InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Second Chance At Love ❯ 'Guest' Who? ( Chapter 24 )

A/N: Okay, I’ve had people ask me about the Takashi Family and I’ve had people get the members a bit mixed up, so here is the Family Tree.

Lord Sano (d.?) – Lady Tsunami (d.)

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Lord Tomoe (d.) – Lady Niesa (d.) had the (numbered) three below:

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Sage (d.) – (1)Shueran (d.) (twins) (2) Shonin (d.) – Kiori (d. sequel) (3)Mina – Rukino Sasha

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Onigumo (d.)

"We rarely find anyone who can say he has lived a

happy life, and who, content with his life, can retire

from the world a satisfied guest."

~Horace

Chapter 24: ‘Guest’ Who?

‘…only the eyes of your blood shall see it right…’

It played over and over in his head. It only took ten little words to destroy his entire future. He finally had his life back and now the reason he’d fought was going to leave him anyway. He had the unexplainable urge to laugh at the irony of it all. Somehow he knew that if he were to start though, he’d never stop.

Miroku sighed as he moved to take a seat on a scarlet colored cushion. He was in the lounge room that he and the rest of the group had occupied after the battle with the Spirits for their discussion. He brought his left hand up; the one that use to have the kazaan, palm forward, and once again he studied it. He traced over the veins he could see through the skin on the back of his hand. Somehow the same blood that ran through the demon he hated for so long also ran through him. His hand was no longer covered by cloth and prayer beads; he was free. He’d gone so long with it covered that it felt foreign to not have it covered. They’d finally gotten rid of Naraku for good. He deserved to have his life back, but now he felt like covering that hand back up… and every other part of him.

Naraku was his family.

So, how much of what he knew about himself and how much he believed about his family was a lie? Did they all lie to him for years or did his father and the rest not know that their enemy was family? Was any part of his life true? And speaking of knowing; did Naraku know that the family he had cursed to one day be swallowed by a black hole was his family? Would he have even cared?

Somehow he doubted that.

Now, not only was a relative of his responsible for hurting his own family, he was also

responsible for hurting those he considered family as well as countless others.

All he wanted was to break the curse so he could live a normal life with a family and preferably Sango having that family with him. Now, he probably wasn’t going to get that either. Sure, Sango still looked at him with love and he knew he’d hurt her when he’d walked away from her, but he knew Sango had yet to figure it all out. What would she think of him when she realized that not only was the demon that had destroyed her entire village and used the only family she had left against her, but that the man she professed to love was related to him? What would she think when she realized that that could mean that Miroku wasn’t even human? That Naraku may have very well been his grandfather or great-grandfather or something?

What was he anyway?

It was obvious the Takashi family was full blooded demons and now it was revealed that Naraku, even though it was suppressed, was a full demon as well. And if he was related to them, he had the same blood running through his veins. What did that make him? Was he a demon too? He didn’t feel like a demon, whatever that felt like. It was all so confusing and…and a bit disturbing. Was he going to lose everyone who had ever come to mean anything to him?

Miroku looked down at his hands again. They didn’t look any different. The nails were still short and trim. They looked human! He still couldn’t grasp the fact that he was related to the thief Onigumo and therefore related to Naraku.

His eyes began to go unfocused as he stared at his hands and he thought about all the things Naraku had put him and the rest of the gang through, They’d all lost so many because of the baboon and his need for the Shikon no Tama.

His kazaana was gone, but it looked as if Naraku was still with him.

Sango walked in quietly to fine him sitting on the floor, his hands facing upward. He looked so alone sitting by himself. Why wouldn’t he talk to her? She wondered why he didn’t trust her to understand what he was going through. Why wouldn’t he give her a chance? Did he no longer love her?

"Miroku?"

For a moment there was no reaction from the houshi and she wondered if perhaps he hadn’t heard her. She opened her mouth to call out to him again, but stopped mid-breath when hs head began to move. Sango watched as he slowly brought his eyes to rest on hers’.

Her heart nearly broke a second time when she saw the forlorn look in his eyes. Then, as if by sorcery, the look was gone to be replaced by a look of calm patience. Sango wondered briefly if she had imagined the first look.

"Yes, Sango-chan?"

She gave him a searching look as she took two steps further into the room and out of the doorway. "Are you alright?"

"I am fine," he smiled at her, but she couldn’t help but notice the smile did not reach his eyes. "Do not concern yourself for me."

Sango blinked at that. If she wasn’t to worry about him, the man she loved, then who was she to worry about?

"I… Wh…" she trailed off and hung her head. She was feeling nervous and out of place. It was making her uneasy, because of all the things Miroku made her feel she never felt inadequate, but inadequate was what she was feeling now and she didn’t like it. "Why are you doing this to me?"

This wasn’t about her! Couldn’t she see that? He wasn’t doing anything to her… everything was happening to him. For almost his entire life he’d lived with the knowledge that one day he would be sucked into a void that was cursed into the palm of his hand. And he had hated it; he’d hated it and feared it. He’d watched his father die from it, was told his grandfather had and that it had began with his great-grandfather, though he’d never had kazaana on him. Did she know what it felt like to live knowing that one day soon you were going to die? Did she know what it felt like for him to help Inuyasha and Kagome and the rest , using the Wind Tunnel all the time, and knowing that he was willingly shortening the time he had left?

All Miroku had ever wanted was a child to carry on his family’s name, because he knew he couldn’t. While he’d say he wanted a son since only a son could continue the line, he’d secretly preferred a little girl. Only the men in his family had been cursed. If his child was girl he wouldn’t have to wonder if the curse was going to one day appear on her palm.

But, there had been another part of him that didn’t want any children at all. That way the curse would end with him whether they had caught Naraku or not.

Then he’d met Sango and everything changed.

