InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Angel ❯ Our Past ( Chapter 82 )

Chapter Eighty-Two:

Ten years later

Mira dashed through the thick foliage, twigs and branches snagging at her cotton garments. Her long dark hair had long since freed itself from the lose ponytail, and was whipping wildly about her shoulders.

She spared not a care for her disheveled appearance, knowing dad would wag his finger about it when she returned home.

Tomboy, he'd declare in despair, while mother rolled her eyes.

Mira couldn't help but giggled. Dad loved her to pieces, no doubt about that, but he was hung up on the image of her as she was as a young infant. He still kept the little dresses and costumes he use to adore adorning her with. Clothing she hated to wear now!

She grinned.

Why wear that after mother had lovingly crafted her a slayer suit to wear beneath the cotton kimono dad insisted she wear.

Mira shifted the wooden boomerang on her back.

She was nearing the end of her demon exterminator basic training, and would receive a real Hiraikotsu made of material much harder and durable than her practice boomerang. She could hardly wait, was bursting at the seams with anticipation.

This was her dream come true, her deepest desire so close to fulfillment.

She was determined to become a great warrior like mom!

She laughed, unable to contain a squeal of excitement.

“Wait up Mira!”

Mira stopped, turning back to glare at the small eight year old boy running after her. She huffed, hands on hips.

Her little brother was a pain in the butt sometimes. Constantly tagging along, following her about like a lost puppy. He was slow and always worried about what they were doing and getting in trouble.

Not to mention he was the biggest tattle tale!

“Hurry up Miro!,” Mira called before turning back, though running a little slower.

She'd get a tongue lashing that would blister her ears if Miro got lost because she wouldn't slow down.

“Mira! Dad said we shouldn't go this far,” he puffed behind her, “We'll get in trouble!”

Mira ignored the complaint and broke through the forest. Her brown eyes took in the sky. Her mouth opened in awe. It was amazing, mysterious….sinister. Appearing just under a week ago, its origins were unknown. The people living directly below or in close proximity of it had been exhibiting strange behavior.

Or so she had “overheard” her parents say. They had refused to answer any of her questions about the strange object, and forbidden her and her brother from getting anywhere near it.

Miro broke through the brush, panting behind her.

“Mira,” her little brother huffed, “Let's go back...That thing might be dangerous,”

Mira moved to the hill in front of her, beginning her ascent for a better look. She was just curious is all, surely the thing couldn't do her harm from this far back.

Besides, mother and father hadn't said anyone had died from it.

Merely engaged in…strange behavior. How bad could it be?

“Mira!” Miro cried, real panic entering his voice.

Mira huffed as she reached the crest, eyes glued to the dark sky.

She gasped, mouth dropping at the sight.

A dark purple and crimson light swirled in black sinister clouds. Bright blue lightening streaked, illuminating the sky. Just below the fluffy surface, something seemed to….slither. It's moments slow and rippling, sending dread to the stomach of those that watched.

Her brown eyes widened in horror.

What was that thing?!

She took a step back, cold sweat breaking over her heated skin.

Maybe this wasn't a good idea after all.

Low, hideous screams drifted to her ears, and the scent of sulfur and something so vile, so overwhelmingly disgusting filled her nose. She fought the ensuing bile rising to her throat.

The noise!

It was louder, crashing against her ear drums, reverberating through her skull. Pain snaked through her, the agony unbearable. She clutched her chest, fighting to catch her breath.

More howls, bellows forming her name. Calling out to her, crying out for her to come closer.

To join them.

She covered her ears, taking another fearful step back.

Dread crept over her. She forced her legs to lock. The tug, the urge to move closer was all consuming. She fought with herself, trying to understand why her body wanted to move further.

“Mira!”

She jumped, frightened. She panted, blinking back the stars behind her eyes. She felt as tough she would faint or die or both! She trembled, combating tears. Heart pounding she turned to her brother, wide eyes questioning.

Miro's own eyes widened.

“Mira, you're bleeding!” he exclaimed, face pale.

Mira blinked, uncomprehending. She felt as though she were in a fog. It took a moment to focus, and even longer to feel the blood slipping down her cheeks. Dispassionately reached up and touched her face.

Wet.

She looked at her fingers coated in the substance.

Blood.

Her whole had was covered in crimson liquid, warm and dripping down her arm.

“Mira….ars…..eeding,”

His muted voice barely reached her ears. The warm, dripping fluid drowned out his panicked cries.

She closed her eyes, holding her head. Dizziness washed over her, a nauseating pain crashing over her. Her knees wobbled, collapsed and the cool grass met her cheek. A shadow fell over her, and concerned brown eyes stared down at her. She watched her brother mutely, unsure how to make her lips move, to produce sound.

His brown eyes were overflowing with tears, his lips forming words she couldn't hear.

Darkness pulled at her, the looming unconsciousness scary, terrifying in a way it had never been before. She knew, could feel that oblivion did not await her on the other side of conscientiousness.

