InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Absolution's Pursuit ❯ A Riveting Tale ( Chapter 6 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Lady Sianna 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Drama / Adventure | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 12.22.2009 | Pages: 2 | Words: 3.9K | Visits: 502 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Drama / Adventure | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 12.22.2009 | Pages: 2 | Words: 3.9K | Visits: 502 | Status: Work In Progress
Absolution’s Pursuit
A Riveting Tale
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Frozen where he sat across from his estranged sire, Sesshoumaru stared at the elder inu, disbelief evident in the slight widening of his eyes and the faint laxity of his jaw.
“That is…” he began, clearly not wanting to believe his father’s words, “That is not possible.”
DaiGin looked at him then, his features conveying a rigidity which was threaded through with a thin, shining thread of melancholy. “I assure you it is.” he stated rigidly, almost as if daring the pup to refute him further.
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Born to a stray bitch many centuries ago, DaiGin had been one of three pups. Like most dogs whose pact instinct had weakened over the centuries, mostly due to the interference of humans and their selective breeding, DaiGin’s father abandoned the mother soon after mating, the animal’s intent to sire as many pups as it could while the females were still in season.
Times were difficult, and DaiGin’s lone, emaciated parent faced many difficulties in caring for her progeny, losing all to illness or starvation save for one. Shortly after he was weaned, the pup would loose his last remaining family.
One day, late in the cool season before the snow would fall, a human child from one of the villages they had been passing through had dropped some insignificant scrap of food. His stomach cramped and empty, DaiGin immediately ran over to collect it from the ground, gobbling it up without thought as he sought to soothe the pain of hunger. Angered, the child had kicked the pup and his mother immediately came to his defense.
As punishment for nipping the boy’s finger in defense of her only remaining pup, DaiGin’s mother was beaten by several of the villagers. She just barely managed to escape, grabbing her son by the scruff of his neck and beating as hasty a retreat as her failing body would allow. She managed to find shelter for them in the form of an abandoned, dilapidated old hut before she finally succumbed to her injuries.
He had been so young and did not understand.
When his siblings had died, he had been even younger still; far too young to remember. By the time his mother perished, his memory held recollections of only himself and her. When he awoke the next day, he fully expected to see her golden eyes staring at him as they had done every morning he could recall. Each night she would curl herself around him, share her warmth and when they woke the next day, she would go out and attempt to find food for them. But this morning, she did not share her warmth. Her eyes were closed, her form unnervingly still. There was a thin, dried stream of blood that had run from her nose, down past the seam of her mouth, and had pooled and dried on the dusty old floor. He thought to wake her, but she refused to budge. His desperate cries of fear and uncertainty would go unheeded this day while the tender prodding of his nose would yield no response as he carefully, and unsuccessfully tried to rouse her.
Though his understanding of the world around him was limited, DaiGin understood that something very bad had happened; something that would change his life forever. Still, he did not wish to accept the reality of his changed, and now increasingly dire situation and so he stayed with the remains of his mother for a long time before he finally accepted the fact that she would never wake again. It had been difficult to leave her behind, but the need to nourish his small, frail body had forced him to move on.
Against all odds, he managed to survive the winter, stealing when he dared, begging when he could, and hunting when there was available prey. Though the warmer seasons tended to yield better times, it was still difficult, and because the humans were spreading and clearing forest to build their villages, prey was sometimes difficult to come by.
In some ways, the humans were truly the bane of his existence yet ironically, it was they who, (willingly or otherwise) helped provide his means of survival.
Late in the summer, when he was just reaching the cusp of adulthood, DaiGin had been warily keeping watch on one of the stands in the marketplace. There was dried meat there, and experience told him that a combination of both patience and speed would allow him to ease the cramps in his belly, if only the opportunity would present itself. He knew to keep a certain distance as the humans would attempt to chase him off if he got too close too quickly, and so he stayed back, literally laid low, watched and waited.
He fell into a light doze, drifting just on the edge of dreams before something caught his attention and he woke with a start. Sitting up, his eyes wide and alert, his attention was turned to the stand. A girl was standing there. His eyes focused just in time to see her place a large bundle in her basket. She was laughing, an intriguing, bell-like sound that caused him to tilt his head in mild wonder. She turned away from the merchant to be on her way, but before she took to steps, her eyes landed on him. She paused, eyeing him interestedly before smiling and slowly walking away. Intrigued by her reaction, as most humans seemed to look at him with little more than pity, wariness or disgust, DaiGin followed her. Perhaps she would drop a scrap of food for him.
