Chapter 19: Into the Morass of a Broken Mind

Takemaru slowed his horse as he came to the top of the ridge and then came to a complete halt as he looked out over the small valley at this northern edge of Setsuna land. He sat there, staring at the empty land in the hellish afternoon heat, his mind years away... in a time when it was much cooler.

After a little while, he slowly cantered his horse down into the little valley and headed for a small bit of forest near the northern edge of the little, sheltered valley. As he drew closer, a dilapidated, half-burned hut could be seen drooping mournfully; just to the east of that hut were three small graves.

It was these that the mounted man made for and when he reached them he dismounted, wrapping the horse's reins around the pommel of his saddle. Then he turned and looked at the graves with a stark expression; the next few movements he made as he stumbled towards them were off balance and jerky before he reached the almost overgrown graves and knelt, bowing his head respectfully.

Father, mother... little sister. I've come back, if just for a moment. I swear that no matter what it takes, I will destroy those wicked youkai. And I apologize that I have not come before this, to visit you in your long sleep. I... still dream of that day... I haven't slept peacefully one night since without hearing your screams, mama. All of it... I don't think I'm capable of sleeping dreamlessly anymore, but oh, what I would not give to do so. But honor will not allow me to – not until I avenge your deaths, for until then, you also cannot rest peacefully. It would not be right for me to do so when you cannot.

He reached up absently and wiped the sweat from his brow, and then looked around again. He could remember all of it with adamant clarity – he could even pinpoint exactly where the tiny body of his little sister had landed when she'd been thrown – and where her head had, as well. To him, the area still reeked of blood and spoiled flesh and probably always would. It was a haunted clearing... no one in the region would settle here, despite the fact that it was a fertile little valley with plenty of water and other resources.

Shaking off the mind-numbing memories, he stood once more and promised again, inwardly, that he would gain vengeance somehow – yes, he would. Even though it would be impossible to find the low-level youkai that had done this to his family after all these years – in fact, it was even possible that they had been killed themselves – he would gain his vengeance by taking it out on one of the leaders of the youkai races... he would kill Touga, Inu no Taisho and evil beast hidden in human clothing. And all those that would ally with those beasts would die, as well.

All.

Taking one last glance around the area, Takemaru once more mounted his horse and moved off, determined not to be in that valley come dark; his dreams were haunted enough – he didn't need it made any worse through proximity to the origins of all of his nightmares.

Heading quickly north, he passed back out of Setsuna land and kept a steady pace, still planning what he could do to destroy Hiraku and Ichirou of Setsuna – and the youkai they allied themselves with. Izayoi... oh, she was even worse, one who would whore herself out to youkai...

At that point his mind stopped, and a peculiar thought came to him. Was it perhaps not her will to really wed the monster? Izayoi had been raised, after all, the same as other hime, despite some of her other training – you married where you were told. Hime had no choice in their marriages – they were married off according to what the head of the clan chose – for whatever reasons. And sometimes, he'd heard, some even gave their daughters to youkai as concubines – little better than whores, and the girls had no choice. Was that the situation here? Izayoi, despite her intelligence and reiki, was a dutiful daughter, and would be bound by the family's honor to marry where she was told without hope of redemption... unless someone else saved her from that fate. He supposed that it was at least honorable of Hiraku to insist that his daughter be a wife, and not a concubine. As much as he doted on the girl, it was doubtful he would ever give her as a concubine, no matter what was being offered for her in return.

Still... if he could stop the wedding, perhaps steal the hime away in the night so that she was not forced into such a fate? He was positive that she would never speak against her father, even if she were terrified of her husband to be, and would probably - for honor's sake - even defend his choice as the dutiful and honorable daughter she was... and in that way, he excused her reaction to his words in formal court as her refusal to dishonor her family, her father's word, especially in front of the one he had given it to. If he could save her from that fate, she would probably be most grateful. Because, even though she seemed to like youkai personally, that was still a far cry from wishing to wed one.

But he did not know when that mockery of a wedding was to be. However, most betrothals were fairly lengthy, as weddings were a big ceremony uniting two clans together. Both clans were present, and there was much haggling over dowry and the like before the two were joined. So there was a good chance that he had perhaps a year... the wedding being set for next spring or summer.

That left him with a little time to plan what to do... and find allies. Although finding an ally might be quite, quite easy, as he thought back to the rumors he'd heard of Takeda's anger at Hiraku's refusal of his offer for Izayoi. He was fairly certain he could get the head of the clan to assist him, but that would, in the end, he decided, not suit his plans – because then Nori would expect the prize to be his... namely, Izayoi. And since he was determined that she be his, that would not do.

No... it seemed his best bet to destroy Setsuna's current Lord, and the hell-born wedding he was determined to thrust his innocent daughter into, was to find men himself... ones he could gather to him with promises of glory and entitlement when he took Setsuna away from its current Lord and set himself up as its rightful Lord, instead.

After all, he was a Setsuna too... was he not?

That did not mean, however, that he could not let the Takeda Lord know why he'd been denied the hime's hand. It would certainly cause much trouble between the so-called allies, and anything that caused Hiraku of Setsuna trouble was enough to make him quite, quite happy.

~oOo~

An old man sitting on a creaky porch watched with curiosity as a younger man walked slowly towards him, shading his eyes from the late afternoon sun with a dusty hand, and the elder, finally able to make out who it was, smiled in welcome.

"Ah, Yorio, welcome, welcome! Taking leave of the fieldwork for the day? It is most unpleasantly hot, is it not? Come, come, have a cup of water and sit for a little span o' time," the elder said, offering the young man a dipper full of water from the bucket next to him. He waited while the young man wet his throat, and then patted the spot next to himself.

