Author's Notes: Hello all! HAPPY EASTER! XD Hope you all enjoy your holiday whether you're participating in scavenger hunts or just chilling on a Sunday. Though I don't have any Easter eggs to give you, I do have a new filler episode for you as I plan out my own Easter display on the table for my home. As mentioned before, this episode is skippable, but it does have a character cameo... mostly because I caved in from impatience (don't judge me! XD) and a centuries-old flashback for your icy champion. Now, nothing about his past is confirmed as far as I know, so I wouldn't use/take any information here as "canon". (Any small details would be greatly appreciated if you have any, however.) The most I could do was guess on what Sesshomaru's life could have been like based on some family accounts of actual samurai and/or warlords. It's up to the Inuyasha creators on what character background information they want to give for Sesshomaru. Again, I can only guess.
If you're interested in any of the bold-font details above, enjoy reading the new episode and I humbly ask that you rate me on a scale of 0(too cliche) to 5(so wholesome) for the flashback portion. After that, I can cuddle in my beanbag with happiness, cheesecake, and sweet red wine... or hot tea. ^_^ I'm down either way.
Tailwind Dancer part 1
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His mission was fairly simple as ambassador to the House of Inu. Although his young lordship was presently out and about, the court was very specific about Lord Sesshomaru's involvement in certain political affairs once he assumed his title. He was lacking in poise and social awareness in his leadership capabilities, so a small group of ambassadors were chosen to act behind the scenes while Sesshomaru acted as a militant scout of sorts. He seemed to serve the House of Inu better this way. Though, if the rumors were true, Lord Sesshomaru's acting as a scout or "assassin" was a part of his late father's trial, and these groups of people chosen to act in his place were really giving information to Milady of the House of Inu. Not wanting to delve on such bold or dangerous thoughts, he continued his walk to the Mujina Woodlands.
Supposedly, there was tension among the Bake-danuki Clan and Anaguma Clan after a recent, uncharacteristic snowstorm that passed some days ago, and, within a few days' time, something was killing the civilians of both clans in their woodlands. In response, the leaders had to form a wall to divide them while they investigated the events. Though the Bake-danuki Clan posed less of a threat to others, the Anaguma Clan were more violent towards others and were the most likely to start a rally or otherwise. Hence, his involvement here. He had to visit the Bake-danuki Clan first as per his instructions because of recent deaths. Luckily, the bodies have been disposed of, so really the ambassador of the House of Inu merely had to see about the location and propose a possible motivation for the local deaths. The scent of blood and death was thicker to his right, so he made his way over to find some clues.
Judging from the claw marks in the area, there was some struggle coming from the victim. The attacker was swift in his attack and not at all impatient. There were dents in the ground from the soles of the attacker's feet, so he either jumped onto the victim or was being pushed back by the victim. There wasn't enough force to make him slide backwards so the attacker was in place during the struggle. With the lack of bloodstains, the attacker was a silent killer; meaning, either a poison was involved or the victim had been drained of something. There wasn't any dragging anywhere just a lingering corpse, and the accounts from the leaders of the Mujina Woodlands jointly mention that the bodies were all intact but were significantly lighter in weight. Dead weight was usually difficult to move, but the corpses were as light as five pounds of bagged rice.
"Ah, you must be Norihisa," a voice called from behind him.
Ambassador Norihisa turned around before saying, "I am. Are you Chief Investigator Mano?"
Mano nodded before bowing in respect and looked down at the crime scene. He then said, "I gather you've started breaking down the situation."
"Yes. It appears as though only the victims responded violently to their attacker. I only see two or three spots of blood at most," Norihisa analyzed, turning back to the scene to examine the trees for the claw marks. He placed his own claw above the mark to see the direction of the strike and said, "These marks signify an escape. The victim was trying to gather himself to run away at this point. I don't see any heavy footsteps from the attacker at all, and the tree branches above weren't snapped or cut or anything. The attacker could have flown in but it's doubtful."
"We thought the attacker was some kind of floating leech," Mano added, folding his arms. Walking over to a tree a little further away the claw marks, he pointed to a tree that was twisted along the trunk like someone had grabbed it and squeezed to make the tree turn until a spiral formed. Norihisa's reaction and examination to the new evidence made Mano nod and continue, "It looked like it wrapped itself around here before shooting out to make its attack. That's the only thing we could gage from it. We were more concerned with its method of killing. The places where the victims were supposedly attacked had bits of ice on them."
"Ice? As in from the snowstorm? It all melted here, it seemed," Norihisa voiced, looking at his surroundings.
"That's the only reason why we felt this attack wasn't from the Anaguma Clan," Mano responded. "Something else did this when we were weakened from the sudden onset of snow. The civilians of these woodlands all hibernate during the winter. We, being the daylight guardians, don't survive during heavy snowstorms with lack of preparation for such. We wouldn't have had the strength or speed to do this. It was a mistake to assume this to be an inside job. Anaguma wouldn't have had the strength to do anything either. Though their might is unquestionable, they don't attack like whatever did this. Something more akin to a snake would, but then the bodies would've been eaten whole not just bitten and drained. That's why we thought it had to be a leech of some kind. A violent one at that."
