Disclaimer: All characters from the series Inuyasha that appear in this fanfic rightfully belong to Rumiko Takahashi. I do not own anything regarding their creation; I have Rumiko Takahashi to thank for that.

Author's Notes: For those who celebrate the event, I wish everyone a Happy Easter. While things did not go exactly as planned (see the author's notes at the end), here is the newest chapter of the story. I'm fairly pleased I managed to keep up with my scheduled release dates. But more importantly, thank you to everyone who has been supporting me and this tale. Also, a special thank you to my betareader since this chapter would not have turned out as it is without the proofreading and amazing advice.

Guest: Thank you for your feedback once again; I do cherish every review I get, especially the ones that tell me the pros and cons of my writing. Sorry about the confusion regarding the parts with Utsugi conversing. I suppose this is what happens when I include a character but have him perish shortly after without expanding on his POV at all. To sum up what I was going for but didn't quite manage, Utsugi wants to be human so that he can live with his lover, Kakuju. That desire leads him to collect human souls, which is needed in his forbidden art. A kuro miko that goes by the name Tsubaki offers him her assistance by giving him an army of lesser demons to do his bidding in exchange for St. Hijiri/Kikyo's body. Upon his defeat, Utsugi tells Kakuju his objective and shares intel on Tsubaki with Sesshomaru.

Indeed. SessKik needs a lot of love; the pairing deserves it. It's a disappointment that Takahashi never made the two interact in the series. A shame really because I think it is wasted potential. Sesshomaru and Kikyo are both amazing characters with great depth to explore. But you're correct; my all-time favorite is Kikyo. She's the reason why I started to write fanfics in the first place.

8579: Thank you. I'm so happy that you liked the emotions portrayed in the last chapter. Sesshomaru isn't an emotional youkai so these displays are difficult to write since I didn't want to risk making him OOC (or anyone else for that matter). But I'm glad I did manage to pull it off in the end and getting your approval on it is a huge compliment.

fabelliot: Yes, the Inu no Taisho is a role model for Sesshomaru and a great part of the latter's life goal is to surpass the former and earn his approval. So there isn't a bigger mental blow than his father's death. In fact, there's a part of Sesshy that's in denial, at least until he heard the confirmation from his mother. The last chapter did stir up quite a bit of emotion from both Sesshomaru and Kikyo, though the latter's feelings may not be as obvious to us since we're not getting her POV. I do intend to delve more into what she is feeling after Sesshomaru saved her at a later opportunity. And yep, Utsugi did die, but not before giving an earnest attempt at obtaining what he wants. He may not have managed to become a human in the body but he did become a human mentally with his act of selfishness.

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(This chapter was betaread by bubu-chibi-chan).

Chapter 31-Kako-hen: Four Seasons

Make flowers bloom with the light of spring,

In summer, look at me in the sea where the moon is reflected

The autumn wind and the winter snow,

I want you to warm them with your sighs

-Four Seasons (Movie 3 Ending)

Time was slipping through the cracks of Sesshomaru's fingers, much like the sand in an hourglass. For all his power, he couldn't stop or reverse it. As an ageless being, the concept of time had always stayed far from his acknowledgment. It never occurred to him that he would become conscious of it.

Every time he passed the garden on his way to a conference — these painful meetings were a constant after his status ascension — he would feel the urge to take a glimpse of the natural surroundings. The unstoppable phenomena of time would turn trees from reddish-orange to brown to bare, before being rejuvenated with lush green life.

Autumn, winter, spring, and summer. Then autumn again. The four seasons came and whisked away. Yet, not before reminding Sesshomaru that time had passed since the day he was left with two partings.

The magnitude of mental pain that burned into his chest was deeper than the ocean. Solitude never bothered him before; in fact, he welcomed it. But now, the Lord of the West felt alone. His father was announced dead, his mother had returned to her endless quest to fight off boredom, and St. Hijiri… wasn't here by his side anymore.

"...Sesshomaru, your father is dead." At the contemplation concerning his parents emerged his mother's whisper. Her words wedged themselves into his brain, drilling a hole into his skull. Once more, he forcefully trampled over the upsetting connotation with a mental image of his boots.

Deep down, he knew he would always be skeptical towards his father's supposed 'death'. For starters, no corpse was ever found; only the unconscious Izayoi and So'unga remained at the site scarred from an intense battle.

Nonetheless, as time trekked on and more responsibilities as a ruler piled on, Sesshomaru began to accept the facts laid out in front of him. If anything, the kokuho, So'unga, and Tenseiga recognizing him as their new owner — and from that extension, the obvious candidate to become the True Ruler — was the unpalatable proof that his father would not be coming back. The disappearance of Tessaiga did leave room for deliberations, though that was more on his qualification as the chosen one than anything else.

