Several hundred years ago...
"Lord Fukuyama, Lord Toga of the House of Inu is here to meet you."
Manzo placed a scroll down before kissing his wife and tickling his daughter. He stood up and walked outside to meet his friend, happy to see that he wasn't alone and brought his own wife and son to see Yonamine. The little one looked a bit larger than the last time he saw him. He must have finally aged a year or was approaching a new year. Manzo pat Sesshomaru's small head, earning a short giggle before he returned to chewing on his rainbow fish toy, and embraced Milady gently before nodding to the palace doors where Yonamine and little Hasumi were just walking out to say hello.
"Little A-woo!" Hasumi cheered, waving happily.
"Your daughter is turning into a flower," Milady warned, smiling knowingly at Manzo.
"I'm already turning gray. Don't rush it!" Manzo said, brow twitching at the thought.
Milady laughed at the response, opening her arm to receive Yonamine's hug, and letting Sesshomaru grab a lock of her hair before the woman picked him up and sung his song. When Yonamine kneeled down for Hasumi to greet the toddler, Milady replied, "Serves you right for holding my little babe's other playmate hostage."
"I'm not a baby wagon!" Yonamine argued, blushing brightly. "You know this, princess!"
"Finally getting your son, my friend?" Toga questioned, making Manzo gasp and smile gently.
"We don't know the gender yet, but Hasumi's been sleeping next to the baby as often as possible," Manzo answered, looking down with a light blush. He was just happy. He then said, "But, I called you here for a different reason. It can wait until lunch if you prefer. Hasumi's gonna need practice being a big sister."
"I'll be the best sister ever, tou-san!" Hasumi cheered happily.
"Where's my baby's playmate, princess?" Yonamine questioned, putting a hand on her hip. "I have two now, so where's your two?"
"Ugh, palace life put a bit of a damper on it," Milady complained, rolling her eyes and waving a hand before flopping it down. "Can't get a moment's peace! The palace nurses are so adamant about taking care of my little babe. I have to fight them to keep them away!"
"Huh. You had that problem, too?" Manzo questioned, raising a brow and folding his arms.
"Well, we moved our parents into the palace, thinking all would be the same, but lo and behold, it ain't the same," Toga complained, mouth a wavy line. "Plus, our mothers fell ill. I'd rather the nurses focus on their health and helping father. We can care for the baby in the meantime. His demands are simple right now. I chose to focus on the law instead for a little while to give my attention to the family, but so much time gets lost in these political matters. I worry that'll it take me away from them too soon."
"We had a similar problem for the first few years of Hasumi's life. Having Father Doppo around helped tremendously. You may need to consider having an advisor - maybe someone that you're close to or will be close to in the future - or even consulting your own father if he's knowledgeable in certain aspects of law," Manzo advised.
"Father was a man of military tactic. If I have any problems in such an arena, I know he's the man to call. It's the economics and social public that's harder to deal with. If I make things too easy, we'll become too lax for potential enemies; on the other hand, my title is denounced and I don't know what that could entail for my family. Do we just go back to our previous lives, or do they take from us?" Toga asked, looking to the side to watch the civilians of Sozosora work or play idly.
"... Perhaps the answers you're looking for are not with us this time," Manzo said, gaining Toga's attention. "Name a king that you admire, Toga. Who are you willing to serve until death? The king that I admire and am willing to serve is my father-in-law today. When I took up the Korenaga Tate and vowed to protect Lord Doppo, I did so with joy in my heart. Lord Doppo is a firm leader and commands respect in his presence, but he respects those who choose family first and believes that is an honor worth far more than loyalty to the crown. Kings change with the times; families are foundational and transcendent. Even though I broke the law to be with his daughter, he didn't accept me for her sake or my daughter's sake. He accepted me because I was willing to go against the crown if it meant protecting my family first and cherishing every moment that I could spend with Yonamine even when death was approaching. 'Love until it is your last day on this earth. That is a foundation of a good, promising family.' This is something that Doppo would never admit aloud, but I was the happiest I could have ever been when he removed the noose from me and spoke those words to me. Nothing has changed about how I feel towards this man other than the fact that I am humbled to be able to call him father. For you to be the king you were called to be, you need an example of what it takes to be a good king. You may need to find someone you are willing to protect beyond just your family. You've known the way of the military man just as I have. There are soldiers who spend their days in armies for kings they've never met. They have no reason to serve other than the tale of glory that comes with a sword and shield. Lord Doppo made it a point to know his soldiers. He knows the names of every child and grandchild of his men, even the names of the wives and mothers. Many kings don't know the names of their men beyond the best of the best or the second-in-command. Lord Doppo knew me quite well. You might be the type of king who needs to serve another king in order to learn the value of humility, the truth about respect and love should you rule on the basis of one or the other, and the meaning of what it takes for a man to hold the weight of the crown. I have much to learn about this just as anyone would, but I have a great teacher to show me the way. I believe it is best for you to find your own teacher rather simply go with what your elders feel you should do."