The young man, now known as Yorio, sat down with a sigh and drew his arm across his forehead to wipe the sweat away. "Ah... 'tis such hot dusty work to ready the fields for the late plantings." The young man, controlled by a tiny nomi youkai, though neither knew it, slanted a rather odd look his elder's way.

"Oi... I heard some talk of someone named Takemaru. Said he was bad news... what were they talkin' 'bout?"

The elder's eyes lit up. "Takemaru, eh? Now that's a name I haven't heard in years. Yes... that boy was cursed, it's true. Wherever he went he brought death – death by youkai, mind you, not just any kind of death."

Myouga was quite interested in that. He prompted his host. "Eh? Death by youkai? What do ya mean by that, old man? He was in league with them, or somethin'?"

"Oh, no, no, no. Not at all. In fact, the boy had nightmares constantly about what them critters did to his family. No... he certainly weren't familiar with youkai. He hated 'em more than most people do." The elder spat off the porch, then took a long drink himself. "But it were as though he'd been cursed... to draw them to him wherever he went."

"But where did he come from? I mean... I ain't never heard his name 'afore. Was he from here?"

"Not to begin with, sonny. No, he came stumblin' in here one afternoon, dirty, bloody, and his mind were a wanderin' like sometimes happens with those that's seed bad things. It took a while, especially as he weren't but a little fellow himself, maybe seed seven or eight summers, but his family were farmers a few miles out up north in this little valley." He looked over at his companion, eyes glinting with pleasure to have a willing listener to his old gossip. "Seems his family had all been killed off by a group of youkai... I was there, ya know, we went to make sure the little fella's family were taken care of decently, and it were the worst scene of carnage I've ever seed in my entire life."

He stopped talking for a few moments, those far away days coming back to his mind, and he shivered. "Yes... I ain't never seed worse... not even when we were hit a few years later. But anyway, the boy - Masaharu, our old village headman, took 'im in. Trained him up in the ways of a samurai, since the boy showed talent for swordplay like I ain't never seed 'afore. But then... well, we got attacked by them youkai, and almost no one got killed – 'ceptin Masaharu and his wife. That's when people decided that boy weren't safe to keep around and they chased him out o' town. And I ain't never heard that name agin." He squinted at the younger man suddenly. "What brought his name up, anyway? Seems kinda odd, you know, since ever'body here is kinda terrified to speak his name."

The young man was silent for a moment, as Myouga processed everything he'd been told, and then the nomi prompted him again, and he said, "Oh, apparently some soldiers came ridin' through earlier in the day, escortin' some young man off Setsuna land. Someone popped up and said he looked like Takemaru, and talk started, though in whispers. Made me wonder."

The old man chortled at the thought of the arrogant Takemaru bein' kicked off Setsuna land. "Well, well, now ain't that just funny. Especially seein' as he were a'raised as a Setsuna son. The kami sure have a funny sense o' humor, they do," he mumbled, shaking his head all the while.

Myouga, pleased with what he'd learned so far, had the younger man nod, and then excuse himself. Sending him on home, he disengaged from the man's mind and jumped off his shoulder. Hopping hurriedly to the side of the path he'd landed on, he made his way up the closest tree, and called for his crow. It was time to make his way back to Setsuna...

He was sure his Lord would be very interested in what he had to say. And perhaps he would even say it in the same manner the old man had. It was certainly interesting listening to the human commoners talk, sometimes, even when they didn't have anything particularly interesting to say.

Seed? Afore? 'Ceptin? If I didn't know what was being talked about, I wouldn't be able to make heads or tails of what he was saying. But it sure does have a certain cadence to it... it's rather hypnotizing, in a way.

But knowing his Lord, he wouldn't even notice the way he was talking... not when he heard what he was actually saying.

~oOo~

Mitsuhi looked behind herself to make sure she was not being followed, and then pulled her hood up higher on her head to hide her features. She wanted no one to know what she was about...

She couldn't believe it when the lady she'd served for years in the palace had been scorned so suddenly by all just because of the words of a youkai. So, sure, he was a handsome sort, but worse in her eyes was that he was a male. She did not like males – look what they did to females! She, herself, had been raped repeatedly as a young girl-child, and from those days until now she'd hated them all with a near manic hatred. And so, when she got a job in the palace and was given as a maidservant to Michitose, she was ecstatic, for the first time having hope that she would never be forced to service a male again.

Grudgingly, she would admit that there appeared to be some males that were not quite so horrid; Setsuna's Lord and his son being two of them, from what she had heard. Rape was not tolerated by either man, and those perpetrators of that act that were caught were punished severely by being castrated. It was a place she felt safer than anyplace else she'd ever been... and then, her mistress, Michitose, had reached out to her and showed her what a lover should be.

And now, to find that her mistress had been driven off? She wasn't certain of the details, but she really didn't care what they were, the male who'd done it would pay, somehow. That was why she hurried to meet with her now supposedly former mistress in the middle of the day wearing a cloak and hiding her face.

She looked around cautiously as she entered the small stretch of woods near the edge of the bamboo forest surrounding the palace – the place where the bamboo met other types of trees, and penetrated deeply into the cool darkness beneath them, knowing her mistress was nearby. Finally, she heard the soft snort of a horse, and turned towards the sound, making her way quickly to the source of the sound.

Smiling with relief when she pushed through a sweep of bushes and caught sight of her mistress, she stumbled towards her and into welcoming arms. Lifting her face, she met Michitose's gaze.

"I came as soon as I could get away, my lady. I have missed you!" she gasped, and shuddered with pleasure as her lady met her hungry lips with her own and kissed her deeply. When she pulled away, Mitsuhi started crying softly. "Please, don't make me go back there, let me stay with you!"

