I am the Moon

A/n: I do not own Inuyasha. Rumikio Takahashi does.

Of Mongols and Ming

I was sitting at the table in my chambers that served as my desk. I had a map of the continent spread out and I was studying the area of He Gang. I felt my father's yoki and turned on my cushion and waited for him to enter. The Lord of the West entered my chambers and nodded at me. I bowed stiffly and waited for him to speak.
“You mated him.” He stated.
“Hai. My beast chose him my Lord. I should have consulted you, I am truly sorry for that.” I replied.
“We youki can not always control our instincts and cannot always rein in our inner natures. You could have done worse.” He said sitting.
“I do not know how to proceed in this area. Give me a battle, I will fight. Give me an enemy, I will slay him. Give me a mate?” I said shaking my head.
“You are not the typical inu bitch Daughter. The Kamis gave you the abilities to rule. Our society does not change because we the youki do not change. When your mother birthed you, your yoki was present as a newborn pup. Your path was destined but it is fraught with many obstacles.” He stated.
“I did not want a mate. I am not ready for this. I had no intention of mating a lord. The nobles will think this a political match.” I stated annoyed.
“The nobles will do as this Sesshomaru wishes.”
“I have been pupped.” I said quietly.
“That usually happens when you mate.” He said matter of factly.
“Do you love my mother?” I asked.
“Yes.” He answered.
“I have no idea how I feel about Lord Katashi.” I lamented.
“You will figure that out. You have centuries.” He said.
He stood and the father-daughter moment was over. I stared ahead and put my chin in my clawed hand. I willed myself to stand and proceeded to dress in a plain white and red haori and white hakamas. I tied a red obi around my waist and slipped my katana in it. I slipped on a pair brown kid skin half boots, I then braided my hair. I went into the barracks to inspect the troops I would be taking with me. Hideaki, the General of the Army of the West stood by at my disposal.
“My Lady!” he exclaimed bowing.
“Hai Hideaki. Are the men ready to leave?” I asked.
“Yes my Lady. I must say there is an excitement amongst the ranks. We have not seen action in awhile.” He said smiling.
“Ah yes, there is nothing like slaying an enemy.” I said dispassionately.
“My Lady, may I be bold?” my general asked.
“Hai.” I responded.
“Lord Katashi. Is he really the son of the Tekeshi?” he asked in awe.
“Yes general, he is.” I answered.
“Amazing.”
“Finish any last minute preparations. We leave in one hour.” I commanded.
“Hai my Lady. It will be as you command.” He replied while bowing.
I had looked into the latest intelligence on the foreign issue. The Chinese were ruled by a Ming emperor, their old nemesis the Mongols had actually made an alliance against the Manchurians. The curious thing was just how much land and power Katashi had. He was on the verge of an empire. He was as an informal of a lord as I had ever seen. The leader of the youki that was opposing Katashi was named Bai Gu Jing. This youki was known to eat the flesh of ningen. It was a surprise to me that the ningen emperor of China, Zhu Yijun would ally himself with such a creature. The intelligence was not completely clear and there were indicators that Jing was a shape shifter. That type of youki was rare and it was not heard of in Japan since the evil hanyou Naraku. Katashi and I had much to discuss about the situation. I sighed and realized that I may not be able to hide the pup's existence for more than one moon cycle.
I met my general and father in the courtyard. There was a cart to carry supplies and various as sundries. I looked up and saw Katashi emerge from the eastern entrance to the palace. He was followed by Sheng and the other two inu. He was wearing a pein-fu...a long tunic to his knees and pants that came to his ankles. The tunic was a dark forest green with black bottoms. An obi was tied around his waist that was black with dragons woven into it. His hair he wore loose. His katana was secured in his obi and the overall effect was incredible. He had the air of rule but also of a warrior. I noticed two serving wenches that were casting appreciative glances at him and I started growling. Katashi and my father both looked at me strangely and I had an overwhelming urge to rip the bitches' throats out. I made my way over to my father and him. I glanced at the bitches with my eyes flashing red as a warning and they scurried away. When I looked again at my father and mate they were their normal color.
“I will send regular correspondence my Lord.” I spoke to my father.
“Excellent.” He replied.
I bowed to him and then motioned for the soldiers to head out from the Palace grounds. I looked at Katashi and raised an eyebrow.
“I have made arrangements to leave by ship in Niigata in three days time. While you were in the North did you garner any support for your cause?” I asked.
