InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Double Vision ❯ Chapter 50 ( Chapter 49 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

The pool where Inutaisho took her to make love was a tranquil and private spot. Midoriko found it an excellent location for practicing her meditation, or just sitting with Kirara and thinking. She had been growing increasingly troubled of late. “Inutaisho has some ulterior motive for all this, these gifts, the training, all the attention. This armor alone must have cost more than, well, more than I can even imagine. I want to believe it’s because he is the only one who has ever seen the real me, how special I am, how hard I try. I want to believe it, but I refuse to lie to myself, Kirara.” Midoriko leaned her head against Kirara’s side, sighing in frustration. “I’m a warrior, and a bit of a priestess. But I’m not a spy, and I have no idea how to go about finding out what Inutaisho’s really after. I have to know, Kirara!”

Midoriko rubbed her eyes. Kirara was getting blurry. The colors that made up her yellow fur and black markings and red eyes were running together and rearranging themselves into a pillar of swirling color. The pillar suddenly came into focus, and standing in Kirara’s place was a beautiful young girl, dressed in rich clothing. Her belly was big with child. “I have to know too.”

Midoriko peered at the girl. “You’re not Kirara, are you.”

“I am Ai, Inutaisho’s mate.”

Midoriko was a proud warrior, but she knew right from wrong and was filled with regret for what she had done with this poor girl’s husband. She fell to her knees before Ai. “I am so sorry, My Lady.”

Ai placed her hand upon Midoriko’s head. “It is of no consequence. As you have said, my mate has his own agenda. I have known for a long time that he wants something from me, and now it would appear he wants the same thing from you.”

Midoriko had not expected Ai to be so forgiving of her trespasses. “He was so charming, and I was so willing to accept anything he had to offer. I am mortified by how weak he has made me.” She finally looked up into Ai’s eyes. It was then that she knew for sure that this young, pregnant girl was no human. She was on her knees before a being that was very ancient and filled with magic. “What are you?”

Ai shrugged negligently. “Who can say? Not my husband, or the toadies he surrounds himself with, or anyone on this young island, surely. Now it is my turn to ask you a question. What is it that my mate sees in me, that he also sees in you?” She stared at the priestess.

It took all of Midoriko’s self-control not to squirm under Ai’s regard. “I realize there can only be one thing, My Lady, but my powers are so very insignificant compared to yours. There can be no comparison.”

Ai took hold of Midoriko’s wrist, and pulled her to her feet. She led the priestess to a fallen log, where she seated herself, and patted the space beside her. Midoriko complied with some degree of hesitation. Ai made her very uncomfortable.

“Long before you were born, a powerful young demon was wandering the Continent. He was on a quest. One day he heard the tale of a human girl with the powers of an oracle, being held against her will in a cavern. He made the long journey to the land he had heard spoken of, defeated the wards and seals and enchantments that kept the girl imprisoned, and once he freed her from her captivity, he made her his mate.”

Ai stopped, and stared at Midoriko again. “The demon was Inutaisho and the girl was you.” Ai remained silent. Midoriko sighed. She was beginning to see how this was going to work. “Inutaisho thought you were a human girl.” Ai continued to stare. “He had heard a tale of a human girl with special powers. That must have been his quest. That’s why he came after you and rescued you.”

“For a long time, I lived in a state of confusion. After countless years of seeing only visions, this world was a strange and overwhelming place. Inutaisho was my hero, my champion. To my eyes, he was very beautiful, and he treated me with great solicitude and compassion. I was lonely and isolated in his palace, and he was the only one who spoke with me. Every night without fail, he would come to our bed, and make love to me.” Ai fell silent.

“I understand what you are telling me. He befriended you, worked his charm on you, he kept you away from others, and made himself your whole world.”

The priestess drew a deep breath. “Okay, now it’s my turn. There is one child in each generation of my family who is born with special powers. I have been trained since childhood to be the priestess and guardian of my village. One day I was fighting an oni that had been coming to the village at night and stealing our cattle. After I defeated the oni, Inutaisho appeared. I prepared to defend myself from this powerful demon. But he did not want to fight. He spoke with me instead. He was so charming. He paid me many compliments and gave me some good advice about my fighting skills. After that he came every day, bringing me presents, training me, and saying kind things to me. He made me feel good about myself. I had never even been around a man, err, male, except to spar. I don’t even remember my father. He died before I was born. Because of my position in the village, I have always had to devote myself to my training as a priestess and a warrior. I live in a hut with my mother and my little sister. Before I met Inutaisho, we used to laugh and talk together. Now I barely speak to my own family.”

“He seeks our power. It does not seem probable that his intentions are benign.”

“Ai, I think it has something to do with S’ounga. That sword feels old, and powerful, just like you do. I can tell it is sentient, full of malice. I have seen Inutaisho staring into the crystal orb mounted on its hilt, and it glows most strangely at times.”

Caught up in their conversation, neither of them noticed that there was someone listening, who had heard every word.