InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Halves ❯ Independent ( Chapter 18 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Halves

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Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha and I do not make money from writing this story.

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A/N:Sorry for taking so long to post this chapter, but I've been busy. And I'll be even more busy now, so I don't know when the next update will be. Maybe I'll find some time for it, but I can't promise anything. Anyway, here's the next chapter. Enjoy and please review. It makes me want to update faster.

Kusarigama = a sharp sickle on a chain

Ohayou = Good morning

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Her hands trembled on the deadly weapon that had been both her salvation and her curse. The stony handle almost pierced her skin, but she couldn't feel it. Her steps seemed guided by a superior force, because she had no idea where she was heading. The woman didn't want to be in debt to Kagura for releasing her, but she was. If only her debt could be paid easily so she could move on with her life…

`Or lack thereof.'

Her thoughts were a mixture of piercing memories and loathing. Unadulterated hatred that she could not prevent. She felt it in every dirty bone, she could almost taste it.

Naturally, she was dead.

It was still a mystery to her, but Naraku had somehow brought her back to life. A woman called Urasue that she had already killed for resurrecting her had made sure that she would have a body that resembled her first one strikingly. Yes, she was the same beautiful princess as before. She was even more powerful now, even more determined. Her lust for blood had grown after death and she could swear her senses were sharper. Naraku had done something to her during all those months of imprisonment, but she had no way of finding out what.

Still, she had a sole satisfaction.

`The bastard is dead.'

Truthfully, Abi-Hime regretted the day she met him.

`Wherever he is, may he burn.'

Naraku was dead. Finally lifeless, Kagura had told her so. Kagura had said she could feel the beating of her heart now, whatever that meant.

`Curse you Naraku.'

Naturally, Abi-Hime could easily kill herself and be part of the soil again, but what would it solve? Maybe it was better if she remained half-alive for a while longer, maybe she'd have some answers. Maybe she'd have her revenge.

Because, after all, Naraku was not the one who'd killed her.

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“Are you sure?” Kagome asked, unshed tears shining in her eyes.

“Yes,” her lover said, swiping her in a strong, passionate embrace, “Yes, yes, yes!” Inuyasha, the father of her children, the very reason she was able to go on had the best of news. She was not sick anymore. The tumor had… the tumor was... it wasn't… anymore…

She smiled against his shoulder, thankful tears clogging her vision, but she still raised her head to look into his eyes once again. It seemed too much of a dream to be truly reality.

“Are you really sure?”

Somehow, she feared she'd upset him asking that so many times, but his smile remained in place, something akin to amazement shining in his eyes. Inuyasha was truly amazing.

“Would I lie to you?”

That was true, he would not. She knew it and trusted him. There was nothing that could separate them now; nothing could sever their love.

“Then kiss me,” she whispered demandingly, looking at his lips intently. A shiver of pleasure shot through his veins at her unexpected request, but he wasted no time and caught her lips into a raging war that couldn't stop, would never stop. His tongue caressed hers suggestively, clearly stating his desires. She couldn't agree more, truly, but there were other aspects of their life together that needed to be taken care of, as well.

Unfortunately, Inuyasha became painfully obvious of that fact the moment the twins started crying at the same time. They did that a lot, as if they knew when the other needed something. There was an amazing bond between the four, and both Kagome and Inuyasha couldn't be happier about them. Ken and Takehiko were their world; their lives revolved around the two treasures.

Inuyasha sighed. “Fine…” He let her go with a sigh, watching her hips sway as she approached their children to feed them, like she always did. But even if he was entirely familiar with the process, he couldn't help but be amazed at how his lover took care of their children. Their children, the ones both had helped create.

He was enjoying watching the babies suck happily when he felt his woman's warm gaze on his face. Nervous for some reason, he turned his head to regard her and caught her bright smile. His face lit up in a smile of his own, he was too happy. All of a sudden his heart seemed lighter than a feather and he felt like floating. The heartbeats, the words caught in his throat, everything made him shiver with such intensity that his knees almost gave out.

“Can you help me?” she whispered in the daylight, her clothes maneuvered in such a way that their babies could easily feed on her breasts.

His smile was genuine. “What do you want me to do?”

“Hold Ken; I think he's had enough.”

It was difficult for her to tell them apart because they looked the same, but Inuyasha didn't experience such problems. His sense of smell was outstanding, and thus he could easily distinguish the twins. When she got confused, he'd always correct her.

