The Denouement
Budding Bushido Alliance final part
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Sesshomaru just about wanted to kill him. He was awfully tempted, but Meioshi only stretched her body out for a moment and cooed when she returned to a resting position. Jaken motioned another scream at her, but Sesshomaru swiftly clamped his beak shut with two fingers. Meh, the witch was tired, and he needed to think about her offer again. He closed the shell and locked it back before standing up to look at the shell. Sensing a disturbance in the distance, Sesshomaru turned to the volcano across from them and narrowed his eyes. Someone was either watching them or trying to find them. No doubt they were after Meioshi again. What do the oni want with the doctor, though? It doesn't make any sense. She's just a regular human. Is it just her affinity for combat? Maybe it's something more - something to do with her duties as a hell traveler. Whatever it was, they would have to wait their turn.
An hour or so might have passed by the time Meioshi woke up. A yawn and small moan stirred from the shell. The latch on it popped open on its own and her eyes clenched shut before she adjusted to the light of a fire. That wasn't there before. She looked down at some of the gifts near her feet and picked a few up to inspect them. One was a cute, little fox plush. She smiled gently at it before taking the pearl in her arms again. It was still heavy with water but glowing radiantly. Feeling that the pearl could rest in the shell for now, she crawled out of the bed she knew she didn't make and stretched again to release a longer yawn.
"Sounds like you had a nice nap, witch," a familiar spoke, making her stop and scan the area quickly.
She spotted Jaken on her adjacent side, furrowing his brows and bouncing his knee up and down, and then saw Sesshomaru facing the beach with an indifferent look to his eyes. She then asked, "Jaken? Sesshomaru? What are you doing here?"
"I'd like to know the same thing!" Jaken argued, raising a fist in the air. "You don't deserve my campfires after what you did!"
"What I did?" Meioshi asked, pointing to herself.
"You struck my lord without warning or explanation!" Jaken shouted, face pressed against Meioshi's and arms behind him like he was ready to start punching. "Did you forget?"
Meioshi blinked quietly with only Jaken's eyes in her immediate peripheral before humming and looking up to remember that particular event. When she did, her face went from one of confusion to one of displeasure. She then said, "No, I didn't and I'm not apologizing just to make him feel better about himself. What he said was inconsiderate, hurtful, and wrong. Homugi has been nothing but a sweet girl since our alliance. Her loyalty to the House of Inu is both admirable and inspiring. She shouldn't have to live a hard life for choosing to continue to do her duties despite your lord's refusal to marry her."
"Huh?" Jaken yelped, mouth dropping at this news. That's how the two knew each other? He then turned to Sesshomaru and asked, "L-L-Lord Sesshomaru, is this true? Lady Homugi was your betrothed?"
The western lord didn't reply, but his silence was all Jaken needed to confirm things. The doctor narrowed his eyes at him and rose to stand up quietly. She sifted through her gifts for a few tools until she noticed the provisions already provided in the crib. Carefully choosing a jerky stick, she tasted duck meat and rice water and chewed gingerly. It was good! Experimentally, she closed the shell to test its weight and found that the shell was a lot lighter than she thought. She was able to move it around without a problem. Good.
"Our ambitions was why they paired us," Sesshomaru answered, stopping Jaken and Meioshi. "She was a revolutionary. Father liked that about her. Homugi's ability to tap into another reserve of power was what mother liked. She would be able to protect the home and family while I was away if necessary. The Court... my grandfather... felt she was too ambitious. She would overstep her boundaries too frequently. Same with me. My progressiveness was what mother supported, but father felt that to be too dangerous and too risky. We were both a risk and a liability to the House of Inu. It was best for her to place her ambitions elsewhere."
"Oh, I see," Jaken said quietly, folding his arms. "You pushed her away from that particular role to ensure her success elsewhere. Was that so she wouldn't have to stand down so grossly?"
Sesshomaru was silent but Jaken understood the answer. It wasn't until they heard movement that they noticed a trail of sand and footprints where Meioshi used to be. She had already rounded a corner and disappeared by the time they looked up. The doctor was practically fuming at this point. She wasn't going to lash out at Sesshomaru, though. His intentions were good but not handled correctly, and that was what made her so angry. She couldn't really blame Sesshomaru entirely for Homugi's anguish in the aftermath of his rejection like she thought. It seemed to be the fault of multiple parties, but, even then, forcing children to make these kinds of decisions and having them traumatized in such a way until adulthood was infuriating! In truth, she just felt bad for Sesshomaru and Homugi. They were too young - much too young for such an arrangement. Perhaps that was ultimately why she had to leave. It wasn't her truth to hear being said. It was theirs. They needed to discuss the matter. Whatever happened to her and Sesshomaru in the past shouldn't dictate them being able to cooperate together now, but, if they've come to a point where they're so open about everything, this may be their opportunity to start anew. Maybe now, as adults, they share some common experiences. After all, it seems like they both had to stand down from who they were in their youth. They might be more approving of a betrothal now. They make a handsome couple and are ridiculously powerful individually.
