InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Rulers of Four Directions ❯ Resolution ( Chapter 6 )

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: Sesshoumaru finally met his grandfather, Lord Shogo, along with the other nobles of eastern inuyokai clan. He asked Lord Shogo to cure Rin, but was refused. Angry with the rejection, Sesshoumaru determined to force the lord to revive Rin no matter what, and challenged him.

_________________________________________________________________ ___________________________

Rulers of Four Directions

Chapter 06: Resolution

 

“Whenever you are ready...” Lord Shogo said. “...Young lord.”

 

An invitation was spoken on the white dunes before the gate of the eastern palace where they had witnessed dusk turned into night. Two male inuyokai stood face to face as they were about to commence their battle. The rest of inuyokai remained on the sideline, watching the exchange intently.

 

Sesshoumaru smirked when he heard that invitation, spoken so casually by the elder. Without wasting any breath to counter, he lunged at the Lord of the Eastern Lands with his yokai speed, his sword was within his tight grip. When he launched his first attack: the deadly swing of Bakusaiga, the lord was ready to receive it. Their swords collided with a loud crash, sparks of blue and green formed where those two blades made contact. Sesshoumaru increased the pressure on his sword, determined to force his grandfather to yield, yet that sword with blue aura did not budge. Their eyes met, and Sesshoumaru could not help but feeling bemused when he saw the lord's composure was not at all ruffled by the attack.

 

Lord Shogo stood his ground; his sword had not moved an inch even when his opponent exerted more strain to push him back. Slowly, he closed his eyes to sharpen his senses. He had always been a firm believer that a sword was an extension of a warrior, and one could learn much about the opponent from the first clash of the blades. Alas, not many would bother to take some time to discover something about an adversary during a battle. Yet, this concerned his own grandson, whom he had never met until a few moments ago, and the lord was adamant to know more.

 

Sesshoumaru furrowed his eyebrows when he saw Lord Shogo closed his eyes, as if savouring the moment when their swords collided. It lasted for a few seconds and when those golden eyes reopened, the lord looked at him straight in the eye.

 

“Not bad.” He said, much to Sesshoumaru's surprise.

 

“The way you wield your sword tells me you have an honourable soul...” Lord Shogo continued. “Though at times you are easily provoked and your ambitions often blind you.”

 

Sesshoumaru jerked his head back in aggravation. The criticism was uncalled for and, needless to say, unwelcomed. He had gained a reputation as one who remained calm even in the most dangerous of battles, as one who lost neither concentration nor aim even in the most dire of situations. And yet... this creature, practically a stranger, dared to conclude him as such?

 

He leaped backwards, splitting their blades that were pressed together. How tempted he was to release the explosive wave of Bakusaiga, capable of crumbling anything standing in its path. And yet, he could do nothing but to tighten his jaw, suppressing his desire to launch the waves of destruction and reduce his opponent to crumbs. He knew too well the consequences of that action. His goal was to force his grandfather to submit to his will, not to kill the old yokai. Rin's life would be in an even greater danger if he succumbed to that desire.

 

His eyes widened when Lord Shogo abruptly appeared before him, ending his musings, proving the agility of the lord despite his age. The distance between them was less than an arm's reach. Sesshoumaru's intuition prompted him to move his legs, leaping out of the lord's sword range.

 

“Too slow!” The lord's proclamation reached his ears.

 

`Too slow?'

 

Gleaming edge of his opponent's sword appeared before his eyes, just inches away from the tip of his nose. It forced him to retreat yet again. Once more their blades met, sparks of blue and green lightning emerged, golden eyes bore into golden eyes.

 

Sesshoumaru admitted he was called many things, and some of them might even be true, but `too slow' was never one of them. The young yokai lord had prided himself in his speed and his intuition that allowed him to counter an attack within the blink of an eye. For someone to utter such a comment was beyond offensive.

 

“Too slow, you said?” He repeated the insult with a menacing smirk. “We shall see.”

 

He switched his defence to offence, charging forward with Bakusaiga. Lord Shogo met each and every one of his strike, matching his expertise in sword fighting. Only the sounds of crashing metal filled the air as the two lords engaged themselves in fierce battle of the blades.

