InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Tale of Sesshoumaru ❯ Confessions of a Troubled Heart ( Chapter 32 )

Disclaimer: I do not own copyright to any of the Inuyasha characters. Wish I did. I make no profit off of my fan fiction. Wish I did.

 

Disclaimer #2: I do own the characters of Akanesuji/Akane, Smart Ass, Hizumeha, Kuza and Manatsu. If you would like to borrow them, please contact me at skycladstrega@yahoo.com for permission.

 

Disclaimer #3: This fan fiction is rated R for violence, sex, gore and supernatural yummy goodness. If you are under the age of 17, I suggest getting your parents permission to read this. I am not responsible for any psychological damage my rantings might bring you :^P

 

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In fall they went back to the castle early. Akanesuji had started getting nauseous in the mornings and Rin had told Sesshoumaru that mommy secretly wanted to go back to a real bed. Akanesuji wouldn't confess that out loud, being a dog and all. Sleeping on the floor had been good enough for her ancestors, so it was supposed to be good enough for her.

The adventures had been plenty. Together they had slain a large lynx demon who threatened a village. Akanesuji did it to protect the humans, Sesshoumaru did it because it was just plain old fun. They had walked though a pair of sandals each going to and fro across the countryside, Jaken ever complaining behind them, Rin falling asleep on Ah-Un's back. In the evenings Akanesuji had played the shamisen and things were much like old times.

 

When they arrived at the gates of their estate, the tanuki left in charge of the place informed them that Totosai had been there for a few days, waiting to see Akanesuji with her commission. Sesshoumaru's brow was peaked. He wanted to see the new weapon made from his father's bones. He wanted to see if Akanesuji would die of embarrassment. He knew that she had ordered it, but she did not know that he knew.

 

As they walked up the small hill to the main building, Akanesuji made sure to stop at the shine of the Inu ancestors and Sieobo, Goddess of the West. She placed a rice cake there and some incense she had traded for on their travels. Smiling she showed Rin where to put flowers, telling her that when she could not put them in Sesshoumaru's hair, she could always collect them and put them here. Rin thought it was a lovely idea. The lord of the West just frowned and left. Prayer never did him any good. Neither did flowers. “Come ladies. I would like to see our guest.”

 

When Akanesuji dawdled, he guessed she was praying in advance for his forgiveness.

 

“Totosai!” the dog woman called, running up to him joyfully when she spied him drinking amongst a throng of go players. The blacksmith stood and waved, then bowed lightly when she was in proper distance. “How are you? Are you well?”

 

“I'm good. Very good! And you?”

 

“The summer has been good to me.” Akanesuji rubbed her tiny little belly, which really didn't show under the layered kimonos and obi sashes.

 

“And you Sesshoumaru-sama?”

 

The lord just nodded, saying nothing and carefully observing everything around him. He watched the various demons glance at Rin and then look away, careful not to incur his wrath. They would not say anything, though thinking it was another story. He would be so glad to dismiss them this week.

 

“I have it for you up in in the dais room.”

 

“Is it beautiful?”

 

“Oh yes. I think it is one of my finest creations! A lovely white with red!”

 

“Come, come. I have been anxiously waiting all season.” She waved him to leave the game players and hurry up to the palace with her. Sesshoumaru now was dying with curiosity though he would not let even a drip of it show. Akanesuji picked Rin up and put her on her hip, then quickly hustled up all the stairs. The little girl giggled all the way with a “wheee!”

 

Everyone stopped in a clustered crowd at the entrance way, mesmerized by the full set of armor displayed on a rack. The plates of claw were an opalescent white, carved and strung together with cord woven from the red hairs of the fire rat. The doh chest piece was carved with a large red flower mon in the center and lined in a heavy red and black brocade. A samurai helmet sat on top with a dog face mask, the sleeves and legs matched in refined glory. “Oh Totosai,” she said. “It's lovely!”

 

Akanesuji dropped Rin carefully than ran up to it, falling to her knees and touching the breastplate. “Oh Uncle,” she said with a small sob, her lower lip quivering. “I pray this honors you.”

 

“Akanesuji. What have you done?” Sesshoumaru whispered in awe. He could not be angry with her for this. It was offensive weaponry, not defensive. It was not rival to the Tensiga or Tessaiga.

 

“Does it not please you? It is for Manatsu...our son.” Tears ran down her cheeks as she continued to caress the plates and inspect the cording.

 

“Yes. It pleases me. It looks just like father.” He knelt before it also, his tentative hand slowly reaching up for the dog faced facial plate which seemed to glow in it's own light. Sesshoumaru almost felt like the old man was staring at him.

