Chapter Twenty-Eight

The Princess and Sesshomaru

Sesshomaru slipped out of his mother's chambers quietly and peered up at the tall guard who stood watch. It was one of his father's friends, Traylaymaru who was always near his mother and he smiled up at the dark-haired youkai.

"Did you enjoy your visit?" Traylaymaru smiled at the young pup.

Sesshomaru nodded with a wide smile. His smile faded almost instantly, however, which caused Traylaymaru to glance down the hall where Sesshomaru's focus was.

"Lord Sesshomaru," Rendromaru called. "It is time for your lessons."

Sesshomaru's shoulders slumped. "Yes, sensei." Slowly and with his head lowered, Sesshomaru walked towards the rat youkai who waited impatiently.

Traylaymaru released a low growl. "I thought you were instructed by Lord Inutaishomaru to grant Lord Sesshomaru time to play."

Rendromaru glared at the dark-haired youkai. "If Lord Sesshomaru was not behind on his lessons then there would be no issues. Due to Lord Inutaishomaru taking his son off the grounds and causing Lord Sesshomaru to fall behind on almost three months training, now he must catch up on missed work."

"His order was firm." Traylaymaru snapped. "If you choose to go against his command, he will hear of this."

Rendromaru stalked up to the captain. "He will hear no such thing. These grounds are protected, Traylaymaru. If you keep pushing, you will be expelled from the clan, which would place your lovely mate and young son in danger."

Traylaymaru snarled furiously. "Are you threatening my family?"

Rendromaru grinned. "I wouldn't dream of doing such a thing. You place them in danger with your own incompetence."

Traylaymaru bit his tongue. It would really do him no good to argue with the rat especially when Inutaishomaru was out of the country. Being expelled from the clan would put his mate and young son in danger. "Very well."

Sesshomaru's hopeful gaze turned downward as Rendromaru turned with a satisfied grin on his face.

Traylaymaru heaved a heavy sigh as he watched the young pup vanish down the hall behind his instructor. The door beside him opened and he lifted a brow at the rare sight of Princess Suki. "Princess." He hissed, but he stopped when he noticed her pale face.

"Sesshomaru was so looking forward to playing with Dezuri." She whispered.

Traylaymaru nodded. "Is everything alright?" He noticed her glassy eyes and he frowned.

Suki gave him a faint smile. "Could you find Akina and send her to my chambers?"

Frowning, Traylaymaru nodded. "Is something wrong that you need a healer?" He whispered.

Suki shook her head. "Please just find your mate for me."

Without another word, Traylaymaru quickly left the halls and headed towards his chambers he shared with Akina. Knowing that look from many females, he didn't waste any time. If what he suspected was the case, then Suki was in even more danger with Seihomaru being out of the country. He entered his chambers and Akina turned from her little game with their tiny son. "Princess Suki needs you."

Akina frowned. "What happened?"

Traylaymaru shook his head. "I am uncertain, but if what I suspect is true then you need to hurry."

Akina wasted no time and gathered a few vials before she followed her mate to the royal chambers. "Is it what I think?"

"I think so. She looked pale."

Akina sighed. "What would this be? Their third attempt?"

Traylaymaru nodded.

"She really needs the fresh air, being cooped up in her room is not helping any." Akina sighed and quietly entered the Princess' chambers.

Suki was on the bed silently as Akina approached.

Akina knelt down in front of the princess. "Let me look." She whispered.

Suki wiped her eyes. "I don't understand why this is happening." Her hands went to her stomach and fresh tears fell onto her cheeks.

Akina helped the princess lie back and quickly checked her vitals and then took a sample of the fresh blood that signaled yet another failed pregnancy. "Does Inutaishomaru know?"

Suki shook her head. "I was going to tell him when he returned." She sniffled. "It happened the morning he left."

Akina sighed solemnly. Since the curse, no pregnancy went as expected and if the pup was born, life was often taken within days. Shaking her head, Akina was familiar with loss and death seeing as she herself went through several attempts before Dezuri was born. The same had been for Suki and Inutaishomaru who had tried for years with no success until Sesshomaru was born.

"Do you want to send a message to him?" Akina whispered, wrapping a fur blanket around Suki's shoulders.

"Do not trouble him. He is busy with his duties." Suki curled up on the futon and closed her eyes.