His experience with humans had not always been pleasant, so the creature remained cautious, following at a distance as the girl presumably made her way home. Occasionally, she would glance over her shoulder causing DaiGin to pause, but would then turn back to her path, seemingly unconcerned of his continued presence.
Eventually, she came to a tiny hut, flipped the straw panel aside and disappeared behind it. Uncertain as to what to do next, the creature seated itself a few yards away, wondering if the girl would return. She did so within a few moments, a smile on her face and her hands hidden behind her back. DaiGin was on the brink of withdrawing when the girl kneeled to the ground and tossed something in his direction. He immediately jumped back, a low growl escaping as he bared his sharp teeth. It was only seconds later when he realized that the girl was not attacking him, but that she had dropped a piece of the dried meat she had procured at the market.
His body low to the ground, he inched forward, his muscles tense and ready to propel him into action if the girl made any sudden movements. She didn’t and instead watched him just as he watched her. When he was close enough, DaiGin grabbed the meat and gobbled it down without ceremony. Smiling, the girl made no sound and instead threw a second piece, this one a bit closer to where she kneeled on the ground. The dog remained cautious but finally moved forward when the smell of the delicious food became too much to resist. Again, he grabbed the scrap of meat and swallowed it down quickly, greedily licking his muzzle after the food was gone. He was close enough to smell the girl now and he absently noted that, as far as humans went, her scent was mildly calming.
Moving very slowly, almost as if to keep from startling him, the girl produced a final piece of meat, though this time, she did not let it go. Instead, she extended her hand to him, the meat still clasped between her thin little fingers. His nose twitching, DaiGin carefully inched forward yet again. He snatched the meat away, but instead of retreating, he remained where he was, chewing hungrily before swallowing it all in one big gulp. The girl reached out, and the dog revealed his fangs, growling low in warning. The girl pressed on anyway, the tips of her delicate fingers brushing the top of his head. He quieted and the girl became more bold, stroking the tip of his head with her entire palm before delicately scratching behind his ear.
***
Her name was Misako. She was just sixteen years of age and until she found him, she’d been living all alone. Her father and brother had been conscripted into the army years ago, and just like the dog she’d taken in, Misako had lost her mother prematurely. “She had been very sick.” the girl had explained to him, her eyes watery with unshed tears. “It was almost a relief when she died. You can’t imagine how hard it is to watch someone suffer like that.”
The girl’s resources were greatly limited, but somehow she managed to feed them each day. In exchange for his companionship, she shared her meager space and possessions, even giving him an equal share of her food. There was little doubt that Misako improved his life immensely and for that, DaiGin was immensely grateful, so grateful in fact, that he would wear the name she’d given him even into his second life.
The girl began to care for him even from the first day, feeding him and petting him yet still allowing him time and space to get used to her. When she decided that he was comfortable enough to allow it, Misako finally gave him a much needed bath. She scrubbed away layers upon layers of dirt and grim to reveal the shimmering silver coat that had hidden beneath. She’d gasped in awe, her eyes becoming bright with wonder as she ran her fingers through the thick, silvery masses. “Who knew you had such beautiful fur beneath all that dirt?” she asked rhetorically. “It is so lovely!” She’d stared at him for a long time after that and then finally said, “I think… I think I will call you DaiGin. (Great-Silver)*
DaiGin had licked the palm of her hand, and she’d smiled at him.
***
For twelve years, DaiGin stayed together with the human female called Misako, and for much of that time things were good. She fed, bathed, and cared for him regularly, and his imposing size and protective nature kept her safe from any who otherwise would have thought to harm her. During that time, the small village in which they lived was relatively safe and demon attacks never seemed to reach them. But, as the calm precedes the storm, things would not remain as such indefinitely.
One fateful night, a gang of brigands stormed their tiny village. Having heard the commotion nearly as soon as it began, DaiGin immediately went to Misako, carefully licking her cheek and prodding her with his paw in order to wake her. He realized that it might be necessary to flee, and decided that she would be better prepared to do so if she were already awake.
