I Do Not Own InuYasha


Ichariba Chode

行逢りば兄弟

"Though we meet but once, even by chance, we are friends for life"


IV: 4


Year 839...

Docks in west Nara Empire, Japan...

Min lead the woman with the inuyōkai pup to the phoenix's ship, knowing it would take them straight to China and there'd be a handsome reward for delivering them. He still didn't feel comfortable doing this, but the fox with him had been insistent on this course of action. It was surprisingly annoying to have an all knowing kitsune here, and Min had felt this inevitability about their actions, though he was assured that this would happen one way or another and at least this way they could keep the woman and pup safe.

Min was of the few monks who actually knew about the kami, the yōkai and the spirits, he could actually see them and vanquish at least the lower power ones. Fǔ Yáng had a theory that Min was a reincarnated kami or something to retain some level of spiritual power, enough to make him a true threat to yōkai at least. But Min didn't care about that, for the most part he found yōkai to be peaceful creature more akin to animals than the monsters they could appear to be. But then there were the yōkai he would meet that looked just human enough, just similar enough to be able to befriend them. Min found them interesting.

The looming threat of a yōkai war though, and a clashing of empires was enough to have him agreeing with the fox to get the heir to two massive supernatural kingdoms out and to safety. A supernatural war would tear the fabrics of the known reality apart by the seams. Mortals would perish, and worse, lands would be torn apart in the battle, which was why he was alright with helping this fox move the heir to someplace safe before this war broke out.

The woman was a surprise though.

The fox had said the pup would have a woman as a guard, he had been expecting an old hag or yōkai warrior, he hadn't anticipated a beautiful human woman who was so small and slight in form. But the way she had held that weapon in her hands, she was no stranger to violence, inflicting or receiving, he had seen it, in those calm, cold brown eyes. She would kill o protect that pup, she would die to save that pup, and she wouldn't hesitate, she possessed more devotion that he could see than a even the most skilled disciples. He hadn't anticipated that, nor the way she kept that pup close to her and how the pup looked at him.

Those large gold eyes were ever watchful, and he seemed to be attached to the woman, as a partner, not as a protected and protector, they were partners from what he could see. No doubt that the heir would be skilled with a blade too, Min hadn't heard much of the inuyōkai heir, but he had heard plenty about the mother and grandfather of the pup. The grandfather was the Emperor of all the yōkai here really, in terms of power the grandfather was thought to be a kami in his own right, he was also undefeated in battle, and revered by mortals and yōkai as an utterly ruthless enemy to have. The mother, an empress in her own right in the yōkai world, was a wild, sadistic female whom was famed for her icy demeanor and unpredictability, which left all her enemies confused and the world in a constant state of being both in awe and terror of her. The father was said to be the most powerful daiyōkai, renowned for his skills with a blade, and revered for his fiery temper and indomitable battle prowess, the father was an undefeated warlord in the yōkai community.

Min was well aware who that pup was and had no doubt that despite that young appearance the pup was lethal and not to be trifled with. Probably because of his youth.

Getting the woman and the pup settled below deck of the ship he walked out too see the phoenix landing on the deck then scenting the air.

"I've obtained the pup that the Emperor has requested, he is in the cabins with a female caretaker," Min said bowing lowly to the phoenix retainer.

"You found the heir!?" the bird blinked, his humanoid appearance was bewildered, though there was a ethereal beauty which marked him as clearly not human.

"Yes, I would like to remain close to keep them placate to the palace at least," he explained.

"Very well, we will leave now." The phoenix said. Min didn't even get to introduce himself before the crew started getting the ship set to sail Min was a bit surprised that they didn't check the validity of what he had claimed, but he guessed yōkai would know. The caretaker of the pup probably thought they were being smuggled elsewhere, not going to a new country.

"You know who they are?" Min asked as he walked over to the fox.

"Hai, I do," the fox said. "And that's why I can't fail them, again."

"Then why are you taking them to the Emperor?" he asked softly.

"Because the onna needs something that only the Empress has, she'll thank me for it later," he said softly.

"I hope you're right, because if you're not that pup with her could kill us all."

Min just shook his head, he was baffled still that the crew hadn't asked for proof that he had brought the right pup. Then again, they probably knew. There were several shouts from the docks as the ship started moving and he turned to see the Hyōneko lining the rooftops furious as many brilliant colored eyes glared at them before there was a pulse of a barrier breaking which had him shuddering before seeing the human village was gone and they were floating on air.

"Make way for Zhēnzhū Gǎng Palace!" the phoenix shouted walking by, the crew was working hard and fast then. Min felt an aching weariness seeping into his bones, Fǔ Yáng collapsed on the deck, and Min felt himself follow as the world faded.


Sesshōmaru was startled, greatly startled when Rin went limp, completely limp, her body was sprawled against the wall and her eyes were shut. He scrambled over the crates, his ears tuned to her as he heard her pulse, slow and steady, her breathing was deep and even, her body was relaxed.

