Chapter 04 – A Father and Son Tale : Part 01
"Are you going, father?"
He stood upon a snow cliff, watching the horizon of the night sky and the clear ocean waves. He was weak and bleeding, his white hair swaying in the wind. He wore metal pads and furs over both shoulders. "Are you going to stop me, Sesshoumaru?"
"I'm not going to stop you… However, before that, I would like the fangs, Sou'unga and Tessaiga, to be handed over to me."
"If I say I won't give them to you… Would you kill your own father?" the young Sesshoumaru stood silent. "Do you desire power that much? Why do you seek power?"
"I must travel the path of conquest… Power is necessary in order to walk that path."
" 'Conquest' huh? Sesshoumaru, is there something you wish to protect?"
He stood calmly and slightly narrowed his eyes, his father's back clearly visible in the reflection of his eyes. "Something to protect?" They both stood silent for an amount of time, the waves rising and falling heavier than usual. "I have no need… to pursue such an endeavor," he stated as he held his right arm to the side. Sesshoumaru narrows his eyes furthermore as his father transforms into his youkai form and howls, the moonlight shining upon them both.
"Do you have something to protect?" Sesshoumaru stood on the snow alone, remembering the last words his father would ever say him. "That's ridiculous," he stated to himself and walked away.
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It was night; the air was heavy and lost in fog, snow stormed outside the village. Inuyasha, Kagome, Miroku, Sango, Kodoku, and Kajin had already spent their night in town and rested for the day. Now they regroup at the tavern and discuss their plans. Recent news has it that Inu no Taisho, the Dog Demon Lord, would storm the castle that night. Takemaru, the castle hero, was in love with the princess and would do anything he can to prevent their meeting. "We had better hurry…" Miroku gave a cold sweat.
"Damn right we better hurry! And I won't slow down and wait for you guys either!" Inuyasha stood up.
"You're a dumbass… it was us who were waiting for you… you and Kagome," Kodoku sipped at his tea.
"Gee, I wonder what you guys took so long doing," Miroku closed his eyes, smiled, then rubbed his chin.
"Shut up, pervert!" Sango smacked him across the face.
"Anyhow… let's hurry," Miroku stood and left for the door, everyone soon followed.
Sesshoumaru stood upon the snow cliff once again, the place where he had last seen his father. He stood where his father had stood, watching the waves rise and fall, watching the moon shine bright, capturing the moment. "Lord Sesshoumaru… do you know this place?" Jakken looked up at him and clearly saw him deep in thought.
"This is the place where I last saw my father."
"Gak! Eeh! Oh…" Jakken fell silent after making some strange noises.
"If I recall correctly… he was going to a certain castle, and since he have descended through time…" He looked at the blood puddle his father left.
"We went back in time!" Jakken was surprised.
"Jakken! Even I knew that!" Rin shouted and raised her fists.
"I was supposed to be the one to slay him, I still have a chance," Sesshoumaru walked toward the woods.
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Guards armed with spears, swords, and bows guarded the castle. They patrolled the courtyard inside, the walls, and even stood outside. Their main goal was to protect the princess.
The most famous youkai alive, Inu no Taisho, charged towards the castle. His silver hair trailed behind him, the furs over his shoulders danced in the moonlight. He drew the Tessaiga and held it with both arms, still running. "Kaze no… Kizu!" he leaped and slashed through the wind. The wave of light that emerged made its way to the castle, consumed many soldiers, and breached the wall. The soldiers patrolling filled the space that was lost, then the archers began to fire.
He kept running, allowing the arrows to pierce him, but it did not stop him, it did not even make him flinch. After gaining closer distance, he twirled, Tessaiga began to glow, he slashed, and sent another wave of light. It consumed more guards and widened the first breach. Because of this, the guards fled in fear, leaving the wound of the castle wide open.
He ran inside, "Izayoi! Izayoi!" he ran further inside.
A man wearing red armor emerged from the central building, "You are finally here mononoke. However, you are a little too late."
"What!" he stopped.
"Izayoi-sama has been sent to a place where even you could not reach her. I sent her there myself."
"… You damn… !" Inu no Taisho dashed toward the man, the man drew his sword and dashed toward him as well. This battle was going to be decided by the traditional one-slash duel. They clutched their swords as they neared each other, then slashed at the same moment. Inu no Taisho kept running, not even slowing down nor looking back. The man in red armor fell, bleeding, his left arm soon dropped to the snow.
He looked at the one who defeated him, "Burn everything down! Both the mononoke and the fortress! The soldiers lit their arrows with fire at a range, then aimed for all of the rooftops.
The buildings were already ablazed by the time Inu no Taisho had found Izayoi. The structure was falling, smoke made everything invisible; there was no point that wasn't flaming. He heard the baby's cries, thus finding his love. "Izayoi!" he threw aside a screen that was shielding her from his vision., "Izayoi…"
She lay there dead, it was too late. However, not for him, he drew Tensaiga, then searched for the underlings that take the souls that finish death. "I'm begging you, Tensaiga…" he slew them and sheathed Tensaiga. Her eyes opened, she sat up and looked around, holding the newborn child. She turned her head and saw the man in red armor. Inu no Taisho also turned around, then drew the sword from his back.
His face was covered in blood. He was limping, still bleeding. "If I take you down with me. I will have no regrets," he walked through the fire, "I'll take you down with me to hell!"
"You must live!" the youkai said calmly.
"What about you… ?" she asked with her soft voice.
There was a moment of silence as the man in red armor continued to walk forward. "Inuyasha."
"What?" The hero lifted his right arm, holding his sword.
"The child's name… That child's name is Inuyasha!"
The princess looked at the child, "Inuyasha…"
"Now, go!" the youkai clutched his sword.
"Yes."
Inu no Taisho raised the sword, black wind emerged from the handle swirling up. The visible winds transformed into dragon figures that became red with blazing eyes. As the princess ran outside, she looked back inside the castle, her love and the hero locked blades, under the torched building. It collapsed with them both inside. "Izayoi, you must live… you have to stay alive… Along with Inuyasha…" his voice echoed in her mind. She watched her child cry.
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The building collapsed, trapping both the hero and Inu no Taisho. However, as the debris fell, Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha both came to his side from different origins. Sesshoumaru held up Tensaiga and created a barrier, saving all three of them.