InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Desert Rose ❯ Tears and Broken Barriers ( Chapter 18 )

 

 

HAPPY 2K7 BAYBE!

 

First and foremost, I AM SO SORRY! My computer's battery and charger died on me, so I had to wait till I found a new one (Which is hard because my laptop's an old model) to finish this chapter and upload it.

 

Anyway on to serious matters, thank you, thank you, a million times thank you for every freaking review I've gotten. Thank you Peaceforg, Sublimetrickmaster, Jester08, Rinlover, Silverwolf halfbeast, Dark Lady and every other reviewer that has ever given me a review, I love you all! And I don't know why I hadn't been handing out thank yous. I know this chapter took forever to come out, but I had to revise so many times and check it as much as humanly possible, please enjoy and I'm sorry that it took so long.

 

Once again: I don't own Inuyasha, it belongs entirely to its creator Romiko Takahashi and I'm not allowed to take credit for her genius.

 

I'm not gonna cry, I'm not gonna crrrrry! -holds it in-

 

Chapter Eighteen: Tears and Broken Barriers

 

She sat shivering in the dark; the only sound she could hear was her own raging heartbeat. She hated the dark, afraid of its nothingness and solitude. She wanted desperately to be free, back to where she was cared for, but she didn't want to leave her behind.

 

She wished she could go out into the light, but they had caught her the last time she had and now she was being punished again. So long she had been in the dark, she didn't even remember the feeling of the sun and couldn't feel the light of the stars. This was her penalty for warning them. The pain she could stand, what frightened her more was the dark, and the silence.

 

`I warned you that you would be caught again.' A voice broke the shrill stillness that had been plaguing her mind.

 

`I had to go.' She whispered.

 

`Why are you doing this, you know it's futile.'

 

`No it's not. I won't give up. Please, let's just go. I don't want to be here anymore. I'm scared.' She sobbed.

 

`You'll only hurt yourself more by hoping. It's pointless to have faith.”

 

`Please, we have to leave. Please, Onee-chan. Let's go.'

 

She cried a little when she felt her head being jerked to the side, her scalp hurting slightly from the tugging of her hair. `Don't. Call. Me. That.' The voice of the other girl warned, before releasing her and vanishing from the room.

 

She sniffed, caressing her head with her small fingers. Soon the shrieking of the silence began again and she brought her knees to her chest, tucking her head into her arms. `Please come back, I'm scared…I don't want to be alone anymore…'

 

`I'm scared…”

 

()()()()()()()

 

Kagome felt as though she wanted to faint, the looming hope that she would learn what she had wished to know for so long interfering with her breathing. She strained her ears, yet he did not speak, and it scared her that maybe he was not going to bestow the knowledge she was seeking.

 

“Inuyasha?”

 

He didn't answer, just sighed before clutching the small wound on his chest. She moved to go near him when realizing that his heart gave another kick, but he told her to stay where she was. He quickly got to his feet again, this time breathing in before continuing.

 

“I would've thought she was my twin.” He laughed nervously, still holding his hand over his chest, his back still facing her.

 

“Inuyasha…who is she?”

 

He looked over his shoulder, and then turned completely toward her. Unprecedented emotion came upon his face, for the first time, showing a pained desolation and weakness. He looked so lost, but he took a deep breath before locking his eyes with hers. Even though she was at a distance, she could still feel the intensity of his gaze.

 

She felt as though he was looking into her soul, testing her to see for shreds of untruthfulness. What she found in his eyes were an unreadable emotion, yet no matter how she tried, she couldn't take her eyes away from them. The elderly servant had told her that Inuyasha's eyes had once lost their natural, golden glow. But, now she could see how brilliantly they shined. Strangely, she could see and feel this new resolution to live, counteracting with his wish for death when his heart returned.

 

Kagome gaze was broken when Inuyasha suddenly moved, he seemed to be walking away from her, and Kagome took in all her bravery to ask her next question.

 

“I-Inuyasha? What about the girl in the painting?” She rasped.

 

He stopped in mid-step, his back still facing her. “She's…” He began, bending his neck so his face was parallel with the sky before a heavy sigh escaped from him and he went back to his earlier position.

 

“Forget it. It's nothing important.” He breathed. He went to continue placing distance between them, wanting to suddenly get away from her, his heart already feeling heavy from seeing the painting. Hearing her take a step to follow like he had anticipated, he turned toward her, presenting an aggravated snarl.

