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: Hey everyone, it's been a while. I apologize for the big delay. Unfortunately, I've been quite busy so the next chapter will also be behind schedule. Hope that everyone will understand. I thank you for all of your patience and support thus far. A special thank you to everyone who left feedback. Your reviews are the fuel that continues to help drive this story.
SoleilDev: Thank you for your review. It pleases me to hear that you think this story deserves a second read. I hope you will have just as much fun on your second look as you did with the first and maybe even find extra little details that were elusive back when the mysteries were still shrouded.
RedHood001: I'm overjoyed to hear that you think there is complexity in Sara's character. We saw very little of her in canon but I always thought she has the potential to be an interesting character. Thus, I decided to give it my best to make her more than just a woman in love and obsessed with Sesshomaru. I feel like she deserves more than being simply slapped with a "lovesick" tag in this fic.
Yes, Kikyo needed that extra push from Sara or it'll most likely be chapter 100 before she even thinks of changing her outlook. There will be a lot of obstacles for her to tear down in the future but at least she is now acknowledging what her heart wants.
Amina0602: Thank you. Glad to hear that you were intrigued by Sara and Kikyo's conversation. It took her long enough but it is indeed time for Kikyo to face her feelings. This time, there won't be any more memory manipulation to delay the reflection.
lightpotion: Yes, for a resourceful and smart woman, Kikyo sure took her time to pay attention to her desires. I hope you will continue to read and see how our favorite miko will take her next step.
fabelliot: Yes, the prophecy that has been hinted from early on is finally revealed. Now, Kikyo's motives and her conduct should be clear and make more sense. Indeed, while Kikyo has been kind to many people by trying to act for the greater good, she has been unwittingly cruel to the one individual who truly wants to understand her and be by her side. You've made an excellent point. Fortunately, Sara has shoved the fact straight into our favorite miko's head. Let us all hope that she will make the right decision, one that she will not regret.
Ooh! And you're absolutely right that Sesshomaru won't let anything or anyone stop him from having Kikyo by his side. In this chapter, we will be exploring exactly this mindset of his. I hope that you'll enjoy this chapter too. ;)
8579: Deep in her heart, Kikyo has always accepted and treasured Sesshomaru's companionship. But whether she will be able to allow it to "hinder her duty", as she would put it, is a topic she will have to reflect deeply on.
Lilac8Moon: Thank you for reading this story. You must be an avid reader to have binge-read a 200K+ fanfic. I'm very happy to hear that you're enjoying it so far and I hope this chapter continues to meet your standards.
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(This chapter was betaread by bubu-chibi-chan).
Chapter 42-Restraints and Suppression
"To rear successors that shall one day surpass them." -Sesshomaru on parenting
"It is in the nature of parents to care for their children." -Kikyo on parenting
He was standing in the middle of nothingness. His head inclined up slightly but beheld nothing. There was nothing to see. There was no sky for him to marvel upon, just as there was no 'ground' to step on. The surrounding was a white haze that expanded to encapsulate him.
Within the void, he stood. His triangular ears twitched. All was quiet. The soundless wind blew in the domain lazily, brushing against his red sleeves and silver hair.
It was lonely. Apart from the wind, there was nothing else to feel, let alone see or hear.
With nothing to do, he moved in a random direction. His bare feet touched something solid with each step, though his skin could not feel any textile that the motion usually brought him.
He was not sure how long he roamed but he eventually became aware of the presence that was following him. Spinning on his heels a full 180 degrees with his claws raised, his golden eyes were hawk-like as they targeted the tall figure a few feet away from him. The figure stood with his back to him. His hair was a lustrous silver secured into a high ponytail that swung in rhythm with the wind. Despite wearing the same color as the dull backdrop, he held a commanding carriage that was impossible to miss. Staring at the figure involuntarily caused him to drop his fighting stance. There was something oddly nostalgic. The regal presence was akin to Sesshomaru's, yet there was a warmth that he could not describe that emanated from the figure.
The 'familiar' stranger tilted his head to regard him with dazzling aureate orbs that pierced into his soul.
"Inuyasha." His call was calm, though it carried a profound sentiment that made the recipient's heart pound longingly.
He opened his mouth to reply.
Nothing but air came out.
"Inuyasha. Your name is Inuyasha." The individual continued to speak, as if unaware that there were words clogged inside his throat. "Yasha. Yaksha. Youkai that protects. So tell me, Inuyasha. Are you like your brother? Have you someone to protect?"
The odd dream faded away from his sub-consciousness when Inuyasha jolted awake, his triangular ears wiggling. Pushing his face off the polished table that had been his hard pillow, he twisted his head to reduce the stiffness in his neck while surveying his surroundings.
Everything was the same as when he had unwittingly dozed off to sleep. As a matter of fact, he was relatively convinced that Sesshomaru had not moved an inch from the opposite chair. The daiyoukai's posture was still, his eyelids hiding his irises from sight. If Inuyasha didn't know better, he would have assumed that fatigue had finally caught up to the daiyoukai. However, he knew that a full demon's body was far more enduring than a half-demon's. Sesshomaru could continue without rest for days before exhaustion could affect him, let alone force him into a state of rest as it had with Inuyasha.
'He's worried about Kikyo as much as I am. Us two haven't been able to rest properly since the entire mess. But he's perfectly fine while I end up dozing off on a stupid table. How is this fair? Damn him.' Running a frustrated claw down his hair, Inuyasha inwardly cursed Sesshomaru and the situation before rotating his head to search for a source of mitigation. The instant his vision captured the bird demoness' fair features, he felt the irritation rioting alleviating a little.
The swordswoman might have been deep in meditation like her master but she detected his gaze and opened her radiant sapphire pools. "Hm? Inuyasha-sama? You're awake?"
"Yeah. How long has it been?"
Lost in her world, she was also oblivious. A look at the window allowed her to judge the sun's position and estimate that it was the middle of the afternoon. However, she had not taken into account when they had begun sitting in the room. "All I know is that we arrived a little past noon. So it's… been a while."
"Has there been any news on Kikyo?"
