Author's Notes: Say welcome back, Lord Sesshomaru! XD This episode is friendship or my-friends-are-my-power heavy. Like Kaede and Homugi, Sesshomaru is going to confess some major stuff here. It's not as lengthy as my female leads in this story arc, but he does open up a bit more about his past. His thoughts/narration will be in single quotes and bold font like so 'speech...' And... I'm formally introducing one new family character from the House of Inu: Sesshomaru's paternal grandpa! *applause* XD Well, okay, Inuyasha's too. But he doesn't know him! ... yet... This character debuted in Season 1 Chapter 35 as simply a mention, but his first physical appearance was in the movie in Chapter 57 as a member of the Court of Elders. He was the one yelling at everyone about the attack on the Floating Citadel. (My man's just stay being mad. XD I love it, though.) He's only made two other appearances since then, but he never had a name or character description so we're giving him one as this is a more political story arc. Enjoy!
Evil witch! Making him come back to this stupid orange tree with its stupid, ambrosial fruit and its stupid healthy-looking leaves and a mound of dirt lifting from the stupid surface of the stupid ground where a stupid-looking treasure chest is locked by a stupid padlock! Did he, Lord Sesshomaru, have to find the key to his stupid destiny or was that going to be a coincidence of the stupid pygmy's stupid curse? Closing his eyes to breathe deeply, Sesshomaru stopped mentally ranting. Of course, no one can tell that he's doing that because he's just standing in front of a tree. He should've just left without the old man since he seemed so adamant about staying at that ryokan, but Kirameku Ha promised to meet him at the campsite after he relayed information to his friend. He seemed pleased that Sesshomaru had finally returned and come to his senses, but there was something else troubling the retiree. The veteran's face and change of mood and scent were probably why Sesshomaru considered his words. He could smell a bit of fear, relief, and worry coming from the old man. It was a mixture of emotions that seemed uncharacteristic of him. Even Meioshi, as evil as she was... kind, seemed more tense as of late. He had clearly missed some prior development in his absence.
Jaken was sleeping in his bed after finally having been pulled out of the hole he was trapped in. The campsite for the most part seemed to be untouched, so the witch never came this way. She only went to check on her sensei. He supposed that also made him come back to the camp. Kirameku Ha truly was important to Meioshi as both a mentor and father figure. All of the evidence pointed to it. When she was being bullied, he acted as the teacher and got her to calm down. When she got into a fight, he acted as the disciplinarian and made her humbler. Those actions somewhat translated over to Sesshomaru. When the western lord becomes perturbed by his rival's actions or words, he somehow or another just... gravitates towards the old man. The veteran simply knew how to interpret the witch's actions and thought process for him to understand his rival, and that seemed to always calm him down. This time, however, he wanted to try to interpret her threat himself. This time, the threat was uncalled for. He was angry that she was stopping him from seeing Homugi, but... she was training Homugi to essentially move on. While he knew their relationship was disrupted in the past because of the betrothal, this was Homugi they were talking about! Homugi's greatest skill was being resilient and not letting things get to her. That's what made her... That's why he... She should've bounced back from this ages ago...
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"Siding with Meioshi has been my greatest honor because I at least get to be me again!" Homugi shouted. "I have to live in your shadow day in and day out just because you decided to grow a pair of balls for a night! Oh, but I guess your father's trials taught you a bit of humility as of late, didn't it? I'm not your pedestal to stand on so you can look better than the rest! I thought... I thought you were my friend. I thought... I thought you believed in our dreams to make things different..."
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"I wanna be the best girl protector of the inu clan!" Homugi exclaimed.
"Of course, you want to steal my job," Takamuku said, sitting on Sesshomaru's other side. "Stingy princess!"
Homugi laughed then said, "Yup!"
"Yeah," Sesshomaru said quietly with a soft smile on his features.
Together, the three pups sat at the Wish Tree with their offerings and slips of paper in front of them, hopeful for the day when they each will learn their own version of the Wind Scar and for the day they'll meet their significant other. After a moment of silence and wonder, they strung their bags and papers together and tossed them in the tree. Each one was able to wrap around a branch, a sign that meant the wish... was on its way to be judged and answered...
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"You've many unspoken wishes, young one. Why have you torn them? That's bad luck."
"They're worthless," Sesshomaru answered coldly.