He’d begun wishing for things he knew he could never have. A proper family, a home, a life… Even while they were chasing Naraku he’d held hope in Inuyasha and Kagome. He’d lost that faith a few times along the way, but it had always come back to him; especially when Lord Sesshoumaru had started to help them. Then Naraku had been defeated and the curse of the kazaana was gone he’d confess to Sango.

Miroku had finally had everything he’d always wanted.

Then they tell him that the family name he’d always tried to preserve wasn’t even his. And he, nor his father, nor however many before him, were not even human. Now he was about to lose everything; including her. And she asked why he was doing this to her? He wasn’t.

Miroku took in her profile beside him as she bowed her head. His eyes softened and he felt all the anger drain from him as he looked at her. She was so beautiful! Did she realize the effect she had on him? No one but she could ever make him feel giddy and nervous all at the same time. Just one look in her chocolate brown eyes and he felt as if he could take on the world. As long as Sango was looking at him, he knew that life could and would be great.

Her cheeks were flushed a becoming pink and he wondered idly if he would ever have that effect on her again once she learned who he really were. Her lips held the rosy tint it always took on to let him know she’d been biting her lip again. She sat with her legs folded beneath her and her hands fisted in her lap. Miroku could tell from the stiffness of her spine that she was uncomfortable with just sitting there. He figured she probably would rather be yelling at him or knocking him in the head with her Hiraikotsu. He imagined it was taking every bit of her restraint to just sit there. He couldn’t help but smile at the thought.

Kami-sama, he loved her!

She meant the whole world to him. He would do anything and give up everything to make sure she was happy. She deserved to be happy. She had her brother restored to her and now she could finally move on with her life and rebuild. Miroku didn’t want to drag her through this horror with him… and he doubted she’d want to go anyway. If she was here to tell him she wanted to be free of him, he’d let her go. He’d give up everything for her; including her.

"I am not doing anything to you Sango-chan," he answered evenly; making no eye contact. "You are free to go and do as you please at any time."

What? Her head shot around to look at him then. What was he talking about? Was he telling her to leave? Did he want her to?

"You want me to go?" she asked quietly. Sango stared at his face trying to determine what he was thinking, but even though he was looking in her direction he wasn’t looking at her. He wasn’t making eye contact at all, instead staring at the space over her left shoulder. "Is that what you want Miroku?"

No, it wasn’t what he wanted, but he didn’t know how to tell her that. He knew if he did she’d stay because she’d think he was asking her to, and in a way he would be. He didn’t want her to stay for that reason though. He wanted her to stay because she wanted to, not because she felt it her duty too. Through their time of knowing each other, which he admitted was only 3 autumns long, they’d protected and saved one another many times and he knew just that fact alone would make her stay. Sango was loyal to those she cared about and to those she thought deserved it. All that she went through for her brother, who’s death was all but guaranteed if not by Naraku’s hand when he’d finished serving his purpose or when the shard in his back was removed, proved that she was loyal… not to mention a bit stubborn.

He knew that once Sango made the choice to stay by him once he told her he wanted her to, that there would be no going back for her no matter how she felt about his ‘family’ or certain members of it.

He didn’t want that.

Sango waited for him to answer her or to at least give her some indication that he was even listening to her! The longer he sat there with that impassive look on his face the easier her hurt changed to anger. For once she could truly understand why Kagome always got so upset with Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru when they did the same thing; especially when Sesshoumaru did it.

"You…jerk!!" she used one of Kagome’s words as she seethed and got to her feet. Looking down on him she continued to yell at him, "You can at least look at me when your telling me to go away! If I could leave this place right now I would you… you idiot!"

Miroku’s eyes went wide as she bent towards him as she screamed. He fell back on his hands as he tried to get away from the angry exterminator. He usually found himself laid out on the ground when she was this angry since she always ended up hitting him in the head with something, he thought with a grimace. Miroku figured he probably should have thought of that before making her angry, but for once he had no idea how he’d made her mad… and she was very mad. He’d only been trying to give her what he knew she wanted; freedom from Naraku’s offspring.

"Sango I–"

"What! You ‘what’ Miroku?!" she cut him off as she fisted her hands on her hips. Then she sighed as she glared at him. "All I wanted was for you to talk to me. I want to help you Miroku, but I can’t if you push me away."

She looked away from him then. It hurt to look at him and know that he didn’t want her there. Sango didn’t understand why he had changed his mind and heart about her. When he’d left them on the roof she’d thought he’d just wanted some space while he digested the fact that he was possibly related to Onigumo in some way, but now she wasn’t so sure that was it.

"I won’t fight you," she said evenly; her eyes still averted. "If you want me to go I will. Just tell me."

Miroku opened his mouth to tell her just that, but no matter how man times he opened his mouth nothing came out. He wanted to leave her before she could leave him, as he was sure she would, but he couldn’t make himself say the words. Slowly getting up from the floor, he focused his attention on dusting off his robes in an attempt to buy himself some time to think.

What was he doing? If she wanted to stay with him, why wasn’t he keeping her for as long as he could? When she left the hurt wouldn’t be any worse tomorrow then it was at that moment. In the end she would leave, because who would want to be married to the child of a monster.

"Sango," he tried again. He reached out his hand to her, but stopped when she flinched away from him. His face hardened slightly as he hid the hurt that action caused from being seen. He returned his hand to his side as it was obvious she didn’t want to be touched by him. "I’m not asking you to leave. I just need some room to think about being… about being the…" he swallowed as he forced the rest of his sentence out, "the son of Naraku."

Her eyes lifted up to meet his. She had refused to look at him ‘til then. Sango blinked twice; so his actions were about that. Her back went stiff when his words played over in her head. Sango had just realized what he’d exactly just said.

"No you’re not," she responded unthinkingly as she gave him a questioning look.

"Yes I am," he responded evenly. "Didn’t you just hear Kagome back there? The curse?"

She just blinked at him. Of course she heard Kagome, but what did that have to do with Naraku?

