InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Love is What Keeps Us ❯ Naraku's Relative Revealed ( Chapter 11 )

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

Disclaimer: I do not now, nor have I ever, owned any part of Inuyasha or his world. This is a work of fanfiction made entirely for the fans of Inuyasha to enjoy. This story is based off of Inuyasha characters that I do not own.

This is also a work of fiction. Any simularities to any real person, dead or alive, is completely coincidental.




Love is What Keeps Us
by: Tassana Burrfoot

Chapter Eleven: Naraku's Relative Revealed


Tomo was struck speechless. Had the girl no sense at all?

The teenager he had brought with him, clung to his robe. "Tomo?" her voice quivered.

The spider demon then remembered the girl was there. He turned his gaze on her as she continued, "What's going on here? I thought you said these were your friends and this was a costume party?"

Tomo wanted to strike the girl down for her insolence, however, he knew to do so now would mean his death. Instead, he scoffed and turned back to Rin, "Hell, no! I was around Hokochi's age when Naraku was born."

Rin's eyes widened more. "So... you're his father?"

The spider demon rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Why would I bother fathering a complete moron? You know me better then that, Rin," he rumbled softly.

Inuyasha put his Tetsusaiga in front of him. "That leaves only one other explanation. You are Naraku," he barked. "Prepare to face your end!"

Sesshomaru stopped the hanyou before he did something stupid. "You harm my daughter and I will kill you, half breed."

"Naraku was a half demon," the spider demon snarled, not liking the idea of being accused. His eyes flashed red. "I am a full youkai."

The girl next to him let go of his robe and took a step back. "Who... What are you?!" she demanded, fearfully.

Tomo turned on the girl. He was getting real annoyed with her constant interferance. "If you wish to get out of this alive, shut your trap, or I will shut it perminantly," he threatened.

"Stop this!" Rin shouted over everyone.

All eyes turned to her. It was one of the few times in her life Rin had ever raised her voice in anger. Her fists were in her hips as she looked angrily at Tomo. "You aren't Naraku. You aren't his son. And you aren't his father. But, you're related to him. You have to be. You look just like him!" she told him. "I may not remember much from when I was a child, but that is one face I will never forget. Even your voice is like his. You can't have that much in common with someone without being related to him."

"I've never met Naraku," the spider demon spoke honestly. "I was there when he was around, but I never got the 'privilage,' as my mother had called it, of meeting him. Nor did I ever wish for such a thing. He was evil and because of him, my kind were persecuted for centuries."

"Then, who are you?" she asked him. She stepped closer to him and took his hands into hers. She searched his eyes as if she would find the answer there.

He sighed, "From what I know of my father's family, my father had a brother. It is not common for siblings to live together in peace, so they were separated once they were old enough to fend for themselves. Years after the death of my father, my uncle had come upon a cave that promised power. Shippo, you should know the story of how the thief Onigumo became the demon Naraku. It was this cave where the thief was. Naraku is my cousin."

"I remember my mother telling me that story," Rin said, after a thought. "There were many demons that went to that cave. Many who had converged with Onigumo. So, your uncle was responsible for Naraku's looks?"

Tomo snorted, "I honestly don't know, Rin. I did not witness the act. My mother and I both ignored the call. Once Naraku made a name for himself, I decided I wanted nothing to do with him, so I kept away. My mother wanted to go to him, for she believed he would become the ultimate power and end up ruling over everything."

"You cared enough for your mother to make her stay?" Rin assumed, a smile growing on her face at Tomo's compassion.

The demon huffed, "As if. No, I told the wench to go. If she wanted to become the asshole's whore, let her. I didn't care. I was old enough to care for myself if need be."

"Spider demons are not known for their family compassion, Rin," Shippo informed her.

Rin knew this and nearly kicked herself for her stupidity.

"Spider demon?" came a voice from behind Tomo.

They ignored the human teenager. Later, Tomo would deal with her. Rin continued as if she hadn't heard the interruption, "So, how is it you look like him?"

Tomo shrugged. "How am I to know? Naraku was the one who chose his main looks. He could've looked like anyone he wished. From what I had heard, he had pretended to be other people for years before the Shikon no Tama reappeared. There was a prince... in some town... somewhere, that other demons used to say I resembled. That must have been the final look Naraku decided to go with."