Akina frowned and placed her hand on Suki's forehead. It felt unnaturally warm and her eyes scanned the cloth-covered bucket a foot away. "Have you gotten sick?"

Suki's eyes opened and she nodded. "My morning meal did not stay down, then I started to bleed."

Akina frowned and gathered the Princess's stained clothing before she walked to the door. She poked her head out and handed the clothing to her mate who stood guard. "Hide these. I want to test them later."

Traylaymaru grunted but nodded his head. "She miscarried?"

Akina nodded. "I think something worse is happening here. But unless I can test those, I won't know for certain."

Traylaymaru stuffed the clothing into his meal bag after he removed the contents and then sighed. It was going to be a long night.


Seihomaru lifted his head and sniffed the air as they crossed the water headed back to Japan. Everything had gone well and after two weeks in China, he was anxious to return home and after a quick stop off to see how things were at the Sankin kotai, his first stop would be Toutousai's and then he planned to take Nii to the Shinden-zukuri and show him how to drop the illusion and where all the scrolls were located. Killing two birds with one stone as the humans would say, it was the perfect opportunity to hide the Soun'ga again. As pleasurable as his journey to China was, he had to return to his work.

Nii leaned against the railing watching the dolphins swim next to the ship. He had a relaxed look on his face and Seihomaru smiled.

Something felt wrong, however. "Do you feel the change in the air?"

Nii lifted his gaze and frowned. "It feels heavier, but not alarmingly so."

Seihomaru also frowned. "Something feels wrong." They were a few hours from land, so whatever it was had to wait. Shaking his head, Seihomaru couldn't shake that feeling of dread.

Nii didn't miss the look of worry that crossed Seihomaru's face nor did that feeling pass him. "What is it?"

Seihomaru grunted. "I don't know, something-" He stopped as he stared at the land that was still hours away. It was a dark shadow against the horizon and he took a deep breath.

Nii turned his eyes towards the horizon with a frown. As hard as he tried, he got no sense of danger or ill warnings. "Perhaps it has to do with your family." He stated. "That bond can stretch over miles."

Seihomaru shot him a startled glance. He had felt a similar feeling over a hundred years ago when Suki had lost a pup three months before its due date. With a gasp, he leaned out over the rail of the ship. "Suki-" He breathed.

Nii frowned. "We will be there in a few hours. Then we can make haste to the sankin kotai. There is nothing you can do right now, so don't overwork your thoughts."

Seihomaru closed his eyes for patience. "I thought like that once. I came home to Suki having lost a pup and almost bleeding to death."

Nii groaned. "Before Sesshomaru?"

Seihomaru nodded. "Since the curse, it seems that our life bearers have an even more difficult time carrying young than before. Suki lost two pups before Sesshomaru and two since his birth."

"Hells that's rough," Nii said with a sigh. "If you're worried, I can go while you take care of the other things you need to do."

Seihomaru furrowed his brow. "I did need to get back to Toutousai and retrieve the Soun'ga before it draws every youkai in the vicinity. I was hoping to stop by the sankin kotai first though."

"You know how fast I can be. I can get there and let you know what is happening before you even get out of range." Nii smirked.

"You were faster when you traveled through the shadow realm." Seihomaru closed one eye and peered at his friend.

Nii winced and groaned. "Even without going there, I am fast."

Seihomaru held up his hands. "Fine, fine. Use your speed and as soon as you know something, let me know."

"Of course." Nii grinned.


Akina rifled through her chambers, searching for the scrolls that spoke of the symptoms the Princess was experiencing. She was worried. Suki had not eaten anything nor had her condition improved at all since she had first been seen by the healer. Even her skills were not enough to keep the Princess' fever down, or the chills that wracked Suki's body. With a loud growl, Akina threw a jar across the room but stopped when Traylaymaru entered and gasped when a shard hit his cheek.

Akina gasped and her hands went to her mouth. "Oh, Traylaymaru." She rushed forward and wiped the thin stream of blood that immediately surfaced.

"I am alright. Still, no luck finding those scrolls?"

Akina shook her head in dismay. "I had them only a few years ago and I put them in my chest. But now they're gone."

Traylaymaru sighed. "How is she?"

"Not good. You may have to send word to Inutaishomaru to let him know. If I can't find the cause of this and a way to counter the effects, she might die." Akina went back to her searching.

