Dying to Live
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.
Hi, everybody! Sharing a couple language / culture notes at the start here as well as some other notes after the chapter below. Please don't forget to check out the blog - posting interesting cultural stuff like about the clothes mentioned below, discussion items about writing as a hobby / interest, stories I like, and music that inspires me: Tumblr / origamikungfuwrites
Note 1: Kariginu - a type of hunting wear that courtiers adopted as everyday wear in the Heian period. Eschewing the multiple layers of clothing required of formal dress of the time, the kariginu is completed with an over-robe with long sleeves but which is tied together in pieces for better mobility. It is belted at the waist with the bottom hem coming down about mid-calf.
Note 2: Tate Eboshi - a tall hat, which has straight sides and a curve to the flat top, worn by nobles in the Heian period. The Heian style hats of this type could be rather tall and were made of lacquered, semi-transparent black fabric.
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Inukimi knelt on a bedside cushion made in a style of finely-made beige silk, rustically-spun but with obvious intention. The demoness toyed with the wooden stock of the Staff of Two heads, which she held in her grasp, running her fingers over the uneven spikes of splintered wood at its shortened base.
The stock must have taken quite a shock in the attack, probably thrown from the imp's grasp when he himself was apparently struck. Having heard of the staff before, being that it was a legendary item if only a low level one, she had looked with great interest at the carvings of the Old Man and Old Woman, which were fortunately undamaged. It was lucky that Ah-Un had actually led her to recover it from the site where she had found the imp. As it was, together, she and the dragon found it flung nearly to the tree line.
With the imp and broken staff in hand at that point, it had seemed that the demoness' plans for the rest of the day had changed.
Seeing that the imp was not in good condition, Inukimi had decided upon finding a place to rest.
Naturally, the Matron of the Inu Clan had known just the place: this region was home to a most favorite ally of hers, the Great Weasel Demon Yukoku-emon-no-Teruki (Teruki, Defender of the Glen).
Alliances between such different clans of youkai were not so common, but Inukimi and Teruki's friendship went back to a life debt the weasel-youkai had owed her. The debt was eventually repaid by Teruki's loyal heir and son, who being much older than Sesshomaru, held joint power peacefully over their valley home region alongside his father. However, Teruki and Inukimi had remained close over the centuries since then.
So when the dog demoness had arrived at the entrance gates to the Yukoku-emon Estate, the family steward was promptly called and came forth personally to receive her. Upon seeing the state of the small demon in the lady's arms, servants of various statuses that ranged from more weaselly-looking to having better-defined glamours were called forth. Under the steward's watchful eye, they helped move the unconscious imp into one of the guest rooms to be bathed. The clan healer was called, while the steward settled Inukimi in a comfortably airy tea room off a viewing garden already in peak bloom with perfectly manicured early-spring blooming plants.
Apologies were exchanged as Lord Teruki was away on clan matters for the afternoon. Genially, Inukimi had waved all this way; she and her party were the ones imposing after all. Regardless, the steward had sent a message to His Lordship's party. The Lord insisted that if Inukimi would stay the night, he would return to dine at the estate with her.
Inukimi only smiled behind her sleeve at this.
Her host's extravagant solicitousness actually genuinely demurred her: Teruki never changed, did he?
The demoness was reminded that it was such a pity they didn't have more reasons to meet directly like this.
The servants had politely withdrawn, instructed to alert the demoness if there were signs that her companion would regain consciousness.
To pass the time, Inukimi had observed her surroundings. First, she appraised the grand but simplistic materials that crafted the room she occupied. Out in the courtyard, she strolled, leisurely inspecting the plants.
At one point, one of the master gardeners came by to prune an especially ancient bonsai that stood in a prominent position in the meticulously landscaped earth. Inukimi retreated but watched with appreciation. The gardener handled the alterations to the plant with such skill and poise that it could no longer be considered just pruning - his work was art at its finest.
Of course, in the hands of youkai, the art of bonsai truly ascended to otherworldly heights with the extreme age of the plants and the sublime forms their masters could coax them into over centuries.
