A/N: Thanks to those who commented. And, welcome to Chapter One. :) I've had some requests re: the pronunciation of Dé Danann/Irish names (my apologies for neglecting to do this in A Question of Faith). So, for those interested...
Aine Ní Airmed (Awn'-eh Nee Air'-e-med); Eadoin Ó Cethen (Ay'-den O Keh'-en); Tuatha Dé Danann (Too-a'-ha Day Da'-nan); Éire (Air'-eh).
Add.: Edited as of Oct. 23/22 – a minor correction that does not affect the plot one iota. I recently discovered that there was a translation error in the English dubs of Episodes 75 to 77, and my inner nit-picker demanded I listen to her. The 'Panther' Tribe mentioned in this chapter should have been called the 'Leopard Cat' Tribe. Which, really, makes more sense (I'd always thought that those demons didn't look much like panthers…)
Disclaimer: The characters of the anime InuYasha are the property of Takahashi Rumiko/Shogakukan and Yomiuri TV Sunrise 2000.
Chapter One: Memories Near and Far
They were getting closer.
He could smell them. Their pungent odour seemed to surround him as he broke through the heavy brush that blocked his path. He gracefully leapt across a fallen log, then sped into a stand of ancient yew trees. Soon, he knew, he would have to turn and face them. But... not here, he thought, as he wove between the gnarled trunks, alert for any hint of movement in the branches above him. If he was to be forced into such an unfair battle, he was determined that it would be on ground of his choosing. The enclosed woodland offered them too much advantage.
A frustrated growl would have escaped him, if he could had spared the breath for it. These unexpected enemies were relentless in their pursuit... although, their approach had become more cautious; they now seemed content to keep him moving until he succumbed to exhaustion. He had surprised them when he had slain four of their companions during their initial attack. However, he had been, and still was, severely outnumbered – somehow, he had to even the odds...
His instincts had demanded that he flee, and, though his pride burned at the indignity of running for his life, he had obeyed them. He would never forget what he had been taught, what she had told him: Remember, my son... your instincts will never fail you.
Still... he had been running for so long...
His breathing became more laboured as he pushed his body to greater efforts – his speed increased only marginally, and he cursed his young physique. If his ability to fly had been fully developed, he could have left the confinement of the trees long ago. Unfortunately, though the demons who pursued him were obviously vagabonds and the dregs of their tribe, they had already proven that they were experienced and cunning; they would surely outmanoeuvre him in the air. And, though he did not doubt that his youth had made him an appealing victim, comments they had made had revealed that his heritage had been the main driving force behind this hunt. As soon as they had detected his scent, they had sought his blood... simply because he was who he was.
His golden eyes narrowed as he again considered this point. No one in this region would know me. Yet... When they had ambushed him, they had made clear their hatred for his lineage, which meant... perhaps the one he had sought was closer than he had believed?
Had he finally reached the western lands?
The brilliant rays of the setting sun greeted him as he finally burst from the dense forest; his long, white hair streamed behind him as he sped across the mountain meadow. Then, he spun sharply to his left, launching himself into the air to avoid sharp claws as his nearest pursuer risked a direct attack. As his lithe form twisted agilely in mid-air, he slashed behind him with his right hand... and willed his aim to be true...
A feline screech of rage and pain told him that he had struck his target.
The leopard cat yokai rolled on the ground in agony, blind and quickly smothering, for the poison which had sprayed from her quarry's claws had struck her squarely in the face. Her companions paused behind her, realising that the inu pup had gained a strategic advantage by reaching open ground. Stepping around the convulsing female, they moved to circle their prey as he turned to face them. All saw the feral snarl that briefly crossed his young face. Then, he composed his features into a mask of calmness as he watched them, apparently waiting for them to make the next move.
It was both amazing and infuriating to the leopard cat demons that this youngling had managed to evade them so effectively. They had not planned on the chase taking them leagues into the forbidden western territories or, indeed, on losing several of their clansmen. And, in spite of their efforts, the only damage they had actually managed to inflict on the brat was the long tear that now graced the sleeve of his kimono. A shame, one of them murmured, that their dying comrade's claws had not made contact with flesh before she was brought down by that strange, corrosive poison.
The feline demons knew, however, that, ultimately, they would be victorious. After all, this dog demon had barely entered puberty. His lean frame might be straight as he stood before them, and his glare defiant, but his deep breathing was testimony to his fatigue. Eventually, he would be theirs for the taking.
