Compassion

Chapter 6

          They had named him Inuyasha, a name they hoped would prove prophetic.  And already, at only a week old, he was strong and energetic.  He didn’t cry much, choosing to express his displeasure with little grunts and an almost comical contortion of his face.  On the third day after his birth he could already raise his head while lying down, and Izayoi could have sworn she had seen him support his upper body weight on his arms.

          When she had asked Inutaisho if this were normal he had assured her that youkai pups grew very quickly.  He was a bit surprised that Inuyasha, being only half inuyoukai, was progressing so well, but he took it as a sign that the boy would have incredible strength for a hanyou.  That comforted him, for he knew the child would not have an easy life were he ever forced to leave the sanctuary of their home.

          Izayoi once more settled into a blissful state of happiness, marred only for a short time by the brief appearance of her mate’s first son.

          It was only days after the birth, and Izayoi was still confined to bed.  She had been cradling her son, propped up on pillows, while Inutaisho hovered over them both, stroking her hair.  She wasn’t certain what had alerted her to his presence, for Inutaisho – though he must have sensed it – gave no indication of the young Lord’s presence.  But suddenly Izayoi felt as though a chill had entered the room.  She ceased her gentle cooing at Inuyasha and looked up uncomfortably.

          The look in his eyes made her wish she could disappear.  If he had been cold before, he was surely ice now.  He stood stiffly in the doorway, unwilling to enter the chamber, a fist closed, but not clenched, at his side.

          “It is true.” He said blandly, no trace of emotion in his voice or expression, but the look in his eyes was more than enough.  He spared a scathing glance for his father before turning his back deliberately.  “I will never return to this place.” And Izayoi had no doubt that he meant it.  In his eyes, his father was beyond redemption.

           “Sesshoumaru-” Inutaisho rose to follow his son, to reason with him, but his mate’s hand on his arm stopped him. 

          “Don’t- leave me.” She whispered, still frightened from the encounter.  He gazed at her tenderly and then sank to sit at her side.  He could not abandon his mate at this time.  His choice was made.  With a twinge of sorrow in his heart for the son he knew he had lost forever, but a smile on his face for the son he had gained, he turned back to his mate and pup.

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          “Inuyasha.” Izayoi scolded lightly, resisting the urge to laugh as she lifted him, prying his small fingers from the draperies.  At eleven months he could be a terror.  Already he could manage teetering steps, and his small claws tore all things to shreds without prejudice.

          “I believe it is time for a nap.” she told him, peering into his golden eyes.  He smiled, babbling incoherently and swatting at a lock of her hair.  He did not yet recognize the word as the threat that all toddlers dread.  But he did recognize the bed.

          Pouting, he grunted a negative, attempting to twist out of his mother’s grasp as his small nose crinkled in disgust.

          “Oh no you don’t.” Izayoi smiled at him and hugged him closer.  “It is well past naptime, and your behavior is atrocious!” she supposed that wasn’t entirely true.  Considering what some human children put their mothers through in the early years, and considering her son’s rather remarkable abilities, she was quite fortunate that he had such a cheerful temperament.  He could really do some damage if he had the mind too.

          Occasionally he would sulk – something rather unusual in a child so young – but if that was the greatest of her worries then she could not complain.

          She laid him in his small bed and placed her hand on his back, rocking him slightly, while maintaining enough pressure that he could not attempt to get up.  After a few moments of half-hearted struggling, Inuyasha gave up and fell asleep.

          Izayoi chuckled softly and continued her soothing motions for several moments before placing a kiss on his little head and stepping out of the room.  Even in his sleep his adorable ears swiveled to follow the noise, but he did not stir.

          Izayoi smiled as she stepped from his room into the chambers she shared with her mate.  Stepping to the small bowl of water on a pedestal she dipped her hands in and pressed the moisture to her face.  It was a rather warm day.  Drying her face and hands she let out a contented sigh.  She had never imagined she could be so happy.

          Her breath caught as strong arms slipped around her waist from behind.  She could feel warm breath on her ear as her mate nuzzled her hair. He could still startle her, for she never knew he was coming unless he wanted her too.  And more often than not he was stealthy out of mere force of habit.  But she didn’t mind, not when he chose to surprise her like this.

          “Is he asleep?” his deep voice murmured low in her ear, causing a pleasant shiver to shoot through her.

          She nodded, leaning back into him.

          “And are you tired as well?” he nipped lightly at the back of her neck, pressing a kiss to the underside of her jaw before returning to her ear.

          “No.” she whispered breathlessly.  Even if she had been tired, she certainly wasn’t now.

          “Good.” She could feel his smile as he kissed the top of her ear before turning her gently in his arms.  She closed her eyes, waiting for the feel of his lips on hers.  And he did not disappoint her.  Tenderly he pressed his lips against hers, his hands smoothing over her back with the lightest of caresses before coming up to comb through her hair.  He slanted his mouth over hers, letting his tongue brush against her lips before nibbling gently at her lower lip.  She readily opened her mouth to him, enjoying the sensations as he delicately explored her mouth.