Michitose smiled at her lover. "Calm your fears, Mitsuhi, my love. I will not abandon you. But I wish you to do something for me. To gain vengeance on the one who threatened me before the court and forced me to leave for my own safety's sake." She grinned maliciously within; she knew Mitsuhi's weakness, her fear and hatred of men, and so hoped she could convince her to follow her wishes.

"Safety?" the young woman asked, confused. "You are not safe? Tell me how I may help you! I won't let him harm you, I won't, mistress!" she swore, tightening her arms around her mistress.

Feeling more and more certain that she could, indeed, convince the girl to do her bidding, she smiled softly at her and tilted her face up with a finger to meet the young woman's eyes. After a short kiss, she said, "Away from the palace, my little love, only call me by name. As for the youkai Lord... I wish to hurt him for what he did to me. Too many times the men hurt us, and we can do nothing to protect ourselves. No one cares to gain vengeance upon them for us, either. First... we will gain vengeance on this arrogant youkai Lord for what he has done... and then we will return to your home and destroy your father for his rapes of you, my sweet love," she swore, her voice fierce. Of course, she really didn't much care about the girl's past, and had no intentions of killing her father - but Mitsuhi didn't know that.

Once the poison was administered, the maidservant would return here, where she would actually take the direct approach for once and kill her. With no witnesses, no one would ever know it had been she, Michitose, to kill the princess of Setsuna and she could gloat from afar for the rest of her life as she watched her cousins mourn the whey-faced wench – as well as that damnable youkai Lord who had dared to cross and humiliate her. He would regret it for the rest of his life.

But this girl was ignorant of her fate, and so she continued to smile down at her lovingly, running her fingers through her bangs soothingly as the girl shuddered at reminder of her evil father, and the things he'd done to her.

"What do you want me to do, my lady?" she asked, her small fists clenching as she determined to do whatever she could to help her mistress.

"I want you to take this poison, and make sure it gets into the hime Izayoi's food," she said, knowing this was the dangerous part – the girl may not agree to harm another woman, and especially not the hime.

She was right; Mitsuhe looked at her in horror. "B-but... but why? How does that harm the youkai? Izayoi-hime has always been so kind to me! I do not want to kill her!" she said, her eyes bewildered and horrified.

"Calm, my love. I aim not to kill her, she will only be ill for a while. But the youkai desires her – he is to be wed to her, and this will make him fear for a time that she might die. It is the only thing I can do to hurt him as he hurt me," she cooed calmingly.

"But why not poison the youkai Lord instead? Would that not be better?"

Michitose sighed and shook her head sorrowfully. "It cannot be done, my sweet. He is a poison master, and there is nothing that could be strong enough to kill him. His very blood is poison."

"Oh," Mitsuhi said, dejected. She really did not want to do what her mistress was suggesting but could see no way around accepting the vial of poison and going back to the palace. With a downcast heart, she nodded and took the small vial that was handed to her, tucking it away in her obi. With a final glance up at her mistress, she asked, "It will only make her sick? You are sure?"

"Yes, Mitsuhi, I'm sure," she said, keeping the triumphant look hidden for just a little bit longer as the girl nodded and turned away. "Don't forget, my love – after you have added the poison to her meal, leave the palace and make your way back here. Then I will take you to my home where I control the men, and we will be happy together."

The girl nodded silently, her eyes sad, and continued on her way.

And Michitose began to gloat, knowing that by the time dawn touched the sky with rosy light tomorrow morning, Izayoi would be dead.

~oOo~

Izayoi, alone for once, as Touga and her father were finalizing details of the wedding and dowry – which Touga insisted was not necessary, and her sire insisted was – wandered out into the gardens near the entrance of the palace, inwardly excited and nervous and happy. So much had happened in such a little time!

Just weeks ago, she was simply another trainee on a shrine filled with many trainees, daydreaming about meeting the great Touga-sama, the Inu no Taisho and Lord of the West. All her lessons from Kenji had tantalized her mind about the great Lord, but never in her life would she ever have thought that she would be so honored as to be his chosen wife.

Even had she not fallen in love with him, the honor of being wedded to him would have been overwhelming. But with her knowledge of him personally, of the male beneath the titles and the legends had come love, and even more lucky for her, the love was reciprocated.

The catch was, it was only lucky if she managed to figure out how to destroy the Shikon no Tama. If she did not her love would be lost to her, and she couldn't bear that thought. Always, always, in the back of her mind she wondered over the jewel and the reason the gods would not face it directly.

She was pulled from her thoughts at the approach of one of the young maidservants... Mitsuhi, she remembered the girl was called. She was trembling fiercely and crying, and she looked as though her entire world had come tumbling down around her. Izayoi frowned, concerned, and caught her trembling form in her arms as the girl almost fell into her, beginning to sob. Her frown deepened – the girl was almost hysterical.

"Mitsuhi, calm down. What is wrong? Tell me, and I will help you," she soothed, running a comforting hand through the girl's hair. "Shhh, shhh," she whispered, rocking the young woman slightly, "tell me what is wrong. I cannot help you if you don't tell me."

The girl sobbed again, then cleared her throat noisily. "It's about you, Izayoi-sama – I have to save you! You have always been kind to me, and she promised but I saw her grinning! She promised she would never hurt a girl, and she lied! I don't want to hurt you..." she trailed off, crying so hard her little form was shaking both of them.

Her words caused a cold shiver to run down Izayoi's back – she was well aware of whom the young woman had been assigned as a maidservant to. And it seemed as though there was a danger to her, personally, from that woman – which really was not so surprising. Tugging the girl with her gently, she drew her to a small bench and sat her down on it.

