Chapter 2 The Rescue
On this deceptive beautiful spring afternoon, one that was marvelous even to the most evil creatures on the planet, a very large, very tall man walked through the woods following the scent of his son. This "man" was no man at all; in fact he was a very powerful Inu TaiYoukai, and was the current Lord of Western Lands, and the Dog General of all the demons that roamed his lands. He had long flowing silvery white locks much like his son's, but unlike his son he kept his hair in a high topknot. He had striking golden eyes, the same as his son's, but his were more guarded and controlled through years of practice. He had a more tanned complexion compared to his heir and he had one blue jagged stripe that cut across both of his cheeks. He also had deadly claws and fangs, but his harbored no poison unlike his mate and his son's. The Lord of the West adorned himself in beautiful white silk robes with a splash of blue on his left shoulder. Over his white kimono he wore armor that consisted of a breast plate and two spikes near the top of the armor. On both of his shoulders he wore a pauldron complete with spikes. Also, from each one of his shoulders extended a fur pelt that was formally called a Mokomoko-sama, that looked more like a parted cape with its two tail like ends that almost brushed the ground. On his arms he wore armored gauntlets and vambraces that shielded his arms from attack. Around his waist he wore a red and blue sash that was tied neatly in fashion, a way that one would tie as an obi for their hakamas (pants). Along with his outfit he carried three swords with him. Two he kept at his waist and one he carried on his back. Though he was a lord and one of the most powerful demons to walk the earth, he still wore his armor and swords when he left his castle. Any mindless demon could still attack him, but he would always be ready for a fight.
This marvelous demon, named the Inu no Taisho by title, but Touga by name, was out looking for his boy. The same boy who he had let venture out on such a fine day, who he let skip his studies and training for the day so he could enjoy a little bit of fun that was well deserved. He was out looking for the boy to give him a surprise. The child had been doing very well in his studies, top of his class, and over exceeding with his personal tutors. He had also been improving greatly in his battle and sword training. So now the father thought it was finally time to give the boy his very own sword that he could master. At first his mother was against giving the boy a sword saying he was much too young, seeing as he had yet to grow a mokomoko himself, something that all dog demons grow when they come to a certain age.
The father had won the exchange by saying that Sesshomaru must have just been a late bloomer because when he was the boy's age he had already grown his first fur in. He also had been talked to by his father and given his first sword. The mother, feeling that the father must know best, seeing as Sesshomaru was his world and would never let harm come to him, agreed that the boy was ready to receive his first formal gift from his father. Now Touga was out looking for his son to bring him back to the palace so he could present the precious surprise.
As Touga was walking, following the scent of his child, he could tell that the boy had ventured far further than was permitted for him. With the boy holding the station of heir, he had to be careful when traveling too far because any thick headed demon with a foolish notion in their head, would try to go after him for the throne.
As Touga was walking deep into the uncharted forest area he stilled, then slowly he raised his nose to the air with his eyes trained on the forest before him. The scent that was brought through his olfactory senses caused him stop in his tracks and made his blood run cold. The dog lord's eyes dilated with shock, then in a split second he took off like a speeding bullet; for what he smelt was something he wished he could never smell again, the blood of his only son, Sesshomaru.
Touga whipped through the trees faster than he had ever gone before, with speeds he didn't even know he possessed. His son was many miles away, something that would take a normal human hours to accomplish, took the great TaiYoukai mere minutes to cover. He had to get to his son before anything worse happened to him. He had to find out why there was so much blood clinging to his little boy's scent. When Touga finally broke through the trees with a growl, and landed into the clearing he smelled his son in, the dog was shocked at what he found.
In the middle of the clearing stood a very large built panther demon standing over what looked like his son. Sesshomaru lied on the forest floor with a pool of blood soaking the ground beneath him. He had his eyes closed and looked to be waiting for the demon to finish him off.
The cat demon, who had heard the dog lord's growl was startled at first but then smirked when he saw just who had crashed through the trees.
Touga watched as the cat turned its burning, fierce yellow slitted eyes onto him. Recognition flashed inside both adult demons' eyes. Also a burning anger, even more fierce than the one already aflame, crept into the dog's eyes as he remembered just who this demon was.
