InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Of Gods and Monsters ❯ Chapter 6: Conundrum ( Chapter 6 )

Disclaimer in Prologue

A/N: Thanks to Merith for the beta and Everstar for the encouragement

Chapter 6: Conundrum

Thanks to Merith for the beta and to Everstar for the brainstorming.

***

Miroku looked up at the gentle sound of foliage rustling. Instantly he tensed, relief flooding his system as Inuyasha appeared, bearing Kagome on his back. "Kagome, Inuyasha - we were starting to worry about you!"

The hanyou regarded the rest of the group sprawled leisurely on the grass, a pot of something pleasant-smelling bubbling on a nearby fire. "Yeah, you look real worried." Inuyasha let Kagome slide off of his back. "We ran into a scorpion youkai - Kagome got it." He sat down on the soft grass and leaned back against a tree.

"Did it have any shards?" Sango asked. She was sitting on the ground looking up at Kagome, her long bangs shielding her eyes from the streams of sunlight filtering through the trees.

"Of course it had shards," the hanyou huffed.

Sango glared at Inuyasha. "There are more youkai than just shard-bearing ones. You should know that."

"We got the shards," Kagome said quickly, lowering herself to the ground next to Sango. "Getting them out of its tail wasn't exactly... pleasant, but we got them." She looked down at her hands, filthy from the search through the dead youkai's tail. "Ugh. I'm covered in dried demon goo." She collected a few items from her pack and pushed herself to her feet, striding purposefully for the nearest spring.

"You're bathing again?" Inuyasha asked incredulously.

The girl shook her head, annoyed. "I need to wash up, Inuyasha. I feel disgusting."

"Don't be too long, Kagome," Sango called after her. "We'll be eating soon."

Kagome nodded. "I'll be right back." She made her way to the cold spring and washed quickly, glad to finally rinse away the sticky brown fluid that had been clinging to her hands and arms, staining her shirt. She returned a short while later feeling refreshed and renewed. Her friends were much like she had left them - Sango held Kirara in her lap as she spoke in low tones with Miroku. Shippou was off to the side, his body forming a tiny ball as he dozed comfortably in a patch of sunlight. Inuyasha was still leaning against the tree, his arms drawn up into his sleeves. When he caught sight of her, his golden eyes flashed impatiently.

"Took you long enough," Inuyasha grumbled.

Kagome opened her mouth to shoot back a reply, but was interrupted by an unfamiliar voice.

"You really should show your priestess more respect, little hanyou."

The words roused the slumbering Shippou, who rolled over, rubbing his eyes sleepily. Yawning, he said, "Kagome? Inuyasha? When did you get..." his words trailed off as he saw the strange woman and his tail twitched slightly, his eyes widening in alarm. "Um. Who's that?"

Teles had been watching the group for a short time before finally deciding to make her presence known. She looked the small group of companions, registering the surprise, curiosity, and - in the case of the swordsman Inuyasha, wariness - in their expressions. She dipped her head, assuming a slightly apologetic pose. "Forgive me, I did not intend to startle you."

Inuyasha had shifted into a slightly defensive stance, his hand resting on Tetsusaiga. "Sneakin' up on people in the middle of the woods ain't the best way to go about that," he snarled.

Teles ignored the half-demon and turned to the young priestess who was regarding her with wide eyes. "Priestess, I witnessed your battle with the scorpion youkai earlier. The composure and skill you demonstrated in such a position is to be commended."

Kagome blinked.

"Keh. She missed it more times than not," Inuyasha grumbled.

Shippou, though he'd only just woken, shot Inuyasha a glare while Miroku and Sango exchanged a look, but remained silent. Kagome's eyes widened at the remark and she stared in indignation at Inuyasha.

"But it was her shot that eventually dispatched the beast," Teles responded. "Together, you are an impressive force. With practice, little priestess, I have faith that you will become quite an accomplished archer."

Teles' compliment appeared to be enough for Shippou, who scrambled up to Kagome's shoulder. "That's right. That's our Kagome - she's great," he boasted. "She just needs a little confidence is all."

