InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Into the Fire ❯ Are You Not Angry, Father? ( Chapter 2 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Title: Into the Fire

Author: Chiaztolite

Rating: NC-17 for future lemon, rape, and violence.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

Into the Fire

Chapter 02: Are You Not Angry, Father?

It was a quiet night when the young youkai lord left the cave for some solitary moments. He sat down on the thick, soft grass and leaned his back against a tree not far from Toutousai's cave. The sword maker's words still fresh in his mind.

Your sister is still alive…

His jaws tightened and his fist clenched. 200 years… For 200 years I thought she was dead…

His eyes narrowed in hatred as he recalled what happened that fateful night…

“…Father!!” Shouri cried out as soon as she saw Lord InuTaisho walked pass the gate. She ran towards the great youkai lord who was ready to take his youngest into his embrace. He took his little girl by her waist, lifting her up high to the evening air, again and again as she laughed joyfully. He kissed his daughter on her rosy cheek, and turned around as he sensed his mate approaching. She welcomed him with her warm smile. She looked just as beautiful as the day he laid eyes on her for the first time, when he caught her crossing the boundary to his lands, the very first time she challenged him, the very first time he ever submitted to a female. Her eyes glittered like two emeralds under the sun. Long, wavy blue-tinted silver hair cascading down her back like a waterfall. The color of her hair was in contrast with her midnight blue silk kimono embroidered with silver and gold threads. His eyes traced the sapphire necklace encircling her long, delicate neck. The necklace was a very precious family heirloom, left from mothers to daughters of Eastern Land's royal family. He lovingly grazed her cheek with the back of his hand before pulling her closer to him, his eyes filled with love for her. Slowly he brushed his lips against hers, locking her in a tender kiss. He could feel her responded to his touch as she wrapped her slender arms around his neck, gently pulling his head down closer to hers. He just started to deepen his kiss when Isha pulled away and looked at him with her eyebrows arched, reminding him that they were in front of the children.

Sesshoumaru stood in front of the door to the palace, quietly watching his parents and sister, feeling slightly embarrassed with the intimate scene before him. He waited patiently for his father to notice him. He tried to stand up straight, he tried so hard to look as strong as his father. He was still squirming around, trying to look impressive when his father shifted his gaze towards his first born. A knowing smile graced his handsome face. With Shouri still in his arm, he approached his son and heir and gave him a pat on his shoulder. He was about to say something when one of his generals came running.

“My Lord… Hurry! The western gate is being attacked!”

Lord InuTaisho jerked in alarm. His eyes narrowed as he felt danger threatening his lands and his family. When his eyes fell on Isha, he saw her beautiful green eyes troubled, her frowned face showed worries she had for her husband.

“I am going with you, beloved.” She said. But he firmly shook his head.

“Stay here, Isha. Keep the children save with you.”

Her mouth opened, ready to argue with him. But once again, he shook his head.

“I need you to stay here.” He insisted. “Protect the palace, protect our children.”

Her emerald eyes bore into his and she nodded at last, trying to restrain her will to fight alongside her mate.

He shifted his young daughter for her to hold. His eyes softened as he cupped her face in his hands, promising her that he would come back safely to her and their children. An affectionate smile was on her face as she tilted her head for her lips to touch the palm of his hand, sealing their unspoken promise.

He was about to leave when he heard his son calling, just two steps behind him.

“Father, I am coming with you.” Sesshoumaru said. He turned around to face the youngling. He was about to deny the request just when he saw the determination in his son's eyes, those golden eyes that reminded him of himself. He nodded at the end and soon enough the two of them, father and son, walked towards the gate.

Sesshoumaru turned around to catch another glimpse of his mother and sister. Shouri was still in their mother's arms, two pairs of emerald eyes glued to the husband and son, father and brother. Sesshoumaru kept his eyes on the two females for another while, before turning around and caught up with his father.

