InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ In Death, Trust Me, as You Didn't in Life ❯ Death Before Dishonor ( Chapter 55 )

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

Chapter 55: Death Before Dishonor

Kagome shook her head, totally confused. Humans and demons were once... one race? But... but - that doesn't make any sense! "Wait a minute. How is that possible? When I've spoken before about the differences between the races, you've said that that was because you created them that way. Not to mention you said that Sosa was the reason things ended up the way they are. So what's the real story here?"

Amaterasu sighed. "The two races did start out as one, Kagome. But then Sosa decided to bring the war between he and I onto the mortal plain, since a final victory could never be had in the realms of the kami. So he began changing things... slowly over time. The era you live in now, and the one you were born in, are the direct results of that."

"But that... I mean, how did he manage to cause so much damage without the rest of you all figuring it out? I know-" she frowned in irritation, "-there's something you're not telling me about this."

"Tell me, Kagome. You are a kami yourself now - do you know what Sosa or any of your other brother's and sister's are up to right this second?"

She blinked, then glanced with surprise at Sesshoumaru and Sugimi, who both were entirely caught up in their talks. "Umm, no, now that you mention it... but I thought the kami were all-knowing?"

The goddess laughed. "Kagome, we might be pretty much all knowing when it comes to humans and demons, but when it involves the other kami? If we were, there would be no disputes or wars amongst us - because there would be no point, we would already know every move the other was going to make."

"Huh. Never thought about that," Kagome said blankly, trying to overcome her surprise at that answer. "But still... if Sosa is the one that changed one race into two, why did you say that you created humans to wield reiki and demons with youki?"

Sesshoumaru nodded, also wanting to know the answer to that question. He was intrigued, and with a glance at his father, he could tell he felt the same.

"When I and the other kami noticed that our creations were beginning to change, we got together, and cast what were the most likely reasons they were doing so, and the outcome. It's like solving a puzzle, and we quickly realized that this would only be the work of our nasty-tempered brother. Which meant that the outcome of this, whatever it was to be, would not be a good outcome. So we intervened. In those that were becoming human, Sosa had caused a complete loss of power. They would have been helpless before those becoming demons. They needed some sort of protection."

Sugimi frowned at that. "Is that how humans were granted the use of spiritual powers, then?"

"Yes and no. You must understand that the power that the one race held within them was somewhat different than what humans and demons now have. There was no reiki, and the youki that they wield is different than what you do." She gestured towards the signatures of the people that they had found. "Open your auras, and feel the difference in them, compared to yourselves."

The three did as she suggested, and opened their auras and minds to the power sources that were so near, and yet so far. To say that they were surprised, would be an understatement.

Nothing any of them had ever encountered felt in any way the same as what they were feeling from these people, and slowly, it became apparent, at least to Kagome, that what she was feeling wasn't just from the people... but from the land beneath their feet as well - and even from the plants and animals. It was like the entire world, and everything in it, was linked, all together, as one huge, living organism. It was awesome.

She was just about to ask why she'd not noticed it before, when Amaterasu chuckled at her. "Because, daughter, you have just completed bonding with the land yourself - that new link that you are developing is the beginning stages of this same link that the peoples now have with everything in creation."

Kagome was completely awed. "This... it's so much more than what I had expected! This was paradise, literally..." she trailed off for a moment, her eyes sweeping across the plain wistfully, before she turned back to Amaterasu. "So, when those that were becoming human were left with no power to defend themselves, the rest of the kami determined to give some of them reiki as protectors, ne? But why didn't you just fix it back then?"

"Because, Kagome, as I've said before, it's about balance... and before, there was no goddess of balance. We knew that you would be born someday, but not when, and this whole situation is in your lap because it falls under your purview. Only you can fix this the way it needs to be done. What happens to Sosa, and the rest of the kami - indeed, all of creation, rests with you now. I have no doubt that you will find the answer, daughter."

Sesshoumaru was floored. He'd known that Kagome was most important to the outcome of this mess, but he hadn't really realized just how much was resting on his mate's slender little shoulders. It was a lot to cope with, and he moved to her side and let her feel his strength through their bond, letting her know that he would stand with her, and that he had every confidence in her finding the correct answer to this problem.

She smiled up at him hesitantly, grateful for his support, but turned to look back at her 'mother'. "I never wanted anything like this," she whispered. "This... it's too much. I just wanted to be me, Kagome, and live out my life with my Lord. Being a goddess, and everything depending on me..." she sighed, and her shoulders slumped a little. "I never wanted to be that important."

