The two humans and the small youki traveled on in silence, only stopping at a small stream to let Rin wash the purple berry stain off her face and hands.
Shesta was feeling tired, whozzy and all together not like her usual self. The forest seemed to be closing around her and the very air was thick and heavy. She needed to get out of there, be somewhere that had open skies. To be up there, where the sun shined and she could be free, but her body refused to change. It too had become constricting. Her struggle must have shown on her face because the small green creature looked at her with concern.
"Lady Shesta are you feeling well?" Jaken asked when he noticed the paleness of his mistress's face.
"I, I'm fine. I just need some space." Shesta answered as though in a daze. Her eyes flitting from one tree to another.
"There is a clearing not to far from here." Jaken quickly said. He had never seen lady Shesta look so lost and it worried him. He quickened his pace, pulling Rin along with him.
They reached the clearing a few minutes later and Shesta visibly relaxed.
"Thank you Jaken." Shesta said, her eyes closed while she stood motionless letting the sun warm her tired and aching body. A small tug on her pant leg dragged her back to reality. She looked down into deep dark brown eyes.
"Yes Rin?" Shesta asked.
"Can Rin go pick the pretty flowers?" Rin asked hopefully, as she stared up at Shesta.
"Go ahead, but make sure you can see us at all times." Shesta answered. She rustled the girl's hair before Rin had a chance to get away.
She let out a long sigh before collapsing onto her back in the long grass. She gazed up at the blue sky that was accented with a few wisps of cloud.
"Jaken?" she said lazily.
"Yes Lady Shesta." Answered the toad youki from her right.
"What happened next? Surely the story doesn't end there." Shesta asked.
Silence meet her inquiry. It lasted long enough that she thought the toad had fallen asleep, when he finally spoke.
"You left right after Inutaishou attacked the village." Jaken said answering her question.
"It was many years before you showed up again. You had come to see how Lord Sesshoumaru was holding up. Lord Sesshoumaru and you became best friends but it never got beyond that." Jaken said with a disappointed sigh.
Shesta snorted at that. She would probably die an old maid; marriage was for people that were somewhat normal.
Jaken ignored the rude sound and continued. "But that all changed the night Lord Inutaishou had a very disturbing vision.
Jaken looked up at his lord, Inutaishou was slightly frowning and seemed to be lost in thought. His lord did not look like he was getting very much rest. Jaken could see the beginnings of dark circles under his eyes and his step was not quite so, regale. The last time he had looked this way was the first few weeks after his wife died. But that was ten years ago. He and lord Inutaishou were out doing the annual rounds of the western lands. Making sure none of the lesser youki were causing trouble. They had left Sesshoumaru behind so that there would be someone at the castle in case something came up. Jaken looked around and noticed that they were not going in the usually direction. Instead they were heading deeper into the western lands and not heading toward the eastern border like they usually did. The only thing in this direction was a strange old hag. Of course the old hag was the best seer. And there was only one reason for the lord to see her.
"You had another nightmare." Jaken stated but made it sound like a question. He winced and ducked his head behind his staff when the youki lord glared at him, only to turn his gaze back toward the direction they had been walking for the past three hours.
"I have had the same dream for the past week." Lord Inutaishou said in way of answering the annoying youki at his side.
Jaken was startled. He didn't think Inutaishou would actually answer his question.
"What was the dream?" He asked. He was always listening for material for his stories.
His question was met with silence at first and Jaken thought that he had finally pushed the wrong button.
"You will know soon enough." Inutaishou finally answered.
They walked the rest of the way in silence.
The old seers hut always looked strange to Jaken. It was made out of solid wood and the windows were made out of a clear breakable substance instead of paper. The door was the strangest of the little hut. Instead of sliding open it would swing open or shut. The hut was over grown with creeping ivy that made it very hard to see, moss grew on the roof and the trees grew close to it. The only part of the house not covered in some sort of greenery was the windows and the odd door.
Lord Inutaishou knocked on the strange looking door. A loud booming echo was heard from within.
The door opened a crack and a green eye peered up at them before the door was shut. They both heard chains rattling before the door swung open wide enough to let them in. The door shut behind them making the one room hut darker. An old youki stood before them. Her back was bowed with age and she was rubbing gnarled hands together as though she was cold.
"Come, this way. I have been expecting you." The old youki said. She looked up at them with her one remaining eye. Where the other one use to be was a scar that ran from her the corner of eyebrow down to her cheek.
