Once Upon A Time...

Chapter 2: Actions that Bind

By: DemonSaya

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It would be almost a year before she would see the demon again.

Her home had been holding it's own against the neighboring lord, and though small, they were winning the war.

However, heavy casualties made each passing day more and more difficult. The girl was only 17, and she had no real savy when it came to fighting. She didn't understand how intricate the art of war was until one day, as she led her warriors to what she hoped would be another victory, they were attacked by demons.

The location where the other army was supposed to be was a swarm. Izayoi sensed these demons were not like the demon she had saved. These were evil, and were hired by their enemies to wipe her small army out. As the army charged, she took a shuddering breath and wondered idly why she had the stupid idea to join them.

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Inutaishou paused. A familiar scent tickled his sensitive nose and he looked towards his son. "I smell blood." He said evenly. "I am going to see, you will wait here." He turned his back to Sesshoumaru and paused when he heard his son speak.

"Father!" He snapped. "They're only humans!"

The demon paused, sniffing a bit more. It was more than just humans. She was there. The woman who had saved him. The woman he too had saved. His debt was repaid, yet..."Indeed, but I am going, or will you try to stop me."

Sesshoumaru moved to do so and was shocked when a hand hit him hard across the face. He looked at his father, who wasn't looking at him. He had never seen his father so...obsessed. And with humans of all creatures. "You are a fool, father!"

"Perhaps..." He began walking towards the battle, then his footsteps quickened till he was running at a dead sprint. He reached the top of the cliff and saw the demons attacking the human fighters. Izayoi was in fact in their midsts, no longer on her horse, she was thrust behind a man who wore the armor of a general. He saw the fear on her face and snarled, raising his hand to a sword at his waist. "Tetsusaiga..." He said quietly. He drew the sword and watched as it grew in size, till it resembled the fang he'd used for it's construction. He raised the sword with one hand, glaring at the demons.

Izayoi saw light above them and watched as the demons in their way were disintegrated. When they were gone, a human army approached, taking their place. She raised her face for the source of the light and saw a familiar form standing on the cliff. "Inutaishou-sama..." She whispered, her eyes widening. He was still beautiful, ageless in a way she would never be. As she watched, he lept gracefully from the cliff, landing in front of the oncoming army. His back remained to her and she stared at his broad shoulders, covered with the mantle.

Takemaru looked back and saw suprise on her face and frowned deeply. The creature that had just wiped out the demon army seemed sinister to him and wondered what his connection to Izayoi was, or if, in fact, she was just suprised by such a show of raw power. He felt a twinge of jealousy. The princess had never worn such a relieved expression in his presence, but in the presence of this...THING?

The demon sheathed Tetsusaiga and reached upwards, touching a sword he rarely drew. He held the sword above his head and felt the dark power surrounding the sword. 'Kill them all, all these worthless humans...' The voice was whispered to him. "Shut up." He said softly to the sword. He brought the sword down, sending the soldiers flying back, most of them dying on impact. He saw the fear on the others faces and his eyes narrowed. "Run you fools." He told them as they began charging him. He lifted the sword again, running towards them with the grace and agility that came to him naturally. He swung in a wide arc, sending more of them to their deaths.

He found the lord leading them and grabbed him off his horse as the other mortals began their pointless fight. He lifted the human by his head, staring at him. "Leave Izayoi alone." He said evenly.

"She's infringing on my land. My generals tell me such!"

"Perhaps...you should go see for yourself." He hissed softly. "But understand this...if you do not end this war, I will squeeze your head until it pops and your brains are a part of the earth once again." He paused, wearing an expression of disdain. "And I do so hate getting human gore on myself."

The lord swallowed and when he was dropped, he mounted his horse. "RETREAT!" He ordered.

Inutaishou watched with an almost amused expression as the mortals fled in fear for their mortal bodies. He snorted, turning back towards the army who's ass he'd just saved. Izayoi stood in front of the soldiers, wearing an expression of shock on her face. He bowed formally, and would have went back to where he'd left his son lying, but a command shocked him.

"Kill the mononoke!"

It was not a female voice issuing the order. It was a male. The demon turned around, arching an eyebrow. "I am not amused." He said evenly. He watched the humans move to attack him and scowled.

"You shall not!"

His eyes went to the woman whose soft, gentle voice rose in anger. "I do not need your protection, Izayoi." He said evenly.

The humans froze, uncertain of what to do. Their general had ordered them to kill him, and their princess had ordered them not to.

