Chapter 29: A Murderous Madness

Ryukotsussei awoke to the fluttering feeling that he got when his spy on Touga's council tried to contact him, and from the way it was making his flesh itch, he had the feeling the beacon had been going off for quite some time – possibly even since some time during the night.

With a muffled oath he brushed his mane back over his shoulder and gathered himself. He'd let himself go last night; celebrating his coming freedom from his wives, concubines, and unwanted young had him lowering his usual limits, and he'd taken in very large quantities of demon sake. It had left him sleeping deeply once he'd finally fallen asleep, so it was not surprising he'd slept through the summons.

Growling, he stood and quickly dressed, and then headed for the room he kept his mirror in so that he could hopefully find out what was so important that the male had been so desperate to contact him. Perhaps he finally had some good news? For instance... the location of the Shikon no Tama?

The palace seemed oddly quiet, though he only took that in peripherally at that point as his thoughts were all on other things, and so he ignored the faint twinge of uneasiness that jangled at his senses because of it.

Reaching his destination and sealing himself inside, he opened the connection and waited for his spy to appear; if he had, indeed, been waiting since last night, he may himself have gone to bed after not being answered for so long. He was prepared to wait a little bit of time for the male to respond, though he never liked waiting, of course.

What he wasn't prepared for was the seeming panic the male was projecting as he appeared immediately, even through the rather ephemeral contact that this mirror allowed. Scowling, he snapped, "What is it?"

"Ryukotsussei-sama, we have major problems! I finally discovered what Touga-sama has been doing this summer – he returned to the citadel yesterday."

"Well?" he growled. "Speak!"

"He left to court and marry a female, my Lord-"

The dragon Lord cut him off incredulously – and angrily - at that. "This is what has you so disturbed? This is what had me so concerned? He tied himself to some bitch? Bah, who cares for such stupidity!" Ryukotsussei was beyond angry. The dog had spent the summer courting and rutting some useless bitch? Did he truly take he, the Dragon of the North, so lightly as to spend so much time doing something so entirely banal when he was breathing over his shoulder and threatening not only war, but the total destruction of everything Touga claimed as his own? How dare that dog...

"My Lord, you must listen!" came the shrill, panicked voice of his spy, and he looked into the mirror again, rage pulsing through his blood at what he saw as Touga's slight.

"What?" he snarled. "What is so damned important about him marrying some inu bitch?"

"The female is not an inuyoukai, my Lord, nor is she even youkai at all. She is a priestess!"

At that, Ryukotsussei froze, confused. A priestess? "Why would he wed some human? Even if she is a priestess... what does that do for him?" he asked after a moment.

The male's image tensed in the mirror, and the dragon frowned, knowing he wasn't going to like where this was going.

He was right.

"This female is a danger to everything we've planned, Ryukotsussei-sama. She is as powerful as Midoriko with a greater range of powers. She is a weapon of unimaginable strength... and she is even worse," his voice came across, sounding suddenly weary. "She is tied to the Shikon no Tama by the kami themselves – they have sent her here to destroy it. They wish it gone from this world. On top of that, somehow, Touga-sama's spies have warned him that he has a spy high on his council. How they found out I do not know, but he has responded by disbanding the council and sending us all from the palace."

Stunned, Ryukotsussei staggered back a little, just managing to find his chair before his legs gave way. Midoriko? A priestess with her power, or even greater? How... that thought faded and a new one came in. And she has been tasked by the kami with destroying the jewel? "Did she say how the jewel was to be destroyed? I did not think that it could be," he mumbled, confused and so stunned with this information he wasn't even sure what to think at the moment.

"She said that it is in the same manner as one would use it – by a wish. But it must be the right wish. Not just any wish will do, according to her."

"Does she know this wish?" he asked, almost panicking for a moment. That was the immediate thought that came to mind – if she knew how to destroy it, then all his efforts were in vain, because it would be gone from this world before he could ever find it.

"Thankfully, no," the male sighed. "She still does not know what the right wish is. But she did say this – the Shikon no Tama is not just some wellspring of power. It is a living thing, with a will of its own, and a wish of its own. Apparently, it is very self-aware, and knows that the kami wish it gone. It, like all living things, does not want to be destroyed. But it cannot wish on itself, so it needs another to do it. According to her, anyone who gets their hands on the jewel will find themselves as nothing more than a puppet to its will as it forces that one to make the wish it wants, instead. She seemed very certain of her words – and frightened of the results should such a thing ever come to pass. I..." he slumped tiredly then, "I don't know what to believe, anymore."

Ryukotsussei, while intrigued, scoffed. "Perhaps someone with a weak will would be overcome by this jewel, but it could never overpower one of such power and strength as I." He waved a clawed hand. "While interesting information that I am pleased to have so that I would not be taken by surprise at its attempts, it is of no true concern. However, this female – is she truly all that you have said?" he asked, skepticism audible in his voice.

"Yes. She is a terrible danger to us and all our plans. She is powerful, Ryukotsussei-sama," he warned gravely, "I personally witnessed a display of just a portion of her powers. When Sesshoumaru, who is angry that his sire wed a human, confronted her and attacked, she didn't even flinch. She simply blew apart a very strong attack as though it were nothing. Her power... it is like nothing I have ever seen. She can not only purify youkai, but she can even heal them, or spread her aura over a youkai, and it does nothing to them at all. She demonstrated such yesterday. I could hardly believe my own eyes."

Ryukotsussei's anger began growing again as he took in the ramifications of what he had just learned. This was a bad day for him, there was no denying it, and he was infuriated as he pondered just what it really was that his adversary had been doing. He had just secured himself a weapon of incomparable value – there were currently no other miko, light or dark, with that much power anywhere else in the lands. How the hell could he defend against this threat? How had Touga even found this bitch? His eyes narrowed... perhaps his alliance with Koume and Kotake was even more necessary than he had thought – they were immensely powerful, and that power would be needed more than ever now. Even if he managed to get his hands on the Shikon, he realized, this priestess could still manage to be a danger – if she figured out the supposed wish she needed to destroy the thing before he could decide exactly how he wanted to use it.