The panther demon, named Taiki, and Touga were good friends once upon a time but once upon a time should only exist in fairy tales, something of which doesn't last forever, or are not true. The relationship that Taiki and Touga had was strong until things went sour. They had been like brothers to one another, helping the other if they were ever in trouble. Then one day Taiki grew mad with greed he wanted power, but went about getting it in all the wrong ways. While Touga was all about preserving life, Taiki was all about destroying it. He had the mentality that the more you kill the more people will fear you and obey you. He didn't care if people respected him; he just wanted their obedience, he wanted to rule. Touga at first let his friend be, but when he started attacking inside the dog lord's territory that is where he had to draw his line. He wasn't just fighting the warriors, the samurai, or the army; no he was going after the defenseless humans and vulnerable women and children. He thought to bring the strong down by hurting their weak. You are only as strong as you're weakest player. Touga finally got involved and was forced to fight his best friend; friends that were once close to evenly matched. It brought much pain to battle someone he thought to be his ally.
With only attacking the weak, Taiki had grown no stronger, while Touga, who had been continuously training with his father, had only grown stronger. The match was a long and bloody one that brought up harsh emotions. Though very bloody and with a body ripped to shreds, Touga came out the victor; a battle that had lasted many hours was finally complete. Taiki lay upon the forest floor with his back to the earth and his neck out as his once comrades sword resting upon it. No more blood was shed as Touga said his final words to the defeated panther demon. "I banish you from these lands. Know that it is only our old friendship that keeps you alive. If I ever see your face again, I will kill you." Touga said with a snarl as he pulled his sword from the cat's neck. He slashed the blade one more time to get the blood off then sheathed it. He walked about with his head held high never looking back.
That had been the last time he had ever set eyes upon the cat, the last time he ever wished to see those yellow eyes. Now to see him back in his lands, and up to his old ways, attacking the weaker, the defenseless, infuriated the dog to no end.
The first words to come out of the panthers mouth made the dog go livid. "Watch Dog General, as I kill your precious puppy." The cat laughed. He turned his head back to the battered body of the TaiYoukai's son. He cackled as he swung his claws towards the boy, headed directly for the child's heart.
Without preamble, without even a thought, Touga rushed forward across the clearing towards the cat and his puppy, his eye bleeding red as his inner beast threatened to take over. Before the cat even had a chance to look back at his adversary, Touga sliced the clawed hand headed for his sons little body clean off.
"You will not touch him." Taisho growled out. His voice barely even sounding human as his beast was so close to the surface. It was instinctual to protect those close to him and right now saving his son was the only thing on his mind.
The panther gave a loud cry as he clutched at his now handless arm, an arm that was gushing blood everywhere. He glared up at the dog general with a snarl marking his face.
"Know this, I keep my word." Taisho announced to his old friend as he unsheathed one of the swords at his waist, the Tetsusaiga. "You have betrayed me for the last time, and have injured your last victim." He raised Tetsusaiga up to the evil cat's face, a face he once cared for, a face that belonged to a once loyal friend. Someone who had chosen the wrong path, a path of greedy destruction. Now the cat was about to be served justice for his crimes, and by the hand of his once loyal friend.
Before the cat could make any type of comeback Touga brought the sword down in an arc, slicing the head right off of the cat, a cat that would never wreak havoc on any more defenseless creatures.
Long before the body of the now deceased panther could hit the ground Touga had rushed to the battered body of his one and only son. He kneeled down slowly seeing the dreadful condition his child was in. He was afraid to touch him, afraid to break him and further. Concern for the boy won out as he heard the boy start to cough and hack up what he could see and smell was blood. He reached down to the almost unconscious child and picked him up into his arms very gently so as to not cause any more harm.
Not caring if the boy's blood stained his clothes, he held the pup close as he breathed out one word. "Sesshomaru." He sighed with tears in his eyes. He was afraid he had lost the boy when he saw the condition he was in. He gave a small smile of relief as he watched the boys eyes open and look up his father's face.
"F-Father. I...I-I couldn't - I tried-" Sesshomaru stuttered with barely any strength to even form the words.
Touga watched as his boy tried to speak, he saw the pain and the shame upon the boy's face. He knew the pup had tried. It wasn't his fault that he lost; he was just too young to defeat someone like that yet. He was scared what this type of experience would do to Sesshomaru emotionally and mentally.
"Shh. It's okay. You're safe my son. You're safe." Touga soothed as he started off towards home, knowing that given treatment from his healers, the boy would live. He had the best healers in the world and he knew they would not fail. They would save his son's life where he couldn't. Sesshomaru, finally feeling safe, finally succumbed to unconsciousness as his head fell atop his father's shoulder.