A similar conclusion had entered the mind of the slim figure who faced the half-circle of leopard cat yokai. There were so many of them... And, though they watched him with caution, they also exuded confidence. They only had to bide their time; they would tire him further with random strikes, and then...
Then, they would close in for the kill.
'Surrender now, puppy.'
The command came from a scruffy, grizzled male who stepped ahead of the others, his attitude marking him as their leader. His orange eyes gleamed in the rays of the setting sun as he grinned at the youth before him. 'You have lost, dog-child. Face your fate on your knees, as befits a cur.'
'Never,' came the slightly breathless answer. 'I kneel to no one.' The voice was boyish, though the words contained an occasional lower timbre – a hint that childhood was giving way to adolescence.
'You'll soon change your mind,' laughed a female yokai who was moving languidly toward the young dog demon's left. 'You'll be begging for mercy before the sun sets.'
Her words were met with another brief snarl. Then, the female demon found herself receiving a measuring look from the cornered prey. A shiver snaked its way along her spine. How, she wondered, could such a young being look so... cold? She felt as if her soul had been stripped naked and found lacking, so much contempt was in his eyes.
'What is your purpose?' he asked suddenly.
'Does it matter to you, young one?' The sarcastic response came from the group's leader. 'Perhaps we simply enjoy chasing down trespassers...'
'An interesting claim, neko,' a new voice interrupted. 'Perhaps, you would care to explain your need to attack trespassers on my lands?'
The young inu yokai looked with surprise at the tall, armoured figure which had seemed to appear out of nowhere behind his pursuers. However, the effect the strange yokai had on the leopard cats astonished him further. As a group, they turned away from him and charged instead at the newcomer.
Never before had the youngster seen an attack so quickly become a rout. By the time the last leopard cat demon had fled into the forest, half of their number lay dead. The imposing being in white silk and fur was, the young yokai quickly realised, another dog demon – an adult male, who now regarded the corpses about him impassively as he sheathed his sword in the scabbard he bore on his back. Then, the exhausted youth almost gasped aloud as he sensed the power which emanated from that blade. At that moment, he knew that his rescuer had to be the taiyokai for whom he had been searching.
As the adult inu yokai walked toward the panther demons' former target, he regarded the somewhat bedraggled but determined-looking youngster with mild amusement. Obviously, the powerful being thought, the cats had been led a merry chase. Did you manage to clip some claws, child? Then, his gaze sharpened as he got a closer look at this 'trespasser'.
He did not halt his approach until he stood within an arm's length of the still and silent youth. Already, the experienced demon thought, his carriage befits a warrior. The expression in dog demon's eyes then softened as he studied the face of the young yokai. Paired magenta stripes graced smooth, pale cheeks and golden eyes returned the adult demon's gaze with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. The perfect beauty of his features proclaimed a pure taiyokai heritage.
Calmly, the older demon then reached out with a clawed finger (he noted with approval that the boy did not retreat from his touch) and lightly parted the young one's thick, white fringe...to reveal the last piece in the puzzle. Marking his forehead was an indigo crescent moon.
'What is your name, child?' the taiyokai asked softly as he withdrew his hand, though he already knew the answer to his question. How he has grown, he thought.
The young demon was not surprised that the deep voice seemed comfortingly familiar, even though he had no conscious memory of it. Yet, he knew he must have heard it long ago. He looked up at the tall inu yokai, and studied the handsome face framed by silver-white hair. A single blue stripe marked each high cheekbone, and, below heavy black brows, golden eyes regarded him from beneath magenta-edged lids with curiosity and... kindness.
The yokai youth had seen those eyes in his own reflection.
'I am Sesshoumaru,' he answered.
'Why have you entered this territory, Sesshoumaru?' The taiyokai watched the young demon closely. Sesshoumaru's expression remained imperturbable, though his discerning observer saw hints of anxiety and fatigue within his eyes. She trained you well, young one, thought the dog demon. Perhaps... too well.
'To find you,'came the serious answer
'Hnh. And, do you know who I am?' the older demon then asked, the hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
'You are the Inu No Taisho, taiyokai Lord of the Western Lands.'
The taiyokai merely nodded in response. Then, he walked past Sesshoumaru, moving toward the western hills. 'Come, Sesshoumaru' he said, 'I'll take you to a place where you can rest... and we can talk.' Without a word, Sesshoumaru turned and followed him.