Meioshi sighed at herself and shook her head. She was thinking too much. Spotting a quieter place to rest, she dragged her shell over to a nook of sorts. The shell actually blended in quite nicely. Popping it open, she sat next to her pearl and cuddled with another plush. It looked like a baby dragon. It was cute! She was going to have to thank whoever gifted her with all these things. Looking out into the beach, she admired the serenity of her new location and felt herself dozing off again. She was far more tired than she thought, but Numa-o was a devastating opponent. Hearing footsteps in the sand, she forced herself to peel her eyes open and caught the sight of that familiar fur pelt.
"Oh gods, I'm seeing you in my dreams," Meioshi grumbled, cuddling in her shell bed. "I've run out of good luck, it seems."
The western lord narrowed his eyes a bit as she did this, but he failed to find the right words against her insult. She pissed him off when she left the campfire, especially after he opened up to her. The truth was he respected her to an embarrassingly larger degree than before, especially upon seeing the enemy she had to face and now seeing her sense of justice in the grander scheme, but he didn't understand why the doctor chose to sleep elsewhere after his small confession. It may not have been the entire truth, but it was still part of it. Was there something else she was waiting for him to say? Something that he missed? Did it matter? He then noticed something of crucial importance. Her sprites weren't with her. She was alone on this part of her journey. Did she know where to go to return home?
Sesshomaru finally narrowed down his response into a singular question, "You spent all that energy moving over here just to sleep in the cold?"
Meioshi chuckled and looked up at Sesshomaru before saying, "It's warmer in this shell crib than you think. Besides, you don't like me anymore, remember? I'd have thought you'd rather I sleep in the cold. You've grown quite the expertise in giving out a cold shoulder."
His eyes softened up at the doctor's response, but Meioshi didn't look at him to see it. She closed her eyes, sunk further in the shell, bed and placed a blanket around her legs. Her words weren't true... at least, not to him, but then that would mean he liked her from the beginning. Things were more neutral than anything. He may not have liked her, but he didn't dislike her either. He had the words to correct her at the tip of his tongue, but he didn't have the explanation for his reasons at the ready. Watching her rest made him think back to the times when they allied themselves with each other. Perhaps, what he really wanted to say was that he didn't understand her just as much as she didn't understand him. She was really... a sweet, young lady. She fought for the innocent until the last breath, healed the sick, and protected both the weak and the strong. She was intelligent and graceful but didn't mind working harder, dirtier jobs. She was a lot of good things, but why did she have such a harmful level of guilt to where she felt she needed to be punished? Why must she fight? Who was her true enemy? Why would she reserve all of her power and all her hatred for this one entity? Why is she seeking battle with that one person?
"What are you trying to prove by doing all of this?" Sesshomaru asked quietly. Meioshi opened her eyes at the question but remained quiet. "Is guilt your only source of power?"
"No," the doctor said remorsefully. "It's a reminder. I have failed more times than I can count. I have lost more battles than you're willing to believe. I have wished for death to take me for lengths at a time multiple times. I have lived a low and disgraceful life, but... my beginning as a hell traveler didn't start when I lost my precious soul. It started when I had enough of failing. I had enough of losing. I had enough of suicidal thoughts and being hounded by hell's most vengeful of ghosts. I had enough of being brought to nothing. I had enough of being pitied. What I seek to prove is that failure is the result of an unfortunate circumstance not the definition of my existence. That defeat is not a show of weakness but a new way to train. That death need not be feared but anticipated and a transition to true peace, freedom, love, and wellness. It is my honor to protect those who have felt like nothing because I have felt that way, my privilege to aid those who feel defeated because I can help them train, my greatest joy to watch those who have failed pick themselves to march to their victory. Guilt reminds me that the fight isn't over, that the nightmares have a little more life in them, that my sword needs to be sharpened before it can cut through barriers. My source of power is elsewhere. Is yours so tied to your unspoken past, Sesshomaru?"