Peeling her eyes open, the young woman asked, too loudly what was going on. DaiGin growled low, a sound she’d come to recognize as a warning, and she immediately stilled, her gaze moving toward the door in response to him doing the same.
“What’s happening?” she whispered quietly, and the dog next to her emitted another low growl. At a particularly loud crash and the sound of a woman screaming, Misako started violently, wrapping her arms around the great creatures neck in an effort to feel safe. “They’ll find us!” she whispered fiercely. “We should run away.”
But DaiGin growled again, his muscles tense while his dark eyes stared unerringly at the straw panel door. Instinct told him that for now it was better to stay as they were. If they ran, they would only draw more attention to themselves.
Unfortunately, movement on their part was not necessary as, with little warning, the straw flap was ripped violently from its place over the door and several men thundered inside. Misako and DaiGin hid together in one of the dark corners, hoping against hope that the men would leave without spotting them. They searched the tiny hut for anything of value, carelessly throwing things aside, unconcerned of the meager possessions they destroyed in their wake. They were about to leave when one of the men spotted something, its light color standing out against the darkness.
“Hey, what is that?!” he asked, drawing the attention of the others. They turned back from the door, their eyes searching the corner.
Hoping to buy Misako some time, DaiGin darted forward, barking loudly as he attempted to run them away. Initially surprised by his presence, the men were no less undeterred by the large but heavily aged dog. As is the way of all things mortal, time had taken its toll on the creature, though his protective nature remained firmly in tact. He lunged at the men, one after another, but they knew he could not get them all at once. They scattered about in the small enclosure, one acting as a decoy while the others stood off to the side and behind him.
Suddenly, one of the burlier men jumped on him, his muscular arm snaking around the dog’s neck as he used his weight to press him into the floor. Misako, who had not taken the opportunity to flee, shrieked as one of the men found a tattered old cushion and pressed it forcefully against the dog’s face.
“Stop!!” she cried desperately, and for the briefest of moments DaiGin felt the tips of her fingers brush against one of his hind legs.
“Where the hell did she come from?!” one of the men yelled.
“Who cares!” countered another, “Grab her!” he demanded, and a vicious snarl ripped from the dog’s throat. He struggled to escape but his aged body was little match against the combined strength of the men.
“You’re a pretty little thing.” one of the men told Misako, and DaiGin instantly renewed his struggles. Air was becoming more and more difficult to come by, but the dog wanted nothing more than to keep the men away from the woman who had so generously shared her love and her home with him, never once expecting anything in return.
“Please!!” Misako cried and he could hear her voice wavering with emotion. “Please don’t hurt my dog! I don’t have anything of value, but…” she whimpered and another low growl escaped the dog, though it was weaker now as his body was gradually succumbing to the lack of air. “I’ll do whatever you want. Just… just let him go! Please!”
But the men did not. Instead, they pointed out the fact that she was not in a position to negotiate and maintained their position.
Already blinded by the cushion that was still so fixedly held against him, DaiGin felt his body seeping into a darkness that was unlike anything he had ever known. He wanted to fight, wanted to rip and bite and claw and shred the flesh of the men that dared to invade his home and threaten the only creature he loved, but sadly, he could not. The men were still holding him down, depriving him of mobility and air. His strength was beginning to fade.
Like echoes down a long corridor, Misako’s voice was beginning to fade. He wanted… so desperately to go to her; to wrap himself around her… to keep her safe.
As the life faded from his great and once powerful body, the last thing he heard were the taunts from the men; their lascivious words, haughty laughter, and the rending of fabric.
…Misako’s clothes.
He could hear her voice. She was crying; pleading…
…Not for her own life… but for his.
***
Suddenly it was very warm, and there was the sensation of floating on heated waters. Fathomless darkness was all around this place, together with the haunting sound of nothingness. There was no pain, no movement, no anything. Rest beaconed him… so tired. And then, there were voices; quiet, echoing voices chattering among themselves. What were they saying? It seemed… that they wanted him to come with them. Perhaps he should go.
No, wait. He should stay. There was something… something important that he should be remembering right now. Like a strip of parchment caught in the updraft, the memory floated away from him, always remaining just inches from his grasp.
Then, a feminine voice. Who is that? So… familiar. ‘I know her… I think… I think she needs me! I have to help her!’
‘Misako!’
