Author's Note : For any confusion on this chapter, please bear in mind that this story is now a side story of Lords of the Night. The revisions that are being made and the characters being mentioned are all from my ongoing story, Lords of the Night. I will be happy to answer any questions should you have any, but hopefully the little tidbits I have here will answer any questions already. If not, ask away and I will do my best to answer them. For anything mentioned in regards to the twins, and what took place in this chapter, that will be answered later on in the larger story. I do not want to put in too many details as that might spoil any upcoming situations that will happen in Lords of the Night. Happy New Year and I hope that everyone has a fantastic 2020.

Chapter Twenty

As The Past Comes Face to Face

Inutaishomaru looked over the ridge to his former home a frown marking his displeasure at what remained of the once vibrant valley. Beyond it sat Bokusenou's forest and so with a grunt of annoyance as his inner spirit refused to let up on the questions, he waved for his two new companions to remain where they were. The only one who followed him uncertainly was his son.

"Father?" Sesshomaru whispered as they crossed the valley which in Sesshomaru's eyes was empty save for the luscious green grass and scattering of flowers. For Inutaishomaru, it was filled with the remains of huts and debris and the all too familiar memory of his great regret.

He had cast a seal on the Shinden-zukuri for a few reasons. One was to keep looters out, and the other was from prying eyes who would go through searching for anything that could be held against him.

Inutaishomaru remained silent, growling in frustration. 'Will you shut up for five minutes?'

'What on earth for? You kept me asleep for so long, I want answers.' Taizo snarled back at him.

He was more annoyed at himself due to his dream he had the night prior to arriving in the valley. One that he had shoved to the back of his head only to have it come rushing forward while he rested. Suspecting fully that Taizo had something to do with that particular dream, Inutaishomaru was now in a foul mood.

Oh, he remembered that day all too well and every time he thought about that incident, he would once again feel that rage and anger fill his veins and he would want to kill something, anything that would be unfortunate to cross paths with him.

Shaking his head as he walked towards the whispering forest, he ground his teeth together for patience. It never did any good to see Bokusenou when he was in a rage. It only led to more riddles and unanswered questions that he hoped to avoid. All he wanted was to get this day over with, and quickly.

The vines that protected Bokusenou's forest parted and he slipped through easily. He fully expected to hear footsteps behind him, but he stopped and turned to stare at his son who was crouched just inside, his arms wrapped around his legs, shivering from fright. His son's eyes darted all around him as the trees whispered and Inutaishomaru raised a curious brow. "Sesshomaru."

His son didn't even seem to register him or his voice. With a growl of annoyance, he walked back and picked his son up who wrapped his arms tightly around his neck. "Oie. I need to breathe. Do not fear, nothing will harm you here." He whispered in his son's ear.

Sesshomaru trembled in his arms and buried his face into his shoulder.

With a sigh, Inutaishomaru continued on. His mind an array of thoughts and memories he had hoped to remain buried.

He stood on the hill and glared daggers at the empty field. His mate's scent heavy in the area. Seihomaru was angry, there was no denying that. They were close, he could smell them and he fumed in his thoughts. The whole situation was a delicate one, but perhaps if he lived through the fight, maybe, just maybe that curse would not be released and placed upon his people. The twins would die, either by his hand or another of his clan.

Taizo stood beside him, his face echoing his own rage, and beside him stood his brother in all but blood, his own youki Shuzo standing beside his host. They seemed on edge, however, and that concerned him. His normally calm eyes and ears was rarely as cautious and he narrowed his eyes, glancing around the open area.

Seihomaru's eyes narrowed as a sudden chill filled his body and he focused on the span of trees just on his right. Something felt off about that particular forest and he allowed his emotions to flow out of him. Nii's eyes followed but Taizo hissed and drew his attention.

Only able to raise his brow in confusion as his youki rifled through his past dreams, Seihomaru gasped when a dark looming chill ran over him, freezing him in place as his eyes widened. Red eyes peered out at him from that forest and his mouth dropped open in shock. 'Hells!'

Nii turned his head to his for only a second and then whipped his head back to the forest when Shuzo shouted out a warning. In the blink of an eye, that shadow was in front of Seihomaru and he jerked back from both shock and fear. His eyes and ears cried out and shoved him out of the way just as those black ghost-like tentacles reached out for him.

