InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Lifetime Loving You Part 1; Seasons in Owari ❯ When the Western Tribe Died ( Chapter 17 )

Chapter 17; When the Western Tribe Died

(Inu-taisho's POV)

When you contemplate your future, present, and past you always wonder how it will all fit together. My dream haunted me even longer, and I sought out guidance. Only one friend could be sought in this dilemma and that was Bokusenou, a tree demon.

(Note, if you remember this is the same demon Sesshoumaru went to so he could understand Inu-yasha's transformation into a "full demon", and the connection with Tetsusaiga.)

I did not tell the tribe where I was going for I fully believed that Sashimi would not worry if I were no longer within her reach. I no longer understood my kind. I was the sworn enemy of all who lived in Kyoto, and a powerful demon, and yet this vision told me that I could become more.

I took a seat on the grass and tucked my hands in the sleeves of my red and black kimono. "Bokusenou? I seek your wisdom, old friend."

The face of the demon appeared and I sat in the silence as my friend slowly opened his eyes. "Lord Inu-taisho, it has been too long. You have grown some it seems since the last time you sought me out. Word has spread quickly of your first born."

I lowered my head and closed my eyes to collect my thoughts. "Sesshoumaru will be a great dog demon, but he will never be my equal...nor will he surpass me. He has inherited so much from his mother, and the only characteristic he seems to have gained from me is the urge to become more." I raised my head to my demonic friend. "Sesshoumaru will not desire to lead the tribe, and I fear it will break soon."

Bokusenou blinked once and reached out with one of his branches to touch the sword at my side. "Tenseiga has become the life force that has kept you alive all this time, and has protected your tribe and Sashimi from Ryuukossei. However, you know, old dog, that you will not be able to protect them forever."

I narrowed my brow. "Indeed, unless you aid me in discovering what I must seek out." I got to my feet and stood firm. "I have had a vision as of late, in fact, it has haunted me since Sashimi was baring my son."

The old tree creaked as he leaned forward to hear my vision. "Go on!"

I turned to the side to collect myself. "I see my blood becoming something more. I see a child born of my blood with the power to take down the demon enemies that haunt us now." I turned to him. "Bokusenou, I will not live to see the death of Ryuukossei, and my vision tells me so. Yet, it also tells me that my blood will live to see the day of his death. A shadow in the corner of this world cries out to me, and it tells me that a will bare another son."

Bokusenou leaned back and watched me. "Something tells me that there is more to this vision."

I looked to the sky and then back at him. "Sashimi will not be this son's mother. I am destined be Sashimi's mate until the day one of us dies; only I do not know who will pass to the next world first."

The old tree groaned and closed his eyes in sorrow. "Inu-taisho, this vision confuses me. Do you know the mother of this son that will surpass you? Become greater than you?"

I took a heavy breath and lowered my eyes. "I do not! All I know is that whoever she is, one thing is clear." I turned to the sky. "She is the true mate I was meant to be with from the start."

Bokusenou sighed as the silence took us both before he spoke again. "You have changed a great deal, old dog. Something about you has changed. It seems that you have developed feelings for a mate that you do not know and you have turned your back in all that you have."

I turned my back to him and crossed my arms once more. "Power is one thing to crave, old friend, but to live for it will only bring misery. There is something more to this life, and my vision tells me that Ryuukossei will die at the hand of one who holds my blood."

Silence once more took us both and the wind howled around me. I listened to its silent song as it passed through the trees. Bokusenou grinned. "You are like your father. You change like the wind, and you move like it as well."

I grinned and looked out into the dark forest. "The wind is a powerful thing. It has always been my ally in battle." I looked to the night sky above me and watched as the leaves blew free from the trees. "One day, old tree, I will find a way to use it. Demonic winds are powerful forces in nature. One day I will use those winds to protect what I treasure most."

With that the wind blew through my mane and I embraced it willingly. The wind had guided me through so much, and I knew that its forces would one day aid me. Wind has the power to change, to become kind or harsh. It could form storms that could take whatever it wanted, and the ability to lock away its many secrets.

Bokusenou looked on for a moment before the wind finally died down around me, and then his body creaked loudly. I turned to him as he turned to the west. "Something is wrong!"

I turned and came to my friend's side. His roots began to tremble. "Blood has stained the earth in the west. I fear something dreadful has transpired in the time we have conversed."

I took a few steps forward and lifted my nose to the air. "I can smell nothing from this distance."

I felt the ground rumble lightly beneath me and heard Bokusenou cry out. "Old friend, what is wrong?"

He opened his eyes. "It is demon blood that stains the ground. The blood of your brethren and Sashimi is leaking into the earth that the trees live off and it burns their roots. Inu-taisho, something has happened in your absence. Hurry, old friend, hurry and beware!"

I took off before I heard his last few words echo in my head. My heart was pounding in my chest and fear ran through me. I could not smell blood even as I glided in the wind. 'Gods of the wind, you are my allies, please grant me speed.'

A moment later, I discovered that all I was granted was the smell of dog demon blood. My brethren were covered in the smell of death, their demonic souls departed. I found my self within reach of the castle my tribe had grown in.

I was too late! Blood stained the walls and crumbled stone scattered the courtyards of my home. Death stained the air. These were the males, all departed and dead. There flesh dissolved with only their bones left to scatter the earth. Now, even Tenseiga could not bring them back.