"Yes, I know the prince you speak of. A young lord who had inherited his father's lands. My friend Sango was one of the demonslayers who had been decieved by Naraku," Kagome spoke up.

This brought back Tomo's curiousity. "Speaking of which," he commented, looking from the miko to the girl who was his friend, "both of you claim you knew Naraku. That you had met him. How is that when he's been dead for over five hundred years? Also, I know of the demonslayers you speak of, Kagome. I heard about the incident sometime after it happened. Surely none of your human friends would have been alive at the time."

Rin blushed and let go of the spider demon's hands. She looked to Edward and Elizabeth and saw they too were curious about this. "I'm... " she explained, "originally from that time. My mother has a well at her shrine that allowed her to cross into the Feudal Era."

This brought shocked looks from the rats and Tomo. A loud thump was heard somewhere behind Tomo. The spider demon glanced over his shoulder to see his date had passed out. Good. She wouldn't be bothering them anymore for a little while.

"So, you mean to tell me that you are from the past?" the spider asked, turning his attention back to Rin. At the girl's nod, he questioned, "And your mother just went into the past and picked you up?"

Rin sighed. Well, so much for the big birthday bash. She called to a servant and asked for chairs. A few moments later, the chairs came and the girl gestured for her guests to be seated. "Perhaps you should tell this story, Kagome," she spoke, letting her attention fall on her mother.

Kagome nodded as she took a seat next to her husband. She then began to relate the story of the Shikon no Tama and her journey as a priestess. Every once in a while she was interrupted with a question from either the rats, Tomo, or Hokochi. She didn't mind and answered their questions with a smile or told them to wait a moment and they would find out the answer.

Hours later, Kagome finished, "So, Sesshomaru and I had decided I should return to the present and await for him with our daughter. It only made sense. Someone needed to wait with Rin. She was just a little girl when all this had happened."

"And in an era that was not her own," Edward concluded. He gazed at Rin curiously. "It explains a lot, miss. From your accent, to your very nature. I always thought you seemed... otherworldly."

Tomo found he agreed with the rat. Next to him, his date sat shivering as if she were cold. He knew she had figured out her unfortunate fate. He almost felt as if he should feel compassion for the girl, but then... Tomo did not really understand the concept of compassion. Nor did he truly care.

Tomo looked around at the group. "I had heard of the Keeper of the Shikon no Tama and her half demon companion. Stories of them, their companions, and their defeat of Naraku travelled all around Japan. At least, among the demons. No one knew the young miko's name, and if they did, they dared not speak it. Could the mutt there be your companion?"

Kagome looked to Inuyasha and smiled. She nodded at the spider's question. "Inuyasha and I travelled together along with Shippo, a demonslayer, a fire neko, and a monk. Every once in a while we even had a flea that travelled with us. And, in the end, Sesshomaru and Jaken became companions of ours. As did Koga and even Kikyo."

Tomo hissed, "The wench that started the whole thing! Had it not been for her..."

At Inuyasha's growl, Kagome stopped the spider demon. "Do not blame Kikyo for what happened. It was not her fault. Naraku would have went after anyone who had carried the Shikon no Tama. It is unfortunate that his victim happened to be her. In all honesty, it could have been anyone."

The spider could not disagree with that statement. He turned to Rin. "Do you miss it?" he asked her, speaking of the Feudal Era.

The human girl shrugged. "Sometimes when I try to see the stars through the polluted sky," she answered. "I know it was much more difficult and ten times more dangerous. I am grateful my mother and father decided to bring me here. Besides, how else would I have met the people who have impacted my life so much? My friends?"

Edward blushed at that comment while Elizabeth smiled sweetly. "Indeed," the rat demoness agreed, "I must say that I, too, am grateful. You are a fine young lady, Rin. A rare beauty in a time where beauty is everything."

It was Rin's turn to blush as she thanked the demoness for the compliment. "Well, I think we should get this party started," Rin said suddenly. "We've been sitting here talking for hours and those poor band players need something to do! Not to mention, we've managed to scare the life out of Tomo's date."

The other teenager paled when she was mentioned. She had hoped she would've been forgotten and could have escaped. Now she knew that wouldn't be the case. All eyes turned on her and she felt faint.

