Chapter 36 - Old Memories
"No rest for the wicked it seems." The old demon whispered to himself as he stood in the center of a rather spacious bathroom. Unlike the rest of the house the modern conveniences here were quite obvious though they still were decorated with a traditional touch. Like the large round tub ringed in bamboo and old oak planks, of which he certainly enjoyed enough that he'd spent a little more time soaking in the pleasantly hot water than he intended. Not that any one could hardly blame him, this was perhaps the most rest he'd enjoyed since he'd arrived here. At least that was the argument he'd prepared in the event someone complained about this. Oh how he already missed it only a moment after climbing out!
Combing his fingers through his long wet hair he silently reflected over it all. The emotions, the memories, everything that he'd held back while facing his long lost family, finally came crashing down over his head. Laying bare everything that brought him a sense of amazement, wonder and shame. At the fore front was his youngest son who he could not help but gaze upon with a mixed bag of emotions at best. However that same mix of emotions was apparent in his hanyou boy as well. Every time his son looked towards him, he could see the confusion and anger in his honey colored eyes. A smile drew over his face as he grabbed a towel and began to dry himself.
"Hanyou," He whispered to himself. "Half breed, demi-demon, hybrid...not one of those gives you proper credit. You inherited the best qualities of your parentage and are more than capable of standing up to your full blooded counterparts. " Drawing the towel around himself a moment he gave a soft sigh. "If I had the opportunity, I would have raised you as a demon and none would ever see you differently, not even the old monk on the mountain. "
A well wish for a distant dream that had long ago slipped from his fingers. A dream he had often thought of, before everything he knew and cherished was lost in the flames. Memories of a distant past long forgotten began to filter forth, only to hit a mental wall that sent a shiver along his spine. Burying his face in the towel he quickly shook off that queer feeling that those memories were dangerous. The cold truth drawing in to remind him that he was in no position to be soul searching, this was something he should be well aware of.
After drying off his face he took in a deep breath, filling his lungs with the floral scented bathroom air. Regaining control of his emotions before they ran amok and left him a wreck and releasing that breath in a long even exhale he expelled those tormenting feelings before his eyes turned towards the bathroom mirror. It's surface clouded from the bathrooms steam, yet it still managed to faintly show him the cold facts that long ago he was forced to accept. Using a corner of the towel he cleaned off the mirrors surface and gazed at his reflection.
To this day he knew nearly nothing of the black haired and blue eyed man that stared back at him. Apart from the fact that he was his very first victim in this second life. His soul and flesh overtaken by his demonic power and reshaped to look like the demon he once was, though these details always remained to remind him. All at once his thoughts returned to that snow filled night long ago.
A night filled with fear, blood shed, heart break and loss. Under a moonless sky a castle burned brightly, a fitting funeral pyre for the demon within. As he'd lain in the wreckage, caught in death's ever tightening grip, he had turned his eyes to the only door out of the hellish room and to the fresh foot prints in the snow just beyond it. He had thought of how this would be the last he would see of his love that he'd rescued only minutes before, thought of what she now faced raising the newborn. Alone.
The irony burned hotter than the flames that had been steadily creeping towards him. He had saved her from death yet could do nothing about his own, with all his power and strength he could not save himself. After all his struggles and fighting he could not be with her! In the face of his mortality he closed his eyes and let his emotions consume him. How badly he'd wished to defeat death, the desire to escape this fate quickly grew even as he felt the life fading from him.
It was in this moment of desperation a voice had whispered to him, soft and soothing, echoing with promise, offering a final chance to escape this torment. This voice had drawn his turbulent soul from the hell he was facing and opened a way of escape and like a cornered and suffering animal, he'd taken it without thinking!
It was all he remembered of that night, for when he next awoke he was lost and confused. In a body that did not feel like his own he stumbled from his bed of stone. Limbs refused to work right and many times he fell to the floor helpless. While he struggled to comprehend what had happened to him, he found a mirror and caught his first gimps of this black haired and blue eyed man. The man he'd unknowingly possessed.
No, the man he'd unknowingly consumed body and soul.
In all his years he'd seen many demon possessions, most were violent and terrifying to watch. The victims minds were almost always left shattered, leaving the human gripped in madness and physical pain. Facing only two options, to fight the demon or be devoured by it. How long had this man suffered when he devoured him? What ill fate brought this poor soul face to face with an angry dog demons soul? However the fact that frightened him the most, was that he had absolutely no recollection of the possession.
