InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Elemental: A Feudal Soap Opera ❯ Chapter Twelve ( Chapter 12 )

“Your mother was a miko, Lord Inuyasha,” Myouga said. Inuyasha gaped at him.

 

No she wasn't. “What are you talking about?”

 

“Your mother was a miko,” the flea demon repeated. “Did you never wonder how it was that she could cast barrier spells to protect you both when your father was away?”

 

She did...do that a few times. I remember.

 

Inuyasha was stunned. Now that the flea had mentioned it, he could remember other things that his mother could do that no normal human could have been capable of. “I never thought about it. No one ever said anything.” He felt a bit hurt at this thought, but pushed the feeling away as something occurred to him. “Wait a minute. If she was a miko, how could she have any powers after I was born? Shouldn't they have been sealed?”

 

“I'm getting to that, Lord Inuyasha. Please be patient.” The flea demon hopped from Inuyasha's shoulder to the ground, turning to face Kagome. “Lord Inuyasha's mother was a very powerful miko, Lady Kagome, much like yourself, although she had been trained from the time she was a child.”

 

Inuyasha noticed that Kagome blushed at this. He knew that her lack of control over her power was a sore spot for her. He shot Myouga a glare for bringing it up. The flea didn't see it, so he reached out a hand, thinking to pinch him a bit to remind him to watch his tongue.

 

Kagome stopped him with a hand on his arm. “Myouga, how did Inuyasha's mother retain her power?”

 

The flea looked pleased that she had asked. “That requires a bit of storytelling, but I'd be happy to be of service.”

 

Inuyasha clenched his jaw. “Just get on with it.”

 

Kagome shot him a reproving glare. “Go ahead, Myouga.”

 

Myouga cleared his throat. “Inuyasha's mother was a very powerful, very beautiful miko...”

 

“You said that already,” Inuyasha interrupted, eyebrow twitching.

 

Myouga huffed. “I am aware, Lord Inuyasha. You continue to interrupt me.”

 

I swear, sometimes I hate that flea. Inuyasha crossed his arms and glared at him.

 

Acting offended, Myouga turned his back on Inuyasha and addressed Kagome. “As I was saying, his mother, Izuyoi, was a miko. When his father first met her, he was smitten with her beauty and sweet nature, and she returned his affections. It was very nearly love at first sight. However, they each knew that they could not be together, for it was forbidden. Inuyasha's mother was willing to give up being a miko for his father, but Lord Inutaishou would not hear of it. He did not want their mating to cause her loss, nor did he want to leave her without a means to protect herself when he could not be with her. So he rebuffed her, even though it nearly broke his heart.”

 

“How sad,” Kagome murmured. Inuyasha rolled his eyes. Softhearted wench.

 

“Yes, it was very tragic,” Myouga agreed. “Regardless, they continued to meet, as Inutaishou would pass by Izuyoi's village at nearly the same time every year. They built a strong friendship, and their love for each other continued to grow. One year, Izuyoi was waiting for Inuyasha's father to appear, and when he did, she saw that he had been gravely wounded, and was nearly dead on his feet. He had instinctively made his way to her. Inuyasha's mother was stricken, and called out to him. Upon hearing her voice, the great lord collapsed. She pulled him to safety in a nearby cave, and cared for him for the next two weeks.” Myouga turned to the hanyou. “This was a brave thing for your mother to do, Inuyasha. She was still very young, and all alone, for she would trust none of the villagers near him. They respected Lord Inutaishou, but they feared him as well, and she worried that they would try to kill him.”

 

“He was injured that badly?” Inuyasha interrupted.

 

The flea nodded. “Yes. His youki had very nearly been depleted, so his wounds would not heal. It was done by the same demon that eventually killed him.”

 

I never knew he had fought the beast more than once. I suppose I don't know a lot of things. Inuyasha blinked, wanting to speak, but he could think of nothing to say.

 

Kagome must have noticed, for she put her hand over Inuyasha's. “I'm sorry,” she said softly.

 

He pulled his hand from hers. “Feh. It's not like I ever knew him.” He turned away, staring at the wall.

 

He heard her sigh. “Continue, please, Myouga,” she said.

