InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Needing It ❯ Chapter Ten ( Chapter 9 )

Disclaimer: No more funny stuff. It's not mine.

 

A/N: Okay, on your screen is officially the longest chapter I have ever written. A lot is going to go down so get comfy, grab some tissues, and try to keep up.

 

The End

 

Naraku's castle—it loomed on the plain like an evil tyrant surveying his slaves.  The sky around it was perpetually dark, the endlessly flowing miasma shrouding the walls of the building from view.  It was enormous, and it pissed him off to no end that he didn't find it until now.  Inuyasha brandished his blade and thrust the sacred arrow into the barrier, dispelling it enough for him to get in.  The evil mist instantly closed on him like a larger-than-life guard expelling an intruder.  It tore his skin, sending rivulets of blood flying through the tempest of sickly green wind, but he refused to stop.  Finally the miasma released him with a sickening pop, revealing a large decrepit mansion.  The shoji doors were in disrepair, the walls seemed brittle and numerous holes dotted the roof.  He doubted, however, if it ever rained around here. He stood before the bastion as the small gashes on his arms and face closed over.  Once it was done, the hanyou slashed the door to pieces.

“Naraku, I'm coming for you!”  His voice echoed through the eerie darkness of the interior.  Inuyasha continued deeper into the castle, letting its shadows engulf him until only the glowing hue of the sacred arrow protected him from the evil.  The soft scraping of sandals came to his hearing almost immediately and he tensed.  A soft white light materialized in the darkness, gradually increasing in size until it formed the figure of a child.  He knew what to do and rushed with all his speed at the deceptively young-looking incarnation.  Making the Tetsusaiga revert to its old state, the hanyou sped past the demon and thrust the blade through her back.  The tip punched through easily, sticking out of her chest and slightly lifting her off the ground.

Kanna would have felt surprise, surprise at the hanyou's speed, his power, his blade tearing into her.  In truth, all she felt was a certain amount of shock.  Then, in rapidly growing waves, a red flower blossomed from where the sword had penetrated, filling her body with an unrecognizable sensation.  It continued to her eyes, darkening the corners with a red haze.  The mind struggled to form words to describe it, and one rose to the top of the list almost instantly.  Pain.  She was in pain!  The realization rocked her tiny body to the core and suddenly she exploded from within, emotions flooding through her like a storm- scarring anger, abysmal sadness, crushing loneliness, and finally happiness.  It would end soon; soon she could finally rest.  Her eyes filled with tears, and she remembered fleetingly how she wondered what it would feel to cry.  Even as her body shut down she struggled to find some way to display her epiphany for the hanyou, whose stricken face glowed in the red haze she was blissfully succumbing to.  There was a dull pain in his eyes that she felt, she felt compelled to alleviate.  Words formed and fell softly from his mouth, the voice echoing with pain and defeat.

“Forgive me,” he said as the guilt he had not expected flooded his being.  He did not dare move for fear of hurting her more than necessary. All the memories of this young girl trying to steal the souls of his friends, or the way she deflected his attack and left him bedridden for days, or that business with Kaguya, none of it mattered in that one moment when his sword pierced the all-too-real body of the void incarnation.  `She's just a child!  I killed a, a…' but his mind refused to finish the thought.  He felt himself fall to his knees but made sure the blade remained where it was.  Then he heard her soft voice, and was shocked to hear it filled with emotion.

“Release me, please.  Release me and I'll forgive you.”  The tears came this time unbidden as he nodded, not trusting his voice to display his gratitude.  Deciding to let his actions speak for him, Inuyasha removed the blade and in one fluid motion ended the white demon child's life.  Her face was frozen in a large smile that shone like a beacon of Heaven in darkest Hell. The hanyou murmured a prayer over her body before continuing down the corridor, the mirror that fell from her lifeless hands tightly gripped in his free hand whilst Tetsusaiga rested against his left shoulder. Not long after turning to the right he heard the soft scraping of sandals coming toward him in the darkness. Recognizing the tread belonging to the wind sorceress, Inuyasha flung the mirror into the blackness.

Kagura was stunned into paralysis as a flit of silver flew past her, just barely grazing her face, before imbedding itself in the wall behind her. Turning around in curiosity, she immediately recognized Kanna's mirror. The sound of fast moving feet came too late to her ears and she could feel the cold caress of a sword against her throat before she could even turn around.

“Don't move, bitch,” she heard the unmistakable voice of the mutt. Plans sprang in her mind, practiced and perfected for this very day. At the same time she felt a well of black rage fester within her. `He killed her, butchered her with that barbaric steel club of his! Kanna!' She screamed her curses silently. The wind around her trembled and howled with her anger, the need for bloodshed and revenge screaming in its ancient language, before she finally reined it in and decided to use reason instead of brute force. However, before she could speak, the blade fell away. Bewildered by his actions and wary for any surprise attacks, she turned to face the enemy. He stood with his weapon held in a defensive position, but his eyes were looking to the corridor she had come from, where Naraku had dumped her from after he had finished with her. Her puzzlement grew to full-blown confusion when she heard his next words.

“She needs to be buried.” Latching onto those words instinctively, it gave Kagura the boost she needed to understand what was going on. He was letting her go! Casting her aside for bigger prey! Far from being offended, as the proud incarnation should have been, she smiled at the wisdom of it. It saved both of them the risk of wasting precious energy, and it allowed her to bury her child sister. In silent response to his `suggestion' she made her way where the hanyou had come from. Just before she was out of earshot, however, she heard him mutter, “Do not make me regret my decision.” Proud to the end, eh? `It's your funeral,' she thought with a sneer as she scooped up the lifeless child in her arms and left the castle, her soul singing joyously. Freedom!

Inuyasha waited until he could no longer hear or smell the wind sorceress before continuing. The decision to let her leave had been spur-of-the-moment and more of a bluff than anything else. He honestly did not want to waste time or energy fighting her. So when she had readily agreed to the proposal he had been surprised, but took it in stride. The scent of that bastard who had ruined his life and altered the destinies of everyone he had ever known spiked, making him increase his speed until he was charging full speed at the large shoji doors. They burst apart to let him in and the hanyou found a large room, empty save the rumpled futon and a burning pedestal. Underneath the stifling odor he could discern the musk of a woman's scent and male seed. Preferring not to think about what it could mean, he instead entered the room sword first. His target was nowhere to be found. Undeterred, Inuyasha sent his Kaze No Kizu into the room, turning it into a warped, blackened porch leading out to a great dirt square. A shrine stood alone at the far end. Blocking the entrance was the infamous baboon pelt that only Naraku wore. It twisted and turned in the artificial wind created by the miasmic barrier. For an eternity they stood on opposite sides of the arena. Then the abomination spoke.

