Chapter 9 (Interlude Part 2)

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Izayoi knew that her husband was gone before she opened her eyes. She rose and clothed herself once again in the outer robe he had left to her. She could feel his presence weakly all around her—a barrier had been erected around her. She gathered her bridal kimono and walked slowly back to the village. The walk gave her time to wonder where he was. No vision came to her regarding his whereabouts, but she knew it had been urgent. He would not have left her otherwise. She said a prayer for her lord before coming into the village.

The villagers stared at her. Izayoi realized it was the first time she had walked upon the actual ground. This is what dirt felt like under her feet, in her finger nails, in the cracks and crevices of her flesh. Her hair was full of burrs and moss from the forest bed. They knew what she had done—they had done it themselves in moments of passion after a harvest moon celebration or on a mutual day off from working. She did not let the shame touch her. Her powers were gone, but she still had her wisdom and most of her foresight, which would be gone in due time. She knew that her love was sanctified. The gray fang that had been around her finger for three years had turned to pure ivory.

She went to the temple shrine. There she changed into her usual silk garments, but instead chose red ones, the ones she had been given but never worn.

Word traveled quickly around the village. She heard them in her tower from the market. The villagers knew of actions. She heard the shrine maidens whispering as she went about leading prayers and blessing pilgrims.

Takemaru was there in the evening. He had grown much stronger in the last three years and had grown a beard, but preferred to shave it off.

"I have heard things, Izayoi," Takemaru said uncomfortably. "I heard you are no longer a virgin. You walked off the path of silk and came sullied from the forest."

"Everything you heard is true," said Izayoi without remorse. "I would not deny to anyone I have a husband and am carrying his child."

"You! You!" Takemaru gasped for breath. "The inu filth that bled upon the silk those years ago! He has diseased you with his seed. He raped you, did he not?"

"No."

"Izayoi, how—you!" he exclaimed. "I have loved you and known you for so many years… I cannot believe it."

"I am sorry for you feelings, Takemaru. I have always appreciated your friendship. In my days of youth you played with me when no others would dare. You have guarded my door faithfully. However, your anger is misguided and needless. Our ancestors are bones and dust in wind, and that is what we shall become as well. We shall both die in less than a year."

"Izayoi," moaned Takemaru. Tears streamed down his face. "I will hear no more. I am imprisoning you until further notice. This is for your own protection."

"Do as you see fit, good Takemaru," she said with sadness on her face. "When he comes he will not forgive you."

"I would die protecting you."

"Hie," agreed Izayoi. "And you shall." Takemaru sighed and it felt as though his lungs were heaving.

"At least I know fate. Now come with me. I will take you to the dungeon. Your father has given his consent. You have greatly shamed him."

"I am sorry for his regret. I regret everyone's sorrows. But I do not rebuke my actions. I wish you luck in battle tonight."

"Tonight?"

"Yes. They come tonight."

--

Izayoi spent the night in her cell. Some had called to her defense; although she was no longer chaste, she was still innocent. Her maidens visited her and brought her cloth to sleep upon and water to wash with. She longed for her strong Inutaisho to hold her that night. She stroked her belly and knew what was growing inside of her at that moment.

Even at her low depths below the fortress, she heard the screams of the dying and the sick clashing sounds of flesh and blades, armor and arrows. She could not sleep that night.

Takemaru came at dawn badly wounded. The blood on his hands greased the bars of the cell as he tried to clutch them to see Izayoi.

"Are you well and unharmed?"

"Hie," she replied.

"Our enemy has been defeated," he said with a choked breath. "But at great cost. Your father is dead. All of the women have been killed or stolen, including your priestesses. The children were sent into the forest to escape, gods help them and have mercy. The village men have been murdered. Only a handful of your father's men remain. I have inherited his seat, seeing as your brothers and sisters are dead."

Izayoi said a quiet prayer for them.

"I have decided to move who is left to your uncle's castle in the forests after the dead are buried. If another attack is to come, we cannot conceal it. And none of the men want to linger. The streets of the market are paved in flesh and blood."

"It is a wise decision."

"And do you still defend yours? Knowing what has transpired?"

"Yes," she whispered.

"Selfish bitch!" Takemaru screamed, his tears flying wildly. He took his katana and slashed it against the bars of the cell, striking it over and over. Izayoi flinched at him, holding her arm up to guard her face. The sound of slamming metal reverberated gratingly and made her sick. "Your father! Your brothers! Everyone is gone! There is nothing left! And it is your fault!"

"Did I slay these people?" she asked. "Is there blood on my hands, Takemaru?" She held them up. They were pure and white.

Takemaru was breathing heavily from his exertion. He blinked several times.

"Of—of course not, Izayoi. You did not," he said. "Forgive me for my outburst. You even forewarned us. I still am fond of you. I cannot imagine myself otherwise."

"Your passion is great for the sanctity of life, Takemaru. That is truly a gift. But do not forget that we do not linger on this Earth. We are pilgrims from the world of the dead, and we return eventually thus."

