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: 21
Year 839...
Zhēnzhū Gǎng Palace, Spirit World, China...
Rin was in the gardens, holding the umbrella as she looked down at the pearl pond. Jiu was busy with other tasks, Wu Min was with Sesshōmaru's teachings today, and she honestly did not know where Shippō was today.
"I know what you have taken mortal," a voice said behind her and she turned as she arched a brow at the onna.
"What have I taken?" she asked sagely. She had hidden the scroll with A-Un ultimately because the dragon didn't let anyone but her, Sesshōmaru, and Wu Min near him. He wasn't even fond of Shippō, or Fǔ Yáng; probably because the damn kitsune was keen on keeping a lie in place and the dragon was rather instinctively distrustful again any who lied. The dragon was probably where her lord got his distaste for liars.
"You're a mere mortal, what do you hope to accomplish?" Chang'e asked coming to stand beside her.
"I will accomplish much, hope is not much of a factor," she retorted. She didn't hope she could save her lord; she would do it, one way or another.
"You are an arrogant mortal," Chang'e sneered.
"As appose to an arrogant immortal?"
"I am a goddess!"
"From what you have told me you were a kami, but you are no more. Merely a human who stole the pills to immortality, making you an immortal, not a Kami anymore," she stated firmly. "As to what I will accomplish, I will do whatever I must to save my lord, you will not be able to stop me."
"You have obtained what you sought, Leave Jūn Ān and go, I will remove the guard so you may tonight, and take the human monk with you. But if you should take Jūn Ān, Tiāngǒu will hunt you down."
"You would assume I'd leave my lord behind?" Rin snorted.
"You are but a mere human, disloyal and dishonest by nature, if you attempt further corruption of my grandson the Imperial Prince Jūn Ān, then I will for Tiāngǒu to execute you for treason."
Rin moved faster than the immortal anticipated as she pinned the onna with her kaiken and glared at her.
"Know this, Chang'e, I am not your citizen, I would never claim such a dishonor, I am a member of the Shioku InuYōkai Clan, a member of the Shikoku InuYōkai Pack, I am my lord's Rin and I bow and submit to no one but Sesshōmaru-sama, who is Inu no Taishō, Son of Kimi-sama Guardian of Anoyo To no Saikai, Grandson of Shikoku-sama the Unifier of Shikoku InuYōkai Clan's Packs. Sesshōmaru-sama is Lord of the West, Alpha of the Shikoku InuYōkai Pack and Shikoku InuYōkai Clan, Slayer of Naraku, Killer of Jimmu of the Hyōnekozoku Clan, the Aristocratic Assassin, Destruction of Life, Forebearer of Bakusaiga, and Survivor and protector of Yomi no kuni. Do not claim me as a mortal of your Empire, I would sooner greet Izanami's realm a third time than be a citizen of yours." She warned sharply as she shoved the Empress away from her and sheathed her weapon. "If you insist upon keeping my lord prisoner here to be brainwashed and enslaved to your will then know there are consequences."
"Then know that if you attempt to take him, I will declare war," Chang'e stated firmly.
"Know we welcome war, and greet Death like an old lover, but I warn you, attempt to keep him and you will have to contend with Kimi-sama," she warned.
"I fear no wild Eastern Bitch," she sneered.
"Only fools think not to fear Kimi-sama in her best of moods, but all tremble in terror at her foul moods," Rin snorted as she walked through the rain.
"Leave tonight mortal!" Chang'e shouted furiously. "And leave my grandson!"
"If Sesshōmaru-sama desires to stay he is free to, but if not, he is free to do as he pleases," she stated dismissively. The arrogance of this immortal was unsurprising, but it was something she could use it against them.
Chang'e was presenting to her the best of opportunities to just take Sesshōmaru and run, and with the aid of Shippō she was certain that they could pull off a deception that even the best couldn't thwart when they dedicated themselves to their task. It did not take Rin long to reach hers and Sesshōmaru's quarters, and she was surprised to see Sōten and Shippō there.