"No. Not yet."
"Keh. She better hurry up." Vexation surged, triggering a low growl as the impatient hanyou proceeded to glare at the door with the intent of burning it down. 'Stupid bitch making us wait. Hurry up, damn it!'
Sara entered the room where her maid had assembled her guests. Two observations became prominent: Sesshomaru, sitting regally with his typical stoicism plastered on his fabulous features, and Inuyasha, wearing an irritable look. For all their physical similarities — from their free-flowing silver manes to their aureate eyes — the Inu siblings differed in temperament. The younger half-brother was not blessed with the self-control that the elder portrayed. With his elbow propped up on the circular table and his chin supported by the base of his palm, Inuyasha sat rapping his barefoot non-stop against the polished floor.
"Finally! What took you?" the hanyou grumbled the moment she strolled in. Warily, he corrected his lazy posture by straightening his back. His foot tapping persisted, though at a lower frequency. "You've kept us waiting. We don't got all day. Hurry up and tell us. How's Kikyo?"
His offensive attitude stimulated the bitter memory of her failure to take the sword of destruction. Annoyed, Sara mulled over whether she should snatch the blade from his obi and use it to loop off his head.
Her killing intent must have been palpable since Kotori was quick to intervene. She got up and moved, using her body to act as a divider between the two. Her ideal position also allowed her to nudge her partner in the arm. "Inuyasha-sama, that's rude. She's an ally, not an enemy. Be cordial, please."
A loud scoff, followed by his eyebrows wrinkling. "Keh, I ain't playing nice for the crazy woman! She attacked me in my own home!"
The bird demoness lowered her voice to speak to him in a coaxing manner. "I understand your distaste but it's unwise to aggravate the one whose help we need."
Her effort was rewarded with another one of his classic snorts. Although exasperated, she could comprehend the reason behind his uncooperativeness. She pursed her lips and turned to their host. "Please excuse Inuyasha-sama's brusque demeanor. He's worried and being patient has never been one of his many fortes."
"It doesn't matter. I don't care what he thinks. He can't hurt me, with words, weapons, or otherwise." Had she been less mindful of her poise in front of the daiyoukai, then Sara would have opted for an alternative other than a snarky retort. She would have jumped at the opportunity to dye the insufferable half-breed red with his blood.
"You wanna— Mmf!" Flinging Sesshomaru's order into the chasm of his afterthoughts, Inuyasha was about to pounce on the overbearing woman when Kotori moved. In a series of lightning-fast movements, the bird demoness had sneaked behind him, covered his mouth with one hand, and pressed the other down on his shoulder.
"Inuyasha-sama, calm yourself. Please. For Kikyo-sama's sake."
He could have easily shrugged off Kotori's weight, especially since she wasn't putting her entire body into keeping him trapped. Nonetheless, she had a valid point. With a muffled snort, the aggravated warrior pried his partner's hand away from his mouth and folded his arms. "Fine. Fine! I get it. I won't fight her. You can get off me."
"Have you finished? Sara, report." The sudden monotonous voice from the Lord of the West forced all eyes to fly over onto him.
"Y-yes. Of course, Sesshomaru-sama," the caped figure said hastily. She approached the table but refrained from taking the empty seat next to the magnificent demon. To show contempt was never her intention. Nonetheless, she was the host of the meeting and thereby had indisputable authority. Sitting down would lessen the impact of her presence, especially since she knew that Sesshomaru preferred assertive women over those who used meekness as a facade for favors.
"Her injuries have been assessed and treated. The jewel is nowhere in sight, presumably buried deep within. It is no cause for worry. I have the solution on hand. Through a special ritual I've discovered, we should be able to retrieve the artifact safely from her body." Left unsaid was how she had come to stumble upon the technique. Naturally, she had been trying to accumulate as many skills as possible for versatility. But a spell with such complexity was hardly practical save for specific scenarios. To name an example would be to help Sesshomaru recover the mysterious object rumored to be sealed inside his left arm.
Her words were met with the Lord of the West's phlegmatic expression. Considering he was hard to please, Sara had set her expectations to the lowest. Nonetheless, it did not stop the needle of disappointment from jabbing her insides.
"There's a ritual for that kind of thing?" Inuyasha's golden orbs shone with a hopeful gleam, serving as a contrast to his half-brother. Next to him, Kotori remained quiet like her lord, her furry ears twitching.
'Typical of the brute to be ignorant in the art of fine magic.' Sara came close to letting her tongue slip with the bitter retort but timely remembered that she had a daiyoukai to impress. Bickering like a child would not garner her any approval. She pulled out a scroll from her obi and placed it on the table. Her cursive writing decorated the elongated page, detailing the required ingredients and the procedures for the ritual. "Naturally, hanyou, there is a solution to most problems. You must simply know where to look."
"Will it bring any adverse effects to Kikyo-sama?"
Sara noted that the bird demoness, unlike the mutt, could bring up a question worth answering. "If we follow what is inscribed, we will be placing the miko in a temporary state of immobility, to minimize any adverse effects while the jewel is being removed. Fret not. There won't be any permanent effects. At most, she'll feel fatigued for the next few days."
"That's all? Really? We can handle that. What do we need to do?" His interest piqued, Inuyasha leaned in for a closer look. His eyes caught the long list of ingredients:
1 cup of panther blood
9 strands of tail fur from a kyubi no kitsune
1 bloomed flower of The Queen of Night (note: purple, not the usual white)
4 sai horns
1 Ryu daiyoukai reverse scale
1 handful of crushed brittlebush leaves
A piece of a Yomi no Haori
3 siren scales
2 cups of holy water
1 phoenix feather
...
...
'What the hell are these? Sirens exist?!' Skimming through the first ten ingredients was enough to give the red-clad warrior a headache. He gave up reading long before the list ended and did not attempt scanning the method. Anything with multiple steps and involved precision was not part of his forte. He was far too impatient. It was better to let the expert handle it, even if nothing but contempt for her resided within him.
"I count a sum of 30 ingredients. Why are five underlined?" asked Kotori, pointing to one of them.