"Only the eyes of your blood shall see it right," he repeated for her after a moment. Now he knew why she wasn’t leaving yet; she didn’t know. "Its talking about the castle and Niesa was cursing Takashi Sano. Only someone with his blood would be able to see the castle as it truly looks." He turned away from her then to pick up his shakujou from the floor. "And I am the only one of us who sees the castle differently."

"I already know that houshi," said Sango quietly. She realized that he hadn’t been thinking about the matter as much as he’d been thinking about the consequences because he had the facts a bit mixed up. Maybe Kagome was right and he did need time to understand everything she thought to herself as she moved towards the door.

"But what does that have to do with Naraku?" she turned to him then. "That only proves you have a connection to the thief Onigumo."

She held his gaze for a moment as his eyes widened, with what she could only assume was understanding, before walking out the door.

****

Sesshoumaru watched Kagome as she released him from her embrace and moved to sit on the ledge. The long, thick, braid of her hair swayed slightly with the light breeze. He could smell her worry and her fear. He didn’t understand it; she was never this scared of Naraku. Why was she so worried about this? What hadn’t she told them… any of them?

"What happened between you two?"

He arched an eyebrow at her question.

"Don’t look at me like that! You know who I’m talking about Sesshoumaru," she replied to the look he was giving her. He gave no response though, so she clarified. "Inuyasha."

Of course, thought Sesshoumaru as he crossed his arms and buried his hands in his sleeves. It was always about Inuyasha.

"He used to worship you, you know. I saw it and he told me. He used to tell himself that as long as you were around he would always be safe. He didn’t belong to the humans and he didn’t belong to the youkais, but he knew he did belong somewhere. And that was wherever his mother was and when she died, it was wherever you were. You’re the reason why he went looking for the Shikon no Tama all those years ago."

He just stared at her.

"He wanted to be just like you. I think, back then, he would have done anything for you." She gave him a small smile before looking down at her hands. "He tried, and succeeded, to lock those feelings away for whatever reason; I don’t know." She had a feeling he did though. "Now, because I went inside his head, I’ve brought those feelings and memories back out. He doesn’t know how to handle that. Inuyasha knows he can never be a full youkai, and I think he’s come to accept himself the way he is, but it hasn’t stopped him from wishing. He deserves more than that."

Sesshoumaru didn’t know what it was she was trying to say to him or what she was hoping for. He knew perfectly well that his little whelp of a brother had idolized him. It was quite annoying and not a little exasperating, but he used to put up with it. Not to mention the half-wit’s tedious questions.

…"Aniki, what’s a half-breed? Why do they keep calling me that?" asked a crying Inuyasha of about eight or nine years of age. His eyes were huge and full of trust as they gazed up at his own.

"A half-breed Inuyasha is a youkai who also has ningen blood."

"Oh," said the wide eyed little boy as the tears grew and he hung his head down. "So, I am dirty aren’t I Sesshou?"

"Suck it up Inuyasha. Tears will solve nothing and won’t make anything change. So what if you are different Inuyasha. Who would want to be like everyone else?" He turned to walk away from the little boy, who’d eyes had returned from the ground, when he’d stopped to look over his shoulder at him. "Do not address me by that name again."

He saw the pup send him a beaming smile before he continued to walk away.…

Sesshoumaru stiffened. Hn. Where’d that come from? It had been a long time since any memories like that had surfaced. He hadn’t spent a lot of time around Inuyasha while he was a pup since he’d found the boy aggravatingly tedious. As a half-breed, Inuyasha did not age as fast as he did when he was a pup. Though he had to admit he did find the pup’s antics amusing at times.

He tuned back into Kagome when he realized she was still talking.

"Inuyasha has always protected me. From the beginning, even when he thought I was the one who sealed him to Go-shinboku, and even when I shattered the jewel and he knew I would be more trouble then help, he still protected me. We have been through a lot together and I know that he will still do anything to keep me safe despite all that has happened."

Seshoumaru lifted his gaze to the sky and saw that it would be around noon in about an hour or two. He’d spent the entire morning on the roof of that tower. He was still wondering what she was getting at.

"What my point is," she continued after a small sigh as if he’d asked his question out loud, "is that I know Inuyasha is going to try and protect me this time. They all will." She looked up at him then.

He could see the sadness in her eyes as he stared into her blue orbs. She had so much emotion in her and she cared for everyone that he couldn’t see how she didn’t get tired of it.

"I need you to watch over him for me. Inuyasha has a tendency to rush into things without thinking them through first." She smiled at the unsubtle raising of his eyebrow. "I know you two … well, have your differences, but Sesshoumaru he can’t fight this. None of them can. I’m not even sure if I can…" she trailed off.

"You concern yourself for the hanyou and not the others?"

"Miroku and Sango are not irrational," she shrugged. "They will recognize when there is nothing they can do. Inuyasha will not easily accept that. You know I’m right. Besides, they have their own problems to deal with; especially Miroku."

Yes, the houshi it seemed was related to the thief Onigumo in some way. That also meant he was related to the Takashis. Sesshoumaru wondered how long it would take the houshi and the rest of them to figure out that now that Naraku; who was essentially whatever was left of Onigumo; was dead it left the monk as the heir to the seat of the Eastern Lands. It would prove to be an interesting reaction when the other two Lords learned that the second largest province would be ruled by a ningen. It was not going to be good.

Sesshoumaru studied the young woman in front of him. The wind had brought a touch of pink to her cheeks and a few strands of hair had come loose from the braid and was now flying in the wind and into her face. He could see the bright blue of her eyes shining beneath long black lashes as she looked back at him. Something about her called to his protective instincts even more then his little charge, Rin, did. It was unsettling how much he cared about what happened to the miko.

He remembered his otousan asking him if there was nothing he cared about. At the time, the only thing he could think of was his father and his lands… and perhaps one or two other things that did not deserve mentioning, but somehow he knew that those weren’t the answer his father was looking for. He and his father had fought together on many occasions and the former taiyoukai had known his son would do anything for him and vice versa, but now, looking at the miko, Sesshoumaru had a feeling he now had a proper answer to his father’s question.

