Hell’s Flame by Crimson Rose

Chapter 1

Disclaimer: Inuyasha & Co. belong to Rumiko Takahashi. I make no profit from this. But any OC’s I have are mine. Also I was having such a hard time posting this from my phone and I couldn’t edit the way I wanted so I’m sorry for any mistakes I missed. When I get on the computer I’ll fix it. But Happy Samhain y’all!

Summary: War was coming. The combined power of the Western land’s might not be enough this time. Hidden agendas, relying on myths and legends, unrequited love. Can the West really prevail, or will it fall to the mercy of the North?

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In its peaceful days, Japan was governed by four lords. Dragons of the North, Foxes of the East, Dogs of the West and Wolves of the South. But war was coming, faster than any had anticipated. Youkai wars could last centuries, which was why they had been avoided at all costs. But nothing seemed to stop the insatiable hunger the Northern Dragon’s had. 

Slowly they had begun encroaching in the Western Lands, when none had noticed their aggression, they began to blatantly flaunt their new territory. Massacre after massacre in the northern part of the Western Lands had finally brought the Western Lord’s gaze onto them. Toga, the Lord of the Western lands had called the Inuyoukai clans to his shiro to discuss the beginning of the war that was close at their heels.

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“We are looking at a war that could last centuries,” Toga announced to his council of advisors, Inuyoukai leaders and their subordinates that had gathered for the meeting at the western shiro. Golden eyes surveyed each youkai seated around the table and the strengths each Inuyoukai clan brought with them with the alliance that he had forged many centuries ago. “I am asking, not as your lord, but as your brother, to help me defend what is ours.” His words rang out heavily in the room. Each youkai feeling the finality of what the Inu Taisho said. “The Northern Dragon’s have been massacring villages under our protection, human and youkai, in the northern part of the Western lands. The time is now before it is too late.”  

No one made a sound. Cautious glances were thrown around the room. They had all enjoyed the peace that had been found when Toga had united the Inu. To fight in a war that would and could have many casualties is something no one wanted. But they knew that if left unchecked, the West would be razed to nothing.

Until one person stood before speaking. “We will stand by your side, as the Doku Clan have for centuries.” Setsuna, the clan leader of Inu who were gifted with poison abilities. She was the Twin sister to the mate of Toga. “Our power is yours to command at will, brother.” Setsuna’s purple eyes hardened. War was coming but they were strong. Setsuna was the darker counterpart of her sister. Lightly tanned skinned and such a deep purple colored hair, it almost looked black. When Inukimi stood next to Setsuna, their looks were striking with their beauty and the contrast they both brought out with each other.

After Setsuna had spoken in her commanding voice, it led others to join in. Promising their power and armies for the upcoming battle. All the Inuyoukai gathered had a specific power for each clan adding onto their brute strength that was common with youkai. Poison, Ice, those that were gifted with nature, so different it was hard to believe at one point in time they had come from the same clan. Evolution was slow with youkai but even then it brought change and all inuyoukai knew the tale of the beginning of Inu.

With everyone busy with the talk of the upcoming battle, no one seemed to notice as the blacksmith of the Western Army as well as an Advisor on InuTaisho’s highly respected council, Totosai, sat in the corner with a pensive look on his normally confused and oblivious face. While he played a daft spineless fool, he was anything but that. It was speculated that he was one of the oldest youkai still alive, if the lines and wrinkles that were etched into his skin were any indication. With his talented control over fire, many assumed that at one point he was a one of the first youkai to be created or even a trickster God playing in the lives of humans and youkai. Even if the latter was laughable in its own way, they all held him in high esteem. So when Totosai looked pensive it was Inukimi’s ever watchful gaze that had held him in her lavender colored eyes.

“Totosai, I would like to hear what you have on your mind. Speak freely my friend.” Inukimi’s strong confident voice rang out in the room as she called out to Totosai, startling him from his inner thoughts and quieting the room. If and when she spoke, all knew to listen.

Puffing his chest with pride as Inukimi had called him her friend, Totosai replied sagely. “The dragons are strong, their control over fire is almost as well as mine. They will burn this land to the ground should we become too confident. With their wings, it would be a hard win. The loss will be heavy on both sides.”

Kouri, leader of the Yuuki Inu clan in the northern part of the Western lands, voiced his concern. “So what would you have us do, not fight and yield to the dragons? They care little for anything and if we concede to them, the Western lands will become a barren wasteland just like the North.” It was his lands that had been ravaged by the North. The ache in his voice could be heard clearly to all who was in the room. The loss of those he had sworn to protect obviously weighed heavily on Kouri’s mind.

Shaking his head, Totosai rebuked what Kouri had said. “I’m not saying that you should not fight but that you all should look for more allies than what we have gathered in this room. You will need all the help you will get and even treaties with those who may have been forgotten with time. Those who became stories we tell to our pups. I believe Inukimi-sama knows exactly who I am suggesting.” Totosai turned his wise eyes from Kouri to Inukimi. As her eyes lit with understanding, the corners of her mouth turned down with worry.

