Chapter 7

The dog demon lord, wounded

Darkness…

His eyes strived to open, but the weight of a thousand mountains were binding his eyelids together and trembling.

He could feel something rough and violent moving inside his body, biting his flesh and ripping off his organs and muscles. A corrosive mist. Vermins. Then fangs. Giant fangs.

His will to move and fight was useless, converted only in pain and deep sweating.

A beast in chains, immobile, asleep.

Cold. Then blazing hot. The cold and hot again. Fever. The scent of honey and putrid meat.

His world has become a deep abyss filled with darkness, pain and putridity.

...nothing.

"Lord Sesshomaru! Follow me, quick quick!" Her happy voice suddenly resounded from the distance, lost somewhere beyond that purple mist.

"Rin?" He managed to slowly open his eyes, immediately catching a glimpse of that checkered orange and yellow kimono running away from him. He looked down to his own body, noticing that it was untouched, clean and in place. Only darkness, purple mist and a mix of foul smells surrounded him. He raised his head again and started to follow the child, guided by the sound of her laughter and calls amidst the deep mists. His surroundings slowly took the form of a forest and soon he reached an open area, a beach. The dark sea waters were swirling and gurgling, spitting what seemed to be twisted bodies. Heads. Organs. Bones.

He found Rin at the shore, kneeling nearby a big pile covered by a white sheet completely stained by blood. He frowned, finding it profoundly odd that the girl didn't seem scared at all by that place of death and gore. She had blood in the tip of her kimono as well, as if she has been carelessly walking through it for a long time.

"Have you noticed the sky, milord?" She asked before he could put out any reaction, inviting him to look upwards. A bright red firmament greeted him, displaying its numerous stars. "Such a beautiful color."

Sesshomaru returned his stern gaze to the girl and silently watched her starting to remove whatever was hidden below the dirty sheet. Her little hands struggled to pull out what he immediately identified as one human arm dressed in black leather. Pulling it a little more, the female body, black hair and wide open and dead eyes revealed from beneath the sheet. Sango's corpse.

"What happened?" He frowned as he watched the girl further remove Miroku's, Kagome's and finally Inuyasha's dead body as well from the pile.

"A demon attacked and destroyed our village. Lord Inuyasha and everyone tried their best to protect us, but everyone fell in the end…" She answered sadly but still smiling, her eyes shadowed and hidden below her black bangs, as she carefully lay the lifeless half demon on the sand beside his human wife. He was still firmly clung to his sword, Tessaiga.

"Are you unharmed?"

"No, milord..." Rin slowly raised and finally turned around to face him. The dog demon widened his eyes in surprise upon seeing the entire front of her childish body completely covered in blood and mauled to the bones. Her little hands rested closed beside her waist, and the smile has vanished from her lips."You have killed me as well."

Then the winds shift. Before he could draw any reaction, a black haze blown by the rotten seas engulfed her and Rin's image started to change, switching between several forms known by him. Jaken. Inuyasha. Kagura. Sara. Naraku. His father. His mother. And finally, an indistinguishable female black shadow.

"...Because that is what you really are..." The shadow dove against him, gracefully landing in front of him and softly embracing his regal silhouette him in her cold arms. She brought him closer to her world of cold and he found himself unable and unwilling to move, attracted by that anguish as a moth to a lamp."That is your nature... You are a killer... a demon... a force of nature... a conqueror. The strongest yokai alive..."

He didn't move and the shadow further approached him, resting her lips near his ears.

"But your acquaintance with humans is making you soft, weak, small... You are allowing yourself to be infected by their worthlessness... This meaningless girl," He blinked as she talked, and he watched from above the her shoulder the sea wind finally blow the stained sheet away, revealing Rin's lifeless little corpse resting in the sand. "has tamed you, like a pup..."

He clenched his fists. Anger started to heat and quickly spread within his veins.

His torso started to hurt once again, that giant fangs dancing again around his bones and organs.

"Are you a pup... Lord Sesshomaru?"

He shivered under that sweet whisper to his ear and felt a violent urge to grab that shadow by its neck and break it like a useless twig. But his body was paralyzed, deaf to his will. The words were stuck like rocks in his throat. He gritted his teeth, showing his fangs strongly clasping against each other, his eyes bathed in a red brilliance, his inner rage and true demon form striving to break free. He managed to stretch out the claws of his right hand, and his arm trembled violently as he fiercely tried to move it.

