Tuesday, November 15, 2005

This story picks up where Inugenesis left off
Comments (0) | Permalink

Inuexodus
*episode 1*

Alone in an uncaring forest, a young half-demon runs blindly. His last anchor has been severed and he is lost in a sheer panic. He keeps running for some time, unaware of the world around him. When at last he can run no longer, Inuyasha collapses and rolls himself into a ball. His tears come freely as he howls to the world. Finally, he hears a distant voice calling over his own sounds, “Inuyasha! Lord Inuyasha, you are not alone.” The boy looks up and cranes his neck trying to see from where this message of hope comes. Responding to a sharp pain, he reflexively slaps at his cheek. As he pulls his hand back he is unsure of what he holds; tears still obstruct his vision. He brings his sleeve to dry his eyes and looks again at his palm. There is a small creature on one of his fingers. It continues, “Lord Inuyasha, I am Myoga: I am a flea demon and I am at your service, now and forever.” The boy finds his voice and asks, “Whe…where did you come from?” Myoga says, “I have been with you since Chuugimaru’s unfortunate demise. Before that, I was traveling with him as I have been for some time. He was a friend, not a close one mind you, but I shall miss him. I should give a proper explanation of myself. I was a vassal to your honorable sire. As Chuugimaru was to your mother, I was to your father. Although, I lacked Chuugimaru’s strength, your father had no need for strength; just as your wise mother had little use for my brilliant mind.” Allowing his curiosity to overcome his fear, Inuyasha asks, “You mean my father was stupid?” The flea jumps as he shouts, “I didn’t say that! Your father was wise enough to value my services as a strategist. As I was saying, my mind is at your disposal. I will help you as I can. For starters, allow me to advise you that the border of your grandfather’s domain is that way and that despite Chuugimaru death, you are still banished under penalty of your own life and that of anyone with you.” Nodding, Inuyasha gets to his feet and heads in the direction which the flea indicated.
Comments (3) | Permalink

Monday, November 14, 2005

Inugenesis
*episode 6*

Lord Sesshomaru has left his faithful servant, Jaken, in the forest near the castle. The lord made what Jaken chose to interpret as a vague promise that he would return for his vassal. Jaken is confused by his master’s decision to spare the humans earlier and his abrupt departure. As he often did when his lord left him, Jaken speculated about the numerous females a mighty demon like his lord must have. Naturally, he was unworthy to see these jewels belonging solely to his master and that was why he was left alone time and time again. The imp refused to consider the possibility that his lord simply grew tired of his company and he was none too keen on the theory that his master values his solitude either. To be fair, after countless such instances, Sesshomaru had always returned. Had he not, there would have been no further opportunities for him to leave Jaken. So the little green imp passed the long sleepless night awaiting his master’s return. As dawn broke, the master had still not come. Jaken’s intense scrutiny of the grain of the wood in the staff of two heads is broken by the approach of two persons not making any attempt to conceal themselves. Grasping the staff, the imp hails them and demands that they explain themselves. Recognizing the larger of the two, he says, “You, you were with that mortal lord who insulted my lord yesterday! What business have you with me?!?” The old and decrepit human says, “We have no business with you master imp. We are passing through the lord’s forest with his permission. By your leave, we shall continue, and leave you in peace.” Jaken says, “Mortals do not concern me. You may go about your business.” The elder make a slight bow and the younger follows suit. As they walk off, the imp shouts, “Wait!” The old man turns back to him. He says, “We must be on our way. As you said, human are of no interest to you. Please, let us continue.” Jaken says, “I dare say humans are of no consequence to me, but one of you is not human. Look to yonder lad’s feet, he wears no sandals, but he walks through bramble with no concern for pain. This is not the action of a mortal. Beyond that, for what purpose does he hide his face? I say boy, lower your hood this instant.” Without waiting for the man’s approval, the boy lowers his hood allowing the imp to see his features, simultaneously granting him his first view of a true demon. The imp looks intently at the boy, then he says, “Oh aye, he is the one. There is no doubt that this is the vile half-breed who defiles my master’s bloodline. See his face, a mockery of the noble features of lord Sesshomaru. Demon eyes on a face that lacks demonic strength. And those ears, a pitiful gesture toward the perfection of my master’s true form. This must be the lout, the son of the cow who seduced my lord’s noble father. By what name call they you, boy?” The boy says, “I’m Inuyasha.” The imp says, “Inuyasha, is it? Well I am Jaken, loyal servant to your noble half-brother, the demon lord Sesshomaru. Take both names with you to next world!” He raises the staff, but the human jumps between them and cries, “STOP!!! If you must, then take my life, but spare the boy.” Jaken is surprised: he asks, “What care you for the creature? He is not human. Your kind despises his like as much as demons do, if not more. Yet you would offer your life for his, why?” The man says, “On her death bed, I swore to her ladyship that I would keep him safe. Please master imp, I beg you.” Jaken stands for a moment, deep in thought. Finally he says, “I too serve a master and would die for him. As much as it disgusts me, I feel there is a connection between us. So I shall grant your wish.” That said, he lets fly a burst of flame from his staff. Chuugimaru, loyal to the end, performs his final duty and dies in his lady’s son’s defense. Inuyasha is thrown off his feet and by the blast, but he is not burned. As the boy looks up, he sees that nothing of the old man remains; he begins to cry. The Imp walks to him and strikes him with the staff. He says, “Stop this at once!!! Despite your tainted blood, you still have a most noble sire. Do not dishonor him by your weakness. As I told that human, I shall not kill you, not today. But you are alone now. If you survive long enough, my master will kill you himself. Now go!” He strikes the boy with his staff again. Inuyasha struggles to his feet. He turns and flees the site of the altercation.
*The End*
Comments (4) | Permalink

