InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Lifetime Loving You Part 2; The Path to Osaka ❯ The Mysterous Aura ( Chapter 11 )

Chapter 11; The Mysterious Aura

(Inu-yasha)

So...here I was...on the top of the rock peaks in an ocean cove looking at this wolf-dog with large green eyes and a thick brown mane and scar in his face. His blade glowed with an aura that was completely unfamiliar to me.

Yet even though the sword the wolf-dog welded scared me, there was a completely different matter at hand that frightened me entirely.

I held Tetsuseiga vertically and looked at the blade. `Something's wrong! Tetsuseiga's not transforming for me. What's going on? Why won't the blade transform?'

I stood on the rock trying to keep myself from slipping on the wet ocean slim that covered it. I then sliced the air making a whooshing sound with Tetsuseiga, but still nothing happened.

It was then that I really felt like I was in trouble, as Polaris walked out on the Peninsula of land that scared the cove. I looked up as she held up her hand to silence the crowd.

“A challenge has been made on this day concerning right and word. As my tribe of the Earth Dog blood knows, it is right that a leader born of that blood should lead us. I being the matriarch of that decree bore a son to lead us...But now my son is dead...and in his word has told us that here, Inu-yasha...shall be the next true Inu no Taisho of our tribe.”

The wolf-dog demons looked at me and at the display, some looked on with pride, others with disgust or they averted their eyes. “How could Aki be so careless in his final hour? A hanyo, be a leader of a tribe of wolf-dog demons? What purpose lies in that? How dishonorable to his own blood!” I heard one say.

The villagers looked on in complete uncertainty, and I could sense that many were uneasy. “Inu-yasha is the only one who knows the way to this western land. If this is a duel for power than who will lead us to the promised land of sanctuary?”

As I heard all of this I stared at Tetsuseiga wondering why the blade wasn't transforming. What was going on? Why wouldn't the damn sword transform?

“Cuja, one of your strongest males, has preached for many days now that the right to lead should fall on him.”

I looked at the wolf-dog and he grinned at me, and I knew at that moment he could smell the fear growing in my body.

Cuja then point his sword toward me. “My fallen comrade may have spoken your name, but it is not your destiny to lead us. I will not be over run by a worthless mutt!”

Anger built up inside and I gripped Tetsuseiga, though it still refused to transform.

Polaris then held her hands up. “The duel will be not to take the life of your opponent. The first to break the blade of the opposing sword shall be deemed the leader of our tribe...for destiny will have been proven in all demon eyes.”

I looked to Polaris and then back at Cuja who was now grinning as the aura around his sword looked even more powerful.

“Auntie Polaris, you told me this was an exorcise to see if I could still weld my sword, not a challenge to settle pot politics!”

Polaris, however, lowered her arms and tucked them into her sleeves as she crossed her arms. “Than, you're true strength will be proven. Do you still have the same power you once had, Nephew, or have you forgotten the past to protect your future?”

I swallowed hard as I looked at Cuja. `The past? Of course I haven't forgotten about the past, what does she mean by that? All I know is that right now I can't make Tetsuseiga transform and if doesn't do that a time soon I'll l.' it was then that things really got scary. `I can't fight under these terms. If Tetsuseiga breaks, my demon blood could get out of control.'

I gripped the sword even tighter now. `I can't loose this fight. I could careless about all these politics and stuff, but if the sword breaks...I can't loose...I can't afford to.'

It was then though that I tried to remember why I didn't want to loose control like that. Sure the value of human and demon life around me was the biggest deal of all. Yet...something kept nagging at me. There was a far greater reason as to why I didn't want that to happen...but what was it? There was a reason over all others as to why I didn't want my demon blood to get the better of me. Could that be the reason I can't make Tetsuseiga transform? If so...than how can I remember it in time?

I looked to Polaris as she drew her hand out of her sleeve, and positioned her fingers in such a way in order to make them snap, and once they did, it echoed over the peaked of the cove rocks...and then came Cuba's attack cry.

