Chapter 32: Toy Soldiers
Takako shivered, rubbing her arms at the feel of the air down in the dank dungeons that had housed her for weeks now.
It had been several days since Touga's warning about her father's plans, and she knew an attack could come at any time. She wasn't surprised at her sire's plan to kill his offspring and wives – he was a vicious bastard that had no redeeming qualities, and this was something he'd greatly enjoy.
But she had to admit – while she could believe he'd kill her and her mother, and a few of his other children, those whose mothers had no powerful connections, she couldn't understand how he thought he could get away with killing her oldest brother and his mother.
Soraryuu was the hime of her clan, a powerful family that Ryukotsussei could not afford to alienate. What had he been thinking? Had he perhaps had too much to drink and let his desires get the better of him? He must have... but she was positive that the heir would not be meeting his father's claws – at least, not anytime soon.
No... the insane male that had fathered them all would have to have the Shikon no Tama in his hands before he could actually get those hands on his first wife and her son and eliminate them.
She held no such illusions for herself, however. Her mother was just a lesser member of a small clan, and they wouldn't be able to rebel against Ryukotsussei, even if they actually cared about one of their lesser family members and her little bratling's deaths at her father's hands. No, they certainly wouldn't care – as long as he wasn't attacking them.
And being as she was now nothing more than a political prisoner, he would have even less compunction about killing her off. After all, she'd failed to gain the location of the Shikon no Tama, she'd failed at seducing Touga, and she'd failed at killing him. She knew the price of failure in her father's eyes. She could only be glad that she was here, in a dungeon under Touga's palace, because that meant that her father wouldn't be able to actually do the killing himself. He would have made sure she suffered greatly before finally dying. An assassin would simply get it over with, not bothering to waste time with torturing his victim. If she had to die, she'd prefer it to be quick and as painless as possible.
She leaned back against the wall next to her little futon and dropped her head back, staring up at the ceiling with frustrated boredom. She was beginning to go slowly crazy down here in this dank, cold, quiet dungeon, and wryly admitted to herself that if the assassin didn't show soon, her father wouldn't have to worry, because she'd have already died – of boredom.
I wonder what Touga and his new bride are doing. Do they prepare for war? I'm certain that he plans to attack my father first, and since that bastard still doesn't know where the Shikon no Tama is, he's left frozen in place, unable to make the first move. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall when he learned of Izayoi. I'm sure he was already angry enough over his impotent failure to find the location of the jewel as it was, without adding more bad news to it. She laughed sarcastically. "Go ahead, father, and dream of dominating all the lands. That is all it will ever be – a dream." She smiled with satisfaction at the knowledge of her terrible father's ultimate failure.
"I only wish I could be there to see his ultimate defeat. How satisfying that would be."
She closed her eyes and extended her senses to their maximum, hungry for any contact with other living beings. She was almost welcoming of the person that would try to kill her – at least she would be able to interact with another living thing, even if it was in a combative manner. She needed the stimulation.
Hopefully, Touga will defeat father soon, and my captivity will come to an end.
She sighed, and her head fell forward as a tear slipped down her cheek.
~oOo~
Entering the dining hall with Izayoi on his heels, Touga took his seat at the table and waited for the servants to serve the meal, his mind already mapping out the day. Breakfast, and then a quick meeting with his advisers and Generals, before he and his wife headed for the Eastern Lord's cave. He hoped to finish there and be back home this evening, or at least, no later than tomorrow, and was fairly certain he would be – the negotiations with the Ookami Lord shouldn't take very long, since they weren't really negotiations so much as an offer.
It took a few minutes for what his nose was telling him to kick in, but slowly, a certain set of scents hovering over Satori and Masao caught his attention, and his eyes widened. He looked at the two who seemed so very happy and more contented than he'd ever seen them, and a wide smile broke out on his face as he took in just what those scents meant.
"I will call an assembly directly after breakfast to announce your union," he said, his pleasure clear to all as Masao bowed respectfully at his Lord from his seat and Satori smiled devilishly, ignoring the tight expression on her son's face.
"Union?" Izayoi asked, a little confused at the topic and wondering if she'd missed something.
"Masao and Satori have become a couple, my dear," Touga replied. "I will pronounce them officially wed after breakfast at a formal assembly." He turned and motioned for Shiisaa to attend him. "You are to call a formal assembly directly after breakfast. I will announce their union before my wife and I leave to speak to the Eastern Lord." When Shiisaa nodded and went back to his seat, Touga motioned for everyone to begin their meal, grinning expansively and clearly pleased that the two were now an official couple. "It is about time, if I do say so myself, and I offer both of you my most sincere congratulations. Masao, in honor of your mating, you may take the next three days to spend with your new wife, and do not need to attend any meetings. I will fill you in later on anything that is decided."
Izayoi was, truthfully, a little conflicted at the news; while she was happy for the two that simply radiated their own happiness, she couldn't help but think sadly of the female that had died in order to provide this chance for the two. Still, not wanting to dampen their joy, she pushed those feelings aside and smiled at them, echoing her husband's congratulations and adding her own wishes for many happy centuries for them.
Those around the table also congratulated the couple, the only one not saying anything at first being Sesshoumaru, and Izayoi could feel the turmoil he was feeling in light of his mother's news, but finally, he looked at his mother with a set expression, clearly not wanting to ruin her good mood and said, "I offer my congratulations as well, mother." He slid his gaze over to the proud inu General. "Treat her well, Masao," before going back to his own obviously dark ruminations, quickly tuning out the rest of the mealtime babble going on around them.
