InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Those We Leave Behind ❯ Fathers: Be Good to Your Daughters ( Chapter 17 )

0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 000000000000000

Those We Leave Behind

Chapter 17

Fathers: Be Good To Your Daughters

11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 11111111111

What had he been thinking? He used to love her. He still loved her. How could he be capable of such a selfish action? How could he have tried to hurt her, of all people? He had waited to see her...to apologize to her for so long. The sorrow haunting his usually cold eyes conveyed just how lost he was. He hadn't been thinking.

He pulled an Inuyasha-like stunt. Sesshoumaru made a snap decision that turned out so wrong.

At the time, he thought he was doing the best thing. He wanted to show her he still loved her, only her. God, she looked beautiful. He wanted to keep her with him always, but what he had tried to do was inexcusable. He couldn't admit, not even to himself, what he tried to do to the one person he loved above all others.

The only creature in existence that could compete with Kagome for Sesshoumaru's attentions was his beloved daughter. However, his daughter, Rin, was a constant reminder of his blunder centuries ago.

The Demon Lord of Makai did something he had done twice in his life. He cried.

The sad, helpless soul who viewed this heartbreaking moment called out him. He could feel her presence but, didn't respond. He didn't deserve either of the women he loved.

“Daddy? Don't push me away. Let me help you.”

His whispered reply pained her. “Leave.”

“Daddy, don't do this.”

“Rin. Now.” He couldn't let his girl see him like this.

“But—”

“I said LEAVE.”

She stared at him in shock. He had always told her to stay with Jaken or go to bed while he went off to take care of business. He had never told her to leave, muchless command or yell at her to do so.

Something in her broke in that instance. Something fragile.

He recognized the helpless look on her face. It was same expression she had when he found her mangled, broken corpse. Her dead body was all that remained from the wolf pack's meal. He remembered that day. He always would. That was the day he discovered hope.

But, that wasn't his daughter. The girl in front of him was. The two Rins were different people, he knew, but they were far more similar than the mikos were. The first Rin and his daughter were very alike. Kikyo and Kagome had some similarities, yet there were also very, very clear distinctions between the two.

He would be forever grateful to his half-brother. Without Inuyasha, Rin would not have been reincarnated into his daughter and, he would have raped Kagome.

However, that thought eluded his mind as he watched tears stream down Rin's face. He was about to make an attempt at apologizing to her to but, before he could do that, she ran away.

“Why do these women always run away when I am about to apologize?!” His mind got the better of him. `I can't blame either of them. The messes I have gotten myself into are my own fault. Not theirs. Why is my life spinning out of control? I, the rightful Taiyoukai of the West and the Demon Lord of Makai, with all my power, resources, and minions, am helpless to fix my life.

`Is this how you felt, Father?'

2222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222 2222222222222222222

She couldn't believe what had just happened. How could he? She was just trying to help him and he...practically attacked her.

How did she react? She ran. She ran like a coward. But she couldn't face him. He didn't want her. He told her so when he dismissed her. She knew staying wasn't an option. Every time he was in one of his moods, he treated her as if it were her fault. Like just now. She had to escape for her own sanity.

Where would she go now?

She didn't know what would happen to her, but before she could figure it out, she was knocked unconscious by a blunt object.

3333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333 33333333333333333

Kuwabara and Kurama had wanted to learn more about Sesshoumaru. So, they went back into the Makai without Kagome's knowledge. They desperately needed to find out what Sesshoumaru was planning. It kinda helped that Koenma needed them to look into an incident involving the barrier.

Apparently, some forest demon named Ryoukan had been causing a great deal of trouble, for he had actually succeeded to secretly break into the barrier a few times. The trouble was only magnified as said demon was now facilitating the transport of other demons.

The plan was for Kuwabara and Kurama to find the forest master, beat him up, and either bring him in for sentencing or kill him, which ever they thought was best. From the intelligence reports, that was all that was needed.

Kuwabara, for one, was thankful. He wanted to get this punk out of the way in order to deal with that bastard, Sesshoumaru.

“How much longer `til we get there Kurama?” Kuwabara was not fond of the forest. He had never spent much time their. The energy emitted by each tree, each animal was felt by him. It was really creepy. That type of place was the only surrounding in which that happened. Of course, he did feel energy in the city, but here, it was a hundred times more potent. He wanted this mission done fast.