“Welcome Inuyasha. I have been looking forward to your arrival for some time now. And you brought a gift, how wonderful of you,” he said in that smooth and silky voice that promised such hells. Inuyasha was unfazed by this tactic, letting the silence stretch before giving his retort.

“Naraku, I've come for your head.”

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Two lovers astride a flaming nekomata watched the night sky with absent fascination, choosing the realm of the mind than that of the Kami. Kirara kept her nose to the wind as she toiled to find her pack-brother's scent. His speed surprised the demon cat and worried her as well because it made him very hard to track. Nevertheless, it seemed like the snippets of scent she caught were headed in one direction. Miroku noticed this too and wondered what it could mean, before it finally dawned on him and his grip around Sango's waist tightened. She squeaked with surprise.

“I know where he's going,” he said and she stopped her angry remark instantly.

“Inuyasha?”

“Yes, it seems our friend has found Naraku.” The taijiya's eyes widened as the implications assaulted her. `He went alone? That bumbling idiot! He's going to get himself killed,' she thought with a thrill of dread gushing down her back. Sensing her worry, the lecherous monk kissed his love on the neck in a soothing manner. All thought ceased at the contact and she felt her body fall back against his. “Do not worry, koishii,” he said, the words hazy and murmured as his hands worked their magic on her body. “He's quite capable of taking care of himself. All we can do is trust in him to stay alive long enough for us to reach him and provide any aid.” He sealed the agreement with a kiss on her pulse. Sango turned abruptly and engulfed his lips with hers, letting that searing desire he always stoked within her erupt over her body. He returned her passion flame for flame, his hands stroking, rubbing, pulling, coaxing that one conclusive cry from her lips. Kirara continued along the path, all the while heading east. None of them saw the iota of white floating in the air above them in the opposite direction, nor could they distinguish the form of Kagura high up in the sky as she soared toward liberty.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Inuyasha made the first move, charging forward with sword held high, battle cry sounding. Tetsusaiga was swung and missed as Naraku evaded it easily. Out of the pelt shot tentacles that were avoided with a flip to the right. Using the momentum of the flip, Inuyasha spun the blade at neck level to his opponent. Naraku ducked and body-slammed the hanyou. As he staggered back he pulled off the baboon hide. Naraku stood in all his infernal glory, red eyes dancing with amusement.

“You are more of a fool than I would have suspected, Inuyasha. I should think that after so many useless attempts to kill me in a group, you wouldn't even consider coming here alone. Yet you stand before me like a sacrificial beast, almost begging me to take you out of your misery. I shall be happy to oblige!” The last sentence was spoken in mid-transformation as the vessel of a thousand youkai morphed. Cloth tore to accommodate the slight increase in mass as spikes and tentacles sprouted from his back. Along his arms gray armor plates materialized all the way to his shoulder. His chest was left bare, revealing the spider-shaped burn scar that was his trademark. The violet hakama remained intact as Inuyasha beheld his enemy's new form.

“Nice look for you Naraku,” he said with a sneer. “It's like I can actually see you now! Why don't we just keep this one because I really like the idea of tearing off those plates of yours with my sword.” Naraku snarled, his face having grown enormous pincers around his mouth and eyes smoldering red with bloodlust. Inuyasha did not have long to wait before the attack.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

`Alright Kagome, just take a deep breath. That's it; just let the stress roll off you onto the floor. Come on, girl, it's the last question. You can do it,' she chanted in her mind as she read the essay question for her last midterm, Lit 101. It was simple, so freaking simple that she knew the moment her pen started writing that it would prove to be the most difficult thing she would ever do.

Discuss the themes of the book `The Life of My Lord' by Jiji.

The essay turned in, Kagome breathed a long sigh of relief. The trials were over, now she could go home to regroup and finish the book. The painful parting of the group had been bad enough, especially the unspeakable horrors of those stupid, superstitious and paranoid villagers, but there were only two pages left, the final entry. Curling up on her sofa with her customary hot chocolate and blanket, the freshman let the magic of the Sengoku Jidai envelop her one last time. The words washed over her as the masterful writer wove his tale, revealing, hopefully, the final confrontation that was at hand.

New Moon

I write now with the greatest trepidation. The great castle of the atrocity Ukaran looms over our camp ominously, beckoning us to our doom. My powerful but stubborn master talks of waiting for the cover of night to launch his attack and will not listen to reason. This foe controls the strength of thousands of demons, some as old as the world itself! All of this power coursing under that cold red gaze, waiting for the moment where it could be unleashed. I must admit that this entire situation is thick with risk and the possibility of death in battle makes me tremble even as I write this. But I shall not waver in this. My lord needs me at his side now. For al that he has suffered, all he had endured the eighty-eight years he has survived, he does not have the strength to do this task alone. Indeed, I fear it will tax his body to the point of breach. The instability that I struggled to help him with has lessened with my training and my tales, but should Ukaran back Lord Inu into a corner, all of it would have been for naught. His humanity would succumb to the insanity of his youkai lineage, the bloodlust that lies dormant in his veins. Should this happen, it would not matter who is victorious, for my lord will be gone forever.

My thoughts digress to a time not long past, but it seems entire empires and eternities have risen and fallen since the day I beheld the treachery of humans. For the sake of repetition and avoiding unnecessary pain I will merely say that a woman, even the daughter of a lord, is not safe from the shackles of society should she love a demon. Dearest Lady Izayoi, I grieve for you even now! The pain, the men and their rough farming hands, the flames, the screams of agony only a tortured child can make, how it must have tore at your soul! And my poor young master, to bear the brunt of generations of hatred and prejudice, their anger and fear. You did not know then, poor lad, why they hurt you, pulled your ears as their whips scraped away your skin. And each time the blood would clot and begin to heal it only served to incense them further. Even as your mother's life bled away on the floor of your home and you were forced to watch her defilement helplessly, her sorrow was only for you. The tears then were the purest crystals these old eyes have ever beheld. When it was finally done and the men and women returned to their homes oblivious to the destruction they caused, tucking their children to bed with the reassurance that the demon whore and bastard son were finally purged from their village, I saw you crawl to her, saw you place your cheek against her bosom, a desperate craving to find comfort from the pain. I remember how she lifted her arm to drape over yours, silently reassuring you even as her breathing became labored and erratic. Then when she passed, when you could no longer hear the heartbeat that soothed away the fears of the day, your wail overpowered even the roar of the flames around you, and the women awoke from their slumber, tears of pity of remorse springing forth from their souls. You took her body and with all your strength moved her away from the burning mansion. Even as the fire reduced your home and soul to blackened ruins you dug a deep hole underneath her favorite tree. Placing her within I could only watch as you prayed, repeating the only chant you knew, the very same one she had been teaching you that day as the dirt was returned and your mother, who loved you with all her heart, was laid to rest.