"Draw your attention to them. They are the remaining we must find and acquire."
"You have everything else?" Astonishment, blended with awe, seeped from the bird demoness.
The host of the manor nodded, "Yes, they are all available for use. In times of leisure, I am an avid collector of trinkets."
"But your hobby didn't get you everything. Nine-tailed fox tail fur, a dragon daiyoukai's reverse scale, some kind of haori, holy water, and a phoenix feather. You have no idea where they are. You were so cocky that I thought you could get the ritual started. Guess that was too much to hope for," Inuyasha taunted, sounding far more scornful than he felt to obscure the anxiety coursing through him. 'The woman is crazy but she's dedicated. Her not getting her hands on them means it won't be an easy job for us either… Do they exist… No, don't think like that. They have to be somewhere. We're gonna find them. For Kikyo's sake, we have to!'
"Let's fervently pray that you're as eager to scavenge as you are to insult, hanyou. Because time is of the essence." Not forgetting to aim a surreptitious glare at Inuyasha, Sara walked over to the shelves by the wall to her left. From one of the upper compartments, she took out a plant in a pot. With jagged leaves and purple petals hugging the circular-shaped flower bud, it looked like a quivering child shielding itself against the world.
"What I have here is The Queen of Night, a night-blooming cereus. Ordinarily, these flowers are white, not purple, and they bloom once per year during the summer night." Sara's fingertip brushed against one of the petals. "This one, however, is the special kind we need for the ritual. It flowers in the middle of winter, on the night following the new moon. Hanyou, I have said much. Does your frivolous mind understand my words?"
A rejoinder was being jostled around his throat when the realization hit. All colors drained from his complexion. Since the lunar cycle was linked to his critical weakness, Inuyasha knew the timeframe like no human or demon could. "You're kidding me. The new moon is tomorrow!"
"This isn't good. Considering the odd nature of the flower, failing to perform the ritual on the night after tomorrow would compel us to wait for the next winter," Kotori added grimly.
"Kikyo doesn't have the time! That's why we're here in the first place. You and Sesshomaru were sending each other letters. Why didn't you tell us earlier? We could've had everyone go look for them! Damn it!" With ferocious verve, Inuyasha jumped up and barked at the brown-haired woman.
Unperturbed, Sara dropped the plant pot onto the table, applying sufficient force to generate a thud but inadequate to break the ceramic. "For your information, I was buried in a mountain of scrolls for the past week, ardently searching for a remedy the moment I read Sesshomaru-sama's letter. Mere two days have passed since I found the solution, where I have been preoccupied with gathering what I can. I have only become ascertained that the method is feasible after my diagnosis. And look at you! You have done nothing but inflict me with terrible headaches. So do us all a favor: shut your mouth, lower your head, and search like the dog that you are."
Inuyasha's face twisted into a snarl as he fired barrages of insults that were returned with equal venom. At some point, Kotori had to restrain him to prevent physical damage. But even then, Sesshomaru remained as motionless as a monument. His exterior revealed no emotion, his brain working tirelessly with the information he had amassed. Initially, the idea was to have Sara keep Kikyo in suspended animation while they removed the Shikon Jewel. However, the extraction of the infernal artifact had escalated beyond his predictions. Manpower and time were vital factors that he lacked. Sending Hibiki a letter demanding backup was a viable option. However, whether or not they would arrive in time to offer assistance was arguable.
Anxiety would have festered upon any ordinary individual at the thought of the impending deadline. Alas, the Lord of the West did not succumb to pressure. As someone who took challenges in strides, he knew how to utilize moderation. Never did he dwell on the feasibility of any task. Instead, he took one step at a time, concentrating on what could and should be done.
The easiest to find was the holy water. Mt. Hakurei was a reservoir. The trial, therefore, was its acquisition. Terrible consequences awaited any youkai that approached, let alone touched, the sacred liquid. Even the powerful daiyoukai had experienced hardships back when he had scaled the mountain. He had felt extreme discomfort akin to being strapped down by heavy chains.
'The water is a natural scourge to demons but has no effect on humans. A prudent judgment would advocate sending Kikyo... Or Inuyasha would also do. Soon, he shall be crippled by the human blood that courses through him. How convenient.'
Next was the Yomi no Haori. His father, who once ventured into the Netherworld during his youth, had returned with vague stories. He spoke of shikigami that wore the piece of clothing while guiding the souls of the deceased. If so, the first problem to tackle would be to find an entrance. Since its conception, the Netherworld had frantically rejected the living. No living connected to the mortal world was supposed to enter. However, the Inu no Taisho had somehow managed to return alive. Pride urged Sesshomaru to repeat the exemplary feat. His brain spun fast before eventually settling on the Tessaiga. Using its newfound powers, the Meido Zangetsuha, it should be theoretically possible to create an access point.
'Opening the path is merely the first step. The living will not be permitted to traverse the terrain. It is a journey that only I, Sesshomaru, am capable of undertaking with the Tenseiga.'
The third material was a dragon daiyoukai's reverse scale. Since the era governed by Touga, the Inu clan had reigned supreme against the Doragon clan. The previous Lord of the West was reluctant to keep the kinsmen of his powerful arch-nemesis in his territory. Casting aside his usual forbearance, he had banished the remnants from his lands and enforced laws to kill on sight. A-Un later became the exception. The beast had been a lucky discovery in one of Sesshomaru's outings. After a short battle, the two-headed beast had shown submissiveness. The daiyoukai, feeling particularly magnanimous that day, had pardoned and assigned the creature as his mount. As valuable as he was, A-Un was just a youkai. His reverse scale was not what he was looking for. That left one alternative he could think of — the dragon daiyoukai he had fought centuries ago.
'Ryukotsusei remains trapped, a pitiful shell of his former self. Extracting his scale will be a simplistic endeavor. Kotori shall see it through.' Had the circumstances allowed it, then Sesshomaru would have nominated himself. He had been longing for a rematch against the dragon daiyoukai. Nonetheless, he could not be in two places at once, and exploring the underworld was a conquest reserved for the owner of the sword of heaven.
