InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Side Effects ❯ Prologue

DISCLIAMER: Inuyasha, world and characters, belong to Rumiko Takahashi and not to me. The only things that belong to me are the plot and any additional characters. I make no profit of this story, and am doing it only for my own enjoyment (and hopefully yours too).

 

PROLOGUE

 

Inuyasha could barely stand the pain in his chest, as he looked down at the poor, batted girl lying on the bed in front of him. How could he let her get hurt like this? He'd promised to protect her, and now look what had happened. His precious Kagome was now lying here, with a broken arm, serval cracked ribs and what her `doctors' called a `concussion'. All because he'd been out for a run, too caught up in his own thoughts to realise that Naraku was nearly upon the village until it was almost too late. He'd arrived at the site where Kagome and his friends were fighting the evil Hanyou just in time to see his beloved miko fly through the air and collide with a heavy thud on a tree. He could tell she'd been hurt and had attacked his detested enemy with a vengeance. However, it was only after Naraku had been forced into retreat and he'd gone to Kagome only to discover she wouldn't wake up that he'd realised how badly injured she truly was. In panic he'd rushed her to her world and her mother had insisted he bring her here to the place of healing she called a hospital. Inuyasha didn't know how Mrs Higurashi had explained her daughter's injured, and frankly he didn't care. What he did care about was that Kagome got better. He had to admit the doctors in this time had done a good job patching her up, but it was still going to take several weeks until she was fully healed. All because he hadn't gotten to her in time.

 

Well, never again, Inuyasha promised. Never again would Kagome be hurt because of his incompetence, because he was too weak. Inuyasha had realised months ago that he loved Kagome, and even if she never returned his love he would do anything to keep her safe. With that thought in mind, Inuyasha came to a discission, one he had been considering for several months, ever since Naraku had gotten hold of almost the entire jewel and become that much more powerful. So far though his pride had held him back, but no longer. He knew what he had to do now. While Kagome was healing he would go and do that which he had promised himself he would never do since he was a child.

 

As soon as Inuyasha returned to his own time, he was going to have to seek out Meikyuu.

 

*!*!*

 

Meikyuu wasn't her real name, Inuyasha knew. No one knew what her real name was anymore; he suspected not even Miekyuu herself even remembered it. She'd been calling herself that for centuries now, even before she'd joined his father's employ. The name went with the whole `Youkai Magician' persona he guessed.

 

Meikyuu was several hundred if not thousands of years old, and well versed in mystic arts. She'd travelled far and wide, learning magic from all four corners of the globe (or so she claimed anyway, after learning from Kagome just how big the world really was Inuyasha was starting to doubt that), and during the reign of Inuyasha's father as the Inu No Tasiho, had served as advisor and magician to the Ruler of the Western Lands.

 

Inuyasha had never liked her. He hadn't seen her in years, but in all of his memory she was exactly the same; an old hag with a holier-than-thou attitude and a horrible stench permeating the air around her. And from what Myoga had told him when he'd told the old flea of his plans to seek her out, she hadn't changed over the years, just gotten more arrogant and more smelly. What really pissed Inuyasha off about her though was one particular memory of her, from right after his mother had died. He'd been kicked out by his mother's human family and Sesshomaru had made it clear that he didn't want him. He was a eight year old boy who'd just lost his mother and had no place to go, when suddenly she turned up. She had said in her usual arrogant way that she'd told his father that having a Hanyou child in the first place was a mistake, but that she had an obligation to fulfil a promise she'd made to his father if he wanted it, and unlock as much of his demon powers as she could without eradicating his human blood or overwhelming it. She would have preferred to go all the way, but the Inu No Taisho had forbidden that, thinking it an insult to his human mate. But even doing what the Inu No Taisho had wanted would make him as powerful as his brother, and help erase the shame his human mother brought on him.

 

Inuyasha had been furious, and yelled at her to get lost. How dare she insult his mother like that!? And what the hell was she thinking, offering this dumb spell like it would make everything better? Besides, he didn't need her to become strong, his mother had said he could do it on his own and he would. Meikyuu had simply snorted and turned away, saying it was his loss, that she'd done her part by simply offering. If he didn't want her help, it was no business of hers but in respect for his father the offer would remain open if he should ever change his mind.