"No, no, no," Tomo scolded as he gently held the girl up. "I don't need you fainting on me again."

Edward laughed, "What do you expect, spider? After all she's taken in? I'm surprised she's lasted this long."

"What are we going to do with her?" Elizabeth asked. "She knows more then she should."

Inuyasha gave a snort and looked away. He didn't care one way or the other what happened to the girl. It seemed Sesshomaru and the wolves shared the hanyou's feelings. "Kill her," the demon lord suggested.

Kagome's eyes widened as she glared at her husband. "Are you crazy?! You're going to kill a girl just because she knows what you are?"

"Kagome, what do you think is going to happen? Do you believe she'll walk out this house and not speak a word about us?" the taiyoukai asked, not buying it.

The girl piped in, "I could do that! I promise, if you let me live, I'll never breathe a word about this to anyone! I swear on my parents' graves!"

"Feh!" Inuyasha barked. "I wonder how many times she's had to give that line."

Rin shook her head. "I don't want any blood shed on my birthday," she ordered. She turned to the girl. "What's your name?" she asked her kindly.

The girl silently cursed herself for having given Tomo her real name. Now, she had no choice to give this... thing her name as well. "A... Asakura..." she whispered.

Rin smiled. "I know you already know this, but, my name is Rin. I know you're scared. I don't blame you. Demons can be scary beings. Especially when they start talking about killing you. Don't worry. I'm not going to let anything happen to you."

"Are you a demon?" the frightened girl asked.

Rin laughed and shook her head. "No. I'm a human just like you. I was raised with demons and by a demon. My dad, here, he's a demon."

Asakura thought about this and gave Rin a funny look. "If your dad is a demon, then doesn't that make you..."

"He's not my real dad," Rin explained quickly. "He and my mom adopted me when I was little."

"Why would a demon adopt a human?" Asakura questioned.

Rin shrugged. "I suppose the same reason why he married one. My mom is a human as well. Not all demons are bad... Just... most of them."

Asakura nodded and bowed her head. She then gazed up at Tomo. "You... you tricked me. You were going to kill me, weren't you?" she stammered, stifling her tears.

"You are lucky Rin has made it clear you will not die this night," he answered. "Yes, it was my intention to eat you. A spider needs nourishment, after all."

The girl's eyes widened. "You... you were.... You were going to... eat me?!"

"Don't sound so shocked," Edward scolded, covering his ears at the girl's suddenly shrill voice. "Think about what a spider is. The creature itself feasts on bugs of all kinds. The bigger the critter, the more they have to eat. Think, girl. It only makes sense that Tomo, too, would need to eat something big enough for him."

"Why not a cow? Or a pig?" the girl suggested. "Why me?"

"Do you see a cow or pig anywhere?" Tomo asked, getting annoyed. "Japan is not really known for it's cattle farms."

Rin sighed. This was getting no where. She figured her perfect night was ruined, so she just shook her head. "It doesn't matter anyway," she said. "Tomo's not going to eat you now. You're safe."

"But, why would he want to eat me in the first place? I'm not even big! I mean, the only meat on my bones is a little muscle and fat," Asakura pressed. "I'm not even near overweight. In fact, I'm underweight."

Tomo almost bit her. At least then, she'd shut up. He was about to respond when Shippo spoke up for him, "Didn't you pay attention in Biology? Spiders don't eat meat. They shoot venom into your body and turn everything inside into a liquid. Technically, they don't even eat you. They drink you."

"That makes me feel a whole lot better," Asakura retorted sarcastically. She held her hand up to her ear as if using it as a phone. "Uh, hello, Mom? Yeah, I won't be coming home tonight because my date just drank me... no, you heard me right. He drank me."

Shippo was taken aback. Who was this girl?

Rin, however, found what Asakura said to be funny and soon began laughing. "Talk about that phone call!" she giggled. "Can you imagine the other end of that conversation? 'Wait, what?'"

Asakura smiled and then laughed as well. "Dear god, I don't think I would want to imagine it. Think about the kids at school. 'Hey! Did you hear about what happened? Asakura got drunk by her date. No, I mean, her date drank her.'"

Rin bowed her head as her shoulders shook with laughter. "You know," she said suddenly, looking up at Asakura, "I think the two of us could really get along. I've got so many stories I could tell you."

