Okay everybody. As usual I want to start with the thanks. First is a new reviewer Tina-Chan 0 for reviewing and placing me on her favorites. Secondly, to our very faithful reviewer bya-kugan master93 for his review and placing me on his favorites. Thanks to all who read and reviewed keep it up. This chapter I'm going to show more of the rift between Healo and Sesshomaru. Please review.
CHAPTER XVI
LOSING A FATHER
Kagome opened her eyes to find herself in another part of the palace. Her eyes widened at the magnificence of the room. Healo spoke in response to the miko's awe ", This is the throne room. As you can see it has changed a great deal from what it is now." Kagome nodded in shock she could see signs of opulent wealth all around her. There were many servants and courtiers dressed in bright clothing as well as gaurds in armor covered with various gems.
When she looked at the throne itself she found a large golden throne which held the powerful Inutaisho himself. Kneeling near the foot of the steps was a demon which Kagome realized was Healo. "I am about 142 years old," the demon said quietly. The miko nodded and watched the unfolding scene with curiosity when the lord of the palace said in a commanding tone ", All of you leave us. I would speak with my son alone." They all immediately left the chamber and the great doors were shut behind them.
However, the young Healo did not make a move to rise so his father said kindly ", Come I have an important matter to discuss with you." The demon rose gracefully and climbed the stairs till he stood only feet away from the one who was, at that time, the most powerful demon in the world. Kagome wasn't surprised to find that Healo didn't seem to be intimidated on the contrary excitement shone through his dark blue eyes as he waited for his father to speak.
Inutaisho obliged with a warm smile as he said in a booming tone ", My son you realize that you will soon begin intensive training for the day when you must take your father's place as Lord of the Northern Lands. I wish to know how you feel about this." The demon hesitated for a moment as the miko saw conflicting emotions battle across his face. However, he stilled and said neutrally ", I believe that I have the ability to do so, but I do not wish to tear your kingdom in half."
The demon lord shook his head as he said ", It is the law, my son. I am Lord of the North. However, I am only holding the title until you are fit to take it yourself." Healo sighed and responded ", I understand; besides something must be left for Sesshomaru." Inutaisho smiled and said ", I see you understand. However, there is something that you do not know yet." The young demon's eyes widened in surprise but he made no verbal respons.
Inutaisho sighed as he said tenderly ", You know how much I loved your mother. She was the most regal demoness I have ever known. However, she kept a very carefully guarded secret." Kagome's eyes filled with confusion as she turned to Healo for an explanation. The demon waved his hand and the memory froze in place, then he regarded Kagome with calculating eyes before saying earnestly ", This next part you must keep to yourself. If anyone learns of it I am as good as dead, or worse."
The miko was confused but she nodded when she noticed that the demon appeared to be shaking. He kept her eyes for a moment before lowering his hand. Kagome turned back expectantly watching and listening carefully. She thought quietly ', It must be something VERY important.' She watched the younger demon's disquiet grow as he waited for his father to reveal this information.
The demon lord was silent for a moment before he began ", My son, you have grown up believing that you and Magus shared the same father. According to your mother, this is not so." Kagome didn't dare to move for fear of missing something. The young Healo's mouth widened but he eventually said ", But my mother was his mate."
The demon lord turned sorrowful eyes onto the youth before replying ", Yes. However, shortly before she was to be mated to the Northern Lord she fell in love with another." The young demon's voice softened as he said softly ", Who?" Inutaisho's eyes took on a far away look as he spoke ", I met him once. It was the first time I'd been to the capital since my brother, the emperor, died. Your mother said that she didn't know who he was but she didn't care. By the time she realized who he was it was too late. He had been killed."
Kagome waited silently for the young demon's question. He spoke more anxiously this time ", Who!" Inutaisho wasted no time in his answer as he said in a very quiet tone ", His name was Prince Malus Tepes, the only son of Emperor Leonius." Disbelief was written across Healo's face so the demon lord pressed on forcefully ", When your mother realized what you were she begged the Northern Lord to somehow help hide her. He had genuinely loved her so he agreed to become her mate immediately to hide the fact that you were not his son."
The miko shuddered in shock as she turned with a stunned expression to examine the demon behind her. Their was silence for a few moments as they watched each other before Kagome asked quietly ", Is it true? Are you really the heir?" The demon lord's eyes blazed as he said ", I do not know, however, after this my father explained to me that one of the signs of a member of the imperial family were my mental abilities."
Kagome nodded as she asked ", Are you the only ones who have these abilities?" Healo hesitated before answering ", There are rumors of demon's from the countries in the far West with such powers, but I have never met one. I cannot be sure of my heritage. This is part of the reason that I want to visit the Tower of the Moon. Perhaps it will hold more clues or relics of who I am."
The miko nodded in understanding before asking ", How does this memory have anything to do with Sesshomaru? You didn't tell him?" The demon lord grinned and replied ", I was not that prideful. However, even though these walls are very sturdy there are small cracks here and there in the walls. I later learned that Sesshomaru was listening in on this very conversation." Kagome sighed as she imagined what that must have made Sesshomaru feel.
She glanced back at her guide and asked ", So what was problem with all of these emperors? If they had these abilities then why did they fail?" The demon lord smiled softly and replied ", My forefather, Emperor Maleus, spread the imperial authority too thin. He gave far too much power to the local lords. This ended in rebellion and civil war." Kagome shook her head and asked ", Why did he give them so much authority?"
