InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ All of Me ❯ Chapter 7 ( Chapter 7 )

Anybody know CPR? I'm hoping to breathe life back into this story. No matter how long it takes between updates, I refuse to let it die. Hopefully, it won't take me another year to get the next chapter out. Well, I do have ideas for the next chapter. That's a start, anyway.

 

Shower me with praise and/or constructive criticism. (No flames or death threats, please) Maybe that will help keep me inspired.

 

Enjoy!

 

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha

 

Chapter 7

 

Inuyasha followed Miroku through the door into Kaede's modest dwelling, still thinking about what his friend had just told him. He could care less about what Sango or her family had to do with any of this. The only important one was Kagome because she had the power to break the curse. Of course, he didn't want anything bad to happen to Sango or to Kagome, which was another good reason to not involve either one in the darker parts of his past.

 

Absorbed in his thoughts, he didn't realize Miroku had stopped until he bumped into him. Irritated, Inuyasha looked up and saw something he never thought to see. Elderly Kaede was occupied serving tea to an equally elderly gentleman seated across from her. Wasn't she too old to be entertaining men in her home?

 

“Shut the door, Inuyasha,” Kaede commanded without looking up. “Otherwise, some people will be tempted to think that ye have no manners.”

 

Inuyasha found himself obeying automatically. He scowled when he realized what he was doing, but it was too late, the door had been shut. What gave Kaede the right to order him around? He practically raised her after the death of her sister. Just because she was sagging and wrinkled now, she tended to act more like his mother instead of someone's annoying little sister. As frayed as his temper was lately, he still couldn't bring himself to take it out on Kaede and transferred his fierce expression to the stranger instead. A stranger to him anyway.

 

“Myouga!” Miroku strode forward to grasp the bald little man's hand. “What are you doing here? Were you looking for me? How did you find this place, anyway?”

 

Myouga started to heave his round self to his feet, but Miroku motioned for him to remain where he was and, leaning his staff against a wall, sat in the nearest chair. Inuyasha snorted and plopped to the floor, golden eyes never leaving the little man's nervously shifting ones.

 

“I have my ways, young man,” Myouga replied, picking up his teacup and then setting it down again without tasting it. “But I came across some new information that I thought you might be interested in. And I thought it too important to try and get hold of you through the usual channels.” He stopped and raised his cup to his lips.

 

“Spit it out, old man!” Inuyasha emphasized his statement by slamming his fist against his thigh. Myouga jumped, spraying tea everywhere.

 

“Is this the friend you told me about, Lord Miroku?” Myouga wiped tea off of his face, peering in Inuyasha's direction. “The one who is interested in… you know. He doesn't look very stable.”

 

Inuyasha shot to his feet and grabbed Myouga by his collar, hauling him across the floor and over anything that was in the way. Kaede sighed and started picking up the pieces of her favorite teapot. This was the third one this month.

 

“I don't have time for this, old man,” Inuyasha growled, holding Myouga's face barely an inch away from his own. “Are you going to tell what you know or am I going to have to beat it out of you?” Myouga gaped at him and his round eyes got even rounder.

 

Miroku pried the frightened little man out of his friend's grip. “That's enough, Inuyasha! Don't blame Myouga for your inability to get anywhere with Kagome. He might know something, but he won't be able to tell us anything if you scare him witless.”

 

“Kagome?” Kaede's remaining eye sharpened and she looked at Inuyasha with something like disapproval. “The young miko ye are pursuing? Ye haven't done anything to frighten her, have ye, Inuyasha?”

 

Inuyasha dropped back into a cross-legged position and scowled in the general direction of the floor. “Get off my back, old hag! I didn't do anything to her! She's an annoying, pig-headed girl and… nothing happened!”

 

Kaede sighed. “Never mind, I don't think I want to know. Just don't do anything foolish, Inuyasha.”

 

The cursed young man grunted, his scowl turning blacker when Miroku snickered. He turned his glare on his best friend, who broke off into a coughing fit. Miroku took his time recovering, but was finally able to look at Inuyasha with the usual calm façade that he had spent years perfecting. He turned back to Myouga who was looking like he wished he had just stayed home.

 

“So, Myouga,” Miroku said, “did you have some news about Naraku?”

 

“No, I--“ Myouga broke off with a frightened squeak when Inuyasha shot to his feet.

 

“What do you mean, `No'?” Inuyasha thundered. “Isn't that what we're paying you for? What are you doing out there?”