"There is nothing you can do?" Traylaymaru swallowed. If Inutaishomaru lost the Princess it would destroy him. That wasn't the only concern if the Princess died, Inutaishomaru would lose his footing in the lands he had gained from Hiromoto upon taking his daughter as his mate hundreds of years ago. Rendromaru had sunk his claws deep into the people and because Inutaishomaru was absent as much as he was, Hiromoto's people were being swayed into believing that he didn't care about the territory any longer.

He tilted his head to the side when a loud commotion erupted in the halls and loud shouts entered his chambers. "What in all seven hells?" Traylaymaru quickly fisted his spear and exited his room.


Nii walked down the halls quietly, sticking to the shadows, as much of the shadows as he could without going into a panic. He slipped past the guards easily and followed the winding halls towards Princess Suki's royal rooms. With a faint smile, he glanced to his left and right before he slipped through the door silently. It was almost an afterthought once he was inside that he realized that there were no guards posted outside her rooms.

Frowning, he stopped and sniffed the air. 'Where have I encountered this scent before?'

'In Hana's alchemy hut.' Shuzo said as he came into sight. The room was dimly lit, but bright enough that it posed no problems for his host.

'One of her herbs?' Nii's frown deepened.

'What sort of scent?' Seihomaru's voice said concerned.

'A tart yet bitter smell. Yet it also holds a sweetness to it.' Nii crouched down and sniffed the ground, trying to locate its source.

'Not one of her teas?'

'It doesn't smell like tea.' Nii continued to sniff and got close to the futon where the Princess appeared to be sleeping. His hand touched a cloth that was partially hidden under a blanket and curiously, he pulled it free. Instantly his eyes fell onto the dark patch and he grew alarmed. Bringing it to his nose he leaned back with a sharp gasp. 'Blood!'

'Who's?!' Seihomaru snarled.

'Suki's.' Nii felt his knees grow weak and he crawled on all fours around the side of the futon to where the Princess was. With shaking hands, he reached out and touched her neck and breathed a huge sigh of relief when he felt her pulse. 'She's alive.' He breathed.

That anger and rage flooded through their link and he winced at the intensity.

'She feels hot to the touch and she has a scent of illness around her.' Nii glanced back at the blood-stained cloth, frowning. Those cloths were undergarments. 'She has bled as though she has lost a pup, Seiho.'

'I will be there in a couple of hours. Find out what happened.' Seihomaru snarled sharply.

Nii nodded his head silently, glancing around the chambers for a sign of that smell. "I know where I've smelt this before." He whispered.

Shuzo looked at him with a raised brow. 'One of Hana's poisons.'

Nii nodded again. Walking over to the dishes in the corner, he lifted the meat that looked untouched and sniffed at it. Placing it down he took the mug that held water and sniffed at that. 'It's this.'

Shuzo walked over, his eyes scanning the area around them. 'Can you discern the kind of poison?'

Nii's brow wrinkled thinking deeply. Several minutes went by when he finally released a soft snarl aggravated. 'You need to go into my memories.'

Shuzo shot his host a startled look. 'If I do that, it will render you useless for hours.'

'We need to know what kind of poison was used, Shuzo.' Nii clenched his jaw. He remembered the last time his youki had delved into memories and he shuddered. His older brother had spent days tending to him while he suffered through gut-wrenching knots of the stomach, aches behind the eyes, disorientation and lost time. Head pounding pain, the inability to remain conscious and unable to eat or drink anything without throwing up the contents.

Shuzo sighed and vanished from sight, but he stopped when as he did so the door to the Princess' chambers slammed open. Spinning around in his host's pools, he ran to the tree and placed his hand on it. Nii had been discovered and Shuzo winced.

Nii whirled around as several guards rushed into the room and he narrowed his eyes at Rendromaru who bared his teeth at him.

"Take him, immediately!" Rendromaru barked out. "He has done something to the Princess!"

Nii's mouth dropped open in shock. "Don't be ridiculous." He snapped.

Rendromaru grinned. "I will decide what to do with him. An attack on the Princess is an attack on the Western Province."

Nii took a step forward but he was knocked on the side of the head with a heavy staff which sent his world into a flash of stars. Stumbling to his knees, Nii blinked when a thin line of blood ran down his temple. Gasping, Nii was shoved onto the ground and he was roughly subdued, his arms being wrenched behind his back. He received another crack to the head and his world swirled into black.

'Nii!' Shuzo snarled.