 

“Back off and leave me the hell alone!” He barked, leaping into the trees and disappearing before Kagome could come back with an angry reply.

 

Seeing him leave, Kagome huffed, stamping her foot into the unlucky dirt and clenching her hands. She stared up at the trees, cursing them for providing Inuyasha with a haven for him to escape from talking to her.

 

“Idiot! When will you start trusting me?” She kicked at the floor, however her anger soon subsided being replaced by a series of deep sighs. Sitting herself at the base of a tree and leaning against the trunk, she looked back up into the canopy. Soon she tore her eyes from the leaves to return to looking at her lap.

 

They had gone through so much. Why did it surprise her that Inuyasha was still having trouble talking to her? She should've known that he wouldn't be so quick to come out of his shell, which was possible as stubbornly built as he was. He never did seem like the type to quickly open up. Deciding that sitting under that tree and sulking wasn't going to help her, she returned to the castle, watching her feet as she took her slow steps.

 

()()()()()()()

 

Jordan stared at the shining piece of glass in her hands. Her face appeared in it, and she ran her fingers over the edges of her tired countenance. The glass was cold underneath the pads of her fingers, the light reflected on her face. She looked at her fingertips, and at their reflection in the glass. The sound of a creek broke her gaze from the glass, making her look to the side to see Kagome enter the garden, she was looking down , so Jordan remained unnoticed.

 

She returned to looking into the glass when a small voice brought her attention back to Kagome just as the girl looked up from the ground.

 

“Oh, hi Jordan.”

 

“You seem troubled,” Jordan began, watching as Kagome walked in her direction, “did you have a lover's quarrel?” Kagome's face instantly heated, only to redden more when she saw the amused look on Jordan's face. She stared angrily into Jordan's smiling face, before her eyes dropped to the glowing piece of glass she was holding.

 

“What's that?” Kagome asked, pointing to the flat piece of shining material in Jordan's hands. The moment the object was mentioned, all signs of delight were lost from Jordan's face.

 

“This,” She addressed the glass, “is a piece of the mirror of memories.”

 

“Where…?”

 

“I went back to the north, and found that it's knee deep in sand. It's so hot there, even what's left of crystal palace had turned to dust.”

 

“I'm sorry.” Kagome said.

 

“You're not at fault, you have no reason to apologize. That bastard Naraku is the one to blame.” Jordan said angrily, and then looked back at the mirror in her hands. “I managed to find the mirror, but it was shattered, this was the biggest piece.”

 

“Why do you want a piece of the mirror?”

 

“The ruler of Northern Domain is also the guardian of the mirror, but when Levion died, he took the secrets of the mirror with him. He said something to me before he died, I think he was trying to tell me something, and if I can find out by searching his memory, maybe I can find something that would give us an advantage in this fight. I don't know if the mirror will still work but I have to try.”

 

She held up the glass, pricking her finger on the edge and telling the mirror whose memories she wished to see. Kagome watched as Jordan's face lost all emotion, becoming empty as she looked into the mirror. Her eyes locked onto the glass, as the mirror shimmered an array of colors, painting her face with a new shade every time the mirror flashed. After a few moments, Kagome could see Jordan's fingers clutching the sides of the mirror so tightly, that her hands began to leak crimson.

 

Worried, she tried to shake Jordan out of her trance, calling to her name, but Jordan did not reply. She continued to stare into the mirror where there were things that only she could see.

 

“Jordan?” The mirror dropped from her hands, splattering like water in the ground and mixing its puzzle like pieces with dirt and blood. Kagome look back up to Jordan's face, where the emotion had returned, but she bore a look of fright and apprehension.

 

“What did you see? Your hands…” Kagome pulled the appendages to herself, examining them for injuries. Just as she were about to search for pieces of glass, Jordan pulled her hands away.

 

“I'll be fine, Kagome.” She said, though her voice argued otherwise, for it sounded weak and hoarse.

 

“Don't worry about my problems, Kagome. You should worry about yours. Please excuse me.” She said hastily as a look of urgency crossed her eyes while she quickly retreated into the castle leaving a confused and nervous Kagome behind.

 

 

“I wonder what she saw…” Kagome muttered.

