InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Forgotten ❯ Menace in the Shadows ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or anyone from the hit anime/manga series. Rumiko Takahashi does. I do own all OC's in this story.

 

195 years Before the Search for the Jewel Shards

 

Chapter Two: Menace in the Shadows

 

When one stands at the end of all things I guess it's natural to reflect upon one's life. Even though my clan and particularly my family were powerful, we resided at the edge of our territory in the imperial capital. My earliest memories consisted of the confusing situation of being loved by my powerful family and scorned by the rest of the human court nobles. I was too young to understand their hate and I honestly hadn't realized I wasn't entirely human. This confusion was the first step toward a lifetime of despair as their hatred was turned against my mother. If only I had known then what I know now then maybe I wouldn't have blamed my existence for what happened.

-Inuyasha

 

A circle of young men kicked a ball between them as several young women watched to the men's everlasting joy. Akira smiled as he caught the ball on his right incept and sent it back to one of his friends. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Megumi smile at him. He quickly returned his focus to the game before his distraction caused him embarrassment.

 

`No, it would not do to have Megumi see me fumble the ball. That would be most embarrassing!' he thought as he caught and sent the ball on again. The sun was bright, the day was warm and it seemed impossible for anything to ruin his good mood.

 

Such thoughts were karma's cue. As the ball bounced over to Wataru, a small boy in red with a wild silvery-white mane ran past Akira. Play instantly stopped as the ball bounced over to Kaoru. The older man caught the ball in his hands and the unwanted little boy ran over to him waving his arms at Kaoru and chimed, “I want to play.”

 

Akira sneered in disgust. `That wretched hanyou again, he always ruins everything!'

 

“Disgusting hanyou should have been drowned at birth,” said Kaoru and he threw the ball over his shoulder. The young boy, oblivious to the dark meaning of the words, chased after it. The mood of the beautiful day shattered, everyone turned and walked away.

 

`So true,' thought Akira as he glanced over his shoulder at the bewildered expression on the young boy's face. `Why does the Kanzaki family allow such a thing to continue existing?'

 

The young man felt an eerie chill curl up his spine a moment before a smooth voice spoke. “So troublesome that Inuyasha, isn't he?”

 

Akira, Kaoru and Wataru stopped and looked to the left. In the shadows of the eaves stood another young man, his unusual style of robes marking him as a member of the Kanzaki family. While he did have the same footwear and wore a kimono and gathered hakama similar to those of the Kanzaki family, he wore a sleeveless over robe that hung to his knees and was tied with a broad white sash trimmed in dark blue. The kimono and hakama were white with dark blue swirls artistically displayed. The over robe was sky blue and was trimmed in yellow. A sky blue headband pushed his unruly black hair out of his face.

 

“What do you want, Sagara?” demanded Kaoru, glaring at the young Kanzaki with misgivings.

 

“I was just noticing how Inuyasha interrupted your game,” Sagara replied with the same oily voice. It made Akira's skin crawl. When it came to choice of company, Akira preferred the hanyou's to this man's.

 

“If you're so sympathetic, then how about you keep your cousin away from our game next time!” snapped Kaoru. Sagara's eyes seemed to glow in response to the condescending tone. Akira and Wataru both stared at Kaoru. There were some people you just didn't cross.

 

“Don't speak to me in that tone,” said Sagara, an edge entering his voice causing both Akira and Wataru to take an unconscious step back. “I'm not the one who allowed the demon child to remain. I'm not the one who willingly created that child.” He waved a hand in the direction beyond them and they turned to see what he was indicating.

 

Izayoi stood bent as she held her half-demon son on the other side of the river. Akira glared at the abominable woman, the woman who had chosen a demon over her own betrothed and willingly allowed herself to bear a hanyou child. She was revolting.

 

“You know Jounochi spoils her,” said Sagara, the smoothness back along with a shadowy smile. “He loves his daughter so much because she resembles his late wife and can't dream of doing anything to upset her. Since she wished to keep the child he refused to have it killed, just so she can be happy.”

