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Revised Chapter 2

Author’s Note: For those returning, the overall story isn’t really changing. It will be more flushed out, but if you prefer to skip ahead to the new content you won’t be missing anything critical. I will indicate where the original version left off, though I think it will end up being about chapter 17 or so. I also make no promises for an upload schedule. The only thing I can promise is never to abandon the story.

~*Flame

Disclaimer: The following is a fan-based parody  InuYahsa & Final Act are all owned by Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Viz Media & Madmen Entertainment.

Chapter Two

I leapt to the side, barely avoiding Father’s sword. After the control I learned over my Dokkasou, Father announced I was old enough to train with a real sword. No longer did he wield Tenseiga while we would train together; yet another great accomplishment for this visit. Growling, I landed less than gracefully and prepared for his next move.

The lesson of the day was dodging. I could counter far better than anyone else my age, but Father was determined to train me in all aspects of fighting. It seemed cowardly to run from his attacks at first, my mind equating dodging to running from the fight entirely. But I quickly learned otherwise. It took far less effort to dodge than it did to counter, which was important when facing opponents far stronger than me. It also forced me to keep track of everything around me, not just the opponent in front of me. 

It was a good lesson, one I was doing well in proving I had mastered. And I wanted more than anything to prove it to Father. He had framed today’s lesson as a challenge. One that if I failed would have no consequences, but if I could succeed in dodging every one of his attacks for the next hour, he promised me a reward of my choice.

It was a different approach than he had used in the past, but it was working far better than any other. I would succeed and have the bonding time with Father I so desperately craved. I would show him I was worthy of his time. Smirking, I quickly dove to the ground and rolled away from the slash of his blade as it sliced the air near where I had stood.

That was happening more often; the close calls. I still didn’t doubt being able to make it the full hour; but it wouldn’t be easy. It had been drizzling all morning, and though it had stopped before Father took me out to train, the ground was slick with mud. By the end of our session, I would need a bath. The servants would have the challenge of ridding the stains of the once bright white silk.

Father quickly changed the direction of his swing and I tried to push off of the ground to jump away, only to slide. My knee landed on the ground hard and I bit back a yelp of pain. There was no more time. Instead of jumping to the other side of the clearing again, I flattened and rolled away. I could feel the mud sticking to my skin and hair; adding extra weight I was unaccustomed to; my head pulled backwards and straining my neck. Father was always complaining that I never pulled my hair up when fighting. I understood the reason, but I also hated being compared to Father and seen as lacking. There was no doubt that comparison would continue and thus I needed to learn and train how to fight with loose hair. It was times like this I felt like I was doubling down.

The moment I was far enough from Father, I lurched to my feet and started running. That roll in the mud cost me speed, especially with compensating for the added weight. My speed was often the only thing that could save me from the close calls I was having. I would need to be extra careful. There was only a little more time left before the hour was up, and I refused to allow this setback to cause me to fail.

The biggest issue I was having was all the mud. It wasn’t sticky, but it was slick and made quick movements tricky. If I could just avoid the ground... then... I smirked the moment an idea popped into my head. Running full tilt, I jumped higher than Father expected, since I missed his blade easily. Locking eyes with him in challenge, I pushed off against a tree, sending me flying across the training grounds. The second my feet touched the trunk of the next tree, I was pushing off once more in a different direction. I made certain to avoid any kind of pattern and the change in strategy seemed to work.

Father was standing in the clearing, watching me closely with narrowed eyes. I didn’t take the time to figure out if they were narrowed because he was focused or because he was annoyed. I should have, and I knew that; but I needed to focus all my attention on where I planned to leap to next. There were a fair amount of trees surrounding us, but there were also more people watching our training session than normal. I was always on display for the Court and those living in the palace. Training was no different, and I had learned long ago to ignore them. It was as if they were part of the scenery; easily forgotten. Apparently, Father was not of the same mind.