His pondering came to a sudden halt when he found no immediate answer for obtaining the last two items. His elegant eyebrows knitted as his mind operated harder. Time was ticking. Nothing. He had no significant information regarding the mythical creatures.
His ears picked up the background voices of Inuyasha, Kotori, and Sara. The hanyou was babbling nonsense as usual. The bird demoness was trying to appease her partner. The former human had turned away from the two to call out his name. He ignored them all. None of them were saying anything useful, though that was expected. If an astute individual that lived for centuries had no answers, then who would?
'No. There is.' Like a bolt of lightning, a light of clarity descended. There was an individual that had accumulated innumerable knowledge in their long lifespan. When it came to the number of voyaging tales that one could narrate, even someone as wise and old as Hibiki paled in comparison. It was most unfortunate that utilizing the particular source would bring a lot of personal complications for him. But for Kikyo, Sesshomaru had decided that he would resort to anything.
Wordlessly, he stood up and made his way to the door.
"Eh? Sesshomaru-sama, where are you going?" Sara was the first to notice, though the daiyoukai paid her no heed.
"Hey, Sesshomaru! Didn't ya hear the question?" Inuyasha's shout also wilted away without the desired outcome.
"I think Sesshomaru-sama has a plan. We ought to follow and see if we can assist," Kotori said, taking the lead in trailing her lord.
Infrequent his visits were, the castle was a part of his domain. Sesshomaru could distinguish which route to take as effortlessly as he could perceive the three sets of footsteps behind him. He continued walking. After a few turns, bends, and hallways, he stopped at a spacious area in the backyard.
His youki unraveled without warning, generating convulsive electrical currents that lifted his hair and mokomoko. A pinkish-red monsoon of terrifying power enveloped him as his transformation commenced. White pristine fur erupted and spread across the surface of his enlarging form. His humanoid physique changed, morphing into his true form in its full glory.
"Sesshomaru-sama!"
"This… this is?"
"What are you...?"
The voices sounded sharper to his long fluffy ears than they could back when they were pointed and human-like. Giving his subordinates a dismissive attitude, the gigantic Inu daiyoukai pressed his paws into the ground, compressing the soil and leaving enormous imprints. Inhaling one deep breath, he lifted his snout and let out an awe-inspiring howl that vibrated through the heavens and shook the lands.
"Wha—!" The resulting shockwave nearly sent Inuyasha flying. Instincts prompted him to shift his weight to maximize the friction between the ground and his bare feet. With his knees bent, he snatched up Kotori and pulled her into a firm embrace before she could be blown away.
Sara was not so lucky and was thrown away by the frightful surge of power like a ragged doll.
"What is he doing?" Insensitive to Sara's startled yelp, Inuyasha increased his volume in hopes that his confusion would be heard despite the ear-splitting roar.
"A call! I think!" The demoness' answer — equally loud as his question — managed to reach his triangular ears. He felt her move, her head turning towards his chest to avoid the youki-infused winds that cut like razor blades.
"What do you mean you think?!" His eyes narrowed into slits as he tilted his body sideways to reduce the contact.
"Different species of youkai have their means of signaling their whereabouts to their kind. This might be an Inu youkai's."
"Who is he calling?"
"I don't know. This is a first. I've never seen Sesshomaru-sama call anyone before." Frankly, it was beyond anything Kotori had imagined. In contrast to her clan's harmonious songs, Sesshomaru's call was so vigorous that becoming deaf was rapidly becoming a possibility. Much to her relief, the thundering sound lasted several seconds longer before Sesshomaru ceased.
The white demonic dog waited, his virile body preparing for the impending boisterous tackle and the subsequent tussle that was the Inu Clan's traditional greeting. If the receiver was anywhere within the range of his youki, then they would most likely be tempted by their curious nature. After all, this was Sesshomaru actively seeking them out; very few could brag they had the same privilege.
It was quiet.
Baffled, Inuyasha let go of the woman in his arms before surveying the sky. Anticipation lingered as he tried to spot the silhouette — or an equivalent — that would emerge from the clouds.
The wind rustled the nearby leaves. But there was absolutely nothing otherwise.
"I do not see anyone," Kotori said, lowering her eyes from the cloudy skies and glancing at her lord. The mild bemusement on his features did not escape her notice. Under normal circumstances, discerning his emotion would be near infeasible. But right now, the motions made by his ears were an indisputable indicator. Being in his demonic form certainly had its perks; Sesshomaru was stronger, faster, and more adept at unleashing his true potential. Yet, all his physical capacities were amplified in exchange for mental control. In other words, the giant dog demon was prone to expressing and reacting to emotions. 'That's why if it can be helped, Sesshomaru-sama won't transform. Of all things, he considers his reduced emotional control to be a despicable weakness.'
"Perhaps we—" Whatever Sara had been planning to say was cut short when something caught her interest. A green light painted a straight line across the heaven… before unexpectedly taking a sharp dive at them.
"Look out!" Inuyasha's eyes widened into the shape of the full moon.
Sesshomaru did not need to be told. He darted back, his steps still seamless despite his large frame.
Shock was written all over Kotori's face. She dragged the hanyou behind her and shielded him as best as she could. They both went flying, their bodies colliding with the ground. Seconds later, Sara joined them on the floor, dusty and bewildered.
A mass had slammed into the earth, forming a large crater in the middle of the garden and kicking up storms of cloud dust. From the hazy typhoon emerged a slim figure.
Coughing while propping herself on her elbow, Kotori squinted her sapphire orbs. Long tresses of silver flowed from the newcomer's back, with the bulk divided into two and pulled back into twin tails. Her immaculate attire consisted of a purple and white kimono adorned with green and yellow butterflies. A dark blue layer overlapped it, worn loosely from her elbows. Two furry pelts were wrapped around her, one around her chest and another around her feet. Around her neck was a large gemstone with a dull radiance that felt superficial compared to her glamorized figure. Her stunning countenance was a jaw-dropping revelation, for it was so uncannily similar to Sesshomaru's.