 

Akira didn't miss the key phrase. Neither did Kaoru, “You're saying Lord Jounochi doesn't approve of the hanyou either?”

 

“Who's to know?” Sagara shrugged then ran his fingers through his long, unruly black hair, smile vanishing. “I just know that he loves Izayoi and doesn't want to do anything that would make her unhappy, even if that meant keeping a despised half-breed.” He turned and walked away leaving the three with his words ringing in their minds.

 

“And that is supposed to make us feel better, how?” muttered Wataru as he rubbed his forehead.

 

“It's doesn't, he just says we aren't alone in our feelings toward the hanyou,” said Akira, tucking his hands into his broad blue sleeves and started walking again.

 

Wataru skipped a couple steps to catch up, neither noticed Kaoru wasn't following. “But didn't he just say Jounochi doesn't approve of Izayoi's demon child? Can't we use that to get rid of the beast?”

 

“No, idiot!” snapped Akira, glaring at his friend. “Sagara all but said that anything concerning Izayoi is strictly off limits. It doesn't matter what Jounochi personally feels about the hanyou. The fact is he'll do anything in his power to make his daughter happy, and it's not like she abuses the privilege by making constant demands. We don't have anything we could use to remove the half-breed. As long as Izayoi wants the boy, Izayoi keeps the boy and heaven help anyone stupid enough to try to change that.”

 

“I guess your right,” said Wataru looking away. “Hey! Where's Kaoru?”

 

Akira turned and looked around. The streets were empty of any sign of their companion. His eyebrows knitted together with concern. `Why do I have a bad feeling about this?'

 

******************

 

Five days later…

 

Evening had come, Izayoi, her three handmaidens, and Inuyasha sat by the river and watched the fireflies dance across the grass and over the water. At least the women sat and watched, the young hanyou ran around trying to catch the floating points of light.

 

“It seems our little Inuyasha is enjoying himself,” said Yuki as she gazed past her open fan.

 

“Much to the fireflies' dismay,” added Eri with a chuckle.

 

“I always love this time of year myself,” said Izayoi, smiling when Inuyasha misjudged a pounce and slipped halfway down the bank. The boy scrambled back up and picked up his chase right where it left off without missing a beat.

 

“So what kind of tenko do you think he is going to be?” asked Ayume. She fluttered her fan and said, “I think he is going to be a water tenko because he is full of strong emotions.”

 

“Nah, he's going to be an earth tenko because he is incredibly stubborn,” declared Eri with a wave of her fan. “You remember what he's like when it comes time to bathe him? Definite earth!”

 

Izayoi opened her fan and laughed into it. Her son was a handful especially when it came time to wash him. He would throw the biggest tantrum, screaming and yelling, demanding to know why he had to get clean when he was only going to get dirty again, and it wouldn't stop until after they had dried him off.

 

“So, Yuki, do you have an opinion?” asked Ayume, glancing at her friend.

 

“An elemental at least, I'm not going to even guess which, it's way too early to tell. He definitely can't be a metal, too feisty for that, and I have a hard time seeing him as a wood,” replied Yuki with a smile.

 

“No, you can't do that,” chided Izayoi, shaking a finger at her servant while trembling with suppressed laughter. “The other two placed their bets; you can't have something that general.”

 

“Must I, my lady?” asked Yuki and Izayoi nodded in mock seriousness. Sighing she said, “Alright, fire because of his short temper, explosive tantrums, and aversion to water.” Eri snickered at the last part.

 

“Fire tenko are really rare, though,” said Ayume as she returned her attention to the fireflies.

 

“That doesn't mean it's not impossible,” said Izayoi, stretching her arms before her.

 

Yuki turned away and stared at Inuyasha. `No, I'm certain that he is a fire tenko. Fire tenko powers appear sooner than other tenko. Lately, whenever I hold him, the water in my wind becomes electric. Not only am I certain he's a fire tenko, I think his power is going to appear soon. Maybe even sooner than other fire tenko. Maybe anytime now!' The wind shifted and Yuki heard the faint sounds of several sets of feet heading toward them quickly. Suspicious, she stood and raised her fan.