Strange that I should think of such sad times when my lord, the very same child that had lived in isolation, directionless and lost, prepares for the greatest battle of his life. Perhaps I just want to be sure to preserve these memories, so they may live on in written form. Now, in the true spirit of one who foresees his demise, I shall end this tale of mine and hope that someone someday may find these pages and know that Iexisted, Ilived in these times, and that my death came at my lord's side. Though I quake with fear, I shall stand firm with my lord and render my services one last time.

 

Jiji

 

True to his word, the last page was blank, leaving Kagome feeling oddly bereft. What about Lord Inu? Did he succeed in his battle with Ukaran? What of afterwards? What happened? So many questions for which she would never receive the answers. The despair bubbled in her again, boiling up to her throat as scenarios, images, possibilities, and endings flashed in her mind. It had to be the worse ending in written history! Surely the great Jiji did not intend to leave matters like this? As if to confirm her suspicions, Kagome grabbed the book and leafed through it, searching for the elusive conclusion to the drama that scalded her soul, but found nothing. Suddenly angry, she threw the damned thing to the wall, smirking emptily at the resounding thud it made before falling to the floor. Yet even from its desolate position in the corner the text called to her, snatching her aura and commanding it to grasp it again, read it again, see what it said, what it meant to her, but she couldn't. Grabbing her coat and keys, Kagome left the apartment swiftly and headed for Everyday Wonders. The fact that she was not scheduled to come in did not matter, the tormented woman just knew that she could not stay in the slowly shrinking room whilst that book which contained all that she knew and would not remember plagued her.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Inuyasha felt his body scream in protest as he was once again thrown into a hut. The walls caved with the force of the impact and the hay within cushioned his fall somewhat. He could hear Naraku laugh in his position away from his line of sight.

“Inuyasha-sama,” the voice of Myouga said from his position on the hanyou's shoulder blade. “You must concentrate! Naraku is too fast for your present state! The only way you stand a chance is to use the Sight! There is no other way!”

“That's easy for you to say! You're not the one getting your ass kicked,” he snarled before lunging forward again, only to be evaded. A tentacle lashed out, and the hanyou caught it with his free arm. Pulling it toward him fiercely, he brought Tetsusaiga in a frontal slash parallel to the ground. The blade sliced air as the bastard demon dodged yet again, a sinister cackle echoing in the wind.

“Silly mutt, you're going to have be much faster than that to catch me,” he said malevolently. As if to prove his point he twisted to bring Inuyasha closer and punched the man upward into the air. Inuyasha tried to avoid the blows in midair, but in the end he lay with a tentacle protruding from his back. Blocking the pain as it sent stars to his eyes, the hanyou cut it off and leapt back. “I always knew it would end like this Inuyasha. I swore to see you broken before me and to have the power of the Shikon No Tama in my hands. Now it seems I shall fulfill my promise. Of course, there are many things I regret about this situation. It's very anticlimactic, no? You hardly put up a fight. And of course there is the matter of that precious miko of yours. Such a lovely innocence in her aura and a purity that would attract any man to her, it was disgusting. Did she allure you, Inuyasha? Did the promise of a second chance with that priestess who never trusted you and therefore could never love you seem too good to pass up? I must confess that even I had plans for that tight young body of hers. I would have taken great pleasure in breaking her. I would have made her scream my name.”

Something within the core of Inuyasha snapped into place with those words. An explosion of emotion destroyed the fort of repression he had created in his years of wandering since that night, bursting forth with memories and half-forgotten rages. Among the din within one word pierced like the bell of doom.

Kagome.

A golden haze that blocked out everything but himself and Naraku replaced the world around him. Inuyasha's eyes dilated rapidly until all that could be seen was amber. Naraku could see the surge of power in the hanyou's aura and took a small step back instinctively. The red-clad hanyou had slumped forward slightly, like a mannequin on strings. Seeing the apparent vulnerability, Naraku went for the killing blow, uninterested with what he saw. From the golden mist Inuyasha could see the thick tentacle fly at him slowly. He studied it absentmindedly before moving to the side so it would pass harmlessly by. To the attacker, however, he had not seen Inuyasha move. Myouga, who had been knocked away some time ago on a piece of debris saw the movement and sighed with relief. `He did it,' the flea thought happily as the darkness swept over him again, this time taking his soul away from the battlefield. The journal, the same that would survive centuries to land in the hands of Tetsujin, lay beside him, its pages rustling softly.

Naraku was at a loss. Since the sudden change in the mutt's aura and appearance, he had been unable to land a single attack or thrust on him. The hanyou, having deduced why the mist had appeared, grinned devilishly at his opponent.

“What's the matter Naraku,” Inuyasha taunted, weaving from side to side with ease. “I thought you were too fast for me? Didn't you call me a fool for coming here alone? What—can—you—do—now,” he asked, each word following a dodge. Enraged by the futility of his assault, Naraku decided to lay it all out.

“Stupid, insignificant beast! I'll show you what true power is! I'll make you wish that bitch of a mother, dog or otherwise, never pushed you out in the first place! Die!” The remainder of his clothes tore away as Naraku took his true form. Six extra legs, each one a different skin texture, sprouted around his original two. The torso stretched to impossible heights as more appendages burst forth from the sides.  They twisted and flayed around, more like infernal patch quilts than arms with diamond-shaped scraps of bleeding burning skin layered over his entire body.  His face elongated evilly as razor-sharp spikes sprouted over the hairless head.  The pincers grew as well, and the plated arms shoot outward.  The center of the chest split to reveal a dragon's head with napalm drool in its jaws.  The human form of Naraku could no longer be seen, replaced by the snarling, shifting beast towering over Inuyasha.  The hanyou remained still during the entire transformation, golden eyes hidden by white bangs.  A deep, hellish voice issued from the pincers as the massive mouth moved to form words.

“This is the face of Death!  I shall not spare you this time, nor will I prolong your living through torture!  You have bored me beyond all reason and I will tear the skin from your bones!  Die half-breed!”  Fifteen tentacles shot at random times.  Inuyasha watched them pierce the mist in the same slow speed he had grown accustomed to.  Lifting Tetsusaiga over his shoulder, he leapt at the abomination's face.  Naraku could only watch as the crimson and silver blur dodged and spun before feeling the blade pierce the skin of his cheek.  Inuyasha landed on a shoulder and flipped until he stood behind the youkai.

“Honestly, Naraku, is this the best you can do. I think I'll just use my claws since you're not being that much of a challenge,” he said and sheathed his powerful fang. Removing it from his haori strap and placing it on the floor, the hanyou leapt again. Naraku could feel his mind become blanketed with rage to see this most unbelievable insult. The dragon's head shared his anger by releasing its mythical flame on the hanyou. Although it did not harm the hanyou thanks to his fire-rat fur, the blast did manage to stop him enough for the abomination to get a hit in. Inuyasha felt the wind forced out of his lungs before slamming into the ground. Stars erupted in his eyes and he struggled to breathe. In his attempt to recover from the pain of the blow he felt tentacles envelop him. `Damn, that bastard sure hits hard,' he thought bitterly as he felt his body lifted into the air. Deep guttural laughs scalded his ears.

