Chapter 2: An Aristocrat Is Born
It had been three years since Inu-Taisho and Kirei-Tsuki were wedded. And just nine months ago Kirei had become pregnant. And in the wee-hours of the morning, Inu-Taisho was pacing anxiously outside a door. Inside he could hear his mate moaning in pain as the nurses were trying to help her deliver her baby.
He heard his mate cry out again in pain and he had to use all his strength to keep him from entering the room. Then all of a sudden he heard a baby crying. Inu-Taisho's eyes widened and he slid open the doors to find his mate in her bed holding a crying baby rapped up in a white cloth. Inu-Taisho ran up to the bed and leaned over to see his new born child.
The baby had two red lines on each side of his face and a crescent moon marking on his forehead. And he was also born with red eyelids like his mother. Inu-Taisho smiled at his mate as he bent down to kiss her. "He's beautiful." Inu-Taisho said, "May I hold him?"
"Of course my love." Kirei said tiredly. She handed him the child. Inu-Taisho stared at his son, pride filled his face. The baby gave a cough and opened his eyes to look at his father. They were wide and alert...and the same exact color as his mother's eyes. "He has your eyes..." Inu-Taisho said.
"What should we call him?" Kirei asked, her voice growing hoarse. Inu-Taisho stared at his son for a moment and then a name hit him. A strong and beautiful name. "How about... Sesshomaru."
Kirei smiled tiredly again, "Sesshomaru is...lovely..." her voice trailed off as she sighed and fell asleep.
Inu-Taisho and Kirei-Tsuki both loved Sesshomaru. In the early years of his life and into his preteen years, he would wander around his fathers magnificent Japanese castle. He would hide in the rarely used rooms, closets, or out in the garden, and read scrolls that told legends of the many Japanese gods, and goddesses. Some of the scrolls he read were of the many famous tales of great demons, samurais, emperors and empresses.
One of Sesshomaru's most favorite legends was of the Japanese Goddess, Seiobo, who was known as "Queen Mother Of The West". The legend says she was the goddess who had planted a very special peach tree deep within a forest. But, the tree only blossomed with peaches every 1000 years. Humans all around had gone looking for the peach tree, but many failed to ever find it. And, even if one did manage to find the peach tree most likely there would be no peaches unless they had found the tree at the right time. Which was 1000 years after the last time it had blossomed with peaches.
Course why was this peach tree different from all others? Well, the legend says that the "Queen Mother Of The West", Seiobo, visits the tree every 1000 years when the peaches grow to give it three drops of her immortal blood. The immortal blood of Seiobo flows to the peaches so that whoever eats one of the peaches will become immortal.
Sesshomaru found the legend to be fascinating. He also loved the goddess, Seiobo because she reminded him of his mother Kirei-Tsuki. His mother seemed to have eternal beauty making her seem like a goddess herself. Also she was after all the queen of the Western Lands of Japan. As his father was the great King of the Western Lands.
When Sesshomaru was not reading myths, legends, and fairytales, he was with his father, Lord Inu-Taisho. He'd sometimes walk with his father and listen to him as they would walk all over Inu-Taisho's lands. Which would one day become Sesshomaru's. Then when they were done walking together Inu-Taisho would teach Sesshomaru how to use a sword.
By the time Sesshomaru had turned 11, Inu-Taisho had noticed all the incredible similarities between Sesshomaru, and his mother. His face during battle was always cool and still like stone. But, Inu-Taisho always managed to get his son to smile if he told a joke or two. Sesshomaru's hair, which was cut neatly an inch under his ear lobes, was silver with blue highlights. Unlike Inu-Taisho's dark, tan, rough skin, Sesshomaru's skin was fair and soft. Sesshomaru's eyes were light in color but sharp like daggers in their stare... just like his mother's. And when he fought with his practice sword, he moved gracefully. Even when he simply walked he had the graceful movement of a swan... or an angel... like his mother.
The only marks Inu-Taisho could even find on his son that said he WAS his son, were the two red markings on each side of his face, and two similar markings on each of his wrists.
