InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Forbidden Sanctuary ❯ "Perfect By Nature" ( Chapter 11 )

[~: A/N :~]

 

Semi: Tee hee, wow its chapter eleven everyone! We apologize for the lateness -bows-

 

ChibiLee: We hope you've all been enjoying the summer holidays more then we have ...

 

Semi: Which isn't much ... unfortunately. However, its seems Chibi's come up with few surprises for you. FS is going to be gettting a few more twists so stay tuned. -giggles-

 

CL: -grins evily- HEHE! CL's as evil as Semi-sama.

 

Semi: -pats Chibi's head then gives her a big bag of chocolate- Yup, you're doing great kid.

 

CL: -is as happy as a kitten- Meoowww! -giggles and flicks tail happily- And now its time for CL's recap! In the last chapter we learned that Keshina isn't at all what she appears to be ... but if that's the case, then WHAT is she? And it seems Sesshomaru has been keeping something, or rather someONE, a secret from the others.

 

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

Sanctuary

By: Youkai Semi

 

Chapter Eleven: “Perfect By Nature”

 

“Thank you for looking out for Rin while I was away.” Sesshomaru put a hand on the boy's shoulder and gave a tiny smile before turning to the others. “We cannot go after Umeko just yet, so we might as well get some rest.”

 

“Hold it Sesshomaru!” InuYasha barked, taking a few steps closer to his brother. “Why did you bring the kids into this?” He asked what the others couldn't bring themselves to.

 

“If they are not near me, I cannot ensure their safety.” With that the Taiyoukai disappeared once again into the forest. At that point, Miroku let go of Sango's shoulder-giving her the signal to approch.

 

“Kohaku?” Sango asked quietly a few paces away from the boy. He turned to find his sister smiling through her tears, till he felt a tug at his shirt and glanced down to find Rin looking at him questioningly.

 

“Nii-chan, who's that?” She asked with a quick look at Sango.

 

“She's ... she's my Onee-chan.” He smiled sadly before looking back at Sango. The woman's breath hitched in her chest as Kohaku surprised them all by taking the remaining steps to close the gap between them. The next thing she knew her arms where wrapped around him, having fallen to her knees, and both were sobbing into each other's shoulder.

 

“I'm so sorry Nee-chan.” Kohaku croaked, his voice breaking and muffled by her shoulder.

 

“No Kohaku, I'm sorry. We shouldn never have forced a kind hearted kid like you to be a taiyai.” Sango cried her appology as well, pulling him away to look at his face. They smiled at each other in a misture of grief, sorry, and happiness. Sango whipped away the tears from his cheeks, pulling him back into her embrace right after.

 

“Oh kami . . . I'm so glad you're ok. I missed you so much. I love you no matter what Kohaku, just remember that and never forget it ok? I love you so much little brother.” Now she was crying again, hugging the boy with a grip that said she'd never let go.

 

“I love you to sis.” Kohaku sobbed happily back, equally returning the hug she gave. He didn't tell her so, but what she had just said had finally set his heart free. He had hated himself and at the same time thought she had hated as well. He knew otherwise now, finally getting free from under all the guilt he had carried all this time.

 

“Let's leave them alone shall we?” Miroku smiled, leading the way out of the forest. Rin watched for amoment before turbing and running to InuYasha.

 

“How come you and Lord Sesshomaru arn't like that, Lord InuYasha?” Rin questioned the hanyo while pointing back at the brother and sister. Several thuds were heard a second later, sending the birds into the air from the forest canapy.

 

InuYasha got back up and grumbled about 'no way in hell' while leaving the others behind. Miroku developed a sweat before following the hanyo.

 

“What?” Rin asked in confuion, chasing after the two men with Shippo behind her.

 

“Believe me, don't ask.” The kitsune sighed as he caught p with the girl. Jakken was the last to leave, turning to see the touching sceen with a small smile one more time before following the others.

 

 

* * *

 

 

Sesshomaru glanced up when he heard a few thuds back the way he came. The birds rising into the air would give away their position should anyone choose to investigate. He narrowed his eyes for a moment but decided against going back just yet. He could deal with them later, right now he needed space to think.

 

“With her heart set in darkness, she must find love. The one who mates her will gain the jewel's power and set her free. It MUST be the one she loves that does so. Once freed she will take the form of her lover.”

 

The old miko's words echoed through his mind, refusing to settle into coherancy. This made little to no sense. What would a mate do for her? That sort of thing only left ... complications. There was no reason for her to love and mate to be freed of the curse ... was there? Then he recalled something else Keshina had said.

 

“So . . . she HAS found love. Or rather, love's found her.”

 

Shaking his head to free it of the confusing thoughts, Sesshomaru found himself with only more questions instead of finding answers. There had to be more to it then that. He had to find out more from this miko. If he could maybe he could save Umeko. He turned and left the group once more. A solitary figure heading back to the village this had all stemed from.

