Andra moi ennepe, Mousa, polutropon, hos mala polla by katdemon1895

The Man of Twists and Turns

I don’t own Inuyasha but I have been studying mythology and Greek mythology in particular for just a bit over ten years. Out of the myths that I have studied, this tale is among my favorites and this, in my opinion, is one of the best parts of that story though I do take some liberties I’m afraid but I hope it maintains the spirit of this part of the story. The first line after this disclaimer is a rough translation of the title.

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Sing to me of the man, Muse, the man of twists and turns…

            The sea was a vast expanse of blue with no end in sight. The only change to the endless plain of water was a single ship that moved sluggishly. For every stroke the slaves sawed through the ocean waves, it seemed as though they managed to move their vessel only an inch at a time. The sails were limp and the ship’s flags were motionless in the dead air.

            At the prow of the boat was a man who stood tall and proud, like a god among mortals. His back erect, his hair like spun moonlight and his golden gaze was trained on the distant horizon.

            “So close,” he murmured under his breath, “so close.”

            And despite the apparent slowness of the vessel, the man was right for just beyond their sight, there was indeed an island, one that had once been a proud, thriving kingdom ruled by a king who had been considered the cleverest in all the land. The man dug his claws into the side of the ship as he gazed hungrily as at last the ship came in view of a smudge on the horizon.

            “Nishi,” the man whispered reverently, “At last, Nishi.”

            “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” a new voice asked and the man turned slightly, one eye still on the smudge in the distance. Behind him now stood a woman where before there was none. She was dressed in a tunic and armor and a tiny cat with a pair of black tipped tails rested on her shoulder.

            “Sango,” he greeted her with a nod of respect, “yes, it is and I’m almost there. I’m almost home.”

             The woman, features obscured by the nose plate of her helmet, laughed slightly and it was not a pleasant laugh.

            “Home yes,” she said in a hollow tone, “but not the home that you remember Sesshomaru. You know this, are you prepared for what you might find? What would you do I wonder if you discover that some arrogant young pup has stolen your home? What would you do if you found your Kagome has been treacherous and she and some lover plan your death as Koga found when he arrived home? What will you do with a son who does not know you?”

            Sesshomaru bit back a snarl but could not help but narrow his eyes at the war goddess and she raised her chin, her voice laden with challenge.

            “Though you are youkai and thus a step closer towards the athanatoi than a human man, you can still die and you Sesshomaru, you who visited the Underworld and spoke to the fallen heroes, you are well aware of what dangers could life before you.” Sango told him and she looked at him with careful eyes and sighed before stepping back. Though he stood tall and looked ready, she could see that all he had been through recently was catching up to him. He had not rested for the entire trip towards his home and she knew that it would cost him.

            “Sleep Sesshomaru,” the woman ordered and as though he had no choice, the man who had been watching the horizon so carefully fell to the floor of the ship, dead asleep and the ship sailed onward, faster now, as though something was pushing it towards its destination.

            When the king awoke he found himself on a sandy shore, surrounded by the gifts from the Phoecians and Sango hovering over him, her armor gleaming in the setting sun. He blinked and raised a questioning brow and the goddess of wisdom smiled.

            “You are three miles away from the edges of your private estate,” she informed him, “Have you given any thought to what you might encounter?”

            “Goddess,” Sesshomaru began, slightly testy, “I have been thinking about what I might encounter since the moment I left Illium. If you had not sent me to sleep then I would have shared my plan with you on the ship.”

            “Oh?” Sango replied, “And what have you come up with?”

            The rightful King of Nishi outlined his plan to the goddess of war and soon she was laughing in delight.

            “Well thought your majesty,” the goddess told him, “And to help in this plan…”

            The goddess of wisdom waved a hand over Sesshomaru’s head. Sesshomaru himself felt no different but Sango was pleased with her work. To anyone other than the two of them the warrior king would look like an old human with a twisted leg and a hunched back. The clothes the Phoecians had given to wear, fine things of the best linen, now looked like worn rags.

            “Now no one will know you and the gifts you received will be safe until you can retrieve them,” the goddess assured him, “Good luck Sesshomaru.”

            With that she faded away, leaving the disguised Sesshomaru behind to start the journey towards his home. With each step he pictured what time had made of his home. What would his son be like now? And what had become of his beloved mate? No matter what warnings Sango had given him, he knew that his Kagome had been faithful, but he worried for her safety. His father had been ill when he left and his son but a babe, leaving his mate practically unprotected. When he had left so long ago, he had thought that the war at Illium would last only a year, two at most, but twenty years had passed instead.

