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: 31
Year 839...
Tsuzuki Castle, Shikoku Clan Territories, Shikoku Island, Japan...
Rin sat with Sesshōmaru all night as she stared at the kuroshinju.
A Shikon no Tama recreation, she thought bitterly. As if that jewel had not caused enough problems in her life, even now she would find herself making another one. The irony, the mere thought had her snorting in amusement. Making this imitation of a Shikon no Tama though was not something she understood yet, how would collecting her lord's four souls aid in saving him from Magatsuhi?
Yes, in theory Rin understood what Magatsuhi was, but in practice that was a different matter. She had seen what Magatsuhi could do, she knew what that was, she had seen it in the eyes of her lord as well as bandits when the desire to inflict pain came. She wasn't a stranger to Magatsuhi, merely his curse. Which was why she didn't understand needing to make another Shikon no Tama from the four souls of a yōkai. Despite what the world thought it knew, Rin knew yokais had four souls, her lord and his mothers would be the first two she'd think of to list, Shippō and Kirara would be the next two she'd list, followed by Sōten, Ai and Shiori. There were others, Rin could list them all, and knew them all rather intimately. So she had no doubts she could collect the four souls of Sesshōmaru, but what was she to do once she had them?
Her fingers tangled lightly with Sesshōmaru's hair as she closed her eyes and let her head fell back.
She would have to figure this out, her lord needed her, he needed her to figure this out.
The rays of dawn tickled her face which had her peering at the overcast which enshrouded the Shikoku InuYōkai territory. Suddenly the heavy beating of a drum pierced the air, a new rhythm but a signal Rin well understood it was the signal of the return of the Inu no Taishō. Inhaling sharply Rin tightened her fingers in Sesshōmaru's hair before relaxing. A sigh escaped her as she curled over him, examining his sleeping face.
As a pup he was cute, as an adult he was heart stopping. She smiled as she traced his cheek.
"No matter what, my lord, know I love you, forever," she whispered before kissing his brow and detangling herself from him. She was still dressed from the journey, she picked up her pack of supplies before putting her hairpin in place, her kaiken in her sleeve and grabbing Bakusaiga and Odate's fang.
It would be better for her to do this now and leave than to drawl it out.
Sliding the fusuma shut gently she slipped over the wooden floors and made her way to the entrance. Taking a heavy breath she steadied herself, Kimi was there, looking indifferent and pained, and Rin walked into the morning light to see Tōga.
"I made it to the Akita territories when I was told by Odate-sama that a human bitch had dared to take my son, I am assuming that is you," Tōga snarled.
"Hai," she answered unrepentant and unapologetic despite his accusing tone.
"You dare to lay hands on my son!?" he snarled.
"Hai," she answered as she started descending the steps. "I dare."
"What makes you think you are worthy, mortal?"
"Nothing," she answered. "But I achieved what you could not in all your infinite power, Inu no Taishō."
The growl which tore through him shook the ground she stood upon, however she didn't stumble.
"Come, come," Kimi started.
"Stay out of this, bitch!" Tōga snapped.
"That is no way to speak to the Alpha of the Shikoku," Rin stated using her lord's soft, clipped, icy tone. "You would do well to apologize."
"You are not a part of this mortal!" he growled.
"I am," she stated. "You speak with disrespect to my Alpha and I cannot permit that, it's an offense rectifiable by death or blood," she said firmly. Now it was Kimi's turn to look shocked.
"She is my general," he started.
"I believe that you are hers, not the other way around," Rin countered.
"You speak arrogantly for a mortal," he growled.
"Hai, I do," she agreed. "But as I have returned your son to your Clan and Pack I will take a thank you of gratitude and be on my way, I am on an important quest for my lord after all."
"Gratitude!?" he snarled violently.
"Or blood, which ever you prefer, Zhìháo," she offered icily.
"I will tear you limb from limb!" he pulled Sō'unga then.