Unable to help the pulse of sympathy that went through her at Sesshoumaru's inner turmoil, she sighed quietly and sent a quick prayer to kami that they help him work his way through his troubles so that he could put them behind him.
Her own mind turned, then, to last night, and the extremely intense coupling between her and her husband. It had been so much more consuming than any of their other times together. According to Touga, they would only grow more powerful as time passed and they grew together. She could hardly imagine such a thing! Their couplings were already so strong, so incredible, that the idea of more was mind-blowing, and left her almost afraid to even imagine what he was speaking of. She just couldn't see how it was possible for it to be any stronger than what last night had been.
But it had certainly had a beneficial effect on Touga. He was simply radiating energy and happy contentment this morning, and she'd already surprised many knowing and approving smiles cast their direction – as well as some hateful, sour ones. While it was embarrassing to her that so many seemed to know just why her husband was so chock full of energy and power, she couldn't help but feel a certain satisfaction that she had such a direct impact on him – and that others, such as that importunate female Teruko, would know that he was hers completely and eternally.
"What is on your mind, little mate?" Touga's voice interrupted her rather vengeful thoughts of a certain female, and Izayoi blinked before looking over at her mate as he trained his eyes on her.
"A certain female that refuses to quite glaring at me. I'm about ready to simply challenge her and get it over with," she grumbled quietly – though not quietly enough.
"Oh, I would not worry about that wench too much," Satori said, glancing across the room to where the other female was indeed glaring at Izayoi – though she dropped her eyes when she caught Satori's acid stare.
Izayoi looked taken aback. "Why not?"
"Because I'm going to kill her," Satori returned calmly between bites of her breakfast.
Stunned, Izayoi stared at her, turning her blunt announcement over in her mind in shock. "B-but why? I mean, what has she done to you?" she asked blankly, unable to understand the female's seeming need to kill the other female. Sure, she was aggravating, and she herself wanted to knock her around a bit and teach her to avoid her, but to kill her?
"Because she is annoying me and bothering you," Satori said with grand indifference, obviously tired of the topic. "She is not worth concerning yourself with."
Suddenly losing her appetite, Izayoi smiled weakly at Satori's inquiring glance as she put her chopsticks down on her half empty plate and pushed it away, not wanting to even look at food right at the moment.
She liked Satori, she really did, but for her to so casually announce her intention to kill someone else – and just because she was annoying her? She shuddered, completely unable to understand that mindset. She looked over at her husband as he spoke, missing the warning look he shot Satori.
"Come, my love, do not think on Teruko any further. I know you do not understand the ways of youkai, but I support Satori's wish to kill Teruko. She is plotting to kill you, there is no doubt, and I would rather have her dead before I would see you harmed." He set his own chopsticks down and ran a caressing hand down her arm, his expression warm and sympathetic, yet unapologetic. "Remember Michitose, and what almost happened with her schemes," he urged. "T'would have been better if she had died before she was able to attempt your death, for if it had not been for her maidservant, we would not have known of her plot, and you would have suffered greatly until I could have fetched Tenseiga to heal you of the poison."
Izayoi shivered as she let herself remember the hateful looks Michitose had sent her way – and thought of the deep hatred the woman had towards her to wish her death in such a painful manner. In truth, Michitose hadn't just wanted her dead – she had wanted her dead, after suffering horribly. And she knew, from the feel of Teruko's aura, that she hated her even more virulently than Michitose had. It was not hard to realize that the female would want to see her dead – and probably after suffering terribly, just as Michitose had.
Still...
"I don't want someone to die because of me," she said softly, a pained look in her eyes as she met her husband's gaze. It was clear she was remembering a certain female that she'd already had to destroy.
"And what of the war, my love?" Touga returned, trying to get her to understand. "You will kill many there, just as you have already killed. How is that any different?"
"Because that's war!" she exclaimed, staring up at him earnestly, simply not seeing the connection between that... and this.
"And so is this, Izayoi. She is merely waiting for her best chance, the best opening to strike, to try to kill you. It is no different than an enemy soldier who will do the same," he replied, not willing to give on the matter, though he knew it bothered her. Teruko was a threat to his mate, and so she would be eliminated. He would be more than happy to see Satori kill her.
Seeing that he was adamant on the subject, Izayoi unhappily deferred to him on the matter, knowing that she wasn't going to change his mind about it. And so Teruko was another female that would end up dead because of her. Two more stains on her soul to wear her down. She sighed and looked down at the table, folding her hands in her lap. She didn't move until she heard Sesshoumaru's voice.
"You cannot save them all, woman," he said, but Izayoi's head shot up in surprise – there was no animosity in his words, he was merely stating a fact. "Teruko has chosen this path. She is aware of the possible consequences. What comes is only on her head - you are not to blame for her choices." She blinked, then her eyes went far away as she considered his words. He was right. She couldn't save everyone. And she certainly couldn't save the ones that deliberately chose a path leading to death. Truthfully, this was no different than the circumstances with Michitose, her husband had also been correct on that matter. Touga was no different than her father, putting the woman to death for her foolish and hateful choices.
"Aa. You are right – both of you," she said quietly, not looking up to see everyone looking with surprise at Sesshoumaru, too lost in unpleasant thoughts of her own.
