InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Children of Light ❯ Chapter 18 ( Chapter 18 )

Chapter 18

"Well we've got to do something!" Inu Yasha swung Tetsusaiga and another tree fell to his wrath.

"Inu Yasha, stop that." Kagome chided him.

It was getting more and more difficult to keep Inu Yasha from blowing his top whenever he thought about Naraku. It had been a week since the attack at the bar. A week since Sango and Miroku had awakened to their past memories, only to discover that Naraku was back and up to his old tricks.

"Inu Yasha, we are all frustrated with the Naraku situation, but cutting down all the trees in Japan is not the answer. And I'm sure Tetsusaiga would prefer not to be used as a common axe." Miroku sat with Kagome and Sango, his priest like nature bubbling more and more to the surface as his mind, body and soul integrated their new memories into him. And frankly, they were all getting a little tired of Inu Yasha's lumber jack impression.

Inu Yasha growled his frustration as he knocked down another tree for good measure before rejoining his friends on the picnic blanket. They had gone out into the country for some peace and quiet. Hoping the peacefulness of the countryside would spark some amazing insight and give them a clue as to what they could do next. Of course, the only thing the country had been good for so far, was ensuring Inu Yasha had a well-stocked pile of firewood for his fireplace back in the city.

"This is stupid," he grumbled as he re-sheathed Tetsusaiga and sat next to Kagome.

She placed a comforting hand on his arm and smiled at him. "Don't worry Inu Yasha, we'll find him."

Inu Yasha smiled back at his mate. Sometimes he just couldn't believe how things had worked out, that they had all found each other again. Well, mostly. It was too good to be true and Inu Yasha was terrified inside that something would happen to ruin their happiness. He clenched his jaw as he renewed the vow in his heart that he would do ANYTHING to keep Naraku from hurting his mate and friends again. But he spoke nothing of this to the others. He simply nodded his head in agreement.

"I love you Kagome, and I swear I will not fail again."

"Inu Yasha?"

He turned his attention to Sango who had been nibbling half-heartedly at a ham and cheese sandwich. She was still trying to come to terms with her old life and all the loss they had each suffered, but she kept it hidden under a mask of strength and indifference. Naturally, her friends all knew better.

"Yeah?"

"I've been wondering something, about your sword. How did you get Tetsusaiga back?"

"Ah yes, I have been wondering the same thing," Miroku added, "after all, your lineage in this lifetime isn't the same and yet Sesshoumaru is still Lord of the Western Lands as well."

Kagome looked at Inu Yasha who had a thoughtful expression on his face. She was surprised that she had never bothered to ask him about it before. Tetsusaiga had always been with him, so it was natural for her to see the two of them together. But Tetsusaiga would have remained behind after he had… Kagome tried not to think about that.

"Yeah, how did you get Tetsusaiga?"

"It's kind of an odd story actually. When I was born to my youkai father and human mother, they told me that a demon came to their den just after I was born to present them with a gift for their newly born hanyou pup. That was weird enough, as not a lot of people knew about my mother's condition. They couldn't understand why someone, a demon especially, would want to give them a gift of all things. Back then, full-blooded demons and hanyous were still at odds with each other, but it was slowly getting better. Anyways, the demon hands them the sword, says it's called Tetsusaiga, and that it's connected to my spirit and youkai blood and that I should never have it far from me, and then he left." Everyone was wide eyed as they listened attentively to Inu Yasha tell his story.

"As for Sesshoumaru, dad had him with his first wife, before she died. They were both nobles, in the lesser courts, but when she died, dad left and met my mom. But when Sesshoumaru got older, he had it in his head to lead. He was determined to get what was denied him when my father left the royal courts. A shot at the title, so to speak. And that's just what he did. I guess a part of him didn't feel complete without it, so he fought his way to the top. He's been Lord of the Western Lands ever since."

Everyone nodded in understanding. "But who was the demon that brought the sword?" Sango asked the question that was undoubtedly on everyone's mind. Who was the demon that somehow knew about Inu Yasha, his reincarnation and his connection to the sword?