 

“Calm down, Inuyasha!” Miroku ordered. “You're not helping.” Inuyasha huffed in annoyance, but grudgingly sat back down. Miroku turned back to the frightened little information seller. “Go on, Myouga.”

 

Myouga cleared his throat, keeping a wary eye on Inuyasha as if not sure he was completely sane. “As I was saying, I haven't found out anything new about Naraku. He's been rather quiet the past couple of years ever since that fire tragedy on the other side of the city. And my sources were never able to confirm if he was directly involved in that or not.”

 

“Get to the point, old man.” Inuyasha impatiently drummed his fingertips on the floor.

 

“Yes, of course.” Myouga cleared his throat again with another nervous glance at Inuyasha. “I did find out something about Onigumo.” Inuyasha stopped drumming and sat up straight. “I checked the records from fifty years ago and found out that he paid an enormous amount of money to someone for services rendered.”

 

Inuyasha snorted. “What's so fucking important about that?”

 

“It seems that part of the arrangement included the Shikon no Tama. Whether that was ownership of the jewel or a share in the profits from selling it isn't clear.”

 

Inuyasha instinctively grabbed the jewel around his neck. He remembered Onigumo from fifty years ago. The bastard was always sniffing around Kikyo, even more so after she acquired the Shikon no Tama. Where she got it from, he had no idea. She had been rather reluctant to discuss the jewel, beyond saying that it only had real value for those with spiritual powers. And Inuyasha had respected her enough--well, more like didn't care--to not pursue it.

 

“Who? What?” Miroku demanded, waving Inuyasha to unnecessary silence. The golden-eyed man had no intention of doing anything that would prevent Myouga from sharing this fascinating piece of information.

 

The little man dug into his back pocket and brought out a handkerchief, some scraps of paper, and a handful of coins. Dumping the coins and scraps of paper on the low table next to him, he wiped the sweat from his bald pate with the handkerchief. After stuffing the cloth back into his pocket, he sorted through the bits of paper until finding the one he wanted.

 

“I was able to obtain an address and a name.” He offered the paper to Miroku, who unfolded it to see a series of letters and numbers scrawled in Myouga's nearly illegible writing.

 

“Cupcake?” Miroku squinted at the paper. “Is that a name or a dessert? I can't read your writing, Myouga.”

 

The little man flushed. “Sorry about that. That should read Tsubaki. I thought you might be interested because of the reference to the Shikon no Tama. She was one of the working class and came into quite a bit of money around that time. Probably half payment before the job and half after. I wasn't able to find out exactly what Onigumo hired her to do, but she is still alive and the address isn't very far from here.”

 

Inuyasha snatched the paper out of Miroku's hand before fixing Myouga with a hard stare. “Tell us everything you know, old man. Miroku and I need to pay a visit to this Tsubaki.”

 

^**^

 

Inuyasha scowled at the sad-looking building in front of them. The windows were sagging and the paint was flaking right off the walls. The whole place looked like one good sneeze would bring it crashing down.

 

“This is it?” Inuyasha didn't bother to conceal the disgust in his tone.

“Looks like it.” Miroku studied the paper in his hand before pointing to the faded numbers on the sign above the words which read “Happy Pastures.” “Maybe Tsubaki works here?”

 

“Just great. What did I do to deserve this...? Don't answer that.” Miroku shut his mouth and tried to look innocent. “Let's find this Tsubaki person and maybe we'll finally get some answers.

 

Inuyasha barged through the front door in his usual manner. Miroku tucked the note into a pocket and followed, barely stopping before running into his friend who had stopped just inside the door.

 

“Bah!” Inuyasha held his sleeve over his nose. “Don't these people ever bathe? It reeks of old people and medicine!”

 

“May I help you?” A rather large woman in a crisp white outfit and her hair pulled back into a severe bun stared disapprovingly at the two young men.

 

The inside of the building was in better repair than the outside. The walls were a dirty white, devoid of pictures or decoration of any kind, and the only furniture in the room was a couple of uncomfortable looking plastic chairs. Behind the nurse or receptionist or whatever she was, double doors closed off the rest of the building. Nearly overpowering the scent of old people was a harsh antiseptic smell. Inuyasha didn't try to answer the large woman because he was trying to keep from retching at the disgusting odors overwhelming his poor senses.

