Betrayal in the Blood
Chapter Three- The Weakness of the Western Family
DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters in this story expect Ikue, Nobutada, Masato, Shin, Hiroyuki, Shichinosuke, Masako, Kado, Kenji and Ayako. They all belong to Rumiko Takahashi, I just borrowed them.
SPECIAL NOTE: This is a prequel to my story Family Obligations, but it can stand on its own as a separate story.
"What are we doing today Father?"
Toga smiled at his son's impatience and patted his pup's head before saying, "You're going to find your mother today."
A clearly confused Sesshoumaru gazed up at him. The heir of the Western Lands was now 95 and was beginning to learn how to track things: small animals, low level youkai, and now, apparently, his own mother. "Isn't Mommy in the castle?" She was when they had left their home.
"Your mother is in this forest and your task is to find her."
"Are you going to help me Father," eyes like his own shined in pure adoration. The father and son were close, the only bond stronger than theirs was the one the pup held with his mother.
He knelt in front of his pup that looked so much like him, but his mother's traits fiercely showed as well. After carefully explaining that he would find his mother own his own, Toga also made it clear that he would not be allowed to return home until he had found her. Fear of being excluded from their pack ran deep in Sesshoumaru as he quickly remembered his mother's scent.
Soon the heir found himself alone in a forest he had never seen. He was scared, it showed on his face but he forced it not to show in his scent. He remembered what his father had told him, youkai and even some animals would be attracted to a scent that was filled with fear. Sesshoumaru pushed away the thoughts and focused on finding his mother.
"I do not like this Toga."
"He has to do this Ikue. If he is to be my heir then he must be able to do these things much younger than other inu youkai pups."
She felt her insides twist painfully. Her pup was in a dark forest that he had never been in and she felt his fear. Ikue wanted nothing more than to run to him but the rational side of her knew she could not. He was strong for his age and would be fine, but the mother in her screamed at her to rescue her pup.
"It pains me to leave him as well."
She nuzzled him under his chin in order to show her submissiveness and respect for him. He flinched slightly and she desperately tried to ignore it. Her sweet smile overtook her face as she sat at his feet. "I will wait here."
"It would be better for him if you kept moving," the lord strongly suggested to his still mate.
This was one thing she would fight him on. "Next time I will."
Toga wanted to growl the order to her but he knew that it was best, and he liked seeing this side of her. Before Sesshoumaru had been born she would have gladly done as he said, but when it came to their pup, she refused to listen to anyone. Ikue had the heir spoiled and, unlike most inu youkai mothers, whenever he cried she did not strike him for showing such weakness. Instead she allowed him to cry as much as he needed and consoled him during his sadness.
Many whispered that such acts would weaken the Western family but none said this to the couple. Some of them feared Toga's wrath, while the majority never wished to say anything ill spirited to Ikue. Both were powerful in their own right and it was the Lady of the Western Lands wishes to have her son be as strong as his father physically and equally as strong as her with his emotions.
"I have other matters to attend to Ikue." He patted her head like he did to Sesshoumaru and she hated it. "He is not allowed back in the house until he has found you on his own."
Everything in her wanted to fight that demand, but she bit her tongue because she remembered hearing that her own father had put Shin through this exact trial. If her own brother had been able to get through that, she knew her pup could do just as well, if not better than his uncle. "I have faith in my pup. You will be seeing us before sunset I am sure."
Toga nodded and turned away. He moved to take a step away from his mate but found himself unable to. Hiroyuki had visited them not that long ago and had brought along a water youkai that he was courting to see if Ikue approved before introducing her to their father. The siblings had decided to take a walk in the gardens but before Hiroyuki had left with his sister, he had kissed his intended passionately and then left. He did this each time he parted from her even if it was only for a moment.
Later the Western Lord had questioned his mate about her brother's behavior. She had looked up at him with her big eyes and calmly stated, "It is a custom that our father instilled in us. If for any reason that we are not able to return to our mates or intended, the last thing they remember of us is our love for them." He had then asked why she did not do this with him and his only answer was a blush and a statement that it was the male that practiced the custom, not the woman.
