InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ History of the Generals: Lord Inu no Taisho ❯ Execution of the Wolves ( Chapter 3 )

History of the Generals: Lord Inu no Taisho

Inu no Taisho; arguably the most powerful daiyoukai of time. His journey has taken him across the land of Japan where he earns the respect of many, but the hatred of more. His story begins hundreds of years ago, when he was born in a village on the night of the New Moon. STORY I OF III.

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Execution of the Wolves

Just as Inutaisho said, he and his dogs ran without a moments rest. They kept light on their toes and managed not even to break a twig; it was the art of the stealth masters. Shōbō lunged through trees as Yabai and Inutaisho kept low to the ground. The arrow was clutched in Inutaisho's left hand—he was ready to kill.

Closer to the cave, the three dogs met up with another team of stealth masters, a group of four that took another route to get to the wolves cave. There was just one more group of four remaining before the stealth masters were reunited. Debriefing them on what happened, Inutaisho instructed them to kill with no mercy. It just wasn't a warning to Yorozoku anymore; this was war.

"Lord Inutaisho," Jin, one of the stealth masters, called as the dogs rested for five minutes. "Are we bringing Yorozoku back?"

Inutaisho's eyes darkened. "No. We kill. They unnecessarily destroyed our dogs and we do not take that lightly."

Hearing the note of finality in Inutaisho's voice, Jin decided to not ask any more questions. Yabai had found a sharp rock and was sharpening his blade; he wanted the pain to rip through the wolves when he tore their guts out and spill it.

"You think the marine and aerial spies have arrived?" Shōbō inquired, sitting on a branch that loomed over the six other stealth masters. Inutaisho glanced up and saw an eagle soar through the sky. He focused his attention on his warrior.

"Doubt it; their methods are a lot slower than ours."

"We meet and kill," Yabai snickered, "they pussyfoot their way through."

The stealth masters chuckled, allowing the moment to relax. What the wolves did definitely took them by surprise; the dogs and wolves (their races making them distant cousins) were doing fine for the past twenty-four hundred moon cycles. There hadn't been many causes for breaching war but…

But what Yorozoku did crossed the line. He killed dogs without cause and sent a team of wolves to ambush Inutaisho, Yabai, and Shōbō. He had the intent on harming their counterpart and Inutaisho would not hear of it. Neither would the Daiyoukai, hence sending out the Legion of Dogs to give Yorozoku a warning.

Too bad Inutaisho did not intend to warn Yorozoku of anything. He was now sending a message to any future leader of the wolves: do not mess with the dogs.

"Let's get going," Inutaisho commanded after he felt that his dogs had rested well enough. "Shōbō and Jin take the lead, Yabai and Katana bring the rear. The rest of us will spread out and keep a safe distance in the middle."

Nodding once, the six dogs were off. Inutaisho hoped that he would meet up with the four other stealth masters before entering the wolf domain.

He was also hoping that his father was doing alright.

.xx.

Because Inu no Muteki and Ounou were trained in marine spying, they had the ability to hold their breaths longer than any of the other Legionnaires. Their group consisted of five other dogs: Inazuma, Chishi, Kyōryokuna, Seiei, and Akuryu. These five dogs, along with Inu no Muteki and Ounou, had mastered the art of holding their breath and keeping under water.

Sometimes the other dogs would tease them and say that they were part fish. Inu no Muteki usually played along but Ounou tended to scoff: apparently being called half fish was insulting. Chishi, Kyōryokuna, Seiei, and Akuryu brushed off the teasing- they were some of the easygoing dogs that were part of the Legion.

Inu no Muteki glanced over his shoulder in time to see Akuryu punch a flounder-looking fish. Resisting the urge to burst into laughter, Inu no Muteki returned his attention to the path that he was swimming. He kept in mind landmarks he had learned throughout the many moons that he was a Legionnaire; he had picked up on certain ones on the many trips he made to the caves. Though Japan had changed throughout the moons, Miyaji River remained static.

Ounou caught up to his friend and signalled for them to rise. Nodding, Inu no Muteki shot for the surface and was followed by the rest. Immediately after breaking through the water, Ounou jerked his thumb towards the Eastern Mountains. "Smell it?"

Inu no Muteki paused and sniffed the air. He did.

"They're gathering in numbers."

Chishi cursed as he realized it too. Chishi was one of the few dog demons that had raven black hair as opposed to the stark silver. He was also a heartthrob among the bitches. Pushing his short bangs out of his face, Chishi asked what would happen if they didn't meet up with Kuro-Inu's team and Inutaisho's team.

