InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Future Heart, Future Pain, Future Hope ❯ Chapter 51 ( Chapter 52 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Don't ever get a sinus cold...it sucks.... *sneezes

Elantis Seasali: That is the plan. There is a lot more actually to this story that I have not put in...That is simply reserved for the massive revising I will probably do when all three sections are done. And we are only about halfway through Future Pain....

I do not own a single solitary thing in this....except all new characters....

Aketsu Speaks...Part 3

“Tell me Wolf Prince. If you knew that 1000 demons waited for you in a cave. Would you go?”

Kouga looked at Aketsu, with shock in his eyes, at the question. His own memories whirling with the story of Midoriko's death and the creation of the jewel. He can't help but shake his head in disbelief. Still the statue, he himself has seen of the miko frozen in stone, is enough to make him wonder...

“That many...?”

“At least...” Aketsu said softly. “There were at least that many in the cave.”

“How.... Why...?”

Looking down at the ground, the elder lifts a stick and begins to draw. Rough symbols appear in the loose soil, and with each one tells of a name.

Benton...Daikoku...Ebisu...Izanagi....Izanami...Jurojien

On and on the names appear...and the one thing in common they were all the names of gods.

“What do the gods have to do with this?”

“Everything Wolfing...but I am about to tell you of the why....before I tell you of the how...”

Looking up into the night sky, Midoriko began to softly sing. Her body humming with intense happiness, she glanced at her side, to find the sleeping wolf demon beside her. Content just to be near him, the young priestess lets her mind wander as she stares at the marks upon her wrists.

One is of a sky and the other is of the sun. Knowing from looking at her reflection, she has one of a star upon her forehead. And upon her back is a small moon.... Within her was the ability to summon Heaven's Light.

Supposedly a gift to all life on this world, from the gods themselves. It was believed only to be used as a last resort, for one does not wake a god unnecessarily. Or at least not according to the scrolls she has read. Their meanings had been lost to her for so long...that it took meeting Aketsu and a god...for her to finally understand.

Each symbol described an aspect of the four souls apparently...as well as a sign for a demon tribe....

Ara-Mitama or courage, is the symbol of the Moon, represents the Great Dog Demons of the west. The best fighters of the lands, there is nothing those demons have not faced at least once.

Nigi-Mitama also known as family, is the Sun, or the sign of the Wolf Demons of the North. Family above all is important to them.

Kusi-Mitama or wisdom is represented by the star sign. According to her beloved Aketsu, the Star also represents the sign of the wisest of demons, the Spirit Fox Demons of the South.

Saki-Mitama...Love. Represented by the symbol of the sky, this mark upon her body was representative of the great Eagles of the East. This is the one marking that she did not understand. The others, she can see...but love representing the birds?

Feeling an arm snake around her waist, she leans back into the inviting warmth of her demon lover. “Puzzled about the marks again?”

“Yes...” Midoriko whispered softly. “Three of the four I understand...but it still puzzles me...what is it about the mark of the sky...or the eagles, Aketsu? And what does this have to do with the Heaven's Light? He...”

“Fate?”

Nodding her head, she almost tries to bury herself into him. The need to feel his reassurance overwhelming. “When I had first attempted to do something he said I would not need to. That the demons were rising up to control the others. And he was right....”

“But?”

“But if I was not meant to use this power, why give it to me? And why is it connected to the demons?”

Aketsu looks thoughtful, as she turns her green eyes up at him. His own mind whirling, it takes a few minutes before he comes up with an answer. “Maybe it is because you were meant to pass this gift on, and as to the connection to us demons...” The wolf pondered the notion until it him.... “Maybe it is because, we demons were among the first to walk this land. We as wolves, for example, call it our duty to make sure the laws of nature are followed. We do not mind progress, but we do mind if it takes more then is needed. I believe the same can be said for the rest.”

“You think so?”

“Yes and now that I think about it...I know why the Eagles represent the sky.”

“Really?”

“Their love of life and everything connected to it. No matter what I don't think I have ever heard of an Eagle willingly killing someone. I do not think that it is in their nature to do something like that unless forced. They will kill...but only for food nothing else.”

“I see.... Talking about this has made me realize something.” Midoriko said softly.

“Like what?” Aketsu questioned.

“That if what you are saying is true, it might explain why no other kinds of demons have risen to take the power away. For as long as I can remember, it has always been, the Dogs, Foxes, Wolves, and Eagles who have ruled the lands. Maybe it is because, they have become so entwined with the nature of life itself, that each one represents a part of life. These symbols as I understand it, do connect with the religion of the four souls. And within it they say we humans find perpetual peace. We humans live in the center of all four lands, and yet we never trespass into theirs. Could that be, because we instinctively know that as long as they maintain order....Life maintains itself?”

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Kouga just reels with this information. Could it be that simple? Could that be the reason why the shards in his legs seem to work so well for him compared to other demons?

“I see you are sorting it out to Wolfing. I know of the two shards in your legs as well as the rumors of others in demons of all kinds. In them one shard, mutated them into other things. Why is it that you as well as others of the four tribes have not done the same?” Aketsu said quietly. “It is because she is right.”

“That we...the Four Demon tribes...”

“Maintain the balance of the four souls that equal life. The Great Dog Demons of the west represent courage, the Spirit Foxes of the South are wisdom, the Eagles of the East are love, and we Wolf Demons of the North are Family. Hence the reason why the Shikon Jewel resonates with us so perfectly....”

“How can this be...?”

“I do not know Wolfing it simply is...but know this you are only one aspect of that power. Midoriko was the aspect of all four. Through her, Heaven's Light could be summoned....”

“Heaven's Light?”

“Yes...the one thing that can bring the Gods themselves back to our world...to save it from itself.”

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Still Short I know...but I have a cold...*sneezes