Kiba's Note: I must thank "Vyncent" for inspiring me to make the story longer, more complex.
The second addition to 'The Bound Youkai Series'
Title: Fate Mixed With Magic
Author: Kiba/KibaSin
Warning: Slight Nudity/Language
Summary: Fate decided the punishment for not only making such a selfish wish on the Shikon no Tama, but for also taking a second mate when it came to Lord Sai. However, our young Prince Sesshoumaru wishes to know more, but only the creature of darkness, Kagome, can tell him the whole undivided truth.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Inuyasha characters.
Rating: PG-13/T
Genre: General
A small, almost unnoticeable smirk formed on her lips as she watched the wandering soul of Sesshoumaru be thrown back into his body. She'd seen it many times, but this soul was different. The youkai prince, who'd been caught within the net of darkness beneath the shimmering light of existence, was very different indeed. Yes, he was very different, but he was also important, for though she did not know Midoriko's plan completely, she knew there might be a small chance she could be freed. She only wished the ancient miko would spare her in the end, allowing her to at least live a life far away from her other half.
Even when she continued to yearn for it after all these centuries…
Her predatory eyes lightened a little, her victim gone from her grasp, allowing her to slightly relax in her home, her home which swam with nothing but darkness and ancient magic long since lost to the outside world. What a perfect place to call home. Especially for the last, technically, living black phoenix youkai who might forever be bound to this bit of land. After all, she knew that if Midoriko wished it then the ancient Warrior Miko would hide her from the world, letting her live out her punishment for trusting a youkai such as Sai.
Strangely, though, it did not bother her as much as it used to. A decade ago she would have stretched her power out to torment some poor soul, cursing Midoriko for her fate, but now she had calmed. Yes, she still felt the raging hatred that came toward the rest of the world, those beings that walked on the land as if they owned it. However, for whatever reason, her blind rage had subsided and she felt like she could sleep for once in her very long punishment. She wasn't sure how long she'd been there exactly, but she did know that throughout that time she'd slept only a few times, afraid that the nightmares she'd experienced would return to her subconscious and haunt her until she became nothing but a weeping, weak, female who slumped over into a more back breaking position then she was originally in. She knew; she'd done it once. Not a pleasant experience for her either.
She could not sleep, though. It was her duty to place wandering souls back onto the path they were meant to take. Of course, there were a few times when she saw their future, merely seeing their form being sliced to pieces before her vision—she took pity on a few of them, killing them quickly without remorse. Others she saw herself killing for something they'd done to her home, or said about her position, and instantly wiped them from existence. After all, it wasn't going to ruin the forest outside Midoriko's magic seal, since the body to the soul crumbed to dust, whether they were ningen, youkai, or hanyou, it did not matter, the body merely blew away in millions of tiny pieces once she was done with their soul.
Still, there was the fact that at any moment a soul could walk straight into her home, jerking her awake. Another reason why she barely slept: Midoriko's soul would not allow her rest until she had redeemed herself for… well, being so selfish as to wanting love when it was clear the youkai did not love you in return. She still had to hope, though, that when she finally did redeem herself of her sin, Midoriko would set her free, whether it was to join together with her other half once more, or merely becoming a different type of youkai to walk the lands, one day finding what Midoriko thought she deserved for her good deeds.
Of course, she'd have to do something amazing first. She was sure turning the servants and guards inside Sai's castle against him wasn't enough to change Midoriko's mind about her current fate. Help the poorest soul walking the land or destroying some major evil would probably be higher on Midoriko's list. Still, she couldn't help but feel pride when she thought about not only the way she'd ruined Sai's kingdom, but also the fate that Midoriko had decided to give him. Perhaps an eternity in a small barely lit room, forever trying to find either the door or a window, while continuing to be haunted with the knowledge that he'd placed himself in that position by denying her love just because he could not have his child, would teach the bastard a lesson. Or, perhaps he would merely go completely insane. Either way, she liked what Midoriko had done to him… though, she did have a sinking feeling when it came to the fact of how his soul had found her when he first began to lose himself.
It had been a hectic evening, five souls coming to her at once, all eyeing her like she was a piece of flesh placed on the land for their enjoyment. Only two of them had made it back to their bodies, their minds switched back to the path they needed to take in order to stay far away from the female who'd crushed their companions within seconds. It really had been an easy feat to surround the other three in a tomb of soil, before crushing them within it, their blood splattering all over her home. She'd rejoiced in it, asking the others if they wished the same fate, or if they'd like to be returned to their bodies. When given the choice, they chose to run instead of fight. Not like they could fight against her.
