August 2009 Week 4
Title:How It Could Have Been; ch 4, Defeating the Dragon
Author:petalears
Universe:Alternate
Rating:PG
Prompt:It is in the character of very few men to honor without envy a friend who has prospered. -Aeschylus
Summary:Why Ryuukotsusei went to war.
Defeating the Dragon
Inu no Taishou knew that the battle would be damaging which was one of the other reasons he wanted to try to speak with Ryuukotsusei. He had to admit that the same thought had crossed his mind as it had his mate’s, the dragon had always seemed too indolent to provoke a bloody fight, not to mention it might mar his handsome but weak face.
Ryuukotsusei was clearly in the wrong by preying on the people, human and youkai of the Western Lands. No one would deny the Dog General had the right to defend his people and yet bloodshed was not always the way forward and the dragon would be given a chance to withdraw.
The two Daiyoukai met in humanoid form, Ryuukotsusei dressed finely in silks and looking anything but a warrior. But Inu no Taishou was far too long in the tooth to fall for an old trick, he knew how formidable the dragon looked in his youkai form even if he wasn’t sure how skilled a fighter he was. The potential for power was great, thankfully the fact that he would be scaled and look impenetrable against an essentially fluffy dog was not an issue.
It was the strength of individual youki that was the protection and was the unknown factor in this case. The Dog picked up easily on the barely concealed sneering from the Dragon as they met over refreshments; observing the protocols of diplomacy even as Inu no Taishou knew now that it wouldn’t work. But he had to try one last time and he appealed personally to Ryuukotsusei to tell him why he was attacking the West.
The sneer was back and was personal as Ryuukotsusei walked around the seated general who gently insulted the dragon by not showing any concern, even by as much as a flare in his youki. Soon Ryuukotsusei sat down once again opposite to his opponent.
"You are a disgrace Dog, you impregnate a human and you wait eagerly for the brat to hatch instead of destroying both abominations."
"You would invade my lands and fight because of prejudice over an innocent couple who are none of your business?"
"Innocent or not, the human and her hatchling will not belong."
"They are none of your concern Ryuukotsusei; the hanyou is my son."
"You will force your mate to care for the brat when its mother dies."
"Force..? Force, My Mate? Clearly you do not know the Lady of the West very well. It would be easier to move the sun than make my mate do anything she does not wish to do. My Lady already offered to care for my new pup in the eventuality. She will enjoy having another pup to spoil." Inu no Taishou tried to lighten the atmosphere but it didn’t work.
"She should not be placed in that intolerable position; she is a lady who knows her duty and she should not have been forced to mate a rogue such as you."
"I fail to see what my mating has to do with you; but we were promised at birth, although either of us could have denied the other before we mated."
"As I said, she knows her duty."
"You desire My Mate?" Inu no Taishou said quietly and the puzzle fell into place.
"She deserves better than you that is certain. I tried to tell her, I tried to bring her with me but she refused, her duty wouldn’t let her be unfaithful to you. I will kill you and take her as spoils, and then she will see how a woman should be treated. She will bear me a son stronger than your heir and he will rule the joint lands in the place of the weak brained creature my mate claims is mine.
Ryuukotsusei barely finished speaking when his youki swirled and Inu no Taishou also started to transform and the fight was on. It was long and tiring as the pair fought and clashed with each other, their youki swirling noisily about them, thundering across the skies. Once Inu no Taishou got the measure of his rival, he knew that it was just a matter of outlasting the dragon something he knew he could do.
As far as the people far below knew, the rainless skies thundered on all day ,as the two giant youkai fought out of sight above the clouds. For a long time Inu no Taishou still wished to be merciful and would be content with beating the dragon and sealing his youki so that he would not be able to transform and making sure he was dethroned and no threat to the Inu family.
The battle was going his way; Ryuukotsusei was tiring, his youki flaring every now and then erratically, when suddenly a sharp new aura called out in distress to any other familiar aura. Inu no Taishou was distracted, his youki instantly responding to the new burst of youki from a tiny source. Ryuukotsusei took advantage and got in a vicious and damaging blow to the Dog General; tearing a gash in his neck.
