InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Rulers of Four Directions ❯ House of the Crescent Moon ( Chapter 4 )

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters in this fan fiction are the property of Rumiko Takahashi. The original characters and plot are the property of Chiaztolite, who is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise.  No copyright infringement is intended.

Summary of Previous Chapter: Convinced that Sakki was a threat to Rin's life, Sesshoumaru tried to kill her. Sakki was stunned to learn that not only he could see her, but he could also harm her using Tenseiga. Later on, the Death God, Hakuou, told her it was all because Sesshoumaru was the owner of Tenseiga. Despite Hakuou's warning, Sakki was determined to pursue Sesshoumaru.

_________________________________________________________________ ___________________________

Rulers of Four Directions

Chapter 04: House of the Crescent Moon

 

`We're getting close...' Sesshoumaru thought as he sensed the demonic aura around them increased, again.

 

Their journey since he encountered that mysterious female was pretty much smooth sailing. They flew almost constantly, though he allowed his pack to pause every so often so Kohaku could descend to the ground to retrieve water and some food. As a daiyokai, he did not need much to sustain himself. He could go on without food and water for many days and still had enough strength in him to fight. However, as he had observed, humans needed a lot more to prolong their lives. He had also ordered Kohaku to keep Rin well nourished during their journey. It would not make any sense to let the girl die of hunger and thirst while they were trying to save her from another cause of death.

 

Unlike his own territory, the eastern lands were very quiet. There were not very many humans there, and the deeper they went, the fewer humans they saw. In western lands, humans roamed around everywhere like maggots. The strong demonic presence in the east must have driven the humans out of these lands, and perhaps into his. What had created this strong demonic presence, he could not be sure. It was no ordinary yokai energy, he gathered that much. He could sense something ancient, something that could belong to the beasts of old times. He guessed it belonged to some of the old, dangerous beasts dwelling within the depth of the land's vast forests.

He frowned when he saw a soaring mountain ahead of them. They had passed many mountains on their way there but this one was the highest by far. Not only that, he also sensed a large amount of demonic energy coming from the mountain. If his perception was correct, the palace of the eastern lands would be located somewhere there.

 

It was already twilight when they reached the face of the mountain. He led his pack to ascend higher and higher to arrive at the top. The path was not easy as the mountain was extremely steep and smooth-faced. There were not many spots that could be used as footing, yet the yokai lord ascended effortlessly. Every so often, he would glance over his shoulder to check on his wards. Kohaku had traveled with him for some time now and had acquired admirable skills with the reins. He seemed to always be able to find some protruding rock here and there for Ah Un to use as footing. With little difficulties, he guided the beast to follow their lord.

 

They reached the top of the mountain and found themselves surrounded by clouds tinged with the colour of sunset. Even for the yokai lord himself, the clouds were too thick to clearly see beyond. They remained still until their vision cleared up.

 

The clouds revealed such a magnificent view that it almost took Sesshoumaru's breath away. Beyond the mountain was an enormous crater, so deep that the base of it must have been on the same level as the ground. The mountain circled the crater like a belt, protecting it in all directions. In the center of the crater laid the eastern palace: a rectangular-shaped complex filled with traditional buildings, surrounded by tall stone walls on four sides.

 

“What a site for a palace...” Kohaku murmured as he stared at the sight below in awe. Never before had he seen anything like it.

 

Sesshoumaru remained silent as he observed the eastern palace that seemed so small amidst the vastness of the crater. Which one existed first: the crater or the palace, he was not sure. It was very possible that their ancestors carved out the massive cavity in the centre of the mountain to situate their palace. The location was after all, perfect. No humans or lesser demons would be able to find them.

 

`But even if they did... There is still a trick to this place.' He thought as he started to descend with his wards tailed after him faithfully.

 

The base of the crater was covered in fine white sands, and they found themselves standing before a seemingly endless white dune. When seen with one's ordinary eyes, the eastern palace was still miles away, much too far to be traveled on foot.

 

But Sesshoumaru was set to walk every single step until he reached his destination.

 

“Sesshoumaru-sama!” Jaken called him when the toad yokai saw him striding forth. “Are you planning to walk all the way there?”

 

The toad yokai could not comprehend his lord's action. The eastern palace resembled a tiny dot when viewed from where they stood. That was how great the distance between them and their destination. And yet... his lord decided to walk when they could fly? If his lord was set on finishing their journey on foot, they might have to walk for at least half a day before they reach the main gate of the palace. The yokai lord further stunned his vassals when he seized Ah Un's reins. With his usual `I-need-not-explain-my-action' attitude, he started to tread the distance, dragging Ah Un and everyone else behind him.

 

Jaken and Kohaku had expected to remain on Ah Un's saddle until early dawn, and thus they were beyond amazed when their path suddenly ended. It was only a few minutes after the walk started, and now they found themselves before the gate of the palace.

 

“Eh?” Jaken was at loss for words. He kept looking back and forth, trying to comprehend how they reached the gate so quickly.