"Very well, I will take your gratitude in blood," she agreed. He moved fast, but for Rin the world slowed as she sidestepped and pulled her kaiken slicing his armor as she twisted out and pulled Bakusaiga which had a rippling sense through the atmosphere as it intercepted Sō'unga's blow. Rin smirked at Tōga's shock on his features. She twisted around, moving fast as she escaped his reach, the world sped up then as she moved with Bakusaiga. She had felt this before, blocking and slashing, shifting to keep herself centered and out of the way, the fang did most of the work, but could only do what she knew. She could feel it as she blocked another hit from Sō'unga coming at her. Tōga hit her hard as he attempted to knock her fang from her grasp, she could sense his intent as she used her kaiken.
Most swordsmen stressed using two hands, her lord however, had not. He had stressed her knowing to utilize both her hands in a fight, knowing her opponents would rarely pay attention to her second hand in their traditional thinking. The kaiken slid smoothly through Tōga's armor as she twist it hard, nicking his lung, he coughed slightly and she twisted harder as his fang clattered from his hands. The kaiken was siphoning off his ki which made him weak. Pushing against him she held him against the wall as she yanked out the kaiken and pressed it to his throat.
"I will take this as your gratitude."
He growled.
"Raise a hand to my lady ever again and not even the fates or kami will be enough to stop me from shoving my lord's fang into black heart, Zhìháo," she warned. Turning she let him fall to his knees as she wiped the blood on her clothing and sheathed Bakusaiga again. The kaiken was left out as she bowed to Kimi.
"Thank you for your hospitality, my lady, I wish you many blessings to come for yourself and Sesshōmaru-sama," she said as she stood and turned to leave. It didn't take her long to walk through the barrier, knowing how it worked as she stepped off the ledge of the floating island and found herself standing at the lip of a hole.
The very same hole she had clambered out of initially. There were snow flurries on the winds which had her closing her eyes as she took a deep breath of the fresh air.
"Forgive me, my lord," she whispered. Looking at the hole she knelt down before swinging her legs over the edge and dropping. She could feel herself enveloped in the familiar darkness.
Year 1268...
Location Unknown, Somewhere in Goguryeo...
Sesshomaru knelt bound in heavy metal and pinned upon an island, sacred seals, and monks wrapping around the prison. The power was stifling, he had been ordered here by his father when the Mongols had come, to come and collect information, to test their spiritual prowess. Now he was here, the air was stifling with enough make breathing difficult.
His grandmother had done well with the prison. Bèi Yíwàng De Jiānyù was a prison worthy of daiyōkai.
One way in, one way out, over one thousand guards, and only himself as prisoner, he would admit she had out down herself. The guards, monks and kami alike all lined his prison. The acupuncture bindings confining him was to paralyze his muscles to further attempt at keeping him immobile.
This didn't stifle his hearing, he could hear their hearts and bodies nervousness about moving around him, but also, he could hear all the way to where the generals above were organizing the invasion. Hyeon-Ju was the name of the most prominent daiyōkai general above, followed by Dong-Geun, there were other names he had kept a mental tab on, but the one which stood out to him and delayed his return to his father's forces was the whisperings of a spy in his father's forces.
Though they hadn't spoken the name, merely referring to the traitor as Dōng, which had him staying.
Sesshōmaru just needed the name of the traitor and then he would escape.
His mokomoko twitched a bit as he focused on breathing and listening to everything and everyone around him. His grandmother truly did not know what a wonderful amphitheater to listen to resounding acoustics, she had vastly underestimated his natural abilities; the ones that could not be sealed or halted.
Year 1581...
Zhēnzhū Gǎng Palace, Spirit World, China...
Sesshōmaru stood in the robes dressed for the coronation and was snarling at anyone who attempted to touch or groom him in any manner.
"You're actually going through with this?" InuYasha asked as he finally appeared, dressed in Ming robes.
Sesshōmaru didn't answer that as he finished straightening the robes. Just because he hated his grandmother and her people did not mean he would misrepresent his mother. There would be no piece of this costume out of place or misaligned, he would get through this ceremony and then he would go about killing his grandmother.
