05. Among Those Days I

Flashback

"Fu Qin, where are we going?" asks a girl among the appearance of twelve and the owner of a pair of shining silver eyes. Her dark raven hair tied into a simple hairstyle contrasted her fair skin, her cheeks slightly flushed pink and a red blossom shape marked her forehead. Her eyes were curious, her steps vivacious and lively. Her father who travelled beside her looked stern until he looks onto his little girl; warmness spreads onto his handsome face. His eyes were silver, long raven hair half secured into a topknot with a silver circlet and half flowing down his back. Father and daughter both shared the same elfin ears and content for each other's company.

"Your Mu Qin wanted you to stay in the continent and learn from the elders."

"But you know how I rather travel with you, Fu Qin. Its no fun with Mu Qin and the elders, all they talk about are etiquettes and customs."

"Now, now etiquettes and customs you must learn. Do not be disrespectful towards your Mu Qin and the elders…the celestial status we obtain is what sets us apart from other great demons."

The young celestial nine-tails nods to her father's teaching with a pout "yes Fu Qin, your daughter understands."

"Good…Now be respectful to our hosts, they are the great dog demons of the Western lands—Your father has found ally in the great dog general, the dog general is a highly respectable demon."

"Yes Fu Qin." The young nine-tails replies almost too quickly. She will try to be on her best behavior but in the realm of deities and demons, she knows her clan is of utmost reverence—what can she do, she is born into honor. How can she not be proud? The nine-tailed jade fox clan is among the four most prestigious heavenly animals with formidable power and immeasurable amount of respect. Her mother and the elders dealt with the affairs of the heavenly court while her father and his army rules a great deal of the lands of the continent. They were feared, yet respected…

"The Inu no Taisho has a son, the two of you can get to know one another while the general and I deal with matters of the state." The male nine-tails pats his little girl's head, "his name is Sesshoumaru, I believe."

"…Sesshoumaru?" Her curious silver eyes widens as they approach the estate of the Western lands.

In the Western lands the heat of the summer waves had just passed as the leaves of the willows and among other trees draped onto the ground, creating a beautiful masquerade of yellows, oranges and browns. The air filled with the sweetness of the rotting leaves…but a rather particular floral scent mixed in with nature's natural aroma. As the young aristocrat of flowing silver hair and impartial golden eyes seats next to his father of similar appearance on the tatami mat, he made his first movement since being seated; tilting his head curiously to take in a whiff of the smell of freshly grown peach blossoms—such oddity in the middle of fall.

The father looks towards his son, a young dog demon appearing of fourteen in human ages, although the boy inherited his eyes of golden he mainly took upon the looks from his mother; a blue crescent moon marking on his forehead, twin magenta stripes and eyelids lined in magenta as well. His son is going to grow up to be a dangerously beautiful man…beautiful and unbearably indifferent. Judging by how the young lord is now; sitting upon the tatami in utter silence for such a long period of time with obvious disinterest besides the quirk he just took interest in—his son and him were destined to be at odds.

"Sesshoumaru."

"Yes, Chichi-ue."

The father-son both remains watchful of the morning autumn scenery beyond the veranda upon their sudden converse.

"Upon the arrival of Yong Li, his daughter will also join us. Please be on your best behavior. Your father's alliance is also your alliance, Sesshoumaru."

"Yes, Chichi-ue." Although complying, the young Sesshoumaru scoffed. Those celestial nine-tailed foxes…all they were are over-glorified demons, in the end they were just serving beneath the dominance of the heavens with the title of a 'celestial'. They were so proud of their 'honor' yet ironically there they were always in turmoil upon the Nuwa goddess's dictations. So what if they have absolute dominance of the Southern continent? They were at most servants of the heavens. Nonetheless, The nine-tailed fox general Yong Li made a great ally with his father even through their heritage differences…the continental great demons are pushed back with Yong Li's support and the wandering ambitious great demons of the island were kept at bay by the great dog general.

