InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Bittersweet Love ❯ Bitter ( Chapter 1 )

Bittersweet

Nazuna stood over the river, looking down at its raging waters. She sighed deeply as she was thinking back to that time - the day she met the hanyou Inuyasha. "How long has it been my love? Five years?" Yes, five years had passed and every day she had come to this very spot where she waved him good bye. She hardly remembered the gentle girl he was travelling with nor did she remember the boy very well either. But the scolding and stern face of the silver haired hanyou, his appearance had etched itself into her mind, never letting her forget him. And as long as she yearned for him she could not find herself a husband. She was now in her early twenties, practically an old hag. She walked back to her house, she had gotten some help from the villagers to build it, to repay their help she had woven the most exquisite material ever seen.

Day after day she went down to the stream, clinging on to the hope that he would come to her. "Little Nazuna, you need to get a grip of your life, you need to forget him" a small voice said in the back of her head. But she could not forget him, not ever. She often thought about searching for him, but demons still roamed the countryside and she was too scared to meet him. What if he was repulsed by her? She would not be able to live with that fact, so she dreamed.. dreamed about the day he would return to her.

Inuyasha sat in the God tree, sighing his way through the day. Around his neck hung the complete Shikon no Tama. He was its protector now and very few dared to challenge him for it. He was the one who defeated Naraku; he had proven himself against the rest of the demon world. Kagome had returned back to her time, she was going to marry that Hobo, Hojo-guy. Inuyasha was happy for her; she deserved a gentle person like that boring dude. He had fulfilled his duties towards Kikyo, returning her bones and ashes to the temple. Kaede had been very happy about it. He had made a truce with his brother; they did no longer fight since Sesshoumaru had found the Toujiakin to be suitable sword for him. Sango and Miroku had finally confessed their love for each other and they settled down in Kaede's village. Sango was carrying their first child now. Inuyasha sighed again. He had reached the time when he wanted children of his own; of course there was Shippou, the little kitsune who gladly pestered him every each day. But Inuyasha could not get around bumping him on the head anymore, he would just growl at the boy. If anyone told him that he treated the boy like his own son he probably would bump their heads too. "No, no time for sulking Inuyasha, time to get your ass out of this tree and do something. Perhaps I should travel again?" The idea was very tempting and he hurried back towards Kaede's hut.

Kaede, the aging miko, saw the red and white blur approach her hut and she smiled gently. The hanyou was like a relative and he was always welcomed to stay at her hut.

-         Shippou, Inuyasha is here, she said and the little kitsune darted out from hut to greet his favourite half demon.

-         INUYASHA!! he yelled happily.

-         Where's the fire runt? smiled Inuyasha and caught the kitsune in a gentle hold.

-         I have not seen you for a couple of days, where have you been?

-         Around the God tree, thinking about things, and I have come to a decision. I am going to travel the lands again, like we did during the Hunt, said Inuyasha and sat down next to Kaede.

-         Why? Can I come with you…? Pleeeeeease!!

-         Why do you want to come with me Shippou? All you do is whine about how hard it is, grunted Inuyasha.

-         I was just a young cub back then, I have grown since our days of shard hunting, said Shippou and puffed up his chest, trying to look tough.

-         I know pup, I know, smiled Inuyasha and ruffled the red hair.

-         So can I come with you?

-         But if I hear one whining word I send you home!

-         YAY!!

-         When do you leave? asked Kaede and felt a small sorrow inside her chest.

-         Tomorrow at dawn, said Inuyasha.

-         I will make a basket of goodies for you.

-         Thank you grandma, said Inuyasha in a rare display of affection.

Kaede blushed lightly and began working on the goodies she just had promised the hanyou.

Sango and Miroku came the next morning to say good bye to their friends. Sango cried rivers and it made Inuyasha stressed, he never knew how to handle crying women. Miroku whispered something about pregnant women being emotional; she did this several times a day. It helped Inuyasha a bit, but not much. After the tear filled good bye Inuyasha placed Shippou on his shoulder and got the basked on his back and then they were on their way.

-         So where do you want to go Shippou? asked Inuyasha after a few hours of travelling.

-         You are asking me??

-         No, I am asking Kagome - of course I am asking you runt, sighed Inuyasha.

-         I.. I don't know…

-         Come on runt, I know you want to go somewhere, just tell me.

-         Can we go to the mountain where we met the Thunder brethren? asked Shippou with a small voice.

-         Yes we can, why do you want to go there?

-         To honour my father, he saved our lives that night and I want to see it one more time.

-         Then off to the mountain we go, said Inuyasha with a small smile on his lips.

Shippou hugged the hanyou with his little hands. Inuyasha had transformed after Kagome's departure and it was a good transformation too. The little kitsune never said it out loud, but he saw the hanyou as his second father, and this was also the reason he wanted to visit the mountain, he wanted to tell his real father about it.

Inuyasha saw the little boy place a few flowers on the cold ground. He was standing a few feet away, wanting to give Shippou some privacy with his thoughts. But with his keen hearing he could every word the fox whispered into the air. And what he heard both shocked his mind and warmed his heart. "He sees me as his father?? I never knew…" Inuyasha decided to try to be the father that Shippou obviously saw in him.

-         So where shall we be going next? asked Inuyasha when the kitsune jumped up on his shoulder again.

-         Why don't we visit that girl we met when we first found out about your special night?

-         What was her name again?

-         Nazu… Nazuna?

-         Yes that's it.. Well it seems like good idea. Man.. Shippou you have some bright ideas from time to time, teased Inuyasha and picked up his pace.

-         Hey, be nice to me..

-         What ever … son.

Silence fell.

-         You heard me?

-         Yes and I will try to be your father if you want to runt.

-         Yes, I would like you to be my father, whispered Shippou.

-         Then it is settle.. son.

Shippou sniffled but did not cry. He was happy with the hanyou, he always felt protected around him. He saw the stream where he had been so seasick and he made a face. But in the distant he saw a person and he whispered this to Inuyasha who nodded and they headed towards the shadowy figure.

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