"By the time the first moon is over the monk should have figured out how to make Chang'e mortal, when she perishes, her throne will need to have an heir apparent in place to assume power, I take the throne I take the people," he explained for InuYasha.
"We owe them nothing," InuYasha stated.
"I am aware of who I owe what for, this is about not destroying the innocent lives caught in Chang'e's net."
"You just want the power," InuYasha stated.
Sesshōmaru didn't even bother to retort to that. By the end of the night he would be Emperor, he would have to meet with the Yellow Emperor to receive the Mandate from Heaven for how to rule his grandmother and father's people.
"If this doesn't work?"
"Then you will return to the Shikoku," he stated. "And I will tear apart the Ming Empire brick by brick," he growled lowly.
"You're in no condition for that," InuYasha started.
Sesshōmaru lifted his hand as he finished his robe, it silenced InuYasha as he started pulling up his hair into a tail. He paused when his brother frowned.
"Rin won't forgive you if you die before she gets back," InuYasha stated.
"Rin will understand, for if I do not do this then there is nothing to return to," he murmured softly. He thought about the image of her smiling in Kagome's time, her black hair fluttering about her and her smile pure and sure. That was when he needed to get to, that was where she was, and that was where he would be, he would get to her, one way or another. But that only happened if it remained, if it was there for them to return to, and his grandmother would see to it that it was not.
"Our homeland has not been invaded since the Mongols," Sesshōmaru stated as he finished tying his hair. "I will not permit Chang'e to enter it now."
"And becoming Emperor here? That stops it?"
"Hai," Sesshōmaru answered. "This is father's throne. This is your true birthright from father, if there ever was one."
"Nani?"
"Inu no Taishō is not a title father could pass to you, nor was the Clan or Pack, those are passed through my mother's lines. The title Inu no Taishō is for her general, and I have been Inu no Taishō for two hundred seventy-one years since your birth."
"I…"
"I was named Inu no Taishō upon father's failure to protect my mother," Sesshōmaru stated. "But we were both born Princes of the West."
"I didn't know…" InuYasha stammered.
"If you should like the title, Yuèliàng Huángdì, you are free to take the robes," he stated.
"I don't want that!" InuYasha hissed.
"Then do not tell me what Rin will and will not forgive. She knows who and what I am," Sesshōmaru stated as he walked by his brother.
Year 839...
Tsuzuki Castle, Shikoku Clan Territories, Shikoku Island, Japan...
Sesshōmaru woke alone in his room, he looked around for Rin but didn't feel or scent her. Getting up he threw open the doors to the garden, seeing the flurries of snow before he ran from his room.
His mother was sitting in her garden with tea.
"Rin!?" he called out looking around, his mokomoko lashed out irritably.
"Ah, Sesshōmaru," his mother smiled. "Come," she held her hand up for him.
"Where's Rin?"
"Rin," she started as she took his hand and he stepped to stand beside her sitting form. "Rin has gone to aid her lord. But, I have this of hers, for you."
"Rin…?"
"Does not know I possess it, the servants found it in your dragon's saddle bags," she said as she handed him the parcel. He looked down at the wrapped package and frowned before he slowly opened it with care.
The quilt spilled out, red silks and white furs, the purple threads were used to embroider the phases of the moon. It was a massive blanket, bigger than his futon, bigger than his father's futon.
"Splendid!" Kimi smiled as she examined it.
There was a bit of parchment which fluttered onto the wooden floor. He bent over to pick it up, the kanji were crisp and clean, below it was signed with peach blossoms.
-I was never one for goodbyes, my lord, so all I shall say is until the next time we see each other.
-Love you, always.
"What a peculiar mortal you have claimed, my son," Kimi mused as her claws slid into his hair. He looked up at his mother just as his father threw open the doors. He flinched but stepped in front of his mother as his father glared at them both.
His mother's hand was firm as she grabbed his shoulder. "Take this to your quarters, Sesshōmaru," she ordered.
"I will…"
"You raise another hand to my pup Tōga and it will be the very last thing you ever do," Kimi warned sharply as Sesshōmaru gathered up his quilt quickly.
