A Petal in Murky Waters by gildedglass

Banishment

The chapters will begin short, but will lengthen as the story progresses!

-oOo-

CH 1

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes. His clawed hand went automatically to his hip, where the hilt of his sword rested.

"No." His voice carried a sense of finality, of doom.

"Son," drawled out the Lady of the West. "You must take a mate, sooner rather than later. I have told you this so many times I feel as if my mouth will fall off, but in this age of war, forging alliances and extending the family line are vital activities to maintaining honor and power. Already the Under-lords and -ladies of the court whisper of possible fractures in the strength of our House.”

He remained impassive. "No one would dare assume that this Sesshomaru would ever be weak. Let the court murmur and mutter. I will take a mate of my own choosing and at a time which is convenient for me."

Sora felt the blood rush to her head in frustration. They had been having this argument for centuries! Massaging her throbbing temples, she pursed her painted lips unhappily. "Then you leave me no choice." She clapped her porcelain hands together, making a sharp, ringing noise.

From an antechamber behind the throne emerged a slim, serious human woman dressed in the robes of a dark miko. Although her visage was youthful, her hair was the color of sun-bleached bone, and her cold, dark eyes glowed with ancient intelligence.

"My Lady." She bowed.

Sora inclined her head in respect. "Dark miko Arisu. Rise and proceed with our previous plans."

"Yes, my lady." Arisu smiled knowingly and reached into her robes. Her hands emerged full of colorful glass pebbles. She threw them in the air, where they stayed, hovering steadily. Closing her eyes, she clasped her fingers together and began an incantation.

The globs of multicolored glass began to glow softly and emit a high-pitched keen.

Sesshomaru merely raised an eyebrow. No matter how much his mother respected this dark miko, in the end she was only a human, and was thus not worthy of treatment as a worthy foe. Mouth twisted mockingly, he turned to his mother, lightning-quick mind formulating a suitable jab at her desperate attempt to subjugate him. But then his eyes widened as he experienced a most queer sensation. His claws started to ache dully, and when he focused his dimming eyes on them, they appeared to be…shrinking.

His piercing eyes of amber-lined gold darted to the dark miko, who was still murmuring her spell, and the Lordling of the West ran towards her with legs that seemed to be weakening by the second…

Arisu finished the chant and bent over slightly, appearing to catch her breath. The pebbles shot toward Sesshomaru and formed a collar around his neck, connected by strands of light. He snatched at them, but they dissolved into thin air, leaving wisps of colored smoke to drift through his fingers. A peculiar scent filled the air; not unpleasant, but definitely not pleasant.

The dark miko straightened and bowed to Sora. “It has been done, my Lady.” She flickered out of existence just as Sesshomaru slashed his sword through the space her neck had been. She reappeared and gazed with interest at the lordling, who had fallen to his knees, surrounded by dark energy. His demonic sword had rejected its owner, who had lost his youki. Tutting quietly, she plucked it with ease from his trembling hands and swept past him to deliver it to his mother.

“Thank you, Arisu. You may go now.”

The dark miko bowed again and retraced her steps.

Coughing, Sesshomaru staggered to his feet and immediately missed the familiar weight of his hair. He struggled towards the nearest mirror instead. He caught sight of his reflection and was horrified.

His silver hair was now half its usual length, and a dull dark brown.

The color of mud.

His eyes were a very dark orange, so dark as to be almost brown. The royal markings on his cheeks and wrists were gone, and his smooth, moonkissed skin was rough, coarse, and peasant-colored.

His claws were gone and replaced with blunt nails. Sesshomaru tried to summon his poison but failed. Everything seemed to be muted; he could hear barely anything, and colors were all dimmed.

And smell! The scents that laced the air were gone, vanished.

Sesshomaru reeled away from the mirror, his head pounding through the haze of disbelief. The worst thing was, he did not have his soul youkai anymore. The irritating voice that he had tried to hush on more than one occasion was now gone. The place it had occupied in his heart felt…empty. Hollow.

Prince Lord Sesshomaru of the West was human.

Sora gazed at her son, pity in her eyes. A tiny bit of mockery was hidden none too well in there too.

"It was your own decision, my son."

Sesshomaru glared at his mother. "What. Have. You. Done?!" Even his voice was weak.

"I would have thought it obvious. You are now a human, Sesshomaru, and human you shall stay until you realize the error of your ways."

He wanted to rush at her, but he knew it was useless.  He was at her mercy. With an inward snarl, as his throat was now incapable of making the threatening sound, he realized that he had to play along with her game. He consoled himself with the knowledge that his father would return soon. Then there would be hell to pay. "Where shall I stay?" He refused to stay in the palace where he would be the talk of the court.

Sora smiled. "Well, Sesshomaru, you shall be staying in a human village. Filth suited to your own appearance. That should make you eager for the comforts of the Celestial Palace once more. One never appreciates comforts till he has lost them."

He glared at the dog demoness. "I will kill you." In his current anger, the threat was very real. But in his current state, it was sadly not very intimidating.

She closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair. "You can't, Sesshomaru, simple as that. You are but a human, after all."

"I will find a way to become demon once again. And when I do…Guard your throat most carefully, Mother."

"Of course," Sora agreed absentmindedly. "There has been a discreet pathway prepared for you. Travel as swiftly as your human body allows. As you know, the demonic hounds are released into the grounds at sundown, and they are trained to down any unauthorized human. I wouldn't advise telling anyone of your plight. The rumors will spread, and all the other Cardinal Lords will know of your little problem. They will wage war on the West and hunt you down. You will be in no shape to fight them off."

Sesshomaru curled his lip in disgust. She was right. "Hn."

He turned on his heel crisply and walked away, dragging along the scraps of dignity he had managed to salvage.