The palace was situated atop a grassy hill, surrounded by cherry trees that blossomed pink in the spring and green in the summer. It stretched out in all directions, guarded at all times by armored samurai that rode on the backs of majestic war-horses. Black birds perched on the sloping tile rooftops of the main house and the exterior corridors that encompassed it. Inside the courtyards, perched like delicate butterflies on the stone benches, glamorously garbed black-haired women tittered with one another over small bowls of tea, guarded at all times by a samurai.

A young man and a young woman walked through the halls together, regarding one another with cold courtesy. The young man bore no fondness to his wife, who he had been forced to marry when he was twelve. She was indeed beautiful, and indeed very capable of bearing him an heir, which he was in need of… but her sort was not what he craved.

"Pleasant afternoon, don’t you agree, my prince?" his wife addressed him fondly, but distantly.

"It is, Kaede," he answered her coldly.

The young woman, walking behind her husband, stared despondently at the back of his head. She had often dreamed of running away when she first came to the palace. Though the beauty that surrounded her was glamorous and the freedoms she was allowed were wonderful, there always remained that one uncomfortable moment. Before she and her husband slept each night, they were expected to try and conceive children. For twelve years, she had borne him no heir, but it was not because she was barren.

Inuki-sama simply refused to touch her.

He showed her sparse affection and complimented her only when prompted by his father. Kaede tried her best to be understanding and supportive of her callous husband, especially now when the tides were turning for the worst. But each time Inuki refused her, each time he left her alone in their bed at night to wander the grounds, Kaede felt her resolve to stand by him weaken. It was not that she thought of treachery; she was too loyal to her country to do something so atrocious and cowardly. She merely wondered if he would take notice of her absence, were she to mysteriously disappear…

"Perhaps, my prince, you would fancy a trip through the city?" she suggested with a forced smile. "The day is too lovely to waste indoors—"

"Then perhaps you should take a trip through the city," Inuki retorted icily and strode ahead, intentionally leaving his wife behind. "I have other duties to attend to."

Kaede watched after his vanishing form and did her best to mask her hurt. She turned with a dignified air and walked purposefully in the direction of her quarters.

Those "other duties" included seeing his father to an early grave before the old fool brought about the end of the world. Inuki did not want his meddlesome wife witnessing the act.

Ookami had been a great and powerful man during his prime, but as age caught up with him, his wits were beginning to leave him and he was susceptible to things even more vicious than common ailments. The once powerful emperor now lived in relative solitude within the confines of his bedroom with his young wife Sakura, a woman Inuki regarded more as a sister than a motherly figure. His own mother had died giving birth to him.

As he walked the corridors, he mulled over the difficult task of distracting Sakura long enough to be done with his father. Though Sakura incredibly in love with and loyal to Ookami-sama, she had the heart of a child and trusted easily. Inuki had watched in disgust several times as Sakura’s maid weaseled riches out of the girl, often wishing that she were a little less gullible. Now, he could use that to his advantage…

He fingered the marble hilt of his dagger inside the folds of his kimono, gnawing his lower lip. Anxiety hit him, but he continued his stride through the halls without faltering. What would become of him were he to be caught? The laws of his country forbade him from being punished as a commoner or a mere samurai might be punished, but he was not yet safe in his position as emperor. And he was also expendable. Two small boys, spares, played in a nursery guarded heavily by retainers and were nurtured by caring nannies. If Inuki was suddenly unable to ascend to the throne, then one of those two children would replace him when their time came.

He shuddered at the thought of what might happen to them during the many-year duration between their current age and when they were finally allowed access to the throne. Though his own murderous act was terrible, it was not in cold blood, and Inuki truly loved his father. However, he did not love the creature that was tainting Ookami-sama’s heart.

To protect his throne, Torakiba, his family, and the rest of the world, Inuki knew what must be done. To save Ookami’s soul, his body must be purged of the evil within it.

Inuki still dreaded taking his father’s life.

