Okay! Thanks to my reviewer. Thinking about how to change my summary. OK! For this chapter we might start jumping a little with Inu's memories because I don't want to reveal everything yet, but here is a little bit more. Review.

Chapter VI

LORD OF THE NORTH

As Inuyasha went through various memories of when he was younger he couldn't help the feelings of both joy and regret that swept over him. He had been 23 years old when Healo had come and taken him and his mother away from their life of pain and rejection. It was four short days later when they finally crossed the Drianen River and approached the comfortable capital of the Northern Lands where Healo was finally going to be able to enjoy some peace in his life. Or so he thought.

Inuyasha's Memory

(During Healo's Coronation)

He could describe his current feeling in one word. Bored. Inuyasha was standing beside his mother inside the Grand Hall at the Northern capital, Brilith. His mother looked beautiful in a luminescent blue kamino although he didn't necessarily like her hair, which was in a strict bun. He himself was wearing a smaller version of what he always wore when he was older. Healo had been kind enough to allow both of his guests to take the best rooms in the palace. He had even commissioned what nearly constituted as a whole team of demons and humans to serve their every need.

Not that there wasn't a great deal to look at. Inuyasha had already examined the hall. He liked the graceful curves of the architecture and the simplistic nature of the atmosphere itself, but it didn't have a lot to really contemplate. So, for a while he had studied the various humans and demons in the room. By looking carefully he spotted a demon from each of the four other lands, including the regent of the Empire.

Inuyasha could see two demons from the Southern Lands standing across the room close to the throne where they would be able to see well. One of his favorite stories that his mother had told him was about Tilen the Fair, the head of the Southern line, so he had no difficulty picking them out. The male was a little taller and obviously older than the smaller woman. Not that demons age the some way as people do. They only grew to maturity and then you could only tell their age by the weight in their eyes.

Anyways, this one was wearing a white cloak, in accordance with the tradition that Tilen himself had set down, and instead of bearing a rod bore a thin circle of gold over his golden curls. The young woman, who appeared to be either a daughter or neice, had sky blue eyes, was wearing a matching kamino, and wore her rich golden hair down to her shoulders.

His mother leaned down and whispered softly in his sensitive ears ", Lord Nelit and his daughter the Lady Avia." Inuyasha looked into his mother's awed eyes then back towards the couple as he said a little too loudly ", She's pretty." His mother gave a small cough when both of the demons turned to regard the young hanyou and his mother. The Lord of the South hid a small laugh and the lady a kind smile which caused Inuyasha to realize his mistake and blush in embarrassment. Izayoi gave her son a small tap and bowed respectfully and Inuyasha took the hint and did so also.

He looked around quickly to turn his focus to something else. A short distance from the Southern demons he spotted Lord Magus who seemed to be a little less intimidating because he was actually giving off a genuine smile. Ignoring him, Inuyasha next turned to see the son of the Eastern Lord. His eyes were the traditional orange color but his red and black outfit added an extra sinister effect to his eyes. He obviously had no desire to be there as he wore a frown along with an overall impatient vibe.

However, the imperial regent seemed patient enough. He was an indirect descendant of the original emperor's Prime Minister and he used his predecessor's title to claim control over the imperial lands when no heir to Prince Malus was found. He was a dog demon, obviously, but it was rumored that he also had wolf blood in him which was believable considering his over all appearance. He wore an elaborate cloak done in silver and purple, the imperial colors, which made him look like something out of a pack of cards.

Speaking of wolves, there were several wolves among those gathered to witness Healo's ascension. The most numerous were red wolves since they mostly lived in the Northern Lands. There was a single brown wolf, who was ignoring the representative from the Eastern Lands even though he was supposed to be his lieges' son. There were also a pair of silver wolves standing near Sesshomaru, since he was their lord.

Sesshomaru. Inuyasha had tried his best to ignore his half-brother so far. He had arrived late yesterday evening and had stared coldly at the hanyou when he had first seen him. Luckily Healo arrived less than a second later and was able to diffuse the situation with his questions to Sesshomaru. Inuyasha had snuck out of his room that evening to try to find out something more about this brother of his. He had been lucky, in a sense, because he had found his brother talking to Healo, but he didn't like what he heard.

"Brother, it is important that you show your subjects exactly what kind of lord you will be. You cannot afford to associate with hanyou," Sesshomaru had said in his stoic voice. Healo gave a sigh and replied in a weary tone ", He is your father's son. Nothing you can say or do will change that fact. Since you refuse to accept him I offered he and his mother, who legally was Inutaisho's mate, sanctuary here. I do not regret my actions at all."

