Author's Notes: Ever had writer's block so bad you had to get inspo from something simpler in life like... discovering a new hobby? (I got interested in learning how to make soaps and bath kits. Now, I'm in a never-ending cycle of learning how to be a soap maker. Help me! X3) Hello all! This won't take long. I'm just leaving a special note behind. Since Lord Jaken is SUPER eager for me to get to his moment in the spotlight XD, I'll simply mention that this chapter is heavy on symbolism and foreshadowing. For the symbolism portion, pay close attention to Meioshi and Jaken. I don't expect you to interpret everything presented, but the key takeaway I'd like for you to keep in mind is the locations of both characters in Sesshomaru's "heart" (i.e. Nintojo's world). Revisit what the male head of Nintojo said to Jaken and the others, if necessary. For the foreshadowing portion... I'll let that be a surprise. ;3
The Temple of the Prophecy Beasts final part
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Bodies were being stabbed by tendrils of hair from the dark sky above. It was a massacre! Salt acid was entering the wounds of many and devouring the insides of the citizens. Not even bone was left remained. The people didn't know where to turn. Many ran inside to barricade the doors and windows to stop the acidic air from entering their homes, but it was no use against it. The rooftops were meant to guard against the weather of the world, not a monster sent out to destroy them. The foul stench of burning and imminent death flooded the noses of the two inu men. Kudai and Akabeko demons were at war with each other until Sesshomaru and Reijiro took notice to the assailant hovering over the once beautiful village. Feeling the stinging sensation of acid on their skin, they quickly scanned the area for weak points on the beast. There had to be some way to at least distract it. Spotting eight solid tendrils, Sesshomaru dove onto one of them and revealed Bakusaiga in order to cut it as an experiment. The acid surrounding the tendril seemed to respond to him and formed a ball of energy that instead hovered just above the ground. Reijiro followed suit and released heightened levels of yoki energy from his kabutowari to take out one of the other tendrils. A similar response occurred and less acid was released into the air; in fact, the air near the energy balls was clean.
"This has to be a trap," Reijiro theorized, narrowing his eyes at the Akashita demon above them. "If all of the tendrils are destroyed, that creature could release hell or summon Azumamaro. Then what? There has to be a way to get the people out of here."
Sesshomaru scanned the area briefly to find a safe route somewhere. The beautiful pastures of the holy land were riddled with carcasses and decay. There wasn't a home in sight that wasn't destroyed or not being devoured. The nearest safe point that he could think of was where they were camping at the gazebo. The western lord furrowed his brow with some annoyance. He should have retrieved Jaken sooner. Nintojo would have been able to find a route! Damned witch! They would have to retreat in order to find a pathway out unless... no, wait... High Priest Shishido... he had a classroom for students along the so-called Mitsuba Trail. If he remembered correctly, there was a sacred pathway that led to a canal the people used for water or training. It was closest to the gazebo.
"Reijiro!" Sesshomaru called, unleashing some yoki energy. He then ordered, "Lead the holy men to the rotting brushes just beyond the mound. You should smell a faint hint of mitsuba along the ground. This vermin is mine to deal with."
"By your command!" Reijiro replied, rushing to the wounded guardian spirits.
The mound was almost built like a pyramid cut in half and was surrounded by mostly dirt and a sprinkle of edible grass. Along the base was some foliage that varied in height from tall, bald trees to smaller shrubs. On that mound, however, was the birthplace of the Shimabukuro Law for all youkai who wish to become guardian spirits. Although Sesshomaru had completed a majority of the training with his father before adolescence, he dismissed the beliefs surrounding the law once he came of age. He had no desire to be a guardian spirit like most youkai warriors. That was where he and Toga differed the most. Perhaps... when this was over... he could ask if his grandfather was known for being a guardian spirit. As fearsome as he was, he was quite gentle with things he recognized as being smaller or weaker than him. It's very much possible that he was in his youth... Sesshomaru just had a hard time envisioning it due to the grumpiness that must have come with age. Focusing his attention on the demon overhead, he flew over to the next tendril and hacked away at it...
SLICE! Dodge. Block. Meioshi was starting to run out of breath against this persistent beast. It's to be expected she supposed. She wasn't sure what was worse: the fact that she was fighting this monster for another demon's amusement or the fact that she didn't have time to understand what was really going on. She should have just left the beach in the beginning.
