Author's Note: So, I know that technically Sess steps on Jaken during the flashback to the Panther War, but I left that little detail out to help with future plans. Over all, I rather like this chapter, and hope everyone else does as well. There's kind of a little tease at the end, but hopefully it won't be long before the next chapter is up considering it's half done already. As always, thank you all for the reviews, kudos, favorites, and follows!
~*Flame
Disclaimer: InuYasha & Final Act are all owned by Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Viz Media & Madmen Entertainment.
Chapter Ten
Nearly two centuries after Father's death, one of my greatest fears came to be. The Panther Tribe finally grew restless and moved against the West. Their strategy was genius. They targeted various villages that clearly belonged to the West and raided them in the middle of the night, stealing anything not securely locked within a home. They avoided any kind of bloodshed, making it impossible for us to retaliate without looking like the aggressors. It was maddening.
When the raids first began, I approached Mother and requested to take a small army across the border to strike down the Panthers before they escalated and harmed our people. A request she denied. In her eyes, there was no need to risk a war when there was no lasting damage done to the West. So I was resigned to bide my time.
That didn't mean I wasn't productive. I still tried to locate Tessaiga, but it was more of a side quest than a main goal. Time wouldn't wait for me to find the sword, and with the risk the Panther Tribe represented, I needed to ensure the protection of the West on my own. I spent my days training with the soldiers at the Western Fortress and the nights standing guard at various villages. Because of this, it had been a long time since I had seen Kagome in the Dream Realm.
For the first time in our many years of friendship, our separation wasn't due to whatever magic allowing us to connect through time fizzling out. It was a conscious decision, one I made the moment the threat of war came to be. Should something happen, I didn't want her to know should the worst happen. I would much rather her think I was still busy with the war than slain at the hands of the enemy.
The war was also the reason I had taken to checking up on Inuyasha personally. Not in a way he knew I was doing so, of course. But from a distance, just so I could satisfy my instincts that my pack was safe.
Floating on my youki cloud, just barely above the treetops near Edo, I could see Inuyasha standing guard while the village Miko gathered herbs in a meadow near an old well. He had grown strong through the years, though abet rough around the edges. But that was to be expected with his past. Myouga certainly kept him safe, as expected, but the old flea was not much of a guiding influence.
I couldn't say I was pleased with his choice of companions. I couldn't decide if I was more concerned over the bobble she protected or the Miko herself. All youkai had heard the legends of the Shikon no Tama, leaving two schools of thought with the trinket.
Some youkai believed they had a will strong enough to keep the madness of the jewel at bay. These were the youkai that constantly attacked the Miko, losing their lives for their folly. I prayed Inuyasha wasn't part of this group.
Other youkai believed the enhanced powers given by the gem to be nothing more than a crutch. The strength given was false and would never truly be theirs. I was firmly in this category.
Kikyou was notorious for hating youkai, not that anyone could blame her. The poor woman was constantly attacked as the protector of that cursed jewel. But she was also known to be quite benevolent, never killing unless forced to do so. In this, I could see where Inuyasha would be drawn to the Miko. They both had hard, solitary lives that were forced upon them. But I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Inuyasha's presence in Edo. If he were there for the Shikon, there would be no saving him.
Even if Inuyasha had a will strong enough to combat the madness of the jewel, it was not a wise decision. He was a hanyou. There was only a finite amount of power a hanyou could hold before their youki drove them to madness. Besides, the legend surrounding the jewel claimed it could grant any wish. Anything granted by the cursed item would be a twisted joke of what the user wanted.
"Sesshoumaru-sama!" Jaken shouted through the trees. I growled before dropping to the forest floor in front of my loyal retainer before he altered the hanyou to my presence. The few times we had encountered each other had always ended in a fight. Not one I started, but one I would finish. I was an opportunity I used to test his abilities and try to teach him new ones; be it a technique or where he needed to guard.
"Jaken." I acknowledged him as he bowed before me.
"Urgent news from the Western Fortress!" My blood ran cold. "Last night, the Panther Tribe attacked North of here, killing all inhabitants of the village." So, they were tired of the game. Mother finally had to admit that the Panthers needed to be destroyed.
"Come." I commanded and turned to return to the Western Fortress. I will need to meet with the Generals before leading the Western Army into battle.
The Western Army gathered behind me on the barren field chosen for our stand against the Panthers. Our enemies had yet to arrive, but as long as our spies were correct, they would be here soon. They were headed deeper into the Western Lands, closer to the Western Fortress and what was once our seat of power. Regardless if they were aware of the shift to the Shiro in the Sky, we planned on cutting them off before they got there.
