InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Purity Short: The Fairy Tale ❯ The Split ( Chapter 13 )

~~Chapter Thirteen~~

~The Split~

 

:-=-*-=-*-=-*-=-*-=-*-=-:

 

:Edinburgh, Scotland, UK:

:Saturday, March 4, 2062:

:6:45 p.m.:

 

:-=-*-=-*-=-*-=-*-=-*-=-:

 

 

“I think this was the single best birthday she's ever had,” Meara said, twirling the delicate white blossom between her fingertips as she smiled sadly in the quiet of the early evening shadows. Sitting on a thick old bench swing suspended by rusted metal chains from the gaunt branches of a very old oak tree in the corner of the garden, she sighed as her smile widened, as the sadness in her gaze deepened.

 

“You think so?” Morio intoned lightly, kissing Meara's forehead.

 

She nodded. “Yes, I do . . . I just wish Mother had stopped calling her `Meara' . . .”

 

“It didn't seem to bother Aislynn.”

 

“No, it didn't . . . I think it was enough for her that Mother came out of her rooms.”

 

Morio sighed, feeling the underlying tension in Meara's youki. She tried to hide it from him, but it didn't do any good; not really. He knew her too well, was too in tune with her quiet introspection. She never had been able to hide her feelings from him . . . “What are you thinking about?” he prompted though he shouldn't have. He'd be stupid not to know what was really on her mind.

 

“My father will be home tomorrow,” she replied. “Then I'll tell him . . . about us . . .”

 

“Do you really believe he'll take it as bad as all that?”

 

Meara shrugged and forced a thin smile. “I . . . I don't know.”

 

He understood her concern, of course. She seemed to be convinced that he really was going to have a fit over the idea that Meara had chosen a hanyou as her mate, and as much as he'd learned about Ian MacDonnough over the years since they'd first gotten together, Morio had to admit that he agreed with her, on some level. Still, it was almost impossible to grasp the idea that a father—any father—could really do that to his child. Mates were mates, and there wasn't anything anyone could do about it without adversely affecting them both. Surely MacDonnough wouldn't take that sort of risk with his daughter's life, would he? It'd be unnatural, and inasmuch as Morio knew that Meara really wasn't over-exaggerating about her father's disdain for hanyous, the fact of the matter was that Morio and Meara really were mates, in every sense of the word that mattered. All that was left to be done was to make it official, and if he had his druthers about it, that would be rectified soon enough, too.

 

Aislynn had fallen asleep on a bench, and Meara had carried her inside to finish her nap in the comfort of her room while Morio escorted Alesia back to the tower. The afternoon spent playing had been a little much for both mother and daughter, and Morio didn't doubt for a moment that Alesia was up in her rooms, likely sleeping, too.

 

Perhaps she wasn't able to discern the difference between Meara and Aislynn, but it was progress, wasn't it? Meara had said that she'd never seen her mother come out of her self-imposed prison, and that was enough to give Morio a skewed sense of hope. He had to believe that it had been a step in the right direction . . .

 

Meara sighed, leaning against Morio's shoulder as the gentle breeze stirred her hair. “You amaze me, Morio Izayoi,” she said softly.

 

“Of course I do,” he agreed with a wide grin. “I'm amazing, after all . . .”

 

She giggled. “You are.”

 

“I am.”

 

She sighed, leaning away to stare into his eyes, a peculiar light illuminating her gaze.

 

“What?” he asked gently, unable to comprehend just what she was thinking.

 

Meara shook her head. “I was wondering . . .”

 

“Wondering what?”

 

She shrugged. “What I did to deserve someone as wonderful as you.”

 

“You make it sound like I'm a saint or something,” he grumbled, cheeks pinking as he braced his feet against the ground and pushed.

 

“Maybe you are,” she mused.

 

“I'm not,” he argued, scowling at the ground as the breeze picked up just a little, carrying with it the smell of salt and the tang of the barest hint of rain. “You bring out the best in me.”

 

“Do I?”

 

He nodded, slipping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her close as she shivered slightly. “You do . . . If you're cold, we can go inside.”

 

She shook her head, cuddling closer. “There's a storm coming, isn't there?”

 

“Yeah,” he replied with a sigh, unsure if he was talking strictly about the weather; unsure if she was, for that matter.

 

“Tell me about Japan?” she coaxed.

 

He smiled, understanding her unspoken need to distract herself from things that she'd rather not dwell on. “Japan . . . what do you want to know?”

