InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Forgotten ❯ Destruction of Inuyokai no Shiro ( Chapter 15 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, Sesshomaru, or anyone from the hit anime/manga series Inuyasha. Rumiko Takahashi does. I do own all OC's in this story.

 

Chapter Fifteen: Destruction of Inuyokai no Shiro

 

179 years Before the Search for the Jewel Shards

 

My people said I was cold…

My people said I wouldn't care if anything happened to them or Tenji…

My people were wrong…

…and Kuromakaze knew it.

-Sesshomaru

 

Noriko sneered and said, “As little as you care about your people do try to keep them in mind as I voice my proposal.” Sesshomaru's eyes remained cold and expressionless despite the twisting in his stomach.

 

“For too long you have gone unwed. For too long you have gone without heir,” she continued, her voice soft at first but growing with every statement. “Your father died without seeing fit to even betroth you. And before you bring up that disgusting half-breed and her get maybe you should consider the fact that neither of them are dogs. The girl is simply unfit to rule should anything happen to you.”

 

Sesshomaru's golden eyes narrowed at the mention of his draconic daughter. He had only seen her a handful of times since Kaiyoshinju was entrusted with the Jewel of the Sea. Those few times were enough to realize that, though, Naomi was only one-forth dragon it still dominated her features and powers. The clan may have grudgingly accepted a three-quarters demon as heir but never a dragon! They had made that very clear after Naomi was formally presented a century ago.

 

A smile touched her lips and her blue eyes softened. “It would ease the clan's minds if you married and sired suitable heirs,” she said, her voice barely audible. Flames burned his blood hot, but he refused to voice what he knew she was about to propose.

 

She didn't disappoint him.

 

“Marry me, Sesshomaru. The clan will more than accept it. It will rekindle your family's lost loyalty in the hearts of your subjects.” She all but purred these words to the dog lord.

 

Silence filled the room for one long drawn out moment, then, in a low voice dripping with malice, Sesshomaru whispered, “You disgusted me long before Kaiyoshinju was anything other than a nuisance.” He raised his right hand, claws extended and glowing gold.

 

Sapphire eyes flashed red and Noriko growled, “If you don't consent now, I'll kill whoever is fool enough to still believe in you! One by one, they'll die before your eyes until you see sense and take me as your wife!”

 

Sesshomaru launched himself at the female; his golden energy whip stretching from his claws and flying toward her with a flick of his wrist. Noriko's eyes widened in alarm, she hadn't underestimated the speed of the assault, and then leapt back. The demon lord pressed forward, the narrowed eyes the only betrayal of his rage. The whip sliced the air and cracked against her chest, sending her crashing through the shoji.

 

The dog demon strode forward, claws raised, prepared to take the female's life. Noriko dragged herself across the hallway, teeth bared in defiance. When Sesshomaru stepped from his room in pursuit, her eyes glittered in triumph. The dog demon blinked, confused, then silver flashed in the corner of his eye. A balled fist smashed into his stomach and the demon lord doubled over. Another blow landed on the back of his head and he dropped to the floor.

 

Dazed, rough hands dragged Sesshomaru to his feet. A man, in armor with silver-white hair and sapphire eyes, raised a fist and smashed it into his jaw. Stars flashed before Sesshomaru's eyes. Somewhere in the back of his mind he realized Noriko must have had two of her brothers waiting in the hall in case there was trouble. One of them now crushed Sesshomaru's elbows as he held the demon lord up while the other drove another fist into his right eye.

 

“Stop!” commanded Noriko, a smirk splitting her face. She snatched his pale locks and pulled his face toward her, his right eye already beginning to swell shut. “Care to reconsider?” she asked. She brought her face closer until he felt the hot moist air of her breath on his ear. “I promise to be gentle,” she purred. The light touch of her claws on his throat sending involuntary shivers through his body and he inhaled sharply. He sensed more than saw her smile of victory.

 

He snapped at her and felt his teeth connect with skin, heard her hiss and tasted her blood on his fangs. She stepped away then backhanded him. He caught a glimpse of her enraged expression and rivulets of blood flowing down the side of her face. Her brothers growled, low and menacing, and Sesshomaru braced for the next round of blows.