They had not gone far, however, when the young inu yokai asked quietly, 'How should I address you, my lord?'
The Great Dog Demon paused and looked over his shoulder. Sesshoumaru halted in mid-stride, forcing himself to keep his face impassive as he looked up at the powerful adult male, awaiting his answer.
'You will address me properly and with respect, Sesshoumaru,' said the Inu No Taisho, as he again faced forward and continued to walk toward the west.
'You will call me, "Father".'
Sesshoumaru, taiyokai Lord of the Western Lands, abruptly brought his thoughts back to the present. The image of the setting sun in his mind's eye had been replaced by that of a very real flickering campfire. He frowned slightly as his golden eyes now focussed on the flames before him.
The powerful inu yokai sat leaning against an ancient yew, much like the ones in his memory; it had been the scent of the tree's resinous branches, he knew, which had reminded him of that long ago day. Normally, such a mundane odour would not cause Sesshoumaru to 'reminisce' in this manner. However, recent events in the dog demon's life had made it necessary that he periodically peruse his memories of the Inu no Taisho and, as a result, recollections of his sire had been coming to mind more readily of late.
Sesshoumaru's relaxed appearance was deceptive: though he had been deep in thought, he was also very much aware of his surroundings. A change in the wind had brought with it the scent of a strange demon, which had drawn him from his musings. The creature was a yokai with a limited demonic power signature or jaki and, within moments, it was retreating hastily – as Sesshoumaru had known it would once it had detected his much stronger jaki.
'Lord Sesshoumaru? Is something amiss, my lord?'
The tentative enquiry came from the other side of the fire. Jaken, the small frog-like kappa who was Sesshoumaru's loyal servant, crouched near the flames, his clawed hands gripping a metre-long wooden staff which leant against his shoulder. It was an odd-looking device, topped by the carvings of two heads – one a maiden, the other an old man – and the little yokai had seldom released his grip on it since his lord had entrusted the magical artefact to him many years before. Having noticed the sudden though subtle shift in his master's attention, he now looked up from his own ruminations, ready as always to be of service.
'No,' came the dog demon's only response.
Realising that his lord was not about to confide the thoughts that had so occupied him, the little kappa held his peace and put some more wood on the small fire, reflecting as he did so that his old bones seemed to feel the cold more with each passing decade. Though it was early spring, the night still held the chill of winter.
Jaken quickly looked up again when the taiyokai suddenly rose.
The white silk of his kimono barely rustled as the tall, armoured demon gracefully stood and turned his back to the fire. Then, he walked silently away. Jaken valued his health too much to consider questioning his master's departure.
Shortly after Sesshoumaru disappeared into the darkness surrounding the little campsite, a soft sigh was heard. The kappa glanced briefly over his shoulder at its source. Rin must be dreaming, he thought. He supposed he should be grateful that at least the child didn't talk in her sleep...
The small human girl was nestled snugly in a mound of dry leaves between the front legs of Ah-Un, a massive, two-headed dragon. The bull-sized yokai was very protective of the child, a fact which had never ceased to amaze Jaken. The beast had settled itself on the ground like a dog, its long, maned necks stretched out over its small charge to further shelter her from the cold night air.
Of course, the little demon reflected, it was in both his and the dragon's interests that no harm should come to Rin. Lord Sesshoumaru – who, in all the years Jaken had followed him, had never had any regard for mortals – had, for reasons known only to himself, chosen to save the child's life. Then, to his servant's further astonishment, the dog demon had allowed the small human to follow him. Sesshoumaru protected the little girl and she, in turn, had become a fixture in the demons' lives.
The little demon had resented the child's presence at first – as far as Jaken was concerned, Rin had totally disrupted his life. All too often, he was left behind to watch over her whereas, in the past, he had accompanied his lord almost constantly. Over time, however, Jaken had developed a tolerance for her presence (the notion that he might even like her would never have crossed his mind). And, he reluctantly had to admit, since Rin had joined them, he hadn't received as many death threats from his master.
Not that Jaken would deliberately put this apparent increase in his lord's tolerance level to the test. The wise kappa knew that one simply did not try to take advantage with a demon of Lord Sesshoumaru's stature.
A small yawn escaped the little green demon as he huddled closer to the fire. Then, knowing that Lord Sesshoumaru would have informed him if anything truly dangerous was nearby, Jaken allowed himself to doze.