"I am Alpha!" he started.
"You are not," she stated icily, her tone soft and clipped. "I am Alpha of the Shikoku InuYōkai Clan, you are my Inu no Taishō, and until such a time as I have invited you back you are to be visiting with the Pack Leaders, the council is eager for your advice and your voice."
Sesshōmaru blinked at his mother's back, her tone had never changed pitch or cadence. "In the spring, upon the first blossom, you may return, Sesshōmaru will be going to Odate-sama who has offered our son tutoring. I have accepted this."
"You can't…" he started.
"I can and I have, you will leave. Today," Kimi stated firmly.
"Mother?" Sesshōmaru whispered.
"Good Alphas do not behave as you have Tōga, when you return, we will discuss our union and the arrangements to be had, but until then you will go advise the council," Kimi instructed. "Get out of my sight," she hissed.
Sesshōmaru watched for the first time in his life as his father deflated from his temper and stormed off.
"Sesshōmaru," Kimi turned on him. "It appears I have neglected your education, forgive me, son, for that was not my intent. This winter, if you will, I shall further your education to prepare you for Odate-sama's teachings."
"You can fight?"
"Better than your father ever could," she smiled playfully. "Hurry up, put away the quilt, there's much to learn, little time to be had," she instructed.
He grabbed up Rin's not before running down to his quarters with her quilt.
Year 684...
Tosa Provence, Shikoku Clan Territories, Shikoku Island, Japan...
Tsukuyomi and Watatsumi stood in the ruination and destruction of what had once been a thriving village, now destroyed by the ocean.
"Kami," Watatsumi whispered.
"We did not," he started but saw that the dragon meant no offense or offering, was merely in horrific awe of what they both stood before. Izanami's servant Shishinki and his mate Zero stood nearby.
"We should call upon Kirinmaru-sama, he will be of aid to this provence," Zero called out.
There was a sniffling cry, which draw Tsukuyomi's attention. The kami was swift to leave the daiyōkai as he shoved aside debris to get to the sound. He halted when he reached it, the inner light the child showed was that of a kami, but the life force was mortal, he moved to touch the child. The babe was still clutched in it's mother's dead arms.
"Shh," he cooed.
"Tsukuyomi-kami!" a voice bellowed.
The babe meakly mewled.
Tsukuyomi carefully picked the mortal up from the corpse and into his arms, it was so small, so feeble, so weak, he stared in awe at how a creature so weak could survive this damage.
"What do you have here?" Watatsumi asked.
The baby burst into tears which had the kami jumping and shoving the babe at Watatsumi. The dragon burst into laughter as he accepted the charge who settled immediately in Watatsumi's grasp.
"One would think you've never held a babe before, my friend," Watatsumi chuckled.
"Never," the kami admitted.
"Well, I'd wager she's hungry, tiny little thing," he chuckled. "Midoriko."
"Why do you call her that?"
"The welp needs a name, she says this is her name," he shrugged.
"Who would be able to care for a human miko pup?"
"The Shikoku," Watatsumi answered. "Shikoku-sama's daughter is running the Clan now, but her father always kept food on hand for welps of all ages and sizes. I believe, Kimi-sama continues her father's tradition."
"So long as she does not make that sound again!" Tsukuyomi decided.
"Scared of a wee babe, my friend?" the dragon chuckled.
"No," he answered.
"Liar!" the dragon snickered. "We should get her to the Shikoku before my brother feels this power."
"Ryūkotsuse wouldn't…?" Tsukuyomi started.
"He just lost to Kimi in a Hunt, he would use this welp as a weapon if he can."
"How?"
"Mere babe and I can feel her power, my lord, I know you can too, do not ask how."
"I don't think we need Kimi-sama," Tsukuyomi shrugged.
The baby burst into loud wails then which had him and the dragon jumping.
"Then again the quicker we get it to Kimi the better!"
"Kimi?"
"Shut up!" he hissed as they started for Tsuzuki Castle.
