Title: The Encounter
Author: InusDemoness
Disclaimer: I do not own the Inuyasha anime, manga, or characters. All rights and property belong to Rumiko Takahashi and Viz.
Summary: How Izayoi first met InuTaishou.
(Inner thoughts)
"There is no trace of her, my lord," said Gensai gravely.
"Indeed, it is as if Izayoi-sama has vanished!" Said Takanaka, who was in such a state of stress that he expected the old man to work himself into a heart attack at any moment.
Lord Imagawa sat in on a silk pillow with all his retainers, guards, and samurai bowed before him. It was as though he was surveying a room full of failure. After sweeping the castle and grounds, they were unable to locate any sign of his daughter. He never imagined when he woke that he would be facing yet another catastrophe. This one was made all the more worse because of all the endless possibilities of who could have taken her, and the arrival of the Takeda company. The news that his daughter was gone had traveled through the castle. No doubt the Takeda vassals knew by now, which is why he sent for them. The situation needed containment.
"Gensai, I will not accept failure. My daughter must be found, and she must be found alive and well. You will lead the search and take as many of my men as you need. Find her!"
"Understood, daimyo!" The samurai exited the room without another word.
"The rest of you will continue about your normal duties until told otherwise. Takanaka, send the Takeda vassals in."
"Yes, my lord." When the vassals entered they were near as grim-faced as him. The three vassals were advisers to the lord Takeda. The one who usually spoke for the group was a shrewd looking man by the name of Daichi Tamura. The other two vassals seemed to be generally well natured but it was clear that Tamura held all the sway.
"Our deepest sympathies for this tragedy, Imagawa-sama," said Tamura, as he bowed.
"You may rest assured that our lord will give all assistance in finding your daughter," said Benjiro.
"Indeed, our lord would be most glad to help! Not only is Izayoi-sama the future bride to his son, she is also his beloved niece. And as we promised the Takeda force has arrived and are currently outside your gates," said Tamura.
"I am grateful for your hard work. My daughter will be found and those who have taken her will be swiftly punished for this grave insult! The Takeda troops will be treated well and when daughter is safe, they will transport her to Kai."
"This has happened to you once before, correct? The despicable Oda kidnapped the son of Matsudaira as he was on his way to be your hostage and seal an alliance, if I am not mistaken?" Tamura asked.
"That is true. The Oda fear the power of any alliance with my clan. There is nothing to throw them in the light of suspicion this time except for their past act. I will not move precipitously without more evidence."
"A wise decision, Imagawa-sama. A great daimyo cannot be easily swayed by immature hatred in these situations," said Benjiro.
"Forgive me, my lord, but if Izayoi-sama has been taken from this world-" Lord Imagawa allowed his displeasure to show on his face. Tamura stopped speaking and bowed immediately.
"I will not entertain such talk!" The daimyo thundered.
"Forgive us, Imagawa-sama. We would just like to remind you that an alliance is still desired and if you would allow your heir to be betrothed to Takeda-sama's young second cousin, it can be achieved."
"A marriage to a relative so distant would not be acceptable."
"It is true she is a cousin but our lord looks on her as a daughter and a marriage would be honored as such."
"I will give it my consideration but I have not given up on our current arrangement."
"Thank you, Imagawa-sama."
He had no time or patience for more marriage negotiating when his daughter had vanished in the night. It's true that the Oda had done this to him once before but that time they were so crass and they did not bother to hide themselves. Izayoi was simply gone. Her room was not disturbed, there were no clues and the guards saw no one strange around the castle. Could it have been ninja as his daughter suspected? Had the Oda destroyed the Iga shinobi to gain favor with the Koga shinobi? Whoever took her had to want something and he needed to find out what that was.
Never had she felt so lost, helpless, and foolish. She had actually gone out on the balcony seeking him! She tried to comfort herself with the knowledge that he could have killed everyone in the castle and gotten to her anyway, but it did no good. She had been spirited away by a youkai. A youkai that wanted her for his mate, and for some reason, cared to have her permission on the matter. She had no idea where she was, besides that it was the forest. The trees were so thick together here that the sunlight was barely able to penetrate. She was still in her night robes and they were dirty from being in the woods. She'd finally given up trying to escape when he erected the barrier around her.
"How long will he keep me here?"
"I'm afraid I have no answer for that, Izayoi-sama. I've never seen him so persistent." The little youkai chuckled at that and hopped onto her knee. Her captor left his tiny vassal behind to watch over her. A flea youkai named Myoga that had a nasty habit of biting her when she was not paying attention. Aside from that the youkai seemed welled mannered and intelligent, and incredibly loyal to his master.
"Well, I cannot stay here and I cannot "mate" with him! I am to be married in order to seal an alliance that my father needs! And what is more than all these things, I am not an animal! I cannot live in the forest!"