I walked the blood stained ground and then discovered the fire that breathed off their blood. I smelled the tainted air and found little life in the scent, one. I ran to the scent and came to rubble.

Sashimi!

Her body was still whole, but dying. She opened her platinum eyes and looked into mine. "Inu-taisho? You've come so late, my mate."

I held her close to me to comfort her, but I found that I could not shed tears for her. "Sashimi, what should I do?"

I felt her claws in my arm and I winced. She left four scratches in my arm, and I turned to her. "You have betrayed me. Let me die here with my brothers, for my sisters and your son have fled. When you find them though, none of our sisters will be your mate. This is my mark, Inu- taisho. No other demon will have you, but me."

I looked at her as she smiled evilly. "You curse me for not coming soon enough? I still have Tenseiga at my side."

She glared at me. "That is all you will have at your side when you die."

I watched as her platinum eyes turned red and blood clot in her once rose pink hair. I remembered how beautiful she once was in my eyes, and now all I could see was the hatred she held for me. Her truest form features began to show, but she died in my arms during the process. All that was left of her were her half transformed bones.

I watched as a thunder storm built around my fallen home. Osaka, my place of homage was now no more than a grave for my fallen brothers and mate. My son was alive, and so were the females, but I held no hope in my heart. My vision, my dream felt like it had died in that one moment as I watched the four cuts on the lower half of my arm form scars. I would never bare the son in my vision now, the dream of one who would be stronger than me. I still did not know why I desired this, for power had brought only pain.

I became a monster in that moment, and howled my vow to avenge my brothers. I would hunt down Ryuukossei, and find a way to end this slaughtering before it claimed my only son. I did not care if I died trying. I had nothing to live for anymore.

~~~~

(Kagome POV)

"How cruel!" I said with a tear in my eye. "I feel so sorry for Inu- yasha's father. I never knew he endured so much pain and suffering."

Sister Polaris nodded her head as we sat across from each other by a pond where her cow and sheep drank while she watched them. "Inu-taisho endured many things before he met Mika. It is the reason why he learned love, for he had to give up all hope in order for it all to come true."

I looked at her as she lifted her staff and walked some distance to look over her cow. "She'll be having her own baby any day now. It is only a matter of time."

I smiled and placed my hand over my middle. "Fifteen weeks, I can't believe so much time has gone by."

Sister Polaris grinned sweetly. "Soon it will be more apparent to the eye that you do hold a child once this month has past you. You are getting closer to your half way point and it is nearing the end of summer. If I am not mistaken, Lady Kagome, your child will be born in winter."

I ran my fingertips over my belly and looked at her in amazement. "Will it survive the winter?"

Sister Polaris nodded. "You are in my house dear and you will not leave here until spring when the ice has melted and the flowers have budded again."

I smiled a little and looked out at the rice field as Aki, Inu-yasha, and three sisters began to fill the field with water. I admired Inu-yasha for a moment as the water splashed around his figure since he carried it on his shoulders in a large clay jug before spilling it gently into the slowly rising water.

I turned to Sister Polaris. "One thing about your story?"

Polaris turned to me and answered, "Yes?"

I tapped my finger on my chin and looked into the pond water. "If Sashimi marked Inu-taisho so that he would have no other mate, then how did he have Inu-yasha with Mika?"

Polaris giggled and closed her eyes with joy. "Sashimi's mark was to keep Inu-taisho from mating with demons, Lady Kagome. She never thought Inu- taisho would find human women suitable mates. Mind you, it was rare in those days for any demons to be with humans. No one suspected the Great Phantom Dog Demon, Inu-taisho, to fall for a mortal woman."

I looked at her with an odd sparkle in my eye. "Tell me more? How did Inu- taisho learn to love humans?"

Polaris blinked her eyes once very softly, and gave her a warm smile. "Another time, child, for now you must rest. The time at hand is important for the baby's growth and you will need plenty of rest."

I frowned a little but understood that it was for the best. I got to my feet and looked at her as she leaned of her wooden staff. I smiled at her. "Sister Polaris?"

She turned to me and I looked at the ground. "Did Inu-taisho ever love Sashimi?"

Polaris frowned a looked to the forest surrounding her estate. "Some say, that it was a shallow emotion that lead them to all their pain. There was no love behind their courtship." She turned to me. "Most demons do not mate to know love, merely to produce. Sesshoumaru was not brought up to see love between his parents. He will learn it in time, or he may never learn it at all."

I waited. "Then, what makes Inu-yasha so different for his brother besides his human heritage?"

Polaris smiled and looked at the sky as two cranes flew over head. "Inu- yasha was brought up to know the warmth of love. Even though he never truly knew his father, he still knew the love he held for him through the love he had for his mortal mother."

I looked at Inu-yasha as he picked up the jug and headed for the well. "Then, my child won't be like Inu-yasha. Sesshoumaru doesn't love me; he doesn't even know I'm carrying a child that belongs to him."

I began to cry and sat back down on the warm grass as Polaris came to my side. "Kagome, love need not rest on blood alone."

I looked at her with tears streaming down my cheeks. "Wha...what do you mean?"

Polaris didn't give me an answer; she merely smiled and went back to her watch. I looked at her and then at my hands as they rest on my belly. 'Then, I will do it alone. I will be my child's mother, and raise it to know my love. It's all I can do! I'll love my child no matter what even if I will be the only one to raise it.'