Instinct, that was his only answer though it brought him no comfort. He was a demon, no matter how warm his heart, how understanding his mind and how gentle his soul was. At the very core of his being he was a malevolent monster and in the end a demons instincts could not be denied. How foolish was he to believe that he was any different? That he could make himself to be any different when the reality was merely a mirrors reflection away.
As time went on and his demonic power had grown, the black hair had faded to silver and his demonic features restored themselves. Which left the features of the nameless man not to be seen again, unless a power drew it back to the surface, subconsciously he looked down to the blue crystal hanging around his neck.
Rolling the towel up in his hands he turned from the mirror and tossed it into the hamper and pushed aside his thoughts of which he'd combed over so many times in his existence since. How easy it was it for him to entertain such pleasant dreams, for that was all they were, dreams. Never again would he be the same as he once was. No longer was he a dog demon of that caliber. It was no longer his place anymore. For he was now an Inugami, a vengeful soul brought back to serve the master that summoned it. A master that would surely call him back when the time came.
From one monster to another far worse creature. It was almost laughable how quickly he forgot about that. How easily he could still dream of returning to his family, of living comfortably, ignoring the darkness in his soul as he conveniently forgot about his own blood soaked past. Far too easily.
Holding his hair band between his teeth he began to gather up his damp hair, pulling it into that signature pony tail. All the while burying any foolish notion that he could rejoin his boy. He marveled over how utterly blind he'd been, that outburst in the library had been such a clear sign. He could not give Inuyasha the answers he so rightfully deserved. Because the mere fact that he was even speaking to his son, put Inuyasha and his wife Kagome in mortal danger. He knew better, gods rot it all he was supposed to know better! He had been warned not to seek his loved ones, forbidden to even see them and yet here he was.
With a last fix of his pony tail he flicked his hair back over his shoulder and let his hands drop to his sides. Letting the terms of his existence sink back in and quell the rebellion of his heart, while dismissing the illusion of hope he seemed to so fond of conjuring up from time to time. No matter what he felt or what hope he dared cling to, the truth was that some day he would be called back and there was absolutely nothing he could do to stop It.
Unless the Shikome managed to kill him first that is. For the last time he allowed himself to take in the elegant beauty of the bathroom, though now it had lost all it's charm with his subdued mood. Shaking his head, he cleared his thoughts for the task that still loomed ahead of him as he turned to gather his clothes and dress.
Off in the meeting room of the house, Inuyasha paced back and forth, his crimson hakama rustling softly with every step. With his arms folded over his chest the hanyou looked every bit as impatient as he felt. Though his annoyances were nothing compared to the down right volatile look the Alpha of the wolf demons was giving him as her narrowed eyes followed the pacing boy. Koki, this time without her usual consort, sat there, drumming her fingers on the table top while she tried to absorb the information brought before her.
With Koki also at the table was Kagome; who kept herself busy for the moment by leafing through the book of fairy tales. The young miko was waiting for Koki to make even just a peep, after having been hit with what essentially was a bomb shell about the creatures that they faced. The wolf woman was still bitter and resentful toward them when she'd been first contacted, and made sure they were very well aware of that. But after being told that they were essentially facing one of the handmaidens of an underworld goddess, who was still hell bent on finishing the task she was dispatched to do thousands of years ago, Koki had fallen dead silent.
The entire room was silent for the span of thirty minutes, except for the sound of Inuyasha's foot steps on the polished wooden floor. As time went on the sound became a little unnerving, causing Kagome to turn to her husband and wave a hand at him to draw his attention. "Why don't you take a rest? You're pacing around like you are raring to go."
"That's because I am! The longer we sit here the more destruction that Shikome is causing, the stronger she's getting. We should be getting ready to go find her!" Inuyasha snapped as he whirled abruptly around on a heel to face to the table.
"Find her, then do what?" Koki suddenly replied in a deadpan tone, finally seeing an opportunity to unleash her simmering fury. Fueled by frustration and the overwhelming sense of dread, she slapped a hand down on the table and closed her eyes. "We need to think of a plan, think of something, if there even is anything we can do."
The chill in Koki's tone made Kagome shiver, there was such a echo of sadness that she began to worry that the Alpha had already given up. Leaning over the table she tried to look the wolf demon in the face. "Yes, we need a plan, a plan that can defeat her."