"Can we get someone near her to kill her?" he finally asked, his own claws itching to do so as the male in the mirror shook his head.

"Doubtful. Even disregarding her own immense power she has several very strong guards," he replied.

"Find a way. Do whatever you have to, but find a way." A dark look crossed his face, then, and the cloaked male in the mirror shivered. "And what can you tell me of my errant daughter, Takako? She has not responded to any of my summons as of late."

"Ah... Takako was taken by Sesshoumaru and put in the dungeons as a prisoner of war when you crossed the border and attacked earlier this summer, my Lord," the male in the mirror stammered, uncertain what Ryokotsussei's reaction to that bit of news would be.

Deep down, that information was amusing, and in different circumstances he would have enjoyed a good laugh over it. But right now, with this potentially devastating turn of events he really couldn't care less – after all, in a few days the little whore would be dead. He would have to contact his assassins in Touga's citadel. While not near powerful or skilled enough to kill high-profile targets like Touga and his little bratling, they were certainly good enough to kill a sniveling female – especially one who was imprisoned and constrained.

"Do not fail me. Find out everything you can about this female Touga has sold his soul for, and then kill her." With that, not even waiting for an acknowledgment and not realizing that the male was trying to say something else to him, he waved a hand and dissolved the connection, very unhappy with the way his day had started. Heaving himself out of his seat he swept out of the room, slamming the door open and stalking down the hall towards his throne room.

He was very, very irritated to find that he had audience waiting when he arrived – it was already mid-day, as he'd slept in quite late, and apparently, a scout from the borders had arrived earlier that morning with important news. He could feel his gut clench, rage clawing at him at the setbacks that were seemingly so suddenly in his way threatening everything he'd worked towards, and he just knew that somehow, what he was about to hear was not going to be to his liking, either.

Taking his seat, he stared coldly at the cowering male before him. "Speak."

"My Lord," the hapless male said, "early this morning several scouts tracked two youkai trying to escape across the border with the West. They intercepted but were unable to stop them. We were only informed second hand when we came upon the battle scene and found one scout still barely alive, you understand, so we did not see this for ourselves. Still, they were obviously strong – and determined to get across the border - to kill three of our scouts."

"Did this scout tell you what type of youkai the two were?" he asked, his voice going even colder.

"No, my Lord, the scout did not get the chance to go into detail."

"Hn." Fists clenching and drawing his own blood, Ryukotsussei pondered the fact that it seemed as if some of those in the North were defecting to the West. Or that those that did not belong here were passing through his lands, with who knew what goals in mind, though it occurred to him that they couldn't be good for him since these youkai were heading into the West. Does he have spies where I have not learned, yet? Then he remembered something that his own spy had said. I almost forgot in the anger at hearing about Touga's pet priestess – he said that Touga had somehow found out about him, though it's apparent that the dog doesn't know who the spy is, yet – at least, not for certain.

Temper ready to snap and really wanting someone to sink his claws into as it seemed as though all his plans were unraveling, he managed to hold back his rage and sent the scout from the room with instructions to up the guard on the border and to capture at all costs anyone else that tried to cross into the West. The scout was lucky – if he hadn't needed him to take his orders back to the border he would have gutted the lowly male to help settle his nerves.

What else can go wrong? Has someone set a curse against me? He snarled with impotent rage as the throne room emptied of the few beings that had inhabited it, and it wasn't for some seconds that his earlier realization of the silence in the palace came back to him, stronger this time. He looked around the room, eyes narrowing in temper as he took note of its emptiness. Where was everyone that was normally on hand? Had he missed the bell for the mid-day meal?

Just as he thought that, said bell rang, and with a feeling that something else was very wrong, he got up and strode from the room and through the oddly empty halls of the palace towards the dining room. It wasn't that there was no one around, because of course there was – but it was mostly scurrying servants and the like. He hadn't seen any of his advisers... or any of those useless parasites he'd sired or their mothers, either, come to think of it.

Suspicious now, he entered the dining room to find several of his wives and children there – but conspicuously, there were several missing. His chief wife, his damnable heir – at least, for now, he thought with satisfaction – and several of his other children were missing, as well as Kenichi and that little mouse Mine.

Taking his seat, he motioned for the servants to bring the meal, and then spoke to his second wife, a once haughty female he'd broken quite thoroughly and that was now satisfactorily terrified of him. "Where is everyone else?"

Looking unsettled, she shook her head, bowing fearfully. "I do not know, my Lord," she replied softly, "though I did notice that Soraryuu-sama* called the heir to her rooms first thing this morning with urgency. The others I have not seen."

Now why would she call that spawn of hers to her rooms in such a manner? Her son or not, they rarely speak. His eyes narrowed in concentration. They are plotting – but what? Then his expression cleared – Bah. After this morning's bad news I am simply starting at ghosts. I care nothing for the backstabbing and plotting that goes on amongst these fools here – it is doubtless just another of her petty wars with one of the other wives. Not that it is going to matter, soon – or at least, I hope not. I truly hope Koume and Kotake agree to my... suggestion, for I would so love to rid myself of all these bastards. Still, that does not tell me where Kenichi is.

"Hn." He picked up his chopsticks and began to eat, signaling that the rest could also do so – after missing last night's meal, he was fairly hungry, although right now he was wishing that his meal was raw and bloody – perhaps he needed to take his true form and hunt? That sounded like a good idea, he thought after a moment – what he ate here would be merely an appetizer.

The meal was taken in silence as it always was, and after finishing off his portion, Ryukotsussei sat back, motioning for a servant to attend him.

"Find Kenichi. Have him attend me in two candlemark in the throne room." As the servant bowed and hurried off to do his bidding, Ryukotsussei stood and left the table with no further words, headed for the outside world. He needed to hunt – to gorge on red, dripping, bloody meat – and killing his meal in a rather terrible manner would have the added effect of helping to settle his nerves after the information he'd gotten this morning.

Of course, it went without saying that if he received a positive answer from the twin females, he would soon be doing even more hunting – and that would settle his nerves even better.

