InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Angel ❯ The King ( Chapter 79 )

Chapter Seventy-Nine:

The King

Sesshomaru surveyed his handy work, irritation creeping up his spine. This King Randolph had the gall to send these weaklings to him, to threaten his family, to challenge him openly.

He turned.

Rikimaru was gazing at him in awe, while his mate looked concerned.

That look heightened his ire. Upsetting his mate, for that alone the clown with a crown would pay.

“Sesshomaru-”

“You have naught to worry about,” he assured her before she could verbalize her worry, “Take Rikimaru inside, I will return shortly,”

“Somebody's going to get it,” Rikimaru tittered as mother ushered him inside.

“Alright, little man,” Kagome scolded, “Inside,”

At the sound of the door closing, Sesshomaru erected a barrier around their home. Pushing energy to his feet, he summoned his demonic cloud and took to the skies. Amber eyes gleamed in excited seriousness.

He couldn't be too upset with the way things had turned out.

The king had provided him the perfect platform to slaughter him and his men. An opportunity too good to pass up.

The wind blowing against him cooled the blood staining his shirt.

Nose scrunched in distaste, he removed the bloody garment. He'd probably get an ear full from Kagome later. His lips curled in amusement at the thought.

Worth it.

A familiar whistle in the air brought his attention to his current objective.

Golden eyes narrowed at the spattering of archers station on the ground and in various advantageous areas atop the castle. Hand gripping his Tokijin, Sesshomaru launched himself to the ground, archers in sight. With a sweep of his arm, a dark blast of energy decimated the faction, leaving a crater and thick black smoke in it's wake.

People began to scream, soldiers scattering and yelling orders.

An upturn of his lips sent people running for cover. Heavily armored men burst from the castle doors, metal gleaming.

“Halt demon!” the leader cried.

The snap of the poisonous whip was thunderous and precise. Screams of fear and terror filled the air as the metal clad head of the leader crashed to the ground, spewing blood on those unfortunate enough to be standing close to the beheaded male.

Dropping their weapons, the soldier ran, calling out the danger to the inhabitants of the castle.

Sesshomaru moved slowly to the large doors.

He took pleasure in the crack of bone and metal beneath his booted feet as he advanced.

He reached the tightly locked doors.

Lifting a hand, he held out his palm and blasted the doors open. Soldiers, no doubt having been pressing the door closed, lay in a painful heap on the ground, groaning in pain.

Reaching down, he scooped one up by the neck.

The male in his hand grimaced, kicking weakly, hands pulling desperately at the claws cutting off his air supply.

“Where is your king?” Sesshomaru questioned.

“B-below the castle in a secret safe room,”

Sesshomaru smirked.

“And where would I find this room?”

“Underneath the throne room, that's all I know, I swear!”

Sesshomaru tossed the man over his shoulder. Ahead of him, there were two winding stair cases leading up, below and between the stair case, were two opposing looking doors.

Sesshomaru moved to the doors, ripping them off their hinges.

A tall throne sat against the far wall, deep red carpet leading up to the dais in which it sat. The chair was made of gold and was decorated in exorbitant jewels. A plush red cushion formed the seat and head rest.

A seat truly crafted for royalty.

Sharp golden eyes took in the room, looking for any inconsistencies that would point him in the direction of the elusive safe room.

Quickly becoming bored with the search, he settled for blowing a hole in the ground.

It gave way, crumbling stone caving in to the large room beneath. Gold, silver, silks and a bloated coward with a crown awaited him as he drifted slowly into the hole. He made short work of the two `elite' guards foolish enough to challenge him as he moved closer.

The king held out chubby hands, sweating and trembling, his gleaming crown askew.

“W-wait!” he cried, “I can give you gold and riches beyond your wildest dreams,”

A silver brow rose.

King Randolph, mistaking the expression for interest, stood to his demure five foot three, confident he could bring this male to his side.

Sesshomaru watched the sweating human with amusement.

“Join me,” he invited, “I'll make you rich, your family will never have to work again, I'll-”

Sesshomaru chuckled.

Randolph scowled at the sound, holding onto his temper.

`Insolent mutt,'

“I'm very wealthy,” he boasted, “This isn't a joke!”

Sesshomaru shrugged.

“You have nothing that interests me, human. However, you have greatly insulted this Sesshomaru,” he informed the sweaty male, amusement fading, “You dare to threaten my family, an action alone deserving of death, now you stand here, offering pitiful trinkets in appeasement,”

King Randolph stumbled back in fear, crown tumbling from his head, revealing greasy hair and a thinning hairline.

“You should be on your knees begging forgiveness, human,” Sesshomaru said, eyes narrowing.

Quivering, the king crawled backwards away from him.

“P-please...” he began in a shaky voice, “Forgive me! I...I...”

He trailed off, knees shaking. His thick neck reddened as warm liquid pooled below his bottom.

Sesshomaru's expression twisted in distaste. Poison blazed at his finger tips.

“You are worthless,” he proclaimed softly, hand raised.

