Chie: My sincere apologies for the lateness of this chapter. It was tricky trying to cram the historical and character development over some 250-300 years into a single chapter. (And then of course there were the everyday life realities such as end of semester exams, Christmas break and switching to a new laptop.)

Chapter Thirty-three – The Dark Years

At the end of Sengoku jidai, a semblance of order finally started to show in the chaotic land where men had been warring with one another for over a century. Oda Nobunaga began the work and Totoyomi Hideyoshi ended it, and by the time they were done, all of Japan had been united under central government.

In 1603 the Tokugawa shogunate emerged, that was to rule the land for the next 250 years.

Times of uncertainty and war were turned into peace. And the humans thrived and prospered during these new, better times, and their population slowly starting to climb.

The demons still coexisted with the humans, ruled by their own nobles, governed by their own laws, living on their own lands. Some lesser demons fell prey to humans. Now in the times of peace when the humans no longer fought one another, they would find a common enemy in the mindless beasts that would attack their villages. But the higher demons did not pay much mind to such things. Squabbles between their bestial brethren and the humans were hardly of interest to most of them.

Life went on, and life was good – for the ningen and youkai alike.

-cCc-

And in these times of peace Yoshimaru grew up. When he was around 5, he hero-worshipped his parents and lapped up every story the adults in his life had to tell about them. He used to dream that one day, they would come back and they would all be happy pack together. Those dreams were broken a bit later when Shippo told the young pup his mother's greatest secret: her home was not in this place, but 500 years in the future! Still, Yoshimaru clung to hope. He was a demon of a powerful line. 500 years was a long time, but it was not impossible. His parents could stand by his side in his coming of age ceremony, some day far in the future.

But as the years, decades and centuries passed, and he grew, that glimmer of hope started to fade. Dimmer and dimmer it became as the innocent puphood dreams vanished.

Yoshimaru grew close with his "uncle" Kenichirou as well as with Rin and Shippo, whom he regarded as his siblings. Izumi, who was his puphood's retainer, always remained his confidant. For his grandmother, Yoshimaru had much love, trust and respect. It became a yearly tradition for Kenichirou to take Yoshimaru hunting in the early autumn. They were at times accompanied by Shippo and Inuyasha.

When Yoshimaru was as mature as a human child of 6 summers, Kimiko began to train him. He got lessons from the castle's master-at-arms. He was taught history and calligraphy and arithmetic. Kimiko herself taught him to read.

When Yoshimaru was approximately as mature as a human child of 13 years, everyone around him began to notice the alarming signs. The kind and curious little boy was still there, underneath the surface, but there was a definite sulkiness to him, a telling set of his jaw and a peculiarly hard glint in his bright blue eyes that spoke clearly that he was entering a more rebellious phase of his life.

Kimiko was not sure what to expect. While Sesshoumaru might have resented his upbringing, he had never been outright rebellious even when he had entered his teens. The most rebellious act Sesshoumaru had ever done had been leaving the castle, and he had only done that after he had come of age, when Kimiko could no longer forbid him, not without pulling her rank at least.

While Yoshimaru was obviously responsible and his father's son, there was also plenty of evidence of him having inherited his mother's temperament, and Kimiko was uncertain how that would mix with the awkward period in life called puberty.

She was relieved to find out in the course of the years that there were not many arguments between her and Yoshimaru, even though there was once certain matter regarding to which they always butted their heads.

Yoshimaru had grown out of the phase of hero-worshipping his parents years and years ago. There was resentment in his eyes, a bitterness that did not fade.

Kimiko knew the pup, even though he had grown much over the years, was still much too young to understand the reasons behind his parents' leave. She even acknowledged the possibility that Yoshimaru would never forgive them. Still, it saddened her to see such resentment, especially when, being brutally honest to herself, Kimiko could not help but to admit her own part in the whole mess.