Something horrible, something evil waited. She could hear it. The wails were returning.

Howls of pain, screams of agony rose in volume.

Trembling, unable to move, to speak, darkness closed over her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rikimaru frowned, watching mother with concerned eyes.

His parents had called this family meeting moments ago, stating that they had something wonderful to tell him, but also, reveal something tragic that may sadden him immensely.

The latter comment had him deeply troubled.

He looked over at father, noting his usually indifferent expression showing signs of worry. Something was going on with those two, had been for last two days, mother especially.

Her scent was different, she was often sad and on the verge of tears.

Father had taken extra care with her, treating her as a delicate flower, halting the never ending work load and important meetings in an effort to comfort his wife. The people that worked with him knew better than to complain. The first and only male to do so had barely clung to life when father had finished with him.

To add insult to injury, he'd banished the wounded male, permanently.

Whatever was happening, must be something huge. Father normally had more patience with people that questioned his activities, respectfully of course, but these days, he had even Rikimaru hesitant to tread on his father's toes.

He could feel a strange tension in the room and he was almost reluctant to hear what it was they felt he was old enough to know. It was something terrible, he knew.

Something serious.

Since his growth, his parents had begun to speak to him of their past, speaking of his uncle, great uncle and grandfather. They explain the broken relationship between father and grandfather, the bad blood between father and uncle. Some of the tales were jaw dropping and others amusing.

He found himself longing to meet the rest of his family.

Though being informed that mother and father had once ruled their own territories cleared up a lot of the questions he'd had about the ease with which they entered the status of king and queen.

It was nothing new for them, merely a replay.

He couldn't say he was shocked in regards to father. He oozed leadership from every pore. It only made sense that he'd been in such important roles.

Mother had come at a surprise.

In this male dominated world, it amazed him that she had been able rule her lands for years and years, bringing incredible wealth and prosperity to the Northern lands.

A tribute to her strength, intelligence and cunning.

He had been a little miffed with father for his part in stripping mother of her lands, but seeing mother's amused expression at his protective anger had loosened the resentment over the course of days. Father had taken his feeling in stride, informing him that he accepted the anger he felt, as father could not recall his own atrocious behavior without a current of irritation bolting up his spine.

Some questions had yet to be answered, bits and pieces of details left out intentionally.

Why had they abandoned their old life?

What had driven them from their homeland? What had put that wounded look in mother eyes and silenced her voice for over a year?

“I'm pregnant,”

The words brought him from his musing. Golden eyes turned to mother, surprised, stunned really. Of all the things he'd expected, this hadn't been one of them.

Pregnant.

He was to have a sibling.

He blinked at his mother's watery brown eyes. Those definitely weren't tears of joy.

“Congratulations, mother,” he began, a bit at a loss with what to say, “you are…unhappy?”

Kagome shook her head, soft hands placed on her abdomen.

“Not at all,” she said softly.

His silver brows drew down in confusion.

She looked as though she would say more, but then her lower lip trembled, and he knew she was on the verge of losing her battle against her emotion.

His father covered her hand in his, magenta stripes slightly jagged.

“The reason we left Japan,” father began, “was to heal from significant loss,”

Rikimaru felt dread tighten his gut. He knew what they were going to say, knew it instinctively.

The yawning emptiness he had felt playing alone when he was younger.

The constant anguish that consumed his heart at the strangest of times.

“You were the eldest of four pups you mother birthed,” father said quietly, knocking the breath from his lungs with the devastating revelation, “Kagura, a creation of Vishious, murdered your brothers and sister the night of his defeat,”

Mother turned away, tears running over.

Grief crawled over his skin, tightening his lungs. The feelings of loneliness, of something being torn from him finally made sense.

He'd had siblings.

Younger siblings murdered in cold blood.

It left him heartsick and nauseous. Rage pulsed through his veins, anger clawing at his skin. His teeth clenched and dangerous amber eyes met his father's.

“Did you-”

“She paid in full for her treachery,” his mother informed him quietly, wet brown eyes fierce, staring out at the beautiful weather beyond the glass windows.

Silence filled the room.

Rikimaru struggled to come to terms with the truth. Mother's nervousness and reluctance to allow him to engaged in anything she perceived as dangerous, father's urging to be gentle with mother, to curb his impatience and irritation with his mother's over protectiveness. It all fit together like elusive puzzle pieces he'd been reaching for all his life.

He released a breath.

It was a difficult blow, but one he would bear. If mother could bear it and still smile and love, what was to stop him?

Nothing.

His fists clenched.

He'd be damned if such a thing occurred ever again.

He'd rip apart anyone that threatened his family. Amber eyes met his, their depths filled with protective fierceness. He knew father would die before he allowed anyone or anything to threaten his family, hell mother would tear any threat limb from limb, but he was older now.

Quickly reaching maturity, becoming an adult.