But the heir to the West had nothing more to say and so he ignored everyone's expressions, including his father's, and tuned them all out, falling back into his own dark thoughts.
Satori caught Touga's eye and smiled slightly, then flicked a quick glance at their son which Touga understood. He nodded, smiling as well. It seemed as though the boy's hatred had been blunted somewhat, at the least. It was a small step, but a good one. He could only hope that his son continued making steps forward, and did not allow himself to fall back into the trap that hatred was, at its innermost core.
Refusing to let negative emotions ruin his good mood, Touga finished up his meal and looked around, noting that most were about done with their own food and quite a few were leaving the dining room in groups, probably already heading for the audience room, as Shisaa had announced the formal audience to all in the dining room so that all would know to attend.
"Are you finished with your breakfast, Izayoi?" he asked after a moment, though he knew the answer already, so was not surprised by her nod. With an incline of his head, he stood and offered a hand to assist her to her feet, which she took with a small smile.
Once his wife was on her feet, he turned and headed out of the room, moving with a steady stride towards their destination – he had much to do this day, and needed to get to the doing.
Izayoi sneaked a quick peek at Sesshoumaru as they walked, wondering at his less angry aura and his seemingly deep preoccupation. He did not seem too pleased with his mother's new husband, though she was certain it was less to do with who he was, rather than that he was, at all. She was positive that Sesshoumaru would have been displeased were she to wed anyone at all that wasn't his father.
She could understand his angst, to a point. To know that your parents had no love for each other, and had merely gotten together to create you for a specific purpose? To be an heir to your father's holdings? It must seem incredibly petty to him, and she knew, being honest with herself, that she would be upset were she in his shoes, too.
Unfortunately, reality wasn't going to change because you didn't like it, and in the end, he would have no choice but to suck it up and accept the unpleasant facts. His father was a Lord, and must needs have an heir. If it hadn't been him, it would have been someone else.
She sighed inwardly as they stepped through the massive doors into the audience hall and went directly to the dais to take their seats. Just as she sank down gracefully onto her cushion, she noticed out of the corner of her eye a female, one she had noticed a few times before, but hadn't paid much attention to, also moving to the dais to take a seat near Sesshoumaru. Touga turned as she did so with an odd expression on his face, and she listened shamelessly to the conversation.
"Kajiko?" he said in a questioning voice as he looked at her, flicking his eyes towards his son, then back to the firebird female dressed in her full regalia as the heiress to the Southern House.
It wasn't she that answered.
"I figured out her true antecedents quite some time ago, father," Sesshoumaru said, sounding bored. "When I realized who she was, I told her to take her true place and rank."
Touga turned his full attention on his heir, though he noted the faint smile on Kajiko's face. "I am surprised, Sesshoumaru, that you did not throw that in my face when I first arrived," he said coolly, his eyes narrowed as he tried to get into his stubborn pup's head.
"I was... preoccupied with other matters at the time," he replied, glancing her way for a moment, "and this particular one was of little import, as it was not hard to understand why she was hiding herself the way she was. Truly, were I in your shoes, I would have most likely done the same thing."
"Hn," Touga intoned solemnly, watching his son's face closely for a moment, before turning to face the huge yet still crowded chamber once more. "I had not expected such... forbearance from you, my son. You have definitely surprised me."
Kajiko? Izayoi was a little confused at the conversation, truthfully, and she turned her head and looked at the female in question, and then looked back down at her lap. She was quite beautiful. But her clamoring thoughts must have been much louder than she'd thought, because Satori, sitting right behind her, leaned forward and said, "Kajiko. She's the heiress to the Lord of the South. She was disguised and acting as her father's and Touga's eyes to watch Sesshoumaru and see how he dealt with things in his father's absence. Apparently, he figured out who she was faster than Touga thought he would," before sitting back as Touga stood and began to speak.
"We are here today to announce and archive a new union. Satori, mother to my heir, and Masao, general of one division of my forces have joined as one." He motioned for Shisaa to come forward and present the beautifully written document he'd just finished for inspection. Once he'd scanned it and nodded in acceptance of its wording, he gave orders for it to be taken to his study for signing so that it could then be placed into the documents chamber – the chamber that held every document or order that had ever been written since the beginning of the Western Lands. When his assistant moved away, he nodded at Masao, and the male stood and helped his wife to her feet, and they both moved to stand before Touga, hands held tightly together.
"You have chosen to bind your lives together, as witnessed by this assembly of your peers, Masao, Satori. Let neither of you falter in your bonding," he said, knowing there was no chance of that with as long as these two had waited to be together.
Both bowed to him with solemn faces and then turned and faced the assembled court, waiting for Touga to finish.
"Bear witness all here today that these two are wed, bonded, and acknowledged as so by their alpha. Does anyone here wish to contest their joining?" He looked right at Teruko as he said it, a warning glint in his eye, and the female, a nasty glower on her face, sullenly ducked her head, but remained silent. With no voices raised against the union, which was as he'd expected, since Masao's former wife's family wasn't at court, he grinned expansively and declared, "So be it. This union will be archived and acknowledged by all!" in a great voice. Those who were allies or friends of Masao and Satori cheered loudly as the couple bowed once again, this time to their peers with happy expressions of their own as the room rang loudly with cheers and some rather more boisterous shouts than Izayoi had expected. Then again, these were youkai – a more primal race than humans, and oftimes more emotional in some ways than humans, as she knew firsthand. She couldn't help but smile as Touga dismissed the assembly and motioned for them all to follow him as he retired to his study to sign the declaration so his assistant could file it away.