"Hey, furball," Inuyasha remarked dryly. "She didn't say anything about confidence, she said Kagome needed practice."

Kagome narrowed her eyes and glared at Inuyasha before looking back at the newcomer and coloring slightly, almost unaware of the small kitsune on her shoulder. "Th-thank you?"

Teles smiled warmly. "It is my pleasure." She glanced at Inuyasha, who was now sniffing the air surreptitiously. "And you, little hanyou..."

Inuyasha stopped in mid-sniff. What the hell is it with this female? She looks like a human, but doesn't smell like anything at all except for salt air. What the fuck? "Yeah?" he growled. "What about me? I've got a name you know."

"Yes. Inuyasha. I am aware of that."

Miroku swallowed, watching the exchange with disbelief. No, that's not possible... It's... it's simply not possible. She couldn't be a... no.

The newcomer, a tall woman with cascading brown hair, dressed in unusual clothing - a white sheath that appeared to be swathed around her body leaving her arms and back exposed - was now examining Inuyasha with a great deal more scrutiny than he was comfortable with.

"What? What're you lookin' at?"

"Obviously nothin' much," Shippou remarked under his breath, ducking down the back of Kagome's shirt when Inuyasha snarled at him.

She shook her head. "Remarkable. Positively remarkable. Hanyou Inuyasha, you bear a strong resemblance to a youkai I encountered a few--" Teles stopped herself. It had not been a few days. It had probably been weeks since she'd been on the surface after visiting Ryujin's castle. "You bear a strong resemblance to a youkai I encountered several weeks ago. I believe you and he to be kin. In fact, I am sure of it."

Inuyasha tensed. "So?"

"So, I want to know what you can tell me about the demon Sesshoumaru," Teles stated simply. "I know that you are, at least in part, kin to him."

The hanyou stared at the female, dumbfounded. "And why the hell should I tell you anything at all? Especially about that bastard?"

Teles fought against the urge to sigh. "Sesshoumaru and I engaged in battle, which was..." she paused "cut short. In the meantime, he sought out information about me - most importantly, my weaknesses - giving him an unfair advantage in our next match. I wish to learn more about my opponent before facing him again."

Inuyasha exhaled - a noise that sounded remarkably like a snort. "You battled Sesshoumaru. You expect me to believe that?"

"Um... Inuyasha..." Miroku murmured, trying to get the hanyou's attention. From the start, he had sensed something in the woman's aura that was... different. Not human, not youkai, but something else entirely. A hunch was starting to form, and he didn't like where it was leading him.

Teles' spine straightened in indignation. "It is not my concern whether you believe it or not."

A dangerous gleam lit the amber depths of Inuyasha's eyes. "You want a battle? Why bother with a half-wit like Sesshoumaru?" He stood and advanced on the newcomer, cracking his knuckles. "I'll give you a real fight."

The goddess stared blandly at the hanyou. "No. If you have no intentions of telling me about Sesshoumaru, I shall be forced to find alternative means of information. But I will not battle with you."

"Why not?" he taunted, his voice holding a challenge. "Don't think you could handle me?"

Teles' neutral expression did not change. "Quite frankly, I have no interest in fighting with you. It's that simple."

"But you are interested in fighting Sesshoumaru? You haven't fought me yet."

Teles' patience was wearing thin. The goddess' green eyes narrowed and her nostrils flared. "Do you have any idea who you're talking to?"

"Inuyasha!" Miroku grabbed the hanyou's sleeve and yanked him back. "Don't do this," he said, his voice a loud whisper.

Teles fixed Inuyasha with a regal glare. "I will not fight you, Inuyasha, because I try not to make it a habit to interfere with the lives of lower beings."

"Who're you callin' a lower being, wench?!"

Sango sighed while Shippou watched entranced from Kagome's shoulder. Miroku merely slapped a hand over his eyes.

Inuyasha seemed to finally take notice of the monk beside him. "What?"

"She's a goddess, Inuyasha. You're challenging a goddess."

