The next day, the royal camp awoke to dreary skies. Queen Izayoi sighed deeply as she sat before her dressing table and prepared for another cramped, damp day. The weather could not curb her husband's spirits, however. King Tōga wrapped his arms around his wife and pressed a kiss to her temple.
"Smile, my love, this rain is a good omen. A blessing from the gods to encourage our new crops," his amber-flecked gaze met her own in the mirror. The grin that was plastered to Tōga's face since they'd left the ports of Harbortown had proven to be especially infectious.
"Perhaps the gods could hold off on this blessing until the seeds have made it to the ground?" Izayoi offered as she watched him attach his spiked armor to his chest plate. She stood to tie her bodice but felt Tōga's large hands push past her own and take the laces for himself. His Majesty made sure she could breathe comfortably, as he had a hundred times before. Despite his many kingly duties, he somehow found the time to keep himself intimately aware of his wife's body. Izayoi's cheeks grew rosy at the memory of his most recent thoroughness.
"You should mention that suggestion to Septa Enya when you see her next," he chuckled as he finished tying the garment. Izayoi made the simple brown long sleeve dress she'd chosen look regal. He wrapped his arms around his wife's waist and drank in her figure appreciatively. Leaning down to press a kiss under his queen's ear, he inhaled deeply and caught her gaze once more. "I shall try to keep my wicked thoughts of you to a minimum," he whispered into the shell of her ear before nipping her rounded cartilage. His eyes were a darker, sandier shade as he glimpsed her dark almond-shaped eyes in the mirror. With a knowing wink, he turned and stepped out into the drizzle.
Tōga greeted the Imperial guard stationed outside his private quarters with a grin and a clap on the shoulder. The immaculate white of the sentry's armored uniform bled into the black and white landscape surrounding them. A single, pale sunbeam poked through the blanket of chalky clouds above, highlighting the dark, leafless limbs of the trees. The grass below was almost a mirror of the sky, with only sparse hints of green poking through here and there. It crunched under his boots as he padded his way towards the large pavilion near the edge of their sea of tents.
"Good morning your Majesty!" the high-pitched squeak seemed to float up to him from the ground itself.
"Good day Myōga, lovely weather this morning," he squatted to the ground and extended his hand. The tiny flea demon hopped up to land on his finger. Tōga raised the senior insect up to see him eye-to-eye. Despite his diminutive size, Myōga was one of the King's oldest friends and most trusted adviser. An orphan from Harbortown, the Order had taken him in as a child. He proved to be beyond capable and one of the brightest pupils in their history. Working his way up the ranks quickly, it surprised no one when the Order awarded him the position of Master Acolyte of the Academy and given the customary seat on the Royal Council.
"Fear not, sire, this rain surely shall not last more than a day or two," despite all his learnings, Myōga had been saying the same thing each day for the past week. "In the meantime, I've been preparing your speech for Rivergard. This is one area hit the hardest by last summer's blight. I've been sure to stress the healing properties the solutions have on wheat in particular."
"Thank you. We appreciate your work as always, my friend. I know you understand how important this is for our people," Tōga spoke with genuine sincerity.
"Please, your Grace, it was your wisdom to take this progress there and choose to invest with the Kotarok. I cannot thank you enough for siding with the sage advice of the Academy, truly."
The king nodded his response. "I am pleased to have such a successful journey with your help. Now if you'll excuse me, Myōga, I must find my children." He gently placed the insect yokai back on the ground. Along with inaccurate weather forecasts, the old flea had been all too eager to heap his praises and thanks upon the King. Tōga was grateful that a demon like Myōga held him in high esteem, but he had to admit it was getting a little irritating.
Reaching the open canopy where the arrangement of long tables and benches was as close to the middle as possible, Tōga inhaled the smell of fried bacon and sausage. His stomach growled in response. Mouth watering, he piled food onto a plate and sat down at a table where Inuyasha and Kagome were eating next to each other.
