All characters, unless stated as original creations or additions, belong to Rumiko Takahashi, Viz Media and Shogakukan. Blame them. I'm just taking their characters' concepts to a different place. Also, feedback would be appreciated.
Tōran loved the attention. The shock on the bastard and his wife's faces, the guards' gaping mouths, Sesshōmaru's dispassionate glance, the mother's arched brow, and even the little human girl's squeal of delight added to the Panther demoness' swelling joy. It was in her feline nature to want and crave attention, especially from those who tried not to pay attention. However, she had a feeling that something wasn't connecting. Was the mother merely a regent for her son? That made no sense if Sesshōmaru's father was lord of the clan. He would surely have brought Demon Dog warriors to the first invasion, just as Sesshōmaru planned to do.
"Congratulations, Sesshōmaru-sama!" Rin cried out.
Before she could go much farther with the thought, Tōran caught sight of the two dogs' locked eyes. Something unsaid was passing between them when Sesshōmaru looked down, as if in defeat. If his mother was such a terrifying demon, why had she not taken the field? Why had no dogs besides the Inu no Taisho and his son fought the Panthers?
"I chose the Path of Supreme Conquest. I am not interested in domestic affairs," Sesshōmaru said defiantly.
"And you think warriors will follow a lord who cannot provide provisions? That food will be magically provided to you? You are not some grand conquering hero. That was your father. He carved out the realm for you and used it to gain my father's agreement. Do not be so blind to think that your father was infallible, Sesshōmaru. He had no grasp of strategy or tactics. Our warriors would never follow a lord who abandons them to fight the enemy's general. That is why you learned to fight from him and you were supposed to learn how to lead our clan from me. Instead, you chose to run off and follow him to battles. If you want anything from me or the rest of the clan, you will assume your full responsibilities to us." Rin shrank from the Inu no Kimi's fierce words. Tōran, however, began to understand more. Still, the sudden shift of attention away from her was irksome. She needed to regain the limelight.
"So… everything below belonged to his father. Everything up here belongs to you. This guy," she pointed at Sesshōmaru, whose eye twitched with his annoyance at such a casual referral, "inherits both titles and a combined realm. But he's just an idiot who loves to fight, has not much experience leading troops, and no administrative skill whatsoever," she said matter-of-factly.
The Inu no Kimi looked at Tōran and replied, "That is correct. Do you wish to withdraw your mating request?"
Tōran knew her own abilities. She had been her tribe's leader for two and a half centuries, learning those skills from making mistakes and listening to others. She had experience that the much-vaunted Sesshōmaru, Demon Dog Lord of the West, lacked. Thoughts of tutoring him in those lessons as they ruled joint realms and waged war together filled Tōran's imagination. "On the contrary. I want him even more. Imagine how delicious it would be to boast, 'I taught the great Sesshōmaru how to lead troops and manage his domain!'" Tōran declared.
She barely heard the half-breed brother mutter, "He'd have to be a masochist to accept those terms."
Silence hung around them as every pair of eyes focused on Sesshōmaru and Tōran. The scowl on his face held equal parts contempt and fury directed at her. Their eyes locked on each other, his deepening scowl against her predatory grin. For a moment, Tōran thought she saw hesitation and doubt behind the anger in his eyes. It surprised her to see that, creating more questions which bubbled in the back of her consciousness. As fleeting as that glimpse was, the momentary wavering was replaced by the swift, decisive manner which she knew so well. Whatever his internal struggle, Tōran guessed that Sesshōmaru had overcome it.
"We will discuss the terms of the Panther Tribe's leader tomorrow. Prepare three beds and meals for tonight. Make sure two of them are suitable for humans. When the rooms are ready, escort our visitors to their rooms. You," Sesshōmaru pointed to one of the guards in the room, "Inform the captains of the guard to report to me in one hour. If I am lord of this castle, then I will need to know every detail about it!"
The demon guards straightened and raced off with their excitement barely contained. They had witnessed the historic rise of Sesshōmaru to his rightful overlordship and were the chosen heralds of their lord's ascension. As they passed, Tōran saw that they were grinning from ear to ear, fangs bared as if they were about to be called for a hunt. That told Tōran something very important. Even though they had rarely ventured out, the Demon Dog Clan's soldiery were aggressive by nature. It was their discipline and self-control which reined them in.
"There's five of us, Onii-san," the human girl named Kagome protested as she counted the beds and meals which Sesshōmaru ordered for them. Further comments trailed off when Kagome saw the face which Sesshōmaru's mother made at the way she addressed the Demon Dog lord.
"Sesshōmaru," his mother called out haughtily, "please correct me if I am wrong but am l to understand that my beloved's second son has married this human girl?"