Sesshoumaru walked unhurriedly and silently through the dark forest, following a circuitous route away from the little campsite. He had not gone far before he marked the presence of yet another lesser yokai. This creature, too, rapidly moved away once it sensed the jaki of a taiyokai. The dog demon's eyes narrowed as he analysed the creature's receding scent.
No, he concluded. It doesn't carry Naraku's taint, either.
Since he had entered this region, Sesshoumaru had detected a disproportionately high number of lesser demonic auras. This was of interest to him only because such beasts tended to gravitate to Naraku, and the canny inu yokai was ever alert for even a hint of that one's presence. However, thus far, he had detected no sign of the devious half-demon and suspected that something other than his prey had attracted the demons.
A master of evasion and hiding, Naraku was as secretive as the spider whose image was branded upon his back. Finding and destroying him had been the dog demon's primary goal for many months. The reason for this was, from Sesshoumaru's point of view, quite straightforward: the manipulative hanyo had presumed to use him to achieve his own warped agenda, and that was something which the proud taiyokai could neither forgive nor forget.
Among his many schemes, Naraku had even tried, through trickery, to absorb Sesshoumaru into his body and take his power for himself – a strategy for which the half-demon had nearly paid with his life. However, the possibility of failure had been included in Naraku's plans and, as he had fled, he had given Sesshoumaru a choice to either pursue and kill his enemy... or rescue Rin from certain death. The inu yokai had chosen the latter option.
Sesshoumaru had readily justified that decision to himself. Naraku's minions' abduction of Rin had been an affront to the dog demon's honour and he had rectified the situation. There had been nothing more to it than that. Yet, the realisation that he had been manipulated in such a fashion had infuriated Sesshoumaru, and he had vowed then and there that Naraku would die by his hand.
The winter-bare trees of the woodland began to thin and, before long, Sesshoumaru entered a natural meadow. As the dog demon left the shelter of the trees, the night breeze caught and billowed the sleeves of his haori or jacket, then combed through his long, white hair and the thick wrap of soft, pale fur which wound over his right shoulder to trail behind him. He ignored the chill of the wind (it meant nothing to one of his power) and focussed instead on the many scents that swirled about him – the clean, fresh tang of a nearby stand of pines; the crisp smell of snow which still clung to the higher slopes; the pungent musk of a prowling weasel...
But, he thought, no more demons. It would seem that the lesser yokai had well and truly gone to ground.
As he impassively regarded the open vista before him, Sesshoumaru allowed his thoughts to turn from the elusive Naraku to other important matters. Again, he brought to mind that distant memory of his father and the renegade panther demons. It had been a long time since he had last thought of that day – not since the Great Dog Demon's death, in fact... two hundred years before.
At that time, many memories of his father had roiled unbidden through his mind... only to be angrily and efficiently suppressed, for Sesshoumaru had told himself that such thoughts were inconsequential, that there were more important things to consider. After all, he had been denied the chance to one day battle the Inu no Taisho for supremacy – that, surely, had been the reason he had so resented his father's miserable death. That, and the discovery that he had been bequeathed a sword which could not cut...
A slight furrow appeared below the crescent moon on the inu yokai's forehead as he recalled how his father's passing had sent a shockwave of reaction among the demons of the land. Of course, he had hardly been surprised when many yokai had afterwards sought him out. Even though his own strength and ruthlessness in battle had already been well established, there had been those who had seen the death of the father as an invitation to challenge the son – a decision they had quickly been made to regret. However, to his annoyance, there had also been those who had dared to plead for his patronage or assistance, mistakenly assuming that he shared his sire's interest in the trivial affairs of others. From time to time, especially during those years immediately following his father's death, he had received requests which had ranged from the absurd to the presumptuous. Very few had merited his interest. Most had been ignored.
Sesshoumaru had believed then as he did now, that survival and conquest should be achieved through self-reliance. Not that he hadn't accepted allies in the past, but those rare instances had simply been a matter of strategy; the dog demon was proud – not foolish. Sesshoumaru was a superior tactician and knew there was nothing dishonourable in seeking to balance unreasonable odds. However, he would never consider relying on another for protection, and he had long despised such behaviour in others.
Of course, the fact that he himself now had a small entourage under his protection was another matter entirely. Yes, he had permitted Jaken, and then Rin, to follow him – but, ultimately, this had had no bearing on his goals.
