Author's Note: First off, this story begins to contradict the third InuYasha movie. Which is really good by the way. Inutaishou-sama kicks arse. And teen Sesshoumaru is so pretty...Thanks for all the reviews! Made me feel special. I'm trying to review everyone else's stories but I've been really busy as of late. I'm sorry this story is becoming so depressing. Maybe I need Zoloft? Heh. I have to thank Rae-sama for letting me use Adria in this story. And for the Inutaishou plushie she "gave" me. He's so huggable! Anywho, the story is becoming darker. You can sense the anger building up between lots of the characters. Also, I felt the ending to this chapter was sort of blunt. I kind of ended it this way to prevent me from writing into the ninth chapter. I've already got the ending planned for the whole story...and it's not very upbeat. But I just don't see Sesshoumaru having a happy childhood when he's so emotionless all the time. And I'm thinking of changing the genre of this fanfic to angst/drama. Next chapter there will be a good deal of angst. And lots of hateful lovers. What do you guys think?
"Achika!" Inutaishou whispered, reaching out his hand to the woman who had sprinted out the door, trying to run from the situation she had just witnessed. Cursing himself silently, the taiyoukai wrapped sheets around the human in his bed. "Stay here, Izayoi," he said just as silently, grabbing a robe and tying it quickly. He yanked up his hair as he walked briskly down the hallway, trying to make himself look acceptable. This was awful, plain and simple. Yet, he kept his cool demeanor, determined to handle this conflict with a level head. He figured he'd lose his temper though; he always did. Spotting the demoness in a corner of the castle, he went to the crouched woman, running his hand through her hair. Achika slapped his hand as Inutaishou quickly withdrew.
"Don't touch me!" she snapped through her tears, hugging her legs close to her body. She kept her head bowed, weeping into her sleeves, never once looking at her husband. "How...how could you?"
"I..." Inutaishou hesitated to speak, not really sure how to approach this. What did he say in a time like this? 'Sorry, my body's desires got the best of me.' Feh, like that would work, Inutaishou thought. "Achika, I still love you. Please believe me. I know it's not excusable—"
"Believe you?! How can I trust you Inutaishou? I've given you my heart, mind, body, and soul. I've given you all my trust and my love. When things seemed questionable, I trusted your judgment, because I believed in you, Inutaishou. And now, everything has been in vain. I don't know what to do now. I've become so dependent on you, that for something like this to happen..." Achika found she couldn't finish. She couldn't believe this. Why did he do this to her? What had she done to deserve this?
Inutaishou sighed, looking away. He didn't mean for this all to happen. He didn't mean to fall in love with a human woman. It's not like he could control it. And he loved Achika just as dearly. But how did one go about telling his spouse that there were two women in his life that meant the world to him?
"Achika, I love you and her just the same—"
"Don't give me your horse shit, Inutaishou," Achika scowled darkly, slightly startling her husband. She never talked like this to him. Ever. He tried again, attempting to keep calm.
"Please, find it in your heart to—"
"My heart?! Oh, there's plenty of room in my heart now that it's broken," Standing up, she looked down at the man that knelt beside her. "I hate you, Inutaishou. I hate your very existence. You are filth. Scum. I don't want to see you again. Now go to your love wife. Because I'm sure that human wench will never talk back to you. And that's what you want, isn't it, Inutaishou? Some little housewife. Not a woman who can speak her mind and has a head on her shoulders. A wife that will do your bidding. Go to her. Because you won't be finding that wife in me," she spat, glaring at him. This enraged Inutaishou, fuming as he stood up.
"I'd watch my tongue, if I were you. I love you Achika. But I'm not going to let you openly insult the Lord of the Western Lands. I'm not going to let you just walk out after a barb such as that."
"Watch me," she challenged, brushing past him. Surprisingly, she went back to their bedroom, going to fetch her armor. As she buckled on the shimmering emerald breastplate, she looked to the human woman who was staring at Achika in fear.
"Milady, I'm sorry, I just did as Inutaishou-sama wished," Izayoi said meekly, adjusting the sheets around her.
"Heh, I did that too. What Inutaishou wished. That was a mistake. So, now, I'm doing what I wish and that alone. Perhaps that will make you a better wife than I was, human," Achika said coldly, tying the pink obi around her waist, which knotted into a massive bow in the back. It was strange, that this woman was clad in optimistic pink when she was in such a dark mood. The pink hearts and flowers didn't seem to match her current personality. And with that, she left, leaving Izayoi stunned. Achika stormed out the hallway, as Inutaishou grabbed her wrist to stop her.
