Chapter 44: A Temporary Peace
Though the battle was over, his fight was not - and that fact pleased Sesshoumaru immensely.
Already he bore signs of the prowess of his competitor – his clothing showed several rents and tears and even blood that was his own. But that mattered not to the young heir to the Western throne – because his enemy was in similar shape, proving his own command of the combat skills he'd been taught since practically the moment he'd been old enough to hold a weapon.
Still, to the female inuyoukai watching the fight there was much room for improvement and she would make sure those improvements were introduced into his training regimen once they returned to the citadel. She frowned when her son made a wild swing – she knew he knew better than that – she'd taught him herself not to do such a thing.
Sesshoumaru leaped backward just in time to avoid the consequence of that mistake and scowled at himself for it, instantly rushing back into the fight and locking blades with his opponent. He was very aware of his mother's intent consideration and angry at himself for messing up in such a manner right in front of her – he knew that she would make him pay for that lapse when they returned home – and he was not looking forward to the paying. Satori could be a worse taskmaster than even his father when she felt that there was something he needed to learn – or relearn – as the case may be.
The black dragon, stronger than any opponent Sesshoumaru had yet fought in this battle, forced him back as his katana slashed outward in a brilliantly scintillating arc. Leaping backward yet again, the inuyoukai flashed his whip out in a wicked splash of glowing green light and it wrapped around the dark male's blade several times – at which point Sesshoumaru yanked the sword out of the startled dragon's hands. It went flying; landing some distance away and the inu took prompt advantage of that, a corona of deep blue light surrounding his own sword for a single moment before he flung it at his black-eyed enemy.
The blast connected with a stunning explosion of sheer power, the dragon unable to dodge it in time. He arched back in tremendous pain, screaming as he dissipated into death – and Sesshoumaru watched with a dark yet enigmatic look his mother found she could not discern. Once the male was totally gone he sheathed his katana and looked at his mother, who was running her eyes over him in a rather critical manner.
"Well," she sighed after a moment, shrugging rather carelessly, "at least you defeated him. But it shouldn't have taken you so long – and you certainly shouldn't be this – this... disheveled, either. And that wild swing of yours," she tutted disapprovingly, "I know I and your father and all your other trainers have taught you much better than that."
He did not break her gaze, staring at her coolly. After a moment of that he said, "No one is perfect all of the time, mother – not even you," he added before turning away as though not at all perturbed by her chastisement.
Light, mocking laughter caressed his ears as his mother followed him across the battlefield. There was no more fighting, the dead, dying, and injured making all the noise now. Neither Sesshoumaru nor Satori paid any attention to the din since there was no sound of clashing weapons, continuing on their way towards the ranks of their own forces with no further words between them.
Sesshoumaru's glance around at the gathering youkai was finally met with Akira's blue eyed gaze and low bow, and the Western heir inclined his head. "My father?"
"He hasn't returned from chasing Ryukotsussei, Sesshoumaru-sama," Akira reported crisply.
"Chasing him?" Sesshoumaru asked, one brow climbing into his bangs in question. "The coward ran, did he?"
"Hai, my lord."
A coldly amused smile crossed the heir's face, accompanied by mocking laughter from his mother. "Hn. I cannot say I am surprised," he added derisively before changing the subject. "Get a tent set up for the parley that is to come as my father decides what is to be done with the North now that we have conquered it."
"As you wish, Sesshoumaru-sama," Akira bowed respectfully. After a moment he straightened back up and hesitantly met Satori's gaze with resignation and sorrow. "My lady," he said softly as her eyes narrowed, "I regret to inform you that your mate has been seriously injured. Masao was attacked by several strong opponents at once, and though he destroyed them all he took too many injuries... to survive."
Satori paled and her temper nearly exploded. "You lie! I do not feel anything like what you are speaking of through our bond!"
Understanding that her shock and grief was what was making her react the way she was Akira did not take offense at her words, merely shook his head sadly. "My lady, I would never lie to you about such a thing," he began gently, then finished after a loaded pause, "he blocked your bond so that you would not be forced to suffer with him."
Drawing herself up Satori glared at Akira with all the hauteur she was capable of. "Take me to him." She glanced at her son, who was seemingly stunned and uncertain what to say to her, his own eyes wide with surprise and caution at her reaction to the news. "Go find Izayoi-sama now, Sesshoumaru." She met his eyes with a fierce light in her own. "Do not fail me," she added before turning to the waiting Akira and gesturing for him to lead the way.
Sesshoumaru watched his mother's stiff back disappear into the crowd of warriors with concern, because he wasn't fooled by her seemingly mild reaction to her mate's impending death. He'd seen the wild fear in her eyes just before she'd frozen up and began snapping out orders. And as much as he'd wished that his parents were together the truth was that they weren't, and wishing for it accomplished nothing. His mother loved her mate, and he didn't want to see her suffer the loss of such a new bond – nor did he wish to lose his mother herself, despite their differences of opinion.
Lifting his nose into the air Sesshoumaru sought out the scent of the only human in the region, and it didn't take long for him to find it since it stuck out, making his job admittedly much easier. Without a word to those still lingering around he streaked off, determined to find his father's mate and take her to Masao's side so she could heal him. And if that failed, there was always his sire and Tenseiga.
~oOo~
Though much of his bitterness and anger towards his father's wife had eased in the days since first meeting her, he still wasn't comfortable with her and that was his own fault, he knew. But that discomfort couldn't be allowed to rule him this time as it usually would have – because he would never be able to forget the look in his mother's eyes with the news that her mate was dying. He couldn't possibly live with himself if that look became permanent – or worse yet, she died - because of his own personal problems with Izayoi.