You have grown so much, my friend... Toga thought, quiet at the man's words. Humans are so strange. Their lives are as short as flies compared to us, but they grow like trees. No matter how much we cut at their branches, they continue to sprout anew.
"Is that a gray I see in your hair?" Milady commented, taking Manzo by surprise. "That's some impressive wisdom coming from you. I expected an older gentleman to say things like that."
Manzo merely laughed gently at this and said, "Least I can do for the wisdom you've given us."
With that, the couples spent their afternoon together as they often did. Letting the children play while they spoke of different things. Only this time, Toga was the quiet one in contemplation and Manzo was the one looking at him. Their roles seemed to reverse on this day. Just before the families were returning to their duties, Manzo led Toga to the Fukuyama clan's quarters. It was a large building acting as the doorway to soldiers' barracks, training grounds, mess hall, and small trade school where Manzo learned construction in his youth. Some of the young men and a few women bowed as Manzo and Toga walked through. Manzo regarded them with small bows of his own and a warm smile. A young boy bravely waved at him, and Manzo (much like Doppo did in his youth) gave the boy a fresh bag of cookies before accepting a warm embrace before the young boy ran off to his teacher. The very same teacher who trained Manzo when he was the boy's age. Manzo bowed to him, feeling himself tearing up when his sensei bowed lower in response to regard him as king. It was a feeling Manzo would probably never get used to, but he remained grateful that his sensei was as kind and fatherly as he remembered to the new generation of holy warriors. The law, after all, to restrict holy warriors from marrying nobles had been changed a few years ago. The restriction now, however, is that only the strongest of the warriors will be granted this privilege. It hasn't been decided on whether or not only male children will be considered for this.
Toga wondered about the interactions he was seeing as they walked. Manzo was right. This feeling of gratitude and hope resonating in the next generation wasn't something he would have ever known in his youth or his time as a soldier. His own father, Hikozaemon II, never hid the fact that the king he served didn't like him, but the people for whatever reason did admire him despite the fear he struck into his foes and often sought his protection. His father, Toga could say, was very foundational and his mother aided in defining the value of a home and the family that lives in that home. Toga had confidence in being a part of his family's lives the way he was taught to do, but... That little boy that Manzo embraced... Whose life would he be able to touch like that? That, essentially, was what bothered the young inu king. Yes, he looked up to his father in terms of fighting prowess and warfare tactics, but he never ruled a kingdom before.
The sound of a door opening caught the inu king's attention. Manzo entered the room and stood before an underground torii gate with a mummified man on a stone table. He then said, "This is Kouumoto, the wielder of the Taiyoko-sen Coin. The holy shield gifted to him by the gods. From his shield the Korenaga Tate was born as was my clan." He summoned his mighty shield and stood before Kouumoto's grave with pride. He then continued, "But my shield didn't come from the coin alone. Nani's Naginata of Light was another piece birthed from this holy shield. The demon that Kouumoto faced was known as the akashita, the master of darkness and ruin. They are rivals battling each other even in death. Kouumoto chooses who can wield the pieces of his ordained shield in order to end the akashita demon's reign over our land. The smaller pieces like the Serizawa Chain and Himawari Jewel are a bit different. Kouumoto helps us choose who to train to take our place. Yonamine wants Hasumi to wear the jewel until Kouumoto is able to show her who will be next."
