InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Forbidden Sanctuary ❯ "Long Before I Knew Your Name" ( Chapter 6 )

[~: A/N :~]

 

Semi: Chapter 6 everyone! I can't believe I've actually gotten this far. I hope everyone enjoys.

 

ChibiLee: Semi-sama's been working hard -giggles-

 

Semi: Hai, such is the life of a writer lol. But C.L.'s been working hard as well so everyone make sure to send her lots of mint chocolate which is her favorite!

CL: CHOCOLATE! -dances-

 

Semi: Also please be patient, I'm currently working on multiple fanfics so bare with me ok? And Arigato gozaimaste to my first MediaMiner.org reviewer! -dances with C.L.- OH! And just to be clear, Momma Sessho is NOT dead in the manga nor the anime . . . I think, BUT for the sake of THIS story she is.

 

CL: It's time for CL's recap! In the last chapter Sesshomaru gave the hanyo a name! Umeko! Jakken got the medicine and Sesshomaru gave some to Umeko, getting rid of the troublesome fever she had. Naraku caught little Shippo and attacks him! Miroku and Sango go looking for the little kitsune but can anyone get to him in time? Read and find out!
-solutes-

 

[~: Disclaimer :~] I do not own InuYasha nor do I own Beauty and the Beast, or the song “Eternity” . Have a nice day.

Sanctuary

By: Youkai Semi

 

Chapter Six: “Long Before I Knew Your Name.”

 

Sesshomaru gazed at the star filled sky, careful to keep his emotionless mask up. He stood staring at the eastern horizon, his kimono and hair blowing gently in he breeze. This place, just near his own lands, was one of the most calming. Standing on the edge of a cliff over looking both forest and lands so ancient that no one remembered when they had been made, brought him a sense of serenity. The small brook nearby calmed him and helped him to think.

 

Yes, even this Sesshomaru needed a place to hide and run to when things troubled him. He would never admit needing one though. But everyone, once in a while, needs a place to rest and calm down to think. This was his. Every time he had a problem to think about, it was here that he sought the answer. And he would continue to come until his dying breath, for this had also been his mother's.

 

The lands he now looked over had been heres, he Daiyoukai of the East. The Dog Queen, as she was also known, had been a calm and serene person. He remembered many nights when he awoke as a pup to find his mother waiting for the Inu no Taisho. She had seemed so very sad then and died soon after. It was later that Sesshomaru found out about Izayoi, and vowed to never repeat what his father had done.

 

Which brought him back to the problem at hand. Umeko. She was an enigma, one that refused to be solved. He didn't need anyone but himself. It had been that way for so long that it was a perpetual habit now. A bad one hat was rather hard to brake He was just confused right?

 

There hadn't been another female Inu after his parents died so he wasn't sure. Unlike InuYasha, Sesshomaru wanted to keep the family blood line pure . . . which meant mating with a female Inu demon like himself. Now that there was one, he wasn't sure what to do. After all, her soul was still Kikyo's and her heart belonged to InuYasha.

 

Doomed if he did and doomed if he didn't. He sighed heavily to himself. She may be 'new' now, but her old self was taken. He had no claim to her where as InuYasha had her heart and spirit. It was cruel of fate to do such a thing as this. They had given him what he wanted but still made it unattainable. Like a thirsty man stranded in a boat in the middle of the ocean.

 

The Taiyoukai closed his eyes and let the breeze blow away his worries. His hair billowing out like a curtain made of silver. No, fate could NOT be that cruel. It could be merciless at times, but this . . . this was somehow quite different. He never expected something of this nature to happen. The Taiyoukai had resigned himself to finding a mate that, though wouldn't keep the family blood pure, would be honorable and proud . . . strong in her own right without reliance on others to protect her.

 

That kind of female would have kept the family blood strong if not pure. But he had as of yet been unable to find one and so stayed emotionless to keep himself undamaged. Now however there was an Inu female . . . but two questions remained, where did she belong and what were her qualities?

 

As far as he knew, her old self had a rather fiery nature. She had shown honor by continuing to help her friends find the rest of the sacred jewel and often showed great courage and strength. Her love for her friends never wavered, though she was a bit too trusting in everyone. She would do nearly anything for them if it meant saving them. Why? Why hadn't he seen it before?

