InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Hanyou's Love ❯ Midoriko ( Chapter 6 )

A/N: I guess my rate of updating seems to be every other weekend. I hope to change that. Well here is the next chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha and co.

A Hanyou's Love

Chapter Six: Midoriko

Inuyasha had enjoyed the ride to Shippo's camp site. All the different music that Kagome likes to listen too, made the ride like a quick trip to the store. They had made it in time to the camp and several camp counselors and children begged her to stay for awhile. Inuyasha could tell she really wanted to stay, so he told her to go ahead and not worry about the drive back. They ended up staying for two hours and had dinner there.

Watching her and the children once again brought a lot of buried memories back. They were not bad memories but had some sadness to them. Still he was glad. Those memories were a part of who he was.

As Inuyasha drove down the highway, the soft music they were playing now had sent Kagome into a light slumber. 'She is so beautiful. I could spend eternity just like this.'

But his dream was popped when their exit came. As he got closer to his home he decided to just wake Kagome and have her tell how to get to her home. She had to be too tired to drive, right?

"Kagome, wake up."

"Hm, another five minutes."

"Sorry, but I need you to give directions" Inuyasha said as he nudged her shoulder.

"What, oh. Just go to your place. I can get home myself."

"No, I am driving you home. Now which way. The guys behind us aren't going to wait."

"Um, left." She said after taking a look around. A few more blocks and turns, Inuyasha pulled into her driveway and turned the engine off. And handed her the keys.

"Thanks for bringing me home. Are you sure you'll be alright walking home?" As they walking to her door.

"Who said I will walk? It's a nice night, good for a quick run. I'll see you this Saturday, right."

"Yep, I'll be by to take you to your car. And don't hesitate to call me if you need some help in the week."

"I will, see ya later." With that Inuyasha left her home and began to run home. A couple of minutes later, Inuyasha laid out on his bed and thought about his most treasured memories Midoriko.

Feudal era, Japan, 500 or so years ago.

A small boy with silver hair was fishing at a small pond. Now many would not have thought this strange, unless they got a better look at him.

This boy was of about ten human years old. And he wears red clothes, that were right now sitting on the bank. He was standing in the pond with his clawed hand, yes clawed, poised over the water. His ears at the top of his head twitched at the ripples the slow fish made. Yes, I said twitched, for the boy was not human but then he wasn't a youkai either. This was Inuyasha, a hanyou of inu-youkai heritage.

He had recently lost his family and was striving to live on his own in the wild. He was a fast learner and had already found a nice cave in the cliff that over looks this pond and the small village on the outskirts of a large forest. He wasn't welcomed into the village but the miko there seemed to not mind him making a home nearby. She was a strange one. Normally mikos killed any youkai, but she had just told the villagers to let him alone and only attack him if he poised a threat.

Unfortunately, Inuyasha was so rapped into his fishing he had not noticed the large tiger youkai that was watching him. Just then Inuyasha caught a large fish and turned to return to the shore. Upon seeing the tiger youkai, Inuyasha dropped his dinner and froze. He wasn't afraid, just not sure what this youkai wanted.

"What is a hanyou like you doing here. This is my territory and I will not have you spreading your scent anymore. Your stink raises my fur and leaves a nasty taste in my mouth. I suggest running, though that will not help you. But the run would be great fun for me." With that said, he jumped at Inuyasha and would have succeeded in punching him in the face if he had not already moved to run to shore. The tiger stopped above the water and looked to where Inuyasha was.

"You have to do better than that. I am not just a defenseless hanyou. I was trained some and will not give you an easy fight." Inuyasha said as he dressed into his clothes. He knew this fight would be difficult and any protection he could have would be an advantage. His clothing was made of a fire rat youkai fur and could stop most attacks from seriously injuring him.

"Is that so little one. Well let's just see." The tiger youkai said and from his spot above the water charged towards Inuyasha.

"Iron revere soul stealer." Inuyasha shouted as he sent his attack at the tiger. Who was not expecting him to know just an attack and was sent into the water.

"Oh, now you have really made me mad." The tiger youkai said and charged Inuyasha.

O.o.O.o.O.o

Else where a maiden was gathering herbs. She had on red and white clothes and her black hair was tied to the side in a black strip of cloth. Around her torso she wears a steal enforced leather armor and at her side was a katana. Her black eyes looked through the many plants before her and her hands swiftly picked what she needed.