Kotori could not help but gasp, her heart pounding. Despite only seeing her in portraits, she immediately identified the exquisite individual: The mother of Sesshomaru, commonly referred to as the Inukimi!
"My Lady! I-what an honor! To have you grace us with your eminence!" She jumped onto her feet, unintentionally startling Inuyasha. Her back was angled in a respectful bow, though she refrained from kneeling in reverence. Maternal parent of her master or not, the vulnerable position would obstruct her job as a guard.
"W-wait! That's—? Oh, my!" Still trapped in a slight daze, Sara sat with her head swiveling back and forth between the two daiyoukai. It took her more time than she would have liked to finally regain enough composure to mimic Kotori's bow. "Yes, Lady Mother. I welcome you to my humble estate."
If given the time to reflect later, then Inuyasha would have been somewhat impressed by how the females handled the situation. At present, he was astounded. His jaw dropped, manifesting his great disbelief as he scrambled up and jabbed a finger at the newcomer. "Lady Mother? That's your mother, Sesshomaru?" He turned to the enormous dog before making a theatrical gesture at the crater. "Isn't she supposed to be one of those fancy noblewomen? This place has a front door. She could've come in through there. Or at least land like any normal demon would. Hell! Kotori and I nearly got squashed!"
"Decorum, child. You're a descendant of a reigning monarch and a living relic of another. Your lack of refinement would have mortified your father and mother." Chiding as she was, the Inukimi was secretly entertained by the mixture of bewilderment and chagrin on her mate's second child.
"Mother, I thought I was the one you came to see," Sesshomaru commented dogmatically, having reverted to his default form.
Typical of her son ruining her fun. The boy was far too serious for his own good. She faced him, her sharp golden pools locking gaze with his equally dazzling orbs.
"Ah, Sesshomaru. My ears are not playing a cruel trick on me, it would seem. Many years have come and gone. I'm surprised you remember having a mother." She was vocal with her complaints about his neglect. However, there was a hint of flippancy that made her authenticity dubious.
Numerous footsteps halted any response he could have given. Several soldiers rushed over, their weapons in hand. "Lord Sesshomaru! We heard a commotion. We came as fast as we could. Is everything fine?"
"It's nothing. Leave us." The emotionless command prompted the men to salute before hastily returning to their posts. A minority dared to sneak glimpses at the majestic figure that was their lord's mother. Even if very few had caught sight of the elusive noble lady, anyone with a semblance of intellect would have been able to recognize the similarities between the two powerful daiyoukai.
"Devoted your men are, yet they lack vigilance." The Inukimi curled her lips upward and pressed a palm to her chest. "What could they have done if I were an assassin? Attempts on your life would have been made long before they could discern the threat. Reconsider their placement, Sesshomaru, before the rumor that a single weaponless youkai had intruded upon your precious manor disperses."
'... Right. Your youki feels a lot weaker than Sesshomaru's but we all know you're far from harmless. You could have kicked all of their asses and back.' Defiance had been fanned inside Inuyasha. Intentionally or not, the newcomer had insulted him and Kotori. Guarding the Lord of the West was an important job delegated to those deemed worthy. They had to pass the demanding trials that Hibiki had assigned to reach the position. It was hard-earned. To have a haughty outsider judge their effort was insufferable. The more his thoughts dwelled on her words, the deeper the insult sank its fangs into his pride.
His hand reached for the trusty weapon stored in its sheath. "Hey, you, lady! There's no way you could have gotten your hands on Sesshomaru because—" he paused upon hearing the sharp intake of breath from Kotori but ultimately chose to continue regardless. "—Ha! Me and Kotori would have stopped you!"
'Why is he so competitive today? Is it because he's in a bad mood from earlier? This is bad!' Kotori's countenance paled. Unconsciously, her hand drifted over to the hilt of her sword, ready to defend her reckless partner if needed.
The expected anger did not come. An unreadable smile danced on the Inukimi's lips. "Do you lack a sense of self-perseverance, child of Izayoi? I had assumed your mother would have taught you to be cautious, not foolhardy."
The first time her mother was mentioned, Inuyasha had been caught off guard. Now, he was irked. What did the first wife of his father know about the former princess? Sesshomaru's mother could not have known about the all-encompassing tenderness that Izayoi had given her son. She had to nurture him all by herself while being shunned by others. All because of him, the supposed princess was reduced to a peasant. But she never gave up on him. She was his—
His musings were cut off when a realization struck him. 'Wait. What did she call me? Child of Izayoi. That's what she said. Where? Where have I heard it before?'
A small version of himself stood warily by his mother's side, holding onto her hand. The backdrop was a spring that had a heavy smell of minerals. Standing between them and the edge of the water was a silver-haired lady donned in white.
"You have journeyed far to reach this sacred place. I'm impressed." The beautiful woman turned her head away from his mother and towards him. His eyes found a pair of similar aureate as she bent down to his level. "You, child of Izayoi, I see you take after your father in appearance."
Mother spoke, her voice latched with distress. "His father's blood runs strong in his veins. I come seeking the means to cleanse him. His inner demon has surfaced and has tasted blood during its last manifestation. The bloodlust is becoming overpowering. If it happens again… I fear my voice will no longer reach my beloved child."
"Oh? So it has begun. A sad burden for those of conjoined blood." There was a spark of impalpable emotion in the woman's eyes. It flashed momentarily. He had managed to perceive it because he had been captivated by the golden hue. It was the first time he had seen someone sharing his color.
"Alas, what you seek, you will not find here. Your informant is ignorant. This is a spring of purity, a place for meditation and spiritual healing. The demon blood residing within the child is no ailment. The cleansing water will not help him control his lineage." The woman with enchanting molten eyes and a long mane of silky silver returned to her full height, her tone mellow as if talking about the weather.
"What? This cannot be..." His mother inhaled deeply, pure desperation dripping from every fiber of her being as she spoke— no, begged, "How then? Please. You must tell me. If not this place, then where? You came here to inform me. You must be here to help. If you have any ideas, even an inkling, please tell me. It terrifies me. No mother can watch their child become a corrupted, senseless beast of destruction."