"Calm yourself, my dear, and tell me what is wrong. No one will hurt you, I promise you that on my word of honor. I will protect you."

It took a few minutes, but finally Mitsuhi calmed enough to speak. "It is my mistress, Michitose-sama. She called to me and then gave me this vial-" she pulled it from her obi and handed it to Izayoi, "-to put into your food. She swore it would only make you ill, to get back at the youkai lord that had hurt her so badly! Men are bad, they always hurt us women, and I wanted to help her punish the evil man - but I didn't want to hurt you!"

Blinking, stunned, Izayoi sat back, her mind rapidly skipping over what had just been said. "Mitsuhi... not all males are bad. Touga is very honorable and has no patience for those who use their greater strength to harm females. He punishes those who do severely. What did Michitose tell you he'd done to hurt her?" she asked, curious, though very angry at the slandering of his good name and his honor, as well.

"S-she didn't really say, just that her life was now in d-danger because of him," the girl replied, still shaking so hard that she was stuttering.

Izayoi shook her head, her lips pursed with displeasure. "She lied to you. Touga did nothing to threaten her life. I was with him when the incident that sent her from the palace took place," she sighed. "Michitose wished to bed him, Mitsuhi, but Touga-sama has more honor than that and he is youkai, besides – when they are betrothed or married, they do not stray from their females or wives. He told her that and turned her invitation down – and to cause me hurt and get back at him for his refusal of her, she spread rumors that they were bedding together. When he found out, he confronted her before the ones she'd told the lie to and faced her with those lies. That's all he did."

Shocked, Mitsuhi looked broken-hearted. "You... you mean, she wished to bed with a male... willingly?" she whispered, horrified.

Izayoi, eyes narrowing, realized that there was something very wrong with the girl for her to be so stunned and disgusted and afraid, too, at the thought of actually wishing to be with a male. "Mitsuhi... why do you fear bedding a male so much?" she asked, her tone firm. This was the hime asking, and she expected an answer. Mitsuhi paled.

Her face dropped, and she closed her eyes, fresh tears of shame and remembered pain and fear running down white cheeks. "M-my father... he... he forced me to b-bed him," she choked out, unable to even look at Izayoi with the shame of her past. "I would never wish to go through that again – it hurts and is horrid and disgusting!"

Izayoi paled at the words the girl choked out, so horrified that her mind froze as her hand covered her mouth to stop a shocked sound from escaping and upsetting the girl any further. She reached out and took her hand instead and squeezed it. "How old were you when this happened, Mitsuhi?"

"It started when I was eleven summers," she whispered, still unable to face Izayoi. "It didn't stop until I escaped by getting a job here in the palace."

"Oh, my gods," Izayoi finally breathed. It was no wonder the girl was terrified of men, and couldn't understand why any female would wish to bed one. "Mitsuhi... what happened to you – that's not the way it should be. It hurts, the first time, for every woman, to a greater or lesser degree. But after that it should not, unless the person is deliberately inflicting pain." Shaking her head, she sighed and then looked at the almost-forgotten vial in her hands. Mitsuhi had been damaged severely, and it would take time for her to learn differently, if she ever could. Right now, though, there was something else that needed to be addressed.

"You were supposed to poison my food... and then what?" she asked, shelving the other matter for now.

Mitsuhi finally looked up, peeking at her, her manner now numb from so many shocks. "I was supposed to return to her afterward."

"It is good you brought this to me, instead, for if you had returned to her she would have killed you," Izayoi said, shaking her head with anger at the cold, murderous woman. She had sealed her fate with these actions. This was something that would have to be brought to her father. Touga would be furious... she sighed. He would want to kill Michitose in a very public manner to frighten everyone into thinking twice before trying such a thing themselves.

The girl looked at her, horrified at her words. "K-killed me?" she stammered. "But why?" she wailed, her whole world crumbling around her.

Izayoi looked at her sadly, gently wiping her tears away. "Because you would be a witness to who had poisoned me. I can guarantee you that this stuff wouldn't have just made me ill. And then I would be dead and you would wonder why she'd lied... and might say something. Come – we must go to my father. He will take care of this." When the young girl began to look terrified, she smiled gently at her. "Do not fear, he will not hurt you. In fact, you will be rewarded for what you have done, I promise you."

Gently tugging on the girl once again, she guided her grimly through the palace, headed for her father's study. And once this matter was dealt with, she would be speaking with him about what the girl's father had done – the man would pay.

She would make sure of it.

She tapped on the door to her father's study sharply, and when a voice bid her enter, she slid the door open and stepped within, still pulling the girl behind her. When she was inside, Izayoi slid the door shut again, and then asked a surprised Touga if he could once more raise the sound-proof barrier he had used once before. Without question, he did so, and she flashed a grateful glance at him, before turning her eyes to her father, who sat next to her uncle as they all spoke over the details of the wedding.

"Father, we have a bit of a problem. Okay, actually I have a bit of a problem. This is Mitsuhi – she was assigned as Michitose's maidservant. Apparently-" she held out the vial full of a gray powder to her sire, "-the woman wants me dead. She ordered Mitsuhi to put that in my food, though she told her it would only make me ill. I highly doubt the veracity of that statement," she said around the stunned silence from her family's side and the jagged growl from her betrothed's side that suddenly filled the air.

"Let me see the vial," Touga rumbled, his eyes pink'd. "I will tell you if it's deadly or not by the scent."

Izayoi let go of Mitsuhi, who was shaking and obviously terrified, and handed the vial to him, instead. Everyone watched as he unstoppered it and took a tiny sniff. The stark, angry look that settled on his face told the truth of the matter quite well, and Mitsuhi began softly crying again.