-cCc-

Miyako was immensely curious about the illicit hanyou son of the late Lord of the West. Although she had not known lady Kagome for long, she had always greatly admired her. Miyako had loved to hear about the adventures and travels Kagome had experienced. When she had been telling those stories, the young inuyoukai could almost have pictured the sceneries they would walk through, the demons they had had to face, the dangers they had fought. Miyako thought it all to be very exciting. She had always had such a protected life – she could count the times she had ever stepped outside the castle of the West with one hand. She was a noble, and her life was at the court. Sometimes she wondered what it would be like, to travel the lands, to jump from one adventure to another. But she did not really yearn for such a life, the castle was her home, and the life at the court was the only one she had ever known.

But Inuyasha had lead the same kind of different, exciting life and that was why Miyako felt drawn to him, wanting so bad to appease her curiosity. Her eyes often sought him out. Later when she had gathered her courage, she even began to follow him around. Naturally, that didn't end too well. Inuyasha got tired of her unwanted company, and told her in a rather loud voice to piss off.

Miyako was persistent, however, and eventually Inuyasha was worn down, and grudgingly allowed the young female close. Of course he was gruff at first, but gradually he warmed up to the inquisitive young inu. She was always asking him questions, and though in the beginning that had annoyed him, he had soon got used to it. In the end, he even delighted in telling the girl about his life. She made a good listener, and it was obvious from the way she behaved around him that she had a lot of respect for him.

About 150 years after Inuyasha had come to the West, there was a ceremony for Miyako's coming of age. Fairly soon after that, Inuyasha approached Miyako's parents to ask their and their daughter's consent to a mating. She was gentle and kind. She was curious and inquisitive. She smiled easily, and she made Inuyasha feel good about himself. She admired and respected him. And even though her life had been a sheltered one, there was perseverance to her. Inuyasha knew she had been trained to fight as well, and that once upon a time, years and years ago, she had even been a sparring partner to Kagome.

Inuyasha had not really believed that he could feel that way for a woman ever again, and by no means had it been a simple process. It had taken years and decades in the female's company, little by little, the feelings developing so gradually that it completely took him by a surprise when he one day had realised that he liked the girl, and that was not a friendly kind of liking, either.

Miyako, for her part, had pretty much had a crush on Inuyasha since day one. She had been interested in him before she had ever even met him, the heroic hanyou in lady Kagome's stories always drawing her attention.

Their union was a joyful one, and all their friends were happy for them.

-cCc-

It was a summer afternoon, and they were enjoying refreshments on the dark and polished wood of the small veranda that looked out to Lady Kimiko's private gardens.

The Lady of the West silently studied her grandson. Pride swelled in her chest, and the softly murmured words escaped from her before she could stop herself.

"Your mother would be proud of you if she were to see you now."

"My mother," Yoshimaru started, spitting out the word 'mother' like it was something highly offensive, "abandoned me, so can we stop acting like she really cared."

"Yoshimaru, do not disrespect your mother," Kimiko scolded, frowning as she set down her cup of tea.

"I can disrespect that bitch all I want!" he snarled angrily in response.

The angry flash of Kimiko's golden eyes was the only warning he got. His hand flew to cradle his stinging cheek.

It hurt, even though he knew his grandmother had not put any strength into the slap.

"You know nothing of the situation your mother was forced into. Do not presume to judge her, you insolent pup!"

Yoshimaru's face was sullen and he glared at his grandmother angrily.

"Your mother suffered a great deal. She went through hell for you. You have no right to criticise and badmouth her when you do not even try to understand her pain."

Kimiko was giving him a piercing look, as if daring him to contradict her. Yoshimaru glowered at her defiantly, but kept his mouth shut.

When Kimiko spoke next, she suddenly sounded old and tired. It took Yoshimaru aback.