Grinning savagely as he reached a courtyard, he began his transformation – with that much bloodshed, he'd be calmer than he'd ever been in his life, Touga's priestess notwithstanding.

He could hardly wait.

~oOo~

Hisashi slammed his hand into the wardrobe that housed the mirror he used to communicate with Ryukotsussei in frustrated rage. Why did I ever throw my hand in with that fool? he snarled angrily.

The dragon had just summarily dismissed him without even letting him finish – how the hell was he supposed to find out anything about Touga's new bitch, let alone kill her when he, along with all the rest of the council members, had been barred from the palace?

Does the fool not listen? I told him we'd all been forbidden to return to the palace – what does he expect me to do?

Not only that, but with Touga now on the lookout for a spy – he chuckled then, a moment of amusement interrupting his frustrated anger as he thought of his most irritating opponent, Tsutomu, being kept in the palace under watch – he would have to be very careful, because even though it seemed as though Touga suspected Tsutomu, the inu male was wily, and he couldn't trust the tentative nature of the whole thing. Maybe Touga actually suspected Tsutomu, or maybe he didn't.

Normally, Touga could scent out anyone lying to him in a heartbeat. It was a trait of Inuyoukai. But there were ways around that, for those few that knew of them – ways to muddy the scents with potions and spells. And he'd made sure he had access to just such necessities before he'd ever contacted the Dragon Lord and offered to turn against the Western Lord in return for being given the rule of the West once Ryukotsussei had the jewel in his hands. Not, of course, that he was actually planning to honor his agreement with the dragon – once Ryukotsussei had Touga engaged in battle he'd planned to take the jewel for himself, and then all would bow to him, instead.

However... so far, his plans were not working out so well, because Touga was keeping the location of the jewel close to his chest, and he had not been able to sneak his way into a position of close enough trust to be granted the knowledge of where the thing was hidden. It was frustrating... and now he was completely stymied in that goal, with Touga suspecting everyone and trusting no one. It wasn't even as if he could just track the jewel's possible whereabouts from the dog's reactions to Ryukotsussei's spies attempts at finding where it was hidden – because he'd shown little to no reaction at all.

And all the while the day of battle drew nearer. If he hadn't managed to find the jewel's location by then the whole plan would go down the tubes, because there was no way he could get his hands on the jewel without Touga being distracted in battle. That was his only chance – with Touga and Ryukotsussei fighting each other to the death, he could then sneak in behind and take it before either could do a thing to stop him.

He turned from the wardrobe with a sigh and made his way out of his room, heading for the mid-day meal he'd made sure his servants knew to prepare. It had been a long time since he'd actually stayed in his house in the city, since he'd always before stayed in his rooms in the palace. Now, being barred from them left him feeling like he'd been blinded and he didn't like the feeling at all.

It occurred to him as he sat down to his meal that perhaps he could take advantage of the fact that Tsutomu seemed to be under suspicion, while placing himself in a position to gain Touga's trust. Then maybe he could finally find what he'd been looking for all this time. And the satisfaction he would gain by setting up Tsutomu would definitely be worth the trouble.

It was certainly worth thinking about – especially as it seemed as if it all came down to him, because the dragon was an oblivious fool and certainly hadn't been all that much use so far.

Hopefully, he could at least be counted on to engage Touga in battle – and keep him engaged, if not even kill him.

That would definitely make things much easier for him, because then all he would have to do is be rid of that little arrogant whelp Sesshoumaru – and the human priestess Touga had dared to wed and bring here amongst them all wouldn't even be a concern, because he was quite positive that Teruko would be taking care of her.

He could certainly afford to aim as high as he wanted...

... with the power of the jewel of four souls at his command.

~oOo~

Stewing in impotent rage, Ryukotsussei slashed and clawed his way through yet more boar youkai.

After he'd gone on the hunt earlier he'd returned to his palace feeling a little bit better and calm enough to start trying to figure out how to counter Touga's new bride. But when he'd gotten back to the palace, he'd been given news that had almost had him razing the entire place - and everyone in it - to the ground.

Apparently, Kenichi had somehow found out about his plans to kill all the vermin here in the palace – and had not only taken himself and Mine and disappeared, but he'd left notes warning the others about his plans!

Because of that, his chief wife and her little brat had removed from the palace and gone to stay with her family – a powerful clan that he needed to keep as allies if he was to have any hope of winning the war. They were both out of his reach for now, and he was over a barrel. The only hope for him was to deny all of it and claim that the letter was merely a way for the West to spread dissidence between he and his allies. Which meant he'd have to hold off on killing all those he wanted to kill – at least until the war was over and he held the Shikon no Tama in his hands.

It hadn't helped his temper when he'd actually thought it out and realized that he'd allowed his desires to be rid of his houseful of useless vultures to override his common sense – if he'd have gone on a rampage and killed his wives and brats, their families would have in turn turned on him. So now he was stuck with playing along until the war was over – and then he could destroy not only his wives and children, but their clans, too. The heads of them, anyway.

The bottom line was that he would have to continue to play nice until the moment he actually took the Shikon no Tama into his hands... then he would finally be able to rule everything as he saw fit.

As for Kenichi... he cracked his knuckles, claws gleaming wetly with blood, he... he would beg for death by the time it was all over. But first he would torture that little wench Mine before her husband's eyes. The male would suffer for betraying him in such a manner.

Of course... first, he would have to find them.

Where could they have gone? It wasn't as if Mine really had any family, her mother having been a poor orphan until he'd taken her as his wife.

It was then that the earlier reports from the border came to mind, and suddenly he was absolutely certain that it had been Kenichi and Mine that had gone across the border and into the West – probably straight to Touga. And that just made his day much, much worse, because Kenichi had been high enough up in his council to do a great deal of damage if he were to take what he knew to Touga. Normally, he would not concern himself with such, because most would be leery of taking anything a turncoat said as truth. But Touga could scent out those who were lying to him, and conversely, could also tell when a person was not lying. He would be able to tell that Kenichi was speaking truthfully quite easily.