Inutaishou and Jaken sat at the small table. A pot of tea and three cups and saucers sat on the table. Inutaishou sat cross-legged at the low table, and waited while Jaken got situated. The old youki, Yukan, poured them their tea before pouring herself some.
Inutaishou took a polite sip before returning the delicate cup to its saucer. He cleared his throat to begin telling her why he was here. But the old seer held up her hand to forestall him.
"I know why you're here, Lord Inutaishou." The old woman said, after putting her cup down.
Inutaishou raised his eyes to meet the old youki.
"You have come here because of a dream you have been having." She continued. "Tell me."
Inutaishou took a deep calming breath and began to tell her about the dream. Jaken sat quietly sipping his tea, and taking notes.
"I was in one of the castles corridors and all I could see was dead youki slouched against the wall. There were solders, woman and children. All dead. Almost all of them I knew. I ran down the hall to see if I could find anyone alive. They were all dead." Inutaishou had to stop to take a calming, shuttering breath before he continued.
"I was running past the great doors leading into the throne room when I heard laughter. I quickly threw open the doors. On the floor was my son and a young boy I had never seen before lying dead. Each one carried one of the swords that I now carry with me. I saw a figure sitting on the throne with a cup in his hands. I lost all control and attacked him when he drank from the cup and blood dribbled down his chin. I went right through him like I wasn't even there." Inutaishou stopped. "I always wake up at that point."
He looked up into the old seers face, his golden eyes asking the question that she already knew was coming.
She sighed. "I have told you a great evil was coming time and time again. Maybe now you'll listen to old Yukan. Her eye alit with humor, which changed when she grew serious.
"Your dream is a vision of the future. Closer then you think. In this future everyone you now know will be dead, including your son." Yukan said.
There was a deadly silence at the table, one of which Jaken was too scared to voice any of his many questions.
"Is there anyway to stop this from happening?" Inutaishou asked when he had absorbed her information.
She shrugged her shoulders. "I don't think you can. In your dream you mentioned that you were unable to harm the one who did this act. I would have to guess that you will die before any of this takes place."
"Die!" Jaken blurted out. "Lord Inutaishou can not die you old hag." He could no longer sit quietly and let this old foolish hag spout nonsense.
"Jaken. Be quiet or next time you won't be returning to the castle." Inutaishou growled.
"You mean you would leave your loyal servant here to defend for himself in the dark forest?" Jaken asked his already large yellow eyes growing larger in fright.
"No, I will simply kill you." Answered the lord.
At this Jaken dropped his eyes and continued sipping his tea.
"So I am to die." Inutaishou sipped at his tea while he pondered this piece of news.
"Is there any way to stop my kingdom from being taken over?" He asked, keeping to the task at hand.
"If I was you, I would get all my people out of the western lands. You do have allies right?" Yukan asked.
Lord Inutaishou nodded. "Yes in the east."
"Then I would send them there." The seerer said. She held up an old gnarled hand to forestall his complaint. "You have a little time yet, before this all comes to pass."
"How much time?" asked Inutaishou.
"Enough time for you to sire another son." Came the unexpected answer.
"Another son! My wife is dead and I plan on never marring again." Inutaishou's shocked voice shot back.
"You will have another son. He is the other boy in your dream. Why else would he have your sword?" Yukan argued back.
Lord Inutaishou watched the dark liquid in his cup as he swirled it around. He then took the cup and drank the last of the tea. Putting it down gently he stood up and motioned to Jaken to do the same.
"Thank you for your hospitality and your insight lady Yukan. I fear it is time for us to depart." Inutaishou politely said. Then he bowed to her.
Yukan lead them to the door and preceded to unfasten all the chains from the door, she bid them goodbye.
She turned to head back inside but stopped. "I won't be here next time you come. I am moving. This place is becoming dangerous." She called out to the demons just as they disappeared from view. She shrugged and went back inside, being careful to refasten the locks on the door.
Jaken looked up at his lord as they walked through the old forest. His lord seemed deep in thought. "What are we going to do my lord?" Jaken finally asked.
"Do? There is nothing to do. I will heed the old seers warnings. There is no way for me to forestall my own death. But there must be a way to make sure my lands do not fall into an enemy's hand." He said frustrated.
"My lord what if you appointed another as a potential heir?" asked Jaken.
"Who? Everyone I know was dead and will be dead if I don't send them away. My own son was dead and he is being trained by the best." Inutaishou answered, the frustration still showing in his voice.
They walked in silence after that. Inutaishou had a lot on his mind and Jaken was troubled about this other son his lord was suppose to sire. They were startled out or their thoughts by the sound of swords clashing together. And two voices that they both recognized.