 

Sesshoumaru acknowledged the illusion they had created was cunning indeed, alas it was still too primitive to repel a demon of his calibre. But, he recognized its effectiveness against humans and minor demons. It was the illusion of the endless path, created to fool trespassers who presumed they would eventually cross the distance if they kept moving forward. But in reality, the gap between them and their destination would never recede no matter what. The lesser kinds would surely fall into the trap and would walk for all eternity, or at least until they died of exhaustion.

 

The pack was now standing before the closed gate, which was massive, just like the crater itself. It stood four times a common male's height, if not more, and constructed of thick solid stone. On the gate was a carving of a circle within a bigger circle, which Sesshoumaru presumed was the official crest of the lands. Soon after, he realized that they resembled two crescent moons facing each other.

 

There was no one outside the gate except themselves, but Sesshoumaru could sense presence beyond these walls. Undoubtedly they were being watched, as the guards must have detected his demonic aura. Proving his suspicion, the heavy gate started to quake open slowly...

 

_________________________________________________________________ __________________________

 

“My Lord...!” A soldier called out as he ran along the vast corridor of the eastern palace as fast as his legs could carry him. “...My Lord!”

 

He stopped when he reached his destination: a chamber at the end of the corridor. Its two wide doors were already opened and the soldier, though in haste, was careful enough not to raise his head before the occupants of the chamber. He lowered himself to his knees and bowed deeply, pressing his forehead against the gleaming floor.

 

“My Lord...” After an effort to calm his laboured breathing, he greeted his master.

 

“What is this ruckus?” A deep, calm voice of a male answered from within. His voice carried the wisdom and depth no young yokai possessed. He sat behind a large lacquered desk situated low above the floor. He had a fine calligraphy brush in one hand while the other held what seemed to be an ancient scroll. He had his eyes fixed on the writing on the scroll and did not appear too concerned with the commotion.

 

“An intruder, My Lord...” The soldier answered. “He managed to break the illusion.”

 

Hearing this news, the male finally raised his head to gaze upon the soldier. But unlike the flustered soldier, his unruffled expression carried a tinge of amusement.

 

“Did he?” The male asked with voice as calm as his face.

 

“Yes, my Lord.” said the soldier. “He is standing in front of palace gate right this moment.”

 

“And what are you doing here, instead of exterminating this intruder before the palace gate?” It was the voice of another male within, much younger than the first. His voice was laced with impatience.

 

“Ah... It's because...” The soldier paused momentarily. “... He has an emblem of crescent moon on his forehead...”

 

For a moment, no one uttered a word. The elder male put down the calligraphy brush he had been holding. His golden eyes had not left the kneeling soldier in front of his chamber. This time, his face was no longer undisturbed. His thick, yet refined silvery eyebrows were knitted together to form a deep frown.

 

“... Emblem of crescent moon, you said?” He confirmed.

 

“Yes, my Lord.”

 

Yet again, another heavy silence filled the chamber until a female voice was heard.

 

“Grandfather...” She said, her voice remained serene. “If you give your permission, I will go and meet this intruder.”

 

Her grandfather considered this question for a moment. Eventually, he nodded to give his permission. After lowering her head to express her gratitude, the female rose to her feet and left the chamber. The soldier moved away to give her a passage. He kept his head lowered as she passed by, but he could still see her long, fine silver mane that swayed with each graceful step from the corners of his eyes. Then he too, lifted himself up to follow her.

 

Three pairs of eyes, three male demons from within the chamber followed her moves. Judging from their appearances, they were pure-blooded inuyokai: the eldest who sat in the middle behind the lacquered desk, and two others. Finally, the last one who had not spoken yet broke the silence.

 

“Grandfather...” He prompted the elder male to turn to the right to look at him. “Is it truly fine to let her go out there? By herself?”

 

“Certainly.” His grandfather said, after regarding the question for a brief moment.

 

“This intruder with emblem of crescent moon on his forehead... You know that he is her...”

 

“That is exactly why.” The elder interrupted. “She has the right to be the first to lay eyes on him.”

 

“But...”

 

“Yuusou,” Once again, the elder interrupted his grandson. “You need not worry.”

 

Without trying to participate in the conversation that just took place, the remaining inuyokai rose to his feet. Keeping his silence, he left the chamber.

 

“Zoichi,” His brother called him, yet it did not stop him from leaving...

_________________________________________________________________ ___________________________

Two guards, dressed in deep indigo armours, emerged from behind the gate. Sesshoumaru regarded them with his narrowed eyes. They were pure-blooded inu guards, he could tell. As he observed them, they were performing the same task on him. Their eyes paused momentarily on the crescent moon tattoo on his forehead, and their eyebrows were stitched into frowns.

 

“What business you have here, stranger?” One of them asked him.

 

“I came to have an audience with the lord of these lands.” Coming from him, those words sounded more like a command than a request.

 

“Our master is not the type who would grant an impromptu audience.” The other guard said. “We must ask you to leave.”

 

“Hn.” An imperious smirk appeared on the daiyokai's lips. “You misunderstood me. What I just said was not a request.”

