InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Concrete Rose ❯ A Haunting Past ( Chapter 9 )

Concrete Rose

 

Chapter 9: A Haunting Past

 

 

 

 

Three days later, the traveling party came to a clear space. Inuyasha looked around, his hand unconsciously going to the Tetsusaiga. Sesshomaru glanced around the place. There seemed to be nothing in the clearing at all. Kimi squinted. She felt the presence of someone very familiar.

 

“ Have you led us to a dead end, girl?” Sesshomaru said, not bothering to glance up at Sanna. Sanna stood up on Ah-Un. She jumped off of the two-headed dragon. Inuyasha drew the Tetsusaiga. Sesshomaru held up a hand. Inuyasha lowered his weapon, but did not sheath it.

 

Sanna walked forward, her eyes scanning the scene before her. She raised her hands and placed them on a barrier. A hole in the barrier opened. Sanna turned back towards the others. She looked extremely pissed. The bandage around her neck needed to be changed. Sesshomaru began walking forward.

 

As they entered the barrier, Kimi's senses went crazy. She could smell an evil being from her past and knew that this was not going to be good in any way. They came to the gates of the castle. Sanna faced them and put a finger to her lips. They all nodded. Sesshomaru turned towards Kimi.

 

“ Leave Ah-Un here.” He said. Kimi released the reins and patted one of its heads. She followed silently after the others. They entered a deserted courtyard. Kimi was about to say something when Inuyasha covered her mouth. She craned her neck around to see where he was looking.

 

Out past the stone walkway in the courtyard, something shifted on the ground. Kimi could see a shadow, but she did not see anything causing the shadow. Once they were inside the main building, Kimi spoke.

 

“ Why the hell were we supposed to be quiet?” She asked. Sanna looked at Inuyasha.

 

“ There were youkai out there that respond to sound. Particularly those made by vocal chords. If you were to speak, they were going to pounce on you. That is a rather clever way to guard a castle entrance. So, where is Kai?” Inuyasha asked, looking around the place. The miasma around the place was unnerving to him.

 

Sesshomaru could not smell anyone except his ward and Inuyasha. He did not like not knowing what was surrounding him. Sanna looked at him and beckoned him with her hands. They followed her into another courtyard.

 

Jiro and Ken looked up as they saw Sanna approaching with three outsiders. Jiro squinted and saw her bandaged neck. Drawing his sword, he stood up and started stalking towards the others. Sanna put up her hand to stop him.

 

“ No.” She whispered painfully. Jiro raised an eyebrow as Ken walked up beside him. Sanna shook her head. “ Hybrid child.” She said. Jiro looked over at Kimi. She whispered something to Ken. Ken nodded and grabbed Sanna's hands. He broke the chains and was walked off with her. Jiro looked at the others.

 

“ You must be who the thunder youkai want. Follow me.” He said. He turned on his heel and walked off. Sesshomaru followed without hesitation. Inuyasha looked at Kimi. She seemed to be in another world. She was looking around her with wide eyes.

 

` I don't like this at all,' she thought. She walked after Inuyasha.

 

Jiro led them into another building. Akio, Masoto, and Yukiko were waiting for them. Yukiko glared at Kimi when she saw her. Kimi narrowed her eyes at Yukiko. The female youkai looked hazily familiar. She could not think of where she had seen her before.

 

“ Sesshomaru, I see you have followed directions quite well.” Akio said. Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes.

 

“ I did not follow your orders. I came to retrieve Kai and leave.” He said stoically. Akio smirked. He looked over to his left. A door opened and Suzuka walked through. She was pulling something with her. As she turned around, Kai fell to the floor, clearly weakened. She looked up at Sesshomaru.

 

“ On the contrary, Sesshomaru. You did follow orders. You just proved that you did. You came to retrieve what you see as yours. In doing so, you followed an order that was given to you by Sanna before you sliced her throat open.” Akio said.