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Sesshoumaru cried out in pain as the monstrous two-headed serpent youkai wrapped its length around his body. Just when he thought the huge snake was going to shatter all of his bones, his father came in lightning speed. His mighty whip slashed through the skin of their enemy, causing the serpent to bellow in pain and released his grip. Sesshoumaru landed on his feet, his whole body ached from the pressure forced upon his still-young body. He heard the serpent hissed angrily, fresh blood gushed from his broken skin. Its attention focused on the great leader of the dogs.

Sesshoumaru watched his father drew one of his swords out: Tessaiga. The mighty sword sparkled in his hands as it transformed into a larger crescent-shaped blade. The youkai lord had his eyes glued on his enemy who was circling him, watching his every move. It dragged its long body across the ground slowly, creating friction and continuous hiss. Two gigantic heads soared up high in the night sky, two pairs of ruby eyes glowed in the dark.

Lord InuTaisho was about to strike when he sensed something flew towards him in a rapid speed. He tried to dodge but somehow they caught him, proven by the sharp sting he felt on the side of his neck. He could hear his son cried out for him as he felt his body weakened. He fell to his knees, the entire weight of his body was supported by his sword. His trembling hand reached to touch the source of his pain. His clawed fingers found two small, thin metal arrows piercing his flesh. He pulled them out and gasped as he recognized those miniature weapons. This intricate design, the tiny blue sapphire at the base of the arrow… The secret poison needles from the east.

His eyes widened as he heard the familiar hiss. In a blink of an eye, the serpent was gone, leaving him, his son, and his men in the duel ground. Dark shadows of fear crept in his heart.

`…Poison needles from the east…' he thought. `The east…'

His whole body shuddered as he understood what this means. His heart sank, he felt his blood ran cold. He clenched his fists as his eyes started to glow red. He could feel the poison had started to get hold of him, blurring his vision. He tightened his jaw as he strived to remain conscious. Isha's face as well as Shouri's was on his mind.

“Sesshoumaru!” he called out for his son. His voice thick with anger, laced with worries. “Quick, we have to return to the palace at once.”

Thin white fog veiled his body like a blanket as he transformed into his true youkai form: a huge white dog. He leaped into the night air, swiftly making his way back to his palace, his son following right behind him.

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Lord InuTaisho roared in anger as one of his servants informed him that his wife and daughter had been taken away. The palace was left undamaged, no one was hurt, only the two beings most precious to him were lost.

Sesshoumaru stood beside his father in the palace's courtyard, his face grew pale as he tried to absorb the shocking news. No, he did not hear it wrong… His mother and sister were taken away while they were fighting the serpent youkai on the far west border of their territory.

He looked at his father whose face darkened with rage. The great lord returned his gaze and said,

“Come, son. We should leave for the east at once.”

Not giving his son a chance to ask any questions, Lord InuTaisho turned around and started walking towards the gate of the palace. However, not even two steps yet, he groaned in pain and fell to his knees.

“Father!” Sesshoumaru shouted in distress as he kneeled down next to his father. His eyes widened as he noticed the youkai lord was in great pain. He could hear the servants approaching them.

“Call the physician!” one of them yelled to the others.

Lord InuTaisho waved his arm, pushing his retainers away. He tried to stand up, but his body felt so weak.

“…Pay me …no heed.” He ordered after he managed to get on his feet. However, no matter how strong his will was, his body betrayed him. Soon enough, he was back on his knees. This time though, he saw his son by his side, his smaller body supporting him.

“What is the matter, Father?” Sesshoumaru asked. The boy could not hide fear and anxiety in his voice. “Was it the needles?”

