InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Long Awaited Reunion ❯ Encounters and Explanations ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer: How many times do I have to tell you people, I do not own Inuyasha!

Chapter 2: Encounters and Explanations

It was just before dawn the next morning when Naraku decided that it was time to make his move. He slowly began to walk towards the sealed inu-hanyou with a smirk on his face. When she came into view he started to laugh inwardly at the expression that crossed the girl's face. She had seen him, and as he watched the look of shock on her face turned to pure happiness, and he could swear that she looked like she might cry. He kept walking, keeping a slow pace until he was directly in front of her, within arms reach.

He looked her directly in the eye, and with a grin on his face, calmly said to her, "Hello again, sister."

"Inuyasha, I can't believe it. You're awake again, I'm so happy," Inukigo exclaimed with pure joy at who she believed to be her brother.

Naraku laughed inwardly again and complemented himself on his Inuyasha disguise. The girl was completely fooled, just like Kikyou had been when he used it against her 52 years before.

He was stirred from his thoughts when the hanyou girl in front of him spoke again.

"Inuyasha...Now that you're here, you have to share some of your youki with me so I can break this seal and get off of this tree," she smiled and looked and him expectantly. She couldn't wait to be able to move and hold her brother in her arms again.

This was exactly what Naraku had been waiting for, and he made sure to take full advantage of it.

"Now why the hell would I want to do something like that!" he yelled at her coldly as he stared at her with emotionless eyes.

Inukigo was taken aback by her brother's hateful outburst. What was going on? Why did he sound as though he despised her?

"B-but Inuyasha...when I was sealed I was told that the only way it could be lifted was for me to receive an energy boost powerful enough to break it. With part of your youki added to my own, that would be no problem."

"What made you think that I wanted anything to do with you anymore, you stupid bitch?!" he yelled at her again, even more coldly than before.

Inukigo was again shocked by her brother's harsh words and started to lower her head.

'Good,' thought Naraku, 'She's beginning to lose her faith and trust in her brother. This is going to work really well.'

"Inuyasha? I-I thought...I mean...you're my brother, I wanted to see you again so badly. I-I thought you would want the same," she managed to get out, trying to keep all weakness from her voice.

"Well, guess what, you thought wrong. You can't even begin to imagine how happy I was when my seal was broken two years ago. I was so relieved that you were nowhere in sight to start annoying me again," he knew that this was sure to get her attention.

At this remark Inukigo's head snapped up. "Y-you mean that you've been awake for two whole years?!" she yelled at him in disbelief, and Naraku swore that he heard a tinge of anger.

'He's been awake for an entire year, and he is just now coming to see me? And he seems to have no intent to help me free myself!!' Inukigo was beginning to glare angrily at her brother as a snarl crossed her lips.

"Yes, I've been awake that long. The only reason that I've come to you now is that I was nearby and caught your scent. When it seemed like it wasn't moving I decided to come and investigate. Imagine my surprise seeing you pinned to that tree. You're pathetic!! Seeing you stuck there is actually quite amusing," he said as he started to laugh to at her.

That was it, she couldn't take it anymore.

"How dare you laugh at this, you bastard!! I purposely got myself sealed to this tree so I could be with you again whenever you woke up. I did this because I love you with all my heart and I couldn't bear to be separated from you," she was getting angrier as she spoke and hot tears were stinging her eyes, but she refused to cry. Never would she cry.

Naraku started to laugh even harder, dropping Inukigo even deeper into despair and anger.

"Well, aren't you a fool!! I'm glad to be rid of you. I think I'll take my leave now. My group is not far away and I shouldn't leave them alone for too long," he turned and started to walk back the way he came, "Hope you can find some way to occupy yourself while you're stuck to that tree, I have the feeling you'll be there for quite awhile," he called back to her as he disappeared into the shadows of the forest.

"Damn you, Inuyasha!! You bastard!!" she screamed at him, full of rage.

'When I get down off of this tree you are going to regret this!!'

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Inuyasha awoke with a start. He was sure he had heard someone call his name and curse on him, but couldn't figure out where it had come from. He dismissed it as a dream, although he didn't know who could have been cursing him. He noticed that the sun was just starting to come up, and considered waking up his friends so they could begin their day. Then he looked down at Kagome, and started smiling.

'She looks so peaceful when she sleeps, almost like she doesn't have a care in the world,' he thought. He decided against waking the group up and chose to let them sleep. He admitted to himself that he had taken out his grumpiness on them yesterday morning and figured he should make it up to them by letting them sleep in, of course he would never admit that to them. He decided that he would take the opportunity to get a bit more rest in before their day started and leaned back against the tree, drifting back off to sleep, completely unaware of what was happening only a short ways away.

