The Past
-7,000 years prior-
A teenage-looking silver-haired Inu demoness and her black-haired brother were sitting in the gardens before a great temple. Their instructor Katsuharu growled out instructions on the subject he was teaching. Kingdom politics. It was one of the subjects needed to become rulers of the central lands. Or whatever land they resided in.
"Sister," the black-haired Inu whispered, "I'm bored..."
The girl looked at him.
"Let's ditch Katsuharu-sensei and go exploring."
"Takai!" Katsuharu snarled, his short green hair spiking up. "If my teaching is so boring, then leave! Far be it that you make it as a lord in this world!" with that the green-haired one stalked off.
"Takai... That wasn't very nice."
"Ki-ki-chan!" her brother called from across the gardens. "Let's go! Katsuharu-sensei won't stay gone for long!" the girl rolled her eyes and followed her brother to the gates.
"Takai! Wait! Let me get changed first!" Takai mumbled, but allowed his sister to get her silvery-white haori. He changed into a midnight blue one, bedecked with kanji for his name, and tied with a silvery blue sash. His sister returned to the gates just moments before he. Her silvery haori was tied with an obi the same color as his sash, and her long hair was tied in a low ponytail with a silvery blue sash that trailed down and mixed with her hair.
"Are you ready now Ki-ki-chan?" the girl nodded. With that the boy took off out the gates and into the forest. She followed him for quite some time before losing sight of him in the dense forestry.
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"Takai?" she came upon a clearing. In the center was an old abandoned shrine. "Takai?"
No answer came except the chirping of the birds nearby. She walked further into the clearing.
"Takai!" She stared around once more. 'Maybe he's in that shrine...' She walked into the shrine and looked around.
"Takai? Are you in here?" She walked up to the altar and called him again.
"There is no Takai here onna. Why don't you come talk with me?" The girl whirled around to face a wolf demon in the robes of a sorcerer. He reached for her.
She shook her head and made ready to run, but the man caught her by the Haori sleeve and dragged her into his embrace. He planted a rough kiss on her lips as she struggled.
"Too good to pleasure a tired ookami are we?" He slapped her roughly and threw her down to the floor. "We'll see how you feel once you are cursed to be a servant!"
The wolf began to chant and the young girl cried out in pain as her body forced itself to shape into a sword. Her claws lengthening and melding together; becoming metal, her body compacting and shrinking into a hilt wrapped in silk. The screams cut off as the sword clattered to the floor before the angry youkai.
"Now you will be cursed until you are freed by the hand that can draw you from this sheath!" The wolf threw a sheath before her swordly form and she was attracted into it. Once inside the wolf tried to draw her from the sheath, but couldn't. He then cast her aside. "Worthless onna!" With that he left in a puff of smoke. The girl's spirit formed just next to the sword and she buried her face in her hands and cried in loud wrenching sobs. There Takai found her.
"Tsukikage-chan! What's wrong sister!"
"Woe befalls me dear brother Takai! I am cursed to be a sword until the day I am freed from my sheath!" Takai just blinked.
"Come sister. We shall tell father of this tragedy.
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"And that they did. The father being a wise old Inu Taiyoukai he placed Takai under an enchantment. He would never age as long as Tsukikage was encased in the sheath. Until she would be freed. He decreed that only her future husband should be the one that pulls her from the sheath. And so the legend is before you. All you need do is free the Hime Tsukikage from her sheath and she is yours."
Burusuu balked at the story. "BAH! That is just a sword not a cursed Hime! That's just a tale!"
"Then leave Phoenix of the south. I will not have you touch me after declaring that my past is a lie."
"I'll show you!" The defiant Phoenix stood and walked towards the sword, grasped it and tried to draw it from the sheath forceully. It was followed by an angry yelp and a za, then the sword clattered to the floor and Burusuu was holding his hand as it smoked slightly.
"I said do not touch me! Leave before I do worse than zap you!" The bird attempted to reply, but was shoved into a wall by Takai, whose eyes were bleeding red.
"You heard her Burusuu," he snarled. Meanwhile the Tanuki went to draw the sword, but couldn't. He set it down and shrugged. He didn't want it anyway. He left to change and go to his room. Koga and Sesshoumaru managed to pry the angry black dog from the phoenix and Kouga dragged the phoenix away and deposited him outside. Then told a servant to take him to his room once he change on order of Takai and walked back into the room of Tsukikage.
At this time Takai was sitting on his knees, he head tilted downward.
"Go ahead... try to draw the sword Kouga of the east." Kouga walked to the sword and speculated a moment
'What a beauty the sword has described. If the legend is true she will be my woman.' He then tried to draw the sword. No luck, he set it down and walked out a bit dejected.
"It has come to you Lord Sessoumaru. Taiyoukai of the west. Please, be the one to save my sister..." Takai whispered so low that it was barely heard by his own ears.