"Where is it, dog demon lord? Your strength? Your will to conquer?" The shadow further taunted him, tightening her embrace around him to the point that the pain in his chest couldn't be beared anymore. "Humans are disgusting, filthy, deceitful... If you cannot embrace your true nature anymore and are willing to let them bend and seduce you... Then you and your entire bloodline also deserve to be vanquished!"

Wrath boiled his soul and suddenly he propelled his body forward, his hands and claws acting on their own and grabbing the creature in front of him by its neck and violently pushing it backwards all the way to the wall. The loud sound of the strong impact of the creature's back against the rock wall awakened him, and the darkness around him slowly swirled and started to fade, being replaced by the faint light of candles lighting the alcove surrounding him. He then finally recognized the creature in front of him, that old and wrinkled face, long white mustache and beard, tired and compassionate eyes serenely and worriedly staring at him. The daiyokai slid his gaze down, finally realizing his claws buried to his fingers inside Hokumaru's neck, and how strongly and murderously he was pressing the small elder against the wall.

"Do forgive me, Young Lord Sesshomaru," the elder said softly, motionless inside his prison, indifferent to the deep injury in his neck. "I thought you would take longer to regain your senses. I did not mean to startle you."

He snarled loudly in response, struggling to refrain his wrath and demonic energy, his will to transform and that murderous instinct that suddenly had taken control over his entire body and soul. When no further movements or words came from the cornered elder and the daiyokai finally noticed that he was free at last from that dreadful nightmare, his fury finally started to fade, and the red glow in Sesshomaru's eyes slowly disappeared along with his threatening snarls and pointy fangs.

Still confused, he looked around, finding himself inside what seemed to be a warm cave, with a mild light coming from the candles placed above a table. The few pieces of furniture spread here and there transformed that small alcove into an improvised chamber of sorts. He removed his claws from the elder's neck, which healed almost instantaneously. Before any word could come out of his dry lips, a deep spike of pain made him groan and look down to its source.

His upper body was naked and boiling in fever, and there was a giant hole in the middle of his torso. Big enough for a small dog to crawl through it, through him. His skin, muscles, organs that resided in that place - all of it were missing. He coughed and finally felt the strength escape from his legs and body, and the small elder held him in the air before his knees hit the ground.

"Your innards were festering quickly. I had to remove the entire rotten flesh infected by the miasma, otherwise it would have prevented your natural regeneration to be triggered." Hokumaru explained as he patiently guided the daiyokai back to his bed - namely a pile of fabric placed under the mokomoko, which has been bent to serve him as a big pillow.

"...Where are we?" Intelligible words finally managed to leave the silver-haired demon's lips as he settled on his pelt. He was too weak, dizzy and drowsy to fight the elder's assistance, and acknowledging it did not help him to improve his humor.

"Two miles south from the castle. The Young Lady thought that you would like privacy while recovering yourself, so she had this isolated cave arranged for you to rest. No one shall disturb the Young Lord here." The bear demon in human form smiled heartedly and then playfully, lifting his finger like a teacher. "She did it as an apology for her past wrongdoings. Our fair Lady is very wise and tends to make amends with a very methodical, empathetic and respectful approach!"

Meanwhile, at the cave's entrance...

- BEWARE
INFECTED MONSTER DYING INSIDE
HE BITES AND STINKS
KEEP OUT -

"Oh no, it's the plague!"

"The plague is here!"

"Gods help us all!" The scared civilians ran back to warn the people in the village after reading the dread plaque nailed to the cave's entrance.

...Back inside the cave

"What happened after I passed out?" He closed his eyes, visibly annoyed at the dishonorable sound of those words, at the fact that an apparently weak and lowly enemy knocked him out of his senses, leaving him mortally and shamefully wounded and unconscious on the woods for the bear demon to find him, and at the fact that he got assistance from a human. And also at that strong headache and the sharp pain in his chest that was making him want to revive that fox only to disembowel it all over again.