Coming upon his father and the little human miko he'd wed just past the ruined outer bailey of Ryukotsussei's former palace he wasted no time in speaking.
"Izayoi-sama-" the pause before he added 'sama' was so miniscule that no one but his father noticed it, "-haha-ue sent me to find you. Her mate has been seriously injured and is dying as we speak."
Paling, Izayoi's eyes reflected her worry. "Take me to them," she said immediately without all the questions that others might have bombarded him with, and he couldn't help the approval he felt towards her in that moment.
Without further ado and relieved that his sire had not said a word, merely followed his wife's example and hurried along behind him, Sesshoumaru led the way at speed, knowing that there was no time to be lost. As they neared the area they'd been in when Akira had broken the news to them he inhaled and quickly latched on to his mother's scent. When her conflicted emotions and heavy fear, something he'd never smelled from her before, hit his olfactory senses he urged the already hurrying group along – if they did not rush now it would be too late.
"Come quickly, Izayoi-sama, or we will not arrive in time," he said tersely before coming to a confused halt and staring at the disappearing strands of black hair fluttering in the wind. "What is she doing, father?" he asked, scowling after her.
Touga clasped his son's shoulder, understanding his tension and worry and not taking offense at the blatant note of anger in his voice. "Don't worry, Sesshoumaru, she has gone to take care of Masao. If he has the slightest chance of being saved, she will make sure he survives."
Sesshoumaru looked almost offended at his father's statement, as if he could not believe what he was hearing. "How is that possible? She does not know where he is."
"Of course she does. She may not have our noses, but she can find people, human or youkai, through their auras just as easily. By now-" his brows rose and he chuckled as a wave of reiki washed across the field, "-Masao is healed and probably already back on his feet and comforting your mother."
Something inside the young heir to the West eased as he felt the purity of the reiki that passed over him, knowing then that his father had been correct – she had most certainly found Masao and healed him, for if she had arrived too late there would have been no reason to release so much power. Much relieved though he would never acknowledge such a thing aloud Sesshoumaru started walking once more, his father at his side as they both made their way to the area Masao had been placed by those who'd found him.
Seeing his mother embracing her mate so fiercely and with such joy flaring around her made her son finally accept the fact that his wish that his parents would one day become a pair was never going to happen. It had been a selfish desire, he could finally acknowledge, and though he was distantly upset that his hopes of just such a thing happening had been dashed so thoroughly he was resigned to the harsh taste of reality now.
His father smiled at him, a little sadly as if he knew his thoughts and then looked at his wife, who was still kneeling where she'd obviously tended to Masao, blinking as though dazed. His brow furrowed with concern when he realized that she was a little dizzy and he dismissed thoughts of anything else as he went to her side and crouched before her to look her over with worried eyes.
"Izayoi?" He shook her gently, trying to get her attention.
Satori chose that moment to pull away from her mate and look down at the young woman that had once again so deeply affected her life and said, "Do not be concerned, Touga. She is merely weary and will be alright in a few minutes. Masao's injuries-" unbidden, her lips tightened, "were quite severe and he was on the very verge of death when she reached us, that's why his healing affected her in this manner." She glanced at her son and her eyes softened on him in a way they hadn't since he was a small pup, taking him aback but at the same time touching a part of him that had long since grown cold and hard. It made him once again remember long ago days when he'd been a small pup eager to please his mother, and when he had she had looked at him in just such a way. He knew that she would never say it, but she was grateful to him and that warmed another part of him whether he liked it or not.
He snorted to himself but acknowledged his mother's non-verbal thanks with an inclination of his head. If this keeps up I'll start becoming soft, and I cannot have that.
Being Lord of the West precludes any kind of softness.
Once again he attempted to ignore the fact that his sire could most definitely be soft with those he cared for, and yet was a powerful ruler that had so far been undefeated – and soft or not, he was not someone you could ever call weak and then survive the lesson he would give you on just how not weak he was.
He glanced at his father - despite the fact that his 'soft' side was what was on display at the current time as he hovered over his small mate, anyone who'd seen him fighting Ryukotsussei earlier would be acquainted with his sire's deadly side without any need to question him on his seeming emotionality.
One obviously could be deadly and yet soft at the same time, so his continuing questioning of such a seemingly impossible thing was simply a waste of time he could be using to understand the seeming conundrum.
Touga inhaled deeply as he held his wife's shoulders, wanting to make sure that she was unharmed. She'd had a very busy, dangerous day, after all, and there was no telling what injuries she could be hiding from him. A gentle hand cupping his cheek broke his intent focus on her scent and he blinked and exhaled, looking down to meet his mate's tender gaze.
"I'm fine, Touga. Satori already told you that – weren't you listening?" Izayoi asked in an intimately quiet tone. She smiled slightly at the sheepish look on her mate's face.
"I was just making certain – surely there is nothing wrong with checking something so important twice," he returned weakly, all the while knowing that she wasn't fooled – the knowing, yet pleased expression in her eyes said it all quite clearly.
"Hai, hai, I suppose not," she gave in after a few moments, letting him win and retain his faltering pride without another word. His dry look let her know he knew what she was doing, and she giggled a little, grateful for the touch of lightness he was making sure she got. With all that still remained to be done before any kind of rest could be had, she was going to need the brief moments of levity she was getting just to make it through with her sanity still mostly intact.
