InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Destiny's Bond ❯ Warfare and reflection ( Chapter 15 )

As usual, I do not own Inu Inu Yasha (unless DVDs and merchandise count). Any characters that appear in this epic that are either not my own creation or belong to Rumiko Takehashi belong to their respective owners. I'm not making a pound, yen, ruble, Euro or dollar from this work, I do it strictly for the enjoyment it gives others and myself. In other words don't sue me, I'm poor!

 

Destiny's Bond

Chapter 14: Warfare and reflection

By: Lance the Flamesniper

 

Inu Yasha could only stare at the strange tableau before him. Between him and Kikyo's deadly intent stood Kouga in what could loosely count as a combat stance. It was clear, by the set of her feet and the blatantly drawn bow with its steely arrow glinting in the moonlight, that the undead miko had every intent of slaying Kouga. It was just as obvious that Kouga was intent on defending Inu Yasha from the miko.

 

Had someone a week ago told the inu hanyou that this was going to happen he'd have thought the person had been chewing poppy seeds or perhaps had gotten some bad rice wine. More to the point Sango seemed more than prepared to step in should the miko prove troublesome. Hell she's practically givin' off sparks! Inu Yasha's mind reported.

 

In his mind the wolf demon didn't really have a chance. Yes Kouga was quick and cocky and a good fighter but Kikyo was an expert at making barriers and more to the point never missed what she shot at. Kikyo's cold eyes narrowed as she uttered a single word: “Shi'ne!” and released the arrow.

 

The shot was straight and true…it also completely missed the Ookami youkai. More to the point in the time it had taken Inu Yasha to blink Kouga had completely dodged the shot. The hanyou wasn't sure who was more surprised: himself or the miko.

 

“Not a bad shot for a glorified flower pot,” Kouga mused. “Had it been closer, It might have actually grazed my arm as it passed.”

 

Kikyo's eyes seemed to flare as she fired off another arrow. Again the result was the same.

 

“Huh? Are you sure this walking tea set is Kagome's past incarnation? She can't shoot worth a damn,” Kouga enquired as he dodged the third arrow from the increasingly more annoyed miko.

 

Sango couldn't help but smile. Kouga was using one of the oldest tricks in the combat books: annoy your opponent and wait for an opening. Dodging her strikes would frustrate her and reminding her that she basically made of clay and a past incarnation that is somehow inferior to the current one was angering her to no end.

 

Kikyo for her part was in fact getting more frustrated than she was letting on. Not only was this multi-damned wolf demon insulting her and dodging her attacks, he was doing so faster than he should be able to. He's a low level demon, even with his jewel shards; he shouldn't be this… wait! Where are his jewel shards? Kikyo's mind quickly replayed the opening of this battle; she hadn't even sensed this stupid wolf's approach. Yet without his shards he shouldn't be moving this fast, her mind concluded. She fired off the next arrow hastily, wincing as her divided focus tripped her up. The arrow went wide.

 

“What's the matter Miko?” Kouga asked with a tease in his tone. “ Did the mess up your aim when you came off the pottery wheel or was it burnt off in the kiln?”

 

“Shut up and die!” the undead miko growled as yet another arrow missed this one not only missing Kouga but also the stunned and staring Inu Yasha. The miko reached into her quiver and realized something that left her concerned: her quiver was now empty.

 

“Don't feel bad Kikyo no baka,” Kouga replied. “Maybe this miko thing isn't your style anymore. Perhaps you should head to the coast and get a job there…as an octopus trap.”

 

“This isn't over Inu Yasha!” Kikyo exclaimed as her soul collectors swarmed around her levitating her away. “You will go to hell with me, even if I must drag you there myself!”

 

“I don't think so,” Kouga said coldly as his youki swirled around his clawed hands. He quickly slashed them both at the undead miko. “Blades of Wind!”

 

The blades flew fast and true. Unfortunately the miko quickly put up a barrier that just barely in time.

&&&&&&&&

The head of the Onikami family was in the workout room when Orihime came to make her report. She watched as her father jumped into the air twisting to unload a violent kick on the target before landing deftly on his feet. “So how was it?”

 

“School was okay, but as you know there was a bit of trouble on the way back to Kagome's home.

 

“Trouble? What do you mean?”

 

“The Orochi? The ones you sent Konran to help me take care of?”

 

“Me telling Konran what to do and him listening? In a perfect world that may be so. No, if there was trouble and he helped you with it, he did it for his own reasons,” Onikami replied with a sigh.

 

“He did leave us a prisoner and he also escorted Kagome home. She got there safely by the way.”

 

The head of the Onikami family unleashed a flurry of strikes against his target. “So did you get anything out of the snake?”