The sun shown brightly in the sky as it sent it's rays of light down on a garden, inside the walls of a Japanese castle. Sitting in the grass by a small pond cleaning a curved sword's blade was an 11 year old Sesshomaru. The sword he was cleaning was what he often used for practice when he was learning swordsmanship. The blade was of the finest steel and the hilt was rapped in thick brown leather. The metal space, sword guard, and pommel cap were made of pure gold. The sheathe was covered in lacquer which gave it a glossy and neat look.
Inu-Taisho saw his son cleaning the sword and stood silently not far off watching him. Sesshomaru's face was cool and still in it's concentration while he sat crouched over the sword he was cleaning. He paused a moment to glance at a white rabbit that had emerged from the tall grass just three feet off to the right of the sitting Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru had only moved his eyes to see the little animal but then he slowly straightened his back and turned his head to his right. Keeping his eyes on the rabbit, he placed the sword down in front of him and reached out with his right hand towards the rabbit. The rabbit froze when he saw the movement. Sesshomaru lowered himself onto his side then his stomach till he could reach the rabbit. Then he gently scratched the rabbit's little head comfortingly then ran his hand slowly down it's back then again and again, petting it.
He went back to scratching it's head and the rabbit nuzzled Sesshomaru's clawed hand. Sesshomaru's eyes looked pleased at the rabbit's trust in him. He sat back up and looked back at the sword seeing it was shinny and his reflection was crystal clear. He sheathed the sword, stood up and when he looked up he saw his father walking over towards him.
"Good morning Father." Sesshomaru greeted, his voice already growing deep but still young in it's sound. "Good morning, son. I see you've made a friend." Inu-Taisho nodded towards the white rabbit which was nibbling at Sesshomaru's light blue hakama pants. Sesshomaru was also wearing a dark blue kimono with a haori of the same color.(Note: A haori is a Japanese robe sometimes worn over the kimono and hakama pants) The kimono and the haori also had an elaborate pattern of colorful dragons.
Sesshomaru glanced down at the rabbit. "I didn't know me petting him would make him so attached to me..." Sesshomaru said. He looked back up at his father.
"Sesshomaru," Inu-Taisho began, "I must go travel to Lord Kori's lands for awhile. He's sent a message for me that says I'm needed for something. I'll be back this afternoon so I'll need you to be a good boy here and look after things while I'm away. Your mother already knows I'm leaving so she'll help you out."
Sesshomaru nodded, "I'll be sure to take care of everything, Father." Inu-Taisho smiled, "That's my boy. Now go put that sword away and I'll be back soon," "Have a safe ride, Father."
After Inu-Taisho had left Sesshomaru had gone to the weapons room to put the sword back on the sword rack. He then went off to where all the scrolls were kept and where the scholars did their writings. He was going to ask them if they had any new scrolls for him to read.
Inu-Taisho rode cantered his horse most of the way to Lord Kori's castle this time because in the message the messenger had given him, it had said to come as soon as possible. Inu-Taisho kicked his horse commanding it to go into a gallop. What ever the reason, it must have been important.
At normal pace it would have taken him three hours to get there but since he hurried his horse and took fewer brakes he got there within two hours. He jumped of his horse just outside the entrance to the castle's court yard and tied his horse to a nearby tree. He heard the guards up in the watch tower call out that it was him, Lord Inu-Taisho, and they opened the giant doors.
Inu-Taisho walked at a fast pace through the hallways to Lord Kori's meeting room. When Inu-Taisho entered the room he was greeted by a worried faced Lord Kori. The wrinkles on his face were deeper with concern and maybe even a tinge of fear. Inu-Taisho was not prepared for this sort of greeting. He had never seen the great lord look so worried before.
"Lord Inu-Taisho I'm afraid I have some terrible news." He began. Inu-Taisho just stood there not too sure what to say.
"I'm afraid we are on the brink of war," Lord Kori began as Inu-Taisho's eyes widened, "For there is a kingdom of a certain species of demons who wish to destroy us dog-demons..." Lord Kori made his eyes hold Inu-Taisho's in-shock ones.
"Lord Inu-Taisho... Have you ever heard of the cat demons?"
Aithor's Note: ok just to disclaim something... the Japanese Goddess Seiobo was not created by me. She is a real japanese goddess and the story of her growing peach trees which grant eternal life to anyone who eats one of the peaches is true as well.