By the time the group arrived at his study, several of his Generals were already there, and Touga motioned curtly for them to take seats off to the side while he took care of the current business. It didn't take but a moment for Touga to sign the document with his beautiful, bold signature, and within moments, the record of Masao and Satori's joining was on its way to join the other documents in the Western citadel's records cavern, housed in the bedrock of the mountain below the palace itself. Just like that, their marriage was part of the Western lands history, and Touga looked back up at the two, smiling once again at them.
"I'm more pleased than I can say to see this day," he said, meeting both of the two's gazes for several moments, and anyone could see that he was merely speaking the truth.
Satori hummed thoughtfully, glancing over at a so-far silent Izayoi. "And it is all due to your wife," she said, knowing eyes catching the slight flinch the young woman gave off at that reminder. Satori knew that she was not against their happiness, it was just that she hated that said happiness had to be gained by blood.
Izayoi sighed inwardly, the melancholy thought crossing her mind that the male's now deceased wife was probably only being remembered by her in this moment – no one else would even give her a passing thought, and she knew it. Still...
She managed a smile for the couple, a small one, but an honest one. "Congratulations, both of you," she said, her voice unwavering. "I'm pleased that you both are finally able to be happy." I just hate that it had to come at such a high price.
Touga flashed her a knowing glance that she didn't see, having looked back down into her lap after congratulating the couple and acknowledging their bows. After looking at her thoughtfully for a few moments, he looked back at the happy couple and dismissed them, reiterating his offer of giving Masao three duty-free days in deference to his joining. The two bowed once more after a sly smirk at that from Satori, and then they were gone, the door sliding shut pulling Izayoi from rather unpleasant thoughts.
"Come, my love, think on the matter no longer." Touga met her sad gaze with warm understanding. "In the end, you gave the female a way out of a situation that had grown untenable. It was the only way she could gain her freedom from the chains she'd bound herself with, and that's why she attacked you with so little word or warning. She was looking for the fastest way out, and you gave her that. I don't think she would hate you for it. She was probably thanking you as she faded away, truthfully, as terrible as that might sound."
Nodding, Izayoi said nothing, knowing in her heart of hearts that he was probably mostly correct, though she still hated that it had been her hand to take the other female's life away. Dropping back into her thoughts, she paid little attention as Touga consulted quickly with his Generals and Sesshoumaru. It wasn't until he offered his hand to help her up that she realized that his meeting was over.
"I must needs return to our rooms to put my armor on, my dear – you can help me," he said as she took his hand and gave him a small smile and a nod. "Then we will leave for the Eastern Lord's cave."
Izayoi frowned. "Cave?" For some reason, she'd thought that most higher youkai, especially a Lord, lived like Touga and most human Lords did – in grand palaces. The idea of visiting a cave was... not pleasing. My robes are likely to get dirty, and then Nami will take me to task. She sighed inwardly. I will most definitely be wanting a bath once we return. I sincerely hope we do not need to stay there overnight.
Touga glanced over his shoulder at her in amusement, catching her slightly displeased tone. "Yes, cave. The ookami live closer to their bestial side than most other youkai, and usually have little congress with humans in any way – except as a food source." His voice turned sour, then. "Most other higher youkai look down on them, for that and other things, truthfully," he added at his wife's shocked look. "But do not worry, Izayoi – they will not dare look at you in such a manner, I am certain. They will probably all try to run and hide the moment they catch your full aura."
"Oh," she said, a surprised look on her face. "Perhaps it would be best for me to shield my aura, then. I would not want to cause you difficulties in your negotiations."
"No," he returned as they reached their chambers and he slid the doors open, entering the room as Izayoi stepped inside and closed the doors behind them, "leave your aura full and unbound, Izayoi. I want them to know of your power and learn to fear you. If they do, then they will stay away and not try to threaten what is mine. For if one were to do that, I would kill them, and then we could very well be at odds with the ookami, depending on the rank of the one that died at my hand. This way, we avoid those types of problems."
"Okay," she said, blinking at him in confusion, but nonetheless acquiescing to his words. She moved forward to assist him as he began putting on his heavy armor, and a comfortable silence fell as they worked to get him ready to face the Eastern Lord and offer him a place in the coming war with the dragons that had offended pretty much everyone.
Once the last tie was tied and all his swords slid into their appointed places, Touga turned to look down at his wife in her kimono and smiled, pleased with how she looked. "Let us go, wife, so that we may all the sooner return, eh?" he asked, his smile turning knowing as she blushed. "I'm certain you are not looking forward to visiting a rather dirty cave, am I right? So we will do what we have to do and return home so that you may bathe." His expression turned wry, then. "Well, so that we may bathe. I, also, dislike visiting the Eastern Lord in his den. I much prefer to live away from the dirt."
Izayoi didn't know what to say to that, so she just smiled uncertainly and followed him from their room out onto the walkway into the gardens and snuggled carefully into him so as to avoid the spikes of his armor as he wrapped his pelt around her and settled her into his side. As they lifted into the air, she finally realized why Touga had her wear the heavier layers today – warmth. The flight would have been cold for her, but she would be fine with her clothing and his pelt to keep her warm.
He always thinks at least five steps ahead, she thought with wry affection. I suppose it is that which makes him so formidable - and so effective. It is no wonder so many youkai have chosen to swear fealty to him.