 

“I turned him over to the interrogation division of the Taijya corps,” Orihime replied with a shrug.

 

“Good work honey. You have school tomorrow. Go rest now.”

 

“Yes Father,” Orihime responded.

 

Onikami watched his daughter leave then turned back to training. If he was right there would be a time coming that he would once again need to fight. But tomorrow was a different kind of confrontation. Tomorrow he was meeting Kagome Higureshi again.

&&&&&&&

 

Lady Onikami finished her shower and walked through the apartment toweling herself off. While she wasn't prideful, she was pleased that she had kept her figure through the years of training and multiple children. Most people attributed it to a rigorous training regiment. Conspiracy theorists claimed it was everything from cloning, to genetic manipulation to deals with demons. All of it amused her and even more the case her husband to no end.

 

At the moment however she was more interested in answering the phone since it was cutting into her thoughts. “Hello?”

 

“Hello Onikami-dono!”

 

“Oracle! What a pleasant surprise! To what do I owe the pleasure?” The female Onikami asked a genuine smile gracing her lips.

 

“You don't have to call me that you know?”

 

“Actually yes I do, this line isn't secure. Still it's been a while my friend what's going on?”

 

“Nothing much Onikami-chan,” Oracle replied. “I was just calling to have you remind your ornery and mischievous Husband to be nice to Kagome tomorrow. You know how he can get. “

 

“Do I ever! But I love him for it.”

 

“I know you do. Just pass on the message for me okay. Taisho had another spat with his brother and I will be spending the rest of my evening soothing him. Anyway talk to you later!”

 

“You too! Next time you're in Tokyo you should definitely visit. We can go to Yashiro's dress shop or Meioh Fashions and spend some time together.”

 

“Count on it girlfriend!” Oracle exclaimed with a giggle before hanging up.

 

Lady Onikami could help but smile at how quickly Oracle could go back to that mindset. Even after all the years they'd know each other.

&&&&&&&

 

Kaede sat in her hut watching the flames in the fire pit flicker. She'd sensed her sister's arrival earlier in the day and knew inevitably that Inu Yasha would be going to seek her out. It was an old game to Kaede now.

 

But tonight things changed. She'd sensed it almost immediately. Kikyo's spiritual powers flared suddenly and just as quickly she sensed the power of the Wolf Prince join whatever fray was occurring. She also sensed Kikyo's retreat.

 

“Ah sister how things have gone since the days when ye lived. And yet I wonder how things would have been had ye merely listened all those years ago....

&&&&&&&

 

Sixty years before the Shikon no Tama broke.

 

Kaede knelt next to her sister as the two prayed over Shikon Jewel. It had been in Kikyo's care for just over a week and was only now dulling from its angry red glow.

 

“There's so much anger in this jewel sister, do ye think it possible that it will ever cease its evil glow? It shines angrily day and night and has begun to affect ev'n your sleep sister.”

 

“Have patience Kaede. The jewel is heavily tainted, but with time it shall be no more a harm than the summer breeze.”

 

“I still do not like it. It seem like it is merely resting and waiting `til ye stop your watchfulness.”

 

“And it could very well be doing so,” An male unknown voice chimed in.

 

Kikyo was on her feet with her bow in hand and an arrow knocked instantly. “Who are you?”

 

The man in question was young looking, roughly Kikyo's age in appearance with blonde hair and laughing blue eyes. He was clad in a blue long sleeved tunic with black trim along the edges, over the forearms were black bracers, around his waist was black belt that held his blue hakama in place and on his feet were simple sandals. On his hip as a black handled katana. He seemed every bit a gaijin human, yet even to Kaede's inexperienced eyes there seemed to be a falseness to man.

 

“Be wary sister, he is not as fair as he looks,” the younger girl muttered.

 

“Perhaps I am not. My! That is an interesting bauble you two are praying over. Very dangerous and perhaps even deadly but a bauble none the less.”

 

“Who are you? A youkai who has taken human form? What business do you have here?”

 

The man paused for a moment before he answered. `Tis like he had to think what to say. Mayhap debating a lie o'er the truth. Big sister be very careful, as crafty as a Kitsune methinks this man be.

 

“My name is Konran. You could say I am a traveler of sorts. I am not a youkai, though I have been accused of that many times and will probably hear it many more before all is said and done. As for my business, I have merely come to ask a question of the pretty miko whom some dare say is an equal to the legendary Midoriko.”

 

“And what question might that be?” Kikyo asked, her eyes not leaving that of the man before her.

 

“I came to ask her to give me the Shikon no Tama. It is far to dangerous and unpredictable to be left here in this village,” The man responded.