"All of them?" the grandfather asked, raising an eyebrow. When Sesshomaru grew quiet in response, the man then said, "Come down for dinner, young one. Your wish is being observed today."
Rounding a corner with quickened steps, Sesshomaru went to find Homugi. What on Earth was she doing here? When he did find her, his breath caught in his throat. She looked gorgeous. Her furisode matched her personality brilliantly! Even her hair looked nice! She looked like a true princess. When she caught his scent, she turned around with a curious pout before cheering up and running over to him.
"Tikun!" Homugi called with a smile on her face. When she reached him, she asked, "So, you really are a prince? How come you never told us?"
"It wasn't important, and... it was the only way I could keep my friends," Sesshomaru answered honestly.
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"Let's make a promise, Muku-senpai," Homugi said, holding up a hand. "When we're ready to marry, let's find our own brides!"
"You don't get a bride. You get the groom!" Takamuku corrected, squishing Homugi's cheeks together. "I'll have to think about mine for a little while. I'm going to wish for wisdom on it instead. When the time comes, I'll have a better idea by then for sure. Learning the strongest technique sounds way cooler, though. Who will be my strongest enemy when that day comes?"
"Well, I'm gonna wish for both a bride and a groom!" Homugi cheered, twirling around before plopping next to Sesshomaru. "That way, I have a new friend in the bride and a first love from the groom."
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"As young nobles, you will have to view candidates for marriage. Your betrothal is being setup," Milady informed professionally.
Sesshomaru wasted no time in asking, "To who?"
"To Homugi there," Toga answered, believing the answer to be obvious.
"No," Sesshomaru interrupted with a dark undertone in his voice and narrowed eyes.
"What?" Homugi asked, turning to Sesshomaru. He was furious.
"I said no. I'm not marrying Homugi. You didn't even ask us if that's what we wanted to do. I'm not going to be part of something that leaves me no choice in the matter! It's no different than the situation here! To hell with your dinner and your decision! Go home, Homugi! Don't come back even if they beg you!"
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"Why?" Homugi voiced so pathetically, allowing her tears to simply fall. "Why must I be in pain? How much longer must I live in shame?"
"If you can't value yourself regardless of the House of Inu, regardless of Sesshomaru, regardless of whoever enjoys watching you fall, then your value as a wife, as a woman, and as a warrior will forever be nothing. Now, you get up off this ground, and stand before me like a real woman who has endured more pain than that man will ever feel," Meioshi answered. "I said GET UP! Who has been training relentlessly day in and day out, not for honorifics or for glory, but for something as simple as acknowledgement?"
"I did! I am Homugi the Blue Merle Thorn," she said with confidence, producing a morning star mace from her hand. "And I will not stand for anyone's belittlement because of a coward's rejection!"
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"I cared about you when you were already the man should've been!" Homugi admitted, crying and silencing Sesshomaru. "You were going to be a great man and a great leader! We may not have gotten to live out life a little longer before deciding who to marry, but I was willing to learn to love you the way our parents learned to love and respect each other. What was so hard and so wrong about being willing to at least learn to love me? Were we ever friends to begin with or was I always your tool? Just a piece of equipment only meant to do your bidding... That's why I left. No matter how hard I tried, I would always be thrown aside. I just wanted to be a living, breathing, worthy woman again. Just this once. I don't know what you have to do... to be the man I once looked up to. But your actions have said a lot if a loyal, downtrodden wretch like me would rather serve heaven and hell's outcast than someone like you."
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Kirameku Ha replied, "A person can't be forced to marry when they feel guilty about a past. Letting go of her guilt was going to take time, especially when she had a constant reminder of such guilt within reach."
"Why did she feel guilty?" Sesshomaru asked.
"The same way I felt when I lost my wife," Kirameku Ha answered, looking up at the moon and earning Sesshomaru's attention. "That I wasn't there when she needed me. I wasn't strong enough, fast enough, or wise enough to stop her fate when I could have at least tried to do something about it. But, I had to learn the hard way that, despite how much I believed I failed her, I couldn't have possibly known how much danger she was in. There are simply some things in this life you can't possibly know will happen. If you could see all of the events in the future, you would cherish the past so much less. You would lose those most precious of memories that define recognition of character, personality, or even traits a loved one should have when you think of them. You might even try to pinpoint perfect moments in the present to reach a perfect future rather than enjoy the gifts that life bring you as the day goes by. My friend needed to understand that for herself before she could make the step to marry. I did not push her to do it because I understood her the most, but, if she can look to the memory of that man with fondness in her heart, I am happy no matter what she chooses to do."
