InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Goodbye To Romance ❯ Finally Taking Shape For Us ( Chapter 7 )

Disclaimer: I in no way, shape, or form own Inuyasha, or the characters within. They belong to Rumiko Takahashi and Viz Entertainment.
Goodbye to Romance is a song by Ozzy Osbourne, so I don't even own that.

 

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Toshi screamed in fright as he and Inuyasha plunged into the dark depths of the volcano. Just when it seemed Toshi would stop screaming from running out of breath, Inuyasha landed easily. He looked down at the boy who had grabbed his waist in a death grip and was still screaming like a banshee. “Hey, runt. We've stopped.”

 

The boy stopped screaming and looked around. Seeing that Inuyasha wasn't lying, Toshi let go of his guardian, and with eyes downcast mumbled, “I knew that.”

 

Inuyasha ignored the boy and took in their surroundings. They were in a huge circular room, the walls were lined with candles and the ceiling was far too high for Inuyasha to jump back out. Directly across from where the two hanyou stood, what seemed like miles away, there was a door. “Looks like the only way out is through.” Inuyasha muttered. Toshi started to run straight for the door, but was stopped by a firm hand grabbing his collar. “Don't move.”

 

Toshi looked up at Inuyasha curiously, so the older hanyou explained further. “Think of this as another lesson. First, you have instincts for a reason, listen to `em. Even if they're utter horseshit half the time, it may save your life. Now what are your instincts telling you?”

 

Toshi paused in thought for a moment, then chimed up, “it's too easy.”

 

“Right. Sometimes things really are this easy, but other times,” Inuyasha picked up a pebble, and tossed it in front of them, directly in the path Toshi was about to take. It bounced a few feet, then the ground beneath it crumbled away, leaving a gaping hole with bubbling lava at the bottom. “It's a trap. Anything else?”

 

Toshi focused on the candles, “I don't like the candles. They don't make sense.”

 

“Oh? How so?”

 

“None of `em are melted at all. Which means they were just lit. Except we're here, and it smells like we're the only ones who've been here for a very long time.”

 

“Not bad, except you're completely wrong.” Inuyasha went over to a candle, picking it up and blowing out the flame. “Give this a sniff. Remember this smell. This candle is made from the wax of Forger Bees. Not only are they very deadly to any living thing, human or demon, that disturbs them, but their wax is damn near indestructible. All of these candles were lit long ago, but they'll never melt. Someone went through a lot of trouble getting all that wax for this hollowed out mountain. Whatever's in here is gonna be good. Now, what else is coming to mind about this room?”

 

“It's stupid. I think we're being watched, but there's nobody else here.”

 

“Keh, don't be so sure runt. In a big room like this there's gotta be more than collapsing floors.”

 

“Look around you! There's no one here!” Toshi yelled, waving his arms for emphasis.

 

Inuyasha looked at the child, bemusement written on his face, and pointed to the ceiling. “The world is three dimensional, kid. You forgot to look up.”

 

Toshi looked to where Inuyasha was pointing and saw the glowing eyes of what was watching them. He gasped in fright and hid behind Inuyasha's leg. Inuyasha continued. “Bats are easy enough.”

 

Toshi was puzzled over how Inuyasha could be so unconcerned about the demon bats. They covered the entire ceiling of this huge room. Inuyasha smirked and withdrew his sword, bellowing “Kaze no kizu!”

 

Toshi watched in amazement as all the bats fell at once, and most of the floor collapsed under their weight, save for one clear path to the door.

 

“Close that mouth before you start to collect flies. We've got the inside of a mountain to explore.”

 

-----

 

The Nameless Warrior stood in a clearing and plucked the diamond Naraku had given him out of his pocket. `Hm. Let's see if you're as good as his other present.'

 

He held it in the palm of his hand for a few moments, thinking of the pride of cat demons he had been sent to kill. Suddenly, the diamond glowed red and a black mist started leaking out. The mist took the form of a huge dragon.

 

”No, that doesn't look right.” The mist obliged, and was suddenly a pack of wild dogs. “Perfect.” With a snap of his fingers, the Nameless One set his new weapon upon the cat demons. He heard the sounds of yowling and hissing ring out into the night, smirking when he heard the telltale sizzle of demons being purified. `Hm. How nice, a weapon of mass destruction.'

 

Miles away, a lonely miko sat meditating as her ShinidamachÅ« fed her the souls she needed to keep herself alive. She let out a gasp. “The Guardian has been enacted. This does not bode well.”

 

Kikyo signaled for her Shinidamacū to lift her up and fly away. `My sister must be notified of this.'

