InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Rose Bloomed from Fire ❯ An Assigned Task ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the other characters from the anime/manga. This fic actually gonna be loosely (keyword: LOOSELY) based on Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare with a lot of modifications. I don't own that play either obviously.

Sorry for the long update! I was sick for two weeks then writer's block hit, so I'll keep the author's notes as short as possible. I'm not so sure if this story should have a tragic ending or a happy ending, so I'm gonna ask you people to tell what you want when you review. That will help me a lot.

As you may have noticed, I am now Fenikkusu Ice on mediaminer.org, fanfiction.net and fictionpress.org so I don't have to use three different pen names. I was Sweetapple, Sweet Sprite and Fenikkusu Sprite respectively. Sadly I had to register under a new user name on mediaminer.org so I've lost most, if not all, all those wonderful reviews on that site. The same thing happened when I got a new pen name for Sesshoumaru the Killing Perfection.

Responses (from reviews I have left):

Mediaminer.org:

Pkat: Thanks for your comments. Here's the first chapter.

Ashra Ab: What's wrong with Sess/Kag? I really hope that you're reconsider and give my fic a chance.

ioke: Okay I guess I can email when I do update. Thanks for reviewing. Keep reading!

Youkai Yume: Hey you read my fic! I'm so glad you liked it! Be prepared to shed some tears cause there's gonna be more angst coming up later. Jealous? Don't be. I love your fics and I read a lot so I know a great story when I read one. Sorry for the long awaited update but it's the classic case of writer's block and a cold that prevented me from writing. Hope you like this chapter. ^_^

Lorrenna: This fic is gonna be full of romance and angst so there will be more to come. Thanks for reviewing!

Dreaming_Girl: I put "Sesshou" in their because that was his name in his past life, not his nickname. Not very original I know but I thought it would be too easy to tell who is who if they had the same name in the past life. By the way, you know more angst is gonna come right? Coz of the genre. On a lighter note, thanks for reviewing!

Sesshoumaru the Killing Perfection (I am now FenikIce on that site coz the site won't let me put my full pen name)

Aoi Tsuki: Hey thanks for your comments! Don't worry. I'll keep writing this one.

Tiffinie: I guess I can email you when I update but don't be upset if I forget ok? Lol. Strangely enough, sometimes I have a really short short term memory but a really long long term memory.

Fanfiction.net

Rabid-Inu-Girl, AnimeChibiGrl: Yep. Why so sad? Because this fic is angst and I don't know. It's just how this story will go. Just warning you though. There will be more sad parts to come but there will also be a lot of romance as well! Glad you liked my fic!

Kagome Fan1: Thanks and here's the first chapter!

Elatingrl88: That means a lot to me. Thank you! Are you aware that you posted the same review twice? I don't mind. I just wanted to tell you that. Oh I will finish this story. It's just a matter of time. Keep reading!

Liana: Wow thanks a bunch! Sniff, I'm touched. This will be quite a long story since the plot sorta complicated. My intention in this fic is to go in deep into love and prejudice. However this will have a lot of angst in it but there will be a lot of romance in it as well. I may have imagination but my writing well. . . *sweatdrop* let's just say that my writing's limited. And yes I have read many fics before I even started writing so I've seen certain mistakes before. Wow you understand more things than I did when I was 13. *Another sweatdrop* I wasn't very bright when I was that age. Thank you and yes I believe you!

Fiorella-sama: Err. You'll actually find out in this chapter. Oh and if you remember the summary and the title of the prologue, the prologue is actually what happened before in the two's past lives. This won't be a short story and it will have more angst with romance so the sad parts aren't over yet. :)

crystal: Update soon huh? *sweatdrop* heh heh sorry for the long delay. That's the first time somebody commented on my summary. Anyway scroll down to read the next part.

Stardust8212: Yes I will finish it since so many people want me to. Prepare for more angst and romance in future chapters. Thanks for your support!

Email:

Maria: Glad you liked this fic and thank you for you comments!

Wolfie: I'm sorry for the long wait. I've been sick for two weeks and writer's block didn't help afterwards either. Well here's the next chapter.

Crimson: Wow you've left one review for two of my stories! I never thought my stories would do that well so I guess people must like my fics. I'd like to warn you that there will be more angst coming up.

`Rose Bloomed from Fire'

By Fenikkusu Ice

Chapter 1: An Assigned Task

*******

A magnificent castle stood proudly in the heart of the lands in the West. The stone building reflected the color of the full moon, making the stone structure the most visible object for miles around. Its many towers overlooked the lush vast lands below in the stillness of the night. This was a territory inhabited by demons so describing the night as uneventful would be inaccurate. The night though was quiet despite of all the activities that happen every evening in the shadows of the forest that surrounded hill on which the castle rests.

Youkai did not have to sleep for very long compared with humans, at most once or twice every week. For this reason, most youkai still roamed around the night as if it was day. There were few youkai however who had nothing important to do. Due their nature, youkai's prefer to be alert at all times. No one can blame them though for this was a time of war.

On this particular night, inside the castle where many lights lit, inside one of the largest bedrooms in the east wing where the royal family resided, was a demon who was sound asleep. The moonlight shown through the window onto the youkai who lay on the bed that could fit someone twice his size and that's saying a lot considering this demon was quite tall. His long silvery hair shined in the light reflecting its silkiness and texture. There were two dark magenta stripes on each side of his face and on each arm. A blue crescent moon rested in the middle of his forehead. His eyelids were each outlined with a magenta stripe.

Since demons hardly ever sleep, one would think that while sleeping, a youkai should be at peace. This demon however was anything but relaxed. His eyebrows were furrowed, he was sweating and his breaths came out in deep pants, as if he was struggling to breathe. He had been tossing and turning for hours and was now at a point of exhaustion. Apparently something jolted him from his sleep for he suddenly sprung up, golden eyes wide open and breathing deeply.