"Oh, god. Please don't tell me your dad drinks humans too!"the other girl said in mock fear.

Rin shook her head vehemently while smiling. "He tends to stick to things like fish and chicken. Normal food. Hokochi, though, eats a lot of raw meat."

"Who's Hokochi?" Asakura asked.

Rin waved a hand at the wolf as an introduction. "He's a wolf demon. Well, he, Riko, and Koga," she explained.

The girl nodded her head slowly and then made an observation, "So, pretty much, whatever their animal counterparts eat, they eat too?"

Rin shrugged. "It really depends on what said animal eats. My father wouldn't be caught dead eating dog food. Even the stuff out of a can."

Asakura shuddered. "I don't blame him. That stuff just smells gross. I don't see how dogs eat it to begin with.... So, I take it your dad is a dog demon?"

At Rin's nod, Asakura smiled. As the girl looked around the room, she began seeing the people there through new eyes. No longer was she under the naive impression that this was a costume party. She knew now that, aside from Rin and her mother, Asakura was the only human present. The weird part about it was that she was comfortable. The initial shock had worn off now and she was beginning to take it in stride.

Then again, Asakura never really was one to dwell on bad feelings. She found the whole demon thing appealing. She looked at Tomo. "You should come to my house sometime. My brother owns like, three or four spiders. I forget how many, mostly cause I never really pay much attention. He has a snake too, but I don't think that would interest you as much."

Tomo huffed, "Why would I care about some spiders in a cage?"

Asakura tilted her head a little, then she thought about it. "You have a point. Spiders aren't really known for liking each other," she commented. She then looked at Rin. "Hey, do you have anything to drink? No humans, mind you, but perhaps some tea or soda?"

Rin suppressed a giggle as she nodded and urged Asakura to come with her to the kitchen. Once the girls were gone, all eyes turned to Tomo. The spider demon knew what was coming next.

"Well?" Edward asked, breaking the silence. He watched as Tomo's eyebrow raised in question. Sighing, Edward elaborated, "What are you going to do now? You can't send that girl home with a promise not to see her again."

"Edward is right," Kagome agreed. "Now that she knows, she needs to be protected."

"More like monitored," Inuyasha grumbled. When the miko gave him a look, he shrugged, "That's the real problem, Kagome. The humans cannot find out about us. Any of us. It would start a war that is not necessary."

"You really believe a bunch of humans are going to listen to some silly teenage girl?" Elizabeth asked, scoffing.

Again, the hanyou shrugged, "Do you really want to find out?"

"Inuyasha, if other demons learn that she knows the secret, she could be in serious danger," Kagome told him. "You know this. Many demons do not like the idea of humans knowing."

"And yet we have demonslayers, which are humans," piped in Riko, waving a dismissive hand.

Sesshomaru gave a slight incline of his head. "The demonslayers are important. They help to protect the human race from the evils of those demons who wish to destroy them. The slayers are not many," he whispered.

The wolf bitch growled, "They still exist and they are human. We could send her to the demonslayers and have them train her. Then, she would be safe."

Tomo shook his head. "No. Asakura would never agree to that. The closest station is outside of Tokyo. She would have to move without her family. For whatever reason, humans are close to their families. She would never agree."

"Who said we'd give her a choice?" the female sneered.

"We are not forcing her to do anything she doesn't want to do!" Kagome shouted.

An idea suddenly came to Elizabeth. She looked to Tomo. "Why not claim her?" she suggested.

The spider demon stared at the demoness as if she had just stung him. "For one," he started out slowly, annunciated each word so she clearly understood, "spider demons do not claim anyone. For two, such a thing would indicate I care for the girl, which I don't. Three, claiming usually brings about children, which is not possible between the girl and myself. Four..."

"Why aren't children possible?" the rat demoness interrupted.

"...if I were to claim someone, it would not be her," the spider continued as if he hadn't been interrupted.

"Do not make assumptions, Tomo," Elizabeth reprimanded. "You do not know this girl. She does not seem like a bad person. She might just be your type."

Tomo grunted, "You don't even know what my 'type' is."

Shippo shook his head. "She may not, but I have a very good idea," he spoke up, leaning his back against his chair lazily. "And if I'm right, she is very much your type."

