Notes:
Well crazy story, this is turning into a whole damn series now š I always do this, sometimes my one-shots end up being more than just one-shots. Enjoy!
Part 3
A Very Long Timeā¦..
When an inuyoukai male's mate becomes of age, the male knows it. The tradition of the western palace was that when the inu male was alerted to his mate's scent, they would always go to Toga the great demon general to seek permission to leave the castle and bring their new mate home. Toga of course being a just ruler would allow the male to leave. Once the male returned to the castle his mate was presented to the royal court. Toga would ask if the couple wanted to stay on the castle grounds serving their lord or if they preferred a quieter life and leave the castle. Usually, all couples would stay, pledging their lives to their general. Now and then a couple would choose to leave. Toga allowed either answer.
During his course of being part of the royal court, Sesshomaru witness many of his clan bring their mates home. He would see the happiness etched on their faces. He would see the couples walk hand in hand around the palace. He would see as the demonesses would become ripe with children and bear the next generation of Inu.
Sesshomaru and his father were present one night when his cousin Uesugi's mate Chihiro had gone into labor. It was a complicated labor which is why Toga had gone to offer his support and Sesshomaru being his heir had followed along.
After long strenuous labor lasting throughout the night, the healer came out with a solemn look on her face delivering the sad news that the pup could not be saved. Uesugi had collapsed to the floor in shock and a wail breaking from his lips. Uesugi's mother rushing forward to comfort him.
Toga offered his condolences and advised if they needed anything, to please ask.
Toga turned to Sesshomaru, "Follow me."
Sesshomaru followed as commanded. He followed his father down the long halls and up a flight of stairs until they reached his private study. Ushering his son inside Toga quickly locked the door. Walking around behind his desk, he poured himself a glass of sake and sat down. Sesshomaru watched as he rubbed his forehead and quickly threw the drink back, hissing at the burning sensation.
Toga sighed and leaned back in his chair, fixing his son with a hard look.
"What I'm about to tell you, cannot leave this room. Do you understand me?"
"Yes, father." Sesshomaru answered.
"Our race is dying Sesshomaru."
Sesshomaru audibly gasped at his father's confession.
"I do not understandā¦.how?" Sesshomaru asked in bewilderment.
"Have you not noticed the fewer number of pups being born in each generation? Before when I was nothing but a young pup the families in the royal court would have litters of pups. There would be so many young ones running around the palace. These halls were never emptied of young voices laughing. And nowā¦" Toga trailed off, sitting in his seat.
Sesshomaru's mind raced at the information his father had revealed. Looking back now, he did notice that the Inu clan was becoming smaller in number. Now there would be only one pup born to couples. It was never spoken out loud but apparently, many of the couples in the royal court were having trouble conceiving.
When they finally did conceive the female always had a difficult labor, some ending in miscarriage or the pup not surviving the birth.
"But what the couples who leave the royal palace? Surely they are successful in having pups?" Sesshomaru asked.
Toga stood from his desk and come to stand in front of his son.
"I've had scouts go out to check on them. They too are also having the same issues as the couples here in the palace."
Sesshomaru let the heavy words of his father sink in. He still had not found his mate yet. He had been watching all the other Inu in the palace find their mates and he had yet to find his.
If what his father was saying was true, did he even have a mate? Was it too late for him? Would he spend the rest of his existence in solitude?
Sesshomaru looked his father in the eye, "If what you are saying is true then eventually there will be no moreā¦" Sesshomaru realized he could not finish his statement.
"Yesā¦" Toga answered in a distant voice.
"I fear the age of the youkai is coming to end within the next several hundred years my son."
"Is there nothing we can do Father? Our clan is strong and mighty. We have not made it this far to just die out one day?!" Sesshomaru's hardened voice asked.
"I will not allow our clan to die, Sesshomaru. I do not know what the future holds but I will do what is necessary to keep our clan alive. I know sacrifices will have to be made but I vow our clan will make it." Toga stated his jaw set in determination.
"Of course, father." Sesshomaru answered with a bow.
Sesshomaru left his father's study a little a while later, carrying with him the heavy burden of knowing that one day in the future many of the youkai will be gone.
During the next hundred years, Toga allowed interspecies marriages. Toga did not say why he was suddenly so open to the idea when pressed by the royal court, but Sesshomaru knew. Sesshomaru understood his father was trying to see that Inu bloodline be carried on even if it would be diluted by other species. His father was doing what necessary to ensure the youkai survived.
Sesshomaru could hope that it was not too late for him. That he still had a mate waiting for him somewhere.
Sesshomaru waited.
He waited as the seasons changed.
He waited as the years went by.
He waited as he saw less and less of pups being born.
He simply waited.