"You know, I can order you to stay here and you would have to comply," Inutaishou snarled at her, his demonic nature boiling through. Achika too felt her youkai blood pulsing, so she didn't care at the moment. She had gone from being remorseful to fear and now to pure hatred.
"Yes, you could. But by doing so, would that prove your love for me or your love for power?" Her eyes were dangerous now, blinded by her utter loathing for this man before her. Inutaishou felt his eyes slit, staring at Achika for the longest time. Suddenly, he yanked his hand back, scowling.
"Get out of my sight."
"As you wish."
Sesshoumaru felt his ears twitch, acute senses picking up the arguing between his parents. In fact, the whole household heard it. Their confrontation was so loud that it had startled Sesshoumaru from his sleep. He figured it was just another one of their disagreements. It wasn't until he saw his mother leave without saying goodbye that he realized the seriousness of this. His mother never left like this. Arya watched this curiously too, finishing her tending to Sesshoumaru's wounds. Inutaishou finally came down the stairs, full of irate anger. His son looked over to him, giving him a questioning look.
"What's going on, Father?"
"Nothing you should concern yourself with, boy. Mind your own business."
"Father, milord, I think I should concern myself with matters on my mother rampaging out of the castle. Will she be returning?" Sesshoumaru braved, managing to stand up. Arya nibbled her lip; Sesshoumaru shouldn't be challenging his father. Especially when the warlord was in one of his moods.
"No," he growled, giving a warning glare to his son. His eyes softened though when they fell to Izayoi who was now dressed in a two-layer kimono of scarlet. "There's a new Lady of the Western Lands, that you should know," Inutaishou said softly, wrapping his arm around the human woman. "And you will respect her as such. She should prove to be a better wife than that woman did," Inutaishou shot, making Sesshoumaru growl in anger. His father had already started not giving Achika her name rights. She was now just "that woman." Clenching his fists, Sesshoumaru grit his teeth, then spoke, barely keeping his voice leveled.
"You...you bastard. I can't believe you..." Sesshoumaru hissed, his hatred growing. Inutaishou snarled in response, his hand coming from Izayoi's waist and then to his son's chin.
"Speaking your mind? I wouldn't do that, Sesshoumaru. How sweet. Just like your mother. What a Mama's boy you are. You aren't ready to challenge me, so bite your tongue or I'll remove it." The warlord glowered, shoving his son to the ground. Inutaishou then went back to his second wife, speaking no more on the matter. The two left, ending this topic.
Sesshoumaru slammed his fist into the ground before standing up once more, his breath staggered. Arya went to him, trying to comfort her friend. But nothing helped him. Everyone had been wounded that day and nothing would change it.
But as for Achika? She went insane. Crazy. Her anger consumed her as she trudged on the outskirts of the Western Lands. Achika had given her whole life to her husband and now everything seemed pointless. She never was the same person. Weeks later, she stumbled into the Northern Lands, starving and clinging to life. She was awful at fighting and hunting. Inutaishou had always provided it for her; food, warmth, shelter, love. How dependent she was of him. And she cursed herself for it. It wasn't until she came upon Sasame who was patrolling his lands that she finally received "comfort."
"Well, well, well, it seems I've found an inu trespassing on my lands. What happened to you, Achika?" The Northern Lord snickered, grabbing the woman by the chin. "Aw, you poor dear. I can guess. Inutaishou throw you out? Pity." Achika looked up at him, her body barely able to hold up her armor, let alone herself. True, demons could go for long periods of time without food but even they had to find something to keep them alive. Her eyes were hollow, holding sorrow. She was overwhelmed in her fear and hatred. She had been driven to too much and she simply wanted someone to hold her and accept her. Even if it was a lecher. Achika needed love; something Sasame couldn't give her. But whatever he could give, she would take. Achika wanted to be independent but she had become too emotionally wounded.
"How...how did you know?" Achika questioned quietly, looking into his emerald eyes.
"Oh, my dear, I've seen countless girls in your position. It pains my heart to see such a beautiful maiden so hurt. And that's why I simply take in all these hopeless women. I want to give them a home, a place where they can come to at anytime and I can make them happy," he said in a sickly sweet voice. Like hell he would. And normally, Achika wouldn't have bought this. Yet his offer was so inviting and she was so desperate.
