Chronicles of the West

Chapter Fifty Four

Days passed and Toga was in fine form. He thundered through his palace, barking orders to double patrols and report all oddities. The men did not argue. Taisha watched Toga stomp through the courtyard. He'd been content with the way she'd managed his territory in his absence.

She felt his aura shimmer through the halls and knew he was coming to her. The door flew open a moment later. "Keep that up and you'll be replacing every door" she mused. "Mine to replace" he snapped. Taisha grunted, "What did you expect? That father would let you have your ward in your bed?" she asked him.

He growled, "He should have let it alone". Taisha threw her arm out, "Then you should not have entrusted her to him" she said coldly. He blinked. Damn woman, she had a point. "I understand your reasons for doing so Toga" she said in a calm voice, "Now understand his reasons. Would you have the court call her your whore?".

"They would not dare" he rumbled at her. She laughed, a light tinkling sound, "They would and you know it" she retorted, "Shall you kill the whole court?". He seemed to consider it and she shrugged, "Well, no true loss there I suppose".

Toga missed his human woman, she could tell. "Tell me about her" she said in the stillness. Toga's eyes softened slightly, "Are you trying to improve my mood Taisha?" he asked. She smiled, moving to stand behind him, her arm wrapping around his waist.

"Of course" she scolded lightly, "Your growling and shouting makes my ears ring". Toga chuckled and reached behind his back to anchor her with his arm. "I have missed you Taisha" he admitted. She grunted, "If that were true you would have come home sooner".

Toga relaxed against his sibling, "So you wish to know about Aislin" he said. She nodded, "She is to be your wife is she not?" she asked. Toga sighed, "Yes, that is my intention. Although that damn whelp of a wolf may have ruined it".

Taisha blinked, "What has Madu done?" she asked him, her curiosity piqued. Her brother was rumbling again. In short time he'd told her exactly what had happened. She stepped around to face him, "You took her innocence?" she asked. Toga grunted, "Nothing innocent about that one".

Taisha looked out of his domain, "And yet she will try to trap you". He chuffed, "Her brother has been away, I've never met him and I was a guest in his halls several times. Her exploits are quite well known". His sister flipped a heavy silver braid over her shoulder, her green eyes glittering in the sunlight. "I fail to see how this is Madu's fault. Be careful how you play this game Toga" she warned, "For it's you who stand to lose the most".

Toga knew she was correct but he disliked having it spoken aloud.As if saying it would make it so. The thought of losing Aislin didn't sit well with him. He refused to accept defeat. "Defending your wolf?" he asked. She snorted, "Ha!". They were silent for a moment more. "You are returning to the west with me?" she asked. He nodded, "In a few days. It is father's wish. Taisha have the scouts reported any odd creatures of late?".

She shook her head, "Father asked me the same thing. I have had reports of demons coming up missing. I had thought perhaps I was dealing with demon poaching humans, but I sense it is far worse than that. I fought a kitsune a few days before you arrived and he was capable of some levels of regeneration"

Toga scanned the landscape darkly, "Alastair. Damn human and his demented science". Taisha leaned her head against his shoulder and joined his outward gaze. What manner of enemy would they face? Did it hunt her bloodline? Toga said very little, but father seemed to think it was so.

It was unheard of that anything, anyone would rise against the west. Sesshoumaru was not an idle threat and the entirety of Japan waited with tense breath for his rage to break loose. There were whispers and rumors that his control was only half as impressive as his bloodlust.

Having never seen her beloved sire in such a state, she would speculate. But she knew that the legends were more fact than whimsical fiction and she was almost dread to see her father and uncle take up arms again. They'd nearly destroyed Japan the last time by all accounts. Still, she'd not have them back away from this. Father would conquer, he always had.

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Sesshoumaru stared at his wife, his expression quite open and very shocked. "What?". Ayeka nodded, "You heard me" she said. He shook his head, his silver hair dancing around him, "Not possible. You are telling me that this wolf that is coming to demand Toga marry his sister was the promised mate of Ryu's elemental?".

Ayeka arched a brow, "Not quite Ryu's" she reminded him. He grunted, "The intent is there. She belongs to Ryu" he said with grim finality. Ayeka bit back her smile. She liked Silvana. "It would seem that Silvana's father promised her to Adus of the wolves. He wanted her power and made no secret of it. Silvana took drastic measures and sought out Toga".

Sesshoumaru listened. Ayeka moved to perch beside him on the bed, "They fought". His silver brow lifted at that. "Fought" he said. She nodded again, "From what I understand, she nearly beat him". Sesshoumaru pondered that, "Nearly".

Youkai law permitted Toga to demand her life and Sesshoumaru began to think that Silvana challenged him as a means to use death to escape the wolf. Ayeka knew he'd draw that conclusion of course. "He demanded her loyalty" she told him.

Sesshoumaru turned his head, to meet her eyes. "Loyalty and virginity are two vastly different things" he pointed out. She sighed, "Of course. But Toga hadn't killed her, which meant that she would still fall into the wolf's hands. So she made a decision and sought out Toga. Believing that Adus would not wish to take a shamed woman".