"Be ready," he grumbled. "We move out tomorrow."

--

Ryukotsusei had evaded Inutaisho for a month. Inutaisho had encountered various strong youkai that he had struggled to kill, but most committed suicide before dying at his hand. All of them praised their leader, the dragon youkai that they insisted was a far greater king than this inu youkai.

Inutaisho was closer with every kill he made. Ryukotsusei was not in his province. He had to leave Izayoi far behind.

"I'm sorry," he whispered on the wind, hoping the message would somehow be carried to her. "You knew this would happen. I will not forget. The ninth new moon. Ryukotsusei will be dead by then, I swear it, Izayoi."

--

Takemaru had disgust in his eyes every time he looked upon Izayoi's growing belly. She sighed often and gazed out the window of the chamber he had had her confined to. He visited her daily. By then, Izayoi's foresight had gone. She was useless to her uncle to predict attacks. Her uncle had made it clear he blamed her for his brother's and nephew's deaths and that she was not welcome in his fortress after she had given birth. After that, she would have to leave and seek a new life with her half-breed child.

"Where is your husband?" Takemaru asked her rudely. He often emphasized the word, not believing any civil ceremony of marriage was possible for a youkai. "Does he not love you? Is that why he has abandoned you?"

"He has business," she said absently. She had never wished for powers before, but then, she wished a tiny bit she could see what he was doing, if he was safe or not.

"Probably another woman. Wait, he is an inu, correct? He probably has a bitch now." He liked how delicious the word sounded.

"There is no one else," said Izayoi with certainty. "Inu youkai mate for life. If he had despised me when we mated, he would still remain faithful to me throughout his long life. They do not share human taste for sinful unions." She stared as Takemaru felt the shame of his species.

"He is still afraid," Takemaru challenged. "If he is such a great youkai, as you say, why has he not tried to take you back? It is because he sees our fortifications. There is no way a single being could take on our army plus your uncle's."

"My lord fears nothing. I have told him not to come until the birth of the child. When he comes, he will slaughter you all if you are in his way."

"You worship of him deludes you."

"You have far too much faith in your abilities."

Takemaru left as disgusted as he came.

--

Ryukotsusei had strung along Inutaisho to the farthest reaches of Japan from his territory. Inutaisho had cornered him in a dry creek bed. Inutaisho was tired from killing the legion of twelve hundred demons that Ryukotsusei had sent. It had taken many Kaze no Kizu attacks and patience.

The duel of the dragon and the inu lasted over five days. Inutaisho kept an eye on the moon—it had been eight new moons so far, and the ninth would be early. A lunar eclipse, thought Inutaisho. Inutaisho's wounds increased and mounted, as did his fatigue. He had a gaping chest wound which healed over the coarse of battle. He had to trick Ryukotsusei if he wanted to get to Izayoi in time.

He faked a blunder of dropping the Tetsusaiga and let Ryukotsusei strike his left arm. He gritted his teeth with pain and brought the Tetsusaiga up under one of the dragon's scales in his chest, flicking it off.

"Hardly a killing blow," taunted Ryukotsusei, delighted he had finally gotten a solid hit. Inutaisho quickly pulled his last baby tooth out of his waist pouch without the dragon seeing. Inutaisho leapt and bounded off the rocks in the creek bed, dodging the blows of the dragon.

He dropped the Tetsusaiga, and another blow came to his left arm, this time puncturing it. Blood flowed down in copious amounts. In Inutaisho's right hand, his fang transformed into a large, dagger-like weapon. It glowed hot white as he thrust it into the dragon's heart where the scale had protected it. Inutaisho leapt high and pinned him against the wall of the mountain they fought near.

Ryukotsusei screamed as his body froze, sealed to the side of the mountain.

Panting, Inutaisho wandered to the sea. He must have been deep to the north. The snow fell around him, but he felt no pain or cold. He was exhausted. He stared out and searched for the moon. There was none. He needed to leave. He had kept his promise.

"Milord, you're alive!" exclaimed Myouga, his flea-vassal. "And I have news."

"Say it quickly."

"Yes, milord. Your wife has given birth to an infant male."

"That is wonderful news."

"However, she has been slain by her guard. She has only just died, however; I used a very ancient magic to find you so quickly." Monstrous, thought Inutaisho, his blood boiling.

"Are you going, father?" asked Sesshoumaru. Myouga vanished. The son came from behind and surveyed his father's wounds of battle. The blood ran down his arm and stained the snow. Inutaisho did not turn to him.

"Are you going to stop me, Sesshoumaru?" asked Inutaisho.

"I'm not going to stop you. However, I would like the fangs, Sou'unga and Tetsusaiga, to be given unto me." Inutaisho knew somehow that Sesshoumaru had found out the powers of the Tensaiga and no longer desired it.

"If I say I won't give them to you…would you kill your own father?" asked Inutaisho. He sighed and let the wind whip around him. "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," Sesshoumaru stated simply, as though explaining it to an imbecile.