Opening her blue-green eyes Koki turned to gaze back into the hopeful expression of the miko beside her. For a brief moment she returned that look, but then a humorless smile drew over her face that was then followed by a laugh that sounded so bitter and cold that even Kagome's smile faded. "A plan to defeat her? How can you defeat her? Do you know how to kill what is basically a god!? Do you really think we are all strong enough to do such a thing?"
"If the prospect frightens you that much, then you are perfectly welcome to pack up your remaining wolves and flee from this place." A deep and stern voice echoed through the room emanating from the old demon who now stood in the doorway. It startled Inuyasha a little and he flashed his father an annoyed look. He'd not even heard him open the damned door!
In a furious huff Inuyasha opened his mouth to snap at his father, but there was something in the old demon's demeanor that seemed off. Swallowing back his words he instead stepped aside as the old dog made his way to a seat. Inuyasha in turn retreated back over to Kagome's side, and kept a wary eye on him.
Koki however was not so reserved, a fire lit up in her eyes as she glared daggers at the other demon. "How dare you! We are facing a monster capable of bringing down a god! Like you can stand there and claim you are not afraid yourself!? "
"The door is to your right M'lady." He responded coolly as he settled down at the table. Devoid of his armor the youkai was clad in a dark grey long sleeve shirt that was a little snug over his chest and a pair of form fitting black cargo pants; all in all nothing that seemed imposing or intimidating. Until one looked at him closely. There was ice in his eyes and his expression was unreadable, his posture was ridged and his tone lacked any hint of emotion.
It was enough to keep Inuyasha on guard as he settled himself between the old dog and Kagome. Something was not right, though for some reason he couldn't bring himself to dare get between him and Koki. Even Kagome who could already see yet another fight brewing between the two demons remained quiet and quite rooted to her spot. Looking on apprehensively she could practically see the alpha's blood pressure rising.
Koki planted both hands on the table as she slowly pushed herself to a stand, her furious glare locked on the demon across the table from her. " You really do like pissing me off dog, if you honestly think you can-"
"There is no room in this dangerous mission for frightened wolves. If you cannot do this M'lady then no one is forcing you to. Take your wolves and run." There was no room left for argument, the look in his eyes was neither of anger nor annoyance. In fact there was nothing in them, it was as if he was all business.
Standing there in silence Koki could not help but let her anger drain away. The terms were laid out plainly before her. After a few long moments of tense silence, the Alpha slowly sank back down to her seat. Growling under her breath. "As if two dogs and a Miko can handle this alone? Don't be ridiculous, the wolves will not run."
Kagome then let out the breath that she wasn't aware she was holding through her still clenched teeth. The charge in the air finally defused as the Alpha at last calmed down. Though it all still left one question hanging in the air. " So do you have a plan to kill the Shikome?"
"I do not know of a way to kill a god and I highly doubt that all our strength combined could ever accomplish such a feat." His gaze drifted from one hopeless expression to the next before he raised a finger up in point. "However, this does not mean that we cannot send her back to the underworld."
"Then who do we know that can open a door way to the after life?" Koki asked in a mix of curiosity and skepticism. It was not unheard of for a very powerful entity to have a means of reaching the after life. But in this modern age, creatures like that were pretty much all extinct.
"I can." Inuyasha perked up and answered in such a casual way that it nearly made Koki keel sideways out of her seat! Turning his attention to the old dog Inuyasha then pulled the Tetsusaiga out from under the kneel-to table and set it down in clear view. " I did manage to take the Meidou Zangutsa from Sesshoumaru."
"Tetsusaiga doesn't open the Meidou in the same full circle as Tenseiga did though." Kagome quickly added as her gaze fell to the tattered old katana. The theory though still worked even if the method would be tedious. " We can still send her into the underworld however if you can catch her in the Meidou."
"There is an issue with that," Interrupting the pair the old demon's gaze also trailed to his old sword. It looked clean and well cared for, the sight of which brought a little warmth to his heart. " the problem is that the Shikome knows about the Tetsusaiga's power, you have already fought her power once and the black goo touched the blade. This means that she could very well have learned of what power the fang holds and will be wise to it."
"That is our only choice though isn't it?" Inuyasha reached down to pick up the steel fang, drawing his finger tips over the polished scabbard. "Even if we could get Tenseiga the sword has already lost all it's power. It'll never heal anyone ever again never mind open a path to the Meidou. Tetsusaiga is our only option."