Inu no Taishou couldn’t afford to let the fight continue and so he showed his true strength by pulling on his reserves and sealed the Dragon with one of his claws to the mountainside. Then he flew back to rest along the coastline of the Western Lands. It was too soon, but there was no mistaking the call on his youki. His pup was starting to be born; a month early, but the aura was strong and he had promised Izayoi that he would be there to make sure that no one tried to harm her or the pup at the most vulnerable time of birth.
The General reigned in his youki using it to try to heal the wounds, but it was slower than normal which was only to be expected after the fight. Sesshoumaru was waiting for him on the edge of the beach; he too had felt the aura and knew what it probably meant. But the sight and scent of his father’s blood made the boy’s blood run icy cold and calculating as his youkai instincts were brought forcibly to the fore.
He suddenly didn’t care that his father’s wound was so severe, but he wanted the swords of power and he wanted to fight, he could taste the strength and his mind hazed with power lust before he got it under control. Inu no Taishou knew what was happening with his son and cursed the timing of those instincts that were so strong in his adolescent son. He himself was not recovered enough to risk fighting a, not fully under control youkai, if his son transformed.
He sighed as Sesshoumaru also denied having anyone to protect; the boy was far too focused on conquest at the moment, if he’d even forgotten that to be a ruler he would need compassion to protect his people, including his mother. The General’s strength was fading; he badly needed to rest and he couldn’t afford the time at the moment to deal with Sesshoumaru’s posturing, which required a firm hand; not while his human responsibility needed him.
The General ignored his eldest son and transformed again, need for strength and speed was essential, but he could have done without the drain on his youki as he sped towards Izayoi. Once he had gone, Sesshoumaru’s youki calmed considerably leaving the boy wondering what had happened; had he challenged his beloved father whose blood had spilled onto the white sand, staining it such a shocking colour?
He could feel that his father’s youki was greatly depleted and he made his mind up there and then to follow to see if he was needed. Sesshoumaru knew that his father might not be pleased as he had forbidden his son to go near the human settlement but...he could just check and make sure without his father’s knowledge. It was decided; Sesshoumaru would go and help if it was appropriate.
Author:petalears
Universe:Alternate
Rating:PG
Prompt:It is in the character of very few men to honor without envy a friend who has prospered. -Aeschylus
Summary:Why Ryuukotsusei went to war.
Defeating the Dragon
Inu no Taishou knew that the battle would be damaging which was one of the other reasons he wanted to try to speak with Ryuukotsusei. He had to admit that the same thought had crossed his mind as it had his mate’s, the dragon had always seemed too indolent to provoke a bloody fight, not to mention it might mar his handsome but weak face.
Ryuukotsusei was clearly in the wrong by preying on the people, human and youkai of the Western Lands. No one would deny the Dog General had the right to defend his people and yet bloodshed was not always the way forward and the dragon would be given a chance to withdraw.
The two Daiyoukai met in humanoid form, Ryuukotsusei dressed finely in silks and looking anything but a warrior. But Inu no Taishou was far too long in the tooth to fall for an old trick, he knew how formidable the dragon looked in his youkai form even if he wasn’t sure how skilled a fighter he was. The potential for power was great, thankfully the fact that he would be scaled and look impenetrable against an essentially fluffy dog was not an issue.
It was the strength of individual youki that was the protection and was the unknown factor in this case. The Dog picked up easily on the barely concealed sneering from the Dragon as they met over refreshments; observing the protocols of diplomacy even as Inu no Taishou knew now that it wouldn’t work. But he had to try one last time and he appealed personally to Ryuukotsusei to tell him why he was attacking the West.
The sneer was back and was personal as Ryuukotsusei walked around the seated general who gently insulted the dragon by not showing any concern, even by as much as a flare in his youki. Soon Ryuukotsusei sat down once again opposite to his opponent.
"You are a disgrace Dog, you impregnate a human and you wait eagerly for the brat to hatch instead of destroying both abominations."
"You would invade my lands and fight because of prejudice over an innocent couple who are none of your business?"
"Innocent or not, the human and her hatchling will not belong."
"They are none of your concern Ryuukotsusei; the hanyou is my son."