 

“Sister do not give it to him! He may not be a youkai but he surely means ill!” Kaede exclaimed.

 

Kikyo looked to be mere seconds from releasing her fingers from the string of her bow and letting the arrow fly when the man spoke again. “I am a mischief maker. I have been many years of my life. However I came not here to fight. I came merely to ask: Please miko, consider this, give the jewel to me and I shall keep it safe. Were you and I to fight over it, nothing at all would be gained. If you refuse I will simply leave.”

 

“Then go! I will not be giving you the jewel,” Kikyo said as she lowered her weapon.

 

“I believe you are making a mistake. Trouble follows that jewel like a shadow follows a man and all who possess it are led to sorrow,” Konran replied as he produced a sampan hat seemingly from no where and placed on his head then slowly turned and walked away, fading from sight as he did so.

&&&&&&&

“Sixty years have passed since and ever year without my elder sister speaks of your presence on that day Konran. Ye were right. Trouble doth follow the cursed jewel just as you said.”

 

She'd encountered the entity known as Konran several times in the years that followed, often in different guises: an old man, a young boy, a maiden, a raven, a wolf. It didn't matter what form he chose because he always had those same laughing blue eyes. The two had shared meals and conversations in passing several times yet she still knew very little of him.

 

Kaede tossed a few small twigs into the fire pit. “I have to remember to tell Kagome what Konran asked me to. But I am getting old and an old woman makes a horrible messenger at times of import.” With that thought in mind the elderly miko closed her eye and began to meditate.

&&&&&&&

The school day was boring for Kagome. Her test wouldn't be graded until tomorrow, but more than likely she would be “sick” again by the time that occurred. Gym class his day had been track events. Kagome placed a respectable third in both the two hundred and four hundred meter dash, after all when you spend all your time running from demons, you get darn good at distance running. Not surprisingly Orihime, who was once again sticking with her like glue, had swept all the running events. Still Kagome was sensing youkai around the school.

 

The youkai didn't seem to be doing anything though. They were basically milling about as if there were nothing really important to do or like the jewel shards she had with her weren't important to them. In all it had her royally confused. Not that she had a lot of time to be confused. After all, she was meeting with Orihime's father today. The event had brought up its own…unique response from her grandfather and mother.

 

Her grandfather had been wary. But at the same time it was almost as if he'd expected that sooner or later she would have to meet the head of the Onikami family. He offered her some very simple advice: “Be clever Kagome. Onikami is cunning and ruthless and not without a mischievous streak.”

 

Her mother was more positive: “Have a good time dear and remember to thank him for inviting you.”

 

All of this was swirling through her mind as she and Orihime arrived in front of one of the bigger buildings in all of Tokyo. The two walked into the building and up to a elevator that Orihime opened with a security card.

 

“Father has many enemies. So security is tight,” The modern Taijya said in response to her unasked question.

 

Kagome entered the elevator then was surprised when Orihime only stepped inside long enough to hit the button for the top floor. “He wants to see you; I will see my father later. Do enjoy this meeting Higureshi Kagome. “

 

The ride took seemingly forever. Throughout the ride she sensed several demonic auras in the building, which didn't make her feel better. Why are there demons here? First I'm saved by a modern Taijya and now I'm sensing several dozen youkai presences in a place that is supposedly concerned with security. Something's seriously strange here… but what? And what does it have to do with me?

 

Before Kagome could begin to ponder the meaning of this set of developments the doors to the elevator opened. She soon found herself staring down a wood paneled hallway with pictures on the walls every few feet. As she walked forward the first painting caught her eye. The image was one she was familiar with as it was a white haired man in a red haori and hakama set. In his hand there was a familiar blade. A picture of Inu Yasha? Wait a minute! Kagome moved forward slowly looking at each picture. The next was of Miroku, followed by Sesshoumaru, Shippou, and shockingly one of herself. The last two paintings in the hallway faced each other and were of Kouga and Sango. Her mind was reeling as she entered the door at the end of the hallway, stepping out into a large room with a massive picture window that faced the bay. The room was decorated with various paintings and photographs but also housed a desk with a high-backed leather chair that was currently facing away from the doorway.

 

“Mister Onikami? Are you in here? What's going on here? What's with the pictures in the hallway?”

 

“The answer should be obvious, Kagome. What's going on is that I've invited you to visit me,” A familiar voice said.

 

That voice… but that can't be who I'm hearing… “That voice…”

 

The chair slowly swiveled to face her and sitting there with a warm smile was a very familiar face indeed.

 

“We have much to discuss, Kagome,” Kouga Onikami replied. “Much to discuss indeed.”

 

TBC