InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Delayed Dawn ❯ The Week of the Initiation ( Chapter 4 )

A Delayed Dawn

 

Disclaimer: “What's a disclaimer?” The young kitsune asked. “Well, it's a statement saying that I don't own you and that you belong to someone else.” Roshully explains. “Oh.” The kitsune explains. “Will you say it for me?” The kitsune nods. “The author does not own me, or my friends or anyone else associated with Inuyasha.” The kitsune beams. “But you don't own this story right?” roshully nods. “Yeah, it comes from my brain. I'm just borrowing you guys for it.” Shippo nods. “So, can I have it now?” roshully nods and hands Shippo the jumbo sized box of chocolate pocky.

 

Warning: This story is posted in the mature section for good reasons. If ideas such as vulgar language, descriptive violence, and sexual situations such as rape disturb you, then you are warned now.

 

Chapter Four - The Week of the Initiation

 

Yesterday. Yesterday was the day that Inuyasha felt his life change once again. All he wanted was some meaning behind his missions. To understand. And that want brought forth an act that would not end until he made a choice, or a lack of one. The initiation. A stupid ritual based on demon practices. An act created to test ones character, blah, blah. Inuyasha had figured that being the puppet for The Pack was test enough for his character. He was willing to do the dirty missions for them. Everything that he was ever asked to do, he did without question.

 

Rape a girl. That is what they were asking, no telling him, to do. And he agreed to it. Rape or let her die. It was his choice. His alone. There was nothing anyone could do to save her. Her fate was already decided. He would have to choose to hunt her down, or ignore her and let her die a death that was unknown to him. It was going to be painful for her, he knew that. She would curse her life either way, she would spend her days wondering why her. Unless people couldn't contemplate their lives after death.

 

Inuyasha shot another round of bullets at the target. He pushed the button and watched as the machine brought the target closer to him. Four shots to the head, four shots to the heart, one shot to the aorta artery in the neck and four randomly shot to specific areas of the body he chose. He sighed. Shooting was something he usually did to relax, to help him think. This time, he found that there wasn't anything he could do to help him think.

 

“It's useless to fire at targets that don't fire back.” An annoying voice spoke from behind him.

 

Inuyasha pulled out the magazine and jammed another one into his handgun. “What brings you around you piece of wolf-shit?”

 

Kouga, a wolf demon, and a member of The Touken stood behind Inuyasha. “I heard. Well I heard something.”

 

Inuyasha sighed as he put another target onto the machine and pushed the button for it to take the target back some distance away. “And.” Inuyasha shot back. For some reason, people were learning about his initiation. He had a pretty good idea who was behind it, but he didn't care. “Say what you want. I don't give a shit.”

 

“Well, it's one way to make you get laid.” Kouga tried to joke. He understood the seriousness of the matter and he knew Inuyasha well enough to know that he was having a really hard time with this. “I wonder if she's hot.”

 

Kouga's eyes went and wide and he swore he swallowed the biggest lump as he saw Inuyasha's pistol aimed at the spot between his eyes. “Don't fucking joke around wolf-prick.”

 

Kouga raised his hands up in surrender. “Hey, sorry man. It was a bad joke.”

 

That was enough to make Inuyasha take the gun away from him and point it at the target. In a matter of seconds, Kouga watched as Inuyasha fired off the entire clip. Kouga sighed. This was really bothering Inuyasha. “Hey, dog-breath. I've got an idea. Let's spar.”

 

Inuyasha turned around and looked at the wolf demon. Kouga actually looked serious. Inuyasha took the empty clip out and inserted another one. Clicking the safety on, he placed his gun back into the holster he had on his pants. “Sure.” Inuyasha replied.

 

Dojo/Gym

 

Inuyasha and Kouga faced off at each other. When the other people saw Inuyasha, they stopped to watch him. More people were learning of the rumor of Inuyasha's initiation. And to see the hanyou face off with the wolf demon was another sight to behold. The leader and the second in command rarely fought against each other, even though their rivalry was known among the members of The War Dogs, and even better understood by those in The Touken. Though no one knew the actual source of their rivalry, it always made for a good show.

 

As Inuyasha stood there, waiting for the sparing to begin, his mind couldn't let go of the initiation. He had tried to find a way out of it, but knew that his brother and those other damned demons would have made sure there were no loopholes that he could leap through. Demon law was precise and had to be followed, and the consequences of deviating from those laws were clear.

 

Kouga could see the inner turmoil of Inuyasha. He could only imagine the chaos inside his leader's head. He wanted to help, and that was why he offered to spar. For both of them, fighting was a way of thinking. It was something that helped focus their minds, as well as their bodies. Both of them had been fighting for so long, that when Kouga heard about Inuyasha's intentions of joining The Pack, he was confused. Inuyasha didn't know how to think like those stuffed up demons. They, the ones in The Touken, were physical beings. It was all that they knew.