Seihomaru's eyes widened as he tumbled backward onto the ground and he saw his friend get wrapped in that black embrace and in the space of a breath he was gone. His eyes turned to stare at his companions, but he had to scramble to his feet when his gaze fell onto Shuzo.

Nii's youki stood stock still, in disbelieving bewilderment, and then their eyes met for only a moment before Shuzo vanished.

Kazuhisa, Traylaymaru, Shinzou, and Kiyohira all stood there staring at where Nii had been only moments ago, and then they turned confused eyes to his. Seihomaru held up his hand when they made to voice their questions. "I want two of you to search the surrounding area for Nii, two stays here."

"My lord!" Kiyohira protested.

"Enough! I go face the twins alone. If you find Nii before I find those little shits, join me, if he is not found, you will continue to wait until I return." Seihomaru turned without waiting to see if his order was followed.

Inutaishomaru clenched his teeth together. 'Enough, or I will force you back to sleep.' He warned his spirit who was delving into parts of his memories and it was getting close to the point where he would be subjected to pain. Thankfully, Taizo released his hold on his memories and pouted inside his head.

"Seihomaru-sama." Came a deep voice from the woods.

Sesshomaru squeaked and his head whipped around with renewed fear. "Relax, Sesshomaru." He whispered to his son. "Bokusenou." As he came out of the wooded area, he once again faced the great magnolia youkai.

"It has been many years since you last visited me."

Sesshomaru gasped when his eyes fell onto the large tree and then the face that appeared on the trunk.

"My last visit was not at all productive." He snarled.

"You have come seeking answers as to the nature of your son's spirit's premature awakening."

"Obviously." He ground his teeth together.

"The answer will not be what you hope to hear," Bokusenou said.

"The answers you provide as of late are never what I hope to hear."

"The ages have changed, youkai have changed. This results in certain measures being taken to ensure survival." Bokusenou said.

Inutaishomaru grunted. "So you're telling me there is no way to stall this awakening?"

"I am afraid there is no way," Bokusenou said casually as though this were an everyday occurrence.

"Fantastic." Inutaishomaru sighed.

"Your son will need training for control as his powers grow. His inner spirit stirs and is anxious to waken. Perhaps a year, maybe two at most before both are introduced." Bokusenou's eyes traveled to the direction the Shinden-zukuri was in. "You have not been in the area for many years. Perhaps you should visit your clansmen."

Inutaishomaru snorted. "What for? Nothing has changed and nothing will change unless I can find a cure for that blasted curse."

"Perhaps you will find new answers when you go." Bokusenou's face vanished into the trunk and Inutaishomaru drew in a deep breath for strength. He turned and left the forest as quickly as he could. Once they were outside the whispering woods, he placed Sesshomaru onto his feet and glanced down at his son. "Come."

Sesshomaru followed his father as they walked through the large valley, his eyes warily watching the flowers for signs of those stinging bugs, and due to his focus being elsewhere, he did not notice his father stop and he rammed into his legs, tumbling to the ground at the sudden stop.

Sesshomaru pushed to his feet and froze when his eyes saw the very sky waver and then they widened in shock when old huts and empty dirt paths became visible. His father stood there silently, holding a large claw in his hands, staring at the large empty village. "Father?"

Inutaishomaru did not answer, and so Sesshomaru followed when his father moved through the ghost town as though he knew every path. Sesshomaru gasped when his eyes fell onto the large house that resembled the one he knew. It was large and structured, but this one was old and dark. With a confused glance at his father, Sesshomaru followed through the large doors in the front of the house and his mouth fell open at the large entry hall. There was a thick layer of dust on the contents, and not a single ounce of dust had been disturbed.

"Wait here," Inutaishomaru said firmly.

Sesshomaru nodded and nervously glanced around him, by the time he looked back to where his father had been, he was already gone. Shrugging his shoulders, Sesshomaru walked over to a discarded pillow and sat down on it, sneezing several times when a large plume of dust flew up into the air around him.