"I followed your little servant's screams and found you lying in the woods with your body being devoured by the miasma. Little Lord Sohma informed the Lady and we brought you here under her command. Everything was made with utter discretion." He lit some aromatic candles in order to ease Sesshomaru's sense of smell after an entire day sleeping amidst putrid miasma and his own rotting flesh, and then picked up a pot and some fabrics from the table. His voice became even more tender, filled with admiration. "You have done us a great favor by dealing with that demon. I could not abandon the little lord alone where I was hiding him, and I feared that Nogitsune combined with Arashi's minions would be too much for the Lady and the men to handle alone. Fortunately you were there. It was a terrible foe, many good men died. Most of the castle has also been destroyed, but the Lady is already finishing arrangements for its quick reconstruction."

"What is this?" The daiyokai nodded at the strange and foul mixture inside the pot that the elder was intending to put on his wound.

"An ointment made of herbs, oak bark and human blood. The smell is unpleasant, but it has strong healing effects on demons and it will greatly speed up your recovery."

Sesshomaru didn't move or said anything in return and Hokumaru took that silence and the aloof expression in his face as a delicate permission for him to further treat the regal demon. The elder smiled with humble satisfaction and carefully applied the foul mixture around and inside the dread hole in Sesshomaru's torso, then proceeding to cover it with the bandages. The dog demon slightly softened his eyes, feeling the pain vanishing almost immediately, replaced by pure tiredness. The elder looked at him and noticed his golden eyes discreetly sliding to the side, probably searching for something "noisy" that was missing for too long.

"Your little ward threatened me to behave while he is out there gathering wood for fire." Hokumaru smiled playfully while sealing the bandages. "Such a faithful servant, that little one."

Sesshomaru returned his calm gaze to the mysterious and ancient demon in elder human form treating him, sensing that soft kindness pouring from his mild yet solid demonic energy. Such a drastic change of air from the nightmare he had just experienced. And certainly such a strange and improper sensation coming from an ancient and beastly demon like him. Eventually Hokumaru grabbed the pot and the spare bandages and turned around, dragging his old and heavy footsteps toward the table.

"You seem tired." Sesshomaru commented almost softly, affected by the strong lethargy caused by the ointment.

"Ah. Age is not kind on demons as well."

"But you are immortal."

"And I carry the weight of thousands of years of memories, feelings and experiences, bound to never end."

The dog demon lord collected his words for a moment, striving to decipher, to understand that mysterious creature in front of him and its motives. A demon of his age, strength, nature and wisdom could have easily enslaved several lesser demons, submitted entire provinces and conquered quite an empire for himself. But there he was, dwelling in the shadows, living an insignificant existence among insignificant and transient humans, serving them and allowing them to look at him as an equal.

"...Why?" He asked and Hokumaru turned his face above his shoulder to look at him, seemingly confused at the incomplete question. "Why did you decide to stay and protect them?"

Hokumaru blinked sympathetically, immediately knowing to whom the son of Toga was referring to.

"Centuries ago, Lord Sojiro saved from starvation, spared my life and gave me home and purpose. I have been protecting his blood and descendants since then. I learned to value and love them."

"They are humans. Dedicating your life to keep them out of harm shall be the end of you. They are weak, foolish and reckless."

"Indeed..." He coughed and returned his gaze to the messed pots on the table. "And that is precisely why they need our protection and guidance."

"I am back." Jaken entered the cave, dragging a handful of chopped wood inside with the aid of an improvised cart. He pointed his threatening finger to Hokumaru's nose. "You better have sullied my lord's body only the necessary with these filthy fingers of yours, you fat monster! He is a noble being! Only I am worthy to look after my lord while he is in this vulnerable and beaten state."

"I can hear you, Jaken."

"Lord Sesshomaru, you are awake!" Jaken jumped at his master's voice, finally noticing him awake and emotionlessly staring at him from the comfort of his mokomoko. The imp dropped the cart and jumped in his lord's direction, aiming a most effusive and loving hug. "Oh milord, thank the gods! I was so worried! I thought you were going to die-GOH" A stone hit him midair and he fell on his back.

"Welcome back, little one." An amused Hokumaru greeted him and then turned to respectfully bow to the lying daiyokai. "Well, you probably have much to talk about, so I shall take my leave now. Rest and recover well, Young Lord."

"Bye… fat monster…" A dizzy Jaken waved from the ground.