 

She shrugged, twining her fingers together with his, staring at their clasped hands with a thoughtful frown. “Tell me about your grandfather's forest? That's where your house is, right?”

 

“Our house,” he corrected her, “and yes, InuYasha's Forest . . . It's always been known as InuYasha's Forest.”

 

“You said it isn't a big house, didn't you?”

 

“Not really . . . of course, everything looks small after seeing this place.”

 

Meara made a face. “I don't mind small . . . is it as cozy as the cottage?”

 

“Cozy? I'd hardly call the cottage `cozy' . . . cramped is more like it.”

 

She shook her head. “Why'd you buy it if you think it's too small?”

 

“It was close to campus . . . It wasn't expensive . . . and I suppose it's kind of . . . what's the word? Quaint . . .”

 

“So your house in the forest is larger than the cottage?”

 

“Four bedrooms, three bathrooms . . . overlooks the pond in the back yard . . . next to my uncle's house . . .”

 

“Your uncle?”

 

Morio nodded. “Technically he's my uncle, but he's my age . . . a year or so older than me—about a year and a half, really . . .”

 

“Why so close?”

 

Shrugging, he kissed Meara's knuckles and sighed. “Well . . . he's my best friend, for starters . . . that's not the only reason . . . Mikio tends to have . . . spells . . . My father asked me to stay close to him because Mikio hates it when everyone fusses over him.”

 

Meara sighed, snuggling closer against Morio's side. “I can't wait to see it.”

 

“I can't wait to show it to you.”

 

“I'm glad you came with me this weekend,” she mused quietly, lifting her gaze to meet his. The waning light glowed softly behind the mellow brightness in her stare, capturing the incoming clouds as the wind blew a little colder. Shivering slightly, she adjusted the thick woolen shawl she'd thrown over her shoulders.

 

“Me, too,” he allowed quietly.

 

Meara's smile widened though her gaze remained a little sad, and she shook her head slowly. She was thinking about the coming day, wasn't she? Thinking about telling her father about them . . .

 

She sighed softly, leaning against Morio just a little more, as though she were trying to draw some of his strength into herself, to make it her own. The wind picked up, the bitter edge bringing with it the salt of the ocean in the distance. Two fat flakes of snow drifted down, settling in Meara's hair only to melt in silence, and he had to wonder if she could hear the beat of his heart in the stillness. The descending night darkened the depths of her gaze, as gentle as the wind, as turbulent as the sea. She tilted her head back, staring up at him through those mysterious silvery eyes, speaking a thousand thoughts in a fleeting few seconds; unspoken promises, unwavering resolve . . .

 

Kissing her gently, letting his lips press against the warmth of her, he sighed softly as the edges of his resolve unraveled. Touch and sensation spiraled through him as she leaned in closer. It felt like this every time they touched; every time they kissed, didn't it? The bond that was so strong offered both reassurance and comfort even as her lips opened under his. Slipping his arms around her, he sheltered her against the rising gale, held her to him, unable to let her go.

 

“I love you,” she whispered time and again between kisses. “I love you . . .”

 

“I love you, too,” he murmured, eyes closed, lips brushing over her eyelids, over her cheeks as she cuddled against him. “It'll be okay, Meara. You'll see.”

 

Her only answer was the softest sigh, the barely perceptible tightening of her fists against his chest. He didn't know whether or not she believed him, but he hoped . . . Kami, he hoped . . .

 

“What is the meaning of this?”

 

Meara gasped, pushing against Morio as she stumbled to her feet, meeting the unmistakable hostility in her father's formidable glower. She didn't falter, but Morio could feel the unease in her aura. Ian MacDonnough was home early, and finding them kissing was probably not the best setup . . .

 

“Lord MacDonnough,” Morio began.

 

Ian's icy glare flicked over Morio before dismissing him completely. “You would do well to halt your foul mouth, hanyou,” he bit out coldly.

 

“F-father,” Meara forced herself to say. “H-how was your trip?”

 

If Ian heard Meara's question, he ignored it. The absolute bitterness in his stance, in his very youki, filling the garden with a venomous malice.

 

“It's an honor to meet you, Lord MacDonnough.”

 

“Izayoi . . . Ah . . . kin of the hanyou of legend.”

 

“InuYasha is my grandfather . . .”

 

Morio grimaced. He'd sensed it, himself, hadn't he? The absolute loathing in the man's youki had been palpable. Straightening his back as he got to his feet, he didn't blink as he met the man's hostile gaze, the burning light of hatred, of absolute loathing, he slipped an arm around Meara's waist, offering her a measure of unvoiced support, allowing his stance to speak louder than words.

