InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Never Gonna Let You Go ❯ 3000 Leagues in Search of Inuyasha ( Chapter 24 )

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

Takeshi proved to be an impressive leader. Under his guidance, peace reigned and the tribe grew steadily. Even though he was hanyou, the fact that he was Kouga's son and a fair leader, earned him the respect and loyalty of his fellow wolves. About 20 years after the takeover, he even chose a mate from the dozens of eligible young wolf demonesses that paraded in front of him. In fact, what surprised everybody, was that he chose a lovely young wolf hanyou girl as his mate. The daughter of a powerful demoness who had been attacked by a samurai, Manami - whose name meant 'love beauty', was the one girl who caught his eye. Her long, black hair, piercing blue eyes and tall stature made her a beauty that stood out. And she loved the hanyou for himself, not because of who his father was.

The two wolf hanyous courted and finally mated. Takeshi was informed of the wolf demon mating ritual and his human side found it disgusting. Instead, he took Manami to a secret spot of his that he loved and mated with her there, in the cover of a thicket by a trickling waterfall. The mating was successful and the following spring, Manami bore twin sons for her mate, Takehiko and Takeo.

The birth of his sons started Takeshi thinking about his own parentage. He knew all about Kouga, even if it was one-sided, from his wolf bretheren. Now, if only he could discover more about his mother and the half-dog that had raised him for the first few years of his life. He didn't know where to start and he figured, that after over 100 years, finding information about the young priestess who bore him would probably be impossible.

Seeking out his loyal and faithful comrades, he decided to ask them some questions. He found them, lazing in the sun by a small stream,

"Ginta. Hakkaku. Wake up you lazy bums.", Takeshi said, kicking them awake with his foot.

"Whaa ... huh? Oh, Takeshi, it's you.", exclaimed Ginta.

"What is it Takeshi?", said Hakkaku.

"I want to know more about my mother. And Inuyasha."

"We've told you all we know.", said Hakkaku.

"Yea. We don't know much more about them.", said Ginta.

"Well, you went to see them. Where is the village that you went to?", asked Takeshi.

"Uhhh...", stammered Ginta nervously. He didn't want Takeshi to discover that Kagome and Inuyasha hadn't given him up willingly as a child as they had told him.

"We don't remember where the village is. It's been so long.", added Hakkaku.

"You must at least have some idea. North, South, East, West. Where?"

"North.", said Ginta

"West.", chorused Hakkaku with Ginta.

Takeshi looked at them in shock, "Well, which is it? North or west?"

"Why do you want to know?", asked Ginta.

"Well, I figure my mother is long since dead. But, Inuyasha, being a half-demon, should still be alive. I want to see if I can find him and see if he can tell me more about my mother.", said Takeshi.

"That's probably not a good idea.", said Ginta.

"Yea. Inuyasha is really mean. I mean, look what he did to your father. Fought him for his one true love and stole her from him. You don't want to go see Inuyasha.", said Hakkaku.

"My mother must have been something for my father and a half-demon to be fighting over her.", mused Takeshi.

"Trust me. Leave your mother in the past. It's better that way.", said Ginta.

"Yea. Leave sleeping dogs lie.", said Hakkaku.

Takeshi agreed and left the two wolf demons alone. Thinking they had dodged a serious blow, Ginta and Hakkaku breathed a collective sigh of relief. What they didn't know was that Takeshi hadn't given up the thought of his mother,

'I'll find Inuyasha someday. I have to. I need to learn about my mother.', he thought as he headed back to his den and mate.

A few weeks passed and Takeshi couldn't get his mother or Inuyasha out of his mind. After talking with his mate one night, he decided to set out on a pilgrimige. A journey of discovery. He headed first to the Northern Wolf den to speak with the elders,

"Elder, I am eager to learn more about my human mother. Is there anything you can tell me?", Takeshi asked.

"I know nothing about your mother except that she was a priestess. She also was not from these parts, although we know not where she came from.", said the elder wolf.

"Takeshi, you lead a fine tribe of wolves. Your father would be proud. Why worry about your past?", asked another elder.

"I have powers that mere wolves don't have. I was told that these are the powers of human priest or priestess. So they must have come from my mother. I need to find out more. I am seeking a half-demon by the name of Inuyasha ...", he started.

"Inuyasha? Did you say Inuyasha?", asked an elder.

"Yes, I did. Why, elder? Do you know of him?", asked Takeshi.

"Inuyasha is the second son of the legendary Inu no Taisho, the great dog leader of the western lands.", said an elder.

"He fought your father for the right to mate with your mother.", said another.

"I know that. Where can I find him? Do you know?". asked Takeshi, trying to seem patient.

"Head south. The last we knew of him he was residing in a small village in Musashi. That is all we know.", said the senior wolf, "But, be careful what you wish for, Takeshi, you may not like what you discover."

Takeshi bowed, "Thank you elders. Thank you for your time.", he said, turning around and running towards the southland, thinking, 'Why didn't Ginta and Hakkaku tell me south? What is up with them? Are they hiding something I should know?'

Takeshi decided to stop back at the den to see his mate and pups and have another word with Ginta and Hakkaku. He learned that once Hakkaku and Ginta discovered that Takeshi had left to speak with the northern elders, they had disappeared,

"Hmph! Probably went down to the southlands to the tribe there. Chickens!", he said to his mate, who agreed with him.

Takeshi waited a few days before heading out on his next journey. He felt he was getting close. He could feel it in his bones. Going further south and heading towards what was once known as Masashi, he started asking demons if they had heard of Inuyasha. Most demons wanted nothing to do with the hanyou, but one demon, Royakan, the rogue wolf demon, was happy to oblige,

"Seek out the fox demon, Shippou and the raccoon-dog demon Hachi just north of the town of Edo. There is a shrine in Edo that is protected by a family of Buddhist monks and Shinto priests and priestesses. It is rumored to be the shrine of a dog god, but only certain people can visit it. Shippou and Hachi can tell you more."

"Thanks my friend. I owe you one.", said Takeshi, as he took off to find the fox and raccoon dog.

"No problem.", said Royakan to Takeshi's back as he sped away. Royakan shuddered as he remembered battling the fierce half-demon so long ago.