 

“Yes, of course,” the flea said. “Inuyasha's mother did not leave his side the entire time. She was terribly afraid that he would die, and was near brokenhearted. He was horribly weak, and soon succumbed to the fever. Izuyoi believed that she would lose him, and did not want to let him go. Her stress must have been very great, for she threw away a lifetime of teaching, and gave herself to him. In his delirium, Inutaishou accepted the girl, for he had desired her for years, and they mated.”

 

Kagome and Inuyasha both gawked at him. That sounds...familiar. Inuyasha didn't know what to think.

 

Myouga nodded at them. “Yes, it is very similar to your situation. It seems that the hand of fate is at work here.”

 

Inuyasha snorted. Hand of fate? More like the hand of impulsive women.

 

Myouga ignored him and continued. “The same thing happened to Izuyoi as has happened to Kagome. Her powers were not sealed. Instead, they began to rage out of control, attacking her when she tried to strengthen the barrier shield around the cave they were sheltering in. She collapsed, and this is how Lord Inutaishou found her two days later, when he was finally well enough to be aware of his surroundings. He knew immediately what had happened.”

 

This time it was Kagome who interrupted. “But why wasn't her miko energy sealed? Inuyasha's father had no human blood.”

 

Myouga seemed to ponder this. “When Inuyasha is human, his youki is very weak, as was Lord Inutaishou's on that night. I can only assume that it was this that caused the malfunction.”

 

Kagome nodded. “I suppose that makes sense.”

 

“Assuredly,” agreed the flea. He cleared his throat. “Anyway, Lord Inutaishou was grief-stricken. He vowed that his lady would not die, and, after returning her to her village with firm instructions that no harm was to come to her, he scoured the countryside, consulting with every miko and wise woman he could find, hoping to discover a way to save her. Finally, he was led to an old witch who lived in the mountains to the north. This witch had the answer he sought.”

 

Inuyasha's ears twitched toward the flea. “What do you mean? My father consorted with a witch to save my mother?”

 

“Not that sort of witch, Lord Inuyasha. `Twas simply a woman wise in potions and mundane arts of use to both humans and youkai. She was not malevolent.”

 

Inuyasha still didn't like the sound of it. The only experience he had had with witches involved him or his friends nearly getting killed. “Who is this woman?”

 

Myouga scratched his balding head. “I'm not quite sure. In any case, I am sure that she would be dead by now. She was quite old already when your father saw her.”

 

“That's alright, Myouga,” Kagome said. “What happened next?”

 

“The witch gave him what he sought in exchange for a boon. I do not know what that boon was, but I do know that Lord Inutaishou did not hesitate to agree to the terms if it would save his beloved,” Myouga said. “He left the witch's home and hurried back to Izuyoi. She agreed to undergo the healing process, and it was successful. She was saved.” Myouga finished.

 

“The healing process?” Kagome asked.

 

“Yes,” Myouga said, lowering his voice. “It worked in tandem with both Inutaishou and Izuyoi's auras. It was administered during the formal mating ritual.”

 

Inuyasha's eyes widened, as did Kagome's. Formal mating ritual?

 

“What, exactly, was it that the witch gave him?” Inuyasha asked.

 

Myouga looked down. “I don't know, Lord Inuyasha.”

 

“What the hell do you mean, you don't know? How is that supposed to help us at all if you don't even know what it is?” Inuyasha was growing angry. This has been a fucking waste of time.

 

Myouga looked insulted. “I said I don't know what it is, Lord Inuyasha, not that I didn't know where it is.”

 

Okay, now we're getting somewhere. “Fine. Where is it?”

 

“Your father gave it to Sesshoumaru.”

 

I should have fucking known. He gave a frustrated growl. Like that bastard is just going to hand it over to me. His thoughts were interrupted by Kagome.

 

“What is,” she began, voice faint. She cleared her throat and began again. “What is the formal mating ritual?”

 

“Isn't it obvious?” Inuyasha asked, two spots of color appearing high on his cheekbones.

 

Kagome gave him an annoyed look. “No. If it was I wouldn't have asked.”