He wondered if his father would have liked the miko, then quickly pushed the thought out of his head.

As for Inuyasha, he couldn’t honestly say that he cared whether or not something happened to the hanyou, but he knew he would not allow him to be killed there in the castle. Inuyasha’s life belonged to him and no one else. He would protect Kagome and (since she asked it of him) if necessary he would make sure the little whelp didn’t get himself killed.

"Inuyasha will die by my hand."

Kagome rolled her eyes. He couldn’t believe her impertinence. He watched quietly as she hopped down from the ledge and landed lightly on her feet. Her movements were quiet and graceful; she’d come very far in her training from the young woman she’d been when he’d first seen her. She could still yell like she used to though. He looked down at her as she came to a stop in front of him. There was a mischievous light in her eyes that he hadn’t seen there in a while, not since they joined her in the castle.

"Of course," she smiled at him as she rose to her toes and kissed his cheek. "Though I imagine he would be dead already if that were so." Kagome struggled to hold her laugh as she stuck her tongue in her cheek. "Thank you."

Did she have no respect!? He could see the laughter shining in her eyes. She gave him one last smile before moving past him towards the door. She spoke over her shoulder to let him know where she was going.

"I’m going to find Inuyasha. It’s time he and I talked, so I’ll be in the dining area of course. I’m guessing that I’m going to find out just exactly what I’m up against very soon."

"What makes you think so?" he asked quietly.

"Simple." She stopped for a second to turn to him, "I can no longer sense the Shikon no Tama."

He watched as she left muttering about dog demons that did nothing but eat and complain. Then he turned to focus his attention, once again, on the roof of the tower to the left of the one he was on.

Someone had been over there. He had sensed their youki though he did not recognize it. Whoever they were they were powerful and excited. When he’d expanded his aura to search for there’s it had immediately disappeared.

Sesshoumaru didn’t like it. If Kagome couldn’t sense the jewel anymore that meant one thing; the jewel had finally been completely tainted.

That didn’t bode well for them.

****

Inuyasha was sitting at the dining table staring down at his plate. For the first time in a long time he had no appetite. Where was that damn kitsune when he needed him!?

"Feh!"

He shoved the food away from him as he folded his legs up in the chair. Things were getting worse and worse around here. He’d thought with the death of Naraku everything would go back to normal. There’d be no more running, no more searching for shards, and no more of Kagome risking her life. Then they came to the castle and everything changed. Now Kagome was in more trouble.

He didn’t know how she did it, but the miko seemed to attract trouble like a moth to a flame. Kagome was the sweetest person he knew. She accepted both youkai and hanyous and didn’t judge either. She would use her strength, power and mind to help anyone in need no matter who they were. How many times had she helped Sesshoumaru even when his brother had clearly didn’t like her? She’d helped that stupid wolf Kouga even though he and his pack had kidnapped her and held her hostage. There was nothing that she wouldn’t do for someone if they needed it, and yet someone was always out to get her all because she was probably the most powerful miko since before Lady Midoriko.

…He’d changed into a full youkai for the first time when a spider demon had been threatening a village. Soon, he’d become more of a threat then the demon that he’d just defended them against. He could remember thinking of nothing but blood. It was all he wanted, all he cared about. The blood and the kill was all that had mattered to him.

In some small part of his mind he knew his friends were in danger because he was more then ready to feel there blood on his hands just as much as anyone else’s.

But Kagome wouldn’t leave him.

He knew Sango and Miroku were trying to get her to run from him, but she wouldn’t do it. She held her ground and continued to try and talk to him. He could hear her voice calling to him and for a moment he’d tried to get back to her because he could hear the desperation and pleading in her voice. In the end, the blood thirst was too much for him.

He’d looked her in the eyes and he’d know he was going to attack the woman, but he didn’t see his friend in front of him. He didn’t see the woman he cared about more then any other, all he saw was the blood raging in her veins and taste the fear he could see and smell coming from her. And he had reveled in it.

He’d moved to pounce!

"SIT BOY!!"

Then he was face down in the dirt and feeling like himself… and more ashamed then he’d ever been in his life.

He’d almost killed the only person that had ever kept there vow to stay with him. Inuyasha couldn’t take the guilt and pained that revelation had caused him. Did he go through all the trouble and searching to become a full youkai only to learn that it meant he’d become a blood thirsty monster? A monster that didn’t know friend from foe and would kill all because of it was not what he wanted to be.

He’d sat down beside the river as he tried to wash the blood from his claws. The shame he felt had kept him from talking to the rest of them and had him wondering when they’d leave him and decide that he was too dangerous to stay around.

He really couldn’t blame them for thinking that.

Inuyasha had been so deep into his thoughts that he didn’t hear Kagome’s approach until she sat down beside him. She quietly leaned her head on his shoulder and placed one of her hands into one of his.

"Cheer up Inuyasha. We don’t blame you."

"Hn."

"I can’t imagine how you must feel Inuyasha, but you must know that no matter what I’ll always be beside you."

He didn’t respond to her words, he just placed his other hand over the one she had wrapped around him and placed on the opposite shoulder.

‘Kagome…’…

He’d never been more grateful for her then he was that day. But that wasn’t the point.

Inuyasha knew that Kagome was keeping things from them. He could see it in her eyes that she wasn’t telling them everything. And though he didn’t like it, he knew she was doing it to protect them.

He was going to give her a little more time to tell him before he demanded she do just that.

She was in trouble. Inuyasha knew that she probably thought he hadn’t noticed the worry in her eyes, but he did and he could smell her fear. Whatever was threatening her was powerful enough to make Kagome scared which meant that it was worse then Naraku. He also had started to notice Sesshoumaru shadowing her wherever she went and if she was out of his sight for too long he went looking for her. So, he figured either Kagome had talked to him or he’d noticed what Inuyasha had.