‘Where is she?! Must find her! They’ll hurt her if I don’t!’
But those voices, they were calling to him again. Their words, even their voices were indistinct, but the promise they made was clear.
Come. Rest. Do not fight anymore.
He felt himself slipping, falling, surrendering to the seductive call of sleep.
‘DaiGin!!’
He started at that, the need to rest temporarily loosing its hold. ‘Misako!! Can’t leave her! Can’t!’
But he couldn’t move, couldn’t get to her. What was happening? Something was pulling him now, draining what little strength he had left. The soft, tempting calls were all but absent now, and the pull against his soul was all consuming. Resisting their efforts was difficult, even painful, but his resolve was a pillar of stone. He couldn’t leave her. He just couldn’t!
And so, DaiGin dug his metaphorical claws into the earth and resisted the pallbearers of the underworld. They tried to beguile him with the promise of rest, tried to lure him with temptations of happiness and peace. When that failed, the dug their miniscule talons in and pulled for all that they were worth.
The dog refused to go with them and eventually their power faded. This night, they would return to the underworld empty handed.
Misako needed him. He could not let her down, could not leave her behind.
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“My spirit clung to that place, refusing to leave the maiden behind. At the time I had not realized that she was already dead.” The general sighed inaudibly, his voice sounding far away.
“Even now, I do not fully understand what happened or how, but I gradually became more and more aware of the world around me. My sight slowly returned, I regained mobility and feeling as my form grew more and more solid.”
“Apparently, the transformation took many years. Eventually, I regained my former appearance, though my awareness and understanding of the world was somewhat more acute. By the time that happened, the tiny hut I had shared with Misako was little more than a pile of rotted wood. I found her bones in the rubble.”
Sesshoumaru studied his father noting the distant look in his eyes as the memories washed over him. Then, without warning, the great inu looked at him, his expression clear of emotion as he began to speak again.
“I was a spirit that roamed the earth.” he said softly. “A living, breathing spirit. Over time, my intelligence increased more and more, and I eventually learned to take on different forms. The one you see before you was the one I preferred most. I kept my silver hair and changed by eyes to gold in honor of my mother. The blue markings,” he trailed off, his clawed fingers brushing one of his cheeks. “Were for Misako. It was her favorite color.”
He looked at his son, noting his thoughtful expression. It may not have been noticeable to anyone else, but he could see a tinge of confusion there as well.
“There is a reason I shared this with you tonight Sesshoumaru.” DaiGin said after a moment. “I had never shared it before, because… honestly I was ashamed. I was ashamed of my humble origins, I was ashamed that I had failed to protect both of the females I had loved. I attempted to leave that life behind and sought power in all its forms. I had the Tetsuaiga and the Tensega forged so that I would possess power over both life and death. I had fully intended to slaughter any who made themselves my enemies, and protect any that I considered my own. Never again did I wish to feel the pain of loosing one I loved, not even to death.” His expression became more intense. “Other youkai believed that my affinity for humans was a sign of weakness, but really, it was just a manifestation of humility. How could I, a creature who was born a mortal dog, look down upon the humans?”
The general turned away, the silvery moon bathing his already ethereal form. A soft breeze lifted his silvery tresses and his eyes closed languidly. “Misako changed me in more ways than you can even imagine.” he said softly. “When she died… I had never expected to see her again…” the general trailed off, his eyes opening just a little.
Sesshoumaru felt his brows crease ever so slightly. There was something his father was not telling him and he wanted to know what it was. “What do you mean? Are you telling me that you saw her again? After she had died?” he asked, his voice low and slightly wary.
“Yes,” DaiGin asked, noting the faint surprise in his son’s eyes. “I did see her again. It was many years later, but I would have recognized her anywhere. Her name was different. So were her eyes. But her soul was the same. I think… in a strange way, she recognized me too, even before I told her my name.”
Sesshoumaru’s frown deepened.
“She had been reincarnated. When I finally found her again… her name was Izayoi.”
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*A quick note on DaiGin’s name. When I had decided on that name for him a little while back, I had believed that “Dai” meant something akin to great in Japanese. However, the online Japanese dictionary that I checked out recently did not seem to agree. Please note, that even if I got it wrong, which it seems I may have, that was the intended meaning.