One moment Father was standing in the center of the clearing, the next he stood by the side of one of the many servants who had stopped to watch us. Without hesitation, he grabbed the poor man and threw him at me. The servant screamed as time slowed around me. I caught mid-air, with no way to dodge. There was absolutely nothing I could do other than wait for the man to hit me.

The two of us fell to the ground, tangled in each other’s limbs. The servant groaned as his body protested the harsh treatment while I struggled to get free. I didn’t know if this hit counted against me, but if I didn’t get up quickly, it wouldn’t matter. Father would be here any moment and end the session once and for all. I growled, trying to spur the servant into getting off me; but it was too late. I swallowed past the lump in my throat as the tip of Father’s blade nicked below my chin.

“I never thought you a fool, boy.” Father’s blade pressed a little deeper, and I whimpered as the feeling of blood began to drip down my neck. “We are Inu, and don’t belong flitting through the air like some kind of bird.” He growled, causing me to instinctively bare my throat to him. “Had I been your true enemy, you would have been cut down long before now.”

In the next moment, he was gone.

I sat there, no longer trying to untangle my limbs from the servant’s. I had nearly succeeded; but none of that mattered. I failed... miserably.

The servant eventually wriggled away, leaving me to sit in the mud alone. The rest of the witnesses to my shameful defeat still stood there, whispering amongst themselves. I could practically hear their concern for the future of the West. My eyes burned, and I looked away from them. I refused to give them the satisfaction of seeing how weak I truly was. Yes, I had been defeated; but I will accept my defeat with dignity.

I stood slowly, as if nothing was wrong. With a glance at my clothes, I knew dusting them off would help with nothing. I was covered in mud. I would need a bath, but not right now. In order to reach the bathing chambers, I would have to pass by the whispering Courtiers, and I wasn’t ready for that. Instead, I turned in the opposite direction. I might not be able to bathe just yet, but I could reflect on the training session and try to think of how to improve.

Walking away, I made my way to Mother’s garden. It was the one place the Court would never follow. Sitting at the base of one of the many trees, I pulled my legs close to my chest and rested my forehead against my knees. The burning in my eyes grew stronger. The urge to whine like a pup filled my chest. I was no pup! I had seen ten winters and was well on my way to bring an adult.

So why did I want to cry?

Before I could allow the urge to overwhelm me, I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep. I needed the time in the Dream Realm to gain control of my emotions. That, and I would use the time to think and figure out how to best Father.

___

The soft tinkling of the stream did nothing to help my mood. I hated knowing I failed, and worse, that I had disappointed Father. Hugging my legs closer to my chest, I stared blankly at the flowing water. I should have prepared for anything; yet, the moment that servant came flying at me, I froze. How could I have frozen like that? I knew the answer; just didn’t want to admit it. Shutting my eyes tightly, for the first time, I gave in to the belief everyone had of me.

I was weak.

I had no idea how long I was sitting there before I felt a gentle pressure on my arm. Surprised, I locked eyes with concerned pools of blue. It was that girl again. What was she doing back here?

“What’s wrong, Cobra?”

“My name’s not Cobra,” I replied without thinking. How could this girl have gotten so close to me without noticing? I frowned, more so at my lack of attention than at the absurd name she called me. Did I really need further proof of my weakness? The girl pouted, crossing her arms over her chest.

“What should I call you then? It’s not like you told me your name.” I almost smirked, amused at her response. She looked like a disgruntled bird, all puffed up and feathers ruffled. I had no idea that humans could look such a way. All it did was make me want to ruffle her a little more.

“You never asked.” The girl growled, and I had to say it impressed me. It’s difficult for humans to growl. This girl was more intriguing than I first thought.

“I hate when people use that excuse.” I didn’t bother to hide the smirk as it spread across my face. It was a clear sign to the girl that I was playing with her. Instead of getting offended, all she did was huff and roll her eyes. “My name’s Kagome, what’s yours?” It hadn’t escaped me; I had yet to thank her for the help she unknowingly gave me earlier. My name should be thanks enough. That, and I suppose I could share my grotto with her. It wasn’t like she got in my way before.