Sunday, November 13, 2005

Inugenesis
*episode 5*

Meanwhile, Sesshomaru comes alone to the cave of the sword smith Totosai. Without declaring his presence, the demon lord enters the cave and sits down. He says, “Old fool, this worthless sword has been behaving strangely. It is emitting an unusual energy and it is quite annoying. Explain this.” The smith takes the sword and feels its pain. He says, “Something must have happened to it. What were you up to when it first began to act like this?” Sesshomaru relates the tale of his visit to the home of his half-brother and Totosai thinks. At length, he says, “So it started complaining when you learned of Izayoi’s death. That must be it then. The sword wished to revive her as it would have had your father wielded it.” Sesshomaru asks, “Do you mean to tell me that along with being unable to harm my enemies, this sword does not even obey my will? My father is dead; I am its master now. And what of the other sword, the steel cleaving fang? Where is the Tetsusaiga? Where is my father’s tomb?” The old smith says, “Seeing but unseen, protected but unknown to its protector, that is all I can tell you because it is all I know. Besides, your father meant for that sword to pass to Inuyasha. You have your heirloom, be proud of the mighty Tenseiga.” Sesshomaru says, “This sword is not mighty, it is worthless. I should discard it now and be done with it.” The smith says, “Don’t do that!” The demon asks, “Why not?” “Why not what?” Totosai asks. Sesshomaru says, “Why should I not discard the sword, what we were just talking about.” The old man asks, “Were we talking about something? Do I know you?” The demon lord gives the smith a lump on the head and leaves. Totosai thinks to himself, “You couldn’t discard the Tenseiga if you wanted to, and you’d be a fool to try. Aside from that, my performance was pathetic. I have to work on my senility.”
Comments (8) | Permalink

