InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Never Gonna Let You Go ❯ The Sacred Tree ( Chapter 25 )

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

Takeshi followed the path that Royakan told him about. Sniffing the air and the ground, he picked up the scent of foxes. Following the scents, he came upon a field. In the field, a teenaged girl played with 3 fox kits,

"Excuse me,", he called out to the girl, "Do you know where I can find Shippou the fox demon?"

The girl stared at the wolf hanyou, fear clearly registered on her face. Gathering the kits, she began to run to a small hut,

"No! Wait! Please don't go! I won't hurt you ...", he started to say. He then heard,

"FOX FIRE!"

Takeshi nimbly dodged the attack and yelled out,

"I'm not here to fight. I am here looking for the fox demon Shippou or the raccoon dog Hachi."

"Why do you search for them?", the voice inside the hut called back.

"I am searching for Inuyasha. I was told that Shippou or Hachi might be able to assist me.", called back Takeshi.

"Inu ... yasha?", the voice tenatively answered, then in a stronger voice, it asked, "Why are you searching for Inuyasha? Who are you?"

"I am Takeshi, Leader of the Eastern Wolf Demon Tribe and I ..."

A young, small fox demon emerged from the hut, his eyes wide,

"Did you say Takeshi?"

"Yes, I did. Why? Do I know you?"

"Takeshi, it's me, Shippou. We used to play together when you were a child. Don't you remember me?", asked Shippou, a tear in his eye.

"No. I'm sorry I don't. If I did, then you knew my mother, right?", asked Takeshi.

"Yes I did. Quite well. She was like a mother to me. Come in, please. Come in and meet my family and we'll talk.", said Shippou.

Takeshi agreed and joined Shippou, the young girl and 3 small kits in the hut. Shippou introduced the girl as his mate, Satsuki, and the 3 kits as Miroku, Sango, and Kagome,

"I named them after my friends.", he said, with a tinge of sadness in his voice.

Shippou began telling Takeshi everything he knew about Kagome and Inuyasha. Takeshi kept noticing how Shippou always referred to her like a mother,

"If she was like a mother to you, then why did she give me back to the wolves to be raised?", he asked Shippou.

"WHAT? Who told you that bullshit line? You were kidnapped Takeshi. Inuyasha left the village searching for you and never returned and even your mother disappeared. ", said Shippou, angrily.

"Kidnapped? But ...but I was told by Ginta and Hakkaku that my mother felt it was better if I was raised by the wolves ... I ...I"

"Ginta and Hakkaku are the ones that kidnapped you. Kagome and Inuyasha adored you. Inuyasha told Ginta and Hakkaku to stay away from you or he would kill them. They would never have given you up, Takeshi.", said Shippou.

"Inuyasha ... he raised me ...adored me? Even though I was Kouga's son?", Takeshi asked in disbelief.

"You were the best thing that ever happened to Inuyasha. You adored him too. Always followed him around or sat on his shoulder. Whenever a demon would attack the village and Inuyasha would fight it, you'd always cheer him on.", reminisced Shippou.

Takeshi thought about this. He really had no memory of anything Shippou was telling him and he was angry at his so-called friends, Hakkaku and Ginta. Because of them, he never knew his mother,

"What happened to my mother, Shippou? Do you know?"

"No, I'm sorry, I don't. No one does. She disappeared and no one has seen her since. We assumed she died a long time ago.", said Shippou sadly.

"How about Inuyasha? Did he search for her?", Takeshi questioned.

"Yes, he did. But, he disappeared too. Told us he would never return unless he found you or Kagome. Then one day he did return, but we never found anything out. A priestess sealed him to a tree and he's been there ever since. It has to be nearly 70 years now."

"Pinned to a tree? Is that the shrine of the dog god I heard about?", asked Takeshi.

"Well, yea, but Inuyasha was the furthest thing from a god. Hot-headed, simple, thick skulled, stupid ... he had more brawns than brains. But, he was still lovable. But he was NO god!", said Shippou, chuckling.

"Can you take me there, Shippou? Please?", begged Takeshi.

"Sure. It's getting late now. Have some dinner and we'll set out in the morning.", said Shippou.

"Sure.", said Takeshi.
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The morning dawned bright and clear, the summer sun slowly rising over the mountains. Satsuki prepared a delicious breakfast for her family before Shippou and Takeshi set out for Edo and the sacred tree. It wasn't that far and they arrived by mid-morning.

The people of the eastern edge of Edo were still used to seeing demons around. Some were problems, but most were just there to look. Shippou and Takeshi made their way through the marketplace and down a hill. Here they passed an old well, covered up and unused, but sporting the Shinto paper talismans. Heading further into town, Takeshi saw a Torii just before a simple wood building surrounding a huge tree. Like the well, the tree also sported the paper talisman, symbol of its sacred status. The two demons were greeted by a Shinto Priest,

"Shippou! How nice of you to visit us.", said the young man.

"Yasuo, nice to see you. How is everybody?", said Shippou.

"Fine. Fine. Who is your friend? He's a hanyou, isn't he?", said Yasuo.

"Yes. His name is Takeshi. He is the leader of the demon wolf tribe to the east. He is also Kagome's son.", said Shippou.

"Kagome? The young priestess who disappeared? I remember my grandfather telling me the tale that his grandfather, Miroku, told. Such a sad story. Are you here to visit Inuyasha?"

"Yes, we are. May we enter?", asked Shippou?

"Of course, Shippou. And take your time.", said Yasuo, as he showed them the way in.

Shippou and Takeshi walked into the building that was lit with candles and lanterns. It wasn't very bright and seemed sort of eerie. As Takeshi looked around his eyes fell on the silvery-white haired half-demon that hung from a single, decaying arrow. He appeared to be sleeping,

"Is he dead?", whispered Takeshi.

"No. He is in an enchanted sleep placed upon him by the priestess Kikyou for the second time in his life.", said Shippou, who then proceeded to tell Inuyasha's story.

As Shippou recited the tale, Takeshi stared at the young half-demon. Slightly older than he, Inuyasha still retained his youth and looks. As his mind began to drift, he recalled memories long hidden. Including the face of the half-demon before him playing with a young wolf hanyou,

"Papa.", he breathed softly under his breath.

As Shippou finished the tale, Takeshi asked,

"How do we revive him?"

"We can't. Many have tried. The only one who can probably revive him is Kagome. Old Kaede figured that since Kagome was the reincarnation of Kikyou, she was the only one capable of freeing him.", said Shippou.

"If my mother is dead, shouldn't her soul be reincarnated by now?", asked Takeshi.

"Not necessarily. I don't really understand all that religious stuff though.", said Shippou.

"Well, maybe she's not dead.", said Takeshi.

"Takeshi, Kagome was human. She has to be dead by now. It's been over 100 years.", said Shippou.

"Hmmm. Maybe. But, then again, maybe not.", mused Takeshi, thinking, 'I don't think my quest is over yet. Papa, I will find a way to free you. I promise.'