Inukimi had reentered the low light of the tea room after the gardener departed. The sun had gone low in the sky, casting shadows across the enclosed garden courtyard. Again, she had thought of how all the masterfully understated, natively-inspired surroundings ironically absolutely screamed Teruki's extraordinarily focused and refined taste. From the almost bare-looking, golden wheat-colored cypress beams and austere ornamentation to the pristine tatami work underfoot, no one would have ever confused the Yukoku-emon Estate for her Western Sky Palace with its ostentatiously glimmering air, intentionally ornate decor, and heavy-continental influences.
No, absolutely every inch of this was the home of Teruki and the Weasel Demon clan, and Inukimi could only approve of such a fine family estate. However, before she could be seated again at the low tea table, a servant had come to take her to the imp.
So there, seated on the silk bedside pillow now, Inukimi lowered the Staff of Two Heads from her inspection again. Indeed the imp's huge eyes were still shut, but behind his lids the round, protruding bulbs had begun to twitch and move. As the servants had observed, it would be soon that he would awaken. Inukimi, having dismissed the servants with her arrival, wanted to make sure to be the first to hear his account of what had happened at the site of his attack.
The imp had been laid on his back in the middle of the large futon fitted with fluffy, white linen bedding. His small body had been propped up on a set of pillows. Obviously, care had been given to take pressure off a splay of dark bruises across the top of his bald pate.
The healer had explained upon checking in with Inukimi that the bruising would likely be painful, but the imp was expected to heal fully from it in the coming week or two.
Inukimi watched as tiny lines of yellow appeared between his slowly parting eyelids.
"S-Sesshomaru-sama…" the creature finally mumbled, its still half-lidded eyes drifting hazily in her direction.
"No, not quite," she replied evenly, as the smaller creature stared at her, as if she was a cloud high up in the sky.
A moment later, his eyes steadily grew wide. Recognition dawned: "L-lady Mother, i-is it really you?" it breathed weakly past its little, green beaky mouth.
"Ee," she affirmed very simply. She was pleased that the healer hadn't been wrong, and the little demon's memory apparently wasn't pureed after all from those bangs about the head. Rather, his eyes were simply still just coming to.
To her surprise, those yellow orbs widened though.
And filled with enormous tears.
The imp whimpered, its already oddly shaped mouth becoming a wavering line.
"M-m-milday, t-this lowly s-servant is s-so g-grateful," the small demon suddenly blubbered. It was almost incoherent, as more tears flowed from its giant eyes, and sobs shook its otherwise unmoving small, beaten body. Inkimi watched its hysterics with fascination. "S-surely, I-I've died, b-but, M-milday, you honor m-me, to s-see me to the Un-Underworld – even though I don't d-d-deserve itttttt!"
"And what do you mean by that?" she asked pointedly.
Although the demoness had an idea what it meant already, she was going to make sure she got a clear picture of all that was going on and would not get ahead of herself.
"L-lord Sesshomaru, M-Milady!" it cried again. "Please tell me whether it's possible that he's well? Surely, I-I-I d-deserved to die for f-f-failing himmmm!"
Inukimi prayed that she would not lose her hearing before this encounter was over, as another round of the imp's wailing subsided. "Indeed, you did fail him, but I can say, he still lives and seems of fine health, although of course in the way that ningen are," she stated simply.
The imp's interest peaked, temporarily dissipating the violent throes of his hysteria. "Y-you mean, he recovered from his grave injuries and still lives although he is human, Milady?" it asked.
Inukimi raised her eyebrows in wonder of how else it needed to be said?
Evidently, familiarity with her son had taught the creature to recognize this particular expression, as it immediately apologized for its inanity.
Inukimi used the chance to clear her throat and progress the conversation. "This one thinks that enough questions have been entertained now. Other matters are at hand. Firstly, little demon, you are not dead –" Inukimi paused, as the imp gasped excitedly but fortunately remained otherwise silent.
She continued,"Fortunately, this one, I, found you. Now, we are lucky to be guests at the estate of my ally, Teruki of the Weasel Demon Clan. You are to rest here until your recovery. But I have questions about your attack. I am investigating all manner of occurrences in the land in order to find my son's attacker."
"Scars in the land of the clearing where Ah-Un and I found you suggests something somewhat powerful was involved - I desire that you recount all that you remember to me now," Inukimi concluded, explaining her command.
