As the mightiest yokai to ever roam the demon world, Lord Tōga had never once known fear in battle. No matter how fierce his opponent, he would always charge forward, undaunted.
He was a figure who dominated the Western yokai society—a being whose name commanded both reverence and dread.
During the 13th century, when the Yuan dynasty invaded Japan, he personally led his subordinates to repel a legion of great yokai from the Chinese mainland, led by Menōmaru—and emerged victorious.
Later, he defeated Shishinki, maiming half of his opponent's face and seizing his signature technique—the Meidō Zangetsuha.
Having achieved countless feats and legendary exploits, Lord Tōga ultimately formed a bond of matrimony with Princess Inukimi, a fellow great yokai who ruled over the Cloud Palace in the Sky.
Although, in truth, the political implications of this union far outweighed the emotional foundation.
Still, it was undeniable that with Princess Inukimi's influence, and the support of his numerous yokai allies, Lord Tōga had managed to maintain his dominion over the Western Lands to this very day.
As for his feelings toward his first wife, Lord Tōga's heart was... complicated.
After so many years together, feelings had inevitably developed between them.
Yet, the immense difference in their personalities ensured that the atmosphere between the two was never as harmonious as outsiders might imagine.
For both stood at the pinnacle of yokai kind—beings of immense pride to their very core.
But married life required tolerance and compromise, and for two such proud great yokai to coexist under one roof for centuries, the outcome was only to be expected.
...
Of course, such domestic matters had little to do with Satsuki, nor did she have any interest in meddling.
However, due to a grave mistake once committed by Lord Tōga, he had, in effect, transferred the leadership of the Western Lands to his wife, who ruled within the Cloud Palace in the Sky.
Thus, in truth—Lord Tōga no longer held the absolute authority over the West that outsiders believed him to possess.
"Another great yokai of the Dog Clan—Princess Inukimi, is it?" Satsuki pondered for a moment before saying, "Very well. But I wish to meet her personally."
Upon hearing her words, Lord Tōga could not help but marvel inwardly. "To think she dares enter the Cloud Palace alone—a place where several great yokai reside... Has humanity truly grown so confident?"
Meanwhile, Sesshōmaru, Ruri, and the tiny flea yokai Myōga hurried toward them.
"Milord~!" came the high-pitched wail of the flea demon from afar. Bounding forward in a series of frantic hops, he leapt onto Lord Tōga's neck. "I was so worried about you! If you had been slain, I'd never again get to taste your delicious blood! Boohoo~"
Even as he spoke, the flea's instincts kicked in—he began to suck Lord Tōga's blood.
With a sharp smack, Lord Tōga flattened him into a paper-thin pancake, sending him fluttering pitifully through the air.
"Myōga, your way of greeting hasn't changed at all, has it?"
Lord Tōga didn't mind. He was long accustomed to this follower, who had served him faithfully for over a century. Besides, Myōga's bloodsucking ability was not without merit—it was, in fact, an excellent method of detoxification.
"Father... you..."
Are you alright?
Sesshōmaru could not bring himself to voice the second half of that sentence. Yet his clenched fists beneath his long sleeves and the look in his eyes betrayed the turmoil within.
"Thank you for your concern, Sesshōmaru." Lord Tōga gave his son a broad, hearty smile. "In a while, I'll be accompanying Lady Satsuki to visit your mother. Would you care to join us?"
"To visit Mother?" Sesshōmaru's eyes widened slightly in surprise. Then he nodded. "Yes. I also need to seek out Tōtōsai to forge a new blade for my training."
At the mention of 'sword,' his gaze lingered on the Tessaiga at his father's side.
Lord Tōga pretended not to notice his son's look and turned instead toward Satsuki and Ruri. "The Cloud Palace lies beyond the upper layers of the sky. Are you capable of flight?"
"No problem," Satsuki replied. "You need only lead the way."
"Very well."
At once, demonic energy surged around Lord Tōga, enveloping his entire form before he rose into the air. Following closely behind were Satsuki, Ruri, Sesshōmaru... and Myōga, who clung desperately to Sesshōmaru's great, fluffy tail.
...
Before long, the group—both human and yokai—arrived at the heart of the Western Lands.
Because the Cloud Palace floated among the skies, its position was never fixed. In this world, only the dog yokai—with their exceptionally keen sense of smell—could locate the palace from great distances.