Saturday, November 12, 2005

Inugenesis
*episode 4*

After her ladyship’s death, the lord summoned Chuugimaru to his chamber. He said, “My daughter’s passing must be hard on you. Now you must choose how you will spend your future. There is still a place for you here, however, for the half-breed there is not.” The old man said, “If it pleases your lordship, this one swore an oath to her ladyship that he would protect the young lord. One is honored by your lordship’s generous offer, but he must decline.” The lord says, “It may not be necessary, or even possible for you to accompany it. Other arrangements may preclude that. Come with me, we are expecting a visitor.” The lord, himself tremendously old, led the servant to the castle gates where a large group of soldiers stood ready. Shortly, a strange man appeared, walking toward the castle. He was tall, clad in armor and fine white linen. He carried a single sword at his belt and held something unidentifiable in his left hand. His most striking characteristics were his flowing white hair and the crescent emblem on his brow. He was accompanied by a companion fittingly strange in his own right. In a subservient fashion, a small imp followed the white clad lord. When he reached a suitable distance for parlaying, he threw his burden toward the lord. As the object rolled to a stop, it became apparent that it was a severed human head. It stopped rolling, face up and it was recognized as belonging to a captain in the lord’s guards. The figure said, “To be summoned by a human is an offense I will not tolerate. Your messenger has paid for this impudence as you shall soon. However, I will hear for what reason you thought to summon me before I kill you.” Shouting such things as, “He dares threaten his lordship!” and “Filthy demon!” the vanguard of the soldiers advanced without orders to attack the stranger. The imp said, “M’lord, if I may.” The demon said, “By all means Jaken.” Jaken turned his staff on the soldiers and sent forth a great burst of flames. When he stopped, not a trace remained of the guardsmen remained. The old lord, unphased, said, “You are the demon lord Sesshomaru.” His words were a statement, not a question, and he continued, “As you may know, your sire took my daughter from me and put within her a demonic monster. My daughter is now dead, and I refuse to have it in my house. You are kin to it; I wished to offer you the option of taking it before I cast it out on its own.” Sesshomaru said, “I want nothing to do with my father’s bastard. As for his mother, I relish the news of her death. That said, I have wasted enough of my precious time with you.” He raises his arm and prepares to strike, then he stops. He turns to the imp and says, “Jaken, we’re leaving.” With that, the two turn and returned the way they had come. The old lord turned to Chuugimaru and said, “Well, it was a slim hope at best. In her name, I rescind my daughter’s order. You are no longer honor bound to depart with that creature. Now, how say you? Will you stay?” The old servant said, “Your lordship, once again, this one is honored by your offer, but, also once again, he must refuse.” The lord turned his back to Chuugimaru, and said, “Then be gone by sunset. One day after that you must be off of my land. If it ever returns, the half-breed and anyone accompanying it will be put to death.” The lord made his way back into his stronghold. So this old man came to rest in the forest outside his home, in the company of a boy he despised, but for whom he would give his life without question.
Comments (6) | Permalink

Friday, November 11, 2005

Inugenesis
*episode 3*

Then it came to pass that her ladyship desired long trips into the countryside. Along with her attendants and a contingent of her father’s guards, Chuugimaru would always accompany her on these journeys. On one such venture, her ladyship’s party was assailed by a giant serpent demon. The soldiers fought boldly, but they were swept aside as the others fled. When the beast finished, it turned to pursue the party. When it was almost upon them, suddenly, the air was split by a blast of energy and a great shout, “Tetsusaiga!!!” As the startled humans turned to face the snake, they were shocked to see nothing but a smoldering crater where it had been a moment ago. Tracing his vision along the path of the blast, Chuugimaru came face to face with a sight he would grow to despise. Holding a giant sword shaped like a great fang, a strange man who looked most unhuman stood observing the party. He said, “This serpent was trespassing on my land, as are you. He had already been given a warning, now you have as well. Name yourself so that if you return, I may know the one I kill.” This speech had been addressed to Chuugimaru. He was dressed in fine clothing, and sat upon a nobleman’s steed. It was only natural that the demon would have assumed him to be the master of the group. He was properly surprised when the young lady he had assumed to be either wife or courtesan dismounted and walked toward him. She said, “I am the princess Izayoi, and I lead this group. I thank you for your aid, however unintentional it may have been, and assure you that we are only passing through this land.” At her ladyship’s forward action, Chuugimaru dismounted as well and came to stand behind her, not willing to obstruct her path, but wanting to be in a better defensive position. Clearly intrigued by this woman who did not fear him, even after his terrible display of might, the demon moved to meet her. From there, nature took its course, and, much to Chuugimaru’s dismay not to mention that of her family, Izayoi became the demon’s wife and bore his son. Her husband died protecting her, and Chuugimaru returned her ladyship to her father’s house. The next six years were trying ones for the faithful servant. His age was increasing and that which he held dear was withering before his eyes. Whether it was a punishment from the heavens for bringing forth an abomination, the strain of the birth itself, or simply the heart ache from the loss of her beloved, he would never know. But after her son’s birth, the princess was never well again and she grew worse with each passing year. Although he loved her ladyship and was the only one who did not let her son’s existence distance him from her, he could never extend this love to the boy. He saw in Inuyasha both his father who had deprived her ladyship of the life she deserved and the source of the illness which was slowly killing her. When even he could not deny that the end was near, lady Izayoi sent for Chuugimaru who came to her deathbed. She said, “Old friend, I am dying. I have but one last request of you. If you still feel any tenderness in your heart for this retched corpse you see before you, then please, watch over Inuyasha and make sure that he is safe. My father will soon drive my son from this place, I beg you, go with him. I am sorry that I must lay this burden at your feet my friend, but do you remember when I first spoke of loyalty?” With tears on his stone face, he said, “This one does indeed.” She said, “That time when I most need your loyalty is now. Please, swear it to me.” After taking a long breath, he said, “This one swears it.” The princess reached out her hand to take his. She said, “No old friend, do not swear it to her ladyship, swear it to me.” He paused for a moment, building his courage, then he said, “One…I swear it, Izayoi.” A look of contentment spread across her face. She said, “Thank you, old friend. Now please, send in Inuyasha. I want to say goodbye. And one more thing, I do not wish for him to view my remains.” Ever obedient, Chuugimaru rose to his feet, bowed, and left. She died within the hour.
Comments (7) | Permalink