Sesshomaru said nothing, simply watching the elder demon smile to the imp and then slowly make his way to the cave's entrance with the aid of his wooden cane. Such a mysterious and intriguing creature indeed. Lost in his thoughts, exhaustion eventually took the best of the dog demon lord and he allowed himself to close his golden eyes, immersing himself in a now dreamless rest, hopefully.

As soon as he stepped to the light, the elder was greeted by the vision of the feudal lord, her escort and their horses leaving the dirty trail and approaching the cave's entrance.

"How is he faring?" she asked almost immediately, the serenity in her eyes masking the worries in her soul.

"Quite good, milady. Lord Sesshomaru has an amazingly strong body, one more day of rest should be enough for him to fully recover."

The daimyo smiled with relief and the old counselor right behind her coughed, drawing everyone's attention. Takashi couldn't hide the contempt and anger for the dog demon that was taking deep roots in his soul, especially after his careful planning only seemed to bring daimyo and daiyokai together instead of making them kill each other. But at least, he could disguise those venomous feelings as a profound concern and worry for his lady and his home.

"My liege, it is very clear that Sesshomaru hunted Nogitsune down only because he wanted information from him, not to assist us in battle. Is it really wise for us to keep a demon like him-"

"Are you sure there is nothing more we can provide him?" Lady Sakuya solemnly ignored the counselor's advice behind her and further inquired the elder demon. "Food, utensils or clean sheets? I could have some of these sent here from nearby villages."

"Your kindness is touching, milady, but Young Lord Sesshomaru is an extremely proud being and would not be pleased to receive further assistance, especially from humans. It is already surprising enough that he accepted to quietly rest in this cave that you provided him." The feudal lord blushed at the demon's straight honesty and Hokumaru smiled empathetically, humbly bowing to her. "If you want to give him comfort and maybe earn his friendship in the future, leave him be and keep giving him space. Especially while he is in this inconvenient state."

"You are right." She turned to the vigilant samurai beside her that was closely watching their flanks. "Block the entrance and see that no living soul roams in this area or disturbs him in any fashion."

The soldier saluted her and proceeded to accomplish the order. Takashi gritted his teeth and sharpened his eyes, but remained in deep and wise silence. Lady Sakuya sighed and then smiled at the precious elder, stretching out her arm and offering her hand for him to support on and climb on the rump of her stallion. A pleasant morning breeze caressed them all, carrying the long and loose black hair of the lady and her samurai to the side along with several leaves and petals from the trees surrounding them. "Shall we go home, old friend? After all the trouble we gave you and your hard work for us, you deserve rest, cuddling and a feast."

"Te-hee~ "

...

"So, Sesshomaru did assist the feudal lord against Nogitsune… What a surprising change of events."

Arashi's soft voice filled the somber air as the man-shaped shadow wandered around the dusky room, with his hands resting behind his back in an elegant posture, and darkness shadowing the remainder of his features. Sitting by the chabudai in the middle of the room was the man of mature complexion, gray little flocks of hair and the colors of the Sakagama family in his robes. The feudal lord's most trusted counselor, Takashi.

"Yes." He carefully watched Arashi's shadow walking nearby him. "I did exactly as we planned. I convinced Sakuya to hunt the demon down, hoping that she would be walking toward her own death, that the demon would personally bring her to an end. Moreover, I made her take most of her army with her, so that the castle would be left unprotected for your horde to swarm in. When I received your warning that Nogitsune would personally lead the invasion, I thought we would finally lay these troublesome Sakagama to rest. I did not expect Sesshomaru to be so strong and that he would defeat Nogitsune so easily. I also did not expect him to spare the feudal lord after everything she did. He is... different. Wiser. It seems that he is not that wild and vile beast told by the tales anymore."

"We underestimated the enemies."

"What should we do next? Sesshomaru is a new piece in this chess match that we did not expect to face. He knows you have half of his relic. If he decides to come for you..."

"I know!" The man-shaped shadow thundered as he struck the wall if his palm, finally angered. Then he took a deep breath, recovering his calm. "...That hateful dog demon is one more obstacle between me and my goal. If he decides to patronize that woman, I will surely be defeated. I need more power... And more time."

"Well, perhaps my lord can bring him to our side?"

"What do you mean?" Arashi turned a sharp glance at the man, with only the red glow of his eyes visible in the darkness.