“Sesshoumaru.” The girl flopped onto the bank next to me with a smile.

“So, what’s wrong, Sesshoumaru?” I just stared at her, confused. Why was she not scared of me? She obviously wasn’t from the West; otherwise, she would have been too frightened or ashamed to speak to me. Much like the other children of the Court.

“Nothing you need to concern yourself over.” Once she realized who I was, things would change. I didn’t want to give her fodder to be more ashamed than she already would be; or give information about the West’s weakness to our enemies. The girl frowned a little, and I almost felt bad. It was for the best, though, for the both of us.

“But... I was hoping we could be friends.” I blinked at her, astonished. Was this some sort of trap? No one had ever wanted to spend time with me, let alone befriend me. I was the future Lord of the West, not some normal child. My silence must have worried the girl as she began to fidget.

“Why?” I asked with narrowed eyes. If she wanted to get close to the West, there were better ways to do so.

“You’re the first person I’ve met here.” She sounded almost as lonely as I felt. Would it really be so bad to humor the girl? At the very least, I could use this ‘friendship’ as diplomatic practice.

“The nature of this realm may end up keeping us apart often.” It was a likely scenario since we’ve never encountered the other before. Didn’t one need to see people more often to be friends? Based on how quickly and excitedly she agreed, I suppose not.

If I thought the girl would be overly talkative now that we were ‘friends’, I was sorely mistaken. Instead of talking my ear off as I expected, she sat next to me quietly. Her feet dangled in the stream in front of us, and she looked more relaxed than I could ever imagine being. She looked so at peace, like nothing could ever bother her. I knew it was a lie, since she got so flustered and upset earlier in our conversation. So, how did she gain such inner peace so quickly?

“What’s your secret?” I didn’t mean to speak out loud. I frowned at the clear sign my emotions were still running away from me. The girl, Kagome, cocked her head to the side and looked at me.

“What do you mean?”

“How can you seem so at peace?” She shrugged before I turned my attention to my feet. Should I seek her help with my current dilemma? She helped me before, and she had a completely different perspective, being human and all… “Have you ever tried your hardest at something, yet still failed?”

“Of course I have. How else do you learn?” How can she treat failing so nonchalantly? Clearly, she did not have the same pressures I had.

“You learn by following directions.” I couldn’t stop my eyes from rolling, even if I wanted to. Why did I think the girl could help me? The first time must have been a fluke.

“Not everyone learns that way, silly. That’s why practice makes perfect.” The girl gigged as I growled. She dare laugh at this Sesshoumaru? I glared at her a moment before glancing away once again.

“Hn.” I grunted, deciding to forgive her for her impudent laughter. She didn’t realize who I was yet. I can be merciful. All great rulers show mercy. Slowly towing off my boots, I allowed my feet to join hers in the cool water of the stream. It felt nice. Perhaps this helped calm her? “What do you do when you disappoint your father?” 

Once again, the question slipped out without meaning to. What was it about this girl that made speaking with her so easy? She smiled up at me and it was as if everything was going to be okay. The sense of peace she embodied washed over me as well, and I couldn’t help but smile back at her, at least a little.

“I try again.”

___

Kagome’s words echoed through my mind for weeks. Not so much her words to keep trying, but that not everyone learns the same way. Just because Father and I were Inu youkai, didn’t mean that we were the same. I was far different from my father, and had always known that. So, why did I think learning the same way he did would work? With the vastly different abilities I had at my disposal, it was only logical that I would have to learn about them in another way. He couldn’t teach me about Dokkasou, only I could do that.

So, I started changing something each time I trained. Not everything I would try would be a success. In fact, there were many times I felt rather foolish. But, when I discovered something new, the embarrassment was all worth it. I always looked forward to Father’s visits; but this time I could hardly wait. I would blow him away with the things I’ve learned. Especially with my new secret weapon.

A trait among all Inu youkai of power is Mokomoko-sama. It is the physical representation of our inner strength. Mother and Father both displayed them proudly as a warning to others. But I wondered if there could be something more to Mokomoko-sama. If it was a representation of our strength, should we not be able to use it as something more than decoration?