She shivered when she felt Amaterasu's arms come around her. "I know, my daughter - and that is why it had to be you. You will not do anything for your own aggrandizement - and neither I, nor any of the other kami, could say the same. We might make the wrong decision simply to give ourselves more recognition and worship - because contrary to popular opinion, we kami are not perfect, and we do suffer from rather large egos," she laughed. "You are the only one amongst us that does not."

Sugimi, who'd been quiet through the whole thing, suddenly spoke up. "So... does that mean that she is perfect?"

Amaterasu laughed again, even as Kagome sputtered and blushed, denials stuttering from her. "She's a lot closer than the rest of us," the sun goddess teased, as Kagome's face turned even redder.

"Okay, enough of that," she managed to get out. "You guys should stop joking like that. Anyway, so I've got to make a decision, don't I?"

"Yes, Kagome, you are beginning to see the right path. A decision by the goddess of balance is what is needed - but it is up to you to figure out what that decision even is." Amaterasu was suddenly deadly serious. "Be very careful, and don't rush it - it will come to you."

Kagome nodded, even as she reached down and grabbed Sesshoumaru's hand for support - she felt overwhelmed at this point, and needed a chance to think things through. She wondered if she should continue her original plan to see several different times, such as when the first interference by Sosa was started, but then decided that at this point, she just needed to get home so she could think this part of things through.

The rest could come later - she had enough to try to sort and settle in her poor overworked little brain right this minute.

-wWw-

Yuushou raised a hand, and his patrol halted, everyone staring at the trussed and gagged male leaned up against a tree before them. He was obviously a samurai, from his weapons and armor, though it looked as though he'd been through battle recently, as his clothing and body was spattered with blood.

His eyes narrowed, however, when he stepped closer to the man, and noted the symbol for a deserter carved into his forehead. Reaching out, he ripped the gag from the man's mouth, noting the shifty, terrified expression. This one was a liar - he would have to take what was said with a grain of salt.

"Your name?"

"I'm Toshi, commander," he said, and Yuushou clenched his teeth momentarily in annoyance at the man's whiny voice.

"Tell me - were you not one of the one's sent out with the hunting parties to provide the army with food? What happened?"

At that, the man now known as Toshi spat angrily. "We were out hunting, and had actually taken several good kills, when we were ambushed by a force of demons, half-demons, and demon slayers. They overcame us, and killed everyone but me, then took our kills and left. They left me here so that I could inform Master Ungai what had happened, I think it was their way of taunting him. They also said that the other two hunting parties had also been ambushed and destroyed to the last man."

Yuushou gestured sharply for silence as his men started talking, and knowing his reputation, silence instantly fell. "And why were you given the mark of the deserter, then, Toshi?" he asked, his voice suddenly going deadly quiet; Toshi suddenly felt fear - this commander was known for being too sharp to lie to.

"W-well, they wanted to leave a man behind to tell their tale, but still wanted me to die, too, so they d-decided this way was good. They figured I'd be made to tell my story, and then k-killed,' he stuttered out. It was actually a good story; it was so very close to the truth that he thought for a moment that he might actually succeed in fooling the man.

Just as he thought he might have gotten away with it, he discovered why this particular samurai was so feared, as he turned away and ordered his men to take him prisoner. "I have no doubt that that part of the story is correct - however, I also have no doubt that you are a deserter. You will be taken to Master Ungai to tell your story, and then you will be executed."

As Toshi began to blubber in fear, the rest of the men grabbed him, and he was shoved forward mercilessly - deserter's were hated above all others by samurai, even demons. Because to a samurai, honor and the lives of your brother samurai were important above all else, and to run in fear as you let your brother's be killed was the worst crime you could commit.

To a true samurai, it truly was death before dishonor - and Toshi had broken that most sacred of tenets.

His death would not be an easy one, and it suddenly occurred to him that he would have been better served by dying at the hands of the demons.

It would have been a much less horrific way to die.

-wWw-

Inuyasha, Sango, Yoshi, and Haya sat around Kaede's hut and discussed their trip with Miroku and Kaede. The entire village had been most thrilled to see the large amount of game that had come back with the group, and even now, the smell of roasting meat was prevalent throughout the village as some was cooked for the next few days meals, and some was taken to be smoked and kept in the village storehouse for winter.

It was especially pleasing to the headsman, as he considered that this abundance of meat was brought from much further away, and hadn't decimated the game in their area at all. It could only bode well for a good winter for the village – as long as they could defeat Ungai, of course.

Inuyasha was the first to bring up going back out. “I've been thinkin' about this, and I think we should go back again. You know the bastard monk is gonna have to send out more hunter's with that large an army to feed. And look at the high spirits it's put our people in to win like we did. I think we should gather a new group when we go, though, ya know, to spread the good feelings around. Make everyone feel as though they're contributing – it kinda helps moral, ne?”

