Chichiue (Honoured Father)
Written by Sarga
July to December 2006
Summary: On their quest to destroy Naraku, Inuyasha's group comes across another half dog-demon. Why is he so anxious to join their quest for the Shikon Jewel? What startling secrets will he reveal?
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha and I have no money to sue for.
Translations:
Inu :: dog
hanyou :: half demon
kami :: gods
koi :: love
youkai :: demon
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Chapter 5: Secrets Revealed
"It is time for you to learn to fully control those human emotions, Adachi." Sesshoumaru side-stepped another angry but poorly aimed blow. "I have let you train long enough. The misplaced anger you have harbored towards me should be released in favour of further advancing your skills."
"Misplaced!" Adachi screamed. "How dare you belittle her death, you murderous demon?!" Adachi found himself face first in the dirt as he misjudged his aim once more. He was suddenly raised off of the ground, his fiery eyes meeting his father's equally enraged gaze.
With a rare show of emotion, Sesshoumaru snarled as he held his son by the throat.
"I will only say this once and only once: I did not kill your mother. She was my mate, and regardless of her role in the death of your sister, I would not, could not kill her." Sesshoumaru dropped Adachi unceremoniously to the ground, his face an unreadable mask once more.
"I don't have a sister!" Adachi spat out from the ground.
"Not any more. Your mother saw to that." Sesshoumaru retorted coolly.
"Liar!" Adachi jumped up but once again found himself suspended in midair.
"I have little patience, Adachi. Do not test me more than you already have. Why do you think you were in the company of such a despicable human 'lord' as Gokashi? I will tell you the truth of the matter. If you cannot accept it, than I will leave you here as you are. If you seek me out after rejecting the truth, I will no longer show patience. Are we clear?" Sesshoumaru, a mere breath away from Adachi, pulled back and lowered his son to his feet.
In a rough voice, razzed by the harsh treatment he had received, Adachi responded. "Speak."
"Very well..."
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Sesshoumaru stood in his library facing the messenger who bore news that could not have been more unwelcome. If she had been any other person he would have slain her where she stood. But Maruji, his own daughter, knew that. And so she had told him in person, in a manner that left no room for argument.
Sesshoumaru's mate, Maruji's mother, was planning to have him assassinated.
And for what? It seemed that she wished to be free of her husband, her mate, so that she could marry again. With the Western lands as a dowry, through her children who were Sesshoumaru's heirs, she would be able to live a comfortable life with a human husband. She claimed that the demon customs were overwhelming and too 'barbaric' for her 'refined' human tastes.
She had approached one of the local demon 'dissenters', one who had made his distaste for the lord's rule an obvious focal point for his hatred. One who was also paid handsomely by said lord to report any other dissenters to him. Knowing one's enemies certainly made the world a safer place.
Unbeknown to Sesshoumaru's mate, this particular 'dissenter' was also teaching Maruji, her teenage daughter, the art of deceit and political strategy. As a result, her own daughter bore witness to her betrayal.
"You know that if it were any other person, you would be dead for spreading false rumors meant to disrupt this family." Sesshoumaru spoke quietly in a last attempt to feel for any hint of betrayal from his beloved daughter and heir.
There was none.
"Yes, father." Maruji's deep brown eyes filled with unshed tears. She held her head high, refusing to show the human weakness he half-heartedly scolded her for from time to time. Maruji's long black hair, unkempt and windblown, spoke of the haste of her visit to her father. Normally she would only allow herself such disarray when spending time with her twin brother and uncle.
Her twin brother, Adachi, the son who would normally be heir before her, was a mere infant in comparison. His demon blood ran stronger, slowing his aging so that he appeared to be only three years of age. By the time Adachi grew of age, she would be an old woman. She would rule for the duration of her life, should her father and grandfather predecease her, to be followed by her brother upon her own death.
As Sesshoumaru slumped into his chair, Maruji saw an uncharacteristic display of weariness from her father. "It is good that she went to one of our decoys as opposed to an enemy," he sighed. "She can be restrained without any public show of animosity. You have done well, daughter." Maruji relaxed visibly, her eyes clearing slightly as he spoke. "I will need to speak to your grandfather. It would be best to respond quickly and he would know how best to proceed." Sesshoumaru showed the slightest smile. "Your mother is not a patient woman and our decoy will only be able to delay her for a few days at most."