"You do? I always thought you were a lecher with all those women...And Inutaishou and I always disagreed with it..."
"Darling, Inutaishou only said those things to confuse you. He's gone off with another woman now and left you in the cold. Come with me, Achika, let Sasame give you warmth," he said with his silver-tongued ways, weaving spells of the hope Achika longed for. Sasame reached out his hand and she took it before collapsing in his arms. The Northern Lord adjusted the demoness, picking her up and stroking her. He'd just found himself a new concubine.
Months went by, and the Western castle was with high spirits. A baby was to be expected from Inutaishou's second wife, Izayoi. No one mentioned that it was to be a hanyou or the conflict that had been produced from it. Not a single staff member ever mentioned Achika's name in front of her previous husband or that she had run off to the Northern Lands. This was old news; everyone had heard it by word of mouth. Servants tended to gossip, that was a fact. Her paintings had been taken down from the castle walls and the gardens she tended to had been ripped up. Her kimonos were burnt and all her possessions had been removed. Anything that reeked of Achika had been gotten rid of.
And it wasn't just Inutaishou who had found love. Arya's affections for Sesshoumaru had grown drastically but the boy never showed interest in her. Nothing more than a friend that was. In fact, he didn't even realize she liked him so. But then again this was a teenage boy, which meant Sesshoumaru struggled with his current emotions.
"Sesshoumaru! Get in here!" Inutaishou's voice rang through the castle. The warlord sat with Izayoi, rubbing his love's bulging belly like he did once with Achika. He was clearly proud of his soon to be born child. Sesshoumaru finally came, trying to catch his breath.
"Yes, Father?" Sesshoumaru entered, resisting a scowl as he looked at the human woman. This is where his hatred for humans had sprouted. This woman. She had made his mother leave.
"Boy, come here. I want you to listen to something. Here, put your ear on Izayoi's stomach," Inutaishou's features were softened, his amber eyes not cold when he discussed his wife. Sesshoumaru only sniffed in response.
"Father, I refuse to put my ear to some bloated human wench's abdomen. Especially when this woman took away my mother—" Inutaishou was out of bed at this point, taking hold of his son's throat and ramming him into a wall, keeping the boy in place. The Western Lord then put his mouth close to his son's ear, whispering in eerie tones, which made the hair on the back of Sesshoumaru's neck rise.
"Now, Sesshoumaru, I'm going to tell you once and only once. You are not to ever bring up Achika in this household or in my presence. I'm doing everything in my power to resist the urge to disown you. I'd rather have the expected child be my heir than you. And you know why, Sesshoumaru?" Seeing as this was a rhetorical question, Sesshoumaru kept quiet, as his face was pressed hard to the wall. Inutaishou simply continued. "Because you remind me so much of her, Sesshoumaru. Every time I see that moon on your forehead, every time I see you take that graceful poise, every time I see anything that reminds me of her, I cringe from disgust. Your mere being brings on waves of vomit." He spoke all this in a hushed whisper so that Izayoi could not here. "Now you are to listen to your younger sibling that is inside Izayoi. And if you lay a finger or say anything degrading about her, I'll give you a hell you wished you'd never seen." And with that, the father dropped his son to the ground, returning to his wife.
"Inutaishou-sama, sire, is your son all right? He doesn't have to listen if he doesn't want to," Izayoi said softly, never wanting to offend anyone.
"Oh, no, it's quite all right. Sesshoumaru just needed some motivating, that's all," Inutaishou let a smirk tug at his lips as he played with his love's hair. Sesshoumaru silently pulled himself up, stumbling as he came to the woman. His father gave him another warning look and Sesshoumaru knew it best to obey his father. Slowly, he kneeled down and placed his head on the woman's stomach. Listening with his heightened youkai ears, he heard the sounds of life and even he had to admit that this was a miraculous feat. To think that life could be formed inside this woman, that she was going to bring a hanyou into the world. It rather amazed Sesshoumaru and he found he was actually intrigued by the whole thing. Suddenly, Izayoi let out a cry of pain, startling both Sesshoumaru and Inutaishou.
"My love, what is it?" Inutaishou sounded frantic, putting his hand over her head to feel for fever.