He didn’t want to lose her. He knew she was in love with Sesshoumaru and he had a gut feeling that Sesshoumaru felt the same. But, she was still the closest thing he had to a family that wasn’t blood related. He would do anything to protect her.

He loved her. He didn’t have any problems with admitting it now. Inuyasha knew he had blown his chances of ever being with her, but she would always be in his life. She’d promised him that and he believed her. She wouldn’t leave him.

He was just having a bit of trouble looking her in the eye.

Inuyasha knew that Kagome had seen a lot of his memories when she was in his head. He wasn’t quite sure all of what she saw, but it was seen. Ever since she’d been in his head he’d been remembering things he’d long since trained himself not to ever think about. And it had worked; until now.

He had vague images of his father from when he was much too young to remember and his mother’s beautiful face was always there smiling at him. But, that wasn’t so bad because he didn’t really remember his father, who’d died when he was much too young to know and he always had his mother with him. What was bothering him, were the memories he had of Sesshoumaru. For a while he’d begun to believe that it was all wishful thinking on his part that his brother had once liked him, but now he knew it was true.

He couldn’t decide which belief was worse; the wish or the reality.

…"Sesshou, why do you wear your tail over your shoulder like that? And why do you have those marks on your face and I don’t? Can I have one?"

"Because Inuyasha, I do not care for dirt and it is tiresome to hold it up," his brother had patiently answered him with a sigh. "The markings on my face and other places of my person signify me as taiyoukai of the Western Lands and no, you can not have one, Inuyasha."

"Oh. Okay!" responded Inuyasha with a smile as he skipped along beside his brother.

"Inuyasha?" he waited for the bouncing pup to look up at him and give his full attention before he continued. "Do not address me by that name again."

"Okay, aniki."…

He’d been around six years old then. He’d continued to call his brother ‘Sesshou’ every time the name had popped into his head. And his brother had always responded with the same request. Soon, Inuyasha had begun to look at it as a game. Sesshoumaru had never done more then tell him to not call him that.

He hadn’t called Sesshoumaru that for a long time. Nope he’d come up with other nicknames that were less flattering in recent years.

…Inuyasha was running as fast as his little legs would carry him. The forest was big but it was daylight so he could see fine. He could hear the three youkai chasing him not too far behind, even though his heart was pounding so loud he was sure they could probably hear it too. They had called him filth and said they would kill him because he had no right to be there, so he’d run away. He didn’t know why they didn’t want him in the forest, after all, it was on his father’s (which was now his brother’s) land.

He didn’t know where he was going, he was just trying to get away from the mean demons, He’d been running so fast and his vision was blurring so much that he’d almost run right off the cliff he didn’t know was there. He’d come to quick halt and had turned to go back when he’d heard the demon’s still coming towards him.

Inuyasha turned to look for some place to hide, but all there were was trees and open space. He wasn’t good enough to climb a tree on his own yet. His heart started beating faster as he heard the ones chasing him getting closer. He moved towards the cliff and cautiously looked over it. There was a small ledge underneath it.

He quickly got down on his belly as he got an idea.

Inuyasha was sure he could fit on the ledge and hide there as he slid back and lowered himself over the edge. He’d just made it onto the ledge when he heard the other demons come crashing through the trees.

He pressed himself back against the rocks and tried to concentrate on hiding his scent and youki like his brother had taught him.

‘Aniki help me, please! Don’t let them see me!’ He’d shut his eyes and began to pray for his brother when he saw the worm demon stick his head out over the edge. ‘Help me aniki, please! Please come help me!’

Inuyasha had opened his eyes to see a pair of green ones staring back at him. The worm youkai had found him!

"Well, look what I’ve found. Oh and look at that, nowhere to run."

"Leave me alone!" shouted Inuyasha.

Then he shut his eyes when the demon started moving closer at the urging of his friends above.

Inuyasha had cracked open an eye after a moment when he’d felt nothing happen. That when he’d heard the yelling above him. He hadn’t realized he’d covered his ears too. When he’d finally screwed up his courage enough he’d lifted himself up to see.

Inuyasha froze.

His eyes were wide as he watched his brother kill the last of the three demons.

"Next time hunt on someone else’s lands," he heard his brother say to the carcasses strewn on the ground at his feet. "Come Inuyasha."

His brother had turned to leave without even looking in his direction. Inuyasha had tried to pull himself over the edge and follow him, but his arms and legs were shaking too much for him to get a good hold. Tears started to pour from his eyes as he struggled fruitlessly to get up. His brother was leaving him and he was afraid more demons would come. Those thoughts just made him shake more, which made the tears come faster and begin to blur his vision. He couldn’t pull himself back over the edge.

Then he felt something soft wrap around his small waist and he was in the air.

The next thing he knew he was surrounded by his brother’s scent and something fluffy and white that he recognized as his brother’s tail. He was being carried against a solid chest wrapped in his tail… the very tail he usually wasn’t allowed to even touch.

‘Aniki…’ he called in his mind as he buried his face in the white fluff to hide his tears.

"Thank you, Sesshou."

Because his face was hidden he missed the almost affectionate yet startled look his brother had given him. He did feel the light squeeze his brother had given him with his tail though.

"Do not call me that horrid name koro,"…

He’d learned later that the demons had not been talking about the forest when they’d said he didn’t belong there. Inuyasha also remembered that that was the day when he’d decided he wanted a tail too.

Inuyasha sighed heavily. He knew that Kagome had seen those memories (and others) and it was only a matter of time before she came to him with her heart in her eyes and questions on her tongue. The problem was; he didn’t think he could answer them. He’d spent a long time to forget all about that time of his life; not that he’d done that great at it, since he’d still gone off to get the shikon jewel when he’d heard of it. And then he’d met Kikyo. He was sure his life was finally going the way it was supposed to. He loved and was loved and was going to give up the part of himself that had meant more to him than anything else, besides his mother who had died, for Kikyo. He was going to become human.

