Archive of Our Own ^beta

This world was a battlefield drenched in blood. A rite of courage and cowardice, in which the worthy walked the path of carnage without mercy or fear, crushing anything and anyone standing in the way to absolute victory.

The path of the demon.

The only path, the only truth that mattered to Sesshōmaru.

At least… it had been.

Until he fell in love with a human who dared to walk this path with him. Until he learned to cherish and protect something as fleeting as a mortal life, like a cautious torchbearer balancing his step on a nightly journey.

Such a courageous little mortal life.

His Rin.

Such were Sesshōmaru’s thoughts as he looked into the eyes of his twin daughters, both listening intently to his lesson on a moonlit hill just outside Kaede’s village.

“For demons, the pursuit of power and dominance is the highest virtue. However, as half–demons you’re not just destined to seek power. You must learn to balance your demonic and human natures as well.”

“Right, or else our demon nature may overpower the human one and get out of control!”, Towa said suddenly. “For example, when Uncle Inuyasha loses his sword or when Setsuna gets really angry, she–“

“We beg you, chichi–ue. Teach us the technique!”, Setsuna interjected, visibly irritated by her sister.

Sesshōmaru, raising his eyebrows at the sudden interruption – and even more at the sudden mention of his half-brother – continued.

 “When the time feels right, seek out a place of appropriate atmosphere. It could be a forest clearing at dusk, a cliffside overlooking the sea, or a deserted ruin under a full moon. Then try to stand perfectly still and reach outward with your senses. Allow your yōki to flow while also calming your mind. Allow the hungering demon within you to harmonize with your human spirit, thereby complementing it instead of devouring your entire being.”

Towa and Setsuna listened carefully but seemed very confused by their father’s words.

“A mediation technique?”, Towa said, a disappointed frown appearing on her face. “Chichi–ue, how–“

“Silence!”

Sesshōmaru ignored any further questions, turned around, and faced into the direction of the jagged, night-shrouded mountains looming over the wilderness far beyond the village.

Towa and Setsuna held their breath and watched as their father placed a hand on the hilt of Bakusaiga – and remained in that pose, standing perfectly still like a statue.

Then, as if summoned by a wordless spell, a gust of wind swept over the hill, gently brushing through Sesshōmaru’s hair and mokomoko, and causing his towering silhouette to cast an eerie, dancing shadow under the pale moonlight.

The wind started to turn and weave into his yōki until it finally submitted under Sesshōmaru’s will, now becoming a stable, strong vortex circling around him.

Mesmerized by the dark spectacle unfurling in front of them, Towa and Setsuna peered into the vortex. They gasped as Sesshōmaru’s silhouette began to shift, his contours becoming more and more beast-like.

Then, just as abruptly as it started –

The vortex collapsed.

Sesshōmaru now resembled a formidable dog-headed warrior, covered completely in shimmering, snow-white fur.

And just as his red, burning eyes met the gaze of his daughters… the wind returned – stronger than before – making Sesshōmaru’s mokomoko billow and rise like a ghostly veil while the storm echoed and howled through the plane below.

“Learn to balance your nature. Just like I‘m balancing between the form of a human and a dog yōkai right now. Hone your senses and make good use of the yōki, both within and around you.”

At first, Towa and Setsuna were too startled to utter a single word.

“This was… amazing!”, Towa exclaimed.

“Please, father, tell us the name of this technique!”

“I call it… yōki farming”