 

“So, you want to leave our group, stop being our leader and join those pathetic wimps upstairs, eh dog shit?” Kouga yelled. “What you too good for us now?” And with that, Kouga came running straight at Inuyasha.

 

Inuyasha's internal defense system kicked on. The demon inside of him would not let that stupid wolf do anything to him, even if he was thinking. As Kouga came in for the punch, Inuyasha easily blocked. “Still slow wolf crap. Better get down on your knees for the refreshments.” Inuyasha teased with a smirk on his face.

 

Kouga smirked back. Inuyasha was finally getting into the fight. At least this way he would stop seeing the dog hanyou sulking around the compound. Seeing his leader like that was pathetic. As much as they fought, deep down, they actually cared for each other. Their rivalry made them unlikely friends.

 

The audience watched in awe as the two strongest men in their group fought. This wasn't any usual type of practice fighting, it was real. Blood was spilled, limbs were bruised and some swore that they heard bones crack. Kouga and Inuyasha landed on the ground, both breathing heavily. Inuyasha reached up and wiped the sweat and blood off his face.

 

“Oi, Kouga, not bad. Looks like you already shot your load.” Inuyasha teased.

 

Kouga too wiped sweat and blood off of his face. He smirked at Inuyasha's comment. “Fucking dog dildo.” He breathed. Kouga silently admitted to himself that Inuyasha was putting up one hell of a fight. He knew that Inuyasha was fighting more than just him, he was fighting himself.

 

The both flinched at the sound of a door slamming. Everyone in the gym turned to see Sesshoumaru and Miroku standing there. Inuyasha just smirked. Now, if he could fight his brother that would be fun.

 

“What is going on here?” Sesshoumaru asked as his demon eyes narrowed at his two underlings lying on the floor in the middle of the gym, both covered in blood and sweat and panting heavily.

 

“Training, sir.” Kouga breathed out.

 

“Oh.” Sesshoumaru replied. “And what are these idiots doing then?” He asked referring to the audience. The men looked away, not wanting Sesshoumaru to pick anyone of them out in particular, to be his example.

 

“Watching the best sir.” One of them quipped.

 

Sesshoumaru didn't catch who said it, but he could see his brother's sarcasm was rubbing off on The Touken members. Sesshoumaru wanted to know what Inuyasha was planning, if he had decided yet, but he knew it was not his place. He would know if his brother decided to follow through with the initiation or not. He narrowed his eyes as he looked around the room. Silently, he was telling them to get back to training, and they all understood.

 

Sesshoumaru turned to leave, but Miroku stayed behind. Kouga figured that Miroku wanted to talk to Inuyasha and Kouga felt that would be a good idea, especially since he was tired and wasn't sure how much longer he could last against the angry hanyou.

 

“Looks like the monk wants some.” Kouga told Inuyasha.

 

Inuyasha looked up and saw Miroku standing there, looking at them. He sighed. Later, he would have to thank Kouga for this. “Looks like you got lucky. I'll have to kick your sorry ass another day.”

 

“Whatever.” Kouga replied as he walked off. Inuyasha fell back onto the mat and stretched out. Kouga stopped by Miroku. “He's fucking killing himself inside. No doubt he'll become a loose cannon either way.”

 

Miroku nodded. Miroku walked over to the mat and bent down by Inuyasha. “Have you eaten yet?” He asked.

 

Inuyasha closed his eyes. “Not hungry.” He replied, his eyes hidden behind wet silver bangs.

 

“Too bad.” Miroku stood up. “I guess I'll have to eat a nice hot bowl of ramen all by myself. At least the waitress there is pretty cute. And she sometime flirts back with me.”

 

Inuyasha was already on his feet and walking towards the door. “Going to fucking stand there like an idiot all day or are you coming?” Inuyasha asked.

 

Miroku chuckled. He knew his friend all too well.

 

*The Lil' Ramen Shop That Could*

 

Inuyasha and Miroku ordered their favorite dishes from the cute little waitress that batted her eyes at both men. She left to turn their orders to the cook. Miroku grabbed the glass of water and took a large gulp. He wondered if he should bring it up or not.

 

“Hey, Miroku, if you were a girl, would you rather be raped or killed?” Inuyasha asked, his voice soft and shaky.

 

Miroku had to choke back down his water wondering if Inuyasha had really asked him that. “Uh, Inuyasha, last time I check, I'm not a girl.” Miroku glanced down and pulled the waistband of his pants out. “And I'm still not.”

 

“Hentai. I asked, if. . . IF you were a girl, which one would you prefer?” Inuyasha restated his question.