            Twenty years and his beloved Kagome had been left virtually unprotected. He knew in a distant sort of way that she could protect herself to a certain degree. Before their mating she had been training to be a priestess of Sango, goddess of war and wisdom and had been on her way to being considered a talented archer, though she was more inclined towards healing and teaching, the arts of peace over the arts of war. He would not have fought so hard and so long for her hand if she had not been so clearly superior to all females of any species. But, his nightmares had been filled with memories of certain incidents where his mate had proven that, while perfect for him in every other way, she had apparently been born without a sense of self preservation. While he had been around her, able to act as her protector, this lack had not been a problem. But thanks to the war, there was no saying what sort of trouble his Kagome had gotten herself into. Even worse, twenty years was a long time for any woman, even a woman like Kagome. The memory of Kouga’s shade and his story of Ayame’s betrayal was still fresh in his mind.

            The youkai king made his way to his home slowly, it would not due for a human male so crippled as he seemed to be to walk too quickly, until at last he made it to the edge of his estate and was there met by a someone he recognized, the hanyou Jineji. He almost smiled. The gentle giant was a good friend of his Kagome’s and would know what was going on at the main part of the estate. He could alter his plan based on the half horse’s information.

            “Welcome stranger,” the healer hanyou called out, “Come in and rest. You look like you’ve traveled far.”

            “Yes,” Sesshomaru agreed, “Further than I anticipated. Whose home is this?”

            “Once it was the home of King Sesshomaru and his Queen, Kagome,” Jineji sighed, “Of course, twenty years ago King Sesshomaru left for Illium and he never returned. Queen Kagome still resides there. If you’d been a few hours earlier you might have seen her. She goes to the shore once every day to watch the horizon for her husband and to talk to the people, to ask if they’ve seen anything that could tell her about our lost king and to keep in touch with the population.”

            Jineji led Sesshomaru into his hut just inside the gates and offered Sesshomaru a seat.

            “Jineji!” came a voice and the two turned and Sesshomaru felt his heart lurch as he caught the scent of the person in the doorway. 

            The caller was a boy, almost a young man. He had dark hair tied up in a topknot and the gangly, awkward look of a youth who had not reached his full growth. He wore a simple blue tunic, leather sandals and had a dagger strapped to his side. His eyes were sharp and wise beyond his years and he smiled kindly as he caught sight of the stranger in Jineji’s hut.

            “My prince!” Jineji gasped, “You’re back! Your mother’s been worried about you, she’ll be overjoyed to see you safely returned.”

            “I know Jineji, I’m on my way there now to greet her and give her the results of my journey, who is your guest?” the boy asked politely as he came within the confines of the healer’s home and Sesshomaru saw that the boy’s ears were tapered to a point and he had clawed hands and feet. Blue stripes decorated his cheeks and Sesshomaru could see similar stripes around his wrists and ankles.  

            “A traveler,” Jineji replied with a shrug.

            “I’m Kohaku, what brings you traveler to the fair Nishi?” the boy questioned directly and Sesshomaru almost smiled as he studied the boy’s scent. The boy was undoubtedly his and Kagome’s son and he felt a measure of pride in his mate as he realized that his son and heir was not a hanyou but instead a full youkai. He was a little curious as to how such a thing had come about but in the end it didn’t matter. His Kagome had given him a pure youkai son, and a strong one, who would never suffer from the weakness that Inuyasha had suffered from. His son would never have to worry about being ambushed during his human time, would never be looked down upon as some did.

            “I am Satoru,” Sesshomaru lied, “I was a foot soldier at Illium and well,” he gestured to his leg, “Now I travel, looking for work.”

            “Then you must come up to the house,” Kohaku said at once, “Mother would love to hear anything you might have to say about Illium.”

            Sesshomaru was a little surprised. By all rights Kohaku saw only a beggar and to invite one who appeared to be so low in society was a serious breach in custom. He wondered what his son was like, this almost man who had been raised by Kagome.

            “Are you sure it would be safe Kohaku?” Jineji asked and Sesshomaru raised a brow and saw Kohaku’s face darken.

            “Yes, I may have left mother alone when I went to search for news of my father but I did not leave her unprotected. Before I left, the goddess Sango swore on the river Styx that she would protect mother from any who would dare try to dishonor her. One man, Mukotsu, tried something foolish before I left and he was smitten by the gods. Besides, Satoru is obviously of much higher class than my mother’s suitors, they should be honored to have him sharing the roof they have been using for so long.” Kohaku replied, his voice layered with frost and a dash of arrogance and for the first time Sesshomaru saw some of himself in his son beyond the markings and species. But one thing puzzled him.

