Author's Note: Well folks, this is it, the grande finale. IMPORTANT Some of the content of this chapter is coming straight from the content/dialogue in Inuyasha: Movie 3, which is under copyright by probably about a bazillion different people and companies. I DO NOT CLAIM OWNERSHIP OF IT IN ANY WAY! I will place an underline at the beginning and end of the parts that contain this material, so PLEASE NO ONE SUE ME!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Inuyasha franchise
Inutaisho stared up at the massive dragon demon before him. There was a wild and crazed look in his eyes, formed by many years of jealousy and hate. He had never understood that his greed and selfishness had been the reason he was never able to surpass Inutaisho. All he felt now was an all-consuming hatred. Inutaisho watched him closely, but he was moving so fast he easily avoided his wind scar.
"What a fool you are, dog general!" Ryuukossei laughed. "To think you actually believe your petty demon sword can defeat me!" He sent blast after blast of demon energy in Inutaisho's direction, narrowly missing him.
"Dammit!" Inutaisho cursed. He was on the run, and he couldn't make a direct hit, even with Tessaiga's wide strike. The dragon's madness seemed to have given him more strength and speed than he ever had through the years. He thought about Souunga, and the dragon twister, but he knew he was too close to populated areas to use it. It would cut a swath of destruction for miles, and he could not afford the loss of life it would cause. He searched his mind for a way to get the advantage on Ryuukossei. His true form. It was the only way now, at least then he would be a match in size and speed. It would have to make up for him becoming a much bigger target.
Inutaisho changed quickly and charged for his enemy. They locked in close battle for what seemed like hours, but neither could gain the upper hand. They clawed and bit at each other, but neither could inflict a serious blow. The battle raged on, and Inutaisho was becoming exhausted. Ryuukossei was losing strength as well, but his motivation hadn't dimmed. Suddenly, before Inutaisho could move out of the way, the dragon dug his claws in just under his left leg and tore with all his might.
Inutaisho's eyes went wide. It was over now, he thought. He had to make a last ditch effort to kill the dragon, for Izayoi and their child's sake. With the last of his strength he charged forward and drove his claws deep into his opponents skin, pinning him against an ancient tree. He felt them sink in, but not far enough to pierce his heart. He pushed on harder, and finally he felt them strike the tree underneath Ryuukossei. "It may not kill him" he thought, "but it will be enough to seal him here." The old dragon cursed and howled at him, before his voice finally faded away and he was still. As he pulled himself away, the claw that had embedded in the tree broke at the base, and he fell to the ground.. He lay there for what seemed like hours, the blood seeping out of his great wound. He faded in and out of consciousness, and though his healing abilities revived him somewhat, he knew he was mortally wounded.
"Master!" "Master!" he heard a tiny voice cry. It was Myouga. Inutaisho transformed back into his human form, and tried to sit up.
"Master, please do not move, you are grievously wounded!" the old flea shouted.
"Where is Izayoi?" he asked, getting to his feet. He had to get to her as fast as possible. He had healed enough to travel, but he knew he didn't have much time before he inevitably ran out of blood.
"She is at Takemaru's home!" Myouga said. "But you must rest now milord, or you will not live to rescue her!" he cried dejectedly.
"It doesn't matter now." Inutaisho said softly. "There is nothing I can do to avoid death at this point." "At least I have put Ryuukossei under seal, and she and our child are safe at least from him."
"Master, please do not say such things!" Myouga said, close to tears. Surely, this couldn't be happening. He had grown quite attached to the honorable dog lord over the years, and he was a good friend to him. He knew he would never find another demon like him.
"Myouga, once I am gone, place Tessaiga inside my tomb for my youngest son to have when he is grown." he began. "Go to Housenki, and have him make you a jewel that can contain a path to my tomb." "Then place the tomb into the right eye of Inuyasha.""He will find it when the time comes." he instructed. "Watch over him Myouga, as he grows up, since I cannot." he said sadly.
"Inuyasha, milord?" Myouga questioned.
"That will be the name of my youngest son." he told him. "Take Tenseiga, and give it to Sesshoumaru." "I know he wants Tessaiga or even Souunga, but he needs to have Tenseiga." "If you don't want to give it to him yourself, leave it with Goshinboku, the god tree." he told him. Inutaisho began to make his way to the seashore, it would be the quickest and least obstructed way to get to Izayoi now.
As he made his way down the beach, a familiar figure came into view. Sesshoumaru stood alone on the beach, looking at his father as he approached. Inutaisho wondered if he had been looking for him. He saw a slight look of shock on his son's face as he approached, he knew he could see he was mortally wounded.
"So, you're battle with Ryuukossei has ended, father." Sesshoumaru said as he approached.
"It has." "I did not manage to kill him, but I have sealed his energy to a tree in the forest not far from here." "Although, I know I have lost my own life in doing it." he said grimly. "I go now to find Izayoi, Myouga has told me she has been taken prisoner by Takemaru of Setsuna." "I must go and see that no harm comes to her and our child." he finished, turning away from his son. He didn't know what else to say to him now.
"Father, do you insist on going?" Sesshoumaru asked. He knew the answer already, and he knew he must respect his father's decision, no matter how much it pained him.
"Do you intend to stop me, Sesshoumaru?" his father asked, his tone disheartened. He knew well what his son's opinion was, as his mind flashed back to their last conversation.