“Your arrogance will be your undoing,” he said, the pincers striking together forcefully with every word. “What use do you have for Sight if you can't even move? Become one with me Inuyasha, and join the power that I command!”

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“I see it! It's Naraku's castle,” Sango said as she tightened her grip on Hiraikotsu. Kirara roared with triumph and rage whilst her companions readied for battle. Miroku, feeling the barrier weakened, used sacred sutras to blast a hole wide enough for them.

“Let us make haste,” the monk said as the miasma parted to let them pass. “Inuyasha might need our aid!” Before any more could be said the nekomata and crew burst into the fray.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Inuyasha heard a familiar bellow behind him and felt panic seize his heart. `No! What are they doing here? Those idiots, they could get hurt!' Unconsciously twisting his head around he saw Sango, Miroku and Kirara standing like ants against a typhoon. Their voices only served to further freeze his blood.

“Inuyasha! Are you okay,” the taijiya asked, almost missing the incoming flit of steel to her right. Bringing her boomerang to bear just in time, she faced her attacker. The limp body of a boy on invisible strings materialized from the wreckage of a fallen warehouse, the kusarigai returning to his hand. Kohaku locked blank eyes with those of his sister for a split second before charging forward.

“Reunited again,” Naraku said with a cackle as the siblings fought, the eldest desperate with need and crying for the heartache to end. Inuyasha felt his hands bleed from containing his rage. The amber in his eyes flashed and the hanyou gave a yell of exertion before forcing the tentacles apart. Wasting no time he thrust his claws along the face of the dragon. Chunks of scaly skin fell away and the reptile roared with pain. From both side the arms came and Inuyasha flipped back out of harm's way. His claws in the sand jarred him to a halt next to Miroku as he fought the minor demons that had accumulated around the clearing to watch the battle and perhaps gain some tasty human flesh.

“What the hell are you doing here,” the hanyou hissed, his eyes never leaving the enormous beast in front of him.

“We are here to help you, you stubborn ass,” came the response, the last word emphasized by the sound of his staff slicing through yet another demon. He had been trying for some time to get to Sango and Kohaku, who were still battling on the sidelines, but had become bogged down by the opportunistic youkai. Inuyasha snarled with exasperation as he created a path for the monk, hollered at him to take Sango and go, and returned to his own battle. During this entire time Naraku focused his energy over the dragon's open mouth, ready to destroy them all in one shot. Inuyasha felt the haze around him suddenly fill with a bright light that decimated everything around him. He realized what the bastard was planning and went for his sword. The ball of black youki compressed upon itself and grew. The magnitude of its power made all other combatants stop and behold with morbid fascination. Inuyasha unsheathed Tetsusaiga and stood between his friends and Naraku. He merely laughed at the attempt of protection.

“Nothing can stop me now! You shall die and the ashes of your bodies will fertilize this ground for generations! Your time has come. DIE!” The blast departed from its master and surged to its destination. Inuyasha closed his eyes and let the Sight wash over him. The blade in his hands shimmered with golden tendrils of wind, the tip facing oblivion. The end was near, fate held its breath, and the hanyou struck.

“BAKURYUUHAA,” came the cry over the cacophonous shriek of the youki. The ball broke into black twisters of energy that shot back at Naraku. His scream as they tore his body apart made the very mountains around the mansion shudder. A hailstorm of body parts rained down over the clearing as the humans and nekomata struggled to recover. What remained of the menacing Naraku as Tetsusaiga dissipated the souls of the youkai was a tall, badly burnt man wrapped in bandages—Onigumo. He staggered to his feet and with his one good eye glared hatefully at the hanyou.

“Damn you, Inuyasha,” he screamed, his burnt voice box grating the words like two rusted pipes rubbing together. “You've taken everything from me! You and that accursed sword of yours have ripped Kikyou, my life, my immortality, my very soul, all of it from me! With my last breath I promise to see you dead!” The ground shook and split with the force of his rage as the greedy bandit made his final stand against the detestable half-breed. Inuyasha had heard enough and charged forward to end it. Their youki collided, one full of hate, the other with determination and triggered a devastating explosion that sent Miroku, Sango, Kohaku, and Kirara flying in different directions. Within the epicenter Inuyasha thrust his sword into the heart of the one who had caused such pain and chaos to him. The bandit disintegrated, his remains scattering to the four winds and when the smoke cleared, Inuyasha stood victorious and alone over the field. Wasting no time, he ran to the ruined shrine and used the sacred arrow to fish out the jewel. It glowed with Naraku's malice and rage for one brief second before it succumbed to the purifying light of the arrow. Inuyasha brought his shards together with the large piece. They fused into one round pearl and the hanyou felt a great weight lift from his heart, that is, until he noticed the miniscule chip missing. For a moment despair wracked his frame, then he remembered what the final shard was. He sniffed the air, tossed the air, and found it. The wind whistled at his departure, a new cargo in tow.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Miroku felt the stabs of pain awaken him and he struggled to sit up. From the moment he opened his eyes he knew that it was finally over, the unceasing void in his palm pulsing for his blood, his soul, no longer weighed down his spirit. He might have felt elation were the situation capable of allowing such a positive response. The first thing he noticed upon waking was Sango on his knees with her face in her hands; her sobs were laced with such futility it broke his heart. Crawling slowly over to her, he winced with pain as he embraced her. The human contact of the one she loved only served to remind her more keenly of who was gone. From the moment she could move the taijiya had gone on a frantic search for her brother but try as she did, all she found was his kusarigai lying against what looked horribly like blood. It was there that the monk had found her, crying over a pool of blood. Around them the ground was black from the explosion and flattened save for tiny mounds of wood and mud, as if there had never been anything else in this one plot of land. Miroku rocked his love back and forth whilst studying the end result of the battle with Naraku. To his left Kirara stirred, the unconsciousness lifting with a pained whine. Besides her, there were no other living beings as far as the eye could see. Inuyasha was gone. Preferring not to dwell on the hanyou, he whispered to his love as her tears died away.

“Come, koishii, let's return to Kaede's village. There is nothing more we can do here and your wounds need tending,” he said in the softest, most comforting voice he could manage. She trembled with sadness before sighing.

“I just wanted to see him again,” he heard her say, her voice low and carried solely by the wind.