 

Is she serious? He gave her speaking look, raising one eyebrow. She just looked at him, waiting. Figures that the fucking flea won't help me out here. Damn it, does she want me to spell it out? Fine. “It's sex, Kagome. Formal, ritualistic sex. It's a youkai custom. You would be bound to me for life.” His blush intensified, but he held her gaze. She needs to understand what she's getting into. That is, if I can get whatever the hell it is from my fucking half-brother. Goddammit, can nothing ever be easy? Just once. That's all I ask.

 

He was pulled from his thoughts by Myouga. “Actually, Lord Inuyasha, it is much more than that, at least in this case. In order to heal Kagome, you must bind her soul to yours. She will not be only be bound to you for life, but beyond. Kagome's natural lifespan will be extended to match yours, but if one of you dies, the other will follow soon after. The souls will stay together, even in the afterlife.”

 

Inuyasha blanched. If I die, she goes with me? “Is that the only way you know of, Myouga?” He asked softly, stealing a sidelong glance at Kagome.

 

She remained silent.

 

Myouga nodded. “I'm afraid so, my lord.”

 

Kagome spoke then, a bright smile on her face. It was too bright. “I'm sure that we can put our heads together and think of something else, but thank you for trying to help, Myouga.”

 

Inuyasha looked at her, hard. He wasn't thrilled with Myouga's solution, but he knew what had to be done. It galled him that she would dismiss it so easily. “What are you saying?”

 

She patted his hand soothingly, smile not reaching her eyes. “It's alright, Inuyasha. I don't expect you to do that. Really.”

 

Inuyasha's ears went back, feeling anger and hurt blossom in his chest. I forgot. Lying with me when I was human is a hell of a lot different from having a hanyou mate permanently.

 

But...she said...she... she said she was mine. She said she loved me. He clenched his hands into fists, claws digging into his palms.

 

Not that much, I guess.

 

“I see.” Damn it. Would she really rather die?

 

Kagome grabbed his sleeve, hanging on even when he tried to shake her off. “I don't think you do,” she said. “Aren't you forgetting something? Or someone?”

 

His eyes widened in realization, then narrowed to mere slits. Don't say it. Don't you dare.

 

Kagome made a sound of frustration. “Kikyo, Inuyasha. Aren't you forgetting Kikyo?”

 

Inuyasha noted the trace of pain in her voice, but he was too angry to care. Forgetting her? How could I? She's shoved in my face by everyone I see. Can they not fucking understand? Can she not fucking understand? I have a goddamned duty to Kikyo. I got her killed. But I have a duty to Kagome, too, and I'll be damned if I'll have her death on my conscience. Bitterness washed through him. He knew it was irrational, but he wanted to smash something. He made to leave the room before he lost it, but Kagome still had a firm grip on his sleeve. He snapped, rounding on her so quickly that she gave a small cry of surprise. He ignored it. “No, Kagome. I haven't forgotten Kikyo. I'm not the one that needs to forget her,” he hissed, jaw clenched tight. He leaned his face close to hers, feeling a contrary spurt of satisfaction when she flinched away from him. “Stop trying to think for me, Kagome. You suck at it. Do you know why you suck at it?” He didn't wait for an answer, but plowed ahead, blocking out the sight of her stricken expression. “I'll tell you why, Kagome. It's because you think you know me, but you don't. In reality, you don't know me at all,” he said, voice deadly quiet, then jerked his arm away and turned to leave the hut. Pausing at the door, he took one last parting shot, not turning around. “Maybe you should remember who created this mess, Kagome, because it sure as hell wasn't me.”

 

He was expecting it when he heard her cry, “Sit!” He didn't say a word, simply waited until the spell wore off, picked himself up from the floor, and walked out the door.

 

***

 

Kagome sat in the empty hut alone, lost in thought. Myouga had given her a sympathetic look after Inuyasha had stormed off, but had soon followed him. She didn't know where the others were, and it was getting dark. She supposed they were trying to give her time to talk to Inuyasha, and didn't realize he had left.

 

“Maybe you should remember who created this mess, Kagome, because it sure as hell wasn't me.”