Ounou simply grinned, making sure that his fangs were visible. "Come on dogs, we can take those bastards out with our eyes closed."

"Just bet that they can't outswim you underwater," Seiei snickered. "Their egos won't let them refuse and then we watch them drown."

The seven dogs chuckled before inhaling deeply and submerging once again. They had a short while to go before they had to scale a short distance to enter the territory of the wolves. Inu no Muteki was praying that the deceptors had taken out some of the wolves and that Kuro-Inu, Koroshiya, and Inutaisho had already arrived.

He would soon find out.

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Indeed, as Inutaisho predicted, he met up with the other stealth masters and Koroshiya's dogs from the aerial team. Kuro-Inu decided to take some of their trained and domesticated Birds of Paradise to swoop down into the summit where the wolves resided. Koroshiya opted for a less air-mode method, even though he was more skilled at manoeuvring the Birds of Paradise than Kuro-Inu was.

"They're probably aware of our scent now," Koroshiya whispered as the group of sixteen gathered close enough to the wolves' territory, but not too close.

Inutaisho snorted. "Keh, they were well aware of our scents a few hours back. My team was attacked but none of us were hurt."

Koroshiya scowled, his eyes darkening. "I will rip Yorozoku limb from limb."

Yabai rolled his eyes. "Why don't we rip his son limb from limb? Taking care of the old wolf will get us nowhere unless we destroy his heir."

"I like it," Shōbō piped. "Leave the old man but take out his son."

"Do you know nothing of monarchy?" Inutaisho growled. "If we don't put the old wolf six feet under, he'll christen somebody else to take his place if we out his pup."

Yabai shot a look to Inutaisho that clearly said: Do not let them know how much of the monarch system you're really aware of.

"Let's just wipe them all out of existence," Katana scowled. "I've had enough of their shit. If it isn't ambushing our fucking territory, it's executing our innocent dogs. Do you remember when Shoujiki killed that bitch in the north? Because she wouldn't rut with him!"

The story Katana repeated was true and still burned the blood of any loyal dog. Shoujiki, the son of Yorozoku and next in line to be the leader of the wolf pack had decapitated a female dog demon because she wouldn't lay with him. It was unclear whether he did it because of the rivalry between the races or because he just was a horny canine. What was clear was that the useless death of their kind, especially their bitches was not something any dog took lightly.

"Let's just charge in there," Jin whined. "I'm getting impatient."

"Didn't we agree upon a signal?" Shōbō raised an eyebrow.

Inutaisho snorted. "Of course we did, only the Leaders know what the signal is."

"Too bad nobody is giving the signal." Koroshiya snorted.

"Maybe they're expecting us to—" Whatever Jin was going to say was cut off when they heard a howl in the distance. It was Kuro-Inu's howl and it only meant one thing:

Game.

On.

.xx.

Inutaisho sprinted into the summit first, and Yabai launched right in after him, landing on his feet and recovering as quick as a cat. Inu no Muteki and Ounou's team was already there, dripping wet, but engaged in combat. Fists flew, swords clanked, blood spilt. The war had already begun.

Before Inutaisho could take another step forward, he was ambushed by four wolves. Immediately, Yabai and Susamajii-Inu (who was part of Kuro-Inu's team) came to his aid. Unsheathing his Sword of the West, Inutaisho beheaded one of the wolves that attacked him and ran straight for Shoujiki, who was in fist-to-fist combat with his father.

Snarling, Inutaisho lunged forward but Shoujiki jumped out of the way just in the nick of time.

"Toga!" Inu no Muteki called but was immediately punched across the face by a cocky looking wolf.

"Kaze!" Shoujiki blared. "Distract the old dog."

"Who are you calling old?!" Inu no Muteki growled but was once again hit by Kaze. Snarling, Inu no Muteki reared his left hand and let out a barrage of crescent blades that was borne from his claws.

"Senkon tessou!"

Inutaisho took Shoujiki's lapse in attention to his advantage and drove his sword through his gut. Shoujiki gasped in sudden pain before using his hands to pull the sword out of him. "Playing unfair, are we?" He wheezed out. His blazing red hair set him apart from the other wolves, but the dog race quickly learned that the Daiyoukai Wolf family all had fiery red hair.

"Playing unfair?" Inutaisho's eyes flashed with anger. "Unfair is when your fucking father kills my dogs with no reason."

