I Do Not Own InuYasha
Ikigai
いきがい
"A reason for being"
'A reason to get up in the morning'
To enjoy the meaning of life - passion, purpose, something one lives for
III: 9
Year 1579...
Tsuzuki Castle...
Rin and Sesshōmaru sat together over a game of igo, the tea was cooling by them as they played. He was black, she was white, and she bit her lip as she nervously looked over his moves and strategy while moving the stone in her fingers. She knew that if she didn't move soon she would annoy her lord but one misplaced piece and he would win, she didn't want to make it too easy for him, they had had this game going for a week thus far.
It was something of a nightly ritual since her puphood with Sesshōmaru, at least it was a ritual when they were staying in a shiro. Tea and a game of igo, then she would clean her teeth and braid her hair and go to bed. Her lord would remain awake for the night, Sesshōmaru very rarely slept, as far as she knew it was once a year or there abouts and only for a few hours, he would rest at times, in a meditative state, but he never seemed to sleep like she did.
Kōga and Ayame had had their daughter, Yuki, she was said to be extraordinarily strong, all Rin knew was that Ayame was very weak after birthing the cub. Overall Rin had taken great pains to avoid the ookami in Tsuzuki Castle territory, she had taken precautions to hunt with Sōten or be with Shiori when she wasn't at lessons with Kimi-sama or Jaken-dono, and when she wasn't with Sesshōmaru-sama himself; which was very rare since the attack; she was locked in her quarters or in Sesshōmaru's private gardens.
She finally put her piece down and Sesshōmaru placed his, effectively winning the game.
"Ba," she grumbled.
"You are improving," he said as they started picking up their pieces.
"Really?"
"Hai," he nodded.
"How'd you get so good at this, my lord?"
"Nearly a thousand years of practice," he replied.
"You're only eight and a half centuries old," she countered crossly which had his lips twitching slightly.
"I had a very good friend who enjoyed playing it," he said softly.
"Who?"
"His name was Tsukuyomaru," Sesshōmaru answered.
"Shiori's father?"
"Hai."
"What happened to him? Shiori only said that her grandfather killed him," Rin said.
"Daiyōkai do not mate weaklings, Rin," Sesshōmaru stated sharply. "We select our mates off strengths that could add power to our bloodlines and strengthen our packs or clans. Rarely do daiyōkai mate True Mates or follow an impulse to do such things."
"What does that…?" she started.
"Tsukuyomaru was a daiyōkai, and the heir to his clan, the Hyakkikoumori," Sesshōmaru said softly. "He was very powerful, he could generate a barrier so strong that not even kami could break it, a give which his daughter possesses now," Sesshōmaru said. "Tsukuyomaru though followed an impulse when he met his true mate, a human onna named Shizu I believe. He secured a human family to raise her, for he had found her abandoned as a babe at the shoreline, he then changed his clan's traditional prey, while going against his father, Taigokumaru.
"Like my own father, Taigokumaru had a plan for his clan that would not be altered because his heir had other desires. For the most part Tsukuyomaru was able to keep Shizu a secret. Until she was of age and then other desires manifested and lead to them creating Shiori."
"Your best friend fell in love with a human?"
"Hai, he did," Sesshōmaru said softly. "Tsukuyomaru was never particularly fond of humans though he felt no desire to be unnecessarily cruel to them either. A human onna had gained his respect in the Mongol Invasions. But it was in those invasions that both he and I witnessed what happens when the strong fall for the weak. I'm certain you have learned the tale of Hoshiyomi and Tsukiyomi, a tragic tale.
"Tsukuyomaru avowed never to follow in the fallen with a human, for it leads to heartbreak and betrayal and for a daiyōkai that's a dangerous emotion to possess. In time though, Shizu won him over and he decided to go to his father to bless the union, having hidden his daughter and Shizu in a human village near the coast. What Tsukuyomaru did not expect was his father's opposition, as his father's only heir that put Tsukuyomaru in a secure position to normally acquire or be able to fight for what he desired, however, Taigokumaru disagreed. Tsukuyomaru issued a formal challenge to take leadership of the Hyakkikoumori Clan, as this was an internal matter of the Clan I could no attend nor interfere with the on goings. Tsukuyomaru asked me to take care of Shizu and Shiori if he fell in battle, to which I agreed, though I was unaware of his death for several years. I was informed later, that the challenge was fought valiantly, and in the end Tsukyomaru was the victor, but he made a simple mistake.
"Tsukuyomaru left Taigokumura alive, and that old bastard was never one to miss an opportunity of weakness, exploited that mistake and cut down Tsukuyomaru when his back was turned after the challenge was completed."
"That's awful!" she gaped. "His own father cut him down!?"
"It is our way, though normally the successor does not leave the predecessor alive," Sesshōmaru said levelly.
"I'm sorry for your loss," she said softly.
He inclined his head slightly.
"So, Tsukuyomaru like igo?" Rin smiled.
"He liked cheating at igo," Sesshōmaru snorted.
Rin roared with laughter at her lord's disgruntled expression as she fell back laughing.
"Damn bat could swindle a beggar out of his last earnings," Sesshōmaru grumbled. She laughed harder hugging her belly as she felt the tears slipping from her eyes.