“No-”

Blood splatted as the king's head rolled, fleshy face contorted in horror. With a flick of his hair, Sesshomaru turned, making his way from the gaping hole. He ignored the fearful whispers and gasps as he passed by.

By the time he formed his demonic cheers had erupted. Sesshomaru disappeared as the people celebrated the demise of an oppressive king.

~~~~~~~~~

Kagome watched her bloody mate as he landed. She shook her head at the ruined pants and missing shirt.

“Honestly Sesshomaru, have you ever heard of diplomacy?” she questioned, “Not everything has to be death, blood and guts,”

Sesshomaru smirked, walking up to his mate in amusement.

“This Sesshomaru will tolerate no threat to his family, no challenge to his power-”

“And no problem to be solved peacefully,” she finished.

“I will not deny it,”

Kagome sighed in exasperation. Sesshomaru was Sesshomaru.

Geez.

“Father, tell me, did you kill the king?” Rikimaru asked, bursting with excitement.

Father and son made their way to the river to wash up as Sesshomaru began his gruesome tale. Kagome shook her head, hoping this would be the last of the trouble with the king out of the way.

The next morning, Kagome slapped her forehead in exasperation at the soldiers heading to their door step.

Apparently, the trouble wasn't over.

Sesshomaru watched the soldiers approach, agitation clear on his face.

Kagome was sure this time, he'd not leave anyone alive this time around.

“Have I not made myself clear?” Sesshomaru questioned softly, arms crossed, “Or do you wish to join your king?”

Fear permeated the small band of soldiers. The male in charge moved forward hesitantly, the king's crown in his hand. To Kagome's surprised, the male knelt on one knee and held the gleaming gold out to her mate.

“You have slain the king and set this region free from tyranny. We the people, formally request you accept this crown and ascend the throne as king of this land,”

Kagome gasped.

Rikimaru watched the exchange with wide eyes.

~~~~~~~~~

Sango cuddled her daughter close, smiling at the giggle that emitted from the baby.

“Who's a good girl,” she cooed, “Who's a pretty girl?”

Shusui moved over to the pair, a smile on her face.

“So cute,” Shusui murmured.

She set the table for tea and took a seat across from mother and daughter. She poured tea for them both, helping herself to a flaky pastry.

“You're a natural,” Shusui commented.

“Not really,” Sango laughed, “It took a while for her to take to me. For the first few weeks, she only quieted when Miroku held her,”

Sango rolled her eyes. Shusui giggled behind her hand.

“Always the lady's man, ne?”

“Don't let him hear that,”

“Let me hear what?” Miroku questioned, strolling into the room.

Sango sighed as he scooped his daughter from her arms and cuddled her against his chest.

“Did you miss me my darling Mira?” he crooned, giving the child a loud smacking kiss.

The baby laughed, brown eyes alight with mirth and devotion. Had her daughter not been so happy to see her goofy father, Sango might have been jealous at their relationship.

As Miroku babbled nonsense to their daughter, her heart melted.

How could she be jealous when she watched them together?

Miroku danced with his daughter in his arms. The two happy and cheerful as they waltzed.

Sango felt her brow twitch.

However, it was her time with Mira!

A sly expression unfurled across her face.

“Oi, Miroku, I didn't know you finished your work so soon,”

Miroku halted abruptly, looking nervously over at his wife.

“Uh, well you see uh,”

“Skipping work again hmmm, not sure General Haku would approve,”

“Sango surely you can understand my dilemma! Nine to ten hours away from my beloved daughter with only a brief lunch break to hold her! It's torture, inhumane!”

Both women raised an unbelieving brow.

“It's true!” Miroku pouted, “he has no understanding of family and fatherhood,”

“I think General Haku has been more than lenient. You work only tree days a week since Mira's birth,”

“And still it is torture I tell you!”

Sango stood, arms out.

“Hand her over,”

“But Sangoooooo,”

Sango glared.

Miroku sighed, hanging his head. He gazed down at his lovely daughter.

“Well my little darling, seems daddy has to go back to work,”

Mira frowned, sensing her father's grave tone.

“I know, and I like it little more than you do,” he told the child.

Her dark brows lifted.

“I know, and I told her that you should come to work with me, but mommy says a stuffy old study is no place for a baby,”

Sango took the baby from his arms, impatient with the whole monologue. The foolish male claimed to be a baby whisperer, communicating on a level with their daughter that Sango could never hope to understand.

Honestly, sometimes Sango was inclined to believe him sometimes. He was unbelievably good with their daughter and seemed to anticipate her needs better than her mother.

The doors opened and an ominous aura filled the room.

“Oh dear,” Shusui murmured.

“Mirrrrooookkkuuuuu,” Haku growled.

Miroku hid behind his wife and child.

“General, I was just headed back. Let us walk back together,”

The women watched in amusement as the irritated youkai walked over, grabbed the cowering human by the ear and dragged him towards the door. At the door, he turned, bowing slightly.

“Ladies,” he acknowledged, before dragging the protesting man out the door and down the hall.