"Huh?" Inuyasha looked at Miroku and blinked, stunned. The expression lasted only a second before the hanyou recovered, his considerable pride taking over. Folding his arms over his chest, Inuyasha rolled his eyes, unimpressed. "Keh. I can take-"

Kagome, who had been standing off to the side watching the exchange, finally spoke. "Inuyasha?"

He looked over his shoulder at her. "What?"

"Sit."

Teles watched in unguarded fascination as the prayer beads around Inuyasha's neck glowed brightly for a second before he was forced to the ground, crushing his face into the dirt and grass. She looked at Kagome with renewed respect. "Fascinating. And you can do this to him at any time?"

Kagome waved it off with a nervous chuckle while Inuyasha sputtered and swore into the ground. "Oh, well, you know... usually only when I think he's in danger of getting himself killed."

A slightly amused expression crossed the goddess' face for a split second before it was replaced by her usual calm visage. "You have nothing to worry about. I have no desire whatsoever to kill Inuyasha."

There was a pause. The members of the group regarded each other for a moment. Eventually, Sango cleared her throat, breaking the silence. "Hn. That won't last, you know."

"HEY!!"

In a fluid, graceful movement, Teles sat cross-legged on the ground. "I suppose, then, that you can inform me about Sesshoumaru?" She looked up at the others expectantly until they sat down as well.

"Well..." Kagome started, twisting a lock of hair around her index finger thoughtfully. "What do you already know?"

Teles lifted her chin slightly. "That he's an insufferably egocentric youkai with an overwhelmingly high opinion of himself."

Kagome blinked once. "That's remarkably accurate, actually."

"Our second battle ended in a draw, much like our first. This time, I intend to put myself at the advantage, much like he had." The goddess smiled with serene confidence.

The exterminator's eyebrows drew together in a small frown as she sat, her hands lost in Kirara's soft fur. "I don't understand, uh..." She trailed off. Gods, how does one address a goddess? "Uhmm..."

"If you wish, you may call me Teles."

"Ah. Okay. I don't understand, Teles. If you don't like to interfere with lives of..." Sango stopped herself. "Well, us. I mean, humans or demons... If you don't like to interfere, then why the interest in battling Sesshoumaru?"

"I have been a guest of the water-god Ryujin for over one hundred years. Though that is barely a ripple in the life of an immortal, it is a period of time in which one such as myself will eventually desire amusement."

Shippou blinked. "You're battling Sesshoumaru 'cause you're bored?"

"Essentially, yes, little kitsune."

Kagome bit her lip, frowning. "I'm not sure that Sesshoumaru is the kind of demon who fights for fun." She paused thoughtfully. "He usually doesn't quit until his opponent is dead."

The goddess laughed unexpectedly, a strange sound coming from one apparently so composed. "Sesshoumaru cannot kill me. To do me permanent harm, he would need powers far greater than that which he possesses - or ever could possess."

The subduing spell having worn off, Inuyasha glared heatedly at the seated group and leapt upwards, choosing a high limb where he sat, drawing his arms into his sleeves. "You wanna know about Sesshoumaru?" he shouted down from his perch. "He's a son-of-a-bitch who dresses funny and keeps trying to fucking KILL me!!"

Miroku leaned forward pensively. "Forgive me, Mistress Goddess, but--"

"Little monk, your respect flatters me. Please, I have come to you all for information. Such formalities are not necessary."

He blushed deeply as the goddess' green eyes fixed on him intently. "Ah... well, um... What I meant to say is that, from my experience, Sesshoumaru appears to be an incredibly persistent demon. He has often attempted to take Inuyasha's life as well as harm or attempt to take the lives of those he surrounds himself with."

A delicate frown marred the goddess' forehead. "So the hanyou speaks the truth. Why is it that Sesshoumaru would attempt to kill his own kin?"

"Maybe he's bored," Inuyasha remarked snidely.

Ignoring him, Kagome inhaled deeply. "Well, because... because Inuyasha is part human. Sesshoumaru is full youkai. They're half-brothers - the same father, but different mothers."