The beings that Totosai spoke of had been a fascination of Inukimi’s since she was a pup. Totosai had spun the most magical stories of them. Most Inu knew of where they had come from, but not the true story.  Only herself and Setsuna had heard the depth of how they really came to be. As her eyes met Setsuna’s, Inukimi knew whose help they would need, should the West want to prevail.

“Are you sure we should seek their aid? No one has seen them for many many centuries, even my sight cannot find them.” Inukimi’s purple eyes, a signature look of the Doku Inuyoukai, were alight with curiosity and slight worry. She was gifted not only with poison but with a Seers ability to see the future or things that do not want to be seen. “But if this is needed, then we should send my son, Sesshomaru to find them and ask for their help.”

All eyes in the room looked toward the western heir that stood next to his seated parents. Stoic, strong, beautiful. With his father’s eyes, height and strength. He was a strong opponent to face. Paired with his mother’s markings, her cunning intellect and her poison. He was beautifully deadly.

“Who is it that you speak of?” Toga asked, not once looking toward Sesshomaru. Instead focusing on his mate and Totosai, watching as they once again shared a look of understanding between them.

It was Totosai who answered him. “The Yomi-Inu.” 

Many gasps were heard from the youkai in the room at the mention of who Totosai and InuKimi meant. But it was the light scoff that came from his son behind him that drew Toga’s attention.

Toga turned to his son who had a look of displeasure at the mention of the Yomi-Inu . “Do you not want to find them son? Do you think this task beneath one such as yourself?” His voice boomed throughout the room.

Ever the stoic youkai, Sesshomaru answered curtly. “No, Father. But to mention beings who are mere myths and stories mother’s tell their pups at a time like this...is preposterous.”

The mood in the room felt strained. No one dared make a sound. It was common when the Lord and his heir exchanged words that there was tension. It had been that way since Toga had sired a half breed on his human concubine years ago. Even if Inukimi had forgiven him and accepted his illegitimate pup as her own. Sesshomaru had refused any sort of forgiveness toward his sire. Tension had been high between those two ever since.

“Insolent pup...”

It was Totosai’s awkward braying laugh that broke the tirade Toga  had just about to begin. All eyes were on him as he cackled away, causing Toga to shake his head with amusement, his anger momentarily forgotten. But all were thankful for his interruption, had their lord and his heir clashed once again the damage would be great. Totosai was wise given his years but he was still weird and strange. His laugh even had Inukimi and Setsuna giggling politely behind their hands. 

Sobering himself up, Totosai spoke to Sesshomaru. “Pup you will do well and listen to your sire. But you should learn to ask more before deeming something unworthy of your time .”

Sesshomaru’s piercing gaze was heavy. “This Sesshomaru knows about the Yomi Inu. They are hell hounds that had once roamed Japan, now there is no trace of them.”

“Yes and no.” Totosai snapped, waving his hand in the air as if he had just smelt something unpleasant. “They were the first Inu, before the clans became separated like they are today. There is no trace of them? No, you just haven’t opened your eyes.”

Totosai walked in front of the opened window that overlooked a huge courtyard where servants, guards and towns people walked around happily below. The carnage from the Northern Dragon’s had yet to touch this far from the Northern Western lands. Eventually, what he knew would come would soon to pass. If the War would take long, instead of seeing content and happy faces below they would be gaunt and tired. Lacking the vitality that they were showing today. Totosai understood that he wouldn’t be able to play the dense fool role that he had taken to when he had first come to the West. Reaching into the fold of his kimono, he fingered a weathered parchment. The familiar crinkling noise brought comfort to him each and every time he heard it.  It was time to speak the truth.

Sighing softly, Totosai cast one look around the room. Taking in each of their appearances and powers. So different were they from those that he had not seen for years. But they were no different.

 Closing his eyes, Totosai allowed his memories to take him back to a time when the earth was still very young. Speaking firmly as his memories transported him to a different time, recounting his tale from long ago. 

“When the Wa was still young and Kami were still being born, It all began when Izanami, had died while giving birth to Kagutsuchi, the fire god. Izanagi, so enraged at his wife’s death, he killed Kagutsuchi and mourned for 7 days after her passing. During her time in Yomi, Izanami grew bitter toward  Izanagi, when he did not immediately come to her rescue. She had assumed that he had left her to rot for all eternity.”

“Bitter and spiteful, Izanami took her hands and dug them into the earth beneath her feet. Taking the unholy earth, she began to mold them into twenty ferocious Inu. Imbuing her hate and malice into their bodies. Izanami stared at each incomplete molded body. It had been Raijin, her son and God of Lightening and Thunder who had suggested taking the fire from Yomi’s hearth to give life to the bodies. Out of all her children, only Raijin had faithfully visited her after her death.”

“Taking his suggestion, Izanami had approached the Fire Keeper who guarded the flame. Beseeching him urgently on why she needed, the Fire Keeper took pity on her and her plight. He had yielded to the Goddess’ requests and gave her what she a piece of the core Flame.”