Wrapping his pelt more firmly around herself as he reached an altitude that quickly had her shivering, Izayoi let her thoughts wander as Touga also seemed preoccupied, and simply enjoyed the flight. The world and all its problems seemed oddly distant from up here, and she vowed to let it remain that way for now.
The world and all its troubles could just get along without her for a while. It wouldn't miss her, and she wouldn't miss it.
~oOo~
Even considering Touga's slower form of flight, it didn't take too long for the Eastern caves to come into view below them, and Touga pointed them out to his wife with a smile, knowing what was coming. After all, though the wolves lived in a cave, it didn't mean there was no beauty to be found there.
Eyes wide, Izayoi stared at the oddly familiar feeling place, that feeling mixing with her awe as she took in the view below them. The wolves had chosen a den high in the eastern mountain range, behind a huge waterfall that sent clear, icy cold water into a large basin just in front of the entrance to the caves. They would certainly never want for water, as it didn't look as if the water level ever lowered much, either in the heat of summer, or in winter, when a lot of the water was locked up in snow and ice.
But despite the beauty of the place, she couldn't shake the feeling that she had been here before – and not under good circumstances. But no matter how hard she prodded, the memory stayed just out of reach, taunting her with its nearness, and its distance all at the same time. She sighed quietly and just decided to let it come to her on its own, which it would, sooner or later, she knew.
It was quickly apparent the exact moment that the wolves noticed Touga: the entire clan, it seemed, at least all the older ookami, the proven hunters, boiled out of the entrance to the cave, at attention as an older wolf, icy blue eyes visible even from their height, came out to stand at the front and await Touga's landing.
The leader, for that's what he had to be, looked oddly familiar as well, though not quite – like a picture done slightly wrong. His jet black hair waved down his back to his waist, and he wore armor similar to Touga's, though far less elaborate in design. His face was serene, however, and it was apparent he was not concerned with the more powerful male's arrival in his domain.
Touga, already knowing protocol for the ookami Lord, settled down a small distance in front of him. He made sure Izayoi had her feet under her and then motioned for her to fall back behind him, waiting while she did. Once she was settled, he turned his attention to the ookami, who was slowly drawing forward with a peculiar look on his face as he looked at Izayoi in all her finery.
"Did you bring me a concubine as a gift for something, Touga, Lord of the West?" he asked, looking slightly confused. "A human, no less?"
Izayoi bristled, her aura picking up in power a little as she narrowed her eyes on the ookami, though she didn't say anything, Touga's anger overpowering hers.
"You insult me and my wife, Tamotsu, Lord of the East. You do so at your own risk, for I know you can feel her aura. My Izayoi is no powerless female whether she be human, or youkai," he added, knowing what the male was going to say next. "Perhaps you should rethink your greeting."
The ookami Lord looked surprised as hell, to put it bluntly, his eyes widening as he looked at Touga, and then back at Izayoi. "You... you married a human female?" he asked, almost unable to believe that one of the most powerful of the lords had actually married a human. Especially when ookami invariably saw humans as little more than prey – in no way different from the sheep mortal wolves fed upon.
Touga smiled dangerously, fangs gleaming in the light. "If any of you think to look at her as prey you will quickly learn just how wrong you are – and who truly is the prey, here," he said silkily. "Seek not to insult me or my wife any further, Tamotsu."
Bristling slightly with the feel of Touga's elevated aura, Tamotsu decided to let that topic go, and instead greeted his guest as he should have done in the first place. "What is the reason you have sought audience with me, Touga, Lord of the West?" he asked formally, growling in a low register to calm his pack, who were still standing behind him, tense and ready for action.
"I come to offer you a place in the coming war with the dragons. Ryukotsussei has insulted and aggrieved all of us in one way or another – whether it be directly, or by proxy through his subjects. It is time to make him pay for it. Also, he plans to attack my lands and then move on into the other lands. I will not allow this, and have plans to attack him first within his own lands." Touga's still dangerous smile darkened heavily. "If he wishes to wage war, then war we will give him – but in his own realm. Let the Northern lands suffer for their Lord's greed."
Izayoi watched the Eastern Lord's face carefully, and easily noted the dark look that overtook his face at the mention of Ryukotsussei. There was anger there, and hatred.
"You speak of a subject near to my heart, Touga. The destruction of the dragon would be a great boon to all the lands, I think. Come, enter into my home freely and without threat, so that we may speak further on this subject." At his words, the wolves all dispersed, some back to whatever activities they'd been engaged in before Touga had landed in their midst, and some following along behind them as Tamotsu lead them into the Eastern cave.
Izayoi looked around, craning her head to see everything and completely ignoring the two males as they spoke. The feeling that she had been here before was getting stronger, and she could feel gooseflesh rising on her body at the warning her mind was sending her. It wasn't until they had all been seated on slightly dusty cushions, her husband's swords taken out of his sash to be laid at his feet showing non-lethal intent, that she took note of a relatively small area at the back of the huge cave. As soon as she saw it, a picture of Kagome and Shippo being thrown into it by a black-haired male flashed across her mind's eye, and she stiffened. The male was not the same as this one, however, though he looked greatly alike. The male in her memory wore a much less elaborate armor than even this current one, and his long black hair was pulled into a topknot. He had the same icy blue eyes, however.
A low hiss escaped her lips, and her brow furrowed as she tried to bring more of that memory to light. Kouga... his name was Kouga. He wanted... the Shikon no Tama shards. And my help against an enemy of the ookami who had shards. That's right... he wanted me because I could see shards!