His son's ears flattened against his head, a bright red blush on his cheeks for unknown reasons. His ward looked half asleep. The Prince shook himself and straightened his back as his father took the seat across the table from them.
"Good morning, you two," he glanced around the empty tables, confused. "Will your brother be joining us?"
Inuyasha snorted. "He's been avoiding us most of this trip. I haven't even seen him all morning." he shoveled a slice of bacon into his mouth.
"I guess I'll have to track him down myself." Tōga was proud of his eldest son's accomplishments. Unfortunately, it meant most of the Imperial Guard were ill-equipped to keep track of his presence at all times. He would have to speak with the Commander of the guard about his son's whereabouts. "Kagome, you'll be meeting with Septa Enya this morning. Inuyasha, you'll be joining her."
"Aw come on Dad, there's got to be a million more productive things I could do than that," Inuyasha scowled at the news.
"Inuyasha, you know we cannot train until the ground dries up. Besides, Myōga has assured me the rain will pass soon," Tōga retorted with a smirk. Inuyasha rolled his eyes.
Tōga scooped up the last of his scrambled eggs on a piece of toast. The just ruler stood to stack his plate on the others at a table near the back. "And remember, you still have to meet with Myōga for your lessons after lunch." Inuyasha groaned but didn't argue the point. "I'll be checking in with both your tutors this evening, so don't even think about sneaking off." Tōga warned them both before exiting the dining tent.
Three rows over, he met with the Commander of his Imperial guard, Royakan, to discuss the day's itinerary. The Lord of Riverine had sent word the day before that he and his wife were coming out to greet the King and Queen soon. Otherwise, they had completed everything that needed to be accomplished. The main issue was the same one as every other wet day: ensure that the cargo continued to stay dry. Myōga repeated the importance of keeping the solutions away from any kind of liquid or else risk rendering them useless.
"Royakan, where is Sesshōmaru?" Tōga asked the guardian.
Royakan scratched at the back of his neck and looked around the tent nervously. "I am sorry, your Highness. We lost track of him this morning. He told his guard he was going to bathe in the river and never returned. I have men searching, but you know your son..."
"I will speak with him about it," Tōga sighed in exasperation. "Have you have seen his squire?"
"Yes, I believe they reported he was last seen in the stables," Royakan answered.
"To the stables it is then," the King marched out of his command tent with Royakan in tow. The stables seemed deserted as they approached with only the sounds of the livestock chewing and shuffling inside. Tōga stormed into the makeshift building and scanned the room. His eyes settled on an especially gigantic pile of hay heaped in the corner. His sharp hearing perceived slight snoring.
"JAKEN!" he boomed and startled a lizard yokai into a shout as he jumped from his sleeping spot.
"W-Wha? Oh, hello Sire! Y-Yes, what can I do for you?" the imp managed, stumbling to his feet and then bowing before his ruler.
"Perhaps you can help solve the mystery of where my son has gone to?" Tōga fixed the tiny demon with a combative glower.
"I have b-been searching for S-Sir Sesshōmaru all morning, your Grace! I must have gone up and down the entire camp six times before I c-continued seeking him out on A-Un. B-but when I arrived at the stable, the steed was n-nowhere to be found," Jaken stammered. He wisely omitted the part where he fell asleep in the hay pile.
"So you've lost track of the Prince and his mount? Perhaps my son will take my advice one day and find himself a capable squire. Make yourself useful and find the Prince, now!" Tōga roared, sending the horses nickering in their stalls.
The King spun on his heel and left the stables, more frustrated with his heir than he'd been in quite some time. Where has that boy gone? Tōga did not have long to continue pondering Sesshōmaru's whereabouts. The Lord of the Riverine and his wife approached on horseback, along with an entire entourage from their castle. Damn, that's right. The meeting with Sanjo he plastered on his most regal smile and headed towards where his wife had already appeared to meet their hosts.