Lord InuTaisho forced himself to nod. “…They were the poison needles from the Eastern Lands.” He hated how his voice sounded choked. “…Your mother told me once… It's their secret weapon…” He winced as pain flooded his entire senses. “… This is your grandfather's doing… He took them…The youkai we fought was just a decoy…”

Sesshoumaru's jaw tightened when he heard his father's words. So it was his grandfather who did this… The grandfather he had never met, the regal ruler of the eastern lands…

Once again, Lord InuTaisho tried to stand up. The image of Isha and Shouri burned in his mind. He had to go to eastern land… He had to save them… He had to…

But this time, darkness took him. He could hear Sesshoumaru and his servants called out for him before he fell to the ground and lost consciousness.

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In his parent's bed chamber, Sesshoumaru knelt down next to his father's futon, watching him. It had been over a week, and he was still unconscious. All the physicians in the palace had tried to find the antidote to the poison, alas nothing worked. They said all they could do was to wait. Sesshoumaru bit his lower lip. His fists clenched upon his lap.

Wait…? Until when??

He knew that they do not have much time.

`What should I do…' he thought to himself. `What should I do, Father…?'

He lowered his head, his lips quivered. For the first time in his young life, he felt so helpless, so vulnerable. He hated this feeling. He hated the fact that he was so weak.

Suddenly Sesshoumaru saw his father stirred, his eyes slowly opened.

“…Sesshoumaru?” came the taiyoukai's low voice. The son nodded and said,

“You were unconscious for more than a week, Father…”

Lord InuTaisho tried to sit up. He groaned as he felt a sharp pang of pain at the back of his head. He stared at his son and asked,

“Was there news on your mother and Shouri?”

Sesshoumaru shook his head, feeling desperate. His father was about to speak again when they heard shouting outside the chamber.

“…My Lord! My Lord…!!”

They both jerked in alarm, two pairs of golden orbs watching the sliding shoji in apprehension. A few seconds later the door flung open, and one of the palace servants came rushing in.

“My Lord, a messenger just arrived from the east!” said the servant, after he bowed in respect. Lord InuTaisho and Sesshoumaru rose to their feet immediately.

“Bring him to me at once.” the taiyoukai commanded, his voice filled with tension. The servant bowed once more, and left to fetch the messenger. The father and son waited impatiently. When the messenger appeared, Sesshoumaru saw him wearing midnight blue armor and gauntlet, the official color of the eastern country. He kneeled down in front of them, his head hung low.

“Speak.” The Lord of the Western Lands said in his coldest tone.

“I am bearing sad news from Hyougo-sama, the Lord of the East. Your wife and daughter passed away three days ago. They were considered traitors to the eastern country, and therefore were executed.”

There was heavy silence in the air before Lord InuTaisho roared in anger. He stepped forward and gripped the messenger by his throat, ready to squeeze life out of his body.

“Liar!” The Lord bared his fangs, his eyes started to turn scarlet. “That can't be true! My wife and daughter can't be dead.” He tightened his grip on the messenger's neck, nearly choking him to death.

“…It… It's true…, my Lord…” the messenger fought for air in between his words. “I brought… something…of Lady Isha's…. to…show you…”

Lord InuTaisho's eyes widened at those words. He released his tight grip on the messenger, dropping him on the floor. The messenger greedily breathed fresh air into his tortured lungs before he took out a small package from behind his armor. He opened its wrapping, and Lord InuTaisho's gasped in tremor as he lifted a necklace adorned with blue sapphire stones: Isha's necklace.

The great lord staggered backwards, the palm of his hand covering his eyes, as if he was trying to get away from a frightening sight.

“…No…!” He growled in fury. His completely red eyes now stared at the awaiting messenger. “No!!” He growled again, even louder than before. In one swift move, his clawed hand ripped the messenger's head off. Thick, red blood splattered all over the chamber's floor.

Sesshoumaru stood still, frozen like a marble statue. He felt an unfamiliar twinge in his chest. An overwhelming pain washed through his entire existence, causing him to lower his gaze to check if he was injured. He lifted his trembling hand to touch the source of his pain: his heart. He was not bleeding, he was not hurt, but the pain was so unbearable he had to gasp for air.