"No, no. You need to put your feet like this so that you will stay balanced when you block. Other wise it would be easy to push you over. And lift that arm up a bit." A male voice scolded.
"Sesshoumaru, why are we dong this?" A very familiar female voiced whined.
"I am bored and this was the only way I could think of to get out of that musty old castle." Sesshoumaru answered in a calm voice.
"Well I could think of half a dozen things to do that does not require actual work. For example we could go swimming in that demon-infested lake of yours. Or we could go jump off the tallest cliff." Shesta suggested.
By now Inutaishou and Jaken were hiding in the bushes watching the two young adults. Sesshoumaru was standing calmly, sword drawn as he waited patiently for his sparing partner to stop talking. While Shesta sat on a large rock, her sword also drawn but the tip was buried into the dirt. Jaken saw Inutaishou wince when he saw the poor way the sword was being handled.
After Shesta listed all the 'fun' things they could be doing she looked him straight in the eyes and asked, "so why are you really trying to teach me the sword?"
Sesshoumaru sighed and sheathed his sword. "There are rumors about some of the nobles hiring assassins to kill you".
Shesta scoffed. "I can take care of myself. I am a lot harder to kill then you think, besides it would be fun." Shesta's eyes sparkled with delight. "I haven't had an assassination attempt on me for quite some time. I am running out of short swords and daggers."
She stood up abruptly. "Enough talking, do you want to go explore. I haven't seen much of your father's land. And its quite boring just standing in one spot and hacking at each other while you tell me what I am doing wrong."
"Where do you want to go?" Sesshoumaru asked cautiously.
"Lets go bug one of your father's enemy's. Who's the closest?" Shesta asked as she finally sheathed her sword.
"Father would kill me if he caught me doing that." Sesshoumaru answered.
"I would not let your father kill you. You're the only one I have." Shesta muttered the last under her breath.
"Only one what?" Sesshoumaru asked, his curiosity perked. As well as his hidden father and lackey.
"I am a lot older then you think. And I am not exactly human. I have been looking for my own kind for a very long time. I have just about given up hope. Along the way I have adopted people from different species into my own family. Usually there a lot more mature then me. You are the only one who I have adopted as a brother and there is no way I will let anyone kill you. Not that you need much help." Shesta answered. "Now lets go we'll be back before your father is." Shesta promised as she grabbed his arm and they both disappeared into the dense forest. They were headed straight for dragon territory.
"My lord, aren't you going to stop them?" Jaken asked. As he watched the two young ones disappear from sight.
"No, I will confront my son when he comes back." Lord Inutaishou answered. He and Jaken continued on their way back to the castle. As soon as they arrived Inutaishou locked himself in his rooms with orders to tell him as soon as his son came home.
The sun had already set by the time a young female servant came by to tell him his son was finally home.
Tell Jaken to have the elders meet me in the great hall." Inutaishou ordered the servant as he swept passed her.
"Are you insane!" roared one of the elders. " You want to adopt a human female. And all because of one of your silly dreams."
"You know full well that I sometimes have visions and I went to see the old seerer who confirmed it." Inutaishou answered calmly.
The elder huffed and slumped down in his seat. "Still she is a human and the law says that only one of youki blood can sit on the throne." He pointed out. The others nodded their heads and a murmur of agreement was heard in the room.
Inutaishou and the elders of each of the dog demon clans sat around a long oak table. Each elder had a seat that was assigned to him. Lord Inutaishou sat at the head.
"There is a way to make her at least partially youki." Inutaishou said. His voice calm. He watched the faces of those around him trying to gauge their emotions to this new information.
"You would give your own blood to a mere human." shintsuki said appalled.
"She is no mere human." Inutaishou narrowed his eyes at the young elder. The boy, for that is what he was, was from the black dog demon clan. His long black hair was pulled back into a ponytail. The elaborate kimono he wore was all black except for the white lotus flowers that decorated his sleeves and collar. A black sword hung at his hip. Inutaishou had heard that the sword was unbreakable and had been made by toutousi himself. If he remembered right Shintsuki was the youngest ever to take a seat at the elders' council. He had gotten it when he had protected his family's estate after his fathers' untimely death, from a very evil and strong dragon youki.
"If she is no mere human, then let me challenge her. If she wins then you will have all the support from the clans, but if she loses…." Shintsuki said. The twinkle in his eye betraying his excitement of an up coming battle. Even if it were just a mere human female he would be facing. Inutaishou looked around the room and noticed the other elders agreeing with Shintsuki.
