Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Inuyasha or any of the characters. This is a work of pure fiction and mostly a daydream of how I wished the anime went according to my ship. Here I shall let it sail.

New Beginnings Chapter 8:

"That knowledge has been lost for generations and dangerous. The reports must be mistaken." Grumbled the Eastern Lord, Takibi. His dark red hair was chopped shoulder length, half of it wrapped at the top of his head. His darker skin had a shimmer when he moved, his camouflaged scales, blending to the human-like skin. Mostly unnoticed, but visible to Sesshomaru's keen eyesight. Said scales faintly glittered as he moved his hand in a dismissive gesture.

Sesshomaru looked to him dispassionately. The counsel had been convened and ready immediately after the arrival of Sesshomaru to his castle. He was not pleased to be ambushed in this manner. Something he would have to rectify with Goro about the moment he escaped this trivial council member meeting.

They were sitting in the war room in his Goten. The floors were covered in plain tatami mats. The walls were made of a dark wood with wooden columns strategically placed for support. The columns were painted white, with color strokes depicting the story of Inu, dating back to long forgotten centuries ago. It was stark against the darker walls. His yokai barrier in place for privacy

In the center of the room was a large wooden table to sit around for meetings such as this. Slightly elevated Sesshomaru sat as still as stone on his dais. The table was scattered with correspondence, maps, and bowls of jasmine tea. The bowls were rust colored and adorned delicate white Ume blooms.

"What if it is truth? If Ankoku has indeed overthrown Lord Jiro this bodes ill will. I have heard rumors that Ankoku has been looking for the mating scroll." The Lady of the North said. She shuddered a little. She glanced at the empty cushion where the Southern Lord should have sat. He had not arrived when called.

"Lady Masae, surely you do not heed such preposterous rumors. Even should he find the scroll of mating, he would not dare use it." Takibi snorted as he said it. Masae shot him a look of contempt.

"There have been no mated pairs for quite some time. I have yet to encounter any demon who practices it presently." Sesshomaru added. He also felt the rumors were baseless. His own spies had not gathered such information. Goro had a vast network, and nothing had been reported on his end.

"We do not even know if Lord Jiro has been overthrown. There has been no news of a usurper besides your so called 'spies'. We cannot go into Lord Jiro's territory to verify ourselves without formal invitation. It could start a war." Takibi added smugly. Masae had been known for her vast knowledge, but he was glad her spies had to be wrong for once. Only a fool would chain themselves to such a bond. Ankoku was also no match against Lord Jiro.

Masae's black hair was curled wildly around her face and brushed the tops of her shoulders. A headband made of white silk was tied to keep some of the pieces from her eyes. Her skin was free from face wear. She was not like other females who wore powders and rouge on her lips to look more attractive. She had a smattering of dark freckles across her nose and up her temples. They stood out from her pale skin and pure white eyes. Most mistook her for blind.

"You fool! Ankoku has already been proven to be enormously powerful. Think about how much power he would gain if he became mate bonded!" she scolded. She looked at Sesshomaru and finally let the last bits of information slip passed her lips. "Sunako is his chosen."

Sesshomaru stilled, barely perceived disdain crossed his face. Masae took notice immediately, "Sunako?" Sesshomaru repeated. A growl threatened to rip from his throat. He hoped for Masae's sake her spies were to be trusted.

"Does that name mean something to you Lord Sesshomaru?" Takibi frowned. He too had noticed Sesshomaru's miniscule reaction. He was glad he could read the Lord of the West. They had grown up in court, the three of them. Ankoku however refused to be near the three, seething hatred for Sesshomaru the most, and the other two by association. Takibi wondered if Sesshomaru even knew, he'd certainly ignored the snake demon enough.

"Decades ago, the lowly human thought to ask for a mating bond with my person, an insult to be met with by death." Sesshomaru snorted inwardly at Sunako's impending doom. A tiny upturn of his lip indicated his amusement and deadly intent. So, she had skulked her way to Ankoku? No matter, he would happily rip her throat out with a coating of his poison. Then let her die a slow death at her egregious mistake at crossing him, more than once.

"Decades? How am I just hearing about this? Is she not aged now? Humans mature quickly, do they not?" Takibi wondered how he'd miss this news. It wasn't every day that Sesshomaru missed the killing mark. How did a human manage to escape his judgment?

"She's a dark sorceress. She's been using forbidden black magic to keep herself youthful. Lord Sesshomaru did try to behead her but…she disappeared in black smoke. She has been causing problems in the West intermittently and then retreating again." Masae supplemented and Sesshomaru fought to keep his growl in check, once more. A human made a fool of him. She was powerful but quite repulsive in nature. He had underestimated her; he'd not make the same mistake twice. He shot Masae a scathing look for even mentioning the blackened memory.