 

“Why, yes, I believe you could, pretty lady.” Miroku smiled and stepped in front of Inuyasha to give him time to adjust. The woman glared at the smooth-talking monk, but relaxed just a trifle at the flattery. “We would like to speak with Tsubaki, please.”

 

The woman's expression turned suspicious. “And what do you want with Tsubaki?”

 

“It's a private matter,” Miroku explained.

 

“For the love of--“ Inuyasha exclaimed. “Move over, Miroku! We'll all die of boredom before you get anything out of the hag!”

 

“Inuyasha!” Miroku stumbled as his friend shoved him violently to one side.

 

“Where's Tsubaki?!”

 

The woman refused to step back, meeting Inuyasha's hard gaze with one of her own. She clenched her jaw and crossed her arms over her chest. “Nobody but family is permitted beyond these doors. Most of our residents are delicate enough without being bothered by every idiot with a petition or an axe to grind.”

 

“Ahhh!” Miroku's face lit up with comprehension. He shouldered Inuyasha out of the way, accidentally on purpose stepping on his foot when he opened his mouth. “My mistake, charming lady. I should have made things perfectly clear when we introduce ourselves. Inuyasha is Tsubaki's grandson.”

 

“I am--ouch!” Inuyasha rubbed his sore ribs and scowled at his friend. Miroku was rolling his eyes and making strange gestures. What was the stupid monk up to?

 

“The family has been estranged in recent years.” Miroku turned his smiling attention back on the suspicious nurse. “Inuyasha has only come to realize recently that his beloved grandmother is failing. He is quite concerned.”

 

“Hmmm.” The nurse didn't look convinced. “Tsubaki has never mentioned any surviving relatives.”

 

“Don't you know what `estranged' means, bitch?” Inuyasha snapped. He had to speak to this Tsubaki character--find out what her connection was to Naraku--and this hag was not going to stand in his way.

 

The double doors burst open, smacking into the walls on either side. Another young woman in a once-crisp uniform that was slightly askew came running in.

 

“Nurse Suki! He's doing it again! I can't hold him!”

 

Nurse Suki looked between the other nurse and her unwanted visitors. “Stay here,” she commanded Inuyasha and Miroku. She pointed to the flustered young nurse. “Watch them!” Spinning on her heels, she marched through the double doors.

 

“Can I help you?” the young nurse asked, looking slightly relieved now that Nurse Suki was dealing with whatever the problem was.

 

“We're here to see Tsubaki.” Miroku smiled in a winning way at the girl. Unlike the other woman, she was not immune to the monk's charm.

 

“Are you relatives?” She blushed becomingly under his appreciative looks. Inuyasha rolled his eyes and snorted.

 

“Yes.” He pulled a reluctant Inuyasha forward. “This is her grandson. We just received word that she was ill, and we rushed right over.”

 

“Oh. Well…” She cast a dubious look over her shoulder at the double doors. “Nurse Suki said that you were to wait here. I really shouldn't do anything without her permission.”

 

“Of course, I understand.” Miroku sighed dramatically. “It's just that this may be the last time Inuyasha will see his grandmother alive. The family has been estranged for so many years… This may be the last opportunity to make amends. I'm terribly sorry to have troubled you, Nurse… ”

 

“Yumi. But I'm not a nurse yet. I'm just an assistant.”

 

Inuyasha worked hard to keep from gagging. Who in their right mind would believe the crap Miroku was spewing out? This girl, obviously, to judge by the dewy cow eyes she was directing his way.

 

“I'm sure a few minutes wouldn't hurt.” The silly girl actually simpered at Miroku and batted her eyelashes. “Nurse Suki can be awfully strict, but she really does have the best interests of the residents at heart.”

 

“Lead the way, my dear.” Miroku bowed slightly and indicated with a wave of her staff that she should precede them.

 

Inuyasha scowled as he followed the two of them. The monk's behavior made him uncomfortable. Even if he lived for fifty more years, he didn't think he could learn to flirt that easily. Maybe it was genetic. Miroku's grandfather, Mushin, had been the exact same way. So had Miroku's father.

 

“Here we are,” Yumi announced, pausing outside a chipped wooden door that looked like every other one in the hallway. “Most of our residents are already in bed. But Tsubaki is usually awake at this time. When she sleeps, it's always during the day.” She knocked perfunctorily and entered without waiting for an answer.

 

“I brought you some visitors, Tsubaki,” she sang out. “Look, it's your grandson!”