"It is the fate of a hanyou. The powerful demonic blood shall one day consume his humanity. His consciousness shall descend into madness. His only absolution will come from the Inu clan. When the time comes, the Lord of the West, the leader of the Inu clan, shall eradicate the source of disgrace."
"The Lord of the West? You mean… Sesshomaru?" Mother shook her head. "No. He won't. He promised."
"Oh? Did he? That's unheard of." A soft chuckle came out, muffled by her sleeve. "How fortunate."
He noticed her sight shifting to the sword secured with his mother's obi. He could faintly remember that the weapon, scabbard and all, had fallen from the sky and knocked him unconscious. Despite the terrible first impression, the child knew that the blade was meant to be his. Holding onto it had made him feel complete. It was as if he had been missing his limbs before the contact. But his mother had prohibited him from touching it and kept it on herself. Why she never discarded it was beyond his cognition. It was much like how he could not fully grasp the situation between the two adults' conversation. All he knew was that the topic involved him.
The silver-haired lady held out a palm, curling all but one finger to point at the sheathed sword. "You needn't take any action when he has imparted to you the solution. You think the child is too young to wield the sword of destruction. Yet, his late father intends it to be the child's legacy. The Tessaiga is his parting gift. It is the manifestation of his will to protect his son. The sword is not meant for you to hoard, nor is it for my son to quench his sudden obsession for power. Give it to your precious child. What you fear, the sword will suppress."
"You. I remember! I do know you. My mother knew you. We met before. You were that lady by that spring. You told my mother that Tessaiga is mine to use." Astounded, all of his whirling thoughts escaped his lips in clustered sentences. The grip on his sword slackened and his arms were left dangling by the sides.
The Inukimi pivoted her head at an angle. She was wearing an expression that resembled a pout, which looked so mismatched with the regal grace that her form emanated. "Was that the impression I engraved? A lady by the spring? How demeaning, to be left as a mere afterthought, even if you had been a mere child."
"Enough of the nonsense, Mother. Ignore him. Your business is with me," Sesshomaru cut in sternly, deciding that she had wasted enough time.
"Serious as usual. Ah, you are no fun." The former Lady of the West pursed her lips for a fraction of a second before mirroring her son's nonchalance. "But I forgive you. Your call must be of great significance... Unless of course, your father's sentimentality, which you called a disease, has spread to you."
Realizing that the Inukimi would need a lengthy explanation, Sara jumped at the chance to be helpful. "Sesshomaru-sama, shall we return to the conference room? I can elaborate on the details there. I believe Lady Mother would prefer to be comfortable and seated."
"Not yet. She will remain here, with me. You, Kotori, and Inuyasha will return and wait for further orders." The Lord of the West waved a hand in dismissal, leaving no room for anything other than meek obedience.
"Yes, as you wish, Sesshomaru-sama." Quick to obey, as it was ingrained in her since she was a child, Kotori motioned Inuyasha to leave with her. The half-demon obliged, but not before grumbling something about Sesshomaru being a typical jerk-ass. Sara followed them, unaware that her cape had momentarily attracted the attention of a certain daiyoukai.
Once the three were out of range, the thoughtful look on the Inukimi's face was replaced with her customary insouciance. "Sesshomaru, what trouble have you gotten yourself in? You do not seek me unprompted. Or is this monotonous world coming to an end?"
"Mother, tell me: how does one preserve a life that foolishly seeks destruction?"
'Oh?' The Inukimi's eyes widened by a margin, her flippancy shattering like glass. Her ears were not deceiving her. Concern — actual concern — was palpable in Sesshomaru's voice. Additionally, his characteristic stoicism was gone. The subtle way his eyebrows furrowed portrayed deep worry. It was an obvious sign that her apathetic pup had changed over the years. The young Inu prince that had stuck his little nose high in the air everywhere he went was nowhere to be seen. Instead, she was staring at a majestic ruler who was unfortunately caught in a vortex of mental tribulations.
'He has changed. The Sesshomaru I know would have never asked for my aid. Hm, interesting. What could have caused it?' Her child was stubborn — a characteristic that she could confidently say was the work of her late spouse. The problem must have slammed deep into his heart for the change in attitude to happen. After all, very few things could get a reaction out of her son. Even a thorough reflection merely offered a small list — Touga, Tessaiga, his conquest, worthy powerful foes, and of course… the saint.
It did not take her much time to fathom the cause. In particular, evidence was provided in the form of a muted but distinctive aura lurking around. Not even Sesshomaru's dispersed youki could completely overlap that individual's presence.
'It is as Hibiki says: the little miko is the key to Sesshomaru's future, be it his rise or fall.' Her musings drifted over to the letters sent by her childhood friend. They usually kept her updated on matters related to the west. As of late, there was information regarding a certain miko that Sesshomaru had taken captive after conquering the east. The chancellor had even gone as far as to write several pages on the Lord of the West's odd behaviors when dealing with his supposed slave.
Frankly, she could practically see the question that Hibiki was mulling over in the last few letters: was the miko the same saint from centuries ago?
'The guardian girl would never have exposed herself. Did Hibiki share his speculations with Sesshomaru, I wonder? Or did Sesshomaru reach the actuality on his own? Regardless, now with that realization, he comes seeking advice on courting the woman. Ha, Touga would have been thrilled.' Astute as she was, she figured out the gist of the problem without Sesshomaru's explanation. However, she was not the type to voluntarily help others and make their lives easier. That was boring. No exception was given, not even to her own flesh and blood.
"What of it? A fool who wishes for their annihilation is no business of mine." She deliberately pulled her sleeve over her mouth to fake a yawn. "Sesshomaru, are you getting me confused for your benevolent father? I have neither the sentiment nor the penchant for bestowing succors."
"I won't cajole favors from you. What I desire is what a mother should endow," Sesshomaru uttered nonchalantly.