Thursday, November 10, 2005

Inugenesis
*episode 2*

Her ladyship. The man’s heart still bled when he thought of her. He knew that he might seek comfort in the boy’s shared grief, but that was not his way. For all his life, Chuugimaru had bourn his emotions within himself, and he would not stop now. He thought back to his childhood, not a happy time for him. He carried the joys and sorrows of youth behind a mask which separated him from the other children of the peasant farmers on the lord’s estate. He was shunned by all but one of his fellow boys. This lad, Usagiuma, a wild and rowdy hooligan, gradually worked his way into the heart and confidence of the stone faced boy. They grew to be men, and Usagiuma took a wife and began a family. When they were in their 30s, Usagiuma, whose behavior still tended toward recklessness, brought down the wrath of a powerful vassal. Seeing his one friend about to be executed, the man who still never showed any emotion threw himself on his knees and begged for Usagiuma’s life. They would both have died, had not fate intervened. The favorite daughter of the lord, herself only a girl at the time, was returning to the castle after an outing with her servants. Ever curious, the young lady had sought to investigate the commotion by the side of the road. Upon hearing the tale, she commanded the vassal to release the men, and take no further action against them. She then said, without phrasing it as a condition of her pervious action, that she wished Chuugimaru to accompany her back to the castle. Surrounded by luxuries beyond his wildest dreams, he sat before the noblewoman and feared for his life. “Loyalty,” she said, “is beyond value. I know this, despite my youth. You showed great loyalty to your friend earlier; do you think you could show me the same loyalty?” Chuugimaru sat, speechless. She continued, “These people,” she made a gesture to encompass the entire estate, “are not loyal to me. Some are loyal to my father, or my family, but most are simply loyal to themselves. For now, I must trust my father to protect me. But in time, I will need people of my own who are loyal to only me. I would like to give you a post in my father’s household. You would no longer till the soil, and your life would be much more comfortable. In this and in other ways I will help you, but you have shown yourself to be capable of loyalty. When the time comes, I will need your loyalty to be to me. If you accept, you and your family shall take up residence here immediately.” Finding his voice again, Chuugimaru says, “Your ladyship, this one has no family. As for your ladyship’s offer, one is struck dumb. One cannot refuse your ladyship’s terms, and one hopes that he may someday repay your ladyship’s kindness.” So he came into the household of the lord. The lord loved the girl above all his children, and when she asked if a certain peasant could become a servant within the castle, the answer was, needless to say, yes. As the years past and the lady grew, Chuugimaru became her eyes and ears in places where a young lady could not go. He would gradually get to know all members of her ladyship’s entourage and inform her of where their loyalty truly lay. As she bloomed, like a fragrant lotus, into a beautiful woman, Chuugimaru realized that he loved his mistress. Like all of his feelings, he buried this deep within himself and proceeded as if all was normal. She was destined to wed a nobleman, a man more worthy by birth and by nature then this lowly servant. In time, the sons of lesser noblemen came to court her. Each was greeted by a distrusting eye from a servant they soon learned to be untouchable. When one such suitor thought to force her to accept him, and without delay, servants happened upon the two before he could complete his vile act. As the servants ran to tell the lord, her ladyship ran to the arms of her most trusted friend. By the time the lord’s guards found the suitor, he was long dead and his body had been defiled. By the lord’s order, no search was made for the young nobleman’s killer, and his body was sent home, wrapped in a horse blanket.
Comments (4) | Permalink