"You are giving the chain to your unborn then?" Toga asked.
"No... I think..." Manzo answered, turning to Toga with his eyes at his feet. "I... want your family to hold onto it. You've done so much for us. It would be naive of me to believe that you were our friends just because. You came into our lives at a crucial time - a time that wouldn't have happened if you didn't show us what our lives could be like. I don't think we would be where we are now if I hadn't met you or Little A-roo. My Hasumi is the light in my life, and I genuinely looked forward to being her father. I wouldn't have thought it possible if you hadn't paved the way for me to be the man that Nani needed or to even take such a risk and fight for the life that I wanted. In spite of the fact that Doppo ordered my death, I don't hate him at all. He let me live. He let me have a family. The one thing - " Manzo's voice broke as tears escaped his eyes. "The one thing I wanted when I met him as a boy. To have a family. I don't think I did anything... that deserved such a blessing as this... but it wouldn't have been here... without you." He got down on one knee, making Toga shake and tear up himself, and asked, "Will you honor me, brother, and hold onto this chain ordained by gods unknown? Let this be my gift to you. You may gift it to your wife in honor of the afternoons we've spent together or to your son to commemorate the vows I and Yonamine have made to each other on our wedding day. I only ask... that you honor my gratitude to you, my friend."
Toga didn't know what to say. He merely collapsed and allowed himself the privilege, the honor, and the gift to embrace another man... of another race... who would typically be his enemy... He allowed himself to be held by another man. He wanted to be the king that Manzo Fukuyama had become... The Serizawa Chain glowed before floating to surround Manzo and Toga in its warmth, and the two kings became connected... Their blood oath had formed...
Meioshi was surrounded by darkness and felt unbearable pain as the akashita demon started draining her life and burned open bits of her skin. She could smell her own blood wafting through the air. She had to remain still for the plan to work, however. She had to save Hasumi without interfering with the pallbearers or their warnings. The best she could do was become the connector of the broken Taiyoko-sen Coin and let the events unfold. Outside of her prison, Milady was delivering fatal blows to the akashita demon and holding it back. As eager as Sesshomaru was to aid his mother, Azumamaro was getting stronger and stronger somehow. It wasn't until he smelled the familiar spicy fragrance of Meioshi's blood in the distance that he felt his heart skip a beat. Reijiro finished off a few soldiers on his end, but he was losing energy with time. Unexpectedly, he felt a strong gust of wind blowing behind him. Snapping his head around in panic, believing Sesshomaru to be in trouble, his eyes widened when saw Sesshomaru not being overwhelmed by their enemy but in the process of transforming. He went on a rampage as bit and slashed at Azumamaro. The demonic steed, however, roared at the inu and released several roningasa hats covered in flame from his larger jewels embedded in his shoulders. Sesshomaru was furious at this and heard a grunt of pain lingering with the sound of the flaming hats spiraling at him.
She was getting hurt. Letting out a warcry, Sesshomaru ran at Azumamaro and punched at one of the jewels on the steed's shoulder to shatter it. Power escaped from Azumamaro and he yelped out of fear. Within the holy city, the mirror that typically shone when the town was in danger flipped over to its reflective side to reveal Meioshi strapped onto the mirror. She didn't know that Manzo's mummified body and the Korenaga Tate were directly behind her. A burst of reiki energy entered her body and started burning up her insides. She was getting closer to the end.
The akashita's mask then appeared before her saying, "You reek of reiki like the fallen warrior who was buried beneath this city. Your power is just as delicious. Pity you will die in front of the inu trying to save you."
"Pity? Didn't think you knew what that was," Meioshi said without smiling but in a joking manner.
"You'll be out of jokes soon enough, fool. How about I let the boy watch you be devoured?"
Meioshi said nothing as the akashita mask disappeared to return to battle. Sesshomaru attacked another power jewel, rendering Azumamaro weak enough for him to slash at him with his sword, but a wad of hair stopped him in his tracks to reveal Meioshi being drained and burned again. Sesshomaru reverted back to his more humanoid form and sliced Azumamaro's head in a fury with his Bakusaiga. He spared no time in the battlefield any longer. Instead, he bolted through the air to follow Meioshi's scent and went straight into the holy city. It didn't take him long to find Meioshi in the center. He went to slash her binds, but the hair surrounding her just absorbed his energy and shot a blast of power straight at his mother. She managed to dodge the blast and continue her fight unscathed.