“Right,” he nodded, carefully approaching the miracle of a mother feeding two babies. His babies.

He took his son and held him carefully, as if he'd break if he wasn't attentive enough. Inuyasha's strength was great, so he feared hurting the little guy, though he knew he shouldn't. A father would never hurt his own son. He would never hurt any of them.

`You're my treasures.'

He felt quite cheesy thinking such things, but it was exactly how he felt. Finally there was light in his life.

“We should go back then,” she suggested, her eyes filled with hopeful tears. He understood, he wanted it, too, so there was no reason to act against it.

“We will.”

It was a promise.

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“Anata…”

Her voice woke him up and he suspected it wasn't even morning yet. Maybe it was one of the many nightmares that kept disturbing her lately.

“Are you awake?”

He wanted to grunt in annoyance, but this was Izayoi; he could not be rude to her.

“I am now,” he whispered casually, wincing when he heard her sigh. Of course, she could read him like an open book. Her soul belonged to him.

“I had another dream…”

She called them dreams. It was never a nightmare for her, because they did not scare her, not really, she was simply intimidated by their possible meaning. Sometimes, much to his displeasure, she called them visions. Unfortunately, some had already been fulfilled, although she insisted it was pure coincidence.

“My dreams are just that… dreams,” she always insisted. But if so, then why did she call them visions, anyway?

And they got increasingly worse.

“What was it this time?”

Her smile was bright and seemingly truthful; it could probably fool anyone else but him. He was the Emperor after all, not to mention her lover.

“Nothing that should concern you, my dear,” she said lovingly, cupping his face for a second then reaching over to grab some clothes. He followed her with his golden eyes, hurt shining within the twin orbs. It was as if she didn't trust him. She was obviously lying to protect that dream, but why?

“But you woke me up,” he complained, remembering that it had been Izayoi who had initiated this. If she hadn't wanted comfort, then why had she woken him?

“I was lonely,” she admitted sheepishly, rubbing her slightly swollen stomach. With a faint smile at hearing her admission, Inu no Taishou rose from their bed to hug her from behind, his eyes set on the milky skin of her bare shoulder, partially covered by her undergarment.

“Well I'm here now,” he declared proudly, raining smooth kisses on her neck.

“I know,” she whispered, her voice filled with something disconcerting. “I know.”

His brows furrowed, but he remained silent, holding her in the heart of the night. His eyes stung for a few seconds for unknown reasons, but he recovered quickly. Remembering something endearing, he suddenly smiled against her skin as he caressed her protruding belly, relishing the connection to his son. It was surely a son, he knew it.

Izayoi sighed in pleasure, he realized, and he felt even prouder that he could bring her occasional happiness.

“How are we going to name him?”

It seemed she knew it was a boy, too. Well, that meant he did not have to convince her of it.

“Let's not decide it now,” he coaxed, distracting her mind from it with a few strategically placed kisses that made her whole body tingle.

“I already know the name,” she declared enigmatically and he smiled, because she was too precious, but her next words froze him. “But you'll be the one to name him.”

What did she mean?

Slowly, she turned around in his arms as he was left dumbfounded, his lips still parted, his breath still shallow. Time stretched for a second to let her words flow smoothly.

“Remember, anata,” she warned, “being too cautious could never hurt, so you must not let anyone fool you.”

And he would not; he had sworn. The day Miyake Izayoi died was the day the Emperor's heart was buried under ground, but he would always remember her words, her voice. Those were forever ingrained in his memory.

The announcement of a servant brought him out of his reverie and he was faced with the man he'd recently made his Imperial Healer. Zhang Suikotsu was a jewel for the Court, he would never let him go. After all, it was because of him that Kagome and maybe even Inuyasha were fine now.

`As fine as they can, considering the circumstances.'

But the Emperor had faith. He truly believed Kagome would be healed soon and his son would have the happiness he desired.

“Inu no Taishou-sama,” the calm, steady voice of Suikotsu resounded in the hall room. His words showed determination, he was surely one of those people that had a purpose in life and knew how to pursue it.

“I have come to pay my homage,” he declared, as he did daily, bowing deeply to his Emperor. The man was extremely faithful, it seemed, or it was only something he had picked up from his days in China. Truthfully, the Emperor had never been interested in their neighbors, but China seemed a place full of secrets and cures and intelligence; perhaps he should extend his influence and make a friend out of the Chinese people - an ally.