The imp looked back at her from where it rested on the pillows. It grimaced, as it called up the memories: "Oh, Milady, it was most horrible. After leaving Lord Sesshomaru, I am ashamed I had difficulty finding a fitting new lord to serve. I ended up following three ogres, one of which was known as Taikobara-Oni."
The imp paused momentarily, but Inukimi nodded, and it continued its account. "In the last memories I have before I was part of the attack that must have killed even Taikobara, there was a black-furred Inu-Daiyoukai that suddenly came upon our camp in the clearing! I awoke from where I had bedded on the ground the night prior, as the dog demon tore through a line of trees with a great roar.
"It was amazing, Milady, this creature so reminded me of our Lord Sesshomaru! With all of his innate fierceness, it began to fight the ogres. The Inu-Daiyoukai was so big though that I don't think the ogres, especially Taikobara's two compatriots, stood a chance against it. It had bitten them both and even Taikobara with its mouth full of acid-laced saliva. It was fast - faster than the wind, maybe even faster than Lord Sesshomaru at his finest, though that's hard to imagine.
"But then the oddest thing happened, Milady - I swear the Inu-Daiyoukai called up a wind storm. The winds actually coalesced and seemed to emerge from its body. As the winds whipped around the clearing, picking up all the debris and dust and dirt, it called up an acid whip from its tail. The winds were actually strong enough to blow two of the most injured ogres directly into the path of the acid whip.
"It was awful, Milady! I watched them fall to pieces on the wind. Luckily, I had driven the tip of the Nintoujou staff into the ground and had gripped to it for dear life, afraid I would be blown into the path of the acid whip myself," the imp cringed weakly to itself.
"Then the Inu-Daiyoukai approached the last ogre, Taikobara, who had also survived the oppressive winds by driving the end of its club into the earth and then holding onto it. It had caught one of its comrade's dropped clubs in the air though apparently.
"In a wild move, it actually let go, Milady, and allowed itself to be blown straight at the Inu-Daiyoukai's face. Maybe it thought it could beat out its eyes with the club? One will never know, Milady, because the Inu-Daiyoukai lunged with a snap of its muzzle and closed its huge mouth on the ogre's torso in one easy motion.
"The winds were whipping everywhere, but I realized that I was about to see that ogre be devoured by the Inu-Daiyoukai in probably just a few bites. But then the Inu-Daiyoukai's red eyes rolled back into its head, and a light - like a dark, evil aura- flooded out of it and seemed to consume the ogre's body, until the light exploded outward.
"Milady, I thought for sure I would die the moment the explosion rolled toward me, but a flash of white light flickered out from the Nintoujou at the same moment. Though I couldn't see anything from the clash of blinding light, I know a moment later I was thrown and battered, probably against the ground or other debris before I fell unconscious. But now I think I must have been saved by a brief but protective barrier put up by the Staff, Milady.
"I wish I could remember more and had not lost the Nintoujou Staff, Milady, but I hope that this experience of mine may still be of some help to you," the imp finally concluded, closing its eyes, apparently momentarily tired from the effort of the retelling in its current condition.
Inukimi nodded to herself. It was the second time that she had heard of this Dark Inuyoukai, and the imp claimed to have actually seen it in action with its own two eyes. She had already begun to wonder since talking to Sesshomaru whether the Dark Inuyoukai was the one to blame for the rude, inspecific missive she had received from the heavenly court.
The thought of receiving the reprimand still burned at her sensibilities.
She had to find out who this was, but something told her deep down that the appearance of this Inu-Daiyoukai was something other than what it looked like…
Meanwhile, she had reached for the top of the damaged weapon she had put down beside her and raised it up in front of her. "Little Demon, look," she said, calling its attention from its brief eye-rest.
The imp opened its eyes at her calling. It gasped startlingly at the sight of the Nintoujou, despite the damage to the staff. The imp's eyes sparkled, as it looked upon the found staff like it was a once thought to be lost old friend.
"MILADY, YOU FOUND THE STAFF - ONE MILLION THANK YOUS, HOW WILL I EVER LOOK TO REPAYYYYYY YOUUUU?" it cried, beside itself with emotion to which Inukimi faced the imp with a very opposite, placid expression.