There was also the suspicion that the sword's disappearance was related to his father. The mystery was a constant itch waiting to be scratched, so that the skin could be peeled off and the inside could be revealed.

To put it simply, he should not be staying in his manor and engaging in boring political talks with the council when there was so much that needed to be done. Being metaphorically tied down in a situation that could not be resolved with his strength was proving to be wearisome. His newly developed awareness of time did not help either. Sadly, a short interval was all it took for what he had taken for granted to be snatched away from him by a series of mishaps.

"I shall hold on to your words. I expect to see you well by the time I return. I will be back as soon as I am able." This time, it was his own voice that echoed inside his head. Unless he returned to withhold his end of the bargain, there was no knowing whether or not she fulfilled her part. Sending a subordinate to look for her had been a solution that came to him. Yet, he could not find anyone suitable aside from perhaps Jaken. His personal vessel was the only one he deemed trustworthy. However, the imp-like youkai was kept busy with the immediate errands concerning the west. More importantly, wouldn't having someone retrieve her destroy his part of the deal?

A bitterness lingered and then expanded. Why was he sitting on a throne and listening to the inputs of the council when he could be so much more proactive? He had power and authority. So why was he continuing his father's traditions?

'Hibiki.' The answer arrived straight away. It was the chancellor who had persuaded him that democracy within the kingdom was what the Inu no Taisho wanted. While it wasn't a lie, the older daiyoukai meant it as a way of getting the younger's cooperation. His attempt worked for a while. The young ruler had to admit that it was effective. But ultimately, Sesshomaru was not his father. He was a daiyoukai who would surpass the almighty Touga, not be overcast by his shadow. If his father loathed the idea of dictatorship, then he would respect that. However, that did not mean he had to sit around idly and be the paragon of authority for the world to see.

'How annoying.' Enough was enough. It was about time he left those senile fools in the council to deal with the trivial decision-making; he had already taken care of the complicated matters. Surely they could handle that much for a mere few days. Should they somehow strangle each other while conveying their selfish points across, then that was fine by all means.

"Ah, Lord Sesshomaru! Where are you going?" Nothing could stop him once his whims kicked in, certainly not the calls of the confused servant as he abruptly spun on his heels and retraced his steps. Halting for nobody and with a gait blessed by a determined purpose, Sesshomaru strode the corridors until he reached his room and slid the door open.

Waiting for him in the corner was his battle gear. Once it was all comfortably fitted, with his spiked pauldron reattached, he directed his attention to the wall. Two out of the three celestial blades leaned against it. Although they were placed so close that they almost touched, their existences were extreme opposites; Tenseiga was the bringer of life while So'unga was the deliverer of death.

The former was quickly slipped in place by his waist, secured by his obi. He held onto the latter for a moment, sheathed sword parallel to his body as he contemplated whether or not he should carry it like his father did. If having it strapped onto his back — where it was harder to reach — was a sign of aversion, then it showed that even his father wasn't comfortable with So'unga's power. As the one who would surmount all, Sesshomaru would quell everything and everyone in his path, including the notorious sword of death. Thus, he ultimately chose to keep it by his left side, next to the sword of life.

"My lord, I heard you decided to abandon your meeting with the council on the spur of the moment." As he whirled around to leave the room, the daiyoukai heard a familiar voice that should've contained disappointment or frustration. Instead, it revealed nothing but serenity.

Hibiki, the chancellor of the west, stood with the intent to obstruct the exit to his room. With a hand placed on his chin, the elderly daiyoukai looked at Sesshomaru up and down. "I see. I should have suspected that the inactivity would cause you internal strife. Alas, I'm afraid you mustn't venture out on your little misadventure. If it shall ease your restlessness, we can deploy a small team to find the saint."

"I do not recall telling you the purpose of my departure," uttered Sesshomaru, somewhat annoyed that the insightful Hibiki was sticking his nose into his business. Ever so quick to decipher what was troubling him even when he was convinced he'd kept his irritation cloaked.

"You do not need to, young lord. These senses of mine are still sharp enough to discern that there is a lot on your mind. More than usual," Hibiki paused and permitted a soft sigh to escape his lips, the first sign of genuine exasperation. "On several occasions, particularly during a council meeting, your eyes would become unfocused. It is as though you are gazing into somewhere far away that is far out of your reach. Your father had the same look long before he became a ruler, back when he and your mother were separated by the ravages of a war with the Doragon clan and he had yet to gain enough merits to impress the council."

"Hibiki-san", said the deep-voiced daiyoukai dogmatically, "You are in my way."

As tempting as it was to shove the older youkai aside, it was the fact that Hibiki was an esteemed advisor and a friend of his father that halted the urge.