Teles' face remained expressionless. "Yes, I sensed the humanity within Inuyasha. But I'm afraid that I do not understand that... logic."

"You're not the only one," Shippou muttered.

"Sesshoumaru hates humans. He holds us in disdain. To him, we're like insects - nothing more than something to crush when the whim hits him. He hates that human side of Inuyasha - hates that his line was..." Kagome hesitated, not sure how much to say.

Teles regarded Kagome, her expression solemn, as she finally understood. "He feels that the human blood is a disgrace to his line. Am I correct?"

Kagome's nod was almost imperceptible.

"So the youkai hates him because of a circumstance over which he has no control?"

Inuyasha dropped down from the thick limb and landed soundlessly. He looked down at where the goddess sat, his eyes flashing, his mouth curled into a mocking smile. "Cutting his arm off probably didn't win me any points either."

Genuine confusion settled on the goddess' face. "His arm? I don't understand - he had both of his arms the two times we met in battle."

"He keeps getting replacements," Kagome supplied, looking more than a little disgusted. "Usually from other youkai, but he did use a human arm once."

"If he holds humans in such low regard, why would he use the arm of one?"

Miroku shook his head. "It's a very long story."

Crossing his arms over his chest, Inuyasha narrowed his eyes at Teles. "You wanna beat Sesshoumaru? Be faster than he is and, if you can, surprise him."

Nodding once, Teles stood. "Thank you for your willingness to share this information with me. It appears that I have much to think about." As the others got to their feet as well, Teles' eyes settled once again on Inuyasha.

The hanyou's ears flattened in irritation. "What're you lookin' at now?"

A small, slightly sad smile formed. "My apologies. I just find it astounding that two who can appear to have such similarities can in fact be so very different."

Inuyasha's golden eyes flashed. "We're nothin' alike."

Teles did not respond, though she looked as if she wanted to. "I will not take up any more of your time. Again, I appreciate the fact that you spoke with me on this matter." She turned as if to leave, her movement cut short by Miroku, who was bowing deeply before Teles, her hand grasped in one of his. She arched an eyebrow delicately, but said nothing.

"Mistress Goddess," he said smoothly, "it was our pleasure to be of assistance."

She smiled benevolently and leaned forward. "Little monk, you have a good heart, but I promise you this - you will spend the rest of eternity as a sea serpent if your hand gets any closer to me. Do you understand?"

Startled, Miroku jumped back, a scarlet blush creeping up his neck and coloring his face to the tips of his ears. "Of course! I-I would never..."

Teles' smile now held a faint hint of amusement. "Of course you wouldn't. You are a man of honor. I am merely attempting to strengthen your resolve." With a final nod to the group, Teles ascended, heading back for her cavern.

Once she was gone, Miroku turned and very nearly slammed into Sango. He blinked, stuttering slightly. Sango narrowed her eyes at him and stalked off, leaving the monk to stare at her retreating back.

Lifting an eyebrow, Inuyasha regarded Miroku and grinned. "Bravo Miroku. Bra-vo."

***

Teles floated, the gentle breeze rustling her hair as she flew back to the quiet solitude of her cavern. Her brows were contracted in deep thought. While she had been all too aware of Sesshoumaru's determination in a battle, his fierce desire to win, and his willingness to set circumstances to his advantage, the news she had just heard was troubling to her.

The demon was willing to kill his own brother for no reason better than the blood that flowed through his veins? Not only that, but he had also tried to bring to harm the ones his brother surrounded himself with - the ones he called friends - for no reason other than their humanity?

The goddess understood better than most the need for a hierarchy amongst beings. While at Olympus, she had occasionally dallied with mortals. She was so used to watching mortal men die - the certainty with which they would throw themselves overboard and swim desperately towards the dulcet tones of the Sirens had always fascinated her. The passion and determination present in humans had eventually caught her interest. She'd taken more than a few mortal males as lovers in the course of her very long life. Humans were weak, of course, and their lifespan was pitiful at best, but they had the potential to provide amusement - to break up a god or goddess' inevitable monotony. They devoted themselves to gods and goddesses alike, appealing to the immortals' vanity in their worship.

