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.
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