"Dunno. My parents said he was covered in traveling robes and wouldn't show his face. He had also covered his scent, so dad couldn't tell what kind of youkai he was."

"Strange."

"What's that Sango?" Kagome inquired of her friend who seemed to be contemplating something in her mind.

"Well, the Tetsusaiga. It never let anyone handle it except for Inu Yasha or a human, like us. Remember how it would react when any demon would try to handle it? It put up a barrier and repelled the demon. I wonder why it allowed this traveler to handle it?"

Everyone thought about the truth of Sango's words. Why did the Tetsusaiga allow another demon to handle it?

"Did he ever leave a name? Some kind of clue?" Miroku couldn't help but think that perhaps this demon had some sort of connection to everything, especially if they had managed to carry the Tetsusaiga and live long enough to deliver it. Maybe this demon would have some useful answers for them if they could figure out who it was and if they were still alive.

Inu Yasha scratched the top of his head. "I can't remember. I guess I could always ask my mom."

"WHAT!?!" Kagome roared, her body jerking back as she glared wide-eyed at her mate, causing his ears to plaster themselves against his skull.

"Huh? What?" Inu Yasha didn't understand what he had done wrong, but the fiery glare in Kagome's eyes told him he needed to make whatever it was better, and he needed to do it now!

Kagome struggled to speak calmly, though slowly, through gritted teeth, as she all but spat out each word. "Your.parents.are.alive?"

"Oh…yeah…they are." Inu Yasha grinned sheepishly as he took in the stunned faces of his friends, with the exception of Miroku of course, who knew all about Inu Yasha's life.

"What!?" He barked, suddenly annoyed. "Did you want them to be dead?" What was the big deal anyways?

"Of course not Inu Yasha, don't be absurd." Sango assured him. "It's just, I guess we assumed that you lived the same lifestyle now, as you did in the past," Sango went on to continue, "and since you grew up without parents before, we figured the same thing might have happened again. That's all."

Inu Yasha nodded his understanding as he kept from looking at Kagome who was still glaring at him. "I get it, but Sango, what about you? Your family's still alive right? And you know that Miroku's dad is okay, isn't he? No big scary hole in the hand or anything like that."

Both Sango and Miroku nodded. "Yeah, my father's well. He's got some interesting and questionable taste in women, but it seems that we all have our families intact." Miroku smiled happily.

"Except me."

Kagome's sad, quiet voice splintered the air like a bomb just having been dropped. Everyone turned sympathetic and guilty eyes on her. How could they have been so insensitive? Wasn't that Inu Yasha's job? Kagome didn't even know who her family was; much less know if they were alive.

"Kagome," Inu Yasha turned to grab hold of his mate's hand as he watched the flux of emotions run across her face. He hated seeing her hurt like that, but when she turned her sorrowful eyes back to Inu Yasha, he cringed at the betrayal he saw in them.

"I can't believe after all this time, you never told me about your parents." Kagome's voice was filled with hurt that he hadn't shared that with her.

"I'm sorry Kagome," Inu Yasha was quick to try and rectify the situation as he took her hands in his own. "I guess I just didn't think about it. I'm sorry. They've been living in America for the last few decades and I haven't seen them in a while, so it just never came to mind. We've been so busy and pre-occupied with all this other stuff that's been going on, that I just didn't think about it. But I promise, I will take you to meet them as soon as we've buried Naraku once and for all." Inu Yasha's voice was laced with conviction and determination.

Kagome gave him a soft smile as she squeezed his hands, most of the hurt lifting from her eyes. "Okay Inu Yasha. I forgive you."

Inu Yasha smiled his relief as he kissed her on the cheek.

"But Inu Yasha, how can your mother still be alive? Isn't she human?" Leave it to Sango to notice all the details.

"Yeah, she is, but dad shares his blood with her and it keeps her aging at relatively the same pace as he does. He wasn't even sure if it would work at first, there haven't been a lot of youkai/human matings, so no one's ever tried, but he had to do something."