“Zhang Suikotsu,” the Emperor acknowledged. “It is not rare to see you here.” Yes, it was surely not. “However, I feel that you are here for a purpose today.”

The man in question smiled charismatically - he certainly knew something Inu no Taishou did not.

“Indeed, I am. There is a brutal sickness spreading among people in the south. I request permission to go there and treat them and to take Kikyou-Hime-sama with me in order to help the lost souls that are sure to ensue to find their right path.”

“You and Kikyou-Hime are quite close,” the Emperor remarked, never missing the flash of recognition in the Healer's eyes. Bu the man kept his smile mysteriously.

“She is an excellent Priestess, and I find myself quite jealous of her poise and kindness.”

The deliberate, flattering words didn't go unnoticed by the dog demon, who chose not to interfere. He would try to refrain from meddling as much as he could.

“You look good together.”

The Healer became suddenly serious.

“Kikyou-Hime is an extraordinary woman, but she is a Lady of the Court and I do not belong to the same social class. You should not make assumptions like that, Inu no Taishou-sama.” And it dawned on the Emperor that the man was right. The man was too proper to bring Kikyou-Hime into such a marriage, even if the Emperor allowed it.

Inu no Taishou ignored the man's slight impertinence; he was right after all. But he didn't admit being wrong either; he simply let people state their opinions.

Being too cautious could never hurt.

The haunting words returned to him and struck him with deep hatred, meaning to weaken his resolve. Soon he would have to give the throne to Sesshomaru, because he was… tired. The world made him tired, his life made him tired. He simply wanted to sleep.

So he listened to Suikotsu tell him about some new methods of healing he'd discovered by himself and gave him permission to try them on the ill subjects in the south. It wasn't experimenting, it was just… healing. Oh, how he wished his heart could heal, as well…

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The demon slayer was glad that nobody had seen her sneak out of the palace. She was definitely proud of her own ability to trick those around her into believing she was safely at home, but right now Sango wanted to make sure of something. She'd had a dream… an odd one. A dream that planted doubt into her fragile, emotional heart. Her mind was filled with a question that almost questioned her sanity.

Was Naraku really dead?

She'd felt so happy, so relieved when she'd heard of his death, but knowing the monster, having experienced what wrongs he could do, she knew it would not be that easy to defeat him. Perhaps he'd found a way.

So she walked, determined to reach Mount Hakurei. Once there, she'd look everywhere for a sign that he was resting somewhere. Maybe she'd even see Inuyasha and Kagome somehow. She hoped she would.

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Kikyou honestly didn't know what to believe. She didn't know what to let herself feel, either. It had been ages since she'd experienced those tingles in her stomach and she had to wonder if this was right. After all, she was still a very important Court Lady, while Zhang-san was the Healer. He was not … noble at all.

Was this proper?

She sighed when her servants announced his arrival, already knowing what he had to ask of her and that she'd say yes without hesitation.

Curiosity gripped her heartstrings and pulled on them, making her play along like a puppet, but she had no intention of fighting it. If Inuyasha could find his happiness at Kagome's side, then why wouldn't she at least try it out with Zhang-san? Such a strange name, Zhang, and it sounded so interesting. Zhang Kikyou… how would that sound? The recent priestess didn't know that Kagome had once wondered the same thing. She probably wouldn't want to, anyway.

“Zhang-san,” she acknowledged his presence, smiling brightly. Only he could get her lips to turn upwards like that these days.

“Kikyou-Hime-sama,” he intoned with a bow, missing her immediate frown. She didn't like being reminded that she was, indeed, noble. No matter how many times she told him not to call her that, it seemed he went with the most appropriate way of addressing her. “I am glad to see you so well.” It was what he usually said, but she knew it was a heartfelt statement every time it left his lips, so she turned her frown into another of her smiles.

“Thank you.” She was glad he was well, too, but it wasn't proper for a noble woman like her to say such things to a man like him, even if her heart craved it.

