InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Perfect Reflection ❯ Chapter 1 ( Chapter 1 )

CHAPTER 1:

 

The lord of the castle was also her father. He was known for his handsome features, thick hair, prowess in battle, and limitless ambition. Growing up she had seen little of him, and less of her mother. Her mother was a `spoil of war' - the beautiful, engaging daughter of the former lord of the castle. All Izayoi could remember of her mother were warm, caring hands, sad smiles, and soft, coal colored eyes. After Izayoi's birth her mother left to stay with distant relatives on the continent; Izayoi was raised by nursemaids and scholars. The marriage was a farce, but it was official and contractual and completely binding. And that meant Izayoi belonged to her father.

 

Despite her cold, isolated upbringing, Izayoi was kind and warm. Many agreed that she took the fine eyes of her mother and rich, dark hair of her father and created the perfect, porcelain figure of the ideal Japanese noblewoman. She had a beautiful hand for calligraphy, could play any instrument with ease, and had a soft, lyrical voice that never rose above a whisper. Her manners were impeccable in every sense of the word. She never misspoke, and every word that left her mouth was as eloquent and articulate as poetry. Had anyone sought to look beneath this, however, they would have found a very lonely young woman.

 

But, unfortunately for Izayoi, no one ever looked beneath the beautiful mask she created. No one had need. No one loved her. But Izayoi was content to care for others - children running about the castle, peasants working in the fields, and wounded warriors. She tried to find happiness in day-to-day things, and in helping other people. Many times it was enough. However, there were some times…when it was not enough, and Izayoi found herself looking out windows and wishing.

 

At the age of eight her father absently made marriage plans to ensure his line. He was a young, powerful, ambitious man of semi-noble birth from Setsuna. The first day Izayoi set eyes on Setsuna no Takemaru she felt a cold chill sweep through the room. She was very young then, and since she had learned compassion for the warrior. They had even become friends of a sort, sharing walks through the castle's many, well-cared for gardens or quiet cups of tea.

 

When Izayoi reached the age of fifteen her father began waging a war of a grand scale. She knew little of the ways of warfare, other than war meant long days and nights of loneliness, solitude, and sewing - her least favorite activity bar none. It took her father and her fiancé far away from the castle, from her home, for many years. After two her father returned, injured from battle. Izayoi spent the rest of his days by his side, caring for him in ways he never cared for her. She dressed and changed his wounds, said soft words, read poetry, played music, and fed him. But these days were few, and he died one night in her absence.

 

His passing affected her the way the loss of a distant cousin or unknown uncle might - minimally. She was not without sorrow, but she had not known him, nor he known her. And the war did not end with his death. Setsuna no Takemaru took it up in her father's name. Izayoi was seventeen at the time of her father's death, and although she was unmarried, she became lady of castle, and took on the responsibilities of her father in her future husband's name.

 

 

Though Izayoi had not received word from her fiancé at the front lines in several months, she still thought he was alive. She had been receiving conflicting reports about the war for quite a while, and she was almost used to the constant worry of death. Unfortunately, Izayoi had problems of her own to deal with. Only a skeleton guard had been left at the castle for emergency purposes, and the rest were children, women, elderly, or infirm. None would be any good against what had been ravaging the countryside.

 

Reports about demons began to reach her ears weeks ago, and the single, elderly advisor left in the castle recommended holing up inside the castle and letting the peasants fend for themselves. Izayoi refused to listen to this heartless advice. Instead, she began giving away the castle's private stores to villagers in the surrounding area who wanted to retreat up into the high mountains for safety. There were emergency barracks up there to protect against invasion, but Izayoi couldn't think of a better place for the frightened villagers.

 

Unfortunately, however, this left the castle quite empty. Only a few guards had stayed after several of the near villages were attacked. Izayoi was frightened, but she refused to leave her home. Sometimes stragglers or injured made their way into the castle and told tales of terrifying panther demons, and the horrific leader of the panther demon tribe. “Oyakata,” they whispered in terror. Izayoi took care of the injured as best she could, and let them escape into the safety of the mountains if they wished.

 

One night, after hearing of a particularly brutal attack on the closest village to the castle, Izayoi gathered some medical supplies and slipped out of her rooms. “Lady Izayoi,” her single, elderly guard said quietly. “I cannot permit you to leave the castle unguarded.”

