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The sight of his weeping son filled him up with remorse, it was something that he did not like to see and had tried to avoid at all cost; that was the reason why he had always walked away when his mate tried to goad him into a fight. Nothing was worse than seeing your children sick or unhappy. He had taken the boy to his room in the hopes of quieting him down but to no avail, the child had witnessed a terrible sight, one that involved both his parents maiming each other, and it did not help the situation any that he had lost himself to rage when he'd remembered the circumstances surrounding his mating to Seira, and he probably would have killed her too if it were not for the child's pitiful whimpering.
Sesshomaru frowned and rest his head briefly into his palms regretful that he had hurt his son, and whatever he may or may not feel for his mate, she was still the boy's mother and he was a child and deeply attached to her still. And as he continued to watch Akiyoshi curled up like a baby with his knees pressing into his stomach and crying softer now, he knew that he had to try and comfort him, alienating another son did not appeal to him, because he still could not understand why Taizo was so withdrawn. He wasn't the most social of his children, and was very quiet and only spoke when addressed directly, but still what worried him the most was that the boy had never rejected or shied away from him before.
When was the last time that he slumbered? He wondered, and as he stood and removed his armor and swords the feeling of fatigue overwhelmed him. An undignified frown had him pursing his lips tightly as he remembered the reason for his lack of rest; it was the backstabbing and treachery of his own people that had him on the move, there was no time for rest because he had to defend his title and empire, and most importantly salvage what he could now so that as a species they could survive into the future.
The Daiyoukai sighed heavily as he approached his bed where his son lay without moving from the position he was in for quite some time. "Akiyoshi," he called softly, and the boy answered. "Yes father," which came out as a whimper because he was still crying. He paused for a moment longer standing, then sat down on the bed and gently turning his son in his direction so that they could see each other while he tries to make amends. But the sight that greeted him clenched his heart painfully, the boy's eyes were blood red from all his crying and his animal spirit had seeped into them further darkening them. His face was wet with his tears, his nose runny and his lips quivered as he tried to suck in a sob. Then suddenly he asked. "Why father, why did you hurt my mother and throw her into the cells like a common criminal?"
Sesshomaru inhaled a breath deeply in irritation, because all this grief was caused by people who thought that they knew what was best for him. And looking at his son's expectant face he wondered how he was going to tell him the truth; he was a child and such things should not be of a concern to him, and so he decided not to tell him. "It does not concern you…You are a child." His son shot him a questioning look at his remark and countered. "How can you say that it does not concern me? She is my mother, and father, aren't you the one that is always telling me that I will be lord of this house one day. So tell me how any of this doesn't concern me?" His brows raised in surprised at the level of maturity his son was displaying, and after contemplating a few more moments he agreed. "Alright my son, I will tell you."
"Taizo," his mother called, and he approached her and she hugged him close to her bosom and kissed his cheek. "Remember my son you are closest to my heart and I love you." She then gently removed the child from her embrace and sat with him in her lap and stroked back his silky white locks. He could feel his mother's heart beating harshly into his back as she held him, and he thought about his father and the cruel things he was told that he was going to do to them because of a human woman. "Mother, father is back," he said softly and she replied. "I know," and kissed his head. "Will he come and see us like he normally does?" he asked hopefully.
His mother's serious tone worried him when she answered. "You should forget about such things, you were chosen for a very special mission and you should focus on it. Soon my child you will be the one to save us all." And she continued to hold him close stroking back his hair, and it was so soothing that soon he fell asleep. After he fell asleep his mother took him to his bed and stood looking down on him in slumber, a lonely tear rolled from her eye and down her cheek and she swallowed harshly in unease. At first she did not agree with what Seira and lady mother had decided upon when Sesshomaru disappeared recently for over a week, but all that changed in an instant when he brutalized Seira, his own mate and threw her in prison. "I am sorry my son, but your sacrifice will forever be remembered," she said to his sleeping form, bent kissed his cheeks one more time before walking away.