“I know, but his soul is at peace now. Inuyasha would not have let him suffer,” he said. She nodded before standing weakly. Miroku couldn't know that this was perhaps the worst thing to say, for it triggered a defense mechanism Sango had developed over the years for emotionally-charged situations—rage. It blinded her to the pain, the sadness and the realization that she was the last of the Taijiya, and focused on the face of whom she had once called friend. `Inuyasha, I curse your existence,' she chanted mentally, feeling the flames of hatred in her veins pool in the pit of her stomach. That damn hanyou had taken her away her one chance to be with her brother, destroyed her happiness without a thought or a care! His face, bleeding so vivid in her mind, suddenly switched from arrogant spite to that same emptiness she had seen that fateful day in the clearing. The realization that she was blaming her friend for something he would never do made her knees give again. She crumbled to the floor and resumed her sobs, begging forgiveness to the Kami for whatever wrong she had committed to deserve this pain, anything to make it stop! Kirara walked over to them slowly, an object in her mouth. Miroku reached for it with his free hand and found it to be a small book. Upon closer inspection he could just make out the title—A Servant's Tale. Pocketing it with a sad smile, Miroku helped Sango onto Kirara (cupping a feel that she swatted away half-heartedly) before mounting and the three headed back to the village where it all began.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Sesshoumaru, I need a favor.”

The delicate zephyr passed its hand over his cheek as he stood in a clearing of grass surrounded by deep woods, watching the object of his search intently. `How ironic that after looking for him for so long, he would come to me,' he thought fleetingly.

“Inuyasha,” he said with the same icy demeanor he exerted on those lower than him. “What makes you think this Sesshoumaru would aid you in any way shape or form? What delusion have you suffered compels you to my presence only to die,” the lord said, never once letting the satisfaction enter his voice. Could it be that the proud son of a bitch, the arrogant ass that refused help from everyone, the young orphan who watched with dry tears in his eyes as his las living family turned his back on him, as the door to his father's castle remained closed despite his feeble fists pounding against it, was Inuyasha actually asking for help?

Inuyasha did not flinch at the veiled threat, keeping his eyes trained to those of his brother's. He hated the fact that it had come to this, but the hanyou had no other way to complete the quest with his conscience intact. So, even if it required bearing the nuisance of the Ice Asshole's company, Inuyasha would get what he needed and be off. He had much bigger things to do now. That being said, he got right to the point.

“I invoke my right of a royal sibling boon. As the acting lord of the Western Lands, you are duty-bound to grant any one wish that a member of your family asks of you. Seeing as how I'm the only family you have, I say you got off good,” he finished with a smirk, glad for once that he had listened to Myouga during one of his never-ending monologues on youkai royal protocol. Sesshoumaru felt his mask falter before plunging into incredulity. How had a hanyou that had never so much as step foot in a demon court know these things? It angered him, the very idea that Inuyasha would use his environment and rules to aid him when all he wanted was to slice him open and let Toukijin suck his blood. Inuyasha stiffened, all too familiar with the scent of bloodlust, and reached for Tetsusaiga with one hand. “I'm not here for a fight. Simply grant my request and I shall be on my way.” To prove his intentions, he laid the source of his appeal on the grass before him and stepped back. The obvious sign of submission calmed the Taiyoukai somewhat, but only just so. Once emotions were under control, Sesshoumaru spoke.

“Very well, half-breed. I will grant your request on one condition,” he said and Inuyasha eyed him warily.

“What condition?”

“I have heard rumors that the amalgamation of youkai known as Naraku has been defeated. The most farfetched of the information is that it was a lowly hanyou that brought down this abomination.”

“Yeah, so what?”

“Well, if you want this boon, then you must best me in battle. I wish to see your progress with the Tetsusaiga,” the demon lord said and brought Toukijin to bear. Inuyasha snarled impatiently.

“Damn it all, Sesshoumaru, I told you I don't want to fig—“ the rest was cut off as the hanyou leapt back to evade the sword strike.

“Whether you wish to fight me or not is of no consequence. Draw your sword or die.” The next blast served as a testament to how serious he was. Youkai Inuyasha welcomed the battle and Human Inuyasha accepted that it was the only way. This agreement made the golden haze descend and the hanyou smiled at the downward slice Sesshoumaru used. `It may be underhanded to use this, but its time this bastard got knocked down a peg or two,' he thought as he sidestepped the strike. Sesshoumaru did not notice the smirk and in his graceful way changed the direction to follow his half-brother. Rin sat among the grass, her head barely higher than the longest stalk, watching the fleeting blurs before her. Losing interest in them quickly, she turned her attention to what Inuyasha-sama had placed on the ground.

Marvelous, truly unbelievable how far this damnable fool had come. Sesshoumaru was no fool, he could clearly see the golden light emitting from his opponent's aura and easily discerned what it meant. Not to mention the self-satisfied smirk plastered on his face every time he dodged Toukijin, and he hadn't even touched his blade! He took comfort in the fact that he too was withholding his true strength, using the `battle' to come to terms with the idea that his brother really was strong enough to rival almost any youkai in existence. It was to be expected, since it was Inu No Taisho blood flowing in those undeserving veins after all. The squeal of excitement to his right made him turn in that direction. In that second of vulnerability Inuyasha lashed out with his foot. The kick collided with cheek and the demon lord was brought down. It didn't matter, Sesshoumaru had already decided on his course of action. Rin ran to him, practically gushing with anticipation and begging for the boon to be granted. The growl that bristled in his throat was forcefully pushed down as he reached for the sheathed sword on his waist. In one swift movement Tenseiga slashed over the body and was promptly returned to its home. At the same time Inuyasha scraped the sacred arrow over the jewel shard's hiding place. Once the act was done, the soft sounds of breathing were all that could be heard in the clearing. The hanyou hoisted his reborn cargo and left the clearing silently, whilst Sesshoumaru watched with bemusement and reflection. Rin waved cheerfully at them.

“Remember to visit sometime, Kohaku!”

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Once they were a good distance away, he put the boy down against a tree. Leaving him there to wake on his own, the hanyou returned the Shikon No Tama to its former glory. It shone beautifully on his palm before he hid it in his haori. The sacred arrow, its duty finished, disintegrated. The wind carried it high into the clouds. `Thanks again Kikyou,' he thought before turning his attention to the now softly crying boy behind him. The memories had returned with the soul. Inuyasha watched as the youngster fisted his hair and mumbled incoherently, struggling with the guilt tearing him. Growling low in his throat, the hanyou grabbed him by the shirt collar and lifted him high in the air, effectively silencing his cries.