 

-----

 

It was sundown when Kagome strode into the devastated village with Shippo riding on her shoulder, and Sango and Miroku walking behind. “What happened here?” She asked herself out loud.

 

All around them were burnt down huts and week old corpses. Some of the bodies were being fed on by scavengers. Sango inspected one little boy whose head had been turned completely around, and whose joints had all been broken. “What could have done this?”

 

“I don't know,” Miroku answered, “but we should see if there are any survivors.” He lead Sango away from the grisly scene, leaving Kagome and Shippo standing in the middle of the recently destroyed village.

 

“You don't think Inuyasha did this, do you?” Shippo asked, looking like he was going to be ill.

 

“No.” Kagome declared. “No matter how mad… It's just not in him. We should probably look for survivors.”

 

She saw the outline of a shrine in the distance, and decided to start there.

 

Miroku and Sango searched the surrounding huts in vain for survivors. Sango in particular seemed engrossed in their work, and was getting more frustrated with each hut that was devoid of life. Finally after searching what must have been their tenth hut, she snapped. “Dammit!” She yelled, and punched a hole in the wall.

 

Miroku rushed over, “Sango, are you all right?” He helped her pry her hand out, and inspected it. “You're bleeding.”

 

Sango looked down at her hand, which was oozing blood from a nasty scratch on the back. She ripped off a piece of her dress and wrapped it up. “I'm fine. I'm just so… so tired of finding these villages where everyone's dead!” She cried out.

 

“And that's the wall's fault?” Miroku questioned.

 

“I'm sick of burying people, Miroku. Where does it end? Every time we find one of these villages, it's like I'm put back home. And I know everyone's dead, and there's no fixing it. And I just can't forget…”

 

Miroku sat in front of her, grasping her wounded hand, “did punching the wall help?”

 

Sango gave a brief half smile, “yeah. For a second.”

 

Suddenly they were interrupted by a loud scream. Sango grabbed her hiraikotsu and headed for the door. “That sounded like Kagome!”

 

-----

 

Inside Mount Rishiri, Toshi's earlier good mood was quickly deteriorating. It felt like they had been going down this same corridor for hours. There hadn't been anything exciting since the big room with the bats, and the young hanyou was becoming quite bored and tired. “Inuyasha, I don't think I can walk any more,” he whined.

 

The bigger hanyou stopped and considered his charge. They had walked quite a distance over rough terrain, but an eight year old hanyou should have been able to easily handle that, and more. Except that this hanyou was basically kept immobile for much of his life, so it was no surprise that Toshi couldn't do as much as he should have been able to. “And the humans call us monsters,” he thought out loud. “Get on my back, there can't be too much more tunnel.” Once he was satisfied the child was secure, he took off at top speed. Sure, he could have done this from the beginning and saved time, but he wanted the kid to build up his endurance. There was no way he was going to look after another spoiled runt who didn't appreciate what he had and didn't try to push himself.

 

Finally, they found themselves standing in front of an ancient altar. Inuyasha grabbed the map that was on top of it and turned to leave. “That was it?” He asked in disbelief.

 

“That was it.” An ancient sounding voice rang out.

 

Inuyasha unsheathed his sword, and spun around to locate the owner of the voice. “Who's there? Show yourself!”

 

A gentle looking old man came out of the shadows. He was bald, with a long gray beard that touched the floor. He wore a long, plain looking robe, which fluttered with every movement. “Calm yourself, Inuyasha.” Seeing Inuyasha's surprised look, he continued. “Yes, I know who you are. You were foretold a few millennia ago. Before even your father was a twinkle in his father's eye. Please, sit.” The man sat down on the floor with ease, crossing his legs Indian style.

 

Inuyasha cautiously crouched down, keeping Toshi behind him. “What do you mean foretold?”

 

“It all starts at the beginning, when all life existed in paradise-“

 

“Blah, blah, humans and demons were cast out. A guardian was sent down to stop the demons from over running the humans. I know this story already. It's just something my mother told me to put me to sleep at night.” Inuyasha sneered.

 

“Yes,” the man paused. “I suspect she would have. But there's more to this history of the world than even she knows. Now, I'm sure everything you've been told is true. I know, because I was there.”

 

“You're crazy.” Inuyasha said as he stood up to leave. “How am I supposed to trust you anyway?”