"M'lord, your guests have arrived."

"Welcome them in."

"Yes, m'lord."

A few pairs of footsteps hums on the tatami mats, introducing the entrance of the visitors brought in by the servant of the estate who had informed the inu no taisho.

"I was not expecting you for another two days, Yong Li." The dog general stands up from his initial relaxed position, his son following suite. Sesshoumaru glanced over the immortal by the name Yong Li and then who he presumes to be his daughter. The girl had a pair of mystic silver eyes returning the observant look. The scent of the peach blossoms became more evident than before…the young dog demon realizing it is this immortal girl who retains this peculiar feature of naturally possessing such a scent. However, this scent did not make her easy to pinpoint—the smell of peach blossoms dispersed in a way where one cannot trace it to her. It was more like she is spreading the scent instead of smelling like it. Sesshoumaru could only stare curiously.

"There were important matters I had to discuss with you concerning the whereabouts of the Hyoga clan. I hope you don't mind my early visit, Touga." Yong Li explains, his forehead knitted at the mention of the clan of Mongol moth demons. The dog general had a look of understanding cross his features among the gradual expression of concern, "you are always welcomed Yong Li, do not take such to mind."

"You are too courteous, Touga." Yong Li replied, a smile in his silver eyes. The dog general glance between the girl and his long time ally of the continent; the young nine-tails did not look much like her father besides the mystic silver pools and the luscious raven tresses the nine-tailed foxes usually retain in their humanoid form. The young nine-tails has a marking while Yong Li does not. Her face is shaped into a beautiful heart while his is much more angular. Even the way she carries herself is very much unalike, the nine-tailed fox lord; a very talented and well-learned man, is most gracious even to his worst foes…the girl; her beautiful blinking expression never lets anyone less know just how prominent and proud she is of her bloodline. She looked naïve, unknowing…ignorant.

"What a beautiful flower. This must be your daughter, Yong Li. What is her name?" Touga gives a light smile to the young nine-tails who looked rather surprised for a moment before nodding and smiling towards him with acknowledgment.

"My name is Tao Hua, dog general—"

Yong Li shot his daughter a disapproving glance and proceeds to cut her speech short, "Her name is Tao Hua. Please forgive my daughter for any shortcomings."

The girl pouts.

Touga chuckles, "and Tao Hua…what does your name mean in the continental language?"

The young nine-tails dipped her head politely this time and replies, "M'lord, Tao Hua means peach blossom."

"How befitting."

"And this—your son?" Yong Li asks as his silver eyes grazes over the image of the quiet young dog demon. The boy's expression did not change through their whole exchange—cold and aloof. Unlike his daughter he did not rush to utter a single word…He listened carefully and makes thorough observations of both him and his daughter.

"This is Sesshoumaru."

The boy's golden eyes did not shift towards a more interested prospect but he did finally speak a few words of respect as an acknowledgement. It however did not fall right with the daughter of the nine tailed fox lord…who is this kid to be showing her father so little respect? She cannot stand him and that stone-Buddha face. She will show him…

…

Their father's have been busy in the studies for the past few days leaving both the dog demon boy and the nine tailed fox girl to—bond. The castle of the dog general was big enough for them to avoid each other as they choose to but a few run-ins were inevitable. They had gone by with Tao Hua pouting in annoyance at Sesshoumaru and ignoring each other but Tao Hua was not like her father and a rash child she is…all it took was a few more run-ins.

"Hey stone-face, I have had enough of you acting on your high horses."

Sesshoumaru stopped in his path in the middle of the corridor, his back still facing Tao Hua's determined look. To Tao Hua's dissatisfaction he silently continues on his way.

"Hey! I am talking to you—Ooff!"

He was fast, in a blink of an eye the dog demon boy had her neck grasped in his claws; her body threateningly pushed against to the wall. His golden eyes looked deeply into the widened pair of silver pools. Tao Hua did not expect him to possess such speed.