"Conquest, kah?" asked Inutaisho, bowing his head slightly in shame. "Sesshoumaru, is there anything you wish to protect?"

"Something to protect?" asked Sesshoumaru. "I have no need to pursue such an endeavor."

Inutaisho had run out of time. He transformed into his true form in the moonlight. That moon would be dark by the time he had covered the hundreds of miles it took to get to his love. He ran and flew through the air, rushing away from his son to his wife. Had she felt pain? He could not stand the thought of it.

"It's no use! It's too soon. Please reconsider!" Myouga begged as soon as they were in the air. He had hidden himself in his lord's tresses of silver hair. "Your wounds from fight Ryukotsusei haven't healed yet."

"I cannot let her die like that," promised Inutaisho.

"But…" whined Myouga.

"Besides, I don't have much time as it is."

"Inutaisho-sama!" cried Myouga.

The village was deserted when he arrived. He followed the near-dead scent of men to another fortress, deep in the forest. Myouga had gone again. Inutaisho said a prayer of thanks for him.

A hundred men or more waited for him at the keep. He did not want to kill anymore. He was tired. He wanted to take Izayoi and leave.

He transformed back into his human-like form and drew the Tetsusaiga.

Izayoi. I am coming for you now.

--

"Who is it?" Izayoi called out. She was exhausted from her labor. There was no midwife. She had been scared and alone and very lucky that she and the baby were both safe.

"Setsuna no Takemaru," announced her guard. He stood just outside the curtain beside her birthing cubicle.

"Takemaru?" Izayoi sighed. "Thank goodness. Please take everyone and leave immediately. He will not forgive you for being here."

"Izayoi-sama. I have always been fond of you." Takemaru confessed. "Even if your heart has been stolen by a mononoke." She saw the spearhead through the curtain and screamed.

"My feelings will never change," he said quietly and left.

As Izayoi's life faded away, the moon became dark and her candle went out.

--

"KAZE NO KIZU!" Inutaisho shouted into the night, swinging the Tetsusaiga expertly. Raw blades of power ripped across the terrain and into the fortress. A torrent of arrows was upon him.

Four stuck into his chest and arms. He ignored them and continued to fight. The blast had thrown most of the men out of the way and more ran away in fear. He was sure some were still alive.

"Izayoi! Izayoi!" Inutaisho called. He looked at the buildings. She must have been inside one of them. A samurai appeared before him.

"You're finally here, mononoke," said Takemaru. How he had waited for this…the night he would kill the one that had indirectly destroyed his village and infected his love. "However, you're a little too late."

"What?" asked Inutaisho gruffly. He didn't want to stand and deal with humans.

"Izayoi-sama has been sent to a place where even you cannot reach her. I sent her there myself." Inutaisho felt his hate swell. This was the guard who had betrayed Izayoi.

"You damn-" he screamed, cutting himself off by charging at the traitor. The samurai drew his sword and ran at him as well. As they passed, Inutaisho cut off the guard's arm and sprinted into the building.

"Burn everything down! Both the mononoke and the fortress!" Takemaru ordered. Fire arrows were lit and fired at the building. Time was running out. Inutaisho felt the flames lick around him, spreading through the boards. He checked every room he saw until he burst into the right room.

"Izayoi!" he called. His heart froze at the cries of an infant coming from a flaming cubicle in the center of the room. Without further invitation he overturned the cubicle and saw the lifeless body of his miko. "Izayoi!"

It was not too late. There were the emissaries of the netherworld crawling over her body. He drew Tensaiga and compelled it to convulse with power.

"Tensaiga, I beg of you," he whispered a prayer. He cut the little demons and they dissipated. She gasped and drew breath. His frozen heart melted its tension. He withdrew the Robe of the Firerat from a pocket in his armor. He threw it around his wife to protect her from the flames. Izayoi cradled her baby and gasped when she saw a bloody Takemaru breathing heavily with hate.

Inutaisho drew Sou'unga.

"If I take you down with me, I'll have no regrets," Takemaru hissed. "I'll take you down to hell."

"You must live," said Inutaisho to Izayoi. He did not turn to her, but grasped his sword more tightly, despite the biting pain from the arrows. He knew he would not outlive this night, the birthday of his second son.

"What about you…?" she asked. He smiled despite himself. She had forgotten her death and life words for him.

"Inuyasha."

"What?" Takemaru asked, drawing his sword with his hand that was not cut off.

"The child's name. That child's name is Inuyasha!"

"Inuyasha," whispered Izayoi, loving the name and child. Both were gifts from her husband.

"Now, go!" he commanded her. She didn't want to leave him, but there was nothing she could do.

"Hie," she cried quietly. She ran in the other direction. An opening existed where the wall had collapsed. She ran through it as Inutaisho gathered his power to take down Takemaru. She ran far away, burning her feet on the ashes, then freezing them in the snow as she ran into the dark and embracing forest, crying all the while for her dying husband.

Izayoi…you must live. You must stay alive. Along with Inuyasha…

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