Nodding, deep in thought herself, Maruji offered to fetch her grandfather. "I'll go get him now, father. I..." She paused as her voice hitched with the anguish she felt. "I'm sorry this happened."
Sesshoumaru nodded. "Tell your grandfather to come quickly. The sooner, the better."
Sesshoumaru watched as his daughter left to find Lord Inutaisho. He found himself reflecting on his mate, his wife. When had she started to betray him? Surely she had loved him at some point? Despite her fickle human emotions, even she was capable of that, wasn't she?
The demon was pulled from his reflection by a strong rapid knock from the library door.
Once again composed, Sesshoumaru placed his clasped hands on his desk in front of him. "Enter."
As commanded, the great Lord Inutaisho entered the library followed by Maruji.
"Father." Sesshoumaru stood and bowed deeply in a show of respect and submission. Raising back to full height, Sesshoumaru motioned towards the wide library windows. Seating themselves in the sun's unwavering light, Sesshoumaru faced his father while Maruji sat at his side.
"My mate has betrayed me." Sesshoumaru admitted without hesitation.
Inutaisho raised an eyebrow and thought a moment before responding. "As my heir, there are only three options available to you. Execution," Inutaisho paused as Sesshoumaru growled his distaste for that option. "Banishment, or imprisonment."
"I will imprison her here. She would appear in public as my mate, but be restricted when not at my side. She will fulfill her obligations as my mate but will hold no freedoms of her own."
A sudden movement at his side caused Sesshoumaru to jump to his feet. His daughter lunged towards him only to fall onto the floor in a heap. Inutaisho jumped through the open window and was quickly followed by a solid thump as he dismembered the assassin.
Sesshoumaru clutched his daughter to his chest. She was dead, killed by a very effective poison. She had prevented his death at the cost of her own. With a soul-searing howl, he cried out in torment, having lost his darling daughter.
Sesshoumaru felt rather than saw as his father returned through the window. Inutaisho was met with the sight of his normally stoic son shedding tears for his eldest child. Sorrowful silence filled the room as the mourning father clutched at his broken child.
"She will not go easily, but she cannot stay here." Inutaisho stated in a grief-stricken whisper. "You must banish your mate or kill her. It is your duty as heir to protect yourself and the people of your future lands."
Freely showing an immense sorrow he had never before felt, let alone expressed, Sesshoumaru lifted his daughter with gentleness and love. He made an internal vow to make these the last tears he would ever shed. No other would enter his heart and cause such torment ever again. He headed towards the library door, holding his daughter close.
With a final kiss to her forehead, Sesshoumaru turned towards his father.
In a voice cool and steady, Sesshoumaru spoke to his father. "Take her. I will complete my duty."
Inutaisho took his grandchild and headed towards his own mate to prepare for the child's funeral.
Sesshoumaru reached his chambers in record time. He could smell that she had just entered, no doubt after having paid for this current assassination attempt.
Without any trace of the turmoil that was ripping through him, Sesshoumaru entered his chamber and seized his mate by the shoulders. Pushing her harshly against the wall, she reacted every bit as guiltily as she was. She opened her mouth as if to defend her actions.
"Don't even try it," Sesshoumaru's cold voice cut off any protests she may have had. "Maruji, our daughter, your own flesh and blood, is dead." Her face paled with understanding. "You have two choices, death or exile. I will give you this choice as the last act of our mating bond. Respond!"
"I...Exile," her weak voice betrayed her fear and he all but spat in contempt at her weak, too-human display.
His control slipping slightly, Sesshoumaru sneered towards her. "I promise you, the next time I see you, you will be dead. Make sure you are gone by sundown. All of my guards will be instructed to kill you without question if you linger." Leaving no room for argument, Sesshoumaru turned and stalked from the room, leaving the shaken woman to gather her belongings and go.
- - - - - - - - - -
Sesshoumaru paused a moment, letting Adachi and the others absorb the tale.
"I do not know how she took you from the grounds, Adachi. By the time we realized you were with her, she was gone. I was not willing to go back on my promise to kill her but I was also unable to bring myself to fulfill that promise and give chase. I did what I had to in order to remain in control. I allowed her to take you. I allowed her to sell herself to the first human with any measure of power. And I allowed her to die by his hand instead of mine..."