“Kouga and Ayame pledged some wolves. I just need to send word to have them meet us at the coast.” He replied easily.
“I prefer you in a haori and hakamas.” I stated flatly.
“Do you?” he asked in surprise.
“Keep your voice down. I am masking the mating scent. It would do no good to your enemies to find out you had a mate. It would also do no good if they found out who I was.” I said without emotion.
“Always in control, is that it Asuna?” he asked me quietly.
I ignored his question and continued on with my diatribe.
“How is it that your Inu kin know so little of your vast territory? How can you traverse this land or any other and act like you do?” I asked.
“A personal question; I am in shock.” He replied in sarcasm.
“I have better things to do with my time than waste it bantering with you Katashi. If you cannot answer my questions then I will move on and plan strategy.”
“I am a private youki. My lands were given to me by my father. He rivaled your grand sire in power but left to pursue my mother. She was the daughter of the then current Lord of He Gang. My parents mated and produced me. My grand sire was killed in battle ten centuries ago. My own great father was killed a little over two centuries by the very youki that I am battling now.”
“Jing.” I said simply.
“Hai.” He answered.
“I am getting a better understanding of your situation.” I said.
“Are you.” He stated putting a clawed hand on my shoulder.
“Do not touch me, I cannot think.” I hissed.
He pulled his hand back and looked annoyed. I looked up at him and glared. He was much more open with his emotions than I was used to dealing with. When he was not angry, he was openly pleasant and that went against everything I knew.
“It is not wrong for me to want to touch you. It obvious you yearn for It.” he murmured.
“For Kami sake Katashi.” I hissed again.
“As you wish my Lady.” He said stiffly.
My inner beast was displeased that I had turned away our mate but I was not going to be distracted from my mission.
“I do prefer you in a haori and hakamas.” I stated again looking at him thoughtfully.
“I cannot follow you Asuna.” He said mildly annoyed.
“They are easier to take off of you.” I whispered.
I walked ahead of him to speak with Hideaki. I looked back over my shoulder and saw that Sheng had moved to speak with Katashi in my vacancy. I looked ahead and smirked.
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“My Lord.” Sheng said.
“Hai my friend.” Katashi answered.
“The Lady Asuna seems friendlier?” he queried.
“I honestly have no clue Sheng. She warms up for a moment then turns glacial.” He replied shaking his head.
“Are you sure she is not pupped?”
“I would have scented that already if she was.” Katashi responded.
“Her mother is rumored to have the power of illusion and that she passed it on to her daughter.” Sheng returned.
Katashi narrowed his eyes and looked at his friend and then shook his head.
“Why would she keep that a secret?”
“Because the mating was not completed.” Sheng offered.
“Hai my friend about that. She marked me.” He remarked.
“My Lord? She marked you?” he said in surprise.
“Hai. I also marked her.” Katashi said sheepishly.
“Are you sure she is mentally stable?” Sheng offered.
Katashi barked with laughter and clapped his advisor on the back.
“I have had the same thoughts my friend.” He said smiling.
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I heard Katashi laugh and I turned my head and saw him smile. My heart skipped a beat at the sight and I forced my eyes forward. I inclined my head to Hideaki and spoke.
“You served my father while he hunted Naraku correct?”
“Hai my Lady.”
“Naraku was a shape shifter, how powerful was he?” I asked arching a brow.
“Too powerful Lady Asuna. He tapped into the Shikon no Tama. It took your great Father and your uncle's tachi to destroy him.” He replied.
“The youki we are to face in Manchuria is a shape shifter. There is much uncertainty about his power and abilities. I will not lie; I believe we will have to garner much support to put an end to him.” I stated.
“I can go ahead into Manchuria my Lady. I can gather intelligence on what we will face.”
“You were having the same thoughts as I. Go on ahead; you can use your yoki to get there faster.”
“Hai my Lady.” He said bowing and then moved on ahead.
I was remembering my Chinese history. The ningen Ming dynasty started in 1368. They had started out powerful and very organized but at this point they were corrupt and falling apart. The century before the Mongols had controlled most of Asia and parts of Europe. They had even tried invading Japan but that had failed miserably. I knew that the Inu no Taisho had even helped repel them. I felt that Katashi was poised to take on a lot more power. I was curious if he truly appreciated the situation fully. I needed more information but every time I got within a few feet of Katashi; I had a difficult time concentrating on the issues at hand. The trip to Niigata was going to be long.