Of course, Satsuki's Tenseigan could easily do the same.
However, since someone was already leading the way, there was no need for her to reveal that ability.
After passing through a stretch of clouds shaped like enormous canines, the group seemed to break through an invisible barrier, and the scene before them suddenly opened wide.
A grand fortress, far surpassing the architectural capabilities of most humans of this era, appeared before Satsuki's eyes.
It was a palace no less magnificent than the greatest cities on the ground. A colossal staircase led upward to its central plaza, while below, countless tiers of pavilions descended into the endless clouds. The floors were paved with neatly-cut, pale violet spirit stones infused with yokai energy, while the outer walls were built from crimson bricks bordered with white porcelain tiles. Wooden railings in a traditional style surrounded the outer edges, serving as barriers to prevent yokai from falling into the clouds below.
Between the layers of those towering pavilions, numerous humanoid yokai moved in formation. Each was clad in identical armor, red cloth sashes tied around their waists, and armed with crescent or conical spears. They stood in pairs at their posts, exuding a disciplined and commanding presence.
If not for the overwhelming demonic energy emanating from the palace, and the unusual eyes and hair colors of those yokai, one might have mistaken this place for the mythical residence of the gods themselves.
"Hm? This scent..."
A patrolling yokai suddenly sniffed the air, and his expression shifted to one of astonishment. "It's Lord Tōga—and Lord Sesshōmaru as well! Hurry, go report to Lady Inukimi!"
Just as he spoke, a deep, resonant voice sounded from behind him. A light-brown hand rested upon his shoulder.
"Yūtomaru, there's no need to trouble yourself~ I'll go see her personally."
The yokai addressed as Yūtomaru froze for a moment, his face lighting up with surprise and gratitude. For a minor soldier of the Cloud Palace—one whose existence barely registered among the ranks—to have his name remembered by such a figure was an honor beyond compare.
"Lord Tōga, you've finally returned..."
All around, the yokai who caught sight of the Great Dog General's form looked upon him with admiration and reverence. Those who witnessed Yūtomaru being addressed directly by him could not help but envy him deeply.
However—unlike the disorganized rabble of lower yokai elsewhere, the atmosphere here was solemn, and discipline was strict. Thus, aside from the initial stir, order was swiftly restored.
Yūtomaru soon noticed the others standing behind Lord Tōga. "Lord Sesshōmaru, you've come as well..." His gaze then shifted toward Satsuki and Ruri. "And these two are...?"
Before Lord Tōga could answer, a languid yet dignified woman's voice echoed from the central plaza of the palace.
"Lord Tōga... It's been several years, and yet you've abandoned that human princess already—to take a new lover, have you?"
It had to be said—the tone of that voice carried a resemblance to Satsuki's in more ways than one.
"Host, I have a feeling you and the owner of that voice are going to get along splendidly," Ruri whispered teasingly within Satsuki's mind.
Satsuki ignored her system's playful remark and turned her gaze toward the grand plaza outside the palace hall.
There, seated upon a large chair of red and gold, was a woman clad in a white kimono adorned with violet patterns.
Unlike the traditional Japanese seiza posture, she sat in a manner that resembled the poised elegance of modern society—shoulders level, back straight, legs together and tilted to the side. Perhaps due to her attire, her bearing appeared both dignified and graceful.
Yet, it was neither her posture nor her clothing that drew the most attention, but her appearance and demonic aura.
She wore a robe of white and lavender, complemented by a luxurious, fluffy fur stole draped over her shoulders. Her long white hair was parted neatly down the middle, styled into twin ponytails that cascaded down her back.
Such a traditional hairstyle was difficult to carry off—it demanded an air of nobility and refinement that few could match. But upon the mistress of the Cloud Palace, it seemed utterly natural.
However, the words that left her lips—and the sharpness of her gaze—were far from friendly.
Her opening remark had shown Lord Tōga no courtesy whatsoever.
Even so, Lord Tōga made no attempt to argue. Perhaps knowing he was in the wrong, he simply stepped forward and said, "Inukimi, domestic matters can be discussed in private. Lady Satsuki and I only met today—she has come on important business to discuss with us."
"Oh?" Princess Inukimi's gaze shifted toward Satsuki, then moved briefly to Ruri and Sesshōmaru beside her.