Takibi lost his composure for a moment and roared with laughter. For a split second he was not Lord of the East, he was a teenager again laughing at Sesshomaru's expense once more.

Sesshomaru's yokai surged up and nearly suffocated them with biting menace. Masae smacked Takibi on the back of his head with one of her nine pure white tails. This was no time to rile Sesshomaru up. If he wanted to tease him, it would have to wait.

Takibi however only grinned while rubbing the back of his head. He had tried but this whole meeting was ridiculous, and his unprofessional nature was leaking through. He wanted to play just a little. The meeting was so boring, all this senseless talking.

"Really Lord Takibi, one would think youwere the Kitsune." She groaned. She took a sip of tea. Once Takibi broke his Lord character it was impossible to get it back. She knew this meeting would soon be over if she couldn't sway Sesshomaru. She groaned internally at the thought of reconvening.

"The mate bond doesn't work between human and yokai. We were both schooled together so I know you are educated on the matter." Takibi said suddenly, turning to Masae. Was this meeting for naught?

"Silence Lord Takibi." Sesshomaru said. His tone was bored but his yokai was simmering. He was ready to end this farce of a meeting. Takibi, realizing Sesshomaru was reaching his threshold for nonsense, quieted. He wasn't that suicidal. He was aware the moment he had been called in from his wandering he would be in a delicate mood.

"This is not all the information Lord Sesshomaru. If Lord Jiro being overthrown and the possibility of a newly forged mate bond between dark sorceress and yokai does not concern you, maybe this will." Masae sucked in a breath as Sesshomaru bristled. He did not like the tone of judgment she used. "He has plans to overthrow the West. My closest informant tells me that he wishes claim the West as his. Once he does, he plans to take the East and North."

"Ankoku is indeed strong but has been the weakest between us. Do you genuinely believe him powerful enough to overthrow Lord Sesshomaru?" Takibi chuckled at the silly notion.

"Not alone no, but with Sunako? She's only after lifespan. She believes if she mate bonds with Ankoku she will be granted longevity, so I've been told. She cares naught how Ankoku uses their bond. In fact, after Lord Sesshomaru's rejection she may feel a little wrathful." Masae said grimly. She knew Takibi would need more but Sesshomaru was the type to follow through on threats to his kingdom. He may be arrogant, but he was not careless.

"They have not found the mate bond scroll, correct?" Sesshomaru inquired. His brow furrowed. Masae was diligent and stubborn. If she truly felt this to be the threat she thinks, he felt wise to investigate. He did not believe Ankoku to be a threat, never had. Weak of mind, body, and now apparently soul; Ankoku had not ever been worth his time. That thinking could put his lands in danger. He would just have to show Masae she was wrong.

"No. The Elder's tried to destroy the scroll but it was indestructible. Legend has it was hidden. They have been searching for clues for months now. I do not believe them to be close as of yet." Masae concluded.

"What information causes you to assume that?" Takibi piped up. He started to twirl the ends of his hair between his fingers. It was his way of expressing boredom.

"I do not know the exact location of the scroll. However…I have a theory on where it might be. They are nowhere near the location, running down false leads I've set up." Masae said and fell silent. Both males looked at her expectantly to continue but Masae suddenly felt nervous. Sesshomaru was not going to take this well. She could feel it.

"Well? On with it so I can get out of these formal clothes." Takibi groused. He hated wearing such fine silk, preferring his training clothes much better. He was also adorned in the jewels of the East. He hated jewelry. It was cumbersome and he hated how the emerald earrings kept catching his hair.

"I think Lord Hisato has it." She nearly squeaked. It took all her composure to say it with any conviction. She had been looking for the mating scroll for many years. She had hoped to find it and destroy it once and for all. She had been tracking since before Ankoku had even thought to use it. "I believe the scroll is here in the West."

"Lord Hisato?" Sesshomaru said eyes narrowing. If he had any respect for Masae's opinion, he was surely regretting it now. Lord Hisato was merely a legend now.

"Yes. I saw him twice Lord Sesshomaru." Masae admitted. She had held the secret in for far too long. She shifted uncomfortably as Sesshomaru glared her down.

"Ok Masae the jest is over now. Stop before you truly start a war." Takibi whispered harshly at her. He pinched her hard behind the elbow. Sesshomaru was more patient than his usual nature with Masae and himself, but he knew Sesshomaru would not take kindly to blatant lies.

