InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Estas Tempestas – Summer Storm ❯ Regius – Royal ( Chapter 2 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Disclaimer: InuYasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi and I take no credit for any of the original characters and story line from the manga and anime. I do, however, own the rights to the finer details of this story plot and original characters designed for the purpose of the story.
 
So, you guys might be wondering what the title and the chapter names come from. They're Latin… because I can and did. There will be no further explanation of my reasoning. ^.~ Also, Kagome is eighteen going on nineteen in the next month, so technically its only been three years and ten-ish months, but I rounded up. Sorry if I confused anybody paying attention to the math I used. In the future there will be an attempt to update about every other week if classes don't kill me. - X.xVictorianXRosex.X
 
Chapter II : Regius- Royal
 
The clear sky glowed bright blue as the white blur streaked through the cloudless horizon. Below him, Sesshomaru saw nothing, but calm green fields. Some humans walked carelessly across the grass covered ground toward their villages, animals hid in the shade of trees; nothing. There was simply nothing out of the ordinary as he observed the last of his lands leading up to his castle. It seemed wrong in a sense compared to the abnormalities along the border.
 
The Lord of the Western Lands did not believe in coincidence, things happened for a reason; thus why he found the inconsistency with the disarray at the border and lack of perpetrator so hard to put together. Along with the lack of the issue spreading he could smell a scheme brewing.
 
Since Naraku had come into being, in the last fifty or so years, few large threats had shown themselves. Understandable, weak demons rarely put their pathetic existence at risk. But now, now there was something larger at play. Something that was not Naraku. There was not only no scent of the despicable hanyou, but when Naraku played with other people's affairs he never did anything so straight forward and brazen. He was well known to all his enemies for his extensive plots, use of other's resources, and toying around with the ridiculous golems of his.
 
The border had been a mess. But yet the inner villages were calm, well as calm as to be expected when the humans were conducting smaller civil wars amongst themselves. Still, this was inconsistent with the normal pattern of invasions, wars, even personal vendettas. These things were unplanned in their consequences, if bystanders were hurt, to hell with how many there were. At least that was how perpetrators seemed to think. There was something more going on here.
 
Only small outbreaks of violence and chaos along the border, they were contained also. This was bait; he just wasn't sure as to the extent. There were only so many paths that the Western Lord could take. And of those options only one seemed logical. He would have to call upon allies, all allies.
 
The orb of light began to dissolve into the mighty lord himself upon a magnificent cloud billowing from his robes, dusted in the sparks of his demonic power. The image of the imposing lord stood out against the sky. Sleek strands of silver hair swept behind his form as he flew fast toward the Western palace. Bright white and blood red emblazed against the azure sky, the signature colors of the West. As he flashed across the heavens he contemplated the distasteful predicament he had been placed in.
 
He must reconcile with his brother for the sake of the Western Land's safety, no matter how repugnant it may seem. Being broken was always a weakness that must be avoided, even when it involved reconnecting with his ruffian brother.
 
The palace came into view above the vast forests that carpeted the area around it; imposing and beautiful at the same time, the very essence of the Inu Clan's power. It was seated upon a great hill near a steadily flowing stream. The complex stretched from the base of the hill, where a thicket of trees separated a field from the river, to the top of the hill where the ground leveled out onto a plateau where the forest and mountains rose up behind it. It was made up of hundreds of tradition Japanese castle suites and buildings surrounded by a fortress wall, serving as both an extravagant palace and military citadel.
 
Sesshomaru made his smooth touchdown in the wide open courtyard at the main gate. He was greeted by dozens of servants and vassals.
 
“Sire, welcome back.” The collective group took a deep bow.
 
“Milord, how may I be of assistance now that you have returned from scouting your lands?” Jaken came forward in all his green hided glory, slightly off balance from the permanent fixture of the staff of two heads on his shoulder.
 
“Ah, Jaken. This Sesshomaru requires an update of the castle since I have been away, an audience with father's old retainer Myoga, and for you to collect the children from where I saw them in the field collecting flowers.”
 
Not another word was offered as he continued into the castle with purpose. Half of the group flitted away to do his bidding while the remaining few followed as he ascended the steps into the palace.
 
 
 
“What do you mean that bastard summons me?!” InuYasha's voice echoed across the clearing as he glared down at the flea caught between his fingers.
 
“InuYasha, let Myoga go. “
 
“Yes, Lord InuYasha, don't do anything rash. I am simply the messenger.” Myoga wiggled around trying to free himself.
 
“I'll consider that when you explain why the bastard sent you to `summon' me.” He lifted the older youkai to his face.
 
Myoga took a large gulp and fiddled with his tiny thumbs. “Lord Sesshomaru has seen it fit to send for the only potential heir to Western Lands after himself. He believes you may need to fulfill your duty as such an heir in the near future.”
 
“What the fuck is that suppose to mean?!” The hanyou growled while squeezing the flea a little.
 
“InuYasha, sit!”
 
A light flashed around InuYasha's neck and sent him crashing into the ground. He groaned from where he was face planted in the grass. Taking the opportunity the retainer escaped to the open palm of the priestess. She smiled sweetly down at him.
 
“Now, Myoga, please tell us what Sesshomaru needs InuYasha for.”
 