 

“What is the meaning of this, Meara?” Ian demanded once more. “Speak.”

 

Meara flinched but stood her ground. “I meant to tell you, Father,” she began slowly. “Morio and I . . . we're engaged.”

 

Dead silence met Meara's announcement. The ominous threat in the air drew Morio forward, and he stepped between Meara and Ian—an unvoiced declaration that he wasn't backing down, that he would protect Meara, even from her father.

 

“This you will not do, Meara,” Ian asserted, his voice low, tinged with a rage that mingled with the rising whirl of bitter cold wind. “You will be mated to Paul Gregory. End of discussion.”

 

Morio's growl was cut short by the gentle touch of Meara's hand on the small of his back. “N-no,” she forced herself to say, her voice trembling despite the underlying hint of resolve. “I want to be with Morio . . . he's my . . . mate.”

 

Ian moved so quickly that Morio barely had time to react. Stepping neatly to the side, he tried to grasp Meara's wrist. Morio knocked his hand away, unable to help himself as he bared his fangs in a menacing snarl. “Don't touch her,” he bit out, able to maintain a semblance of calm that he was far from feeling.

 

Ian narrowed his cold gaze on Morio. “You will stay out of this, hanyou,” he growled.

 

Morio didn't back down, carefully but quickly shoving Meara further behind his back as he stare, unblinking, at the irate youkai. “Hanyou or otherwise, I will protect Meara, even if that means I have to protect her from you.”

 

“You dare threaten me? The tai-youkai?”

 

Morio shook his head. “I didn't say anything about the tai-youkai, Lord MacDonnough.”

 

Ian snorted derisively. “Really.”

 

“That's right.”

 

“I love him,” Meara blurted, her quaking body pressing against Morio's back as she tried to stand her ground. “I love him . . .”

 

Ian's laugh was a cruel sound, a bitter rumble that colored the air with a foul loathing. “Love? There is no love, daughter of mine,” he retorted. “You will do what you must do. It's your destiny.”

 

“Morio's my destiny,” Meara replied quietly. “Father, please . . . please understand . . .”

 

Ian's silver gaze glowed in the darkness, the light of hatred reflecting from the hollows of his face. His hand shot out, catching Meara's wrist and dragging her away from Morio. He growled low, cracking his knuckles as Meara struggled against her father's hold. So long as he had Meara in his grasp, there wasn't really a thing Morio could do since he refused to put her in danger.

 

“You will not disgrace me, Meara,” Ian bit out, shaking her roughly though he didn't take his eyes off Morio.

 

Meara couldn't contain the whimper that slipped from her as she stumbled, only to be jerked upright again. “I . . .”

 

“I will not have it,” Ian growled, punctuating each word with a series of hard shakes. “Go inside.”

 

“Let go of her,” Morio snarled. “She doesn't want to be with that bastard! She's my mate, or haven't you heard? She belongs with me.”

 

Ian's eyes flared, nostrils quivering as absolute hatred seethed from him, fouling the descending mist, bringing to mind the half-dormant memories of the stories he'd been told in his youth; the stories of Naraku and his deadly jyaki—as though Ian MacDonnough's raw loathing was enough to produce the anomaly, and maybe it was. “You have no say in what will be,” Ian bit out, his gaze narrowing on Morio.

 

“The hell I don't,” Morio countered. He could feel Meara's gaze on him; could sense her distress though he didn't look away from Ian to confirm it. He didn't have to, did he? He knew her better than he knew himself. “She is my mate. She'll be my mate, and you . . . you can accept it or not. I really don't give a bloody rotten damn.”

 

Ian's jaw ticked as he glanced at his daughter before glowering at Morio once more. “You will bring shame on me, Meara?”

 

She shook her head miserably as the salt of her tears filled Morio's nose. “No, Father . . . but I . . .”

 

“Then you will not speak of this anymore.”

 

“Meara . . .” Morio began, taking a step toward her but stopping abruptly when Ian's hand tightened around Meara's wrist, drawing a little whimper from her as she blinked furiously to stave back her tears. A violent surge of impotent rage boiled deep inside, and Morio had never felt quite as inept as he did at that moment.

 

“He is worthless! Nothing more than a miserable abomination! You are my daughter, and you will do as I say!” Ian snarled.