That news caught the old youkai off guard and left him feeling a small sense of loss to say the least. As that information sank in his gaze dropped to the table top before him, granted he knew the power of his swords would not last forever, though he honestly thought that the Steel Crushing Fang would expire before the Healing blade. To hear that Tenseiga has lost all of it's power was disturbing, though he quickly stopped himself from asking anything further. Reminding himself that now was not the time. "Yes there is another option, I am capable of opening the Meidou myself."
Silence fell over the room once again, as the three other table occupants looked between one another. Each one having a hard time believing the stroke of luck here, suddenly the Dark Queen, that they had only seen as sitting on a pedestal high above their reach. was knocked down a few pegs. After several long minutes of contemplation Inuyasha finally broke the hush. "So then; are you going to need Tetsusaiga?"
His posture relaxed a little bit as he noticed the change in the air, at last the hostilities were gone and he had the rapt attention of all three. Even the wolf seemed genuinely interested in the conversation, her face no longer held a twisted mask of arrogance. "I could not take Tetsusaiga now even if I wished to Inuyasha, the blade sees only you as it's master now." Still he gave a small smile to his son's offer before he continued. "That does not prevent me from opening a door to the afterlife, however I am limited."
"How limited?" Koki nearly growled as she propped an elbow on the table, looking on the verge of reverting back to her hostile nature at the sound of a possible catch-22.
Realizing that he was on the verge of falling right back to square one with the alpha, the youkai motioned with a hand to calm her. " Limited in the fact that I will need to scavenge for a few items and make preparations." His attention then turned to the hanyou and Miko. " The major limitation however is that I can only open the meidou in a predetermined and fixed location. Once the Meidou is open I have no control of it, nor will I know how long it can be sustained."
"Long as you can open that portal Old Man I'll figure out how to get that Shikome's ass through it." Inuyasha quickly retorted with a grin, his grip tightened on the sword in anticipation.
Kagome sat up with the sudden charge of excitement. "Inuyasha and I will look for the Shikome, I'm sure that both of you can follow our trail?" She paused a moment and waited for a confirming nod from each of the youkai, though she was addressing her father-in-law in particular. "Then Inuyasha and I will get a head start, we wont make a move until you meet up with us."
"We'll try not to anyway." Inuyasha grumbled under his breath.
"Then that leaves the Nuribotoke for the wolves," Koki added then, now looking quite hopeful about the whole issue as she rose from her seat. "I am assuming that once the Shikome is cast back into the underworld that her power over these monsters will fade. We'll keep the monsters busy."
"That is my hope as well M'lady." It was his only hope in defeating this creature and saving the city really. If this plan failed then they were probably going to be caught between a rock and a hard place because there was no plan B. Though he kept that ill thought to himself, the air was filled with positive energy from the three's heightened moral.
Inuyasha was the first to start for the door, his love's hand clasped in his own while he led the way. He stopped for only a moment at the threshold to shoot his father a daring look. "Don't get lost Old Man, we'll be waiting for you." Kagome though shook her head, this was Inuyasha showing a little concern in his own round-about way.
"Fret not over me Inuyasha, focus on the task before you as it is the most difficult of the three. The Shikome moves quickly and you will have to as well if you hope to find her." He warned; though perhaps he felt a little touched by the hanyou's words and gave a little nod. His son returned the nod with a smirk before leaving the room, his mate in tow.
Koki didn't even bother to grace him with another word when she also left the chamber on the couple's heels, leaving him alone in the meeting room.
He sighed softly and leaned an elbow on the table. His gaze turned to an empty seat beside him as he grumbled under his breath. "My only challenge however, is how exactly can I open the meidou?" A soft sigh escaped his lips as he settled himself to think. The demonic magic was certainly within him, as long ago the Tetsusaiga absorbed the power of other demons it thus channeled the yoroyouku into himself. There was no question as to weather he had it in him. However, never had he tried to launch the attack without the aid of his weapons.
Well, perhaps that wasn't entirely true.
The Meidou Stone he'd given to his first wife was proof of that, though it was true that the stone itself had been a specific kind of gemstone. One that took well to magic; Dragon's Heart Obsidian. Unfortunately it was also quite a rare gemstone, and back before he'd given it to his first wife the mysterious stone came into his possession out of luck. Luck was not something he could count on now, nor did he think he could find it or any other artifacts capable of carrying demonic energy. Chewing on his lower lip he stared at the wall across the room and picked over his dilemma.