 

“ You appear to be under the impression that I am going to give the hybrid up to you.” Sesshomaru said calmly. Akio raised an eyebrow as Kimi scoffed.

 

“ I have a name, Sesshomaru.” She said. Sesshomaru paid her no mind. Inuyasha just stood there, watching the exchange. He noticed how Yukiko was flexing her fingers and glaring malevolently at Kimi. Kimi seemed to be unaware of Yukiko's deadly fixation on her.

 

“ Give us the hybrid child and you can go.” Masoto said. Sesshomaru glared at him.

 

“ That is not an option.” He said. Masoto growled something, but a sudden gust of wind accompanied by green leaves silenced him. Everyone turned their heads to see two figures approaching them. Kimi and Inuyasha's eyes widened and their mouths hung open.

 

` Ikeike,' Inuyasha thought. Sure enough, Ikeike and Ryomaru were walking in. Ikeike looked at the two half-brothers, smirking. Sesshomaru just stared at her, his face showing no surprise whatsoever.

 

“ Now, now, boys. There is no reason to get angry here. We're all adults. Surely we can work out some sort of arrangement where no blood has to be spilled.” The female youkai said from behind her veil.

 

“ Ikeike.” Sesshomaru said.

 

“ Sesshomaru. It has been quite a long time. I see that your baby brother has grown.” She said, looking at Inuyasha. Inuyasha's ears twitched has he heard the minuscule screech of teeth gritting together. “ Do you even remember me, Inuyasha?” Ikeike asked. Inuyasha narrowed his eyes at her.

 

“ Of course. How could I ever forget that ugly mug of yours?” He said spitefully. Ikeike just laughed off his insult and turned her attention back to Sesshomaru.

 

“ What is your business with this Sesshomaru, Ikeike?” Sesshomaru asked. Ikeike crossed her arms.

 

“ These thunder youkai here are my clients. I am merely here to keep the peace. Normally, by now, I would have already pulled your heart from your chest and began feasting on it. But, since I am not the one who is currently calling the shots, I will merely just sit back and enjoy the show.”

 

“ Typical. Never one to soil your hands, are you, Ikeike?” Sesshomaru asked. Ikeike shrugged.

 

“ You know me so well, Sesshomaru. I wouldn't want you to suffer a blow to your machismo by immediately killing you. A lot has changed since our last meeting.” She said. Sesshomaru blinked.

 

“ You know, I have never realized it, but your name is very fitting for you, Ikeike.” Sesshomaru said. Ikeike glared at him. Before she could retaliate to his insult, Ryomaru stepped forward, examining Kimi.

 

“ Mei.” He said. Kimi stepped from around Sesshomaru and Inuyasha to come into full view of Ryomaru.

 

“ Ojisan.” She whispered. Inuyasha blinked and looked at Kimi.

 

“ You know him?” He asked. Kimi nodded sternly. Her eyes never left Ryomaru's.

 

“ Of course I know him. He is my ojisan, Ryomaru. He is my mother's half-brother.” Kimi said. Inuyasha looked back up at Ryomaru. He was still staring at Kimi. Sesshomaru looked at Ryomaru also. He was just as “pretty” as himself.

 

“ It has been a long time since I have seen you, Kimi. I see you have grown since out last meeting.” Ryomaru said. Kimi moved to the side of Sesshomaru a little closer. Ryomaru smirked. “ You cling to him as if he can save you. You are coming with us.” He said. Kimi raised a confused eyebrow.

 

“ What? I'm not going anywhere with you.” Kimi said.

 

“ Quite the contrary, mei. You are coming with me today.” Ryomaru said. Both Kimi and Inuyasha looked utterly appalled at his words. Ikeike noticed the dumbfounded looks on their faces. Kimi stepped to the side so she could get a look at Sesshomaru.

 

“ What the hell is he talking about, Sesshomaru? I'm not going anywhere with that fucker.” Kimi said, crossing her arms. Sesshomaru appeared to ignore her. Ikeike shook her head and began walking forward.