She couldn't sense anyone's energy in this strange place. Behind her was simply an island with what appeared to be some kind of banshee standing ominously overhead. She wasn't screeching like a typical banshee, but she was singing. A soft wind was carrying the song and tune away. Low thunder that sounded like growls soon followed and sharp bursts of light came after that. It seemed out of order for Meioshi. Usually, lightning came before the thunder, yet, in this place, it was the opposite. A storm before the calm? Odd. The doctor had landed along the coastline of this strange world. It seemed to be a pebble beach at first. Rocks of varying smoothness and color were littered all about. When she went to stand up, she felt warm water clinging to her legs. Reaching out to touch the water experimentally, she shot her hand back and crawled backwards cautiously. It felt like saliva! This place was alive and breathing! Checking for signs of a mouth, Meioshi found nothing until the banshee came face to face with her. The doctor couldn't see her face since black hair completely covered everything except the mouth, but she could see that she wore an entrancing pink, red, and white kimono. The banshee took an odd form, but she had the body of a young girl and the presence of a dark witch. Neither woman moved for a while until the banshee spoke.
"Pretty, pretty girl, how lost is she? O, young pretty, shall I find ye grave?"
"Who are you?" Meioshi asked gently, squinting an eye at the banshee.
"Umebayashi be I," the banshee replied, grinning toothily and widely. "The hag of Nintojo personified. From me, much fortune and despair can I find. Purposed with showing the wielder the path, I be the controller of the beast and the mistress of the great divide."
"Right then," Meioshi replied, slowly rising to a stand. "Pleasure to meet you, Lady Umebayashi. I suppose there is a reason why I'm here instead of with my friends, is there not? Mind telling me what's going on?"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk!" Umebayashi quickly said, toothy grin remaining in place. "This will not do! Only a path can I show you."
"Hmm..." Meioshi hummed with some thought. It wasn't long before a smirk decorated her rosy lips and she said, "You're the one who answers to Jaken when he needs to find something. So that's how it works. Unfortunately, Lord Jaken is not with me to access your powers, my lady."
"There is no need for that silly imp, pretty pretty," the banshee said lowly, tilting her head down to show emphasis. "I am the one who brought ye to this beach. It is here the young master questioned the power ye doth seek. Thine place here is neither good nor grim. Storm bringer be ye, O, pretty pretty!"
"The power I seek?" Meioshi questioned, eyes narrowing with some worry. "What of it?"
"The young master hath battled a man who knew ye. Quite powerful, that man! Is the power ye seek meant to slay the blue angel we saw?" the banshee asked, earning a shocked expression from the doctor. "Oh? What's this, pretty pretty? Ye fear what the young master hath seen?"
"The man you're talking about is not my enemy," Meioshi replied, looking down at the ground. "He's just a messenger, but... he is my burden to bear." She picked her head up and continued with a fiery anger in her eyes, "You stay out of this!"
"My, my, pretty pretty! Thy storm is strong!" Umebayashi declared, laughing. "Why not let the young master lend his might to ye?"
SNATCH! Uncharacteristically, and perhaps unexpectedly, Umebayashi was hoisted into the air with Meioshi gripping at her throat. The rage the doctor produced... did something to both the hag and her surroundings. Meioshi's eyes were no longer simply a vibrant hazel. They had returned to the hellfire orange. Her hair was changing from the soft, dark locks to saber-like ends with bright red tips resembling fresh blood dripping down the length. Her rosy lips were turning to a dark plum color. A singular bolt of lightning licked the beach shore and went straight through Meioshi, adding to her power and rage. Shadow, flame, and sulfur surrounded her body, and she gave a look to Umebayashi that struck fear into the pathfinder... and the beach shore. There was no tide or black water where Meioshi stood, but the water... became clear and the murky sludge that was there was being shoved away like the doctor was purifying her surroundings! In response, a harpoon shot through the air and dug into the sand and rocks for anchorage. Only Umebayashi turned to see that the warship was close enough to see its full size, and that soldiers - representative of many things potentially - were hustling about to apprehend the doctor. Amidst the hectic response, however, the treasure ship was also coming closer. Meioshi wasn't paying attention to ships coming for her, but the hag did. Just as she said before, Meioshi was an odd one. Though the conflicts to come and the battles to fight were many, good fortune would not be far and, judging from the cheers and lights from the treasure ship, it would come as long as the angry woman continued to be a beacon of purity and hope for others. Zipping across the water, as faint as a butterfly's wings flapping, was heard. The hag gasped for air, hearing her brother's call, and let out a mighty shriek that sent both ships back and panicked voices echoed in the distance.