 

She stood in the middle of the garden, looking around the lush greenery, memorizing every last arrangement of plantation. It had been little over a month ago she was standing in the winter tundra of Northern Domain, and now, according to Jordan, that snowy land was know covered with burning dust.

 

Kagome turned toward the forest, looking over the tops of the trees, where their zigzag pattern turned into a blue sky. One tree stood taller than the rest, marking the forest with its individuality and becoming the ruler of the trees. She stared at the top bundles of leaves, seeing how they threatened to poke a cloud with their tallness. Before she realized it, she was following those bushes in the sky, coming closer and closer to them still they were too high for her to bend her neck to see.

 

Looking back forward, Kagome found herself in a small clearing. The familiarity of this area was so powerful, it was like she had been here before. Kagome stared at the trunk of the tree and then at the pair of eyes that had locked on her. Just as he had sit here as a boy, the same person, sat with his legs crossed at the base of the tree, silently watching her, waiting for speech.

 

“I-is this the Goshinboku?” She asked.

 

“Yeah, this is the base.”

 

“I thought I'd find you here.”

 

He didn't say anything, just placed a hand on the ground for support before standing upright and turning, but before he could take another step, a sudden rush of movement was heard from behind him and he found a pair of arms wrapped tightly around his torso.

 

“Kagome, let go.” He ordered quietly, no thread of hostility in his voice yet he sounded threatening all the same, the emotionless tone making the girl holding him from behind shiver.

 

“Inuyasha, what's wrong?”

 

“Nothing. I'm fine, now let go.” He said impassively.

 

“I'm…I won't do that Inuyasha. You're not fine. There is something wrong with you and you know it. I want to help you, but you can't keep your emotions bottled up like this. It will be like that moment when Naraku toyed with your emotions. You have to tell me what's troubling you, what your connection with that girl is, and why it hurts you to see her. It…it hurts me to see you like this. Please tell me what's wrong. I know it's unfair of me to ask you this, but you have to be able to talk about it, otherwise it may always be locked inside, hurting you and others will be free to use it against you.”

 

Silence came between the two. The lingering stillness crept into Kagome's bones, making her feel that even if she were holding Inuyasha this close, he could be miles away. He didn't seem to acknowledge her presence, even with her hold on him, as he looked out into the forest, wishing again that he could run, but knowing that he no longer had the resolve. This was his weakness: his inability to move on and let go of the past. A human emotion that yearns for the life he cherished to return, and he was angered at himself for yielding to that feeling.

 

He made a move to unhook her arms from him, his strength making it hard to hold on, and Kagome whimpered when his hands managed to pry hers away. He forced her away from him, still keeping his gaze away from her as he moved away.

 

“Stay there.” He whispered, still emotionless.

 

Kagome stood in the spot he had placed her in, staring at his back. She didn't make a move or an inquiry. She didn't want to force him into speaking about his pains, that wasn't fair to him, but it broke her heart that he wasn't telling her all the same. She suddenly chastised herself for being selfish. In her haste, she had forgotten that they had just gone through many things in a short amount of time: returning his heart, coming terms with their feelings, Levion's death, and now the idea that they were in danger of conquest. But she had pushed those things aside, the moment Inuyasha mentioned, the girl in the painting.

 

Was it right to make him speak of his past when he had gone through so much? Was it fair to the both of them? Even though she felt that she had to know in order to connect with the person standing in front of her, she was afraid of what the outcome might be? Was this something that was better left unsaid, undone? Did she even have the right to question him, the right to know?

 

So many doubtful questions rang through her consciousness, and she was frightened to be hesitant. All those thoughts in her mind brought her to one question that she couldn't deny: why did she want to know? She'd never been a meddlesome person, why did the details of his personal business create a void that she felt the desperate need to fill.

 

“Ayla.”

 

“What?” So lost in her thoughts, Kagome didn't realize that Inuyasha had spoken to her.

 

“Ayla, her name. It means love song.”

 

Kagome clasped her hands together and took in a deep breathe to sooth her pounding heartbeat. She took in all her courage to brace herself for whatever Inuyasha might say, hoping that his sudden responsiveness wasn't cut short.

 

“Ayla,” Kagome repeated, “ who is she-”

 

“It's not who she is, it's who she was, or who they were.”

 

“Then who were they?”

