Author's Note: Continuing on to chapter 16. . .not much else to say. Please read n' review and feel free to throw me some suggestions. Thanks for reading!
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha
Inutaisho went alone on his journey back to the north, not even Myouga went with him. The lord of the western lands had been in a somewhat pensive mood lately, and spent a lot of time to himself. Autumn was coming again, and he noted the chill in the air the further he progressed north. Snow would be falling in the next few days of his journey he ventured to guess, and he was none to thrilled with the prospect of traveling in the wet and cold. He pressed on and quickened his pace somewhat, in a hurry to get to his destination.
Sesshoumaru sat quietly in his chambers at his mother's home. It had been quite some time since he had spent very much time there. His father had sent word that he would be returning to the north in the next few days, and a messenger had been sent to find him. He had become something of a wanderer in the past several years, searching for ways to make his power greater. He would be the ruler of the western lands someday, and he had to be sure that he was just as powerful as his father, if not more so, when the time came.
"Lord Sesshoumaru, is there anything you require?" a servants voice asked from behind him. Sesshoumaru only shook his head. "Your lady mother requested that I tell you that she wishes to speak with you." the young girl said demurely. Something about Lord Sesshoumaru put her ill at ease, his demeanor had become increasingly cool in the past few years. It seemed as if he cared little for anything anymore.
"Tell her I will see her presently." he replied to the girl. "And have my quarters ready for me to retire when I return." he finished. The winter had already set in completely here, and it had been dark and snowing for some time. He felt he may as well go to bed early, since there wasn't much else to do.
The girl nodded as she turned to leave. Sesshoumaru followed her, and pulled the door shut for her as he started down the hall. He wondered what his mother could want to speak with him about. At any rate, he hoped it wouldn't be a very long discussion, he didn't feel like the hassle of trying to make pointless conversation. He stood for a moment looking at the door to his mothers chamber, and memories came back to him of his childhood. She had hardly seemed to have time for him then, he wondered what she might want now that he was grown.
"Mother, it is I, Sesshoumaru." he said after a moment.
"Come in, Sesshoumaru." she answered. He stepped through the door, and closed it without turning to face it. He simply stood in front of her and didn't speak. Kagetsu looked at her son, something about him looked different. "Are you not even going to greet me, my son, or ask how I have been?" she asked after a few seconds. "Surely in all your travels you have not forgotten how to be polite to your own mother." she said.
"Forgive me mother, how have you been?" he asked. "You seem to be doing as well as always." he told her.
Kagetsu sighed. "Yes, I suppose I am." she answered. "Tell me Sesshoumaru, do you know why your father is returning here after so long?" "He sent word to me that he was coming, but did not say why." "It has been such a long time since he was last here, I was afraid something serious had happened." she explained.
"I am not aware of what father's reasons are for coming here." Sesshoumaru told her. "A messenger came and told me that he wished to meet me here at your home." "So you see I know no more than you do." he said. He hoped that would end the conversation.
"I have heard in the past years that your father has restored his domain and army." she continued. "It is not what it once was, but it has seen many years of peace and stability." "It seems your father has fulfilled his wishes on that matter." "Perhaps his thoughts have turned to your succession, and he wishes to speak with you on how he wishes you to rule someday." she speculated. "Perhaps he wishes for you to return with him so you can observe the things that are necessary in ruling a land."
"I do not know and I do not wish to stand here and guess at it." he told her curtly. "It does us no good to speak in conjecture about things that we will find out soon enough." he said
Kagetsu bristled at her son's terse words. "Please tell me Sesshoumaru, have I wronged you in some way that you feel you must speak to me in such an unceremonious manner?" "I am your mother, not one of your servants you can speak to as you please." "It would be kind of you to show me the respect I am due, and act like you were raised in a noble household." she chided him.
"Forgive me." he said, an edge still in his tone. "I will retire now." he told her as he turned to leave. He was no longer used to being bothered in this way.
"Good night." she said as he walked out the door. He didn't reply.
As he returned to his rooms, Sesshoumaru wondered why he felt such aversion to the ways of the castle, especially since he had grown up there. He was well aware what was expected of him there as the defacto lord. Still, much had been on his mind in recent times, and he was more content to be left alone with his thoughts. There had been a time when he thought his father too soft to become the leader he was now. Sesshoumaru wondered how his father could rule some completely when he was constantly attending to matters that were beneath him like the well-being of the humans in his domain. He had seen his father little over past years, yet when they did meet briefly he found he was no different than he had ever been, save that he seemed to be growing somewhat disheartened of late. He knew he must become stronger than his father one day, but he did not know how he could accomplish it.
This must be the reason he felt no peace within himself he thought. Even now, he found that returning to home of his childhood was no relief, and that he had little patience for the tedious workings of manor life. He had searched for many years now for something that would put his heart at ease, yet he had found nothing. After so much time, he decided that supreme power and the ability to control all his circumstances was the only way he would find that peace.
"Lord Sesshoumaru, your quarters are ready for you to retire." the young servant girl told him as he approached his door. "Would you like anything else before you retire for the night?" she asked.
"I only wish not to be bothered for the rest of the evening." he answered. "Leave me." he told her.. The girl hurried away with downcast eyes, secretly grateful to be out of his presence.
Sesshoumaru entered his chamber and prepared for bed, even though he knew he would probably sleep little. He would be glad when his father arrived in a few days and he could find out why he had been asked to return here. He decided to try and pass the next few days as swiftly as possible. He lay down to sleep, and found it easier than he had expected.
