A/N: I thought of Sesshomaru encountering a dead Izayoi on the night of his father's death. She died by unnamed demon hands because there are opportunists and they saw her as easy prey.
-Lucicelo
Murmurs of the Great Dog Demon's sword, Sounga, activating in the vicinity, caused Sesshomaru to make an appearance.
From a vast distance, Sesshomaru saw the flames flickering up in the air, consuming everything in sight. The overwhelming smoke tickled his delicate nose. He ignored the uncomfortable feeling as he attempted to pick up his father's scent. Anything to signify he survived the encounter despite having damaging wounds from a previous battle.
He picked up nothing.
This concerned him.
After all, their last meeting was riddled with tension. His father stood tall, bleeding from his wounds, as he declared his mission to collect his human and his half breed. His father wanted to bring his human and son to the Western Lands castle. The human princess lost her prestige due to her dalliance's with a demon. It made sense that she take her place as his father's consort.
It didn't mean he would interact with her or the half breed.
His father expected him to treat them with politeness. No rudeness. No scathing words. He didn't need to do such things. In their elite circles, demons would do the work in tearing the human and the half breed down.
Keeping his distance, he walked around the perimeter. He dodged humans and demons who ran from the area. One who managed to nudge his side and the demon evaporated with his whip of light. He didn't have time to waste in battle. The reassurance of his father's well being would calm his instincts.
As the fire ate up the nearby trees and bushes, Sesshomaru received a whiff of his father's scent. He paused in place. It didn't take long for him to come to the conclusion of his father's demise. Ryukotsuei's injuries weakened his father enough to cause his death.
Gritting his teeth, Sesshomaru turned away from the sight of the flames. He began walking in a random direction. He needed to get away from the chaos before he lost himself in a rampage.
Without realizing it, he walked into a bloody scene.
Sesshomaru's eyes widened a slight fraction. Out of all the results of this night, he didn't expect this outcome.
Before him, laid his father's human woman.
Dead.
Her inner kimono was ripped to shreds. Clumps of her long hair was scattered around the vicinity, her beauty marred from deep slashes, many parts of her body were eaten or torn off. From the deflated stomach, she bore the half breed before her attack.
Walking closer to her, he smelled none of his father's vassals. Despite their obvious distaste for humans, none of them dared to touch their Lord's woman. A select few of his father's men interacted with the woman without issues. Myoga spouted praises of the human woman's kindness and beauty.
Taking a deep whiff, he differentiated between different scents. The culprits were unknown demons who sought the opportunity for violence. He recognized one of the group. A weak demon of no status. Regardless, he registered all the scents for a future encounter.
Turning back to the flames, Sesshomaru gritted his teeth. His father's scent permeated the flames, floating throughout the area. The sign of the death of the Great Dog Demon General was apparent.
His father's tender heart cost him his life.
And for what?
A weak human who couldn't defend herself. She was easy pickings for low tier demons. A princess who didn't understand a demon's world. Power and pedigree meant everything. To have a weak mother, showed the eminent future of the offspring. Her half breed child would be cast aside as weak.
Sesshomaru suspected the half breed child was eaten or killed. It bothered his sensibilities that a pup from his clan was possibly killed. It mattered not that he was a half breed or his father's human woman's child. The white dog demon numbers dwindled over the centures.
He alone remained as a vision of his pure blood heritage.
At a farther distance, Sesshomaru watched the flames die down to nothing.
The impact of his father's death made him desolate. As a child, he remembered his father returning home from battle in victory. His father wore his enemies blood with pride as his mother welcomed him home with a proud nod. He was an unbeatable force that ruled his lands without issue. Sesshomaru always wanted to scratch his father in a spar. Maybe, even beat him to showcase his improvement and ability to rule over their lands.
He lost the chance to know of the extent of his strength. His father died under the heat of battle and fire. Yet, Sesshomaru knew that his father wouldn't have preferred it any other way. Inu no Taisho lived centuries to build up his legendary might. Now, it was Sesshomaru's turn.
Letting out a deep sigh, he turned away from the wreckage. The fire simmered enough to let the oncoming morning dew to wash away the smell of death. He knew his father's well known vassals would arrive to inspect the area and work out his last wishes.
He picked up the smell of his father's scent. Walking toward the scent, his ears picked up slight whimpering. Rushing forward, he pin pointed the majority of the smell in the crook of a tree. Looking into the nook, a baby shivered in the robe of the fire rat.
The half breed.
Debating whether or not to ignore it, he took a step back. He didn't expect the pup to survive the disastrous night. After all, the human died a far distance away. Unless, she hid the pup and distracted her attackers before they killed her child. At least, she thought of his father's legacy before herself.
When the pup started to wail, Sesshomaru scooped the pup into his arms, shocking the baby into silence. The pup's unfocused golden eyes looked up at him in confusion. Sesshomaru attempted to seem harmless to the half breed, but his body remained stiff.
He didn't know why he did it.
He grabbed the pup and couldn't fathom putting him back.
The half breed began crying again.
Sesshomaru denied what happened next, but he growled.
The half breed ceased in his crying. Those amber eyes looked up at him confusion and his ears flattened. Changing the tone of his growl, the infant soothed down, almost relieved to remain in safe hands. Considering Sesshomaru originally wanted to rid himself of the half breed, it was ironic that the baby felt safe in his arms.
Sesshomaru noticed a considerable amount of his father's features. If no one questioned this pup's heritage, he could pass as full demon. Although, the small ears and lack of markings presented his mixed blood. White dog demon were famous for their markings.
Covering the infant well into the fire rat cloak, the pup remained pliant and calm. It didn't begin crying or fuss in his arms. Sesshomaru watched as the half breed shuffled against his person and fell asleep.
His father's legacy lived on in himself and the half breed. They remained as a constant reminder of the might of the Great Dog Demon General. His own prowess was known as cold and efficient. A majority of the demons he battled, gave up to live another day. None of them dared to rebel against the future Lord of the Western Lands.
The half breed on the other hand, was a matter to foresee in the future. Leaving the half breed to flounder through life was not an option. Their father would have trained his pup without question. Despite his enormous amount of duties, their father would put time aside for family.
Pressing his thumb against the half breed's mouth, the baby began suckling with ferocity. The pup's nose scrunched and he began to whine. It seemed the human mother didn't feed the half breed before she was killed. At least, she hid him before she tried running off to keep him safe.
He would acquire a wet nurse upon returning home.
Securing the half breed in his arms, he began walking away from the area.
The sun rose in the sky and the humans roused themselves to inspect the damage. It seemed the staff of the manor were told to leave or they escaped before the fight ensued. Throughout their inspections, someone would find the princess' corpse. He didn't need to bother burying her.
Checking on the half breed, he whimpered in his sleep, but didn't wake. Sesshomaru sighed. Best to call him by the name his father revealed to him all those months ago. A night he almost disowned his father for daring to keep a human wife and to become a constant presence in the half breed's life. Yet, he was curious enough to listen to the desired name.
Inuyasha.
The end.
