Author's Note: Part of this chapter will include the beginning of Movie 3. It will probably be the only part of the movies that will appear… maybe… We'll have to see how I'm feeling down the road. They're not technically cannon, but they might be fun to include anyway. Thank you again for all the follows, favorites, kudos, and reviews! They're incredibly inspiring.
~*Flame
Disclaimer: InuYahsa & Final Act are all owned by Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Viz Media & Madmen Entertainment.
Chapter Seven
The light of the sun was slowly fading from my room. I had yet to light any candles, not wanting to alert anyone to my whereabouts. Not after what I had just witnessed… what we had all just witnessed…
Father had arrived early this morning, nearly a moon past the last equinox. It wasn't the first time he was late, nor was the solstice of my fifteenth winter the last time he didn't show for his expected visit. I had always believed that he was too busy keeping the West safe. That we had more enemies than we knew of and never faulted him for his lack of attention. Mother was not of the same mind; and sadly, her suspicions were confirmed this morning when Father finally arrived for the first time since the previous summer.
After passing our family's rite of passage, Mother began having me attend Court when I wasn't training. With Father's extended absences, the time I spent with the Western Court steadily increased. It made less time to spend with Kagome, but it meant that when it came time for me to take my place as Lord, I would be far more prepared than any other of my line.
The Court was discussing the increase in the slayers recruitment efforts when the door to the hall slid open, slamming against the jam and silencing all speech as every eye landed on Father. Had he been human, he would have been panting in the doorway. As it was, he stood there, disheveled and dirty, waiting for Mother to grant him leave to come closer. But Mother was not one to be swayed by appearances. She was far from pleased with him as of late and let him know it by leaving him to stand there until the Court's discussion resumed and concluded. It was the ultimate power move, as Kagome would say. Father, for all his faults, waited until he was given permission to approach. With the news he brought, he shouldn't have.
Mother was not the only one to notice Father's distraction from his duties, and our enemies had taken this opportunity to attack. Ryoukotsusei was pushing against the Northern border and destroyed one of the outposts to test the waters of our defense. Father had just returned from squashing the skirmish, but the damage had been done. Our greatest enemy was aware of our weakness. The court had demanded an explanation but the response… none of us expected what held his attention so strongly to allow for an attack on the West.
A human woman.
The sheer rage that escaped Mother's mask was terrifying. Never had I seen emotion on her face, and I pray to the Kami I never would again. The argument that erupted between my parents was something none would have believed without having witnessed it. It wasn't the fact that Father had a human lover the stoked her ire. It was his loyalty to the human, ripe with his child, over the West.
Father had more freedom than most consorts. He could have any number of lovers, as many bastards as he wanted; all without having to explain himself or hide his activities in the shadows. The only thing Mother required was unwavering loyalty to the West. And now, all because of his betrayal, the West could fall. Father's love of a human was more important than his duty to the West. It was sickening and left Mother with her hands tied.
She sent Father away to destroy Ryoukotsusei before he could destroy the West. No matter how long he took, that was to be his sole focus. To ensure Father maintained his said focus, she ordered to have his human locked away. She would stay within the walls of her father's Shiro, but the guards would be assigned by Mother and specifically tasked with keeping Father away. He was enraged at first, being forced from his Mate's side, but his feelings didn't matter. Only the West mattered and he needed to save the West from his lapse in judgement.
Father spent many moons hunting Ryoukotsusei. The Ryu was sly and easily evaded all of Father's traps. He was making a mockery of the West and our other enemies were beginning to take advantage. There were times Mother had to send me out to quell small pockets of rebels. In the beginning, I enjoyed proving to all that, unlike Father, I could protect the West. But as time passed, the battles became tedious. There was no challenge, and I became bored. As with many things, it was Kagome that came up with the solution.
She made it quite clear that she didn't appreciate the control I held myself to. She never had since the day I returned from the rite. So, every skirmish I returned from with an injury, she would get to spend time with my inner beast. She was perfectly safe; there was no question or concern about that. The issue was giving control over to my beast wasn't something I enjoyed doing. So, I grew very good at not allowing anyone to touch me. Each time I returned from battle with not even a stain on my white silks, I couldn't stop the smirk from escaping at seeing Kagome's pout.