Tōran took delight in the sudden setting of Sesshōmaru's jaw. "That is so," he replied dismissively. "There is no point in dwelling on that branch of the line."
"And whaddya mean by that, huh?" the mongrel Inuyasha bellowed, hand going to Tessaiga's hilt.
"Only that neither you nor your children have a claim upon the succession. Your ignorance is becoming tedious, Inuyasha. I knew you were not really part of the Demon Dog Clan when I tried to kill you but I didn't realize you are completely ignorant," Tōran interrupted harshly. She was irked by how blur the mongrel was on matters which she had assumed he knew of but didn't participate in.
"Oh how I warned him that the human woman would never be able to properly educate his child! How could a girl ignorant of my dear beloved's name impart his legacy to his son?" the Inu no Kimi moaned dramatically.
Tōran noted how Sesshōmaru's left eyebrow crept up ever so slightly, questioning whether his mother had actually given such warning. For all their differences, the Panther demoness actually felt like she could get along with her in-law to-be. Whether the reverse was true was left to be seen.
Inuyasha scowled at the single tray of food in the room he and Kagome had been marched to. There was no other word. Four heavily armed guards had politely but firmly told them to stay in the room. There was only a single mattress, big enough for one. Worse, they had also been given a single blanket.
In frustration, Inuyasha turned slid the door open to complain. In the hallway, four guards stood passively. The closest turned to see what was the matter. "We need another mattress and blanket! There are two people in this room!" he shouted angrily.
"It is the Lady Mother's policy that any wedded couple must share a single portion of everything. Sesshōmaru-dono gave orders to that effect," the demon said, keeping his gaze on Inuyasha. He did not look down or demur in any respect. The half-brother of Sesshōmaru was a tolerated guest, not an honored one.
Kagome poked her head out now. "What is the reason behind that policy?"
"The Lady Mother believes that a wedded couple's true test lies in how much they are willing to sacrifice for the other. It mirrors her relationship with our departed lord," the guard replied.
Inuyasha seemed about to protest when Kagome grabbed his ear and dragged him back into room. "Thanks!" she called out to the guard, sliding the door shut.
"What's that about?" her husband asked.
"His mother tests lovers by making them have to decide how they will suffer together. On one hand, it's kind of romantic but it's also a bit cruel," Kagome said.
"I'll take half the food, you get the bed," Inuyasha said at once.
"You sure?" she replied, shocked at his selflessness.
"Like hell I'm gonna let her say I didn't take care of my woman!"
Oh. That was all… Kagome sighed to herself.
"Rin-sama," a pair of what looked like teenaged Demon Dog girls bowed as they led Rin to her room. Both of them looked older than her, almost adults. The girl to her right had short brown hair while the other had long black hair tied up in a ponytail. Rin bowed even lower nervously.
"Please don't worry. You are Sesshōmaru-dono's vassal like us. You are one of us," one said. Rin walked cautiously into her room, pushing aside the sliding door. It was a luxurious room with a large mattress, many fluffy pillows and a large furry blanket made out of what looked like dog's fur. On three of the walls hung paintings, each of a different season. On the last wall was a window letting her see out.
"Welcome home!" both of the demon girls chanted gaily.
Home? Home. Home! She was home! Rin felt tears in her eyes. Then she spotted a bright orange and green kimono on the mattress. She began crying at the sight of her latest present from Sesshōmaru-sama.
The two demonesses ran up to her hastily, unsure what they had done wrong. "Rin-sama? Is the kimono not to your liking? I can make a new one tomorrow!" the girl with brown hair said.
"You've been making the kimonos for me?" Rin gasped.
"Sesshōmaru-dono said you lacked the proper clothing for a young woman…" the demoness replied uncertainly.
Rin jumped on both of them, hugging them tightly. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she cried as tears streamed down. A Demon Dog guard walked over to see what was going on and then turned back to resume his post.
Complete strangers would do this for her! The two demon girls hugged her back, stroking her hair gently.
"Sesshōmaru-dono."
Five castle guards knelt on the castle floor before Sesshōmaru, heads bowed. Between them and Sesshōmaru was the speaker, a Dog demoness with the same long, flowing white hair marking her as a daiyōkai in the clan. The others were all brown or black haired. The demoness held her sword out in both hands, presenting it to the Demon Dog Lord.
Sesshōmaru grasped the sword in his right hand wordlessly and raised it, as if to examine it. "Your sword, Tsukiyo. Take it," he said simply to her, reversing the blade towards the white-haired demoness. This formal ceremony was a waste of time but the demoness, Tsukiyo, had insisted upon it. It was important to all of them, starting their service to Sesshōmaru by pledging themselves to him. "I will need your sword arms in the coming days."