"Don't push your luck, fox…" Sesshoumaru hissed, releasing Tao Hua from his grip. He did not spare the girl a second glance before continuing to leisurely pace down the direction he was heading.

Tao Hua rubs the area of her neck the son of the dog general had applied pressure to and pouted at his leaving form. "What a gentleman," she grumbles, deciding she would not pursue the matter this time. She had not thought it through this time around, who knew the quiet young dog demon would suddenly show such aggression …she must be tactful in their next encounter.

The great nine-tailed fox watches his little girl shroud through the garden the sounds of her accurate swings from the weapon in her hand. He had not wanted to confront her about her rash actions but the gossips among the servants about her encounter with the young lord of the Western lands has become a popular topic in the castle, he cannot not address it. Besides…She is the one in the wrong.

"Tao Hua…you cannot be so imprudent. Have your mother and the elders not taught you well enough to be a lady? He is in every sense the young lord of this castle, we are visitors, please be respectful…"

The girl swung the narrow jian in her hands above her head and stepped back to rear it in the opposite direction of where her father stood. She jumped gracefully and swung it ground level and then twirled it back to a resting state, two fingers on the flat side of the jian. Although she stayed still in her station, the red tassel on the hilt swayed rigorously. Still stagnant, she spoke, "he is the disrespectful one."

Yong Li sighs, "Sometimes you remind me so much of your mother when she was young; always so impatient and full of pride. I can't help but wonder once in a while if you are our daughter or only her daughter."

Tao Hua couldn't help but think in her head, till this day her mother is still impatient and full of pride. That nine-tails rears around an absolute behavior around the clan and the heavens as if its nobody's business. That woman knew what she wants and what has to be done—sometimes to an extreme. Nothing meant more to that woman than the pride of the clan. For her father to be telling her how much she reminds him of her mother cannot possibly completely be a compliment.

"I must say—impressive." The low, steady voice of Touga emerges from a distance in the garden. Tao Hua looks over to see the great dog general and his son approaching her father and her. She exchanges a look with a pair of indifferent golden eyes before twirling her jian and transcending into a new stance with determination in her eyes. She'll show him…

"In the dawn light," Tao Hua begins with her eyes closed feeling her surrounding and her own movements as she twists her wrists into a full swing, " I can't parse, my dreams from reality…" She dips into a low posture, transitioning from agile footwork to another as she penetrates the air with her jian. "…In the moon's dull glow, those scattering blossoms don't belong to this world." She makes an effortless leap and then slices the air as if cutting through each imaginary petal before landing back onto her feet and outstretched into a stance with the jian above her head and pointed towards the young dog demon. Her silver eyes, once again locked onto his. Yet, his expression did not shift the slightest.

"Indeed one cannot expect less from the daughter of Yong Li, even words are of such elegance." Touga says as he lightly smiles upon the celestial fox child. She is a feisty girl…by the look in her determined eyes he knew she wasn't keen on letting his son go without setting things straight. Perhaps his regularly unsympathetic son just needs a little feistiness from this young nine-tails.

"You are too kind Touga. That is too much praise."

Touga chuckles, "I think we should finish our discussion from earlier, why don't we leave our children in each other's company?"

Yong Li nods and follows Touga away, but not without giving Tao Hua a strict glance. Both of the great lords left the garden, leaving the whisper of the willows between their glaring heirs.

"…Can't parse, dreams from reality…" Sesshoumaru mocks, almost in a snort. Tao Hua narrows her eyes at the dog demon. "…You nine-tailed foxes really can't tell dreams from reality—thinking you are of such prestigious lineage but the reality is, you are all no more than servants of the heaven."

"What did you say you impudent mutt?!"

"You can't hear well enough, fox? Don't make me repeat myself." Sesshoumaru coolly snides back, feeding on Tao Hua's insulted reaction. He had hoped for her to fall deeper into her irritated state but to his disappointment she only ceases into a snarl.