Inutaishomaru walked into his office silently, glancing at the layers of dust on the shelves and scrolls that lined them. Shaking his head, he walked to the single desk that sat by the closed window and he blew air out his mouth to clean off the candle that was yellow from age. Opening his haori, he pulled out his flint and lit it in silence, the stillness of the house unnerving him. He hated coming to his place and he allowed a shiver to escape.

With a heavy sigh, he pulled out the last scroll he had written and stared at it silently. There was nothing new for him to document, not since his last visit there, so why had Bokusenou urged him to come? Shaking his head in frustration, he threw the scroll down and turned around to stare at the discarded office he once used frequently.

Frowning, he turned his eyes to his feet. His inner spirit remained silent as his host contemplated his thoughts. Taizo was somewhat glad his host had come here and now those memories flooded through Seihomaru's brain, making it much easier for him to see what had happened over the years. There were many hidden memories that Taizo knew he would have to force through the barriers to see, but for now, this was enough to satisfy him. Oh, Seihomaru would be furious when he did delve into those thoughts, and Taizo shivered at the memory his last endeavor had been.

Inutaishomaru snarled and started exiting the office but he stopped before he walked out of the broken door. He turned his gold gaze to the wall that sat behind the shelf and then he walked over to it, staring at it long and hard. He reached his hand out and pulled the hidden lever in the wall and the stone groaned and ground together as it swung open.

Narrowing his eyes, Inutaishomaru reached for the torch that sat in the iron sconce. The only time it had ever been lit was to light the way down the stairs leading into the very section of his old house he hated visiting. Oh, he came here every ten years to ensure that his seals were still intact, but besides that, he avoided the Shinden-zukuri at all costs. With no answers to revive his fallen clansmen, what was the point?

Shaking his head, he lit the torch and proceeded into the lower area of his castle and came to the center room. On his left were stairs leading up and out to another hidden door leading outside. On his right was the hidden room he had used for secret meetings with his commanders and captains. Now it was a living grave.

Closing his eyes for strength, he walked to his right and pulled the lever. The stone also groaned and scraped against stone as it slowly swung open and the smell of stale air rushed out at him causing him to gag. He lifted his torch so that it flooded the dark area with pale orange light and smoke, and he wrinkled his nose in distaste.

There was rarely a time when he needed to use any form of light, this was one of those rare times when no light penetrated the stone of the mountains he had built his Shinden-zukuri against and in. His eyes found the large fang that was embedded in the stone walls that he had placed a week after he had faced the twins. With a quick glance at all the figures that still remained in the exact spot he had placed them, Inutaishomaru turned to leave.

Closing the room up tightly once again, he quickly made his exit and doused the torch in the dirt before placing it once again in the sconce. He slowed his walk as he approached the room he had left Sesshomaru in and he glanced down at the sleeping pup with a heavy sigh. Shaking his head, he gathered the exhausted boy in his arms and left his old home as quickly as he could.

Inutaishomaru almost ran, but he had to slow his pace so he did not disturb Sesshomaru. Shaking his head, he decided to focus on the upcoming battle against the cat youkai who were threatening his sankin kotai. That was his home now, not this place. Even though he was rarely at the sankin kotai, his mate and pup resided there and with this threat, that threatened his territories and his family's safety. It was something he couldn't ignore.

He felt an insistent pull from his inner spirit but he ignored it with as much force as he could muster. Taizo would not let up, however, and so with a slow warning growl, Inutaishomaru sat and leaned against a tree and placed his son in his lap. Closing his eyes, he allowed his youki to pull his consciousness to the pools of life as Taizo called it. When he did open his golden eyes, he sat up and stared at the single figure who resided there. Standing beside his tree that signaled his life force was his youki, a sad and mournful expression on his pale face.

It was like looking in a mirror. Taizo had taken on so much of his image that he no longer even saw his father in that face. Frowning, he snarled when Taizo moved forward. It had been years since they had seen one another.

"Stop."

Taizo stopped and anguish filled his eyes. Being asleep for so long had disoriented him, and he had no memory of what his host had gone through. What hurt, even more, was Seihomaru's refusal to share any memories with him.

"I do not want to hear it, nor do I wish to be here. The only reason I am is because of your constant insistent pulling." Seihomaru snapped.