"If you really want someone to hate and blame, you do not need to look to your mother. She never did anything but try her best and hardest. The true culprit is sitting right before you. The current situation as well as the one 250 years ago were of my making, not your mother's. And I assure you, your mother would have never even thought about leaving this Castle had I not made the offer in the first place."

Abruptly, Kimiko swept up from her seat and then walked down the steps and into the garden.

Yoshimaru sat rooted to his spot. Although the anger still boiled in his veins, a heavy feeling had settled into the pit of his stomach. The first stirrings of guilt started to weigh on his shoulders.

No matter how much resentment he had towards his parents, he had not meant to upset his grandmother. Her uncharacteristic admission of guilt as well as the self-blaming look in her eyes had greatly disturbed Yoshimaru. His grandmother always hid her emotions so well, always appeared so poised and strong… Yoshimaru realised for the first time that his grandmother was old, that she had made mistakes the consequences of which still haunted her to this day.

Sighing, the boy got up from his seat and followed after Kimiko. He found his grandmother standing in the back of the garden, staring at the pond covered with water lilies. He hesitated for a moment before he walked over to her.

He cleared his throat, feeling awkward in the stifling silence.

His grandmother turned to acknowledge him.

"I am sorry, grandmother. I was out of line."

The demoness merely looked at him, her golden eyes guarded.

"It cannot be helped, I suspect," she spoke at last. "I understand if you hate your parents, but I do not want to see you scorn them in front of me. I have respect for both your father and your mother, and I do not want their son to blame them for something that ultimately was not even their doing but mine."

Another surge of guilt made Yoshimaru's stomach twist uncomfortably.

He bowed his head and left. He hated to see his usually strong and poised grandmother appearing so old and vulnerable.

-cCc-

During the peaceful rule of the Tokugawa shogunate, the Japanese borders had remained closed. Then, unexpectedly in the summer of 1853, four American warships appeared in the Edo bay, demanding the shogunate to open the country for trade.

This single event was the catalyst for years of conflict that eventually resulted in the Meiji Restoration; the disbanding of the shogunate and the restoration of power to the emperor.

But this event not only brought conflict to humans, it also did that for the demon kingdoms. For only some years later began the uprising that broke the peace.

For decades, the demons – the higher demons especially – had been growing agitated, as the human population had kept growing. For decades, their rulers had given them no heed, wishing above all to maintain peace. But there were many who believed that humans had already grown too populous, and the thought of allowing in even more ningen, allowing in foreigners, was the last straw.

Angry murmurs broke out here and there, the urgent whispers repeating the same message.

"We should give them a reminder; show the ningen scum our strength!"

"Their lands are ours, we should drive them out!"

But the ruling daiyoukai remained adamant.

"I will not allow nor tolerate an attack of any kind against the humans." Kimiko said firmly, ignoring the dark looks shot in her way.

But the pressure in the Western lands was never as dire as it was in the east. On the territory of the Eastern lands lay the town of Edo, the political centre of Japan and the seat of the Shogunate. The weight of the human populations' expansion was best felt there. Humans claimed more and more land, they spread and they multiplied like insistent pests.

And that was where it all began, in the Eastern lands. Like a rampant flame, it swiftly spread to the north and the west as well, and for the first time in many long centuries, the youkai marched to war.

Some wanted to live in peace, alongside the ningen, while others rose in arms against them, wanting to forever rid the demon territories of the mortal pests.

This time of upheaval, strife and carnage came later to be known as the dark years, and when this time of darkness had passed, the demon kingdoms never were the same, for death had claimed so many that the higher demons that had once been so proud and plentiful became so few in number that overthrowing the prospering humans became unthinkable even to those who wished for it.

-cCc-

Kenichirou startled awake the instant a clawed hand was pressed against his mouth. The moment he awoke his yellow-green eyes took in the darkness of the room. It was still night.

Then, the sounds and scents assaulted his senses – hissing, shouts and groans, the whisper of steel. The heavy coppery tang of blood. His eyes widened, and then pale green eyes entered his vision.