It wasn't just the challenge she gave me that made Kagome my saving grace during this time. Even with the guards Mother had put in place at that human's home, he still tried to sneak past them. It wasn't hard since the woman's father refused youkai guards. No matter how well trained the humans Mother found were, they were no match for Father when he really wanted to get past them.
Just this eventing, they had caught him walking through the gardens of the Shiro with that human woman by his side. How I could ever have idolized the man was mindboggling. Even the lowest of peasants had more loyalty to the West than he did. If I were Lord, I would have stripped him of the title of Inu no Taishou long ago. Why Mother hadn't was beyond me. But I was better off focusing my energy elsewhere than with that particular frustration.
I fully expected to be called out to quell another invasion once the sun was at its height. The last thing I wanted to do was arrive as frustrated as I currently was. Granted, should anyone look upon me, they wouldn't notice. Much like Mother, I had perfected the indifferent facade our clan was known for. Over the years, I've been able to feel more of the emotions I was so desperate to lock away, only dulled and easily controlled. It still wasn't good enough for Kagome, but she had the luxury of the future at her side. She might take that for granted, but I didn't. Watching her express herself so freely was relaxing. It gave me hope that all the pain and bloodshed of this time wasn't for naught. That the future is as bright and grand as I imagined.
So I had slept in a little, hoping to see Kagome, even for a little bit. I wasn't sure how much longer I could wait, but even if she didn't show in time, I was enjoying the sound of the waterfall as it crashed into the pool. Leaning my head back, I closed my eyes, letting myself relax for the first time in a while. One leg extended, the other bent with an arm resting on the knee, I just sat there. No place to be. No pressing matters. No enemies to slaughter.
The Western Court hadn't quite agreed with Mother when she began to send me out to protect the West while Father was otherwise distracted. They feared the worst should I fall. But it was a foolish worry. Mother knew this, which is why she sent me. Not only was I fully prepared for the task, but my loyalty to the West was unwavering. What the Court didn't understand was this was just the beginning of my plans for supreme conquest.
Grandfather returned the West to its former glory, and Mother kept it there. But I would do far more. I would expand the West, conquering all of Nihon to help bring about the future Kagome was so used to. She may claim there is no youkai in her time, but I refuse to believe that. I refuse to believe I won't make it to her time. Even if that would mean that by that time, and by those societal standards, I would be too old for our friendship to continue. No matter how bitter a taste that put in my mouth to admit.
It really was for the best that Kagome wasn't from this time, and not just because of the knowledge she could share. Had she been in this time, we could never be friends. Not from lack of wanting, but because her friendship would be detrimental to the West. Our enemies would quickly target her as a ploy to control me, and it wouldn't work. No matter how badly I would want to protect her, I would not betray my people the way Father has. Kagome might claim to understand the burden placed upon me, but unless she was faced with the decision I would make to sacrifice our friendship, to sacrifice her for the West, she would never truly understand. And I hoped she never would.
Opening my eyes, I looked around for any sign of Kagome. It seemed that today would be yet another we missed each other. Perhaps it was for the best. I had enemies to slaughter after all, and growing too relaxed before battle could cause me to slip and allow the enemy a chance to harm me. We couldn't have that, now could we?
It was hard to miss when Father had finally caught up to Ryoukotsusei. The sky exploded with the force of their youki while the earth shook from the power of their blows. I could not help myself; I had to see it. There was never an opportunity in the past for me to witness the full extent of Father's power, and I would not let this chance slip through my fingers. He was named the Inu no Taishou for a reason and his recent betrayal didn't change that fact that he was a powerful force to behold.
I ran as fast as I could towards the battle, but it wasn't enough. I needed to go faster. The light orb technique wouldn't work, the distance was too far. I may have come leaps and bounds beyond where I first started with that technique, but I was still years away from mastering it. Pushing youki beneath my feet, thinking it would help increase my speed, I started to feel something solid form. Not thinking about it, I let my youki finish manifesting until a cloud appeared beneath me and I took to the air.
Wind whipped around me as I traveled nearly as quickly as I could in the orb. Oh, how I couldn't wait to show this new technique to Kagome. She already loved jumping from the top of the waterfall and into the pool. Now, I could help her really fly.