Their eyes locked when she asked the question but he didn't answer her. That fire in her eyes was strong when she spoke. After a while, she simply turned away from him and closed her eyes to rest. Her calm demeanor... disturbed him. He hated when she talked like that. Like she knew everything. Like she had more wisdom in her bones than he did. Like she lived longer than he did. He had a point to prove. That she had no right to talk down to him, to belittle him, to make him feel like he was smaller than her.
"I accept your offer," he then said firmly. She turned to him with a puzzled look to her face and a little pout. That had to stop. He then said, "Your visits to the Netherworld are deemed declarations of war against demon territories. To prove your innocence, you are tasked with locating the Meido Stone under my supervision. Instead of serving me directly, however, I will have you serve Jaken."
She produced an interesting face at his words before grinding out, "What? Eek!"
Restricted by Sesshomaru's Moko Moko, Meioshi was yanked out of the shell and dragged to the corner of the beach. She tried to get out of the furry rope and whipped around to see the western lord keeping his posture straight and facing forward. He didn't anticipate the surprised squeal from her. She was his rival: powerful, intelligent, militant, resourceful. That whole image crumbled a little. Annoyed that the woman was struggling to get out of his furry whip, he quietly pulled it harshly one good time and walked with her in tow.
Meioshi tried to resist him and questioned in a demanding tone, "What do you think you are doing? Sesshomaru? Sesshomaru! Why am I being dragged?"
"Jaken," Sesshomaru called, rounding the corner.
The imp ran up to him and replied, "Yes, me lord?"
"The witch is going to be your new servant as compensation for the events that transpired at the House of Inu. See to it that she serves her purpose well."
"You must be joking!" Meioshi said, chuckling angrily.
"Oh, really?" Jaken asked, grinning evilly.
"You little... ASS WIPE!" Meioshi shouted.
Secret Ending
"Lady Kaede! Lady Kaede!" a child called.
She turned around to respond, "Aye, child? What's wrong?"
The child leaned over his knees to catch his breath and pulled a letter out of his pocket to give to her. He then said, "Mama Mei-Mei left this for you."
Kaede read over the letter, gasped, and then smiled. She said quietly, "See you soon."
End of Movie
Author's Commentary Corner: Alright, beautiful people! That is the end of Phantom Without Honor! Whoo! Don't hesitate to leave a review of what you thought about the movie overall. Below are some things that I'm looking for in the review. You don't have to answer every question. Just one or two is good enough for me. It'll help me prepare for the second movie.
Would this movie, Phantom Without Honor, have been something you would've watched for yourself? Do you like the House of Inu characters (Takamuku, Homugi, leader of the Court of Elders)? Is everybody (Sesshomaru, Sesshomaru's mother, Jaken, Ah-Un, Toga) in character? Was the movie format clear? Was Rakuyama's introduction interesting as Sesshomaru's antagonist? Has Meioshi managed to catch your interest further through her exposition? Did her bargain with Sesshomaru make sense? Are there any technicalities/inconsistencies I should work on? Obviously, I have some grammatical errors and missing words in some places. I caught them a bit later than I'd like, but, if you see any others, let me know. I want this to be an enjoyable experience for everybody and still honor Rumiko Takahashi's work as a whole. Any constructive criticism is welcomed. ^_^
With that out of the way, let me offer some responses to the reviews and then we'll mosey on to the alternative ending. For my new readers, as part of the interactive nature of this story project, there are alternative endings at different points within this series throughout. Meaning, you can completely stop reading this and refer to either the original Inuyasha storyline during the Final Act or Yashahime for "what happens next". It's up to you. Actions have (or rather, will have) consequences when we come to "split-off" points. If you've made it this far, you passed up two of them. One was fairly early in the story and would've had no impact on any of the characters, but the other one was after Meioshi slapped Sesshomaru. When you choose to split off, you will see an alternative ending in the Commentary Corner explaining what happened to certain characters after Sesshomaru (or you) decided to full-on leave from the story; otherwise, Sesshomaru is going to be in the background (or away from Meioshi) and you'll get the opportunity to (a) see more of the story and (b) see how coming to that fork in the road in their relationship actually impacts his character.
Now then, 'bout dem reviews. Starting from Chapter 41... *rereading reviews*
On Norihisa: My poor guy and his family, unfortunately, die tragically and violently early on. The Norihisa that everyone interacts with is actually a kyonshi demon that disguised himself as the real Norihisa. The actual Norihisa was a clumsy, outgoing guy who was given the role of ambassador in Sesshomaru's place. I, personally, don't think Sesshomaru was ever trusted with political affairs where he has to negotiate with others or act as a true lord, so I created Norihisa to act as a fill-in for this job. It gave a bit more weight to Sesshomaru's investigation segment and sort of allowed me to think about how he would react to receiving that kind of task. Whether or not limiting his ambassador duties was a decision his parents made or if there is a court within the House of Inu that dictates that, I couldn't honestly tell you because that's not information that was deemed important enough for his backstory.