"You will force your mate to care for the brat when its mother dies."
"Force..? Force, My Mate? Clearly you do not know the Lady of the West very well. It would be easier to move the sun than make my mate do anything she does not wish to do. My Lady already offered to care for my new pup in the eventuality. She will enjoy having another pup to spoil." Inu no Taishou tried to lighten the atmosphere but it didn’t work.
"She should not be placed in that intolerable position; she is a lady who knows her duty and she should not have been forced to mate a rogue such as you."
"I fail to see what my mating has to do with you; but we were promised at birth, although either of us could have denied the other before we mated."
"As I said, she knows her duty."
"You desire My Mate?" Inu no Taishou said quietly and the puzzle fell into place.
"She deserves better than you that is certain. I tried to tell her, I tried to bring her with me but she refused, her duty wouldn’t let her be unfaithful to you. I will kill you and take her as spoils, and then she will see how a woman should be treated. She will bear me a son stronger than your heir and he will rule the joint lands in the place of the weak brained creature my mate claims is mine.
Ryuukotsusei barely finished speaking when his youki swirled and Inu no Taishou also started to transform and the fight was on. It was long and tiring as the pair fought and clashed with each other, their youki swirling noisily about them, thundering across the skies. Once Inu no Taishou got the measure of his rival, he knew that it was just a matter of outlasting the dragon something he knew he could do.
As far as the people far below knew, the rainless skies thundered on all day ,as the two giant youkai fought out of sight above the clouds. For a long time Inu no Taishou still wished to be merciful and would be content with beating the dragon and sealing his youki so that he would not be able to transform and making sure he was dethroned and no threat to the Inu family.
The battle was going his way; Ryuukotsusei was tiring, his youki flaring every now and then erratically, when suddenly a sharp new aura called out in distress to any other familiar aura. Inu no Taishou was distracted, his youki instantly responding to the new burst of youki from a tiny source. Ryuukotsusei took advantage and got in a vicious and damaging blow to the Dog General; tearing a gash in his neck.
Inu no Taishou couldn’t afford to let the fight continue and so he showed his true strength by pulling on his reserves and sealed the Dragon with one of his claws to the mountainside. Then he flew back to rest along the coastline of the Western Lands. It was too soon, but there was no mistaking the call on his youki. His pup was starting to be born; a month early, but the aura was strong and he had promised Izayoi that he would be there to make sure that no one tried to harm her or the pup at the most vulnerable time of birth.
The General reigned in his youki using it to try to heal the wounds, but it was slower than normal which was only to be expected after the fight. Sesshoumaru was waiting for him on the edge of the beach; he too had felt the aura and knew what it probably meant. But the sight and scent of his father’s blood made the boy’s blood run icy cold and calculating as his youkai instincts were brought forcibly to the fore.
He suddenly didn’t care that his father’s wound was so severe, but he wanted the swords of power and he wanted to fight, he could taste the strength and his mind hazed with power lust before he got it under control. Inu no Taishou knew what was happening with his son and cursed the timing of those instincts that were so strong in his adolescent son. He himself was not recovered enough to risk fighting a, not fully under control youkai, if his son transformed.
He sighed as Sesshoumaru also denied having anyone to protect; the boy was far too focused on conquest at the moment, if he’d even forgotten that to be a ruler he would need compassion to protect his people, including his mother. The General’s strength was fading; he badly needed to rest and he couldn’t afford the time at the moment to deal with Sesshoumaru’s posturing, which required a firm hand; not while his human responsibility needed him.
The General ignored his eldest son and transformed again, need for strength and speed was essential, but he could have done without the drain on his youki as he sped towards Izayoi. Once he had gone, Sesshoumaru’s youki calmed considerably leaving the boy wondering what had happened; had he challenged his beloved father whose blood had spilled onto the white sand, staining it such a shocking colour?
He could feel that his father’s youki was greatly depleted and he made his mind up there and then to follow to see if he was needed. Sesshoumaru knew that his father might not be pleased as he had forbidden his son to go near the human settlement but...he could just check and make sure without his father’s knowledge. It was decided; Sesshoumaru would go and help if it was appropriate.