From the sludge came a larger shadow than anyone could have imagined. Something emerged from the dark waters before a bright green appendage lifted into the sky and came crashing down to split the waters. Meioshi turned then, believing it to be Sesshomaru, but instead was met with a towering beast that had only half of a body. The upper torso of the creature was present and heavily armored, but the actual limbs were made of bright green light and poison. The shape of the creature resembled a canine, but... not quite fully. It had tentacles for limbs, or at least what would have been limbs. The head was a canine skull with four eyes and only four teeth, but there was no flesh anywhere. All was light and poison! The clouds were turning into a funnel as the beast bellowed. Meioshi dropped the hag like she was no more than a dirty cloth before turning to the scene before her. The clouds then moved to hover over the beast's joints to form the fur and ears, but the creature was complete in its transformation it seemed.
"Lord Sesshomaru! Please help me!" a female voice called.
Meioshi turned back to the hag to see her change into four different young women. Each one differing in age, race, and fashion style. They must have all been women that he knew, so this world or place is the darker side of him. The doctor thought, That's Sesshomaru? What form... is this? His real one?
"This is what I can control, pretty pretty," Umebayashi said, using Kagura's image to speak. "This Sesshomaru has yet to master his true form or his true power. It is my duty to ensure he achieves such mastery once he completes his training. The young master may have attained his father's final form, but it is not his final form. His power is great! Do not be so foolish and deny such a grand opportunity to have this power at thy command."
Meioshi said nothing more to the hag and turned to Sesshomaru's supposed skeleton form. She walked forward quietly until she was close enough to feel the poison around him burning her skin to an uncomfortable level. They locked eyes with each other for a moment until she smirked. Sesshomaru tilted his head in response, albeit slowly, and waited. Meioshi then said, "You're skinnier than I thought in that form. You need to stop starving yourself. You'll ruin your pretty skin."
"What do you think you're doing?" Umebayashi questioned, running to shore edge.
"Just having a conversation with my rival. It's our thing, apparently," Meioshi replied, chuckling a bit before placing a hand on her hip and waving her free hand to speak more languidly. "Don't interrupt. It's rude."
"Ridiculous! This form is to be feared!" the hag argued.
"My fears belong to the underworld, not you or him," Meioshi replied coolly. "He's not even skin or bones! Look at this foolishness! I should give you a steak and crackers!" This comment only made Sesshomaru tilt his head more and growl as though he were saying 'eh?' The doctor continued to lecture him, however, "It's no wonder you're able to fly so delicately. I've no time for you, Lord Sesshomaru, if it even is you. I've a puzzle to solve by tomorrow or else I'm screwed. Now, what are you so confused about that I have to be stuck here with you and a noisy old bat arguing nonsense at a fork in the road instead of helping my friends?"
Sesshomaru shifted his glowing eyes from her to the hag before huffing and letting out a bark loud enough to make the earth quake. Umebayashi interpreted the response, "My lord didn't like what you said. This is completely ridiculous! Why are we discussing anything that's not path-related?"
"Hush, woman!" Meioshi replied, turning slightly to the hag before looking at Sesshomaru again. "What are you talking about 'what I said'? We've been separated up until recently. We hardly spoke a word."
He growled then huffed, releasing slimy acid from his nostril holes. Umebayashi then interrupted, "My lord is not clear on your rivalry. You said you mean nothing to him, but, in the same breath, you said he knows your changes in behavior better than a stranger or friend. If you mean nothing, why would he know when something is wrong with you?"
Meioshi produced an interesting face that angered Sesshomaru and made him roar, but the doctor just laughed at him. He was about to bite at her until she said, "I forget sometimes that there is a sweetheart under all that huff and puff. You've almost always known when something is wrong, Lord Sesshomaru. That's why I wind up thanking you so much. When I performed my punishment, you debated against it and smelled my injury. You even lectured me a bit! When I was stressed out at the okiya village, you were at my side just speaking to me. When I was being hunted by ogres, you came in right when I was being stalked by a high-ranked one. When I was fighting against one of my main enemies, you came in to help without me even knowing that you came. You even interfered when those idiot samurai tried to punish me! Of course, you'd know when something's wrong, Lord Sesshomaru. You always have, even before we became rivals or before I started serving Lord Jaken. You always call me witch or doctor, so I just assumed that meant I was no more than that to you. I have no reason to claim any other title beyond that or believe I am more a stranger. I know very little about you. You, at least, know that I was in the army once. Most people don't know that, and I'd rather no one know at all."