          “I love you.” He murmured against her lips, and she barely had the presence of mind to answer in kind.  She would never become accustomed to this.  He still set her heart racing.

          “Come to bed.” He commanded softly, the slightest hint of suggestiveness in his tone, and she merely nodded.  Sweeping her up in his arms, his lips never leaving hers, he carried his mate to their sleeping quarters and shut the shoji behind them.

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          Izayoi was frightened.  She clutched their son to her chest, praying that the demon barely fifty yards away would not notice their presence, grateful that Inuyasha was being so quiet.  She didn’t know what the demons wanted, why they were attacking, or how they had breached the outer wall of the castle so quickly – with no warning at all.  She only knew that her mate stood before her – between her and the monster approaching – injured and bleeding.

          She and Inuyasha had been enjoying a walk in the front courtyard when he had appeared, unusually tense and rigid.  She had tried to ask him what was wrong, but he had silenced her with a look, his hand reaching for his sword.

          Even as he turned to tell her to go back into the castle the demons had swarmed over the castle walls.  Inutaisho had grabbed his mate and run toward the relative safety of the inmost courtyard, but this demon had followed them.  Others had entered the castle itself, searching for spoils no doubt, and the shrieking of the servants was terrible to hear.  Somehow the gardens had been set ablaze, and the air around them was dark with soot and ash.

          So now they stood, surrounded by flames, her mate with several arrows protruding from the holes in his upper body armor, a crazed, animalistic demon approaching them.  And he was telling her to go.

          Every fiber of her being cried for her to stay with him.  To fight with him.  And, if necessary, to die with him.  But some still rational part of her told her that she would only be a distraction to him.  He would be far more likely to survive if he knew that she was safe and waiting for him.  Besides, Inuyasha needed her.  He deserved a chance to live his life.

          With a last desperate, love-filled look, she ran as fast as she could, clutching the fire-rat hoari her husband had given her to protect them from the flames and any wayward – or well aimed – arrows.

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          She didn’t know how long she had been sitting, hunched, in the dark underground stronghold, fearfully hushing her son, and hoping no one would find her.  This was the place he had told her to go if they were ever attacked.  At the time she had thought it somewhat pointless.  He was the mightiest of Taiyoukai, and they had not come under attack in all the time she had lived with him.  He had a well trained army, and loyal guards.  It was unlikely anyone, man or demon, would ever reach the castle.  And yet... they had.  Somehow they had.

          She stiffened as she heard a noise before and above her.  Someone had opened the trap door, they were coming down the stairs.  She stifled the urge to scream, praying that if it were an enemy the demon would believe the room empty and leave. She had carefully placed the sutures so that her scent would not give her away.

          The man, for from the heavy steps she assumed it must be a man, stumbled and then leaned against the wall. 

          “Izayoi.” The voice was weak, but unmistakably that of her mate.

          “Izayoi, it is safe... they are gone...”

          With a soft cry Izayoi laid her son on the floor and hurried to her mate.  He must have been badly injured, for he actually rested a good deal of his weight on her slight shoulders.  She led him to their son and helped him sit against the wall.  She then ran her hands over him, searching for injuries.  She gasped, she could feel blood still seeping from his injuries.  Weakly he took her hands in his own, stilling them and bringing them down to his lap.

          “What happened?”  Her tremulous voice quickly gave away her concern.

          “I love you.” He whispered, reaching up with one hand to stroke her cheek, seemingly uninterested in answering her questions.  “I love you so much.” Clearly he could see her even in the darkness of the room, for his fingers traced her features without hesitation or mistake, coming to rest on her lips.  After a moment he wrapped his hand around the back of her neck, lacing the fingers into her hair and urging her down toward him.  He pressed his lips to hers lightly, as though it was a great strain, before letting his hand fall back into his lap.  

          Izayoi was becoming frightened.  He wasn’t himself at all.  He was so weak, so tired.  She had seen him after a battle before, but never like this.

          “Let me see to your wounds.” She said quickly, turning to stand, intent on searching for some sort of medicinal supplies.  His hand on her wrist stopped her.  He shook his head, and she could barely make out the motion in the blackness that surrounded them.

          He fumbled for a moment and then pressed something into her hand.  It was a scroll, though how she had not found it in her exploration of his injuries she did not know.

          “Izayoi, you cannot stay here any longer.” He whispered, grunting in pain as he shifted against the wall.  “Sesshoumaru... he will not tolerate your presence here.  He will kill you – and our son.”

          Izayoi stiffened; he spoke as though he were leaving her, as though he were going to die.  Surely things were not so bleak.  She wasn’t certain what she would do without him.  Her hands fisted in his hoari, silent tears coursing down her cheeks. 

          “Don’t say that.” She whispered, “You’re going to be alright.  I just need to tend your injuries.” Once more she attempted to stand, and once more he stopped her.

          “I have already sent word to Sesshoumaru.  He will come to claim his inheritance soon.”

          Izayoi grasped his hand, bringing it to her cheek.  He gently wiped at the tears there.

