Of Claws And Fangs
Episode 27
"What do you think you were doing, Shakaku?" Reiketsu demanded of his daughter. His plans to rid himself of that weakling western inu and his ally the eastern kitsune were coming along fine. The notification of the death of one of Sesshomaru's hanyou brats thrilled him. West had sent the required notices informing the other cardinal lords of their month of mourning. He waited patiently for word from his general. Soon West would have more deaths to mourn
Shakaku glared up at her father, folding her arms across her chest, "Taking a walk. Is that forbidden now too?"
"Do you have no understanding, of the danger you place yourself in? West or one of his worthless hanyou brats could find you." He looked at the girl, so like her mother, strong and independent. The message from West was still clutched in his hand he held it up for her to see, "Luckily there is one less of those whelps. Seems one of the younger ones died recently."
Hanyou, again. It was the subject her father talked about most often. Why must he hate them so? She remember Keikan's words, hanyou were wanted by neither side. Keikan had also lost a family member she recalled, what an eerie coincidence. "I can take care of myself," she told him, "Why is it the death of a child pleases you so?"
"Foolish girl, the 'child' was hanyou. Weak, useless and pathetic." He sneered his voice full of derision as he spoke. "West dared to name one of them his heir. Inutashio had more sense than his son. At least he didn't acknowledge his hanyou in youkai society. Yet Sesshomaru not only names his hanyou his heir but flaunts him before the other lords." Reiketsu still fumed at the boys skills. How could a hanyou perform such an intricate kata, produce not one but nine whips. Then perform that ningen sword kata, swapping the katana between hands. Then the whelp had walked away, showing his back. Clearly stating to all that he, the Taiyoukai of the North, was no threat. "Go change into something more appropriate for your station. South will arrive soon with his heir. You should get to know the boy."
Shakaku listened as Reiketsu fumed. "If they are as weak, pathetic and useless as you say, then why does it worry you and why should I "get to know" South's heir?" The fact that her father was trying to push her into a
union with the heir to the South lands bothered her more now than it had previously when the possibility was mentioned. For some reason she thought about Keikan.
Reiketsu fought the urge to yell at his daughter. He had allowed her too much freedom. "Because Shakaku, East has no children. While West may have twin sons, they are hanyou and therefore beneath you. Leaving only South's son as a suitable mate for you." He would have said more except a messenger rushed in, taking the message he read it, "Damn, that incompetent fool! How could he have only assassinated only one of them." Unaware he spoke his thoughts.
She could sense his anger at her and it brought a small smirk to her lips. She would not marry South's son, never. Shakaku gave him a curious look as he spoke his thoughts aloud. "Assassinate who?"
"West hanyou brats, who else." He fumed, storming to his war room.
Shakaku stared at her father's retreating form. She knew her father to be cruel, controlling and ambitious but she had not thought him capable of this. West's children did not deserve North's hate. Narrowing her eyes,
decision made, she stalked to her rooms, to prepare for her journey.
"About time you got back," Shippo chided Keikan as he leapt the wall into the garden with the first rays of the morning. "Where did you go? You missed Midori's funeral rites."
Keikan hung his head, all thoughts of the beautiful tora flew from his mind. "I went to check on the advance from the north." He looked at his kitsune brother, "I just needed time away. It is overwhelming nii-san. Hahaoya stabbed by Makoto, Midori killed by North. What will he do next?"
Placing a comforting hand on his younger brother's shoulder Shippo smiled sadly. "Only he can answer that. Go on Sesshomaru-sama wants to see you, he's in his study."
Keikan walked into his father's study, to see the Taiyoukai at his desk sorting through papers. "Shippo said you wanted to see me?"
Sesshomaru looked up from his papers. "We should prepare," he paused, "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine, sir. I just needed to get away for awhile." A question nagged at his mind, "Chichioya, for me it is still easy to get away. Even though I am the heir, I can disappear for a few hours. How do you handle all this responsibility and demands for your attention? Can't you ever get away?"
Akisame walked in holding a cup of tea. "Gomen, didn't mean to interrupt." She placed the tea on his desk and absently brushed his hair back over his shoulder, "Don't work too hard, love. I'll leave you two to talk."
Sesshomaru watched his mate leave the room, a smile curving his lips. "You're Hahaoya is my way of getting away. When we are alone, nothing else exists...sometimes when we are not alone too. She keeps me from being crushed under the weight a ruler must bear."
Keikan nodded then thought of the tora female with her tawny gold hair. "How did you know Chichioya? How did you know you loved Hahaoya?"
Sesshomaru contemplated the question a moment. "I just knew. I looked in her eyes and knew. It was the same with Akari but stronger with your Hahaoya. Is there someone I should know about?"
"No" He said quickly, "I just wondered, I mean... I know eventually I'm going to have to choose a mate..."
Sesshomaru hid his smile. Keikan's quick response spoke volumes. "Yes, eventually. You will know or if she's anything like Akisame...she'll tell you."
Keikan thought for a moment about the tora, damn he hadn't gotten her name. He remembered her fire and the comfort he'd felt near her. True she was not of one of the great houses, just a servant, but .... Catching his father watching he looked at the mound of paperwork and frowned. "I guess I need to read this stuff?" He sighed deeply at Sesshomaru's nod and sat picking up the first of many scrolls.
Several hours later, Keishou knocked softly on the door. When permission to enter was given he opened it. "Forgive me Chichioya but if you are finished, I would like to ask Keikan to accompany me to Edo. Haya's birthday is approaching, I want to get her something."
Keikan leapt up. "Sure." then looked to his sire, "With your permission of course."
From behind Keishou came the soft laughter of Akisame. "Get out of here you two. I want some time alone with my mate." She said pushing them out the door closing it behind them. Turning to face Sesshomaru, she crossed her arms in front of her, "You've been avoiding me, and we need to talk."
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