It had been back when she first became apart of the darkness surrounding her. However, it was still clearer than most days within her minds eye. It had been before she knew that she could stretch her magic outside the borders of her prison and cause chaos wherever she chose within the Northern Lands. It had been after her mate decided to take on another mate, never once concealing the fact from the other lords', merely telling them his first mate had gone missing. Not exactly untrue, but it was not something she took pleasure in knowing, even now.
He'd come to her in some weird quirk of fate, his head down, his face forlorn, muttering about how he wanted to see his precious Kagome's face. How he wanted to hold her tightly, asking her never to leave him again since his second mate was the bitchiest female he'd ever met. However, this had not stopped her, and unlike most times she'd raised her head high, allowing her eyes to take him in, narrowing them upon his form when he finally stopped before her, sitting in the dirt, before shifting his feet around before him. He'd already seemed to have gone insane, and she'd had a strange feeling that Midoriko had been behind it. She had not dwelled long on that, though, calling to his attention.
Her eyes were the most powerful weapons she had. Not only could she terrify a wandering soul with them when they were hidden, but she could command their attention, lock them in place. Yes, the souls who'd come to her might have thought it was the reborn piece of the Shikon no Tama around her neck that caused that, but it was the magic she controlled, most of which she commanded and set free using her eyes. The Shikon around her neck was merely so Midoriko could cast away the darker side, the youkai that she still battled deep within it, from her own soul. Not like it helped, she was probably the darkest creature to have ever walked the land, or at least the greediest in Midoriko's eyes.
The woman had always been too perfect—to, picky.
When he finally looked up at her it was not surprising that he did not recognize her at all. He'd probably been drunk when he began to sway off the path he was chosen to lead, since he'd always been one to drink during certain events—or merely when he just felt the need to have a strong liquid rushing down the back of his throat. One of the many qualities she had not learned about him until after they mated –
- One of the many things that would have turned her from him if Midoriko would have just given her some kind of sign that it was something he loved to do. However, that blasted woman had a thing about letting the person decided on their own, seeing if their soul was truly worthy of her care. After all, she was not like most miko, being a warrior did not help either. Midoriko had decided her fate then, becoming one of the bitter most enemies of hers till the very end. She still was, and she always would be until she was freed from her hellish prison and home! Really, the woman called herself a miko yet, she had allowed her to walk right into the fate that she had not wanted her to take, which in the end placed her into a place she had once feared and cried to her mother—when she was alive—to banish by lighting a small fire.
- Sai had merely gazed at her, continuing his small conversation. However, what caused her breath to catch in her throat was his soul. She knew that his body was outside her domain, his soul merely sitting before her. After seeing what she saw, it was clear why he did not recognize her at first glance. His soul—his soul had been torn in two. Much like her own, except she could see where it had been split apart. His soul had looked like a piece of parchment that had been torn down the middle, one side tossed into the fire, the other placed back on the table for later use. Her's, she knew, had not been divided so harshly, for she would have felt Midoriko taking her apart piece by piece. No, Midoriko had been kind when she split her into two, making one repay for their crime, while the other lived the life that Midoriko had wanted her to live in the first place.
She'd shook her head, asking him what she asked all wandering souls, watching as he tilted his head to the side. It, at first, had seemed like she got stuck with the half of him that only knew her name, but not what she looked like. That was until he suddenly stood, coming to place his hand on her body, calling out her name, saying that he had finally found her. The poor deer had been caught in her trap when she allowed magic to take hold of him, her eyes widening as if she were ready to begin changing into her animal form. Though she continued to try and question the foolish soul, he had been confused about what she was doing and began cursing her to the seven levels of Hell. After telling her that he was happy about finally letting out the word that he'd taken a second mate when his first disappeared, he'd laughed in her face, causing her resolve to snap.
He was the only soul she did not set straight until his second visit. Of course by then he had been more insane than he originally started with. At least the second time he'd come before her he didn't seem insane, but talked civilly, his eye merely twitching. The second time he had not even realized who she was.
She'd learned then that she could watch the outside world using her magic. She'd watched him, her angering rising with each word, each action—each event that unfolded around him. Though she'd helped him return to his body with a little bit of understanding he'd gone back to his second mate and began doing things that he used to do with her. Midoriko had truly done a number on him, because at times when she watched him he could not even remember who he was, where he was, or what he had been doing. And of course she'd felt pity for him at first, until she'd learned that he was planning to do to his second mate what he'd done to her. The bitch had not bore him a son, but two daughters and he wanted a son. When she learned that the woman who'd taken her place was going to go through the Hell that she had… she allowed her powers to grip the mind of beings outside her domain for the first time, taking control of the servants, guards—everyone who worked within the Northern Castle had turned against him in an uprising, a rebellion.