Their affectionate looks were interrupted by the arrival of a runner, who made his way to his liege's side as soon as he spotted him and bowed, then straightened. He waited for Touga to turn his attention to him and then spoke. "Touga-sama, the lord of the most numerous dragon clan remaining is requesting parley. What answer would you have me convey in return?"
Touga's eyes flickered when he remembered the male that had approached the final minutes of his battle with Ryukotsussei, and he nodded after a moment. He stood up from his crouch and offered his lady a hand to assist her to rise as well, though his manner now was absent, and it was clear he was deep in thought. He looked around assessingly after a few seconds and gestured to Masao, who was now separating from Satori, to attend him.
"We need to set up a tent for the meetings to come," he said, but before the General could say anything in return Sesshoumaru spoke up, and Touga's eyes met his son's as he waited to hear what he had to say.
"I already instructed Akira to attend to that matter, father," he reported quietly.
"Ah," Touga said expansively, "good." He looked at the runner and added, "Tell the one who requests parley that it is granted. When the tent is ready I will send someone to lead him to it," before turning to his mate and asking, "I assume you will not be sitting in on the meeting but will instead be seeing to the injured?"
Nodding, Izayoi was already planning what she would need to have seen to in order to get started on that no doubt overwhelming task. "Of course," she said absently as she motioned Kenji, who was watching her closely despite the fact that she was with Touga, to her side. "Kenji, I need you to get together any youkai whose affinity is healing in any manner, and a task force of those who are uninjured to set up tents for the care of the wounded. When that is finished they can begin carrying the wounded to them to be seen to."
Kenji bowed and then motioned for one of the lower-ranked officers that were hovering around waiting for orders to attend him. Within moments the one who'd responded was off, dashing away to carry out the instructions given to him.
Something occurred to Izayoi and she frowned and turned to look at her mate. "Touga, you will have to deal with those matters of rule of the North and treaty terms tomorrow. We will have need of Tenseiga's mercy towards those that it can assist."
About to open his mouth and deny her words, he frowned as well, realizing she was right. Damn it, there goes a quick resolution to all these tedious matters, he thought, displeased though he should have known better – war never ended easily even after the fighting was over and it wasn't going to this time, either.
"Very well, my dear," he sighed after a moment. "But will this really take that long? Surely we may still begin the parley tonight."
Izayoi shot her husband a look at the tone in his voice. "Most probably not, my lord," she replied, "but I do not see why you cannot invite this dragon lord along to see you use Tenseiga. It would certainly leave him in awe of your power and disinclined to fight with you about much in response to that."
Touga blinked as he listened to his little wife show just how well she knew him as she broached the very topic he'd been thinking of. Then he blinked again when he actually processed what she'd just said. "That's not a bad idea," he smiled approvingly, pleased with her keen grasp of the game of politics - and manipulating an opponent into the best possible position for Western gain. "I will see to it that the Northern lord knows that he will be attending me forthwith, and as soon as the dead are laid out in readiness you will tell me."
Izayoi nodded, and with no further ado turned to move off after Kenji with Nami following. There was an obscene amount of work to be done and not many hours in which to get it all finished.
It was a good thing that she was working with youkai, or this job would be taking days instead of mere hours.
~oOo~
Izayoi entered the main command tent with a weary sigh and immediately sat down opposite her husband on the soft cushions provided. Running a tired hand across her forehead she nodded in response to Touga's questioning glance.
"It's finished. All the dead have been laid out in rows. But Touga, there's so many of them," she added worriedly, a concerned frown furrowing her brows. "I fear that even you won't be able to raise them all, and I don't want you to hurt yourself trying."
The Western Lord reached over and took one of her hands in his, and shook his head. "Do not be concerned, Izayoi. I am fine. Yes, most likely such extensive use of the Tenseiga will tire me, but not enough to affect my appearance before my opponent. To do so would simply negate the impact of letting this lord watch in the first place. And to avoid my own weariness would be a poor excuse for not using my ability to save as many as possible from death's constrictive grasp, wouldn't you say?" he asked, an almost reproving note in his voice.
A blush touched pale cheeks and Izayoi nodded, dropping her face with remorse. "Hai, you are right, my husband. I apologize for not realizing such a thing for myself, but I cannot help my worry for you," she added on an exhale, and Touga immediately nodded.
"I know, my love, and I am not angry at you," he answered with no hesitation. "But I will be fine, and I can give no less to my people than you yourself would," he finished knowingly, smiling a little as her blush deepened just that much more, proving his own knowledge of her and just what she would be willing to sacrifice to save other's lives.
When she didn't say anything else he crooked a finger at one of the scouts lounging nearby. "Bring Ryuyama-sama here," he ordered crisply, and with a bow the youkai was off, disappearing as if into thin air. He then motioned for another, and when the next one approached gave instructions for Kenichi to be summoned. As someone Ryuyama would know, Kenichi would be further incentive to keep things pleasant – he would be unable to help feeling a little more comfortable in front of someone he was already acquainted with, even though in reality he should be reserved simply because it would be obvious that the air elemental had been serving Touga all along. Still, if there was any chance that Ryuyama could fall to this little trick then he would use it to make everything that much easier.
Any outcome that involved gaining everything he wanted out of the mess and in less time than usually necessary was a good one, as far as he was concerned.
He chatted idly with his wife as they waited for the object of their coming demonstration to appear, seemingly unconcerned with the massive amounts of energy that he was about to need.
~oOo~
"Tamotsu-sama!"