          “You must be strong, Izayoi.  For our son.”  She nodded and he sighed as though relieved that she was no longer fighting him.  “The letter, it is for your father, for your people.  It declares their debt to me paid in full.  I pray it is enough for them.  Perhaps once they learn of my death they will be sympathetic.” He squeezed her hand weakly.  “Inuyasha... let me hold him.”

          Izayoi fumbled a moment, her vision and movements impaired by the darkness and her tears, before gently lifting their son and placing him in his father’s arms.

          For a moment he studied the boy, barely into his first year, and then he shifted once more, clasping the boy against him with one arm and drawing his sword with the other.

          Izayoi recognized the sword.  It was one of two that he had commissioned from the sword smith Totousai shortly after their bonding.  They were unusual swords, forged to make use of the compassion he so freely gave.  Tenseiga – the sword of life, which could heal up to a hundred with a single sweep; and Tetsusaiga, a sword of battle that could kill a hundred demons in a single slash, but could only be wielded by human hands – incapable of unleashing it’s power – or a demon filled with compassion for humanity.  The sword he had drawn was the Tetsusaiga.  Brow furrowed in concentration he focused on the sword, and, after a moment, it vanished, leaving in its place a small black pearl.  He seemed to relax greatly after this.

          “It is safe.” He whispered, speaking as though to himself.  “He will not find it here.” He did not say who ‘he’ was, “but just in case...” he turned to his young son, brushing a finger over the infant’s nose, causing Inuyasha to open his eyes very widely.  “There you go.” The Taiyoukai managed, as that was evidently what he had wanted. Slowly he lifted the black pearl to hover over his son’s eye. He whispered an enchantment and it seemed to sink into that eye with no discomfort to the child.  He smiled at the boy, running his claws lightly through his hair before abruptly handing him back to Izayoi and struggling to sit up a bit.

          “I cannot die here...” he ground out, supporting his upper body on his arms rather than the wall, “I must go to a place where my rest will be undisturbed.” Izayoi thought she understood his reason for wanting to go.  He had told her once that youkai reverted to their true forms when dead.  His true form was a great dog, taller than the oldest tree on their land.  The castle was no place for such to be buried.  “You must prepare a gravesite for me.” His voice was breaking nearly every other word now, and her heart broke with it.  “Myoga...” Izayoi started at the name of his faithful retainer, for she had been certain they were alone.

          “Yes, my Lord.” The voice of the old flea rid her of any fear that he was delusional. 

          “I entrust this duty to you.” He was referring to the gravesite.

          “Yes, my Lord.”    

          “Sesshoumaru must not find my true resting place.”

          “Yes, my Lord.” The flea sounded nearly as heart broken as she felt and Izayoi’s eyes welled with fresh tears.

          “Watch over them, Myoga.  Help him.” Myoga gave his word, and the Taiyoukai fell back against the wall once more.

          His hand found hers once again and his golden gaze shifted to the child in her arms.

          “I love you, my son,” he whispered, before he turned to her and wearily caressed her face, “My mate.  Be well...”

          In a flash of light he was gone, only a small glowing ball remained, hovering before her.  She knew that he was not yet dead, for she had once witnessed him traveling in this manner.  She knew it was the quickest and safest way he knew, and she also knew it would drain what little strength he had left.  She forced a smile in the direction of the hovering light.

          “Go, my love.” She whispered, and, as though he had been waiting for her to release him, he left.

          Izayoi let her head fall so that her chin rested against her chest and she hugged Inuyasha closer.  Unable to contain her sorrow any longer she let out a piercing wail.  Inuyasha, who had been quiet through the entire ordeal, shifted, sensing his mother’s distress. In a moment his shrill cry joined her own, and their wailing echoed through the castle...

          That very evening Izayoi gathered a few things and left for her own home.  But she knew she would never forget this place, or the demon she had loved so much.

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Notes: I don’t know how Inutaisho died, but I saw some screenshots from the third movie.  They showed him with arrows sticking out of his chest, fire burning all around, a castle, a demon in front of him, and Izayoi holding Inuyasha behind him.  Then there was one in the same scene that looked like he was telling Izayoi to run.  And finally one with her running away with what looked like Inuyasha’s hoari over her head...  so, I could be totally off base, but since I haven’t seen the third movie, I had to make due...  Sorry if it’s way inaccurate.

          As for the swords and the black pearl... when Sesshoumaru first appears in the anime he is looking for Tetsusaiga.  The sword turns out to be hidden inside the bones of their father which are in an utterly desolate and deserted place.  I don’t know where that place is, but the doorway that allowed them to get there was a small black pearl that was hidden in Inuyasha’s eye.  And he didn’t know it was there.  So, I attempted to explain and incorporate this into the story.  When the sword was replaced by the pearl it hadn’t become the pearl, it had disappeared through the gateway.  Again, if this is totally off base I apologize.

VOCAB:

          Hime – princess

          Taiyoukai – demon Lord

          Youkai – demon

          Inu – dog

          Hanyou – half demon

          Shoji – in Japanese architecture: the portion of the wall that slides back to serve as a door.

          Inuyasha – benign, or friendly, dog demon