Sesshomaru was quiet, but Umebayashi translated the silence as a singular question, "Why?"
"There was nothing glorious about my time there," Meioshi answered, looking to her side remorsefully. She shook her head then said, "To eliminate this confusion that's so much more important than the safety of a little girl, apparently, how about I complete your challenge? It's our thing, after all. If I can beat you in this form, I'll give Jaken a bath while naked as punishment for crossing you. If you win, I'll throw you a small party with actual food because you are entirely too lithe for that to be healthy. Agreed?"
"That's a stupid bet!" Umebayashi replied. It wasn't an interpretation.
"You're the one who's confused, not me!" Meioshi argued. "It's your challenge anyway. Think of something!"
And that's how this mess all started. Neither Sesshomaru nor Umebayashi said more about the challenge. He had simply decided on something... and then he attacked... violently.
"Kya!" Meioshi exclaimed, blocking a claw swipe with her Baohu qi Voluptatis...
Author's Commentary Corner: I'm mainly looking at the feedback regarding Lord Toga, or Inu no Taisho as FFN has his name listed, and his interactions through flashbacks. He's a very crucial and present character in Sesshomaru's half of the story, so you'll see a lot of him through multiple flashbacks. I do plan on having him appear physically for one critical moment in the story, but I haven't gotten the logistics of that just yet. I don't want to bring him back until I'm absolutely sure it flows together smoothly and sensibly. Anyways, let me answer your questions about Lord Toga, or at least address your feedback.
Q: You have Lord Toga portrayed as a family-oriented person in this story, and at least one member of his family is still alive and present, but I'm curious about Milady's family. Was Sesshomaru close to Milady's parents at all? Or was Milady just living with Toga's family in the flashback with her and baby Sesshomaru?
A: Sesshomaru never met Milady's parents. That's why it surprised him when Milady mentioned that she built that garden with her mother as a child. He fully intended on spending the night in the garden with Milady as a way of reconnecting with both women, but Meioshi was in danger, so he had to leave. He'll revisit it again, though. Yes, she was living with Toga's family in the castle in Sesshomaru's earliest memories. Brides typically lived with the groom's family once married; however, her marriage to Toga also doubled as an adoption of sorts. She was quite close to Toga's parents, especially Hikozaemon II. If you remember from the Tsukimi episode, she said she was very close to her mother but not so much her father.
Q: If Toga and Milady chose Homugi to be Sesshomaru's bride, why didn't they apologize to her family for Sesshomaru's outburst? They went to them to make the arrangements, right? How didn't they know that Sesshomaru and Homugi were school friends?
A: Those are great questions! Milady formally apologized to Homugi's parents. No one saw her do it. Homugi wasn't chosen to be Sesshomaru's bride. She was just chosen to be a candidate because they shared the same revolutionary mindset. Sesshomaru's argument was that they were bringing up marriage too early. Homugi had things that she wanted to do in life first, and Sesshomaru didn't want to come between that. He took special care to hide his friends from his family in order to find genuine people he could have a relationship with. That's the only reason why no one knew that Homugi was his friend.
Q: Is Toga scared of Hikozaemon II? In the Tsukimi episode, Milady remembered Toga dreading the fact that baby Sesshomaru managed to herd chicks in his room.
A: Well, his father is quite intimidating. XD But, Toga only fears him when he's displeased or angry. Hikozaemon was the main disciplinarian of the family when Toga was young. His mother also shared that responsibility, but she could calm Hikozaemon down tremendously or diffuse a situation almost effortlessly. Toga appreciated both of his parents since they contributed to his overall personality of being charming, charitable, and emotionally understanding of others. Since Hikozaemon was exceptionally gentle towards Sesshomaru, Toga trusted him the most in protecting him and teaching him his ways. Sesshomaru behaves the most like Hikozaemon in this story as a result.
Q: When baby Sesshomaru asked Toga what made a good bride in Chapter 75, did Toga remember that when he chose Homugi or asked adult Sesshomaru if he had someone to protect?
A: Yes and no. Yes, he was curious about what made Sesshomaru think about brides, but this was due to the story about the inu princess and the wall of fog. Since he didn't know Homugi was his friend, he wouldn't have put two and two together when choosing her. No, I don't think that conversation from their past would have worked in that critical moment before Toga's death. You could say that the memory Toga had of young Sesshomaru at that time was probably going through his head while he was on the cliff like a slideshow of his life as it was coming to a close. I think that would add significant weight to what Toga was willing to leave behind for his more human family. You can even argue that he used that memory, and many others, to create the Tenseiga.