Damn that infernal dog and his sense of smell! Ryukotsussei had often wished that he, too, could have just such a skill, but alas, being dragon he did not. And in this case, it definitely gave – yet another – advantage to the inuyoukai. He snarled and clawed at a large chunk of bloody flesh, rending it into small shreds. Not that another one was needed, after today – he was beginning to wish he'd never gotten out of bed this morning, because nothing had gone right since the moment he'd been awoken by that damned summoning spell.

If only the answer was as easy as having his assassins in Touga's citadel kill Kenichi and Mine before the male could really tell the dog anything, then he'd give up the chance to kill them himself – Kenichi defecting was truly a terrible blow to his plans. But he highly doubted the dog would be so foolish as to blatantly bring the two into his palace and install them there – he was quite well aware that he, Ryukotsussei, had assassins inside his palace, though he didn't know who they were. And so Touga had gained yet another advantage, and all because of his desire to be rid of the females, and their brats, that infested his own palace. He should have waited... and now his impatience was going to cost him dearly.

Red rage chased his thoughts away as he slashed and clawed his way through the boar surrounding him, their squeals and grunts and terrified cries egging him on as they attempted to break away and run from him. Allowing himself to slip into his primal form, he chased each one of them down and tore them to pieces – slowly. He only wished he could be doing this to every single being that had the nerve to oppose him, as well as all the beings he hated that dwelt under his roof.

But soon... oh, soon he would face that infernal dog in battle, and he would take the greatest joy in sinking his claws into the bastard and drinking his lifeblood straight from the veins.

It would be the best day of his life.

~oOo~

The gate guard watched the lone horseman approach the town gate with cautious interest. He was obviously a samurai of great standing, his horse healthy and strong and his weapons, tack, and even clothing of good, though not the highest, quality.

"Your purpose here?" he asked politely enough as the man came to a halt before him.

"Is the Lord of this place in attendance?" Takemaru asked, his glance going to the small hill the town surrounded, atop which stood a small fortified estate.

"Aye – for a day more. After, he leaves to go to his own palace. If you wish audience, you should make your way there soon – he will see no one else after mid-afternoon," the guard replied easily enough and then waved him through.

Tossing the man a small token, Takemaru rode on through the gate and headed for the fort, wanting to get this bit of malicious mischief done. It wasn't a major part of his plans to destroy Setsuna, simply because he didn't think that it would be enough to cause him to outright dissolve his alliance with Hiraku, or even start a war. Of course, he could be wrong about that...

What it would definitely do was cause Takeda to plot against Setsuna from behind the scenes – the Lord who had been denied Izayoi's hand would indeed be greatly angered to find out who he'd been turned down in favor of.

Once he was done passing on that little tidbit of information, he would leave and go back to the men he'd gathered so far that were waiting in a meadow about two ri from the town for him to finish this day's work. He hadn't gathered many, yet – after all, it had only been a few weeks, but there were a few, and it was a start.

Making his way steadily towards the hill while watching idly as people scrambled to get out of his path, he let his thoughts wander to the last weeks as he'd made his way steadily north from Setsuna lands. Right now he wanted to get far away from Hiraku, and so he'd headed straight north. He had planned to find a good place to hole up while gathering more warriors to his banner out of sight and reach of anyone bowing to Setsuna's colors.

Unfortunately, as he'd gotten further north he'd begun to hear disturbing rumors of a war – a youkai war. He hadn't been this far north before, and now he was uncertain about his destination – he certainly didn't want to get caught in between a bunch of youkai trying to destroy each other. He'd been warned yesterday by a bunch of humans fleeing the northern reaches of the land that the youkai Lord of the North, a dragon by the name of Ryukotsussei, who was known to be such a vicious killer that even his own children feared and hated him, was building an army and soon to invade the West – Touga's lands.

That information had actually unsettled him. One part of him almost hoped that the dog would be killed in just such a battle – but the other, greater part was angered at the thought. He wanted to take the bastard's life. But there was not much he could do to stop a youkai war, and so he actually found himself wishing that the great General of the Inuyoukai survived the battle – so that he would have the satisfaction of being the one to bleed the dog and take his life.

He was so far gone in his own personal madness that it didn't occur to him to realize that there really was no possible way he could actually challenge Touga and win – let alone survive. If those he'd gathered to his banner already knew the truth of his plans, the full truth of those he was planning to destroy they would have stayed far away from him, for going against a human Lord was one thing – but going against a youkai Lord the caliber of the legendary Inu no Taisho was an entirely different matter, and none of the men with him were suicidal sorts.

With the information on the war to come he had decided to head east, instead, hoping to avoid getting caught in any part of the war, or the backlash to it. He didn't need that kind of complication getting in his way – he had a lot of men to recruit, and the winter months ahead would make that a more difficult prospect already. He didn't need the added chaos that getting caught in the middle of a horde of battling youkai would cause.

His thoughts fell silent as he reached the gate of the fort atop the hill and was once again stopped by guards. He wasn't held back for long before he was waved through and given directions to the place the Lord Takeda was holding court, and within minutes he was tying off his horse's reins to a post and heading indoors to where he could hear the murmur of conversation and see a line of those needing to speak to the Lord of the region for some reason or another.

He took his place in line quietly and waited patiently enough, listening idly to the different things being brought to the Lord's attention. You never knew when you might stumble across something either helpful, like information, or even other people he could persuade to his side. It appeared, however, that there wasn't much of interest being said, and after a little while he let his attention wander as he awaited his turn.

It wasn't long, thankfully, until those ahead of him had spoken their piece to Takeda, and he found himself bowing before the Lord. He was surprised when the man looked him over and actually recognized him – he hadn't, after all, had much contact with him when he'd been in Setsuna.

"Takemaru, was it not?" Takeda asked, his brow furrowed. "Takemaru of Setsuna. What brings a Captain of Setsuna's palace guard so far north?"

Already having thought out his words, he said, "Takemaru, yes, but of Setsuna no longer. I was banished," he said, taking the Lord's cocked brow and reserve in stride unconcernedly.