"It is known that Sesshomaru despises humans and is driven only by his own interests. That, at least, seems to remain. At this moment, he wants Meidenkai, the artifact which belonged to his late father." Takashi smiled as he caressed his own chin, the gears working inside his sharp mind. "Perhaps... if you manage to negotiate with him with the right words and convince him that standing by our side is the quickest way to reach what he desires... He could personally exterminate Kitami's defenses for us. My strategy of throwing them against each other is not bad at all, my liege. It was only... misconducted."

"I see. Interesting. You are indeed a clever counselor, are you not, Takashi?" Arashi seemed to smile as he approached the chabudai. "I am lucky to have you by my side."

"I do my best for those that I find really worthy, milord." The counselor answered with great calm and humility, avoiding the needle disguised in Arashi's venomous compliment.

"You must be careful not to be discovered. I would hate to lose my most trusted spy."

"Ah, yes, milord. Caution is not of my lacking, and Sakuya does not have the slightest suspicion on me. Soon, this whole predicament will be but a fun memory for us to laugh about in the future."

"Indeed." Arashi's shadow sitted by the chabudai, facing the spy. "I will consider your suggestion. For the time being, return to them and keep playing the faithful counselor. I am almost taming that troublesome Umanohiro and I intend to dispatch him soon. You might receive news from him soon."

"Yes, milord. I shall leave at once."

Takashi stood up and curtseyed the shadowy figure in front of him. He turned around and approached the door, only to be interrupted by the man's solemn voice.

"And, Takashi…" The counselor turned his face to gaze at Arashi's red eyes, those pointed as spears to him. "Do keep reporting to me everything you see, hear or manage to know. Especially about Sesshomaru. If the creature sneezes, I want to know."

"Certainly."

He bowed once again before he left the chamber for good.

"Sesshomaru... I do not know if you plan on staying, but I will definitely not let you stand on my way." Terrible thoughts crept into his mind as he reached the dark corridors. He could feel his own rage as a bitter taste in his mouth. An ambitious, deadly gleam erupted in his eyes, as he adjusted back the nameplate with his name and title glued to his noble clothing. "Nothing and no one will stop me from achieving what I covet. When Arashi finally vanquishes the Sakagama from these lands and establishes his empire... I will be his most powerful vessel and the new feudal lord of Kitami. These lands shall be mine at last!"

...

A day later...

"A boulder? Milord, it seems that we have been locked in." Jaken informed after reaching the end of the dark corridor and poking the large rock blocking the passage.

"Step back."

The servant did as his master commanded and stepped back, making way for the regal and already fully recovered and fully dressed daiyokai to gracefully proceed. Sesshomaru stopped in front of the boulder and closed his right hand, launching a powerful punch that completely reduced the large and dense rock to small debris and dust. He lowered his golden gaze to his own hand, confirming the complete return of his strength.

"Well done, milord! You are indeed fully recovered, as expected from a powerful demon such as my lord." Jaken praised his lord as the cold and scented night wind welcomed them outside. Then he finally noticed the weird plaque nailed to the wall above him. "Oh that witch! How dare she?!"

"Let us go, Jaken." Sesshomaru was already making his way through the dirty trail toward Asagao Castle, his silver hair swinging to the side as the breeze caressed him.

"What are our plans now, milord?" Jaken rushed to his side.

"We go for the daimyo. She still has some answers to give." Then he frowned, and Jaken immediately recognized that discreet brilliance, that dangerous rage secretly and silently burning within his master's soul, swirling deep below the aloof serenity in his golden eyes. Sesshomaru would never forgive that lowly fox demon and its cowardly commander for the shame and dishonor they have been put him through. By mortally wounding the dog daiyokai to the point that he didn't refuse assistance from an elder and especially humans, they have conquered the most dreadful and unwanted of the enemies. It was now not only Meidenkai, but his very pride at stake. "Then, I will find and kill Arashi."

How I love Sesshomaru-sama!

Thank you Kariya and Yakitori-chan for your continued support! You guys are the best!

If you are liking my fanfic, please consider leaving a review! That's how I know I am doing a good or a poor job. The lore is only starting to take shape, I have big plans for this story and many things prepared for Sesshomaru, and I want everyone who is following it to enjoy it.

Until next chapter!