InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Forgotten ❯ Broken Dreams: Embracing Destiny ( Chapter 23 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, Sesshomaru or anyone else from the hit anime/manga series. Rumiko Takahashi does. To do own all OC's and plot from this story.

 

Part Four: Embracing Destiny

 

Two weeks later…

 

“Disobeying orders, attacking your own comrades, never mind the loss of Arai Keiko,” yelled Lord Kuromaru at his nephew who sat formally on the lower floor. A pair of guards was posted on either side and his wrists, ankles and neck wore the scarlet bands of fire restraints. The four generals and the heads of the Ishita and Keio families sat evenly split on either side. Toromaru sat at his father's side, his lips pressed tight together.

 

“You were ordered to remain at the camp while General Makoto headed up the rescue efforts, but instead of obeying him you went off on your own. The end result: Arai Keiko, are most prominent warrior and priestess, is dead along with her unborn child. You know how appalling it is that this happened. All because of your illicit love affair a child was put in danger and perished as a result of it.”

 

The bronze general, an older man missing an eye, raised his hand stopping his lord's tirade. “With all do respects, milord, I think we are all, especially him, aware of the consequences of his actions. I've heard he hasn't spoken a word since regaining consciousness and I, for one, am interested in hearing what happened. Failed rescue though it was, he did reach Arai so he must have seen things are other scouts and spies have yet to find. I wish to hear him out in full before any judgments are decided.” Muttered agreement echoed from the other men. Lord Kuromaru glared at him but the general's gaze didn't waver and he felt the eyes of the silver general boring into him. Not wanting to be embarrassed any further he held his peace.

 

“Kanzaki Inuyasha, you will now tell us what happened when you went to rescue Arai Keiko,” said the gold general. When he remained silent the gold general added, “This is an order not a request, Kanzaki Inuyasha.”

 

“Stupid mutt, do you think she'd be happy with you if she were here to see you now?” muttered the silver general, his gray wolf ears flicking in irritation.

 

“… gara,” Inuyasha whispered without looking up.

 

“What?” said Lord Kuromaru.

 

Inuyasha trembled and bent forward further. “It was that man… Sagara. He was there waiting for me. He was inside this huge castle. Keiko was there dressed like a bride. We were surrounded by all his men and all these scythes were floating in the air, spinning. The gates slammed shut behind me. He started to perform this wedding ceremony. I burned a hole through the ground and we slid to the base of the castle just as he attacked. We ran. We were almost to the trees, almost safe when…” Inuyasha fell silent, doubling over completely and burying his face into his hands; the image of the arrow impaling Keiko flashing in his mind. “I picked her up and ran,” he said, his voice cracking. “They were everywhere. I blew it up everything and I ran. I don't know how long. I couldn't see anyone. I couldn't smell anyone. I couldn't hear anyone. Yet, I felt as if something was chasing me, but I never saw anything anywhere as I ran. Then Keiko begged me to do that spell, to save the baby. She'd lost so much blood. She was so cold. So I stopped and began chanting. I never finished. Keiko suddenly hit me and when I fell forward something struck me from behind, went through and impaled her. I heard it coming back around. I couldn't save anything. I gave up. Then I was flying and Keiko was falling.” He fell silent again then whined. Not once did he raise his eyes from the floor.

 

The generals and heads glanced at each other. Inuyasha's story hadn't made sense; more ramble than report. However, one name had stuck out.

 

“Sagara?” whispered the iron general, a large man who seemed more bear than human, though he was pure human. “I'd heard he had been killed by Lord Sesshomaru. Are you certain it was him?”

 

“I don't see how it could be,” said Lord Kuromaru with a dismissive wave.

 

“I can,” said the bronze general. He turned toward Toromaru and asked, “Do you still have that evidence from fifteen years ago, Lord Toromaru.”

 

“What are you implying?” demanded Lord Kuromaru.

 

“Yes, I do,” replied Toromaru at the same moment.

 

“I was there when Toromaru made his bold attempt to warn of the danger, late as it ended up being. I know we all got caught up in the sudden attack and thus forgot about Toromaru's investigation. But I think I remember him saying something that suggested that Sagara was alive back then. If that is the case, then we now have an actual witness proving his theory. Considering this is the leader of the enemy I think it important we learn his identity as soon as possible.”