 

 

* * *

 

 

“Kanna, call them here.” Naraku spoke a soft command to the little girl with white hair who never released her hold on the round mirror in her hands. Nodding silently, she left the room in search of the others. Naraku's garnet colored eyes followed her to the door then moved to the woman sitting demurly less then a foot away.

 

She knelt quietly, passively actually, with her hands folded in her lap and her eyes vacently staring at them. Her hair was pulled back and arranged in a loose yet pleasing way. If he had not known better he would of taken her for a high born princess. She had style and grace enough to rival one in any case.

 

The white hair stood out, but standing next to the incarnations she could have been one herself-if not their mother. For some strange reason most of them had white hair like hers, only the ones that looked older had black like his. Interesting indeed. His eyes calculated a moment before a light went off in his head.

 

'Perhaps the old miko was right . . . I could use them as an advantage in this game.' He thought to himself with a cold smile playing at his lips. Oh, yes. Now he had another way to gain the jewel and he'd let his 'children' do the work. He once again looked at Umeko, noting the small change in attire. It was the same design as the other one, only reversed. The kimono was black with a white sakura bloosm design, and a white obi with black sakura bloosms. Though he noticed she still kept her obi ornament from the previous one. Yes, darkness suited her and the jewel perfectly.

 

The opening of the shoji door interupted his musings of the hanyo, announcing the arrival of his 'children' with Kanna leading them in. Hakudoshi carried Akago on his back. Kagura brought up the rear and closed the shoji behind her. Naraku watched his insubbordinate incarnation for a moment before turning to Kanna. She knelt in front of him and had yet to say anything.

 

“I have asked you here to introduce you to the newest member of this household. You will treat her with respect as you do me. I hope I do not hear of you doing otherwise or I shall be very cross.” Naraku explained lightly, putting the threat in there delicately so as not to startle the hanyo.

 

“She is one of us?” Kagura couldn't help but ask. The girl before her looked like one of his incarnations and if that were the case she would have nothing to do with her.

 

“Not exactly . . . concider her as an adoptive mother if you will. All of you will be under her care, and she under yours.” He put one elbow on his knee and his head in his hand. For all appearances this group really looked like a family. He had promised her protection and so he gave it to her.

 

Umeko tilted her head a fraction at hearing his explaination. 'Mother?' She thought with mild surprise. Did that mean these were his children? It was likely, his voice made her think so with the way he spoke to them. If that was the way he wanted it then she would comply.

 

“There are two you have not as of yet met.” Naraku continued, turning to Umeko as he spoke. “Akago, and Kagura.” He motioned Hakudoshi and Kagura foreward. Hakudoshi removed Akago from the makeshift carrier on his back. Kagura frowned but got up, if a little reluctantly.

 

“Umeko-san, this is Akago.” Hakudoshi gently put his brother in her arms before retreating back to his spot beside Kanna. Umeko blinked in surpirse at feeling what could only be a baby placed in her waiting hands. Almost immeidiately she felt a maternal smirk tug at her lips.

 

“I am Kagura.” The wind demoness spoke while kneeling curiously before the woman. Up clse she noticed the young woman was blind and so could not actually see who spoke to her. This made her curiosity grow. For now she'd go along with Naraku, if only to quall that yearning to know more about this curious creature.

 

Umeko was caught off guard once again. This one sounded like an adult, yet Naraku hadn't sounded that old at all . . . not to mention she still held an infant in her arms.

 

Closing her eyes, she focused on the auras of the people in the rom. She could see each one clearly in her mind's eye. The baby she held was as white as fresh snow. The girl called Kanna was a mixture of white and blue with a tint of an uneasy brown. Hakudoshi's was similar but the brown was a bit darker and was more of a gold. The woman in front of her was a firy red with a hint of the same brown and a shadow of black. Naraku's . . . his surprised her, for it was a blue-green. Though she could tell it was a forced calm. His true aura was well hidden.

 

Umeko opened her unseeing eyes and felt the face of the baby in her arms. She smiled at finding him asleep. Kagura noticed what she was doing and became curious all over again. The other two sat quietly while watching the woman with intense interest. Naraku smirked openly. They seemed to of taken to the hanyo quiet well. That was good, it would help the plan along much more quickly this way.

 

“What are you doing Umeko-san?” Kagura found herself asking politely, unable to stop herself.

 

“I can see by touch and vibration so I am 'looking' at little Akago. He seems to of fallen asleep.” She smield and gave a tiny laugh. Kagura finally noticed the jewel on the girl's forehead and let her eyes narrow.

 

“So that is his game . . . well two can play it.' She smirked inwardly then reached foreward for the hanyo's hand. Umeko blinked in surprise, nearly flinching at the sensation of long nail like claws closing over her hand. Where they demons? That would expain things a bit. Hesitently, Umeko lifted her hand from Kagura's and felt the woman's face. She was a demon, much like Sesshomaru.