"Do not make a sound," the demon who was silencing him warned in an urgent whisper. Kenichirou stared at the young daiyoukai, long and steady. The hand was pulled away.

Kenichirou sat up on his futon and saw the female pup that was lying in a heap at his nightly visitor's feet.

"We have no time to lose. We need to get out of this castle, immediately."

"What is going on?" Kenichirou questioned.

"I said we have no time," the demon hissed and glared at him. Bending down to pick up the unconscious pup, Kenichirou stopped her.

"Give Yuriko to me. She is my sister, I should carry her."

The daiyoukai looked at him for a moment but nodded. She straightened herself and stalked to edge of the room. Slowly, silently, she slid the shoji screen open and slipped into the enclosed garden, Kenichirou at her heels.

Kenichirou had a bad feeling. If Sachiko had been sent to get him and his sister out of the castle, something seriously bad was going on. Still, he felt a bit at ease to know it was her who had come to escort them away. Though she was a female, she was the daughter of the General of the East. She had been trained since she had been a pup, and even with nothing but her bare hands she was a better fighter than most of the esteemed guards of the castle. Kenichirou had himself sparred with the demoness on several occasions.

They ran, with stealth only the feline kind could muster. They spent much of their youki to enhance their speed, and because of that they reached the Western castle shortly after daybreak.

Once there, they were immediately escorted to the room of the Western lady. There at last, Sachiko could take a breath and start explaining what was happening.

"It has happened. The youkai opposing our ningen politics have started an uprising. They took to arms and rose against the castle guards. My father immediately sent me to get Kenichirou-sama and Yuriko-sama and help them to safety."

"It is fair to assume that once the news spread, so does this uprising." Kimiko said gravely. "You are not safe here. The Western lands have their share of those who are unsettled with our current situation. I fear they might yet take up arms themselves before this has come to an end."

"We need to prepare for war then?" Satsuki asked matter-of-factly.

Kimiko pursed her painted lips.

"I wanted to avoid war to the very end, but now it seems we have no choice. Get Inuyasha, Shippo and Yoshimaru. Bring them here."

A servant hastened to obey his lady's command and soon the three came to the room.

Kimiko explained the situation swiftly and issued her orders. They were to prepare immediately, and inform all those who they were certain were loyal to the throne and its views. She ordered Shippo to take Rin, Yoshimaru and Yuriko, Kenichirou's younger sister, to the Southern lands, where all the reports claimed peace still reigned.

Kenichirou asked Sachiko, the demoness who had helped him and his sister escape, to go to the Southern lands, and complete her duty by guarding princess Yuriko. Sachiko, however, refused. Her father, the general of the East had given his life trying to protect the Lord and Lady of the East from the revolt. Now, Kenichirou would become the Lord of the East, and her duty was to him. She would not leave his side. She would go to the war with him, and fight along his side for her home and her father.

Yoshimaru, with his apparent maturity of a 15 year old, protested, but in the end had to resignedly acknowledge his responsibilities. When Yoshimaru set to pack, Inuyasha pulled him aside.

"I wasn't planning on giving you this so soon, but things seem to be gloomy right now and there's no telling what'll happen so it's better to be on the safe side." He pulled out a sheathed katana and held it out to his nephew.

"Take it. Your father gave it to me before he left, for safe-keeping, so I might one day pass it on to you."

Yoshimaru hesitantly reached out and accepted the sword.

"It is Tenseiga, forged from your grandfather's fang. It's a powerful sword. It gave life to Rin-chan long time ago."

"Gave life?"

"That is its power. Train well, Yoshimaru. Become a youkai worthy of that sword."

Yoshimaru did not speak, his feelings being so mixed at that moment. But he acknowledged Inuyasha's words with a firm nod.