In the short time it had taken him to find the jewel and the miko whose duty it was to guard it he’d gone from seeking the power of the jewel to become a full demon to deciding to be a full human instead. Why? Kikyo. She’d wanted to be free of the burden of the jewel and live as a regular woman and he’d wanted to be with her. He’d believed in her love for him and was willing to do whatever it took to keep it.

Goes to show how stupid he was!

If he’d just paid attention to the stories of the jewel and tried to understand how it worked he’d have learned his wish would not have made the jewel disappear. It would have tainted the jewel and made things easier for Naraku . His wish was a selfish wish and not pure of soul like what was needed. If they had truly loved each like they both proclaimed to then it probably wouldn’t have.

For some reason Kikyo had not figured this out which made him wonder if perhaps she wasn’t the right one to hold the Shikon jewel

Now that he had the time to think about it in hind-sight, Inuyasha mentally froze as he realized the Kikyo seemed more interested in getting away from the jewel then having it purified… she just needed it purified to get away from it.

"Inuyasha?"

His ears twitched towards the doorway as he heard the familiar voice coming from that direction. He knew she’d come after him sooner or later; he’d hoped for later. He sighed as he heard her move closer to him. If she was being this hesitant he knew she was about to talk about something she knew he didn’t want to discuss.

"Feh!" he muttered under his breath.

"Inuyasha are you okay?"

"I’m fine Kagome," he sighed in frustration, but stayed where he was. She’d just follow him anyway.

Kagome pulled out the seat beside him and gingerly sat down. He had yet to look at her and she figured it was probably because he was still mad with her. She’d never meant to hurt him in any way she’d just wanted to help.

"So," she began tentatively, "how long are you going to be mad at me?"

He looked up at her then.

Inuyasha studied her face for a moment. He could see the concern and the underlying pain in her eyes. He didn’t want her to hurt over him; he was fine.

"I’m not mad at you Kagome," he said evenly before he turned his gaze back to the table.

"Oh," she responded with a half smile. Kagome wasn’t sure if that was better or worse. "I’m still sorry, for whatever its worth, I didn’t mean to pry or see something you wouldn’t have wanted me to see. I really didn’t see all that much; I was sort of on a mission at the time."

He nodded slowly in understanding.

"What did you see?" he asked quietly.

"I saw," she stopped to think of just how to put it without having to give details then shrugged and decided to keep it vague, "I saw enough to know that things haven’t always been the way they are between you two."

"Hn."

She smiled softly at him and leaned her head on his shoulder. Inuyasha was always hiding himself from anything emotional. She knew it was a protective mechanism and she found it interesting that both brothers had a natural instinct to protect themselves against anything emotional,

"You’ve worked really hard on leaving your past in the past haven’t you Inuyasha? You have no problem with talking about your mother, but when it comes to your father or Sesshoumaru you close off completely."

"There’s not much I can tell you about my father. I don’t remember him much."

"I know, but I get the feeling you wouldn’t talk about him even if you had something to say." Kagome could sense the tension in him; he wasn’t comfortable with the topic. She didn’t want to make him do anything he didn’t want to. There was plenty of time for that later. "Inuyasha, you don’t have to talk about if you don’t want to. I just wanted you to know that I’m here if you ever want to. I also wanted you to know that I would never tell anyone what I saw."

"I had always known, since I was young, that I didn’t have place in the human world and I didn’t have one in the youkai world either, but I’d always know I’d had a place with my obaa-san. She would always tell me chichi loved us. Now, I’m remembering that I once had a place with an- with Sesshoumaru." Kagome didn’t ask what he was going to say. "I’m not really sure how that changed. I don’t know if it’s something I just can’t remember or something I never knew at all."’

"Alright," she said quietly. She lifted her head from his shoulder to look him in the face. Silently she placed a palm on either side of his face before she spoke. "Whenever you want to talk, I’m here. And maybe, just maybe, while you’re thinking about all this you can think about confronting Sesshoumaru to find your answers." She saw his eyes darken and knew he was about to throw that suggestion in her face. She rushed on to finish before he could growl at her. "I know what you’re going to say Inuyasha, but just think about it. What could it hurt? You two are already trying to kill each other at every opportunity."

She released him and he immediately turned his face away from her. Inuyasha couldn’t even imagine bringing his memories up with Sesshoumaru. Did he really use to call him ‘Sesshou’? He couldn’t imagine the Sesshoumar he knew today allowing that. His brother could barely stand knowing he exist, much less, speaking civilly to him.

They both sat in companionable silence. There was something worrying her. Something was on her mind and it wasn’t the issues between him and his brother. He could smell the mixed emotions radiating from her. Whatever had her worried also had her a little scared He had a feeling it had to do with the being that was in the castle with them.

Inuyasha had known there was something she wasn’t telling him. Well, she’d better be ready to talk now, because he wasn’t taking ‘no’ for an answer.

"What aren’t you telling me Kagome?"

Kagome stiffened for a moment before relaxing again. Truthfully she’d figured that she wouldn’t be able to keep stuff from him. Besides, she had yet to learn how to suppress her scent. She gave him a sideways glance before sighing softly as she propped her elbows on the table and rested her chin on her hands.

"Do you know tonight will be the first night of the full moon?" she said quietly. She saw him arch an eyebrow at her in question. Kagome gave a slight shrug in answer; okay, so maybe that was the one night of the month he wouldn’t lose track of; that and the night of a New Moon. "I have a bad feeling that’s all. Something is going to happen and I can’t help thinking its coming with the light of the full moon."

"It’s after you isn’t it Kagome?" he asked evenly as he watched her. Kagome turned her head to face him then. "Whatever is in the castle with us, wants you. You said so before, but you didn’t explain then. Its not here to make friends with you"

She debated lying to him, but then discarded that thought since he’d be able to tell anyway.

"I’m not sure if it wants me, but it does want something from me. With all the hints that were given to me, I have yet to figure out what that is."