How was he to do this without an artifact? Could he take a normal item and enchant it? Would it even work? He knew well enough that any common objects made by human hands could not hold his power, even weak as it was now. Or could they? A dark brow arched as he gave the blank wall a thoughtful look, muttering softly under his breath. "It needs to only work once doesn't it? We have only one chance to trap this deity regardless on if I can open only a single meidou or a thousand."
His soft chuckle followed as he closed his eyes and silently reprimanded himself about how quick he was to make a decision based on only a few details instead of stepping back to see the whole picture. When he opened his eyes again he thanked the wall for it's time and rose from his seat.
In his mind the pieces of the plan were beginning to fall into place. The first part of his plan, however, was the most crucial and once he was out in the hall he took a moment to draw a slow deep breath. He tested the air for the scents of the items he would need for his spell, which were swords. What his nose picked up though was a curious mix of steel and other scents, his brows knitted a little as he tried to ponder over what he'd smelled while he started off down the hall.
The first sword he came across was sitting at the foot of a full set of Samurai armor. It looked like a fine weapon at first with it's polished maple wood scabbard and dark blue wrap. The steel though looked strange, as he tilted the blade to the light it seemed a little too shiny. Crinkling his nose a little he took the blade with both hands and bent it, looking on in disappointment as the steel buckled and remained in an L shape once he released it. This was what he feared, the blade was only for show and not a properly forged weapon! With a sigh he did his best to bend the blade back into something like it's original shape and carefully stuffed it back into the scabbard, leaving the sword as he found it in the display.
The second sword he found was hanging off of a wall rack along with a few others, just as before he pulled each of the blades out to inspect and just as before he was disappointed. One sword bent in his grasp, the other was so soft and malleable that it's blade could be twisted into a cork screw! The final sword meanwhile snapped like a brittle twig showing him in fragments of steel. "Unbelievable! Are all the weapons in this home for decoration only?" He growled at the cork screw sword as he propped the amusing looking weapon back in it's spot.
It maybe true that humans had not needed swords in over a hundred years, but he still could not understand why anyone would want these cheap little knock offs. Leaving the rack he turned to gaze upon the rest of the quaint looking room. It had had a very traditional air to it but now everything felt as fake and cheap as the blades he'd found. Tucking his hands into his pockets the demon gave an annoyed little huff. "It amazes me how Sesshoumaru has lived with this family for generations yet does not show them what quality swords are?"
Or had he?
His eyes rolled up a little as the realization of what could possibly be there hit him. He almost wanted to shake his head to the sudden notion but instead held his judgments. Turning his nose up to the air he sniffed about for the scent of his son, even if he found himself to be a little reluctant to investigate. Should he really be pressing his luck here by invading his son's sanctuary? It was not that he feared detection, there were wards placed upon him that erased his presence, scent and all. No, it was something else that fueled his reluctance. The morality behind it and his honor to say the least. Simply put, he felt like a parent who was invading his adult child's bedroom!
Steeling his wits the old demon turned to follow his eldest son's scent, yet as made his way along he began to notice a few curiosities. The biggest being that Sesshoumaru's scent seemed to be almost absent through out much of the house. When he first arrived here he caught the scent easily enough while he was outside although it had been very faint at the time besides that his mind had been in a state that could not process the significance of that detail properly. Now that he was actually paying attention he began to wonder. Could Sesshoumaru also hide his scent?
Inuyasha's words rang through his head once more, Sesshoumaru is a Shisa, a house guardian. That fact still amazed him to no end and only seemed to lend more into his confusion. Why did the house he was supposed to guard lack so much of his scent? That question echoed in his mind while his foot steps similarly echoed along the hall that was leading him to an eerie part of the house. His clawed fingertips brushed along the wall in search of a light switch, only to realize it was a wasted effort. He needed only to look up to see that the hall lacked light fixtures. In their place were oil lamps hanging from the walls.
That wasn't the only modern convenience missing from the hall, this wing of the house lacked the scent of plastic piping and copper wire, even the polished floor held the scent of an old kind of lacquer varnish. Where the rest of the house just mimicked an old feel, this part was actually authentic through and through, down to the very last detail. This discovery raised even more curious questions in his mind as he peered through the darkness.