 

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Taiyoukousen cast his amber gaze across the court just as puzzled by the summons as everyone else. No one even seemed to know who'd given the order in the first place. His golden hair, tied back in a thick braid, swung from one side to the other as he turned his head. None appearing to be the one who sent the summons was there and the hair began to stand on the back of the general's neck. On edge, he placed his hand on his sword hilt.

 

Noriko appeared and Taiyoukousen tensed, unnerved by the sight. Disturbed more by the self-satisfied smirk than the blood dripping down the side of her face or the armor she wore instead of her usual kimonos. A murmur began to ripple through the crowd as they took in her appearance. She turned toward them and all quieted at once. Taiyoukousen narrowed his amber eyes and gripped the hilt of his sword, every instinct screaming trouble.

 

“Lords and Ladies,” Noriko began, “I have summoned you here for one purpose and one purpose only, to determine which among you would be willing to accept me as your ruler.” An angry rumble filled the air. “I thought so. You may or may not have noticed but some of your number are not among you. These people have already given up on Lord Sesshomaru and sworn loyalty to me. I have asked them to leave the castle for their own safety.” The rumble became frightened murmurings of inquiry.

 

Taiyoukousen growled, recognizing the implications of her statement, and stepped forward. “Where is our lord, vixen? What have you done with him?” he demanded, others shouted in support of his questions.

 

“Right here,” she replied, grinning and gestured to someone out of sight. Five men, her brothers, dragged in a motionless form in white. Gasps of horror filled the room and the golden-haired demon's eyes widened in alarm. Two of the brothers lifted Sesshomaru until he rested on his knees. Only then did Taiyoukousen see that his lord was still breathing.

 

“I went to him earlier and made a simple proposal. I didn't think it was so bad, but… well, you can see what he thought,” she said then giggled, before turning back to the people before her. “Maybe he'll change his mind if all of you persuade him.” The room fell silent, most didn't dare to breathe. “I simply asked him to make me his wife.” Several hisses and growls rose from the crowd.

 

“I very much doubt it was as simple a request as you claim,” snarled Taiyoukousen as he drew his sword. Angry calls of agreement filled the air and the remaining brothers drew their own swords. However, Noriko continued to smile.

 

“Indeed,” she said raising her hand to point at him. Ice shot through the general's veins; his eyes widening. He knew the power she wielded.

 

“Taiyoukousen!” shouted Sesshomaru, awareness flooding him along with the aura of Noriko's building power. It was the last thing his general heard before a silver-blue beam shot from the female demon's extended finger and struck the golden demon. Taiyoukousen screamed as he vanished into light, not even ashes remained. Several women screamed but none as loudly as Taiyoukousen's daughter. Her husband and another man held her still as she wailed, her small daughter crying in her arms.

 

“And so shall it be, one by one, until he agrees,” she said in a sing-song tone. She began to move her finger from side to side as the crowd stepped back from her. Some began pulling on the doors and punching the walls. Neither budged. “By the way, I bewitched the doors and walls, so you can't leave this room. Feel like persuading him now?” She turned away from the horrified eyes and faced Sesshomaru. “How about you, Sesshomaru? Persuaded yet? No? Then let's see; who's next?” She turned back to the crowd. Wails of despair and horror filled the air. Several men pulled their wives and children behind them in a vain hope of protecting them from Noriko's destructive rays.

 

Sesshomaru had never felt so cold in his life. Taiyoukousen had been one of his father's finest and most loyal generals. The demon himself had trained Sesshomaru in the ways of combat and had been more like a father to the demon lord than his own father was. Taiyoukousen had always kept Sesshomaru's confidence, lending an ear whenever the dog demon felt the need to talk, infrequent as it was. Now he was gone forever, just like his mother and father, and more were about to die. Clarity swamped his senses and drained him of all emotions except fear and determination.

 

“Whore,” he hissed. Noriko froze then turned her head around slowly. The brothers on either side of him hissed and tightened their grip on his arms, threatening to break them.

 

“Excuse me,” she said quietly, her blue eyes flashing.