Sesshomaru gave a soft growl as his eyes narrowed. ", It will be a sign of weakness to the other lords. You do not want that, especially not now with your age already an issue. This could give them an excuse to cause war with you." Healo had only smiled and said ", That is the least of my concerns. My people would support me, they are ecstatic at the thought of having their own lord again, and we together are stronger than the other lands."

The Western Lords tone was deadly as he replied ", I could not support a war to defend a hanyou." Healo's eyes burst into blue flame as he struggled for control and asked calmly ", And what of our alliance?" The icy demon gave an uncharacteristically cold laugh as he answered ", The West has lost enough of its prestige. True we are still the masters of the sea, but I was forced to give a great deal of autonomy to the panther demons. Soon I will have to face them in the South, and the reason Bianen isn't coming to your coronation because he occupied the Great Forest and the western plains."

Healo's eyes widened and the fire was extinguished as he asked ", What?" Sesshomaru's eyes also cooled as he replied ", A day before a crossed the Drianen I received a message from Bianen. He said that since I was too young to rule effectively he would lessen my burdens by taking that section upon himself until I was ready to administer them 'appropriately'." Healo shook his head slowly ", I received a similar message he took all of my land between the Drianen and the Eastern mountains. This will actually make it easier for me to defend my lands, and when the time comes we will both strike the Eastern Lord and force him to give US concessions."

Inuyasha wasn't the most compassionate child, but he didn't want anyone to die over him.

Inuyasha stirred when he sensed movement at the end of the hall. He looked towards the entrance and found Healo standing in absolute silence waiting for the signal for him to continue into the room. Inuyasha saw the imperial regent give a willing nod and Healo began a slow march down the center of the room towards the white thrown at the far end. He was wearing a white version of the cloak that the young half-demon had first seen him in, and his appearance was noble and gracious. He paused at the dias before the throne and patiently waited for the three other lords and imperial regent to form the four points around him.

This was supposed to symbolize the imperial crest. The silver four-pointed star with a golden center, but before the line disappeared the Emperor would administer the oath of office. Inuyasha could hear the regent's calm voice:

"Do you swear to uphold the Imperial Code to the full extent of your power? Do you swear to protect the honor and integrity of the people of the Northern Lands? Do you swear never raise a sword in rebellion to the Empire but only to serve the subjects of your domain? Lastly, do you swear to do the same for the subjects of the whole Empire, and to respect the authority of each lord as you do your own?

The oath was answered with a moment of silence before Healo slowly closed his sapphire eyes and answered ", I, Healo Tepes, so swear." Inuyasha watched as the regent held out a regal white rod with a large diamond on one end and a thin golden layer on the other. Healo stared at the rod for a moment before reaching out a still hand and pulling it across his heart in a kind of salute. The regent spoke solemnly ", Do you lords recognize and accept the claim of this demon to the Northern Throne?" They spoke as one ", We do."

Inuyasha heard a small noise and looked at his mother to find her with tears in her eyes. Her eyes never left the ceremony but she said softly ", I'm so happy for him, Inuyasha. He has waited a long time, and gone through many trails to come here. Even now I know he can't believe that he is actually here. You know the last time he was in this room he was only a little baby."

Inuyasha's eyes filled with confusion as he asked hesitantly ", Really?" His mother nodded and bit her lip as she answered ", Yes, his father died when he was only three years old, right after Magus was born. For another year or so his mother was able to resist pressure from the other lords to take another mate. However, she and your father, who had never had a mate, fell in love. Healo and Magus were both adopted by your father and they went with their mother into the west. Soon after Sesshomaru was born, but, sadly, she didn't survive."

Inuyasha turned with wide eyes to stare at Healo. 'I can't imagine what life would be like without mother,' he thought with pity. Healo's strong voice answered ", It was a long time before I admitted that it wasn't Sesshomaru or Inutaisho's fault but once I did I began to live again. I cannot complain about my life when there are so many with no parents and none of the privilege that I grew up with."

Even Inuyasha knew what an extraordinary answer that was. He couldn't even imagine being that mature about life. Despite all the time he spent talking with his mother, Healo himself, and even some of the soldiers who had know him for most of his life Healo Tepes was still an enigma to him.

Break in Memory

As Inuyasha sat daydreaming he didn't realize just how little of Healo's story he knew even know. When he went to meet him maybe he would find some of the answers he still lacked. Or maybe he would only find more mysteries surrounding this Lord of the North as he became known after that day.

Yay! Another chapter. Okay this chapter might seem a little confusing but I promise you that almost everything that was said has latter significance. I think there will be one more chapter before I take you all back to the present. Review.