Healo sighed and replied ", Maleus had four brothers. As I assume you can deduce, he made each of his brother's a lord. He didn't want to believe that his family could betray him. His son was able to ascend the throne on time, but Molech, the sire of the Eastern line, was angry with his brother for giving him what he thought were inferior territories. Molech rose up in rebellion as soon as Maleus abdicated the throne. In the war that followed Molech, Magus I, and Maleus were all killed."
Kagome shook her head and said ", That's horrible. Inutaisho was one of the brothers right? So what happened to the other?" Healo sighed and answered ", Yes Inutaisho was one of the five brothers, but the last brother, Tilen, left his lands and disappeared. There are rumors that he has a small realm hidden somewhere within the empire, but I believe they are only idle rumors."
He turned away and continued ", The rest of the story is very similar. War after war between the families thinned the imperial line until only the Emperor Leonius and his son, Prince Malus, remained. I used to wonder if there was not some deeper evil that was working towards the destruction of the line, but it cannot have been Naraku since he wasn't even born until after I became Lord of the North."
The miko hesitated then asked ", Did Inutaisho ever mention this again?" Healo's head fell before he said ", Only once more. While he was dieing." Kagome was silent; she didn't think it would be right to ask him. He turned to her with a small smile and said ", You need not ask. I will allow you to see it. Remember that you must not speak of this to anyone." He did not wait for the miko's response as his eyes once again flashed.
This time Kagome was quicker to recover as she stood and looked around her. She didn't like what she saw at all. The miko was standing on the edge of what appeared to have been a large battle. Broken bodies of humans and demons covered the once green grass which had been stained with crimson blood. The stench of death and decay filled the air as the miko watched the horror around her.
"So where are we," her voice sounded weak and strained even to her. Healo's voice was filled with compassion as he answered ", I am nearly 146 years old. Inutaisho went to war against the Eastern Lands and led a large army out against the traitors. Bianen demanded that Sesshomaru give up his control of the panther demons and agree to split the kingdoms right then instead of waiting for my 200th birthday. The Eastern Lord was hoping to exploit my youth to take some of the Northern Lands."
He glanced around the battlefield before continuing ", Inutaisho told me that I was to stay in Ionin. I had begged him to let me fight by his side, but he refused to allow it." Kagome smiled in understanding. The demon smiled back before continuing ", I disobeyed him. Under the cover of night I crept out of the palace and joined myself with the army he was leading east."
Kagome looked around and asked ", So when did he find out that you were following him?" The demon lord turned to the left and pointed in the distance before saying ", In just a few moments." The miko turned to see what he was pointing at and found Inutaisho engaged in a fierce battle against many foes. His body was covered with small wounds which seemed to be slowing the powerful demon down.
Healo spoke softly ", It was a trap. The enemy had been planning for war several months before they began it. They were able to sneak soldiers into the areas in small groups and arranged for an ambush. When Inutaisho realized what had happened he called for a retreat, but it was too late for him." Kagome watched as the lord finally fell; as the demons approached the fallen lord a cry of anguish filled the air.
When the miko turned to find the person her eyes landed on Healo, but he was far angrier than she could have even imagined him ever being. His normally calm blue eyes were a boiling inferno flecked constantly by small flames of bright red. His long mane flew behind him as he rushed forward with a singleness of purpose. He didn't even draw his sword but dealt with the petty demons with his gleaming claws.
Her friend motioned that they should step closer and Kagome did not hesitate to do so. After the last of the demons was dead the flames in the young demon's eyes died suddenly and his shoulder's fell as he knelt beside the body of his father. Even as tears began to form in his eyes a small movement alerted them all that the great demon had not yet departed.
"Healo," the once powerful demon muttered as he struggled to raise his golden orbs to take in the form of his adopted son. Healo's hands trembled as he gripped his father's shoulders and said ", Lie still. A medic will be here soon." The proud demon shook his head as his mane wallowed in the dust. "No it is too late for that. Listen to me, Healo. I have taken another mate," Inutaisho said with deliberate strength. The young demon attempted to speak but was interrupted by his father ", She has only lately born me a son. Her name is Izayoi. She is hiding near here in a small village awaiting my return. You must make sure that she and my son come to no harm."
Healo nodded and replied ", Whatever you wish father." The demon nodded and smiled as he said ", You have been a good son, Healo. And I know that you will be a good man and a wonderful lord." Here his eyes clouded as he spoke softly ", And I hope, one day, a wonderful emperor." The young demon shook his head in disbelief as he said ", How can I ever hope to gain any of those things without your help?" The demon lord laughed and replied ", You have strength enough to change the world. Only remember the fault of your forebears and you will succeed."
Inutaisho's squinted against the pain as he said forcefully ", Leave now. The enemy has won the field. They will be here soon." A determined look entered the young demon's face as he said strongly ", If you are correct then it is my duty to stand by you to the end." The demon lord spoke softly ", How quickly you forget your promises. Leave me go find my mate and ensure that they come to no harm."
Healo spoke softly to the miko ", Enough. We must move on." Kagome turned to see her friend walk away but she turned back to the battle and saw the same demon holding for dear life to the man who had raised him. The miko's eyes filled with tears as she also rejected the scene and followed Healo further into his memories.
So. What did you think? I thought it was pretty good, but I am the author so I will have a small bias. As far as updating it will probably be Thursday but since I keep procrastinating it might be tomorrow if I get enough of a response. This chapter was longer than I thought (longest chapter so far!) so we might not reach Naraku in the next chapter. Still there are some nice memories coming up. Review!!!