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Naraku was making his way back to the tree to which Inukigo was sealed. It had been an hour since he had left, and he was making sure that he was giving Inukigo plenty of time to absorb and dwell on what her 'brother' had said to her. He was very pleased when he caught sight of her - she was seething and was dripping with emotional pain. Even after an hour she was still as angry as the moment he had left.

'Perfect,' he thought, 'Her anger will make it easier for me to influence her actions with the Shikon shards once she is free of the tree.'

He stepped up to her, unnoticed, until he spoke in the gentlest and most considerate voice he could manage.

"Excuse me?? Do you need help with something, miss...?"

Inukigo looked up, noticing him for the first time. She stared into his eyes, her face having gone blank.

"My name is none of your concern. Now I suggest you leave."

Naraku was unfazed.

"I only wish to offer my services if they may be of help. Forgive me, but I would like to know the name of whom I am addressing."

Inukigo glared at him suspiciously, but decided that it would do no harm.

"It's Inukigo, and there is nothing that you could possibly help me with so if you would be so kind as to leave me in peace it would be greatly appreciated," she bit out through gritted teeth.

"Inukigo-san is it? Well, that is quite a troublesome looking seal there, might I inquire about it? I may be able to help you."

"It's none of your damn business, now leave!" she yelled at him menacingly, fed up with his meddling.

"But I must insist Inukigo-san. You see I am very knowledgeable when it comes to breaking seals. This particular one looks as though it would be broken if you received a strong enough burst of youki, am I right?"

The surprise registered on Inukigo's face. This stranger had found out the workings of her seal just by looking at it.

"You are correct," she replied a little more calmly than before, "That is how it can be broken. But I still don't see how you would possibly be able to help me."

"Ah, but I believe I can help you Inukigo-san," he said coolly, "With a few of these," He was holding up a Shikon shard for her to see.

"What is that?" she asked.

"This is a shard from the Shikon no Tama. I am sure you have heard of the jewel and it's powers before."

"I have. But why are you willing to give those to me? I don't even know who you are."

"Just think of them as a gift. You look like you have something that you desperately wish to fulfill, into which I will not pry, and I wish to aid you, since I have no real use for the shards myself."

She eyed him warily, considering his offer. She didn't believe that he could be trusted, but did she really have much other choice? After a few silent moments she gave him her answer.

"Arigatou, I accept your offer."

Naraku smiled and laughed inwardly at the girl's stupidity. Now she would be under his control.

"You're most welcome, Inukigo-san. Now, shall we see how many shards it will take to free you from that seal?" he questioned.

She nodded her head for him to begin, and he proceeded to take out a handful of Shikon shards. He first shot two shards her way, one in each shoulder. She felt the surge of power go through her body, and was able to move her arms, but the seal stayed intact. Naraku proceeded to fire another shard at her, this time into her neck, which caused another surge of energy and enabled her to move her legs, but the seal continued to hold her to the tree. Naraku shot one final shard into her forehead, creating a small, but blinding flash of light, to which he had to shield his eyes. When he opened them, Inukigo was floating in the air momentarily, before falling to the ground on her hands and knees, gasping for breath as she adjusted to the new power in her body.

Naraku smirked and felt it was time to carefully bring up the subject of Inuyasha.

"Hmm...how strange. Now that I think about it, you look remarkable similar, actually identical, to a male inu-hanyou that I saw not too far away from here."

Inukigo's head shot up at this information. She was still breathing rather heavily, and started to push herself to her feet as she caught her breath.

"What did you say? Which way? How far is he?" she grabbed Naraku by the front of his baboon pelt as she pressed him for this information.

He held up his hands defensively, not wanting to anger her further. She may not have been as strong as him, but with four Shikon shards and her temper, she would have definitely done some serious damage.

"Please calm yourself, Inukigo-san," he said smoothly, causing her to take a deep breath and release him, "The inu-hanyou I'm referring to is about half a day's walk in that direction," pointing in the direction he had come from, "And is accompanied by a monk with a kazanna in his right hand, a skilled female demon exterminator and her demon cat partner, a young kitsune, and a powerful miko."

'A miko?' she thought. No way it could be Kikyou, she had seen that woman die.

"Arigatou. May I ask you your name?"

"Yes, of course. Naraku is what I am called."