"Hints?"

Kagome looked at him as she debated whether she should tell him what the ghost of Takashi Sano had told her. They’d been through so much together; she knew if there was one person she could tell it to it was Inuyasha.

She lowered her arms to lay on the table, hands laced at the fingers, and lowered her chin to rest on her hands once again.

"I was warned that this thing, whatever it is, was drawn here by the power it could sense in the castle. I figure Niesa’s curse enhanced the innate power of the castle. But when the thing realized it couldn’t get to that power it focused its attention on something else in the castle."

"The Shikon no Tama…"

"Yes," she breathed quietly. "I figure whatever it wants has to do with that… maybe. Apparently I’m going to have to make some kind of choice."

"What do you mean? Who told you all this?"

Kagome gave him one last glance before answering.

"Takashi Sano told me."

At his confused look she told him about the part of her vision that she’d left out; that Sano had been speaking to her when she’d learned about Onigumo. She told him what the former Taiyoukai had said to her and the odd question about whether she was foolish or not.

"So, Takashi Sano is alive?"

"What? No." She answered automatically. She opened her mouth to continue but stopped as she thought about it more. Could Takashi Sano still be alive? She hadn’t even thought it was possible with the way he’d faded away, but maybe that was some side effect of the curse. She wouldn’t put it pass Niesa to make him somehow have to live to see his beloved home from the outside. Was it possible for Sano to still be alive? He was a full demon after all and they did live long lives… It wasn’t out of the ordinary since she knew for sure he didn’t die in whatever fight had taken place the night Niesa died. Leave it to Inuyasha to bring up more problems. "I’m not sure… I didn’t think so, but now that I think on it…. He was a full demon so it is possible…. I honestly don’t know Inuyasha. If he is, where is he now?"

He shrugged the question off. That could wait for later.

"What we need to do is find the Shikon no Tama before this other thing does. Whatever choice you have to make, you have to protect the jewel Kagome or you’ll never get home."

"I know."

"Can you sense the shikon jewel?"

She shook her head as she sat back up.

"At all?" she shook her head again. "Not even a little?"

"Inuyasha, I can’t sense anything. It’s like its not even here," she said turning to look him in the eyes. "I think someone else may have gotten to it already."

"DAMMIT!"

At that moment Sango walked into the dining area.

"What’s wrong Inuyasha?" she asked in concern. "Kagome what has happened?"

"She can’t sense the damn jewel, that’s what happened!" yelled Inuyasha.

Sango’s eyes went wide as she looked between the angry hanyou and the miko before her eyes finally rested on Kagome’s blue orbs.

"Is he right? You can’t sense the jewel?"

Kagome nodded gravely.

"That can’t be a good sign."

"No."

They all turned to the new voice coming from behind Sango.

"Miroku, are you alright?"

"Why the hell are you worried about him for?!" yelled Inuyasha. Kagome frowned at him as she caught the hurt look in Miroku’s eyes before he hid it behind a cheerful expression. "He’s not the problem here, finding that damn jewel is!"

"I am fine Lady Kagome. Do not worry yourself over my troubles. They are not what are important now," he replied entering the room and ignoring Inuyasha. "If you can no longer sense the jewel of four souls, then I imagine we have a much bigger problem."

"Yes," said Sesshoumaru as he came into the room, Kirara trotting behind him. They all turned towards the taiyoukai, who seemed to take the entire room with his presence alone, as he came to a stop not far from the entrance. Kirara moved towards her mistress and hoped into her outstretched arms.

"You are the Guardian Kagome," Miroku said thoughtfully, "if you can not sense the jewel it can only be one of two reasons."

Kagome tilted her head in question. That was the second time she’d been referred to as Guardian. Did they know something she didn’t? Yes, she seemed to be the only miko, besides Kikyo, who could sense the shikon no kakera and ever since they were completely restored even Kikyo couldn’t sense the jewel fully anymore. She never recalled being signed up as a Guardian though, whatever it was.

"Either an outside force is blocking you from the jewel tho-"

"But, how is that possible," Kagome cut in with a frown, "even Naraku’s barrier couldn’t block me from the jewel."

"Right. Which is why I doubt that option," replied Miroku with a concerned frown. That only left one other possibility which was looking more likely by the moment.

"There is no barrier," interjected Sesshoumaru evenly. Everyone turned to look at him, but he was watching Kagome. "No barrier can stand against the red Tetsusaiga. To rely on a barrier would prove to be an obtuse move to make."

"Maybe it doesn’t know about Tetsusaiga," huffed Inuyasha in irritation.

Sesshoumaru arched an eyebrow. "Let’s not always show your stupidity Inuyasha. This… being has not only lured a miko of great power, but also a taijiya, a monk, a fire neko, you who wield the Tetsusaiga and this Sesshoumaru master of Tokijin and Tensaiga to this castle. That would have been a very foolish move to make if one did not study their opponents first."

They all stood quietly as it truly sunk in how deep of a trap they’d willingly walked into.

"Alright," began Sango, breaking the silence, "so if it’s not a barrier that’s blocking Kagome, what is it?" She turned to Miroku then, "you said there were two possibilities."

"I would assume the obvious taijiya; that the jewel has been tainted."

"No…" breathed Kagome, her eyes wide with disbelief. "I would feel it."

Miroku shook his head at her in denial.

"The entire castle is surrounded with dark magic. Takashi Niesa’s curse would have dampened your feel for and darkness going on around since you are essentially surrounded by it constantly without any way of getting away from it. I would imagine in the beginning you were able to sense the jewel quite well," she nodded in confirmation at his raised eyebrows. "I figure as the days passed you slowly was unable to feel the jewel more and more until you could no longer feel it at all."

"Why didn’t I notice?" she asked aloud, but more to herself then to any of them.

"I dare say you were sufficiently occupied enough with everything else."

"Dammit Kagome!" yelled Inuyasha, who’d calmed down only to be worked up all over again.