"Agreed." He said as he stood signaling the meeting over.
Early the next morning Inutaishou meet his son at the salle. Sesshoumaru was dancing his way out of a sword thrust from his teacher when Inutaishou called out to him.
"Do you know where Shesta is?"
Without missing a beat, Sesshoumaru's sword parried a blow from above, then he skipped sideways, letting his teacher's sword pass harmlessly by him.
"She's in the stables." Sesshoumaru answered without taking his eyes off his old youki teacher.
"Thank you, ( ) I believe Sesshoumaru earned himself another hour under your wise teaching." Inutaishou said before turning to leave.
A sharp yelp answered his statement. He smirked; his pup should learn to keep from being distracted. He felt more then heard his son walking next to him. He could hear the arms master yelling at his son to come back.
"Father, an hour? I had plans for this afternoon." Sesshoumaru wined.
"You had plans. And stop whining, a lord never whines." Inutaishou said. He glanced at his son and noticed a small tear in the shoulder of his garment. "If you do not want another hour added on, I suggest you head back."
"Yes father." Sesshoumaru said. He hung his head and shuffled back to the salle and to the waiting arms master.
The closer he got to the stables the stronger the strange scent of Shesta became stronger. He was able to quickly find her in the huge stable. He had to dodge his way around numerous stable hands as they scurried to get mounts ready for the soldiers.
He found her in a stall near the back of the stables. It was a stall for sick or injured animals. As he approached he could hear a lullaby being sung very softly. He peered over the stall door and found Shesta cradling something small in her arms. The hinges squeaked when he opened the stall door, startling Shesta.
"Oh, its just you." Shesta said. She turned her gaze back to the thing in her arms.
"What are you doing in here?" Inutaishou asked. "And what are you holding?" He bent down to see what it was. Shesta hesitated then gently unwrapped the bundle in her arms. The smell of dragon hit his nose making it twitch in discuss.
"You and my son went into the dragon territory and stole one of their dragons!" Inutaishou roared.
"Yes and no." Shesta answered calmly. The hatchling in her arms continued to sleep. "We went into your enemy's territory. There wasn't anyone to fight except for a couple of bully's. But as we were coming back we came across a dying she dragon. The cave had collapsed on top of her and her hatchlings. She told me that her mate had died two moons ago. Sesshoumaru and I dug out the cave entrance. He," she nodded her head toward the sleeping dragon in her arms, "was the only one we found alive. The dragon had succumbed to death hours before we found him."
"He is a dragon and can not stay here." Inutaishou said. His voice low and determined.
"Your son told me that you would say that. The dragon would make an excellent mount. They are very intelligent even for the non-talking ones. And with two heads; I have heard they are very rare." Shesta reasoned. Her red eyes bore into his daringly.
Inutaishou meet her stare. They continued stared at each other for a few minutes before Inutaishou caved in.
"You may keep him. But he must be kept in this stall." Inutaishou said. He looked down at the sleeping dragonet lying in Shesta's arms. "I need to speak to you" Inutaishou spoke.
"All right, let me put this little guy down." Shesta said. She carefully put the baby dragon down on the thick straw and covered him up so that only the two snouts could be seen peeking out.
After making sure the little dragonet was comfortable she turned her full attention to the demon lord.
Inutaishou looked around the stall and pulled over an almost empty grain barrel. He sat on it as regally as anyone could in a stall meant for soldier steeds.
"First, promise me you will not take my son into enemy territory." Inutaishou stated. His gaze catching Shesta's.
Shesta nodded. "I promise. I hadn't really been thinking I was just bored and I was tired of practicing fighting."
Inutaishou accepted her promise. "Now for the real business that I am here." Inutaishou leaned forward and told her his vision and what he had over heard.
"I would like to adopt you into the great Taishou line." He finally said.
Shesta was quite taken aback. "You want to adopt me! Sesshoumaru will actually be my real brother? And I will have a real father!"
"Yes" Inutaishou answered her many questions.
"I accept" Shesta said without taking another moment to think. She sprang up from her place and flung her arms around his neck.
"Thank you" she whispered. Tears stinging her eyes. " I have always wanted a family."
Inutaishou let the human hang on him for a few minutes before gently pushing her off.
"I am glad you accepted. We have one problem. Shintsuki has challenge you to a duel."
"Is it to the death?" She asked.
"No, but it is permitted." Inutaishou answered.
Shesta looked at him and smiled. " Good, then I accept."