She was different then your normal maiden. Though her armor and weapon said as much. This woman was a miko. Young for her station, but determined to do her best.

The miko that had trained her had passed away last year and the villagers were still getting use to an armored miko. A miko who preferred the sword to any bow and arrow. Though that to was strapped to her back. She was not one to pass up any chance to wound her challenger.

Suddenly the noise of battle reached her ears. Slowly she sat up and glanced around the clearing that she was by. From across the space a red shape emerged as if thrown through the trees. This figure landed ruff on it's back, but quickly was up and in defensive mode, when a tiger youkai came from where he had just emerged.

"Blades of blood" The small boy in red yelled and crimson colored attack wave flew at the youkai. The tiger managed to avoid all and charged at the small boy. The maiden calmly watched the battle. She knew that if Inuyasha wished to live in the wild he must learn to fight for his life. Any help she gave now would not be beneficial for him.

Attack after attack continued. The hanyou was slowing and he knew that soon he would see his family again and hoped the tiger youkai would be swift. As once again he was knock to the ground, his wounds gushed more of his blood into the ground and he felt the last of his straight leave him.

The tiger youkai made to pounce on his victim and would have his revenge for being water logged by this mere slip of child. Just as his legs left the ground an arrow found its way into his chest.

Landing awkwardly on the ground beside Inuyasha, he turned to where the arrow came from. The maiden lowered her bow and drew her sword. She stood perfectly still. She should not have interfered, but something had to be done. He was just a boy and deserved to live. Maybe it was her nature mothers instinct, or that she could not see an innocent die in such a way.

"Are you his mother?"

"No,"

"Then why, he will surely grow to kill humans."

"Perhaps, but what had he done to earn your wrath?"

"Being in my territory and knocking me into the pond. My fur will not be the same for months."

"So, he has only offended you twice. I would have thought he had done worse. Like kill your mate or child." She taunted. Since he did not leave the area upon seeing her, she had no choice but to fight him. If word spread that she had allowed a youkai to live her hard won trust and honor would be for nothing. But she will not kill our right. He had to attack her. So she made an attempt to make him angry enough too.

"You dare to taunt me, I am full youkai. Who are you to do so."

"I am Midoriko, miko to yonder village. Maiden that gave Inuyasha leave to live here."

"You, you have reduced my clan to but a few oni and a few powerful youkai. You, I shall enjoy killing."

"You could try." She replied back. Giving a spare glance at the hanyou and then back to the youkai. He launched his attack, she dodged his swipe and turned to face him.

Once again he launched an attack and she dodged to the side that had the arrow. Grabbing the shaft she infused her miko powers into it and jumped aside. A shriek echoed in the valley as her purifying power tuned the tiger youkai into dust.

"Fool, never attack without thought or anger driven. It will only get you killed. Understand Inuyasha." She turned to him and he nodded his head from where he sat.

Silently she walked towards him and ripped her sleeve from her shirt. In silence she tended to his wounds and then went to gather her bow and basket of herbs. "Come, Inuyasha. I have food back at my hut and your wounds will take days to heal even for your heritage." Midoriko said as she walked to the path that leads to the village. Within minutes, Inuyasha was walking by her side.

End flashback

He had stayed at her hut for about a week that first time. The villagers were wary about him but soon found out he posed no threat. Over the course of years he had came to live happily with Midoriko. She had been a wonderful mother and a great friend. Her death had left him feeling alone. Until Kikyo came.

Inuyasha looked about his apartment. Alone. Once again alone. But maybe Kagome can change that. But where had he gone wrong in the past. What was the one mistake that he made.

'You never really loved them.'

"Yes, I did."

'No, you loved them for who they had been.'

"Had I really done that?"

'With each one.' Inuyasha realized then what has happened over and over again. He always looked for the others in the current. It wasn't until that one was gone that he made a place for them as an individual.

"Not this time. I will make this one work. I will not repeat. From now on I will look, really look at Kagome.

As the clock went past two in the morning. Inuyasha fell into a deep sleep and dreamed about a girl that lived just down the street.

A/N: Well, what do you think. I will hopefully have more in about two weeks. Look at my profile for any update notes or notifications.