            “Suitors? What of your father?” Sesshomaru asked of his son and the youkai king saw his own typical emotionless expression on Kohaku’s face. To see one with so much of Kagome look expressionless was an unsettling experience.

            “My father disappeared several years ago,” Kohaku informed him, “Mother insists he’s alive and she is waiting for him, others are not convinced. For the last five years, after hearing that everyone else who fought at Illium returned to their respective homes, the people have grown anxious under the rule of a woman, not caring that their Queen is a skillful ruler and has governed well. They would rather that she marry another rather than remain loyal so that they may have a man in charge now instead of when I attain my majority.”

            “Your mother must be remarkable,” Sesshomaru acknowledged and he felt pride in his mate though at the same time his heart began to harden towards those that were attempting to belittle his Kagome. He saw Kohaku’s chest puff out a bit in pride and a fond smile appeared on his face.

            “She is, she’s kept the suitors at bay for the last five years,” Kohaku said proudly. He seemed as though he would say something else but held his tongue.

            “Speak on son of Sesshomaru,” came a bright voice and the three in the hut turned to see another, a man with purple eyes that sparkled with interest in mischief and a glow of the divine about him.

            “Miroku,” Sesshomaru said, “what brings the god of messengers to this humble hut?”

            “A message of course,” Miroku said with a chuckle, “The fierce and ever lovely Sango sent for me to inform you that it would be best if Kohaku knew the truth, as a test of sorts to see if the journey that she sent him on fulfilled its purpose.”

            “Sango sent me on,” Kohaku began, disbelief in his tone, but he stopped quickly and Sesshomaru saw a new light of understanding appear in his son’s eyes. He turned to the disguised Sesshomaru and the king of Nishi realized that Miroku must have done away with the disguise.

            He stood, and was glad that Jineji was so tall or things would be uncomfortable. He saw the horse hanyou kneeling before him and he saw his son looking at him with a mix of awe, joy and anger.

            “The return took longer than I expected it to,” Sesshomaru informed his son. He saw Miroku roll his eyes and the Nishin king restrained himself from the impulse to flick a rock at the god’s head as punishment for his irreverence. However, Miroku was a god and thus Sesshomaru decided to allow the impertinent man some lenience.

            Only a little though.

            “Where could you have been that would have prevented you from sending word as you did during the war? From telling us, from telling mother, that you were alive and on your way?” Kohaku demanded with a hint of a snarl.

            “He was trapped first by Kagura the daughter of Aeolus and then by the sorceress Tsubaki,” Miroku interjected on Sesshomaru’s behalf, “Kagura kept him for seven years and offered to make him one of the gods, Tsubaki kept him for another two and a half years by threatening to keep his men in the forms of animals if he did not remain with her.”

            Sesshomaru tried not to growl at the memories that Miroku brought up. Kagura, the minor wind goddess, had pushed his patience to its limit. She had not understood that he did not want her. She had thought him so honor less as to abandon his mate and pup in return for immortality, which he virtually had anyway, and power, power that he didn’t trust since if she could give it to him then she could take it back just as easily.

            Tsubaki had been almost worse in a way. She had held his few remaining followers hostage and his honor would not allow him to leave them behind. He smirked slightly, remembering the look of surprise on her face when he had decapitated her after the gods had given him immunity from her spells and the knowledge that her death would reverse all of her curses.

            Of course the bastards that he led had all proven their worthlessness when they abandoned him shortly thereafter, all too afraid to dare brave the underworld with him. It had been both easier and more difficult to command his vessel without a full crew but he was Sesshomaru and had handled it. When he had returned to find them all dead anyway he had performed the necessary rituals and continued on alone.

            “Why come disguised?” Kohaku asked.

            “Have you heard of what happened to Kouga?” Sesshomaru countered and Kohaku scowled.

            “Mother would never do something like that!” Kohaku snapped and Sesshomaru nodded in agreement, stopping the boy’s outrage before it truly got started.

            “I am aware of Kagome’s loyalty, I have never questioned that,” Sesshomaru said sharply, “But Ayame was not alone and there is evidence that she may have been coerced. When your grandmother died it left you and your mother without youkai protection and as much as I love your mother, Kagome tends to be…”

            He trailed off and the other three men nodded in comprehension. Both of the members of the royal family of Nishi glanced at Miroku who smiled and shrugged.