Aside from that, I’m not really sure I like how this chapter turned out. Also, if it seems like I went a little off course, don’t worry. I’ll tie it all back together again. And lastly, Kagome will be written into the story very soon. She should be arriving in the next chapter.
Hope you all enjoyed and please review.
A Riveting Tale
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Frozen where he sat across from his estranged sire, Sesshoumaru stared at the elder inu, disbelief evident in the slight widening of his eyes and the faint laxity of his jaw.
“That is…” he began, clearly not wanting to believe his father’s words, “That is not possible.”
DaiGin looked at him then, his features conveying a rigidity which was threaded through with a thin, shining thread of melancholy. “I assure you it is.” he stated rigidly, almost as if daring the pup to refute him further.
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Born to a stray bitch many centuries ago, DaiGin had been one of three pups. Like most dogs whose pact instinct had weakened over the centuries, mostly due to the interference of humans and their selective breeding, DaiGin’s father abandoned the mother soon after mating, the animal’s intent to sire as many pups as it could while the females were still in season.
Times were difficult, and DaiGin’s lone, emaciated parent faced many difficulties in caring for her progeny, losing all to illness or starvation save for one. Shortly after he was weaned, the pup would loose his last remaining family.
One day, late in the cool season before the snow would fall, a human child from one of the villages they had been passing through had dropped some insignificant scrap of food. His stomach cramped and empty, DaiGin immediately ran over to collect it from the ground, gobbling it up without thought as he sought to soothe the pain of hunger. Angered, the child had kicked the pup and his mother immediately came to his defense.
As punishment for nipping the boy’s finger in defense of her only remaining pup, DaiGin’s mother was beaten by several of the villagers. She just barely managed to escape, grabbing her son by the scruff of his neck and beating as hasty a retreat as her failing body would allow. She managed to find shelter for them in the form of an abandoned, dilapidated old hut before she finally succumbed to her injuries.
He had been so young and did not understand.
When his siblings had died, he had been even younger still; far too young to remember. By the time his mother perished, his memory held recollections of only himself and her. When he awoke the next day, he fully expected to see her golden eyes staring at him as they had done every morning he could recall. Each night she would curl herself around him, share her warmth and when they woke the next day, she would go out and attempt to find food for them. But this morning, she did not share her warmth. Her eyes were closed, her form unnervingly still. There was a thin, dried stream of blood that had run from her nose, down past the seam of her mouth, and had pooled and dried on the dusty old floor. He thought to wake her, but she refused to budge. His desperate cries of fear and uncertainty would go unheeded this day while the tender prodding of his nose would yield no response as he carefully, and unsuccessfully tried to rouse her.
Though his understanding of the world around him was limited, DaiGin understood that something very bad had happened; something that would change his life forever. Still, he did not wish to accept the reality of his changed, and now increasingly dire situation and so he stayed with the remains of his mother for a long time before he finally accepted the fact that she would never wake again. It had been difficult to leave her behind, but the need to nourish his small, frail body had forced him to move on.
Against all odds, he managed to survive the winter, stealing when he dared, begging when he could, and hunting when there was available prey. Though the warmer seasons tended to yield better times, it was still difficult, and because the humans were spreading and clearing forest to build their villages, prey was sometimes difficult to come by.
In some ways, the humans were truly the bane of his existence yet ironically, it was they who, (willingly or otherwise) helped provide his means of survival.
Late in the summer, when he was just reaching the cusp of adulthood, DaiGin had been warily keeping watch on one of the stands in the marketplace. There was dried meat there, and experience told him that a combination of both patience and speed would allow him to ease the cramps in his belly, if only the opportunity would present itself. He knew to keep a certain distance as the humans would attempt to chase him off if he got too close too quickly, and so he stayed back, literally laid low, watched and waited.
He fell into a light doze, drifting just on the edge of dreams before something caught his attention and he woke with a start. Sitting up, his eyes wide and alert, his attention was turned to the stand. A girl was standing there. His eyes focused just in time to see her place a large bundle in her basket. She was laughing, an intriguing, bell-like sound that caused him to tilt his head in mild wonder. She turned away from the merchant to be on her way, but before she took to steps, her eyes landed on him. She paused, eyeing him interestedly before smiling and slowly walking away. Intrigued by her reaction, as most humans seemed to look at him with little more than pity, wariness or disgust, DaiGin followed her. Perhaps she would drop a scrap of food for him.