 

“Inuyasha stated Sagara was waiting for him. That doesn't make this supposed `Sagara' the leader,” said Lord Kuromaru.

 

“He is,” started Inuyasha.

 

“You were not given permission to speak!” yelled his uncle.

 

“He introduced himself as Kuromakaze but he confirmed he had once been known as Sagara,” continued Inuyasha despite his uncle's reprimand.

 

“Gag him!” ordered the tenko lord. The two guards reached in with a strip of cloth to silence the hanyou.

 

Inuyasha resisted and continued speaking. “It was those eyes, not the claims, that told me it was him. They had been cold back then, always cold, always calculating. He has my face! He used my blood to turn himself into a hanyou; he now has the same face as me. It is Sagara! He is in charge! Uncle, you can't be so stupid to let your wishes blind you. Sagara survived! This isn't an invasion; it's a civil war!”

 

The guards finally got around his hands and pulled the gag tight. One tied the cloth while another pulled Inuyasha's hands down then they both tied them behind his back to prevent any further resistance. They then gripped his upper arms to prevent him from rising. Inuyasha sat tense, his breathing harsh, upset that he was no longer allowed to speak for any reason. The cloth they used was made of a material that wouldn't shred or cut; Inuyasha's fangs were useless on it.

 

“Lord Kuromaru, I must protest!” declared the iron general turning toward his lord. “Out of line though he may have been, he was still trying to tell us valuable information. If this is indeed Sagara then we have to change are entire line of thinking.”

 

“I believe the evidence is more than sufficient,” stated the bronze general. “We have had some survivors reporting tenko among the enemy. We assumed these were traitors looking for individual glory, but if they are indeed rallying around the devil tenko then there could be more than have been reported. I believe we are being lured into a false security. This whole time we thought we understood the situation but we didn't have a clue. We are dealing with someone who has had thirty-one years to prepare and move his pieces into place without us even knowing.”

 

“The description of the trap and the final attack he suffered sound familiar,” said Ishita, a mizutenko. “Lord Toromaru, you've borne witness to your little brother's fighting style. What's your opinion?” All eyes turned toward Toromaru. Lord Kuromaru face had gone blank but his eyes shined. Toromaru knew his father was livid. However, he had been asked by the head of the second family, he couldn't refuse.

 

“Exactly the same,” he said. “My grandfather, Lord Jounochi was killed when Sagara's weapon, a glaive, rose from the ground then skewered him from behind. During the final fight that drove Sagara away, every weapon made of metal rose and became part of the whirlwind Sagara had created. Thirty-one years, sixteen of which when he could prepare for the war undisturbed, plenty of time to perfect his techniques.

 

“I also feel the need to point out that this isn't the first time Inuyasha has been targeted by him. He admitted to trapping the inu no taisho and he did kill Izayoi. Both times Inuyasha himself was in danger. Both times someone else intervened on his behalf. I can't help but think Sagara has wanted him dead each time. Inuyasha is the son of Lord Kenhoshi.”

 

“By that reasoning he would be after Lord Sesshomaru as well,” stated Lord Kuromaru. A heavy silence followed the remark.

 

“Now that I think about it, despite the intense fighting and the fact that Kenji and his pack are with us, we haven't heard from Lord Sesshomaru or the other three guardians,” said Keio, a tsuchitenko.

 

“There was that unaccounted for flash of light during the initial attack,” remarked the General Rei.

 

“Then maybe he's already taken care of that part,” said General Makoto. Silence reigned for a few moments then the silver general said, “So he's calling himself Kuromakaze. Appropriate enough. It seems are enemy is a patient strategist. There's nothing worse than an enemy who carefully plans his every move.”

 

“I think you're all jumping to conclusions,” said Lord Kuromaru with a huff.

 

“And I think you're being a dumb ass again,” remarked General Makoto with a huff of his own.

 

“We aren't here to discuss the enemy at this time. We're here to decide what punishment is suitable for Inuyasha's transgressions,” said the tenko lord, ignoring the silver general's rude comment. “Are the four generals saying we should allow every upstart to do whatever he wants just because someone he cares for is in danger? Are we saying we should forgive attacks on comrades if it is because they were trying to rescue loved ones and their comrades got in the way? Disobeying orders is alright? I, for one, do not wish to see our military force break down into a mindless mob.” Three of the generals looked away and the heads of family closed their eyes. Lord Kuromaru had a point, when it came to the military, Inuyasha's behavior was inexcusable.

