InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Young at Heart ❯ The Inu Princess ( Chapter 13 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

By: Cierah

Chapter Thirteen: The Inu Princess

Sesshoumaru shook his head and hung in his father's grasp limply. He hung his head in defeat.

“Excuse us for a moment.” Inutashomaru murmured quietly to the man watching in amusement. Without another word, Inutashomaru walked around the side of the house and dumped his son onto the ground. “Now I will ask you again, what ails you?”

Sesshoumaru sat there in a mix of anger and fear. “Nothing is wrong father.” He whispered.

Inutashomaru bent down to one knee in front of his son. Gripping Sesshoumaru's shoulders firmly, he snarled, barring his teeth. “You have seen me angry, Sesshoumaru. I do not wish to be angry with you. Now tell me what is bothering you!”

“I don't want to be here. I want to go home. I hate this place. I'm scared of what happened, and how it made me feel!” Sesshoumaru wailed in fear.

Inutashomaru sat back on his heels and sighed. “How did it make you feel, Sesshoumaru?”

“Out of control, scared, and happy. I was glad I kill those men.” Sesshoumaru felt tears fill his eyes. He wiped them away with his sleeve furiously.

Inutashomaru closed his eyes briefly.

“I've never seen you do that father. Why is it happening to me?” Sesshoumaru lifted his hand to his face and stared at it.

“Your mother used to call upon poison as her defenses. You have acquired a skill she had.”

“I don't want it.” The small youkai whispered.

Inutashomaru crossed his legs and waved his son over to sit in his lap. “Whether you want it or not, Sesshoumaru, it is something you do have. The choice is yours whether you use it for good purposes or not.”

Sesshoumaru curled up in his father's lap and buried his face in his hakama. “Was mother powerful?”

Inutashomaru jerked at the question. “Why do you ask such a question?”

Sesshoumaru sat up and shrugged glancing at his hand again.

Frowning, Inutashomaru sighed. “Sesshoumaru, I use my abilities and my weapons to aid me when we are in danger. I do not use them for my own benefit. I do not use them to gain respect, nor do I use them to better my position in life. I use them for survival. Your mother also used her abilities as a defence.”

“Do you think I will be powerful father?” Sesshoumaru asked, lowering his hand to his lap.

“Enough! These questions are not going to be answered until you are of an age to understand them fully. As I told you before, power is not to be trifled with. It is not something one takes lightly, nor is it used for fun. What the real problem here is your abilities having shown themselves at such a young age.”

“Is that a bad thing?” Sesshoumaru asked.

“In a way yes. You will need extensive training to control these abilities, and you will not understand a lot of what is happening to you.”

“I think I will be a Daiyoukai like you when I get older.” Sesshoumaru muttered not really listening to what his father was saying.

Inutashomaru growled. “I am not a Daiyoukai, Sesshoumaru. Age is what defines one as great.” He saw the far away look in his son's eyes and he snarled in irritation. `This is going to be a big problem.'

“I'm sorry, father.” Sesshoumaru whispered curling up once more in his father's lap.

Inutashomaru nodded. Looking up in the sky he frowned at the questions his pup had asked. Did his son truly desire power? He was only a pup, untried and inexperienced in all aspects of life. Was he mistaken on bringing his son into the wilderness at such a young age? Frowning deeper, he took a long deep breath. Hadn't he been even younger then Sesshoumaru when his own father had taken him off the castles grounds? True, he had both his parents there on his first journey. Was this all cause of his mother not being around? Where had he gone wrong?

He glanced down at the tug on his hakama, and frowned even deeper at his pup.

“Father?” Sesshoumaru whispered, blinking at the far off look in his father's eyes.

“What is it?”

“Can we go home?”

“Soon. First I must take care of those men.”

Sesshoumaru nodded and rested his head against his father's chest. “Can you tell me more about mother?”

Inutashomaru closed his eyes briefly before sighing. “What would you like to know?”

Sesshoumaru sat up and stared into his father's eyes before answering. “Did she ever meet me?”

The youkai frowned. “You are already aware that she met you, Sesshoumaru. What is the real question?”

Sesshoumaru frowned. “How did she die?”

“Sesshoumaru…” Inutashomaru winced. Images of his wife flashed through his mind, and he closed his eyes tightly before answering. He remembered the day clearly.

Sesshoumaru saw the pain rush over his father's features and he took a deep breath. “I'm sorry father.”

Inutashomaru opened his eyes and gave a small smile. “One day I will tell you, my son.”

Sesshoumaru nodded and slumped in defeat. “How did you meet?”

“Why are you suddenly so curious about your mother?”

“I should not be?” Sesshoumaru asked, rubbing his eyes.