 

“What is it, Yuki?” asked Izayoi as she and the other two handmaidens stood as well.

 

“A number of people are approaching,” she replied, scanning the horizon for the approaching group.

 

“Inuyasha! Return to me.” called Izayoi.

 

The boy stopped and looked at her, bewildered. “Why?”

 

“Do as I say.”

 

“But…”

 

“Do as I say!” Izayoi rarely threatened Inuyasha, but she was not a woman to be pushed around by her own son. Her sharp tone and severe expression silenced the boy and he started running towards her.

 

Yuki's eyes swung toward Inuyasha and looked past the child when she spotted the source of the sound of hurrying feet. The four women paled when they saw them. Five masked men dressed in black were running toward them and each was armed and ready for combat. Yuki didn't wait to see what their intentions were; men with weapons in their hands meant they were planning to use them and soon.

 

She waved her fan in a broad sweep creating a gust that blew the charging men back several feet. Unfazed, they came at them again. The three handmaidens pulled out fans edged in steel and, with Ayume and Yuki holding onto Eri, they flew toward them. Five on three was less than equal and one of the men managed to slip past the combatants and sprang toward the fleeing child.

 

Inuyasha tripped as a knife went flying past his head and struck the ground in front of his outstretched hands. The boy looked over his shoulder as his attacker closed the gap with his spear raised.

 

“Inuyasha!” screamed his mother as the deadly shaft descended. Blood splattered the fallen child, his golden eyes staring in uncomprehending horror at the sight before him. The spear tip protruded from Izayoi's back stopping half a foot before his face.

 

“Princess Izayoi!” screamed Eri then gasped when a sword was shoved into her belly. She snapped her fan shut and drove it into the man's heart then they both crumpled to the ground, life fleeing them within a crimson stream.

 

Izayoi held tight to the spear to prevent the attacker from pulling it out of her, a look of sheer defiance twisting her beautiful features into a fierce snarl. Blood began to trickle from her mouth but somehow she clung to life as tightly as she did the spear and stared into her killer's eyes.

 

“Release the spear, whore! I shall send your abominable child to join you soon enough,” said the man as he struggled to free the spear.

 

Izayoi removed a hand from the shaft and grabbed his neck. “You shall be the one to accompany me to the lands of the dead,” she gasped then she began to chant in an archaic tongue.

 

“What?” he cried as a brilliant light flowed from her and enveloped him.

 

Yuki sliced through the neck of her second opponent, the first lay at her feet in a pool of his own blood, still clinging to life but loosing fast. His sword arm had been cut off and lay three feet from him. Ayume continued to struggle with her opponent but, unable to break the man's pressure on her fans, she was slowly being overwhelmed. Yuki moved to help her when she saw the light. Turning toward her mistress, she screamed, “Princess Izayoi! No!”

 

The light shot outward and filled the two remaining women with energy and strength. Yuki watched her wounds close up and vanish as if they had never been. Tears filled her eyes and she screamed in rage and grief. The light receded, man and princess fell to earth, their souls now on their way to the netherworld.

 

“Ha!” yelled Ayume, blasting her opponent with a sudden but brief gust of wind then slicing both his hands off.

 

“Mother!” cried Inuyasha, pushing on her corpse, his young mind unable to accept her death. “Mother!”

 

Yuki heard others approaching. Not knowing whether they were friend of foe, she ran toward Inuyasha and called back, “Ayume, hurry, more people are coming.”

 

“Hai!” Ayume glanced once at the lifeless Eri. Eri, unlike Ayume and Yuki, had been an ordinary human not a tenko. While a strong fighter, she lacked their supernatural abilities. Turning away from the corpse, Ayume ran to catch up to Yuki.

 

Yuki reached Inuyasha and grabbed him. “No! We can't leave Mother!” he cried holding tight to Izayoi's robes.