"Banished, eh? And why would Hiraku have banished you?" he returned, eyes narrowed. "Even I have heard of your reputation as a warrior, so it had to be something serious that would have precipitated such an action on his part."

"I spoke out most virulently against the one he sold his daughter to. He did not take it well," Takemaru replied easily, his own eyes seeming nothing but calm, though he was really anything but – anytime he thought of Touga putting his hands on Izayoi, his rage spiked.

He could tell he'd surprised Takeda with his words – the young man, not much more than his own years under his belt tilted his head and studied him for several long seconds. "And what does that matter have to do with you? It is his choice who he gives her hand to." He didn't himself like the fact that he'd missed out, but it was a father's prerogative to gift his daughter's hand where he pleased, and it certainly wasn't the place of a mere distant cousin to object.

"Normally I would agree, and never would I have spoken out against my Lord in such a manner under other circumstances. But in this case... what he has done is heinous in the extreme. He has turned his back on those he should be protecting to ally himself with the devils wearing our skin." He met Takeda's confused eyes with his own burning ones. "He gave her to the youkai Lord of the West. It was this that I could not countenance, Takeda-sama. It's not as if there were not plenty of his human allies that would have been quite amenable to marrying Izayoi-sama. But instead, he has sold her off to an animal in human skin. That's why I spoke out and was then banished."

There was no denying that Takeda was astonished. Never would he have thought that Hiraku would have taken his ideas of allying with youkai so far – it was one thing to ally yourself with those of youkai blood, but quite another to bind yourself by marriage to one.

And for this he turned me down? Angry, still, he wasn't a fool, and it was clear that Takemaru had ulterior reasons for coming here and bringing him this information.

He frowned. "It occurs to me to wonder why you have come before me bringing such news."

At that, Takemaru bowed lightly. "For the hime's sake, perhaps you can talk Setsuna out of this course of action. She is a dutiful daughter, and has not spoken out against her father in this matter, but the fear in her was easy to see. Can you blame her? What must she be feeling to know that her father has sold her into such an unholy alliance – and her, a priestess!" he exclaimed. "Surely, you can see my point?"

Nori, Lord of the Takeda, looked thoughtfully at the samurai before him. Frown deepening, he shook his head. "I tried. He refused to consider giving her to another. Though I did not know who her betrothed was, he was quite adamant that his word had been given, and he would not back away from it." He eyed Takemaru shrewdly. "What is it that you do now? With your home forbidden to you, where do you go?"

"I have decided to take some time for myself – see what is out there. Eventually I will choose some other house to swear to, I suppose, but for now I simply wander and see what there is to see in the world," he replied.

"I see. Well, Takemaru, formerly of Setsuna, I thank you for the information you have given me. I hope you enjoy your... freedom," he said coolly, watching as Takemaru bowed and strode from the room proudly, his shoulders unbowed despite his banishment.

There is something not quite right with that man, he thought, before his mind turned to what he'd been told. He couldn't help the anger that surged through him when he thought of that beautiful woman being given to a youkai. He'd wanted her from the moment he'd seen her. The memory of her in all her glory, unaware of him and simply enjoying the breeze that outlined her body in her thin silk yukata sent hot blood through his own body, and he gritted his teeth at the thought of her being wasted on what was truly – as Takemaru had said - little more than an animal.

But what am I to do with this information? True, I could try to talk him out of this course of action, but one thing I know of Setsuna – once he has chosen a course of action, he does not often rethink that course. Still, even knowing that, he could feel the tension and anger within roil as he stood once more, audiences done for the day as he left the room to go gather his things – instead of staying the night here, as he'd originally planned, he decided to leave now and travel through the night to his home. The way he was feeling right now, with so much anger and frustration flooding his body, he knew he would never be able to sleep.

With a curt order to the bowing servant that had heard his summons, he sent for some food to be wrapped up for him and continued readying himself as another servant was sent with the command to his soldiers to ready themselves for more travel.

Absently, he slid his sword into his obi and settled his traveling cloak over his shoulders before stalking from the room to head to the courtyard, knowing his horse would already be ready and waiting along with the rest of his contingent of samurai. Quickly mounting his horse, he settled himself into the saddle, then took the proffered food bundle from a waiting servant before wheeling around and heading for the gates to the compound with little more than terse orders to his steward to keep an eye out for more bandit activity than usual due to the people fleeing from the north.

I had heard that Hojo had also asked for Izayoi's hand... I wonder what he would think were he to hear this news? Perhaps I should send a letter and inform him. If enough of us take Hiraku to task for such plans, surely he would be forced to rethink them? After all...

While Setsuna is strong... he isn't strong enough to stand against all his allies, now is he?

But I will have to move swiftly...

Decided on a course of action Nori spurred his horse onward, determined to get home as quickly as possible so that he could get a letter sent to Hojo immediately.

Hiraku won't have any choice but to pull out of such an alliance with all of us against him, and I'm sure Hojo will be able to pull several others into line to stand with us.

And then we will see who will win Izayoi's hand, after we've made sure that this unholy alliance is broken.

A priestess should never be given to a youkai.

Turning things over in his mind as he rode, he couldn't help but think that perhaps Setsuna had finally fallen to a feeble mind. Maybe it was time to push for his son to take over the Lordship.

He was definitely of age and more than capable of doing the job. He made a note to speak of that with Hojo, as well.

And if he played his cards right he was certain he could talk Ichirou into giving his sister to him rather than Hojo himself – after all, wouldn't he be a better choice for her? A young, virile, powerful and wealthy man who would cherish her, rather than an older, middle-aged man who was the scion of a family who had already fallen into disgrace?

Yes... if I play my cards right, I may still have a chance to win the fair maiden for myself.

His blood surged again at the thought, and he wore an enigmatic smile all through the hours of the night as he made his way home.

Come morning, he would instruct his servants to begin a thorough cleaning and refurbishing of his already magnificently appointed palace. He wanted it to be in perfect condition to welcome his soon to be bride.

Too bad he was already far, far too late.