 

Sesshomaru growled at himself. It was a constant conflict in his mind. His instincts told him to protect her, keep her to himself. While the logical part of his brain screamed at him to leave her, let her go back to InuYasha and the others . . . that he didn't care for humans. But that wasn't quite right was it? He had hated Izayoi because of his father and the half breed brother he had gotten from her.

 

Over time that anger at Izayoi had spread to include all humans. Something he hadn't intended on doing due to his position as Taiyoukai of the Western Lands. But somehow he had ignored it and let it seep into him like poison. Anger and hatred were exactly that, poison that ruined lives.

 

With a small sigh, Sesshomaru lifted his face into the air and took a deep breath. No more. No more would he continue to let those damned emotions poison him. Silently he asked the long dead princess hi father had taken as a mate for forgiveness and released the emotions that had been killing his others ones. Suddenly he felt light . . . no free was a better word for it. For a moment he only stood there thinking.

 

As the sun rose, he resolutely turned away from the panoramic view of the land and begun the trek back to the pond clearing. She may belong to his brother, but Sesshomaru vowed to protect her. He would learn from her what it meant to trust . . . as he had already learned what it meant to love unconditionally. That kind of love often hurt but it was a worthwhile emotion he would cherish. He couldn't have her, but she would always have him.

 

* * *

 

Umeko sat at the edge of the pond, listening to it's soothing sound. Her kimono loose on her shoulders, having only awoken a few minutes earlier. At first she had though that the demon had been a dream, but found the blanket he had draped over her still there. He had been like an apparition, appearing suddenly then gone just as quickly.

 

She could not place how, but his voice seemed familiar and she wondered if he always sounded so . . . sad? Yes, that was it. He tired to hide it but she could still hear the tiny hint of sadness in his voice. She wanted to know why it was there, he seemed like a kind person underneath the cold exterior. But would she get a chance to find out? If there was someway to help him as he had helped her she was wanted to at least try.

 

The hanyo turned her thoughts onto her newest dream. In it she had been attacked by a demon with long silver hair, magenta markings and a purple crescent moon on his forehead. For some reason Umeko felt that she knew the man. . . . In her dream he turned from her and walked away, his eyes holding pain and sadness that she knew wasn't like him to show. There was just something about him that told her he hid his emotions . . . it was instinct that told her it was to protect himself.

 

Before she could think more on th matter, Umeko heard soft crying, as if the person were hiding. It came from a short distance away, her ears swiveled back to hear it better. Blindly she got up and righted her kimono before heading in the direction of the sound. Whoever it was needed help. It sounded like someone young and was muffled so she couldn't quite tell.

 

Trailing the soft cry past another clearing to a bramble bush, Umeko listened for anyone other then herself and the one crying. There seemed to be no one, though she heard a soft thud. It was as if someone had jumped out of a tree nearby. Narrowing her eyes slightly, she never turned from the bushed. Deciding instead to hide whoever it was crying from any onlookers. Crouching down she felt the bushed and pricked her finger on the thorns.

 

Umeko quickly stuffed her finger in her mouth and sucked on it to stop the bleeding. After a moment or two she though better of poking her hand at something she couldn't see. So instead she listened quietly. When the crying calmed a little she decided to take a chance.

 

“Hello?” She called out as gently as she could. The crying stopped all together. The hanyo smelt the spike of fear from . . . a kitsune? Yes, it was a fox demon. How she knew she wasn't sure.

 

“I'm not going to hurt you . . . are you hurt?” Umeko asked in sincere worry.

 

“Who are you?” Came a young shaky voice.

 

“I'm called Umeko.” The hanyo smiled blindly at the bush, trying to keep her voice as low as possible. “What's your name?”

 

“Sh-Shippo.” The little kitsune pup poked his head out of the bushed and looked at the girl. He was surprised at what he was looking at. She was the hanyo they had heard about! He could tell by her dog ears.

 

“You're a . . . a hanyo.” He crept from the bushes and approached the now sitting woman.

 

“Hai, I am. You're a kitsune am I right? How come you're all by yourself? It's dangerous for a little pup to be away from his mother.” She commented quietly, her brows knitting in worry. Shippo tilted his head at her then waved a hand near her face.

 

“You're . . . you're blind aren't you?” He got a small nod of affirmative. “I was trying to help my friends so I went out on my own. . . . and my momma is dead.” He sniffed again, his little eyes brimming with tears.