"Well, Naraku, before I forget," she said as she walked away, "I know you gave me these shards because you have something against my brother, because you obviously wouldn't have given these up out of the goodness of your heart. I will return to pay you back for trying to trick me into doing your work for you. But right now I have something more important to deal with. Sayonara," and with that she took off through the trees.

Naraku was stunned for a moment by the fact that she had quickly figured out that he had intended to trick her, but decided to take the shards anyway. But this was only temporary as he smirked and started to chuckle.

'Little do you know, Inukigo, that with the tainted Shikon shards that I have given you, I can intensify your feelings of anger towards your brother and easily turn it to hate without you even knowing of it. Before this day is over, you will have taken care of your brother for me, and then, thanks to the corrupted Shikon shards, I'll have complete control over your body.'

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The entire group of shard hunters were now awake and enjoying a peaceful breakfast. Even a normally grouchy inu-hanyou was happily eating, or rather inhaling, the cup of ramen that Kagome had offered him. Kagome was happy to see that he was in a good mood. She hated seeing him upset. As she sat there quietly eating her own meal, Kagome began to feel a familiar tugging sensation in the pit of her stomach - Shikon shards. She had been sensing them already, but now she could tell that there were four of them, and the feeling was getting stronger. Since they had not moved yet that morning it could only mean one thing, the shards were moving, and were coming straight at them.

Inuyasha looked over at Kagome, and noticed the worried expression that suddenly crossed her face.

"Ooi, Kagome, what's wrong?" he questioned her.

"The Shikon shards that I sensed earlier are moving. They're coming this way. Four of them," This caught everyone's attention.

"Are you sure Kagome-chan? The shards are coming to us?" Sango asked.

"Hai, Sango-chan. The shards are definitely coming towards us and there are definitely four of them," Kagome replied.

"Inuyasha, what about that strange scent that you caught wind of yesterday? Has that changed any?" Miroku asked.

Inuyasha sniffed the air and gave Miroku a nod.

"Aa, it's definitely closer than it was a few minutes ago, and it's still getting stronger. But I still can't seem to place the smell. Maybe when we get a little closer to it I'll be able to remember what it is," Inuyasha replied.

"Then I guess we should go and meet this thing instead of giving it the chance to come here and catch us off guard." Miroku suggested.

There were no objections to this idea and everyone started packing up their supplies. When they were ready, Miroku, Sango, and Shippou hopped onto a transformed Kirara, and Kagome jumped onto Inuyasha's back. Inuyasha decided that he didn't want to waste any time and took off through the trees with Kirara close behind.

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They had travelled for about an hour, and whatever it was they were searching for was getting very close. They would come upon it within the next few minutes. Inuyasha was sniffing the air like he had for what seemed like the hundredth time since they began running, trying to figure out what that strange scent was and why it was so familiar. Then all of a sudden it hit him and he stopped in his tracks. He took a deep breath through his nose, stood very still for a moment, and then his eyes went very wide.

"Inuyasha, what's the matter??" Kagome asked from her place on his back.

He didn't answer her right away but finally said quietly, just loud enough for her to hear,

"I think I know what the strange scent is."

"Really? Well, what is it?"

Inuyasha wanted to be absolutely sure before he told her, so he needed a second opinion.

"Ooi! Runt! Come here! I need you're opinion on something," he yelled at Shippou.

Shippou came running from his perch on Kirara's head and climbed up to Inuyasha's shoulder.

"Sure, what do you want me to do?" the young kitsune asked.

"Just point you're nose that way, sniff, and tell me what you smell."

Shippou thought this was a rather strange request, but did as he was told and sniffed the air. He then turned to Inuyasha with a rather confused look on his face.

"What's this about Inuyasha? All I can smell that way is you."

"That's fine runt. That's all I needed to know."

Kagome looked at him very confused, as did Sango and Miroku, who had come closer as these events were taking place.

"Inuyasha, what's going on? What's all this supposed to mean?" Kagome asked.

"The scent that I've been picking up since yesterday is my scent, just like Shippou said," he replied.

"But how can that be possible? You're right here, and you haven't ever been in these woods before," she said, still very confused.

"I was getting to that. Shippou said it was my scent, and in a way he's right, but his nose isn't sensitive enough to pick up the difference between this scent and my own."

"And just what might this difference be?" she asked, becoming impatient.

"The difference is that this scent is coming from a female," he replied calmly.

"Nani!" they all yelled in unison.

Inuyash'a winced at the sound of their combined voices, and was about to explain to them, when a female figure appeared in the path directly ahead of them. The girl looked at the group indifferently, before focusing her attention on Inuyasha. She smirked, and then coldly said,

"Hello again, brother."