 

“Don't trust me, trust the story.” The old man replied. “And don't you want to know the purpose of that map you're holding?” At this Inuyasha sat back down. “I thought that would get your attention. Now, where was I? Oh yes. As I was saying, I know how the world as you know it started because I was there. And I was there for the world before it, and the world before that. This one though, will be my last. Anyway, off topic. After your kind's expulsion from paradise, indeed, there was a guardian sent down to protect the humans. But that's not all that was sent down. You see, we higher beings are all about balance; a birth here, a death there, destruction there, creation here. So we couldn't let things balance in humankind's favour so greatly. It was known even before the guardian was unleashed that it would fall under the control of a human. And that it would pass hands, from human to human, until it came to a Nameless One.”

 

“What's this got to do with me?”

 

“Have you ever wondered why demons can breed with humans? You don't normally see that between such different species. You'd never see the spawn of say, a dog and a horse, now would you? But demon-human hybrids are common. It's because we designed you that way. Only a hanyou can defeat this corrupted guardian and his new master. But it has to be the right hanyou.” His eyes twinkled as he looked at Inuyasha. “Boy, your life was pre-written for you up until the moment you walked through that door. That usually doesn't happen, what with our free will fetish, but an exception was needed for you. That map you have will lead you to the key to winning this battle, and protecting those you hold dear.”

 

“I don't got anyone to hold dear.” Inuyasha spat out. “Not anymore.”

 

“Yes. Tell yourself that. I'm sure it makes the anger easier to hold on to.” The man reached into his robe. “Now, I have something for you. Unfortunately we could only make one.” He withdrew an amulet. “It'll protect you from your new threat. Shikon shards and all.”

 

“Keh, come on Toshi, time to find a way out of here.” Inuyasha got up, but was stalled by a hand on his shoulder.

 

“Allow me,” the old man said. “It's been so long… I think I'll welcome the rest.” He grabbed Inuyasha and Toshi and the room was engulfed in a blinding white light. When it cleared, the two hanyou found themselves on top of the volcano with no old man in sight.

 

Inuyasha examined the map, bursting out laughing.

 

“What is it?” Toshi asked, wondering what was so funny.

 

“This weapon I'm being sent after,” Inuyasha managed to get out between fits of laughter. “I know exactly where it is. Some idiots built a well over it!”

 

----

 

Sango and Miroku rushed to where they had heard Kagome's scream come from, calling out her name.

 

“Over here guys! I found somebody!” She called out.

 

“We heard screaming,” Miroku said, breathing heavily.

 

“Yeah, well, he kind of grabbed me out of nowhere and startled me.” Kagome replied, a little embarrassed. “I don't think he's well.”

 

For the first time Sango and Miroku noticed the quivering mass of old man that sat curled up on the floor, muttering, “it's gone. Destroyed the village.”

 

“What's gone?” Miroku questioned.

 

“Protection… Stolen…”

 

“You don't think this has anything to do with the shard Inuyasha was after, do you?” Sango asked her companions.

 

After hearing Inuyasha's name the old man cringed and cried some more. “Hanyou…. Silver haired hanyou, stole it! Killed the village and stole it! Need protection to help the village. It's gone…”

 

Kagome and her friends all looked at each other. “This can't be good,” she said. “He's our friend. I don't want to even think of going up against him.”

 

The old man quickly scooted to his feet and backed away from the group. “You're in league!” He shouted. “In league with the silver destroyer! Back!”

 

Sango reached out to him, “wait!” She was blasted back by a blue bolt of energy. The old man, turned and ran down a hallway, giggling madly.

 

“Shouldn't we go after him?” Shippo asked.

 

“I don't think there's any help for him anymore,” Miroku answered grimly. “Let's go back, I think we've found all we can here.”

 

-----

 

The next day the group of shard hunters were flying through the air, riding on Kirara's back when Shippo spotted something red in the distance. He started pulling Miroku's sleeve, “guys! Look over there! I think it's Inuyasha!”

 

“We should go to him,” Miroku said. “We need to get his side of what happened to that village.”

 

“Agreed.” Sango said. “Down Kirara!”

 

Sensing something coming in the distance, Inuyasha came to a full stop, whipping off his rosary. `It had to happen eventually,' he thought to himself. “Toshi, we're being followed. Go into that tree and don't let them see you.”

 

Toshi nodded and ran for the tree Inuyasha had pointed out, climbing up and hiding where the branches were thickest. “Good, pup.” Inuyasha said quietly, just enough for Toshi to hear. He turned around to face the arrival of his former companions.

 

The group landed and dismounted. Everyone kind of looked awkwardly at each other before Miroku decided to break the silence. “Hello, Inuyasha, we've been searching for you... You look well.”

 

“Cut the crap, monk!” Inuyasha snarled. “My threat still stands.”

 

This time it was Sango who spoke. “We need to talk. There's a destroyed village just north of here, and the lone survivor is putting all the responsibility on you. He says you stole something.”