It was weird sometimes, when Inu Yasha thought about his two sets of parents, the ones from his past and the ones in his present. He couldn't help but wonder if the souls of his first parents had been reincarnated into his parents now. After all, they seemed so similar to his parents from back then, of what he could remember, that he wouldn't have been surprised if they were. The one glaring difference of course being that they had lived this time around, and all thanks to Kagome.

Because of Kagome, they too had been given a second chance with their family, and so had Inu Yasha.

********

"Mr. Naraku, you asked for me?" Naraku's number one lackey had been first in command of the failed bar attack and was feeling a little nervous these days. They had failed to get the girl and Naraku would not be happy. Not happy at all. He swallowed nervously as he patiently waited for Naraku to acknowledge his presence.

"Do you know anything about history?"

"Sir?" Okay, now he was confused. Why was Naraku staring out the window, looking out at the ocean with his hands clasped behind his back, as if he were merely looking at a painting, and why was he asking him about history? History wasn't exactly his strong suit.

"History, you imbecile." Naraku's tone remained soft and unchanging, which only put his henchman even more on edge as Naraku continued to speak in the same calm and indifferent tone.

"They say that history has a way of repeating itself." Naraku continued, never removing his gaze from the scenery before him. "I never really understood it. Until now."

"Sir, I'm not sure I'm following you." Beads of sweat were starting to form on the lackey's forehead as he nervously waited to see what Naraku's true purpose had been for calling him here. Naraku had been uncharacteristically quiet and calm the last week. After the failed attempt on the girl, he hadn't even threatened anyone, much less killed anyone, for their incompetence. In fact, Naraku had kept a low profile over the last week. Keeping to his office, staring out over the ocean. Frankly, it had everyone just a little bit nervous.

Naraku turned to face his man, as if noticing him for the first time. He could smell the fear and anxiety rolling off him in waves. It made him smile. A lot of things had made him smile this last week.

"Do you know who I am?" Naraku gave a little grin at the cryptic question as he saw his man flinch.

"Sir? You're Naraku. One of th…The most powerful man in the city," the lackey quickly corrected.

Naraku smiled at this. Yes. He was the most powerful man in the city, simply because he was not afraid to take what he wanted. And Naraku wanted a lot of things in life. But nothing had ever satisfied him. He controlled this entire city, could make anyone do anything he wanted. As a demon, he had immense power and yet, it wasn't enough. And now he knew why.

"Ah yes, the most powerful man in the city. Quite right." Naraku began taking slow, measured steps towards the nervous henchman. He could hear the man's heart thundering in his chest. It was sweet music to his ears. He was sure he kept this nuisance around in part, because he was so very good at being so very frightened of him.

Naraku stopped directly in front of his man. His hot breath blasting him directly in the face as his lackey struggled with every fiber in his being not to flinch away.

"And do you know what I want more then anything else in this city, my dear boy?"

The henchman was having difficulty keeping his thoughts straight with Naraku mere inches from him. But he struggled to reply, "The… the girl sir?"

Naraku gave a small chuckle as little puffs of air blew into the man's face.

"Ultimate Power." Naraku grinned as he saw the confused expression roll over his lackey's face. Naraku turned and began walking back towards his window. He stared out at the ocean for a moment longer before finally speaking again, never once looking back to the man who waited expectantly for his orders.

"I know who I am now and I know what I want. Bring me the girl, she is the key."

"Yes sir, right away sir." The lackey quickly turned to leave to carry out Naraku's order when he was halted by the sound of his master's calm voice. He turned to see Naraku still gazing out the window.

"If you fail my boy, I will drink your soul through a straw."

************

"Aw man, that's gross!" Miroku held a hand up to his face to block the view before him.

ssslurpp

"Come on Inu! Do you have to eat like that? I thought you were a dog and not a pig!"

ssslurpp

Miroku's disgusted glare had little affect on the hanyou who was contently slurping down his favorite ramen noodles. But just to be extra annoying, Inu Yasha slurped up a particularly long noodle that thrashed wildly as it hung from his mouth, twitching and splashing Miroku with droplets of warm broth.

Ssssssssssssssssssssssssslllllllluuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrppppppppp pppp!

"Aw yuck!" Miroku complained, wiping the offending liquid off his hands and face.

Inu Yasha grinned. "What's that Miroku? I'm sorry, did you say something?"

"How does Kagome put up with your disgusting eating habits?" He wondered aloud as he rose from the table to put away his half eaten cup of ramen. For some mysterious reason, Miroku seemed to have lost his appetite.

Inu Yasha shrugged his shoulders. "I guess I make up for it in other ways." His lecherous grin left little doubt in Miroku's mind what his friend was referring too.

"You sly dog. I just bet." The two friends shared a hearty laugh together.

"So what about you Miroku?"

"What about me what?" Miroku replied innocently, pretending that he didn't get the meaning of Inu Yasha's question.

"Cut the crap. You know what I'm talking about. You and Sango, what's the deal?" Inu Yasha had noticed that since regaining their memories, the Sango and Miroku train of love had taken a sudden detour and had stopped at the station, indefinitely, it would seem.

Sighing, Miroku took a seat across from his friend and played with the saltshaker. "It's hard to say actually. Things were going great before, but since everything that's happened, I dunno, it's like we've gone backwards in time, in more ways then one."

"Ah, don't let it get to ya. You know Sango. She's probably just really embarrassed."

"Huh?" The look of pure confusion on Miroku's face was priceless.

Inu Yasha shook his head, sighing at his friend. "Come on Miroku, I KNOW you're not that dense." Then just to be safe, he quirked an eyebrow at him, "Are you?"

"Inu Yasha, I can assure you, I have no idea what you're talking about. So please, let's put aside my questionable sanity for the moment and fill me in!" Was Inu Yasha right? Was there something he was missing? Something so clear that everyone else could see it, but he had missed it completely? Scarier yet, did Inu Yasha actually get something that even he had missed!?

Inu Yasha rose from the table to deposit his now empty bowl into the sink. He turned to the fridge to retrieve a couple of beers and carefully tossed one towards his friend. The snapping and hissing of beer tops, as they pulled back the tabs, was the only sound to be heard in the apartment.

Inu Yasha took a big swig of his beer while turning one of the kitchen chairs around, so he could straddle it with his arms leaning on the back of the chair. Meanwhile, Miroku had taken a more modest sip of his beer and waited patiently for his friend to enlighten him.

"Miroku, you ass, what do you think Sango's problem is?" Ah yes, Mr. Sensitive Inu Yasha was back in full force.

Miroku rolled his eyes. "I don't know, Mr. High and Mighty. That's why I'm actually taking a chance and listening to your advice for once. On women of all things!! Oh man, this is not happening!" Miroku held his head in his hands as Inu Yasha barked out a laugh.

"Yeah, well, criticize all you want. I'm not the one sleeping alone."

Ah yes, a good point.

"Go on." Miroku smiled pleasantly at his friend.

"Seriously, think about it Miroku. What was Sango like back then and what is she like now? In one way, they're almost the same person, but in another way, they're totally different." Inu Yasha could see the creases in Miroku's forehead as he thought about what Inu Yasha was saying. Besides, Inu Yasha had been dealing with the same problem with Kagome, so he knew what he was talking about, hence all their `disciplinary activities' as of late.

"Back then, Sango was much more reserved in herself, especially with you. Look how long it took you guys just to start dating."

Ah yes, Miroku remembered it well. It wasn't easy getting through Sango's tightly constructed barriers, and even when he had begun to breach her defenses and get close to her, she had still kept him at arms length.

Nodding his head, as if Inu Yasha could almost hear and see the memories replaying in Miroku's mind, he enlightened his friend further, "Exactly! And now, before you guys found out about who you each were, what was she like?"