"Here you are talking about my lineage as if you are of greatness. Let me remind you, all your blood carries is the line of demon dogs…and the greatness lies in your father who fought for it. What have you done? All you are is his son riding on his greatness."

"Wench!" The young dog demon hisses, as he appears in front of Tao Hua in a flash with his poisonous claws glowing and ready to inflict damage. Tao Hua narrowed her eyes as she barely blocks his attack with her jian. They struggle between Sesshoumaru's more advance strength and Tao Hua's sheer stubbornness from the sly maneuvering of a weapon against a hand. Tao Hua jumps back from being unable to hold up to the dog demon's strength.

"Don't run, coward." Sesshoumaru hisses, leaping forward.

Tao Hua tilts the hilt to reveal the edge of her jian, sizzling against the dripping poison of Sesshoumaru's claw. This time Sesshoumaru jumps back from the friction of the edge against his hand. He stops in his tracks and looks at his hand, now dripping with his blood. Of course the jian of a celestial fox cannot be an ordinary weapon. How could he be so foolish?

"Are you afraid to lose to a girl?" Tao Hua taunts with a smirk, triumphant with his withdrawal.

"Afraid…? Losing to you?" The young dog demon's eyes gleamed with amusement. When has he, Sesshoumaru, been afraid of anything? "What do you propose, fox?"

Tao Hua withdraws her jian behind her back, a smirk drawing on her lips.

"Lets see who is better…a mere dog demon or a celestial nine-tailed fox? Seven days later and no weapons...I wouldn't want to win with little dignity."

Sesshoumaru blinks; enveloped in a moment of his own silence. The light wind dances with his soft tresses of silver. He turns around and walks away…

Tao Hua grits her teeth—is he cowardly declining?

…

"Fukai Forest, sundown."

For the past six days Tao Hua did not cross paths with Sesshoumaru. She was busy focusing on her own time to make a sure victory against that conceited son of the dog general. She had been preparing wisely for this seventh day, as her mother was not adamant on teaching her ways in combat she had to learn on her own the few tricks here and there. She wasn't entirely successful but she felt she has a good grip on her techniques, how can anything go wrong? She has the blood of the nine-tails running through her veins and these techniques were of the clan; ones passed down from nine-tailed fox generation to generation. Foxes are the animals of wiliness and deception—Tao Hua isn't about to let her ancestors down.

Garbed in her usual continental silk robes of white and pastel yellow the young nine-tailed jade fox treads the distance from the castle to the meeting place. The light winds were just picking up among the warm red glow of sundown but by the time she arrives into the deep of the forest the gusts were progressively more violent and the sun; faded behind the mountains that divided the horizon. Tao Hua crinkles her nose as the breezes weaving between the trees carries the scent of a certain dog demon to her attention.

"Your dog stench gives you away."

Tao Hua turns around to catch the stoic look of the young dog demon. The image of him is of refinement as the breezes tugs lightly at his silver locks and light, flowing garments. For a moment all there was is the whispers of the wind and the long hostile stares of the young fox and hound. It would seem like forever if it weren't for Sesshoumaru who leapt into a speedy first move, his golden eyes narrows.

"Don't be a sore loser when you lose, fox."

"Tch." Tao Hua sneers. A gentleman he really is, that stupid dog.

A glowing agile whip comes hurtling towards her from above but before it comes close to hitting her the young nine-tails leaps forward and turns back to look at Sesshoumaru's elegant form as he lands effortlessly where she had been standing.

"What's the matter fox? Scared?" It seems as if his expression doesn't change much, but if was definitely a sneer Tao Hua caught as he spoke. He did not wait for her to make a move before he went in for the next lash. Tao Hua jumps back and lands on a nearby branch of a tree. She focuses her energy into the palms of her hands and casts the glowing lilac energy balls towards the dog demon. He did not seem the least fazed as he darts past all of them and holds out his other claw to reveal glowing green poison oozing from it.