 

General Makoto continued to stare directly at Lord Kuromaru. “And what punishment do you feel suitable for his transgressions? Insubordination, assaulting a comrade and unapproved excursion during a wartime situation are considered treason. Treason is answered with but one punishment: execution.”

 

“I won't approve it!” cried General Rei. “The reason those crimes, in combination, are considered treasonous is because during a war it usually signals that the person is a traitor. However, we know without a doubt that Kanzaki Inuyasha is not a traitor. These were the actions of a desperate man. It isn't like we haven't made allowances for emotional distress in the past.”

 

“The order must be upheld,” said the bronze general, his expression grim. “The last time it concerned a citizen who bore witness to one of the greatest massacres this country has ever seen. In the end, however, he did experience a punishment of sorts for his choices. He was forever guarded after that and disallowed from leaving Tenji. This concerns a soldier who was reacting to the news his fiancée was kidnapped. There is a difference. He should have maintained calm and control, two qualities especially needed in a hitenko.” Unable to say anything, Inuyasha lowered his head at the reprimand.

 

“We shouldn't execute him,” said Toromaru. Everyone turned toward him, stunned. “For now we'll refer to the leader by the name he has chosen since we can't agree if he's Sagara or not.” General Makoto snorted and Lord Kuromaru's eyes narrowed but no one argued. Toromaru continued, “If we execute Inuyasha, we'll be playing right into Kuromakaze's hands. The whole point of his kidnapping of Arai Keiko was to draw out my cousin so that he could be killed. What if Kuromakaze plans included the remote possibility of Inuyasha escaping?”

 

Everyone blinked and Keio asked, “How do you come by that conclusion?”

 

“Think about it,” replied Toromaru. “If he knew about Arai and Inuyasha relationship then isn't it possible he knew from the start that Inuyasha was a scout? He would have known that no one would have sent Inuyasha as rescuer; that we would have used shinobi for any rescue attempts. He deliberately left survivors and left them a message that he wanted Inuyasha to come alone. He had to have known that we would never expect him to release someone as powerful as Arai just because we gave him a scout. It was spoken as a public announcement but in truth it was a private message that really said, `Inuyasha, if you want to see your fiancée alive again seek me out, alone.' General Makoto accurately deduced that Inuyasha would act desperately so he tried to lock my cousin up for his own safety, only he didn't know what Inuyasha was capable of. What if General Makoto's activities were predicted as well?

 

“Inuyasha disobeys orders and knocks out the three comrades who were guarding him then leaves. Even if Inuyasha escaped the trap at the enemy castle he would still face a tribunal with the high chance of execution for his behavior. What if Kuromakaze was counting on it?” The men glanced at each other with the exception of Lord Kuromaru who just sat and stewed.

 

“Worse still are the rumors spreading like wildfire through the ranks. People are talking about how Arai was supposed to be married two months ago. How she was supposed to have been retired in anticipation of that wedding. How that wedding was disallowed by Lord Kuromaru because he felt her talents would have been wasted in motherhood. The people are saying that if Lord Kuromaru hadn't over stepped his bounds she wouldn't have been in danger. She and her child would still be alive.

 

“You want to execute Inuyasha, her fiancé, the father of her unborn, the one who actually made it to the castle, who actually carried her away from the enemy, who at the last minute watched helplessly as she was killed by a vicious sneak attack while they were escaping? To the people Inuyasha is a victim. Execute him and they'll cry murder. You say punishing him will maintain order? Punishing him will destroy it! I've heard the talk in the halls, the whispers at the campfires. They're one bad decision away from regicide. Execute him and every man in this room will follow soon after.”

 

“You're serious?” whispered Ishita, eyes wide, face pale. The other men were equally queasy save Lord Kuromaru who just scowled.

 

“My contacts have been communicating with me,” replied Toromaru, ignoring his father's glare. “The bad talk began shortly after Keiko was transferred. The gold camp had been fully aware of Keiko and Inuyasha's impending wedding. So they were also aware of its sudden cancellation and it didn't take long for them to learn why. Also, Father, your inappropriate comments to Inuyasha when he informed you of the wedding was overheard by several servants. Every konoichi, miko and female samurai from grandmothers to trainees is up in arms over it along with most of their male counterparts. Numerous couples now fear you'll be expanding your prohibition to all female warriors.”