Shoujiki, despite bleeding with a gash in his stomach, smirked. "Unfair? I don't think so, Inutaisho." He feinted left before charging at Inutaisho from the right. Anticipating it, Inutaisho lunged out of the way but never turned his back to his opponent.

"They were fraternizing with some of our she-wolves." Shoujiki hissed. "Kaze and his brothers, Kasai and Kaminari, felt the need to teach them a lesson."

Inutaisho's anger quadrupled. "Teach them—are you out of your damn mind, you mangy wolf?!"

"No, your dogs are out of their damn mind if they think they can rut with our women."

"And when you beheaded that bitch?!" Inutaisho snarled. "Your sanity was fully in fucking tact then?"

Inutaisho's ochre eyes were beginning to bleed red. He was ready to annihilate Shoujiki, even if it meant going into beast mode. Inu no Muteki, who managed to knock Kaze ten feet backwards, whipped his head to Inutaisho's direction. He smelt the release of his son's inner beast and knew that a great dog was going to grace them with his presence.

The demon was being unleashed.

Within seconds, Inutaisho transformed into a great white dog and, shortly thereafter, so did Ounou, Inu no Muteki, Yabai and Koroshiya. The other dog demons remained in their humanoid forms to take down any wolves that decided to attack the beasts. Shoujiki stumbled backwards as Inu no Muteki swooped down and devoured Kaze in a heartbeat.

"KAZE!" Somebody roared and Inutaisho's eyes locked with a wolf running towards them.

"YOU BASTARDS!" He yelled. His scent was familiar to the wolf that his father had taken out. Brothers, perhaps? Before the wolf could take a step closer, Yabai jumped on him, crushing him beneath his weight.

"KASAI!" Shoujiki shrieked. He snapped his head back to Inutaisho, seething with rage. As the humanoid dogs continued to take down the wolves, the beasts were closing in on Shoujiki.

"Where is Yorozoku?" Inu no Muteki barked out in the language of the canines. Shoujiki understood him perfectly.

"I said," Inu no Muteki repeated when he was met with silence, "where is Yorozoku?!"

"Right here."

All eyes turned to the elder wolf that entered the summit. Yabai and Koroshiya turned their attention to the leader of the wolves as Inu no Muteki, Ounou and Inutaisho kept their attention trained on Shoujiki.

"I think it is enough," Yorozoku stated loudly. "You have proven your point and avenged your men. We are surrendering and allowing victory to you."

"FATHER!" Shoujiki roared.

"Enough," Yorozoku sounded eminent. "You must learn to surrender when it is appropriate. We lost more wolves than their dogs in this battle, Shoujiki, and you've lost your two friends: Kasai and Kaze." Yorozoku looked at Inu no Muteki and Yabai, the two beasts that had killed wolves that he considered son.

"Kasai's mate, Saikō, had given birth to Kouga just yesterday," Yorozoku whispered. "And Kaze's mate is in the last stages of her pregnancy. You must think of the pack. If all of the men die then what is there left?"

Sensing that the danger was no longer prominent, the beasts turned back into their humanoid selves. Inutaisho maintained a hold on his sword but the other dogs were weaponless. Eventually the fighting and killing came to a halt and all attention was on Yorozoku.

"We surrender," Yorozoku murmured, "as I said, you avenged your dogs and we are humbling ourselves. Please, do not induce any more killings."

Inutaisho snarled and pointed at Yorozoku using the tip of his sword. "And how do we know you're not bullshitting us, old wolf?"

Yorozoku sighed, looking sombre. "How am I to prove to you that my words are nothing but honest?"

"For the next one thousand moons," Inu no Muteki spoke before Inutaisho could begin. "You will be under the command and control of the dogs. That will be your punishment for unnecessarily attacking our dogs."

Yorozoku looked like he was slapped.

"It is either that," Ounou hissed, "or I'll bite your head off as my beast."

Shoujiki looked between his father and the dogs before deciding to interfere. "You cannot honestly agree to this, father!"

"I… must," Yorozoku looked shamed. "They are in greater numbers than us. They have power."

"So do we!"

"Learn to think about your pack, son, not honour." Yorozoku bowed his head to Inu no Muteki. "We agree to your terms. One thousand moons, no longer, no less."

Inu no Muteki nodded. "We will send ambassadors by sunrise tomorrow to sign a blood binding contract. Should you back out by then, we will be back."

Before Yorozoku could finish nodding, the dogs raced out of the summit.

.xx.