Until one day Sesshomaru's senses alerted him to his mate's scent. Her scent drawing him in, her scent telling him she was now ready to become his. When Sesshomaru's senses picked up her scent, he hurried to his father. Advising his father that his mate's scent was now clear as day, they set off in the direction to bring her to her new home.
Sesshomaru always kept himself in a stoic nature, never allowing any emotion to show on his face. As he and his father traveled to where his intended mate was residing, he felt a small swell of happiness start to fill him. After waiting hundreds of years, he would finally be with his mate. His patience was rewarded.
Sesshomaru felt relief fill him knowing that very soon he would be with his mate.
As he and his father come upon a small village, Sesshomaru realized that he smelled fired and death. Dread filled him and he flew into the village, his father close on his heels.
Realizing that his mate's scent was coming from this village, a deep unsettling started to grow in the pit of his stomach.
Sesshomaru also realized that his mate's scent had changed, something was off.
Sesshomaru followed the scent of his mate and to his horror found her lying unconscious next to a hut. He rushed forward to roll her over only to find her dead.
He had been too late.
Her village had been raided, most likely by bandits.
Her once beautiful face now pale showing no signs of life.
Sesshomaru heard his father next to him gasp.
Sesshomaru turned to his father, "Can Tenseiga revive her?"
Toga stepped forward, unsheathing the sword of heaven and Sesshomaru moved out his way.
After a few minutes of dead silence, Toga sheath his sword and with a solemn look on his face said the words that crushed any hope of Sesshomaru ever knowing happiness.
"I cannot, too much time has passed. I'm sorry Sesshomaru."
Sesshomaru turned back to his now dead mate, he knelt next to her cold body. His hand reached forward, touching her cold cheek, and then pulled back. He stood up and simply walked away from the village, never looking back.
Sesshomaru then spent the next 50 years of his life wandering the lands, killing all bandits that crossed his path.
His father had come upon him after he slaughtered a slew of them during their attack on a helpless village.
Sesshomaru turned to face his father, his face a blank cold stare, shaking blood from his hands.
"Father."
"Sesshomaru, it's time for you to return home. I allowed you time to mourn the death of your mate."
Sesshomaru stared at his father and turned to leave, simply saying, "No."
"I've located a seer."
Sesshomaru stopped in his tracks but kept his back to his father.
"She said it may be possibleā¦.you have another mate." Toga said gently.
Sesshomaru's head whipped around and hissed out, "Impossible! You told me that we inuyoukai only have one mate and one mate only. My mate is dead, I have nothing to return back home to."
Toga sighed, "I know what I told you son but this seerā¦..I believe her. She wants to see you. Come with me, at least hear what she has to say."
Silence passed between the father and son.
Sesshomaru finally turned back to his father, "I'll hear what she has to say but I will not stay any longer."
Toga nodded, "That is all I ask."
Sesshomaru followed his father to the mountains and after a day of traveling, they came upon a small hut.
They both entered and found an old woman with an eye patch, simply sitting by a large pot of boiling water.
The old woman turned to both youkai, "Ye has returned."
"Yes, this is my son."
The old woman began pulling various jars down and throwing the contents into the large pot.
"Ye need a small amount of ye son's blood." The old woman said, handing over a small dagger to Sesshomaru.
Sesshomaru took the dagger and cut his hand, gathering some of his blood on both sides of the dagger and passing it back to the old woman.
Sesshomaru watched as she dripped his blood into the large boiling pant and began chatting.
Seeing that old woman would take some time, both youkai made themselves comfortable on the hard ground and simply waited. After some time had passed, the old woman groaned out and slumped forward, her face being hidden by the curtain of her long gray hair.
Both youkai turned to each other and back to the old woman and both jumped when they came face to face old woman's eyes glowing bright white.
The old woman stared into the boiling pot and began speaking.
"Because your mate was human, she will be reborn. She will appear as she did now. Beautiful pale skin, chocolate-colored eyes, long dark hair. She will know pain by the time you meet her, but she will be yours's once you see her. She will be with another when your paths cross but the other can simply be removed with coaxing."
For the first time in 50 years, Sesshomaru felt the small embers of hope returning to his cold heart.
His mate would be reborn. She would be his again.
This time, he would see that he went to her immediately once her scent came to his senses.
He would not fail her this time.
Sesshomaru heard his father ask the question that was forming in his mind.
"When?" Toga asked with hope in his voice.
"Not for another 500 years."
Both youkai gasped.
500 yearsā¦.
500 yearsā¦
He, Sesshomaru would have to wait 500 years for his mate to be reborn after already waiting 700 years and now enduring her death for the past 50?
Sesshomaru stood to leave, "I will not wait 500 years for something that may or may not happen according to an old woman."