 

Keio put a hand to his head and muttered, “How has it come to this? Never before would any loyal citizen consider such rebellion least of all during a period of war when such things would mean the doom of all.”

 

“All the more reason to be rid of the fool,” snapped Lord Kuromaru. “He's the source of their rebellion, worthless as he is.” Inuyasha flinched and looked away at the statement.

 

The gold general rose to his knees and yelled, “Worthless? Half the information we have obtained on the enemy came from his efforts. He's my best scout! He's our best scout!”

 

“Scouts don't win wars, samurai do!” hollered Lord Kuromaru.

 

“Wrong! The information provided by a scout can mean the difference between victory and defeat for an army,” shouted General Makoto, now on his feet, his eyes flashing red. “An army is more than just the soldiers! Every person is important. Every position counts. If one fails then the whole fails! Can't you learn anything beyond primping your feathers?” Lord Kuromaru was on his feet in an instant; hand on his sword, though General Makoto hadn't moved for his.

 

“Stop this at once!” cried Ishita, leaping to the dais. Toromaru grabbed hold of his father's arm. The iron general physically placed himself between the enraged wolf hanyou and tenko lord.

 

Keio turned toward the two guards and noticed Inuyasha was leaning back, his eyes wide with terror. “You two! Take him to his cell and remain there until further orders. You will not breathe a word is that understood?” he ordered. The two men nodded, lifted Inuyasha to his feet and guided him out of the room. The head of the Keio family knew that despite the order of silence the camp would soon be singing with the news of what happened today. Things were about to get even worse.

 

****

 

Two days later…

 

Inuyasha lay on his futon with the blanket pulled tight around him, feigning sleep. Not that he could sleep. He hadn't slept since he awakened in the silver army encampment. Keiko's final moments appeared in his vision whenever he closed his eyes. He had only one distraction from his memories. The guards at the cell door were talking in low voices but he still heard them as clear as if they were talking to him.

 

“I'd heard that Lord Kuromaru served under General Makoto during his military service. That's why General Makoto is so prickly around him. He knows things about Lord Kuromaru that others don't.”

 

“You mean `didn't'. Everyone knows now. He's an incompetent fool.”

 

“You shouldn't say that! Lord Kuromaru is like a lit bomb. He may blow up at any time. Say things like that and he'll blow up on you!”

 

“You've heard the talk, haven't you? The various heads are going to push for Lord Kuromaru abdication. They want Lord Toromaru to take his place.”

 

“I have and so has Lord Kuromaru. That's why he's so touchy. He's doesn't want to admit he's failed.”

 

“He knows yet he still hasn't abdicated?”

 

“No. He's accusing Lord Toromaru of trying to usurp him. Lord Toromaru has had to leave the mansion where his father lives. Lord Kuromaru kicked him out!”

 

“From bad to worse. That fool doesn't realize everything he doing now is just driving his people away.”

 

“I'm getting scared. There might be an insurrection if this continues and we're in the middle of a war!”

 

Images floated up in Inuyasha's mind again despite being awake. This time it wasn't the image of Keiko's death. It was something worse. Enraged people turned on the tenko lord and killed him. The circlet lay abandoned in the mud, the people's faith in its abilities lost. The fighting increased as every person who thought they were worthy of the power of lord tried without restraint to take the title. Each fell to the next until the country fell to ruins and Sagara walked among the survivors promising an end to needless bloodshed. His power, his calm, swaying them in their desperation when it would never have turned them before.

 

Inuyasha's eyes flew open. This trap has multiple layers! Yes, I was the target. Yes, Toromaru was correct to assume he had it set up so that even if I escaped I die. But this rebellion… If he is anything like Toromaru, he has his own contacts within our camps! He knows the political situation. He knows… Inuyasha sat up suddenly startling the guards, his skin covered in a cold sweat. He's sitting back waiting for us to self-destruct!

 

“Hey, what's wrong, Kanzaki?”

