Chapter 4 - Mother
From across the lake Sesshoumaru spotted her, hair dancing in the wind, the close resemblance stroke fear into his heart.
"I remember the day, the day mother was sent to her death."
The great dog demon Inutashio had once loved her. He had embraced her and kissed her. Now he is gone, because of those mortals, to save the life of a mortal woman. After that, a great sadness pledged Mother. She wandered for days across a swampy lake trying to find the answer amongst her memories. How tragic it must have been, for her to lose him to a mortal woman. She pledged to hate, to feel hatred towards all mortals.
There he was again, watching Mother through the shadows. Sesshoumaru just stood there, not bothering to take another step. Not wanting to either.
"Mother!" a voice cried from behind, "Mother come back!" he saw his younger form rushing to his mother, tripping and spattering in the deep marshy swamp. He was only a child; guck covered him from the waist down.
Through the trees, demon slayers responded to the scream of a woman. She had seen the female demon wandering the swamps for days. She took no chance. The nearby demon slayers village was called, and despite his younger forms desperate attempts to save his mother and snap her out of her trance, his efforts were in vain. Knives, Spears, and Swords soared through the air slashing at her weakened body. Blood spattered staining the swamp a deep brown. She was too weak and saddened to fight back. Her broken heart seemed to prevent her powers from accelerating.
"Mother!" the young voice cried again. He tried to hurry to her side but was stopped when the arm of Inutashios servants grabbed him. The Great Lords demon son had to live; they began to drag the screaming youth away.
Chains and ropes draped themselves around Mother's mangled body. She gathered her strength to turn her body and muttered the last words spoken, "My youth, I love you, now run!"
Sesshoumaru seemed to be drawn in by the scene. His unconscious mind took over and forced him to feel sorrow for his dying mother. The last thing he saw before his conscience took over, was the detached head, of the demon who was once his mother, bobbing helplessly and drowning in the deep swamp.
The swamp quickly transformed into steamy mist that caused a single drop of sweat to roll from Sesshoumarus face. He snapped his eyes open to see the image of his slaughtered mother turn into a celestial maiden. The close resemblance was indeed remarkable. The demons swarming around her resembled the attacking demon slayers. He couldn't take his eyes off her.
What is this feeling?
For the first time in so long, Sesshoumaru felt comfort, he felt happiness. And so that feeling would stay, he did the remarkable thing that will dent his reputation forever.
With a swing from his Tokijin, Sesshoumaru sent a wave of power across the spring breaking the surface of the calm lake and completely obliterating the demons surrounding the maiden. The barrier was brought down also.