"It doesn't matter anyway," the spider snarled. "Spiders do not claim people. I wouldn't even begin to know how to do such a thing. And even if I did, who says I want to."

It was the kitsune's turn to growl. "Had she been Rin, you would be saying otherwise," came from the fox. He had not meant to say that.

Tomo's face paled just a bit at Shippo's callous announcement. His eyes widened slowly. Then, quickly, his eyes narrowed as his face went awash in anger. "You're right, fox. Had she been Rin, I would be saying otherwise. But, the point is, she's not. Thank you for reminding me why I had thought about not coming here tonight," he whispered in a dangerously low voice.

"Tomo, I..."

"Don't begin your apologies," the spider interrupted the kitsune. "I do not need your sympathy nor your pity. And I do not want them. I have watched the two of you since you started working at the school. It is sickening. You spend more time kissing her then you do teaching. It's a wonder she still finds time to come to class..."

"Are you attempting to scold me for kissing my mate at school?" the kitsune asked, astonished. "Weren't you the one who kissed her during lunch? My mate?"

So, he knew. That was why Shippo had been avoiding him. The spider knew where this arguement was going and he knew he wouldn't win. Moreso, he could see the astounded looks on the faces of those gathered around. In a too calm voice, Tomo whispered, "Just so you know, she kissed me. I don't know what she's told you, nor do I care. I have never made a pass at her, nor have given her any reason to question my intentions. I know who she belongs to and I will do nothing to ruin it."

Before Shippo could respond, Rin and Asakura walked back in. The girls looked as if they had been joking about some nonsense. Tomo stood up and turned towards the door. He threw a look over his shoulder. "Come, Asakura. We're leaving," he ordered.

The girls stopped and gazed at the spider demon. Asakura's face drained as Rin took a step closer. "Tomo..." she began.

He cut her off. "Don't worry. She's staying with me tonight, but I will not harm her. Tomorrow you shall see her again, unharmed and 'undrank.'"

Rin did not like this. She didn't know what had happened, but by the looks on everyone's faces, it wasn't anything good. She bid goodnight to her newfound friend and watched as the couple left. Then, she slowly turned to the others to see all eyes were on her.

"What just..."

"You kissed him?!" Inuyasha shouted.

Taken aback, Rin didn't know how to respond. She looked to Shippo. "I kissed who?" she asked shakily.

"Rin, did you, or did you not, kiss Tomo?" her father's soft, but commanding voice inquired.

Oh. So that's what this was about. From the look on the kitsune's face, Rin knew who had told them that. She then realized that Shippo must have said something to insult or hurt Tomo, thus the reason he decided to leave. This made the girl angry. Tomo was her friend and she knew the spider demon did not deserve to be insulted. Angry eyes flared on Shippo.

"You talk about you trusting me. Is this how it's going to be between us? Everytime something happens, you run off and tell my parents?" she asked, hurt. "You can't decide whether you love me or not, so you ask my parents what they think. Don't bother to ask me what I think! Tomo finally opens up to me and you run off and tell my parents I kissed him. Are you serious? Honestly, Shippo, I would've thought by now you'd be a bit smarter then that. Are you jealous of Tomo or something? Can't you see you've won the grand prize? What more do you want me to do? Start spitting out babies?"

The kitsune's eyes widened at that. He sighed, "I had not meant to say that, Rin. I was just trying to get him to see that Asakura wasn't so bad."

"By shouting out that I kissed him?!"

"No!" he argued. "By showing him that it's ok to look at other women. That not everyone has to be you."

"You don't think he knows that? Seriously, Shippo, the guy sees that everyday, in every person he meets. Why do you feel it necessary to remind him of that? It's not your job," she told him.

The kitsune walked up to his mate and lifted a hand to her face. He cupped her jaw. "I'm sorry, Rin. The last that I would ever want is to hurt you... or Tomo. Most importantly, you. I don't know all that is going on between you two..."

She shook her head as a tear fell from her eye. "Tomo and I are friends. Nothing more, nothing less. I know what I did was wrong, my love. But, it was necessary. You know I love you, and only you. There is no one else for me."

He nodded as he brushed his lips against hers. "I just want Tomo to find what we have found," he whispered.

She sighed and pulled away from him. "I'm going to bed. This night has been ruined and I'm tired," she announced before turning from everyone and leaving.