"Not only would this have killed you, it would have been a horrifyingly painful death," he growled, his voice low and clearly enraged as her father's face clouded with anger, as well as her uncle's.

"Tell me, Mitsuhi," her father began gently, seeing the fearful look the girl was giving him. "What were you supposed to do with this?" He'd heard what his daughter had said, but he wanted to hear it straight from her.

"I w-was supposed t-to put it in h-her food, my Lord," she whimpered, clearly afraid and certain that she was about to be executed.

Hiraku, angry or not, was not blind to the fear the girl was literally covered in, even without Touga's sense of smell. "Do not fear, child, for all of Setsuna owes a debt to you for coming to us with this and thus saving the hime from a frightful death. You are a hero, and no one here or anywhere in this palace will harm you, you have my word."

Mitsuhi nodded, though she still smelled of fear, it was much reduced; as much as she feared men, she had learned that the Lord and his son were at least fairly honorable and kept to their word.

"And after you had laced her food with that?" he asked after she had calmed some, glancing at his daughter with a sick feeling inside. If it weren't for this little serving girl's brave actions in going against her former mistress, he would be burying his daughter instead of watching her be wed. He flicked a quick glance at Touga, and it was clear that the daiyoukai was barely holding back his rage at the audacity of the wench who had plotted this.

"I was supposed to return to her where she awaits me still outside the palace a ways," Mitsuhi said softly, her little heart broken that her mistress, who she'd loved, was nothing more than a lying, murderous whore. It would take her a long time to recover from the mess this day had become – if she ever could, she thought to herself sadly.

But it did occur to her... if not all women could be trusted, was it possible that it wasn't really true that all men were bad? Could it be that Izayoi-sama had been right in what she'd said – that some men were honorable and protective of those they should be? Obviously, the Lord had never harmed his daughter in the way her father had her... it wasn't something that had really occurred to her before.

It was a thought to put away for another day, however, as it seemed that she had missed another question by the Lord.

"Oh, I am sorry, my Lord," she bowed low, cowering in fear, her face freezing again; she missed the frown of confusion and concern he gave her as she refused to look up. Hiraku glanced at Izayoi, and she mouthed to him that she would explain after Mitsuhi had been taken care of. He nodded, and then turned his gaze back to the little serving girl.

"It is quite alright, my dear," he said. "It is clear that you have had a most terrible day. Please, stand and face me, I am not angry. I wish that I did not need to ask this, but I will need you to lead me and a detachment of guards to where Michitose is hiding and waiting for you."

Mitsuhi stiffened in fear and agitation – she didn't think she could ever face the woman who'd lied and used her and broken what was left of her heart again. But before she could speak, Touga did. He'd noted her fear, and unlike the humans in the room, he could tell just how badly frightened she really was. It was off the scale, and he didn't want to do anything that could possibly kill her – her heart was literally pounding, and if this kept up the small girl would keel over and die from the overworking of her heart from the fear and the multiple shocks she'd had this day.

"That is not necessary, Hiraku – if she can tell me a general area that the woman is in I can track Michitose down without having to force her back out there to confront the one who has wronged her so severely," he said, looking soothingly at the small girl who looked back at him with wide eyes. She hadn't so far really seen the youkai Lord who was betrothed to their hime up close, and she was stunned; he was far more than just handsome and he seemed to be very honorable in his words. She was extremely grateful for his offer, too, for she didn't want to see Michitose again. The staggering betrayal just hurt too much.

"I can tell you that," she said, her gratitude clear in her voice, and Hiraku nodded.

"Go ahead then, my dear, and after, I will have Izayoi see to your comfort. You look like you could use a little rest."

She nodded back thankfully with tears in her eyes, and turning to look at Touga, she said, "She is hiding where the bamboo begins to give way to regular forest, youkai-sama. She has a horse with her... she said that if I did this thing, she would take me to live with her at her home, where no man could ever hurt me again," she added sadly, "but she really was going to kill me, wasn't she?" she asked, needing the final confirmation so that she could just grieve and let go. It had suddenly occurred to her that there was only one horse out there with her mistress, and while they could both ride one, it would be severely uncomfortable, as well as tiring for the horse and just downright dangerous, especially if they had come upon a youkai or bandits and had needs for a swift escape.

All four people in the room with her nodded, and Izayoi sighed at the muffled sob that came from the exhausted and hurt young woman. "Mitsuhi," Izayoi said, "step outside for a moment and wait for me next to the door, okay? I must speak to my father about something else, and then I will attend you."

The little serving girl nodded shakily and slid the door open and stepped through it, then slid it closed once more. Once she was gone and could not hear what was being said, Izayoi faced her father and with anger clear in her eyes, snapped, "The girl's father needs to be apprehended and put to death for his actions against her, father. You see she is terrified of men? He began forcing himself on her when she was but eleven summers! His own daughter!" she said, clearly outraged and disgusted, and was quickly joined by the males in the room.

"She told you this?" Hiraku asked, his voice raised in disbelief, and Izayoi nodded.

"Yes! This was how Michitose controlled her - through her fear of men. She told the girl that Touga had threatened her life and that was why she'd had to leave the palace, and it was that she used as her reason for attempting revenge." Izayoi sighed and shook her head; closing her eyes, she pinched her nose between her fingers, beginning to get a headache, and changed the subject. "You had probably best go and get the wench before she runs, thinking something has gone wrong. But father? I want you to consider taking Michitose's holdings and giving them to this girl. She deserves it for what she has done, and it's certain the woman won't be needing them in the afterlife, anyway. And I think you are wealthy enough, too, father – Michitose's small estate won't mean anything to you."