 

“Inuyasha, let go! We can't help her now,” she said, tears pouring from her eyes.

 

“No!” Yuki, aware of the vanishing time, slapped the five-year-old. Surprised by the sudden pain, the boy to released the dead woman's clothes and Yuki was up and running before he could grab it again. “No! Mother! Mother!”

 

Yuki struggled to hang on as Inuyasha began throwing another tantrum. “This is not the time for this,” she hissed when she nearly dropped him.

 

Ayume ran up beside her. “We should take to the skies. It will be safer there and we can get to Lord Jounochi faster. Besides without Eri or Izayoi there really isn't any reason to stay on the ground,” she whispered, her own tears staining her cheeks. It was still hard to believe they were dead.

 

Yuki nodded and she and Ayume sprang into the air, winds swirling around them lifting them several dozen feet up. Despite this, Inuyasha continued to scream and fight.

 

“Inuyasha stop this at once! This is neither the time nor the place for your petty outburst!” yelled Yuki. The boy responded by screaming even louder and punching and kicking even harder. Yuki could understand his feelings. She could understand his confusion. She could understand why he was doing this but that did not change the fact that he was putting all three in danger.

 

`Our fault, we shouldn't have let him throw these tantrums. We should have taught him there was a time and a place for this instead of letting him have his way.' She saw Ayume drift below in case she did drop Inuyasha. Gritting her teeth, she thought, `I have no choice. This has got to stop or else we won't get anywhere!'

 

Curling up, she maneuvered the boy across her lap. Yuki took a deep breath, hating herself for she was about to do, then brought her hand down on Inuyasha's rump.

 

The boy yelped then redoubled his efforts. Yuki spanked him again and shouted, “I stop when you stop, Inuyasha!” She emphasized her point with a slap for every word. Finally, the boy quieted, but he continued to sob into his hands. Feeling worse than ever, she placed the child on her hip, gave the top of his head a reassuring kiss then she and Ayume flew toward the Kanzaki mansion.

 

`What the hell am I supposed to tell Lord Jounochi?' she wondered. `How am I supposed to explain this failure?'

 

***********************

 

Two days later…

 

Lord Jounochi glared at his vassals and kin who squirmed uncomfortably beneath his gaze. “So there is no way to find who sent those men,” said Jounochi.

 

His nephew, Yahiko, looked at him and replied, “Since the men were all mercenaries, they had no connections. Without them being alive, we can't interrogate them to find out who bought their services. We have already searched them for any indication of their buyer but have found nothing. Unless someone knows something and tells us there isn't anything we can do. Izayoi's murderer remains at large.”

 

“The only thing we can determine from this,” said Kuromaru in a soft voice, “is that the target was Inuyasha not Izayoi. I believe it's because he's a hanyou that the attack occurred at all. There are no other reasons I can think of but that this was an act of hatred. Izayoi was harmless, a wood tenko, even one of great power, can't attack only heal.”

 

“Someone may have decided to kill her just because she bore a hanyou. Maybe it was their plan to eliminate both mother and son,” said Katsuya, an ancient man, even by his clan's terms, at age 156. Barely able to move and resembling a mummy more than a living being, Katsuya was a sage of great power. His initial water magic had transcended and become an energy from beyond the living world, the rarely mastered sacred magic.

 

“That is a possibility, respected Elder, but that doesn't help us identify who was behind the attack,” said Tomoya, one of Jounochi's most trusted human vassals. “Can your great power reveal who was behind this? I mean no disrespect, Elder, it's just that why should we continue to fumble in the dark?”

 

“An honest question and one I have already attempted to address,” replied the Elder Katsuya. He reached a withered hand out to the candle before him and held it above the flame. The little fire danced then turned pitch black before going out.

 

“What does it mean, Elder?” asked a soft voice from further down the line. Jounochi eyed his grandson with suspicion but Sagara looked like he was honest with his concerns. Jounochi wasn't oblivious to the effect the young man had on people but he didn't have any reason to refuse his entry into the meetings when he came of age. He glanced back at the elder.