However, that was only half the story, because she had a little help from Midoriko in her second piece of revenge over him. Before he'd been locked inside his little cage. Of course she'd like to get a little revenge on his other half as well, but she knew not where it was. Hell, it hadn't even come into her grasp once over the many centuries she'd been bound to her tree, which was strange. One half of him lost all sanity, but the other half was like an angel, escaping her grasp every time she thought she might get ahold of him.
Though she would have liked to, she hadn't taken out punishment on Sai's second mate or his daughters'. No, she'd allowed them to escape, running from her grasp, onto a boat where they probably traveled to the continent. Or they could have been lost at sea. Either way, it did not matter much to her.
She took pity on them and still Midoriko held her there. Centuries later she could still be found in the same spot, helping those around her. It was always the helping factor. Yes, Midoriko seemed to like that. Never, though, did she feel her prison even relax its hold around her. It bound her there, and if Midoriko had her way, it probably would for all eternity. Still, the knowledge that one half of Sai was going through a harsher treatment than she'd ever have to endure helped her along with her current life.
At least knowing that she wasn't going to go insane.
oOo
His ear turned toward the library door, hearing the sound of rustling paper on the other side. It was not strange to hear, since his son was usually found within those walls reading about politics and treaties for when he one day became taiyoukai. However, though his son did not sleep much, or long, it was strange to hear these sounds so early in the morning. He'd finally returned from his beloved Izayoi's keep not only heavy hearted, but knowing that he would need to go out and find his dearest Sakura's body, place it on a stone table and have it set fire the way she always wished. He knew he'd done her injustice when he'd fallen victim to the charms of a ningen hime, but Sakura had never really held his heart tightly within her hands. She'd known that; she knew the cost.
Still, his son and heir could usually be found sitting in his window seal at this time, gazing out at the sky as if something amazing was about to shoot across the great expanse. Nothing ever did, but it was good to know that his son had decided to calm his rage by watching the sky instead of destroying homes and villages. Though he had a funny feeling that Sesshoumaru had thought about it when he did not come back with his mother's body the first time. He'd just been so sickened with the sight that he had to leave, or have every youkai watching see him shed tears of loss.
He was such a weak man.
Yet he was strong in so many other ways.
The sound of rustling was following by a sudden slamming of Sesshoumaru's fist against the wood of a table, before a feral growl was heard from inside. Touga blinked a few times, before placing his hand on the door and pushing it open, looking over toward his son who was currently standing next to the table, his head bent down to read whatever he had, while his hands were placed in fists on the wood. This did not surprise the mighty taiyoukai, though, for his son was easily frustrated when it came to many things. It was strange that he'd finally become sick of learning, though.
Perhaps the death of his mother was too much for the young lad? Well, he'd know as soon as Sesshoumaru began going insane, losing his mind to the fact that his mother had finally left the world. He couldn't help but feel ashamed that he could have stopped this if he'd merely turned his back away from the hime Izayoi when he first caught sight of her in her garden. It was his own fault this had happened, and it would be his fault if he had to kill his son if he lost himself to the bittersweet feeling of insanity.
Nothing. Nothing except the fact that Lord Sai had started to act strangely, before a rebellion rose within the walls of his castle. There was nothing concerning his first mate, Kagome, nor what had happened to his second mate. It was as if the fools had been hypnotized, attacked their lord and master, before breaking out of their daze and wondering what had happened. It was probably not until after seeing Sai's head looped from his shoulders that they realized that someone, something, had started a rebellion. Over what… he still did not know. There was nothing within the entire confines of his father's library that talked of Lord Sai, except trading, a few events, and occasional meetings between them. Nothing, though, on his death, or his two mates—it was as if every book had been wiped clean of the information.
The only other thing he could find was that after the report of Lord Sai's death many went to challenge whoever had claimed the title of Lord by killing the victor before them. That had gone on for nearly three decades before finally the other three taiyoukai, including his father, had put a stop to it by holding three tests. The first youkai to complete all three tests would be placed as taiyoukai. However, that was not what he wanted to learn about, for he wanted to know more about the tori-youkai Kagome.
Hell, there wasn't even anything on the jewel she'd called the Shikon no Tama. He would have thought that they'd have a record about a jewel that powerful. Or at least on the soul inside of it, what was her name, Mid… something. Midoriko, that was it. Sesshoumaru would have expected there to be something on the miko whose soul was trapped inside a small jewel, but there was nothing. Nothing.