            “Your mother is the cousin of a daughter of the gods, and you had invited us to your wedding, of course we’d pay attention to her. We are well aware of what Kagome is like.” Miroku informed them nonchalantly.

            “Kagome is the cousin of the Queen of Sparta on the mortal side,” Sesshomaru countered, leaving aside the issue of the long ago wedding ceremony, neither he nor Kagome had actually expected the gods to attend. Miroku just laughed and floated into the air.

            “But she’s so much nicer than Kikyo! All Kikyo does is get kidnapped constantly and acts more like a daughter of,” Miroku broke off, “Actually, never mind, she acts just like father, which is probably why I like Kagome better.”

            The god of orators shook himself away from the train of thought and went on.

            “Besides Kagome is a treasure among mortals! Brave, clever, beautiful and quite helpful, even our delightful Queen Kaguya likes Kagome and you know how Kaguya is with anyone connected to any of father’s indiscretions no matter the distance,” Miroku said with a laugh, “And we find her reactions so very amusing.”

            Sesshomaru rolled his eyes and turned back to his son who had an amused expression on his face.

            “Fine, so how should we deal with those who have dared abuse the hospitality of Nishi?” Kohaku said after a moment, dragging their attention back to the task at hand. Miroku shrugged his shoulders.

            “That is the sort of thing I leave in the hands of my beloved Sango,” the ever hopeful Miroku said with a shrug of his shoulders, “I have given you my message and I wish you the best of luck. Your disguise will resume when you leave this house. Goodbye!”

            With that the god of messengers disappeared in a brief flash of light. The two royals of Nishi dismissed the eternal pursuer of Sango from their minds and set a plan.

            Hardly an hour later, Kohaku left Jineji’s home with the disguised Sesshomaru walking slowly just behind him. As they walked, Kohaku informed his father of the current state of Nishi and about his travels away from their beloved island.

            By the time they arrived at the palace it was well past sunset. Though it was dark, Sesshomaru’s senses were more than sharp enough to take in every detail of his home and he felt almost disheartened. He could smell the hundred or more males who had dared encroach into his den and he could see the disarray. Most of all, he could scent his mate. He could tell that she was untouched by any other male and he was almost overwhelmed by the scent of her anger and her unhappiness. His instincts clamored for him to go into his den and annihilate the intruders but cool logic overruled. He could just go into his home and slaughter everyone, he was more than powerful enough. No one in Nishi, in all of Greece, save perhaps Kohaku when he grew older, could match him. Certainly not a bunch of whelps who had no discipline, no honor.

            But while he could destroy them, he could tear out their entrails and force them down their throats, he wouldn’t, at least not yet. First he would witness their disrespect of tradition, show them just how unworthy they were of his Kagome, reestablish his dominance over his kingdom and then he would kill them. And then of course he would likely have to dedicate himself to appeasing his mate for his unintentional abandonment for some time to come and then more appeasement for the mess he would make out of the suitors.

            Sesshomaru followed behind his son and noted the way the intruders grew silent when they entered. At last one whelp stood up and raised his glass in Kohaku’s direction.

            “At last the son returns!” the man said with a sneer and he poured the wine in his cup onto the ground.

            “Kagome!” another man called out, “Kagome, your son has returned. It is time to make good on your promise!”

            “Promise?” Kohaku said, his voice brittle. Before any of the intruders could reply, Kagome appeared and Sesshomaru stared at his mate.

            His beloved Kagome had seemingly grown frail in his absence and his instincts berated him for her obvious poor health. His mate had always been on the slender side but now she was practically skeletal! The black chiton and stole she wore hung on her limply and the color emphasized her skin which had once been sun kissed and healthy but was now porcelain pale. Her eyes had lost their sparkle, though they retained the stubborn glint that had caught his attention to begin with. As her mate, it was his duty to keep her safe and healthy and obviously he had been more inattentive to his duties than he had previously realized.

            She held her shoulders back and her head high as she walked amongst the honor less curs until she stood before their leader, the man who had sneered at Kohaku.

            “I am,” she said calmly, her voice chilled, “As I swore, now that my son is grown, I shall wed again.”

            Sesshomaru’s eyes narrowed while the suitors hooted and jeered. Kohaku stood stiffly and stared at his mother.

            “However,” Kagome went on, ignoring the obvious sudden discomfort of her son, “for the good of Nishi, my next husband must have strength that equals that of my beloved Sesshomaru.”

            The jeers and whispering boasts of the suitors became silent at Kagome’s pronouncement and more than a few of them regarded her with wary eyes.