Izayoi looked surprised to see him, and especially surprised to see him carrying an injured male dragon in human form into her makeshift healer's tent. She'd opted not to follow her husband around as he began raising what he could of the dead, as the injured but still alive would need her attentions immediately, and so she had left the males to their affairs and taken the reigns of hers. She didn't want to see anymore die, and for more than one reason. Every life she could save was one less her husband had to expend his energy to retrieve from death, and that was more than enough incentive for her to do everything she could to save every injured youkai before it got to that point.
"Izayoi-sama," he bowed his head politely. Then he looked down at the male in his arms and asked, "Is there somewhere comfortable I could place Ryuujin?"
"Oh, I'm sorry," she blurted, embarrassed at having been staring at such a time, turning to search for an open spot. Finding one, she motioned the ookami lord to follow her and she led him to an empty area with a tatami mat covering the ground beneath. "Set him there, and I will see what I may do for him."
Tamotsu could see the curious look in her eyes but she didn't question him, immediately kneeling down to examine her newest patient. She has great presence of mind for one so young, he sighed inwardly. As Touga's mate she will need it, no doubt.
She nearly jumped in shock when a clawed hand came up to grasp her own, and with wide eyes looked down into the male's glittering ones. "What...?"
"Don't waste your time on one who does not desire to survive," the male rasped before looking up at Tamotsu. "I thank you for bringing me here, Tamotsu-sama, but I am ready to go. All I wanted was to see that bastard fall before I moved on to-" he paused for a few seconds, coughing harshly as he slowly drowned on his own blood, then continued when recovered enough, "-join my beloved in the next world."
At that Izayoi looked faintly uncomfortable before turning her face away with a grimace. "I'm sorry, but Ryukotsussei still lives. He apparently had an escape route already planned, and we were unable to stop him from reaching it in time."
For a moment the male's eyes flashed, but then he shook his head and relaxed once more onto the mat beneath him. "A temporary setback, I've no doubt. Your mate will kill him yet. He seems determined to do no less, and there are many that would help him, especially here in the north." Ryuujin's voice grew weaker and his eyes fell closed for a moment as he gathered what strength he had left so he could finish all that he needed to say. "But to see him lose his station, his palace, and all the wealth he has stolen from others along with the knowledge that he will soon be dead... it is enough for me to find peace and move on."
"To be with your beloved," Tamotsu murmured, thinking he now understood Ryuujin's hatred of Ryukotsussei.
A short nod was his answer as the broken dragon opened his eyes again. "She was to be my mate." His face darkened with old pain and long-held rage even as a thin line of blood began to trail from his mouth. "But that bastard saw her one day and took her by force, making her one of his wives. She suffered greatly at his sadistic hands, so much so that when he finally killed her I was almost glad that she was gone because at least this way he could never harm her again." He looked up at Kagome. "I have heard that her daughter is one of your ladies now," he whispered, growing weaker. "For my love's sake, please treat her well. She is greatly like her mother and not at all like the bastard that sired her."
Tears came to Izayoi's eyes as she realized who he had been speaking of. "I promise you, Mine will have a happy life if I have anything to say about it."
Ryuujin nodded as much as he was able, and finished with what he needed to impart he allowed his eyes to fall closed for the last time as his breathing slowed and then stopped. Looking up at Tamotsu's grim face, she wiped the tears in her eyes away and stood up. There was too much to do at this point for her to just sit down and cry. Later, though...
"If you would be so kind, Tamotsu-sama," she said softly, "would you take him to await the pyres with the other dead? I would send someone to do so, but I have no one available right now."
Tamotsu nodded and crouched down to lift the male's body back into his arms. "Thank you, Izayoi-sama."
She blinked, surprised. "For what? I didn't do anything."
"But you did. You eased his heart with your promise, allowing him to die at peace. I do believe it is the first peace he's known in several centuries, at least."
Izayoi nodded but didn't say anything, and after a moment Tamotsu hardened his jaw and strode from the tent with his burden.
I hope... I hope he was right and you and your lady are both at peace now."Be blessed – and together – in the next world and even in your next lives," she murmured sadly.
A single tear traced her cheek but she smiled nonetheless as the faintest whisper reached her ears as she turned to go back to helping those who could be saved.
Thank you for your blessing, miko-sama – and for your tear.
~oOo~
The next morning dawned early, and Izayoi was up to meet it in all its early glory though she wasn't much concerned with its beauty, too surrounded by suffering and pain to even notice the gorgeous colors of the dawn.
The dead that had remained dead after her husband's judicious use of the fang of heaven were still laid out neatly ready for the funeral pyres that would eventually end up ruining the beautiful day even further with their foul smoke choking the life out of those forced to be in their vicinity.
The display had certainly impressed Ryuyama and his underlings – watching those who were just recently dead coming back to life was definitely not something one would see very often – and most certainly not in the sheer numbers that they had last night.
And despite the huge amount of dead that Touga had been forced to revive he didn't falter before the dragon, his weariness completely hidden until he had finally been alone with his wife. Thankfully he was feeling much better this morning after the sleep he'd managed to get, and Izayoi wasn't too worried about him anymore – he'd be alright, she knew.
She paused for a moment as the flow of injured being brought to her slowed and wiped a tired arm across her brow. Taking care of the injured from a battle so large was a vast undertaking, and she wasn't certain when she'd be able to get any more rest than the little she'd gotten last night.
Unfortunately she had been forced, due to the large numbers of injured, to use her healing abilities only on those who were gravely wounded, and even then she only healed them enough so that they were no longer at death's door. Then they would be treated the normal way any healer would.
As for Koneko, Kangetsu's healer, once the severely injured were stabilized they were sent back to the citadel accompanied by contingents of those who were still in fighting trim. Then those who had guarded the injured would return, and another batch of injured would be sent to their mountain home to recover.
