Far across the Western Sea, the moon arose, a disc of soft beaten gold. Its pale light gilded the crests of the waves, scattered against the rough faces of the rocks. At its perfect wholeness, Inukimi felt the hollowness within herself that much more keenly.
But she did not weep, even at this. Had she ever? Perhaps if she were that sort of female, she would have had no occasion to.
A slight, bitter smile graced her lips. Self-pity was for the weak, she knew. The Lady of the Western Lands had never been anything but strong—too strong, even in her own estimation. And pitiable now because of it.
A most confounding paradox, yet here she stood. Proud in her disgrace. Scorned and superior all at once. As desperate for the father of her son as she was to be rid of him. Her claws itched to tear his mating mark from her flesh, but even if she could do so, she would be bound to him still.
Such was his hold on her heart—
And Sesshoumaru its abiding master.
Inukimi closed her eyes to the moon. As a presence stirred the air behind her, she turned. Her eyes cut to the one who alighted on the pinnacle below.
“Touga,” she said. “Have you come to deal my wounded pride its final blow? If so, be swift about it.”
The demon lord grimaced. “That is a cold greeting.”
“I am a cold creature,” Inukimi said with a sniff. “As you have made clear to me time and again.”
“I have never accused you as such.”
“Not in so many words, no. But in your contempt of me, it has been clear enough.”
Heavily, Touga frowned. “You are my mate, the mother of my son and heir. My regard for you goes without question.”
“Your regard.” Inukimi’s lips curved, a sliver of smile so icy and sharp his fur bristled at its slice. “Oh, I question it, Touga. I have questioned it nearly from the start. Would that I loved you so little as you have loved me. Then I would not be as wretched as I am.”
“Kimi—”
“No,” she faintly growled. “Do not coddle to me, or insult me any further with your excuses. I will not hear them.”
Touga fell silent. Looking past him, Inukimi sighed.
“For centuries,” she said, her voice low with regret, “I have borne the brunt of your indiscretions…”
…
The first had been the harshest to endure. Even when the bitch’s blood had run cold upon the ground, Inukimi had felt no relief from the white-hot sear of humiliation, of galling betrayal. A misery that had only compounded when Touga had condemned her for the slaying. Her exile from his affections had been so prolonged and severe she had gone nearly mad from lonesomeness—no doubt she would have, if not for Sesshoumaru’s dependence on her.
She had not dared to raise a hand to Touga’s mistresses after that. But she could not suffer them to live, either.
One by one she’d had them hunted down discreetly and put to the sword. Each death had vindicated her as little as the last. Yet she could not stop herself. The violence in her heart had demanded blood with a vehemence she could never assuage.
She had thought her jealous rage might consume her, when the raiders had returned with news of a bastard pup that had escaped them. Consequences be damned, Inukimi had tracked the bastard herself, deep into the wilderness it had scurried into. She had found him curled in the roots of a tree—exhausted from his flight. Black-haired and so young, yet as she traced the dark line of his brow, the resemblance was unmistakable. And when his deep golden eyes had blinked drowsily open, she had seen only Touga in them, and withdrawn from him in deepest shame.
She had killed no more, after that. The violence in her had collapsed into void, and she had been content to languish in its empty ache.
…
“…But with this latest,” she said presently, “you have forced my hand. In claiming this half-human bastard of yours, you have put my son’s claim in jeopardy. Already your vassals are abandoning you. Hiraitou has deposed his father, and is mustering a rebellion. Sesshoumaru will not side with you in the war to come; he cannot, and maintain what allies he has left. And I cannot side against him.”
“Nor would I ask you to,” Touga said quietly.
Inukimi’s chill demeanor softened slightly. “So,” she murmured, “it comes to this.”
“So it does.”
Salt air carried between them on the breeze. The moonlight blazed so bright above them it seemed almost to burn. For a while, Inukimi studied his handsome face, as rugged and warm and beloved to her as ever it had been, and knew in her heart she would never see him alive again.
He had made his choice, and so had she. She had made it long ago, the moment she first held her son to her breast. The son she had despaired would remain forever in her dreams—
Her only son.
“Get you gone then to your mortal wife,” she said briskly. “Let our paths cross in hell, or not at all.”
Touga’s mouth quirked up at the corners. “I will hope for the latter then. Yet before I go…”
Lightly he soared up to stand beside her on her pillar of stone. Inukimi’s eyes widened a fraction in surprise, as he drew a necklace with a large gold-and-blue pendant from his haori.
“What is this?” she asked when he offered it to her.
“A meidou stone,” Touga answered, pressing it into her hands. “Keep it close to you—keep it well. Our son may have need of its power someday, though it is a dangerous thing to reckon upon.”
With that, he left her where she stood. As his pale form faded into the lightening sky, Inukimi clasped the pendant to her chest and turned to the moon once again.
“…Our son,” she whispered, as her eyes began to sting.
Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi
Poor Inukimi. I actually feel sorry for her. She was in love with Touga and bore him a powerful son, and he was just a powerful dog-demon that mated her and didn’t love her back. I would be bitter too. 🥺 If I was her, I would’ve found some of his relatives and made sex play toys of them just for spite 😂
“She was in love with Touga and bore him a powerful son, and he was just a powerful dog-demon that mated her and didn’t love her back. ” – yep I feel for her too 😢
Thanks so much for sharing, Blackberry! <3
Toga, you dawg! Did he have to chase skirts do devotedly? Families are such toxic things.