It was not something that was helping his current mood. He hadn't been happy to return to the House of the Moon. True, light was something he would cherish now, but the House of the Moon seemed so… distant when he first returned. His mother's light was gone, and it forever would be. It was his father's fault, and it was also his father's fault for not containing the information he currently wanted and placing it within their large library. Surely, surely, his father had heard of what happened, or at least of a miko who lived far longer than any other ningen because she contained a mighty, yet small, weapon around her neck. Then again, perhaps his father had never met Lord Sai's first mate, merely hearing that she was within the Northern Castle at the moment.
Still, even as he threw his hand to the side, knocking the scrolls onto the floor, where they clattered and slipped open, he knew that he would not find what he wanted within these walls. He would need to speak with his father if he wanted to –
- Speaking of that bastard of a man, he was currently standing behind him, probably wondering why he'd just tossed ancient scrolls to the floor, most of which could have torn apart upon the landing. Sesshoumaru had not even realized that his father, Touga, had entered the library, obviously curious about the noise he'd been making. It was not his fault; he'd become angered that he could not obtain what he wanted to learn. However, it was strange that he had not sensed his father outside the room. Usually he would have known his father was so close, but perhaps it was because his mind was currently plagued with the thought of a certain tori-youkai female, or perhaps it was because he was still getting over the pain of losing his mother.
It was a shame he did not know it would pain him for many years, possibly centuries.
"Sesshoumaru," his father's firm voice filled his ears, "what, pray tell, are you doing in here?" He was not sure how to answer that, since if he told his father he was looking for information on a certain female his father might think he was beginning the search for a mate. Something in the back of his mind told him not to step over that boundary line for a while, however. Perhaps it was the words: "…ripped my soul in two when I had not noticed, melding together her soul with mine. However, my other half shall forever be ningen… when you meet her, youngling, her name shall be the same as mine. Best you remember that…" Or perhaps it was merely his instincts; either way, he knew that searching for a mate was not on his list of to do's.
"Gaining knowledge, father," he growled, turning his face so he could see the male standing behind him. His father was wearing his traditional armor, and fur, his kimono smoothed to perfection, and Sesshoumaru had the feeling that his father was going to see his whore again. Still, the jagged blue markings, and nearly flaming golden eyes caught his attention, Touga's thin face holding the marking of the blue crescent moon regally. His long silver hair was tied up in a high ponytail; yes, Sesshoumaru could tell exactly where his father was going, for Touga always dressed to his best when he went to go see his little ningen hime.
Touga gave a small sigh, before saying, "How do you wish to do this when you're throwing around the items needed to gain this knowledge you seek, my son?"
Snorting, Sesshoumaru straightened his back, turning toward his face, while lifting his head to show he was not afraid of the mighty taiyoukai. When he caught his father's full attention, he said, "Knowledge can also come from one who has lived longer then one's self, father."
Smirking, Touga nodded, saying, "This is true, my son. However, why are you currently in the library searching through scrolls if you knew you would not find what you seek within its walls? Or… perhaps you were looking for something you thought would be found here, but found it could not be obtained."
Sesshoumaru remained silent, knowing his father wished to say more. He watched, his claws wishing to rip apart at his father's throat, knowing from his voice that he did not feel the same dread he did from the loss of his mother. It was obvious who cared for her, while the other male, standing before him, merely cared about bedding a ningen bitch that'd die unless marked in the ancient way of the youkai. However, since Touga was a taiyoukai she would also need to go through a very painful ceremony that blended her aura with his, since she could not mark him completely in return.
"Tell me, Sesshoumaru," Touga said. He paused for a moment, "I know you seek power, my son. You have for many years, now, even though I have been trying to stir you away from your current path. With that in mind, my son, why do you seek this knowledge, when I know you also seek power for yourself?"
Giving his own smirk, though very small, Sesshoumaru said, "For one to be a great ruler they must know all they can of the past so they can prepare for the future, father. After all, as it is said, 'all living creatures are doomed to repeat themselves'. If we learned more about what has happened before us, we would not make the exact mistake, but merely one similar."
"Very wise, my son," Touga said. He dipped his head a little, before saying, "I hope you can find whatever it is you're looking for, Sesshoumaru." He turned to leave, walking out the door, and into his destiny.
However, even as Sesshoumaru turned back to the scrolls, bending down to not only pick them off the ground, but also to place them back on the shelves, he knew that his father's words were for nothing. Nothing, after all, was all he'd found during his time within the library. This, he knew, was because only one person might be able to tell him the full truth of the fate of not only Lord Sai, but his second mate, as well. That person was far out of his reach, unless he decided to go back into the darkness that had taken him when his mother died.
No, he would not return there! He'd promised himself that he would not return to that dreaded place with that blasted tori-youkai who controlled magic beyond his wildest dreams.