Kimi sat beside her mother in their private study, discussing what could be done regarding Inutaisho. Kimi's mother was surprised that the new leader was able to resist the charms of her beautiful and highly educated daughter.

"He just won't give me the time of day!" Kimi sighed. "Can you not get father to speak to him?"

Kirei, Kimi's mother, shook her head in dismay. "Inutaisho's father and your father are best friends, Kimi. I cannot ask him to speak to Inutaisho on your behalf."

"Then get him to speak to Inu no Muteki!" Kimi exclaimed. "I need to know why he does not consider taking me as his mate."

Kirei sighed, staring at her daughter for a long time. "Sweetheart, when a dog finds his life mate, he just knows. If you do not possess the qualities that awaken his inner rut then there is nothing Inutaisho can do about it."

"But you and father were arranged to be mated," Kimi wailed. "You cannot tell me that Inutaisho is listening to his instincts and that's why he is not choosing me when father was picked to be your mate."

Kirei smiled and reached over to cover her daughter's hand with her own. "Yes, Ounou and I were arranged to be mated, but I possessed the qualities that his beast desired."

Inukimi looked confused and Kirei took the opportunity to explain.

"There is not just one demon or human out there that is intended to be your mate. There are a few, and the one you pick to be yours is who your soul mate becomes. Yes, there were other female dogs that your father could have been with, but it worked out to our advantage that we were arranged to be mated and I also had the essence that his beast wanted to take." Kirei watched the expression change on her daughter's face.

"So you're saying there is no one person out there intended for me?"

Kirei nodded. "Precisely. There may be four or five, but the one that picks you is your true soul mate."

Kimi's face fell. "I just wish Inutaisho wanted me."

Getting off of her seat, Kirei moved to give her daughter a hug. "Be patient, my child. Your day will come."

Sighing, Kimi said nothing as she returned her mother's embrace. If Inutaisho doesn't sense qualities in me that should awaken his inner beast, perhaps I should inspire it to want me.

.xx.

The dogs returned late into the night and immediately dispersed to return to their homes. Inu no Muteki told Inutaisho that he'd see him back home after the new leader reported to the Daiyoukai. Slouched and tired, Inutaisho knocked on the Daiyoukai's door and waited for a response. He could smell that their leader was awake so he was not too worried about being yelled at for being bothersome.

"Inu no Taisho!" The Daiyoukai beamed as he opened the door. "Good news?"

Quickly, Inutaisho debriefed the Daiyoukai on what happened and informed that an ambassador needed to head to the East the following day to sign the blood contract. The Daiyoukai was pleased and commended Inutaisho on a job well done. Taking his leave, Inutaisho slowly began to trudge to his home not too far from the castle.

He was exhausted.

Deciding to cut through the courtyard, Inutaisho did not notice Kimi sneaking up behind him.

"Gotchya," She giggled as she hugged him from behind. Inutaisho wanted to groan.

"I am not in the mood right now," he grunted, "I want to go home. I want to sleep."

Kimi frowned and loosened her grip on him, just enough to turn him around to face her. He did look like death, but was still handsome nonetheless.

"Shall I ease your troubles?"

"No."

Curt, like how she expected. Inhaling deeply, Kimi decided to do what she planned right then and there. No hesitating, no thinking about it.

Inutaisho raised an eyebrow at her. "So that's it? Can I go—" He was cut off.

She kissed him.

.xx.

Characters mentioned in this chapter:

Kaminari (Hakkau's father, eldest Wolf brother)
Kasai (Kouga's father, second Wolf brother)
Kaze (Ginta's father, youngest Wolf brother)
Shoujiki (Ayame's father, next-in-law Pack Leader)
Saikō (Kouga's mother)

Kirei (Kimi's mother)

Jin (Legionnaire)
Katana (Legionnaire)
Inazuma (Legionnaire)
Chishi (Legionnaire)
Kyōryokuna (Legionnaire)
Seiei (Legionnaire)
Akuryu (Legionnaire)

Like I said at the beginning of this series, there will be a lot of original characters in the first part of the story. They will recur, though, in Sesshomaru and Inuyasha's parts. Most of them, at least.

And because there is no such thing has the Gregorian Calendar during when this story takes place, the demons measure time by moon cycles. A new moon to a new moon is one full moon cycle. Typically a month, sometimes more, sometimes less. To get an understanding of what I did, take the moon cycle I state (ie. ten thousand moons) and divide it by 12 (12 months in a year). You'll get the approximate number of years that I was referring to.