I arrived on the outskirts of the battlefield not long after taking flight; my new youki cloud dissipating as my feet touched the shaking earth. The sight before me was awe-inspiring. Father was in his true form; something I had only recently begun to attempt. He flew around the giant that was Ryoukotsusei. Blood spattered the earth beneath them as I gazed on.
As if distracted, Father looked to the East; giving Ryoukotsusei the opening he needed. A blast jaki shot from the Ryu, yet Father didn't flinch. He leapt through the energy, sinking his fangs into his enemy.
As the dust cleared, I was shocked at the sight before me. One of Father's fangs stuck out from Ryoukotsusei's body; sealing him. Father was no longer in his true form; standing on the crest of a hill staring off toward the East.
I could see the blood pool in the snow under him as he stood there. What was he doing? Would he truly not kill Ryoukotsusei? Confused, I joined Father on the hill, staring at his back.
"Will you not finish him?" It was his duty to do so as the Inu no Taishou, his task to prove to Mother he hadn't truly betrayed the West. It was the only way to make up for the blood his mistake had cost our people. Yet here he stood, once again, ignoring his duty.
"I must go to Izayoi." I stared at him in disbelief. He was still holding this woman above the safety of the West? Unacceptable. I watched in disgust as his blood continued to fall, staining the purity of the snow. He should have healed by now… if he was going to heal. We could both clearly see the crossroads he was on, and I was not pleased with the choice he seemed to be making. Should he leave Ryoukotsusei sealed as he was, allies of the Ryu could free him at anytime. Then our great enemy would ravish not just the West, but Father's precious human as well.
"Do you insist on going, Father?" It was my last attempt to get him to stay and finish what he started. As much as I wished to believe otherwise, I was not strong enough to defeat Ryoukotsusei, not yet. Father needed to choose his duty over some human that wouldn't appreciate the sacrifice he was making to be by her side.
"Will you stop me, Sesshoumaru?" So, his mind was set. Even injured, I was no match for the Inu no Taishou. I was no fool; I was my Mother's son. Instead of responding right away, I stared at his swords. He had those made to protect the West. If he was no longer planning on fulfilling his role, it would be up to me to do so. I would need all the additional strength I could get. I needed his swords.
"I won't try to stop you. However, before you go… please entrust the swords, Sou'unga and Tessaiga to me." It wasn't a slight against Tenseiga, but the West needed strength and that wasn't something Tenseiga could give me. I didn't need it. To be honest, I couldn't think of a time when Tenseiga would be needed. If a youkai fell in battle, it was due to their own weakness, and weakness should never be rewarded. But Sou'unga and Tessaiga were different. They could help me protect the West until I grew stronger and into my true power.
"And if I say I won't, will you kill me, your own Father?" He knew very well there was no way I could kill him. Should by some act of the Kami he survive the night, his human would one day perish and eventually, he would see reason and come crawling back to his duty. Whether it would be there waiting for him was unknown. I had already started protecting the West. I would only continue to do so. "Do you desire power so much? Why do you seek power?"
"The path I walk is the way of Supreme Conquest. And it is power that will reveal the way for me." Father lowered his head in thought.
"The way of Supreme Conquest, huh?" I couldn't tell from the tone in his voice if he was disappointed or not. It shouldn't have mattered, not after all his actions of late; yet, I found myself chaffing at the thought of his disappointment. "Tell me Sesshoumaru… Have you someone to protect?"
"Someone to protect?" Kagome's face flashed in my mind. I didn't know why I thought of her. She was safe, hundreds of years in the future. She didn't need me. We both knew the West needed my protection, but that wasn't what Father was asking.
"I, Sesshoumaru, have no need of such." I gestured off to the side in dismissal. Even as I spoke the words, Kagome came to mind once more. Had she been in this time, my answer wouldn't have changed. The need to protect the West came before the distraction of my friendship with Kagome.
In his own dismissal, Father transformed into his true form once more before flying away, his blood pouring from his body and the scent of death on the wind.
I stood hidden among the trees, watching silently as Kagome leapt from stone to stone across the stream. She was so carefree, so happy that I couldn't bring myself closer. I didn't want to ruin her good mood. Should she notice me, that's exactly what would happen. Today was tragic enough without losing her bright smile. Yet, I couldn't bring myself to return to the waking world.