 

“ Isn't this interesting. Sesshomaru, you brought this poor girl down here without telling her what you planned to do with her? That's low, even for you.” Ikeike said, stopping a few feet from him. Inuyasha looked at Sesshomaru.

 

“ You lied to her?” He asked. Sesshomaru turned his head slowly to look at his younger brother. Inuyasha had his arms folded in his sleeves.

 

“ This Sesshomaru did not lie to her. She insisted on coming. I did not lead her on in any way.” Sesshomaru said. Kimi had her head low. She looked back up at him with indignation.

 

“ You could have told me that all they wanted to do was trade me. You could've protected me.” Kimi said quietly. She sounded hurt. Sesshomaru let out a deep breath.

 

“ You seem to think that I have every intention of handing you over to them. If you are so inclined to go without a fight, please do so. It will save me the trouble. I had no intention of letting you go.” Sesshomaru said. Inuyasha happened to be swallowing when Sesshomaru finished his little speech. He began choking on his own saliva.

 

“ What?” Kimi, Inuyasha, and Kai croaked. Everyone took a minute to realize that Kai was now forcing herself to sit up. She was looking at Sesshomaru with wide eyes. Kimi's expression seemed to soften up a little bit. Ryomaru squeezed his fist together.

 

“ I see there is no other way around this.” He whispered. In the blink of an eye, Kimi was being held by the neck. Ryomaru held her on the tips of her toes. Sesshomaru drew Tokujin quickly. He pointed it at Ryomaru's neck. The sound of various weapons being pulled out filled the air. Everyone was pointing their weapons at Inuyasha, Kai, or Sesshomaru. Ikeike just stood with her arms crossed.

 

“ Release her.” Sesshomaru said in a rather scary voice. Kimi struggled in Ryomaru's grip. She dug her nails into his wrist. Ryomaru smirked.

 

“ Are you really going to impale me with that sword of yours, Sesshomaru? By the time you do that, I could've snapped her neck in six different ways.” Ryomaru said calmly. He squeezed Kimi a little tighter between his fingers. Kimi felt herself losing consciousness.

 

“ Release her.” Sesshomaru repeated, his temper lighting. Ryomaru merely smirked. No one noticed the silence from Kimi. Sesshomaru felt an aura surrounding them. He looked at Kimi out of the corner of his eye. Her hair shielded her eyes. She still held on tightly to Ryomaru's arm. Ryomaru finally took notice of his niece's silence. She had stopped struggling but her grip on his wrist was still firm signaling that she had not yet completely lost consciousness.

 

“ Let me go.” Kimi whispered in a strangled voice. Ryomaru finally acknowledged her. He smiled.

 

“ You surprise me, mei. You have lasted longer in this hold than I would've expected you to.” He said. He was too preoccupied with Kimi's face to see that her hair was starting to change color. Sesshomaru suddenly remembered something that Michiko had said about Kimi's sudden changes.

 

` ...self-preservation comes first,' he thought. Kimi's hair was becoming more and more red which meant that the inu youkai in her was coming out. Inuyasha raised an eyebrow at her hair. He looked over at Sesshomaru. He had also noticed the slow change. Kimi looked up into her uncle's eyes. His eyes widened at the golden orbs in front of him.

 

“ I said let me go.” Kimi's nails punctured Ryomaru's skin violently. She twisted his wrist until she heard a satisfying crack. Ryomaru winced and immediately dropped her, grasping his bloody hand. He took a step back and glared at Kimi.

 

Kimi sat on the floor, looking at her bloody hands. Ikeike was smirking behind her veil. She was enjoying every moment of this. Ryomaru looked at his wrist and stood up straight. He wiggled his fingers, cracking them.

 

“ Stupid wench. You of all people should know that thunder youkai heal much faster than most youkai. Your silly trick was clever for the moment.” Ryomaru reached for his sword. Sesshomaru stepped in front of Kimi.