Now, a kyonshi demon is basically a vampire derived from Chinese mythology. The only twist being that instead of draining blood from victims they drain a person's yang energy first and then devolve into a person's entire insides. I wanted to craft an enemy that could challenge Sesshomaru's power. Supposedly, his Bakusaiga is capable of destroying anything/everything in its path. I chose a kyonshi to challenge that by making them drain yoki energy from demons and essentially the soul of humans. Once they've emptied their victims, they consume the rest until a husk remains. It felt like an excellent choice in enemy for him and puts him in a bind when he has to limit the amount of yoki energy he can use in attacks.
On Ohta: My bossy teenage boy! XD He just adds so much personality to the story. I very loosely based all of Meioshi's wards on Burakumin people, or people of a lower-class who often face discrimination because of their work in supposedly "filthy" careers. Prostitution is regarded a bit higher in Japanese society given the way the geisha community was founded, but I've always known prostitution to be the most dangerous, lowest and filthiest of career paths throughout history. I sort of mixed both cultural perspectives to form part of their background as underaged prostitutes. What I stated in the notes about Shinju o Tateru is also based on a historical fact during the wars. The best way to make both situations into a fairytale was by having Meioshi and Sesshomaru act as heroes for those children and lower-class workers. It was very satisfying to write a happy ending for those kids, even if the reality was otherwise.
To marsmargari: This is probably the most I've seen you pull quotes from chapters. It started with Jaken calling the pheasant "feathery f***" and then from 40 and up you've been on a roll. That's excellent 'cause it means I'm doing something right. ;-D I'm glad you're enjoying everything so far, though. It pushes me to think of new and exciting segments for everybody, and it feels like I wrote an anime anyone could've vibed with versus just a regular old fan fiction. That was my ultimate goal, so I'm glad it's coming across that way. Thank you for your endless support and feedback. I truly do appreciate it.
The same goes out to my silent readers. I appreciate everyone taking the time out to give this story a chance. I am a wordy author, so it probably feels like I have too much going on in some places and nothing going on elsewhere, but I want to work on that and give you a fully realized production where you feel included and the characters feel relatable and real. Although I'm using more history to back my fantasy portions up, I still want everything to feel like a fairytale but just a little more grownup.
Now, onto that alternative ending...
Seven years later...
Sesshomaru was flying overhead, looking for clues on the whereabouts of his family. Sensing a familiar presence, he landed near a forest with a stream flowing near the tree line. A kappa demon and a human woman were speaking to each other calmly.
"Do you think this would make a good present for my granddaughter, milady?" the familiar voice asked.
"I most certainly think so, Lord Moeru," the other familiar and feminine voice responded.
Moeru gestured a "hm?" before turning around to see Sesshomaru standing behind them quietly. He then said, "Oh, it's Lord Sesshomaru! My, my, it's been years! Um, how have you been?"
The woman turned around and merely looked at her former ally quizzically. What was he doing way out here? Sesshomaru was surprised by his former ally's beauty. Her hair was decorated with jewelry and her kimono made from fine silks and fabrics. She looked like a princess. Was she no longer a doctor? It has been some years since they separated. Maybe she married a nobleman since then.
Sesshomaru asked quietly to make sure the same regal woman sitting before him was the same woman that struck him years ago, "Meioshi?"
"Yes?" Meioshi responded, placing a bowl down to lay her hands on her lap.
"Why are you here?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Oh, just helping Moeru find gifts for his grandchildren. Kappa demons grow up so fast!" Meioshi replied, laughing gently. "Lord Jaken's not with you?"
"He's home," Sesshomaru replied. "We're looking for my family."
"What happened to them?" Meioshi asked, rising to stand.
She truly was more regal than he remembered, more beautiful even, but he didn't have time to admire her. He was taken already. He then said, "A fire separated my children. My wife... I don't know."
"I'm afraid I don't know anything about that," Meioshi said, looking to Moeru. He only shook his head in response. "There must be some other clue you're missing. Maybe retrace your steps?"
"Tell your husband to stop leaving you on your own," Sesshomaru said after some silence. "You're an easy target."
"I'd be talking to a wall if I said that aloud," Meioshi chuckled. "I've no husband to tell that to."
"Slapping other men is a hard sell," Sesshomaru said, leaving the woman and demon behind.