 

“What are you talking about, crazy bitch? I don't have a grandson! And even if I did, I wouldn't let him know where I was. One more bastard to try and extort money from me. Never did care for family. Idiots think you owe them just because you're related by blood.”

 

Inuyasha peered around the room, searching for the source of the querulous voice. He finally spotted a stooped and wizened figure sitting in a worn armchair by the window. He nudged Miroku who was blinking and straining to see in the near darkness of the room.

 

“Oh, dear.” Yumi sighed. “She gets like this sometimes,” she confided to the two young men. “Poor Tsubaki abused her body in her youth with drugs and drink. It's left her nearly crippled and insane. No family has ever come forward to claim her, but someone paid in advance for her stay. We do what we can to make her comfortable.”

 

“I understand.” Miroku nodded. Inuyasha stared in disgust at the old woman, or what could be seen of her in the folds of the chair. Sometimes his enhanced sight was more of a curse than a blessing. The room wasn't completely dark to him, and he could see a whole lot more than he wanted to.

 

Miroku turned and took Yumi's hands in his own. She blushed in confusion. “You have been a marvelous help, beautiful Yumi. But I am sure that you have many more pressing needs to attend to you. Family reconciliations should be accomplished in private, don't you think?”

 

“I don't know.” Yumi frowned and gently tugged her hands free. Inuyasha watched with interest. Apparently, this girl was both more dedicated and not as infatuated as he had thought. “I really shouldn't. Nurse Suki would be mad.”

 

“I give you my solemn oath as a monk,” he said. “We only wish to talk. We will do nothing to get you in trouble with the formidable Nurse Suki.” He captured one of Yumi's hands again and held it gently while he stared into her eyes. “Please. It's very important.”

 

“I guess it's all right if you give your solemn oath.” Yumi backed slowly away, banged into the doorframe, and corrected her course without once taking her eyes from Miroku. At the last possible instant, he released her hand. She disappeared from view, reluctantly returning to her other duties.

 

Miroku sighed and closed the door, flipping the light switch. A single bulb on the ceiling fizzled to life. It didn't cast much light, only seeming to create more shadows.

 

He turned to Inuyasha and grinned. “See, I told you I'd get us in. You worry too much.”

 

“Keh!” Inuyasha scowled and crossed his arms over his chest.

 

The bundle of rags and sticklike limbs stirred. “Who are you?” she demanded. “I know you're not my grandson because I never had any children. What could you want from an old woman? Get out!”

 

“Not as senile as we were led to believe.” Inuyasha grunted and stomped into the room. Miroku shut the door firmly to keep anyone from accidentally overhearing them.

 

“We would like to ask you a few questions,” Miroku said, cautiously approaching the woman in her worn chair. “And then we will leave and never bother you again.”

 

Tsubaki fixed beady black eyes on the monk. “I have nothing to say to the likes of you. Just go away and leave an old woman in peace.” She scowled and turned her head away.

 

Inuyasha noticed as she moved that her hands lay upturned and useless in her lap. They were twisted and crippled and looked like nothing more than two giant spiders. A sapphire ring glinted on one gnarled finger. The sight sparked a faint memory.

 

“We're looking for information from fifty years ago,” Miroku insisted. “It's very important. We have reason to believe that—“

 

Inuyasha snorted. “Quit dancing around the subject, Miroku.” He glared at Tsubaki. “What do you know of Onigumo, old woman?”

 

Tsubaki stared at Inuyasha, a suspicious look coming into her eyes. “I haven't heard that name in years? Didn't he die from a misstep on a staircase?”

 

“Yes, he's dead,” Inuyasha spat. “That's why we're here. Our information says that you had dealings with him.”

 

Tsubaki's crippled hands twitched on her lap. “That bastard,” she hissed. “He violated his sworn word! He cheated me! He promised me riches beyond imagining! All I had to do was one little thing.”

 

Inuyasha opened his mouth to demand a straight answer, but Miroku elbowed him in the ribs. He made a shushing motion. Inuyasha fell silent after a scathing look at his friend. Tsubaki didn't seem to notice. She was still ranting about how Onigumo betrayed her.

 

“He promised me a position of wealth and power,” she ranted. “It's all that selfish bitch's fault! All he needed was the Shikon no Tama!”

 

Inuyasha gasped. Could she be talking about Kikyo?

 

“Whose fault?” Miroku gently pressed when Tsubaki fell silent, except for indistinct mumblings.