Sango sighed, rocking her daughter. The small child had reached out a chubby hand towards the door, gurgling after her departed father.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bushes rustled, a twig snapped.

Brown eyes narrowing, Rykotsu stood from the log he had been sitting on. Tossing the lifeless body from his lap and drawing his sword, he moved towards the disturbance.

“Show yourself, I know you're there,” he informed the unknown intruder.

Fresh from a kill and tired, Rykotsu had no patience for any do gooders foolish enough to attempt to apprehend him for his various and gruesome crimes.

The brush rustled again and out stumbled a tall, fierce looking tiger youkai.

Rykotsu squinted against the darkness.

That male, he seemed familiar.

“It's been a while, General,” the male said.

“Who are you?”

The male straightened, orange hair shifting.

“Elder Torao,”

Surprised, Rykotsu sheathed his sword.

“What business have you with me?” he questioned.

“I have message for you, from a comrade of yours,”

Brown eyes narrowed.

“My comrades are dead, what game do you play old man,”

Yellow eyes contracted at the blatant disrespect. Rykotsu flared his aura in irritation, not surprised when aggressive energy pushed back. The old tiger was not a favorite of his. The male was clearly up to no good, had always been up to no good. Funny coming from someone like him, but true none the less.

He'd been a thorn in the side of the Northern and Western lands from behind the scenes for as long as he could remember.

Though he'd rarely been in contact personally with the male.

“I play no games, whelp, this message comes from Vishious' sire himself,” he announced, arms crossing, “Seems junior is not happy in hell and has asked daddy to pull some strings,”

Definitely irritated, Rykotsu return to his seat on the log near his fire.

That damn father of his.

He hadn't thought the old bastard would care about his son enough to try and assist him in revival. It was a twist he had counted on never happening.

Damn that bastard Vishious.

His life was destroyed, his daughter hated him, what more was there to extract from him? Could the stubborn dragon not stay dead and buried? He had no damn desire to be tied up in intrigue. He wanted nothing more than to continue his endless wandering and fade into obscurity, dreaming of the days he'd spent as a General of the Northern lands.

“Should I inform him that you do not wish to hear his humble request,”

Humble indeed.

Rykotsu couldn't refuse the male. He'd damn him to an endless eternity of horrors beyond even his comprehension. His eyes wander over the old demon.

“You seem to be surprising close to him to be delivering personal messages,” brown eyes sharpened, “What ties have you with that despicable creature I wonder,”

Torao growled low, angered at having his own situation laid bare.

Rykotsu threw back his head and laughed, loud, belly roars that grated on the old tiger's ears. The sound was mocking and knowing.

“Got yourself caught up in one of his famous contracts have you?” Rykotsu questioned, eyes alive with mirth.

Abruptly, the amusement ended, Rykotsu's face contorting into disgust.

“How weak and disgraceful,” he said softly, “tell me, was the end result worth the price?”

Torao snarled, blasting the tree near Rykotsu's head. The other male didn't flinch, mirth returning.

“Ahhh, didn't read the fine print as careful as you should have did you?” he chuckled, “What a joke,”

“Had he no use for you, I'd rend your bones to dust,” Torao snarled.

Rykotsu's lips turned down.

“Pathetic,” he nettled further.

Clawed hands gripped his throat, lifting in the air. Rykotsu stared down at the enraged elder, expression bored.

“He has commanded that you take steps to open the gates of hell that he and his spawn may walk the earth,” Torao growled, eyes bleeding red, “Ignore his command at your own risk,”

Torao released the male and turned, agitation in each step. Rykotsu tumbled to the grown, laughing up at the dark skies.

“He will damn us all, you know that right?” he questioned as his chuckles died out.

Torao turned, snarl present.

“I am already damned,” he informed the prone male, “Bringing others with me is the only thing that will satisfy me now,”

Rykotsu listened as his steps faded.

Vishious' father, the king of hell, here, walking this earth. It was enough to drive a crazed male into further madness.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Are you fucking serious?!” Haku exclaimed, nearly falling out of his chair.

“Would I joke about something like that?” Shiro demanded.

“They're seriously going to make Sesshomaru king?”

“What did I just say idiot?” Shiro burst impatiently, “That's what word around town is. Can you blame them? Did you see the state he left the castle in? The ruthlessness in which he dispatched the king and his opposition? In a single day he did what we've struggled to do for years, who wouldn't want to follow such a demon,”

“But nobody knows anything about him! He could be just as bad as Randolph was, and with his strength that could be disastrous,”

Shiro ran his clawed hand through his hair.

“You're not telling me anything I don't know,”

“It's not a set deal yet,” Jikininki injected, “There's no guarantee he'll accept. The little we know about him, he seems content to live peacefully with his family in isolation,”

Shiro leaned back in his chair.

This wasn't something they'd expected. There'd been an on going discussion about who should take over the throne. Randolph had no successors, no heirs. The crown was practically up for grabs.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Getting close to wrapping this up, I'm bursting with excitement for my new projects. Let me know what you guys think of the chapter!

Laters

~Sessakag