"My lady, you still do not understand what a great honor it is to be chosen by my master," said the little youkai as he bounced up and down. "He is master of all the western lands. All youkai that dwell within his domain answer to him! These lords and alliances you worry over, he could crush them easily. He is descendant from long an ancient line of youkai, there are few other youkai that can challenge him. And he has offered you chance to be his lady, a chance he has only offered to one other."
"Another?"
"Do not think on her, Izayoi-sama, they have long been estranged. She was also a youkai but their relationship turned cold after the birth of his heir."
"His heir? So I am to be, what? A concubine? This cannot be borne!" The idea of being in the same position as the women her mother had dealt with was unthinkable.
"You misunderstand me, Izayoi-sama. Youkai relationships are not like human ones. Most youkai prefer being free to move on when they feel the urge to."
"That is even less comforting to me." She stood up and began to pace the clearing.
"Let us imagine that you did have a relationship with my master, even if it ended you would be well off, my lady. His former lady has her own castle. Do not think he would cast you off disgracefully. The decision to end their connection was partly hers as well. Youkai do feel love, my lady. Those of the elite youkai are capable of feelings, but unlike humans, we do not believe in remaining in a loveless relationship."
"Even so, I cannot. How could I live knowing I had caused such dishonor on my family? How could I swallow the guilt knowing I ran out on the betrothal?"
"You say this marriage is needed to seal an alliance. Who is your clan warring with, Izayoi-sama?"
"The Oda clan has been preventing the expansion of my father's territory. We have been battling them for years and they have prevented us from forming alliances with other clans."
"And your father requires the armies of this other lord to end the Oda clan so he marries you off." It was more statement than question and the matter-of-fact way in which he said it made her feel defensive.
"The Takeda clan is also my mother's family so I was sure to be married to their son in any case. The war made little difference."
Before Myoga could reply the barrier shimmered and disappeared. They both turned and watched as he came striding into the clearing. Even now, the sight of him made her angry but she could not deny how handsome he was. It was an unnatural beauty. His eyes, hair, and markings were not human, but she loved to look at them and that made her angry at herself as well. She worked hard to fight down her blush by focusing on her ire.
"Inu no Taisho-sama," said Myoga as he gave a little bow. He ignored the little flea and looked at her.
"Have you considered my proposal?"
"What you ask is impossible. I could not, I cannot be with you," she said firmly. He stared at her for a moment. He was looking at her face with such an intense gaze that she began to squirm like a child.
"I would like to show you something, my lady. After you have seen it, I will take you home if you desire." He took her hand in his so gently that her resistance crumbled and she nodded.
She didn't pass out this time but she her consciousness was certainly not normal. She knew they were flying but she couldn't comprehend how that was possible. She felt the wind rushing around her and she knew she was clinging to him, but she could not say how much time passed before they stopped. When she opened her eyes they were on top of a mountain. When she noticed that she was still in the circle of his arms she blushed and moved away. She could see clouds below them, but what was even more fantastic was the castle behind her.
A castle atop a mountain…
Bigger than any castle she had ever laid eyes on, it looked as if three castle had come together to create it. The three buildings were different heights grouped in a triangle with tallest part in the back. It was white with hints of blue and dark tiles for the roof tops. There was a waterfall not too far in the distance and she could see that the water formed a river that ran somewhere behind the castle itself.
"You live here?" She asked in disbelief.
"Yes."
"Do you live here alone?"
"There are a few servants, but yes."
"Why did you show me this?"
"If you were to accept me, this would be your home. You would be the lady of this castle."
"Why me? Myouga-san has told me much about you. He says that he has never seen you so set on someone, but why me?"
"That night you ran from the youkai we seemed to be fated to meet. I was tracking those youkai when they attacked you."
"Why were you tracking them?"
"Days before, they wandered into my territory and tried to kill my son while he was out. They knew who he was and tried to eat him to gain his power. He's young, still, he managed to kill one of them and get away. I would not allow them to live after that. When you rode up with your samurai, your scent intrigued me."
"My scent?"
"That garden on your balcony, you spend a great deal of time there. So much that the scent has become part of you. You smell like flowers. It is usual, as are you. You saved your servants from the youkai."
"Is that so usual?"
"It is kind and inu youkai, like myself, we are drawn to kindness in humans. It's not something we like to admit. The animals you call dogs, they will serve any human because they are base creatures lacking in intelligence. Still, we are related to them in a sense that we do have an interest in humanity. Conversely, we inu youkai will only accept the very best of humanity." He smiled at her and she knew she was blushing.
"I am honored by your words, but I cannot be with you." Saying it to him a second time wasn't so easy. She realized that she wanted this, wanted him, but her guilt was stronger. She saw the sadness on his face for a moment before he smiled again.
"Then at least let me give you a kimono to wear home." She nodded mutely and let him escort her inside.
"Myouga, tell the servants I have brought Izayoi-sama and to prepare." The little flea popped out from under his master's fur and bounced off.
"Prepare for what?" Her fear tingled in her stomach for an instant.
"Fear not, my lady, in the morning you will be back on your balcony. However, I must insist on making you the lady of this castle for one night."