The old woman with her eyes glowing white answered, "You will wait the 500 years for the entire world depends on it."
"What?" Toga exclaimed out.
"Your mate will bear you children; these children will be powerful and will stop the destruction of a terrible fate that will befall the remaining youkai that walk the world."
The old woman then turned to Toga, "Your other son will also have a child with his mate, this child will also prevent the destruction."
Toga sat stunned, "Impossible, my wife cannot have any more childrenā¦."
"This son will be born of another woman."
Toga's eyes widen in shock at the old woman's admission.
The old woman's eyes started to return to their normal color, and said, "Timeā¦timeā¦.all you have for now is timeā¦..she will be rebornā¦." She then slumped over.
The old woman groaned and then came to.
"That is all I know, go now. I need to rest."
Toga pulled a pouch of coins out from behind his armor and passed it to the old woman, nodding and then both youkai left.
Once outside Sesshomaru walked a few feet away from his father and simply stood.
"Sesshomaru?"
"I cannot return to the palace."
"Sesshomaru, please-"
"I cannot return the palace yet father, I needā¦time to comprehend everything that the old seer has said. I shall return soon." Sesshomaru said turning to look his father in the eye.
Toga nodded at his son and simply said, "We will be waiting for your return. Your family is here for you, Sesshomaru. We will wait with you during the next 500 years until your mate is reborn."
Sesshomaru turned and took the sky, leaving his father behind.
As Sesshomaru flew through the blue sky, he staggered for a moment when the old seer's words replayed in his head and quickly landed.
He repeated the words that the old seer said:
"Because your mate was human, she will be reborn."
Human.
In all of his grief, Sesshomaru failed to notice that his mate was a human.
He had been filled with content at her scent, that he didn't even notice.
Could he allow himself to be mated to a human? Humans were such odd creatures. With his father allowing marriages to happen between humans and inuyoukai now, it wouldn't be abnormal. Sesshomaru knew that once the human was bonded to the inuyoukai, their souls would be fused together. It was nature's way of ensuring that the human would not die so soon. If one mate dies, then so would the other.
He supposed that being mated to a human would not be so terrible if it meant he was not alone.
Sesshomaru looked towards the sky and decided to walk instead.
Sesshomaru then spent the next several days, traveling the western lands finally returning home to his parents on the seventh day.
The guards opened the large doors for him, and he made his way to the throne room. He stood before his parents and after a long silence, finally said, "I do not know if I believe the old seer but if I must wait 500 years then so be it. As she said, all I have is time."
...
...
...
...
Time.
Time was such a strange thing.
Time was linear.
Time was constant.
Time itself was a concept created by humans.
Time to an youkai was nothing but a single moment.
Time to a human was something that lasts forever but not forever.
Time never changes but at the same time it does.
Time could feel as if it was moving so slow and yet at other times time felt that it moved too fast.
Time was also fickle.
Time saw the change of the world happen.
Toga was right about the age of youkai coming to an end.
Time saw the lesser youkai die off when their homes were destroyed by various plagues, natural disasters, or killed off by youkai-hating humans.
Time saw the destruction of the natural wooden forests that spread across Japan.
Time saw war spread across the world and ravage the lands.
Time saw the once beautiful lust greenery be replaced with skyscrapers and streets.
Time saw the once beautiful crisp clean air be filled with toxic fumes and pollution.
Time saw the world change with technology.
His father recognize what time was doing to their lands and true to his word, did was what necessary to ensure the inuyoukai and what remained of the other powerful youkai survival.
His father's careful planning, strategy, and investments lead to the inuyoukai clan being the most powerful family in all of Asia. Other youkai came to his father for help and his father being witness to what time did their kind did what he could to provide them places to stay and work.
Time also saw the growing distance of his parents until they went their separate ways.
Time saw his father become bonded to a human woman that bore him a son.
Time.
All Sesshomaru had was time.
So once again Sesshomaru waited as time passed by.
Sesshomaru watched 182,500 sunsets.
Sesshomaru watched prominent figures be assassinated.
Sesshomaru watched the changes of the era in Japan.
Sesshomaru simply watched.
And one day in a blink of an eye, Sesshomaru realized 500 years had passed.
500 yearsā¦.
500 yearsā¦..
500 yearsā¦..
Now Sesshomaru waited again.
Then one day, a soft earthy smell penetrated his senses.
He had not smelled this scent in over 550 years.
Her scent.
Her scent was calling him across the land.
She was ready.
~oOo~
Notes:
Another chapter is on its way.
In case anyone is wondering about Underneath a Sky Full of Stars, I have not abandoned it. I have the story completely outline, I currently just a bit of a writer's block on the part I'm currently working on. That story will be continued. Be patient with me, please!