InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Perfect Reflection ❯ Chapter 2 ( Chapter 2 )

Author’s Note: I feel obligated to explain to you my choice of the name I gave Inu Yasha’s father.  I found it on Wikipedia, and apparently in the third Inu Yasha movie, Swords of an Honorable Ruler, Myoga calls Inu Yasha’s father Sugimi.  That’s it.  He needs a name other than that bastardization Inutaishou.     CHAPTER 2:   The Great Dog Demon, Lord of the Western Lands, the Dog General, was upset.  This was generally considered to be a bad sign for anyone his anger was directed at.  In this case, it would be a bad sign for Oyakata, the leader of the Panther Demon Tribe.  Sugimi flexed his hand – the one the human woman had held so gently – and then sniffed his palm.  Yes, her scent was light, but still there.  And somewhere behind his eyes was the image of her pale skin bathed in moonlight, her striking coal eyes, and long, silky hair.  Her soft words echoed in his mind.  Please, my lord…  I’ll do anything…   Sugimi shook his head clear, but the tingling in his hand remained.  It left him wondering if he was killing Oyakata because of his intrusion into his lands, or for this startlingly beautiful hanyo.  He resolved himself to think on this matter later.  For now, he was on the hunt for Oyakata.  It would not be a hard trail to follow; all he had to do was follow the stench of panther-cat and blood.   He arrived on the soft planes of the border on the northernmost side of his lands.  The tall grass waved in the breeze, and Oyakata stood in man form, seemingly waiting.  Oyakata was a proud demon of great power and skill.  He would pose a great challenge, and Sugimi was not exactly looking forward to the battle.   “Inu no Taishou!” bellowed Oyakata in a hearty voice.  Oyakata’s violet eyes flashed dangerously in the moonlight.  The moon was so large, so low in the sky that the night seemed an imitation of day.  “I sensed the time was soon that you would challenge me.”   Sugimi sighed and let the breeze whip his ponytail about.  “I come because of your intrusion into my lands, because of your senseless slaughter.  Your attack insults me, Oyakata.  Did you think I would not respond?”   Oyakata let out a booming laugh, his long, braided, black hair falling over his shoulder.  “Pride has blinded you, Dog General!”   With that, over a hundred enemies – lesser panther demons – leapt out of the high grass.  Sugimi had not sensed them, but he was not entirely surprised that Oyakata would try this ploy.  With a frown, Sugimi drew Tessaiga from his side and it flared into its true form.  For a moment there were no words and the field was still.  Oyakata, smirking mightily, yelled for the attack.  “Take the Great Dog Demon!  Give me his head!”   Sugimi whipped Tessaiga about and found his focus.  “Wind Scar!”  To the sound of a hundred screams, the field once again became empty, save Sugimi and Oyakata.   Sugimi noted that Oyakata didn’t seem so surprised.  Instead, he chuckled.  With an engulfing black flame, Oyakata reverted to his true form – a gigantic, black, sharp fanged panther.  His bellow shook the earth itself.  “Now we fight, Inu no Taishou!”   There were a few things Sugimi didn’t understand.  Why was he not able to sense the hiding panther demons?  Why did Oyakata not seem angered at their death?  Why was he so eager to fight in true form?  Did he not realize that Sugimi would retain the advantage as an older, more experienced demon?   Still, the challenge could no go unanswered, and with a flash of fire, Sugimi, Inu no Taishou, howled into existence as the huge Great Dog Demon.  His silvery coat shone blindingly in the moonlight, and his fangs glared dangerously.  For a moment they stood, appraising one another.  Sugimi had decided against his truest form as overkill.  This form would do just fine.   The leader of the Panther Demon Tribe was the first to run the offensive, and for a while they danced about each other in the dark of night.  Oyakata hissed and clawed viciously at Sugimi, but did not draw blood until Sugimi lost his balance temporarily.  Oyakata’s jaws clamped onto Sugimi’s neck.  A dark feeling built inside of Sugimi, like perhaps a trap was just set.  On the perimeter of his senses, Sugimi realized he was not alone with Oyakata.  He had been distracted by battle, but now he felt them.  There were hundreds of lesser panther demons.   They were suddenly upon him, stabbing or biting or clawing.  