"Hiya, Lord Sesshomaru!" Meioshi greeted weakly, watching Sesshomaru try to claw swipe at the hair instead. He stopped, not realizing that he was just floating in the air, and looked at Meioshi with a look the doctor didn't recognize. She then smiled and said through grunts, "What's got you in a panic?"
"If you can joke at a time like this, you can get out of those binds," Sesshomaru lectured, calming down.
"Actually, I can't," Meioshi said, reigniting that feeling of panic in Sesshomaru's chest. "Guy's draining me pretty dry. Nn!"
"Fool!" Sesshomaru grumbled, preparing his hand for another claw strike.
"Don't... worry about me," Meioshi said, eyes rolling back a bit before they returned to normal. "I've chosen to sacrifice myself."
"There was no need to do this!" Sesshomaru lectured, displeased with such rashness.
"Actually... there was," Meioshi said, reaching a hand out to stroke Sesshomaru's cheek. Though the contact made Sesshomaru visibly stiffen, the look in Meioshi's eyes made his shoulders practically drop to the ground. The doctor then said, "If you're giving me that look, I'm guessing you don't want me to do this, do you?" He was silent but the look in his eyes was as clear as day. "But I want to."
"Why?" Sesshomaru asked quietly.
"If I had to express it in simple terms, I'd say... second chance," Meioshi replied. "I met a little girl on my way to this very city. She's about... nine years old, give or take. She's been living all alone in the forest, collecting demons to feed the monster that you probably just killed. Hated by humans and demons alike. She had no one to trust and no reason to spare life. That child... for some reason or another... trusts me. In a small way... I'd say she's no different than you. Do you remember when we first met, my lord? The night you and I fought for the first time? Look how far we've come since then! Scuffles, arguments, chasing me into the river! It took us some time to trust each other, didn't it? Well... she's a bit mischievous herself. She claimed to hate children, ants, even certain adults... but... when we baked cookies for her and bathed her and clothed her and slept by her side... she became a totally different child. She started to look forward to the next day. Even wanting to go on vacation with me one day! We were like that. I couldn't get you to like me if I tried hard enough... but... somehow... when you were being attacked and I didn't know what to do next... we changed, too. You've been changing so much I... didn't even know it at first. You trusted me with Jaken's life, and I trusted you with Yuko's. What made us do that, my lord?"
Don't do this... Sesshomaru thought.
"You've made a good other, Lord Sesshomaru. Have I been a good other for you?" Meioshi asked, smiling sweetly. It was that same smile she had at the ravine when they silently agreed to be each other's rival. It was that same smile she had when she freed the children from that okiya village. It was that same smile when they reunited at the old Camelia Gazebo. This... lovely smile... was fading away. He could smell her death approaching. She then continued, "Being your rival... has been my honor, my lord. Perhaps... I should admit to you... that I'm a bit jealous of you."
No... Sesshomaru thought. The scent of her blood... of her death... was getting thicker.
Meioshi smiled, let her hand drop, and said, "You have a terrific servant. Someone who would follow you to the ends of the earth, someone who wants to do more for you. You are so precious to your followers, brother in arms. I wish... sometimes... that I could have someone at my side the way that you do. That I could fly as beautifully as you do. How soft is the wind when you fly up there in the sky? How calming is it having someone to speak to on your journeys?"
"... Serene," Sesshomaru answered, watching Meioshi's skin darken and turn a bit grayer.
Meioshi let out a soft chuckle and smile weakly, "Will you fly for me, brother? Until we meet again in the afterlife?"
"... You know me so little, Lady Meioshi," Sesshomaru said, narrowing his eyes and turning to the akashita demon's mask trying to bite at his mother. "I am the lord of the western lands. You die... when I say you can die! It is by my hand that your life will end. I'll be damned if I let another demon do it!"