheld him impatiently.

"It is difficult to explain all at once," Masa began.

"—then perhaps from the beginning . . ." he gestured to the room about him. "As you can see, I am not currently in any hurry, but I do not need anyone wasting my time."

Swallowing a subdued breath, Masa opened his mouth to begin his tale that had begun long before Jeridiah had even heard of the High Elder Wister, long before many of the troubles had begun. "It first began long before your recent assailment as the new High Elder, back when I first visited the last High Elder for the first of— many times . . ."

The High Elder Wister had been standing amongst his many trinkets and while alone, the man seemed contempt not to bother a moment with the mounting paperwork upon his desk. Instead he lazily gazed upon the many gadgets and gizmos filling the room, occasionally finding amusement in rotating his hourglass every few minutes and lolling the instrument about to decrease the time in which the sand split into the lower compartment. He had been in such a position of dread and dismal dislike of his authoritative position for quite a while, but in days such as these his job was particularly—boring.

Then, he heard a sound behind him and what could be seen as a younger version of Masa appeared, his face young and spirited, but still stoic and clearly business-like, as his station would have likely called for. He extended his hand out in a sort of greeting before bowing stiffly.

"High and most honorable Elder Wister." The boy bowed again and it quickly became clear that this was the younger one's first encounter with the 'important' figure. "I have been sent upon request of my superiors to inform you of the recent occurrences about the Mountains—specifically that of the area where the Inu-Tashio clan resides." The young Masa cleared his throat before opening his mouth once again. "You will of course already know about the recent death of that clan's leader and the succession of the man's eldest son."

"Yes—of course. It was a shame when I heard; he truly was a great leader. As for the eldest son—how is he taking the challenge of leadership? He took it upon him quite young did he not?"

"He is doing as well as can be expected—but recently there have been occasions when I could not tell you this. It is in his most recent misadventures that we should perhaps show concern. He has shown a peaked interest in the outside world, as of late. In the time I have been able to observe him I have not known him to be a rash young man, but he now seems to show complete disregard and has on several occasions run off to the lands past or borders and protection."

Wister seemed little effected by the news as his brow did not furrow and his eyes did not widen with concern. "The boy is young and obviously needs his freedom—what with the death of—"

"Yes I understand all this," Masa interrupted bravely, "but as newly appointed leader he has responsibilities and furthermore cannot expose himself to those that may cause our kind harm."

"Very well—I will consult with him myself."

Thus Masa bowed lightly and made his exit, but as time past Wister had still not acted upon Masa's visit. Years past and the young lord was nearing the peak of his childhood and ever closer to that of adulthood; it was at this time that Masa chose again to visit the High Elder on behalf of the young lord.

Masa in a wisp of words came into the same quarters he had but a few years ago, drenched in rainfall and muttering softly. The only audible words that Wister's old ears could attain were that of "Sesshoumaru" and something sounding of "outrage" and "disgraceful." These of course were followed curtly by mention of "outsiders" and "warnings." Soon Masa composed himself, relinquishing himself of his outer rain garment and placed it down—himself still standing.

" . . . I've come again on behalf of the clan in Sesshoumaru's care—you know he's coming quite along in his youth . . . quite the looker," Masa shook his head as he was drifting away from the point of his visit, " but he's done it again—only this time it is worse."

Sensing the turmoil within Masa's composure, Wister gestured to the large armchair in front of him. "Well, sit down—sit down and fill me in . . . here, have a drink."

Wister began to fumble behind him for a whiskey, but; he was stopped with a tired, pleading hand. "Please, no drink for me."

"Alright then . . . what's happened?" Wister asked calmly. Masa breathed a sigh of relief and once more repositioned himself in his chair. Lifting his head and giving his hair a good shake, the man once again began to tell of the recent troubles from the young lord.

"He has—of course by now visited the outside lands several times . . . but until now he was not seen."

"He has been spotted now then?" Wister for once showed a genuine concern. He was aware that those who ventured out would soon return due to the call, but those whom denied it risked the protection that the mountain provided the Youkai with; it could be provoked, not only cause him great pain, but he would not be allowed to return . . . the entrance would shut.

This was what concerned both Masa and now Wister. If Sesshoumaru continued to leave then eventually he might never return. He was the direct heir to his clan and the next succession could only occur through a birthed heir or through a direct death, not a natural one. Murder or child: it was the way of the system, harsh or not— and if Sesshoumaru was to break it, the results would be disastrous. InuYasha—the brother could not take the position because only Sesshoumaru had been bestowed with the gifts and even InuYasha—being of the same blood would have to challenge him like any other for position. A challenge upon one like Sesshoumaru who possessed the 'gifts,' even one as young as the young lord was to risk certain failure; already the boy towered in strength surpassing that of many adult men in the clan and to win the challenge the winner would have to kill the opponent. Without a proper succession, the land would fall.

"Who has seen him?" Wister asked after some time.

"He has been seen by a young girl of one of the outside villages—beyond our lands."

"Has he shown himself willingly?" By now Wister's voice faltered on concern and excitement.

"He has not sir, but—"

Wister suddenly breathed a huge sigh of relief and then countered the young elder. "What form was he in?"

"The animal form, sir . . ."

" . . . and the outsider—does he show interest in her?" Wister's voice increasingly lightened with what would almost be thought of as 'hope.'

"He has only shown curiosity around her, but I am unaware if it goes to the extent of attraction."

"There is always the chance though; you know as well as I that this could be the chance to break the terrible curse the Youkai as well as this land are under."