The large red doors that led to his father’s chambers loomed before him, growing steadily larger and larger as he approached. Cold apprehension settled at the pit of his stomach and he began to sweat. He swallowed and steeled himself. The two guards at the doors knelt before him and pinned their gaze to the floorboards.

"Inuki-sama," they said in unison.

Inuki halted before them and crossed his arms over his chest. "Rise," he bade them in a monotone voice, "and open the doors. I wish to speak with my father."

"Yes, Inuki-sama," one of the guards answered without looking at the young man. He rose and quickly went to the doors. With the help of the other guard, he opened the doors.

Inuki strode inside and heard the door close with a thud behind him. His heart pounded like a war drum inside his chest, echoing inside his head loudly.

The inside of his father’s chambers were elaborately furnished with sashes and cushions, all embroidered by Inuki’s late mother Yukiko. The large bed that Ookami shared with Sakura was made neatly and pushed up against a circular window that allowed the sun to stream in through the dark red drapes. In one corner of the room, sitting on a pillow beside another window, was the petite young empress, Sakura.

She was fourteen, very young and very naïve, with brilliant blue eyes that Inuki rarely saw in his people. Her hair was as jetty a black as his own, long and flowing free over her shoulders. Her kimono was pale pink, depicting a cherry tree in full bloom. A violet sash bound her waist.

She was in the middle of writing on calligraphy paper, but had stopped the moment Inuki entered the room. She looked up at him, pleasant surprise on her face. She smiled and rose, bowing politely to him.

"Ah, Inuki-sama!" she greeted him with another brilliant smile. "Please, make yourself comfortable. Ookami-sama will be returning shortly."

Inuki returned the bow and gifted her with a very faint smile in response. Though he was often callous to his wife, he could not bring himself to be the same to his father’s child bride. Her innocence seemed too precious to break just yet.

He took a seat on the divan and folded his hands in his lap. "Where has my father gone?" he asked politely.

Sakura took a seat beside him. "Oh, he rarely tells me where it is he goes," she answered, her eyes still glimmering merrily as she spoke. "He’s a very independent man, your father. I have great respect and admiration for him."

"As do I," Inuki answered patiently.

"Well of course you do!" Sakura laughed jovially. "You are his eldest and favorite son."

Inuki felt his resolve slip away from him at the words ‘favorite son.’ Ookami viewed him as his favorite son?

Sakura leaned forward as if to confide in him some large secret. "If you ask me," she said, "I think he’s visiting Shiro-kun and Kurai-kun."

"Is that so," Inuki remarked idly.

"Well, yes!" Sakura said as if he had wounded her. She favored him with a frown. "Ookami-sama is so busy as of late that he rarely has time for the little ones these days. I seldom have time for them myself!"

"Pity."

"Is something wrong, Inuki-sama?" Sakura inquired, concern in her eyes. "You seem distracted. Can I help you at all?"

An idea came to Inuki quite suddenly, and he looked at Sakura with a fond, yet pained smile. "Well… no, it would not be good of me to burden you with this knowledge."

Instantly, Sakura’s childish curiosity was piqued. "Oh, please tell me, Inuki-sama!" she pleaded with him and touched his arm. "Please! I promise not to mention it to anyone else if you tell me."

"Silly, really…" Inuki went on, as if to himself.

"I bet it’s not!" Sakura went on, excited. Her voice fell to a hushed whisper. "Is it another woman?" she suggested.

"No!" Inuki immediately snapped, turning on the girl with vehemence. "I’m no common lecher!" Though he often frequented with men, he did not want his infidelity to both his wife and concubines to become public knowledge. Best to squelch such rumors before they leaked out to the masses.

Sakura’s injured expression inspired a little regret in him, but she seemed more angry with herself for suggesting such an idea, rather than with Inuki for turning on her. She furrowed her brows in thought and pursed her lips together, thinking.

"Is it Kaede-sama?" she asked timidly.

Inuki was hesitant in answering, then said, "Yes."

Sakura’s eyes glowed with excitement. "Is she pregnant?" she asked.