 

Inuyasha had seen her a couple more time over the years. Each time she'd renew her offer and each time Inuyasha would angrily refuse. Now, for Kagome's sake he was actually seeking the old bag out in the hope of getting her to fulfil that promise. He hated himself for that, but it was the only way he could think of right now that would help him get stronger, strong enough to better protect Kagome. For Kagome, he would do this.

 

Kagome. How he missed her. It was over a full week, nine whole days since he'd last seen her. The longest he'd been gone from her side since she freed him from his seal over two years ago. At least he knew she was safe and sound in her time right now. Inuyasha had stayed by her side until she'd been allowed to go home from that hospital place, and then stayed with her for some time at her home while he'd had Myoga seek out the whereabouts of Meikyuu for him. By the time Inuyasha had had a location to look in, Kagome still had at least two weeks left until her arm healed enough for her to come back. He'd wanted to find Meikyuu and received any power boost she could give him before his beloved Kagome returned to his time, so he decided to set out then. After, of course making her promise not to return to his time until he came back to get her, a promise he was sure that her mother was going to make her stick to. She'd been worried when he'd told her his plan, naturally. She wouldn't be Kagome if she didn't worry about him, especially when it involved strange Youkai who wanted to put spells on him. Inuyasha had told her to worry though, whatever else Meikyuu was she wasn't devious. He was sure that there was no chance this was a trap.

 

Finally, he reached Meikyuu's last known location, and sure enough there she was. Inuyasha had to snort when he took the scene in, it was so typically Meikyuu. The ruins of some old shrine, done up with some gaudy decorations in a failed effort to make it look important. Some lower level Youkai servants who looked to be a species closely related to that toad that followed his brother around, who were running around with platters of drinks or food, scrubbing away to make everything as neat as ruins in the middle of a forest could be, or standing by the side badly playing out-of-tune musical instruments. And in the middle of it all, sitting on an old stone chair that resembled a throne, was Meikyuu, looking every bit as arrogant as ever.

 

“Inuyasha, younger son of the late Inu No Taisho.” Meikyuu said calmly when she spotted him, only the slight widening of her eyes revealing her surprise at his sudden entrance. “Why do you seek me out?”

 

“I've come to collect on the promise you made my father.” Inuyasha said through gritted teeth, hating to have to admit this to her. If it wasn't for Kagome and his obligation to see that she stayed safe he'd turn around and walk out of here right now.

 

“Oh?” Meikyuu asked, amusement entering her voice. “I thought you didn't need my help? Isn't that what you told me, repeatedly over the years? What's changed?”

 

“Look, just tell me will you cast your damn spell or not?” Inuyasha demanded. “Because if not, I'm walking out of here right now.”

 

“Peace, Inuyasha, I'll honour my promise and cast my spell if it is what you wish. However, since you waited so long to accept my offer there may be a problem.” Meikyuu said, a slight frown. “The spell I was to use was meant to be cast on a child, and as I'm sure you realise you are now in the final stages of your adolesce. The spell will still work, and unleash the full potential of your demon power while leaving your human blood and heart intact. However, there may be some side effects which neither of us considered.”

 

“Will my demon blood overwhelm me, like when my life is in danger?” Inuyasha asked, suddenly worried. If there was a chance he'd turn into a blood thirsty monster like he did after Tetsusaiga broke, than there was no way he could go through with this no matter how much he needed the power.

 

“You know about that, do you?” Meikyuu asked, looking surprised. “No, that is one thing your father had been worried about from the beginning and so my spell is set accordingly. There will be no chance of you losing your mind that way.”

 

“Then I'll take my chances.” Inuyasha said. He'd come this far, he'd go all the way. That was the only possible side effect he was truly worried about, and thing else he'd take his chances on and work out when it hit him.

 

“Very well.” Meikyuu said. “Servants, bring me my staff, my crystals and my herbs. Tonight, I fulfil my final obligation to the Inu No Taisho by awaking the dormant power within his son. By dawn tomorrow, Inuyasha, your power will have reached new heights and we shall never have to see each other again.”

 

“At least that's a good thing.” Inuyasha muttered as he watch frog like creatures run around and do their mistresses bidding. Hopefully by the night was over, he would have enough power that he would never again fail Kagome.