-cCc-

That very evening, the surviving loyalists of the Eastern lands began to arrive at the West, spreading the tale of fear, terror and blood. The rebellion had forced its way through the castle guards, and the Lord and the Lady of the East had been slain. The resistance now held the castle of the East and from there on the revolt spread like a tidal wave further to the Eastern lands. Some demons of the Western lands upon hearing the news slipped away and made haste to the East, eager to join the rebellious force that had finally risen against their soft-grown, human-loving leaders.

There were also those who felt loyalty to the bloodlines that had long ruled them but did not agree with all of their views and opinions, and thus wanted to take no part in the whole event, opting to stay altogether impartial.

And then there were those who were loyal to their lords and ladies and were ready to take up arms to protect them and the ideals they stood for.

The uprising did soon take place in the West, too, but its effects were not as disastrous as they had been on the Eastern lands, because Kimiko had been forewarned and had been able to gather around those whom she trusted. Furthermore, the surviving loyalists of the Eastern lands gathered under Kenichirou and joined in defending the Western throne. Also the opposition in the West had slightly lessened, for the most enthusiastic rebels had run to the East to join the victorious resistance there. Once the Western throne was secure, Kimiko sent her troops out, naming Inuyasha as her general. Kenichirou joined with the remainder of the Eastern force.

The war lasted for 2 years.

When the rebellion in the East was on the brink of crumbling, the Lord of the Northern lands, the old wolf of the white tribe, passed away. Being left temporarily without a leader, the dissidents in the North began an uprising to their own. Taking a chance, the remnants of the Eastern rebellion fled to the North, and in the Northern lands the war began anew.

In the end, the joined forces defending the thrones of the East, West and North prevailed, and the uprising rebels were beaten.

The end of the war showed the disastrous state the demon kingdoms had fallen into: The Eastern lands were lost, and many of the elite of the higher demons were dead. The powers of all demonic kingdoms were greatly diminished, and they would always remain mere shadows of their days of glory.

-cCc-

A month after the war, the leaders of the four lands drew together in a meeting. The meeting took place in the Southern lands, which were untouched by war. There had never been so much demon population in the south, and most demons that lived there were peaceful, just as their Lord and Lady were.

The Lady of the West arrived at the south accompanied with her general Inuyasha. The newly appointed Lord of the Northern lands, the wolf prince Kouga, attended the meeting as well with his mate, the Lady of the North. The Lady was no other than princess Ayame of the white wolf clan, the late Lord's daughter. The two of them had mated during the war to join the forces of their clans to protect the throne from the usurpers.

The prince of the East came together with the late Eastern general's daughter Sachiko, who had proven her worth in the war.

Shippo was glad to see that his friends had not come to harm, even though he was still a little put off having been sent off to safety. Of course he realised the importance of guarding the heir of the West, and he understood that such a task could not have been intrusted to just anyone. Yoshimaru had not been happy either, to sit aside while his people were fighting for their land. He had vigorously immersed himself in practise, and his skill with the sword was now rivalling even that of Shippo's. Their refuge in the Southern lands had gone pleasantly. The Southern court had welcomed them generously. Yuriko, the princess of the East, had come to depend much on Yoshimaru. Although she was older than Yoshimaru, she had been much more immature compared to the inu prince. She had not been the heir to the throne, and she had been loved and pampered by her parents. She had never had such a great hurry to grow up, but now that she had lost her home, lost her parents, and the peaceful world around her had crumbled to pieces in the torrents of the war. Everything had changed and for the first time in her life she had felt insecure and scared. Since Yoshimaru was closest to her own age in the Southern castle, it was natural that she had gravitated towards him, seeking comfort. Yoshimaru thought her behaviour was bothersome, but knowing how scared the young feline was, he couldn't really leave her alone.

In the meeting, the rulers were faced with tough decisions. First of all Kenichirou declined his right to ascend to throne, stating to the other leaders that he no longer had any lands to rule. The Eastern castle had been completely destroyed in the war, and with their diminished numbers they had no way of reclaiming their territories, not when the human population had grown so large.