 

“It seems the time has come for the clan to dance once more to the bitter song of Yin and Yang,” Katsuya said. Exclamations and questions flew across the room and Jounochi was forced to pound his fist against the floor to restore order. Katsuya continued as if nothing had happened. “I fear I cannot see anything; the darkness having already blinded me. It has been this way since the Dog General died, I'm afraid. I cannot help you as long as my vision remains clouded.”

 

“We can't fret about enshrouded fates. We'll handle them as they come like all the times before,” said Jounochi as he stared hard at every man and woman in the room. He did not wish for his people to panic. “Now I guess we'll just have to solve this the old fashion way. May we continue?”

 

“You're just going to brush off something this serious?” asked Toromaru, incredulous. He was Jounochi's oldest grandson and eventual successor after his father, Kuromaru.

 

“Like a forest gone quiet from a predator's proximity, you know something is going to happen, you just don't have the answers to when, where, and what,” replied Jounochi. “The only thing you can do it stay alert and be ready for whatever springs from the bushes.”

 

“Well, if that's settled, don't you find it strange that Ayume swears she only maimed her opponent and yet he was dead when we arrived,” said Hitomi, Jounochi's niece.

 

“Yes, I do not disbelieve Ayume, she and Yuki fled because someone else was approaching the area. It is possible they killed him. Possibly they were men belonging to whoever arranged this and were sent to clean up,” said Jounochi. He closed his eyes to think and felt his water magic stir within him. He opened them and noticed Hitomi and Kuromaru were both looking around. Whatever was causing his power to react was also exciting theirs.

 

He then heard the sounds of crying coming from beyond the shoji and looked toward it. Kuromaru pointed at the sliding door then jerked his hand to the side. The shoji slid open revealing a weeping Inuyasha.

 

“Inuyasha,” Jounochi said in a harsh tone, “you know better than to eavesdrop on these meetings.” Inuyasha suddenly ran forward and clung to his grandfather's kimono.

 

“Inuyasha,” he started again. His clan had rules and they were expected to be obeyed; the circumstances, no matter how tragic, could not detract from that or else all would fall into chaos during a disaster. And children were not allowed anywhere near such important meetings.

 

Jounochi gripped his grandson's shoulder and felt his power surge again. `What is this?' he wondered. He dismissed it for the moment and said, “Leave now and I'll forgive your being here.”

 

“You hate me,” said Inuyasha, looking up into his grandfather's eyes, betrayal etched into his features. “You hate me because I'm a hanyou.”

 

Jounochi heard the others gasp and was stunned at the child's declaration as well as his expression then he became angry. “That is sheer nonsense, boy! Where ever did you get such a foolish notion?”

 

“Mother was killed because of me, you said it! It's because I'm here that Mother died. It's because I'm a hanyou that they killed her. Kaoru said hanyou should be drowned at birth. But I'm here and now Mother isn't! It's my fault!” Inuyasha sobbed harder, his little body shuddering.

 

Knowing he had to correct the boy's beliefs, Jounochi pulled Inuyasha onto his lap and held him. He felt himself growing cold with suppressed rage. Stroking the young hanyou's silvery-white hair he said in a dead voice, “So Kaoru said that, did he?” He made eye contact with his son and Kuromaru nodded. They had their lead.

 

“Now Inuyasha, enough of this!” he ordered. Inuyasha flinched then looked up at him, his eyes wide in fear. “It does not matter if you are a hanyou, a demon, a human, or a tenko. The ones responsible are the ones who sent those men. They may make petty excuses but ultimately they are the ones who chose to send men to kill a princess and her son. Murder shall not be tolerated no matter who it is done against!”

 

Jounochi held his grandson's chin up so Inuyasha could not look away from him. “Now, you listen to me boy! You are a tenko! You are a member of the lording family of the tenko clan! You are also the younger son of the Dog General, Kenhoshi, who was much respected in his life and held great power. You are high nobility and have nothing to be ashamed of. Never let the fools of this world ever tell you that you are less than what you are. Understand?”