Though it didn't take long for the army to mobilize, it was still too long to save two more villages from falling to the Panthers during their march. But I swore that those would be the last innocent lives they would take. Before leaving the Fortress, I ordered for the remaining villages in their path to be evacuated. I even sent Jaken to ensure the task was done.
Turning my focus on the plain soon to be soaked with the blood of our enemies, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. We weren't lacking for power, and the whole of the army wanted to exact revenge for the death of innocents, so there was no lack of motivation. But still… it felt like we were missing something…
Before I could contemplate further, a large group of youkai caught my attention from the corner of my eye. They appeared from the trees on the edge of the plain lead by Rouyakan, the Guardian of the Forest. What were they doing here? Rouyakan was a gentle youkai. The battlefield was no place for him. The others behind him seemed no different.
"Sesshoumaru-dono! We have come to assist!" The youkai behind him shouted war cries in their excitement. Turning to face the group head on just confused me more. Did they not see the army behind me?
"What do you all want?"
"We are beholden to your father from the last war. This time, we shall assist you, Sesshoumaru-dono." Ah, it all made sense now. The honor of these gentle youkai was at stake. I could respect that. Of course, I wouldn't turn them away; not for such an important reason. They might not be soldiers, but they were still youkai and could fight. The excitement of the group carried on the wind as they called for the blood of the Panthers.
"Sesshoumaru-sama!" Jaken's panicked voice cut through the excitement, pulling my attention to him as he ran up the hill. "Terrible news!" Running past our newest allies, he fell to his knees in a rough bow.
"What is it?" My retainer looked hesitant. Clearly, I wouldn't like what he had to say. Had he not made it to the other villages in time? Was more innocent blood of the West soaking the earth?
"I acted on my own and went to get Inuyasha. He may be a hanyou, but he is still your father's son, after all." A wave of relief washed over me at his words. The villages were safe. Jaken would not have taken the detour to Edo on the way to the villages, only upon his return, once the Western Subjects were safe.
"And?" Did I dare hope Inuyasha would rise to the expectations of his bloodline? "Where is he?" I didn't see him and it was unlikely for Jaken to be faster than the hanyou. Did that mean he wanted nothing to do with this battle? "Is he too cowardly to show himself?" His guardian was Myouga after all. It wouldn't be too surprising. "Or did he refuse to come to the aid of his brother?" Regardless of the reason, it was a shame not to have him by my side this day. Perhaps that was what I felt was missing earlier?
"That Inuyasha is under a seal!"
"What?" The surprise I felt slipped through my facade. How could this be? I had seen him a day ago and everything was fine.
"Well… he… lost his heart to a mortal Miko and was caught off guard." So Kikyou did what she was known for. Should I be grateful she only sealed him instead of killing him?
"Fool!" If any of the stories were true, she only would have betrayed their camaraderie if he tried for the Shikon no Tama.
"Yes, a total fool." As if noticing our new allies for the first time, Jaken looked at them in surprise. "But what is that?" I turned, looking at the new youkai as well.
"Father saved them in that first battle." He looked back at me excitedly.
"Then they are allies! How wonderful! I was concerned, but now that your father's allies have come, you can go to battle with confidence." I didn't need Father's allies for that. I had the Western Army behind me and centuries of training. I walked past Jaken, knocking him over in my irritation, needing to inform the Generals of the new recruits.
"Rouyakan." After a brief hesitation, I called for the Guardian of the Forest to follow. He seemed to be the leader of the group and would be the best one to issue orders to them. Thankfully, he followed obediently. That was always a concern that lived in the back of my mind with the Generals and Father's old allies. Whether they would follow my orders or view me as an untried pup. Clearly, Jaken held the same fears, otherwise, he wouldn't have been so concerned.
Soldiers bowed on either side as we passed through the army to the heart where all the Generals stood planning for the upcoming battle. Unlike humans, there was no tent or other structure to keep others out. Within an army of youkai, no spoken word was a secret, and no one pretended otherwise. Upon our arrival, the old commanders looked up from the map of the area they were studying and bowed slightly in respect to my station with curious looks to my companion. After a quick explaination of Rouyakan's presence, a sense of relief filled the eyes of the Generals. They were almost too pleased to have the extra bodies, making me feel a bit uncomfortable. Did they, like the Western Court, have doubts about my ability to protect them?
"We welcome your assistance." Rouyakan looked pleased by the quick bow of gratitude from the General as I tried to ignore the feeling taking root in my chest. "Take the left flank guard. Do not allow the Panthers to break through." With a bow of his own, Rouyakan accepted his orders before running back to the youkai that pledged their lives to the West.