I snapped out of my thoughts and readied myself, gripping Tetsuseiga and holding the blade back. The aura howled as it ground against the untransformed blade I held in my hands. The silt on the rock made it hard to push back and I could feel my footing getting ready to give way as Cuja growled. “Aki chose you to be our next leader? I'd like to know why? You have no power over my own, and your sword is nothing more than an old rusted blade. This surly can't be the fabled sword that could slay one hundred demons in a single pass, or is it just because its owner has neglected it for too long?”

I growled and gave Cuba's sword a good shove so that I could jump to a dryer rock, but the wolf-dog beat me to it and I found him standing only feet away from me before I panicked and my foot touched the edge of the stone.

Our blades clashed and clanged as I tried to back him off, and every time his sword hit mine I thought he would break it in half like a stick. “You can't keep a defense for long. My sword's power will eventually weaken your blade with every pas

I

I jumped into the air and to another rock. As soon as my feet made contact with the stone, I discovered I was out of breath.

`I can't do this. I'll lose the sword, my balance in blood if he breaks the blade. Unless a maraca can happen in the next moment or so, and Tetsuseiga transforms...all is lost.' I swallowed and growled as sweat ran down my face, and Cuja laughed as he waited me out. He was toying with me, daring me to try and attack.

I was scared. Scared for the sake of my sword...and when I it was about to get the best of me, I heard a voice come from the crowds.

“Come on, Inu-yasha! Show `em what you got! I know you can do it!”

I lost focus on Cuja at that moment and looked into the crowds. “Kitsumi?”


~~~~

(Kitsumi)

I stood on the edge of the cliff where Inu-yasha could see me and I called out again. “Show `em what you're made of!”

I watched then as Cuja then took his opportunity to attack Inu-yasha once again while he wasn't paying attention. “Why won't he fight back?” I asked myself out loud.

Suddenly, a pair of hands pulled my shoulders back and I gasped, as Mother loomed over me. “Don't do that Kitsumi. You'll make Inu-yasha loose his focus.”

I arched my brow and looked at her. “But he can't seem to focus on anything. Something's not right. Inu-yasha usually attacks by now; I've seen the way he fights, why won't he attack the other guy?”

My mother tried to pull me away from the edge, and it was then as the sounds of two grunting men and clanging swords rang behind me that I noticed the panic and worry in my mother's eyes.

“Kitsumi, come back to the estate with me, now,” reordered worriedly and took my hand and began to take me back.

I looked back though and listened to the sounds of Inu-yasha's voice. He was in trouble, and the thing that made it even weirder, was that my mother seemed to know it too.

Something was missing, and whatever that something was...

Could it have to do something with maybe...?

I gasped and looked back. “Maybe...”

I pulled my hand free from my mother's and ran back into the crowd with my mother calling out to me as I wove my way though the trees of bodies around me. “Kitsumi! Kitsumi, get back here!”

~~~~

(Inu-yasha)

I jumped to another rock, to catch my breath and I looked down at my sword. `Why hasn't it transformed? If it takes much more of this, the sword might break.

When I looked back up an energy blast was coming right at me. I had not time to move, and I covered my head and the sword with my arms as the energy ran over my body...and yet...I felt nothing more than a mere force.

When I Ed med my eyes I discovered I was completely fine and it was then that I remembered. The white kimono I had underneath my fire rat was dragon's mane. “The kimono took the full force of the blow? The fabric doesn't even have a mark on it!”

Cuja looked at me in complete shock. “I don't know how you did it, but that blast should have put you and your sword down for good!” and with that he came at me again. Only this time, for defensive purposes, I used my arms to bock his blows. Yet even though the fabric was hard, I could slightly feel like the blows were bruising my skin.

I held him off until I could clear myself once again and get to another rock. Now I was exhausted from throwing my weight around to defend myself, and my arms hurt

I couldn't go on like this much longer. I knew if Tetsuseiga would just transform even for a moment I could use even the Wind Scar to beat this guy and break his sword.