 

Izayoi nodded, and the old guard followed her down to the village. Even after seeing death firsthand several times, Izayoi could never get used to seeing the children. She did her best with what she had, but she was no doctor, and he had limited training. She was joined by another, older woman who seemed to have some experience in healing. Together they managed to save a fleeting number of villagers.

 

“I don't understand, Old Mother,” Izayoi said with tears in her eyes. “Why do they not leave for the mountains? At least there they can hide…”

 

The older woman put a wrinkled hand over Izayoi's. “My lady, they stay for the same reason as you. This is their home. They have lived here, as their own mothers and fathers, and they wish to die here, as their own mothers and fathers. Seeing your kindness and bravery fills them with pride.”

 

Izayoi smiled sadly at this and gazed up to the full moon. It was rising over a nearby peak. Suddenly, she gasped and brought her hand to her mouth. “The panther demon!” the older woman said faintly. “It must be him! Quick, my lady! Hide! Please!”

 

Izayoi clenched her hands so hard her nails left imprints on her palms. She gazed at the fearsome figure's silhoette in the light of the moon and hardened her resolve. If she could convince the Panther Demon Tribe's leader to take her as hostage in exchange for stopping their assult on her lands, she was sure that Takemaru would pay her randsome. “Take the villagers into the castle, Old Mother,” she said softly. “I intend to end this.”

 

The old woman gasped and herded the survivors away. Izayoi's path was much darker and more difficult than she imagined. The summer heat was oppressive, and even the cool breeze did nothing against it. Several times she almost fell on the steepest parts of the climb, but whenever she looked up she could see the dark silhoette of the leader of the panther demons. Izayoi hung fast to her bravery and determination, and when she was finally at the edge of the same peak as the panther demon, she saw him turn to her and frown before making to leave.

 

“Please, my lord!” she cried out in a trembling voice. “Please, wait!”

 

She dabbed her face with a handkerchief and tucked her hands into her sleeves submissively. He was not at all what she expected, and though she didn't look into his eyes or at his face, she knew him to be handsome and powerful. He carried three swords - two at this hip and one on his back - and had very fine, pure white hair and silvery, white fur draped over his back. He was not at all what she imagined, but she had never seen such a powerful demon and didn't really know what to expect.

 

“My lord,” she repeated after catching her breath. “I beg of you, as lady of this castle and these lands, please cease these attacks on my people. Our men are fighting a war, and we have little save grain and water - and nothing of value! We cannot protect ourselves. Please, my Lord Oyakata. I will do anything.”

 

For a moment there was only the breeze and the moon. Then, with a deep growl, the demon said in a low voice, “Oyakata!” He growled again and repeated the name. “Oyakata! This is who you think I am, human?”

 

Izayoi shuddered and dropped her to her hands and knees, bowing nicely but still shivering. “My lord! I apologize to have offended you! We were told it was Oyakata of the Panther Demon Tribe that attacked our lands! I did not know it was you, my lord! Please, forgive my ignorance.”

 

The demon growled again. Izayoi was too frightened to look up, and instead settled her eyes on the demon's feet. “My lord,” she began in a whisper. “I only wish to protect my people. They have done nothing, and have very little. I will give anything -”

 

“Silence,” the demon snarled. Izayoi pressed her head to her hands and shook. She heard him sigh. “Stand, human,” the demon commanded.

 

Izayoi stood gracefully, brushing the dirt off her the knees of her kimono. Still, she folded her hands before her to keep them from shaking and bent her head in respect. “I am not Oyakata, but neither am I the demon that attacks your lands. I am the Lord of the Western Lands, Inu no Taishou.” He did not speak for a moment. “It seems I have no choice but to slay Oyakata.”

 

Izayoi forgot herself and looked up at the Dog General, the Lord of the Western Lands. He stared over her lands in an appraising way, his golden eyes far away from her. He struck her as very beautiful at that moment, more so than any man she had ever seen. And infinitely more dangerous. She did not know what came over her, for she was not prone to fits of passion or rude acts. But despite the danger she swept over to him and took his long-fingered, clawed hand in her tiny, pale hands. He met her eyes, clearly shocked at her forewardness. “Thank you, my lord,” she whispered in a rich voice. “Your kindness will never be forgot in my home, or by my people.”

 

He said nothing, but his eyes said everything. Then he withdrew his hand gently, so as not to scratch her fragile, human skin. Without a word he took off into the air. Izayoi fell to her knees and cried tears of joy.