"I don't deserve to be looked at fondly... but she deserves to be happy," Sesshomaru said almost subconsciously. "My wishes were snatched from me during a crucial year in life, but hers should've remained untouched regardless of what I decided. I should've stopped them."
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"Ack!"
Feeling her head getting pushed against the wall, Homugi was struggling to get out of a boy's grasp. The boy whispered, "Like your screams are gonna do you any good. You're unworthy. You're lucky I'm even wasting my time trying to be nice and you have the nerve to refuse me. You're beneath a real woman anyway."
"Let go!" Homugi demanded, punching the boy in the jaw to break out of his grasp, but she was soon overwhelmed by another boy and held down.
"Sure. I'll just let my buddy here keep you still..."
Before she knew it, her kimono was being ripped open and she started fighting in a panic. Eyes welling up with tears, she let out a final scream until Takamuku came up behind her attacker and nearly took his head off. He did the same to the other boy holding her in his arms and went straight to Homugi. She leapt into her senpai's arms and cried. Silently, Takamuku held her there and helped her fix her clothes. She was escorted home, but the situation wasn't much better there either.
"You sold yourself to a soldier to reclaim your title?" her mother questioned with outrage at her state.
She tried to defend herself and explain that she was attacked, but her parents wouldn't listen. Takamuku, as quietly as he saved her the first time, simply pushed her mother back inside and slammed the door on her. He then said, "You're not safe here anymore, Mugi. Come with me."
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"How exactly was this supposed to clear your name?" Kirameku Ha questioned. "I wasn't telling you to keep your distance to sugar coat your truth. I was telling you that to show that you were ready to move on!"
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'I never wanted to lose you, Homugi. I only ever wanted to stop them from taking away your dreams. Loving you was the easiest part about our friendship. You were a tough, little cookie... the day I met you. There were very few girls in my class at the dojo. Even Takamuku's class was short on female fighters. But... you had the spunk and the drive to win. That day, when we were sparring partners, made everyone turn their attention to you. You were faster than me! I actually had to use other techniques just to defend myself! Yet... that's not what drew me to you. When you kicked me into the ground and realized that you might've hurt me, you rushed to my side and apologized feverishly like your life was on the line. That caring attitude mixed with your affinity for combat was enough for me to make my first wish: to be your friend. I suppose one would have called that love at first sight, and this was partially true... but only if you look at it from a friend's perspective. Maybe even a familial perspective. You were the sister I wish the universe could've given me, but I was thankful that you accepted me through the bond of the fang and blade. You and Takamuku made life more enjoyable to live out, and you didn't even know about my family. I didn't want you to know.
My grandfather tried arranging a friendship for me with another boy when I was very young, but that boy only cared about my father. Something about that... taught me something quite crucial. Or, rather, it made me realize something. Father's name and accolades were going to be my biggest detriment in life, and we live quite long. Many tend to believe that a change in budget or even a life change will make things easier for children with a famous or wealthy parent because they have access to much more. No... it makes things twice as hard. You have to live up to an expectation that was built up before you were born and exceed it when it's your time to fill that role when really all you want to do is play with frogs or jump in puddles when there's a slow rain. Personal relationships are even harder to maintain. You were right. Being groomed and trained for a lifestyle you really don't want is demeaning, especially for people who don't care about you or are jealous because they want what you have.
What our parents were able to do was admirable and even inspiring... if that was the life we wanted to live. Look at you, Homugi. Your father was the royal cook, and your mother a trusted handmaid. You rewrote the definition of a life of servitude for generations to come within your family! You don't serve soup or lay out kimono layers for anyone! You lift a sword and defend others! That's what you wanted to do since the day I met you. Even up until... the day we hurt you. I wasn't telling you to leave our home because I was repulsed by the idea of marrying you. I was trying to protect you from a lifestyle you weren't going to like. If you had seen what I had to see, you'd realize far too soon that our nobility doesn't hide our beastliness. My father was an exception to a harsh rule, and my mother was as rare as they come. You are more like her, but you are equally at risk. That night when I had run off, I had actually done something that made father furious.