 

“Very good...” the lord said between the clashing of their swords. His eyes never strayed from every one of his grandson's movements, examining the youngling's skills closely. “Very, very good...” He repeated.

 

The positive remark caused Sesshoumaru to frown. All the battles he had fought so far in his life were to defeat and inflict humiliation, not to observe or even admire his foe. He started this battle fully resolved to force Lord Shogo to yield to his wishes, and yet the Lord of the Eastern Lands appeared to enjoy the fight as if it was a sparring practice. And the lord's seemingly genuine compliment did not fail to perplex him.

 

“But why are you just swinging your sword like this, Sesshoumaru?” Lord Shogo asked, yet again earning his grandson's attention. “Do you truly not know how to wield the power of your own sword?”

 

A provocative smirk accompanied the question, which made it sound even more condescending to Sesshoumaru's ears. The young lord narrowed his eyes dangerously. The Lord of the Eastern Lands had insulted him once too many, and he could no longer ignore the itch to unleash the power of Bakusaiga.

 

“Answer me once and for all...” He said coldly. “Will you break the spell of Nemuri Hime?”

 

“No.” Came the lord's answer, brief and concise.

 

The old dog really was more stubborn than he thought.

 

“I suppose you cannot wait to die.” He hissed.

 

He retreated, increasing the distance between them. Raising Bakusaiga until it was at the level of his chest, he channelled his youki into his sword, causing tendrils emerald green aura to surface and snake along the blade. With one swing, he unleashed the full power of Bakusaiga, hurling the green waves of destruction towards his awaiting opponent. It engulfed the lord completely, trapping him within a ball of storm that would surely cause his flesh to crumble, an unfailing effect Bakusaiga had on any mortals.

 

He was ready to leave the battle ground when his green ball of youki diminished and revealed the yokai it trapped within. Sesshoumaru gasped when he witnessed Lord Shogo standing on the same spot where Bakusaiga had struck him, unaffected by the attack. Not even his kimono was torn. He must have created a barrier a second before Bakusaiga's storm of destruction reached him.

 

“This is merely a child's play.” The lord uttered calmly. He raised his sword, pointing it towards his grandson who seemed disturbed by the unsuccessful attempt to maim him. A small ball of green youki appeared at the tip of the blade, gradually increasing in size. He released the lump of youki, the very same youki that the younger lord imposed upon him just seconds ago. The materialized demonic energy, unleashed with utmost precision, struck the blade in the youngling's hand.

 

The taste of his own powerful energy forced Sesshoumaru to release his grip on Bakusaiga. The sword was sent flying and landed on its tip a few paces away from him. He was at loss for words. Bakusaiga's power had been tested many times against his foes, including the demon Naraku, and it had always prevailed. This was truly the first time he met an adversary who not only managed to block the destructive waves of the sword, but also reflects its power.

 

“The arrogance of youth...” He heard Lord Shogo stated, undoubtedly spoken solely for his ears. Even after all the fighting, the lord maintained that regal composure, staring straight at him. “Even in greatness, a sliver of humility must exist.”

 

He regarded his grandfather with a displeased gaze, which grew more and more unpleasant as seconds passed.

 

“Sesshoumaru.” Lord Shogo continued. “Though I commend your success in creating a weapon of your own, you cannot hide the fact that this sword has not matured yet.”

 

“What are you trying to say?”

 

“... You may be able to fool others with that fancy strike, but you cannot fool me.” Lord Shogo answered, his gaze shifted momentarily to regard Bakusaiga with its tip still buried in the white sands. “That sword is incomplete.”

 

There was an intense silence before Sesshoumaru's growl, low and threatening, was heard.

 

“...What?”

 

Lord Shogo did not answer immediately. He stood still with his gaze fixed on his grandson's face. The facade that was cold and expressionless was now rippled with suppressed wrath. The pup was incensed, he could tell. And yet, he continued on, stating the one thing no one had voiced before.

 

“Your sword has no ougi.”

 

Sesshoumaru's eyes widened, the truth impaired him more than the strike of a sword. Bakusaiga's lack of ougi had been something that occupied his mind as of late. Ougi... the ultimate technique of a sword was a skill its wielder could bring forth only after he was completely in sync with the sword. It required time and a great deal of skills on the wielder's part. The ability to generate ougi was the undisputable proof that one was the true master of the sword.