 

“I'm sorry to hear that Shippo-chan.” Umeko's eyes filled with sadness as she took the little kitsune into her arms. “I'm sure she never meant to leave you. I bet she loved you very much.” She gave him a big hug, one which he returned heartily. When he calmed down again she stood up and listened once more.

 

“Would you like to stay with me until you find your friends Shippo-chan?” Umeko smiled, rubbing his back in calming circles. He looked up at her then nodded.

 

“Could I?” He asked hesitantly, remembering she couldn't see his gestures. She smiled and nodded.

 

“Yes, but I hope Sesshomaru-sama won't mind . . . if he comes back.” She looked away, hearing a very faint thud as if someone had just fallen on their face.

 

“You know Sesshomaru?!” Shippo exclaimed in mild fright.

 

“Hai, he is the one who gave me my name. You see I don't remember anything from before I was found by the miko Keshina. I got a fever after ending up in the forest and he helped me get better.” Umeko smiled, displaying no fear at all of the Taiyoukai of the Western Lands. Shippo watched her in bewilderment. Who knew Lord Sesshomaru could be nice?

 

“Wow . . . the Lord Sesshomaru I know is a bit different then that, but if he's changed then it's a good thing.” Shippo laughed quietly, Umeko joining him and taking him back to the pond clearing.

 

 

* * *

 

 

InuYasha sat high up in a tree, the branch just thick enough to hold his weight. He watched the sun rise and began thinking. Mostly it was about the future. What would he do now that the Shikan no Tama was gone? He had hoped to use it to become full demon, but that was out of the picture. Being a demon only hurt those he cared about. Although, he didn't want to be human now either. So that left what he was . . . a half-breed.

 

The hanyo growled to himself. He never fit in anywhere until Kagome had shown up. That made his chest hurt . . . the thought of Kagome. He realized now that he hadn't loved her as he had first thought. Well he did, but it was more of a mutual friendship like love. As one for their sibling or cherished friend. He had thought to become cold like Sesshomaru but knew Kagome would of hated him for it. So he resided himself to silently watching over the forest.

 

A smell that didn't belong in the forest met his nose. It teased his curiosity until he finally followed the scent of plum blossoms and rain to it's source. He paused on a lower tree limb to watch a girl go by underneath him. He would of scampered off had he not taken a second look. Her long free flowing silver hair and smoke-gray tipped dog ears were enough to catch his attention.

 

He followed the woman until she paused by some bushes. InuYasha could just make out muffled crying coming from the buses and jumped down from his spot to get a better look. As he watched and listened, the female hanyo was able to bring out none other then Shippo out of the bushes. They talked for a short while. When they spoke of Sesshomaru InuYasha fell face first into the ground in surprise.

 

Sesshomaru being nice? Ok, it was official . . . the world was coming to an end! Before they caught him he jumped back up into the trees and followed them back to the pond clearing.

 

 

* * *

 

 

Miroku paused and took a glance around. The clearing they had come across was actually a rather nice one. There was a pond and what looked like a blanket and a cup. Perhaps someone had been using the place earlier. Sango held Kirara in her arms as she stepped through the thicket into the clearing just after Miroku.

 

“Nice place huh?” Miroku grinned and sat down at the pond's edge.

 

“Yeah . . . I hope whoever it was using it last doesn't mind.” She eyed the blanket and cup before joining Miroku. Kirara yawned and fell asleep in Sango's arms. The two humans watched the water silently, nether needing to say anything at the moment. It was a rather peaceful place, this clearing. Sango felt calmer and more relaxed here.

 

“I hope we find Shippo soon.” Miroku sighed slightly. They had spent the last few hours of the night searching for the kitsune without any sleep.

 

“I do as well.” Sango admitted and leaned back on her elbows. A rustling sound from the bush to their right caught their attention. Surprisingly a young woman in an elaborate kimono stepped out. Her shocking white hair and dog ears told them that they had found the missing hanyo. What they had NOT expected was her blank milky blue-white eyes. The hanyo paused and sniffed the air.

 

“Someone's here. . .” They heard her whisper.

 

“Really? Let me check.” The two humans fell backwards in surprise when Shippo poked his head out from behind Umeko's leg.