"Onna," he whispered as he reached for her but resisted; he had accidently poisoned a few people recently, he didn't have control of his new venom glands. He didn't want to hurt her.

"Rin?" he whined a bit as he cautiously moved towards her. She didn't even rouse as she lay there.

"Rin?" he whined and pressed his nosed below her jaw, she didn't shift, even a little. He whirled around, fur up and snarling as he grabbed her fang when the door to where they were hiding opened. Keep her safe, keep the human safe, the onna had kept him safe, he'd keep her safe. He swung hard when he heard feet too near them.

"ACK!" there was a yelp and a burst of flames, he lashed out with light when they were too near Rin and snarled furiously as he felt the venom pooling in his fingertips.

"Calm down young prince!" came the frantic squawk.

"STAY AWAY!" he shouted as he pressed himself against Rin, trying to shield her body.

"They said they had brought the woman," the figure appeared, it was a birk yōkai of some sorts.

"STAY AWAY!" Sesshōmaru screamed he wrapped mokomoko around Rin and glared furiously at the intruder. He wanted Rin to wake up, she wasn't waking up, why wasn't she waking up!? He pressed himself closer to her and resisted the desire to give into his fear which would have him whimpering and pleading with her to wake.

"Calm down little prince," the bird order.

Sesshōmaru bore his fangs then.

"My name is Dōng," he said.

"Back off!" he snapped when hands were nearing Rin and he pulled her kaiken then to stab. The figure backed away then.

"We put her to sleep, your highness," the bird said.

"Wake her up!" he ordered sharply. He wanted Rin. He wanted her awake and alive and right there with him, he didn't like her laying her limp and defenseless.

"I cannot do that," he replied.

"Touch her I'll kill you," he warned when the figure tried to step near him and Rin.

"The mouse is holding her breath," the bird started again.

"Release her," he growled. "Release her right now!"

"I have orders not to," the bird said.

"I am Sesshōmaru-sama! I command you to release this onna! Release her right now!" he screamed as he stood over Rin. There was a violent rocking in the ship, the bird came stumbling at him, and he growled as he stabbed the bird when he tried to touch Rin. The bird howled in agony as he stumbled away, and Sesshōmaru pressed himself closer to Rin, trying to hide her.

"I'm not going to hurt her you mongrel pup! The East has taught you nothing!" the bird seethed.

"I was taught to kill my enemies!" he shouted back. "Undo whatever spell you've done on her!"

"I can't!" the bird snapped. "I have orders!"

"I'm Sesshōmaru-sama! I gave no orders!" he shouted furiously.

"I serve your grandfather not you, little prince, and you can scream and shout but the human will not be awoken for this journey! You can order us about all you want, but the mouse holds her breath for now!" the bird snapped. "I can move her to a place you and she will be more comfortable!"

"You will not touch her, vermin," Sesshōmaru growled lowly as he wrapped himself around Rin and kept her out of the bird's prying gaze.

"Then let her lay here uncomfortably, we will meet with your grandfather soon!" the bird snapped and stalked out, slamming the door. Sesshōmaru dropped the dagger as he turned around to the onna, he still hesitated to touch her, but now he had to.

"Rin?" he whined desperately. He had no idea what he should do for her, she wasn't waking. Carefully he maneuvered her larger body to lay down on the ground, letting her sleep on his mokomoko as he held her fang and dagger.

Sesshōmaru had met his grandfather, Shikoku, and though he didn't know his grandfather well he didn't think Shikoku would force his rescuers to keep Rin asleep! Rin had saved him! Rin had come for him, she had saved him without fear and without thought to consequence, he knew that. He had seen her surprise at seeing him, but more surprising was her immediate response to just save him.

He didn't know what to think about that other than no one had ever saved him before.

No one treated him like a friend or teased him or kept him safe, and she had, he didn't know her long, a mere day really, but he would do anything to keep her safe.

"Onna?" he whispered leaning over her round human ear. She didn't rouse even slightly. Sesshōmaru hesitated a moment, but then carefully reached out to touch her, when he was sure he wouldn't accidentally scratch her. His claws carefully traced her round ear and he wondered why it was round. Why were humans so weird? And fragile? Sesshōmaru with drew his hand quickly before he could hurt her as he looked around. They needed to escape, but he couldn't escape without her, he wasn't leaving her behind. She had saved him without knowing him! He wouldn't be leaving her, ever.

Rin's breathing was what he focused on, that and her slow steady heartbeat. He needed to get them out of this mess. Sesshōmaru would hunt down that mouse that held her breath and kill it! That would make Rin wake up! He liked that plan!

But then he looked over at her delicate form.

He couldn't leave her!


Year 1581...

Tsuzuki Castle...

"I don't get it, what's west?" he asked Kimi-sama when Sesshōmaru slammed the doors behind him effectively shutting off his mother's chase.

"Tiāngǒu," she answered.

"Who's that?"