 

Both guards glowered at the insolent remark. They had their hands on the hilt of their swords, ready to engage him in combat, when they all heard the stone gate started to shift. Sesshoumaru's eyebrows stitched together when he heard the heavy groan emanating from the gate, the sounds of the doors being opened. He shifted his gaze, watching the heavy doors parting ever so slowly. The two guards budged from their original stations, shifting themselves away from the gate, as if to give passage to whoever was about to appear from within.

 

The inuyokai lord could not take his eyes off the gate, which at that moment, seemed to take forever to open. Time seemed to stretch forever with anticipation, and he was not a patient one to begin with. But even that long period of wait could not prepare him for his next finding.

 

The opened gate revealed the figure of a female inuyokai...

 

During the three days since his mother revealed the existence of his younger sister, the yokai lord had not allowed himself to picture her in his mind. Sticking to the concept that she was merely a stranger, he decided to perceive things as they came. Any attempt to visualize her could only be the beginning of attachment, which was not welcomed in this matter.

 

Two pairs of golden eyes met, and both widened at the sight of each other.

 

To say they looked alike was an understatement. The resemblance was so strong that one could not treat it as mere coincidence.

 

She was an exquisite creature indeed, her beauty rivalled that of their mother. She was also the bearer of the crescent moon emblem on her forehead. Just like himself, just like their mother. Her markings were the same colour as his, though she had only one stripe adorning each cheek. She possessed the trademark silver inu hair, though as a younger yokai, her length was nowhere near his. Her slender figure was dressed in clothing suited for battle: a fine white kimono embroidered with indigo designs and black cuirass armour covering her midsection. It was uncommon for a female of noble birth to sport such masculine attire, but he perceived this as an indicator of the role she played in their land's military.

 

It appeared that he was not the only one who felt perturbed by the encounter. The female too, stared at him with stunned eyes. She immediately recognized the perplexing similarities in their features. Though who he was, she was still oblivious to the truth.

 

For a moment they stood staring at each other without uttering a single word. But finally, she came to her senses and opened her mouth to speak,

 

“May I ask... What is your purpose here, stranger?”

 

He disregarded that question, for he was filled with something he did not expect he would feel: curiosity. And he was not about to wait to act on it.

 

His hand unsheathed Tenseiga under the constant watch of the object of his curiosity. She remained silent, but her forehead burrowed when she saw the gleam of the naked sword. Pointing the tip of his sword towards her direction, he ordered,

 

“Draw.”

 

Her pair of golden eyes narrowed at the challenge, spoken so aloofly by an uninvited inuyokai. The two inu guards immediately intervened, shielding her from the pointed sword.

 

“How dare you point your sword at our princess!” One of them growled. They had their swords in hand, ready to defend the female noble of their lands.

 

“...Challenge accepted.” Her unexpected acquiescence brought an end to her guards' chivalrous acts. They opened their mouth to protest, but were silenced by the slight raising of her hand. At once, they inclined their heads and cleared her way.

 

“Draw.” Sesshoumaru repeated his demand. Tenseiga was already within his tight grip.

 

The female tilted her head to the side. Her pale crimson lips curled into an unreadable smile, as if she just heard something amusing.

 

“I have not decided if I want to use my sword yet.” She said, the same smile was still pasted on her face. “But you go ahead.”

 

If there was a hint of sneer in her remark, the yokai lord decided to pay no heed to it. He lunged at her, swinging Tenseiga in full force. She leaped to evade the attack in good time, her yokai intuition did her justice. Sesshoumaru followed her movements from the corner of his eye; his right hand that wielded Tenseiga was already moving to deliver another swipe. He paused when he felt the unfamiliar heaviness of his arm, of his own sword. He threw Tenseiga a quick glance, and froze when he saw his blade was covered in thin red strings. His fine sense of smell could capture the reek of potent poison on those strings. The scent was something he was especially familiar with, as he carried the same scent in his blood. His eyes followed the path of those glittering threads to their source. They disappeared under the five tapered talons of her right hand.

 

“Hn.” He scoffed as he straightened his spine and loosened his grip on Tenseiga. “Do not think you are the only one with such trick.” He said as he lifted his left arm, letting his own poison drip from his index and middle finger. Those green droplets of poison instantly materialized into a tangible whip.

 

Her eyes widened in astonishment as she witnessed her opponent mimicked a technique similar to hers, the red strings' grip on his sword slowly faltered. Her wonder deepened as her nose caught the scent of his poison; it was as familiar as her own. From the first moment she laid her eyes on this stranger, she knew he was no ordinary yokai. The crescent moon emblem on his forehead along with the magenta markings on his face were enough hints that they were somehow related, as those crests matched her own. And now she had learnt he possessed the same poison that course through her veins. The resemblance was too uncanny to be ignored...

 

“...my Lady!!”

 

A shout abruptly ended her musings. She blinked, only to see the green whip coming at her in great speed. Her eyes widened, her hand moved to counter the attack, yet she seemed so slow compared to the merciless poisonous lash that seemed determined to split her into two...

 

-To be continued-

 

Hmm... I'm excited that Sesshoumaru's sister finally appeared, and I hope you are too. Thanks for reading. Do take a few moments to drop me a few lines. I'm always curious to hear what my readers think of the chapter. See you next time (hopefully very soon!)

 

-Chiaztolite-