The taiyokai's greatest desire was to battle the strongest beings alive. This was the reason he had scorned his father's legacy... for how could a sword of healing be of any use to one whose chosen path was the Way of Supreme Conquest?
However, lately, he had been inclined toward a more... contemplative consideration of his inheritance, and his recollections of his sire had gained a new significance. The Tenseiga, the sword which had been bequeathed to him, had shown that it was not without its uses. Thus, when circumstances permitted, Sesshoumaru carefully studied his memories for some hint, some comment, his father might have made which would help clarify why the Tenseiga had been thought a fitting inheritance for his elder son.
The taiyokai glanced down at the sheathed sword tucked into his ornate sash. He then drew the weapon, his frown receding as he stared thoughtfully at its polished surface.
What else will you disclose, Tenseiga...?
The blade had been forged from the Inu no Taisho's own fang by a master sword-smith. Though it was a beautiful piece of workmanship, Sesshoumaru had disdained it as worthless, believing that the other sword born of his sire's fang – the Tessaiga, which could slay one hundred demons in one strike – was more suited to his purposes.
Yet, the Great Dog Demon had dictated otherwise. Sesshoumaru had received the Tenseiga while the Tessaiga had been left to his younger brother, InuYasha – a mere half-demon.
The inu yokai's frown returned. And, as ever, Father... you planned most thoroughly. The Tessaiga had been ensorcelled so that a full-demon like Sesshoumaru could not grasp it without being severely burnt. His half-breed brother, however, had no such difficulty. InuYasha had put the blade to good use when they had first fought over its possession. The empty left sleeve of the taiyokai's haori gave mute testimony to the outcome of that battle.
Sesshoumaru would always resent being denied the power of the Tessaiga. Yet, the clues the Tenseiga continued to reveal about its abilities and purpose had raised new possibilities for the dog demon – he was certain that there were still mysteries to solve about his sword.
Hnh. You were ever cryptic when it came to this blade, Father, thought the dog demon. But then, your motivations were often... difficult... to understand. Once more, the image of his sire silhouetted by the radiance a setting sun came to mind.
The clouds in the sky above parted. Moonlight gleamed along the length of the Tenseiga, its soft glow prompting Sesshoumaru's thoughts to turn to more recent memories and the image of two auras of Power merging into a radiant blossom of golden and silver-blue light as two souls touched, one of them his own...
The dog demon had undertaken the strange spiritual encounter at the recommendation of the Tenseiga. At the time, the self-aware blade had assured its master that the experience was essential in order for him to defeat a powerful enemy – an evil demon from the darkest planes of the Netherworld – and, as always, the sword's advice had been correct. The insights Sesshoumaru had gained from the meeting had proved valuable. But, he had soon learnt that he had received far more than an exchange of information.
With this thought, Sesshoumaru replaced his sword in its sheath; then, he reached beneath the collar of his haori and withdrew a small object. The expression in his golden eyes sharpened slightly as he regarded the silken coil resting in his palm and remembered how he had come to possess it.
Only a few months ago, two foreign travellers had crossed the taiyokai's path – a man and woman who were members of an inherently magical race from a distant land called Éire. Sesshoumaru had sensed minor spells cast by these Dé Dananns, as they had called themselves, and had, at first, simply been curious. Then, the Tenseiga had shown an affinity to their alien magics; soon afterwards, the dangerous hell-spawn had reared its head. At that point, the foreigner's fates had become inexorably entwined with his own.
Eadoin Ó Cethen, who went by the title of 'bard', and Aine Ní Airmed, a Dé Danann healer, were, according to his yokai senses, human. Yet, as he had been soon to discover from the Lady Aine, such a classification was far too had called herself his 'contemporary', and had told him that her own race, the Tuatha Dé Danann, had been born of humanity but had ceased to be mortal long ago. The foreign, green-eyed woman had claimed to have seen centuries pass and Sesshoumaru had believed her, for she and her cousin, the bard, had held perspectives and insights which would only have been possible for those granted a lifetime at least as long as his own.
Sesshoumaru had also discovered that the healer was able to connect her life-force with another's, including his own demonic jaki. This, she had explained to him, allowed Dé Danann healers to read the 'balance' of a patient's life-energies, and thus assess their health and facilitate healing. Ultimately, it had been this ability which had made possible the meeting between their souls within the spiritual plane that was the Tensegia's consciousness.
The creation of a permanent, empathic 'soul-bond' between them had been an unexpected consequence.