 

Celestial power surged through Sesshomaru's body and he yelled to those beyond, “Get out!” His body lit up and the five brothers and Noriko glowed as they summoned their own celestial powers in defense. The crowd hit the ground just as the air itself exploded, blowing out the walls, the door and the entire side of the castle. The brothers and Noriko were blown away. One of the two holding him lost his grip but the other held firm, dragging Sesshomaru into the sky.

 

Once in the open air, Sesshomaru yanked on the restrained arm and brought his knee up, slamming it into the brother's face. The demon let go and tumbled for several feet before recovering his senses enough to spread his wings. Sesshomaru summoned his own wings and beat them to gain altitude. He didn't know how he was going to fight Noriko and her brothers; equally classed, outnumbered six to one and he already battered and blind on one side. All he knew was that he had to fight them or give in to Noriko's demands before she killed his loyal subjects.

 

`If I can just hold on long enough they can escape the castle,' he thought. He didn't know if that would do any good, but his only hope lay in the tenko clan. If word got to them of Noriko's treason they would not sit idly by and let her take over the demon throne. `For once, their intrusive nature pays off,' he thought grimly and glanced around for Noriko and her kin.

 

The hiss of air over feathers was his only warning a second before the woman landed on him. She dug her claws into the wings' base and screamed, “You think you're so clever?” Sesshomaru howled; the wings of celestial demons were extremely sensitive. He glanced down and saw the dog demon he'd kicked flapping his wings as he rose to meet them. Sesshomaru twisted bearing the agony it brought, but with her on top neither one could beat their wings to maintain altitude. They were gliding in a downward spiral back to the castle.

 

“You forget it's you I really want,” she continued. “I have more than enough dogs on my side thanks to your indifference! I don't need those questionable hounds down there!” With that she let go and kicked him away from her.

 

“Noriko!” he shouted, spinning around with three mighty flaps despite the pain lancing through his back from the wounds. Noriko extended her arms straight down toward the castle, a silver-blue orb forming beyond her palms. “No! Don't do it!” he screamed, people were still fleeing the castle below! He flexed his hands to cast a hasty spell, but one of the brothers slammed him and the bit of magic he had called flew off in the wrong direction. “Noriko!”

 

The orb flew down and Sesshomaru watched in horror as the castle and people vanished within a brilliant white hemisphere.

 

“NO!”

 

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Inuyokai: Dog demon

Shiro: Castle

Inuyokai no Shiro: Dog Demon Castle

Shoji: Japanese sliding door of paper and wood frame

Taiyoukousen: Sunlight, rays of the sun

 

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Okay! Show of hands! Who honestly believed Sesshomaru's mother was dead?! I can't believe it! Rumiko went and made a liar out of me! AHAH!

 

In case you're wondering what the heck I'm talking about chapter 466 of the Inuyasha you meet Mrs. Inu no Taisho. If you are wondering where I got to see this chapter then go to:

 

http://freelance.110mb.com/?cat=1

 

It picks up where ear_tweak.com left off in scanning and translating the latest Inuyasha chapters out of Japan. I only recently found it and I fell out of my chair when the female Sesshomaru was chased out of the sky introduced herself as his mother.

 

So except for that detail… growl growl… this will tie into the series unless Rumiko does something else unexpected like start writing about dog brothers' past.

 

I will say this much about the scanlations, a lot happens after the anime series ended. They hinted that they would continue with a new series of Inuyasha, but so far that hasn't happened. It may be that they want to risk catching up to Rumiko again and being forced to end the next series early as well so they may be waiting until she ends it. I can't see it being too much longer since she knocked out several main characters. However, at chapter 512 it's still going strong with even more surprises and more mysteries rising to the surface than before.

 

Free-lance has all the chapters. The ones ear-tweak did need to be downloaded. Chapters 456 and onward are present even if you can't get to them from the main page. Just click on a chapter look up toward the top where you'll see a pathway described. Click on the word LLStarks. That will take you the area where all the chapters are listed. Just click on the chapter you want to read.

 

I won't speak anymore and spoil the manga for those who haven't gotten to read the latest yet.