Inutashomaru sighed again and wrapped his arms around his pup tightly. “I met your mother during battle. It wasn't a meeting per say but I surely noticed her that day.”

“You said she was pretty.” Sesshoumaru snuggled into his father's arms.

“She was.” Inutashomaru felt his smile grow. “Many I had seen, but no other had caught my eye as your mother did.” He paused thinking back on that day.

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His father was down, he knew it immediately when all fighting had stilled. Blinking, the young youkai turned away from the foul demon that now lay dead at his feet. Taking a deep breath, he felt his throat contract with emotion. The very emotion his father told him to suppress when in battle. Growling furiously, he raced through the gathering crowd and knelt by his father.

“Inutasho…” His father ground out between clenched teeth.

“Be quiet father!” He snarled.

“No, you must…listen.” Golden eyes flared in anger. “It all…lies with you…now. My…time has expired, and I…am not… long…for this…world.”

The young youkai swallowed the lump that formed in his throat at his father's whispered words. Looking over his shoulder, he saw more enemy reinforcements gathering in the field. He shivered.

“The battle is far from over…you must…win this.” His father broke out into a fit of coughing. Blood dripped out of the corner of his lips when he finished. “Do…not allow…”

“Father, you must rest.” He begged.

“Listen!” His father roared. “Do…not allow them…to escape. You have…been trained in sealing…”

“You want me to seal them? Why?”

“You…have not…the power…to kill them…all. We do…no…t have enough allies…to do so.”

He nodded. “I understand.”

“Leave…me. You are…now…Lord of the Western Province. Do…not let them…take these…lands.” His father took a long shuddering breath. “Be strong…”

The breath left his father's lungs, and Inutashomaru waited anxiously for more to fill them. He sat there and stared at his father's still body and he clenched his eyes shut in rage. He shoved himself to his feet and spun around, his anger filling every vein in his body.

He stopped suddenly, and felt the fury leave him in a rush. Blinking, he stared in wonder at her. She was yelling commands to her followers, and he felt his breath catch in his throat. She was an Inuyoukai. The distance between them was great, but he saw her features clearly before she had turned away. This female had not even seen him.

He had seen her however, and he just stood there staring at her warrior-clad figure, before shaking himself out of his bewildered state. Inutashomaru couldn't shake her image from his mind as he turned away to look at his gathering army. “Regroup and take your places in the field.” He commanded.

His men nodded. Inutashomaru felt his eyes move back towards where he had seen her, but she was nowhere to be found. Taking a deep breath, he bent over to pick up his sword and retraced his steps to the front lines. More youkai were forming in `his' field, and he curled his lip in anger. Stopping beside the demon he had slaughtered before his father had been cut down, he glared at it for a moment before lifting his gaze to the horizon.

The sky was pitch black. No human would have been able to see anything in the darkness. The stars were behind the dark clouds, and the moon was hidden. Turning around again startled, he remembered the lavender moon she had donned on her forehead, and he found himself searching for this youkai once more.

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He fell onto his bedroll exhausted. The battle had paused for now, his father ceremoniously wrapped for the journey back to the castle. Now it gave him possibly a few hours of rest before he was called out again. Closing his eyes, her image filled his mind, and he felt his golden eyes fly open in irritation. Twice he had almost been cut down by his lack of concentration, only escaping death by mere luck. Pushing himself to his feet, he pushed aside the cloth of his makeshift tent, and stormed toward the stream that lay nuzzled behind a small grouping of trees.

Lowering himself beside the water, he splashed his face and growled low in his throat. “How irritating!” He clenched his teeth to refrain from saying anything more. Inutashomaru wiped his face and lifted his eyes, and blinked. There she stood, maybe sixty feet or more away, her back turned away from him, arguing with one of her guards.

Swallowing, Inutashomaru slowly stood and backed away from the small stream careful to not make a sound. It was her, he was sure of it. Her long silver hair was bound at the nape of her neck by a leather tie. The bone armor was unmistakable, as well as the dark burgundy yukata she donned. The silver threads running through the shirt, matched her hair, as well as the small shimmering blue flowers scattered at the wrists of this shirt. Holding his breath, Inutashomaru lowered himself closer to the ground as he backed up further away from her.

Standing up quickly, he spun around and cried out as he and his old friend fell to the ground in a heap. Gasping for air, he closed his eyes commanding his heart to stop its loud pattering inside his chest.

His friend chuckled. “I would have sworn you heard me.”

“Hnn.” He turned his head and glanced at his friend. “What makes you say that?”

“Mind you, since your father passed, your mind seems to be elsewhere.”

Inutashomaru shoved himself upright. “Tralaymaru, you are infuriating.”