 

“ You should remember what the deal was, Sesshomaru. You have a choice to make. Either you give us Kimi, or we kill Kai.” Ikeike said. Sesshomaru glanced at her. Akio jerked Kai to her feet. He pulled an ice dagger from a holster on his leg and held it to Kai's neck.

 

“ What's it going to be, Lord Sesshomaru?” Ryomaru asked. Kimi turned and looked at Kai. Akio was starting to puncture Kai's neck. A small amount of blood trickled down her neck. Kai swallowed hard and closed her eyes.

 

“ I'll go with them.” Kimi said. Everyone lost their countenance for a moment. No one had expected Kimi to willingly give herself over to them. Sesshomaru looked at her. Kimi nodded. “ It is best.” She said calmly.

 

“ Iie. You are my ward and I am in charge of you. Rin will never forgive me if anything happens to you.” Sesshomaru said. Kimi touched his arm and amber met amber.

 

“ I will be FINE.” She said, her eyes hinting at something. Sesshomaru stared at her a little longer and he released her. Kimi nodded and looked at her uncle.

 

“ Let Kai go and I will come to you.” She said. Ikeike looked at Ryomaru. Ryomaru narrowed his eyes.

 

“ Fine.” He said. Ikeike looked over at Akio. Akio nodded and released Kai. She fell forward, gasping for air and rubbing her neck. She looked up as Kimi started walking slowly over to her uncle. Ryomaru smirked as she came nearer. When she was close enough, he grabbed her by the arm and pulled her to him. Ikeike looked at Sesshomaru and company.

 

“ Well, Sesshomaru. It's been fun.” She said. When Sesshomaru blinked again, he was standing outside with Inuyasha and Kai. Ah-Un walked over to its master. Sesshomaru placed a hand on one of its heads. Kai rose to her feet, rubbing her swelling neck. She stalked over to Sesshomaru and pushed him. Sesshomaru glared at his long-time friend.

 

“ What the hell did you give her up for?” Kai asked, feeling the poison in her losing its effect. Sesshomaru looked away from her.

 

“ She wanted to go. I guess she has some sort of plan.” He looked at his surroundings. The Hunters' castle was gone. There was nothing but trees for miles. “ We should head back.” He started walking. Kai hopped on Ah-Un and gently kicked its sides. Inuyasha sighed and sheathed the Tetsusaiga.

 

“ Rin is not going to be happy with you, Sesshomaru.” He said. Sesshomaru sighed deeply, ignoring his brother's stating of the obvious. Yes, Rin was practically going to murder him when she saw him. That was chance he was going to have to take.

 

Kimi fell down as he uncle released her. She turned her head and looked at him. Ryomaru was staring at her with his icy blue eyes.

 

“ I'm surprised to see that you have been doing so well on your own, mei. I would expect nothing less from the daughter of Nariko.” Ryomaru said. Kimi scooted back away from him, rubbing her arm.

 

“ I barely remember you. I don't even know what you want with me.” Kimi snarled. Ryomaru kneeled down and grabbed her by the hair. Kimi grabbed his hands and tried to wrench them free of her hair. Ikeike stood against the wall, watching this scene unfold.

 

“ You honestly don't remember me, mei?”

 

“ I remember who you are. I know that you are my mother's half-brother.” Kimi said. Ryomaru nodded.

 

“ That is true. Do you remember what happened to your mother?”

 

“ She was killed in battle.” Kimi said. Ryomaru shook his head.

 

“ You were there when it happened, mei. It looks like you have blocked that particular memory out. I'll let you think about it.” Ryomaru dropped Kimi. Kimi rubbed the top of her head, mumbling a few choice words. Ikeike smirked behind her veil as Ryomaru approached her.

 

“ You certainly have a way with your family.” She said. Ryomaru glared at her. Ikeike just put her hands up. “ So, great Ryomaru, when do we go on this little venture?” She asked.