 

“Yes sir,” whispered Inuyasha.

 

“Good, now return to your room. You will not leave there until I say so. I will discuss your transgressions later,” Jounochi said, gently pushing the child off his lap. He saw the boy open his mouth to speak and glared at him. Inuyasha fled the room. Kuromaru waved his hand again and the shoji slid shut.

 

“Kaoru, huh?” said Hitomi, her finger tapping her chin as she thought. “It could just be a coincidence: how many other lords are displeased with Inuyasha's presence?”

 

“Or he could have despised demons enough to risk the wrath of the tenko just to get rid of one child,” said Yahiko, sliding his hands into his sleeves and closing his eyes.

 

“Let's be quiet about this, but we should observe him for any indication of further action. We should also keep Inuyasha under tighter guard,” said Jounochi. He stood up and the others did too; the meeting was over. “Be discrete, I don't want to reveal anything to anyone who might be part of this conspiracy.”

 

“Yes, Lord Jounochi,” chimed the gathering and the members began departing. Jounochi motioned Hitomi, Kuromaru, and Katsuya over to him. He waited until everyone else had left before speaking.

 

“You felt that, didn't you?” he asked in a soft voice. The three nodded.

 

“Inuyasha's powers seem to be right on the edge of appearing,” said Hitomi in an equally hushed voice.

 

“He's too young! Even fire tenko don't show until they are at least seven,” said Kuromaru, his voice as quiet as the others.

 

“It may be because his father was a celestial demon,” said Katsuya from the back of the servant who carried him when he needed to move around. “He may one day possess more power than any one of us.”

 

“Water and metal were affected by him,” said Jounochi, his expression thoughtful.

 

“Fire magic causes such reactions,” said Katsuya.

 

“In that case we need to get him to the temple before it fully appears,” said Kuromaru, his expression one of alarm. “You can never be too early with a fire tenko.”

 

“I agree,” said Jounochi.

 

“On the road he will be most vulnerable. With the killer still free and alive, it might not be safe for him to travel at this time,” said Katsuya.

 

“That and we need to find a tutor who can train him one-on-one without being harsh,” said Hitomi. “Otherwise that pretty speech you gave him will mean nothing if he feels you've abandoned him, uncle.” Jounochi turned toward her but Katsuya broke in before he could say anything.

 

“She is right; I fear his training will be key to determining how he will turn out. He needs to have a compassionate trainer or else we could lose him forever.”

 

“Then we'll find a fire tenko willing and able to train him in the way we desire and bring him or her here. That way the transition won't be as dramatic,” said Jounochi, conceding the wisdom of Katsuya's words.

 

“Then I shall be the one to seek this tenko, with your permission, Uncle Jounochi,” said Hitomi with a bow to her powerful relative. He nodded and all four went their separate ways.

 

*****************

 

Okay, I know I'm taking a long time getting this story updated. I thank you all for your patience. I find this humorous, after writing a short entry for New Dawn I suddenly write this monster for Forgotten. Such is life.

 

In the story's earlier incarnation I had Izayoi dying from years of being poisoned. Then I changed it where she was being killed outright, however, what I planned and what I decided on were two different ideas. The original one had her being struck down from behind without anyone knowing who did it. But I settled and am happier with this version

 

The next chapter we are jumping back to Sesshomaru again. I think I stated in an earlier entry that my style would include springing back and forth between the brothers until they met each other.

 

I'm going to say it again in case anyone is starting to wonder if this is an AU. It is not! This is a prequel to the anime series we all love so much. No matter what happens in this story it will fit into the series by the time it is done. In fact I have a few twists planned for when this all ends.

 

To those who are wondering what the wait is about you should know that I am writing four stories at the same time as well as taking seventeen credit hours in college. Two of the four are originals and only one of them is on this site. However, only one of them is considered higher priority than the two fanfictions I'm working on.

 

I hope to hear from all of you readers soon because I really do love it when people tell me they are enjoying what I'm writing.