A moment later the imp sniffled a bit. "It was a gift from Lord Sesshomaru, and I don't know what I would have done without it all these months on my own," the imp shared, its voice having grown small again to the Lady of the West's relief.
Inukimi nodded. "This one will leave the Nintoujou here then," she explained, laying it out by the side of the futon. "When you are well enough to leave, we will take it for repair."
The imp began to quake where it lay, before it started, "But Milady, I don't wish to be a burden–"
Inukimi inclined her chin and looked down at the imp, as she rose to go. "Nonsense, I'll hear no more of this," she commanded firmly. "Rest, little demon, this one will only continue traveling after the healer has indicated your recovery is complete."
The imp's eyes welled up with tears again; not for the first time, she wondered how her son stood to keep company with the mercurial creature for so much time. It was still mumbling more tearful thank-yous, as she pulled the shoji shut with her departure from the room.
Down the hall, the demoness spotted that a servant that looked more weasel than demon had been waiting for her at a respectful distance away. Soon, she was led down halls to an intimate chamber that was set with a small dining table low to the ground and surrounded with more rough-spun silk floor cushions. A few lamps had been placed and lit and a brazier glowed warmly in the corner. Rice paper paneling off the back wall had been slid away to reveal another stunning garden in early spring bloom.
Inukimi seated herself. She was only alone in the room for a moment before a servant opened the inner shoji door again and the lord of the estate swept in.
"My lovely Inukimi-sama," Teruki the Weasel Daiyoukai smiled and greeted with a gentle, warm timber, as he crossed the room. With a politely brief dip of his torso, he greeted her properly before seating himself across the table from his guest.
"My dear Lord Teruki, I hope no need for such formal language, my friend - it's been a while, but not that long, ne?" she replied, smiling amiably at what she knew were subtle antics on his part.
"Sou, ii dane!" the demon across from her grinned, "Then - my Inukimi, it has been too long. How are things? I was concerned to hear that some unfortunate trouble has brought you to the Yukoku-emon Estate. Naturally, I also could not bear to miss a visit with you."
Inukimi gave a sighing smirk, as a line of servants came in along with two serving trays. Once one of the two trays was set in front of Inukimi, she found the source of a subtly fragrant and savory scent. Meticulously arranged, colorful pieces of raw fish, which had been cut as thin as slivers of paper, were paired with a small nest of delicately shaved white radish and a bowl of broth flavored with rare-to-find, early-spring wood ear mushrooms.
Their kind did not dine like this often for they had no need to.
Therefore, sharing a meal took on even more of a special meaning.
Food served like this in such limited portions as it was would not be intended to quell the appetite of Great Demons such as themselves. Rather, the chef tasked with preparing these dishes had the sole directive of creating a culinary backdrop for intimate conversation. The preparation and ingredients had to be nothing less than exceptional; Inukimi trusted that the fine, extra-strong spirits served in reserved volume alongside their trays would be equally on par.
Patient, Teruki raised a hand to welcome his guest to partake of the sublime treats that had been laid between them. Glancing with a persed, eager smile, Inukimi reached for the cup of clear wine that had been poured and placed by her right hand. Teruki did the same, and after lifting their cups to each other, they each sipped their drinks to the quiet nightsounds drifting in from the garden.
Setting the cup down, the demoness savored the way the exquisite liquor coated the inside of her mouth and warmed her insides. Such liquor was a rare specialty crafted for their kind. No average, non-demonic being would remain conscious after a few sips of it. She appraised the powerful demon sitting across from her, who had purveyed such a fine commodity.
Although centuries had come to pass since they met, Teruki was no less fine of face than the day she had met him. As Weasel demons went, like kitsune, they were known as masters of illusion. Unlike her kind, their non-beastial forms were mere glamours that they created and wore.
If anything, perhaps just to mark some passage in time, she thought the daiyoukai across from her had pushed a bit more fullness into the cut of his chiseled jawline and the gentle slope of a broad but handsomely strong-bridged nose. She also noticed he had chosen to scatter a bit more silvery-white around his hairline. He wore the shining strands of his thick head of otherwise red-brown locks carefully smoothed back and tied up under the tall black tate-eboshi atop his crown; Inukimi laughed to herself but was not at all surprised that he would cling to such dated headwear. The rest of his attire, a silk kariginu in a shade of muted sage-green that complimented his slightly sun-warmed creamy complexion, was just as antiquated if still clearly tailored with the utmost quality.