"What the hell!?" she gasped as she leant on her door and stared at them. "Are you trying to kill the human!?" she demanded.
"Not particularly, we're fond of you," Sōten chuckled.
"What are you two doing here?"
"Well, if everything is on schedule then you will have been told to leave tonight, because the guard is light, and to leave Sesshōmaru-sama, which we all know would never happen."
"What of it?"
"It's a trap," Sōten stated.
"I was aware," she agreed. But it was one that could work to advantage.
"Good, so then this next bit will be of no problem to you for what we are about to do," Shippō decided as he smiled maliciously.
"You will be needing this for when you go back down Honekui no Ido," Sōten said as she stood and held out her hand. Rin accepted the box reluctantly.
"What is it?"
"This is from the Yellow Emperor's personal collection, you will need it for when you go next," Sōten explained. Rin took it and started to open it. "And you will know for whom it is for."
"Do not open it until you are when you are meant to be," Shippō snapped as he slammed the lid before she could open it fully.
"Now, for our plan," Sōten smiled.
"You have a plan?"
"Hai, it's risky, but I think we'll pull it off, Wu Min was already informed of it," Sōten smiled.
"And when were you going to tell me this plan?" Rin asked dryly.
"When it fit in the timetable, we are under time constraints, Rin," Shippō chuckled. "Mikadzuki-sama is all wise and all knowing about the events to unfold, and some have to happen how they happen," he shrugged.
"That's maddeningly unhelpful." She grumbled.
"Ah, but you see it is law of time travelers and dimension hoppers, all in good time Rin."
"And who deemed that rule?" Rin asked dryly.
"Why Kagome herself!" Shippō snorted.
"I thought as much, did she mess up something?" Rin sighed.
"Do we start alphabetically or chronologically?" Sōten snorted.
"I thought as much," Rin sighed tiredly. "So what's the plan and what else have you been hiding from me?"
Somewhere in Japan...
Tōga watched as Kimi streaked past him for Jimmu's throat, her fangs exposed as she moved through the Hyōnekozoku's ranks. His mate's display of prowess and combat was exhilarating as he snapped at Jimmu's shoulders. Kimi hit the feline full center just as a bolt of ligtning hit her and sent her rolling to the side. She rolled to her feet and he lost her in the fray as he threw Jimmu over a cliff and shifted forms as he pulled his father's rival's fang; Sō'unga then.
"You stole my heir," he snarled as he stalked forward. Jimmu had shifted forms then to appear humanoid as he pulled one of his claws.
"Like you really care," Jimmu sneered.
Tōga pulled back his lips as he rushed forward, slashing, the powers clashed violently as Sō'unga pull thoughts and plans and started feeding them back to him.
"You pathetic feline!" he roared as he parried a blow and went in for the kill.
Zhēnzhū Gǎng Palace, Spirit World, China...
Tiāngǒu walked the gardens in contemplation now. He had had the pup here for almost two moons and rarely had the pup been away from his mortal. Now though, he wondered about the pup. He had never seen the pup smile, or laugh, or express any emotion, and while the pup took instruction but did not seek to form pack bonds with any of the others around him. Tiāngǒu had heard from his granddaughter, Ying Yue that young Jūn Ān had a volatile temper, having reacted violently when she had declared their arrangement. It made it difficult for him to understand Jūn Ān.
Jūn Ān looked so much like Zhìháo that Tiāngǒu had half hoped his grandson would be more like Zhìháo. Zhìháo had been such a boisterous pup, loud, lively, temperamental, loving, and confident that he would be a brilliant Emperor. However, Zhìháo had heard the curse of their family, and had decided to run to the East, it had broken Tiāngǒu's heart. It had been hard knowing his favorite pup was so far off. Zhìháo had cut them out of his life, removed them from his world.
Tiāngǒu had heard exploits of his son's accomplishments, Alpha of a wild pack, mated to the wildest alpha bitch known in the East, and father of a beautiful pup.