"As importunate as ever. But aren't you getting sentimental? All this trouble for — oh, do tell if my speculation proves false — a human woman. How unlike you." The Inukimi arched an eyebrow, a representation of mockery rather than curiosity. "I was under the impression that you loathed humans. Did a human not, however indirectly, play a part in your father's demise? And was your heart not torn asunder when a human possessed the gallantry to push you away in your moment of blind faith?"
"Hmph, an unnecessary reminder. I certainly did not inherit Father's feelings of compassion towards humans." From the minute he had opted to enlist her assistance, Sesshomaru knew it would be a mentally strenuous task. No description could sufficiently describe how obnoxiously fractious his maternal parent was. Thus, he was prepared to play her game, having already curbed any impatience beforehand. "In her moment of blind faith, that woman believed her death would be the nostrum to cure the corruptions of this world. She is absurdly devoted to her delusion. Yet, death offers her an escape from the sins she committed against me five centuries ago. I am not so magnanimous to allow her to flee. She shall face the repercussions of evoking my wrath."
"Is it your wrath she provoked? Or is it your trust that she crippled?" The Inukimi tilted her head, a knowing smile dancing on the edge of her lips. "You are not being candid, Sesshomaru. You cannot be oblivious to your heart's fancy. I can see the truth you're trying to covert out of pride."
"Do not make presumptions you know nothing about. Your mannerism is as insufferable as the woman's." Suppressing the urge to scoff, Sesshomaru fisted his palms and shoved down his indignation. He had not called her over to be mentally analyzed. If anything, she was supposed to figure out the mystifying nature of the miko's mind. He did not need his feelings for the miko to be dragged out and inspected.
"You say I am the one who is insufferable?" The female daiyoukai gave a disgruntled huff. "Perhaps it is simply you who cannot deal with a woman's intricacies. You speak to your poor lonely mother without any pleasantries. You imprisoned the guardian girl against her will. Women may indeed be fickle creatures, but you, Sesshomaru, are no chivalrous man."
"That is no concern of mine. My interest lies in the woman's vitality. It does not matter if she opposes my decisions. I will do whatever is necessary to keep her alive." His voice lacked inflation. Yet, there was a dangerous gilt in his eyes that highlighted his determination.
"Will you now?" she asked rhetorically. At this point, there were no mistaking Sesshomaru's feelings. His continuous refutation that his motive was devoid of love felt as fallacious as the notion that the sun would set east.
If truth be told, it came as no surprise to the Inukimi; she had plenty of speculations involving his son's infatuation centuries ago. On the rare occasions that she had been present, she would see a barely discernible gleam of euphoria in Sesshomaru's eyes whenever he interacted with the saint. The masked woman had managed to bring out a new side of the former prince, helping him discover the sentiments that neither the mother nor the son had known were lacking.
But of course, her mate had seen through everything. The Inu no Taisho had even actively advocated it, eager to tie the red string of fate together.
"Sesshomaru seems enthralled," she commented and instantly noticed the handsome dog demon's lips curled upwards upon hearing her remark.
"Is that atypical worry I hear in your voice? Fret not, things are as they should. Leave them be. You may not see the virtues that I do, but you cannot deny the joy that her presence brings our son."
She said nothing in response, prompting her spouse to rotate his head towards her. His high ponytail brushed against his shoulder plate, the silver hue glimmering under the sunlight.
"Are you still plagued by concern? Hmm..." Placing a hand on his chin, he remained in that position for a few seconds before the smile stretched across his ravishing features. Gentleness lit up his golden orbs like a cozy bonfire. "Allow me to use some analogies: that saint is Sesshomaru's color in life, as I am the remedy to your boredom."
She ultimately went along with his mate. What else was she supposed to do when he had seemed so pleased by the prospect? Besides, she did see the benefits that the relationship could have on Sesshomaru's growth. So she had permitted, even encouraged, their intimacy to a certain degree. Nevertheless, she did not predict the long-term effects. The long separation hadn't weakened Sesshomaru's attachment. On the contrary, it seemed to have endorsed it.
Had Touga been here instead of her, he would have been ecstatic. The late Inu no Taisho would not have shared her conflicted thoughts. Instead, he would have smiled at his eldest son. After all, his dedicated goal was to make Sesshomaru understand the importance of protecting and loving someone. He would have been proud to see the sentiments, once deemed worthless to Sesshomaru in his path of conquest, burning brightly in his irises.
'Like father, like son.' She was struck with a déjà vu upon staring at Sesshomaru's stunning orbs. Eons ago, she had been enchanted by a similar look of radiance on Touga's magnificent features. It was an endearing comparison, if not for one problem: Sesshomaru was not a replica of Touga. Their child had also inherited her wilful penchant for being radical. Normally, she would cultivate the trait since it allowed unpredictability into her life, thereby adding thrills and being her means of escape from boredom. Nonetheless, mixing the characteristic with too much dedication could be disastrous. Sesshomaru's drive to protect could easily be twisted by his temperament and over-possessive nature. Ultimately, an unhealthy obsession could destroy everything… including the miko and himself.
Without the calm Inu no Taisho assisting in taming these extreme attributes, it was up to the Inukimi to help their son.
"I have delivered a true conqueror into the world. Like your father, you are a king of supremacy, with an intransigent mind and a burning will for success. You are armed with logic. You favor power and dominance. You demand control..." She mimicked the solemnity that Touga would opt for whenever he was teaching a lesson.
The younger daiyoukai's features remained outwardly unchanged. Yet, the sight shift in his stance told her that he was paying extra attention.
She continued, "But you have sat on the throne for far too long, overlooking from above with contempt. Your perception of the world has become deformed. You are far too self-absorbed, becoming negligent of the delicacies. The Inu prince that you once were would have already discovered the answer you are searching fruitlessly for."
"What answer?" the daiyoukai demanded, his eyebrows creasing into a frown.
Fortunately for him, she chose to overlook his imprudence. "Recall, Sesshomaru. Recall when you once saw the girl as your equal and listened to her desires."
That evoked a deep scoff. "Ridiculous. She cannot remain my equal while trying to embrace death. I will not give her gratuitous privileges. She has eluded me once with a cunning trick. That won't happen again."
