Taint of the Epitaph by Rio Anfyr
Owagousai
NOTE: This story takes place roughly 3 years after the manga begins (2 years after the anime ends?), in which Kagome is 18, turning 19 in a few months. Rin, rather than 9 or 10, is 13 years of age, and so forth. I do not follow the manga religiously, but it is an aim to remain true to its characters. Many new things will be introduced within this story (Owagousai the elemental, for example) but it will fit the story as you read on. The odd honorifics will also be explained.
Read, enjoy, and take the time to post a comment. It will be greatly appreciated, and will encourage quicker updates :D
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Chapter 1 - Owagousai
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"Sesshoumaru-sama!" The squat, green, frog youkai poked his head out from behind the bush, peering tentatively in either direction. He climbed out, pulling his large twp-headed staff Nintojo out behind him.
A thirteen year-old girl of five-foot nothing emerged from the foliage behind him. "I keep telling you, Jaken-senpai, he's not here. I can't sense him. Sesshoumaru-sensei is either quite a distance away, or dead."
"Rin-chan!" Jaken admonished, shaking the two-headed staff at her menacingly. "How dare you say such a thing about a Taiyoukai of Sesshoumaru-sama's standing? Do you have any idea how much power--"
"Relax, Jaken-senpai, I was just joking." Rin's long ebony hair fell to her waist over her red and white kimono, large, dark brown eyes blinking as she watched the sunset. She gazed westward as the last shaft of light winked out behind the mountainous horizon, leaving brilliant slashes of crimson and gold streaming through the cloudless sky. Rin wondered if her Lord was watching the sunset, as well.
"I didn't think it was funny," Jaken muttered. "H-hey," Jaken yelled, realizing Rin had begun to walk north down the path they had come upon. "Wait up!" He had to trot down the path to catch up, his two-headed staff burdening his stride.
Quietly, in a small world of her own, Rin worried for her Lord. She absently clutched the topaz orb that hung from her neck on a silver chain. "Sessoumaru-sensei, where are you? I hope you're okay..."
*****
The searing air brushing his face was his lone companion as he descended deeper into the depths of the volcano. The cream-colored pelt that was a keepsake from his mother whipped about over his head, in its own way speaking its disapproval of such a place. As the next wave of heat reached him, he ironed himself for what was to come. This would be the least of it.
The Inu Taiyoukai landed effortlessly on the almost nonexistant outcropping that protruded from the cavern's wall. 'He had better be awake,' Sesshoumaru thought, before dropping from his perch and continuing his descent.
He landed gracefully on a small island of solid granite amidst a massive pool of magma. It shifted in protest under the sudden weight, and Sesshoumaru readjusted his weight to keep from capsizing.
Sesshourmaru scanned the abode of whose den he had entered. Stone-faced, he knew this was his best chance to get what he required.
Gathering his resolve, he cleared his throat quietly.
"Owagousai, I summon you from your depths." Sessoumaru weaved power into his words not with volume, but presence.
Nothing happened. Sesshoumaru waited in silence, save the occasional pop from the magma bubbles. Just as he was about to call out the summons again, the molten rock quaked as something stirred deep beneath. The cavern's walls chipped away and small shards of solid stone tumbled into the roiling magma. The sudden shaft of heat almost caused Sesshoumaru to stumble. Almost. He would not show weakness of any sort here. He knew that would mean death.
The violent shudders of the pool intensified, and threatened to flip--or eat--the island upon which he stood. The magma rose before Sesshoumaru slowly, coalescing into a humanoid shape of roughly his own height and frame. Facial features became evident: two bright embers for eyes and a slight depression for a mouth. The arms rose slowly at its sides, dripping melted rock back into the pool from whence it came.
"You have ventured where few have dared--where even fewer have survived. Why?"
Sessoumaru bowed deeply--a very humbling act on his part, even if he did not entirely mean it. His own hanyou half-brother would be drop-jawed to see such a thing. But Owagousai would be insulted were he given any less respect, even from one of Sesshoumaru's standing. Owagousai was one of the only surviving elemental youkai who preceded the birth of InuTaisho, Sesshoumaru's father. He also knew, grudgingly, that in Owagousai's domain, were hostility exposed within the cavern, Sesshoumaru would not be the victor. "I am--"
"InuTaisho's blood runs though your veins." It was not a question, but rather, to Owagousai's credit, a statement of fact.
Sesshoumaru straightened and offered a composed nod. "I am Sesshoumaru, son of Inu no Taisho, former leader of the Inu Clan. I am his successor."
The deep rumble that filled the chamber could only have been Owagousai's amused chuckle. "So you say. Why have you come?"
"There has been troubling events taking place, as of late."
"Oh?"
"The currents of power weaving through the fabric of our world have begun deteriorating. I can sense as much, as I am sure you can as well. What confounds me is that the degeneration seems to be rooted around the tainted Shikon no Tama."