Sango stared at Inuyasha in astonishment, as did, Miroku, and Kaede chuckled at the looks. “I never thought to hear you say something that makes so much sense, Inuyasha,” Sango said, and he scowled at her as the others laughed.

Before he could say anything, though, Nyoko interrupted. His head whipped around and he watched the sorceress enter the hut with an almost fatalistic sense of doom.

“Well, if you guys go, then I'm going with this time. I refuse to be left out of the fun.”

While most of those in the hut just stared at her, confused, Inuyasha's scowl deepened. “No! No way! This ain't a joke playin' expedition, woman, this is a battle.” His eyes narrowed as he thought about her, such a small woman, being dropped in the middle of a battle. “You know, a fight, with swords, and other sharp pointy objects where the objective is to kill anything that moves a-”

He was cut off as she moved in a blur, and suddenly, he was staring at her over the length of a slender, triangular blade. He'd never seen anything like it. “Do you mean something like this, puppy?” she asked, voice deadly. “Don't make the mistake of thinking that I need your permission to do anything – or that I'm helpless. I've been around longer than your brother, and am perfectly capable of taking care of myself in any situation.” After a moment of staring him down, she slowly removed the steel and as quickly as it had appeared, it disappeared.

She plopped down next to him, then, almost enjoying the stunned silence from those in the hut, until Yoshi cleared his throat and asked, “What was that weapon, Lady Sorceress, if I may ask? I've never seen anything like it.”

The stern expression dropping from her face faster than lightening, Nyoko grinned proudly. “It's called a poniard. It's a blade from a country far away across the seas.”

Sango shook her head, curious. “If it's not inappropriate to ask, how did you get it?”

Nyoko sat back and her face lit up animatedly. “Well, I was taught my trade by a woman from that country – that is why my power is so different than anything you normally find here in our country. She left me most of her possessions when she finally left to travel back to her ancestral lands. I have to say, this particular weapon has come in handy many times and is probably my favorite non-magical weapon. It's so easily hidden, you see, and is a good choice for a woman. Of course-” she narrowed her eyes at a still sulking Inuyasha, “-that isn't to say that I don't have other weapons available to defeat those who think to challenge me.”

As the hut once more erupted into laughter, Inuyasha just folded his arms into his sleeves and turned his nose up at her.

His eyes widened, however, and almost fell out of his head when he caught the scent of her arousal – and his shock was complete when he whipped his head around to look at her again, only to find her staring at him with a look that was even making the lecher blush. It occurred to him then that maybe she shouldn't go on this trip for a whole different reason... like her lovely scent following him and distracting him in the middle of a bloody fight.

He whimpered... and Nyoko grinned. Gotcha, dog boy!

-wWw-

Kisho stared across the river from his seat on the banks, and sighed, for the first time, uncertain of himself and his path.

He had had no plans to take a mate any time in the near future – and then he'd met Kikyou, and suddenly, things had changed. Even more confusing was the fact that he'd never, when he'd bothered thinking about a mate at all, considered a human. Yes, she was a miko, and therefore held her own power, but still...

The thing was, he knew that it didn't matter. He'd fallen in love with her, and now he wanted no mate ever, if it wasn't her.

He knew there would be those that didn't like it. His family, for one, would be greatly concerned at the mixing of blood, though they would, eventually, accept it. At the least, Kikyou would be in no danger from them. But there would be others...

On the other side, though, was Sesshoumaru, and his own human... well, at least, she used to be human. He shuddered as he thought about what the repercussions were of a demon lord of Sesshoumaru's power, mating a demi-goddess – and creating children. The potential there was almost unlimited, and he was suddenly grateful that he was an ally, and not an enemy of the two.

Of course, this whole thing would be a moot point if Kikyou didn't return his feelings – and that was where most of his uncertainty was coming from. Because he was actually afraid of what he would do if she turned him down...

He had to ask, though – he couldn't go on and not know if he even had a chance with her. But should he wait to ask until they had defeated Ungai and his army, or should he ask now?

After staring into the distance for a few minutes, he decided that he would find her and ask now... and tell her how he felt. Because, just in case he didn't survive the battle, he wanted her to know that he loved her.

With a heavy sigh, he stood, and bucking up his courage, went in search of the gentle woman he'd come to know.

He dare not let himself imagine what might happen if she returned his feelings and accepted him as a mate...

This day could bring about his greatest disappointment – or be his greatest joy.

-wWw-

A/N: The chapter title is taken from a tattoo my father had that he got along with his fellow soldiers during the Korean War.

Amber