Always his most defining feature though, was the ever-penetrating gaze of his all-black eyes, the dark irises of which were indistinguishable from the black of his pupils. Yet, the gentle curve of his full lips resting peasantly over a set of prominent, pearl-white canines certainly came a close second to those alluring eyes.
All things considered, Inukimi had thought many a time before that had she been less concerned with general affairs, she would have been moved to do more than just dine with and confide in the demon who sat in front of her.
The temptation never lasted long though. The demoness was far too adept. She would never get ensnared with the scion of a house that lodged high-powered clan harems of not only the heads of the main family but also those of any number of lower-ranked male relations.
With all this in mind, Inukimi hummed. She mentally measured up about just how much she could reveal to her friend Teruki.
Eventually, with a little remorse, she decided that she could only let him know the half of it. She told herself to be careful.
"Yes, it seems that the imp that my son normally keeps in his servitude had a run in with a new Daiyoukai I have not met before," she revealed at last in careful calculation. While the imp had also mentioned his belief that the demon could also control the wind, Inukimi planned to keep that part to herself. That part of the imp's story had been the most outlandish, not to mention the Weasel Clan also had their own claim on control of the Winds.
Knowing this, she first wanted to see how Teruki would react.
Having savored a bit more of the wine while he had waited for Inukimi, Terurki placed his cup down and reclined slightly, a curious look on his face. "Oh? Perhaps, I can help?" he asked thoughtfully.
"Possibly, though I'll admit it's strange. I would possibly be a bit ashamed to ask anyone else - but have you possibly run across a black-furred Inu-Daiyoukai in your territory?" she asked carefully, keeping her voice intentionally low.
Her listener's brows lifted ever so slightly.
The question was certainly odd coming from the Matron of the Inu Clan, and Inukimi knew it.
"That is surprising," Teruki replied after a moment. "No, like you, I don't know of any with black fur. You mentioned the imp is your son's servant - what about Sesshomaru? Was he not with the imp at the time? Either way, I take it he does not know anything of this demonic stranger or else you would not be asking me."
Inukimi had been prepared for questions like this. Without missing a beat she replied: "Oh Sesshomaru, that ridiculous boy," she began to lament, already shaking her head, as she tasted a bit of the finely cut fish in front of her. "I sent him to the Continent to check on some business there for me at the start of last season, and he still hasn't returned - extending his trip with one excuse or another. I swear, he just doesn't want to return home, as he knows that eventually I will need to insist on a mate for him… It's nothing new though, he has been resisting my wishes for centuries, as you well know."
To this, Teruki chuckled, "Ah children, no? I am having trouble like that at the moment with my fourth eldest."
Inukimi knowingly smiled at her friend's commiseration. If only it were all just Sesshomaru up to his usual trouble, she thought ruefully before continuing, "So you see the troublesome boy left the imp and my current mount, the dragon, in my care before he left. The imp was handling a matter with some ogres in the region for me when the attack occurred."
"I see," Teruki said before leaning an arm on one bent knee.
Inukimi realized the weasel demon was giving her a curious look.
"What?" she asked casually.
It would surprise her if he somehow saw through her lies, but if he had, she knew she could easily have an answer ready for that as well.
"Well, it's just that if Sesshomaru can't help to identify this new Inu-Daiyoukai, I wonder if you have tried asking Touga's other son about it yet?" he questioned, curiosity now dancing in his ultra-black eyes.
At the mention of "Touga's other son", Inukimi knew immediately that Teruki knew exactly the kind of question he was asking, but she couldn't guess why.
She tried to handle the question delicately. Insulting her host's intelligence wasn't on Inukimi's agenda. "You must mean Inuyasha," she stated simply, aiming to keep her tone neutral. "I suppose I could, but why would he know anything about this?"