Sesshoumaru's mind worked swiftly, pieces falling into place. "An elemental is said to reach full power when they come to sexual maturity" he said in a low voice. Ayeka nodded, "Exactly. When Toga tore her innocence, he broke the seal of her powers and made her far too powerful to be commanded".

Clever girl. Sesshoumaru was quite surprised by her quick thinking. One thing tapped at the back of his mind, "But after that she need not have indulged him further". Ayeka's lips thinned, "This is true, however at the last encounter Toga was approaching his heat and had Aislin with him" she replied.

Sesshoumaru pushed his hair back behind one pointed ear, "Spoke with Ryu did you?" he asked. She nodded. Sesshoumaru grunted, "He is determined to have her, and I cannot say that I disapprove of such a match".

Ayeka ran her fingers through the long silver locks, "The court will talk" she whispered. He growled, recalling how they had talked of Ayeka when first he had decided to have her. "The court can go to hell" he rumbled, catching her wrist and drawing her closer to straddle his lap, "And if they grow too loud, I shall send them there myself".

Ayeka brushed her lips across his, in a gentle caress, meant to soothe his rising ire. His clawed hands clasped her waist and one moved up her back to cradle her fragile skull as he let his tongue dip into her warm mouth.

A soft growl rumbled upwards from his chest to ghost against her lips. Sesshoumaru's carefully constructed world of peace and power was being threatened. From within, from without. He needed her. Needed the loving comfort she offered, needed to feel her arms, her submission to him. For he would draw strength from that. Ayeka threaded her hands through his hair and cuddled him to her chest. Letting all her love wrap around him.

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Daishi, Satoru and Victor sat in the library, pouring over the documents at hand. They had come up with what they thought was the solution. Simple really. The idea had come from Alastair. He had intended to bind Silvana's powers to a charm that could be worn, until he could successfully transmute them into himself.

They'd do the same thing. Ryu was with Totosai having a charm made to hold the torrential power. Satoru had been studying the diamond that Victor had made and it occurred to him. Power was like light. It could be reflected and refracted. Channeled and focused.

They would need something quite powerful to do that. Something that was not easily broken that could handle the burden of acting as a prism for Silvana. Something like…..a diamond. Satoru looked up suddenly, "I've got it" he announced, grabbing Victor's hand he pulled him up, "Come on".

Daishi watched them go with curious eyes as they swept from the room. Inuyasha watched them pass him in the hall before he entered the quiet of the library. "Do I even wanna know where they are off to?" he asked. Daishi smiled sweetly and shrugged, "I think it has more to do with Ryu and Silvana than with them" she assured him.

Velvety white ears flickered as Inuyasha took a seat. He gestured to the books before him. "What's all this anyway?" he asked. Daishi launched into her explanation but in the end, all the was accomplished was a headache for Inuyasha. "Formulas and equations, calculate this, adjust that. Plain Japanese please. Hell I'd even take plain English" he moaned.

Daishi chuckled softly and leaned over to kiss the inu's cheek. "It'll get easier" she promised, "Your grandchildren will be babbling about it soon". He met her eyes and smirked, "So you have noticed that Shippo is not your past have you?" he asked. She blushed and nodded.

"Well his scent isn't that strong on you, it hasn’t merged with yours which means that you haven't completely given in" he told her, ignoring her blush. Some things had to be said. "So you think you can?" he asked. She blinked at him and understood just was he was asking. "I…I really don't know" she admitted. "Scent and sights…. They bring back memories and the fear comes even though I know that Shippo would not ever hurt me like that".

Inuyasha nodded and leaned forward to hold her gaze steadily. "I've seen some pretty horrible things in my life" he told her, "And I know that both Kagome and Ayeka have had frightening experiences, although nothing as bad as yours. They wanted to forget. To have the bad memories replaced by good".

Daishi listened, this is what Shippo had told her as well. "Is that possible?" she whispered, "Can something so vile be forgotten, relegated to the past and replaced?". Inuyasha's golden eyes softened a bit as he studied her. "If you let it happen, then yes" he told her. Sesshoumaru has banished similar fears from Ayeka in this manner"

Daishi sighed, moisture tickling her lashes. Inuyasha sniffed and grunted, "Gods don't cry. I hate crying" he said gruffly. Looking very uncomfortable about assuming the role of comforter to her. She took in his expression and smiled, wiping away the moisture before it fell.

She stood, moving her long robes away from her feet. "Thank you Inuyasha-sama" she said to him. His ears lowered, "And I hate formality" he added, "I am your husband's father". She nodded and gathered her robes over one arm.

Inuyasha watched her adjust the voluminous material. "Why do you wear those?" he asked. She glanced down, "These are the robes we wear at Satoru's academy. They have become familiar to me" she told him. He chuckled, "Being the runt you are, looks like you need shorter ones". She growled good naturedly.