At last he encountered a set of ornate sliding doors. Just beyond them the scent of his eldest son was quite strong. Though it was intermixed with something else that brought with it a feeling of concern in the old youkai.
The very moment he stepped into the room he was swallowed up in darkness so thick that he doubted any flame or light would ever be able to penetrate it! What was worse, was that which he felt churning somewhere within the depths of that darkness. It was feelings of sadness, anger and hatred. These ingrained emotions swirled around him like ghosts, adding to his already mounting suspicions.
Narrowing his eyes to the darkness the old dog turned to his nose to help him find a window. Following the scent of fresh air with an outstretched hand he waved it slowly around until his fingertips brushed against a polished wooden shutter.
With a sense of relief he pulled the shutters open and let the sunlight pour into the room and burn away the darkness like a morning fog, thus confirming his suspicion. This darkness was little more than residual demonic energy, it commonly collected on objects or in places that were used often by youkai. And in this case it formed into a cloud that filled the room. This coupled with the strong scent of his son the youkai came to the conclusion that he lived only in this part of the house.
Not that he could blame his son for it! He was so focused on the retreating cloud of youki that when his eyes finally swept around the room he was struck with slack jawed awe! From the floor boards, to the decorative paintings lining the walls to the very furniture itself: everything was a perfectly reproduced piece from home! His home, the castle hidden in the mists, it was as if someone removed one of it's elegant chambers and placed it right here!
After a few moments of open gawking he closed his mouth and let his eyes wander around the room more systematically. He Looked over the lacquered shelves laden with scroll tubes and twine bound books lining the walls, along the floors where many maple wood displays held delicate pottery work while others bore hand painted vases from the main land and lastly a large statue of a foo dog carved from a demons bone guarded the door. It's square jaws were parted wide in a fang filled snarl as it sat on it's haunches.
The sight of the room filled his heart with delight until his eyes fell onto a large wooden desk. Unlike the other furnishings it had been oiled and polished until the warm hues of the oak wood were sealed beneath a glass like finish. Yet there was something more that seemed to bother him about this kneel level desk. The awe of the room began to fade with every step he took closer to that desk. A tinge of sadness and confusion dampened the joy in his heart when he knelt down behind it and propped his elbow over the edge.
Silently he studied the patterns of the wood grain beneath the polished surface, taking note of all the tiny scratches and nicks. Each one causing a spark of memory to light, memories that he could not keep locked away. They seeped through the cracks in his mental defenses like water in a wooden box. His gaze drifted to the double doors directly in front of the desk. In his minds eye those doors opened to a beautiful garden filled with a multitude of flowers. When opened they would've Let in the fresh air and sweet floral scents, along with the memories of a small pup scampering among them. A small pup hunting butterflies and digging dens in the flower beds.
He remembered when that pup finally could transform, how he would peek up over the veranda and spy on him while he worked. Waiting for the right moment to sneak in and steal rice cakes off the tea plate that always seemed to be just within his reach. He remembered the afternoons when he would ask for a sweet to go with his tea, only to leave the plate right on the edge of this desk, the sweet uneaten. He remembered the rainy days where that pup would sit in front of the open doors and glare outside at the storm clouds, discontent that he could not play outside. He remembered telling him stories to pass the time, sometimes he would act out the good parts and the pup would join him!
One by one these memories surfaced from a time long lost when he had sat in this study to pour over maps and pick through scrolls while spending time with his young son. This very study.
Golden eyes slowly drew over the room around him, a room he knew all too well with nearly everything reproduced to the last detail. With a heavy heart and a head full of confusion he sat there for a few long minutes and struggled to make sense of it all while whispering softly to himself. " He wishes nothing more than my death yet he brings this of all rooms back here to live in? "
It was all too tempting to think that his son missed those days about as much as he did. Until the bitter memory of a snowy day not too long ago, where he'd seen his son for the first time in hundreds of years and discovered his searing hatred for him! Startled by that notion he snapped out of his dreaming daze, already feeling the wicked fangs of depression nipping at the back of his mind. This time however he refused to give in and firmly banished it from his head while his clawed hands rubbed at his face.
"Do not fall into the clutches of that misery again, you cannot afford such a setback now!" Through out the room his voice echoed, shattering the silence that had up until now been so deafening. Cutting through the emotions that raged within him while bringing his sights back to perspective. There was a time and place for everything and thus he locked all these little emotions and memories, both the good and bad, away to ponder over later. Turning his attention to the curiosity that he'd first encountered in here instead.