But as nothing else had gone right this day, it didn't take Kagome long to notice me standing in the shadows. She glanced up mid-leap as if catching something out of the corner of her eye and those bright sapphire pools locked with mine. Her smile widened at seeing me, and my heart fluttered. If there were ever a time, I wished to have postponed the rite of passage, now would be that time. To give into the grief and anger at Father's death and betrayal… to gather Kagome in my arms and lose myself in her gentle warmth… But it was not to be, and it was for the best. The West had enough troubles without the threat of me fallowing in Father's footsteps.
"There you are!" She landed on the bank as I stepped away from the trees. We met each other halfway, just as we always had. "I've been wondering when I'd see you again."
"Hn." Her smile faded the closer she came.
"What's wrong?" I lifted an eyebrow at her. After all her complaining over being emotionless, she can still tell when something wasn't right? Her complaints then were a waste of breath and an annoyance. How very human.
She rolled her eyes at my silence, her arms crossing over her chest. "Don't do this," she huffed. "Just because I don't like seeing you without emotion doesn't mean I can't tell when you're upset. We've known each other too long for me not to."
I looked away from her, instead watching the waterfall crash into the pool below. This wasn't like when her father passed and she needed comfort. But if I didn't tell her something, she would never let the subject drop. It wasn't in her nature.
"Please, talk to me." Tingles shot up my arm as she placed a gentle hand on me. I nearly shuddered at the sensation. It didn't hurt, not in the slightest, but it was different. It didn't feel the same as when we touched as we played in years past, and I didn't know how to react. So I ignored the sensation, focusing instead on what to tell Kagome.
"Things have changed and I will be called upon to protect the West more often." I had hoped she would leave it at that, but had she done so, she wouldn't be my Kagome.
"But… what about your father? Isn't it his job to protect the West?" I scoffed, shrugging off her touch and moving towards my favorite tree to sit down. I hadn't come here to discuss things with Kagome. I had come to figure out what to do next. With the Inu no Taishou gone, it was left to me to fight off the hordes of youkai that would swarm once news of Father's demise reached them. Ryoukotsusei was not the only powerful enemy of the West. As soon as the Panther Tribe hears the news, they will begin marching towards our lands.
It was a chilling thought. Father could only temporarily drive them away but at the cost of many Western lives. If only Tessaiga and Sou'unga hadn't gone missing! After the fires burned themselves out, I had traveled to the spot, the Shiro had once stood, fully expecting to find Father's swords in the rubble. But they were gone. Either burned away with the flames of his folly or taken by the last of his retainers before I arrived. Regardless, without Father's swords, how can I hope to protect the West from these treats so soon? I needed time to gain power, time the dream realm couldn't give me. I needed to find out what happened to the swords. I refused to believe the fire was strong enough to destroy blades made by the great Toutousai.
"Sesshoumaru," I looked up at Kagome, the irritation in her voice a reprieve from my dark thoughts. "Don't be rude. I asked you a question."
"Hn." Fire danced in her eyes. She really was far too easy to rile up. Though I would never tell her such. I enjoyed watching her rant and rave, the fire of her ire amusing even when directed at me.
"Sesshoumaru!" She flopped down next to me, shaking my shoulder in her irritation. "Stop being a jerk." She was nearly at her limit before she would explode and leave, only to return and start again the next time our paths crossed. Strangely, the thought of her leaving this day set me on edge.
"Father is dead. I am all that stands between the West and destruction."
"Wha-what?" Kagome stopped shaking me, her hands slowly sliding down my arm in shock. I suppose I could have broken the news to her more delicately. "Oh, Sesshoumaru," without further warning, Kagome pulled me into her embrace. Arms wrapped around my shoulders, nose pressed against her neck, I froze. This didn't feel like the time when I comforted her when her father passed all those years ago. This was different… so very, very different.
Her whispered platitudes were a buzz in my ear, something easily ignored as my arms grew a will of their own and wrapped around her. Closing my eyes tight for the first time, I wished things were different. That I wasn't the Heir of the West; that I had the freedom to go, and do, and be whatever I wanted to be; that I could spend my days with Kagome, not just in the dream realm, but in the waking world. But wishing things were different was a waste. Our fates had been set and no matter how hard we wished otherwise, nothing would change that.
The future was going to be hard. The West was vulnerable, and any weakness was unacceptable. Yet, instead of pulling away from Kagome, I was only glad my weakness was far away in another time.