She furrowed her brow, and whatever whimsical thought crossed her mind, she voiced it aloud in that lazy, aristocratic tone of hers. "Sesshōmaru? Don't tell me you've taken after your father—seeking a human bride now?"
"Uh..." x2
The instant those words left her lips, both Lord Tōga and Sesshōmaru found themselves caught in an awkward silence.
Pfft~
Off to the side, Ruri maintained a composed expression, but inwardly, she was laughing uncontrollably. "What a woman—her tongue is as lethal as yours, Host."
"I presume you must be Lord Tōga's wife, Princess Inukimi," Satsuki said, stepping forward and offering a slight bow in the manner of a shrine maiden. "When I first met Sesshōmaru, I had the feeling his parents must be beings of elegance and grace. While Lord Tōga falls just short of that impression, your presence perfectly matches what I imagined."
Though her words were courteous flattery, they were enough to temper Inukimi's hostility. Her demeanor softened into one of regal composure as she replied, "Lady Satsuki, you appear to be a noblewoman of refined upbringing. Yet to follow such a suspicious man into unknown lands is quite the dangerous choice."
She then covered her mouth in feigned surprise, turning toward Sesshōmaru with a smirk. "Ah, forgive me, Sesshōmaru—your mother wasn't referring to you."
At that, a bead of sweat formed on Lord Tōga's forehead in quiet exasperation.
Satsuki, on the other hand, paid no mind to the exchange. "Princess Inukimi," she began evenly, "allow me first to clarify a misunderstanding. My identity is that of a shrine maiden. Aside from fulfilling my duties, I hold no interest in other matters."
In truth, Satsuki knew little about the personal affairs between Lord Tōga and Inukimi. But she wasn't foolish. Having lived through an era of overflowing information in her past life, she only needed one sentence from Inukimi to piece together a fairly accurate picture of what lay between the two.
"A shrine maiden, is it?" At that word, Inukimi regarded Satsuki more seriously. After a pause, she remarked with subtle meaning, "Then that silent and dangerous-looking one at your side must be your bodyguard?"
"She is my shikigami—Ruri."
"Shikigami, hm?"
Inukimi's golden eyes lingered on Ruri as she appraised her calmly. "Even in my centuries of existence, it's rare to see a shikigami of such strength. With such a being at your side, Lady Satsuki, I imagine your mission must be of great importance."
"Whether it is important or not depends on one's perspective," Satsuki replied calmly. "In my view, only when something brings great benefit to both sides in cooperation can it truly be called important."
Upon hearing this, Princess Inukimi realized that the woman before her was a skilled negotiator.
Her probing words had achieved little effect, yet she found herself quietly scrutinizing Satsuki.
How interesting... she thought. A human shrine maiden who stands unflinching amidst a host of great yokai. Those golden eyes of hers—does that confidence stem from true power, or merely from the protection of her powerful shikigami?
Thinking thus, she spoke slowly, her voice laced with meaning. "For yokai, Lady Satsuki's words are quite... novel. After all, we live by the law of the strong. If one lacks sufficient strength, then it is only natural that the victor takes all, is it not?"
Her tone carried a faint but unmistakable air of menace.
At the same time, Princess Inukimi released a subtle wave of her yokai aura and pressure—not enough to attack, but more than enough to crush an ordinary person. Under such force, most beings would struggle even to remain standing, let alone speak.
Yet, before Inukimi's quiet test, Satsuki's expression remained utterly unchanged. She merely nodded lightly and said, "Equality in strength is the foundation of cooperation. On that point, Lord Tōga and I are already in agreement."
At those words, Princess Inukimi turned her gaze toward Lord Tōga for the second time.
Meeting his wife's eyes, Lord Tōga nodded firmly. "I can vouch for her—she possesses truly extraordinary power."
Inukimi was taken aback. Though she currently treated Lord Tōga with coldness, outwardly, they still maintained the semblance of a married couple.
There were familial ties involved, yes—but at its core, theirs had always been a political alliance.
Princess Inukimi provided influence and authority to support Lord Tōga, while his personal strength and relationships with numerous great yokai ensured that the Dog Clan became the de facto ruling power of the Western Lands.
In all the centuries they had been together, she had never once heard him speak of another being—especially a human—with such respect, much less call them powerful.
This prompted the usually aloof and composed demoness to reevaluate Satsuki with genuine seriousness.
"Very well," she said at last. "Since my son has accompanied you here, I shall, for the moment, hear what you have to say."