It was heartbreaking because he desired nothing more than to have his pup back, to have his grandson here, it would make him so happy to have his pack whole again. Tiāngǒu paused when he saw a small streak of white and silver in his gardens. He arched a brow as he followed the pup, and saw Jūn Ān standing at the pond, something tightly clutched in his little claws and then the koi were surging to the surface.
"Jūn Ān," he greeted, and the pup turned his icy gaze upon Tiāngǒu. Briefly, Tiāngǒu wondered if the pup had received his mother's temperament and general personality, he had never actually met his son's mate.
"Emperor," the pup stated icily hiding his paws up in the sleeves.
"Might I have some of the bread, I enjoy feeding the koi as well," he said with a smile.
The pup hesitated but ultimately relented as he broke the bread and handed a part to Tiāngǒu.
"Do you mind," he gestured to the bench and the pup seemed reluctant. It was now that he thought that maybe the pup wasn't confident but rather shy and cautious, good qualities for sure, but not for a prince. "It has occurred to me that we have not truly spoken since you arrived here, Jūn Ān."
"Tell me something, Jūn Ān," he said the name carefully. He had but once said the name, and Chang'e had scorned it upon the announcement. "Are you happy?"
"Hai, Rin is here," he answered honestly.
"You care about the mortal very much then," he chuckled. "Jūn Ān, you do know she cannot live as long as you will."
"Hai, I know," he admitted. "Rin will die and be reincarnated in the cycle of life and I will find her again and again. She's mine."
"Are you happy here?" Tiāngǒu asked.
"No," Sesshōmaru answered.
"Why not?"
"I am not Imperial Prince Jūn Ān," he answered. "My name is Sesshōmaru-sama," he growled. "I will not remain prisoner here much longer."
"You think you're a prisoner?" Tiāngǒu asked.
"Hai, you stole me, have changed my name and force your will upon me, I am a prisoner," the pup stated as if it were an obvious fact. The delivery of such a declaration though had Tiāngǒu stunned though as he gaped at his grandson.
"That was not my intent."
"What was your intent?" the pup asked in a regal tone he had never heard before. Few, other than the Yellow Emperor himself, had ever dared to speak to Tiāngǒu thusly.
"I wanted to know my grandson."
"I am Sesshōmaru-sama, and I belong with the Shikoku InuYōkai Clan."
"Were you happy there?" Tiāngǒu asked.
"Hai," he answered swiftly. "It is where I belong."
The answer broke his heart and he sighed as he looked at the solemn pup beside him. It was not what he was hoping for.
"But here you are a prince," he pointed out.
"Jūn Ān is required to be weak, I am not weak," he hissed.
"You think to be a prince is to be weak."
"Hai."
"Then you will find there is much to learn about being alpha," he started.
"Alphas are strong," Sesshōmaru cut off. "They defend their territory and their people, they give strength to those who do not possess it, they give back to their people in times in need, they give kindness where it is due, and justice where it is lost. You are not an alpha, you are an Emperor, and I do not want to be a Prince if it should mean I do nothing but sit in lessons to learn nothing but politics. Politics is not leading or being an alpha," he stated firmly
"But if you take no council then you can not connect to your people," he started.
"Take wise council, not greedy council," Sesshōmaru cut off. "Politics is not a game, you toy with lives, do not be so foolish as to trust those with silver tongues. My mother said that. And I will go home now."
Tiāngǒu was too stunned to retort as Sesshōmaru walked off.
"Sesshōmaru-sama," he called to his grandson. The pup stopped to glare at him. "Be careful and stay close to your mortal."
The pup said nothing as he walked off. Tiāngǒu sighed, tonight Chang'e would aim to kill the mortal in her escape, he would have to see to it that both the mortal and his grandson escaped unscathed. Sesshōmaru did not belong here, he could see that. The pup would one day be a great alpha but he would never submit to being Jūn Ān, and Tiāngǒu didn't think that was necessarily a bad thing.
Rin looked at the pack Sōten had handed her and looked up at Shippō both.
"Are you certain that you want to do this?" she asked dryly.