Seihomaru skidded to a halt and he almost lost his footing at the shooting pain that filled his head. 'Nii?' Growling in rage, Seihomaru bolted up the side of the mountain when he received no answer. As fast as he possibly could, he ran up the path leading to the mountains that were bordering his territories. Currently, he was close to Toutousai's mountain range, but too far to finish his trip there, being in his youki's true form allowed travel to go faster, but he was still hours away from home.

'You have to hurry.' Taizo snarled.

'I know that!' Seihomaru snapped. Spurring more energy through his veins, Taizo gasped.

'Don't use all your energy, fool. You won't be able to accomplish anything when you get there.' Taizo said.

'Urusai.' Seihomaru leapt over the gap between two ridges and used his claws to scramble up the side leaving marks in the stone surface. His mind was going in a million directions, from his fear for his mates life, his son's life and his brother in all but blood. With a snarl, he pulled himself up and over the ledge and bolted down the other path, leading in a zig-zagging pattern to the home that sat on the other side. If he kept this pace, he would be there within the hour.


Nii groaned and groggily blinked open his eyes. To his horror, he was once again in the cells and he attempted to lift his hand to his aching head. His eyes fell onto Shuzo who popped out right in front of his eyes, glowing a faint white light. With a groan, he realized he was shackled to the ground, his arms held out on either side.

'How's the head?'

Nii grunted.

Shuzo snorted. 'The good news is, I have found the memory you were seeking and because you were already unconscious, it didn't affect you. Bad news is, the remedy for this poison is near the Shinden-zukuri.'

Nii closed his eyes with a heavy sigh. 'Is it fatal if she is not given the antidote?'

'It is. Seihomaru is on his way.' Shuzo said.

'I will be there shortly.' Seihomaru snarled angrily.

Nii breathed a sigh of relief, but that was short-lived when the cell door opened and Rendromaru walked in. He gave the rat an intense glare.

"Who are you?" Rendromaru crouched down next to Nii and stared down at the youkai.

Nii snarled, "We've met before."

Rendromaru grinned. "Funny thing, there is no record of your birth." He stood and walked around the tiny cell. "So who are you?"

Nii snorted. "I told you my name. Your lack of knowledge is amusing."

Rendromaru spun around and dropped his face to Nii's. "Maybe so. I will find out whether you tell me or not. It is only a matter of time."

Nii rolled his eyes. "I wish you all the luck on your search. By that time, the Inu no Taisho will have returned and you will have to explain yourself and your actions."

Rendromaru's grin widened. "How little you know. He was last seen heading to that old idiot blacksmith, Toutousai. Although why he keeps frequenting that old fool is beyond my comprehension." The rat shrugged. "Not that it will matter for much longer. Toutousai will be dead before the year is out and you, my elusive youkai will be dead by morning."

Nii snorted. "You have no power here."

Rendromaru shook his head. "Your attempt on the Princess' life is enough of a reason for me to have your head."

"I had nothing to do with what happened to the Princess." Nii scoffed.

"Who besides you will believe that?" Rendromaru cackled. "With the Inu no Taisho out of the territory, I have all the power here. You poisoned the Princess and she is dying, and once she is dead Inutaishomaru will have lost the people and his territory to me."

Nii barked out in laughter. "You are dreaming."

Rendromaru bent down to stare into Nii's eyes. "Am I?"

Nii allowed a slow smile to spread across his lips. "You know if you kill me, your life will be for naught. He will have your head. And if Suki dies, no amount of begging will save you from his wrath. You will be lucky if Gozu and Mezu are able to recognize you when you go to the gates to face judgment."

"Ah, but you will go there first, little youkai." Rendromaru stood up and walked to the tiny crack that was a window. "I had hoped to find more information on you, but unfortunately, this is too great an opportunity for me to pass by. You came at just the right time." The rat walked back to Nii and bent over him, his eyes widened however when his neck was gripped in a crushing grip and Nii launched over backward, wrapping his other arm around his throat.

"Are you certain I will go first?" Nii hissed into the rat's ear.

Rendromaru jolted forward, loosening the tight grip on his throat, and wiggled out of that tight embrace. He gasped when Nii reacted far quicker than he thought possible for any youkai and he was barreled over onto his back.

Nii bent down close to his face. "Why do you try to run, rat?"