"A leech that survives in the snow, though?" Norihisa questioned, folding his arms and tilting his head to think. Sensing something nearby, he snapped his head to the left and drew out a sword. Mano followed suit and made Norihisa ask, "Do you feel that?"
"Yes," Mano responded quickly, revealing metal claws and armor along the columns of his arms and feet. "Whatever it is, it's strong! The air's heavy!"
"And cold..." Norihisa growled.
Without warning, both investigator and ambassador heard a screeching sound that made their ears burn and senses become disabled within seconds. That small ounce of time in their defenselessness was enough for hair to shoot out from the shadows and coil around them. One after another, both men were sucked dry of their insides. Only feeling a vicious bite on their exposed, armor-less skin. Mano's body was spun violently before being throw across the ground with a hard thud, and Norihisa's body was snapped in half with a break of the spine before being thrown next to Mano. A woman had walked out from the shadows with blood dripping from her fangs and eyes glowing an ethereal blue. She wore a beautiful, silver crown with a spire of ice reaching into the air about a foot or so from her head. Snowflake earrings were clipped to her ears to add a regal flair to her crown. Her eyelids were painted with gold eyeshadow, and her dress was a deep brown and forest green as though she were wearing the winter forest on her person.
"Who's there?" a guard from the Anaguma Clan demanded. It was the last thing he said before he, too, was drained.
The woman dropped the badger demon next to the other new victims and said with a hiss in her voice, "Such weaklings. You are unworthy of protecting your own lands."
"Lady Rakuyama," a voice called from the shadows. It was a slender figure consisting of mainly shadow and wearing a strange, golden mask. The woman turned only slightly to hear her servant and let him continue, "The nurikabe did confront an inu demon before his death. Should we send the House of Inu a message to retrieve their fallen in exchange for his presence?"
"Unnecessary. If this impudent inu mattered to them, they will send someone regardless to investigate," Rakuyama answered, smirking at the deceased Norihisa. "What we will do is start a little riot to draw their attention. This inu was pretty cute. Maybe there's another like him I can toy with... Take the face of the inu and infiltrate their stronghold. Seduce them into sending more men that look like him. I'll assist in the 'investigation' here until a rally has formed."
Kirameku Ha had just finished his dinner before the doors to his home had swung open. Waiting quietly, the man kept his ears alert for the footsteps. They were slow, searching, stopping... His visitor knew he was here. He or she had sensed his presence. The air in the home suddenly warmed up and a familiar, playful hum sounded before he heard water splashing in the front room. His pupil had returned. Meioshi was cleaning her face and neck in Kirameku Ha's guest bowl before she walked into a different room in her mentor's compound. Lifting up a thick stick with ink drying up at the tip, she placed it on a holder on the side of the door and gave it one last look before proceeding on. It was time.
Entering the room she once stayed in after her return from the Netherworld brought back both painful and grateful memories. Like those few years ago, a yukata was there for her to wear along the wall with a set of hairpins in a small box ready to be opened and used. The doctor pinned her hair up into a high bun and changed out of her black bodysuit into the pastel green yukata. Waiting for her former caretaker, she sat down on a pillow and looked out into the courtyard. Such a peaceful place! It made her wonder if she should build a courtyard for her estate, too. Probably not. She wasn't sure if she would enjoy it as much as she enjoyed Kirameku Ha's landscaping talents. It made her giggle a little, knowing that her hard-faced mentor was actually the head of the garden and landscaping club in Heiwa. That's how he made money, though. Through consultation, advice, and mentorship, he earned a healthy keep. Hearing the door open, Kirameku Ha walked inside with the stick and a small bowl of ink in both hands. He sat down behind her, pulled the yukata to expose her back and saw the white lines formed along the delicate expanse.
"Our journey begins, my master," Shanwang said, lifting his hand to let his deep crimson blood drip and grinning widely. "You have successfully completed my challenge at Mount Seikeiwotateru and have earned the respect of the ascended there."
Kirameku Ha was gentle in examining where to draw the markings. He lit the fire next to them and positioned all the tools in place. For some reason, he grew hesitant like he didn't want Meioshi to continue this. He wanted to ensure she lived a long life like he did to fulfill Arimasa's wishes, but he knew that she couldn't. No, he knew that she wouldn't, and that made him think of Sesshomaru for a moment. The way he debated with him, more specifically. Was her honor truly so different? It was a combination of a yes and a no. Yes, she followed the Bushido Code and that meant there were similarities. No, her career is what made the codes so different. It's what made Arimasa different when they were younger. That was why he and the others followed him into Heiwa and decided to live their lives there. Arimasa was always their leader. He was always Kirameku Ha's leader. His loyalty to his taisho made him lift up the small knife and start cutting the white lines in Meioshi's skin. She hissed, gritted her teeth, and tried to bite back the searing pain. She had to endure.