Owagousai's eyes flickered upon mention of the Jewel. There was a long silence that followed. "I would not have thought I'd be drawn back into the affairs of the Shikouin no Tama. Then again, how can one not be?" The entity's mouth moved awkwardly to Owagousai's words, as though he were having a difficult time syncing his actions to his makeshift body.
"I came here to ask what you know of the Shikon no Tama. How is its very presence tainting the world's currents of energy? What did Midoriko imbue upon the Jewel when she created it? Has its power been so underestimated?"
The embers stared back as silence again reigned supreme. Finally, Owagousai replied, "The Shikouin no Tama was not created by this priestess Midoriko. But its taint is directly related to that of the world."
Sesshoumaru almost reacted to this. Almost. "I do not believe we speak of the same object," he answered instead, hand resting on his Tenseiga. "The Shikon--"
"The Shikouin no Tama's name has apparently changed slightly since it was first brought into this world, but believe that it is the same as the Jewel you speak of. If the taint of the Shikouin no Tama becomes complete, the world shall die and, in effect, everything living upon it."
This, Sessoumaru did react to. "How can--"
"The Four Times have been tainted. Leave, Inu Taiyoukai, and do what you see fit."
'While you do nothing?' is what Sesshoumaru wanted to retort, but bit back the comment. It would get him no where, and only endanger his well-being.
"Owagousai-senpai--"
"Leave. I have given you enough of my patience. If the world fails, so will I, but I am prepared for such a fate. I have lived long enough." The form began to melt back into the magma, and Sesshoumaru knew that, for now, he would gain no more from Owagousai.
Sesshoumaru did not bother bowing again. He leaped from the island, bounding off the walls of the cavern to reach its rim.
He knew what he must do, next.
As Sesshoumaru took his first, chll breath of night, he stumbled. Recovering quickly, powered by determination, he thrusted into the sky.
*****
"Sesshoumaru-sensei is approaching. Quickly!"
Jaken halted abruptly, lest he collide with the suddenly still Rin. "Are you sure?"
Rin glanced back at Jaken as though he were daft. "Have I ever been wrong?"
Jaken grumbled. He was often jealous of Rin's ability to sense his Lord. But then, he supposed that was to be expected: the Taiyoukai 'had' marked her as an adolescent, after all. Bonds were stronger, meant more, at that age. He wondered if he wouldn't reject the offer if Jaken knew the only way to sense Sesshoumaru in such intensity were to be marked by him in such a manner. Jaken gazed skyward as a roar pierced the twilight.
Ah-Un descended from the sky, landing promptly in front of Rin and nuzzling her chest. Rin returned the affection with a tentative scratch under the large beast's chin. Jaken wondered at how Rin could befriend such a wild youkai, even if it had been Sesshoumaru who had originally discovered the creature. Ah-Un habitually scouted the surrounding area periodically for hostile youkai, and hunted them down. He was their guardian--when Sesshoumaru was not present, at least.
"Sesshoumaru-sensei is returning, Ah-Un," Rin said softly, hugging the youkai's neck.
The agreeable rumble sounding deep in Ah-Un's throat spoke of how pleased he was. Rin giggled at the sound, feeling the thrum in her chest.
Almost on cue, Rin spun around, just in time to catch Sesshoumaru descending from the air. Something was wrong. When he landed, he crumpled in a steaming heap.
"Sesshoumaru-sama!" Jaken ran over to his Lord, crouching before him.
Sesshoumaru's skin was burnt completely red, and in some spots charred black. His wonderful locks of silver hair, that had once gone past his knees, was now singed at his waist. His armor and adornment, however, remained unscathed.
"Sesshoumaru-sensei, you're injured!" Rin ran to Sesshoumaru's side and cradled him in her arms.
The great Inu Taiyoukai was reduced to the dignity of an injured child in her arms. He brushed her arms away with a steady hand. "I need you both to go to Wenuei village." His voice, to Sesshoumaru's credit, was also serenely clear and strong. No time for small talk.
"Wenuei village is over a month's travel away," Jaken protested. The condescending glare Sesshoumaru shot him froze him in place.
"You will be leaving without me. Take Ah-Un with you," Sesshoumaru continued, managing to sit up.
"But...you're injured, Sesshoumaru-sensei." Tears were beginning to well up in Rin's eyes.
"No tears, Rin." He brushed one gently from her cheek as he stood, albeit slowly. "I have my own objectives to see to, and I cannot sacrifice valuable time with a detour to Wenuei village. I need you to gather all the information you can on the Shikon no Tama. It was where Midoriko was born and raised, and I believe documents or history still exists there. Afterward, go where that information takes you."
"When will we see you again, Sesshoumaru-sama?" Jaken sounded panicked.
"I will meet up with you when I can. But in the meantime, follow my instructions." His iron, yellow gaze fell on Rin. "I trust you to stay safe."
Without another word, he bounded into the trees to the northwest.
Jaken was aghast. "What now?" he asked no one in particular, slumping down onto his rump.
Rin pulled Jaken back to his feet. "We go to Wenuei village," she replied with conviction, climbing atop Ah-Un.