"Your grandfather," she replied. "Tōga was the sole heir of Tiāngǒu and his mate, Chang'e, are Emperor and Empress of the Moon of the Spirit World and Western provinces, Sesshōmaru is their sole male heir. I do not believe they know about you, else they might have also pursued you," she admitted.

"And this matters why?" he asked.

"Because if your brother goes there, Sesshōmaru might never be able to leave, even as powerful as he is he could not defeat the armies they would employ to keep him there," Kimi admitted. "The last time they took him, he at least was not alone."

"Why wouldn't they let him leave?"

"Because Tiāngǒu died after your father died, and they want Sesshōmaru to come back to be emperor," she said.

InuYasha shuddered at the idea of his brother having more power than he knew what to do with. Sesshōmaru was already immensely powerful.

"I'll go with the idiot and drag him home," InuYasha sighed. He would use this to get a different assurance from Kimi and Sesshōmaru. "But only if you leave Kohaku alive, he's a stupid human, a baka in love, and he did something stupid and shouldn't perish for it," he said.

"Kohaku? The yōkai taijiya?"

"Hai, don't kill him and I'll make sure Sesshōmaru doesn't stay there to be Emperor," he said levelly.

"Whatever you do, InuYasha, do not trust Chang'e," Kimi said.

"I take that as an agreement to my terms," he replied.

"Hai, the boy Kohaku will live, but be warned, he will be banished or imprisoned."


Sesshōmaru thought over what his grandfather had informed him of earlier, that the West was coming. He knew that he couldn't defy that, but perhaps he could utilize the information to make his allegiances known, to play his grandmother into giving him what he wanted before he left her empire crumbling in the dust.

He hissed as he felt the pulse of pain from Magatsuhi's mark.

If he didn't do something soon then he was going to be fucked, royally fucked. He would have to make plans for defenses against the invasions that would follow, and he would have to figure a way to keep the coordination postponed.

Sesshōmaru might've wanted an empire but he did not want his grandfather, Tiāngǒu's empire, that would not be a good place for him; he knew that. They weren't accepting of him or his mate, and they had insulted his mother. Sesshōmaru knew that leaving the West was going to be the hardest part of all this, especially because he would have a limited amount of time to snoop through his grandmother's library before he'd have to send her empire burning to ash.

He flatly refused to have anything to do with his father's people.

Collected a few odds and ends he needed he pulled on his armor and felt ready enough for his journey.


InuYasha ran to where the humans were being kept, and saw his mate and Sango immediately.

"InuYasha! What's going on with Kohaku!?" Sango asked beating him to reaching his mate.

"Nothing so far, Sesshōmaru is still thinking over the punishment to Kohaku's crimes, but it won't be death, Sango," he said. He had managed to finagle that one out of his brother and Kimi-sama. Which was surprisingly easy once he said 'stupid' and 'human' as an explanation.

"They won't kill him!?" Sango let out a relieved sob.

"No, but he's in deep shit, sorry but I have to talk to Kagome, Sesshōmaru's mother will be back when they decide a punishment for Kohaku!" he said and jogged to his mate.

"InuYasha!" she gasped when he reached the hut she had claimed. He caught her mouth in a hard kiss, he just sighed as he pulled away. She was safe, their pups were here and safe, and he only felt relief.

"What was that about?" she whispered.

"I'm going West," he said as he looked up at her.

"Nani?" she sputtered.

"Hai," he whispered. "I have, Kagome. Apparently father left a mess over in China and it's spilling over here now, and Sesshōmaru is after information and I think I could help. I mean, Tōga was my dad too," InuYasha admitted.

"How… how long will you be gone?" she asked.

"Not long, I get the sense Sesshōmaru knows exactly what he's looking for."


Xiao Jiu walked with him to the gates. "I can come with you my lord," she whispered.

"No," he replied. Rin would never forgive him if the fox ended up a lovely pelt around his grandmother's neck.

"My lord, I know the people and the way of life," she started.

He glared at her to silence her pleading to go with him.

"Very well, my lord," she sighed with a low bow. "I will await your return, and my lady's."

"Rin will not be with me," he replied softly.

"Oh?" she blinked. "I will close the wing then, stay safe my lord," she said.

He nodded as he accepted the reigns of A-Un.

"WAIT!" a shout came and Sesshōmaru looked up just intime to see InuYasha appear on the feline that his pack preferred to travel with.

"What is it, InuYasha?" he asked tiredly as he dismissed Jiu, she bowed before she shifted forms and disappeared in the forest of the estate.

"I'm coming with you," InuYasha stated as if it was obvious.

"Unnecessary," Sesshōmaru dismissed.

"Too fucking bad, I'm here to bring you home," InuYasha stated.

"More than likely we will both be imprisoned there, you should remain, as my heir," Sesshōmaru stated icily.

"And my pups are my heir so there's an heir here, now I'm going with," InuYasha stated firmly.

"And Sango and Kagome insist I accompany," the monk appeared.

Sesshōmaru took a deep breath to refrain from losing his temper now.