 

Naraku smelt the spike of uneasiness Kagura's hand had caused the hanyo. What he smelt next made him smirk again. Umeko's scent was again mared with anger and Naraku knew exactly who she was thinking of. Kagura on the other hand hadn't expected such a change in the hanyo. Her brows furrowed in slight confusion and misunderstanding.

 

“All of you are demons.” Umeko stated in a ridgid voice. They looked at her with nervous concern. “Well, at least you are not humans.” She commented lightly, taking her hand back and placing it under Akago to support him better. Naraku's smirk widened as he got up and went to the door.

 

“If you will excuse me. I have things to attend to.” He gave the hanyo one last satisfied look before leaving.

 

“I'm afraid I shall take my leave as well.” Kagura got up and looked at the puzzling woman with her brows knitted and a small frown on her face.

 

“I hope we can spend time together at a later date Kagura. It was nice to meet you so please excuse me if I was rude in any way.” Umeko bowed her head to the other woman and listened to her move across the room.

 

“I would have to agree. You are a very ... ineresting person.” Kagura slid the door open then back again, stepping from the room.

 

'Very interesting indeed.' She mused as she recalled how the jewel reacted to the small display of anger from the hanyo. It had grown darker still, spreading from the darkness that was beginning to eat the hanyu alive. A light slowly being swallowed by the dark.

 

 

* * *

 

 

“I thought I'd be seeing ye again.” Keshina smiled blythfully at the Taiyoukai before her.

 

“You can stop with the act. I know you, like Umeko, are not what you appear to be . . . besides I've already seen your 'other' self.” Sesshomaru growled at the miko, his hand clenching into a fist.

 

“No need to be test, Lord Sesshomaru.” Keshina chuckled, dropping the guise. “What is you've come here for?” Her eyes twinkled mischeviously.

 

“You did not speak all that you know. I would hear it NOW.” Sesshomaru glared at the woman who was purpously testing his patience. 'How dare she mock this Sesshomaru.' He faught with himself, using all his self restraint not ot trottle the woman then and there.

 

“I see . . . then, I suppose there's just no tricking you is there?” She grinned a fraction before inclining her head. “Very well. The hanyo known as Umeko has another name. Do you know of it?” Keshina questioned with a serious glance. Sesshomaru pondered on it, trying to decide if it was a trick question. Finding none, he gave a small bob of his head.

 

“I do. What of it?” He answered gruffly, feeling irritated at being played with. He disliked the feeling. Immensely.

 

“Should the one she loves speak her true name before the curse is broken, she shall retrieve her lost memories. The flip side of the coin is that she will remain a hanyo. She could NEVER go back to being human, even if she should mate one to lift the curse.” Keshina empasised on the word 'never'. Overall, Sesshomaru could tell the miko was serious . . . deadly serious on this matter.

 

“It would save her in one way, and condem her in another.” Keshina closed her eyes, a sad-or rather grim frown gracing her features.

 

“I see . . .” It was Sesshomaru's turn to frown as he digested this new information.

 

“Only the one she loves can save her. That is all I have to tell.” Keshina finished and got up.

 

“I do not know why you are helping, nor what your involument is in all this . . . but you have been helpful. You have my gratitude.” The demon lord got up as well and studied the miko. Keshina, however, was mentally grinning and laughing like a cheshire cat. She still hadn't spoken the whole truth, just enough to make him think he had won. The sudden knock on the door startled both back into the present.

 

“I seem to be quiet popular today . . . hm.” Keshina blinked with a small frown, moving out of the room to get the door. Sesshomaru watched the gray haired woman in mild dislike. Somehow she reminded him of someone . . . he just couldn't pin point exactly who it was. And then he heard InuYasha and sat back down. This would be an interesting night.

 

 

 

[~:End of Chapter:~]

 

Semi: Whoa . . . so many people plotting! Its starting to freak me out ... -shudders-

 

C.L.: Hm let's see . . . Naraku, Kagura, Keshina, Sesshomaru, and now it seems InuYasha's about to start something.

 

Semi: This is turning out to be quite a surprising story. -ponders-

 

CL: Better interesting then dull. -giggles-

 

Semi: -lol- Yeah I suppose. Speaking of which what happened to Koga? -blinks-

 

CL: Ut oh -smirks- Here comes another evil Semi plot.

 

Semi: Hm . . . -grins evily- We'll see.

 

CL: -laughs nervously- Told ya so. . .

 

 

[~: Teasers for the next chapter:~]

The tachi join in a discussion about the blind hanyo. Sesshomaru recieves some more advice and Kagura realises something about Umeko. Until next time, stay tuned!

 

Chapter Twelve: “ Heaven Help Me.”