Learning to Love by ancient-relic

Prologue

“Do you have someone to protect?”

No.

And that was the truth.

Of course, it was now of all times that his last memory of his father rose to the forefront of his mind. Now, when he’d been summoned in front of this mockery of a council to discuss things that in all honestly, he had no patience for.

“Sesshoumaru-sama?”

The inutaiyoukai in question steadfastly ignored the voice. He was tired of listening to the ridiculous drivel of these old windbags. Honestly, he’d rather be spending his time beating the shit out of his little brother—his favourite stress release, without question.

“Sesshoumaru-sama?” the voice prodded again, with more insistence.

“Hn,” Sesshoumaru acknowledged, turning his head and pinning the elder with a icy stare. His head was propped up on one hand, a perfect picture of nonchalance.

The elder in question—some type of herbivore—swallowed thickly at the attention, all his bravado gone. The council was intended to bear a representative of all the clans that the five regions hosted…and unfortunately, that occasionally meant hearing what Sesshoumaru considered to be lesser opinions.

“Ahem.” The elderly councilman cleared his throat. “As I was saying, you’re soon to come of age as a legitimate candidate for the seat of the West—”

“I was of the opinion that there was no contest for the seat,” Sesshoumaru cut off the elder with concise, cold words. “The House of the Moon, my mother’s house, has always held the seat. I, now, am here as the representative of that clan as a member of this council in her stead.”

“But according to youkai law, your responsibilities do not lie with that Clan. You follow your father’s house, and as the eldest surviving pure-blooded son, there is still the opportunity for an older, more experienced taiyoukai to take the seat from you.” another clearly braver council member continued speaking. Upon inspection, Sesshoumaru surmised he was a coyote. 

Any member of the council who hadn’t already been watching the exchange with the inutaiyoukai now had their eyes fixed on him. The attention was irritating, but it was currently the least of his problems. Although he kept his face an impassive mask, inside his mind he was pacing furiously.

This tradition is a farce. This seat is coveted by those who seek power, and yet it is not given freely to those who possess the greatest power. To try and cow me, the unchallenged heir of the Inu no Taisho, for the right to a seat I do not even desire…

Sesshoumaru’s admission stopped his train of thought. Long ago, when his father had asked him the question that still echoed through his memory… he’d had a goal. He did not want to be acknowledged by his sire, or by his sire’s abilities. He instead chose to follow the path of supreme conquest, leaving his father’s name and legacy behind. If he were to be acknowledged, it would be as Sesshoumaru, son of both the Taisho and the Mikadzuki Clans.

So when had that changed?

It has not, Sesshoumaru admitted to himself with great effort. Short of that, the weight of the seat is not something I am eager to embrace. It is simply another means with which to define my ability…and yet, it is something my father never held.

“You speak the truth.” Sesshoumaru said finally, straightening his shoulders and reclining in his seat imposingly. Most of the council shifted uncomfortably at his gesture, which gave him a smug sense of satisfaction.

“I-indeed, Sesshoumaru-sama!” the wheedling herbivore piped up. “Although there are few who would try to take the seat from you.”

“There may be few, but they are waiting.” a new voice joined the conversation, a rich baritone that cut through the air like rain on a heady summer evening. “There are always eyes on the west, surely you all know this.”

Sesshoumaru turned his attention to the demon who spoke, seated down the far end of the table. He did not recognize the newcomer, but could sense the darkness that he radiated. A member of the Clan of Shadows, without doubt.

“A thinly-veiled threat?” Sesshoumaru lifted a finely arched brow, his cold eyes meeting those who watched him carefully.

“Not a threat,” the newcomer shook his head. “A fact. Look at the miserable hanyou who would wish to join us at this table—he resorts to collecting the power of a trinket, as if that would ever earn him the right to sit amongst us.”

Many elders nodded gravely, and whispers rose at the comment. Sesshoumaru didn’t doubt that the council had heard of Naraku’s misguided attempts at becoming youkai, but he couldn’t ever imagine the wretch ever becoming powerful enough to take the seat of the West. While the spider was full of tricks, they were all veils to disguise his weaknesses—more an irritation than a valid threat.