Q: What were Milady and Toga arguing about in Chapter 76? Sesshomaru wished for a kiss before tearing it, right? Did Hikozaemon see that?
A: They were arguing about a lot of things, but that's the point where the relationship between them and the family dynamic was coming to a visible end. The "kiss of restoration" was Sesshomaru's final wish that his family would be together again. He ripped it seeing that it wouldn't be possible. Hikozaemon didn't see what he wrote on that particular paper, but he saw the other wishes that Sesshomaru pulled off the Wishing Tree and tore up. Hikozaemon was sad that Sesshomaru was losing his belief or faith in striving for good things.
Q: When Sesshomaru confesses about the betrothal, he mentioned Toga being angry at him for committing forgery. Did Toga write a law to protect women prior to Sesshomaru writing his father's name on it? Or was that Sesshomaru's law to begin with?
A: Sesshomaru wrote that law entirely. He just did it by copying his father's handwriting and signature to put it to immediate action. That's a very high crime in any manner of law. Hikozaemon let the law be passed to observe its results out of curiosity. The riot that ensued for the law to be removed was equally as destructive as the one to have the law be put back. That's what made Hikozaemon, Toga, and Sesshomaru butt heads the most politically within that year that Sesshomaru was jailed. Think of it like this. Say someone made it a law to ban flirting with a woman while she's at work. If anyone flirts with her while she's on the clock regardless of the nature of the job, they get penalized or arrested; furthermore, any witness to said flirting will get rewarded for calling them out. (I would be the ULTIMO snitch for that law, first of all. XD) I can imagine some women would appreciate it. Now, let's say that law got the clearance for 10 years (in accordance with how Inuyasha ages), so, for a solid 10 years, women don't have to be worried about being flirted with while at the workplace. If you're used to that bit of relief and protection and suddenly the law is removed, I can't say a riot or march wouldn't ensue from the women who enjoyed that bit of peace, but that response is significant to the public and the political leaders.
Q: In the most recent memories of Toga, he meets Hasumi's parents, Yonamine and Manzo Fukuyama, while at the Akabeko Temple. He admits that Milady rejected his wedding proposal at first, which we see in Milady's memory of him in the movie, and that he didn't actually marry Milady until after she found out that she was pregnant. Yonamine and Manzo seem to be going down the same road. Is that why he befriended them so easily and so early?
A: Yes, that is the main part of it. He saw in them what happened to him and Milady many years prior. Inu demons age slowly, so they officially wed about 40 to 50 years prior to Toga meeting them.
Q: Why was Toga so apprehensive about Manzo touching Sesshomaru? Was he not comfortable with humans around his child at all?
A: Males, in nature, are generally territorial and will kill anything that threatens their space. Toga was more worried that Manzo, being a male, would instinctively attack or scare Sesshomaru, especially since Manzo's kind typically kill demon children. He may have been more comfortable around Yonamine since a female's instinct is not necessarily to kill a child, but she did go on the defense when Toga first met her. Either one of them could attack, so he acted accordingly and went on the defensive by covering the child and shielding him. Once he got comfortable enough or saw that neither meant any harm, he was calm enough to interact with them as before, even going so far as to start a blood bond with them.
Q: In the most recent update, Toga talks to baby Sesshomaru and Milady about fighting for love or choosing to love over blindly doing duties. Will you show how he comes about fighting for the right to marry Milady? What happened to where he was withheld from doing that when the betrothal was already setup?
A: That would spoil a huge chunk of the story if I went into what happened. BUT! That portion of the story is coming. It directly affects Sesshomaru in a MAJOR way and just about yanks Meioshi into the picture by force since she takes her duties as a doctor, parental guardian, and a hell traveler very seriously.
Alrighty, I believe that's all. These were some great questions once again! I actually liked the mixed response towards Toga's character both outside of this story and inside of this story. I look forward to expanding on him a bit more and giving his character some actual flesh and flaw. I, at least, need him to be somewhat relatable. Not confident on Izayoi's involvement in all of this either, though. She does get some expansion, but it's not looking all that positive at the moment. I'm still working on her the best way I can. Anyways, thank you so much for your continued support and feedback. I'm a few days away from this story's anniversary, so I'm trying to bust out as many chapters as possible so I can get to the special and the end of Season 2 at the same time. I doubt I'll make it to the end of Season 2 by the anniversary, but I might make it by the end of the year. Wish me luck on that! X3 I need it!