"Mm. So it is your wounded pride that speaks, cowering behind a superficial pretense of callousness," she uttered coolly, tossing her head in a display of condescendence. "Feel free to impose your control, for she is just as free to resist you. However, exert too much and you will find yourself with an empty husk, her flames extinguished in your hands. A life stripped of free will has no purpose. A fate worse than death. Is that the cruel punishment you intend for her?"
Absolutely not. It was on the tip of his tongue to retort — that giving up was not in Kikyo's vocabulary — when the recent events generated hesitancy.
This was supposed to be the woman who could stand beside him, looking at the path before them with sheer conviction. She wasn't meant to be a weakling that permitted fate to dominate her future like an obedient puppet played by its strings.
Without the strength of mind that molded her character, she was nothing more than a shell of the enigma that he knew. What happened to the fortitude that could rival his? Did it all dissipate into nothingness against the trial of time? When did it happen? How did it happen?
Not long ago was the observation made. At the same time as confirming her identity, he had also detected her unusual submissiveness towards fate. There was the silly notion that fate, crafted by the gods, was absolute in her life. He had been determined to remove the nonsense from her brain, though the subsequent events had rapidly shifted his priorities. The observation's reappearance induced a tinge of unease that chilled his heart. He could not ignore the facts that were practically thrown at his face. Strong-willed as Kikyo was, her mentality did have a limit. Just because he did not know when did not mean it did not exist.
Refusing to allow the rare doubt to gnaw at him, Sesshomaru kept his tone laced with self-assurance. "... That woman is far too stubborn. Her spirit is indomitable. Thus, she continues to walk a path of self-destruction. She sees no value in her own life. I dissent. Her life has far more significance than she knows. I will not stop until I have imbued her with such knowledge. Our battle of ideology endures."
"Both of you are far too stubborn. Halt your pointless war for a moment. Reflect on the dilemma you have ensnarled yourselves in. For I can assure you, neither of you can reach a consensus if this persists." Studying her nails one by one for non-existent dirt, the Inukimi then glanced up with a look that resembled an avid reader being disappointed by a book's terrible ending. "I am aware that she is uncooperative. She is a buffoon to think she can carry the weight of the world on her shoulders. However, you are not immaculate. In your attempts to keep her physically tied to you, you have been neglecting her mental needs. Never say you care for a woman when you are suppressing her will. Let the girl have a say. To put it in your father's words, that is the basic entitlement in a relationship. If you cannot do that, then you may as well do nothing."
Sesshomaru visibly frowned. If he had less self-discipline, he would have growled. This was turning out to be a waste of time. "Are you telling me I should stand idly and let her kill herself?"
"No. Certainly not. Being quiescent will get you nowhere with the guardian girl. A change must occur to break the stalemate. You will need to learn to compromise. Interact with her with support in mind rather than control. It is natural for a strong woman to defy men who believe they have her wrapped around their fingers. Sesshomaru, when have you last spoken to her as your equal? You need to find the mutual respect you two once shared." Anticipating further retorts, the Inukimi held up a palm to prevent interference. "Hush. Listen. Compromise first. Should that fail, then you may come running to me complaining, and I shall deal with her."
Sesshomaru felt convinced that the last part of her words was oozing with a sinister connotation that spelled a fate worse than death for Kikyo. However, he did not dwell on it since he had a more important question that needed his immediate concentration.
"Sesshomaru, when have you last spoken to her as your equal?"
Although he had many exchanges with Kikyo since her capture, there had been a fissure between them, generated by their contrasting status. While he was a harsh interrogator, she was made a lowly prisoner. While he was the almighty ruler, she was forced to kneel as his subject. While he was a prideful conqueror, she was turned into his powerful tool for conquest. Because of the circumstances, there was never a point when they were 'equal' in their positions.
"Name. I will have the name of the one who is valiant to stand before me and challenge me." In response to her great power, he supposed he ought to regard her seriously instead of being dismissive. She became the first human who he, the great daiyoukai of the west, acknowledged. It was perhaps the greatest honor he had bestowed upon any human. Although, if truth be told, no human he met before was quite like her. In just a manner of one day, her appearance had subverted all of his perceptions of humans.
Nevertheless, there was a part of Sesshomaru that was tempted to reclassify her, to label her as an enigma whose class was greater than mortals. It was an odd thought prompted by a resonance that he could feel between them. Her mannerism and her strength were quite similar to his; this encounter had proven that much. But being the prideful daiyoukai that he was, he soon cast aside the comparison, deeming it as preposterous.
The disparity came to him as one of their earliest encounters flashed in his head. It was far simpler centuries ago. The young Inu prince and Saint Hijiri had been able to freely converse as they were. Even when hiding her identity, the latter had been true to herself and the former had reciprocated by viewing her as a unique individual.
The answer arrived a moment later after the precious memories. His mother was correct: the Inu prince he had once been had known the potential solution all along…
They were supposed to be equals. How? How could he have neglected it for so long?
More Author's Notes: This chapter is supposed to go hand in hand with the last one, with the idea of letting both Sesshomaru and Kikyo reflect on their relationship and how their pride and stubbornness are creating problems. For that to happen though, I had elected two characters to serve as a guide for their heart. I did think that having the Inukimi make an appearance here feels too sudden and may seem like a plot device. However, I ultimately have her make an appearance because I feel like it's in her nature to appear "unannounced". She did show up suddenly in the final act of Inuyasha and gave Sesshomaru a trial after all.
Let me know if any of you thinks that her appearance was too forced. Or if you have any feedback in general, I would love to hear them. As usual, reviews are greatly appreciated.
Before we finish though, here's a little trivia: One of the items that Sesshomaru will need is the Yomi no Haori. This haori is taken from Kyōkai no Rinne, another manga by Rumiko Takahashi, and is worn by the main character Rinne Rokudo. That's pretty much the only piece of information that will come in handy for the next few chapters. I personally didn't watch all of Rinne myself so rest assured that I won't be adding too many elements of that story into this fic.
That is all for now. Until next time!