Her little trip down memory lane was cut short when she felt her husband's hand touch hers, and she turned her head to look up at his inquiring gaze."What is wrong, Izayoi?" Apparently, he had heard her small sound of surprise as her memories unlocked a little. The Eastern Lord was also looking at her with curiosity.
She blushed. "It was nothing, I will tell you later," she said, shaking her head and looking at him warningly.
His brow furrowed lightly for just a moment, and then he nodded, catching the warning in her eyes. "Very well, if you are sure it is not important."
"Not to your current negotiations," she replied. "It is merely more memories."
At that, Touga inclined his head understandingly, while Tamotsu merely looked more confused. Touga didn't enlighten him, however, instead going right back into the talk they'd been having after nodding at her. She knew that he would be asking her later about what had come to light from those memories, though. She only hoped that those memories would not interfere with his negotiations, though she did not think that they would – Touga was too much a ruler to let something like what had happened two hundred years in the future interfere with what was happening now. Still, it was of concern.
Letting herself listen in on the talk between the two males as she sipped the tea they'd been offered just moments ago, she was not surprised to hear that they were almost at agreement. From what little she'd gathered, it was almost a given that the Eastern Lord would be joining them.
"-insult to me and my line," Tamotsu was saying, growling lowly at the memory. "His little errand boys attempted to kill my heir as warning to stay out of the coming war. For this insult they must be made to pay." At this point, Tamotsu looked at Touga knowingly. "However... I would know what part you and yours plan to hand me and mine in this combat."
Touga looked unconcerned at the wolf's intimation. "What part would you have me give you? Your wolves are proven hunters – but you have no trained warriors. The rest of the Lords have landed armies, while you do not. I have never understood your reasons for not doing so, truth be told – you leave your lands weak and open for attack and conquest by others. That is not my concern at this time, however. My thoughts on the matter of your ookami was that they would be mostly scattered amongst the warriors of the other lands. Some would be at the front, those you deemed most worthy in the ways of the warrior. This is just a loose plan, of course – I and my Generals would decide the final battle plan after I return with your agreement, or your decision not to join us, of course."
The Eastern Lord growled. "There is no question that we will be joining you," he said, anger in his voice. "The only question is in the part we will play. I would prefer to keep my wolves at my back as I lead them, keeping them as a coherent force. While we may not necessarily have been trained as warriors, we have years of combat experience fighting against the *Gokorokou-chou. I do not think we are as combat naive as you may believe, Touga," he said slyly, sitting back on his cushion and sipping his tea, a bland look on his face that fooled no one. "If I am to be part of this effort, then I will be joining you and your Generals in deciding what part exactly me and my ookami are to play. We are not fodder for anyone to use as throwaway bodies."
Touga sat back as well, rapid thoughts passing behind his eyes as he processed the Eastern Lord's demand. It was his right, after all, as a reigning Lord whose forces were going to be involved in a war effort to be part of the decision-making process. And truthfully, he was not all that surprised that Tamotsu was demanding such a role. He would simply have to push his battle plans in another way, was all. No true hardship. Although... having the wolves stay with their lord as one cohesive force was a decent alternative...
"Very well. That is your right, of course," Touga acknowledged, inclining his head regally. "The Southern Lord arrives in the west within a few days with his forces, so you should prepare to move quickly if you wish to be a part of this. I plan to begin the march on the Northern Lands within a half moon cycle, or sooner. I have no true desire to be in battle in the middle of winter, after all, and that time fast approaches. Yuki onna, after all, distinguishes not at all between human or youkai when stalking her victims, eh, Tamotsu?" he asked slyly, knowing that shot would hit home. His father had been one of the Lady of Winter's victims, after all, and that had left his son, Tamotsu, to rule at his death – a son who was too young, in truth. It had been a hard time for the wolves, as all knew quite well. He knew that reminder would light a fire under him, because sometimes Tamotsu was known to procrastinate on some things. If his anger at his son's injuries at the dragon's claws was not enough to move him, this pointed prod would be.
Face darkening slightly at the slick words of the Western Lord, Tamotsu merely snorted, and then looked at her. "So, Touga... while we are all away bleeding and dying, what will your Lady be doing? Will she be left in charge of the citadel?" he asked, a pointed slyness of his own in the words, as he poked at the usual worthlessness of human females in combat.
At that, Touga smirked just as pointedly in return. "Not at all, Tamotsu. My Izayoi is not like other human females, as you are surely aware already. Or have your senses waned with age? I know you can feel her aura, and what you are feeling is only the merest taste of her power." He turned to his wife. "Let your aura go, my love, so that all here may feel your power and tremble at its potency."
Izayoi blinked at her husband in surprise, but then did as he bid. After all, he'd told her before to leave it unchecked, but she had been shielding a great deal of it so as not to cause a commotion. Letting her normally tight control loose, she let her aura literally move through the entire area like a tsunami, and the reaction it garnered was immediate and highly gratifying – at least, to Touga.
Tamotsu at first stiffened in shock, and then jumped to his feet and leaped back as though expecting an attack. The busy cave became instantly deserted save for them, while Touga simply picked up his own now cooling cup of tea and took a drink, a bland look on his face that spoke of nothing and everything all at once.