It had been three years since Inu-Taisho and Kirei-Tsuki were wedded. And just nine months ago Kirei had become pregnant. And in the wee-hours of the morning, Inu-Taisho was pacing anxiously outside a door. Inside he could hear his mate moaning in pain as the nurses were trying to help her deliver her baby.
He heard his mate cry out again in pain and he had to use all his strength to keep him from entering the room. Then all of a sudden he heard a baby crying. Inu-Taisho's eyes widened and he slid open the doors to find his mate in her bed holding a crying baby rapped up in a white cloth. Inu-Taisho ran up to the bed and leaned over to see his new born child.
The baby had two red lines on each side of his face and a crescent moon marking on his forehead. And he was also born with red eyelids like his mother. Inu-Taisho smiled at his mate as he bent down to kiss her. "He's beautiful." Inu-Taisho said, "May I hold him?"
"Of course my love." Kirei said tiredly. She handed him the child. Inu-Taisho stared at his son, pride filled his face. The baby gave a cough and opened his eyes to look at his father. They were wide and alert...and the same exact color as his mother's eyes. "He has your eyes..." Inu-Taisho said.
"What should we call him?" Kirei asked, her voice growing hoarse. Inu-Taisho stared at his son for a moment and then a name hit him. A strong and beautiful name. "How about... Sesshomaru."
Kirei smiled tiredly again, "Sesshomaru is...lovely..." her voice trailed off as she sighed and fell asleep.
Inu-Taisho and Kirei-Tsuki both loved Sesshomaru. In the early years of his life and into his preteen years, he would wander around his fathers magnificent Japanese castle. He would hide in the rarely used rooms, closets, or out in the garden, and read scrolls that told legends of the many Japanese gods, and goddesses. Some of the scrolls he read were of the many famous tales of great demons, samurais, emperors and empresses.
One of Sesshomaru's most favorite legends was of the Japanese Goddess, Seiobo, who was known as "Queen Mother Of The West". The legend says she was the goddess who had planted a very special peach tree deep within a forest. But, the tree only blossomed with peaches every 1000 years. Humans all around had gone looking for the peach tree, but many failed to ever find it. And, even if one did manage to find the peach tree most likely there would be no peaches unless they had found the tree at the right time. Which was 1000 years after the last time it had blossomed with peaches.
Course why was this peach tree different from all others? Well, the legend says that the "Queen Mother Of The West", Seiobo, visits the tree every 1000 years when the peaches grow to give it three drops of her immortal blood. The immortal blood of Seiobo flows to the peaches so that whoever eats one of the peaches will become immortal.
Sesshomaru found the legend to be fascinating. He also loved the goddess, Seiobo because she reminded him of his mother Kirei-Tsuki. His mother seemed to have eternal beauty making her seem like a goddess herself. Also she was after all the queen of the Western Lands of Japan. As his father was the great King of the Western Lands.
When Sesshomaru was not reading myths, legends, and fairytales, he was with his father, Lord Inu-Taisho. He'd sometimes walk with his father and listen to him as they would walk all over Inu-Taisho's lands. Which would one day become Sesshomaru's. Then when they were done walking together Inu-Taisho would teach Sesshomaru how to use a sword.
By the time Sesshomaru had turned 11, Inu-Taisho had noticed all the incredible similarities between Sesshomaru, and his mother. His face during battle was always cool and still like stone. But, Inu-Taisho always managed to get his son to smile if he told a joke or two. Sesshomaru's hair, which was cut neatly an inch under his ear lobes, was silver with blue highlights. Unlike Inu-Taisho's dark, tan, rough skin, Sesshomaru's skin was fair and soft. Sesshomaru's eyes were light in color but sharp like daggers in their stare... just like his mother's. And when he fought with his practice sword, he moved gracefully. Even when he simply walked he had the graceful movement of a swan... or an angel... like his mother.
The only marks Inu-Taisho could even find on his son that said he WAS his son, were the two red markings on each side of his face, and two similar markings on each of his wrists.