“I know that you're in pain, and the guilt you're feeling must be unbearable. If you so choose, I will end you life here and now,” he said, cracking the joints of his free hand as an emphasis. “But if I did that, then Sango would never forgive me, or you. When we are in pain, it's easy to wish for death, to escape reality and long for the soothing hand of eternal sleep. But if we do that, then we accomplish, and the world, everyone, Time itself, suffers from our cowardice. To live, push against the agony and to continue taking breath, continue walking forward into the sunrise, takes true courage. I did not have you revived so that you may live a tortured existence plagued with your memories. I brought you back so that you can make that decision. Will you find the strength to overcome the blood and darkness of the past and create new light for the future? Or shall I return your soul to the abyss without redemption?” Kohaku did not answer, so the hanyou released him and started walking. “I'm headed for Kaede's village, where your sister is mourning the death of her beloved brother. If you wish to live, then follow me. If not, I leave you in the mercy of the forest.” Nothing else was said. Soon after another set of footsteps could be heard among the trunks of the trees, heading east.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Sango stood against the door of her hut, eyes trained to the rising sun with trancelike intensity. Arms encircling her did not register, but the feel of soft lips on her neck finally broke her from her reverie. She turned her head to catch Miroku in a “good morning” kiss before once again returning her eyes to the clouds. The monk held her, deciding to just enjoy her presence for now. `There'll be time later for other thoughts,' he thought with a lecherous grin and he rested his chin between her shoulder blades. After the wounds were tended and all reunions between the old miko and kit were satisfied, the two had journeyed back to Sango's village. More youkai had infested it in their absence, making it very difficult for just the two of them to get rid of the demonic auras. In the end it was Sango that decided to leave. Her reasoning behind this was simple. The village that had been her hometown was meant to serve as a reminder that she had been loved and needed once, since love for a fiercely independent woman such as herself was rare. But now it was merely a shadow of its former self, a ghost of a town that held no memories or ties. Besides, who needed a village to feel loved when she had a lecherous monk that dramatically proclaimed his love at least ten times an hour? Miroku had enjoyed this little tidbit of information greatly and without hesitation fell to his knees and asked for her hand in marriage. She agreed, sealing the proposition with a kiss that brought tears to her eyes. Love truly was a wondrous thing. It was capable of such good, the ultimate healing salve and the purest of pleasures. But at the same time, it could shatter your soul and tear the heart to shreds. These thoughts held her being where she stood, pondering the mindset of one whom Love had ruined. Only Kirara was missing from the scene, but she had gone on the morning patrol with Shippou. Neither of them, having only human senses after all, saw the rustle of leaves in the forest, nor did the fleeting afterimages of red and white among the trunks draw their attention away.

The little kitsune walked intently, one hand on his sword handle while his eyes scanned the boundary of the forest for any sign of youkai. The nekomata strolled beside him, silently admiring the pup's intensity. He had grown much in their absence, having nothing to do but train to defend his home. And he did very well in that aspect, dispatching four full-grown youkai with his sword despite his tiny size. A scent in the wind, fleeting and impossible to discern, broke her thoughts and she looked to the trees. By the kitsune's stiffening and spike of evanescent fear she knew he had caught it too. They stood side by side facing the trees, ready for anything that would come.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Pausing only for a second, he smiled at how quickly the runt had caught his bait. Flipping and hovering above the ground in random and haphazard patterns, he watched with amusement as Kirara followed his every move whilst the little kitsune struggled to keep up. Closing his fist on the shining pink jewel in his hand and griping Tetsusaiga with the other, Inuyasha let the Sight glaze his eyes into solid amber orbs as he leapt high into the air.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

The nekomata morphed and leapt out of harm's way, but Shippou stood his ground. At the last possible second he drew his sword and barely deflected the slam of the incoming sword before the enemy vanished. He looked around, sniffing madly for any trace of the strange scent that was both familiar and alien. A flicker of silver warned him and the sword appeared again to his right. A battle unlike any he knew ensued, where he scrambled to deflect the blows of an invisible foe. All that could be seen was red and white, white and red. It triggered painful memories, but one voice pushed through the images.

“Do not let me in runt, defend the village from the threat,” it chanted, a whisper on the wind. For the moment the kitsune decided to listen to it rather than to divine who it could be and what it meant. Finally, after putting up a great defense, he felt the first traces of fear enter his veins as Byakkoken was knocked away. A sudden fist to the gut brought him to his knees, grass filling his vision. He struggled to breathe as the blades became hazy and clear, clear and hazy. Then he saw a pair of feet to the side. Red was wrapped around the ankles and continued away from his sight. It was too recognizable for comfort; he could not stop the tears. Then that voice, hated and longed for, fell to his ears. “Not bad runt, keep up the good work.” Nothing else was said as the feet disappeared as if they had never existed. Kirara watched him go, acknowledging his nod with a purr of her own.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Sango found her eyes drawn to the trees almost magnetically. Something was coming, she knew it, and a shiver of anticipation raced down her spine. The chill intensified, until she seemed to have caught cold in Miroku's warm arms. Finally she caught sight of the silhouette of a child walking toward her. The taijiya felt her heart thud helplessly against her ribcage as she struggled with the same old pain. It was a trick, an illusion her heart created whenever she lowered her walls. She blinked continuously, willing the boy away, but the outline stubbornly ran its course and she could see short, cropped hair and the training garb of a taijiya apprentice. `No, no, no, you know it's not true!' It was only until the forest receded and the boy appeared in the clearing that she finally broke from Miroku's slackened arms. There were tears in her eyes as she closed the distance and embraced Kohaku fiercely, knocking him to the ground with her weight. She cried and cried, feeling s of joy blooming in her heart for her brother's return. He too returned her hug, though hesitantly. Miroku joined after an appropriate wait, a broad smile on his face as he helped them to their feet. The siblings walked to the hut while the monk stared at the trees the boy had appeared from. Thanks to renewed training in this time of peace, he had just caught the aura of an old friend. Inuyasha was there, somewhere. His presence with the sudden emergence of Kohaku could not be coincidence.

“Thank you, my friend. You could not have given her a better gift than this,” he said, knowing Inuyasha was listening. The monk turned away with a wave and walked back to the hut and his family. From deep within the tree line the hanyou leaned against the Goshinboku, a sad smile on his face. `Looks like that's everything here,' he thought, leaping to his final destination. `All that's left is…' He thought no more as he fell into the Bone Eater's Well. The bright blue light and the feeling of weightlessness stretched into eternity, but five hundred years later it finally released him. The scents and noise of the modern era served to shock him into numbness. The jewel pulsing in his haori strengthened his resolve and the hanyou leapt out of the well house into the shrine grounds. Nothing had changed, the same birds chirped in the same clump of trees, the sacred sutras around the god tree continued to rustle in the breeze, it was as if Time had stopped here, a deception Inuyasha was all to ready to accept were it not for one simple difference, so subtle it wouldn't have caught his attention—her scent. It had waned, gone stale, as if she had not walked by here in a long time. Preferring not to dwell on such unpleasant notions, Inuyasha walked over to the front door. The window was his usual entrance, but seeing it had been quite a while since he had come to this time, it might not have been proper. Hesitating before the slipping door for a moment, he took a deep breath and knocked on the door. The voice of the elder Higurashi woman made his throat constrict as she invited him in. Inuyasha stood in the doorway waiting for her as she came from the back of the house.