Maybe sesshomaru takes after his mother in his mating habits, the way she was going around killing rivals. With parents like the ones he has, no wonder sesshomaru associates intimacy with bloody deaths. even with kagome, who he obsesses over. What a mess.
“Maybe sesshomaru takes after his mother in his mating habits, the way she was going around killing rivals. ” – 😉
Lol yep, Sess hasn’t exactly had the best examples, relationship-wise…
Thanks for sharing, theresap!! <3
“Heavily, Touga frowned. “You are my mate, the mother of my son and heir. My regard for you goes without question.”—I think this chapter reveals where Sesshoumaru’s presumptuous attitudes towards feelings and relationships come from. Sesshoumaru may have taken his cues from Touga—to possess and protect something is indication enough of one’s feelings. Nothing more need be said, but women need these sentiments articulated and expressed.
Loved this insight into Inukimi’s struggles and experiences. I wish it had gone on longer! I had forgotten how closely her desperate circumstances mirrored Sesshoumaru’s—still helplessly yoked to the only ones capable of taming them. How they must resent their own devotion!
“Her claws itched to tear his mating mark from her flesh, but even if she could do so, she would be bound to him still.”—This line was lovely and heartrending—it reminded me of the sentinel Sesshoumaru has set over Kagome throughout the years. His feelings unspoken but, to him, obvious.
I wonder if Kimi’s experiences help account for Sesshoumaru’s cool-headed approach towards rivals and jealousy. He has seen the dissatisfactory results of flying off the handle. Perhaps he fears making himself vulnerable in the way his strong mother has. But honey, something has to give!
“Nothing more need be said, but women need these sentiments articulated and expressed.” – yep yep, especially when the man has a history of philandering XD
So glad you enjoyed this Inukimi piece – and that line about the mating mark!! 🙂 It’s kinda funny but I wrote this side-story some months ago, and when I opened it the other day to edit it, I was surprised by how short it was 🤣 Could’ve sworn it was like 3k words, but it’s not even half that haha
Agree that something has to give with our ol’ pal Sess 😉 Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on this fic, Alex! Happy Friday!! <3
I love how everyone seems to have two completely different sides to them that are night and day. Reading about Inukimi in the previous chapter was a totally different experience than now. She was strong and beautiful enough to make even Kagome feel inferior. Now, we get the heartwrenching back story of how she loved her cheating mate so much but it was never enough to sustain their relationship. We get to see that she isn’t as heartless as she comes off to be. It’s funny how Hirokin’s lover (I’m totally blanking on his name) was the one who stopped her from killing any more of Touga’s lovers/kids. Maybe that’s why she stepped in when Sesshomaru was going to kill him a few chapters ago.
I think the guesses about the moons in the vision representing Kagome’s future (and past) children are spot on. I also think this is why this chapter fits perfectly right after. Kimi mentions “Her only son” in this chapter. I really think she feels incomplete by only having one child. She probably imagined a whole litter with her mate. Hearing about Kagome’s vision of 9 moons (or children) probably blew her mind! I just have a badddddd feeling that we’re about to get some serious mommy meddling pretty soon 😂
Thanks for another amazing chapter ~
Yay thank you, Lee! <3 I'm so glad you enjoyed this piece!! It's so much fun to me too, getting to explore the dimensions of the various characters' personalities through these side-stories 🙂
"Now, we get the heartwrenching back story of how she loved her cheating mate so much but it was never enough to sustain their relationship." - 😭 yes, I always felt Inukimi's story had such tragic potential (even if she puts on a tough, cool front, who can really say what she feels, deep down? 💔)
Love hearing your thoughts on this scene, and its implications for the rest of the story! Thanks for sharing your take on the moons as well 😉 I so treasure the feedback! Have a wonderful weekend 💕
I really feel sorry for her, she was condemned to a life without love. “Regard” does not replace feelings.
She had every right to be bitter about it.
I think Touga couldn’t handle her being strong and he felt threatened by it.
Power is such a curse.
Touga should be ashamed but I love their exchange so much.
“I really feel sorry for her, she was condemned to a life without love. “Regard” does not replace feelings.” – absolutely agree 😢
So glad you enjoyed this scene between them, Elle <3 Thanks for sharing!
I haven’t commented in a long time, but I have faithfully read each and every chapter because the way how you write is simply divine. The characterizations, the imagery, the emotion…UGH!! I’m not a tenth as eloquent as you are so it’s hard for me to put into words how excellent all of your stories are.
Now onto this chapter. It’s interesting to note that Toga has cheated on Kimi several times and has potentially sired several children(that black-haired child…hmmm who might that be). Did Toga ever love kimi or iyazoi or any of those other women? More questions raised about the environment Sesshomaru grew up in. Speaking up which, Kimi seems utterly devoted to Sesshomaru, unwilling to stand against him. A mother’s love or something else?
Hey friend!! So great to hear from you 🙂 Thank you so much for the lovely compliments <3 I'm so glad you've been following along and enjoying the series & side-stories!! 🙂
"Did Toga ever love kimi or iyazoi or any of those other women?" - a valid question! With cheating types like him it's hard to say...maybe even for them lol
So loved hearing your thoughts on this scene! Thanks again for dropping a line <3