 

“Eighty years ago, there was another kingdom, the Central Domain. Their king killed his wife to gain her strength. Sick bastard. In time, he began brainwashing his subjects to share the same lust for power. When they suddenly attacked every other kingdom, we struck back. It was the first global war in our recorded history. Ten years into that war, my mother died protecting children from the enemy. They were merciless; they'd kill anyone in the way, even children. After my mother was killed, I joined the war with Sesshomaru. We were in a losing battle, just like the one we are in now, but everyone was fighting to protect the people they knew would be killed.”

 

“Inuyasha…?” Kagome breathed, listening as Inuyasha continued his tale with a stale voice.

 

“But the central kingdom was too strong, we guessed that the demons and sorcerers there had been preparing for years, even Sesshomaru and I were having trouble fighting their numbers. Two years later, my father decided it was time for me to get a host. If you think I'm reckless now, you should've seen me back then.” He laughed nervously before resuming his story.

 

“I didn't meet Kikyo until her debut. From what I had heard from my father and Sesshomaru, she was a very capable fighter who had been tending and protecting the injured. My mother had known her and my father believed her miko and healing abilities to be an advantage. She looked a lot like you, Kagome. I was surprised when you found you at the border.”

 

“Maybe that's one of the reasons my demon half was so drawn to you, because you look like the woman who was my wife and mate. Yeah, sometime during the war, I fell in love.”

 

“The two of us began turning the tides on the war, but we were still far from winning…”

 

He paused for a moment, as if considering whether of not it was right for Kagome to hear the rest of his past, finally, to Kagome's relief, he said, “You asked me who Ayla is, or rather who they were.”

 

“They're…” He took in a deep breath, bending backward so that his eyes could look into the sky from between the leaves of the trees.

 

“My daughters, twins. Ayla and her sister Silva.” He caught Kagome's gasp but didn't turn to see her pale face. He tore his gaze from the serenity of the sky to look straight.

 

“On morning, during a solar eclipse they were born. For Kikyo and I, it was a day of bliss and horror: because our daughters were in danger. War is not a good time to raise kids, I find myself thinking that every time I see Rin and Shippo. That day, Kikyo gave up her position as my host. I didn't argue. I was afraid of losing the three of them. I told Kikyo to take Ayla and Silva away from the war. They escaped while I stayed behind to fight. Soon, things began to turn in our favor.”

 

“When I could, I would sneak away to see them. But then I heard that the enemy had reached the area where Kikyo was hiding in, I left everything to Sesshomaru to go see them. My four-year-old daughters had witnessed the death of their mother. When I found them, Kikyo was already dead, lying a pool of her own blood while Ayla and Silva tried to wake her up, thinking that she was only sleeping. I felt like it was my fault,” He sounded pained as he continued, “that I had failed to protect the woman I loved and I was blamed for her death. I wanted to run, but I had two girls to consider.”

 

“I promised Kikyo on that if anything should happen to one of us, the other would live on, for the twins, but…”

 

Kagome stared at Inuyasha's back; she could feel such a powerful wave of grief come from him and for the first time felt her heart contract like his would. Somehow she knew what happened; she could suddenly see flashes of that night come through her mind. The bodies, the blood, the heart on the ground, it became clear in her mind. Inuyasha had witnessed the death of his two daughters right in front of him. She could feel the tears pushing against the back of her eyes. She knew everything, without him even telling her the words to describe their horrible death. He had let his last hold on the memory slip and invade her mind and in doing so had broken all the boundaries that kept his true self hidden from her.

 

She saw it all. How the dark desert surrounded him as a shadowy figure ripped through the chests of Ayla and Silva. How they both collapse before Inuyasha could reach them. The image made her want to tear at her hair. It was horrible, so frightening that she couldn't suppress the tears anymore. When she turned her eyes back to Inuyasha, he was kneeling the ground, his hand at his heart.

 

She ran to kneel next to him, placing her hands on his shoulders. Looking into his face, his eyes shadowed by the silver hair that covered them, filled to the brim with tears yet he refused to let them fall. He gritted his teeth, clenching his hands over his heart.

 

“Inuyasha…”

 

“It's a sad thing, when a parent outlives their children.” He breathed, looking into the ground.

 

“When I saw their broken bodies, I felt my heart drop and knowing that I failed to protect the two people I had left and cared for more than my own life, it mad made me feel useless. They were my only reason for living at that point. I lost all fucking meaning at that moment; I wanted to die, to join with my daughters in death, that's when I felt my heart drop. I was in a rage, I managed to slash their killer before he escaped, but I never saw his face. If I ever find the fucking bastard who did this, I will rip out his throat!”