He had never struck me before. Never raised his voice like that, never looked at me like that. But I got my point across. It felt good... being put in jail for forgery. I had copied father's handwriting and made it illegal for a man to force himself on a woman including an unfavorable marriage, extramarital affair, or any relationship in which the woman must bear some circumstance or consequence that would harm her. It went through! For an entire year, women could breathe and look outside to think of how they wanted to spend their days. I only wish it could have lasted longer! But a beast can't be told not to be a beast... not for a long time... Grandfather recognized my handwriting, however, and I was caged. My first hunt had to be postponed to the next year, which was why I couldn't join you and explain things myself, but I'm eternally grateful that I had that year away from everyone. I had written so many proposals to protect your dreams! I kept studying laws, economics, and even herding when I was really bored. They didn't have to like anything I did. They could look at me with as much shame as they wanted. None of this was for my freedom. It was for yours. You, out of everyone else, deserved to be with a man who would do anything for you. It's my responsibility as your friend to ensure that that happens.
We may not be close anymore, and I know I've said things that you never deserved, but... I did miss you... when I was locked away. I did wish you could've been with me during the war with the Panther Tribe. I did wish for your forgiveness a long time ago, but I stopped seeing you after I was jailed the second time. That wish - like all of the rest - was torn. It wasn't the final wish I had, but it was close. It was enough for me to go to the Wish Tree one last time and rip my childhood wish of finding a bride to shreds. There was no point in it being granted if the people closest to me weren't going to be there to share that moment with me. While I don't mind the new allies I've made, they can't replace the ones I had... once upon a time...
You have no idea how much I hate that the witch was right all along. That I'm still hurting you after all these years that have passed us. Five years seems like nothing to us, but it is practically four generations in mortal years. To be honest, when she hit me at the lagoon, I was jealous of her. She protected you within five seconds of me finishing my statements, and she didn't even know you. I couldn't protect you from my prison cell, even though I wrote a law to physically do so in my absence, and I knew you for six years! You don't know this, but I chose her to be rival not long ago. At first, it was simply to test my strength, but... lately... it's changed to more than that. A small part of me is... content with you learning to be the person you were meant to be without the House of Inu breathing down your neck every second, but... there is another small part of me that doesn't want to lose you forever. Not yet... I've lost my fair share of battles to the witch, but I'm not going to let her win this one. I want to be the one... to protect you. I have to. I'm the one who hurt you the most. I will be the one to make this right.'
He picked up the paper that Meioshi had written for him as a wish for the orange tree and simply held it in his hand. The scent of the pygmy was no longer around. That just made him angrier. He actually did have to come back here for this sentimental crap! Catching one very familiar scent and three unfamiliar ones, Sesshomaru turned around and walked back to Meioshi's camp. He would say he was surprised to see his grandfather before him, but that would be a lie. His grandfather, Hikozaemon II, was inspecting the camp with a furrowed brow and curious pursing of lips. His silent inquiry gave Sesshomaru time to observe his surprisingly casual attire and lack of heavier armor and artillery.
His kimono top was probably the most unusual item on his person. It was a royal blue color with white clouds in its design and red kanji that said 'Court Elder' on the back. The bottom of the kimono almost made the top look more like a haori jacket as it was long enough to reach the middle of his thighs and had a checkered pattern wrapped around the entirety of the garment. His feet were covered in long, deep green boots that cuffed his hakama pants and tucked them cleanly, and his fur decorated him like a small poncho across the shoulders. The fur matched his hair a bit every day with the salt and pepper gray, but the look went well with his bronze skin tone. Sesshomaru remembered his mother mentioning that Hikozaemon II was quite popular with women for his looks much like his father. Sesshomaru was too convinced that the grumpy man was just... too old and grumpy to be attractive in his prime, but he could kind of see it since his father inherited much from him. The skin tone was definitely passed down. His hair was pinned up into a top knot, but he had a flat-top hat atop his head that was tied by deep green strings around his chin. Two deep green tassels hung from the hat. His armor was quite subtle for a retired soldier, being mostly arm protection, but it made Sesshomaru think about Kirameku Ha and compare the two men.