“Lord Sesshomaru feels that there may be a new threat brewing, along with the threat from Naraku already growing stronger. He has asked for InuYasha to come and honor his duty to the West. He has also informed me to have your entire group come, more support and fewer liabilities for the West.” He explained sagely.
 
“That makes sense; does he request our presence immediately?” Miroku came up next to Kagome as he addressed Myoga.
 
“Yes, as quick as possible so he may brief you of the current situation before he calls upon the other allies.” The young monk nodded in understanding.
 
Kagome glanced over at the stationary hanyou. She could hear him grumbling into the ground during their exchange with the flea. While the actual heir was complaining about joining his brother all the others in the group seemed to be seriously considering the Lord's request. Miroku was giving her a small nod to tell her he wanted to discuss the idea and Sango was doing the same.
 
“Okay, Myoga, we'll discuss it, but I cannot guarantee anything. Please make yourself comfortable. This may take all night.” She replied to the old retainer.
 
 
 
“Lady Kagome, I believe that having Sesshomaru as an ally with be vital against Naraku and whatever this new threat is. After all, it would be naïve to think that our group would not be drawn into the conflict eventually. There sooner we prepare the better.” Miroku said from across the fire.
 
“I agree, Kagome. Even though I don't completely trust Sesshomaru, I can tell he is honor bound. He wouldn't go about summoning us like this for something as ridiculous as trapping us.”
 
Kagome looked at her friend and grimaced. The taijiya was right. Sesshomaru would never stoop so low to kill InuYasha. Maybe to collect information or gain something he considered to be rightfully his like Tetsusaiga, but not to kill them.
 
“I understand that, but InuYasha is so stubborn.”
 
“Lady Kagome, InuYasha's personal bias is purely emotional. At the moment he will not agree to go no matter what we say. It would be better to let him accept the inevitable after we are there.”
 
She glanced behind him off into the dark space of the forest. Making this decision behind his back was wrong. Whether or not he was happy about it they needed to hear Sesshomaru out. Giving him the benefit of the doubt was their responsibility as enemies of Naraku and InuYasha's as a son of the West.
 
“I agree that we need to her there, but I refuse to let it be under false pretenses. InuYasha deserves better. You guys discuss the journey to the Western palace with Myoga and I'll go and talk to InuYasha.” Kagome lifted herself from the damp ground and dusted off the back of her jeans.
 
“Very well, but be careful what you mention in order to persuade him to come. Lord InuYasha is sensitive about his childhood connections to the Western court.”
 
“I'll be careful Myoga. Be right back.”
 
Kagome started off into the thickly wooded area around their campsite. Behind her she could hear the mumbling of the monk, taijiya, and flea as they planned the trip to the West.
 
The dark night almost felt suffocating once the light from the fire began to disappear. She knew InuYasha wasn't too deep, he never was. If she continued for long enough he would find her. It gave her time to think about what Myoga had told her.
 
Although he had been vague there had been enough anxiety and urgency to make her nervous. If Sesshomaru was coming down from his high horse to ask allies and InuYasha for help it had to be dangerous. Heading to the palace would be smart for both their parties' safety and their future success. She wasn't a fool, just because he hadn't been a friend to them in the past didn't mean that she was going to call him an outright enemy.
 
“If you're here to tell me we need to go to that bastard's palace I'm telling you it's not happening.” A gruff voice filtered down to her from the trees.
 
“Come down and let's talk about this.”
 
“What if I don't wanna?” He huffed.
 
“I'll say `it' if you don't.” Her tone was final.
 
He dropped down in front of her instantly when he heard her threat. Leaves crunched noticeably and the new weight. There was a crease in his brow as he looked at her innocent expression.
 
“Fine, we'll talk. Doesn't mean we're going though.”
 
They walked through the trees to a stream, idly kicking at rocks as they went. Neither spoke for the moment, both thinking of how to properly present their arguments.
 
“I know that you and Sesshomaru have never gotten along. But even with him trying to steal Tetsusaiga before, he has never outright tried to kill you. We both know that he could destroy us if he truly wanted it.”
 
Kagome sat on an out cropping of rocks above the flow of the water. In the darkness a blue gleam was cast upon her form. She looked as serene and sincere as the words she spoke. InuYasha stood silently considering her. His best friend only ever had the best intentions, she may at times be frank and overly emotional but it didn't change the justice filled moral center of hers. Looking at her now just strengthened his belief that she would never lead him down the wrong path. Her judgment was always better than his.
 
“We really should go, InuYasha. This could be the difference between losing and winning when we fight Naraku.”
 
“Keh, there is no way Sesshomaru could possibly be in need of our help. He has never needed help in the two hundred years I have known him.” His voice became slightly rougher with emotion.
 
There was a rustle of cloth as he came and sat down beside her, his toes rippled the water. He sighed, long and slow. She glanced up at him through a curtain of raven hair. The expression on his face was solemn, so unlike the InuYasha she knew.
 
“InuYasha, just because he hasn't asked before doesn't mean that he doesn't need help now. I'm not saying you are going to instantly forgive him for everything he has done to you or that you'll begin to like him, but for the sake of everything we have faced over the last four years, please reconsider his request.”
 
 
“Fine, but if that ass puts one toe out of line I swear I rip him to shreds for good.”
 
 
Thank you for reading the second chapter. Please review, the more people encouraging me to write the better, and subscribe so you get notified at the next update.