That left Izayoi mostly those who had started the day on the other side of the battle – dragons. It was a good thing that they had learned to fear her power when the announcement was made that she had killed the twin sorceresses by herself. It made them much easier to handle – and she would take all the easy she could get right at this point in time.
With a weary sigh she glanced up as Nami approached and smiled a little for her. "How is she doing?" she asked softly.
"Mine-san will be fine, Izayoi-sama. Her injuries were not overly serious, and she will heal fairly quickly. I think most of what is upsetting her is the knowledge that her 'father', if you could call him that, escaped. She's terrified of him," she replied just as softly.
"And rightly so," Izayoi returned solemnly, her mind going to what she'd caught from Takako's thoughts. "He is a danger to all of us, and until he is destroyed there can be no true peace."
Nami just nodded and then changed the subject. "Most of those that were seriously injured have already been brought to you – there is only a trickle still coming in from more distant areas. I tried to get my brother to help gather the dead, but he refuses to go anywhere where he cannot see you. He's like a mother hen – as is your neko companion," she chuckled, gesturing at a Kirara in kitten form perched on her shoulder.
A faint hint of pink touched Izayoi's face and she cleared her throat uncomfortably. "I fear you are right – Kenji was not happy that I went after Touga and left all of you behind. And besides – there's plenty of others that can take that duty, especially as my lord bade your brother to make sure I'm guarded at all times."
"Ah," Nami said delicately, not pursuing the topic though she was very curious about what had happened inside the half-destroyed shiro. "Then I will not bother him again – we haven't had a chance to really talk, and so I didn't know of Touga-sama's orders to that effect."
Just then another influx of injured were brought in, and with no further time to speak Izayoi set about triaging her newest patients, any further thoughts lost in the chaos they introduced. She would go see Mine herself as soon as she had a chance and make sure she was comfortable.
Until then, she had work to do.
~oOo~
"There is nothing more to speak of," Ryuyama said stubbornly, folding his arms across his chest and staring with affront at the hawk lord, who had just joined the parley a few minutes ago – and had given account of his daughter's slaughter of the dragon's grandson. No, he didn't care about the brat as family – he'd been too much like his bastard of a father for that – but it would show him in a bad light if he didn't demand certain things as part and parcel of his assumption of the Northern title.
Those things, such as having the boy's remains returned to his family, had to be taken care of before anything else for his clan's honor, though he really detested having to fight with the Western lord over such a petty thing. It was all about appearances, though, and with the events of this day he would have to prove his strength many times over to the remaining dragons.
That proving started now.
Touga sat back on his cushion and stared assessingly at the male sitting opposite him. He could most certainly understand his stance on the matter of his grandson's remains, and if he was being honest so could Atsushi. He just didn't want to give up his prize – he'd intended to take the body back to the South and display it to his court as proof that his family's vengeance on Ryukotsussei had been had.
"Well, what say you, Atsushi? I know you had planned something else for the remains, but I know you can understand Ryuyama's stance on this, since if it were you in his shoes, indeed if it were any of us, we would be demanding the same," Touga prodded, inwardly annoyed at the intransigence of the hawk. While he knew it was a trait of predatory birds, it was still aggravating, since it was delaying necessary matters and making it that much longer before he could go home.
"And? Even if your supposition were so we would be bound to deal with whatever the conquering lord's demands were. His people were the ones that lost this war, so why should we be worried about giving this dragon what he wants?" Atsushi snapped, angry at the fact that he would most likely be forced to give up his prize. He didn't want to, and he was going to fight the inevitable for as long as he could, but he already knew what was to come.
"That attitude is the reason civil wars happen," growled Ryuyama, glaring at the hawk lord angrily. "You defeated Ryukotsussei yesterday, not I," he added stiffly, deliberately looking away from Atsushi. "This parley is really little more than a formal declaration of my intent to rule the north, and nothing more."
Touga's brow shot up at that. Strong-willed, this one was. It didn't matter, however – despite his strong words the truth was that he was most definitely the supplicant here, and what was more, he knew it. Not feeling the need to outwardly state so and cause the dragon to fight him simply to maintain his dignity, he only noted that things weren't quite so cut-and-dried before moving on.
"Would you perhaps be amenable to taking the remains of Ryukotsussei's second son in his heir's place?" he asked Atshushi, remembering the body he'd seen laid out near the one who'd killed him.
Scowling, Atsushi sat back, a little pacified at the chance to take some proof back, but still not happy. "And what would I get in return for handing over the prize my daughter delivered to us?" he asked curtly.
"A quicker return home before the winter weather inundates us here," snapped Tamotsu, unable to control his own irritation with the other lord's intransigence on the matter. "I'm willing to leave all this mess to Ryuyama here, despite the fact that my pack paid the highest price in this war. Even though Touga tried to revive them, by the time he was able to get to where they fell most of them had already moved on. But despite that, I'm willing to let it go in the greater interest of beating Yuki Onna to our lands. What you're being asked to partially give up is nothing in comparison."
Atsushi paused in his planned harsh rebuttal; Tamotsu's words were true – most of the wolf pack would not be going home again. It did rather make him sound like a whiner, carrying on the way he was over an admittedly minor point.
"Very well," he finally said grudgingly, somewhat of a pout settling on his lips. Touga was hard-pressed not to laugh. "I will take the body of his second born son to be displayed to my people. I will have your grandson's body delivered to you after this meeting adjourns."