Wednesday, November 9, 2005

To my readers
I have to apologize; I haven’t posted in a week. You see, I have writer’s block. I can’t seem to get any more story to come. I hope this will clear up on its own. Until then, I’ve decided to leave my current story unfinished. I’d rather not leave my site empty, I know that some of you read this. I’ve decided to run the second Inuyasha fanfic I began to write a while ago. It is not a part of the fanfic saga which has been running for 8 months. It is set in and directly before Inuyasha’s childhood. I have about two weeks worth set aside. I hope you enjoy it; and please accept my apologies.
Comments (1) | Permalink

Inugenesis
*episode 1*

There is a great castle by a lake. It is one of the mighty structures built as fortress by the great noble families among men. Demons laugh at such pathetic attempts at grandeur, but for all its decorativeness, the castle walls have held back demons of above average strength. The castle bares the vestments of mourning; clearly a member of the ruling house has become an honorable ancestor. As the sun sets over the lake, two figures travel alone away from the gates. One of them, an old man, gives a final backward glance knowing that he shall never again see his home of many decades. The other, a child, wrapped in a hood of dull cloth looks back again and again, not understanding forever, but already felling the loss of all that he has known. As the two prepare to enter a thick forest, the child turns once more and draws back his hood. His long white hair billows out of its confinement and his eyes and ears strain to take in all that is familiar to them. It is the ears and eyes that the hood is meant to hide, protecting him from the despising glances sent by all who see him. His small pointed ears sit on top of his head and his deep golden eyes drip with tears as they gleam in the orange sunlight. The man turns and sees him like this and is most displeased. With hurried motions he pulls the hood back into place and pushes the youngster into the forest, clearly wishing to minimize his physical contact with the boy. The two walk on in silence. The man sets the pace, however the boy, unused to travel, is not restrained by the old man’s limited speed. When the sun sets, the man stops and begins to gather wood for a fire. The boy, clearly unsure of what to do, stands and watches. When the fire has started, the old man sits and says to the boy, “Lord Inuyasha, be seated.” Inuyasha obeys the politely phrased order and his companion pulls food from his single pack. The two eat in silence. Finally, Inuyasha says, “Mister…mister Chuugimaru, when can I see my mother again? I miss her.” The old man, looking every second of his 56 years, replies, “Her ladyship is dead. Your lordship will never see her again, at least not in this life.” The half-demon obviously wants to talk, but his guardian does not. “Go to sleep, young lord.” he says. “We rise at dawn tomorrow. If your grandfather’s men find us on his land after the next sunset, we too shall die.”(He does not use the formal address when referring to the old lord) Closing any further debate, Chuugimaru reclines against a tree and closes his eyes. He is not yet ready for sleep, but he needs time to himself, and his charge’s need for companionship takes second place in his priorities. After all, his orders are to keep the young lord safe, not happy. Had he been given those orders, he would have known that her ladyship had lost all of her senses. This boy could never know happiness, but he might live in relative safety.
Comments (4) | Permalink

Wednesday, November 2, 2005

She Moves In Mysterious Ways: Da-ku vs Kagome
*episode 6*

Sango, Kohaku, Miroku, Kagura, Koga, Kirara and Kyoubou proceed through the tunnels of Naraku’s lair. They’ve come a good ways un opposed, but they’re still wary. Turning a corner, they find themselves face to face with a cave in. The corridor is packed from floor to ceiling; it is physically impossible to continue. Sango asks, “Miroku, can you clear a path with your wind tunnel?” He says, “No, that could bring the roof down on us.” “We have other concerns.” Kagura calls from the rear. As the others turn to look, they see a host of demons advancing. Trapped in the narrow corridor, they barely have room for 3 of them to stand side by side. Miroku, Koga, and Sango push to the front and prepare to try to stand against an unending wave of demon, channeled toward them.
Comments (3) | Permalink