 

Kagome sniffled, swiping at her eyes with the back of her hand. “I know that, Inuyasha,” she whispered to the empty room. “That's why I can't let you fix it. I've caused you enough problems.”

 

She sniffled one last time, then straightened her spine, a determined light coming into her eyes. “I'll fix this myself. I can try the library in my time. Surely there has to be a legend or something that would help.” She got up and left the hut, beginning the trek to the Bone Eater's well.

 

No one saw her leave.

 

***

 

Inuyasha watched the last rays of sunlight filter through the leaves of the tree he was perched in, painting the air around him an iridescent green. It was a peaceful color, and the surrounding forest was quiet, save for the sounds of the birds and other small creatures. He inhaled deeply and tried to relax, but it was impossible. His was wound too tight, and had been all day. He closed his eyes, having developed a rather nasty headache. His conversation with Myouga and Kagome would not stop replaying in his mind, and he was still reeling from the news that his mother had been a miko, but that wasn't what was troubling him the most.

 

It was Kagome.

 

Isn't it always?

 

“She's a stupid wench,” he told the trees. They didn't answer. “Feh.”

 

He didn't know what to do, and he hated the feeling. Combined with the sick knot of worry in his stomach, it was driving him mad. He also felt rather guilty for losing his temper with her. What she had said still irritated him, but, deep down, he knew that she hadn't been rejecting him, just as he knew that she was under a lot of stress right now. He understood that she was insecure about his relationship with Kikyo, and he was well aware that he had done nothing to ease that insecurity over the years. But still...

 

I'm so sick of hearing about Kikyo. Damn it. Why can't she see that?

 

“It's not Kikyo,” he whispered.

 

It's not.

 

Damn it, it's me.

 

“You'd think she'd have noticed the reception hanyous get around here. I'm not exactly welcome anywhere. Not with humans or demons. How can I drag her into that?”

 

It's bad enough that she's associated with me, already. Maybe she doesn't notice the whispers we cause in some of the villages we go to, but I do. I can hear them. They disrespect her, and it would only get worse if she were my mate. He realized he was growling, and cut himself off with a grimace.

 

But she'll die if I don't claim her. What do I do?

 

Maybe...if I turn human when we complete the Shikon Jewel, they'll leave her alone? I...I was going to for Kikyo. Why not for Kagome?

 

His mind quickly supplied the answer. Because you wouldn't be able to protect her then, idiot. What good would it do to save her, only to lose her later? You know that once you become human, every demon you've ever pissed off is going to come looking for a piece of you.

 

He closed his eyes again, remembering the constant look of pain and loneliness his mother had worn. Once his father had died, she had been completely alone, save for Inuyasha. No one would have anything to do with her. How could my father have done that to her? How can I do that to Kagome?

 

But if you don't, she'll die.

 

“I'm not my fucking father.”

 

Is that a good thing? Your father did what had to be done to save your mother.

 

“Keh. She doesn't know,” he said aloud, startling a bird that had settled on a nearby branch. “She has no idea what her life will be like.”

 

At least she would have a life.

 

“Maybe there's another way?”

 

You know better. She'll die.

 

Inuyasha snorted. “If I take her, she'll wish she were dead later.” He ran a hand over his face, making a tired sound. She'll die, his heart whispered one last time. He groaned, dropping his face into his hands.

 

Idiot. If she dies, what will you do? Inuyasha saw, suddenly, in his mind's eye, Kagome, cold and still, gone from him forever. He shook his head to clear it of the vision, hating the sweat that had broken out on his body and the weakness it signified. Unbidden, another image came to Inuyasha, this time of the quiet earnestness on Kagome's face when she had told him that she loved him.

 

“Do you not...want to be with me...the way I want to be with you?”

 

“Stupid wench.”

 

Inuyasha sighed. I don't really have a choice, do I? He gripped the branch he was on to still the trembling in his hands, gathering his resolve. He took a deep breath, then dropped soundlessly to the ground.

 

He was just in time to see Kagome disappearing into the trees in front of him.

 

Oh good fucking grief. No you don't, not again. He knew she was running away again, but this time, he knew that she couldn't. You aren't going anywhere, Kagome. He set out after her.

 

***

 

-to be continued-