Rendromaru planted both his hands against Nii's shoulders, but suddenly he froze when he was rammed back onto the floor forcefully, the strength of this inuyoukai almost baffling. His back didn't hit the solid floor as he first thought and the very air around him grew dark. "What the hell?" He gasped. "Where are we?"

Nii released Rendromaru and stepped back, shuddering at his location. Looking around frantically, the only thing he could utter was. "You are in my fear."

Shuzo walked up with a broad grin on his face and approached his host. 'This is a bit of a surprise. Would you like to leave this place?'

Nii sighed and nodded his head, swallowing the lump in his throat. His instincts had taken him to this place, not Shuzo.

'What would you like to do with him?' Shuzo watched Rendromaru scramble to his feet and stare open-mouthed at the glowing figure.

Nii glanced over at the frantic rat youkai who was turning his head in every direction. 'I'd love to say leave him. But I want more than anything for him to face Seihomaru.'

Shuzo grinned and waved for Nii to take hold of the rat youkai who was frantically looking for any means of escape.

Nii darted forward and tackled Rendromaru to the ground and Nii grinned down into his face when the darkness seeped away. "Are you afraid, Rendromaru?"

The rat youkai peered up at the inuyoukai who held onto him in a vice grip. Had it been one of this youkai's abilities to alter his sense of reality? Or had he in fact been taken to another place?

"You should be." Nii grinned widely as the cell door slammed open and a furious Seihomaru stormed in, a swirl of rage-filled energy flooding the room with such intensity, even Nii got goosebumps.

Seihomaru stormed forward, his energy swirling around him in waves and spiking outward. Nii scrambled off Rendromaru and quickly went to Seihomaru, placing his hands on his shoulders. "Wait!"

Seihomaru's blood-red eyes meet his and a single brow lifted in question.

"If you kill him now, you will get no answers. Lock him up and keep him in solitary. No visits, it will be more punishment. At least wait until we get the remedy Suki needs."

Seihomaru's red eyes trailed down to Rendromaru who instantly went into a begging position.

Nii snarled. "Don't even try it. I told you begging will not save you this time."

Seihomaru moved around Nii casually and reached down for the rat's haori. Dragging the quivering youkai close to his face, he snarled and spoke in a deep guttural voice. "Your life is mine, rat. If anything happens to Suki, I will take great pleasure in tearing your flesh off your bones, but keeping you alive long enough to feel every rip and pull."

Rendromaru gulped. "We found him in the Princess' chambers holding the cause of her illness. He did this."

"I have already spoken with the healer, Rendromaru. Suki has been ill for several days already. Nii was with me so I know for a fact that he was not responsible for this attack. Even if he were not with me, no amount of convincing from you would lead me to believe otherwise." Seihomaru snarled.

Nii snorted. "I know what kind of poison was used. Let me search his chambers."

Rendromaru's eyes widened. "You will not enter my room!"

Seihomaru narrowed his eyes at the rat. "The house is open to you, brother."

Nii grinned and peered down at the rat. "You know I will find any traces. I can sniff out a poison that has already dispersed and lost its effect."

Rendromaru smiled slowly. "It's too late even if you discover the kind used. Both Princess Suki and Lord Inutaishomaru have already been exposed to high doses of it."

Seihomaru and Nii shared a brief look. The lord smirked. "Lucky for me I have an immunity to all poisons then. As for Suki, Nii knows the remedy needed."

"Ha, I doubt that. It is scarce and no longer used."

Nii bent down and whispered into the rat's ear. "You mean Delphinium seeds?"

Rendromaru glanced at Nii startled.

"I told you, my nose can detect certain plants and because of my studies with my mate who happens to be a herbalist, I know various other kinds that are less known. Are you that much of a fool? I work with poisons on a daily basis, Rendromaru." In an even quieter voice, he whispered. "I am a trained assassin."

Seihomaru smirked knowingly. "I did inform you that you weren't the only one who has spies. Did you think me that much of a fool that I would not discover your plans months, even years in advance?" He shook his head disappointedly. "Did you need to travel to get the remedy?"

"If he doesn't have any in his chambers, then yes I will have to go to Chugoku and get some." Nii confirmed.

"Do not let me stop you." Seihomaru followed Nii out of the cell and slammed the iron gate shut. "Nii?"

Nii turned around and lifted a brow.

"Find me Traylaymaru and send him to me. I think this rat will need to be closely guarded." Seihomaru grinned.