For the first time, I allowed myself to battle in my true form, much like Father was known to do. It was a strategic advantage I could not ignore. Soaring over the battlefield, the scent of blood was strong, even from this high. Screams filled the air from both the Panters and the Western Force. Neither side was willing to give in as more blood soaked the earth below. The death that littered the earth quickly melted under the acid dripping from my jowls.
Standing in the middle of the battle was the eldest of the Panther Devas. None approached, not out of fear, but from the sheer number of footsoldiers around her keeping her safe. She was no leader, leaving her people to protect her than doing so herself. She looked up at me, and I growled. So it was this Sesshoumaru she was waiting for. So be it. I transformed back into my humanoid form, landing in front of the Panther.
"We meet at last Sesshoumaru."
"Touran." I glared at the new leader of the Panther Tribe. I had heard she had taken over not long after the last battle. "Make this easy on yourself and leave while you still can."
"You're the ones that should run." She scoffed, summoning a spear of ice. If it was a fight she wanted, I would give it to her. Sending out my youki whip, she easily dodged. Before I could blink, Touran had sent shards of ice flying in my direction. Dodging the best I could, I was unable to avoid all the projectiles. Feeling the ice tear through the flesh at my side only increased my blood lust, and I internally sneered. I would have to owe Kagome a favor for this next time I saw her.
Cracking my knuckles, I lept through the ice shards towards Touran's throat. Ice met my claws as she blocked my attack with her spear. "You have to do better than that, little puppy." I growled, using Mokomoko-sama to wrap around her ankles, pulling her to the ground. Much like Father in my youth, Touran was surprised by the maneuver.
"Time to die, little kitten." I mocked, Dokkasou dripping from my claws, burning her skin as it landed on her. I moved swiftly to take her head, only to jerk back at the last moment as a wall of flame appeared between us, forcing me to leap back to avoid getting burned.
"Karan…" Touran's surprised whisper could barely be heard over the roar of the flames. Had I not been so focused on the two siblings, I would have missed it.
"Time to stop playing with the Inu, sister."
"We will not run."
"Shunran is gravely injured." Was only one of the Panter Devas injured so badly to call for a retreat? With the thick scent of blood in the air, it should have been more. The cold hands of dread ran down my spine as the wall of fire slowly died.
"This will not be the last you will see of us, little puppy." Touran growled as the Panthers retreated. It didn't even cross my mind to try to attack while their backs were turned and they were distracted. Instead, I turned around myself to see the damage done to the Western Army. Nekos ran on either side as they retreated. I had faced Touran near the heart of her army, so it would take some time to make it back to the Western Forces. As long as none of the retreating soldiers attacked, I would allow them to pass.
Cresting the top of a hill, I surveyed the battlefield in shock. Between the Western Army and Father's old allies, never once did it cross my mind that this war could have gone so poorly. Yes, the Panthers retreated, but did that mean we truly won? There were far more of our dead lying upon the earth than our enemies.
With a spark of hope, I reached for Tenseiga. Supposedly, the sword could bring back a hundred lives with one swing. Now would be the time to put it to the test. Unsheathing the sword, I slashed through the air above the fallen warriors.
Nothing happened.
I slashed again, sending my youki into the blade. Yet still, nothing happened.
Tenseiga was a sham.
The legends of the ability to bring back the dead were a lie. The blade was nothing more than a glorified bokken. I should have expected no less from Father; leaving me with such a useless sword. He turned his back on the West when he met that human. Why would it have been any different for his pack?
Growling, I thrust Tenseiga back into its sheath. As useless as it was, it was still seen as a status symbol for those in the West. They could still believe the legends of Tenseiga. I would not take that from them.
My guilt over the dead grew as I rounded up the survivors before we burned our dead. The Western subjects that came as Father's allies were hit the hardest. Karan had found them and decimated their numbers. The few survivors were greatly injured and were in no condition to help with the task ahead. I should not have sent them into battle alone, honor be damned.
As misplaced as it was, I couldn't stop myself from blaming this on Inuyasha. If he had never rejected his place in the pack, I would have taught him everything I knew. He could have been as great of a commander as any leader in the Western Army. He could have protected Father's allies. But no, he had to lose his head and believe the lies of that whore before seeking the Shikon no Tama.
Clenching my fists, I tried to bury my rage at Inuyasha. There was nothing I could do about it now. The West suffered a great loss this day, and it was my fault. I should never have allowed Rouyakan and his friends to join the battle. I would not make this mistake again.
"Mother." I stood before the Western Court, fully expecting a reprimand of the deaths of so many in the last battle. "The Panthers have been driven out of the West."
"At a great cost to our own, from what I hear." The disappointment in her voice cut deeper than any sword.
"We told you he was not ready for such a task, Inu no Kimi." One of the Courtiers spoke out, sprinkling salt in the wound.