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Adachi, a hanyou youth, entered his mother's bed chamber. It was well past noon, the sun arcing it's way back downward. It was unusual for his mother to be in her room for so long, she was always the first up.
As Adachi pulled aside the bed curtain, he was met with a sight no child should ever have to see. His mother's broken and bloody body lay twisted in the covers on her bed. Her short breaths were raspy and violent and her heavy lidded eyes were unfocused.
"Momma?" the youth whispered in fear, shock overwhelming him. He had never seen one so close to death before, let alone a loved one.
"Adachi..." her voice, normally soft and beautiful, was marred by a gurgle deep in her throat.
Adachi felt a weak hand grasp for his and he held it tight, as if by holding onto it he could slow his mother's inevitable death.
"Adachi..." His mother's eyes struggled to focus on his, but it seemed to be a loosing battle. "Avenge me..."
Her body contorted in pain and Adachi felt her grasp tighten painfully.
"Find him, find...your father..."
Whatever his mother had been about to say was cut off with a violent choking cough. Adachi felt her grasp fall limp as her eyes glazed unseeing before him.
Find his father.
Avenge her.
He would do that. He would fulfill her dying wish. He would kill the demon who had thrust them out without a care for their safety and security. He would kill the one responsible for stealing the peace they had found. He would kill his father.
"Yes, momma," Adachi whispered reverently.
Adachi gently placed his mother's hand on her chest and closed her lifeless eyes. With the tenderness one would expect from a new parent to an infant, the child untangled the blanket from around her and gently laid it over her body. With a final kiss to the cheek, Adachi covered his mother's face with the blanket.
Turning abruptly, Adachi walked steadily to his mother's desk. Taking a quill he left a note for his surrogate father, the one who had taken them in after they had been cast from the western lands.
Honourable Gokashi,
I have left to avenge the death of my mother. Thank you for your kindness, however I cannot seek further refuge from you. Your love of peace would deny me the training I require to become strong enough to defeat the 'great' Lord of the Western Lands, the one responsible for her gruesome death. Again, many thanks for your support during our time of need. Our debt to you will be repaid in full when I have avenged Mother's death and have obtained my rightful title of Lord.
I wish Mother had met you first, then we would not be in such a situation...
With the love of one who would be your son,
Adachi
Laying the note on the desk, Adachi turned towards the large balcony. He left the house that had been a home since childhood, gently closing the doors behind him.
With a mighty leap worthy of any full demon, Adachi flew towards the forest's edge. He knew of only one person who would be willing to train him, an old human who had been banished by Gokashi for trying to train Adachi when he was a boy. Gokashi had been livid when he found out that the man had been teaching battle techniques, such was his desire for peace.
Without a further glance backwards Adachi raced towards his new life, one of loneliness and death. Adachi was a child no more.
- - - - - - - - - -
Less than an hour after his lover's death, Gokashi stood in her chambers. With a look of pure glee, the man read and re-read the note left behind by the half-breed whelp she had burdened him with.
With a laugh, he shouted over his shoulder to the covered corpse on the bed. "You hear that? He thought I was 'peace loving'! The whelp didn't realize the only one untrained was him. Couldn't have a trained animal ready to fight when his mother was punished, after all." He grinned in delight. "Now the bastard believes that I've provided for him out of the goodness of my heart and that I'm worthy to be repaid..."
With a mock tenderness, Gokashi turned towards the bed. "You really shouldn't have turned away from the advances of my dear friend, koi. That was our deal after all. You sleep with who I tell you to, I keep you and the whelp with a roof overhead and you get to dress in pretty kimonos." He frowned a moment. "That really wasn't wise, koi. Of all the men to reject, you had to reject him...what a pity. If it had been anyone else, I might have been able to keep you alive."
Gokashi shook off the frown and went back to grinning, not noticing the shadow that was suddenly cast over the door of the balcony.
"You are quite lucky you found me though. Not many men would be willing to take in a demon's leftovers, although your 'eternal' youth certainly came in handy..."
Gokashi felt himself lifted forcibly from his feet. He felt a sharp pain in his neck before he was whirled around and slammed against the wall, held by his neck with a clawed hand.