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We were still a day away from the port of Niigata and I made every effort to stay with my soldiers and away from Katashi. My beast was screaming in me but I ignored it and continued to plan and pour over charts and maps. My father had taught me to never walk into a battle unprepared, Katashi was my only exception. He actually seemed to keep himself busy as well and only a small hand full of words was spoken. I practiced with my katana against one of my oldest friends; he was of a lesser noble family in the West. His name was Yuudai and he was superior with a blade, he was also inu. Yuudai had gray eyes and dark silver hair that he kept pulled back at the nape of his neck. He was taller than me and wore the colors of my father's house. We were circling each other with our katanas raised; ready to strike.
“Come now chuusin, strike me down.” He taunted.
“Karuson you talk big.” I replied lightly.
He brought down his blade down and I blocked. I spun around and nicked his side. He looked at me and smiled; he swiped downward and he threw my balance off. I grabbed the front of his haori and flipped him over my back. He jumped up easily and knocked my blade out of my hand. I held out my hand and moved my katana into it with my will.
“Not fair my Lady. We all do not have your power.”
“All is fair in war my friend.”
“And love.” He said smirking.
I moved quickly and knocked him down and he grabbed onto me and pulled me with him. He released me and stared down at me.
“You are finished my Lady.” He said amused.
“Hai. My father taught you well.” I grinned.
I heard the snarling first and sat up quickly. Yuudai followed suit and stood behind me. Katashi stood there with his eyes crimson and snarling like he was rabid.
“Go back with the others Yuudai.” I commanded.
“Hai my Lady.” He said heading in the direction of the soldiers.
“Calm yourself this instant.” I commanded of him.
“No!” he snapped at me angrily.
“Not here Katashi!” I cried.
“Not here then but we talk now!” he demanded.
He grabbed my arm and took me rather forcefully into the forest and away from our group.
“You will unhand me now; I allowed it because you are out of your head.” I seethed.
“You belong to me.” He snarled ferociously.
“What is it that you think Yuudai was doing Katashi?” I asked icily.
“It is not a stretch of the imagination Asuna.”
“I have known him since I was a pup. He is one of my trusted men. Leave your petty jealousy somewhere else.” I sniped.
“You have masked your mark and my scent. You are lying to me and everyone else. As far as any youki is concerned you are unmated.” He remarked in fury.
“I have explained my reason, use your head that the Kamis gave you. I will not remind you that you were chosen by my beast and not me.” I said jerking my arm from him.
“You separate yourself from half of you. Your beast is you Asuna.” He snapped.
“I am not going to be insulted by you or anyone, rein yourself in or I will do it for you.” I threatened.
He grabbed my upper arms in anger and I jerked forcefully away from him.
“Do not even think to chastise me. You are a lord and I am a lady. I am your equal.” I snarled.
“You cannot give anything to me can you? You smiled at that inu. I am your mate and you show another emotion. I will not do this anymore. Remove the mask on the mark and scent.” He demanded.
“No.” I said flatly refusing.
“I will make you.” He threatened.
“How? It is not in your power.” I laughed without mirth.
“I am going to find a way of absolving this joke. You will continue to lie to yourself and everyone else. I will not spend my centuries with a heartless bitch.” He yelled.
“I had no intentions of spending centuries with anyone.” I said furiously.
He raised his claw and struck me in the cheek. I was knocked backward. My eyes instantly bled red and I struck back. I clawed his chest and wounded him.
“Stay away from me.” I sneered.
“Yes, I will stay away from you. I care not if you whore yourself to every male in your small army.”
“Bastard.” I snarled in rage.
I was so blinded by anger and hatred in that moment that I did the one thing I knew I should not have. I lifted the mask from myself and let him scent my condition. He whirled on me and pressed me against a large tree.
“This is as close as you will ever get to this pup.” I remarked in hatred.
“You will not keep me from what is mine.” He snarled in a low tone.
“I already have.”
He backed away and looked stricken.
“I have never in my four hundred years met anyone as hateful as you.” He said emotionless.
“I will not be controlled.” I said spitting at his feet.
“No, you will not be loved.” He said walking away from me.
I looked around in the darkness and a single tear rolled down my cheek. He thought of me as betraying him and I thought of him as if he was dominating me. I sat down and nestled myself in front of the tree. I set up a barrier so that I could be alone.