Demons, on the other hand, were a different story all together. Demons held no such desire to please the gods -- they felt no need to bow and scrape before Olympus, choosing instead to turn their backs on the gods completely. The common belief among the gods at Olympus was that the demon race spawned when a rogue god, sympathetic to the plight of the Titans banished by Zeus in his youth, was banished from Olympus, his immortality ripped from him. The perversion present on the god's soul rendered him unfit for the company of gods. The god, trapped on earth, the ultimate punishment bestowed on him, cut off each of his fingers. The soiled blood dripped into the earth, and from each drop, a different breed of demon was born.

She had sensed no such perversion in Sesshoumaru's presence. He'd been in possession of great power, and a considerable amount of pride, but he had not been remotely like most of the lowly demons she had encountered over the course of her existence. His presence resonated with supremacy and tenacity. He did not seem to be a common monster - not one who would readily murder his own brother. Impressive warrior or not, Teles had no interest in engaging in battle one so ignoble.

Sighing, she dipped in the air. Perhaps the best course of action would be to refrain from battling the demon lord at all. If chance brought them together, she would simply eliminate him herself, effectively removing the threat he posed to mortals.

As if responding to her thoughts, there was a twinge in Teles' chest as a damnable shiver slid down her spine. She clenched her eyes tightly at the sensation. "Damn it," she growled. He was nearby - this apparent scourge to humankind. She ground her teeth. The knowledge she had received from the hanyou's companions was still new, but having it left her feeling somewhat betrayed.

Teles swallowed hard. The Fates have sent me your way, demon. I will do what is necessary. Steeling herself, she let her eyes roam the fertile countryside. What she saw when she glanced down at the vibrant green earth caused the goddess to stop suddenly in flight. Her eyebrows lowered and she lifted herself further upwards in an attempt to conceal herself amongst the clouds.

Teles' gaze fell on a wide meadow where a small human child ran delightedly through grass and flowers grown nearly as high as her waist. Glossy dark hair streamed out behind her and the girl's overjoyed, high-pitched laughter wafted upwards to where Teles hid. The goddess' confusion grew when she saw who it was the child was running toward.

Familiar silver hair caught the gentle breeze as a clawed hand touched the child briefly on the head before withdrawing.

Teles' eyes widened. Sesshoumaru was standing on the edge of the meadow like a king surveying his kingdom. The child looked up at him with an expression of pure adoration. Abruptly, she sprinted from his side, running once again through the fragrant greenery. Before Teles could wonder what had caused the girl to run off so quickly, the child launched herself in the air and landed in the soft grass, rolling around and giggling in unadulterated joy.

"Sesshoumaru-sama!"

She isn't afraid of him?

"Come Rin, it is time to return."

The girl sat up and regarded Sesshoumaru. "Please, Sesshoumaru-sama, not yet. Just a little bit longer?"

There was a long pause. "Very well."

Teles was utterly bewildered at the tableau playing out before her. Kagome's voice echoed through her mind.

'Sesshoumaru hates humans. He holds us in disdain. To him, we're like insects - nothing more than something to crush when the whim hits him.'

Suddenly, the silver head turned slightly upwards. The goddess swallowed hard; even from her considerable distance, Teles could see that a pair of golden eyes had narrowed.

"Rin, stay here." Sesshoumaru leapt effortlessly into the air, reaching Teles almost immediately. "Leave," he said, the single word a growl deep in his chest.

She was quiet for a moment. "You do not wish to battle in front of her."

"Whether I battle in front of the girl or not is of no consequence to me. I do not wish to battle you now. Leave."

"You are... responsible for her?"

"I told you to leave, female."

Teles' silence was heavy as her eyes searched the demon's face, looking for some hint of an explanation. Finding none, she nodded slowly. "Yes. Of course, Sesshoumaru." Still regarding him in unabashed confusion, Teles turned away and continued on her course home, the things she'd been told battling with what she'd just seen.

She did not see the look of astonishment on Sesshoumaru's face at her quiet acquiescence and departure.