Ryuyama inclined his head politely to the hawk, not envying the male his coming duty – to explain to his daughter why he was taking her kill away. He would definitely not want to meet that female in battle – firebirds were the only youkai that dragons actually feared, because their fire was the only fire a dragon could not defend against. There was no denying that Kajiko, the hawk's heir, was most powerful – and the Firebird flames of her mothe's heritage definitely obeyed her command, mixed blood or not. With the speed and ferocity of her powerful father and the fire of her mother, she was a very dangerous opponent for anyone, but dragons especially.
"I thank you. In that case, I am willing to accede to your 'request'," he said lightly, "to give up a strip of land along the borders with the other cardinal directions to be patrolled by a joint force of the troops of whoever is Lord of that particular area and my own. I believe that one ri along my borders should be sufficient, don't you?"
Eyes narrowed, Touga nodded after a moment's thought. "One ri should be enough," he agreed, and the meeting moved on as they debated youkai law when applicable to the situation, and bickered back and forth over anything that wasn't already covered by law. Really, though, the only other thing the inuyoukai cared about was having all youkai know, including the new lord, that Ryukotsussei was his prey.
If someone else got the dragon, he would be highly enraged.
"None of those little things concerns me," he finally snapped, losing patience with it all. "The only thing I care about at this point is that you all acknowledge that Ryukotsussei is my prey. Anyone who takes his life owes me forfeit," he said warningly to Ryuyama, knowing that the other lords were already well aware of what price going after the former dragon lord would incur.
Ryuyama opened his mouth to argue the point, and then frowned at himself and closed it. Why should I care that he's marked Ryukotsussei as his prey? If he's so determined to take on the fool himself then more power to him and less mess for me to deal with. "Very well, I have no problem with that," he finally said slowly, meeting Touga's gaze. "I'll have enough to deal with trying to get this place at least marginally ready for winter." That last was said with a sour face as he looked out the open tent side towards what remained of the Northern palace. "No... I certainly don't need to add anything else to my plate at this time. Ryukotsussei is yours."
"Good." Touga was pleased – other than Atsushi having to give up one body for another they had gotten everything they had wanted on their end. "Then if there is nothing else?" he asked leadingly.
When no one said anything he stood and strode from the tent without looking back once. "Then I will be assisting my lady mate should anyone need me."
The rest of the gathered lords watched silently as the inuyoukai disappeared, then each stood up, bowing politely to each other before following Touga's example and heading off to take care of their own business.
The sooner everything was done the sooner they could return to their homes - and Ryuyama could begin rebuilding his.
~oOo~
"What did you say?" Takemaru gritted out ominously at the youkai captive being held between two of his men.
The injured youkai cowered before him. "I... I said that the reason that the towns and villages here have been attacked is because the Eastern Lord insulted Izayoi, the Western Lord's human wife, and she took angry offense. Since these are the wolf's lands, burning them down repays him for his words."
"She is his wife?!" Takemaru hissed, beginning to pace in his agitation. His men looked at him oddly, and after a moment the samurai snapped out of his fit, though anger was written in his gaze and etched tightly on his face. "So she has become a youkai's whore, then. It is really too bad, because now she will have to die." He glanced with cold, merciless eyes at the bloody youkai held before him, and then snapped his head at the two holding him. "Kill him," he ordered, his frigid tone leaving shivers down the backs of all who heard it.
He turned and walked away, fuming inwardly at the fact that he was too late and that Izayoi had been bedded and corrupted by her youkai husband. She had been an innocent human hime, a miko, once. Never would she have considered destroying the lives of countless human villagers just because someone insulted her – at least not before. But now she obviously saw nothing wrong with it, and that proved his point that humans and youkai shouldn't mix. Youkai tainted anything they touched, and now Izayoi was tainted and evil and would have to be killed for the rest of humanity's sake.
The sound of a head and body hitting the ground separate from each other didn't even faze him, and Takemaru mounted his horse once more, ready to move out again. They still had a town to plunder and supplies to gain, and sitting around here wouldn't get them any closer to getting what they needed. As soon as the two men came back and mounted their horses he signaled them to move out and led the way, having decided to go for one more day to the south so that they would not be too close to their own area of operations. It would not do for his quest to begin under the mistrust of those that lived relatively close by. He wanted to keep those people as happy with their presence as he could get, though that had been hurt he knew, by being forced to do nothing more than watch the destruction the rampaging youkai had caused.
His mouth turned down at that shameful truth – that they had sat inside their fort and done nothing to kill the attacking youkai. All they could do was watch, because there was no way the small amount of soldiers he had already gathered would have been able to destroy the youkai responsible. They would have all been killed, and he had no intentions of dying so easily nor wasting the lives of those that had already sworn to him.
Damn youkai, anyway. Impeccable speed and strength and a great immunity to injuries that would kill a human ten times over. For every single youkai we need ten men or more to compensate! The kami are no friends of mine, creating beasts like them to torment we who were made in their own image.
It never occurred to Takemaru that he would be considered no better than a youkai to those that he was about to target. For really, what was different in what he was about to do to some town or other than what the youkai had already done to those towns and villages near his new compound?
But the self-righteous are always blinded to their own hypocrisies and sins, and Takemaru was no different. Blind to his own folly by the insane fervor he'd fallen prey to, he continued to head in the direction of his target...
A small, peaceful town one more day ahead. For those who called that town home, the devils that were slowly growing closer wore human skin – and had no other. Because in the end, humans were just another species of animal – as were youkai - and evil was a choice, not a birthright, as Izayoi had once said herself.
Too bad Takemaru was too lost to his madness to realize that.