 

Tsubaki pushed herself a little straighter in her chair. “She had everything! The interest of one of the most powerful men in the city, and the Shikon no Tama! But she never appreciated any of it! All she cared about was that whiny little sister of hers and some spoiled pretty-boy she was dating.”

 

Inuyasha growled. Spoiled pretty-boy? Tsubaki ignored him.

 

“Who?” Miroku asked again, more forcefully.

 

“Kikyo.” Tsubaki's voice fell to a deadly whisper. “The Shikon no Tama, the most priceless jewel known to miko and other magic workers, had been left in her custody. It is said that the jewel can grant your deepest desires.” Her voice rose to a shriek. “Yet she desired nothing! I would have been a better guardian for the jewel! I would have done great things!”

 

Her words sparked another memory deep in Inuyasha's brain. He remembered slender arms embracing him, a seductive voice whispering in his ear. Forget her, Inuyasha. I can show you things she would never think of. Come...

 

“You,” Inuyasha growled. Tsubaki stopped in mid-tirade to look at him. “It was you.” He suddenly pointed a finger at her. “Because of you, Kikyo believed that I was cheating on her. And all of that was just so you could get your grimy hands on the Shikon no Tama.”

 

Tsubaki peered at him in the uncertain light provided by the one bare bulb. “So.” She chuckled, a scratchy sound like snakes rustling through dry grass. “You are the pretty-boy, are you not? I thought at first that you might be his son or grandson, but it is you. What devil did you sell your soul to that let you keep your youth?”

 

Inuyasha flinched, but was determined to admit nothing to the old witch. “None of your business!”

 

She grinned evilly. “I was paid good money to waylay you on that very public street corner. Of course, I always did have a weakness for handsome young pretty-boys. It wasn't that bad, was it... Inuyasha?”

 

“You conniving bitch!” Inuyasha bared his teeth and growled. Miroku glanced hastily at his watch--only an hour before dawn. The change must already be stirring in his blood. “You set me up! Kikyo died because of you!”

 

Tsubaki narrowed her eyes. “I had nothing to do with it! Was your relationship so insecure that Kikyo would think ill of you so easily? Kikyo was a shallow, bitter woman!”

 

“Don't talk about Kikyo that way!” Inuyasha roared.

 

“It's all over, anyway!” Tsubaki shouted. She struggled out of the confines of her chair. “Kikyo died! The Shikon no Tama was lost! All of my dreams went down in flames! Onigumo abandoned me! I lost everything!” Her expression turned fierce and accusing. “And it's all your fault!”

 

“What did you say?” Inuyasha clenched his fists and took a step forward. Miroku, alarmed that his friend might actually strike the old woman, grabbed his arm.

 

“Calm down, Inuyasha,” he said urgently. “You're not helping.” He looked at the tottering Tsubaki. “Where was Onigumo that night?”

 

“How should I know?” She answered Miroku, though she kept her eyes fixed on Inuyasha. “He showed up a couple of nights later, said that Kikyo was dead, and that the Shikon no Tama had vanished.”

 

“Kikyo's life was taken that night,” Inuyasha growled. The muscles of his arm were tense under Miroku's fingers. “Her sister lost an eye! And all this because you were jealous!”

 

“My reputation was destroyed!” Tsubaki's face turned purple with rage. Inuyasha could see her easily in the half-light of the room. “Onigumo made sure of that. I hate him almost as much as I hate you.”

 

“Bite me!” Inuyasha shot back.

 

“You—you—“ Tsubaki seemed to swell with fury. She sputtered incoherently. Abruptly, her eyes bulged out and she gasped. Inuyasha recoiled in surprise as she fell to the floor, limbs jerking uncontrollably.

 

Miroku dashed forward to kneel at Tsubaki's side. He looked up at Inuyasha. “She's having a seizure! Get help!”

 

Inuyasha glared at the convulsing figure on the floor for several long seconds. Without a word, he turned and ran from the room.

 

^**^

 

A/N: More revealing of the plot! Now we know for sure that Inuyasha was set up fifty years ago. And Onigumo's name is starting to crop up more and more regularly. I wonder how he was involved in all of this. Too bad he's dead. Hard to get information from a dead man. No raising of the dead in this story, so our heroes will have to put the pieces of the puzzle together through other means.

 

Food for thought (courtesy of EmeraldDragon): My second favorite household chore is ironing. My first being hitting my head on the top bunk bed until I faint.

~ Erma Bombeck ~