"I will not stand in your way." "But before you go, please leave the swords Tessaiga and Souunga to me." Sesshoumaru said.
"And if I refuse, will you kill me, your own father?" he asked. He wondered just how much of his son's heart had been consumed by his misplaced need for power. No answer came.
"Do you desire power so much?" he asked again. "Why do you seek power my son?" he asked. He wanted to hear the truth this time from Sesshoumaru, before his death. He wanted to know what really pained him so much inside that he wished to have everything under his control.
"The path I walk is that of supreme conquest, and it is power that will reveal the way for me." he answered.
Inutaisho gave a dark chortle. So even now, knowing his father would die from his wounds, he wouldn't open his heart to him and tell him the truth. "Supreme conquest." he said, repeating his son's words. They tasted bitter. "Tell me Sesshoumaru, do you have someone to protect?" he asked, trying one last time to reach him.
"Someone to protect?" he asked, confusion in his voice. He thought for a moment. A vision of young Shintaro came to his mind unbidden, from so many years ago, smiling at him as he died. As he had thought then, others were only something to get in one's way.
"The answer is no, I Sesshoumaru, have no need of such." he said forcefully. But his father was already changing.
Inutaisho had heard enough. His last effort to reach his son had failed. And if it was so, he must go to Izayoi and deliver her from danger so that she may raise their son that had yet to be born. Sadness filled his heart at the thought of them, knowing he wouldn't be there to see his child grow up, and teach him the things he wasn't able to pass on to Sesshoumaru. In his true form, he raced for the home of Takemaru of Setsuna, hoping that he wasn't too late.
Izayoi lay in the birthing room at Takemaru's home, staring at the full moon that would soon be eclipsed. She was in terrible pain, and the fear that was radiating through her didn't help. Surely Inutaisho would come for her. Without doubt, she knew he would now that Myouga had set off to find him. And when he came, he would be terribly angry with Takemaru for what he had done. She couldn't hate Takemaru, after all she had known that he was in love with her, and how crushed he must have been when he found out on the eve of their wedding that his dreams were destroyed. She heard footsteps approaching, and wondered in fear who it might be.
Inutaisho let loose a powerful windscar upon the castle when he arrived, careful to only take out the front guard. He didn't have the time now to worry about the cost of human life. The woman he loved was inside and in danger. As he rushed into the courtyard, a man he recognized stepped out of the entrance. It was Takemaru.
"You've arrived demon." "A little late though." "Lady Izayoi is beyond your reach now, I dispatched her myself." he said triumphantly, his words dripping with hate.
"Fool!" he shouted, and charged past, taking the humans left arm with Tessaiga as he ran. Suddenly there were flames all around, and he finally burst into the room where Izayoi was. He called out for her, and overturned the canopy where he heard a child crying. She lay motionless, blood pooling around her still form, having been mortally wounded with a spear. His newborn son lay clutched in his mother's arms still, wailing at the danger he sensed. He pulled Tenseiga from it's sheath. "Carry out my will, Tenseiga." he commanded, and cut through the pallbearers of the other world.
Izayoi stirred and rose, looking up at him in confusion. As she stood, Takemaru appeared in the doorway, his sword drawn. The castle was beginning to come down around them. "Inuyasha." "The child's name is Inuyasha." he told her. "Now, go!" he shouted to her. She hesitated a moment, fearful of what would happen. Finally she nodded and with a quick "Yes.",she ran from the burning building, and fled for the mountains.
She stood on a plateau of the mountain just outside the castle, and watched as the mansion collapsed in flames. She knew in her heart that Inutaisho was gone, but she was too much in shock to grieve for him now. She looked down at her new son that lay crying in her arms. His hair was silver, and his eyes golden, just like his father. She knew she must find safety soon, and began her trek through the woods. She was unaware she was being watched.
Sesshoumaru stood watching the human woman and half-breed child that his father had gone to his death for. He couldn't believe that she couldn't sense him standing so close to her, only a few yards away in the shadows of the trees. He was amazed the child she held was capable of making such a horrible noise at his small size. He looked at the child, his silver hair and golden eyes an obvious display of his demon heritage. So much like him and their father, but so defiled with human blood. He could kill them both now, but that would be cowardly and despicable. He told himself that was the only reason he didn't strike.
Izayoi softly rocked the child, cooing to him to try and quiet him. It seemed to work, and Sesshoumaru stared at the child, unable to look away. A word flashed suddenly to his mind. Brother. He scoffed to himself. No such lowly creature would be called brother by him. Yet something stirred within his heart that he couldn't quite place, and he willed himself to ignore it. He would have his own empire someday, and he would let no one stand in the way of his plans. He turned and walked into the woods, and only after the woman was discovered by a traveling lord and were offered shelter did he realize he had been traveling so close to them. After their departure, he set off again, annoyed at himself for his mistake. He steeled himself once more, and vowed to achieve his goals, and let nothing and no one get in the way of them. Especially not his half-breed little brother. He carried on alone in his journey, his desire for power stronger than it had ever been.
FIN
Author's Note. . .again: Well folks, I hope it turned out ok. Thanks to everyone who read and to all the people who reviewed and gave me suggestions. It really means a lot to me that you took the time and that there were people that actually liked it. I may go on to finish one of my other works here on fanfic on or try a stab at my own junk on fiction press Feel free to still send me some suggestions. If my email is not on my profile page, I will put it on there. THANKS EVERYONE! YOU ALL ARE THE GREATEST!
