InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Love, Interrupted ❯ Chapter 35 ( Chapter 35 )

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

Totousai settled back against the wall. Inuyasha and Kagome settled themselves on the floor as Kagome placed the baskets with the still sleeping infants in them.
SUUUUUUCK!
SLAP!
"Master, I .. am ... glad to see you're safe."
"Myouga, it's you." commented Inuyasha, "So this is where ya been hiding out, eh?"
"I'm not sure I like your insinuation, Master Inuyasha." said Myouga.
"Never mind that." said Totousai, "I want to know how Kagome is able to enter my volcano .... sniff sniff ..." Totousai leaned near the baskets, "Kagome? You've ... whelped pups?"
Kagome smiled a weirded out smile, "Well, yea, you could say that."
"Master, your mating with Kagome produced pups?" asked Myouga.
Inuyasha smiled a cocky, proud smile, "Yup! All three are mine all right."
Totousai just stared, "Hmmm? You produced pups?"
"Surprised are ya?" said Inuyasha.
"Totousai, Kagome is no longer human." said Myouga.
"Huh?" asked Kagome.
Totousai sniffed, "You're right. Damn dog demon must have combined their auras. She now carries some of Inuyasha's scent."
"Yea, well, enough about me and Kagome. I need to ask you some questions." demanded Inuyasha.
"Huh?" said Myouga, "About what?"
"About a dog demon called Ryouya and his sister Anzu. Do you know anything about them, old man?"
"Hmmm? Did you say Ryouya?" said Myouga.
"Yes, dammit."
"Ryouya. Hmmm. Ryouya. I haven't heard that name in years." mused Totosai.
"Then you know of him, Totousai?" asked Kagome.
"Yeees. I do. His mother is Sesshoumaru's mother's sister. When your father ruled the Western Lands, Matsuidaira was his right hand dog. The two of them reigned over the west. But Matsuidaira's mate only ever had daughters, she whelped no sons. Your father took an interest in Matsuidaira's middle daughter and the two mated. After that, Matsuidaira ignored his other daughters and only paid attention to Sesshoumaru's mother. His eldest daughter was murdered by a rival dog pack and Matsuidaira never bothered to avenge her death. His youngest daughter left with the young prince of the Southern Lands ... but he was the youngest son to the Dog General of the Southern Lands. His eldest brother fought and defeated their father for supreme ruler and assumed his spot as Lord of the South." said Totousai.
Inuyasha sighed and said sarcastically, "This is all very interesting ... but what does this have to do with me and Kagome?"
Totousai stuck out his tongue and gave Inuyasha a raspberry, "If you let me finish ..."
WHACK! PUNCH! SLAM!
Totousai's head now sported three new lumps.
"Ohhhhh." he moaned, "Anyway, as I was saying, Ryouya is the oldest son of Lord Hideyoshi and Lady Mei, Matsuideira's youngest daughter. Since Sesshoumaru never fought your father for supreme ruler, when he died the Western Lands were up for grabs. Mei urged her mate to fight for tis power. She wanted to prove to her father that she was more worthy of his attention than her sister. But, Matsuideira wanted the domain for himself and he tried to establish himself as supreme ruler. Sesshoumaru fought him and killed him before Hideyoshi ever arrived in the Western Lands. When Hideyoshi arrived in the lands, he found himself facing Sesshoumaru. He didn't want to fight, but Mei demanded that he fight and so he challenged Sesshoumaru. Needless to say, Sesshoumaru defeated him easily, but Hideyoshi begged for his life." Totousai shook his head, "When an opponent offers to retreat, mercy is generally shown. But, apparantly, Mei was not satisfied and she called Hideyoshi a coward for offering to retreat. Sesshoumaru killed him, telling Hideyoshi it was a better fate than going home a loser to a mate that wanted power. Ryouya was just a youngster, but he was there. He witnessed his father's defeat at Sesshoumaru's hands. He vowed revenge for his father ever since." finished Totousai.
"Ok. But, I wasn't involved in that. I was just a kid. Why is he after me and Kagome and not just Sesshoumaru?" asked Inuyasha.
"You are the dog general's son also. You also can stake a claim to the Western Domain." offered Totousai.
"HMPH! As if! Like I care about my old man's lands!"
"But, master, you are even more dangerous to Ryouya now." said Myouga.
"How's that?" asked Kagome.
"You've whelped pups. And your father as approved your mating by mixing your auras ... which other dog demons can smell. Sesshoumaru has no mate or heir. By approving of your union, your father has set you up as the heir to the Western Lands. Sesshoumaru is now below you. The best he can hope for now is equal status." said Totousai.
"Equal ... status?" queried Kagome.
"Yes. If he wants to be ruler of the lands he must now take a mate and produce an heir. If the union is approved, then the two brothers will share the domain. Anyone wanting to rule the lands will have to defeat both brothers." said Totousai.
"But, Sesshoumaru is now dead." said Kagome, which drew a gasp from Totousai and Myouga.
"What?" they said in unison.
"Anzu told me that Ryouya's dragon from hell killed Sesshoumaru. Here, see, I have Tenseiga." said Kagome.