            “And how precisely would you judge a man’s strength Queen Kagome?” demanded one man who Sesshomaru recognized as Bankotsu, a coward who had hidden away when he had called for men to join him on the journey to Illium.

            Kagome smiled.

            Sesshomaru raised a brow. That was not his mate’s usual kind smile, that was the sort of feral grin that he expected to see in a mirror.

            The Queen of Nishi made a gesture and a red headed kitsune boy that Sesshomaru didn’t recognize appeared at her side but he did recognize what the kit held. The kit held a bow, a wedding gift from Totosai, god of the forge. It was a special weapon, as all of Totosai’s weapons were, and only one of equal or greater strength of the first wielder could even string the god forged weapon, much less use it. He had used it during the games to celebrate his marriage and then his Kagome had used it, to the shock of everyone else, in defense of Nishi against a minor problem. He had not brought it to Illium because the bow was more Kagome’s weapon than his own and he had though the subtle reminder that his wife was his equal in power would have discouraged these interlopers.

            And now his clever Kagome was using the bow as a way to show all of the interfering whelps that they were unworthy of her. He mentally sent a prayer of thanks to Totosai for the bow and watched as the interlopers stared at Kagome, obviously expecting some sort of deception. Kagome took the bow from the kitsune boy and held it up.

            “This is the bow of Sesshomaru, King of Nishi, son of Akio,” Kagome announced grandly, “Whoever is able to string this bow and shoot an arrow through a dozen axe handles shall be my husband.”

            As Kagome spoke Sesshomaru noted that servants were setting up a dozen axes, preparing for the trick that he had once impressed his archer mate with, and later taught her to perform, when he had been courting her. He also noted the way a few of the whelps began to regain their confidence. A few began to boast in hushed voices about their skill in archery and they grew cocky.

            “Kohaku,” Kagome interrupted their boasts, “as prince of this land, it is your right to go first. Should you triumph then you will be king and I will become a priestess in the temple of Hestia.”

            Sesshomaru watched as his son took the bow from his mother’s hand. Kohaku strained slightly and the king of Nishi smirked as he saw his son almost succeed in stringing the bow. Further proof that his mate had raised their son well.

            He continued to watch with almost amusement as one by one the suitors attempted to get even as close as Kohaku did to stringing the bow. Only one managed to even bend the bow but the enchanted wood snapped back before he had gotten the loop of the string even halfway towards the other end of the bow.

            At last the final suitor tried and failed and he caught sight of his Kagome’s triumphant grin before she managed to hide it as she retrieved the bow.

            “Any others?” she asked. Sesshomaru tensed. Now was the time.

            “I would like to try, my Lady,” he called. He knew that it did not sound like a question. Kagome looked at him and he saw her narrow her eyes at him. She was silent for awhile and finally nodded.

            “As you wish, but what is your name?” she asked, her voice hesitant.

            “Satoru,” he lied and took the bow that the kit handed him, smiling thinly at the familiar weight. He noted that Kohaku had, as per instructions, closed all the doors and likely blocked them, save the door that Kagome had entered from.

            Sesshomaru quickly strung his bow and shot an offered arrow through the rings. The suitors were stunned at the ease at which he completed the task. A few almost didn’t believe that it had happened. While they were stunned, Kohaku urged his mother through the only remaining exit and as soon as she was safely through, he barred the door.

            The instant Sesshomaru heard the bar fall, he took another arrow and shot it at the apparent leader of the suitors. The suitors were still so shocked that one who seemed as lowly as Sesshomaru could have such power that the king managed to kill three of them with the bow before they reacted.

            If he had been capable of it, Sesshomaru thought he might feel pity towards the whelps who tried facing Kohaku. His son was particularly vicious as he dispatched his own group of intruders and within minutes, he and his son were the only living people in the room.

            With a sneer Sesshomaru flicked away a bit of blood off of his claws and watched as his son began to wash off the blood of the former infringers in the water that had been intended to dilute the wine.

            “You should go and get mother,” Kohaku said in an almost casual tone. He turned and smirked slightly,

            “I almost wish I could see how she takes this,” the prince of Nishi said with a chuckle, “You know she didn’t really expect anyone to succeed.”

            Sesshomaru said nothing. He instead checked to make sure that the blood of the disgraces to Nishi hadn’t gotten anywhere else besides his claws. It wouldn’t due to present himself before his mate in an untidy state and his Kagome had never really liked the scent of blood.