 

“ Tomorrow, we leave.” He said simply. Ikeike nodded as Ryomaru left the room. She looked over at Kimi. Kimi sat on the floor, shooting daggers at Ikeike. Ikeike winked at the young hybrid.

 

“ Sweet dreams, princess.” Ikeike disappeared in a swirl of leaves. Kimi sighed.

 

` What have I gotten myself into now,' she thought. She lay on the floor and closed her eyes.

 

Rin fixed the sheets on Sesshomaru's futon. Given the state in which they were left in, Rin and Suki had set out to find some new ones. Suki finished making the futon up and Rin walked over to the balcony. Sesshomaru and Kimi had been gone four days now. It was starting to unnerve her. She walked out of the room to find Kagome.

 

Kagome sat in the garden, thinking about her son. She wondered what fine trouble he was causing Miroku and Sango. The child had energy for days. She giggled when she thought of Miroku and Sango trying to tame the wild child. Kagome flinched when she heard footsteps. She turned to see Rin.

 

Rin smiled at Kagome as she sat next to her.

 

“ My, my. You are very jumpy, Kagome.” Rin said. Kagome just smiled.

 

“ Well, I'm not used to being in the Western Lands. This estate is so big. I don't understand how Sesshomaru can sleep here at night with all this land to worry about.” She said. Rin laughed.

 

“ Sesshomaru has heightened senses like Inuyasha. He can smell an enemy a mile away.” Rin said. Kagome nodded and looked back off towards the gates.

 

“ I wish they would hurry back. I hate playing the waiting game. It always leaves me wondering if he is all right or injured. I hate it when he leaves me behind.” She said, crossing her arms.

 

“ Well, from what I hear, the Hunters are a force to be reckoned with. They have been compared with those mercenaries...what were they called...” Rin looked thoughtful for a moment.

 

“ You mean the Shichinin-tai?” Kagome asked. Rin snapped her fingers.

 

“ That's them. I remember being captured by two of them. One of them talked like a girl and the other was pretty weird. He had like two different sides to him. It was strange.” Rin said, looking up into the sky. Kagome laughed.

 

“ Well, the one who resembled a woman was Jakotsu. The other one you speak of was Suikotsu. The Shichinin-tai were some pretty interesting, if not evil, characters. Anyway, you say the Hunters are compared with them?” Kagome asked.

 

“ Yes. There are six of them, I think. Sesshomaru told me that there might be one that leads them all. No one is certain for sure. I'm sure when he gets back he'll be able to verify that. I just hope they are all okay.” Rin said. Kagome nodded.

 

“ So do I.” She whispered.

 

Enter Dream Sequence

 

Kimi opened her eyes. She was in her room in her grandfather's castle. The young hybrid rose up out of the futon and walked to the door of her room. She heard a commotion downstairs. She heard her mother's voice along with another voice she recognized as her uncle's. Smiling, Kimi ran down the stairs.

 

Nariko faced her brother, holding her sword. Blood trickled down the fingers of her left arm. Ryomaru stood, smiling down at his younger half-sister. Nariko winced as she tried to move her fingers.

 

“ Give it up, sister. You cannot win this battle and you know it. Oyaji is not here to save you. You will die just like that ignorant mate of yours.” Ryomaru said. Nariko frowned at the disrespectful name Ryomaru had used for their father.

 

“ One of these days, you will get what is coming to you, Ryomaru. Chichi-ue was right about you. You never were worthy of inheriting the lands. To think I backed you up on this and you try to kill me. Some thanks this is.” Nariko said. Ryomaru frowned. In an instant, he was holding his younger half-sister by the neck. Nariko grabbed his hands.

 

“ You insolent little...”

 

“ Haha-ue? Ojisan?” A small voice said. Nariko looked into her brother's eyes. Ryomaru growled something illegible and released her. They turned around and looked down at Kimi. Nariko hid her bloody arm and sword while Ryomaru hid his sword.