Hiraku eyed his angry daughter for a moment, then nodded. "Hai, that would be appropriate – there is no price too great for the one who saved my daughter's life despite her fear." He waved his hand at her. "Go, my dear, and take care of her, while we go take care of Michitose. We will see you later."

Izayoi nodded, then glanced at Touga and mouthed that she loved him, at which he sent her a small smile. He would be needing much private time with her later, after the circumstances of this day, in his true form to calm his blood after the attempt on her life. He glanced at the vial of poison powder on the desk where she'd set it as she left the room, and his eyes flashed crimson.

Michitose would pay for what she had attempted this day.

The three men in the room all stood as one and left its confines without even having to say a word. All three were equally agreed in their determination that Michitose would be made an object lesson to all in the palace – this is what happens to those who plot treason and murder against those of the house of Setsuna – even if the plotter is of the same house.

There would be no mercy to the woman hiding in the woods and waiting gleefully for someone to die. Oh... someone would die, alright...

But it wouldn't be Izayoi.

~oOo~

Tugging her cloak around her shoulders with nervousness as a breeze filtered through the suddenly quiet woods, Michitose wished she could see the sky so that she could estimate the time before the evening meal would be taken. It would give her an idea of how much longer she would have to wait for the girl before she could kill her and then be on her way home once more.

She really didn't want to be out too much past dark, though there were very rarely any youkai in the areas near Setsuna's two palaces, or indeed, most of Setsuna lands. Rarely did they attack anything more than the edges of Setsuna controlled land because the response was always most deadly – the Lord was quite adamant that youkai preying on his people were to be destroyed immediately. The same went for human predators, as well, as the bandits they'd destroyed just this summer had found – and the mako.

Still, for a woman alone out after dark, it could be dangerous. But she was determined to see Izayoi dead, the spoiled little bitch, and then to kill the not so smart serving girl she'd been given and manipulated so easily. She would leave behind no witnesses to point a finger at her.

She fidgeted again as the silence of the forest began to get to her; was not the place usually loud with birdsong and the rustling of animals scurrying through the underbrush? This silence was eerie, and she was getting more and more nervous as time went on. Perhaps it would be better to move around? Sitting in one place might not be such a smart idea, though she could not think what could be large enough in this area to cause harm to her.

Just as she stood to mount her horse the animal began to roll its eyes and tremble, and suddenly very afraid, Michitose practically threw herself astride the now shying animal just as it tried to rear up. Throwing her off as it took off into the distance, it moved as fast as it could through the woods and headed for open country. Stunned, she lay on the ground for a moment, and then rolled over to try to stand back up... only to come face to face with red, glowing eyes and elongated fangs. With a terrified shriek she threw herself backwards, and then realized that it was Touga when she was far enough back to take in his full form... but a furious, enraged Touga, one who was even now snarling at her dangerously.

It was then that she knew that Mitsuhi had betrayed her. The wench had gone to the Lord of the clan instead of doing as she'd been told, and Michitose almost choked on her own fear. She was a dead woman and she knew it, whether Touga killed her now or Hiraku did it later.

"You thought you were so clever to manipulate a terrified serving girl into doing your dirty work, whore, but now you see just how foolish you were, instead," he growled at her, watching the terror settle in her eyes and her scent with satisfaction. "And even had you succeeded in poisoning my princess, bitch, it would have availed you nothing, for one of the swords I hold can restore life to the dead or even heal fully one who is ill or injured. But do not mistake matters – for your foolish attempt I would tear you to pieces right here-" he held up his glowing claws for her to see, "-however, Hiraku wants to execute you in front of the entire court and all the denizens of the palace, as well, so that all know what happens to murderous, traitorous whores like you. I have given way to his wishes." Letting his poison settle back into the tiny glands underneath his claws, he grabbed her by the arm and yanked her to her feet none too gently.

Dragging her behind him without any care for her smaller stride he quickly hit the edge of the forest and was soon surrounded by a contingent of the palace guards, followed by a mounted and stone-faced Hiraku. He stared at the now trembling woman before him, and then gestured to one of the guards, who immediately bound her. Then she was thrown over her own horse's back; they'd caught the spooked animal as soon as it had stepped out of the wooded area. Without further words the group headed back to the palace, not a one of them feeling sorry for the grunting woman that was having her ribs bruised quite thoroughly from the slow jog that they set.

They arrived quite quickly back at the palace, and Michitose was pulled harshly from the horse and hit the ground hard on her knees before the still mounted Hiraku. He stared inimically at her for several long seconds, and then said, "Take her to the stockade, and make sure she receives no food, only water. She will be executed at first light tomorrow." With that, he turned and made his way back into the palace, ignoring the cries of the terrified woman. He felt no pity for her. He was determined that she would be executed at first light and he wouldn't accept any delays. He would make the announcement at dinner. All were to watch – from the members of the court to the lowest servant in the palace.

It was a good thing the yards were so large, for they would be filled to capacity. And then, once Michitose was dead, Mitsuhi would be awarded her estates and all her wealth in front of everyone, as well, so that they would all see the difference. Plot against the house of Setsuna and you will die. Refuse to do so and warn the Lord of the plotters, showing your allegiance to Setsuna, and you would be vastly rewarded, instead.

Most were intelligent enough that they would get the point immediately.

~oOo~

Dinner was subdued; though no one except the immediate members of the family, a detachment of guards, and a still upset serving girl knew what was going on, it was clear to all that something was up. The head table was almost totally silent, and that never boded well.

There were shocked gasps throughout the dining hall as Hiraku stood at the end of the meal and with that same stone-faced expression, told the court of the day's happenings and the morning's execution.

"Every one of you will be there at first light. All the servants are to be there, as well," he said, looking to the head housekeeper, who, white-faced with shock, nonetheless bowed in acquiescence.