"The child," she breathed, "It's going to come today." Inutaishou felt his eyes widen.
"Sesshoumaru, go fetch the midwives. Be quick or I'll have your head," he slapped the boy, making Sesshoumaru stand. Nodding, he silently cursed being ordered about like a servant yet still went to find the midwives.
When the child finally did arrive, Inutaishou had shooed everyone from the room so that only he, his wife, and newest son could be together. Izayoi was nursing the babe, exhausted from delivering a child. It was one thing to bring a baby into the world, yet she was human and it was hard to deliver a half demon child. When the baby was done feeding, Izayoi pulled up her top, looking at her son with loving eyes. Inutaishou gave a warm smile as he watched the infant pop his fist into his mouth, inu ears flickering as he took in his surroundings.
"You have given me such a wonderful son," The warlord said quietly, rubbing his wife's shoulder. Izayoi smiled lovingly, cradling her son.
"Anything for you, sire," she whispered, rubbing the infant's ears. Inutaishou was then quiet, pondering what to name the child.
"InuYasha," he said almost silently.
"Milord?"
"InuYasha...That shall be his name," The warlord told her.
"InuYasha. It is a fine name, milord. It fits him perfectly," Izayoi responded. Inutaishou was silent for a moment longer. It seemed he remembered having this conversation before. This thought was then shrugged off. Calling for a maid he knew was waiting outside their doors, he told the woman once she entered to fetch his other son. After ten minutes, the youkai appeared in the doorway, looking at the infant. His eyes narrowed darkly.
"Father, what do you want of me?"
"Come my worthless excuse of a son. Come and meet your brother," Inutaishou beckoned, waving a clawed hand. Sesshoumaru hesitated and then walked toward his father. With a bored look in his eyes, Sesshoumaru looked at the whelp, calming himself so that he might not lash out at the child. "He is to be known as InuYasha. He is your brother, Sesshoumaru," Inutaishou said flatly. "Would you like to hold him?"
"No," Sesshoumaru said almost too quickly. His father shot him a cold look, clearly telling him to reconsider his decision. "Well, I suppose I could hold the pup," Sesshoumaru then added, not wanting unnecessary punishment from his father. Picking up the child from his wife's embrace, the youkai lord put the babe in Sesshoumaru's arms who sat at the bedside. InuYasha looked into his brother's eyes, blinking his own honey eyes in curiosity. Blankly staring at the infant, Sesshoumaru said nothing. Then, out of nowhere, he plunged his talons into the hanyou's chest, determined to kill the runt.
"My baby!" Izayoi screamed as Inutaishou lunged at his son and took away the child, placing it in his wife's lap. As soon as this was done, he launched a punch into Sesshoumaru's face, knocking the boy to the ground.
"What the hell are you doing, Sesshoumaru?! He is your brother!"
"Half-brother," Sesshoumaru corrected. "Only half of his filthy blood do I share with him." Inutaishou snarled.
"I don't understand you. You know you are capable of killing him."
"My thoughts exactly, Father," Sesshoumaru said shortly, ignoring the wailing of the hanyou child. "I was hoping to exterminate the half-breed bastard. I was only doing what you trained me to do, Father." Inutaishou clenched his fists, staring with hatred at his son.
"Go. Leave before I kill you and splatter your blood right here and now, Sesshoumaru," he hissed.
"Of course, Father," Sesshoumaru shot back. And so the challenges between father and son had begun.
It was later that night that Sesshoumaru was getting measured for his new garments. He'd outgrown the ones his mother sewed him only a few months ago. Sighing, he rubbed at his black eye, ignoring the pain that came from it. He wasn't in the best of positions right now. In fact, he stood in nothing more than his undergarment as the seamstress, Adria, a human girl of Sesshoumaru's age, measured him in between giggles. Sesshoumaru was growing into a fine young man, his form filling out more so. Currently, Adria was measuring his arm length, blushing uncontrollably.
"So, milord, what kind of garment were you looking for?" she said, biting her lip from her giggling. Clearly, she was taking a major liking to Sesshoumaru and most certainly "crushing" on him. Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, the youkai spoke in monotone.
"The same garments I've had. Anything that will suffice in my training. I also need you to make me a formal kimono for tonight. As you know, there will be the annual meeting of the Lords and Ladies at our castle."
"Oh, yes, milord, of course! I'll work like the devil threatened to cut off my hands!" she promised as she went to measure his chest.