The dog demon had remained unaware of the connection until he had parted company with the Dé Dananns. Then, he had found himself inexplicably unsettled and restless and, at the Tenseiga's urging, he had searched out and confronted Lady Aine... and had found that she, too, had undergone similar sensations. Having already sought the bard's advice on the matter, she had been able to give Sesshoumaru the explanation he had sought...
It was the first time that the taiyokai had heard of such a thing as an 'anamchara', which translated to 'soul-friend'. The lady had told him of how, among the Tuatha Dé Danann's clerical caste – a group known as 'druids' – soul-friends were confidants and advisors in matters spiritual; those which could be magically confirmed and strengthened on the spirit plane were considered 'rare gifts'. Though the healer had heard of anamchara, she had not known of the druids' esoteric process of enhancing such connections, or of the risks in touching another's soul through magic. The bard, who had undergone training in such matters, had known of it, and could have warned them, but he had not been present when the Tenseiga had proposed their meeting.
Sesshoumaru had not been amused.
Indeed, the taiyokai had initially found the very idea of the 'soul-bond' to be repugnant, for he had perceived it as a shackle. However, once he had acknowledged the link's existence, the disorientation which had plagued him had suddenly vanished – just as the healer had said it would. And, on realising that the unusual connection had not harmed or changed him in any way, the pragmatic inu yokai had actually been able to accept it.
Yet, complications had not quite ended between himself and the Dé Danann. The lady had also revealed that a magically enhanced anamchara bond was only possible between compatible souls. This meant that, given enough time, some sort of rapport could have formed naturally between the two. The dog demon had been sceptical of this information... until his reality had been briefly turned upside-down.
And, so... the pattern continued, he though now. As one question was answered... another was posed.
Sesshoumaru allowed the blue ribbon he held to slowly unwind in the cold breeze. This was only the second time he had removed it from its resting place since it had been given to him. The gold embroidery along its length glimmered delicately in the moonlight and, though the ribbon had been in his possession for some time, his sensitive nose could still detect a faint trace of the healer's scent on the fabric. His magenta-edged eyelids closed momentarily as he allowed the foreign, floral fragrance to bring back other... intriguing... memories.
The dog demon found himself considering the 'event' which had resulted from his agreeing to what he had considered to be a minor request by the healer. She had simply wished to bid him farewell according to her own kind's customs – but, as she had done so, his yoki had surged into their empathic link and it had... opened. So many unknown sensations had assaulted Sesshoumaru in that moment that he had simply allowed his instincts to guide him...
An extraordinary experience.
Since his instincts had never failed him, Sesshoumaru had not been troubled by his own reaction to the bond's pull. However, the event had piqued his curiosity – intensely. In the end, he had calmly concluded that the anamchara connection merited further investigation. However, that investigation would have to wait, for the healer and the bard had both been obliged to return to their homeland. Still, there existed between Aine Ní Airmed and Sesshoumaru a promise that, one day, they would further explore this uncommon link they shared. The confirmation of this was loosely wound about the dog demon's long fingers.
'If my travels have taught me anything, a stór,' the healer had said, 'it is that there is always more to discover.' Then, she had unplaited her braid of red-gold hair and had withdrawn from its thick tresses the soft fabric he now held.
'A token of faith', remembered the dog demon. So the lady had called this small favour which she had asked him to safeguard... until the day she retrieved it. It had been an unusual request as far as the inu yokai had been concerned, but he had easily agreed. The thought that the Dé Danann woman would one day return to renew their acquaintance had been somehow satisfying.
The moon retreated again behind a bank of clouds, and the spell of recollection which had been triggered by its soft light disappeared. Sesshoumaru's dexterous fingers rewound the ribbon into its neat coil before he replaced it securely within the folds of his jacket. Once again, his thoughts were directed to toward his prey.
Dawn was not far away, the taiyokai realised. It was time he returned to the campsite and retrieved the others. Then, he would decide which lead he would follow next in his search for Naraku. Exploration of the soul-bond was a matter to be dealt with in the future.
What the powerful dog demon did not know was that that future was not as distant as he had presumed.
We shall leave Sesshoumaru to his musings. Next, a brief journey to another fair land. Yes, Chapter Two will take place in Ireland (don't worry... you'll be back in Japan by Chapter Three). But, first, there's just a bit more background info to cover... and some new people to meet. Plus, I thought some might enjoy a little peek at Eadoin's and Aine's home. :)