~oOo~

Satori leveled a measuring gaze on the little human female that Touga had taken to wife as they all sat in yet another receiving room listening to more residents of the Western Lands renewing their vows to fight in the coming war. Though no one else seemed to have noticed so far, it was apparent to her that the young woman was very upset.

Moving closer to her and settling down near her side, she ignored the speeches going on in the room as more people came to the call of war and, voice low, said, "Being forced to take a life, even one so bitter, has upset you, has it not?" It was clear that it really wasn't a question, though it was stated as such, and Izayoi turned surprised and hesitant eyes on the inu female sitting so calmly next to her.

After a moment, Izayoi shrugged slightly. "It always does. I dislike killing. But I can and will do what is necessary, Satori-sama," she replied, addressing her as 'sama' as a sign of respect between near equals.

"That is obvious," she smiled approvingly. "I am surprised that Touga has not realized your upset, however," she said delicately, not wanting to cause anymore agitation. She hadn't been lying on the steps into the palace – this young woman was her most favorite person in the world right at this point in time.

But she was curious as to why Touga hadn't seemed to notice his wife's upset feelings – normally he was much more aware of what was going on around him, and he should have already known ahead of time that something like that would have upset his human wife, even if he didn't share with her the closer bonding that youkai spouses did.

"I'm blocking the bond so that he doesn't feel it," Izayoi replied after a moment spent thinking about the circumstances she'd found herself in. "He has much on his mind and too many responsibilities as it is, and this is something that is my burden to bear. I am a human in a city of youkai, and we see death and the dealing of it differently. I am very sure that this is something that will happen again, many more times, more than likely. Knowing this beforehand I still chose to accept Touga as my husband, and so I must simply deal with it."

Taken aback on several fronts, Satori eyed the woman with deepening fascination. She shares the bond of spouses with him? How is that possible? And... "You accept that youkai see death in a different way than humans – and you do not think us 'evil' because of it?" She was definitely surprised on that front, she couldn't deny – Izayoi was the only human that she'd ever heard express such a sentiment.

"No."

Nothing else was said, and yet Satori knew the girl meant exactly what she'd said. She is different... Her gaze shifted; catching Kenji's eyes over his mistress' shoulder, she nodded inwardly after a moment - he was not surprised at all at the sentiment expressed by his Lady, and that was quite telling.

"Tell me... do you know why she seemed so... out-of-control? It just seemed as though she were almost looking for someone to start a fight with, and I just happened to be the unlucky one to cross her path first," Izayoi said softly, meeting Satori's gaze with confusion in her own. "It was all so... sudden, with absolutely no warning behind it."

At that question Satori sighed and looked away, a nod of understanding setting her silver locks dancing. "You are right – she was looking to start a fight anywhere she could. Earlier she had fought with Masao, but he forced her to submit. She was a bitter female with much anger and rage trapped inside, and it was eating at her sanity. In a way, I think, she was almost hoping to run into someone stronger than her that would actually kill her once she attacked, and that is exactly what happened. So... in the end, you actually freed her from a miserable life that she had grown to hate. Though it was one she brought on herself, and I have no pity for her, even now."

"I... see."

Continuing to ignore the droning sound of yet more youkai coming forward to swear support for the war, Satori looked back over at Izayoi. "While I know that her death has upset you, I cannot help but to thank you for it. Know this – when her family comes screaming for blood, as they will, I will stand behind you." She smirked, then, seeming to notice something else that Izayoi hadn't. "I will also stand behind you when Teruko attempts whatever it is she is planning."

Wishing in that moment that she could growl like an inu, Izayoi stiffened slightly and turned her head towards the aura that was raging with malicious hatred and returned Teruko's glare with an even deadlier one of her own.

"I gather you've had to deal with her yourself?" she asked Satori, it having just occurred to her that Teruko had probably had a fit about another female being chosen to bear Touga's heir, as well. She was absolutely certain that they were deadly enemies when she caught Satori's expression.

"She is a petty, spiteful, low bitch with no redeeming qualities. I must confess, when Touga chose to carry on a liaison with her, I was most surprised; he could barely tolerate her himself, but he apparently decided that if she was going to throw herself at him, then he would take advantage of the offer. After all, only a fool turns down a woman who offers herself," Satori said, flicking her fan closed idly as she stared at the other female challengingly until Teruko looked away.

Izayoi immediately stiffened. Touga had bedded that bitch, too? Just how many females has he been with? she wondered to herself spitefully, jealousy once more rearing its ugly head and making her gaze harden on the other female, who was now looking elsewhere.

It wasn't until Izayoi stopped breathing for a moment in her ire that Satori realized that the girl hadn't known that little tidbit. "I did not realize you did not know that, Izayoi-sama," she said, actually looking contrite for once as Kenji winced in the background, thinking that Touga was in for it. Though I'm sure she would have soon found out in this festering cesspool of gossip and spite, Satori thought. Someone would have told her, just to cause trouble.

"When was this?" Izayoi asked sharply, though Satori knew her ire wasn't directed at her, and answered easily.

"Oh, it was many years ago. You would have been no more than a tiny child at the time, I'm sure," she patted Izayoi's arm comfortingly. "And it didn't last long, even then."

Izayoi looked over her shoulder at Kenji, pinning him to the floor with angry eyes. "You knew about this and didn't think to warn me, Kenji?"

He bowed in submission. "Forgive me, Izayoi-sama – I simply did not think of it. It was, after all, as Satori-sama has said, many years ago, and did not last long."

"No wonder the female is angry he married someone else. She probably thought she had him all nice and tied up," she snapped, temper getting the better of her though she was careful to keep her voice very low.

"Ah, no, Izayoi-sama," Kenji piped up, "Touga-sama let her know in no uncertain terms that she wasn't to imagine anything more than what there was – he told her then that he would never be foolish enough to wed her. She knew from day one, but she chose not to listen."

"Do not fret over such a little thing," Satori purred soothingly. "You must realize that Touga is much older than you and there have been many females that he has dallied with over the centuries. What you must focus on is that he did not marry any of them. He chose you to fill that role, and all the other females are jealous of you over just that fact."