 

Inuyasha turned his gaze on the two and, without thinking, said, “Go to sleep!” The iris of his eyes turned pale green and narrowed into a thin line that split the whites in two. The guards' irises turned silver then the men collapsed. Inuyasha stood up, heard the sound of hissing then something hitting the floor. He looked down; his restraints were evaporating, vanishing before his eyes. His eyes returned to their normal shape and color and he shivered. No one realized it but he had never had his training restraints removed, they had fallen off when he used the call crystal in Sanshaku no Hinansho. Uncertain of what had happened, he hadn't told anyone, afraid of what they might do to him if they ever found out.

 

I don't need them anymore anyway, he thought back then. I can keep my power under control. I won't hurt anyone accidentally. My master had already decided to remove them anyway.

 

He looked down at the unconscious guards. Why is it that I can do these things? Why do these things happen without me being fully aware of it? I'm not even trying! How do I suddenly know things? Why do I know where the lookouts are? Why do these images appear with all those answers? Inuyasha held his head for a moment then reached for the door. He took hold of the lock and heard several small explosions around the cell. The sutras, placed on the wooden cell to prevent him from using his demon strength to break free, were burning. The lock melted in his hand and dripped to the floor, but the wood didn't ignite. Inuyasha whimpered and shuddered but pushed the door opened.

 

He knew what needed to be done. He knew what he had to do. He feared his enlightenment. Feared everything it represented and the truth it revealed to him, but there was nothing he could do. He had to accept it, embrace it, use it, for everyone's sake. Taking a deep breath, he exhaled and imagined all his fears floating away on the wind. This bizarre power had saved him countless times. Only children would fear it. The fear left him save for a small sliver that remained buried in his heart, but his mind, hid body calmed. He passed through the open cell door, walked down the corridor and stepped out into the night. There was someone he had to see before he left.

 

****

 

Toromaru stood outside the barracks despite the late hour. He couldn't sleep. His father refused to accept any responsibility for the state of the country and blamed it all on everyone who spoke against him, which was everyone. How can he call himself a lord, to lead men, if he refuses to take responsibility for the way things are? A leader is always the responsible party no matter what happens. Toromaru sighed and shook his head.

 

“Toromaru,” someone called.

 

Toromaru turned but saw no one. “Who's there?” he called back, instantly on guard. Inuyasha, dressed only in the uncolored kimono of a prisoner, appeared from behind the building. “How did you…” Toromaru started then gasped. In the moonlight he could see the restraints were gone.

 

“Don't ask, just know that it is possible; at least for me,” said Inuyasha. He took a deep breath then let it out; his whole body shuddered. “I only came to warn you. My death wasn't the only thing Sagara wants.”

 

“What do you mean?” asked Toromaru in a whisper. He didn't want to alert anyone to his cousin's presence. Inuyasha's life was hanging by a thread in the eyes of the law. He didn't want to do anything that would sever it.

 

“I think I am beginning to understand how dangerous he really is,” said Inuyasha, glancing away for a moment. “The more time you give him the more time he has to arrange things to his favor. Slowly, meticulously he weaves his webs. The first strand of this web was spun the moment the circlet fell upon Uncle Kuromaru's head. He wanted all those he considered to be threats to his plans removed. Grandfather, Mother, Father, he successfully killed them. However, you and me, he's still working on. His ultimate goal is the conquest of Tenji. But it would be a lot easier if people accepted him.”

 

“That's not going to happen. The ancestral circlet would never choose someone as evil as him to be lord,” snapped Toromaru. Inuyasha's gaze never wavered at his cousin's outburst. Toromaru was intimidated by the unearthly calm he was exuding, like he was above all other emotions. He had never seen Inuyasha like this before.

 

“But what if people lost faith in the circlet's abilities?” asked Inuyasha. Toromaru took a step back in shock; the idea was unthinkable. “I've had time to think about this. I don't think the purpose of the circlet is to pick a worthy lord.” He held up his hand when Toromaru opened his mouth to speak. “Yes, it will not allow one of greed or malice to ascend to power but it has too great a flexibility. Uncle is living proof of where it can fail. Uncle Kuromaru isn't malicious or greedy; he's just a fool who thinks he doing the right thing but is blind to his own faults. No, the primary purpose of the circlet is to protect the authority of the lord.”

 

Toromaru blinked in confusion. “`Protect the authority of the lord'?”