"I saw him, the day of your Lording ceremony." She stopped squirming and straightened her back. She would not allow Sesshomaru's yokai to subdue her. She felt it pressing into her sides, a battle of wills. After a moment it retreated.

"Explain." Sesshomaru commanded sternly. He had tested her aura and felt no lie. It mattered little. She only had to believe it was him for there to be no smell of deceit. His patience was wearing dangerously thin.

Masae began retelling of the night she had first seen him. How the ceremony was boring enough for her to slip out. Her father had been too preoccupied to notice. Once she was out, she headed towards her quarters on the second floor, but noticed a kimono flap fluttering behind a hallway corner. She had felt no aura and was intrigued. Deciding on recon she withdrew her aura and followed, keeping at a distance.

Flashback*

It was the back of a male Inu; one she was sure she'd never met before; he did not smell familiar. This in itself wasn't a cause for concern, he was Inu, and she was not familiar with all the subjects in the West. This Inu had short hair, something that was not done in the Inu clans. Long hair symbolized pride of heritage and she found it odd. His hair was silver, like Sesshomaru's, even stranger for this Inu to have short locks. He had no markings on his face and not a sword on his body. He had the same golden eyes and the same pointed claws. He wore a simple haori and hakama, completely black.

So, she followed. It was not her place to call out a subject that may or may not be a part of court, no matter how strange she found him. If he didn't do anything suspicious, she would return to her rooms. Her uneasiness grew as he bypassed the guest floor and ascended to the third floor. The Lord of the West's personal floor. Curious to know why he would risk Sesshomaru's wrath, she continued.

The third and final floor contained Sesshomaru's personal rooms along with four other rooms dedicated to the Lord's Family. It was empty now that Lord Toga was deceased, and Lady Mizuki resided in the Sky Palace. It also contained his personal study and his bathing chambers. She peeked as he bypassed shoji door after shoji door. She briefly wondered if he was related to Sesshomaru. They had many similar features. He pulled open the study's shoji door and slipped in.

She was contemplating on ambushing him in the study. She had decided against it just to see what he emerged with. Perhaps he was to fetch something for the new Lord. Deciding to sneak up on him she waited until he emerged. The pillar she hid behind was a sufficient place to scout from.

He had a scroll in his hand when he surfaced. This was her chance to confront him. Before she did, he appeared before her in blinding speed, catching her off guard. She had been so careful; how did he know she trailed behind him? He stared her down.

"Do you have permission to be in Lord Sesshomaru's study?" she asked using the authority of the Northern Lady. She let her aura reemerge.

"Do you?" he asked simply. His face betraying nothing. Much like Sesshomaru, his looks eerily similar. She didn't know of any living male relatives besides the hanyou Inuyasha. There were rumors the Lord Hisato was still alive, but she did not believe them. Demons simply do not live that long.

"Do you presume to steal?" she ignored his question and looked at his hands, holding the golden scroll in his clawed hands.

"Stealing requires for it to be another's property." He said raising an eyebrow at her. "This one is simply taking back what belongs to me. Lord Toga no longer requires its contents."

"So, you would sneak it out? Why not just request for the document to be returned?" she questioned suspiciously. She was prepared to take the scroll if he tried to leave. She knew she should have already alerted the house, but her curiosity always seemed to get the better of her. She always needed to know.

She also believed the scroll was indeed his. She smelled no lies in his claiming of the scroll. He also seemed to know how to navigate his way through the Lord's personal palace. It took him minutes to secure the scroll, indicating he did not need to search for it. He knew exactly where it was. He also did not take any others. There were many delicate scrolls of information he could have taken as well but he only had the one roll of parchment. She just did not understand the need to slip in unnoticed, the ways of a thief.

"I do not wish to." He said, as if that were sufficient answer. "I do commend you for your loyalty of the West. You are also very stealthy, it intrigues me. You move like a wraith." He said with interest evident in his voice. The first of expression. "I almost did not notice you. It is hard to trail me, you would make an excellent spy. I find you worthy an Ally to the West."

Before she could formulate a reply, he vanished.

End flashback*

She watched Sesshomaru with a little trepidation. She should have told him right away, but something told her not to. That decision could truly start a war.

"You just let him take it?" Takibi said dubiously. It was not in her nature to let someone take from a Lord. She knew just how dangerous a scroll could become in the wrong hands.

"Why did you not come to this one when it happened?" Sesshomaru inquired his tone icy. He held back the growl, clearly one of many today. He refused to let the malice slip through, reining in his yokai and clamping it in tightly. It would not be due to strike her down, the title of Lady of the North, offered her barely contained restraint on his part. There was more information to be gathered. His own curiosity was also piqued. There were rumors of the ancient Lord Hisato. He was mate bonded though most of the information on her had been lost to time.