“I know.” He shoved himself into a sitting position and looked past Inutashomaru curiously. “What were you looking at?”

The youkai lord glanced over his shoulder, and gasped as the lady and her guards were walking towards them. Gathering his feet to stand, he pulled his friend up and pushed him towards their camp. “Shut up and go!”

Breaking into a run, both youkai rounded the trees and scrambled for their tents. “Why are we running?” Tralaymaru asked, looking over his shoulder looking for enemies.

Inutashomaru growled. “Just shut up!” Shoving his friend into his tent, he collapsed onto his bedroll and started laughing.

Peering at the Inuyoukai curiously, he shook his head. “We weren't running away from the Princess were we?”

Inutashomaru choked on his laughter and rolled over looking at his friend surprised. “Princess?”

“Princess Suki. At least that is what all the men call her. I am uncertain of her full name.” Tralaymaru grinned.

Inutashomaru blinked owlishly at his friend, dumbfounded.

“The lady with the crescent moon on her forehead.” Placing his finger to his chin, still grinning madly, he stared at his friend. “Surely you can't have missed seeing her. I hear her beauty is greater then any other youkai female in these parts. I hear she is an Inuyoukai also.”

Inutashomaru curled his lip. “Shut up.”

“I heard she is unwed. I believe her father was searching for the right mate for her. But all who sought to court her had been turned down.”

“I am not interested.” Inutashomaru stood up and glared at his friend. How did Tralaymaru know so much about her, when this was the first time he had heard of a Princess living in the western province?

“I heard that…”

Inutashomaru snarled, flinging himself at his friend and both flew out of the tent in a flurry of materials, and limbs. Tralaymaru snarled and retaliated against his friend, both tumbling on the ground, only to stop short at a clearing of a throat.

Both youkai lifted their heads and stared. Tralaymaru stood up quickly, dusting off his pants before lowering his head in a bow. Inutashomaru rolled his eyes and stood up, staring at the very youkai who had stolen his attention from battle. Dusting off his hakama pants, Inutashomaru righted himself and met her golden eyes with his own.

A guard stepped forward and righted his staff. “You will bow your head with respect.”

“I will do no such thing.” Inutashomaru muttered quietly.

“You will bow your…” The guard was cut off by the Princess' raised hand.

“Enough.” She commanded. “Might I have your name?” She asked turning to face Inutashomaru fully.

“I am Inutashomaru, Lord of the Western Lands.”

The Princess nodded. “I am sorry to hear about your father.”

Inutashomaru inclined his head. He felt his heart beat harder as her scent filled his nose. Tralaymaru's remark of her beauty being outstanding was an understatement. She was more then that. Trying desperately to calm his racing heart, Inutashomaru dug his claws into his palm.

“My guards heard a commotion at the stream, and they came to investigate, only to discover you and your friend here running off.”

Inutashomaru nodded. So she had seen them. `Curse it!' He slapped himself mentally.

“Have you lost many in the battle?” She asked, her gaze traveling over his company.

“I have. As I'm sure you have also.”

“Indeed. Perhaps we can align our forces on the front lines?” The Princess glanced at him fully.

“We can discuss these matters later. I'm afraid that we are currently occupied with other things.”

“Until a later time then.” She nodded and turned away, followed by her guards.

Inutashomaru released his breath once she was gone, and loosened his stiff frame.

Tralaymaru chuckled. “I don't know how you do it, old friend. Outside you are calmer then an airless night, but inside you are wound tighter then a bow.” He gripped Inutashomaru's shoulder tightly.

“Hnn.” They turned away, but not before Inutashomaru found his gaze following her, and he felt a blush rise to his cheeks when she also turned and met his golden gaze. Snapping his head back around to face his now destroyed tent, he took a long breath and held it.

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“Was mother the only Inuyoukai you had met?” Sesshoumaru asked curiously.

Inutashomaru looked down startled for a moment. “No, Sesshoumaru. I had met others, but no one like your mother. The air seemed to still whenever your mother would enter a room. When she was happy and content the trees knew it. However, when your mother was angry, even I attempted to escape her notice.”

“Will you tell me more?” Sesshoumaru asked rubbing his eyes again.

“Perhaps later. You need to rest.”

“Please father?”

Taking a deep breath, trying to ease the ache that entered his chest, he nodded sadly.

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He walked along side his father's body, staring ahead of them. Tralaymaru limped beside him.

“What will you do now, Inu No Taisho?” Tralaymaru asked.

He stopped dead in his tracks. “What did you just call me?”

“When?”

“Just now.”

“What?” Tralaymaru snickered.

“Have you lost your mind?” Inutashomaru snarled softly.

“No, Inu No Taisho.”