 

“ Hi, mei. How are you doing?” Ryomaru asked in a false voice. Kimi stared at her mother and uncle. Something was definitely not right. She may be young, but the child was not blind.

 

“ I'm fine, ojisan. What is wrong? Why are you yelling?” She asked. Nariko and Ryomaru looked at each other. Nariko walked forward and kneeled in front of her daughter, still hiding her bleeding arm.

 

“ Kimi-chan, I'm going to need you to go to your room and not come out until I say it is safe. Ojisan and I are talking.” Nariko said. Kimi looked from her mother to her uncle. She nodded.

 

“ Hai, Haha-ue.” Kimi turned around to walk away. Nariko stood up, wincing at the pain in her arm. Kimi turned around to look at them one last time. She then kept walking. Nariko turned around to face her brother. Kimi stopped walking and hid around the corner, disobeying her mother. She peered around the corner.

 

Nariko faced Ryomaru once more. Ryomaru smiled at her.

 

“ It has been nice knowing you, oneechan.”

 

“ Same here, oniisan.” Nariko flexed her fingers. Ryomaru smiled and charged at his sister. Nariko did the same. Kimi's eyes widened as they both stopped in the middle of the floor. It looked as though both of them were impaling each other.

 

Nariko and Ryomaru stared straight ahead. Nariko let go of her sword and it clanged loudly on the ground. Ryomaru closed his eyes and removed his sword from his sister's stomach. Nariko fell to the ground, spitting up blood. Kimi felt a tear roll down her face. Nariko lay on the floor, her eyes wide. Kimi came out of her hiding place as Ryomaru sheathed his sword on his back as Kimi kneeled down by her mother.

 

“ Haha-ue? Haha-ue, wake up.” She said. Ryomaru watched the child shake her mother. He closed his eyes and kneeled down to her level.

 

“ Didn't Nariko tell you to stay in your room?” Ryomaru asked. Kimi squeezed her fists together, triggering a change in her. With unnatural speed for a child her age, she scratched her uncle's face, poison dripping from her fingers. Ryomaru fell backwards. He reached for the child and popped her on the back of her neck. Kimi's eyes closed and she fell on top of her mother.

 

` She will be a nuisance to me later on in life, I'll bet,' Ryomaru thought dismally. He stood up and walked out of the castle, leaving his dead half-sister and unconscious niece.

 

End Dream Sequence

 

Kimi sat up, breathing hard. She looked around hr and found herself in a rather nice room. Someone had moved her during the night.

 

“ Did you have a bad dream, mei?” That sinister voice asked. Kimi looked to her right and saw Ryomaru sitting in a chair. She squeezed the sheets on the futon in her hands.

 

“ You killed Haha-ue right in front of me.” She whispered. Ryomaru crossed his arms.

 

“ You weren't supposed to see it. I had no real desire to kill Nariko before your eyes. Your disobedience left that image in your mind.”

 

“ Why did you kill her? She was your sister.” Kimi said.

 

“ No, she was my half-sister. The only ties I had with your mother was our father and I killed him, too. They were both insolent fools and now they're both dead. They were too afraid to do what I wanted to do. How dare they both think that a hybrid should inherit what is rightfully mine.” Ryomaru stood up. Kimi looked confused.

 

“ I was never told about any inheritance.” She said. Ryomaru smirked.

 

“ That is because you weren't supposed to inherit it until the right time. But now, I'm going to take what is rightfully mine by force.” Ryomaru left the room, leaving Kimi to figure out what that meant by herself.

 

Japanese words

 

Mei: niece

Ojisan: uncle

Oneechan: sister

Oniisan: brother

Hai: yes

Iie: no

Oyaji: a way to refer to one's father; disrespectful to some

Haha-ue: respectful way to refer to one's mother

Chichi-ue: respectful way to refer to one's father