 

Inuyasha nodded and said, “Think about what would happen if the circlet just ceased to exist. How many upstarts who thought they could do a better job would try to seize the title? You know how things are in the Mikado's palace. The intrigue, the assassinations, the corruption and the Mikado holds his post because he's supposed to be a child of god. Without the circlet the only thing that holds the Kanzaki family on top is its power; something that can be challenged at any time. The civil wars we've experience before come from someone challenging that authority. Without the circlet, it would be never ending, with every would-be lord trying to do in the current lord in order to gain the title. The circlet protects us from that kind of anarchy by creating the image of a higher power behind the lord's authority. Without the authorization of the ancestors your rule will never be recognized.”

 

Toromaru shook his head not fully accepting his cousin's view. “But there is a higher power behind it. We all know how it works. Something has to be guiding it or else how can it judge the candidate? You actually think there is a spell that will judge character?”

 

“The belief in that authority is stronger than the actual authority itself,” replied Inuyasha, he looked down and Toromaru wondered if such thoughts were disturbing to him as well. “I think Sagara is aware of this and his true aim is to have his father's stupidity delegitimize the authority of the ancestors. After the people abandon the circlet all he and his men will have to do is sit back and wait. In time, people will go looking for a strong power to stop the bloodshed. They'll accept him.”

 

Toromaru leaned against the building, his hand against his forehead, trying to absorb the terrible revelation. “How can we stop this? It's already begun.”

 

“Right now, people are only grumbling,” said Inuyasha, he turned away and gazed over the sleeping camp. “It begins when the assassinations start. Sagara won't kill Uncle; that would defeat the purpose of his plan. It has to be an inside job. That's why he's restrained most of his tenko. He sends out just enough to keep the battles from being a slaughter but no more. He's been deliberately dragging this out.”

 

“That's why there was five years of peace following the initial attack,” said Toromaru. Things were beginning to fit.

 

Inuyasha nodded as he turned back to face his cousin. “One part was to consolidate his power. To entrench himself firmly in the lands he had cleared. The other was to allow everyone time to think; to realize that the evidence warning of this invasion had been there but was willfully ignored by their own lord. He kept himself hidden until now. General Makoto may have meant well but his lack of tact had spread the word that Uncle Kuromaru was a bad leader from before his ascension. Cracking under the pressure is one thing; being allowed to lead when you were already terrible at it is another.”

 

“How can this not be coincidental? I can see him taking advantage of the situation and pushing it over, but how can you be certain this was planned out from thirty-one years ago?” asked Toromaru. “So many factors, so many choices, so many paths that could have been taken. How can Sagara possibly plan something this elaborate, get this kind of result with just a few murders?”

 

Inuyasha was silent for a moment then whispered, “Two possibilities, one: he's the grand master of prediction, or two: he plans for every possible route and then nudges things with key deaths and events to move down the desired paths. Either case is terrifying.”

 

“How is it that you can now read him so well?” asked Toromaru.

 

Inuyasha shifted his weight and looked down and replied, “I don't know. It's just that the more I hear, the more I see, the more I know how things will turn out. It's like painting, all those blobs of color and that blank rice paper; no one can see the picture it will become when they remain separate. But as the artist paints, it slowly reveals its vision. This vision didn't make sense until I was back in my cell after that disastrous tribunal. The guards tonight were especially chatty. The image just flashed like a nightmare in my waking mind. A similar thing happened when I escaped from Sagara. Two images flashed in my mind and I suddenly knew which way to go. I've also sensed ambushes and danger this way; it's how I avoided trouble in the past.”

 

“Premonition?”

 

Inuyasha shrugged. “I don't know. It seems more like I always knew the answer I just didn't realize it. Like a part of me is saying, `here's what you need to do, stupid.' Premonition leaves a person confused because you don't know how or why those events occur until you get closer to the event.”

 

“You say we still have time, then what should we do? How do we stop Sagara?” Toromaru was desperate for answers. He wracked his brain for a solution and spoke, “How do we convince my father to abdicate? He refuses to accept his failings.”

 

Inuyasha opened his mouth to speak then gasped, his eyes losing focus and widening. He raised a hand to his face, sweat beading on his forehead. “We don't,” he stated flatly, trying to cover the momentary pause.

 

Toromaru, too busy with his own thoughts on the problem, didn't notice. “What?” he said, his attention snapping back to his cousin.