"No," Inuki replied calmly and smiled a little sadly. "Which is why I am sad. I fear that she might be barren, and she suspects the same." He made a show of sighing dramatically and hung his head. "She’s run off to her quarters in shame and I can’t convince her that the fault might lie with me."

Sakura’s face fell from one of giddy delight to one of immense sorrow. She bowed her head in solemn respect, then looked up at Inuki. "Perhaps… I should speak with her?"

"Oh, would you?" Inuki smiled brightly. "Kaede has always been very fond of you, Sakura-sama. I know she would appreciate your sympathy."

"Of course!" Sakura said with a bright smile and rose, rushing to the mirror to check her appearance. "I will speak to her right now! You can wait here, Inuki-sama. Ookami-sama will be returning shortly."

"I appreciate this, Sakura-sama," Inuki told her seriously.

Sakura smiled at him affectionately and tipped her head to one side. "I know you do," she answered softly, then turned and hurried from the room. "Good bye, Inuki-sama."

"Good bye."

Inuki was alone in his father’s chambers.

He wondered, slightly bemused, how Kaede would respond to the news Sakura was bringing her.

A good deal of time passed. Inuki was just about to leave and go looking for his father when the door opened and the Emperor of Torakiba hobbled silently into the room.

His stature had not become slumped, his eyes had not become dull, and his hands did not tremble. Ookami-sama kept his rigid posture and bright, alert eyes. However, he reminded Inuki of a tall, powerful, but incredibly stupid horse. Ookami blinked at Inuki as if he had not seen him before, and it was several seconds before recognition dawned in the aging man’s eyes.

His hair was almost completely white, only a few traces of gray left signifying that it had ever been black. He walked slowly, elegantly, but with the air of someone who is not quite at home in his environment.

As was his duty, Inuki instinctively rose as his father entered the room and bowed to him. Slowly, Ookami returned the bow.

"Hello, Otousan," Inuki greeted formally.

"Hello, Inuki-kun," Ookami answered with a slightly misty smile. He gestured back to the divan. "Please, my son, sit down. What is it you need?"

It is in his best interest, Inuki assured himself as he sat down, pinning his gaze to a vase beside the window. Letting him live any longer would be utter cruelty.

"I have come," he began slowly, "to speak with you about…"

Ookami sat down across from him, placid and attentive as always. Inuki looked into the coal black eyes of his father and felt his throat close up. Somewhere in there was a demon, idly biding its time before completely destroying everything that Ookami-sama was; Inuki knew this was a fact. But on the outside, all he saw was a gentle, if slightly dull man, who was looking at his son with patience and slight perplexity. Ookami-sama was probably unaware of the shadowy threat growing deep inside of him.

Inuki lost his resolve then and closed his eyes, lowering his head. He rose and bowed again. "Forgive me, Otousan," he whispered, "but I must go."

Ookami frowned and rose as well, reaching out to place a hand on Inuki’s shoulder. "If something is bothering you, please, do not hesitate to confide in me."

A flash of red hot pain seared through Inuki’s flesh the moment Ookami’s hand touched his shoulder. He shied away from his father and murmured another apology to the old man’s confused face, before all but fleeing out the twin red doors.

He jostled servants out of his way as he sprinted down the corridor, his eyes brimming with tears and his fists clenched tightly. He could not do it! He could not kill the demon deep within his father, because on the outside, Ookami-sama was still his father, and he was oblivious. Duty clashed with his loyalty to his family, and Inuki simply could not bear it any longer.

Inside his chambers, Ookami poured himself a glass of expensive, imported red wine from Kalaweinvyrismere. He watched with fascination as the liquid sloshed into the clear crystal.

He set the bottle down on the table in the center of his chambers and paced the length of his room, a smile turning up the corners of his thin lips. For the third time, he glanced at the twin doors to his chambers, and he nearly laughed.

Inuki knew.

Ookami smiled again and sipped his wine, reveling in the sweet taste.