The young woman sighed almost inaudibly, frustrated. This jealousy thing was getting out of hand and she would need to keep a firm grip on it. Even her days dealing with Kikyou and Inuyasha hadn't prepared her for the burning jealousy she would feel over her husband's former lovers. Is this what the jewel was after when it cursed me? It must be, since it wanted me to suffer. But if I don't manage to get rid of this darkness in my heart, it could potentially taint any wish I tried to make on the jewel... the realization came to her slowly, but was no less valid – this was why the jewel had done what it had in sending her back in time to meet and love Touga.

She had wondered, after regaining her memories of that last confrontation in the void, why the jewel would do what it had. Sure, it wanted to strike out and hurt her – but normally it wouldn't waste such power as had been required to rewrite history just for such a petty thing. No... there was something else going on. Something else it wanted from the circumstances it had cast her into. And now she knew what that something was...

It was hoping that the situation that it put her in would cause her heart to become so darkened with jealousy and pain that she would then be unable to wish on it and successfully get rid of it, even if she found the right wish.

That damn jewel! She clenched her fists angrily and determinedly began subduing the jealousy that still kept trying to flare up inside her, beating those feelings down until they were no longer claws shredding her heart but little pinpricks that she could dismiss, instead. I won't let that stupid jewel beat me! she thought belligerently. I won't!

Her frustration overwhelmed her control for a moment and all her emotions, the jealousy, anger, frustration and pain she was feeling from the earlier fight flooded the bond with Touga, causing him to stiffen in alarm as all these negative feelings hit him all at once, when just moments ago she'd seemed fine. It was then he realized that she'd been deliberately blocking the bond, and though he couldn't do anything about it immediately, as he was still taking the oaths of those who'd come, as soon as he had a moment he'd make sure she told him what was wrong. He didn't like the fact that she was hiding from him, and wondered why she felt the need to do so.

He glanced discreetly at the line of those waiting their turn to swear their continuing fealty, and sighed with relief when it appeared that he would be able to get away soon – it was almost over, for now, anyway. In the meantime, he did the only thing he could do – he sent a wave of comfort and reassurance through the once more open bond.

Izayoi sighed inwardly when she realized that she'd slipped and that Touga now knew something was wrong with her. Feeling almost claustrophobic for a moment, she tapped her fingers on her fan softly and closed her eyes in an attempt to center herself and regain her control.

It didn't seem to help much, and overheated and wishing she could get some air, she flicked her fan open and began waving it before her face, hoping it would help. After a few moments she began to feel a little cooler and calmer and she looked over at Satori, who seemed concerned.

"You're right, of course. It is silly of me to react in such a manner. After all, what man hasn't had their dalliances?" she said lightly, though Satori could tell that she didn't really mean it. "Touga chose to marry me for what I could do for him, for my abilities, and I should be grateful that he has chosen to honor our marriage with fidelity as he would have any youkai female."

Satori chuckled at that, her tone loaded with irony as she looked at her new friend over the edge of her own fan. "Come, Izayoi-sama, you know better than that. Touga makes no effort to hide the fact that he is in love with his wife. I've known him for many years, and you have brought out a side of him I never even knew existed. Your jealousy, while understandable, is truly unneeded, for I have no doubt that the only female that he remembers in any truly intimate way is you. And there is no need to feel badly for your feelings; you are actually acting a great deal like a youkai in your reactions to your husband and marriage – we are, after all, a jealous and possessive race, and you act like any youkai would in regards to thoughts of their spouse with another."

"Perhaps," she finally allowed, "but with what the kami wish of me, I cannot afford to have those thoughts. I must not allow anything to darken my heart." At Satori's questioning frown, she shook her head. "I should not say anything more – you must ask Touga. But when all is said and done, I must find a way to defeat this jealousy that has taken hold of my soul and begun to darken it, or much may be lost."

Curious, but choosing to respect the female's reticence she simply nodded and hid a yawn behind her fan as yet another self-important male gave yet another flowery speech. As soon as this was over, she would go find her son... it was time they had a nice, long talk.

Actually, it was past time.

Feeling almost faint as she flushed with heat again, Izayoi once more began waving her fan, trying to cool herself down. It was overly warm in this room with so many bodies packed in it and not much in the way of air flow, and the swirling of so much concentrated youki around her was still making her reiki try to flare, which meant that she was having to make more of an effort to quell it. None of that was helping her situation any.

She was never so glad as when Touga finally dismissed those in the room and stood and turned to face her, a frown of concern taking over his face as he took in her overly flushed features and glazed eyes. He reached down to help her up, nodding distractedly as Satori made her excuses after a sharp look at Izayoi.

"What's wrong, my love?" he asked as he touched a gentle hand to her forehead, wondering if she had a fever.

"It's nothing, Touga, I just need some air. It is rather hot and close in here, and was greatly crowded. I will be fine once I've had a few minutes," she replied.

He nodded and took ahold of her arm, guiding her from the room with a peremptory wave to Kenji to follow as Kirara, who'd noticed her discomfort and had removed herself from her lap so as not to add to it, also followed along behind with her tails curled daintily behind her. Within a few short moments they passed through an open shoji onto a terrace, and Touga ordered everyone who was already outside to leave the area in a terse voice that brooked no argument.

Once the terrace was clear he guided Izayoi over to a small bench and gently settled her on it, watching with concerned eyes as she closed her own and inhaled deeply, his intent gaze not missing the tension that seemed to drain from her body as she did so.

"You are upset."

Her lashes fluttered as she opened darkened eyes to look up at him; after a moment, they fluttered again as her eyes fell closed once more. She sighed.

"Yes."

Nothing more was said for several seconds, and Touga frowned. "Why were you hiding from me?"

Her eyes snapped open at that; she knew exactly what he was asking.

"Because you have enough to handle right now, and this is my problem to deal with. I will be fine, Touga," she replied with a wan smile.

His frown deepened into a scowl. "Your problems are my problems, Izayoi. I don't like you hiding from me. Now tell me what has upset you so much. You were quite happy earlier after bonding with Kirara." He searched her eyes, his own gaze intense and focused on gaining answers, and after a few moments, it occurred to him what the problem was – or at least, what part of the problem was. "Killing Masao's wife bothered you, didn't it?"