A grin began to widen across Miroku's face. Sango now, had been much, much more obvious in her affection towards him. Heck, she had let him get away with stuff now, that she would have skinned him alive for back then. Not to mention her own forward advances towards him.

Miroku's eyes widened as his mouth hung open in realization. "Oh." Miroku took a very large swig of his beer.

"Yeah. `Oh'. Couldn't have said it better myself." Inu Yasha tipped his beer can towards his friend and took another sip.

"You see. She doesn't know what to do now, or how to act. She's totally confused. She knows how she used to be, but she is who she is now. I'm guessing she's just having problems trying to find a balance between the two, especially when it comes to you. There's that part of her that could just die from the embarrassment of how open and affectionate she's been with you, and the other part that's mad that she even feels that. The part that knows it shouldn't matter anymore. But, there you have it. Women."

Miroku looked up at his friend, newfound respect shinning in his eyes. "Inu Yasha my friend," he began as he raised his beer in salute and awe to the insightful information that had poured from his friend in a rare moment of genuine sensitivity and genius.

"Never minding the fact that you sound as though you speak from personal experience," Miroku winked at his friend, knowing full well how dog-demons disciplined their mates, "I must say, you are indeed a man of many colors." He tipped his beer towards his friend and drunk deeply.

"Keh. I'm just a fucking genius, that's all."

******************

"Sango, don't be silly." Kagome laughed lightly at her friend as they continued to walk the last few blocks to Inu Yasha's apartment. They had spent the afternoon shopping and trying to rid themselves of thoughts of Naraku. They hadn't gotten very far with their investigation, even when Inu Yasha had called his mother in America to ask about the stranger that had left them the sword.

The demon had no scent, no name and no face that anyone could recall and they had not seen him since. Then Kagome had to spend half an hour talking on the phone to a woman she had never met before, with promises that they would all meet as soon as possible. With so little information to go on, they struggled in a vain attempt to simply continue with their lives until something else happened. It wasn't the way any of them wanted to handle the situation, but there was little else they could do.

"Honestly Sango, you've got to give him more credit then that. You know how he feels about you, and you feel the same way. Don't let the memories of your past keep you from living your future."

Sango's eyes widened with the words. Was Kagome right? Was she just being stupid? After all, she and Miroku had been doing fine until their memories had returned and Sango had taken on some of her old souls characteristics. It wasn't surprising of course, but she was so much more open and free now, and remembering how closed off and stand-offish she had been in her past life left her feeling almost angry and yet relieved that her soul had grown over the centuries. Still, sometimes it was hard to balance the two differing personalities that fought for dominance. But Kagome was right. She couldn't allow her past to affect her future. She had done that once before, and it had cost her precious time that she could have spent with Miroku. As his friend, his lover and his wife.

"Your right Kagome. You're so right."

"Of course I am, I'm a genius." Kagome teased.

Sango laughed at her friend as her expression became a mix of sadness and relief. "I shouldn't let this get to me. I've just got to take the good aspects of both lives and merge them into one. Make a better me."

Kagome smiled sympathetically at her friend. "Sango you're already perfect just the way you are. Everything that has ever happened to you, the good and the bad, has shaped and molded you into who you are now. Remember and embrace who you have been and treasure what you've become. The rest will fall into place."

Sango nodded, smiling sincerely for the first time in over a week. "Thanks Kag."

"Anytime," Kagome added, winking at her friend, "besides, I need a girlfriend to compare notes with."

Sango blushed as Kagome and she shared a laugh at the boys' expense.

"You know, this could turn out to…." Kagome's voice faltered mid sentence just as they approached the front steps to Inu Yasha's apartment. Well, Kagome's and Inu Yasha's apartment, now that she had finally moved in with him just after the bar incident. Inu Yasha had refused to allow her out of his sight since then. Today had been a rare and precious gift away from her overprotective mate.

"Kagome, are you okay?" Sango knew something was wrong instantly. Kagome's eyes had taken on a spaced-out look, as Sango held a hand out to keep her friend steady.