The sun shown brightly in the sky as it sent it's rays of light down on a garden, inside the walls of a Japanese castle. Sitting in the grass by a small pond cleaning a curved sword's blade was an 11 year old Sesshomaru. The sword he was cleaning was what he often used for practice when he was learning swordsmanship. The blade was of the finest steel and the hilt was rapped in thick brown leather. The metal space, sword guard, and pommel cap were made of pure gold. The sheathe was covered in lacquer which gave it a glossy and neat look.
Inu-Taisho saw his son cleaning the sword and stood silently not far off watching him. Sesshomaru's face was cool and still in it's concentration while he sat crouched over the sword he was cleaning. He paused a moment to glance at a white rabbit that had emerged from the tall grass just three feet off to the right of the sitting Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru had only moved his eyes to see the little animal but then he slowly straightened his back and turned his head to his right. Keeping his eyes on the rabbit, he placed the sword down in front of him and reached out with his right hand towards the rabbit. The rabbit froze when he saw the movement. Sesshomaru lowered himself onto his side then his stomach till he could reach the rabbit. Then he gently scratched the rabbit's little head comfortingly then ran his hand slowly down it's back then again and again, petting it.
He went back to scratching it's head and the rabbit nuzzled Sesshomaru's clawed hand. Sesshomaru's eyes looked pleased at the rabbit's trust in him. He sat back up and looked back at the sword seeing it was shinny and his reflection was crystal clear. He sheathed the sword, stood up and when he looked up he saw his father walking over towards him.
"Good morning Father." Sesshomaru greeted, his voice already growing deep but still young in it's sound. "Good morning, son. I see you've made a friend." Inu-Taisho nodded towards the white rabbit which was nibbling at Sesshomaru's light blue hakama pants. Sesshomaru was also wearing a dark blue kimono with a haori of the same color.(Note: A haori is a Japanese robe sometimes worn over the kimono and hakama pants) The kimono and the haori also had an elaborate pattern of colorful dragons.
Sesshomaru glanced down at the rabbit. "I didn't know me petting him would make him so attached to me..." Sesshomaru said. He looked back up at his father.
"Sesshomaru," Inu-Taisho began, "I must go travel to Lord Kori's lands for awhile. He's sent a message for me that says I'm needed for something. I'll be back this afternoon so I'll need you to be a good boy here and look after things while I'm away. Your mother already knows I'm leaving so she'll help you out."
Sesshomaru nodded, "I'll be sure to take care of everything, Father." Inu-Taisho smiled, "That's my boy. Now go put that sword away and I'll be back soon," "Have a safe ride, Father."
After Inu-Taisho had left Sesshomaru had gone to the weapons room to put the sword back on the sword rack. He then went off to where all the scrolls were kept and where the scholars did their writings. He was going to ask them if they had any new scrolls for him to read.
Inu-Taisho rode cantered his horse most of the way to Lord Kori's castle this time because in the message the messenger had given him, it had said to come as soon as possible. Inu-Taisho kicked his horse commanding it to go into a gallop. What ever the reason, it must have been important.
At normal pace it would have taken him three hours to get there but since he hurried his horse and took fewer brakes he got there within two hours. He jumped of his horse just outside the entrance to the castle's court yard and tied his horse to a nearby tree. He heard the guards up in the watch tower call out that it was him, Lord Inu-Taisho, and they opened the giant doors.
Inu-Taisho walked at a fast pace through the hallways to Lord Kori's meeting room. When Inu-Taisho entered the room he was greeted by a worried faced Lord Kori. The wrinkles on his face were deeper with concern and maybe even a tinge of fear. Inu-Taisho was not prepared for this sort of greeting. He had never seen the great lord look so worried before.
"Lord Inu-Taisho I'm afraid I have some terrible news." He began. Inu-Taisho just stood there not too sure what to say.
"I'm afraid we are on the brink of war," Lord Kori began as Inu-Taisho's eyes widened, "For there is a kingdom of a certain species of demons who wish to destroy us dog-demons..." Lord Kori made his eyes hold Inu-Taisho's in-shock ones.
"Lord Inu-Taisho... Have you ever heard of the cat demons?"
Aithor's Note: ok just to disclaim something... the Japanese Goddess Seiobo was not created by me. She is a real japanese goddess and the story of her growing peach trees which grant eternal life to anyone who eats one of the peaches is true as well.