It was then when Kimiko made her suggestion: as the daiyoukai had grown few as a result of the war, they did not really need as much space to live anymore.

"We can try to go back and try to regain our old world, but I do not think that is wise," the Western Lady spoke. "Change is the way of the world and now it has come to us. What I think is the best course to move forward now, is to have a treaty with the humans."

And so it came to be that Kimiko travelled to the human capital of Kyoto, to treaty with the emperor Meiji, to whom the governing power had been returned after the shogunate had been overthrown. There she worked out a contract with the ruler of the ningen, to sign over all of the Eastern and the Northern lands if in return, the remaining demon population of the north and the east would have the emperor's leave to settle in the Northern island of Hokkaido. She also promised to sign over most of the Western lands, as long as the demons would be allowed to keep the provinces of Houki, Inaba and Izumo. Few other provinces she would want to keep in her name as well, but would allow humans to live on those lands in exchange of a yearly fee.

The contract was signed.

The higher demons retreated to their new lands, and formed their own communities there, protected and hidden from the human eyes. So it came to be that over the decades, the demons passed from the knowledge of the humans, becoming only characters in myths, legends and folk tales.

-cCc-

It took a while for everyone to adjust to the change, but in the end they did. Kimiko remained as the Lady of the West, and what was left of her people still looked up to her, but the title no longer held the grandeur of the past. Although she still was the leader of their community, the life was still drastically changed for all of them. Since there were so few daiyoukai left, the formalities and the stiffness of what had once been the Western court crumbled. The war had touched each and every one of them, so the status of who was a servant and who was a noble did not make as much a difference anymore.

With the remnants of the Western court, lived now also some of the surviving refugees of the Eastern lands. Most of the snow leopard tribe had gone north to Hokkaido with the wolf clans, as the colder climate and the mountainous territories there suited their kind. But some of the Eastern higher demons had come to like the Western lands. Among those who stayed were also Kenichirou and his little sister Yuriko. Sachiko had gone to north, as Kenichirou wanted to have someone he trusted to be there for his people.

-cCc-

In 1897, Miyako gave birth to her and Inuyasha's first child. The newborn was celebrated in the West for the community had grown close and especially now after the war, youkai children had become rare.

None, however, were happier than Inuyasha and Miyako themselves, and that did not go unnoticed by their friends.

"Uncle Inuyasha seems happy."

"Of course he is happy, dear."

"He insisted that I hold the pup," Yoshimaru muttered.

"Well, his pup is your cousin, Yoshimaru. Bonding with your pack is essential."

"I did not like it, he was so tiny."

A faraway look appeared in her grandmother's golden eyes.

"I still can remember the day you were just as tiny as Inuyasha's son is now," Kimiko said with a nostalgic smile. She glanced at Yoshimaru out of the corner of her eye.

"Your parents were overwhelmingly happy as well."

A close and guarded look immediately took over the bright blue depths of Yoshimaru's eyes.

"And yet they were ready to throw that happiness away in a blink of an eye," the young male said in a quiet tone.

"A parent is willing to give everything in their power to ensure that their young have a happy life," Kimiko replied.

The demoness turned then, and looked at him. A sad smile was playing on her painted lips.

"I demanded too much from your father and allowed him too little freedom. I made your father unhappy. And that will always remain to be my greatest regret." Kimiko paused, her lips twisting to a mocking sneer. "You know, now in the hindsight I can almost appreciate the irony. I wanted to make your father into the perfect Lord – and yet with my actions I poisoned him against his birthright. I was a fool."

Yoshimaru was shocked to hear such regretful words from his grandmother. His grandmother had always been graceful and proud – she had never expressed weakness in front of others.

And yet now here she was, telling him these things. Openly admitting she had been in the wrong.