"What makes you believe it is Lord Hisato?" Sesshomaru questioned, holding a hand up to keep Takibi from squeaking anymore. His voice was grating on his nerves.

"Well, I began to wonder if I had made a mistake. I felt maybe I trusted him too easily, felt guilty for keeping quiet. That is when I started my network of spies. I questioned everyone, listened to stories, and researched the Inu lines. I began to suspect but had hardly enough evidence." She summarized. "It was theory, especially when I heard the rumors that Lord Hisato and his mate were the ones who created the mate bond. The story entombed a gold scroll."

"The second encounter then?" Sesshomaru prodded on.

"The second time was after I overthrew my father for treason. I had been titled and had to make my formal appearances to the Lord of the West, East, and South." Sesshomaru nodded once, remembering when Masae found a plot to attack the East and break the Four Land Treaty. She slew her own father and made her journey to the West.

"I stopped for water, and I saw him wandering through the forest. I thought I was mistaken and so I followed him again, for the second time."

Flashback*

"We meet again, child." He smiled at her, his mood much more mischievous than before.

"Are you Lord Hisato?" Masae asked even though she felt the truth in her question. After ten years of data, she was sure. She stared him down, willing an answer.

"Have you been tracking me?" he snorted, clearly amused. He also didn't confirm or deny.

"The lore says that Lord Hisato appears to those worthy and gives them powerful weapons. That he is reclusive. He is the creator of the mate bond. The lore also says he is a demon of old times, before humans, the first of beasts."

"Is that what they say?" he said scratching his chin thoughtfully. "You believe me to be this person?"

"Yes, I do." Masae said firmly. They stared at each other for a long minute. Hisato let out a sigh. Soon after he dropped his aura and Masae was nearly brought to her knees. She had never really felt a yokai that powerful. She briefly wondered why a beast that powerful was not the ruler of all.

"Well now. You will be a chosen one then?" he winked at her and took a step back, vanishing suddenly. She sucked in a breath of fresh air, no longer being smothered. She turned frantically in search of him the back to the spot he once stood. She held a hand to where he disappeared but felt nothing. She was utterly alone again. She could smell no demon, felt no yokai, and saw no barrier. He was just…gone.

End flashback*

"You will take me to this area where you saw him last." Sesshomaru said after a few moments' deliberation. "If you believe this to be Lord Hisato and you believe him to possess the scroll, then beating Ankoku there will be an advantage. I would like more information on Lord Jiro, Masae. Once we arrive, I want updates from your spies and try to obtain proof of Ankoku's involvement. Takibi, send a request for entrance to the South, I wish to see the denial letter. Meeting adjourned."

Sesshomaru watched as the Lady of the North and the Lord of the East shuffled out of the war room. Goro and Jaken bowed to their Lord as they approached his dais.

"Goro, Jaken. You both will pack all the scrolls and documents I need to satisfy the West's obligations. Ready Ah Un for travel. When we reach our destination, Jaken you will go and fetch Rin. I wish her close if Ankoku indeed wishes to strike me down. I do not wish her to be a target without protection. We leave at morning light." Sesshomaru's voice was commanding, and Jaken wanted to cry with awe. A natural born leader his Lord.

"Aye, milord." Jaken said with a bow and scurried out of the room to make the preparations immediately. Goro stayed behind to wait for further instructions. His long black hair was secured at the nape of his neck with string and his blood red eyes looked at him expectantly. The yellow star nestled between his brow and one yellow stripe started from temple to cheekbone, adorning both sides.

"Goro. I want the army to start war preparations. The castle needs emergency supplies checked and restocked. Send out hunting parties and dry out meats. I want the entire Palace fortified. All weapons are to be sharpened, stocked, and cleaned. I will send documents back after they are completed with Ah Un. Anything you need my attention on send back with Ah Un, he will be my messenger for the time being."

"Yes, my Lord." Goro bowed deeply and left immediately to start his tasks, glad he had seemed to forgotten his ire at him earlier in the day. He had not been reprimanded so far for summoning him and springing a surprise council meeting. He thanked his lucky stars.

Sesshomaru watched his second in command tiredly as he departed. Dealing with Masae and Takibi had taken a toll on his mental health. When he finally stood, he went to his Chambers for his own preparations.

Ankoku had made himself to be a threat. What he didn't know was that Sesshomaru had no plans to lose. He flexed his claws and his lips turned upwards, if only slightly. Ankoku did not know the extent of his foolishness, but he vowed he would teach him.