What Wister referenced to was in fact the legendary 'Pearl' that filled stories of most every Youkai child, which was in fact no physical gem at all, but a heart. It had stopped being a mere stone the moment Kikyo died and the great dogs decided to hide away the power forever. They hid the 'Pearl' into the heart of the woman Kikyo who had so willingly accepted the Youkai curse, and thus, in every living woman outside the Dark Mountains—in their hear lies the essence of the jewel. Yet only one could call upon the nature of the 'Pearl' and release the Youkai from the curse's grasp. Only the love of one who did not share in the curse could break it.

"I am aware," Masa sighed as if he too had thought of the idea, but convinced himself otherwise that the notion was foolish, "but the chance is more up to the girl than him."

"If he has been unwillingly spotted—so be it—the hourglass has been turned and it cannot be turned back." Wister's composure stiffened and his mind was made up. What was done was done, but the advantage could still be grasped.

"If you pardon my cheek High Elder, but you know as well as I that the girl will remember the knowledge of what he is and either accept it, forget it as a dream, or die; those are the extensions of the curse. To break the curse the current lord must show himself to an outsider woman—willingly or not; if the woman accepts him and then eventually comes to love him then she lives, but if the lord is denied then the woman will surely die."

"I am aware of this youngling!" The High Elder's tone clipped at the thought that a subordinate was undercutting him. "What you may not be aware of is the 'high sacrifice.' All that you have said is true, but if the said lord has surpassed even the Great Sesshoumaru, as the young lord surely will in the coming years, then he possesses the strength to stop the woman from dying. This— at a price, as all things are, for in doing so he must forsake his sacred gifts and the opening between our world and the outside will close."

Masa's gaze widened with surprise. "Yet, can and dare you risk this upon him and this mysterious girl? The chances are against us!"

"For the sake of all of us—I will take this chance."

"You are sure? Many of the elders like myself will disagree with this decision . . . and if it fails—"

"Go back to the mountains Masa—I charge you! Urge the young lord's infatuation and we will see what happens."

Time past again after this visit and both Masa and Wister hoped not to see each other again for quite some time, but no less than one year later Masa came stumbling through the High Elder's doorstep once more. This time he was not in a rush of urgency, nor that of excitement and without a word Masa found himself a seat and poured himself a tall drink, never once glancing at the High Elder.

"He came to love her, you know." Masa's voice was forced and his tone, pained. "He came to love her, just as you had hoped—"

As Masa took another deep gulp if alcohol into his system and his slow, monotone speech returned, Wister remained quiet. "—but she died. She rejected him and she died. He's still young and couldn't save her— didn't want to save her. So, she's gone."

Wister remained still for a long while before breathing out and down casting his eyes. "I see. Perhaps he was not ready, as I had hoped. Perhaps it was not the right time at all—not the right one."

Grasping hold again of the glass Masa took yet another intake of the drink and clinked it harshly down onto the table, he voice slowly growing raspy. "He's gone inside himself now—no one quite knows why, but he hasn't shown the least interest in leaving his tower since then—I'm afraid he's given up."

Masa tipped his head towards the high Elder and finished off the last few drops of his glass, buttoned his cloak and found the doorway.

"We will not see each other for a long time—I think," Masa spoke, "but until we do I wish you luck with your proceedings and I bid you a fair goodnight."

"And so," Masa reeled, "up until now the man had forgotten everything and anything to do with the outside world—but like I said, until now."

"This 'lord' Sesshoumaru— I have heard little about him," Jeridiah began once the elders recount had finished, "but last I heard from him was during the instance of that archaeologist . . . Jira I believe was his name. Sesshoumaru told me briefly in a letter that the occasion of his visiting the man's lecture was to be merely an obligated transaction and only to gather information on what the other side knew. Apparently this man had become a bit of a foreshadowed nuisance, but the problem was handled."

Masa nodded lightly, but far from at ease his brows tensed and he rubbed his forehead to relieve it, but to no avail. "That is so, but now we have reached the reason for my visit: the man, Jira, has a niece whom Sesshoumaru has apparently grown close to. It was upon the man's 'transaction' you spoke of that he had an encounter with her."

"Don't tell me the woman has seen his form!" Jeridiah's eyes boggled at the thought of such a thing furthering his stress and annoyance level.

"Thankfully, no—but he has brought her to the mountains."

"An outsider—in our midst! This is an outrage—an absolute—"

Masa prepared himself for the furthermost of the High Elder's anger, but was surprised to see him pause and form almost a mischievous gleam across his face.

"Has he—I mean, how close has he become to her?" He then asked excitedly.

"Of what I have witnessed he does seem to have an attachment to her—however much he may deny it."

"Excellent." Jeridiah grinned with a sly sparkle in his eye. "—and the woman . . . how has she received him?"

"She sees him amiably at most, but it is quite clear that she does not trust him." Jeridiah grinned even more so. "What do you have planned, my elder?" Masa asked curiously.

"I can use this current problem to my advantage." Then, with his face serious, but eyes still glistening, Jeridiah echoed that which he had just heard. '"Go back to the mountains, Masa—I charge you.' A plan is forming and I'm sure of it—the Youkai will fall and this woman will ensure it."

Well, I suppose I left all of you with yet another cliffhanger, but I am really pleased at how I was able to work this into my story. At first I had an idea, but it was awkward and didn't really have a place . . . but this . . . oh, it just makes me feel so evil because of it. I tell you my palms are rubbing right now! You might be able to guess what is to come, but still the tension is killing me to write that one chapter, but I know I have to restrain and control because I still have a few more chapters to go until it is revealed.

p.s. thanks for everyone who has been sticking to this story whether it be continuously reviewing or continuously watching . . . thank you!! "Mwah! Kisses for you all!"

As always, I hope you do review, but there will not be any repercussion if you don't. I consider your review an honor and therefore will not withhold a chapter until a certain number of reviews are obtained.

Truly yours,

Mickey-the-Mouse