 

Rin joined them next, pushing her way between the two. “This is for my little brother? Can I wear it until he gets big enough?”

 

Akanesuji turned and gave her a big hug. “You wont fit in it for a while, but I don't see why not. You are his elder you know.” Sesshoumaru didn't find that one funny at all. He did not want Rin to be a warrior. Ever.

 

“I made it just the size you asked,” Totosai spoke. “I have made extra plates for it when the boy grows.”

 

“Any thing you ask for Totosai, and I will get it” she asked, turning back to look at him. “I cannot give enough for this masterpiece.”

 

The old man chuckled. “It's an honor to give this to the General's grandpup. No normal blade will ever penetrate it. It will slow a demon blade by half. It won't scratch or ding, and it will protect Manatsu from fire and poison.”

 

“A fine gift indeed,” Sesshoumaru said, running his finger down the mask's cheek to the plates that hung below it used to guard the neck. “All our son needs now is a sword.” Akanesuji bowed her head. She still intended to take Sounga back from Hell. Her plans had never changed, only had been delayed. “I guess when the time comes, I shall give to him Tenseiga. He shall command the armies of man.”

 

Akanesuji gasp. The whole room went silent, each eye looking to the Lord of the West. “Yes, Akanesuji,” he said in a low voice. “I know why father gave me the Tenseiga. It can heal a hundred men with one stroke. It will someday command great armies of men.” He bowed his head. “But I do not love the race of man. I have tried and I cannot bring myself to it. But our son could. He will grow without prejudice.”

 

“No!” his wife cried. “Tenseiga is your birth right. Not his. You are to command great armies of men, and InuYasha is to be your captain, killing a hundred demons with one strike.”

 

“No, my love. Manatsu is the future of our clan. Not me.” Akanesuji cried. “Don't you see it woman? I cannot stand to be here. Every day I wish to run the fields free. I only want to dominate the world so that I can force it to leave me alone.”

 

“No.” she sobbed, grabbing at his side and burying her face into his makimaki-sama. “You are not so selfish. I know you aren't.”

 

“Yes Akanesuji. I am. If you have believed me to be otherwise, then you have been deceived. I care nothing for the world.” Pushing her off of him and on to the floor, he went and locked himself into his bedchamber.

 

Akanesuji put Rin to bed early after feeding her a quiet supper of tofu and rice. All of court was buzzing with gossip and rumors, whispers could be heard down the halls, hushed voices from behind doors. Some had already left court in protest. Others stayed to seek answers. Before midnight, she dismissed them all for the winter.

 

Sesshoumaru would not spoil her plans. Fuck him.

 

The moon was bright enough that she could see the fields clearly. Shadows covered the ground as she looked out the window. It would be foolish to go out in white armor, but she had little choice. Dressing in her best kosode and hakama set, she wrapped the calves tight to her skin with three inch silk strips. She would be seeing Inu No Taisho himself tonight if things went well and she wanted to look good.

 

If she found death, she surmised, she would die with a clear conscious. Sesshoumaru had confessed he had nothing for this world. That meant her too.

 

That wasn't entirely true, she corrected herself. He did love her, just in his own odd way. Sesshou of the future had claimed he loved her too. Akanesuji had a huge swelling of hope. Akane of the future had survived this night. She now had complete faith in what she was doing. She was doing the right thing. She was going to succeed.

 

Like a mouse she tiptoed down the halls on bare feet, her claws cut short so they would not tap the hardwood floor. Once in the main chamber she approached the armor swiftly and hurriedly put it on. The moon would be at it's highest in about an hour. She didn't have much time to get where she needed to be.

 

Like lightening she broke from the stone walls and out into the fields, a rapid ball of light glowing eerily from the armor. She could never match Sesshoumaru's rapid ball of light runs, but she could sure as hell try. The jewel shards helped carry her along through the farmer's paddies and into the forests, past meadows and fields without a hitch in her breathing. The more she did, the easier it got. It felt like a divine wind carried her there.

 

In fact, it had.

 

The place was still burned and charred, even after three years. It was a dished pit. No bugs sang. No night creatures. It was so silent she could hear the swooshing of the armor plates as she walked into the center.

 

Kneeling down at the very lowest point, she drew her wakazashi's and started writing sutras into the soil. When she finished she thrust them into the ground next to each other. “Hear me Sieobo! Hear me Uncle! I am here to open the gates of Hell and return to earth that which has been wrongfully imprisoned. The sword must be brought back if it is to be found in the future! So'unga must come back to the land of the living!”

 

The earth started shaking and she held on to her blades for dear life like a bicycle's handlebars. A small crack split underneath her, just big enough for her alone, and in a moment she was swallowed up into the bright red glow of Hell.