Totousai stared at the sword then at Inuyasha,
"If that is indeed the case, then Ryouya will be after you and your whelps. That is all that holds him back from declaring himself supreme ruler."
"PFFT! He can rule the damn lands all he wants. I ain't gonna fight him over it." said Inuyasha, turning his head and crossing his arms over his chest.
"Hmmmm." mused Totousai, then he arose and went to the back of the cave. He soon returned with a small box.
"This is from your father." he said, as he handed the box to Inuyasha.
Inuyasha took the box, "What's in it?" he asked.
"Open it." was all Totousai would say.
Inuyasha opened the box. Inside the box was a silver chain, "What the hell is this?" asked Inuyasha.
"It was to be given to the first brother who mated and had a pup." said Totousai.
Kagome looked on and smiled, "How sweet. A gift from your father." she said.
"HMPH! What's it for?" asked Inuyasha.
"It's for protection. As long as you wear that chain, no harm will befall Kagome or your pups. But, be warned. Since Kagome now shares your aura, when you wear that, she will know whenever you are in danger. Your hearts will be linked via that chain." said Totousai.
"Protection, huh?" said Inuyasha, "So, as long as I wear this, Kagome and the pups will never be hurt?"
"That's what your father said. It is filled with his demonic aura."
"WOW." said Kagome, as Inuyasha placed the chain around his neck,
"Damn! If I get anymore necklaces I'll need to get a bigger neck." Inuyasha commented, as he fiddled with the subjugation beads and the locked that Kagome had given him a long time before, "So, Totousai, how do I find Ryouya?"
"Hmmm? I thought you said you had no desire to rule the Western Lands?" Totousai questioned.
"I don't." Inuyasha said through gritted teeth, "But, he has my friends somewhere and they're poisoned. If we don't get them the antidote soon, they'll all be dead."
"Poisoned? What kind of poison?" asked Myouga, interested.
"This kind." said Kagome, producing a poisoned arrow.
Totousai took the arrow and sniffed the tip. He then licked the tip with his tongue, "This is bad." was all he said.
"We have the antidote." said Kagome, hopefully, to Totousai's dire words.
"Yes. But, if you don't find them soon, the antidote won't work at all. Especially on your human friends." said Totousai.
"Well, then, we have Tenseiga." said Inuyasha.
"Tenseiga?" queried Totousai, "And what good will that do you?"
"Kagome used it. She revived me." said Inuyasha.
"You died?" said Totousai and Myouga together.
"Uh, yea, never mind that. But, she used it. She can revive them." said Inuyasha.
'Kagome used the Tenseiga?' thought Totousai, 'What is that clever old hound doing? Has he truly foresaken Sesshoumaru?'
"The power to use Tenseiga is the least of your problems. First you have to find your friends. Ryouya and Anzu are powerful illusion users. Their illusions are so perfect that even a dog's nose cannot sniff them out." said Totousai.
"Illusions, huh?" said Inuyasha, as he thought back to the illusion that drove him to commit Seppoku, "So how do we get through these illusions?"
"Inuyasha, you must visit and talk with Takakiko." commanded Totousai.
Myouga shivered with trepidation, "W... w.. what did you say? Not Takakiko."
"Takakiko?" Inuyasha's eyebrows raised at Myouga's reaction.
"Takakiko is a legendary demon sorceress who lives in the far southern tip of Japan. She is versed in all ways of demonic sorcerery and magics. Only she will be able to tell you how to break through the illusion." said Totousai.
"ALL RIGHT!" yelled Inuyasha loud enough to startle two babies awake.
As Kagome tried to calm the fussy babies, Totousai's eyes grew dark,
"But be warned, Inuyasha. Takakiko desires the flesh of humans and demons alike. You cannot kill her or else you won't get your information. But, you cannot let her capture you for you will not escape." said Totousai.
Kagome gasped and Inuyasha just stared at the old man, "Takakiko is extremely old. Ancient. It is said she is blind and uses an orb to see. But be very careful, Inuyasha. Because no one who has ever visited Takakiko has returned to tell about it. And you must not allow Kagome and the pups up on her mountain. The air will be difficult enough for you, Inuyasha. It will be deadly for them." warned Totousai.
"This is the only way, Totousai?" asked Kagome, concern deep in her voice.
Totousai crossed his arms across his chest, leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes, "That is the only way to discover Ryouya's secrets. Takakiko knows all."
Inuyasha squared his jaw and said firmly, "Fine. If that is what it takes to rescue Miroku and the others, then that's what I'll do. Let's go Kagome." he said, as he stood to leave, "Myouga, come with me." he demanded the flea.
Myouga gulped, "Uh, what?"
Inuyasha glared at the diminutive creature, "You're coming!" he said, with an air of finality in his voice.
To Kagome's surprise, Myouga hopped onto Inuyasha, "Ok, master. I will lead you to Takakiko's mountain." he said, his voice wavering with fear.
"Good!" said Inuyasha, as they headed out.
'I wish you luck, Inuyasha.' thought Totousai, 'Takakiko is like no other that you have come across in your journeys.'