“Separating the core flame into twenty pieces! she had taken each flame and placed them into the bodies, waiting with baited breath as they started to warm to the touch. No longer cold and lifeless but heated with hell’s flame. Izanami took the inky black shadows of hell and contorted it to become the inu’s fur,  whispy black tendrils became less transparent. These inu were the epitome of hell, created by Izanami in her moment of bitterness at being spurned and forgotten.”

“But before she could command them to open their eyes to wreak havoc on the world above, a sudden boom had drawn her attention elsewhere. Locating the direction of where the sound was coming from, Izanami walked quickly towards the bright spec in the dark underworld, to see her husband aglow with his godly power descending lower to Yomi. Quickly covering herself and her face with her shawl, Izanami called out to him.”

“As Izanagi reached her, he embraced her softly murmuring his apologies for being late in reaching her. Grabbing her hand in his, they ran toward the opening he had made. As they reached the opening and Izanagi made his way through, yet he could not bring his arm that held onto Izanami. Turning around to face her, he was shocked still to see her rotting corpse. During those seven days, Izanami had eaten the food from Yomi, now she was meant to spend the rest of her days in darkness.”

“Izanagi had been so horrified, that he ran away from the gruesome sight of her flesh. Izanami‘s ire was once more stoked and she called out to her son Raijin, who appeared with a crack of thunder and lightening instantly. Listening to her speak of his father’s treatment of his mother, Raijin’s fury shook the very earth. 

Izanami commanded the twenty Yomi-Inu to hunt Izanagi to the ends of the earth, not stopping until they could bring her, his head. With a flash their eyes had opened. Leaving Raijin in charge of the inu, they were on Izanagi’s heels. Under Raijin’s command they had laid waste to the earth as they tracked Izanagi back to his godly palace in the sky.”

“Yet it was Amasteru who they had crossed paths with first who had just been born from Izanagi’s right eye, Raijin had refused to harm his sister and commanded the Inu to stand down. So Amasteru had blessed the Inu with compassion in their hearts, the one thing Izanami had not. She had also gifted them the ability to change from their Inu forms to a more humanoid appearance. The Inu’s haze of destruction had cleared, no longer mindless beasts on a war path.”

“As Izanagi watched from a distance, worry ate at his mind, fearing their power  he decided to strip some Inu of their hellfire. Half the Yomi-Inu had managed to get away and escape back to Yomi with Raijin. The other half was not so lucky, beginning to revert back into dirt but it was Tsukiyomi, God of the Moon,  who was born from Izanagi’s left eye, that had taken a piece of the moon itself to replace the fire that had been stripped away. No longer Yomi-Inu Tsukiyomi, took one Inu aside and blessed them with a moon upon her brow.”

“When  Raijin and the other Yomi-Inu had returned to Izanami empty handed, she had been so angered she had vowed to kill 1,000 of Izanagi’s creations just for him to reply that he would make 1,500 more. Izanami had also banned the Inu who no longer had hellsfire in their bodies from ever coming back to Yomi, even in death.”

At the end of his tale, Totosai let loose another sigh. Ignoring the fact that he had enraptured the entire room with his story. How he would’ve preferred to remain a oblivious fool to those here, he knew he needed to do more than just create the Western Armies swords. When he had come to the western lands, Toga, InuKimi and Setsuna had only been pups. Many years had passed since then but Totosai did not regret his decision in leaving his home for the West.

Inukimi cleared her throat politely before asking, “So what would you have us do? Search for the pathway to Yomi?” Receiving no answer from Totosai as he looked deep in his thoughts it was Sesshomaru’s voice that caught his attention.

“I am to search the mountain for the opening to Yomi?” Sesshomaru inquired, looking towards his father.

Before Toga could say anything, Totosai interrupted. “No, stupid pup.” 

Mirth filled Inukimi’s eyes at Totosai’s words as she glanced at her son. His face was more stoic than ever, but his golden eyes gave him away. It looked like he wanted to remove Totosai’s Head from his body. 

Setsuna’s voice rang out as she asked “How will we make them come to us? Pray to Izanami to lend us their aid?”

“No.” Totosai huffed. “I will summon them.” Reaching into his haori, Totosai removed a weathered parchment that looked similar to a sutra. Bringing it to his mouth Totosai whispered words that couldn’t be heard, even with youkai hearing. As he finished the incantation the parchment burst into a curious and playful blue flame that seemed to have a mind of its own. Twirling and curling around Totosai’s youki with so much familiarity all the nobles were shocked still.

Totosai cupped the flame gently as he brought it closer to his face, smiling softly as the flame seemed to become shy under his warm flinty gaze. “Off you go little one, ask your master and comrades to please come to our aid, swiftly. I will await them in the courtyard below.” As if the blue flame understood, it shot out of the window into the sky faster than even a daiyoukai’s orb could travel. Totosai’s eyes looked off into the distance that the flame had sped off in. “Now we wait, we need to be in the courtyard before they arrive.” Totosai said calmly before walking out the door toward the court yard and everyone else followed, except for one.