How? Why? Why won't you transform for me Tetsuseiga? I'm fighting for my sprit, my heart, and to protect you from harm. Why won't you transform for me?

“Inu-yasha!”

I gasped as I heard Kitsumi's voice from behind me at the far edge of the crowd. I turned my head to see the flowing pink mane behind her as she collapsed on her hands and knees at the edge of the cove's cliffs.

I looked into her eyes as they were filled with fear, and my heart began pounding. Cuja attacked and I turned in barely enough time to clash sword with him, as she snickered in my face and I struggled to hold him back.

“You're so distracted with that young one. She is the hanyo female Polaris spoke of when I arrived her after receiving the news of my brother, Aki's, death. I guess all of you hanyo types stick together huh?”

I growled at him and groaned under the weight of his blade and the sound of it grinding against Tetsuseiga.

And then he said those words. “Or is it...that hay's mother that makes you loose concentration on a battle?”

My heart jumped in my chest and my eyes widened. I looked to my side at the cliff to find Kagome running up to Kitsumi when she caught her breath...and her brown eyes sank into mine. My heart raced as I looked at her...and she looked at me with all the worry and concern in her soft eyes.

“Yes, so it's is her! That human is the very weakness of your heart. I wonder what look will be on her face when she sees that you are not as strong as she hopes you once were.”

I turned my glance back towards him as he grinned. “You risk your life for that, wouldn't you? You'd risk your life to save and protect her?”

I stared at him wide eyed for a moment and then narrowed my brow and growled as I leaned in and put weight on my blade. In a moment his mood changed, and he was confused.

“I would give my life...to keep...Kagome from harm!”

Cuba's eyes then widened as he felt a pulse...the pulse of my blade. I felt it too, but I remained focused on him as I shoved him back and into the air where he lost his focus and control. I cried out as I swung my blade into the air and aimed for his sword.

A flash of light came from the dueling ground and many turned away to protect their eyes. When it cleared, Cuja was on his feet UN scathed and I was on another rock not far...with a fully transformed Tetsuseiga.

There was a loud clang on the rock Cuja stood on and he feel to his knees before the broken piece of his sword.

I snorted and sheathed Tetsuseiga in its scarab, and then jumped over to his stone and held out my hand to him. “Take my hand, and get to your feet!”

He looked up at me bewildered and lost in shock. “But...I have lost...I have lost to the likes of a hanyo. I am unworthy!”

I snorted, “Perhaps, but holding that against yourself will not unite the villagers with your kind if this grudge is not put to rest and pacified. So, stand up, and let them know that I see you as my brother...not my enemy.”

He looked at me and then at my hand. Cuja then looked at me and grinned cockily as he took my hand and stood beside me. He looked to Polaris. “I believe it now, Mother Dog. This is the destiny that has been chosen for us.” Cuja placed his hand on my shoulder and grinned. “And I shall stay beside you, and serve you Taisho...my brother.”

I looked at him like he was crazy for a moment before grinning and taking his hand and crossing our thumbs and gripping each other's palms to show our union.