"Well, from what I've heard he is one of your kind now. Perhaps there is something he may have heard about it. Y'know, by the by - but I should make it clear. I am not suggesting he necessarily has anything to do with it. His recent change from half-breed status notwithstanding, I'm already aware he is clearly not your favorite for many a good reason, so I wouldn't want to have the effect of stirring a pot where there's nothing to stir–" Teruki went on until Inukimi interrupted.
Her brow creased deeply with confusion. With no effort to avoid bluntness now she asked, "Teruki, I don't deny that checking in with Inuyasha could have some value, but I'm afraid I don't follow you. What do you mean 'his recent change from half-breed status'? Inuyasha is Touga's son by that ningen woman. He has always been a mere hanyou, and our court regards him as such."
Teruki immediately shifted posture, raising his hands up in retreat. Inukimi realized that her reaction to what seemed like an error in knowledge on her friend's part had probably come across a bit too strong. Still, Teruki's expression was clearly one of confusion.
Inukimi settled back telling herself to lower her hackles and listen.
With the tension relaxed, Teruki clarified: "Certainly, I admit, I couldn't soon forget the unique circumstances making Inuyasha your son but not by blood. But it looks like I should apologize - I shouldn't have assumed you already knew."
"Maybe you haven't heard, 'Kimi? Talk was going around over the winter that someone actually finally claimed the Shikon-no-Tama once and for all," the demon added.
Inukimi did her best to not interrupt. Just what was her friend saying?
Was Touga's other son really the one who claimed the Shikon-No-Tama?
"Honestly, I possibly wouldn't have believed the recent rumors, if one of my informants hadn't told me something else too," Teruki added while Inukimi could only listen intently. "Just this week an unfamiliar Inu-Daiyoukai was reported in the southern tip of a neighboring territory. But this one had white-fur and eradicated a nest of troublesome crustacean demons we had recently begun to keep an eye on. Today, my informant saw that a few of the ningen villages around there have built new, small shrines. They're informal and temporary-looking, additional to their existing permanent ones, but they're shrines nonetheless to this Dog Demon they claimed saved them. They say he was using a huge, curved sword–"
Inukimi's golden eyes grew wide.
She knew the words before she even heard Teruki finish: "And the name of that Dog Demon is Inuyasha."
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Note 3: Dear readers, clearly, I am having too much fun writing Inukimi in her quest and her elaborate wardrobe! Ha! But really, I hope you are enjoying getting the color and background provided by the chapters with her in them. This one was a little unusual, but I got to writing it, and I liked it a lot; perspective on Inukimi's character, her thoughts and the things that stand out to her, feels like an important piece of the story weaving to me. Looking more closely at Sesshomaru's mother, I like to think we get some glances of the sort of environment that Sesshomaru has emerged from and the types social constructs families like theirs have to navigate.
As promised, I also wanted to take a moment to thank you all more specifically for your reviews in the past few chapters.
Inusesshyfan: I have to say thank you so much for the idea that Jaken would think he had died! Of course, he would be amazed to encounter his Lord's Lady Mother. It definitely helped to inspire the above.
sorrellkaren: So happy to hear that you have been savoring the slow burn. Thank you also for the comments about how the arrangement of the cast and the premise is helping to add a new dimension to things. This means a lot since it's definitely what I am going for with this fic. I have actually been watching a show with a very large ensemble cast recently, and I can't get enough of the potential from having so many characters interact with each in occasionally unexpected but satisfying ways. I will do my best to keep this up!
anime weabo: Yes, I love Inukimi as well! She really is the best, and it's fun to explore her reactions, as she acts in concern for her son. Poor Rin with her steamy dream as well - control seems to be good counsel, but it's only going to get harder, if she and Sesshomaru are to get closer!
Dark Crescent Chase: I also have been really happy to welcome Dark Crescent Chase for a review in the past few chapters too! - That said the slow burn will continue. I realize that I definitely have a penchant for a version of the 'idiots in love' trope, so I do love that it's got you all you reviewers wanting to shake our Rin and Sesshomaru each in turn for not getting over themselves to recognize their attraction. However, their - ahem - frustrations in the more recent chapters should be a pretty good indication that things are definitely on a collision course straight for that!
Thanks for being along for the ride, dear readers ~ Hope you continue to enjoy reading and always adore your feedback! Hugs, Origamikungfu.