“I feel the need to bring a related matter to the attention of the council,” a new voice cut through the chatter. The council members, Sesshoumaru included, turned to the head of the table where a very aged, very wizened eagle youkai sat in the place of honour.

“Sesshoumaru,” the taiyoukai in question frowned at the lack of honorific attached to his name. Damn that bird. “You may not be aware of this, but the House of the Moon is held by far too few inuyoukai, yourself and your mother excluded.”

What is he up to now?? Sesshoumaru mentally glared daggers at one of his oldest advisors, who continued on heedless of the murderous expression pointed his way. 

“While there are many seated today at this table, you are the only representative of the once great and powerful inuyoukai. I fear this is a problem that few had anticipated, but litters grow smaller by the century and the humans are slowly forgetting their fear of us.” the eagle continued, ruffling his feathers and adjusting his wings.

“Your point, Solaris-dono.” Sesshoumaru intoned, carefully concealing his irritation. Solaris was the oldest member of the council, and had known Sesshoumaru since he was a  birthed pup. He would certainly hear the irritation he tried to effortlessly conceal.

As a youngster, Sesshoumaru had taken many of his lessons with Solaris, a scribe from the continent who hailed from across two seas. His whitening hair stretched as long as Sesshoumaru’s, if not longer—but it was intertwined with feathers and glittering beads, the only flash of colour in his countenance. His wings were curled over his shoulders, arching far over his widows peak and angular face, casting eerie shadows even in their well-lit hall. And as always, the eagle kept his eyes gently closed.

“You are of strong pack. This mustn't go to waste, surely you understand that. You have travelled alone for many years following your father’s death, but now it is time to leave that life behind you and take up the mantle that the General unwittingly left behind.”

Sesshoumaru definitely didn’t like where Solaris was going.

“It is high time you took a mate, Sesshoumaru. If you ascend to the seat of the West, the target on your back will be bigger than even the one on your father’s. Without an heir to the Taisho legacy, I fear the inuyoukai will be lost.” Solaris concluded, flapping his wings again briefly in agitation.

The council was once again thrown into whispers, which in turn only served to fuel the twitch in Sesshoumaru’s hand. Oh, how he wished he could sink his claws into something.

“A very valid point, Solaris-dono.” The coyote spoke, his bright yellow eyes assessing. “The council has always been tasked with the selection, the testing, and the appointment of the seat of the West. Let us agree, here, that in order for Sesshoumaru-sama to ascend to the seat, his task shall be the preservation of the inuyoukai species.”

Since when were coyote’s known for their leadership or intelligence? This was not the way this council meeting was supposed to go. Sesshoumaru’s eye threatened to develop an annoyed tic. Even if he had words to protest, however, his pride prevented him from speaking out against the coyote. There was no challenge he was not prepared to face—no task too impossible for him to accomplish—even if that challenge was finding the loophole that allowed him to decline a mating of any sort, and instead prove that the inuyoukai were still a force of nature.

Decided, Sesshoumaru accepted the council’s verdict with a very restrained, very regal nod of his head.

“Very good,” Solaris nodded, rising to his feet. The rest of the council followed suit. “We break until Vernal Equinox. Surely that will be adequate, as the East is hosting the Autumnal Equinox and the North the Winter Solstice.”

There were more murmurs of acquiescence as the council dispersed, leaving Sesshoumaru where he sat in his seat at the table. The member of the Shadow Clan, the one who seemed eager to stir the proverbial pot, lingered briefly and spoke with hushed whispers to the coyote. Sesshoumaru spared him a parting frosty stare down his elegant nose as the newcomer disappeared with the few remaining council members.

“Oh, Sesshoumaru.” Solaris’ voice cut through his internal sneering yet again. “If I couldn’t already hear your mind, I’d be concerned at what action you choose to take next.”

“Do not worry yourself, sensei.” Sesshoumaru swept to his feet, leaving his irritation at the idiocy of the council aside as he greeted his advisor. “I will do what needs to be done.”

And what needs to be done will not involve taking a mate, else I will step away from this council.