 

“Keh, whatever's happened to that village is well deserved.”

 

“Inuyasha…” Kagome gasped.

 

Sango readied her hiraikotsu, “friend or not, we won't let you get away with killing innocents. If you're responsible for what happened there, we will take you down!”

 

Inuyasha narrowed his eyes at the demon slayer, taking note that Miroku and Kagome had drawn their weapons. “You're not good enough to take me. Not even when you're powered with a shard and I'm not even trying.”

 

“SIT!”

 

Inuyasha smirked as nothing happened. “I ain't wearing your collar Kagome. And I didn't kill any villagers. Now put away your weapons and go on your way before someone loses an eye.”

 

Shippo looked and sniffed around the clearing. He had been hearing growling ever since they had landed in the clearing. Finally his eyes settled on a tree, `gotcha!' He sprung into action, quickly disappearing into the branches.

 

“Shippo!” Kagome cried out, concerned.

 

There was some grunting and skirmishing in the branches, when Shippo was thrown off the tree. He landed with a thud, and wiped some blood from his chin. “Fox fire!” He sent the blue flames at the tree, resulting in a shriek of pain and Toshi falling out. The two children quickly recovered and rushed each other. Toshi landed a solid swipe with his claws across Shippo's chest, spraying blood everywhere.

 

“Oh no! Shippo!” Kagome called out, readying her bow and arrows.

 

Just as she was ready to shoot, Inuyasha swatted the bow from her hands and grasped her by the throat with one hand. “That's enough,” he growled out.

 

Sango wielded her hiraikotsu threateningly, “let her go Inuyasha!”

 

“You think that'll get to me before I rip her throat out?” He replied.

 

“Surely you don't want to harm Lady Kagome, or any of us,” Miroku tried to calm the situation. “We're all friends here, after all.”

 

“I ain't your friend.” Inuyasha growled. “Friends don't poison each other.” He looked hatefully at Kagome who was tearing up and trying to breathe. “Call off the runt and I'll let her go.”

 

“Shippo, stop!” Sango yelled.

 

“But-“

 

“No buts! Get over here now!” Sango interrupted.

 

Shippo bounded over to the group and Inuyasha roughly pushed Kagome away. She stumbled and rubbed her hand on her throat, trying to relieve the pain. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Inuyasha quickly intercept a small demon.

 

Inuyasha held on to the squirming and furious child, “Toshi, enough!”

 

The child stopped struggling, and Inuyasha set him on his feet. “Inuyasha… Who's that?” Kagome rasped out.

 

Inuyasha stared at them for a couple of minutes before answering. “He's what I stole from that village.”

 

Sango was puzzled, “what do you mean?”

 

“The head priest had him chained to a wall. He was being fed on, used to protect the village from a curse they brought down on themselves. So I rescued him. If the village has been wiped out because of that, well, good fucking riddance!”

 

----

 

The Nameless Warrior looked down in disgust at the quivering, crying mass at his feet.

 

“It's gone… Hanyou took it… Need it back…”

 

A mist solidified behind him, “that priest is good and gone, I saw to that.”

 

The warrior turned to face this apparition, “and you are?”

 

“Justice.”

 

“For what?” He reached out with his consciousness, “killing demons? Locking the dangerous abominations up? He and this village should be rewarded, not punished!”

 

“It's funny, you're headed down the same path this village did. I wonder how long it'll be before I see you,” the curse chuckled softly. “I don't know where or how you got that borrowed power, but you can't kill a curse by purifying it.”

 

“No, I suppose you can't,” the Nameless Warrior responded, “but they are breakable.” He concentrated hard on the presence before him, before giving a malevolent grin. “I see…” He blinked and the curse cried out in pain. “Don't try to scare me.” He sneered at the writhing creature on the floor. “I'm beyond your understanding, and far beyond your power.” He reached down, grabbing the curse by the face. He watched as the creature was absorbed into his hand. “See?”

 

The old man in the corner whimpered in fright. The Nameless One kneeled in front of him, caressing his face. “There, there old one. I'm here to make everything all better. Your curse is dead, now I just have to heal your mind. I'm going to add a little something extra, I hope you like it.”

 

The old man screamed in pain as dark energy engulfed him, and a shard was inserted into his forehead. Finally, the screams died down, and the Nameless Warrior set about finishing his next step. He neatly cut off the top of the priest's head, and removed part of his brain. “Can't have you thinking for yourself, now can I?” He asked the unconscious body, while he set about reattaching the scalp. He discarded the part of the brain he took out and wiped his hands on his clothes as he exited the room, leaving the priest to recover on his own.

 

This was war, and he'd just recruited his first samurai.