"As you wish, my Lord," she murmured.

As the room cleared, Hiraku motioned to a rather frazzled-looking Izayoi to follow him, and she nodded, quietly following behind him as Touga, wired and determined that no harm would be brought to her, followed, his youki roiling with agitation and anger.

Once they were all seated, a sympathetic Hiraku looked at Touga and said, "I will not take long, and then you two should go and spend some time together."

Touga nodded appreciatively, and then Hiraku turned to his daughter's weary form. "How is the girl?" he asked softly.

"She's numb, I think," Izayoi sighed. "I think that she should stay in the healer's domain for a time after tomorrow, and she should not be forced to watch the execution, father. It would damage the poor girl more. As it is, she really doesn't need the object lesson."

Hiraku nodded. "I agree. And as well, you do not need to be there. Perhaps you can sit with her while that business is taken care of."

Izayoi nodded; thankful she would not have to watch, either. As angry as she was, she didn't want to watch someone die if she didn't have to. She'd already seen enough death and with the things Touga had told her of the war that was coming, she knew she'd be seeing plenty more.

"As for the girl's father... I will send a detachment of guards also to her former home. Has she said where she is from?" he asked, and she shook her head.

"That is fine; I will get that information from the housekeeper." Hiraku was always careful who he allowed to be hired into the palace; the housekeeper was only to hire those that had grown up on Setsuna land. He didn't want outsiders inside the palace and close to him and his family, as it cut down on people with other loyalties being within reach of himself and his children. He nodded when Izayoi requested his leave to go make sure Mitsuhi was settled for the night.

Kohaku, who had been mostly silent during the goings on of the day, spoke up. "I will lead the guards to go after the girl's father once you have gathered where she is from."

Hiraku nodded gratefully at his brother, glad that he was here during all of this. Kohaku would be heading back to his station soon, and he would miss his brother's presence, though he'd been gone for a long time, already, he always missed him. They'd been very close growing up, and Kohaku always seemed to know when his brother needed him to step up and assist him with something without him even having to say anything most of the time. At times like this, that understanding was more appreciated than he would ever know.

"Then tomorrow, after the execution you can go retrieve this man, and place him in the stockade. I will arrange his execution after the girl has left the palace, and once I have questioned him. Not that I doubt the girl's word, for her terror is there for anyone to see, but I wish to see what the hell he was thinking to perpetrate such an evil act," he said, distaste heavy in his voice.

Touga nodded at that. "Oh, yes, that would definitely be an interesting questioning. For I can tell you with perfect certainty that the girl is telling the truth – lies produce a scent that is most unpleasant and that any youkai with a halfway decent nose can pick out. The girl told no lies. I also got the feeling that there was more that the girl didn't even say."

Hiraku's face, as well as Kohaku's, went bleaker than it already had been at Touga's words. "As if that were not bad enough, there was more?" he asked, though it was more a rhetorical question. "And people worry over the so-called 'evil' youkai. There are just as many evil humans as there are youkai, and it sickens me that people can be so blind to that fact." He sighed, then shook his head. "I will see you all here just before dawn, then, for I am weary and would seek my bed. Tomorrow will be evil enough to poison the day, and I need sleep to be able to confront it."

No one said a word as he stood, and acknowledging Touga and his brother with a nod, left the room headed for his bed. The two left behind stood as well, and bowing lightly to each other, went their separate ways.

Touga determinedly tracked down a weary Izayoi, then without much warning of any kind took to the skies with her, once again needing her presence and his own true form with equal depth. This day had been difficult, for the agony that she would have suffered from the poison that woman had attempted to have placed in her food enraged and hurt something in him at the same time. True, he could have used Tenseiga immediately she'd become ill, and she would have been fine – but just the fact that Michitose had even tried made him want to torture the woman. In his eyes, this execution was too easy – he would have fed her poison to her, instead, making her suffer that which she'd been so eager to force someone else to suffer.

But humans were different and Hiraku would not like such a solution, and as it had happened in Setsuna, his will would prevail and Touga would respect that. But if anyone tried the same once she was his wedded wife and living in his citadel, vengeance would be his in any manner he deemed fitting. And he would be most vicious in said vengeance, make no mistake.

He was glad that he could heal Izayoi, or anyone else of illness or injury with Tenseiga, any amount of times. But he could only bring a person back from death once... he hoped with all his heart that he never had to use it on his beloved little hime, because if he lost her, he didn't know how he would survive with his mind intact.

Landing in the now familiar spot from the last change of form, he set his little hime down and then stepped away, not even having to say anything; she just seemed to know and moved far enough back so that he could affect his change without harming her. Once he alighted before her in his true form once more, she rushed to him and hugged his huge muzzle to her, petting it tenderly as he snuffled into her belly and growled so smoothly it may as well have been a purr.

Just like before, his true form relaxed her completely and within minutes, a daiyoukai and his soon to be little human wife lay curled together in the sand, peacefully sleeping. And not a thing in the area would have dared to disturb them, for the inu's youki was quite alert, though he was not, and would destroy any intruder without remorse.

Thus the two unlikeliest lovers the world had ever seen slept deeply and with perfect trust in each other on the sands of a beach deep in Setsuna lands.

~oOo~

A small fire crackled a little as a pocket of sap trapped within a piece of the burning wood overheated and burst, not drawing any response from the sweating and writhing form that it barely illuminated in its fretful sleep.

Takemaru, rolled up in his cloak and using his saddle as a pillow as horsemen had for centuries, moaned and cried out, his voice thick with fear and horror as he once again re-lived the nightmare he'd been having since he was but a small boy.

