InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Tsumi no Gokuin ❯ The Destroyer of Life ( Chapter 2 )

Title: Tsumi No Gokuin

Author: Chiaztolite

Rating: M/X for violence, sexual content, and mature subject matter

Disclaimer: The anime series Inuyasha and all its characters are created by Rumiko Takahashi. I own none of the existing characters of the series, only the original characters created solely for the purpose of this fan fiction.

 

Tsumi No Gokuin: The Mark of His Sin

 

Chapter 01: The Destroyer of Life

 

Oyakata-sama = master

 

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As the newborn youkai drew his first breath, the female drew her last…

 

It was the night of the full moon when she died, the night when snow slowly fell to cover the grounds of the western lands. The child's shrill cry replaced the silence that filled the chamber, where a few servants sat with their heads lowered to express condolences for the loss of their mistress' life. One of the retainers, an elderly inuyoukai, quickly took the wailing infant and carefully washed him with warm water before wrapping him with layers of finely weaved blankets.

 

The retainer observed the bundle he held in his arm. The little youkai had inherited his father's silver hair, his mother's crescent moon tattoo on his forehead…

 

“Oyakata-sama…” Turning to his master, the old retainer spoke softly. Slightly, he lifted the newborn, as if he was pleading his master to lay eyes on the youkai child. “Your heir still needs a name…”He gently reminded.

 

But the Lord of the Western Lands refused to even move a finger, let alone turn around to gaze at his son. His clouded golden eyes were transfixed on the corpse of his mate, still lying on beddings that were dyed crimson with her blood. When he moved his hand, it was to gently brush away strands of hair that covered the crescent moon emblem on her forehead. After a long silence, he finally opened his mouth and spoke,

 

“Its name is Sesshoumaru… The Destroyer of Life…” He said slowly. His words, spoken with a heavy voice, caused his retainers to cringe. “So that this child will always remember, so that everyone will know… This is the child who killed its own mother…”

 

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One hundred years later…

 

It was the night of a full moon again. Rays of silver light bathed a male who was standing on the edge of a cliff, staring at the moon perching high above him. Tall, he was, his formal white kimono was adorned with a metal armor and a thick fury pelt that hung just a few inches above the ground. The cool breeze of early winter grazed his ivory skin, wafting his long silver locks that almost reached his waist. His keen sense of hearing captured the quick footsteps of a creature running through the dark forest behind him, the very same being whose ragged breath reached his ears. He waited in silence, without even shifting his golden eyes to greet whatever was approaching. The rustles of the leaves grew louder, the footsteps became more audible and just then, a small green imp jumped out of the thick bushes and landed inches behind his feet.

 

“…My Lord…!” The creature called out in a high-pitched voice, which sounded like a squeak more than anything else. “My Lord Sesshoumaru…!”

 

Sensing the urgency within the imp's tone, Sesshoumaru threw the creature a glance over his shoulder. He kept his lips sealed, giving a clue for his vassal to continue.

 

“Your father…” Now the little creature's voice grew lower, more subtle as its ragged breathing gradually returned to normal. Then its tone became gentler, almost sympathetic. “…Your father is dead, my Lord…”

 

The news did not erase the coldness in Sesshoumaru's face, nor did it painted an emotion, any emotion on his façade. The smaller creature gazed at the towering lord who glared at it as if it was to be blamed for the loss.

 

“…And the woman?”

 

Sesshoumaru's sudden voice startled the nervous vassal to the very soul. Promptly it lowered its head, letting its forehead grazed the dusty ground.

 

“Sh...She…She escaped, my Lord…” It answered. There was a brief pause as the green creature gathered its courage to proceed with the worst part. “…along with the child… Your half-brother, my Lord… A hanyou your father named `Inuyasha'…”

 

The mention of his new-born half brother caused Sesshoumaru to frown in distaste. Jyaken, after witnessing its master's mood turned to the worse, prattled nervously.

 

“Ho…How…how unfortunate, to think that your father, the great Lord of the Western Lands, had to lose his life for a human female and a hanyou… Such a thing is truly…”

 

“Jyaken…” Sesshoumaru's stern call stopped the green imp's chatter.

 

“Enough…” He said. “You may leave.”

 

Though hesitated to leave its master alone, Jyaken obeyed the order and retreated into the forest. Sesshoumaru waited until he could no longer sense the vassal's presence before lifting his hand, covering his face with his palm.

 

`Your father is dead...' Jyaken had told him.

 

Of course…

 

He lowered his hand, his eyes narrowed to a pair of golden slits. He would be lying if he said he had not seen it coming. Before marching to his death, the former Lord of the Western Lands fought a fierce battle against the cat demons, a battle that had left him in a worn-out, badly injured state. To go on to another battle in such condition, even for a daiyoukai with formidable skills, could be considered a suicide.

 

Sesshoumaru curled his fingers into a tight fist, letting the tip of his claws digging into the flesh of his palm. Blood trickled from the wounds, yet his face showed no pain, only anger.

 

`I was too late, Father…' He hissed inwardly. `I should have been the one who took your life…'

 

 

-To be Continued-

 

A/N: I hope you enjoyed the first chapter. This is the beginning of the long, complicated story of Sesshoumaru's life (my version of Sesshoumaru's life, at least). Keep on reading. Reviews are very much appreciated.