“The locator's signal indicates that Ryoukan is only fifty yards away. Be on your guard. The reports may have suggested this one would not be much of a challenge but, you know how those reports have discrepancy between what they suggest and reality.”

“Yeah, it's a wonder we don't do that for Spirit World too,” he snorted

They continued through the dense forest until an odd feeling tugged at Kuwabara. It was as if something pure had been in trouble. What was even odder was the abrupt halt to the SOS.

“Something needs help.” Before Kurama could question Kuwabara or really respond, Kuwabara was off to the races. He took off in the direction of Ryoukan and never looked back, leaving Kurama running to catch up.

They stopped when they found a large beast that looked like...a giant gerbil? More importantly was the beautiful girl being dragged behind him. Kurama instantly recognized her as the girl from the palace who had escorted him and Yusuke. He also knew her as Sesshoumaru's daughter.

“Hey, put her down creep! If you don't, I, the Great Kuwabara will pulverize

you...hamster...thing.”

“Who are you!? Why are you in my forest?!”

“Release her. We have been sent to stop your passage into the Human World, along with those you are helping.”

“You puny humans cannot stop ME! I am Ryoukan, master of the forests and loyal servant of the great Inu Taiyoukai!”

Kurama was confused. “Is it a common practice of loyal servants to render their masters' daughters unconscious?”

“Deceivers! This woman is no child of the Great Taiyoukai! Can you not see she is human?”

“Actually Kurama, I'm really confused. She feels like the opposite of you. Like she has demon blood and a human soul. Is that possible?”

“I suppose if Youko could enter Shuuichi's body, it might be possible. However, I am not certain. Kuwabara, take care of the girl. I will deal with the demon.”

“Right.”

Kurama allowed the demon to charge him. As he evaded the charge, Kurama made quick work of him with his Rose Whip, killing Ryoukan.

“Kurama! She's got a head injury and maybe a concussion! We need to get her help!”

Against his better judgment Kurama decided on the only course of action they had.

“Kuwabara, we will take her to Spirit World.”

4444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444 44444444444444444444444

Kagome, Yusuke, and Hiei spent the day having fun. Hiei had wondered why she was doing it, but there was no better answer than she thought his confused expressions were hilarious to watch whenever they tried something new.

The whole thing started when she told him what he had to do to become demon again. Had it been to kill or maim something, he would have done it in a heartbeat. To his disappointment, he had to learn to open up to other people.

He had argued with her that only weak fools do such things. She had countered saying that only weak people didn't. He was puzzled as he thought over her words.

“Hiei, you're wrong. It takes far more courage and strength to open yourself up to people than to be a coward and isolate yourself.”

“Idiot. Becoming attached is a liability. Allowing someone to betray me would be a very stupid thing to do.”

She paused to collect her thoughts. “Hiei, you can't stop someone from betraying you. You may be safe from betrayal by staying alone but, you can't really live. What's the point of fighting day after day if you have nothing worth fighting for?”

Did he have anything worth fighting for? Yes, he had Yukina. No, that wasn't right. He didn't have her. He watched her from a distance. He didn't deserve her and she sure as hell didn't deserve him. She was pure and he was a monster.

He wasn't allowed to ponder his own lack of worth as Kagome brought him an ice cream cone with a smile on her face.

“Here you go Hiei.”

He accepted the cold treat and bit into the chocolate dessert.

Yusuke looked at him strangely. “Hiei, you do know you're supposed to lick it right? That stops the brain freeze.”

`Was that what that twinge in his head was, brain freeze?'

"Hey, how about we go to a movie, my treat?”

“How the hell can you afford all this stuff? I'm usually too broke to buy ice cream for myself, let alone for three people having ice cream, going to an amusement park, and the movies.”

A smirk graced her face as she thought of the business transaction. It was only a joke at the time, but she had discovered how profitable it was. The only painful part about it was the look on Kiana's, Sori's, and Seta's faces when they found out Kurama only had one pair of underwear in his drawer.

They had paid her $200 for that pair with cute little teddy bears all over it. If he was going commando right now, he wouldn't be wearing any underwear when he came to school.

Kagome just giggled.

“Hiei, remind me not to get on her bad side.”