From experience, Takemaru had picketed his horse carefully, making sure he couldn't be spooked by his master's cries and attempt to escape. After all, it wasn't the first time a young man had been forced to sleep in the wilds, away from all other human contact because of the fear his name brought. So many were convinced he was cursed, and though he'd hated a great many people over the years for abandoning him to his fate for such a stupid reason, he was beginning to believe that he was cursed, as well. For who would continually draw creatures that he feared and hated more than anything the kami had ever created? Why was he being forced to continually end up in their presence?

He had never had any use for the gods. What were they to him? Why would they create a race that did such monstrous things to a race that was really completely helpless before them? It was as if the gods had created humans to be no more than cattle for youkai to torture, rape, and feed on. If the kami had cared for their creations, for humans, they would have given them all reiki to defend themselves with, and the youkai could go find other creatures to satisfy their need for prey. Or they would simply not have created youkai at all.

Sweating, yet icy cold, Takemaru once again re-lived the first terrified scream of his mother as the youkai appeared and immediately killed his father. He remembered running for the edge of the forest as fast as his small legs would carry him, his small load of wood dropped behind him and long forgotten as he ran. He remembered the even higher scream when they had yanked the tiny form of his newborn sister from his mother's arms even as she'd attempted to run... and he screamed, himself, as he hadn't done that infamous night, his voice having been frozen in his fear as he watched, once again, clutching tiny fists to the bark of the tree he'd hidden behind as the youkai had torn his baby sister's head from her body and flung both in his direction. He shot up in his bedding as the sound of her tiny head hitting the ground right in front of him ripped him from the nightmare, the last thing his horror-struck eyes saw was her own eyes, frozen in death with her mouth open in the scream of pain that had been the last vocalization she'd ever made. He would never forget the expression on her tiny, blood-spattered features... nor the fact that when her head had landed in front of his hiding place, she'd still been trying to cry, her mind not having quite caught up with her death yet. And still echoing on the night air he could yet hear his mother's screams as those disgusting beasts had raped her... all witnessed by a son too young to do anything to save any of them. It seemed that all he could do was be a continual witness to the horrific deaths of his small family. And people wondered why he hated youkai so?

Just like every night since it had all happened, he woke with tears streaming down his face and curses on his lips... because he knew that no matter what happened in his life, no matter how many youkai he killed in revenge that visual would never, ever go away. It may as well have been painted on the insides of his eyelids for all the luck he would have in scrubbing it from his mind.

Trembling, he stoked up the fire, ice cold and feeling half dead himself as he forced his mind away from that night so long ago and onto his current circumstances. He let the numbing activity of gathering a bit of wood from the brush traps surrounding his small camp wipe the terror from his mind and the snorting of his horse drown out the memories of screams and taunting, slobbering laughter on the wind.

Once he had regained control of himself he slumped a little, prodding at the fire as he sighed, remembering the words of an old yamauba* he had met a couple of years ago not too far from here. She'd heard his screams as his nightmares yanked sounds of terror from his psyche and had come to him, telling him of an herb she could give him that would calm nightmares such as he suffered from.

He could no longer fight the dreams on his own, could no longer deal with the effects they were having on him. He was exhausted, and he would need a clear mind to do what he was going to do – take down Setsuna and the Western Lord. He hated the thought of becoming dependent on some herb for sanity, as he'd always loathed those who used herbs to cope with life. But at this point the nightmares were taking over his life and he could no longer continue to function without their assistance.

Until this summer spent in a palace in close proximity to those with such powerful youki he'd had the dreams once a night, and then after he was able to sleep the rest of the night dreamlessly. But since Setsuna's Lord had seen fit to contaminate a human dwelling with youkai he'd had the dream every time he closed his eyes, and he was close to losing it. If it didn't stop, he feared that he would end up taking his own life, even if it was accidentally while running from the dreams in his sleep.

Really, he thought, grimacing into the fire as it danced and writhed before his eyes in ways that reminded him of the desperate attempts of his mother to escape her attackers, he no longer even cared if he died. But he was determined to take the Inu no Taisho with him, and he wouldn't be satisfied until he was in a position to do so. Because he was positive that he would be cursed to listen to his family's screams even in the afterlife, for all eternity, in fact, if he died without taking a bunch of youkai with him – or even better, one who commanded them...

The Western Lord.

And he was so desperate now, desperate enough to seek out a yamauba to give him herbs he'd always disdained just so he could function enough to take his vengeance, that suddenly he was willing to do just about anything to take the bastard down with him – even if it meant leaving behind his honor. Because he couldn't take much more, and he knew it. This all had to end... soon.

Then, finally, he could rest... rest in peace in his own grave and no longer hear the screams that were practically his constant companions. His family would be soothed in their need for vengeance and would no longer drive him to provide it.

It was the best he could hope for.

Tomorrow... at first light I am going to find that witch and have her give me that herb for nightmares. Father, mother, little sister, please, understand – I will give you your vengeance, but I must have sleep, or I will not be able to do it.

I need silence, relief from the memories.

But I swear that I will not forsake you. And once the Inu no Taisho is dead, I will join you all in hell.

Hell cannot be worse than this existence, after all.

No... hell could definitely not be worse.

Nothing could be worse than this.

~oOo~

*Yamauba-witch

Yes, I know that Takemaru says one thing at the beginning of the chapter, about wanting to take Setsuna and rule it in Hiraku's place, and now he's talking about dying and going to hell to join his family, but remember - these nightmares, and the severe PTSD that he has are slowly sucking his sanity away. From here on out, you're going to be seeing two sides of him - the side that howls for vengeance and to take Setsuna from Hiraku, because of his hatred of the one who would have consort with youkai, and the other side that is slowly losing any desire to live, and simply wants to kill Touga and then die.

Amber

Edited 10/06/13