 

He rammed his hand into the ground, making it crackle and burst into a muddy crater. Panting from his anger as well as the exasperation from his sudden outburst, Inuyasha panted to himself, one hand still holding his chest. He winced at the powerful aches it was giving him, but continued speaking, as if he couldn't keep himself from keeping it in any longer.

 

“After my heart dropped, Ayla and Silva's bodies vanished in the sand. The war ended the next day. When I went home and saw Ayla's portrait, I felt that twinge of guilt. I was angry that every time I'd look in a mirror I'd see my daughters' faces and be reminded that they died because I was too weak to protect them. I wanted to smash all the mirrors in the castle so I would never see their faces again, so I would forget them and the guilt they caused me!” He panted, calming down from his screeching before he sobbed painfully, while the body under Kagome's hands began shaking.

 

“I don't know why I felt that way. I could never tell what kind of loss this was for me. Only when I saw Jordan cry for her brother I was finally able to explain it. Heartbroken. For sixty years.”

 

“Before I had Kikyo and Ayla and Silva, there was no one else. I was shunned, excluded for what I was for most of my life. Then Kikyo just treated me as an equal, not like some creature born between a human and demon. Funny, isn't it, I was accepted as a hanyou after I lost them.”

 

“She gave me two amazing girls, that could walk and were so full of life and energy even though they were both blind. They were my lifeline, the air I breathe, my meaning and my home. Then some bastard takes the three of them away from me. I couldn't stand the image of losing my girls, not them. I would've given anything for it to be me instead. I failed to protect them and my worst fear came to me, that I was alone again and I didn't guard the lives I cherished most.”

 

It was then that Kagome understood why Inuyasha had refused to let her be his host. He was afraid of failing to protect her life like he failed to protect his family's. He didn't want another death he was responsible for. He didn't want to fail again. She knew why he ran from his past for so long and understood how unbearable it felt. Now she realized why he had been so torn the day his heart returned. And she was out of words, not knowing what she could say to ease him. She couldn't pity him, he wouldn't want her to, so she did the only thing she could.

 

She pulled his head to her chest so he could hear her heartbeat. Sitting on her knees, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders while placing her chin over the top of his head. “I'm so sorry, Inuyasha.” She whispered, her cheek against his hair, tears mixing with the silver strands. He remained silent, sobs escaped this throat, but didn't resist the comfort she was offering to him, placing his arms around her back and letting her hold onto him. He nuzzled at her chest, seeking her warmth and softness. Not understanding his sudden wish for her not to let go of him, he was content as he leaned all his weight into her, for once letting her support him and taking her help without argument.

 

()()()()()()()

 

Sesshomaru looked over his shoulder to the owner of the voice, watching as Jordan sat across him in the large room. Her face was stern, free of any grief for the moment as she looked at him with urgency. Upon seeing her serious posture, he knew that she was here on a manner of great import. So without wasting any more time than necessary, he turned to meet her gaze.

 

“So you are telling me that you know the reason your brother's life was taken. You sure seem to have gotten over your brother's passing quite quickly.” He said.

 

“There will be enough time for me to morn for my loss, but now is not the time. My people and yours are in danger, and you and I both know that nowhere is safe any longer. As soon as Inuyasha's hold on the desert spell wavers, we will be at its mercy. And yes, you have heard my thoughts about my brother's passing. You and I both know that one of us is next in line. You see the pattern. First it was Lord Sin, then it was my brother's, those of noble blood have been primary targets for strengthening the spell. I, however, have another theory,”

 

“And what is that?”

 

“With this pattern, it would be easy to think that what Naraku is after are the leaders of every domain. Without a leader, it would be simple for him to get a hold of the people. However, information from my spies has led me to think otherwise. If Naraku was after ruling the people, who would he steal the hearts of all the subjects of Southern Domain. Lord Sin was a fool. Even without his death, I'm positive that Naraku could've gained his territory easily. So why kill him?”

 

“You are a wise woman, Jordan.”

 

“I'm only wise if I am perceived as such.” She stood, coming across the room, passing Sesshomaru and looking out through a window.