 

“We don't,” Inuyasha repeated; his features back to normal. “Abdication proves nothing. Putting you in power might settle the people but the doubts will linger. After all, the circlet wouldn't have rejected Uncle Kuromaru; Uncle Kuromaru would have rejected the circlet. Unless the circlet abandons him the only way to protect the authority of the ancestors is for him to remain in power and for his reign to improve.” I can't tell him, Inuyasha thought biting his lip.

 

“And how will we do that?” Toromaru face tightened with frustration.

 

“Isolation and refocusing,” he said. I can't tell him, ever! The hanyou couldn't see his cousin through the haze of red that now flooded his vision.

 

“Isolation and refocusing?” Toromaru blinked in confusion, unaware of his cousin's sudden distress.

 

Inuyasha raised a hand to the bridge of his nose then rubbed his thumb against his eyebrows; his head was beginning to throb. He needed to leave soon if he was going to leave at all. “Uncle Kuromaru is going to become a tenko lord in name only, a figurehead. The four generals and the Ishita and Keio heads have to agree with this idea. Uncle Kuromaru will cease getting accurate information. Any reports made to him will have to be false. Meanwhile those six and you will be the real leaders. Everyone who speaks with him will have to be briefed about what is appropriate to say within earshot of him. This also means, Toromaru, that you will have to remain well behind the battle lines. The only people you should surround you and your father with are people who have been tested by the True Heart stone. One informant among them and this will all be for nothing.”

 

“I see, isolate Father and refocus the authority onto someone else, in this case me,” said Toromaru, the idea was overwhelming. “You want me to reign just not officially.” Inuyasha nodded. “What will we do about you?”

 

“The generals are correct. They can't just let me go. I broke several rules when I went to rescue Keiko, I need to be punished for it or there'll be others. However, I can't allow myself to be executed for obvious reasons.” Inuyasha became quiet for a moment. Once Uncle is reduced to a mere figurehead it won't take Sagara long to realize his brother is really the one running things. The image of Toromaru's blood splattered corpse floated across his sight again. I can't tell him that the real reason for this is because when he ascends he'll die.

 

Inuyasha inhaled and said, “I'm just going to have to leave. If I leave, though you might send people to pursue me, you can't execute me. I'll do what I can to help you from the outside. I'm certain I can distract Sagara for you.” If I leave I can keep Sagara's attention focused on me. He does want me dead and I think I've just realized why. If he's busy chasing me, he won't notice the changes going on here. He won't notice Toromaru is now the real tenko lord in all but name.

 

“This isn't a permanent arrangement, Inuyasha,” said Toromaru; his eyes shined with suppressed emotions. “First chance I get, I'll pardon you. You don't deserve this.”

 

Inuyasha shook his head and smiled. “Sayonara.” The half-demon began to turn.

 

“Wait,” said Toromaru while reaching inside his kimono. Inuyasha looked back. “Take this with you. I don't think it should remain here with Father being the way he is.” Toromaru held out a white diamond, glowing faintly in the dark.

 

“This is…” gasped Inuyasha.

 

“Yes, the Jewel of the Heavens,” said Toromaru his expression grim. “Remember, Grandfather took it back from a thief who had killed the original guardian. He was protecting it until the inu no taisho could find a new guardian. I took it from the mansion before leaving. I didn't trust Father with it anymore. I think it would be safer in your hands.”

 

Inuyasha took the gem a glimmer of fear entering his gaze for a moment then it vanished with a blink. “All right, I'll guard it,” he said then took a step forward. He stopped when he saw Kirara, in her kitten form, sitting before him. She blinked at him and twitched her tails. “I guess you want to come with me then.” Kirara mewed. “Fine then.” She jumped up onto his shoulder and Inuyasha started running, swiftly vanishing from Toromaru's sight. Toromaru shivered and returned to the barracks. There was a lot of work to be done.

 

_________________________________________________________________ _____________

 

Engawa: Veranda

Tsuchi: earth

Hi: fire

Mizu: water

Ki: wood

Kane: metal

Kaze: wind

Himizu: as discordant as fire and water

Hikaze: fire wind

Tenki: weather

 

Important Notice! Reader Opinion Required!

 

This is one section where I do need to hear from you. I need to know if you want me to continue a little further with what is going on with Toromaru, follow Inuyasha a ways allowing for some remeniscing about Keiko, or to just go to the next chapter where we visit Sesshomaru and friends. We will go to Sesshomaru but will it be the next segment or further along is up to you. You have one week to decide.