It came out as a question, but it really wasn't, and Izayoi knew it. "Yes. But it's something that I know I will have to do again. It's just something I have to deal with, and it isn't something you can help me with. That's why I didn't say anything and damped the bond down – because there was no point in upsetting you over circumstances that you could do nothing about. I'll be okay."

He sighed and took the seat next to her before pulling her into his side and wrapping his arm around her. She was right... and that bothered him. He hated the thought that she would be forced to do something that she hated so much, just because she was his bride.

"I'm sorry," he said finally, his voice soft. "I had not really thought on this aspect of things, I will admit, when the idea of asking for your hand first occurred to me, nor did it later, after your father had agreed to give you to me. It should have."

"In the end it doesn't matter, Touga," she immediately returned, lifting her gaze to meet his, "because even knowing that I would have to do things such as this did not deter me from wanting to marry you. This is the price of being with you, and I would pay it a thousand times over to be by your side. While I may not like it, I accept it. It will just take time for me to deal with it, that's all."

His eyes softened on her at her confession and he couldn't resist; leaning down he kissed her, a gentle and languid kiss that heightened the awareness between the two and left silent promises thickening the air between them to return into each other's arms when time allowed.

After a few minutes of comfortable silence as Izayoi rested her head against her husband's shoulder, Touga spoke again.

"Something else upset you, as well. Afterward, I mean. While we were in the audience room," he said softly. "Tell me."

Immediately he could sense her discomfort and pulled away to look at her sternly. "Tell me, wife. No more hiding."

She sighed and looked away, a blush darkening her cheeks, and shrugged. "Satori was telling me that when Masao's wife's family-" she frowned at that awkward way of naming a person, gods, I killed her and don't even know her name, "-comes demanding blood for her death, that she would stand behind me, and then she caught Teruko glaring at me and said that she would also stand behind me against her, as well. Then she let something slip, I guess she already thought I knew, that you had bedded her at one time. I... I got jealous again."

She missed Touga's wince in her refusal to look at him, thoughts of him with that female, touching her and doing to her the things he'd done to her, his wife, upsetting her all over again. It seemed that jealousy was her thorn, her own personal demon – and one she would have to learn to exorcise, or the world would suffer for it. Once again she forced those visions and feelings back down and tried to focus on the here and now, though she was only partially successful.

For Touga, hearing that she now knew of his short – and not very pleasant – liaison with Teruko was upsetting. He'd hoped that she wouldn't, though he'd really known that it wasn't likely to remain a secret for long, and the whole thing was leaving him terribly conflicted. On one hand, he couldn't deny her obvious jealousy and possessiveness pleased that more primal part of him, his instinctual side purring at that sign of her affection. His higher reasoning, however, was upset by it, because he knew it hurt her to think of him with others. It was also becoming a bit irritating that she couldn't seem to let his past go. And yet again he knew he'd feel the same way if she had had previous lovers, and his eyes flashed redly at even the idea of such.

But it was a fact that youkai females were just as likely to take lovers as the males once they reached maturity, meaning that when a female finally did marry, she was no virgin. That had never bothered him before... but even the thought of another male knowing his wife in a carnal manner threatened to unseat his sanity, and he actually had to clamp his iron control over himself in that moment in order not to give vent to the growl of fury he'd almost loosed at just the mere thought.

It was almost laughable, because it meant that he had no right whatsoever to get annoyed with her jealousy, when she at least had a true reason to be jealous, in that he'd had many lovers before her, whereas he had no right at all, since she was completely untouched by any but him.

Jealousy makes no distinction between what is real and what is not; even things that are imagined can cause it. It is ridiculous... and yet...

He exhaled deeply, knowing from the look on her face and the consternation humming along the bond that this was a serious issue for his wife. She was really struggling with the hurt of it, and he deeply regretted that. But there was nothing he could do about it, and he felt helpless in that moment - and angry for it.

Angry at himself, because he was supposed to protect his female from harm, not be the cause of it.

"I'm sorry," he said, his voice barely more than a whisper of sound on the tag end of his exhale, and Izayoi looked up at him at the surprising sound, only to meet his troubled gaze. "I know... that my apologies mean little, but they are all I have to give in this instance. I cannot change the past. But if it will make you feel any better, I deeply regretted my liaison with Teruko... almost from the moment it started, and it did not last even a fortnight." He growled a little. "It was most definitely not worth it in any way."

Her eyes widened as she took in his meaning, and she blushed again, a little surprised. "She is beautiful," she began, but then stopped when he snorted.

"Forgive me if I disagree, my dear. She is so twisted and greedy inside that whatever physical beauty she might have been born with has been wiped away and it left a witch in her place. I cannot even fathom what I was thinking when I decided to accept what she kept throwing at me, except that I was bored. I was even more bored after," he finished dryly. "Bored and wishing I could kick my own ass, truthfully."

Izayoi blinked, not sure what to make of that, staring at him doubtfully. I think he's trying to make me feel better-

"And no, I'm not just trying to make you feel better. She's a terrible lover, let's just leave it at that," Touga said shortly. You must put this out of your mind and not let it affect you. I do not wish for that bitch to affect my marriage nor thoughts of her to cause you pain. Put her out of your mind and think on other things." He cast her a dry look from molten gold eyes. "It's not as if there aren't plenty of other things to think of at this time, after all."

Agreeing silently she nodded and looked away, out over the terrace to the section of city that was visible from this vantage point and after a moment, she stood and moved gracefully over to the ledge, looking out over her new home and letting the view quiet her clamoring thoughts.

One thought was left behind, however, after all the others fell silent, and that was that she was going to have to find a way to beat her jealousy.

She would have to do it quickly, too, for there was no telling how long they had left before she would have to face the jewel again. If she hadn't beaten this problem by the time she was to face the Shikon no Tama once more, then she would lose.

And so would the rest of the world.

~oOo~

Edited 12/21/13