Heart of the Kami by Aloria

Prologue

A night of celebration had descended upon the earthly realm. The sounds of music and laughter spilling from a great festooned temple high on a mountain platue. Sake poured freely and the smell of freshly killed prey filled the air. For this was no human celebration. That which was being paid homage to this night was not a Kami of the human persuasion. Nor were its faithful pilgrims. This particular shrine belonged to that of the Kami of the dogs. Inu Youkai had gathered in masses, clans and packs putting aside territorial differences for but this one night.

Pups of every color played with one another. Alphas did not fight, but feasted in primal glory. Females mingled and elders exchanged stories of old under the face of a heavy full moon. Those who made it to pay their respects to the deity of the dogs were happy. They were free without restriction and reveled in his honor, rejoicing in the blessings they had been given for that decade. For creatures that lived so long it was a night worth remembering. Yet like all good things it gradually wound down, rambunctiousness dwindling to a feeling of sacredness.

All gathered for one final respect to pay to their Kami. They gathered in a circle, large and grand. Young were ushered into the center, with Alphas and Betas ringing the outside in protective security. Gone was the facade of humanity, cast aside for more true forms. Silver, black, red, white, and grey conglomerated together in seething fur. Yet one stood out among them. An old grizzled creature, blind with frayed ears. He was centuries old, the oldest of their kind left alive. But the shackles of his frailty fell away as an almost toothless maw was lifted to the heavens. And with his first baying howl a cacophony of voices lifted to fill the silence that had fallen.

This was their final gift for the decade. A thousand voices singing out in pure clear joy, a mega-pack showing their love to their Kami with instinctual song.

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High above in the celestial realm the kami of the Inu heard the song of his people. It caressed great flopping ears and wound through silken fur. But eyes that burned as fierce as the sun gazed down upon his kindred with dispassion. A thousand voices sang for him. Throats opened to pour forth love in the form of song. Countless notes that spoke of joy and thanks curled around him. And for another decade his pride would be appeased, instinct satisfied. Yet his lofty heart remained untouched, unbattered by a single note.

It remained apart from the rest, lonely in its solitude. For while those who paid him homage were under his protection, they were not truly his. The Kami of the Inu could not call the youkai of his ilk pack. Long they might live, for centuries and more. But like all creatures of mortality they would die, some more violently than others. And as a Kami it was his responsability not to interfere. He had to remain above them, apart from them so they could live their lives. Which left him alone, something that screamed against his nature.

Since the beginning of his creation at the dawn of time Sesshoumaru hid his longings deep within. But the truth of the matter was that the great Inu was lonely. Every fiber of his being demanded a pack. For was he not the alpha of the Inu? Did he not have the right to protect something he could actually call his as well? Such thoughts had lingered in the smallest corner of his heart for the greater part of a millenia. They clawed at the encased organ, constricted around his desires and pulled heavy upon him. So when the festive serenade of the youkai below waned away, something within the great Inu stirred.

And twisted.

And turned.

And lingered for a great many days until the point that he could no longer stand the feeling of it crawling beneath his skin. It was to the point and he was of the mind that he was left utterly confounded. So that when he could not bare it any more he sought out the one being in all of creation that could perhaps ease the frustration.

To the Kami he went, and something greater than Kami help him for what he was about to recieve.

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A/N: Kagome will appear in the next chapter! And i'm sorry of the prologue is so crappy. x.x First attempt in a long time.