"Kagome?" But Kagome only continued to stare off into nothingness and then she shivered.

"KAGOME!!" Inu Yasha roared as he came flying down the front steps with Miroku on his heels. He quickly reached his mate and took her in his arms.

"Kagome! Can you hear me?" He shook her lightly as Kagome's gaze finally seemed to come back from wherever she had gone.

"Inu Yasha?" Where had he come from?

"I'm right here Kagome. What is it? What happened? I felt… I don't know… I felt something, coming from you."

Kagome laid a hand to her forehead as she cleared the muddy thoughts from her mind. Sango and Miroku huddled around her.

"I'm fine Inu Yasha… only… I felt something… someone. It was familiar, but I can't seem to place it."

"Inu Yasha, let's bring Kagome inside."

Inu Yasha nodded at Miroku's suggestion.

"Yeah, come on Kagome, let's go."

They all turned to continue into the apartment when Sango gasped.

"What is it?" Miroku hurried over to her side, and noticed that Sango was looking up, towards the roof of the building.

As everyone turned their gaze in the same direction, they all came face to face with a figure standing on the roof of Inu Yasha's apartment. A figure that gave off no scent that Inu Yasha could detect. A figure, shrouded in a simple traveling cloak.

"Who?"

It took a moment for everyone to register the appearance of the demon on the roof. It took seconds longer for them to make the connection to the demon whose identity they had been trying to uncover all week. The demon that had carried the Tetsusaiga.

"Hey you!" Inu Yasha was the first to react as he yelled up to the figure on the roof. But just as the words left his mouth, the demon disappeared.

"What the..?" Inu Yasha blinked in surprise.

"Inu Yasha?"

He turned his head quickly to his mate, whose eyes were clouding over with anxiousness. "He's still here Inu Yasha. I can… I can feel something… I'm not sure what it is."

"Where is he Kagome? Do you know?" Miroku asked anxiously. If they could only talk to the demon, they may finally get some answers.

Kagome turned her head, following the feeling, and sure enough, in the distance on another high roof, stood the shrouded figure. Silently beckoning for them to follow.

"It looks like he wants us to follow." Inu Yasha's eyes never wavered from the still figure in the distance.

"But how do we know this isn't a trap?" Sango was never one to let her guard down, especially when something seemed too good to be true, and this seemed just a little too convenient as far as she was concerned. The person they just happened to be looking for, shows up out of the blue after 200 years? The person that just might happen to have the answers they were all looking for, conveniently only meters away? No hunting, no looking, just `pop' here I am? A divine intervention perhaps? A gift from the universe to make their lives just a little bit easier? Yeah right!

Miroku nodded. "I know, but we don't have a choice Sango. He's the only lead we've got."

"Let's go."

Everyone turned to face Inu Yasha. "We'll take my car. No telling where he'll lead us, and he moves pretty fast. I can't carry all of you."

Without any further persuading, they all made a mad dash for Inu Yasha's corvette parked on the street. It was a tight fit, but unsurprisingly, Miroku didn't mind being pressed up against Sango in the tiny back seat all that much. Sango fought down her blush.

"Over there!" Kagome yelled, as she pointed down another street as Inu Yasha slammed his foot on the gas, taking a sharp turn. The car tilted slightly on its edge as everyone braced themselves against the side of the car.

"Inu Yasha!" Sango screeched through gritted teeth. "I'd like to make it their in one piece, if you don't mind!" The fast pace and continuous swerving of the car was starting to make her stomach really upset.

"Don't worry, I've got it covered. Besides, we don't want to loose him."

No one could argue with that as they hung onto dear life. Inu Yasha's steady gaze burned a hole in the road before him and his clenched teeth showed that he was not going to give up their only clue so easily. As they continued to chase down the cloaked figure, they quickly realized they were heading outside of the city, into one of the few remaining wooded areas.

"Inu Yasha!"

"I know."

They were headed straight into what remained of Inu Yasha's forest.