"That's good. Though you'll have to worry about me cutting off your hands," he threatened as she removed her wandering hands from his bottom, blushing to no end. By her increased giggling, Sesshoumaru then realized where she was measuring. He sighed. He just wanted to get this over with.
"Sesshoumaru-sama, you've grown quite a lot...Oh! I didn't mean it like that! I mean, not that that is a bad thing! But I'm not insulting you! I'm just simply stating a fact! But you can take it as a compliment if you want and I—"
"Adria..."
"Yes, milord?"
"Finish the measuring and then get on with sewing my clothing," he ordered as she nodded. This day was just getting more irksome. And of course, it was only to get worse, for at all times, Sesshoumaru's father entered the sewing room, a scowl in place.
"Sesshoumaru, we have to talk about your behavior toward your brother..." Inutaishou then raised a brow, looking at his practically naked son. "Having fun there, Sesshoumaru?" he snickered, bemused as he watched the human girl blush.
"Loads of fun, Father, just loads," Sesshoumaru replied curtly, calming a blush of his own.
"Well, I came to tell you that we have an early visitor," Inutaishou said, thumbing through material out of boredom.
"And how does this concern me?" Sesshoumaru said, lacking an emotion at all, as Adria measured his stomach.
"Oh, yes, he wanted to see you."
"Now?"
"Yes, now. And here he comes," The warlord chuckled. Sesshoumaru and Inutaishou's relationship had dwindled to nothingness now. They were always looking for ways to harm the other. Sasame burst through the door, his orange locks tied in a short ponytail located at the base of his skull. The Northern kitsune looked down at Sesshoumaru, his brow instantly arched as a smirk appeared.
"Well then, I guess I won't have to worry myself about Sesshoumaru being a threat in that aspect," he chuckled as Sesshoumaru felt the blush creep up to his cheeks. Adria backed away. She was aware of Sasame's flirtatious habits. And being the most powerful being in Japan, no one could resist his desires.
"My father said you wanted to speak to me?" Sesshoumaru sniffed, trying to sound serious but Sasame only chuckled, feeding the boy's anger.
"This is your son, Inutaishou?" Sasame chortled, looking at Sesshoumaru's scar adorned body. "He is nothing more than a boy, a pup." Sesshoumaru growled at this, his fangs revealed. This only made the kitsune laugh more so.
"I am not a pup. I'm on my way to being the Lord of the Western Lands," he hissed out. Inutaishou joined in on the chuckling.
"You are? Really?" he mocked his son, making Sesshoumaru suddenly feel hopeless. He didn't care so much that Sasame was poking fun at him...but his own father?
"Oh no, Inutaishou, you'd better watch out!" Sasame choked on his laughs, then sniggered at Sesshoumaru's increasing blush. "He's going to get you. Scare you off with his scarred, hideous body." He sputtered, trying to quell his laughs.
"Lord Sasame, I advise you not to cross me. I promise I will—"
"Oh, please, Sesshoumaru. I came here to see if you'd make a suitable mate for one of my daughters. I think they'll find a cute pup like yourself amusing."
"I am of age to court," Sesshoumaru defended as he watched his own father laugh at him. Sesshoumaru felt his heart drop. "I am not a pup," he repeated.
"Look at you, you haven't even finished growing into your looks. You don't even have your full form down yet do you?" Sasame goaded, holding his sides. "Why, I bet you haven't even had your first heat, have you, Sesshoumaru?"
Poor Sesshoumaru. His blush that he had been trying to stop had flushed a deep crimson as he stuttered over his words. "I...I um." Inutaishou stopped laughing suddenly, feeling a bit sympathetic toward his son...for once.
"Sasame, I think that's enough," Inutaishou suggested, hoping the kitsune would listen. Sasame quieted, rubbing tears from his eyes.
"All right," he agreed, walking out the doorway. Inutaishou shook his head, following the fellow warlord. Sesshoumaru was glad the two left. He couldn't believe his father had let Sasame in like that! And to court one of Sasame's daughters? This had to be some plot for a treaty between the Northern and Western Lands. This whole situation angered him. He cursed himself for letting himself get humiliated like that. Sighing, he ignored Adria who had gone back to measuring as he vowed to himself that he would never show emotions, court, and most certainly not love one of the Northern Lord's daughters.