The young nine-tails smirks as she waves her long white silk sleeve over herself, Sesshoumaru's eyes widen a little as she disappears from right under his nose. He tries to focus his senses to locate the nine-tails but her distinctive smell of peach blossoms masked the entirety of the forest smells—he was used to being in control but with the nine-tails trickeries it proves difficult for him to make this an easy victory. She had too many tricks up her sleeves for his liking. She must have known she would not be able to defeat him with bare strength alone…

"Don't look so confused—I'm right here!"

Sesshoumaru turns around just in time to block the glowing lilac energy directed towards his back with his glowing green claw. The energy flow from the two rivals repels against each other and pushes the two younglings back forcefully.

They were not discouraged by the repellent as they again and again hurtle at each other in full force, hoping to overpower the other with their own. Unfortunately Tao Hua was tiring from the constant collision and being thrown back…She had to think fast, something she can do to sidetrack the dumb dog.

That's it!

She pauses in her movement and taps her blossom marking with her index and middle finger, immediately dispersing energy into the surrounding. Sesshoumaru who was plunging towards her halts in his steps and narrows his eyes of golden in misbelief as the one Tao Hua multiplies to two…then four…then eight…

His eyes must be tricking him.

"With my natural scent you wouldn't be able to figure out which one is the primary me…Admit defeat, Sesshoumaru."

"Shut up, fox. You talk too much."

He attempted guesses and attacked each figure in hopes to be able to tell the real and the fakes apart, but they were equally realistic and attacks back with full force. As he turns around all eight figures of the nine-tails were coming at him, ready to end this little competition.

If he can't figure out the source with attacking one at a time…Sesshoumaru locates the eight figures in his swift observation…He will have to get them all at once. He spirals from his initial spot, the whip of his claws syncs into the spin and velocity of his rapid and efficient movement.

"W-wait, do you smell that…?" Tao Hua has her attention distracted from something else outside of their battle. She looks upon a direction with anxiety…He couldn't stop his attack…

"Ahhh-Ughhhhhh!"

His whip collides with the eight forms of Tao Hua, knocking the illusions into disappearance and the real one flung brutally against the trunk of a tree. Sesshoumaru looked upon her with a furrowed temple…She could have at least blocked some of it if it weren't for her sudden divided attention. What was it that caused her to make such a big mistake?

He felt unsettled as he watches her struggle to her feet—Legs wobbling, as if a newborn fawn.

"I-i-imposter…?" She gurgles helplessly, pointing towards the direction she senses from.

Sesshoumaru looks upon the direction in frustration…the smell of peach blossoms still masked his sense of smell. However his confusion did not last long as a low cackle made its way through the forest and a demoness with ice white hair gradually appears behind the shade of the many trees. The sinister in her expression and voice sent chills throughout the forest.

"How cute, two little pups: a fox and a puppy…" The white haired demoness continues to mock at the two younglings. She seemed excited with the image of the helpless hurt one that just toppled to the floor. The look of stubbornness and determination did not waver from the fox child's face. It is like the fox child is so alert from the arrival of an enemy she had forgotten the pitiful state she is in.

"Who are you? And what are you doing here?" Sesshoumaru growls; unsettled by this unknown demon woman.

"Aww…The little puppy barks." She cooes.

"Answer me, wench."

"She's a cat…" Tao Hua stifles, her expression wincing with pain as she finally notices the damaging impact caused across her chest.

Sesshoumaru shoots her a glare. He would have been able to figure that out on his own if it weren't for her masking floral aroma.

"A panther, actually..." The white haired demoness corrects as she closes in on the two children of the great demon lords. Sesshoumaru shuffles back cautiously. He knows this panther is certainly up to no good here, snooping around in the Western lands so late into the day. The crescent of the moon is appearing…the stars were emerging.

"…Since I am going to have to kill the two of you anyways, I guess it won't hurt to tell you. I am Toran of the panther demon tribe. We plan to take the lands of the West upon ourselves," She laughs at the two pup's darkening expressions, "any last words before I slay you?"