"Ah, young lord. That I cannot do. I must ask that you reconsider and attend your meeting. As reluctant as I am to say, your influence over the west is still weak despite your succession. Most youkai were rallied together due to your father's efforts. While you have the power to settle their disputes, you have yet to obtain their respect. If you abandoned the meetings, what would the council think? What would your subjects think?"

"Tell me: Do you concern yourself with what worms think? I, for one, certainly do not." His countenance was inscrutable as ever, but contempt dripped from his tone.

Hibiki's brows furrowed by a margin before they quickly bounced back to their normal resting position as if nothing had happened. "Yet, their physical safety, at the very least, is a part of your responsibility as the Lord of the West. Our alliance with the east has become non-existence after the incident with your father. His marriage with Lady Izayoi was unfortunately revoked, along with our treaty. Our relationship with the east has become strained once more. Should something occur to you while you are—"

"Have you no faith in my capabilities, Hibiki-san?"

"It is not I who doubts." The chancellor shook his head, his silver ponytail gently swishing side to side. "And even those who do not, they may harbor ulterior motives in the shadows. There may be those who would utilize your absence here or your presence in the east to trigger a war."

"Then it shall be your task to pacify their concerns and quell their riot. That is an order." Having decided that all of Hibiki's concerns were hypothetical and addressable with the chancellor substituting his place, the new Lord of the West felt his waning patience reemerge and he pushed aside Hibiki to go through the door.

Apparently, the chancellor knew it was futile to try to stop Sesshomaru, for he did not put up any resistance when the latter exited. He did not pursue either and simply said, "If that is what you wish, then that is what I will do."

Leaving Hibiki and traversing the corridors, Sesshomaru's boots tapped steadily against the wooden floor. As he rounded the third one, it was his quick senses that alerted him to someone approaching. Anyone else would've tried to avoid the collision but the daiyoukai accommodated for no one. Discharging a sudden burst of youki, he heard the surprised yelp of a child and watched with a detached expression as a small figure went skidding against the floor until she crashed into a bucket of water headfirst.

The little girl coughed and splattered, her long brown hair dripping with water. Her wing-like ears dropped, possibly an expression of pain or from the consequence of being weighed down by the water. Wiping the droplets away from her cerulean eyes with the back of her hand, she looked up before gasping, "S-Sesshomaru-sama! I'm sorry… I didn't mean it!"

One look at what the six-year-old was doing nearly plastered a slight frown on his features. "Kotori, need I remind you that you are a warrior who has pledged to serve as my blade. Do not abate me, your master, by assuming tasks that are not within your purview. You have your responsibilities and the maids in my manor have theirs."

The former successor of the Tori clan jumped up in fright. Her ears sagged even further, something that the daiyoukai hadn't thought was possible. "I'm sorry. My training has finished for the day and I thought I could make myself more useful to you, Sesshomaru-sama."

"Hmph, don't do anything unnecessary. Get changed before you waste our physician's resources with a cold."

"Yes, Sesshomaru-sama! Right away!" As the last part of her sentence left her lips, the demoness picked up the bucket and towel she had and scurried off. While she was less reserved and less sanguine, it was her compliance that would remind him of Rin, which made sheltering her not as bothersome as he had first thought it would.

With that settled, he continued on his way. Had Hibiki followed him to the corridor and overheard his conversation with Kotori, then surely he would've been bewildered that the apathetic Sesshomaru had actually bothered to be considerate. Naturally, the new Lord of the West's mind argued otherwise. As he had said, he did not want his new charge to overcomplicate matters, especially since she was vulnerable to the cold.

Some demons were naturally immune to the temperature while some were powerful enough that their youki would become a constant cloak to protect their bodies. For the Tori clan, however, they had either of these properties. The cold was their natural enemy, a driving force that prompted them to migrate when winter drew near.

Initially unaware of the custom, Sesshomaru had journeyed up the mountain where they dwelled to discuss the new territorial claims. No one was at the summit. Annoyed that he had wasted a trip but not too keen to return in a hurry, he opted to walk down the mountains. Halfway down the frozen terrain was when he met Kotori, shivering and stumbling over the snow that was up to her waist.

As he walked, his mind delved deeper into the memory.

Ice formed on her wing-like ears — one of the key characteristics of the clan members that he hadn't been able to find — and snow settled on her small body as white specks.

Finally noticing him with her barely opened eyes as their path met, she reached out. It was as though seeing Sesshomaru had brought a burst of hope and she waddled her way over and grabbed onto his hakama with a grip so strong that the fabric would've ripped had she tugged.

"M-my family... ha-have they l-left. D-did you s-see them?" She was barely coherent, her teeth chattering and her lips blue.

