Within Darkness
Chapter 8
The carriage stoped and servants rushed to remove the cargo while Amaya and Moriko stepped from the carriage.
"Welcome, My Ladies," an armored man said, stepping forward. "I am Takemaru of Satsuna, captain of the guard."
"Thank you, Takemaru. I am Lady Amaya and this is my trusted servant MOriko. Is it possible to see Lady Izaoyi?"
"Come."
Amaya nodded to Moriko, allowing her to follow their belongings. Amaya followed Takemaru through the corridors of the palace to the chamber Izayoi was in. Amaya watched Takemaru bow.
"My Lady, this is Lady Amaya," he introduces.
"Thank you, captain. Dismissed."
Takemaru bowed and Amaya walked into the chamber.
"Togaou, Lord Togaou, sent me to watch over you," Amaya spoke. "Lord Togaou took me in a year and a half ago and he trusts me to do this for him."
"He's a good man."
Not to some, Amaya thought. "He is.
0o
Amaya walked into her chamber and saw Moriko speaking with a servant. Whatever look Amaya had, Moriko saw and dismissed the servant.
"What is it?"
"When I was with Izayoi earlier, I felt something stir within her. I think she's with child."
0o
Amaya sat in the garden, enjoying the peace of it. There had been little thus far for Amaya to worry about. And Izayoi was early enough in her pregnancy that things were calm with her. Amaya took the calmness around her and searched deep inside her. She did not want a child, not then.
"What do you see," Amaya heard.
She returned body and mind before she answered. "Nothing. I'm not with child. Which is a good thing, MOriko. I cannot afford one while watching Izayoi." Amaya stood and looked at Moriko.
"That's understandable. Come, you look tired."
Amaya allowed Moriko to guide her back to their shared chamber.
0o
Days pasted and Amaya spent most of her time with the members of Izayoi's court. Amaya past human enough to make the court believe it. One particular day, Amaya sat on the covered walkway, watching a group of the nobles play a game of Batche Ball. She never was instructed in mere recreational games.
"Had Lord Togaou not have you play Batche," Amaya heard behind her.
Amaya looked and saw Izayoi there. Amaya rushed to stand, careful of her kimono.
"No, Lady Izayoi. I am like one of Lord Togaou's own. Raised to be a proper lady of the court."
It was criptic enough for the court members not to understand, but Izayoi did.
"I see."
Amaya looked at Izayoi and saw that the human princess' abdomen had grown and estimated that it must be four months since the last time Izaoyi saw each other. And at least five since Amaya had been home at the Castle of the Moon. Early on, Amaya had figured that she arrived when Izayoi was a month or two pregnant. Now Izayoi was roughly six months. Amaya was glad that she herself was not with child; she was not sure if she could handle her own child and watching over Izaoyi and her child.
0o
Three months past and Amaya sensed that things were going to change in the coming days. Most times, Amaya would spend her time with the nobles who resided within the palace. With the cold weather, most of the palace residents remained inside. One night changed everything for Amaya. That day began like all the others, Izaoyi had complained of increased pressure, but both she and Amaya assumed nothing of it. When the day wore on, Amaya noticed that Izayoi was experiencing more pain. By midday, Izayoi had been escorted to the birthing chamber and Amaya had gone off on patrol of the lands around the palace. The tension at the palace was too much for Amaya. Takemaru had the soldiers drilling for days, which meant something was bound to happen. She heard something, a noise, so distant Amaya barely did not hear it. She did not worry herself over it; it was well out of her territory.
Amaya reached the border of the territory and took her true form and laid her scent marker. That was the easiest thing AMaya had done in the past months. Amaya's patrol eventually led her to a natural spring.
"You're along way from home, child," she heard.
"I know, Honored Aunt." Amaya lowered herself and got comfortable. "What would you have me do? I promised...."
"No, you said you would. There was no promise."
"I said I would watch over the human."
The older female Ryuu took a deep breath, taking in Amaya's scent. "There's a trace of their scent on you. Yet..." Another deep breath. "Your scent's stronger."
"I laid scent markers at the boundry of my temporary territory."
A howl of a dog was heard, perking Amaya's head up. It was too close. She took a deep breath and smelled battle on the air. Without a word, she took to the air and flew without haste to Izayoi's palace. She saw the men gathered at the front gate and landed in the back. She took her human form and rached to the birthing chamber. There, she found a spear in Izayoi and pall bearers had begun to gather. AMaya began to bat them away, yet they kept coming back. From the front gate, Amaya heard an attach that sounded like the Wind Scar. Minutes later, Togaou charged into the chamber, which was now near up in flames and filling with smoke, and pushed the curtains over. Amaya soon saw the pall bearers were gone, thanks to the Tensauiga, and that Togaou had placed the coat of the fire rat over Izayoi and the newborn infant.
"Inuyasha," Togaou said, naming the newborn.
"What?" Takemaru had asked.
"The child's name. It's Inuyasha."
Amaya had left Izayoi's side and went to Togaou's, drawing Kenkon.
"No, Amaya," Togaou whispered. "I want you to watch over them."
"Do you intend on dying here against him?"
"I intend on killing him."
Amaya sheathed Kenknon and rushed out with Izayoi and Inuyasha.
0o
On the hill road tha led to the palace, the two women watched it burn to the ground. Amaya had to contain her emotions with Izayoi next to her.
"Come, let's go join who still live," Amaya said.