His teenage body becoming stronger, his power growing. And though he had confidence in his parent's ability to protect him, he would burn in a lake of fire before he cowered behind them.

He'd protect his family or die trying.

“Mother, enjoy your pregnancy,” he urged, drawing her attention, “no one and nothing will ever hurt our family in such a way, ever again,”

Kagome wiped her eyes.

“I know, sweetheart,” she said, a vicious smile unfurling, “because I'll be damned if I lose another child,”

Rikimaru nodded, returning the cruel smile with a ferocious look of his own.

~~~~~~~~~~~

“Are we there yet?” Hakudoshi questioned for the hundredth time.

“Shut the hell up, Haku,” Shiro mumbled.

“We've been traveling forever! I'm tired and dirty and bored out of my skull!” he complained.

Jikininki watched the pair, wiping sweat from his brow. He pulled a beat up map from his pack and looked over the twisting lines and depictions of landscape.

“I believe we are at the halfway mark,” he informed the duo.

“Oh my God!” Haku exclaimed, throwing down his backpack and throwing himself to the ground in a fit.

“Haku,” Shiro began.

“No, shut up Shiro! I am sick and tired of all this goddamn walking!”

Shiro glared at his brother, hands on hips in impatience. He gave the lazy bastard a hard kick in the leg.

“Get up,” he demanded, “We don't have time for your bellyaching,”

Hakudoshi raised up on his elbows.

“I don't see why we couldn't just stay home and write Shusui a letter,”

“She's our sister, how can you not want to see her?” Jikininki questioned.

Haku flushed shamefully.

“I guess you don't want to see her then?” Shiro goaded.

“You know it's not like that,” Haku pouted.

“Uh huh,”

Hakudoshi sighed, frowning at his two brothers. His gut tightened in dread.

“What if we run into him?” he asked after a long pause.

Shiro growled, crossing his arms. He paced away, running his hand over his head. He'd be remiss if he denied he worried too. Father was still a potent force, his power something horrible to witness.

They'd fled Japan because of his terrible influence. What they would find upon their return was anyone's guess.

Shiro shivered in at the disturbing thought.

Hopefully that bastard had moved on to bigger and better things.

“Look, we can't run from him forever,” he blustered with false nonchalance, “besides, I doubt he has any interest in us, you know how fickle his attention is,”

Haku frowned, lines of worry wrinkling his forehead.

He didn't believe that, not for a second.

~~~~~~~~~

InuYasha glared at the miniature image of himself.

Golden eyes looked back at him in mock innocence, his mate standing behind him, hands on her hips.

“He's only five years old, InuYasha,” Jolicia informed him, “Why in the world would he want to take your sword and cover it in poison ivy?”

“Because he's the child from hell!”

“Say that again and I'll knock those dog ears right off your head!” Jolicia threatened, shaking a feminine fist.

InuYasha growled but bit his tongue.

That little brat had her wrapped around his finger. Anything that came out of his mouth, she believed.

He batted his eyes and quivered his lip and his mother bought into the whole charade every fucking time! The little devil had made his life a living hell the moment he'd learned to walk. By the time he could talk and frame his easily agitated father, he'd developed a penchant for trouble.

Jolicia made excuse after excuse for their wayward offspring.

He was only joking around.

He's only a child, he doesn't know any better.

And her personal favorite: Why would her little angel do something so evil?

InuYasha snorted mentally.

Angel his right butt cheek. That kid was vicious. Had he been that bad during his youth? His old man hadn't really said he was any worse than a normal pup, but he couldn't be sure.

He could only come to the conclusion that he had inherited the atrocious character flaw from his high strong mother.

Sure, he had a temper, but he wasn't someone to go looking to do wrong to someone.

Sesshomaru didn't count, and besides, he was paid in full when he annoyed his older brother for attention. Usually with the backside of his prissy hand. InuYasha frowned at the memories flashing through his mind.

He'd never thought to miss his brother, but he did.

He missed the cranky perfectionist, more than he ever thought he would. As terrible as their relationship had been, he longed for his presence.

He could only imagine how his old man felt.

The western lord was distant often times, and sad most of the time.

Sensing his distress, his pup gripped his hand. InuYasha focused on the little being, irritation gone.

“Sowy daddy,”

InuYasha sighed, patting the silky hair between the little dog ears atop his head.

Even Jolicia softened, the stiffness and outrage leaving her spine.

InuYasha picked his son up and the little bundle of evil turned angel hugged his neck, giving comfort rather than torment.

It was moments like these that InuYasha enjoyed.

When his child was kind and loving.

Jolicia sighed, smiling.

When his wife was soft and welcoming.

A silver head nuzzled his chin. InuYasha felt his heart clinch. Maybe being a father wasn't all bad.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hey, hey ya'll! So excited, this story is getting to it's end and another will begin! Working on the next chapter as we speak! Please review!

Laters

~Sessakag