Taizo felt the anger and rage flow through him from his host and he fell to his knees, lowering his head. That cold voice causing him to shudder. From what he had been able to gather since being awake, his host had gone through too much to maintain that innocent heart, and yet, there was a small trace of Seihomaru there, buried deep. 'I-'

"Enough! Stop with your urging and your suggestions. I do not wish to hear it. If you keep pushing I will command you to sleep." Inutaishomaru growled. "Do not call me into the pools again, I will not come."

Taizo shook his head. Seihomaru's sorrow was so profound that it disrupted everything in the pools, and yet he didn't want to hear any of it. The grief was raging rampant within, causing ripples in the pool, and his rage so intense that it caused the tree of life to sway. It was so much emotion and hatred that Taizo felt it, and fought against it. That amount of emotion made him feel useless, unwanted and no longer needed.

If he didn't intervene then both he and Seihomaru would die. He wasn't afraid of death, but should he be found unworthy by the soul's masters, he would cease to exist. If he couldn't help his host out of whatever this was, he would be found unfit for any future life he may or may not have. There had to be some way for him to help Seihomaru out of this mindless and senseless life he had created for himself. His host no longer cared about any life, or hold a compassionate heart, and thus did not care about what life he took if they did not hold the answers he was seeking. It was a downward spiral now that his host was headed, and Taizo needed to find some way to break him free.

He was somewhat thankful that he had felt his hosts intense fear and rage when his son had been taken, because if he had remained asleep, who knows what state his host would have been in. Feeling defeated, Taizo slumped beside the tree, mourning the loss of bond between him and Seihomaru. He felt as though he was torn in half, a piece of him missing, and it was due to the lack of communication and contact. There had to be some way for him to get through to his host, and yet he was so lost and alone, he couldn't think straight.

The darkness was endless, stretching everywhere. He had been used to being in the dark, but what unnerved him was the fact his youki was nowhere to be found. He couldn't wander through the darkness aimlessly, not without Shuzo there beside him. His eyes could only make out shadows of what existed in the material world, but shadows could play tricks on your mind. He knew it wasn't the physical realm he saw, but what he wished he would see. A way out of the shadow realm.

Nii scouted the area, called out for Shuzo countless times, with no answer.

Somehow, he had been able to lose the shade that had brought him to the shadow realm, not entirely sure how, but he knew something was off with the whole situation. He had known almost immediately when he had been dragged inside, against his will, and without Shuzo beside him.

That searing sensation while in the shades embrace had chilled him and it had seeped through his skin. Oh, he had fought with everything he had, and the shade and he had fought for what felt like days.

Without Shuzo there to light his way, he only saw blackness. It was disorientating and mind-boggling. He was defenseless and lost. The fight had been intense and painful as he had been tossed through the darkness, kicked, thrown down, shoved, and grabbed again in that icy clutch. Several times, he had thought he had lost the shade as he nursed his injuries, after stumbling through the darkness to outrun it, only to be drawn back into its clutches again and again. He couldn't see the attacks coming as the shade was as quiet as death, and many times he would crane his hearing almost to the point of giving himself a headache.

Finally, however, he had managed to lose it, although he was uncertain as to how. Nii, now stood in his spiritual form, without his body to deal with and there were times when he had thought he had died, only to feel a cool draft from somewhere, so he knew his body was around, but he had no idea where. He felt defeated. Snorting through his nose, he was defeated. His youki was nowhere to be found, he had no physical body to reattach his spirit to, he was alone and lost in the world he feared the most.

With a sudden shudder of dread, he wondered if he had somehow managed to enter the spirit realm. The one place no one could escape from. That one section in the shadow realm that even his youki could not enter to retrieve him. With a shuddering gulp, Nii crouched down and wrapped his arms around his legs.

He certainly wasn't dead. But that horrifying thought of being lost in the darkness for the rest of his life overrode any other thought. This being his biggest fear since he was a pup, it had now become his reality. For what felt like an eternity he searched for his youki, what felt like endless days, with him searching the darkness, he always came up empty. Nii sat in what seemed to be the middle of the darkness and shook his head.