"Perhaps, Sesshoumaru, you should spend more time protecting the West opposed to chasing after your Father's shadow. Let this be a lesson for you." I bowed, her words cutting deeper. She dismissed me without another word and I quickly left the Shiro in the Sky. I had already decided to give up on Tessaiga. I had never seen either blade in action before, and if Tenseiga didn't work, what proof did I have that Tessaiga would?
The West only had me to protect it, and I was severely lacking. I had proven to everyone my greatest fear; I was the Western's Folly. Even if it took the rest of my life, I would atone for this. I would prove not to the Western Court, but to the people of the West I would protect them. And in order to do that, I needed to get stronger.
Landing back on the ground, I spotted Jaken patiently waiting for me. Even after witnessing my failure, he still stood by my side. His loyalty was admirable but not deserved. "Sesshoumaru-sama!"
"You are dismissed." I turned, not wanting to watch the heartbreak on his face.
"Sesshoumaru-sama!" His footfalls were clearly heard as he ran after me. But I didn't slow down. I was no great leader and had no right to retainers. But Jaken was loyal to a fault. He would follow me to the ends of the earth whether or not I asked it of him. I would have to resort to more drastic measures. But not just yet. Let him chase after me for now.
The Shiro in the Sky wasn't far from Edo, something I was grateful for. It didn't take me long to get to my destination and though I could no longer hear Jaken's footsteps, I could still hear him shouting my name.
I stood at the foot of the Goshinboku staring up at the peaceful face of Inuyasha. What a fool. Father wasted his life protecting this hanyou, and this is what he has to show for it? From the whispers as I passed the village, the Miko died from her injuries, leaving none that could break the seal placed upon him. He would stay there, pinned to the tree for eternity.
Standing here and seeing the constraints of the seal in person showed how brutal they were. He was in a state of suspension. No sustenance was needed, nor would he age. If the seal were broken it would be as if no time passed. Had the Miko not have lost her heart to him as well, he would have been killed, so the village rumors would have you believe. Death would have been far better than being left in this state.
"You were always a fool, little brother." I growled, trying to contain my anger at seeing one of my blood in such a state. "Always letting your emotions override your judgement." That whore should have given him over to the West the moment Father passed. He could have used Mother's training for controlling emotions far more than I. Turning from the sight, I swore never again to return.
I spent years wandering the lands, slaying anything that caused trouble for the West. The entire time, Jaken continued to follow me. No matter how many times I left him, stepped on him, beat him, and outright abused him, he still stood by my side. I kept telling myself it was just a matter of time before he would give up and leave, but with each passing year, he proved otherwise.
After the Panther War, I avoided the Dream Realm almost as much as I beat Jaken. What right did I have to take solace in Kagome's company when my decisions caused the death of so many of the very people I was meant to protect? By her very nature, Kagome was a forgiving person, and I didn't deserve her forgiveness. But I couldn't avoid the realm entirely. Even youkai needed to sleep. I was lucky enough that when I had no other choice than to rest for the night, it never correlated with Kagome. But luck was a finite thing, and mine had finally run out.
I stood at the edge of the forest, staring in shock at the boulder I had spent so many years leaning against, listening to Kagome tell me stories of the future. She was there… sitting on that very boulder. After all this time, after everything that happened…
A large part of me wanted to return to the waking world and be done with our friendship. She might not control when she appears, but after everything that happened… with the blood of my people on my hands, how could I face her? Yet, a smaller part of me couldn't run. The choice was taken from me when she looked up, deep pools of blue meeting gold.
"Sesshoumaru…" She looked distraught, and like a siren, her voice called to me. Against my will, my feet moved to join her. Standing from her seat on the boulder, she met me halfway, arms wrapping around me instantly.
"What's wrong?" I didn't embrace her back, but she didn't really seem to notice.
"Everything." I could feel the wetness of her tears seep through my haori. As if conditioned, my arms finally wrapped around her. How many times had I held her like this? Her tears staining the silk of my clothing. Not as often as one would think, and never for a frivolous reason.
It was like her tears broke something inside me. Suddenly, it felt like all the horrors of the past fifty years had never happened. All that mattered was the two of us and the friendship that had withstood centuries of hardship yet still stood strong.
"Tell me." She looked up, tears continued to roll down her cheeks. Unable to stop myself, I brushed them away gently with the pad of my thumbs. "I am here now." I shouldn't have stayed away for so long. Our friendship wasn't just about me. Kagome needed me just as much, and I wasn't here for her. Yet more proof of my inadequacies, but at least one that can be easily remedied. More tears fell from her eyes as her lips parted and the last thing I ever expected her to say passed her lips.
"I fell down a well."