"Imagine! My father would have had a heart attack if he knew that a mere human beauty had the capability of taking over the stronghold of demons! Ha! Nevertheless, with your success, you gained my power as simply a young oni. In return, I guaranteed your freedom from the grip that hell had on you. Kako Seigi can't be left out of this, though, can he? You understand what a dual pact is now that you have completed one," Shanwang continued, returning his hand to his side.
She let out a pained scream when Kirameku Ha started cutting along the spine. She was clutching at her yukata tightly, trying to persevere and remain still. She did. Kirameku Ha was proud of her for fighting through the pain. This was usually the part that most soldiers didn't like and often opted to skip to do another trial, but Meioshi remained in place until he was done. Without missing a beat, he placed the knife down and lifted up the stick to ink the cuts shut. The burning made the doctor whimper and tear up but she didn't move.
"Tch, our pact will be overseen by that feathered fool, no doubt! You are on the Path of Oni when you wake up. My gift to you will be my eye. It contains all the information you need for demons that I once crossed paths with before I left Ogre Island and Mount Seikeiwotateru as ruler. Coupled with your talents in the medical practice, you will be able to see things that can aid you in battle. Your family crest is now etched into your skin..."
"What do you mean dead?" she asked.
Milady of the House of Inu didn't often show displeasure in something, but this incident definitely caught her attention. It was a rather quiet day at the castle before Norihisa came with this news. Well, more appropriately, it was a slow morning before Norihisa interrupted the lunch hour with this nonsense. Milady had a strangely pleasant dream before she woke. She wasn't sure why she had it or what made her miss times that have now passed, but she was in a good mood since that dream.
Several Hundred Years Ago...
She was asleep after her husband left to visit the court about some political matter. She didn't feel like getting up early that day. Too much trouble just to be yawning in a throne chair in front of other leaders. Living in the mountains, she supposed, had some perks if it reduced the number of morning visits. Thinking of Toga creeping back into bed to do that thing that she liked made her bite her lip and blush. Suddenly, a presence entered the room, but it wasn't Toga. Probably a maid. She didn't want to be bothered.
"Mommy," a little voice called. Oh, it was her son. What on Earth was he doing up this early? He called her again and shook her nightgown sleeve, "Mommy."
She hummed before cuddling into her pillow some more to maybe sink into it and hide. She then said groggily, "Just a few more minutes, little babe."
Her son huffed with displeasure at that, took a deep breath, and shouted, "WAKE UP, MOMMY!"
"ACK!" she screamed, not expecting the boy to shout. She nearly jumped out of the bed and clung to the ceiling with how loud the boy screamed. Looking into his eyes in a disheveled state, she saw him tilt his head cutely and smile mischievously. If he had whiskers, she'd pull 'em! She then argued, "What was that for? I was really comfortable!"
"I'm hungry," the boy answered simply, climbing into bed with her and hugging her as a way of apologizing... sort of. "You'll miss breakfast with grandpa and daddy... again."
"You're too much of a nibbler to miss any meals," she joked, tickling the little one. He laughed a little before fluffing her pillow with a big flop of his tiny upper body. She could only guess that he was trying to make the bed, but he was still a bit too little to do it. For someone so small, he was very intelligent for his age. She then advised, "I have to get out of the bed before you make it, y'know."
"But what if the pillow eats you again?" he asked, eyes welling up with tears.
"It's a pillow, little one. It can't eat anything," she answered, not understanding how he came to the conclusion that it could.
"It tried to eat you just now!" he yipped. "You were sinking!"
Holding in a laugh that threatened to rupture her soul, she took the boy into her arms and rubbed her nose against his in a playful motion before mussing his head of floppy white hair. She then said, "If that's the case, that's not how you defeat the pillow monster."
"How then, mommy?" the little one asked.
"You have to..." she said, reaching for Toga's pillow and continuing, "do this!"
Without warning, she popped the little boy lightly with his father's pillow and simply enjoyed a few minutes' worth of a pillow fight. They missed breakfast with grandpa and Toga again, eating with each other instead...
Times have changed since then. Sesshomaru was no longer that cute, little pup causing mischief and attacking pillows. She wasn't sure why she dreamt of that time, but she missed those smaller moments. Back then, her little babe hadn't taken up the sword just yet. These days, swords were all he thought about, but neither swords nor pillows were the concern here. Two clans in the woodlands were about to begin fighting behind a snowstorm in the summer. It must have had something to do with the Netherworld seeping into the living world a few days ago. She sensed it then. Sesshomaru wasn't in grave danger for her to react, but his power had risen up a few times. Whatever it was, the enemy was causing trouble. Maybe that's what triggered the memory. Trouble with her pup.
"The Anaguma Clan are in talks of battle due to the recent deaths of some of their guards, and the Bake-danuki Clan seem to be considering retaliation for the losses of their own. Among the number was the chief inspector, Mano. He was attacked after I left to report my findings."
"What did you discover?" Milady asked.
"The attacker is some kind of leech draining the insides of the victims. It doesn't stay on the ground long and infiltrates armor fairly easily. The victims often struggle to defend themselves, but the attacker is a calm individual and practically silent."
"I'll have a word with the advisor then," Milady responded, standing up from her throne. "Relay this information to Lord Sesshomaru when you receive word from me."