"A lone cat demon sleuthing around other peoples' lands. Have you no shame?" Tao Hua snarls, as she finally gets to her feet, ready to put up a fight.

"A panther—"

"I don't care what you are."

The panther demoness smirks although her annoyance fails to be concealed, "well I guess I will have to let my actions do the talking…I like your bravery little fox pup, I will just have to deal with you first!" An icicle spear appears in her hands as she hurtles through the forest ominously towards the young nine-tails. Tao Hua stances herself in preparation and collects her fox energy into her claws. Just when she thought her and the panther demon were going to collide a figure leaps in front of her, sparing with the panther demon instead.

"Sesshoumaru…!" Tao Hua gasps. She had not expected him to leap in front of her. He put up a stance even though the panther demon woman towers over him.

"These lands of the West are my father's…I will fend off any wretch that dares to intrude. Leave the fox out of it, she has nothing to do with this."

The panther demoness cackles sarcastically, "how touching."

Sesshoumaru whips at the panther, vehement and unforgiving. The panther blocks the whips steadily as she backs away from his long range as a pose to her short-range spear. She jeers, using her free hand to send a barrage of ice daggers at her young opponent. Just before it collides with the young dog demon, purple fox energy enveloped daggers throttles pass from the opposite direction of the incoming and blocks Toran's attack.

"Damn you!" Toran growls as she sends a larger barrage of ice daggers, this time directed towards the young nine-tails.

"Stay out of this, fox!" Sesshoumaru growls just as Tao Hua scarcely sends another barrage of her own daggers towards Toran in time. Sesshoumaru observes as Toran slowly reveals her annoyance in the way she aggressively reciprocates the nine-tails' attacks. An opening…

Sesshoumaru whips at Toran from behind and sends her flying in the opposing direction she was about the dash towards Tao Hua, who is now kneeling in huffs on the floor. Toran's eyes widen in surprise as she crashes into a couple of trees before faltering at the foot of one.

"Tch. Children…I don't have time to play with you!" She snarls as she gets to her feet and disappears into a swirl of her own ice storm.

…And then the forest is silent…

…The glow of the moon now basking and bright…

…To the ever deepening night…

"She's gone." Tao Hua whispers. That Toran was talking so big, yet in the end she went running with her tail between her legs.

"Lets go…I need to report back to chichi-ue." Sesshoumaru states as he walks past Tao Hua who just staggered to her feet. She could not see his expression but she felt he had lost the initial hostility towards her in his voice.

"W-wait—Why did you save me?"

He was already distances away from her, but he paused in his steps. The casting of the moon glow making his back view almost glisten.

"I did not save you. You saved yourself."

"…But you could have just left her to finish me." He could have done a lot less. From a fox's point of a view, an opportunist…if he had not cared for her livelihood he had done it all wrong.

It seemed like a long pause again as a pending response hung in the brisk night air.

…

"Simply because chichi-ue's allies—are my allies."

Tao Hua furrows her brows, crinkling the blossom marking on her forehead as she watches Sesshoumaru's form of him starting on his way back to the castle again.

Allies?

He said allies?

So he now thought of her as an ally?

...

"Don't fall behind…Momoka."

Tao Hua crinkles her nose, suddenly snapped out of her chain of thoughts. What did he just call her? Momoka?

The young nine-tails stumbles forward, "you can't just go around changing peoples' names."

…

"I did not. You are simply, Momoka, to I, Sesshoumaru."

[End of Chapter 05]

Fu Qin - a respectful way to call, father in mandarin Chinese.

Mu Qin - the respectful term for mother in mandarin Chinese.

Chichi-ue - the most respectful way for father, in Japanese.

Jian - a double-edged straight sword of the continent.

[Author's Note]

Here is chapter five. I had been editing it with difficulty because I've been drifting into sleep between every sentence. I am so tired from getting up early to day but I still really wanted to post this on my day off. Please follow/favourite and write me reviews if you enjoy what you are reading!