He searched his memory for what exactly had happened, and still to this day he didn't know. One minute he was standing on the hill with Seihomaru, his brother in all but blood. The next thing he remembered was pushing his friend out of harm's way and he was pulled forcefully into that shades embrace and the next thing he knew he was here in the shadows, alone, and confused. Yet he could still feel his heartbeat, he could feel the wind on his physical forms skin, he could hear a single whisper, and he could feel the grief. Closing his eyes, he wondered if it was his mate, Hana who grieved over him. Yet the voice always seemed to be male. Not once could he recall ever hearing his mates voice, and now that he thought on it, no one else besides that one lone male voice appeared, yet only once in a while. Yet, he didn't recognize it.

Then everything would go quiet again, leaving him lost within that dark shadow realm. He could feel his youki close, yet Shuzo was silent and unreachable. Nii got to his feet and scanned the area, feeling Shuzo close, for the first time in such a long span of time he felt that pulsating energy. Focusing his energy outward, he followed the familiar surge of energy that his youki emitted. He had to be careful with his steps, being in the shadow realm for as long as he had, one wrong move and he could find himself stuck in a rock or a tree, forever bound to it. Taking a deep breath to steel his nerves, he took another slow step forward. Then he saw it, in the distance. A faint glow of his youki, it was weak, but still pulsing. Had Shuzo been out of contact for so long that he had withered to the point where he would fade? Gulping, Nii sprinted forward, desperately calling to Shuzo. His youki whirled around, gasping in surprise.

'Nii!' Shuzo breathed, hands outstretched towards him.

"Oh gods, I thought I would never find you." Nii fell to his knees, his strength leaving him in his sudden relief to finding something familiar.

Shuzo fell beside him and wrapped his arms around his host, shaking from his own fear. ' I was about to say the same thing .' The energy they released when they touched, erupted outward, causing the air to fluctuate so violently, it broke the darkness around them. Nii gasped and found himself in his pools, blinded by the sudden light, with Shuzo sitting beside him releasing a huge sigh of relief. Immediately his youki stood up and walked over to the tree, and placed his hands on it, closing his eyes in concentration.

Nii gasped as he felt the power Shuzo discharged, flow through him. Almost instantly, he felt the strength fill him, and he breathed. "What the hell happened?"

Shuzo opened his eyes and glanced at him. ' I am uncertain. I was lost within the darkness for too long .' The youki frowned. ' Something is keeping you in a dormant state .'

"A spell?" Nii stood and walked over, his eyes on the tree looking for any signs of injury. Now he could feel the chill from his physical body, that cold and stiffness.

' Uncertain .' Shuzo muttered. ' Sit and let me focus .'

Nii nodded and seated himself quietly, and chuckled as an ochoko cup and sake popped up beside him. With a smirk, he poured himself a cup and sipped at it, hoping that Shuzo could figure out what had happened, and assist in his waking.

Seihomaru stopped on the ridge and glanced back at his home, frowning. The intensive power that vibrated through the air took his breath away. Sesshomaru stirred in his arms and then woke up quickly with a gasp. The leaves on the trees rustled from the depth of power, and he sucked his breath in sharply. It came from inside his home.

'That's youki!' Taizo growled in his head.

Snarling, Seihomaru ground his teeth together. He remained still for some time before he decided to investigate what it was. Once he placed Sesshomaru on the ground in the meeting hall of his Shinden-zukuri, he slipped down the halls back towards his office.

If some youkai had managed to sneak into his home while it had been visible and had taken down his seal, his clansmen would die. Shaking his head, he went down the stairs leading to the crypts. Lighting the torch once again, he realized that the pulsating energy was coming from behind the stone slab he had placed over the entryway, just in case anyone ever discovered the inner chambers. The door was hidden from sight that if anyone had come to this part of his castle, they would never find the crypts holding his clan members inside. It appeared to be intact.

Shoving the door aside, he glanced around the dim room, eyes narrowing suspiciously. A soft glow emitted from Nii, and he gasped rushing forward, dropping the torch to the ground. Placing his fingers on his throat, he felt his pulse. It was stronger than it had been when he had checked in years past, and now he glowed. Swallowing, he looked around. "It couldn't be." He breathed into the still air.

' The youki is coming from him .' Taizo whispered.

Seihomaru nodded. ' How did this happen?'

'I am uncertain.'