"My wife is as combat ready as any of my other warriors. She will march with my army just as everyone else will, and when we arrive in Ryukotsussei's lands and wage war against the dragon, she will be something he will be unable to counter. He knows of her, of course, though he doesn't know the extent of her power – as you now do."
Touga was about to say something else when a disturbance made itself known at the front of the cave; a small whirlwind seemed to be heading into the cavern, and he watched, brow raised, as it approached them. The moment it arrived in Tamotsu's vicinity it dissipated, leaving behind a young wolf cub, growling and bristling at the seeming danger near what was clearly his father.
Izayoi, however, stiffened so hard when she saw the small wolf that it actually hurt, and at the sight of the male from her memories, though he was much younger now, of course, more memories unlocked, and she was held tense as they poured through her mind. The ookami's declaration of her as 'his woman', her original denial of such because of her feelings for Inuyasha, his continuing pursuit nonetheless, and Inuyasha's constant fights with the ookami.
She might have continued being locked in her memories if it hadn't been for who she know knew as a young Kouga's interference, however, as he took one look at her and his aggressive posture changed immediately. Striding forward with the same cockiness she remembered from that distant future, he stopped in front of her and looked her up and down for a moment, then said, "You're pretty and powerful. You are going to be my woman when I grow up."
The cave went instantly silent at that, the few wolves that had moved back into the cavern, and Tamotsu, who had cautiously moved back to his seat, staring at the young wolfling in shocked surprise.
Touga narrowed his eyes and growled dangerously, not caring for the young wolf's words – his age notwithstanding. He was old enough to scent who she belonged to, and was ignoring that scent.
Izayoi's voice froze in her throat as Touga's youki rose.
~oOo~
The attack came swiftly and without warning, and Takako might have been taken off-guard from the severe boredom she'd been suffering from if it hadn't been for the fact that she'd just had her mid-day meal, and that the guard had actually stayed and talked with her for a while since the original no-contact order had been lifted.
It was an assassin from the ninja clan, and Takako was surprised her father had gone so far to kill her – she'd expected one of the several assassins her father had hidden here in the citadel to do the deed. But apparently, he'd wanted to be sure of her death as she opened up her aura and slashed at the surprised assassin, who flipped backwards and landed back outside the bars, which seemed to be no impediment to him.
It was obvious he'd been expecting a bound and helpless female, not a fully mobile and dangerous one, and now he needed to reassess the situation. Takako chuckled. "Rethinking your strategy, ninja, now that you find your mark less bound than you thought?" she asked mockingly as she pressed one hand inside her obi with minute movements and grasped the stone given to her by Touga, then pricked her finger and let her blood fall on the stone, just as Touga had instructed. She grinned as the spells set on the cell also hummed to life at that, flaring a deep blue around it. The assassin was now eyeing those protective spells, and so missed her hand's movement into her obi, fortunately.
"We were well aware of his plan to assassinate me, and Touga-sama made sure to make it more difficult to do so. After all, he wants to make sure any plan of my father's is much more difficult to successfully complete than he would wish," she said, ignoring the silence of the assassin. The more she could make him rethink things, the more time it gave Touga to arrive.
She smirked at the male, trying her best to keep him off-center.
"Even now the alarm has been sounded, and someone comes to confront you. Someone even you cannot fight."
She could feel the ninja's aura flare, then, as he tried to determine if her words were true. And just as she'd said, someone with an extremely strong aura was heading at great speed for their position, and would be upon them in moments. He began to panic as he realized that he was trapped – there was no way out save through the being that was on the way down the stairs into this place even now.
However, it wasn't just the assassin that was surprised at who entered the room, then – Takako was also taken by surprise.
She frowned. "Where is your father?" she asked, rather taken aback as she took in Sesshoumaru in all his glory as he stepped down the last step into the dungeon.
"He is away, consulting with the Eastern Lord," Sesshoumaru answered coldly, his eyes not leaving the ninja now crouched across from him. "He left me with the duty of protecting you if the attack should come while he was out of the citadel," he added sarcastically, ignoring the small growl from her at his words.
Truthfully, though, she was surprised he'd even answered her, since she hadn't honestly expected him to. Sesshoumaru wasn't one for explaining himself very often – especially not to people that weren't his parents. Even with them, he was known to be taciturn.
Silently, like a white sentinel of death, Sesshoumaru stood and waited the ninja's attack. He had already assessed and cataloged the male's probable weapons and tricks, such as flash powders to confuse and daze an opponent, shuriken, and poison tipped darts. Those concerned him not at all; as a poison youkai, he was immune to all other poisons, and so would merely slough off any such attack.
His father had not neglected any aspect of his training; he had been trained to fight ninja, and the assassins of their clan, as well. He had already killed one such who had been hired to kill him and had been less than impressed. While they might have been of sufficient power and skill to be a danger to others, there was little they could truly do to him.
The ninja knew he was staring at his own death. This male was already known to the clan as one who had killed one of their brethren before, and was on the list of those beings that they would not take a commission to kill again. Unfortunately, what was supposed to be an easy kill situation for them had just become deadly for him. He would not just stand still and wait for death to come for him, though – he would fight until he could fight no more and die with honor, at least.
Deciding on his best course of action, he tossed one of his flash bombs and drew his katana as he streaked toward the male blocking his way out of the dungeons. If he could get the Western Heir to move from his place, perhaps he could still make it out of this alive. However, that hope was destroyed as the stairwell behind the heir filled with soldiers, and finally resigned to his death, the ninja attacked, fully intent on fighting until he couldn't any longer.