Takemaru froze. The demon had adressed the princess by her name. No honorary, nothing, just her name. He looked at the princess and saw her clutching her bossom and walking towards the demon. "Izayoi-sama...?" He asked, feeling faint.

She bowed to the demon. "Thank you, Inutaishou-sama." She said softly. "We are in your debt."

He saw a faint smile on her face and frowned. He lowered his voice, these words were met for only her. "You...remember where first we met."

She looked at him in suprise. "Yes."

He gave her a meaningful look. "Tonight, when the moon touches the water, I will be there." He said evenly.

She looked at him in shock. In the blink of an eye, he was gone again, and she wondered idly if she hadn't just imagined him. She turned back to her army and saw the looks on the faces of her soldiers. Her voice rose to chastize them. "What were you thinking! Attacking someone who just saved all of our lives! You all should be ashamed!" Her eyes went to Takemaru, who looked very angry and upset. "Demon or not, we are in his debt."

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Takemaru watched the princess with a peculiar expression. "My lady, Hiroshi from the neighboring kingdom sends his regards and begs for his forgiveness. He is offering his son to you as a husband." The general looked away, scowling a bit.

"I shall not marry the son of the man who I just fought a war with." She said cooly. She was disappointed in her childhood friend for attempting to kill the demon that saved them.

"My lady, forgive my insolence on the battlefield today..." He said evenly. "You are correct, we are in that demon's debt, but there is nothing we can give him. Please do not remain angered with me, Izayoi-sama..."

She sighed, looking at him. "Takemaru, he is not evil, inspite of him being a demon." She saw the confusion on his face and remembered he did not know of the demon's brief stay at the manor almost a year prior. She looked at her hands, remembering when he took her hand in his, saving her life, mixing their blood.

"H-he called you...Izayoi, not Izayoi-sama..." He said quietly. He silently begged her to tell him it wasn't true. She couldn't be that close to a demon...

She lowered her gaze. "I saved him almost a year ago." She said quietly. "He, in return, saved me from the disease from the youkai venom." She looked at her companion, her face serious. "When someone saves the life of another, it creates a special bond between the two people."

"I have saved you before." He said so softly, she didn't hear him. As he watched, the woman stood, walking from the room. "Izayoi-sama..." He said softly. "Sleep well."

She smiled a bit, not telling him she had no intention of sleeping. She wrapped another layer around herself to ward off the impending chill and left through her window. Slowly, her footsteps carried her down a familiar path. How many times had her feet carried her down this path? She reached the water and watched the steam rise from the top. She leaned forward, touching the glassy surface. How many moons since she met him? Since she took him in, dressed his wounds?

A fond smile played at the corner of her mouth. He had been surly and rude then, his gold eyes cold, with none of the heat they'd displayed this time, during the battle.

She felt him approach from behind and turned, looking up at the great demon as he knelt beside her, his eyes upon the glassy water. She blushed, looking down. "You wished to speak with me?"

"No." He said honestly. He continued to sit beside her, smelling her scent, his eyes warming. "I do not wish to speak."

She looked at him, perplexed and gasped in suprise when his arm went around her shoulders, pulling her head onto his shoulder. "Sir-"

"Be quiet." He ordered.

She flustered at the indignity. "How dare you order me about! I am a princess!"

"The titles of humans mean little." He said evenly, still not looking at her face. He could only take her assailing a few senses at a time. His control was brittle, and was broken easily.

She blushed, shoving him as hard as she could. She backed away from him, anger filling her. She was a tolerant person, but no one would say such things to her. "Who do you think you are to speak to me in such a way!"

"Do not get high and mighty with me, my lady." He said evenly. He looked towards her, his eyes flashing. "I have a short temper."

"Just because you saved my army-"

"And you, I might add." He arched an eyebrow. He watched as her full lips snapped shut and felt a curious feeling. "I am a Taiyoukai, Izayoi." He said evenly. "I have taken interest in you, as well as your well being. So do us both a favor. Sit."

She blushed, looking away. "I do not wish to."

"Then do as you wish." He shifted into a more comfortable position and contemplated the water for a bit. He could feel her eyes on her and knew it was only a matter of time before he bent her to his will.

Izayoi sighed, shaking her head, and finally sitting on the grass. "You asked me to come here for a reason, my lord?" She asked formally, staring into the water. "Perhaps to collect payment on the debt now owed to you."