"Kami!" she wheezed as she rolled onto her side laughing. Her serious, no nonsense lord best friends with a swindler was an amusing image, she could see Sesshōmaru being vexed and annoyed with his friend all the time.
"You should rest Rin," Sesshōmaru said softly.
She was gasping for breath.
Tsukuyomaru could sweet talk a courtesan into paying him for his time if he put his mind to it, Sesshōmaru thought but didn't share that thought as he watched his human rolling on the tatami. He was rather amused remembering his old friend, and brother in arms. He and Tsukuyomaru had fought many wars and battles together, and Tsukuyomaru was more his littermate than anyone else had been. But good kami could that bat ever cheat at simple games!
It was a sad day when Sesshōmaru had finally learnt of his friend's death, he had learned it around the time Rin had fallen into his life. InuYasha had killed Taigokumaru, though he doubted the hanyō understood the significance of that, else Shizu and Shiori would've never been left in that village. Sesshōmaru's only regret regarding Shizu and Shiori was that he hadn't learned of them soon enough to put both them in his territory or someplace safe. Shizu had died protecting Shiori, and when he had finally found Shiori he was surprised she was even alive.
Shiori, rather like Rin, was an orphan, and her clan was attempting to draw her into internal conflicts she didn't understand or know anything about, and they were attempted to pull sway on the pup. Sesshōmaru had taken her in and adopted her as a formal ward, putting the Hyakkikoumori under his control until such a time Shiori either mated or was ready to take her role as leader, this had caused unrest but Sesshōmaru wasn't merciful like Tsukuyomaru so they dared not to stand against him. Employing Shiori as Rin's first attendant had given her safety and security and education from his mother so she would learn all she needed about running her own clan, and it had given her and Rin a chance to have friends about their age.
Just like with Tsukuyomaru, Rin had hit it right off with his daughter, and Shiori was soon laughing and playing with Rin, both pups were happy. And Sesshōmaru was certain that's all Tsukuyomaru would've wanted for his daughter.
And Tsukuyomaru would've laughed at the only human onna to kick his ass being his daughter's best friend.
Finally Rin's laughter subsided and she pushed herself up on her hands and smiled broadly at him as he finished cleaning up the game of igo.
"My lord?"
"Hai, Rin?" he asked as he finished putting away the pieces and covering the board to be cleaned up later.
"I was thinking…" she trailed off. "I should… I should go to Edo this spring," she said softly.
"Oh?" he lifted a brow.
"Hai," she nodded. "I… I don't like humans, but maybe Kaede or Kagome know something more about the Shikon no Tama or there's records Kikyō left behind about it that might be able to aid us in breaking Magatsuhi's curse," she explained.
"Reasonable," he agreed.
"And I've been working really hard this past winter at regaining strength and you've been teaching me a lot about when I have an opponent so close to me and how to win those sort of fights," she meekly muttered. He hadn't liked those lessons, those harsh lessons, he had thought she would have a few years before needing them. He had never expected her to learn this lesson about males so harshly and when she was so young herself.
"It is your decision Rin," he informed her levelly. Keeping his tone cold, indifferent, and clipped was difficult when he wanted to refute her choice, but he couldn't. Sesshōmaru couldn't take her choices away from her, for Rin was a wild free creature whom he loved and wanted to keep happy. Also he couldn't make every choice for her in this lifetime. She was her own person and would have to learn to be such, though he had taught her not to behave in certain ways or speak so meekly of herself, he had wanted her to understand who she was and what she was.
"I know," she whispered. "I just… please don't hate me for it."
"I could never hate you Rin," he stated firmly. "You will make choices in your life for you and the well being of others, you are the only one who has to live with those choices, so you will have to learn to make them. This is your choice, I will respect that, I will take you to Edo at the thaw," he said as they both stood.
"I expected you to be mad," she admitted.
"No," he replied. He couldn't be mad at her for anything, not as he had seen her blossoming into the amazing onna he remembered. The onna who would not submit to kami or cower in the face of a daiyōkai. She was blooming into an amazing onna.
She smiled at his answer then.
"I will commission a weapon for you," he decided. "You will wear it, and you will practice with InuYasha or the taijiya every day, I will create a training regiment," Sesshōmaru said.
"Hai my lord," she nodded.
"You will be on your best behavior, you represent the Shikoku InuYōkai Pack as well as our clan," he warned.
"Of course," she nodded.
"And I will speak to Jaken about security precautions," he stated.
"Arigato," she smiled.
He nodded his head slightly. "Go rest," he ordered gently.
"I'm not sleepy!" she yawned.
"Go," he ordered.
She stuck her tongue out and stalked off which had him shaking his head. Magatsuhi's curse burned a bit, and he stepped out into his garden. The snow coated it, and he leaned on the post on his engawa. The moon was hanging lowly, which had him frowning. He had been putting off his grandmother's summons to the West for a coronation, he didn't know what he should do about that. Though he did know that his grandmother's library would be an excellent point of research.