 

Meara shook her head quickly, trying in vain to break the hold of her father's hand around her wrist. “He's my mate! I'll die without him!”

 

A mask of complete indifference slammed down on Ian's expression, precluding the anger—the hate—that ebbed and flowed from him. The coldness in his gaze intensified—the only real trace of emotion—and he drew his hand back to slap her.

 

Morio reacted before he could think, one burning thought racing through his head. Claws ripping through the air, he grunted in pure satisfaction as the arc of blood erupted from the tai-youkai's wrist, and he jerked away, shoving Meara back. She fell to her knees, screaming Morio's name as he planted himself between Meara and her father, his golden eyes daring the man to make good on the threats he was so good at dealing.

 

“You dare to raise your hand against me?” Ian growled, flicking his hand, droplets of blood splattering on the flagstone path under his feet.

 

“You will never hurt her again,” Morio rumbled, his voice low, gravely, raw.

 

Ian's eyes narrowed the tiniest bit, the barest hint of his emotions glittering in his derisive gaze—a steely coldness in his otherwise stoic countenance. “Get out of here before I call security. They can deal with the likes of you.”

 

Meara pushed herself to her feet, reaching out to grasp her father's hand as he strode toward the castle. “Wait, please! I'll go, but . . . may I say goodbye to Aislynn?”

 

Ian shook Meara off and kept moving. “You will never see my daughter again.” Raising an accusing finger at Meara, his voice shook slightly, filled with unspent rage, then steadied as the burn behind his glower grew brighter. “You . . . you are dead to me. Dead.”

 

“Father—”

 

“Leave here. If I must say it again, I will kill you, myself.”

 

Smashing the back of her hand against her lips, Meara fell to her knees, her tears falling from her face, glowing in silver trails down her cheeks; as the snow started to fall in earnest, blanketing her hair in the downy whiteness.

 

In the distance, Morio could hear the tell-tale rise in the wind, could feel the auras of approaching youkai. Grasping Meara's shoulders, he pulled her to her feet. “Come on, Meara,” he said, wishing that he dared to stop, if only to reassure her that everything really would be all right in the end. “We've got to get out of here.”

 

Meara didn't respond. She was so lost in her own misery, Morio wasn't certain she could hear him at all. Grimacing, he scooped her up into his arms, sparing just a moment to kiss her forehead as she glowered at the cold stone edifice that had been her home for far too long. It didn't take long to sprint around the castle, absently thanking his luck that he'd left his car in the middle of the circular driveway. Digging the keys out of his pocket as Meara wept against his shoulder, Morio unlocked the doors without breaking his stride.

 

It didn't take long for him to settle Meara inside, and as he strode around the vehicle, he glanced up at the tall window of the upstairs hallway that overlooked the driveway, and he stopped short. Delineated by the glow of gentle lighting that glowed behind her, the tiny form of a little girl stood, her fists smashing against the lead glass, and he knew without having to hear her that she was screaming. `Aislynn,' he thought with a grimace, with a pang of exacerbating regret. `Aislynn . . . I'm . . . sorry . . .'

 

 

~=~*~=~*~=~*~=~*~=~*~=~*~=~*~=~*~=~*~=~*~=~*~=~*~= ~*~=~*~=~*~=~*~=~*~=~*~=~

A/N:

 

Jyaki: Wicked Energy … Miasma.

I'm working on it … blame my lack of writing on Naruto … lmao!

 

== == == == == == == == == ==

Reviewers

==========

MMorg

Shiarra ------ inuyashaloverr ------- WhisperingWolf ------ silveraliora ------ madosie ------ OROsan0677 ------ evlonerhotmailcom ------ inuluver313 ------ shadowyrain ------ inuyashaclone ------ ochiko ------ Chva (Of course he thought he'd only have one last year to convince her. He didn't know whether she was planning on attending grad school, and he wouldn't haveknownwhere she'd go, if she did …)

==========

Forum Reviews

RogueDestiny ------ Jack-plus-Sally ------ My Own Self ------ stefikittie ------ cutechick18 ------ tragic-hellion ------ OROsan0677 ------ angelfire777 ------ kitcat ------ FriskyPixie777

==========

Final Thought fromMorio:

… Bastard …

==========

Blanket disclaimer for this fanfic (will apply to this and all other chapters in Fairy Tale): I do not claim any rights to InuYasha or the characters associated with the anime/manga. Those rights belong to Rumiko Takahashi, et al. I do offer my thanks to her for creating such vivid characters for me to terrorize.

 

~Sue~