 

Miroku cleared his throat. “I don't think I can answer that. Yeah, there's male rape, but for girl's, it's a whole other dimension that we as males will never, ever understand, even after special surgeries.” Leave it to Miroku to try to insert jokes in whenever possible. “As a guy, I'd take death any day. But that could be because of my manly pride. Women are so much stronger than us. They continue to live no matter what we as males do to them.”

 

Inuyasha sighed. Miroku always had good points. But none of them were helping. It only added more nonsense to everything else in his head.

 

“Maybe you could ask her.” Miroku suggested.

 

Inuyasha shot his gave up at Miroku. “Ask her?”

 

“Yeah. When you find her, ask her, rape or death. Let her choose, instead of you.”

 

“Did a fuckin' apple just fall on your head? That's probably the smartest thing I've ever heard you say.” Inuyasha chuckled out. Inuyasha could already feel a heavy burden being lifted off of his shoulders.

 

Miroku smiled. “I guess I have my moments.” The waitress then appeared with their steaming bowls of ramen. She left them to eat. Miroku picked up his chopsticks. “That and the suggestion of coming here for food.” He said as he watched the sway of the waitress's hips walking away from him.

 

Inuyasha nodded not noticing what Miroku was actually referring to, picked up his chopsticks. “Itadakimasu.” He mumbled as the noodles were shoveled into this mouth quickly.

 

“Itadakimasu.” Miroku said as he ate his ramen at a much slower pace than his friend.

 

The two friends ate mostly in silence. Miroku knew that Inuyasha was seriously considering finding the girl and letting her choose. It would definitely take some of the guilt away from Inuyasha.

 

*Three Days Later*

 

It had been three days since the act of initiation began. Inuyasha had spent the night after the ramen dinner with Miroku and every night after that looking for this girl. His brother told him it would be a scent his youkai would be able to sniff out. And so far, nothing. He had searched the entire city and swore that he had come into contact with every citizen of the city.

 

Inuyasha was starting to have some doubts about the magic between the initiation. He had to see his brother. There were questions Inuyasha had that he felt only Sesshoumaru could answer. He arrived at his brother's office early on the day of the fourth morning. Inuyasha found Sesshoumaru's assistant sitting at a desk.

 

“Is he in there?” Inuyasha demanded.

 

“Yes, but he is not to be disturbed.” The toad youkai stated.

 

“I don't care. I'm going in.” Inuyasha said as he walked over to the door.

 

“Wait, you can't. . . “ Jaken tried to say to stop Inuyasha, but being about two feet tall against a six foot youkai was a fight that had a clear victor.

 

Sesshoumaru looked up to see a very irritated hanyou standing in his office. “I'm so sorry Sesshoumaru-sama. I tried. . . “ Jaken said apologetically.

 

Sesshoumaru sighed. “It's fine. Close the door behind you.”

 

Inuyasha waited until the door was shut before he started talking. “Why can't I find her?”

 

“Oh, you made your decision then?” Sesshoumaru asked.

 

“No, I just want to find her.” Inuyasha said.

 

“Then you won't.”

 

Inuyasha took a few steps towards his brother's desk. “What are you saying?”

 

“I'm saying that you won't be able to find her. Not until you've made a decision.” Sesshoumaru explained simply to his dimwitted brother.

 

“What?” Inuyasha was shocked.

 

“Did you have some kind of plan Inuyasha?” Sesshoumaru curiously asked.

 

“I. . . I was going to let her choose.” He said quietly, slipping into one of the leather arm chairs that sat in front of his brother's desk already defeated.

 

“You are a fucking coward sometimes. I told you, the choice is yours and yours alone. You will not be able to sense her until you have made your decision.”

 

“Keh, figured as much. Stupid Miroku and his simple ideas.” Inuyasha mumbled.

 

“Sounds like Miroku. His respect for women is great, though a bit flawed.” Sesshoumaru stated. “Is there anything else then?”

 

Inuyasha shook his head. He stood up quietly and left. Sesshoumaru watched his brother leave. He could see Inuyasha changing before him. Whatever he choose, Inuyasha was going to come out of this a completely different person. Only one other event had changed Inuyasha so much. The day his human mother had died.

 

*Outside*

 

Inuyasha sat outside on the roof of the compound that the more active members of The War Dogs lived. It was summer. The sky was clear and he could see the stars, count them if he wanted to. He had never felt so alone before.

 

“Mom. . . “He whispered. He needed her guidance, her wisdom. He just needed some goddamn help. She had told him to listen to his heart. But his heart remained silent. Was this not a matter of the heart, but one of the minds? A test to make him think logically, without letting his feelings get involved? To be like his brother?

 

Logically speaking, the rape of the girl was nothing more than an act, and that he could do it, let her live, and then he would finally get the information he wanted. But the same was true with choosing not to rape her. Except, he would be labeled as a failure. And the information would be kept from him forever. Inuyasha brought his knees up to his chest. He had tonight and three more after that, and he was still without a thought on the matter that could make him choose.