"Sire!" she exclaimed proudly, rising to her feet gracefully and clutching the hilt of her straight, double-edged sword. In a single fluid motion, she twirled the sword and slid it back into its scabbard. "We are yours to command!"
"Then we are done with formalities for tonight, Tsukiyo. I am pleased to see that my Captain of the Guard has ascended to become a daiyōkai. You have grown stronger. Now we will need to plan for war. All of you will join me now," Sesshōmaru declared imperiously and turned to walk towards Tōran and his mother, who had watched the ceremony in silence. They had gone to a different room in the castle, where his father had once planned his own campaign against the Northern Trolls.
In the center was a large table with a hand drawn map of the land. Tōran leaned against the wall, happy to watch and listen for the moment. She also wanted time to study the fourth Dog daiyōkai she had met.
Sesshōmaru glanced at Tsukiyo, studying her features. She had aged slightly, her once angular face had rounded out to present a softer exterior. When he had last seen her, the younger demoness had short black hair. Now she wore the mark of her greater demonhood in graceful curls running down her back. Then he turned his attention to his mother, who stood, gazing silently at him. He read the message in her eyes and frowned slightly in her direction in acknowledgement. He would not play her game.
"The Northern Trolls will have infiltrated with scouts. We will find them and eliminate them. Tsukiyo, choose suitable hunters for this task. Then choose the three companies which will stay behind to guard our clan."
Tsukiyo nodded but made to speak. "Sesshōmaru-dono, I mean no disrespect to any of us but three companies of our clan's warriors are not enough to defeat the Northern Trolls, who will field thousands to our hundreds."
"That is so. Jaken will be spreading word and assembling a host of our warriors from the lands below. They may be an unorganized rabble but they will give us numbers. And if negotiations go well, we will be joined by the Panther Tribe's warriors. That will give us a second well-organized force," Sesshōmaru replied.
For the first time, Tsukiyo looked at Tōran and the two demonesses exchanged fractious glares. "Sesshōmaru-dono, if it is a question of …" Tsukiyo began when Sesshōmaru cut her off.
"It is not a matter of anything but political convenience. Your services in that regard are not necessary, Tsukiyo. I need your help to destroy this threat to our clan."
The Panther demoness kept silent still, restraining her gleeful giggles which threatened to burst out. The Dog demoness wanted Sesshōmaru for herself and Sesshōmaru knew and forbade it. He belonged to her, Tōran.
"You will need more," the Inu no Kimi spoke for the first time to the assembled commanders. "There is tribe of wolves living here," she pointed on the map to a range of mountains, "They live in caves and are not very sophisticated. But they are fierce and will serve your purpose. Your father called upon them once."
Wolves? Sesshōmaru's memories of Rin's mauled body rose instantly. Was it the same tribe? Were they led by that half-naked impertinent wolf he had met on the road some years ago? If those were the same wolves, then the word which came to his mind was "uncouth."
But if his mother was right, these wolves would have the same stake in this war. Their lands and lives were just as threatened as the Demon Dog Clan's own. "I will travel to speak to them at dawn. We will put off the negotiations until after this is done," he said the last to Tōran.
"As long as I get to go with you," she shrugged casually.
"And I too shall…" Tsukiyo started again when she was silenced by a look from her lord.
"No. You will organize the first hunting parties and our clan's preparations for war. Two daiyōkai will be sufficient to deal with this tribe of wolves. You are the only one I can entrust such a task to, Tsukiyo."
The Dog demoness bowed, "It will be done, Sesshōmaru-dono," though her reluctance was obvious for all to hear.
"We are done for tonight. Tsukiyo, please show Tōran to the room prepared for her. And sort out your differences on the way."
Tsukiyo merely bowed again while Tōran's face broke into a mischievous grin. This night and Sesshōmaru's hospitality were really quite delightful.
Author's Notes:
1) Work is busy. I expect there to be one chapter a month.
2) Tsukiyo is an original character. Her name is from the Pilot Iroshizuku Tsuki-yo fountain pen ink, one of my favorite blue inks for fountain pens. I have removed the hyphen simply because it becomes too tedious. I am curious to know the reader's reaction to her.
3) I challenge you, dear reader, to guess who will be appearing in Ch 7. The first one to name the four characters who will be appearing will get to name one of the antagonists. I feel I need some active reader participation this time around.
4) I wonder how much I should develop Tsukiyo and her backstory. I certainly don't want her stealing Toran's well-deserved limelight. At the same time, I don't want to diminish her presence as the third daiyokai in this developing triumvirate.
5) I know Rin's scene is poorly crafted. I just wanted to make an acknowledgement that Rin's kimonos come from somewhere. And where would Sesshomaru get kimonos besides his own clan?