"Rin, you're… it isn't a matter of want, you and Sesshōmaru and Wu Min need to leave. You get to Bokusenō and you'll know where to go from there. Wu Min though will go where he needs to, I should have never dragged him into this." Shippō admitted. "He just…"
"He looks like Miroku, and with that hand…" she snorted.
"Perhaps a reincarnation," he chuckled.
"That never learned his lesson," Sōten chuckled. "We want to do this Rin, this way, no matter the cost."
"It's just, you both are so dear to me, I don't…"
"This is our choice," Shippō reiterated. "If we can prevent what happened where we are from her, then it is worth the price. And we are not your Shippō and Sōten, just as you are not our Rin."
"It doesn't mean that you are less," she started.
"We know Rin, but like you we chose this, and we have faith in Mikadzuki-sama's foresight."
"Very well," she nodded.
"A-Un will fly you straight and true, just make it Bokusenō," Shippō reiterated.
"My lord will be pleased to meet Bokusenō again."
"Bokusenō-dono is a most wise and loyal follower of Sesshōmaru-sama, it would do him well to have such sage council this young," Sōten agreed.
"You will want to find Kimi-sama, evade Tōga at all costs Rin," Shippō warned.
"Very well." She nodded.
Year 1309...
Anoyo To no Sakai, Japan...
"So you made it past Gozu and Mezu," a voice drawled out lazily.
"Heh, that was easy!" Tōga snorted as he looked about the rocky ruins of mountains. There were skeletons of daiyōkai scattered about, massive reptilian birds fluttering about too. There was a small boy standing on the tops of some boulders and his eyes narrowed, the yōkai's eyes were completely black despite the human appearance.
"No one but those serving my mistress have made it here," the daiyōkai appeared beside the shorter yōkai.
"I come seeing the one known as Shishinki."
"That would be I," the daiyōkai said, his light violet hair ruffled in the breeze, and the daiyōkai appeared dressed in ostentatious feathers with leather armor. There was a tall staff in his hand, with a strange gold symbol atop it.
"I've come to challenge you," Tōga stated as he drew Tenseiga.
"I see, and you are?" Shishinki asked arrogantly. The lackadaisical attitude was enough to have Tōga grinding his fangs. Sesshōmaru's indifference was an annoyance, but this daiyōkai's absolute lackadaisical attitude about the challenge was beyond infuriating though. Tōga was irked this daiyōkai didn't see him as the threat he was.
"I am Tōga, Inu no Taishō of the Shikoku InuYōkai Clan, and I have come challenge you for Meidō Zangetsuha," he declared.
"Oh?" the daiyōkai yawned. "You have?"
"I have," he smirked.
"Very well, come and take it if you can!" Shishinki welcomed menacingly.
Tsuzuki Castle...
Kimi looked up from her book when her son walked into her gardens.
"I see you've returned," she greeted as she shut her book.
"Ryūkotsuse's terms of surrender," he stated handing it to her. "Where is otō-sama?" he asked.
"Tōga had gone to forge the ultimate weapon," she answered as she read over Ryūkotsuse's terms of surrender and snorted at the demands. "I will have a response for this tonight," she stated.
"I am not a messenger," he stated firmly.
"I am aware, my son," she stated. "However, any normal member of this pack will perish against Ryūkotsuse and I would rather not have to clean up that mess."
"Send Kochi," he stated.
"Your cousin is utterly useless in these matters, spineless weakling. No, I will send you, you are to be the next Inu no Taishō, and it is only fitting it be you to deliver our terms."
He did not respond to that as he left her. She chuckled as she looked over the terms again. Yes, this was a futile offer, it would only lead to true war, and she was not eager at the thought, but she would not turn it away. If Ryūkotsuse wanted a war then she was certain her mate was more than happy to provide it.
"My lady," a voice called.
"Hai?" she turned to look at one of Tōga's courtesans.
"Hyeon-ju needs to speak to you," the courtesan stated.
"About?"
"She is with child, my lady," the courtesan answered. "It is not Tōga-sama's."
Kimi rose then and followed the other bitch through the halls of her castle.