“Don't. Either call me by my birth name, or my inherited name, but not that. My father was the Inu No Taisho here, not me.”

Tralaymaru nodded, feeling the sadness seep from his friend. “Sorry, old friend. Do you know if the Princess survived?”

Inutashomaru blinked at his friend for a moment, baffled. “Why do you think I would care if she survived or not?”

Tralaymaru snorted. “Give me a break! I saw the way you stared at her at the council. You may fool others, Inutashomaru, but I have known you too long.”

“Keh!” Inutashomaru frowned but remained silent. He had wondered, but would never admit it to anyone. Not even his closest friend.

“Want me to find out?” Tralaymaru asked mischievously.

“Do what you like.” With that, he quickened his pace and entered the gates of his home. The house was nuzzled in the side of the mountain, protected on three sides by the heavy stone. Wood from a magnolia tree was used for the walls surrounding the exposed area, given freely to his father by a Daiyoukai named Boksenou.

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He lay back against the stone of the bath and sighed with contentment. Inutashomaru had recently found out that the Princess had survived the battle and was currently in her assigned chambers preparing for his father's funeral ceremony. Smiling faintly, he sat up and exited his bath, wrapping his haori around his shoulders.

It was time. The sun was setting and the ceremony was to start within the hour. He walked out of the small room and opened a wardrobe searching for the appropriate attire and found his white kimono folded neatly. Nodding, Inutashomaru pulled out his white hakama pants and a blue haori. Quickly dressing he then pulled out the white kimono and wrapped that around his frame, tying it with a blue and burgundy obi. Blinking, he looked down at his bare feet and shook his head. Pulling his head up, he reached into the bottom of the wardrobe and took his black boots out.

Inutashomaru ran his fingers through his long silver hair while staring out his window that overlooked his father's lands. His lands now. Shaking his head in irritation, he pulled his hair up and tied it with a leather tie, and peered at his reflection in the window.

Taking a deep breath, Inutashomaru quickly exited his chambers and wandered down the silent halls of his home. Silence was commanded on the death of a lord, and the halls were as silent as ever. Not even an echo filled them. Descending the stairs, he quickly saw his friend at the great doors of the funeral hall and bowed his head in greeting.

“Your hair is wet.” Tralaymaru whispered.

“Is it really?” Inutashomaru mocked. “I hadn't noticed.”

His friend smiled softly. “Are you ready for this?”

Inutashomaru frowned deeply. “How can anyone be ready for this?” Shaking his head, he sighed. “I have no where near the power my father had, nor the wisdom.”

“Wisdom comes with age, old friend. Once you are bequeathed with your father's possessions, his power will enter you.”

“I don't want it.” The youkai whispered.

His friend chuckled lightly. “You never did want power, but you will receive it.” Gripping Inutashomaru's shoulder, he grinned. “Once this is over, go visit your father's friend, Boksenou.”

“Why?”

“He is older then anyone will ever comprehend, Inutashomaru. He has answers, if you can sort through his riddles.”

“Hnn.” Nodding, the youkai heard the first of many youkai arrive to pay their respects to his father. Turning his head, he nodded as lords and ladies bowed their heads and entered the funeral hall. Inutashomaru sighed inaudibly. This was going to prove to be an extremely long night.

A gasp from beside him shook him out of his pondering, and he glanced up frowning at his friend.

“Don't look now, unless you wish to drool all over your kimono, Inutashomaru.” Tralaymaru whispered.

“Huh?” Blinking, the youkai turned his head slightly, and stared. There stood the Princess, dressed in an elegant four layer, white, blue and silver kimono. Everything on her kimono was white, except for the silver threads lining the sleeves and neckline. Blue flowers donned the hem around her ankles, and down the right side of the kimono. Her long silver hair was pulled back in an elegant display of folds, with pins holding it up out of her face.

Dumbfounded, Inutashomaru forgot his station and instead of bowing as a young lord should; he gaped owlishly at the beauty that walked up to him with a small smile on her lips. A sharp jab in the side made him stumble awkwardly out of his daze, and he coughed.

Princess Suki bowed and walked past him without falling out of her lady like manner, and Inutashomaru scowled after her, a snarl working its way up his throat. Wrinkling his nose at how easily she had caused him to loose his calm appearance, he vowed to get revenge. Narrowing his eyes, he turned his icy glare over to his friend who was snickering behind his hand.

Oh yes, revenge was going to be sweet. However now he was going to have to include his long time friend Tralaymaru in his little ploy. Grinning evilly, he saw Tralaymaru's face pale at his grin, and his laughter faded quickly. Smirking in satisfaction, Inutashomaru entered the hall, erasing his smile, and emotion off his face masking it with one of indifference.