Actually, she didn't know why the Emperor still kept her at Court. It was not pity, he wouldn't do such things out of pity, but she was, indeed, one of the most influential women left. With her father gone…

Suikotsu sensed her sudden sadness and smiled. He knew her so well by now. She was surely thinking of her father. Kikyou had once told him things she remembered from her childhood, things she had surely not even told her ex-husband, Inuyasha. For some reason, Suikotsu realized he was jealous of Inuyasha, having had the woman he was interested in now, and for having the woman he had taken interest in before. But obviously, Inuyasha was not meant for Kikyou, so maybe he could have his chance this time.

Back in China, no woman he had shared a bed with had ever made him feel special. But upon coming back home he'd already found two beauties who had managed to captivate him. But Kikyou-Hime… she had a mysterious allure that captivated him entirely, made his heart beat faster, his mouth go dry.

“When will we leave?” came Kikyou's unexpected question. He blinked the haze away and smiled characteristically.

“Tomorrow morning” was his answer. “Is that too soon?”

“No,” she said, “not at all.” In reality, she was ecstatic. Helping people was what she'd been born to do, she knew it, and being able to do it at Zhang-san's side made her want to double her efforts. She would be truly happy to be away from the palace.

“I will be ready at the crack of dawn,” she announced with an unspoken contentment they both shared.

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Sango was already tired of this. She couldn't find anything. Not a trace.

Maybe, she supposed, maybe he was really dead after all.

But sudden movement in the bushes told her she'd spoken too soon. Her giant boomerang that was her only, but efficient weapon stood on guard in front of her to protect her. A few excruciating seconds passed, during which Sango felt her anger boil to the surface, making her knees buckle and her head become misty.

She was prepared to strike when, to her immense surprise, her brother appeared, his infamous Kusarigama lowered at his side. His eyes were narrowed and dangerous; everything in his body spoke of disapproval.

“I knew I would find you here,” he said, his voice suddenly a lot more mature than she'd expected it.

“What b-brings you here, Kohaku-kun?” Her words were strained; it was not like she feared her brother, but he could make her feel self-conscious every so often, being such an amazing warrior. She'd wanted to protect him from seeing all the things a warrior saw, she'd wanted to keep him a child a while longer, but she had failed. Now her dearest brother was a slayer, just like herself. Maybe he was not as skilled as she was, since she had trained religiously for a long time, even if he had started doing this before she had. But Kohaku was the one who could understand her better than anyone else.

“Aneue,” he said, meaning for her to focus her entire attention on him. “I knew this is where you would come,” he repeated, and something inside her made her feel queasy. What was he trying to say?

“Koha-”

“You wanted to make sure he was dead, ne?”

His seemingly innocent question shook her to the core; was that what she'd wanted to do? Why, of course. But what had she hoped? She dreaded the answer.

“Don't worry, I already checked.”

Kohaku's statement brought to the surface the loving affection she felt for him - really done this for her.

“Arigatou, Kohaku-kun.”

A weight off her shoulders.

“Aneue doesn't need to worry, Kohaku-kun will take care of anything that might harm her,” he declared proudly, showing her his Kusarigama as proof.

“I don't worry,” she said with a smile, approaching him and ruffling his hair, even though he was almost the same height as she was, but inside she was raging. What if Kohaku would someday do something stupid in order to protect her? What if… what if she'd lose him the second time as well?

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“That vile scent!” the wolf demon exclaimed, his eyes narrowing in pure age as his insides churned with repulsed hatred. He hadn't smelled it in so long, had thought the danger was gone, but now…

“That disgusting creature!”

The one that had made a truce with Naraku.

Kouga took off running in the general direction of the scent. He wasn't a dog demon with their keener senses, but he could definitely trace that creature. Everyone that had had connections with Naraku should be dead.

And he stopped.

He took a deep sniff and his eyes widened. Her scent... it was no longer slightly entrancing as it had been, it was covered in dirt and bones. Almost as if… almost as if…

Abi-Hime was undead.

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Inuyasha gathered all their belongings and hung them over his shoulder, walking steadily. They each carried a son, both little creatures sleeping soundly. It was rare that they had this much quiet, so neither Inuyasha nor Kagome dared break it. Kagome's barrier moved around them, proving her exquisite abilities. She was the woman he loved, the mother of his children… and it felt so sweet to finally be able to say it without restraints.

Their babies were now three months old; such a long time had passed, and they already proved they were their father's. Both sported fluffy, silver hair and golden eyes. Of course, they had his ears, too, except they were entirely black. Kagome would always gush over them; she just found them too adorable. However, the hairs on their little twitching appendages were dark, just like their mother's. It was obvious they would grow to be identical twins.