He could not help thinking that there was a story somewhere within these four walls, though that story would be meaningless unless that Shikome was defeated. Giving a little mushroom sigh the old demon pushed off the desk and rose from his seat. The parent in him wanted to know what was wrong with his son, but the cold truth shadowed even his best of intentions and he reluctantly let it go. This did not stop him though from fixing the cushion he'd been sitting on however. It was bad enough he was invading his son's privacy, at the very least he could leave some things as he'd found them.
He spied what he sought after; it was proudly displayed on a set of elegant antlers that served as a weapons rack. The antlers stood three feet high and looked like they may have come off the head of a once mighty stag. Perched across each curving horn was a set of five swords of varying sizes and slightly different shapes. With care he picked one of the weapons and slid the blade free of the scabbard. Unlike the previous blades this one bore scratches and scrapes from use. More importantly the steel had a distinctive wave pattern over it's surface, something the junk swords lacked. Gingerly he took a hold of the blade and like before he bent it.
The steel flexed without cracking and bounced back to it's original shape once he released it. The result of a skilled sword smith's hammer folding the hot steel over and over again, and creating a sword that was both flexible and razor sharp. How good the smith's crafting skill actually was however would be seen when he put it to the test later on. It was a lucky break even if he found it difficult to feel any sense of relief. There was something that seemed to gnaw at him, even more than his honor balking at this blatant theft of his son's personal belongings.
The blade caught his reflection as he turned it over in his hands and revealed a scowl on his face. There was more to this feeling, something he'd overlooked or perhaps just turned a blind eye to. Something that he might has subconsciously chosen to ignore until now. " Where are you Sesshoumaru? " His words echoed with through the empty room as he stared at the weapon clutched in his hands.
"Our home land is under threat and you are not here, Shisa be damned you are a Youkai Lord first!" His own words left him nearly shaking, here was a terrible threat and Sesshoumaru was nowhere to be found! Had Sakagami not contacted him personally, Inuyasha would have faced this threat alone! The fates only knew what would have happened to his youngest son without the aid and guidance of his older brother. There was little doubt that Sesshoumaru would have come to the same conclusion as he did, considering he taught his boy everything he knew of the supernatural world both great and small.
All at once a wave of bitter disappointment came over him as he wondered what more his ungrateful son would want? He had everything a dog could ever want in their lives, a home, freedom and a family! Why was he not here to defend it?! Could Sesshoumaru still be out somewhere searching for him in Russia or even China? Would he even go through such lengths when it has been months since he fled the snow filled lands of the north and took refuge in Huaa Tongs home?
What had he done wrong? What could he have done wrong? They had barely laid eyes on one another and Sesshoumaru turned on him! Could he still blame him for what happened hundreds of years ago when he took a human wife? From that moment on Sesshoumaru lost his respect for him and was quite vocal about it, in turn he lost all ability to trust his own eldest son and he was vocal about that.
Yet to think this was all over a grudge that was hundreds of years old only disheartened the old youkai. Even if his son felt that he'd turned his back on them and lowered himself from what his son felt was a proper demon lord. Was this terrible hatred really warranted that snowy night? The sight of his sons face twisted in rage and the pure venom laced through in his hateful words still haunted him. Never in all his life would he have ever thought his own flesh and blood that he'd raised since a whelp would suddenly just...
CRACK!
The scabbard could not withstand the iron clad grip of the enraged youkai and snapped like a twig! The sound bringing him back from the edge and diffusing the darkness that clouded his mind. Closing his eyes he let out a controlled breath through his clenched fangs and uncurled his fingers to release the splintered wood. Letting the scabbard clatter loudly on the floor along with it his ill feelings and horrible thoughts.
There was a time and place for everything, at this moment he needed to save these thoughts and forget about the son who had left a hole in both his heart and his pride. Once he was finally composed he turned his attention back to the task at hand, collecting the remaining swords. There was simply too much at stake here to allow himself to be distracted by personal matters. Using a leather cord pulled from a display he carefully bound the weapons together into a bundle. Making it easier to carry them all as he hefted them over a shoulder. He paused for a final moment to look over the room once again. Taking one last look at his old study, before he bid it farewell.
Chapter 36...End.