He froze, staring at her. He snarled. "Are you doing this to vex me?" He asked in irritation. He rose to his feet, beginning to pace in frustration. "I do what I want, and if-yes if-I choose, I collect payment. I do not make these decisions whimsically as humans do." He snarled, pent up frustration seeking an outlet. "Did you ever consider I may have not ASKED you to come here at all, in fact, I don't recall making any such request."

She stared at him in suprise. "But you said-"

He spun towards her. "I merely told you I would be here." He said evenly. As he looked at her face he watched realization dawn upon it and she looked down. He couldn't see her beautiful eyes, for they were hidden behind thick black bangs. A tear wound down her cheek and he felt a strange tug in his chest.

The woman rose and nodded. "Very well then, I am returning to the palace. If you do not need me here, then-" She felt two gentle hands cup her face. She lifted her eyes and met the firey gold orbs that graced his perfect face. His thumbs brushed the tears away.

"Woman, you are infuriating..." He said softly. He searched her face and saw a strange sadness there. "Why do you look so sad, princess?"

She looked down. "Because, my lord, you have made me so." She admitted softly. She felt soft lips on her forhead and looked up at him in suprise. Her heart beat quickly in her chest. "Why did you tell me you would be here if you did not wish to speak to me?"

He looked at her, his eyes changing slightly. He smiled faintly. "Izayoi..." He said softly, enjoying the taste of her name on his tounge. "Now and then, every man wants the companionship of a lovely woman." He said softly.

She felt the ugly blush color her cheeks and tried to look away, but her face was quite caught between the demon's large hands. His eyes held a strange look, one that she struggled to pull her eyes away from. She bit her lip, uncertain of what to say. "My lord-"

He had enough of this talking. He leaned down, pressing his lips lightly to hers. He felt her jump and felt a small twinge of pleasure. He moved his arms to her shoulders, pulling her softness against him. She gasped against his mouth and he smiled slightly.

Izayoi quickly turned her face away from the gentle kiss. She put her fingers to her lips and pulled away fully. Never before had lips touched hers. She looked away, uncertain once again of the demon's intentions. "Inutaishou-sama..." She said softly. "I must ask you not to kiss me."

He caught her chin. His eyes searched hers, seeing fear in them, uncertainty. He looked at her face, feeling an odd emptiness. He released her, pushing her away from him. "Return to your home, Izayoi..." He said, turning away from her. He would not look at her again. He felt a hand touch him and flinched. "GO!" He snarled.

She jumped. His mood had completely flip-flopped. She opened her mouth to speak, but she sensed the futility in apologizing. "My lord..." She said softly. "I am sorry." She turned and fled, feeling a strange ache in her heart as she arrived at the palace.

Takemaru was waiting for her. "My lady, where have you been!" He asked, infuriated that she would disappear in such a manner. "It is night and demons are roaming, you know this!"

She swept past him, her hands trembling. "Where I was is none of your concern." She snapped, walking into her room and slamming the door shut. She flung herself onto her bed and began to cry.

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Inutaishou walked several steps ahead of his son, feeling the eyes on his back. "What is it, Sesshoumaru?" He asked impatiently.

"Perhaps I should ask you, father?" Sesshoumaru walked stoically behind the demon before him.

The demon stopped, glaring at his son. "Mind your tone, boy." He snarled. "You are entirely to young to try to patronize me." He continued walking. He looked towards his son. "You are old enough to travel on your own, however." He said evenly. "Go."

The young demon stared at his father in shock. "What?"

"You are to follow me no longer. Get out of my sight." He said evenly. He heard his son leaving him, a hesitation in his step. When the boy was gone, he felt something strange on his cheeks. He raised a hand, feeling moisture. 'What is this?' He wondered, looking at the clear liquid on his hand.

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AN: So, gimme imput, what do you all think of Daddy. A note about the name I chose for him 'Inutaishou': For those of you who've seen the third movie you never actually see his name, they always call him 'mononoke', 'anata', 'm'lord', or 'The dog General'. Well, if you watch the series, they call him "Inutaishou", or Dog Lord, so I settled for that. Hell, he named one son "The killing pill" (Sesshoumaru) and the other "Fierce dog" (Inuyasha). Oh, and I know he seemed to 'care' for humans, otherwise he wouldn't have mated with one, but if you watch the third movie, he kills ALOT trying to save Izayoi. I don't think he so much has a soft spot for humans as for HER.