“Ken is stirring,” Kagome announced, rocking the baby slightly to soothe him.

“That means Takehiko will start squirming soon, too,” Inuyasha said with a sigh. It wasn't that he didn't love the twosome, but they were just annoying, crying all day long like that. But Inuyasha knew they couldn't help it; it was probably the pure barrier they sensed that disturbed them.

As if on cue, both babies woke with loud wails that could wake up all the creatures from the mountain.

But the mountain's barrier was close, Kagome could feel it, so she decided not to stop.

“Aren't you gonna feed them?” he asked, puzzled at her quickened pace.

“We're almost there,” she said, “just a while longer.”

Suddenly understanding her hurry, Inuyasha smirked and rocked Takehiko smoothly, coaxing the baby to shush for a while. And remarkably, he did. They both did, in fact.

Then they were out of the barrier. Kagome froze, everything around her forgotten. She was finally out… finally free. The warm sun had never felt better, the wind had never felt sweeter. She closed her eyes and breathed silently in relief, knowing that Inuyasha was quietly observing her every move.

Then she looked at the precious bundle in her arms and placed a satisfied kiss on his cheek, glad that he seemed more at ease now. It seemed they hadn't been hungry after all. She kissed her other son, as well, then moved to place her lips on her lover's cheek. At the last moment, though, he turned his head so her lips landed on his instead, but she wouldn't complain. The kiss was anything but heated. It spoke of love, it spoke of redemption. And it was ever so welcome.

Until a discreet cough caught their attention, making them turn around.

Kagome's eyes widened at seeing one person she had thought she'd never see. And she looked… fine.

The miko's eyes became watery, her knees trembling. She felt rather than saw her lover lowering their belongings to the ground and taking the baby from her arms, letting her run over to her long-lost friend and hug her. Both Sango and Kagome were speechless, but it didn't matter. Any regret they might have felt vanished in thin air, apologies wordlessly exchanged.

“I'm so glad you're alive,” Sango spoke first.

“I'm glad you're well,” Kagome replied, tears streaming down her face, and Sango realized the last image Kagome had of her was of her torn body. She shivered instantly, knowing how hard it must have been for the fragile woman to live all by herself with such haunting memories.

“I've been well for a long time,” Sango informed her with a smile as their arms disentangled. “This is my brother,” she said, “Taijiya Kohaku.”

Kagome smiled at the boy, he looked roughly around Souta's age.

“Oyahou,” she greeted and the boy bowed.

“Such a beautiful morning, Kagome-sama,” he said with a smile. Everyone knew about her by now.

“Don't call me `sama', it makes me feel old. Kagome-san will suffice.”

The boy nodded warmly, making her strangely miss her younger brother. She couldn't wait to see her family.

A bright smile lit Kagome's face as she regarded Sango.

“Come on, I have two people I'd like you to meet.”

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The cursed being moved about on the field. Honestly, she didn't care much anymore. She only wanted to linger some more until she made sure Naraku was gone for good. And until she had her revenge. That was her only goal. Then she would rest like she hadn't been allowed to - she'd been robbed of this eternal privilege.

Abi-Hime wanted her life back the way it had been, with her on the mountains, letting her birds feed then having them come back to her. It had been a wonderful life, until the bastard had offered her his help to make her even more powerful. Lies, those had been, and she'd been gullible enough to trust him. Now all she wanted was to kill him.

A pity that he was already dead.

A sudden flash before her eyes made her stand still, but then her shoulders slumped when she saw Kagura.

However, the wind sorceress looked disgruntled.

“I have to get you safe,” she said, “they're coming for you.” In all honesty, it had been pure luck that Kagura had sensed the wolf following Abi-Hime. Not that she felt anything akin to compassion for the undead demon, but if Naraku ever came back some way or another, Abi-Hime might be her only chance to survive if no one could do anything to him.

“Why do you want to help me?” the demon asked nonchalantly.

“Because I need you,” was all Kagura said, before she grabbed the woman's hand and pulled her on the huge feather she summoned, disappearing in the horizon.

Somewhere on the field behind the place they'd left, a puzzled wolf demon stopped abruptly, unable to feel the wretched presence he'd sought anymore. For him, this was the beginning of a war.