            After washing he went through the door and saw Kagome waiting in a room ahead. She was sitting at a large loom, staring at the tapestry in front of her. She held a shuttle and looked torn between adding more or unweaving what she had already created.

            “Kagome,” he called but as his Queen turned her head a maid dashed ahead of him.

            “Your Majesty,” she said, bobbing in a crude curtsey, “This is the man who has won your hand.”

            “Oh?” Kagome replied. She rose from her chair with grace and looked at him with unnervingly cold eyes. The King of Nishi frowned to himself.

            “Kagome, do you not recognize your mate?” He demanded.

            “You may have won the contest and for the sake of my country I will go through this marriage but you are not my mate,” Kagome replied coldly. For a moment Sesshomaru wondered if he still wore the disguise that Sango had provided him with but no, he knew that he was himself once more.

            “Kagome!” He growled and Kagome sniffed and tossed her head.

            “Shiori, please go and move the king’s bed from my room into another,” the Queen commanded. Shiori nodded and ran off.

            “Enough!” Sesshomaru snapped, “Why would you ask her to do the impossible? No man can move our bed unless you have killed the tree that it is made of in my absence.”

            With that phrase Sesshomaru saw the unnatural ice in his mate’s eyes melt away and she smiled, her joy making her seem as bright as Amaterasu in his eyes.

            “Sesshomaru!” Kagome cried and she launched herself at him, heedless of the fact that it wasn’t exactly appropriate or typical for a queen to act in such a way.

            But then, her enthusiasm is one of the things I love about her Sesshomaru thought to himself as he held his Kagome close.

            “I’m sorry!” Kagome cried, “But while you were gone three times others came disguised as you. The first time Sango intervened and she told me to test anyone who seemed to be you. Since we’re the only two who ever knew the secret of our bed, I thought it was the perfect test.”

            “My clever mate,” Sesshomaru said with a chuckle as he indulged himself in his mate’s scent, “Well done.”

            For a moment longer they lingered in each other’s arms until at last they reluctantly pulled away to look at the other.

            “Come,” Sesshomaru commanded, “We have a great deal of catching up to do.”

            “Catching up?” Kagome mused, “I believe you mean sucking up beloved mate. Ten years I could believe since you wrote that the others were fool enough not to listen to you, the killing perfection, until the end of the war. But ten years to get home?”

            “Let me tell you my story first beloved,” Sesshomaru insisted, “And then I will begin this sucking up.”

            “I look forward to it,” Kagome giggled and she stood upon her toes to kiss her mate firmly on the mouth.

            Sesshomaru quickly deepened the kiss and when they broke apart the once again king swept his beloved mate away to their room to retire for the night where they spent many hours talking and indulging in a rediscovery of one another.

            The rebuilding of Nishi to its former splendor was not an easy task, but Sesshomaru proved once again to his kingdom that his sense of direction had nothing to do with his wits. Together with the help of his clever, loyal queen and their brave and clever son, the royal family did manage to rebuild Nishi. And the tale of Sesshomaru’s journey spread far and wide, engraving itself into the hearts and minds of people across the world and across the centuries, though even greater than the tale of Sesshomaru’s journey was the story of its end, a story of restoration of order, a Queen’s devotion and a King’s determination to get back what he cared for above everything else, the heart of his Queen.

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Odysseus and Penelope are my absolute favorite couple in mythology so while I can, like most of the rest of you, more easily Sesshomaru and Kagome cast in the roles of Hades and Persephone, for me, though I lack the talent of the man who originally gathered the tale together, it was inevitable that I write this.

However, smart as he is, Sesshomaru wouldn’t actually be a good Odysseus, he’s too honest and not talkative or persuasive enough, at least I don’t think he’s persuasive enough. Kagome however is a bit more diverse. She would make a fantastic Penelope- both are incredibly loyal, clever and willing to at least bend the truth in order to get to their objectives. But even though Sesshomaru wouldn’t make a good Odysseus, he and Kagome’s relationship still share certain characteristics to Odysseus and Penelope’s, namely that I personally think they’re equals and Odysseus had just as many girls chasing after him as Sesshomaru does but they’re both loyal to who they choose

Also, I like the idea of Kohaku and Rin which is why Kohaku and not Shippo is Telemachus because in some myths Telemachus marries Princess Nausicca of the Phoecians, the Phoecians being the people who helped Odysseus finally get home, and in my original idea, which would have consisted of some of the Illiad and the entire Odyssey, Rin was cast as Nausicca

Also, I don’t know about you but the end seemed kind of awkward to me. Tell me what you think, please!