“Welcome to Higurash—“ the greeting died on her lips at the sight facing her. Although it had been more than three years since that fateful night in Kagome's room, she recognized the hanyou immediately. Without a moment's hesitation she ran up to him, embraced him briefly, and proceeded to inspect him from head to toe. His familiar red haori and hakama covered his body from ankle to neck. The real change lay in the face. The cheeks had grown leaner as his lips were so thin they almost disappeared into his visage. Those cute ears that had constantly twitched in all directions were still, trained solely on her. Yet none of this could compete with what Shiori saw in his eyes. Kindness and wisdom still shone there, but behind it stood an impenetrable wall, shielding the observer from what was within the hanyou's soul. Moist sorrow fell as she finally spoke. “I'm sorry Inuyasha, for everything.” The apology seemed to summon his lips from oblivion and that memorable gruff and gentle voice followed.

“Is she here?”

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Kagome flipped through the channels in an effort to curb her boredom when the phone rang. Debate erupted within as to the next course of action. Stay vegetating on the couch watching thousands of humdrum images flashing by and let the machine get the call, or resume the processes of life to answer the contraption and risk being caught in yet another ploy by some ambitious entrepreneur convincing her that she in fact did not need her money and should buy their brand new product or sample their new facilities! In the end the recorder switched on and a voice, her mother's, filled the room.

“Hello, dear. I was rather hoping to find you at home, but it seems you're still at work.” The freshman winced guiltily but did not move. “In any case, I called to ask if you wouldn't mind coming home for a visit. It's been so long since I've seen you and I would like to catch up. Also,” she continued but the machine had had enough and cut her off mid-sentence. Kagome pondered on what to do. It had been a long time since she had last seen the shrine. Secondly, summer vacation had officially started and there wasn't anything to do. Sure, she had been invited to a few parties and shindigs, but it truthfully did not interest her. On top of that, her bosses had decided to take a little vacation time themselves, closing the shop but promising her full pay anyway. They were such sweeties! So with all these little complications combined it made for a very long and dreary day. Looking out her window she could see the sun making its final descent into the horizon, its journey done for now. `The shrine itself is at least an hour's drive away, so I better hurry if I want to get there for dinner,' the freshman miko thought as she changed into something more suitable and left the apartment.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

The stairs creaked under his weight as he slowly, so slowly scaled them like the hiker seeking heaven in the sky. Each step exhausted him until he was panting with exertion in front of what he sought. The door, so blank and innocent, made his heart jam on his ribs painfully. Resting his fingers on the metallic knob, he gathered the courage and twisted it. Barrier cast aside, the hanyou stepped into the room and inhaled deeply. The scent of jasmine filled his nostrils and a soft rapture encased his very being. Closing his eyes and walking around, he delighted in every scent he half-remembered and yearned for and had Shiori walked in at that moment she would have seen him with his nose on the mattress, the seat, the table, even the closet sniffing deeply, almost desperately. As it was, he had controlled himself enough that by the time Higurashi-sama did come in she saw him merely standing in the middle of the room with a blissful but sad look on his countenance. That night returned and she hurried her words in order to get out as soon as possible.

“Would you like some Ramen Inuyasha,” he heard her ask and the memory of the delicious ninja food sprang to the forefront. He nodded to her without moving. She took the subtle hint and left him to his whim. Once the water was set to boil, her mind immediately tackled the challenge of telling him everything. Would he understand? Could he see reason, or would she just end up pushing him over the edge? And what of her daughter? Would seeing her long-lost love fix the sickness she suffered from for three years? So many questions, too many for her to sort through. All she could do was pray that everything would be all right. Placing a smile over her gloom, she went to attend the hanyou. `If only Kagome were here.' “There's something I think you and I should talk about Inuyasha,” she began when he sat at the table to eat the noodles. “It's about Kagome.”

“Then I don't want to know.” The immediate answer made her stumble over the speech she could hear in her mind.

“Why not?”

“Because I didn't come here to try to win her heart. There would be no point. I'm here to return the Shikon No Tama to its rightful owner. If she finds it in herself to forgive me and wishes to be my friend, then that's fine.” That's right Inu, lie through your teeth but make it believable. She doesn't need to know that your heart is reforming; healing under the soothing scent of the woman you loved, still love. And she didn't need to see the fear in your soul that maybe Kagome had forgotten him, moved on and left him in a past she did not want. Shiori could only listen to the defeat in his words. He could've been bragging about winning every gold metal in the Olympics and it still would've tugged at her heart to hear it. She could hear all the things he wasn't saying, could see another layer permeate the wall three years of separation had raised. `Kagome, you have so much damage control to do,' she thought as they ate their Ramen in silence. `I just hope you don't make it worse.'

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

A sneeze tickled the back of her throat until it escaped her pursed lips in a sharp exhalation of breath anyone would've called cute. `Someone must be talking about me.' Smiling at the silly superstition, she decided to listen to the radio on the way to the shrine.

~Looking back at me I see

That I never really got it right

I never stopped to think of you

I'm always wrapped up in things

I cannot win

You are the antidote that got me by

Something strong

Like a drug that got me HIGH

 

What I really meant to say

Is I'm sorry for the way I am

(I never meant to be so cold)

(I never meant to be so—~

 

~How do I breathe without you?

I want to know—~

 

`That's not good driving music,' she reasoned internally as her hand ran over the dial.

 

~(Truth is)

I never got over you

(Truth is)

Wish I was standing in her shoes

(Truth is)

When it's all said and done

Guess I'm still in love with--~

 

The turning increased, but each song seemed to hold some poignant meaning that she wished with all her heart to avoid. It was no good to be puffy-eyed and teary to the first visit home in a year.

 

~Strumming my pain with his fingers

Singing my life with his words

Killing me softly with his song

Killing me softly--~

 

~I don't want to be lonely no more

I don't want to have to pay for this

I don't want another lover at my door

It's just another heartache on my--~

 

~All my life

I prayed for someone like you

And I thank God

That I finally found you--~

 

Sweet relief from the music came when those same steps she had scaled every day for nineteen years. The memories pushed on her eyes as the expanse of time finally threw its significance on her back. A whole year! Three hundred and sixty five days since she had been in her room, her living room, her home! But no more. Soon, she would walk on that sacred land; see all those who loved her once again.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Shiori was ready to give up. After trying every technique she knew to get the hanyou to open up short of jumping on his lap the elder Higurashi had yet to make any leeway concerning information. Inuyasha stubbornly refused to say anything about what he had done in the three years since she had last seen him. His monosyllabic quips and ambiguous tidbits only served to stoke the elder Higurashi's curiosity. All he did was sit motionless, the empty Ramen bowl fixed loosely in his hands. Those same sheltered eyes stared at nothing; he seemed to be in a kind of restless serenity. Were it not for the steady flaring of his nostrils she would have thought him dead. Then suddenly, as one who is splashed with ice water out of nowhere, his ears flickered in the direction of the door. She almost cried all over again as that same hopeful glint flit across his blank eyes and he spoke, the voice a whisper.