"I made right by your father in the end, though. I could tell he would not have been happy in this life. I had seen to that myself, albeit unintentionally. Not even with your mother's love and support would your father have found such happiness here as he did in his freedom. I granted him that. I let him go. I let my son go, because I knew he was happier somewhere else, living a different life."

Then, those wise, golden eyes were trained on him, inspecting.

"Your mother and I… It is almost unseemly how very alike we are in the end," the demoness mused.

Yoshimaru's blue eyes widened when his mind caught up to the implications of his grandmother's admission.

Soon, he frowned, and crossed his arms.

"Are you telling me that my parents left me because they thought that would make me happy?" he snorted incredulously. "Because that is some seriously twisted logic there."

"Maybe it would look less twisted to you if you could put your hatred aside for a second and actually try to understand what life was like for your parents in this castle."

Yoshimaru's jaw clenched in a defensive manner, and there still was a scowl in his face.

"Fine," he spat out sullenly. "Try me."

"Very well," Kimiko conceded. "But first you must understand that the only ones who can truly explain the reasons behind their choice are your parents. I can only offer you some guesses as to what might have gone through their minds that lead them into such a decision."

"Alright."

"You need to realise that Kagome was woefully unprepared. Not only to bear a pup, but to the whole life in our court as the lady of the West. To mate your father. She was young, hardly older than what you are now. She had not come of age neither by the human traditions or ours."

Yoshimaru frowned deeply. If he was a human child, his age would have been around 16 by now. It was hard trying to imagine someone as young as that forming a mating bond.

"I knew she was young, but I did not realise she had not even come of age. Is it not forbidden to take a mate before reaching adulthood?"

"By the way of us inuyoukai, it is. But your mother was a human, so our laws and traditions did not bind her. And no one protested. Now I think maybe someone should have. Everyone was too eager to see your father finally mated and the line of the West continued, to consider how unprepared this poor human child was for all that responsibility. She tried hard, but adjusting to our ways was not easy for her. She was scared. Not only for herself but for your father too."

"Because he did not want to be the lord?"

Kimiko nodded.

"I trained your father not to show his emotions on the outside. I thought the self-control would aid him in becoming a great ruler. I did not consider it would become a heavy mask for him to bear. But your mother learned to see past it all, to see your father's very soul. And it was with the inside she learned to love, not the outside. I suppose that she thought the duties and responsibilities of the throne would wear your father down, that in time it would become impossible for him to take off that mask altogether."

Yoshimaru was scowling.

"Could that have happened?" he questioned. He was starting to feel a little unsure of what he should believe in.

"It was a possibility. But we will never know what would have happened had your parents stayed. That path was not to be taken."

"So basically you are telling me my parents were not happy here and that is why they abandoned me? I knew all along why they left, grandmother." Yoshimaru growled sullenly.

"Perhaps you knew, but you still do not understand," Kimiko said gently, a hint of reproach in her golden gaze. "Your parents thought they might never be happy here in this castle. They were afraid that their own unhappiness would spread, that it would find root in you as well. They feared how witnessing their contempt would affect you. "

Yoshimaru stayed silent. With a stiff bow, he excused himself and walked away.

He clung stubbornly to his bitter feelings, trying not to let his grandmother sway him.

But already, the words had slipped into his heart, unnoticed.

Chie: The provinces I listed in this chapter (Houki, Inaba and Izumo) that are what remain in demon rule of the Western lands of old are located in North Western Honshuu, on the shore of the Sea of Japan. The provinces are now situated in the prefectures of Tottori and Shimane, which still today are mostly rural and are two of the least populated provinces of Japan.

Lastly, since people have been asking me already for the past two chapters, let me get one thing straight…

THIS IS NOT THE END!

Keep your eyes trained for clues such as The End written at the very bottom of the chapter, or the word "Epilogue" cropping up before the chapter title, or the story's status changing from the current 'Incomplete' to 'Complete'. Until you see such telltale signs, you ought to be safe.

;3