`No…' he tried to scream, but nothing came out of his throat. He did not even realize when he raised his fingers to touch his throat, as he tried to scream once more.

`NO…!'

Again, nothing...

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Sesshoumaru had not left his chamber for seven days now. His father had ordered the servants to prepare for the mourning period. It angered him to think that his father had accepted their death so easily. He clenched his teeth as he recalled their last conversation. He had begged his father to attack the eastern country, but the taiyoukai had refused.

“I made a promise to your mother never to attack her country, Sesshoumaru.” That was what he said. “I have failed her once, I do not wish to fail her again…”

Sesshoumaru shook his head furiously. He tightened his fists together, his golden eyes burning with anger and vengeance.

`Someday…' he mused. His eyes narrowed in determination. His raised his hand to the level of his eyes, his clawed fingers flexed. `I will have my revenge, Grandfather… The day will come when I shred you to pieces with my own hands…'

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“Um… Sesshoumaru-sama?” the sound of Jyaken's voice awakened him from his thought. He regarded his faithful servant from the corner of his eyes. Rin and Ah-Un trailed behind the small toad youkai.

“Are you alright, my lord? We have been looking all over for you.” Jyaken spoke carefully, hoping he was not disrupting his master's peaceful moment.

A cold, thin smile graced Sesshoumaru's immaculate face. He turned his head to stare at Rin. He frowned as he observed her expression. There were emotions in her misty brown eyes. Was it sadness? Pity? Worries? And for what?

“Rin” he said as he beckoned her to come to him. The little girl complied. Right away she went to her master and stand before him.

“Why do you have that face, Rin?” he asked in his usual indifferent voice. “Did someone do anything to you after I left?”

Rin shook her head softly. She looked at her master in his eyes, his beautiful golden eyes.

“No, Sesshoumaru-sama.” She finally responded. “Rin just feel sad for you.” Her response stunned the youkai lord. Suddenly her face brightened. “But isn't it great, Sesshoumaru-sama? Your sister is still alive! Are we going to go and see her?”

Her question left him pondered. Is he going to go and see her?

`There is no doubt about it.' He said inwardly. And it was not because he needed her to defeat Naraku. He could not care less about that pathetic demon at that time. He stood up, brushed the remaining grass on his pristine clothes, and started walking towards the entrance to Toutousai's cave.

“Rin, wait here with Jyaken and Ah-Un.” He ordered before he disappeared into the cave.

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Sesshoumaru could see his half-brother and the rest of the pack were still in the cave, surrounding the fire. Inuyasha turned around as he approached them, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. Sesshoumaru chose to ignore him, and aimed his gaze towards Toutousai instead.

“Tell me, old man,” he said. “Is my sister still in the eastern land?”

Toutousai's nod came in response. “I believe so. As I have said, she is the princess of the eastern country now.”

“And Naraku? Where is he now?”

Toutousai sighed and glanced around everyone surrounding the fire.

“I was just telling these guys that Naraku had fled to the Mountain of Gods which is even further east of the Eastern Lands. He joined his forces with the Great Dragon who dwells at the peak of the mountain. This is his next step in conquering the entire world.”

Sesshoumaru puckered his brows at Toutousai's words.

“The Mountain of Gods? That is a mystical place. Not everyone is allowed to set foot on that mountain.”

Toutousai nodded in agreement. “I don't know how and why Naraku dwells in that mountain now. I'm sure your sister can give you more information, since she is quite close to the location.”

Sesshoumaru arched one of his eyebrows. “Very well.” He said, and turned around to leave. However, Inuyasha stood in front of the cave's mouth, blocking his way out. He gave his brother a cold stare, his lips nearly moved when he commanded,

“Move.”

Inuyasha folded his arms in front of his chest. He returned the icy glare unwaveringly.

“Where do you think you're going, Sesshoumaru!”