-xx-
Sesshōmaru plodded through the forest under clear blue skies. This time he left his hood down, but the cloak remained to hide the weapon at his back.
He sniffed at the air as he dismounted in front of the cottage. There was a subtle aroma under the petrichor, something sweet and tantalizing. He only scented it for a second before the eastern wind carried it away.
He walked inside after knocking, noticing the new bundles of dried lavender hung in obscuring bunches from the ceiling. The spicy air made him sneeze several times in a row. The old woman Kaede only muttered another apology, this time about not wanting the harvest to grow moldy outside. She noted a cloaked pommel sticking out from behind his shoulder.
"So, you've already found the sword, then?" she asked.
He smirked as he presented her with the Kotarok blade in its ornately carved black scabbard. Pulling it free, Kaede saw the blade itself was black as night, long but lithe, quite suitable to its new owner. They carved the grip in the shape of a bright blue dragon with glowing opal eyes. Marvelous as the craftsmanship was, that was not what drew a gasp from the old witch's chest. Massive stores of magic erupted from the blade and nestled into every nook of the room. Instantly the air was heavier, greasier with the feel of power. Only one thing could make an object produce such a dramatic effect: blood magic.
"It would seem the creator performed magic on this piece." She stiffened, her tone growing stern.
"From what I understand, yes. I was told this sword is in a state of dormancy. I need you to awaken it and rework what's there to fit my needs." Sesshōmaru kept himself carefully neutral about the controversial subject while the crone gaped at him in shock.
"Do you have any idea what went into the making of this? What I would need to do to 'rework' this?" Kaede's tongue went dry in her mouth. How could he not understand what he was asking for?
"I am aware." the heir placed a corked vase onto the table. "I have already prepared the necessities."
Kaede unplugged the vessel and peeked in, paling noticeably at the viscous red liquid inside that was still warm. Perhaps she'd bitten off a little more than she could chew. Yet there was no backing out now. At least Rin won't be here to see this... she thought guiltily.
Stony faced, she replaced the plug and gave Sesshōmaru a curt nod before leading him outside. Kaede was the only one that made a sound, her companion a silent white shadow behind her. The air filled with birdsong, the chittering of squirrels and, farther off, the heavy footfalls of a bear lumbering through the forest. Close to the home, they came upon a long oval-shaped clearing.
"This shall suffice," Kaede decided as they walked to the narrow end. "Now then, show me what you can do, your Grace," the old witch instructed.
Sesshōmaru's lip twitched as he summoned his light whip to his fingertips. Twin bright yellow-green ropes of energy zigzagged into the tree line, snapping through the trunks of ancient oaks like they were twigs. The trees cracked and crashed into one another as they fell to the ground in heaps.
The elder priestess stood unimpressed in her billowing robes. "I had heard the great Dog Prince had other powers?" she questioned, to which Sesshōmaru growled in response.
Without a word, he shot his left arm out, projecting droplets of the emerald-hued poison that pulsed through his veins. The substance coated the trunks of the towering pines edging the western side of the clearing. Within seconds, they were bubbling and sizzling into a tarry goo. Instead of crashing to the ground, they unnaturally melted into the puddle that had burned through the grass but had no effect on the dirt underneath.
Kaede was wearing a wry smile when Sesshōmaru turned to her this time. "How appropriate that a demon such as yourself is teeming with venom," the amusement he heard in her words was irritating. He moved with a speed faster than the eye and appeared in front of her, snarling. The human did not flinch from him, deigning him with an annoyed hmph. "I suppose the royal festivities will not last longer than two or three days. Three days should suffice, but I will try to complete the spellwork sooner than that," Kaede shuddered. The sooner this is out of my possession, the better, she thought to herself. Sesshōmaru made another inaudible sound in his throat, as if he could read the woman's thoughts. "I'm sure it will not be difficult to get a message to you." she bowed to the Prince and, taking the one-of-a-kind weapon, headed back to her home. Sesshōmaru could only trust he would hear from her soon.