Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or the Cthulhu Mythos
The Dream-Eaters Curse
Chapter One
The invitation is still legible.
They are frail pieces of parchment deeply water damaged and barely maintaining form, even with the shelter of Sesshoumaru's long black coat. The mighty rain droplets of this storm seeps through every piece of clothing the dog demon owns the instant he steps outside his vehicle. With haste, the men at the door to the cathedral usher him and his short green companion inside because though they have never met, they instantly recognize the signature facial markings. At least, Sesshoumaru's parents once frequently hosted midnight meetings such as this. The Taishos are a prominent family within the Lodge, among many others. But Sesshoumaru cares not for housing strangers regardless of their affiliations or talents. One hundred years crept by since the Lodge has last seen Japanese soil.
Behind them the heavy wooden doors close with unprecedented clambering.
Dark puddles of water reflect the life of the congregation that gathers in the central nave. Perhaps forty of their members have responded to the summons, an impressive turn out due to the late nature of this meeting. Humans and demons alike settle themselves with quiet greetings. Many shuffle newspapers around the crowd, solemn. Speculative. Some even frightened. The weaker ones, in Sesshoumaru's opinion. The dangerous storm outside continues to crash upon the windows like a punishing titan.
The Lodge leader's name is Miroku. He dresses in a simple brown suit not very unlike the others surrounding him at the head of the crowd. He is practically formless in this dim setting. The lights that are illuminating the building are struggling to maintain life, almost as if the storm raging outside somehow threatens their very existence. They flicker feebly as Miroku is preparing to speak.
Jaken, a green imp-like demon with no profound abilities, special intelligence, wealth or anything else in particular, awkwardly fidgets beside his silver haired employer in the very back row of seats. They remove their coats, refusing to hand them over to the wait staff. They have no luggage with them either. Sesshoumaru rarely ever lets anyone touch personal items. Besides, that inside coat pocket is where he keeps his cigarettes. He lights one now, ignoring the few glares from the members seated directly in front of them.
"Er, no one else is smoking, sir. This is a church," Jaken points out. Sesshoumaru glares. He does not pay the little imp to state the obvious. Fearing potential backlash, Jaken lets the subject drop, redirecting his attention back to the front.
"The mayor has just gone public with the news of her daughter, Rin Kato. The girl is in a coma and she is obviously dreaming. Vividly." One of the more prominent Lodge members begins to address the crowd of wary travelers. He gestures to the papers many of them are holding. "It is said that she speaks and screams and begs for help, however no one is able to wake her."
The dog demon accepts from Jaken one of the newspapers circling around the congregation. The headline of Arkham's newest headliner reads as follows:
Hometown Sleeping Beauty: Powerful Mother Offers Reward!
"Mayor White is exasperated…grasping for straws… searching for help, maybe your help…" His voice drowns in and out as it mingles with the vocals of others and the storm that somehow seems to be growing stronger.
Sesshoumaru half listens as he studies the square, blurry photograph of the patient described in the article. It is one taken of the girl earlier this year at a university campus, sometime in the winter. Rin appears to be an average student. She wears a heavy sweater underneath her school coat. Beneath the earmuffs on her head are brown cowlicks. Indeed, the photo is old. The newspapers' date reads today's: June 11th, 1924. Her smile is genuine, as if caught in the moment of something wonderful… He thinks that she must like the person taking the photograph.
Suddenly, the dog demon cannot listen to the leaders of the Lodge as they continue to speculate on the unnatural circumstances of Rin and her violent night terrors. They all know by now that reasoning is pointless. That is why their organization exists. Something has happened beyond the understanding of the normal world. The mayor will not be able to reconnect with her daughter by physical means any longer. Sesshoumaru tosses the cigarette aside, quickly extinguishing it with the toe of his shoe.
"There are imposters among us" Miroku breathes, successfully cutting through the rumble of speech that envelops them. His words linger ominously, a hush immediately sweeps through the crowd. He extends one hand to the congregation in a gesture that is beseeching. An old, painful marking is almost visible in the dim light to the onlookers. "Our very ranks have been infiltrated by those that wish this world devoured into darkness. Our Brothers, even those that have served the Lodge since its establishment… can no longer be trusted." Miroku clenches his fist now. "I am… I am afraid more innocents such as Miss Kato will fall into this slumber. They will become… fodder." Many of the other figures in the nave shimmer with unease. "The Weaver cannot connect his world to ours unless a superbly talented individual is guiding the way. Such knowledge does not exist anywhere in the world. Except the Lodge."
"Sir, where are you going?" Jaken gasps. The dog demon is no longer sitting beside him in pensive silence. He almost does not notice Sesshoumaru exit the aisle if not for Miroku. The young man barely pauses in his speech, but brown eyes catches golden ones.
Curiosity burns in the back of Jaken's mind. He wants to stay here where it is not raining and hear about more of what is to come. Exactly what can kill a human in their sleep? What is this… weaver?
Sesshoumaru spares the leader of the White Fang Lodge little more than a sidelong glance as he shrugs back into the weather-worn coat. His sleeves still drip rainwater into his open palms, but he does not pause in his haste to the door.
The other members murmur in discontent when the heavy oak doors part, permitting the ghostly howls of the stormy beast outside to pierce into their nave. The short statured demon scurries after his employer. After all, it is his job to remember everything, to write down all the adventures and accomplishments of this century's most powerful mage.
"I am the one who is going to awaken Rin," Sesshoumaru says. "I need to know why I dream of a woman I have never met."
The outline of his silhouette shimmers and leaps into a current of black downpour.