It had bothered Toga that even after having Sesshoumaru, the two had not become any closer than it was deemed necessary. They both loved their pup and would do anything to protect him, but he saw them becoming like all the other inu youkai couples that he never wanted to be like. The lord was desperate.
"Were you not on your way Toga?"
He had things to do, things that he could not just push aside. He growled to himself and the sound shocked his ever obedient mate. Without giving her a chance to question his sudden change in mood, he picked her up and kissed her very much like her older brother had kissed his water youkai.
To say Ikue was shocked would have been an understatement. She wasn't sure if she should have clung to him or push him away for acting so unlike himself. The lady responded to the forced show of affection as best as she could, even though it made her sick to her stomach. Tears wanted to fall down her face at her lord's attempt to show his 'love' for her but she controlled her emotions, and acted like a proper mate to a lord should act.
Toga pulled away as quickly as he had grabbed her. He knew she was confused and somewhat appalled with his actions, and he felt even worse than he had on the day he had made her his mate. The silver haired lord bowed to his mate and left her as quickly as his youkai powers allowed him to.
The Lady of the Western Lands sat back down on the hard ground and ignored the tears and nagging doubts that attacked her slender body.
He wanted to cry. The sun would set in another hour and Sesshoumaru had not been able to find his mother. The young lord wanted nothing more than to scream and cry for her, because he knew she would always come for him. She was the one who he turned to.
The pup's young mind fought his tears back and for the millionth time, focused on his mother's scent. She was near, that much he could tell, but exactly how far she was from him was what the pup could not tell. His father had made it clear that he would not be allowed back home unless he found her and returned with her.
Being excluded from the pack was the worst thing that could happen to an inu youkai, he knew that even at his young age. Inu youkai that ran without a pack were either without a mate or they had done something terribly wrong. This usually happened to the males that could not prove themselves to females and their families or if they had failed the pack in some other way.
Sesshoumaru slashed at some low hanging branches and frowned. The pup had been hoping that his lesson meant his father would stay with him. Toga was to leave for another patrol over their land but he was not going to take his mate or pup with him. He was going to check on the human villages and he feared that three full blooded inu youkai might make them nervous.
His mother had seemed a bit upset at his father's announcement but had not said a word. The heir had heard the servants whisper things but they always got quiet when they sensed him. Sometimes he heard things, things his young mind did not fully understand. He knew of humans and he knew his father cared for them a great deal, but he didn't understand what the maids meant by liking their beds better. Nor did he understand why they said his mother probably should have been human.
The pup started to think more about it, but a soft familiar scent filled his nose. He inhaled deeply and started to run forward. Flowers and something else made up Ikue's scent, Sesshoumaru's father had once told him that he too could never say exactly what the second part was that made up her scent. However, if he had to make a guess as to what it was, Toga would have said it was purity, it was the combined scent of all things that were pure.
He ran toward the scent in utter joy and soon found himself in his mother's comforting arms. "I found you Mommy!"
Ikue giggled, much like her son, before saying, "Yes you did, however, next time you will have to find me faster than you did today."
Huge amber eyes stared at her, showing signs of leaking tears depending on her answer. "Is Father going to throw me out?"
"No one will be throwing my pup out of our pack. Remember Sesshoumaru, while the male is for the most part dominate, he must always have the female's consent."
"Father has to listen to you?"
She smiled brightly, "As much as I listen to him."
Masako brushed her lady's hair gently and tried to ignore the waves of tension that she felt from Lady Ikue. She wanted to say something but she was only a servant that her lady had rescued on one of her patrols with her mate. The neko youkai had been severely injured after a fight with a would be suitor and had been left to die. Toga did not care for cats, but allowed Ikue to care for her and bring her back to their home.
"Is my tension that obvious?"
The lavender haired neko blushed and resumed her brushing again. "Did you want to talk Lady Ikue?"
The Lady of the Western Lands posture was perfect but her eyes flashed uncertain emotions. She almost sighed, "I tell my son that he must control his emotions, show indifference if need be, yet I cannot follow my own commands."
"Perhaps indifference and a happy smile is not the way to battle," Masako was the only servant in the household that would speak so openly to her, but even the neko held her tongue at times.
"Has any news come from the other clans?" Changing the subject usually happened between the two.