 

“It's ok Umeko, these are my friends!” Shippo cheered happily, bouncing over to them. Sango hugged the pup fiercely, smiling in relief. The hanyo however stayed put.

 

“Shippo-chan . . . they are humans aren't they?” Umeko asked with a hint of fear.

 

“We are, but we would never harm you. Let me introduce ourselves. I'm the Houshi Miroku, and this is my companion Sango.” Miroku stepped forward and purposely left out the 'demon slayer' part.

 

“I'm called Umeko.” The hanyo bowed slightly, still hesitant to go near the humans.

 

“Umeko? May we stay here a few hours to catch up on some much needed sleep? You see we've been up all night looking for young Shippo here.” Sango asked politely. Umeko thought for a moment before nodding.

 

“You are safe here.” She smiled slightly and sat down where her blanket had been left. Sango watched her and smiled. Keshina was right, she was definitely something more then she appeared to be.

 

“You know . . . Lady Keshina is worried sick about you.” She commented lightly. The hanyo started in surprise.

 

“You know Lady Keshina?” Umeko asked cautiously.

 

“Hai, she wanted to know you were ok. We just so happened to end up here so we'll tell her you're fine.” Miroku answered with a cheery laugh. Umeko smiled, relaxing a little. If they were friends of Keshina's then she could trust them. They soon drifted off into sleep, being more tired then they had expected.

 

Umeko listened to their rhythmical breathing, including young Shippo's. She smiled, yawned, and fell asleep with them. The kitsune woke long enough to snuggle up with Umeko then fell back to sleep. Not one of them noticing they were being watched.

 

InuYasha watched the group from his post in the trees. The woman was kind and a bit too trusting. A lot like 'her'. He relaxed on his branch until a new scent caught his nose a few hours or so later. It was the smell of wind and pine needles. Sesshomaru. The Inu hanyo sprang up on his branch and checked around. He couldn't see him just yet but he knew he was there.

 

As if on cue, the Taiyoukai landed in the clearing. The demon lord was obviously surprised at the unwanted guests but took it in stride. They would always be drawn to her, this form or any other. Which meant . . . Sesshomaru took a deep breath and turned his eyes but not his head or body. Yep, even InuYasha was there - though hiding for some reason. Quietly he stepped over to Umeko and shook her gently.

 

“Umeko.” He called quietly. At hearing his voice Umeko opened her eyes and smiled.

 

“Sesshomaru?” She sat up and help out a hand. InuYasha was surprised by this gesture. Even more surprised when Sesshomaru took the hand and was about to sit down. Unfortunately a giant boomerang interrupted them.

 

“Get away from her Sesshomaru!” Sango yelled out dangerously, leveling the boomerang at him again and getting in front of Umeko. Awakened by the ruckus, Miroku got up and stood next to the Taijia.

 

“What do you want with Umeko?” The Houshi asked, leveling his Shakujo at the Taiyoukai. To everyone's surprise Umeko slipped from behind them and put herself in front of the demon lord.

 

“Please wait! He's my friend. I wouldn't be here without him.” She exclaimed, tears running down her cheeks. As they watched she teetered on the spot. A small collective gasp escaped them when the hanyo fainted. Sesshomaru caught her, putting her gently down onto the ground to put his hand on her forehead.

 

“She still has a fever.” With that he emptied half of the last of the herbs into the tin cup. In awe they watched him go to the pond's edge and dip the cup into the water. He swirled it in a careful circular motion before asked quietly, returning to Umeko's side.

 

“How do you know her?” Sango asked quietly, remembering Keshina saying the demon lord was looking for her.

 

“I named her.” Was all he said, continuing to hold his emotionless mask up out of habit.

 

“NANI?!” Sango shouted, causing the birds in the area to rise out of the forest and take flight.

 

 

 

[~:End of Chapter:~]

 

Semi: Well that's all for chapter six everyone. I hope you enjoyed it!

 

CL: Hai . . . C.L go back to sleep now.

 

Semi: Lol ok Chibi you can take a nap. Ja ne Minna-san!

 

 

[~: Teasers for the next chapter:~]

 

The Inu brothers have a mild confrontation. They decided to train Umeko to keep her safe but she's the one who gives them a few surprises! Naraku makes another appearance and Umeko runs off! What the heck did he say to her?! Tune in next time!

 

Chapter Seven: “Just Test My Best!”