His experience with humans had not always been pleasant, so the creature remained cautious, following at a distance as the girl presumably made her way home. Occasionally, she would glance over her shoulder causing DaiGin to pause, but would then turn back to her path, seemingly unconcerned of his continued presence.
Eventually, she came to a tiny hut, flipped the straw panel aside and disappeared behind it. Uncertain as to what to do next, the creature seated itself a few yards away, wondering if the girl would return. She did so within a few moments, a smile on her face and her hands hidden behind her back. DaiGin was on the brink of withdrawing when the girl kneeled to the ground and tossed something in his direction. He immediately jumped back, a low growl escaping as he bared his sharp teeth. It was only seconds later when he realized that the girl was not attacking him, but that she had dropped a piece of the dried meat she had procured at the market.
His body low to the ground, he inched forward, his muscles tense and ready to propel him into action if the girl made any sudden movements. She didn’t and instead watched him just as he watched her. When he was close enough, DaiGin grabbed the meat and gobbled it down without ceremony. Smiling, the girl made no sound and instead threw a second piece, this one a bit closer to where she kneeled on the ground. The dog remained cautious but finally moved forward when the smell of the delicious food became too much to resist. Again, he grabbed the scrap of meat and swallowed it down quickly, greedily licking his muzzle after the food was gone. He was close enough to smell the girl now and he absently noted that, as far as humans went, her scent was mildly calming.
Moving very slowly, almost as if to keep from startling him, the girl produced a final piece of meat, though this time, she did not let it go. Instead, she extended her hand to him, the meat still clasped between her thin little fingers. His nose twitching, DaiGin carefully inched forward yet again. He snatched the meat away, but instead of retreating, he remained where he was, chewing hungrily before swallowing it all in one big gulp. The girl reached out, and the dog revealed his fangs, growling low in warning. The girl pressed on anyway, the tips of her delicate fingers brushing the top of his head. He quieted and the girl became more bold, stroking the tip of his head with her entire palm before delicately scratching behind his ear.
***
Her name was Misako. She was just sixteen years of age and until she found him, she’d been living all alone. Her father and brother had been conscripted into the army years ago, and just like the dog she’d taken in, Misako had lost her mother prematurely. “She had been very sick.” the girl had explained to him, her eyes watery with unshed tears. “It was almost a relief when she died. You can’t imagine how hard it is to watch someone suffer like that.”
The girl’s resources were greatly limited, but somehow she managed to feed them each day. In exchange for his companionship, she shared her meager space and possessions, even giving him an equal share of her food. There was little doubt that Misako improved his life immensely and for that, DaiGin was immensely grateful, so grateful in fact, that he would wear the name she’d given him even into his second life.
The girl began to care for him even from the first day, feeding him and petting him yet still allowing him time and space to get used to her. When she decided that he was comfortable enough to allow it, Misako finally gave him a much needed bath. She scrubbed away layers upon layers of dirt and grim to reveal the shimmering silver coat that had hidden beneath. She’d gasped in awe, her eyes becoming bright with wonder as she ran her fingers through the thick, silvery masses. “Who knew you had such beautiful fur beneath all that dirt?” she asked rhetorically. “It is so lovely!” She’d stared at him for a long time after that and then finally said, “I think… I think I will call you DaiGin. (Great-Silver)*
DaiGin had licked the palm of her hand, and she’d smiled at him.
***
For twelve years, DaiGin stayed together with the human female called Misako, and for much of that time things were good. She fed, bathed, and cared for him regularly, and his imposing size and protective nature kept her safe from any who otherwise would have thought to harm her. During that time, the small village in which they lived was relatively safe and demon attacks never seemed to reach them. But, as the calm precedes the storm, things would not remain as such indefinitely.
One fateful night, a gang of brigands stormed their tiny village. Having heard the commotion nearly as soon as it began, DaiGin immediately went to Misako, carefully licking her cheek and prodding her with his paw in order to wake her. He realized that it might be necessary to flee, and decided that she would be better prepared to do so if she were already awake.
Peeling her eyes open, the young woman asked, too loudly what was going on. DaiGin growled low, a sound she’d come to recognize as a warning, and she immediately stilled, her gaze moving toward the door in response to him doing the same.