 

“Lord Sin's death was a plot to make us believe that Naraku wants the Domain leaders out of the way. But if that was true, I wouldn't be alive right now. He knows full well that if Levion dies, I will be queen, so why didn't he eliminate me, or even consider me as a target. Sesshomaru, you and I both know that Levion was no ordinary human.”

 

“Indeed, a rare case such as his. A magical ability that is so strong it takes away from the body's physical strength. If Levion were to ever unleash his full power, it would've been enough to destroy thousands of lives. I see.” Sesshomaru answered. “How is it you know all this, Jordan?”

 

“My mother told me, before she killed herself. She said that she didn't want to outlive her children. It has led me to believe that she knew Levion's death was imminent, and that perhaps mine may be near as well. I also know things…from Levion.”

 

“Then you have an idea of what will occur next?”

 

“Yes.”

 

()()()()()()()

 

Kagome watched Inuyasha sleep in her lap. After that tearful confession, he suddenly seemed to be drained and a few moments after she held him, he had slipped into her lap and fainted. She smoothed his bangs from his face, momentarily ignoring the wetness on her cheeks as she looked into his relaxed features in his sleep. He had such a long life of suffering and then the one thing that gave him meaning was taken away. It was such a potent loss, it amazed her that he wanted to press on and live.

 

She stared sadly into his face. Besides being next to him, she didn't know what other form of consolation to offer. She had seen it in the mirror and felt it when they were at Southern Domain, the prejudice that was directed toward him. He fought all his life in that intolerance, all alone. He finally found people who didn't look upon him like some outcast, only to lose them. Why did people act so cruelly to others who are different? It didn't matter to her, so long as the person is good and has life, then there should be no reason to treat them any differently. She could see all the cynicism that came from those experiences and didn't blame him for feeling so.

 

Should she tell him that she saw one of his daughters? What would his reaction be? Would he run off in search for them? In fact, what did their appearance mean? The few times she saw her, Kagome couldn't tell what she was. She appeared, and Kagome could see the sadness and pain in her face. Her eyes were empty from blindness, yet they glimmered with tears. Was it Ayla, or Silva? Or was it both of them? Were they still alive? How could they be, after the death she had seen, was it possible for them to still be breathing?

 

Were they the ghosts of his daughters? What did she mean, “They have me. I'm all alone. I'm scared. Please help me. Mommy. Daddy.” Kagome repeated her words. She knew now who her parents were but…

 

“Who are you talking to?”

 

Her eyes came back into focus and she saw Inuyasha staring back at her. “Welcome back.” She greeted warmly.

 

“What were you talking about Kagome?” He asked.

 

“I-it's nothing.”

 

For once, he didn't pursue an answer. He blinked for a moment before rising from her lap, sitting upright in the grass, covering his eyes with his fingers. “So you know the truth now.” He said and heard her nervous reply.

 

“I'm so sorry. I didn't know.”

 

“Don't worry about it”

 

“But,”

 

“Yeah, it does bother the fuck out of me, but what happened, happened. It's not like I can change the past. I know that…” He said in a painfully solemn manner, still looking away from her when he took his hand away from his eyes.

 

“Thank you, Inuyasha…for telling me.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“It's just, I always thought that you didn't trust me. I wished you would open up to me and speak to me. I'm glad that you trust me enough to tell me what happened. So thank you.”

 

Turning to her for the first time, he gave her a confused and bewildered look before saying, “You're welcome.”

 

“Why would someone want to kill Ayla and Silva?” Kagome eyes widened when she accidentally voiced her thoughts, bringing her hands up to cover her mouth, and catching the grimace that crossed Inuyasha's face.

 

“I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up.” She quickly defended, only to quiet down when he raised his hand as a gesture for her to stop speaking. There was a long pause, as the Kagome watched Inuyasha while he debated with himself like she knew he was.

 

“It's fine.” He finally said, looking straight and keeping his pained face from her eye contact. “I wondered the same thing myself…I don't know why, but I can guess.”

 

“What do you think it could've been?”

 

“Between the two of us, Kikyo and I, there was so much power. When it passed down to Ayla and Silva, it was so concentrated that it took away their eyesight. It's rare that there would be so much power in one person and when it is, the sense of sight is the first thing to go.”

 

“Ayla and Silva were that powerful?”

 

“Yeah, but they were young and couldn't handle their abilities too well. It only happens with siblings, the child is born with so much power that it takes away another strength form the body: like the ability to see.”

 

“You mean, like Levion?”