"F-father, w-why did you leave me behind? Wa-was I too w-weak? I... I'm sorry." Having used the last ounce of strength to approach him, she finally collapsed, motionless.

He watched, impassive as usual, as the girl succumbed. Pathetic was the first adjective that crossed his mind. As susceptible to the cold as her species could be, only extremely frail demons would let the low temperature drag them to their demise.

With her hold on him loosened, he didn't even need to make the slightest effort to wrench her hand off him. Presented with the option to simply walk over the corpse and carry on, it was those last words she had mumbled that kept him from moving.

"F-father, w-why did you leave me behind? Wa-was I too w-weak? I... I'm sorry."

Somehow, they resonated deep into the Sesshomaru who had lost his father. At times, he too involuntarily found himself questioning why the Inu no Taisho had left him like this. There were even a few rare moments he wondered if things would have been different if he had been stronger and possessed more power.

"A power like mine, to create and to heal." As illogical as it was, he heard what appeared to be a disembodied voice before Tenseiga began to rattle in its sheathe. A low humming sound emitted from the piece of steel, begging its new master to use its power — the power he had zero interest in.

Yet, he didn't disregard Tenseiga's first call. On a whim that was more or less stimulated by the musings of his father, he decided to pull out the blade. In spite of everything, he still hadn't been able to fathom why it was this particular sword that had come to him willingly. Why hadn't it been So'unga or the still-missing Tessaiga? They would've been essential to his quest for power.

As if upset that it was being treated with scorn, the sword of heaven sent a stream of aura into him. It was at that moment Sesshomaru had his eyes opened to the Netherworld.

Small ogre-like creatures with bulging yellow eyes became visible to him. They were perched on the bird demon's body, their fangs protruding from their mouth. Despite being his first encounter with them, he was imparted with the knowledge that they were servants of the dead that collected and devoured the souls of the deceased.

"I see. I can see them. They are from the Netherworld. Tenseiga, you are telling me to cut them? To save her?" he muttered, as puerile as it was to converse with his sword.

His eyes narrowed to examine the demoness' petite body. From what he could tell, she was most likely abandoned by the rest of her clan — or more specifically, her father. Saving her would be a waste of effort should she choose to continue scaling the mountain. She would inevitably perish again before she reached her goal.

Charity did not suit Sesshomaru's style. He was just about to return the increasingly restless Tenseiga into its sheathe when a memory surfaced without any warning — one that involved a time when he was training and his father had been watching.

"Impassive, Sesshomaru. You are a split image of my youthful days. But know this, my son—" His father paused to press a palm to a nearby tree trunk. A vibration occurred and the tree shook from the immense youki. It startled several birds that were roosting. They spread their wings in haste and took to the blue sky, squawking at the top of their lungs while doing so. Yet, their piercing cries did not prevent the son from listening to his father's words as the latter observed the flying birds. "—ultimately, all young fledging must rely on their own wings to soar, not their parents. Open your eyes and aim to fly higher. I anticipate the day when you realize my fangs are not what guide you. You have your own, for your own intent."

The motion to sheathe was halted and Sesshomaru pulled Tenseiga up until the katana-looking sword's guard was leveled with his chest and the tip was pointing upward. In that instance, a tempting notion was born. He would take her in and sharpen her claws to be used for his purpose. A loyal servant, who would obey him because he was her lord rather than because he was Touga's son, would be useful. All the while, she would grow to prove her worth to her father, as he would have with the Inu no Taisho.

"I shall grant you a new will to live." His golden eyes shifted to regard the abandoned bird demon once more and uttered. His tone, though held no invariability, was latched with an underlying hint of high expectation. "Rise, fledging. Your father's wings will be your guidance no more. Open your eyes and show me the determination to soar to a new height."

On that day, the daiyoukai known by his foes as the aristocratic assassin swung a sword to breathe life into a body rather than take it.

On the same day, Kotori felt like a phoenix reborn from the ashes. No longer was she the heiress of the Tori clan. Instead, she became the falcon swordswoman who loyally served the Lord of the West.

Author's Notes: The awkward flashback in a flashback, as well as the total length of the initial chapter, meant that it was better if I break things off here. Unfortunately, this means we won't be getting the details on the Inu no Taisho's demise just yet. The good news, however, is that what was initially one is split into two. Hence, the next chapter (part B) should come out faster and without much problem. I do hope that you will look forward to it. As of now, we know that one of the familiar faces is Kotori, who we haven't seen in nine chapters. Can you guess who the other character due in the next chapter is? It should be quite obvious at this point. ;)

As always, I would appreciate any feedback, questions, speculations, and even criticisms.

Until next time, everyone! Stay safe and I wish you all good health!