“What’s happening?” she whispered quietly, and the dog next to her emitted another low growl. At a particularly loud crash and the sound of a woman screaming, Misako started violently, wrapping her arms around the great creatures neck in an effort to feel safe. “They’ll find us!” she whispered fiercely. “We should run away.”
But DaiGin growled again, his muscles tense while his dark eyes stared unerringly at the straw panel door. Instinct told him that for now it was better to stay as they were. If they ran, they would only draw more attention to themselves.
Unfortunately, movement on their part was not necessary as, with little warning, the straw flap was ripped violently from its place over the door and several men thundered inside. Misako and DaiGin hid together in one of the dark corners, hoping against hope that the men would leave without spotting them. They searched the tiny hut for anything of value, carelessly throwing things aside, unconcerned of the meager possessions they destroyed in their wake. They were about to leave when one of the men spotted something, its light color standing out against the darkness.
“Hey, what is that?!” he asked, drawing the attention of the others. They turned back from the door, their eyes searching the corner.
Hoping to buy Misako some time, DaiGin darted forward, barking loudly as he attempted to run them away. Initially surprised by his presence, the men were no less undeterred by the large but heavily aged dog. As is the way of all things mortal, time had taken its toll on the creature, though his protective nature remained firmly in tact. He lunged at the men, one after another, but they knew he could not get them all at once. They scattered about in the small enclosure, one acting as a decoy while the others stood off to the side and behind him.
Suddenly, one of the burlier men jumped on him, his muscular arm snaking around the dog’s neck as he used his weight to press him into the floor. Misako, who had not taken the opportunity to flee, shrieked as one of the men found a tattered old cushion and pressed it forcefully against the dog’s face.
“Stop!!” she cried desperately, and for the briefest of moments DaiGin felt the tips of her fingers brush against one of his hind legs.
“Where the hell did she come from?!” one of the men yelled.
“Who cares!” countered another, “Grab her!” he demanded, and a vicious snarl ripped from the dog’s throat. He struggled to escape but his aged body was little match against the combined strength of the men.
“You’re a pretty little thing.” one of the men told Misako, and DaiGin instantly renewed his struggles. Air was becoming more and more difficult to come by, but the dog wanted nothing more than to keep the men away from the woman who had so generously shared her love and her home with him, never once expecting anything in return.
“Please!!” Misako cried and he could hear her voice wavering with emotion. “Please don’t hurt my dog! I don’t have anything of value, but…” she whimpered and another low growl escaped the dog, though it was weaker now as his body was gradually succumbing to the lack of air. “I’ll do whatever you want. Just… just let him go! Please!”
But the men did not. Instead, they pointed out the fact that she was not in a position to negotiate and maintained their position.
Already blinded by the cushion that was still so fixedly held against him, DaiGin felt his body seeping into a darkness that was unlike anything he had ever known. He wanted to fight, wanted to rip and bite and claw and shred the flesh of the men that dared to invade his home and threaten the only creature he loved, but sadly, he could not. The men were still holding him down, depriving him of mobility and air. His strength was beginning to fade.
Like echoes down a long corridor, Misako’s voice was beginning to fade. He wanted… so desperately to go to her; to wrap himself around her… to keep her safe.
As the life faded from his great and once powerful body, the last thing he heard were the taunts from the men; their lascivious words, haughty laughter, and the rending of fabric.
…Misako’s clothes.
He could hear her voice. She was crying; pleading…
…Not for her own life… but for his.
***
Suddenly it was very warm, and there was the sensation of floating on heated waters. Fathomless darkness was all around this place, together with the haunting sound of nothingness. There was no pain, no movement, no anything. Rest beaconed him… so tired. And then, there were voices; quiet, echoing voices chattering among themselves. What were they saying? It seemed… that they wanted him to come with them. Perhaps he should go.
No, wait. He should stay. There was something… something important that he should be remembering right now. Like a strip of parchment caught in the updraft, the memory floated away from him, always remaining just inches from his grasp.
Then, a feminine voice. Who is that? So… familiar. ‘I know her… I think… I think she needs me! I have to help her!’
‘Misako!’
‘Where is she?! Must find her! They’ll hurt her if I don’t!’
But those voices, they were calling to him again. Their words, even their voices were indistinct, but the promise they made was clear.
Come. Rest. Do not fight anymore.
