Susu-harai, Journey to the Century Wastelands final part

"Looks like you might need a little something strong," Sugawara suggested, turning when a bell rang lightly. "Come, Lord Sesshomaru. Lord Imamura has your sustenance ready. The private room will serve you best for this evening."

"... what options were you trying to suggest?" Sesshomaru asked, mouth twitching at the notion of even bothering to ask.

Sugawara returned his gaze to the lord and let his eyes shift with greater intrigue. Even as a younger teen, Sesshomaru never questioned Sugawara's suggestions. The frog demon took note to Sesshomaru's body posture: eyes narrowed, brow twitching very slightly every 5 to 7 seconds, right corner of the mouth downturned at an angle like a growl was preparing itself to appear next, sleeves shifting to cover fingers potentially rolling up into a fist, and head slowly tilting downward. This same behavior was what Sugawara caught onto when he first met the young lord. His clothes may have been different, and his hair styled differently, but he acted just like this when he ran away home and found this place. At the time, he was escaping from the "barbaric" customs of taking a woman in both marriage and body. It made him uncomfortable. Acting like this meant only one thing for the frog demon. A woman was involved in whatever was transpiring in his life at this moment.

Sugawara bowed before saying, "Why don't I escort you to the room? As we walk, I'll tell you the ones I'm thinking of."

Sesshomaru's features softened up as the frog demon turned to the entryway. Sugawara tapped on a wall that took the appearance of yellow, orange, and green oil sheen on water and watched the yoki energy glimmer before it burned away like paper. Another small bell rang. Before them was a landscape of lush juniper shrubs, evergreen trees, and bonsai trees leading to the Harpy's Wildflower tavern. Stone pots containing wildflowers and vines were in a pattern with ground lanterns lighting the way. Above the door of the tavern was a window box filled with jasmine grass and larger leafed wax plants. A few purple and yellow flowers were in bloom and attracting the last bits of butterfly species before their inevitable migration. Sesshomaru supposed there were some changes made outside as well. Cobblestone pathways were now part of the landscaping of the tavern. Inside of the building was always a cozy experience. The wooden floors were freshly waxed with a cedar finish and joss sticks were lit to give the tavern a pleasant and fresh scent. Not too overwhelming, not too subtle. Perfect for his sensitive nose. Always has been. He could smell food being freshly cooked and was led to the private room up some stone stairs.

Upstairs was a smaller bar and medium-sized table already filled with Sesshomaru's personal favorites. Imamura, Sugawara and Milady were probably the only people alive who knew what he preferred eating. Sitting down at the red and gold pillow, Sesshomaru took a deep breath and looked out the window. The view was perfect as it overlooked the entryway.

"Akaisake, rose wine made from red rice for a twinge of sweetness, shiboritate, green wine made from pine for a stronger, fresher taste, or koshu, a golden yellow wine with a honeyed flavor," Sugawara suggested. "I believe those are the best choices for your needs. The sweetness is for clearer thoughts to keep you neutral. The pine is for wisdom as these trees have been here and have seen all long before you and I were born. The golden honey is for resourcefulness as you may need to use your cunning for what ails you. Effectively helping you work through these things. We can add other notes for a unique, exquisite flavor as well."

"Shiboritate," Sesshomaru chose, closing his eyes.

Sugawara nodded and then said, "I'll inform Lord Imamura of the reason for your visit. Your drink will be ready shortly."

"Sugawara... make it two," Sesshomaru requested, furrowing his brow.

"Two?" a hooting voice responded.

Enter Imamura, the fish owl demon and dandy of the demon world. He was dressed outlandishly this evening. Long, golden haori jacket with extremely eclectic blue hakama pants, bright red top with wildflowers as the embroidery pattern of the fabric, and a checkered pattern obi. The obijime cord was probably the most normal being a forest green. On his large talons were golden tip coverings and plates along the bottom of his feet acting as tabi shoes. His chest and neck feathers made an extravagant collar as he puffed it out in question, wing covering his chest like he was grabbing a set of pearls. The fool even had the nerve to wear makeup on his beak and around his eyes!

"You never order two of anything!" Imamura remarked, walking in the private room with clicking following him because of the feet accessories. "What on Earth has troubled you this grossly?"

"The Meido Stone. I know you've heard part of the story through rumors," Sesshomaru replied. "Sugawara just informed me that Okakura helped create it and the Black Pearl. What do you know?"

Imamura hummed in response before taking a seat in front of the western lord. He then said, "For being a favorite patron of mine, I suppose I can offer a clue where your father's servants will not. One rumor that I have found to be most probable is that it is more than an ancient container of power the way Okakura has boasted of many of his items. The eye of Okakura's watch tower knows the power limits of each demon at birth and several thousand years prior to. For your father to use the Meido Stone, he had to be at a certain level according to the eye, not the citizens of the House of Inu. The same must be said of your mother. He wouldn't have been able to entrust her with such an alluring threshold of might if she wasn't of equal strength. One too ambitious can easily misuse such a stone and destroy many a village or town. His intentions for its use may have been pure, but I do not believe he truly knew of its capabilities entirely. What I have heard from the probable rumor is that the Meido Stone was birthed from the combined powers of the Gogyo stones representing the five phases of all life. Water, fire, earth, wood, and metal are the basis of the Meido Stone's cosmic power. The Meido Stone cannot control life without controlling these elements. To find the Meido Stone, or at the very least it's birthplace, it may be of interest for you to find these five stones."

"Where would the water stone be?" Sesshomaru asked, wondering if Meioshi might actually have it since she has the pearl.

"This, I do not know. You would need a location device capable of finding these stones. The only one I can think of that might work is in the Century Wasteland," Imamura explained.

"Where would I have to go to find this place?" Sesshomaru asked, narrowing his eyes.

"That should be easy. It's an island connected by a very thin strip of silver sand. You can't touch the surrounding waters; otherwise, you'll be sucked in as junk and consumed by the demon that eats said junk. The door to the wasteland is made of pure green jade and the junk is dumped onto a large floating boat to be brought to the island. You can either look for the door or look for the junk boat."