A "White Dog" Side Story by Becky Tailweaver
The Birth of a Son The soft, mewling cry of a newborn infant rose sweetly, muffled through the chamber door. The many attending witnesses that stood outside that door stirred and murmured in anticipation. The six lords gathered stiffly near, waiting, listening. They were eager, apprehensive--the time had come!
"He's here," whispered the youngest present, a youth with mottled gray-brown hair and blue-gold eyes who stood at the back of the group.
"Son," warned a beautiful young woman with shining gray hair.
"Sorry, Mother--I'm just excited," the youth responded softly.
"Hush, boy," scolded an older man, one of the lords, a stone-faced noble with the same dark, solid gray hair as the younger of the two women beside him. "We don't even know if it's male."
The youth stood back, even as a taller lord with long ebony tresses growled in the back of his throat. "I pray it's not," the black-haired man grumbled. "He needs no more excuse to place a half-breed as ruler over us."
"Peace, Kurobikari," cautioned a thickly-built brown-haired noble.
"Be at ease, my friend," said the lord nearest the door, the richly-dressed one with thick silver hair. "His Lordship does as he pleases."
"That's exactly the problem!" the black-haired man shot back. "He promises to make this half-breed his sworn successor, if it is male--without a thought as to what the rest of us must put up with when he's gone!"
"Kurobikari!" the brown-haired man warned again. "Be more tactful with such talk."
The black-haired noble, Kurobikari, snorted but fell silent. There were various murmurs among the gathering as the minutes passed; they were hesitant yet anxious to meet the new child of their leader.
Each of the men gathered here were demons, from the six powerful Daimyos to the various other dignitaries of their respective Clans brought as witnesses. More specifically, each of them were dog-demons, marked by the canine cast to their features and the striking, almost catlike eyes that each possessed. Though they appeared as elf-eared, strangely-colored, furry-tailed humans, their true forms were those of giant canines, fearsome in size and appearance.
Though they were of different colors, they belonged to the same species, and they had gathered on this Full Moon night, as tradition dictated, for a Council meeting--only to find that, by some luck, their high leader's child was being born. They had gathered in their great lord's domicile upon his invitation, to bear witness to the event--though it was only dubiously regarded as "blessed."
The White Dog Lord's home was a large underground den beneath the High Stone, a great earthen cave with many chambers. The newest of these chambers, off to one side, had been carved out in human proportions to serve the needs of the great Daimyo's chosen bondmate, the Lady Ayako.
Middle-aged, charismatic Lord Ginpatsu, the Silver Daimyo, had come with his right-hand warrior Higin. Ever polite, supportive, and mediating, Ginpatsu was a good old friend of the White Dog Daimyo. Disdaining open combat, he preferred to face his enemies over a table. His younger brother and fellow supporter Ginke was also with him.
Gray Lord Kaishika had come with his Lady and his niece. Although older than all the other Daimyos save their leader, he was a large, powerful demon, unafraid of anything and something of an old wardog. He had fought joyfully beside his lord in uncounted battles long past. His lady, a demon-woman of soft eyes and a gentler disposition, often spoke up to moderate his blustering temper.
The Black Daimyo, Kurobikari, was a tall, thin man with a sharp face and an even sharper temper. Often found by Ginpatsu's side, the Black lord was the most outspoken opponent of the White Lord, yet never hesitated to support the Silver Daimyo. Kurobikari had brought only his trusted right-hand man, Ankoku, as his fellow witness.
Noukatsu, lord of the Brown Dog Clan, was heavyset and solid both in body and in mind. Ever a staunch ally of the White Lord, he and his Clan were the most numerous of all the Dogs and therefore the most commonly influential group save the Whites. His two most faithful generals stood beside him, ready to be added witnesses to the blessed event.
Lord Anseki was the leader of the Red Dogs. Slim, handsome, and aristocratic, he had recently inherited his position from his deceased grandsire. His flashy temperament matched the rich crimson of his flowing hair. The Red Dog Clan considered themselves friends of the Browns, and usually sided with them in disputes. His companion was his younger brother Benike, who stood at his side.
Koudo, Daimyo of the Yellow Dog Clan, was short and shifty, with scraggly blondish hair and narrow eyes. The Yellow Dogs, the smallest and weakest of all the Clans, owed no loyalties to any one but were quick to stand with those they thought were on the winning side. He had brought with him his son and heir, Koushoku, a taller, more handsome demon whose conniving gaze was always looking for opportunity.
These high leaders of the Western Dog Clans talked softly amongst themselves as they waited impatiently for news of their leader's new pup. In the earth-walled chamber outside Lady Ayako's quarters, many demons quietly admitted their reluctance and resentment of having a half-human child be named the heir to the White Lord's authority. The murmurs had long since grown to full-blown conversation, drowning out the waning cries of the newborn and any subsequent noises. Quite a while passed before a noise just behind the door made all activity cease.
The heavy chamber door slid open. The gathered nobles tensed and all eyes focused on the tall, white-haired man emerging from the inner room.
"Lord Seibunishi!" a dozen voices spoke in salute, as every knee bowed before the Great Demon of the West, the Daimyo of the White Dog Clan, Seibunishi.
Seibunishi raised the bundle he carried, a wide, bright smile on his face. "My son!" he announced proudly, his voice deep and strong.
The attending witnesses knealt even lower, while the six lords clapped their fists accross their chests and bowed their heads. "Hail!" the entire gathering cried.
However, among those who knealt, only one was smiling. The young man in the back of the crowd, the one with the strange hair and eyes, was the only one whose face bore an expression of joy.
"Rise! Rise, my friends--come and see," offered the White Lord, cradling the softly whimpering infant close to his chest once more. The great Daimyo was a well-built, middle-aged man, with a demon's pointed ears and golden, cat-slitted eyes. His long white hair was tied back in a series of leather bands, and his roughly grinning face was free of any markings or stripes.
Hesitant, the nobles stood and stepped forward to view the newborn. Exclamations of surprise and disbelief marked their first sight of the infant.
"My God--he's not human at all!" marveled the red-haired demon.
"As white as snow, from head to tail. He's pure!" spoke the Gray Daimyo.
"A fine heir to the White Clan's legacy," the brown-haired lord commented.
The Silver Daimyo cleared his throat. "What shall be his name, my lord?"
Seibunishi smiled fondly down at the baby he held. "He shall be named for what he is, and who he shall always be. So that no matter what, he will always remember the pride of his blood and heritage. I name this child, my son...Inuyasha."