~oOo~
In the now silent spot that blood had just been spilled, a seemingly lower youkai body was suddenly covered in deep shadows, and when those shadows disappeared again all that was left of the youkai was little bits of paper shredded in the tall grasses and all but forgotten, even by the one who'd created it.
It had done its job, and that was all she cared about.
~oOo~
"It is done, Teruko-sama," a female said in a low tone, her clothing denoting her status as a servant. She bowed as she spoke and then remained bowed, waiting for her mistress to allow her to rise.
Teruko smiled with so much sinister intent that even her servant shivered. "Good. Now it is a waiting game. I'm quite interested in seeing just what this Takemaru does with the information I sent him." She looked at her surroundings with distaste, a thin lip curling with displeasure at being forced to stand around on a battlefield and wait for the lords to finish debating. She wanted to go home, where it would be much easier to plot the so-called lady's death than right out in the open here in front of everyone.
"You may go now. Return to Kangetsu and make sure my rooms in the palace are clean and ready for me. I will most likely be home tomorrow, though I will make an effort to arrive this evening, instead."
The female servant simply nodded, knowing when the better part of valor was discretion. Once her mistress finished speaking the female left, quite glad to be going home and not inclined to deny it. Hurrying through the throngs of youkai she headed straight for the tents for the injured, knowing that a new detachment of soldiers would be escorting more of the wounded home soon. She intended to go with them – there was safety in numbers, after all – though she didn't think there was any place that was truly safe for one carrying the knowledge that she did. The knowledge that her mistress schemed to make herself the Lady of the West, to the current lady's no doubt painful and deadly detriment. It was dangerous knowledge, but then again her mistress played a dangerous game. The female had no doubts that sooner or later her machinations were going to get her killed, but that wasn't her business. Her business was in keeping the female's schemes from getting she herself killed.
In all honesty, with as far as her mistress was willing to go in her determination to get Touga, the female was beginning to consider going to Touga-sama with what she knew and begging for asylum from the demented Teruko. It would most definitely be safer than what this scheme would leave her.
She settled quietly on the ground near the tents for the injured, waiting with the soldiers for Izayoi's orders to head home.
Yes... she would most certainly have to consider her options very carefully at this juncture if she wanted to keep breathing.
~oOo~
All Kagome wanted at this point was to find the nearest futon and collapse into it.
She was more exhausted than she could ever remember being, and there was still the march home to get through before she could really rest and come down from this whole mess. She blinked eyes that were dry and gritty trying to get her tears to lubricate them with little luck, and sighing wearily she nodded to the others trying to get her attention, letting them know that she'd heard their concerns and would think on them when she had leisure to do so. Which, she thought to herself, seemed to be right now.
Glancing out the open side of the now mostly empty tent at the night sky, she estimated it at about an hour after midnight or so, and hid a yawn behind her hand as her eyes drooped tiredly for a moment.
Gods I'm so tired. I don't think I've ever been so exhausted before. I don't know how I'm going to get myself home – not without some rest first, at least. She looked around and sighed. I guess I'm just lucky that it seems as though my job here is mostly done – there hasn't been an influx of anymore wounded for several hours, so I can only hope that it's over.
Perhaps it was time to send the last group of wounded back to Kangetsu. There was no current reason to delay them, and so she straightened her shoulders and put her weariness away. Snapping out a demand for silence from the beings surrounding her, she met several gazes sternly.
"Converging on me and yelling is not going to get anything done," she reprimanded coolly. "Mine, would you mind passing the order for the soldiers to gather in preparation to send the last group home?" As the small female nodded and whirled away to do as bid, Kagome watched her delicate, leaf green locks flare around her, and had to smile. The little dragon was always so earnest! She was nothing at all like her insane sire – and Kagome could only be thankful for that. She turned her attention back to the others after a moment, her smile fading. "Captain Osamu, have those who are assisting me here gather the last of those needing escort to the citadel and give them over into the custody of you and your soldiers. And lastly, Rika, let General Akira know that we are finished with these tents so that he can have Ryuyama-sama's people take them down."
Those spoken to nodded and headed off to do as bid, leaving Izayoi finally alone with just Kenji and Kirara still attending her.
She exhaled deeply as Kenji came forward and Kirara looked at her. "You need to sleep, Kagome," the neko said, a scowl hidden in her mind-voice, and Kagome chuckled very slightly.
"I know, Kirara. Believe me, I know. But I can't – we still have things to do and then there is still the trip home," she said slowly, blinking to focus tired eyes.
Kenji eyed her weighingly as he stepped up to stand at her shoulder, seemingly well aware of just how exhausted she was and she flushed, looking away and refusing to meet his rather stern gaze.
"Izayoi-sama, Kirara is correct. You need to rest before you partake in any further activity. And I know that Touga-sama would agree with me," he added, his tone clearly saying that if she did not go find a place to rest, he would be searching out her mate and dragging him into this.
She frowned. "Now, Kenji," she began, but was halted by the shake of his head.
"No, Izayoi-sama, I must insist. Your duties here are finished now, and if I didn't pay attention to your needs Touga-sama would be well within his rights to kill me for allowing you to bring harm to yourself without notifying him of your actions. Please do not ask such a thing from me, as I dislike the thought of you suffering any discomfort, and that aside from my desire to keep my head where it is."
That cut across all her planned arguments and she finally nodded, unable to find the energy or will to fight her friend and bodyguard on the matter any longer. "Fine," she sighed, "then just where should I go to get this rest?"