Akiyoshi was determined to stand by his father no matter how unpleasant things got, after his father had recounted everything that had happened he felt badly for him. He still loved his mother and that would never change, and maybe one day when his father was less disagreeable he would ask him to release her, but for now his father needed his support and he was going to give it. "I am sorry father," he said ruefully, and Sesshomaru smiled at him pleased at the strength his son was displaying at such a young age. Shortly thereafter Akiyoshi removed himself from the bed and left his father alone with his thoughts. Laying his body down he stretched his muscles like a well limbered cat and fell asleep almost instantly. The stresses of his life have finally caught up with him.
Kagome was pleased with her progress, she was able to manipulate her reiki at will and keep it stable after four days. "Look sensei," she beamed excitably, and Tora left the food he was cooking on the fire and came towards her. He smiled proudly unseen by her; Kagome had formed and notched an arrow in her bow that she created from her reiki and it was a soft pink and glowing. "Don't get too excited yet, you still need vast improvements with the sword," Kagome frowned and responded, "slave driver," playfully and then she chuckled at the shocked expression on his face.
It was nighttime when he finally awoke and hungry, he had not eaten for the same period of time that he had not slept. He did not want to bother the servants at such a late hour to fix him something to eat, and besides the way he was feeling nothing but a fresh kill and blood would suffice. He stood on the balcony and scented the air for prey and when he found it he went in for the kill. It was a small boar and he partook of its flesh and blood and when he was finished with his meal, his body felt rejuvenated. However, there was something wrong with his son and he needed to find out what it was and try to rectify the problem quickly, his pups were his top priority.
He strode down the long corridor lit by lanterns hanging on the walls to his son's room. Quietly he opened the door and entered only to hear the boy crying, he stopped moving and listened silently in the dark. After many moments the sobs lost their force, subsiding to soft whimpering. Now more than ever he knew that something was definitely wrong, but would the boy open up and tell him what it was? He thought as he approached the child's bed. His eyes followed Taizo's own when he looked up and saw his father gazing down on him. He blinked and looked away from his father's stare. Sesshomaru sat down beside him and wondered what could have darkened his son's mood so much in the short amount of time that he was away.
Reaching for the child's hands which were cold, and surprisingly the boy did not pull away like he had done earlier. Without hesitating any further he asked. "Taizo are you alright?" and without acknowledging that he had heard the question the boy tugged his hands slowly away from his father's own and turned onto his side with a groan. Sesshomaru was mildly surprised at his son's reactions to him. He had always strived to be a good father, he considered himself lucky to have had a great father even though as he matured their relationship had changed because of petty prejudices; he can safely say that now because his way of thinking have changed. Nevertheless, he prided himself on being a good role model for his pups, and had their best interest at heart in whatever he did.
He sat for awhile longer and rubbed the boy's shoulders, but he remained unresponsive. What have changed you so little one? Sesshomaru asked himself as he got up and left the room. Tomorrow he would get to the bottom of this, for deep down into his soul he felt and knew that something terrible was going to happen that involved his son and he had a feeling that he would not be able to stop it. The sensation of malevolence chilled his bones stopping him in his tracks, gulping in unease he leans on the corridor walls. Slowly and with purpose he willed the unwanted feelings away, straightened and went back to his room.
The council would convene in less than four days and there the fight of his life would surely take place. He would collect Kagome on the day before the meeting and take her to the fortress for safety, before bringing her to the meeting and in the presence of vultures. With his hands resting behind his head as he lie down, he closed his eyes in thought and tried to relax.
Alone down a winding staircase leading into the basement where the prison cells were located, Sesshomaru's second mistress and Taizo's mother held a torch in her hand tightly as she stepped gingerly down the stone steps.
Huddled in the corner of a cold and lonesome cell was the current lady of the west. She scented the demoness's scent and got up and leans on the iron bars holding her in as her friend stepped into view. Reaching through the bars they hugged each other and cried. "Don't worry Seira, all will be well again soon," she said trying to comfort her distraught friend, Seira sniffled, nodded her head and then answered. "Are you sure about this?" she inquired thoughtfully. Looking at Seira with compassion in her eyes she then responded. "I will send word to mother that all is in place before she gets here." And squeezing Seira's hands one last time affectionately she left.