Growling frustrated, Inutaishomaru glanced over his shoulder to stare at the large fang that remained intact on the wall. Nothing had broken the seal, so why was his eyes and ears suddenly glowing? Looking back at his friend, Inutaishomaru saw a wavering of light beside him and he felt a frown cross his face. There standing beside him was Taizo.

'What the hell are you doing out here?'

Taizo looked at him and sighed. 'My brother resides in Nii. Allow me to go in and see what is happening.'

Inutaishomaru clenched his teeth. Not knowing whether his own spirit would be able to come out once he was in another's pools, especially with his seal on the wall, it was too much of a risk. 'No. It is too dangerous.'

Taizo lifted a brow and snorted. 'Seriously?'

'If you get trapped in there, I die. That leaves my son alone upstairs, and my home defenseless against the cat youkai.'

'What makes you think I will be trapped?' Taizo snorted. Obviously, his host had forgotten who he was.

'My seal, perhaps?' Inutaishomaru waved at the large fang embedded in the stone walls.

'You were not part of the curse, nor were you subjected to it. The twins wanted you to suffer for going after them. As for the seal, because I am a part of you, whether you wish to accept it or not, it has no effect on me because we are one and the same. If it had any effect on you, you would have fallen into slumber the minute you walked into this room.' Taizo snarled.

Inutaishomaru couldn't argue that. They were one and the same, a host and sentient being co-existing in one body, feeding off one another and using one another's strength and powers. Yet, the danger was still there. 'If I bring him out of this room, I will allow it.'

'If?' Taizo narrowed his eyes. 'Can he be placed in the seal once he has been removed?'

'I do not know.'

'If he doesn't wake, and cannot be placed back in the seal, he will die.'

'I am aware.' Inutaishomaru closed his eyes and sighed. That was now the issue he was faced with. Was he willing to satisfy his curiosity to pull his friend out of the protective seal and allow his youki to venture into Shuzo's pools? Would he be willing to sacrifice his friend's life to satisfy that curiosity? With a loud growl of frustration, Inutaishomaru tossed the torch across the room and it made a resounding thud against the stone wall before it fell uselessly to the ground, dousing itself in the dirt.

Taizo watched the emotions on his host's face and he sighed. There had to be a way for them to find out what was causing this pulse of energy. 'If he is on the verge of waking, that seal will prevent him from coming out of his deep slumber.'

Inutaishomaru turned to face his youki with a raised brow. 'If he wakes, he will have months of recovery. He has not moved in over five hundred years, his muscles will have weakened and his strength non-existent.'

'Atrophy.' Taizo whispered, which caused Seihomaru to frown.

'A what now?'

Taizo shook his head. He had heard about it years ago in his current host's father's father. It had been during the time of battle when they had fought against youkai when his host's great grandfather had been alive, and he had been a sentient being in Hiromitsu. There had been a youkai who had been given such a blow to the head it had disabled him from movement. Hiromitsu had watched the youkai deteriorate over the years until his muscles seemed to wither away to nothing. Due to Taizo once being within Hiromitsu he had seen it first hand. 'It is nothing.' He muttered softly. 'If we are going to do this, then we need to do so now.'

'Is there a rush?'

'Only if we delay. There is a good possibility that their strength and energy can vanish at any point if we do not do something. If this glow is coming from Shuzo, then he can only keep it up for so long before his energy drains.'

Inutaishomaru snarled again. ' Fantastic.' With a grunt, he gently picked up his friend and exited the crypt in silence. Carefully carrying his friend up the stairs, he placed him down on the igusa tatami mat that covered his office. He made a quick retreat back to the room below to seal it back up before he returned to stare at Nii who remained motionless. 'Now what?'

Taizo glanced up at him and took a deep breath. 'Now I see if I can enter the pools to find out what is happening.'

'If you are not granted entrance?'

Taizo shook his head. 'I am uncertain. There should be no reason why I will not be allowed to enter. We shared a bond and we had free reign years ago. Hopefully, that is still intact.'

'Go then, quickly.' Inutaishomaru watched Taizo vanish and he waited for what seemed to be hours. Clenching his jaw, he watched anxiously for any signs of waking from Nii, but nothing seemed to happen. Grunting impatiently, the silence stretched on and so to occupy his mind on something other than news from his inner spirit, he seated himself at his dust-covered desk and started preparing his ink in the ink well to document what had taken place.