The key to mastering my poison was an unknown and little-used muscle. Could Mokomoko-sama be the same? Much of my training preparing for Father’s return revolved around this idea. I had devised a training regimen for Mokomoko-sama to move on my command. It was extremely painful, as I had expected it would be. Any injury to the fluffy appendage was, so building up its strength would be a little different. But I knew the pain would be worth it in the end. I was determined to succeed and show Father I wasn’t the disappointment everyone thought I was.

Kagome was vital in this training while we spent time together in the Dream Ream. She would come up with silly games we could play together that would strengthen Mokomoko-sama. More times than not, she would have me hang from trees using only Mokomoko-sama and swing her back and forth. Were it not for her, I doubted I would have come far enough in my training to surprise Father come the next equinox as I had wanted to.

___

The time had finally come. The week of the equinox had arrived and I could hardly wait to show Father what I had learned. He hadn’t arrived the night before as he normally did; but he was due any moment now. The sun had risen, and I was waiting for him in the courtyard. The moment he entered the Shiro I would know.

The Western Court had already started gathering, prepared to watch what I’m sure they expected as a repeat of last time. But I would show them. I would show all of them. I wasn’t the Western’s folly; I was its savior.

I was not weak.

Father arrived with no fanfare. He waltzed through the gate as if he did so every day, and it took every ounce of control within me not to pounce upon him. I knew he was aware of my presence, but he didn’t acknowledge me in the slightest. If my previous performance still angered him, that would soon change. I wasn’t being cocky; it was the truth. I knew how much better I had gotten; and, since I did most of my training in the Dream Realm, the only other that knew of this was Kagome, my only friend.

I stayed in place, waiting for Father to come to me. He would eventually. Showing him I didn’t care how long it took was part of my mental game. Don’t show him your anxious, or he will use it to his advantage. The Western Courtiers started whispering amongst themselves. Clearly they expected something different; Father acknowledging me or me calling out to Father? Only they knew, and I didn’t care to find out. Ignoring them only seemed to make them whisper louder.

It felt like hours before Father finally returned to the courtyard. I could feel him standing behind me. He said nothing, but I knew, I just knew that he was going to repeat the dodging exercise from last time. Even better, I knew the perfect way to surprise him.

One moment Father was standing behind me, the next his youki was shooting towards me, faster than ever before. Whether it was him or one of his attacks didn’t matter. I just needed to dodge; and I would... just not yet.

I waited until the very last moment before jumping away and turning to face him. Father frowned before continuing to run at me, claws extended. Again, I waited until the last moment before dodging his claws. I wanted him to underestimate me. It was one of the biggest mistakes a warrior could make, yet he was falling for it perfectly.

“You’re getting sloppy, boy.” I refused to let his banter distract me. I jumped to the side, landing in a deep snowdrift before leaping out of the way once again. The snow didn’t slow me down in the slightest, but I wanted him to think it did. No, Kagome had helped increase my strength in that regard by holding tight to my legs as I leapt around our grotto. She loved when we trained like that. It was the closest she would ever come to flying.

“Your mother tells me you’ve been sleeping for too much since I left.” It did not surprise me Mother had noticed. It didn’t take me long to figure out that if I entered the Dream Realm during the day, I was more likely to run into Kagome. Since I was already trying to make it seem like I hadn’t been training as much as I was, it was a win-win situation. “That will cease today.”

I smirked, rolling to the side. There was no way I was going to give up the time I spent with Kagome. Not when it was so invaluable in more ways than just training. I was learning about humans, something I would never learn here. Mother only saw them as a food source, and Father was never here enough to teach me. Humans live in the West too. They are my people just as much as any youkai.

“Only if you can land a hit.” I let the confidence I felt fill my voice as I jumped away once more. 

 

INUYASHA © Rumiko Takahashi/Shogakukan • Yomiuri TV • Sunrise 2000
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