Sugimi howled in anger, shaking several off his back.  With terrible rage, Sugimi recognized the trap.  The demons he slew earlier were dust and bone – these were real.  Sugimi slashed at the underbelly of the great panther demon.  Oyakata’s cry echoed about the land, and his panther demon followers howled in response.   Sugimi took the chance to repay the favor Oyakata had extended and latched onto the panther demon’s neck in a death grip.  Sugimi tasted blood, and though Oyakata scratched and twisted, the dog demon held fast.  The lesser panther demons of Oyakata’s tribe attacked with fury, but Sugimi’s grip could not be broke.  As he broke through Oyakata’s neck, he felt the life blood drain from his foe.  Sensing the death of their leader, the remaining panther demons gathered around him and cried piteously.   After reverting to his human form, Sugimi again drew the Tessaiga and slew the lesser panther demons, wincing at the gaping wound on his neck and shoulder.  As a demon he would heal fast and by himself, but since it was another, powerful demon that caused the wounds, it would take longer than usual to heal completely.   Perhaps it was the lack of blood, or perhaps it was the echo of her kind voice, but something stirred the memory of that beautiful female human.  Sugimi found himself wandering in the direction of the mysterious lady of the castle.     Blood dripped on the fine wooden stairs leading up to the main pavilion of the castle.  The moon had almost set, but his enhanced sight could make her out as clearly as he would have in the middle of the afternoon.  The wide open doors of the main hallway were lit by withering candles, and inside the hall were several sick or injured peasants.  The female human was helping the young child drink water when she glanced up and saw him in the doorway.  She stood up slowly and looked at him with wide, admiring eyes.  Then she gave him a respectful bow and hurried over on soft feet.   “My lord,” she whispered gently.  “Please accept the poor hospitality of my home while you heal.  It would be a great honor, my lord.”  Her eyes did not rise above his knees.   Sugimi grunted and she bowed again, leading him a short way to another, stately room with a large sleeping pad in the center.  Could this be the room of the lord of the castle, he thought to himself.  There were several scrolls hanging on the walls, and a rack of swords covering one wall.  The room also allowed a view of a particularly beautiful garden.   Sugimi chose a wall and leaned against hit, removing his swords as he sat.  The woman approached him with a bowl of warm water and several cloths.  “My lord,” she said softly, “please allow me to clean your wounds.”   “Not necessary,” he grunted.   The woman nodded.  “Yes, my lord.  I know I cannot help you heal – your powers far surpass mine.  But I would not want another demon attracted by the blood to bother you during your rest, my lord.”   The corner of Sugimi’s mouth turned upwards.  Perhaps the woman had done some research about demons after he’d left.  Sugimi removed his metal armor and mantle wordlessly, and the woman knelt beside him and set down the bowl of water.  He could smell the fear on her, but she looked curious.  He had not spent much time around humans to know if this was normal.  Most were too afraid, though he did his best to protect the ones that could not protect themselves against demons like Oyakata.   She silently moved aside the collar of his robes, and he saw the heat rise to her cheeks.  Though she said nothing, he could sense that there were many things she would like to ask him.  She was careful not to press too forcefully against the wound; she had very tender hands.  Finally, she began to clean the blood off his face and hands.  Very gently, she tipped his face towards hers to clean the blood off his other cheek.  He allowed himself to look at her, and saw that she had a small smile on her lips; her eyes were soft and full of warmth.   When she had finished washing the blood off his hands and forearms, she bowed her head and made to leave.  Before she could rise, Sugimi grabbed her wrist, though not tight enough to hurt her.  She jumped in surprise.  “What is your name, human?” he asked as kindly as he could.   She bowed her head.  “I am called Izayoi, my lord.”   Sugimi nodded.  “Thank you, Izayoi.”   She smiled a small smile.  “My lord.”  Then she backed out of the room and closed the sliding door behind her.