"Where is my son?" Sesshoumaru intoned.
The question, so simple, so direct, should have had a clear answer.
Gokashi laughed, as freely as one who is pinned by the neck could laugh. The grip on his neck tightened, cutting off the impromptu joviality.
"You obviously do not value your life, human. Tell me what I need to know and you may go back to your depraved excuse for an existence." The cool voice showed none of the anger that was apparent through his ironclad grip.
After a few seconds, the grip was slackened enough to permit speech. Gokashi grinned.
"Read the letter, oh mighty Sesshoumaru, 'Lord of the Western Lands'." Sesshoumaru neither turned nor acknowledged that he had spoken. Still grinning, Gokashi described the contents of the letter. "It seems your 'son' holds you responsible for this little mess." He gestured generously towards the bloody bed. "Too bad for you, he might be a chal..." His words were cut short and his body slumped lifelessly to the floor.
"Miserable human."
Sesshoumaru turned towards the desk and read the letter himself, noting the way Gokashi had seemingly completely deceived his own flesh and blood. If he had been raising his son, the boy would have scented the traitor's lies. Not that he had noticed the deceit in the scent of his own mate. That had been a hard lesson, but it had been a lesson fully learned. Humans were not worth anything more than fodder to throw at the enemy. The boy would learn that too.
In the meantime, it would serve well for the boy's anger to spur on his training. He could be taught control after he knew his own strengths and weaknesses. Besides, he had been raised among humans and his human emotions were bound to make him as unreasonable as the fool lying dead on the floor.
Without a glance towards the bed containing his dead mate, Sesshoumaru left as stealthily as he had entered. As promised, she was dead when he saw her again.
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Adachi stumbled backwards and fell heavily against a tree. Sliding down the rough bark, he stared blankly at the ground. Could this be true? Could the man who he had considered his savior really be the one responsible for his suffering?
Even as he tried to deny it, Adachi could not refute the truth of Sesshoumaru's words. Gokashi must have had trained soldiers, otherwise he could not have been lord over the village; any bandit would have pillaged a defenseless village. His mother had bruises far too often for an honest man's lover. Gokashi's controlling attitude...his restriction of Adachi's movement...the 'tutor' who kept an eye on him all hours of the day...
Adachi felt himself grow sick as the reality of the situation hit him.
"I believe you." The words, barely a whisper, carried only to Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha.
Sesshoumaru nodded, a cloud forming at his feet as he lifted in the air.
"I will return to the castle. When you are ready to further your training, seek me there." Sesshoumaru disappeared in a flash.
"Adachi," Kagome's whisper was full of pain, understanding, and friendship. She sank to the ground next to him and wrapped her arm around his shoulder. The nurturing action, one he had not experienced since his mother was alive, broke the little control he had maintained.
Adachi felt silent tears stream down his face as he leaned towards Kagome. Inuyasha crossed his arms, unspoken insults abandoned before they made it to his lips.
"What are you going to do now, Adachi?" Miroku asked as Adachi's mournful tears dried and his composure was regained.
"I...I don't know..." Adachi looked towards Miroku, his eyes wide as if seeing him for the first time. "I don't think I want her back as badly as I used to. Before she was a perfect person who provided me with love and acceptance, but now? She was willing to kill her own mate. She essentially killed her own daughter. She stole me from a home I might have been happy in. I don't think I would fare any better than my father if she were brought back."
Adachi looked towards Inuyasha. "I think it's about time I left this group...Uncle." He lifted himself from the ground and gave a deep bow towards Inuyasha. "Thank you for everything, Inuyasha. We may no longer be 'brothers', but I still consider you one." Adachi grinned mischievously. "I'll convince father that human's aren't all traitors. Give me a few years and he'll come around."
Turning towards Miroku, Sango and Shippo, Adachi gave another bow. "Thanks for your support, guys. Inuyasha's found some real friends in you." Turning towards Kagome, Adachi clasped her hand in his. "Kagome," he smiled softly, suddenly unable to find any words. Abandoning speech, Adachi pulled her into a warm hug. "I'll miss you most," he whispered in her ear.
Pulling away, Adachi addressed the group. "When you need help with Naraku, you know where I'll be."
At that Adachi leaped away, heading towards the promise of a new future.
END
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Until next time...
:-: Sarga