He looked around frantically, as if trying to remember where he was and once he did, he stopped panicking. With one clawed hand, he grasped the blue silk sheets and with the other hand, he wiped off the perspiration on his forehead.

`What was that?' he thought. `That. . . that dream. Was that even a dream? It felt so real.'

He remembered everything about the dream, every single detail. The voices were so clear. Unfortunately, he realized with frustration, he could not recall any of the faces he had seen. The only feature he could remember on the maiden was the brilliant blue eyes.

`It was almost like. . . I was there.' He had felt everything. The love for the maiden in the violet dress, the sadness that radiated off of her aura, the saltiness of her tears, her unique scent that consisted of lilacs and spring rain, the taste of her lips, the anger he had felt when they were both taken away. Even the heat of the fire burned into his memory. He had actually felt the heat tearing at his flesh.

It was not the first time this happened, for few times he had slept in the past three weeks he had this dream. He slammed his fist on the bed with frustration. He could recall everything from his dream except for the faces and they were the most important detail of all. He found himself asking questions that plagued the depths of his mind ever since he first woke up drenched in sweat from that dream. Who was that woman? She was human so why did he, in the dream, love her? Who and what were separating them? Was it possible that this dream was not a dream at all, but a vision? A memory perhaps?

The youkai decided to think about those questions later as he fought a headache coming. Now that he was awake, he needed to perform his tasks and he could not afford to be distracted. He slid off the bed and got dressed in the finest clothes and the best armor fit for a prince. He was after all the prince of the Western Lands.

When he walked out the door of his bedroom, he closed the door and made his way to his father's study. His attire now consisted of a tight blue long sleeve shirt tucked inside brown pants, a sheath with a sword attached to his belt on his waist, black boots and a dark red cape that reached his ankles with gold chains at the ends against his collarbone. The armor plates on his shoulders and on his chest were of a bronze color. Both his belt and his sword bore the his family's shield, which had a large white dog in the center, baring his teeth in a fighting stance on four legs and two swords; a large one at the top and a smaller one at the bottom.

The castle was well lit for few youkai were asleep and the rest of the youkai who lived in the building were awake and working. Servants who passed by him bowed to him and greeted him by name. The prince acknowledged their presence by nodding his head. He finally reached his father's study, which was on the south wing, and a good deal farther than he would have liked.

When he entered the room, his father glanced at him and said, "Ah Sesshoumaru. Finally awake I see?"

The king was in a similar attire as the younger youkai, only he did not wear the armor, his shirt was red, his cape and pants were black. Also his sheath was larger and curved, showing the shape of the sword inside.

The older demon gave a half smile at his son and Sesshoumaru returned it but his father could easily tell it was forced. Ever since Lady Chikara, the queen, passed away from an unidentified illness, Sesshoumaru had been cold and unfeeling. The old inu youkai knew that his son cared for him because of those small half-smiles he would give, even though it was only to reassure his father that he was fine.

Kesshi saw that his son was getting impatient and so he began to explain the reason he was called. "Sesshoumaru," Kesshi said in a serious tone to make sure that Sesshoumaru was listening. Kesshi unrolled a map of Japan. "Our sources tell us that the troops of the Northern Lands are beginning to divide. Some," he pointed to the area at the northwest border of the Northern and Western lands," are now in this area while the another group," he pointed to the area where the border lines of all four lands meet," are here and the last group is heading towards the Eastern lands. Probably to ask some help from their fellow human comrades."

Sesshoumaru had remained quiet, deep in thought. He responded, "Father, isn't it odd that one group that consisted of 500 men would be heading to the Eastern Lands? Both the Northern Lands and the Eastern Lands are inhabited entirely by humans and they are working together to defeat the youkai and take over our lands. If they were asking for reinforcements why didn't they send a messenger instead of a large number of men?"

"Yes I was wondering about that. It is odd. Perhaps they were fetching supplies for the rest of the army? Unlikely but possible since the southern parts of the Northern Lands is prosperous but it may not be enough for an army of that size. By the way Sesshoumaru, you are assuming that the human kings of the Northern Lands and the Eastern Lands are working together; we don't know that for sure. It would make sense but it could be a trick. Do not assume anything my son unless there is evidence to back up your fact."

Sesshoumaru nodded. Kesshi spoke again, "For now since we don't know what the King of the Northern Lands is planning I will order troops to meet them at the two areas and send a spy to find out what is going on in the Eastern Lands. What I want you to do is to go the Northern Lands and gather information about their king's plans through any way possible."

The other inu youkai gaze hardened at the thought of being around humans but he replied, "Yes father. I will come back with the information we need."

As he turned to walk out, Kesshi rested his hand on Sesshoumaru's shoulder. "Be careful son," he whispered.

For a second, the prince's eyes softened but then become emotionless again just as quickly. He nodded without looking at the king and left.

Kesshi sighed. Knowing his son, he would never give up until his task is done, but what if he was captured or killed?

`Don't underestimate the humans, son. They have lasted through many years against us youkai.'

*******

Japanese Translations:

chikara: force, strength, energy, might, power, agency (this is what I named Sesshoumaru's mother)

kesshi: hero, greatness; preparedness for death, do-or-die spirit (this is what I named the King of the Western Lands, Sesshoumaru's father. I decided to be more original in naming him coz most fics tend to use Inutashio or something like that.)

youkai: demon

Am I glad this chapter is done! This sets the stage for the next chapter, which is when Kagome will make her first appearance. Wow! 18 reviews for one chapter so far! Please review! I would be studying for and having exams soon so this may not be updated for a while (as in like for a month), depending on how much time I have. Anyway hoped you liked this chapter!

Fenikkusu Ice