Sesshoumaru was not too impaired by the ninja's traditional smoke grenade, and simply switching his senses from eyesight and scent to hearing and feeling, instead, easily picked up the air displacement as the assassin neared him, waiting until the last moment before moving. With impressive speed, he flashed his whip out and leaped over the head of the assassin, landing behind him as a pained gasp sounded within the cavernous room as his whip hit the male, drawing first blood.
Drawing his katana as the smoke began to clear and he could see that the other had drawn his sword, Sesshoumaru sniffed the air appreciatively as the scent of blood began to become noticeable, paying no attention to the encouragements of the soldiers as they jeered at the trapped assassin.
With little warning he streaked forward and engaged the ninja, the sound of steel striking steel loud in the room. Bringing his sword up he blocked the first strike, then pushed the male back and slashed downward, actually feeling approval as his opponent managed to block that strike easily. Perhaps here was a somewhat worthy opponent, then, and his interest in the fight increased dramatically from his earlier feeling of boredom. That was a strike that was notoriously hard to block and this male had done so easily.
"So... you are an accomplished warrior," he said, stepping back for a moment and letting that approval be heard in his voice. "Perhaps this fight will not be as boring as I had thought. Come then, silent swordsman, and engage me in battle."
It was an apt nomenclature, as the assassin, as was common amongst the ninja, had not spoken once since arriving in the cell area. The only sound he'd made had been the gasp, and it would stay that way until his death, no doubt.
The assassin moved forward cautiously, obviously assessing Sesshoumaru just as Sesshoumaru was assessing him. Once he was in striking distance, he initiated an easy pattern of blows that was part of that assessment and Sesshoumaru obliged him, playing along as he let the other see his easy command of his sword. It was a game to him, nothing more, and he let his opponent know that.
Once that pattern ended, however, he immediately moved to push his opponent, bringing his sword up with a speed matched by few and slashing at the other's arm, taking advantage of the opening the end of that pattern left. He hit and drew second blood, as well, though he was a bit surprised at the speed of the male as he ignored his injury and slashed downward with his own katana, taking third blood as Sesshoumaru's white attire bloomed with a small pattern of his own sanguine essence. The clash and screech of metal on metal then became extremely loud in that enclosed space as both warriors fully engaged finally in what was literally a fight to the death.
It wouldn't be Sesshoumaru's death, that was to be sure, for as well-trained as this assassin seemed to be, he was not in the Western heir's class. Very few were. It was merely to be determined which blow would end the ninja's life and they all knew it - even the assassin.
Sesshoumaru leaped back as a slash passed across his middle, and then jumped up to avoid another attack, flipping over the male's head and landing behind him as he brought his sword down. He was intending to slash his opponent from head to toe on his undefended backside, but was surprised once again as the other whirled with impressive speed and blocked the blow, catching his sword and forcing him to move back to avoid the counterstrike. Sensitive ears cringed at the scream of the swords as they fought it out, though not a one would leave off watching this show just because of that.
Recovering from the blocked blow, Sesshoumaru then went on the offensive again, leaping forward in a surprising move and whipping his sword from right to left before changing direction and coming back sideways to meet the other male's sword, knocking it from his hand with the strength of the blow. The assassin immediately leapt backwards after his blade, and Sesshoumaru pressed the attack, flashing forward after his opponent and thrusting, intending to impale his opponent and finish the fight.
But the male was not there to meet his blow and he was forced to whirl around with all speed as he was attacked from behind, bringing his blade up to catch the other's strike high up. Without missing a beat he kicked out, his foot contacting the male's mid-section and sending him flying across the cavern.
He landed in a heap against the wall and Sesshoumaru wasted no time in pressing his advantage, moving faster than the eye could see to slide his blade through the stunned male's heart. As the ninja slumped, his eyes glazing over with a sheen of death, Sesshoumaru nodded down at the male, no expression on his face. "You have fought well and your body will be returned to your clan for proper burial. The account of your last battle will be given to your masters."
This was the highest honor that could be paid to a ninja who had died without achieving his objective, and the assassin's eyes flickered gratefully up at Sesshoumaru before fading completely, his lifeblood spilling quickly from his mortal wound as his heart ceased to beat, before finally slowing.
When he was completely gone, Sesshoumaru withdrew his sword and stepped back so the soldiers could come take the ninja's body to prepare it for the journey home, and slashed his sword through the air to remove the blood from it before sheathing it with an elegant flick of his wrist. He stared at the pool of blood on the ground for a moment, his eyes flashing redly, and then turned to look at a very quiet Takako.
"For some reason, father has decided that even your wretched hide has some value, or that would have been you dying on the end of my blade." He turned and started for the stairs, then paused in his measured tread. "Be sure that you remain worthy in his eyes, or it still might be so." And then he left the dungeon, paying no attention to the eyes at his back as he disappeared up the stairs.
Takako slumped against the wall of her cage, her heart pounding still from what she'd just witnessed. While she'd known of Sesshoumaru's training, since such was standard for the heir of a cardinal Lord, and indeed, most youkai learned early to fight, she had not realized his speed or his skill – which she was completely certain had not even begun to be unveiled in that fight. And that was not even counting Touga's new bride... or Touga himself.
Her father was doomed, whether he managed to get through Touga or not. He, and all his toy soldiers would be wiped off the face of the earth.
She smiled.
~oOo~
Edited 01/01/14