He felt himself slipping, falling, surrendering to the seductive call of sleep.
‘DaiGin!!’
He started at that, the need to rest temporarily loosing its hold. ‘Misako!! Can’t leave her! Can’t!’
But he couldn’t move, couldn’t get to her. What was happening? Something was pulling him now, draining what little strength he had left. The soft, tempting calls were all but absent now, and the pull against his soul was all consuming. Resisting their efforts was difficult, even painful, but his resolve was a pillar of stone. He couldn’t leave her. He just couldn’t!
And so, DaiGin dug his metaphorical claws into the earth and resisted the pallbearers of the underworld. They tried to beguile him with the promise of rest, tried to lure him with temptations of happiness and peace. When that failed, the dug their miniscule talons in and pulled for all that they were worth.
The dog refused to go with them and eventually their power faded. This night, they would return to the underworld empty handed.
Misako needed him. He could not let her down, could not leave her behind.
__________________________________________________________ ______________
“My spirit clung to that place, refusing to leave the maiden behind. At the time I had not realized that she was already dead.” The general sighed inaudibly, his voice sounding far away.
“Even now, I do not fully understand what happened or how, but I gradually became more and more aware of the world around me. My sight slowly returned, I regained mobility and feeling as my form grew more and more solid.”
“Apparently, the transformation took many years. Eventually, I regained my former appearance, though my awareness and understanding of the world was somewhat more acute. By the time that happened, the tiny hut I had shared with Misako was little more than a pile of rotted wood. I found her bones in the rubble.”
Sesshoumaru studied his father noting the distant look in his eyes as the memories washed over him. Then, without warning, the great inu looked at him, his expression clear of emotion as he began to speak again.
“I was a spirit that roamed the earth.” he said softly. “A living, breathing spirit. Over time, my intelligence increased more and more, and I eventually learned to take on different forms. The one you see before you was the one I preferred most. I kept my silver hair and changed by eyes to gold in honor of my mother. The blue markings,” he trailed off, his clawed fingers brushing one of his cheeks. “Were for Misako. It was her favorite color.”
He looked at his son, noting his thoughtful expression. It may not have been noticeable to anyone else, but he could see a tinge of confusion there as well.
“There is a reason I shared this with you tonight Sesshoumaru.” DaiGin said after a moment. “I had never shared it before, because… honestly I was ashamed. I was ashamed of my humble origins, I was ashamed that I had failed to protect both of the females I had loved. I attempted to leave that life behind and sought power in all its forms. I had the Tetsuaiga and the Tensega forged so that I would possess power over both life and death. I had fully intended to slaughter any who made themselves my enemies, and protect any that I considered my own. Never again did I wish to feel the pain of loosing one I loved, not even to death.” His expression became more intense. “Other youkai believed that my affinity for humans was a sign of weakness, but really, it was just a manifestation of humility. How could I, a creature who was born a mortal dog, look down upon the humans?”
The general turned away, the silvery moon bathing his already ethereal form. A soft breeze lifted his silvery tresses and his eyes closed languidly. “Misako changed me in more ways than you can even imagine.” he said softly. “When she died… I had never expected to see her again…” the general trailed off, his eyes opening just a little.
Sesshoumaru felt his brows crease ever so slightly. There was something his father was not telling him and he wanted to know what it was. “What do you mean? Are you telling me that you saw her again? After she had died?” he asked, his voice low and slightly wary.
“Yes,” DaiGin asked, noting the faint surprise in his son’s eyes. “I did see her again. It was many years later, but I would have recognized her anywhere. Her name was different. So were her eyes. But her soul was the same. I think… in a strange way, she recognized me too, even before I told her my name.”
Sesshoumaru’s frown deepened.
“She had been reincarnated. When I finally found her again… her name was Izayoi.”
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*A quick note on DaiGin’s name. When I had decided on that name for him a little while back, I had believed that “Dai” meant something akin to great in Japanese. However, the online Japanese dictionary that I checked out recently did not seem to agree. Please note, that even if I got it wrong, which it seems I may have, that was the intended meaning.
Aside from that, I’m not really sure I like how this chapter turned out. Also, if it seems like I went a little off course, don’t worry. I’ll tie it all back together again. And lastly, Kagome will be written into the story very soon. She should be arriving in the next chapter.
Hope you all enjoyed and please review.