Kenji smiled in acceptance of her cooperation as Kirara mewed her displeasure at her companion's former intransigence on the subject before sniffing slightly and nudging Kagome forgivingly with a cold, wet nose. The miko couldn't help the tired little giggle she gave off, and Kirara shook off the painful thoughts the familiar sound brought up. She'd heard a tired Kagome giggle in just such a manner many times – especially when she and Sango were both tired and trying to function through it by a humorous path. Sometimes they had gotten very, very silly, but Kirara never had minded, because it eased Sango's pain and Kagome's broken heart and uncertainty.
"Come this way, my lady," Kenji said smoothly, touching her elbow just slightly to indicate that she should follow him. And that was when she knew that she'd been had – this wasn't a spur of the moment ploy on his part, this had been planned. Probably since her husband had shown up at her side and asked her what other assistance she might require.
"Touga put you up to this, didn't he?" she asked, resigned. If she was right, she would most likely be getting a lecture from him on the subject, and soon. Lovely. An amused glance from the kitsune had her giving up any ire and smiling tiredly up at him. "Am I going to have to listen to a speech from him on how I should be taking better care of myself before I'm allowed to take a good long nap?"
"I would not attempt to say what my lord will or will not do, Izayoi-sama," Kenji replied with laughing eyes. "But I do not think so. He will probably-"
"-he will probably wait to lecture you until after you've rested," came the bland voice of said lord, and Izayoi blinked at him.
"Well good, because I think I'm too tired to listen right now."
An amused grunt followed her words, and Touga stepped back and put his hand out to guide his wife into the small tent that Kenji had led her to. As the kitsune came to a halt behind her the inuyoukai glanced at him. "Be prepared – once Izayoi has had some rest we will begin the run home, so be ready for an early-morning march. Inform my generals," he ordered softly, then turned to enter the tent behind his little mate, dismissing Kenji with a nod over his shoulder in acknowledgment of the respectful bow.
He let the tent flap drop behind him as he watched affectionately as Izayoi headed straight for the futon and without further speech lay down and snuggled into the comfortable bedding, her eyes already drooping closed.
A sleek black brow slid into his bangs as he grinned. I think I'll just save the lecture for another time entirely, he decided as he joined her on the bedding and pulled the blankets over her, his amusement deepening as Kirara kneaded the spot at Kagome's feet and then circled it twice, wrapping her tails around her as she laid down and nudging one of them up over her currently tiny nose. Within seconds she was as asleep as her mistress, and Touga lay back and watched his little wife sleep contentedly.
Things had, overall, gone well for the combined forces of the other cardinal lands, and Touga was pleased and quite happy at the current moment in time. Only one thing could make his day better, but with a fond smile at his already deeply asleep young wife, he shook that particular need off – there would be plenty of time for such activities once they were home.
His happy mood soured a bit as he thought back over the last few days. While things had gone well for the West and its allies, the fact of the matter was that things were not ended as he'd been hoping to do for so long. Damn Ryukotsussei, anyway, he snarled to himself as his eyes trailed over Izayoi. Unfortunately, all deposing the bastard but failing to kill him had accomplished was putting her in greater danger. He hadn't missed the pheromones Ryukotsussei had been giving off when he'd had her in his grasp, and the very idea infuriated him. He had no doubts that if at all possible the bastard would go after her as a way to get back at him.
His eyes narrowed dangerously at his disturbing thoughts, and he mentally began to plan out ways to make things as safe as possible for Izayoi. The idea that the fool might get his hands on her had Touga mentally curtailing her movements so much that even within the confines of his own mind he cringed and was extremely glad that she couldn't read minds - or she'd be chewing his ear off for even thinking along such lines.
She doesn't understand just how dangerous that monster is, though. Not truly. And I... I do not want her to ever gain such understanding, either – so no matter how much she frets over her hopefully temporary loss of certain freedoms, I will just have to remain firm on the subject. Better her being annoyed with me than dead.
Finally pushing such displeasing thoughts away firmly Touga went back to just watching her sleep, allowing the peaceful moment to lull his worries for the time being.
Soon enough to worry over such things when they had arrived back home and things had settled down once more. For now he knew there would be a bit of peace while Ryukotsussei licked his wounds wherever he was hiding and recovered from the trouncing he'd received. There was no doubting that he would be planning an attempt at vengeance while doing so though, and Touga knew it, but for right now Izayoi was safe enough and he could concentrate on their relationship and the day-to-day running of the West – at least outwardly.
Inwardly, he would also be planning – planning just how he was going to absolutely destroy his most hated enemy for daring to place one clawed finger on his wife and even worse scenting of desire while doing so.
Perhaps death was too easy for such an affront...
Touga sighed and closed his eyes, falling into sleep while curled up protectively around his mate, all the while allowing his subconscious to imagine all the different ways he could pay Ryukotsussei back for his transgressions.
His thoughts and ideas were being echoed by another, though in reverse, and as Ryukotsussei lay in his cave hidden deep within the Northern mountains and suffered through the pain of the reiki burns he'd received, he vowed to get back at Touga if it was the last thing he did.
Nothing else mattered now but that revenge, and he would most definitely be pleased to take it at the Western lady's expense.
His last thoughts before his mind shut down so he could begin healing were of Izayoi...
And all the things he could do to her before he killed her.
Enjoy your temporary peace, Touga, for once this one is healed that peace will be over.
oOo~
A/N: And done! The second part of this tale, A Song of War, is finished, and now I can finally begin on the third and final part of this story. I'm so excited! Another twenty to twenty-four chapters or so to go and this one will be finished. Yay!
I hope everyone has continued to enjoy the story, and that you all will keep enjoying it as we move into the culmination of the tale.
Amber