Sesshōmaru though wasn't comfortable inheriting all his grandfather and father's lands in the West. Still, the matter was being pressed and he couldn't ignore it much longer, and he would need to do research if he was ever to break the curse of Magatsuhi.
February 20th, 1990...
Nishimeya, Aomori, Japan...
If Zaizen Yasu was being honest, he was more comfortable studying in America than he was in Japan. He liked Hawaii better, he preferred the US, and his citizenship was in the US because he, like his little sister, had been born in Honolulu and not in Japan; granted he did have dual citizenship; it was all complicated though and a confusing to him though. And he had a really good scholarship to Berkley, which held a great appeal, plus his aunt Ji-Su was there with his uncle, and they were like second parents to him.
But Yasu also couldn't just up and leave Japan, it was home, it was where his mom and dad lived, and this farm was a great place to escape to when the world was too big or too loud. Yasu liked living life in Nishimeya. What wasn't there to like!? It was peaceful, and there was something unbelievably rewarding about working the land.
However, unlike Ken'ichi, Yasu couldn't make a foolish decision because his decision would impact his life perminently.
He had two great schools that both wanted him, and he had family in both countries; that also wanted him, and he just… there had to be an easier way to decide between Tohoku University or Berkeley University!
Kami help him he was stuck!
Perhaps he could run away to South Korea or Vietnam and live as a rice patty farmer! This was such a big choice to make and he was not ready to make it! Maybe he could do what his uncle Takehiro did and join the military and fight in wars, that sounded sane.
Yasu shuddered at the thought, he couldn't do the military; he hated blood and didn't like being yelled at. Getting up he left his room, pulling on a hoodie as he walked out of his room and to the main area of his family's home. His mom's courtyard and garden was in full bloom, it was a sight worthy of the imperial gardens to be honest. His mom had the greenest green thumb ever; she had taken to farming like a duck took to water.
Sitting down one the engawa he watched the rain as he mulled over his choices. He didn't really want to be too far from his family, not yet anyway, in time he would join Grandfather's and Dad's family business in Hawaii, he was certain of that. So perhaps studying here would be wise, and he would do a semester or two abroad. Go see the US or the UK, both sounded appealing and his English was pretty good.
So was his Korean, Chinese and Vietnamese but his English was really fucking awesome!
Studying at Tohoku sounded wise to him, he wondered if his dad would be disappointed or relieved.
Year 1579...
Edo, Japan...
Kagome sighed as she weeded her herbs, this past winter had been exceptionally harsh, she had made InuYasha build her a green house, the last trip to the modern world and she had collected the one thing she could think would be of exceptional aid; a green house. The well had not let them go back to the modern world, and she had wept when the price of their last trip had been her baby. But now she was here and she would get used to it, she had brought everything she could think they could possibly need to live InuYasha's lifetime until they made it to her era again.
She sighed as she sat back on her heels and whipped her brow, the greenhouse was warm, and the air was humid, she had built it to keep it warm so everything could grow in the winter. These herbs had probably saved most the villagers in Edo from all manner of diseases because of this exceptionally harsh winter.
Now spring was coming and she hoped to Kami that Rin returned.
Kagome felt horrible for everything Rin had gone through, she had felt truly horrible about all of it, but Sesshōmaru hadn't brought Rin back or allowed Rin out of his sight so Kagome didn't know how Rin was doing.
"Hey, Kagome!" InuYasha's voice shouted through the hut, and she reluctantly stood, pulling on her heavy winter clothes before exiting the greenhouse.
"Hai, InuYasha?" she called back, shivering at the stark contrast of warmth from the greenhouse and the cold of their warm hut.
"Look who's here!" InuYasha smiled and she gasped as the slight girl appeared with a smile.
"Rin!" Kagome swept the girl up in a tight hug then, relieved to see her still alright from their run in earlier this winter. Though she supposed that it was really spring if Rin was here.
"It's good to see you again, Kagome!" Rin whispered.
"I'm so relieved," Kagome said stepping back to examine the younger girl.
"I'm fine, Sesshōmaru-sama and Jaken-dono took very good care of me," Rin smiled mysteriously and looked a thousand years older all of a sudden which had Kagome sighing. Rin just hugged her again.
"So how long are you here for?" Kagome asked as she guided Rin to the table and Rin started making tea. Where Rin's fondness of tea had evolved from Kagome didn't know, because despite the girl's claims to having tea with Sesshōmaru, Kagome had never seen the daiyōkai eat or drink anything, ever.
"Until the first leave turn," Rin answered routinely.
"I'm so sorry about last year Rin," Kagome started.
"My lord saved me, so it is all well, and Jaken-dono taught me some healing spells," she smiled. "Besides, the human is dead, I'm safe."
"Yeah, you're safe," Kagome smiled as she clasped Rin's hand. "I'm so glad you decided to come back."
"I still have much to learn," Rin answered with a smile.
"Oh, like what?"
"Everything," Rin answered bluntly and Kagome laughed.
"Let's start small, Rin, and build up," Kagome mused.
"I was wondering if you would mind teaching me about the Shikon no Tama, I've been having dreams of Naraku lately and I would like to understand what it was and why everyone wanted it," Rin explained.
"Sure," Kagome smiled brightly.