"Shut it, Inuyasha!!" she shouted back. "How was I suppose to know what was going on?! The whole point of me coming here was to get the jewel back from Kagura and Kanna.

"Yeah, well good job wench!"

Kagome’s eyes narrowed as they changed from bright to a dark and stormy blue. Inuyasha gulped and took a step back as he saw the look of violence come into her eyes. Sango and Miroku exchanged looks before taking a couple steps back. They knew what that look on Kagome’s face meant and figured they’d give Inuyasha some room.

"Now, Kagome wai-"

He never got a chance to finish his plea.

"SIT, BOY!!!!"

zing…BAM!!!

"Ow… that hurt," muttered Inuyasha with a face full of stone floor.

Sesshoumaru had been about to remove his brothers tongue when Kagome had handled the hanyou on her own. For some reason he’d forgotten about the rosary beads and the command the miko had over the idiot pup. It never ceased to amuse him though. You’d think the hanyou would have learned when to be quiet by now.

"Well," said Sango trying to hide her smile, "what do we do now?"

"Simple. We wait," replied Miroku as he leaned his weight casually on his staff. "If the jewel is completely tainted I doubt we’ll have much longer to wait to meet our other house guest."

What makes you think that monk?" asked Inuyasha from the floor.

Miroku turned his gaze to his friend. He locked gazes with him as he tried to decipher just where he stood with the hanyou now. Earlier he’d thought that maybe… with the way he’d yelled at Kagome about his well being not being important. But, now as he looked in the half-demon’s eyes he saw no hatred or dislike, just his friend’s curiosity. Perhaps he’d read things wrong?

"The Shikon no Tama seems to be the whole point of this entire affair. I imagine that now that they have what they want they’ll let us know what they want from us… or from Kagome."

"Feh!" that’s what he was worried about.

Inuyasha crossed his arms over his chest with a huff and shut his eyes to wait. He guessed that if everyone was right, then this thing would find them. He planned on being right there if it tried to harm Kagome.

Sango took a seat beside Kagome and tried not to stare at Miroku. Kagome gave her friend an inquiring look. When she didn’t get an answer or a ‘later’ nod she cut her eyes towards the monk and raised a brow. Sango gave her a confused look for a moment and followed the direction of her eyes in wonder. When her gaze landed on the monk she immediately looked back at Kagome who had then raised her other brow. Sango’s eyes widened in understanding before she gave a small shake of her head to tell her ‘not now’. Kagome gave a perceptive nod then turned her gaze to the taiyoukai. Sango followed her gaze then nudged her lightly and raised an eyebrow when she turned back to her. Kagome understood and shrugged her shoulders in reply. She had no idea what she was going to do about Sesshoumaru and her feelings for him.

Kagome stood and moved towards the window. She sat down on the ledge as she gazed up at the now dark sky. Pulling her knees up to her chest she leaned her head back against the wall as she stared at the night sky. She could see the stars winking above her and took a deep breath before releasing it slowly. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was going to happen.

Her eyes widened momentarily when a cloud moved in the sky and a large moon was revealed shedding its light on the land below. Kagome marveled at how the moon appeared to be a full moon from where she sat, but she remembered from astronomy class that a full moon only happened on one night of the month. On the first night of a full moon, the small section of the moon that wasn’t full yet, wasn’t large enough to see with the naked eye, which mad the day before and the day after the full moon appearing to be full as well; giving the effect that a full moon lasted three days.

Kagome gave a small smile at what a bit of distance could do. How it could change ones view on things great and small.

"Lovely view isn’t it?"

They all turned towards the new voice in the doorway. Kagome was the last to look as she slowly brought her gaze to lie on the new person to enter the room. Inuyasha stood to his feet slowly as he watched the demoness. He’d never liked her. Kagome blinked twice as her eyes focused on the childlike demon dressed all in white.

Kanna.

Kagome was speechless for a moment as her eyes rested on the dark orbs of the little girl. She tilted her head to the side thoughtfully. She could have sworn that the girl’s eyes had been a very pale blue that looked more white then blue before. And when did Kanna ever address them freely?

"Yes it is," replied Kagome quietly as she waited to see what would happen next. She was sensing the strangest vibes from the little girl.

"I like the full moon too!" smiled the little girl.

Kagome blinked when she saw the girl smile. Now that never happened. She exchanged a look with Inuyasha who’d turned to glance at her before facing Kanna again. Kagome looked over towards Sango, who was holding a very agitated Kirara in her arms, and also exchanged glances. She did the same with Miroku and determined they were all wondering the same thing before returning her eyes to Kanna.

Sesshoumaru had not taken his eyes from the child-like demon, keeping his back to Kagome.

"Would you like to see something else I like?" asked Kanna as she walked further into the room. "Something I find just as lovely?"

Kagome looked around at everyone else but they all were watching the little girl. She slowly swung around and stood to her feet. What the hell was going on?

"Okay," she said cautiously as she gave the little girl a suspicious look.

Kagome’s back stiffened as she watched the little girl slowly bring her right arm up and held it stretched out in front of her. Kanna quietly turned her hand around so her closed fingers were facing the ceiling. She waited for the miko’s eyes to connect with her own before slowly opening her palm to reveal what was inside.

Kagome watched as the little girl’s hair changed from a pure white to black with two white locks framing her face. Her eyes lowered from the all black gaze to the out-stretched palm.

Kagome gasped and took a step back when she saw what sat in the middle of the small white palm.

The Shikon no Tama sat there, blacker then the night, and staring back at her.

‘Oh Kami…’

Kagome’s eyes darted up to meet those of the little girl’s… or what appeared to be the little girl.

Kanna grinned at the miko then.

"Lovely isn’t it?"

ooOOoo

Shikon no kakera: shikon shards

Chichi: father (affectionately)

Koro: runt, turd

Aniki: big brother (affectionately respectful)

Shakujou: monk’s staff

Youki: a demon’s/spirit’s life force or aura