 

The young yokai lord had had his share of success with Tokijin. His mastery had brought forth Souryuuha, Tokijin's ougi, the “dragon strike”, manifested in the form of gigantic lightning-blue dragon. And yet, he had not been successful in bringing out Bakusaiga's ougi, despite his claim as the sword's rightful owner. Why? It should have happened naturally. The sword literally came from inside him, for God's sake. If he was not its true master, then who could it be? He had tried a thousand trials, he had pondered, but Bakusaiga provided no answer. It could only perform the same strike after strike, no matter how much youki or anger he had channelled into the sword.

 

Lord Shogo returned his sword back in its sheath. With a sharp exhale, he turned around and started to walk away.

 

“It is impossible for you to defeat me as you are now.” He threw his remark into the wind. “You may as well leave.”

 

But Sesshoumaru, still seething inside, could not... would not let things ended as they were. He understood very well the consequence of letting the lord escape just like that. He would have to pay it with Rin's life, and as he realized, that was too high of a price. His eyes, fiery like two blazing ambers, were glued on Lord Shogo's back. His pride and determination guided him to pick Bakusaiga up from the white sands. His movements did not go unnoticed, as they caused the departing lord to halt his steps. Lord Shogo turned his head just enough to reveal his profile, watching his grandson from the corner of his eye. The return of the sword in the pup's hands provided enough evidence for his persistence.

 

“Cease this futile struggle.” Lord Shogo said coldly. “An incomplete sword cannot defeat me.”

 

“This sword may be incomplete but it is a sword nevertheless.” Sesshoumaru countered. “If you are unwilling to break the spell of Nemuri Hime, I will make sure that you perish.”

 

Not giving Lord Shogo a chance to respond, he leaped forward, channelling all his yokai speed into his legs. The sharp tip of Bakusaiga was aimed at the lord's neck. His attack was greeted by the same sword that battled him, the two blades grazed against each other's length.

 

During those few seconds when their swords crossed, Lord Shogo closed his eyes one more time. Though his grandson strived to keep all emotions concealed, the stroke of his sword was the exact opposite; it was honest, unmasked. Those emotions that did not make it to his face were fed into each of his strike. The sword revealed those that the wielder himself would not.

 

Swiftly, without breaking one fluid movement, Sesshoumaru swivelled on his heel before advancing one more time. Just when the blade was a hair's breadth away from cutting flesh, his opponent abruptly disappeared. His sharp intuition commanded him to turn around, as he sensed where the lord had escaped to. He could feel his opponent's aura behind him and with lightning speed, he chased after it.

 

The razor sharp tip of a blade greeted his neck the moment his back was turned. Lord Shogo was already there, waiting for him. Even the stubborn young yokai lord had to admit that he was not in an advantageous position, standing there with the very tip of a sword piercing his nape. Blood started to pool at the spot where the blade kissed his skin, slowly trickling down to wet the collar of his kimono.

 

Even when under such a disadvantaged circumstances, the fire in his eyes did not cease. Lord Shogo noticed the pup's intense gaze had not lessened despite the outcome of the battle, and this somehow caused him to smile inwardly. They had only been reunited for such a brief period of time, yet he found his grandson to be such a fascinating creature. It amused him to no end.

 

“Your sword conveyed your resolution to save the human.” He said, slowly lowering his sword. “Though I cannot comprehend your desire to her, I admire your resolve.”

 

“You may enter the palace.” He declared as he placed his sword back in its sheath.

 

Sesshoumaru straightened his spine and lowered his hand that had been wielding Bakusaiga. He kept his silence for a moment longer as he considered the invitation.

 

“Who may enter the palace?” He inquired, eyes narrowed sceptically.

 

Lord Shogo regarded his grandson, along with the odd pack that accompanied the young lord. Two-headed beast of burden, a curiously small yokai as a retainer, and two humans. One of them was a demon exterminator. With arched eyebrows, he gave his answer:

 

“All of you may enter the palace.”

 

-To be continued-

 

 

I had all the intention to introduce the rest of the inu family in this chapter but as it turned out, Sesshoumaru's fight with his grandfather was longer than I expected. Sorry, it will have to wait until the next chapter. Hope you enjoyed this chapter nevertheless. Please review.

 

-Chiaztolite-