 

“Yeah, and Jordan too.”

 

“But she doesn't-”

 

“Yes she does. She may not be blind like Levion, but her power has taken away something from her. It's like this; you give us something in exchange for might. I thought that was the reason, Ayla and Silva were assassinated. The Central Kingdom thought that everyone was a threat…”

 

He took in a heavy sigh filled with a silent sadness that she knew had permeated his soul, the moment he had started talking about his past. The truth pained him as much as it pained her. Perhaps, this was not the time to tell him that she had seen one of his daughters. She didn't want to build up his hopes, only to have them crushed. She herself didn't know if the silver was real.

 

“I wish I knew who their killer was. I thought about avenging them so many times.” He muttered under his breath. Though almost silent were his words, every bit of them was filled with hatred toward the appalling being that stole his life.

 

Kagome stared at him, watching as he looked down at his lap. This wasn't the time to tell him of the silver. She didn't want to give him false hope as comfort, not when she didn't understand the meaning of the silver's appearance herself, but she felt guilty. All of his defenses against her had been shattered the moment he showed his experience to her, and she felt bad for suddenly keeping things to herself. He deserved to know; it was information about his daughters. Still she didn't want to tell him when he was in such a tender state. She just hoped, that her indecision wasn't harmful to him in the future. She would tell him, when the time was right.

 

“Hey, um, Inuyasha?” She looked down at her fingers; suddenly fascinated by the way they fit together when she clasped her hands.

 

“Hmm?” Not seeing him move from the corner of her eye, she concluded that he was still looking at his lap. Taking in a deep breath in preparation, she began, “Um, this might be a weird question.”

 

“What is it?” He still didn't look in her direction.

 

Looking up, but still fiddling with her fingers, Kagome asked, “What would you do if Ayla and Silva suddenly reappeared?”

 

This time, there was a reaction: his eyes widened before his brows came together in a frown. He looked up at her, as if asking where her question originated from before answering.

 

“I don't know what I'd do…I…thought I saw Ayla back at my father's tomb, but she could've been an illusion from the forest there. What would I do if I did see them again?”

 

Kagome took in his words and began thinking: was Ayla the silver, the one that she had seen? Inuyasha had seen her near the forest; she could've just been a manifestation of Inuyasha's fears, just as Myouga had explained about the forest's tendency to attack with images of what haunts the mind. However, that didn't explain the girl that Kagome had seen and again she found herself wondering what her arrival meant. She finally learned the truth only to lead to more unanswered questions.

 

Inuyasha watched Kagome immerse herself with thought. He didn't know why, but he felt that she was hiding something. Instinct told him that she was afraid to speak about it, and that it somehow concerned him. Perhaps she was still trying to take in all that he had told her? She suddenly shook her head, as if thinking that those thoughts were better left alone.

 

“Inuyasha, let's go back.” She rose to her feet, offering her hand, which was clasped by his tanned one before she pulled him to his feet.

 

Kagome let her hold on Inuyasha's hand slip, as she readied to let go, but in that instant she found her hand trapped, then suddenly she was pulled a warm embrace. Not understanding Inuyasha's sudden need to hold her close, she just let him hold her and didn't complain.

 

“You're not…keeping something from me are you, Kagome?”

 

A beat skipped in her chest only to be followed by the heavy feeling of guilt.

 

“What would you do if I was?” The words escaped her mind without conscience thought, making another pang in her chest from her own impulsion.

 

“What are you hiding?” He asked again, his voice soft, but warning still filling its thickness. He felt her wrap her arms around his middle, her fingers clutching the white material of his robes.

 

“I…want to tell you…but…”

 

“But what?”

 

()()()()()()

 

`I'm leaving on another task.' The voice reached her across the darkness, and her heart thumped upon hearing the news. She did not answer, knowing that the other person in the room was not expecting a reply.

 

`It's best if you stay here. Punishment will be harsher if you escape to the outside again. They're very angry with you.'

 

`I can't stay here…'

 

`Then why don't you leave?'

 

`You'll be left behind, Onee-chan.'

 

Something collided with her cheek, sending her face to the side and further into the darkness. Sobbing, she brought her hands to cup the throbbing tissue, but didn't turn her head back to its treacherous position.

 

`Never , call me that again.'

 

The cold, cryptic voice was gone from the room, leaving her alone again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

-sniff, sniff-