The neko put the brush down and began to sprinkle some sweet smelling powder on her lady. It was supposed to entice her Lord Toga, but Masako wanted to refuse putting it on Ikue every night, knowing it didn't help matters. "There is to be a party for all the nobles family, it seems that Kenji and Ayako want to present their daughter Astoria."
"Oh yes, she was born a few days after Sesshoumaru. I have heard she is quite a beautiful pup."
"My lady, there are whispers among the servants that they wish to betroth their pup to yours."
Ikue gave a slight smile, "Please send in my lord."
She was given a bow and was left in a large room with an empty bed.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: If this chapter is not as good as my previous ones, I'm sorry but I struggled writing this chapter. I want to write more moments with Toga and Sesshoumaru but I'm having trouble putting the two together, without having them fight. Also sorry it took my longer to get this out, I work at an amusement/educational park during the summer and the 4th of July weekend was hell. Until next time...
Masako
GreaterBeast-Xellas: Glad to see you again, hope you liked this chapter.
New Fan: No Toga will meet Izayoi much later in this story and Sesshoumaru will look a few years younger than what he looks like now. I'm trying on making more scenes with Toga and Sess but, it's proving to be difficult.
angel of darkness flame: Dork, I'm so bored, when I'm actually online you're not there and all my other buddies don't seem to be online anymore. Hope you like this chapter when you get back.
Winged Princess: Lol, I'm really liking how Shin is coming out and you'll see that Ikue's brothers and father play an important part later in Sess' life.
Airen2: Thank you, and yes Tamiko will play a bigger part in this story than she did in Family Obligations. Ikue will be meeting her soon, next couple of chapters.
Obsessive-Starchaser: Angst, seems that's all I write. Hope you enjoyed this chapter and the next chapter of MM will be out soon.
jessica elliott: I seem to be the only one that has made Sess' mom a nice person and Inuyasha's a bitch. As this story goes along you'll see that Ikue will bear her fangs and that Izayoi is not as bad as I make her seem. Though everyone seems to like her being the evil one. Toga will pay for the things he's done against Ikue and Sess, but once again, I'll also show why he had to do it.
Dragon Man 180: There will be some fluff in this story, but not a lot until much later.
Chapter Three- The Weakness of the Western Family
DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters in this story expect Ikue, Nobutada, Masato, Shin, Hiroyuki, Shichinosuke, Masako, Kado, Kenji and Ayako. They all belong to Rumiko Takahashi, I just borrowed them.
SPECIAL NOTE: This is a prequel to my story Family Obligations, but it can stand on its own as a separate story.
"What are we doing today Father?"
Toga smiled at his son's impatience and patted his pup's head before saying, "You're going to find your mother today."
A clearly confused Sesshoumaru gazed up at him. The heir of the Western Lands was now 95 and was beginning to learn how to track things: small animals, low level youkai, and now, apparently, his own mother. "Isn't Mommy in the castle?" She was when they had left their home.
"Your mother is in this forest and your task is to find her."
"Are you going to help me Father," eyes like his own shined in pure adoration. The father and son were close, the only bond stronger than theirs was the one the pup held with his mother.
He knelt in front of his pup that looked so much like him, but his mother's traits fiercely showed as well. After carefully explaining that he would find his mother own his own, Toga also made it clear that he would not be allowed to return home until he had found her. Fear of being excluded from their pack ran deep in Sesshoumaru as he quickly remembered his mother's scent.
Soon the heir found himself alone in a forest he had never seen. He was scared, it showed on his face but he forced it not to show in his scent. He remembered what his father had told him, youkai and even some animals would be attracted to a scent that was filled with fear. Sesshoumaru pushed away the thoughts and focused on finding his mother.
"I do not like this Toga."
"He has to do this Ikue. If he is to be my heir then he must be able to do these things much younger than other inu youkai pups."
She felt her insides twist painfully. Her pup was in a dark forest that he had never been in and she felt his fear. Ikue wanted nothing more than to run to him but the rational side of her knew she could not. He was strong for his age and would be fine, but the mother in her screamed at her to rescue her pup.
"It pains me to leave him as well."
She nuzzled him under his chin in order to show her submissiveness and respect for him. He flinched slightly and she desperately tried to ignore it. Her sweet smile overtook her face as she sat at his feet. "I will wait here."