The crowd cheered, demons and villagers alike, but when I turned to the place where Kagome and Kitsumi were, they were gone.

~~~~

Later that evening I went out to the field and welded Tetseiga once more, and this time it transformed far more easily.

I practiced doing stances with it like I had in its untransformed state in the woods away from Kitsumi's young eyes.

It was while I was doing this that Miroku came to me in the field and sat down with his staff in his black robe and white hakama. He watched me for a moment until I became annoyed with his presence and put the sword away.

I then sat down before him and tucked my arms into my sleeves. “You look like you're not too happy I won the duel today.”

Miroku opened his eyes a bit. “Why would I be upset about that? This unification might work for both parties benefit I think. However, that is not why I have come to you tonight.”

I loosened up and closed my eyes. “Okay, than for what?”

Miroku closed his eyes for a moment to cross his arms into his sleeves, and then looked at me. “Inu-yasha, when you attacked Cuja and sliced his blade, did you feel strange for any reason? Did it feel like Tetsuseiga's power had shifted or altered?”

I thought about it for a moment trying to think back. “Now that you mention it, yeah. For some reason the sword felt like it had a driving will to win. Like it was fighting to protect itself, me, and everything I was thinking about at that moment. It was like something had possessed it, like some sort of spirit.

“Why do you ask, Miroku?”

He then closed his eyes once again. “I'm not sure if I was the only one who had seen, but when Tetsuseiga transformed at that very moment, Inu-yasha, it seemed to change in shape as it passed through the air...and glowed a brilliant gold. It was like an aura, but it wasn't Tetsuseiga's.

“Inu-yasha, I'm not to sure of it...but in theory I do believe that there was another force at work. A force that wanted to ensure that you won this duel and the villagers and demons would follow you.”

~~~~

I looked at Tetsuseiga as I settled in the tree near the estate where I could be well aware of Kagome's scent. I needed it to sooth me, now that Miroku had completely spooked me with his theory that something was working with Tetsuseiga.

I shook my head and tried to sleep, when I heard the pitter patter of tiny feet coming up to the tree. “Inu-yasha?” the tiny voice said.

I turned to my side and looked down, and I almost didn't recognize the figure below. Kitsumi looked up at me from the foot of the tree and held up her hands to take hold of the tree. “Look, Inu-yasha! It went away! I'm all better! I don't have the funny ears or pink hair or claws anymore.”

And it was true; she smelled the way she always had before her transformation. I stretched out my hand to pull her up into the tree and on top of my lap. I stared at her in awe as she played with her black locks and grinned at me.

I looked at the sky...the first crescent moon after the new cycle. The same moon imprinted on Sesshoumaru's forehead; go figure it would symbolize the same night Kitsumi lost her demon power.

I looked at her and gave her a comforting smile. “You know it won't last until tomorrow, right? You're just like me. Human for one night until the phase of the moon is in the sky.”

“I know!” she said sort of sadly, “But it's nice to be me again for a while.”

`Me again'...huh, that had so many complications now a day for me. Kitsumi would be facing the same soon herself.

It was then that the tiny girl yawned in my lap and leaned into my chest. “I don't mind being human for one night. I don't have to worry about those claws poking me in the night.”

I snorted silently and pulled her to me and wrapped her in my arms to keep her warm. She sighed contently in my arms.

“I never knew you could use a sword,” she said in a sleepy voice.

“Do you not like it that I use such a scary sword, then?” I asked her as she tucked her head under my chin.

“No...I like your sword...besides...I was happy when it transformed...” she yawned and snuggled unto my chest a little more. “I wanted you to win.”

I looked down at the tiny girl in my arms for a moment and smiled as I nuzzled her hair and let out a long sigh before finally letting sleep take me over with little Kitsumi in my arms, giving off her sweet child scent that was mixed with Kagome's.

~~~~

(Kagome)

I looked around the corner of the estate outsides Tai rolled in his tent having slept the entire day away and now soon to sleep the entire night away as well.

I looked at Kitsumi's peaceful face as Inu-yasha held her to his chest in the tree that night. The picture was so innocent...so pure...so perfect.

And yet, looking at them, all warm in each others body heat and scent, made my heart hurt so much. So much pain...pain that needed to be kept from Kitsumi's eyes...

And most importantly...Inu-yasha's.

And that secret alone hurt the most that night.

~~~~

I know this was short, but I need to stop it here.

Next Chapter I promise you will not be long, and filled to the brim with the Inu-yasha and Kagome fluff that you have all been waiting for, because the next chapter will be the first hammer and chisel that will be driving into the wall Kagome has put between Inu-yasha and herself.

BUT (oh no, not the but!) in order for that chapter to appear, I will need at least 10 reviews! (evil grin)

Better get reviewin'!

See you soon!