“She's here.”

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, and twenty! She skipped the last step to keep it even and took a deep breath. The smell of incense and forest made her heart jump with joy. She took another breath and walked slowly to the front door. It felt like all the cogs were falling into place, as if Fate itself were heaving a sigh of relief. The quiver of anticipation overtook her, bringing her eyes to rest on the majestic tree Goshinboku. Its branches danced in the soft breeze, welcoming her home again. So great was her peace and glee that she did not notice the pulsing of a certain aura or jewel within. So with a loud voice and a slam of the shoji door Kagome Higurashi announced her arrival to the junction of past and present.

“Tadaima!”

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

He almost moaned in bliss when he heard that beautiful voice just fill the house. The everlasting sunshine had returned and he listened to every step with more pleasure than anything in all his life. The door to the living room slid open and she was revealed to him. Wearing baggy shorts, a long white shirt, and flimsy sandals, Inuyasha could not recall seeing anything more glorious in all his life. She rushed in and embraced her mother, completely missing him, but it didn't matter. She was here, after all. Time passed as the two women gushed and caught up with events while the hanyou sat mere inches away. Patience wearing thin, he decided to direct some attention on him, so he cleared his throat. Shiori's eyes widened and she quickly remembered who was here.

“Kagome, dear, someone's here to see you,” she said, signaling to Inuyasha. The time it took for her to turn and face him seemed excruciatingly long. When her eyes locked with his and he saw them light up he could feel his soul smile. Then she spoke.

“Hi! I'm Kagome, what's your name?” It could have been a joke, her unique defense mechanism for dealing with the shock of seeing him again. He might've believed that, were it not for the genuine smile and latent subconscious analysis that she always had upon meeting a stranger. Out of the corner of his eye he could see the mother place her hand over her mouth and the cold scraping his spine disintegrated all the joy. `She doesn't remember, does she,' came the little voice, neither Human nor Youkai Inuyasha, the utterance of the orphan who accepts tragedy. All these thoughts and the decision that stemmed from it occurred in the blink of an eye. On the outside he returned the smile with a soft one of his own.

“It's Inuyasha. There is something I need to give you.”

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Kagome could feel the heat pool in the pit of her stomach when she saw the god before her. He was gorgeous, dog-ears and all! He seemed to be from another world, another time, and it only heightened his mystique. The young woman was at a loss for words, her hurried greeting taking all the energy she had to speak. The part of her mind that wasn't drooling over this wonderful example of man was saying something, screaming in a stage whisper that she couldn't discern. Then through the trance she heard his response. Inuyasha, dog spirit, it seemed to fit him perfectly. The name made the little voice rise in volume slightly and she could just make out what it was saying. `Remember, remember, remember, REMEMBER THE FORGOTTEN!' Remember what? Wait, he was talking.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

`Not again! Why, why, oh why did she have to do this?' The scene played out before and all she could do was watch.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“I'm here to impart a very valuable jewel in your possession. It took almost six years to complete, but now its time that it be returned to its proper owner.” He reached into his haori and pulled out the Shikon No Tama. Standing up, he waited until she did the same. Confusion was evident on her face as he spoke again. “As it was passed for centuries from the great miko Midoriko, so shall it be restored into the care of the rightful guardian.” He took hold of her hand, feeling a bit of himself die at the heat in her palm, and placed the mighty gem in it. Lingering as much as possible, the hanyou hid his eyes behind his bangs. He just couldn't look at her anymore. “It was wonderful to see you again,” he mumbled before letting go and stepping back. Etiquette lessons from youth played in the form of a deep bow near the door. “Sayonara Kagome-sama.” He left the kitchen, feeling the turmoil in his heart escalate with every step away from her that he took. But what could he do? `She doesn't even remember me! I can't go through the motions of creating a friendship knowing already that I love her! I would just force myself on her or force her away again. It's for the best,' he thought as his hand reached for the handle of the front entrance.

“Wait!” It stopped him cold and he turned to see her standing in the hallway. She was blushing, whether from embarrassment or something else he couldn't tell. For a moment hope bloomed feebly, only to be dashed by infernal ice.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

She had to try, even if it caused her embarrassment. All the time he had been speaking the twitching ears on top of his silver mane had fascinated her. The only time she did not watch them was when he had held her hand and whispered those strange words. It made no sense; she had never met him before, though she wished she had. When he said farewell, Kagome could see her only chance to do it slip away, so she took a deep breath and followed him. He had turned to her entreaty without a word, but his face betrayed him. She had seen the hope glisten and fade away. A deep sadness welled in her then even as her cheeks burned with the attention. Pushing all that aside, she went for it.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

“Can I touch them,” he heard her ask and the sad, happy, exasperated, amused, bitter chuckle escaped before he could stop it. Her cheeks turned redder and she began to fidget nervously. In an effort to dispel her discomfort he lowered his head to her level.

“Of course.” She squealed happily and ran her fingers along the edges, mapping out the shape and texture of his ears. It was absolute Heaven, it was merciless Hell, to feel such things and never be able act on them, never see her smile warmly at him or scowl with frustration, only to make up later. It was too much then. He grabbed her arms gently and pulled them away softly. Without another word he ran from the door, seeking familiarity, comfort, anything! The Goshinboku beckoned to him and he walked over to it weakly. Reaching out, he felt deep sense of succor warm his palm as it ran along the indentation his body had made more than five hundred years ago. The consolation ruptured the walls he had built for this and he felt his knees give out.

Pain wracked his frame, jerking his heart erratically as it struggled to pump blood to all the muscles that were twitching with agony. Tears fell in torrents from his eyes as every memory he had flashed in front of him. Fire, whips, pulls, tugs, a grave, jasmine, stones, an impenetrable door, endless trees, scraps, betrayal, lonely nights, rainy days, dinner after two weeks of hunger, torture, her eyes, his stubborn ways, her courage, the new moon, mortality, everlasting life, mocking stars, mocking children, hateful laughter, jeers, taunts, the same words over and over, make it stop, make it stop make it STOP! She had been able to keep the lunatic isolation at bay, made him hope, smile, live. Now she was the pain itself. It hurts so much. It isn't supposed to. It wasn't fair, can't be fair, how much more would he have to take? Why, damn it all, WHY! It's not meant to hurt this bad.

It shouldn't hurt this bad.

But it did.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just one more left. Muses, give me the strength. Just one more…

Ja ne