"It would be better for him if you kept moving," the lord strongly suggested to his still mate.
This was one thing she would fight him on. "Next time I will."
Toga wanted to growl the order to her but he knew that it was best, and he liked seeing this side of her. Before Sesshoumaru had been born she would have gladly done as he said, but when it came to their pup, she refused to listen to anyone. Ikue had the heir spoiled and, unlike most inu youkai mothers, whenever he cried she did not strike him for showing such weakness. Instead she allowed him to cry as much as he needed and consoled him during his sadness.
Many whispered that such acts would weaken the Western family but none said this to the couple. Some of them feared Toga's wrath, while the majority never wished to say anything ill spirited to Ikue. Both were powerful in their own right and it was the Lady of the Western Lands wishes to have her son be as strong as his father physically and equally as strong as her with his emotions.
"I have other matters to attend to Ikue." He patted her head like he did to Sesshoumaru and she hated it. "He is not allowed back in the house until he has found you on his own."
Everything in her wanted to fight that demand, but she bit her tongue because she remembered hearing that her own father had put Shin through this exact trial. If her own brother had been able to get through that, she knew her pup could do just as well, if not better than his uncle. "I have faith in my pup. You will be seeing us before sunset I am sure."
Toga nodded and turned away. He moved to take a step away from his mate but found himself unable to. Hiroyuki had visited them not that long ago and had brought along a water youkai that he was courting to see if Ikue approved before introducing her to their father. The siblings had decided to take a walk in the gardens but before Hiroyuki had left with his sister, he had kissed his intended passionately and then left. He did this each time he parted from her even if it was only for a moment.
Later the Western Lord had questioned his mate about her brother's behavior. She had looked up at him with her big eyes and calmly stated, "It is a custom that our father instilled in us. If for any reason that we are not able to return to our mates or intended, the last thing they remember of us is our love for them." He had then asked why she did not do this with him and his only answer was a blush and a statement that it was the male that practiced the custom, not the woman.
It had bothered Toga that even after having Sesshoumaru, the two had not become any closer than it was deemed necessary. They both loved their pup and would do anything to protect him, but he saw them becoming like all the other inu youkai couples that he never wanted to be like. The lord was desperate.
"Were you not on your way Toga?"
He had things to do, things that he could not just push aside. He growled to himself and the sound shocked his ever obedient mate. Without giving her a chance to question his sudden change in mood, he picked her up and kissed her very much like her older brother had kissed his water youkai.
To say Ikue was shocked would have been an understatement. She wasn't sure if she should have clung to him or push him away for acting so unlike himself. The lady responded to the forced show of affection as best as she could, even though it made her sick to her stomach. Tears wanted to fall down her face at her lord's attempt to show his 'love' for her but she controlled her emotions, and acted like a proper mate to a lord should act.
Toga pulled away as quickly as he had grabbed her. He knew she was confused and somewhat appalled with his actions, and he felt even worse than he had on the day he had made her his mate. The silver haired lord bowed to his mate and left her as quickly as his youkai powers allowed him to.
The Lady of the Western Lands sat back down on the hard ground and ignored the tears and nagging doubts that attacked her slender body.
He wanted to cry. The sun would set in another hour and Sesshoumaru had not been able to find his mother. The young lord wanted nothing more than to scream and cry for her, because he knew she would always come for him. She was the one who he turned to.
The pup's young mind fought his tears back and for the millionth time, focused on his mother's scent. She was near, that much he could tell, but exactly how far she was from him was what the pup could not tell. His father had made it clear that he would not be allowed back home unless he found her and returned with her.
Being excluded from the pack was the worst thing that could happen to an inu youkai, he knew that even at his young age. Inu youkai that ran without a pack were either without a mate or they had done something terribly wrong. This usually happened to the males that could not prove themselves to females and their families or if they had failed the pack in some other way.
Sesshoumaru slashed at some low hanging branches and frowned. The pup had been hoping that his lesson meant his father would stay with him. Toga was to leave for another patrol over their land but he was not going to take his mate or pup with him. He was going to check on the human villages and he feared that three full blooded inu youkai might make them nervous.