“I have no obligation to tell you where I am going.” came the taiyoukai's composed answer. “Now, move.”

Inuyasha laid one palm of his hand against Tessaiga, taking his fighting stance. Sesshoumaru watched him with somewhat less than amused expression.

“You're not gonna leave anywhere without us!” he barked.

“…Oh?” Sesshoumaru lifted his eyebrows. He had Toukijin already unsheathed in his hand, ready to fight if the hanyou wished it. Tension was in the air as everyone watched the siblings in apprehension.

“You are not leaving without us.” Inuyasha repeated, somehow his tone was calmer than before.

“I do whatever I wish to .” Annoyance started to creep in Sesshoumaru's voice.

“Keh!” Inuyasha snorted. “You're just gonna go to the east, talk your sister into joining you, and you both are gonna steal Shikon no Tama. Is that what you're planning, jerk?!”

“I have no interest in that jewel.” His brother said dryly. “Now move, hanyou.”

Inuyasha remained in his place, unwilling to comply with his order. As Sesshoumaru was about to lift his sword and attack, Kagome jumped in between those two, her arms spread out as if she was trying to protect Inuyasha.

“Stay away, miko.” Sesshoumaru growled. “This is between the hanyou and me.”

Kagome shook her head. “How are we supposed to work together if both of you keep fighting each other?!” she yelled at them.

“I have no intention in working with any of you.” The older brother responded, his sword remained in its position, ready to strike. “You're wasting your time, miko. Get out of my way.” Kagome refused to budge. She let out a long sigh.

“At least let us go with you to your sister's. We need to talk to her and ask her to help us defeat Naraku.”

A thin, mocking smile appeared on Sesshoumaru's lips. “What makes you think that my sister will help the likes of you?”

Kagome shot him a sharp glare. For quite some time, the three of them stood still in their place until Sesshoumaru sheathed his sword and uttered,

“Do as you please. But I warn you, do not stand in my way. I will leave at dawn.” He walked pass Kagome and this time, Inuyasha did not stop him.

“Oh my…” Miroku sighed. “What an unfriendly fellow…”

Inuyasha stepped closer to Kagome. He looked at her with frown on his face.

“What makes you think that Shouri will help us?” he asked her.

Kagome shrugged. She did not mean anything that she said, she did not even have any plans on how to persuade the princess to help them. “I don't know…” she replied. “But at least we will go to the eastern land. Let us think about what to do next when we get to see her.” She shifted her gaze to meet Inuyasha's.

“Aren't you curious though, Inuyasha?” she asked. “About Shouri. I mean… she's your half-sister too, right?”

Inuyasha turned his head away. “Hmmph!” he grunted before he went to the corner, squatting on the ground like he usually does when he is sulking. “It doesn't matter. She probably hates me because I'm a half-breed, just like Sesshoumaru does.”

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Outside the cave, Sesshoumaru sat on the ground looking at the star-filled night sky. Rin and Jyaken were already fast asleep under the tree when he checked on them. Gods know how he would rather start their journey to the east right this minute than to wait until dawn. However, he knows the little girl was exhausted and in terrible need of some rest. He was not too excited knowing that he would have to travel with his brother and his pack, but it did not matter that much anymore when he thought he would have the chance to see Shouri again.

He sighed deeply before laying his back on the soft grass, still watching the sky. He could feel his heart burning whenever he recalled what his father did two years after they received the death news.

It was even less than two years…, he mused. He found a new mate already… A pathetic human, this time.

Sesshoumaru snorted in disgust whenever he thought about his father and Izayoi, the human princess. Even though Izayoi was quite beautiful for a mere human, for Sesshoumaru she was nothing compared to his mother.

He looked at his elegant, clawed fingers as he recalled an oath he made a long time ago.

`Grandfather…' he whispered inwardly as the corners of his lips slowly curled, forming a vicious smile. `You came for us 200 years ago…This time, I will come for you…'