The trademark golden eyes of his grandfather were turning duller, and specks of gray were finally infiltrating on the color's prominence. He couldn't say for sure, but his grandfather seemed to be younger than Kirameku Ha if their ages could be compared by appearances. Kirameku Ha just seemed to be the healthier one of the two for his age. Probably, and most likely, a result of having Meioshi as a pupil and personal doctor. Silly woman and her constant spoiling! Then again... maybe if she wasn't a human, his grandfather might like the personal care the witch seems to be capable of providing. Kirameku Ha stays active and fights like he hadn't really left the military. He gets around just fine and enjoys resting himself. But... the foot rubs... would Hikozaemon II approve of the fabled foot rub the way Jaken does. The witch is... pretty enough, he supposed. His grandfather was partial to pretty girls still, right? Actually, he didn't want to know that.
"Your camp-building skills have improved, it seems," the elder finally said. "Unless you stole it from someone. I don't quite understand the tapestries here."
"Why are you here?" Sesshomaru asked rather coldly.
"I was going to invite you to a more formal dinner, but you seem... comfortable here," Hikozaemon II replied, turning to Sesshomaru. "The general and I have a mission for you. Your mother's stone will have to wait. A civil war has started nearest the Akabeko Temple. The shaman there claimed that an Akashita demon had covered the sky and started claiming the lives of innocents by unusual means. The public were at first fearful of the sudden slaughter, but they have obviously turned to violence against their leaders. Though not nearly as similar as the situation in the Mujina Woodlands, I am concerned about this needless bloodshed. The temple is quite sacred to the House of Inu and many other noble families within our kind. Though your mission in the Mujina Woodlands was a complete blunder, I did visit their place of refuge in recent days. You have chosen an excellent place for them. They wish to expand their territories from there instead. I believe this... improvement in how you care for others is the start of some evidence that you are ready to claim the throne."
Sesshomaru didn't necessarily hear that last part, but he responded nonetheless, "The clans are living together once again?"
Hikozaemon II nodded and then answered somewhat proudly, "Yes. Though I have some concern with how you came about finding such a haven, the important thing is that you were successful in diffusing a rally against rivaling clans. For this mission, your negotiation skills will be tested once more. This time, however, you will have these three gentlemen traveling with you. Teinosuke will mainly be at Fort Sutābei to inform either me or the general of the situation, but young Reijiro and Sanraku will accompany you throughout. You may remember them as the soldiers who went with you to apprehend the suspect you claimed might have been responsible for the theft of the Meido Stone. This person seems to be quite crafty if he or she has escaped you for this long."
Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes at his grandfather's words. He knew what the old man was saying. That basically meant that Sesshomaru let his suspect get away in the old man's eyes.
"Nevertheless, we trust them to accompany you. They hold no bias and are strong in their own right," Hikozaemon II said, taking a deep breath with his next choice of words. "I hope you're able to expand this... bedroom for two more guests. No pillow fights and no bickering too late at night. "
Author's Footnotes: Road to 100 chapters. Let's go! XD *does trash dance* I have the biggest shoutouts to give to you all for this momentous occasion in my fiction writing history. I've never made it this far in anything I've published on this site, and, for this story to be the one that I build on when I fully intended to delete it is just the most surreal thing to me. I legit can't thank you guys enough for essentially blowing the dust off this project and taking it out of the trash pile.
I do apologize that the action is a little slow here, but I had to work my way into getting our newest party members into the picture. This particular arc has two of them. They require a bit more of a character relationship in order to join in on the adventure. The other future party members won't be as bad, but they will be just as impactful. (This is such a shounen thing. It doesn't even feel like a shoujo anymore but whatevs. XS) Fair warning: there will be some disturbing content in these next couple of chapters, but I'll have a note on what's going to appear like I normally do. Updates will be a little slow over this Halloween time because yo' homie's birthday is coming up! XD I'm so old! Plus, I'll be working on a new chapter for my Hellsing fiction during that time. It won't take long, but there's a heavy action scene being added to that project. Heavy action and vampire shenanigans take up more brainstorming power than fantasy action. (I don't get it either. :/) After that, we're back in business. ;-D
For my special episode participants, I will be sending messages to you very soon so be sure to check your PMs. I'm about three chapters away from my halfway point, so I'll be in the brainstorming phases.