His mother had seemed a bit upset at his father's announcement but had not said a word. The heir had heard the servants whisper things but they always got quiet when they sensed him. Sometimes he heard things, things his young mind did not fully understand. He knew of humans and he knew his father cared for them a great deal, but he didn't understand what the maids meant by liking their beds better. Nor did he understand why they said his mother probably should have been human.
The pup started to think more about it, but a soft familiar scent filled his nose. He inhaled deeply and started to run forward. Flowers and something else made up Ikue's scent, Sesshoumaru's father had once told him that he too could never say exactly what the second part was that made up her scent. However, if he had to make a guess as to what it was, Toga would have said it was purity, it was the combined scent of all things that were pure.
He ran toward the scent in utter joy and soon found himself in his mother's comforting arms. "I found you Mommy!"
Ikue giggled, much like her son, before saying, "Yes you did, however, next time you will have to find me faster than you did today."
Huge amber eyes stared at her, showing signs of leaking tears depending on her answer. "Is Father going to throw me out?"
"No one will be throwing my pup out of our pack. Remember Sesshoumaru, while the male is for the most part dominate, he must always have the female's consent."
"Father has to listen to you?"
She smiled brightly, "As much as I listen to him."
Masako brushed her lady's hair gently and tried to ignore the waves of tension that she felt from Lady Ikue. She wanted to say something but she was only a servant that her lady had rescued on one of her patrols with her mate. The neko youkai had been severely injured after a fight with a would be suitor and had been left to die. Toga did not care for cats, but allowed Ikue to care for her and bring her back to their home.
"Is my tension that obvious?"
The lavender haired neko blushed and resumed her brushing again. "Did you want to talk Lady Ikue?"
The Lady of the Western Lands posture was perfect but her eyes flashed uncertain emotions. She almost sighed, "I tell my son that he must control his emotions, show indifference if need be, yet I cannot follow my own commands."
"Perhaps indifference and a happy smile is not the way to battle," Masako was the only servant in the household that would speak so openly to her, but even the neko held her tongue at times.
"Has any news come from the other clans?" Changing the subject usually happened between the two.
The neko put the brush down and began to sprinkle some sweet smelling powder on her lady. It was supposed to entice her Lord Toga, but Masako wanted to refuse putting it on Ikue every night, knowing it didn't help matters. "There is to be a party for all the nobles family, it seems that Kenji and Ayako want to present their daughter Astoria."
"Oh yes, she was born a few days after Sesshoumaru. I have heard she is quite a beautiful pup."
"My lady, there are whispers among the servants that they wish to betroth their pup to yours."
Ikue gave a slight smile, "Please send in my lord."
She was given a bow and was left in a large room with an empty bed.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: If this chapter is not as good as my previous ones, I'm sorry but I struggled writing this chapter. I want to write more moments with Toga and Sesshoumaru but I'm having trouble putting the two together, without having them fight. Also sorry it took my longer to get this out, I work at an amusement/educational park during the summer and the 4th of July weekend was hell. Until next time...
Masako
GreaterBeast-Xellas: Glad to see you again, hope you liked this chapter.
New Fan: No Toga will meet Izayoi much later in this story and Sesshoumaru will look a few years younger than what he looks like now. I'm trying on making more scenes with Toga and Sess but, it's proving to be difficult.
angel of darkness flame: Dork, I'm so bored, when I'm actually online you're not there and all my other buddies don't seem to be online anymore. Hope you like this chapter when you get back.
Winged Princess: Lol, I'm really liking how Shin is coming out and you'll see that Ikue's brothers and father play an important part later in Sess' life.
Airen2: Thank you, and yes Tamiko will play a bigger part in this story than she did in Family Obligations. Ikue will be meeting her soon, next couple of chapters.
Obsessive-Starchaser: Angst, seems that's all I write. Hope you enjoyed this chapter and the next chapter of MM will be out soon.
jessica elliott: I seem to be the only one that has made Sess' mom a nice person and Inuyasha's a bitch. As this story goes along you'll see that Ikue will bear her fangs and that Izayoi is not as bad as I make her seem. Though everyone seems to like her being the evil one. Toga will pay for the things he's done against Ikue and Sess, but once again, I'll also show why he had to do it.
Dragon Man 180: There will be some fluff in this story, but not a lot until much later.