InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Sweet 16 redone ❯ Jiman's Issues and Hime's dream ( Chapter 7 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Inuyasha was the first to wake up the next morning. He clumsily climbed out from beneath the covers of his bed and stretched. He looked around the room at his sleeping companions. Kagome and Sango had pushed their beds together to share their blankets. They were both laying on their sides facing the center of the bed. Kirara and Shippo were curled up together in between the girls. On the other side of the room, Miroku lay sounds asleep in his bed. The girls had insisted Inuyasha sleep between them and the monk to discourage his wondering hands. Inuyasha watched Kagome sleep for a little while before he decided to go sit outside. He made sure to stay close enough that he could still catch her scent and hear if she woke up. The sun hadn't come up yet, so he sat on the roof of where they had slept, awaiting the sunrise. He was distracted however, but the sound of voices nearby. He crawled to the other side of the roof and saw Jiman and Raiu talking.
"Are you alright?" Raiu asked, " Why did you storm off like that?"
"I couldn't stand to watch you all welcome the girl responsible for your brothers death," Jiman snapped.
"What are you talking about? The Hebi are the ones who attacked us. They are responsible for what happened to Taiken," Raiu defended.
"The Hebi never would have attacked if he had gone through with his marriage to Kasai. Instead, he ran off with a human. If it weren't for that mortal, none of this would have happened," Jiman slammed his fist against a tree.
"How can you blame him for falling in love? You saw him when he told us he had found love. He was completely sincere and he was truly happy. It was not Kagome or her mother's fault, my brother did what he had to. He loved that woman and child. If he had abandoned them to marry someone who he felt nothing for, what kind of person would he be?" Raiu asked.
"A living one," Jiman answered, "I don't know what that woman did to make Taiken so devoted to her. Taiken was not so weak as to fall for a human. Whatever she did, she ultimately cause his death."
"My brother is not dead," Hime announced her presence.
"Hime, where did you come from?" Raiu asked.
"I was walking by and overheard my brother's so called friend proclaiming him dead," Hime lied.
Hime had been listening from behind the building, but she figured they knew it. Her eavesdropping habits were well known. People called her nosy, she like the term inquisitive better.
"Do you honestly believe the Hebi kept him alive after they took him?" Jiman asked.
"There is no proof that Taiken is dead. I refuse to believe he is gone until there is proof," Hime said.
"If the Hebi had him as a prisoner, Hayai would be asking for some kind of a ransom," Jiman explained.
"Hayai was powerful, but he did have one weakness. His daughter had control over him. As deranged as it sounds, I believe she did love Taiken on some level. It wasn't true love, and what she did feel was for all the wrong reasons, but she would not allow her "love" to be killed. She's keeping his prisoner, convinced one day he could just up and realize he loves her. I saw it all in my dream," Hime said.
"Enough about that stupid dream. What would you know about Kasai anyways? You were only three when your brother disappeared," Jiman replied.
"Since then I've listened to the people around the castle. The majority of the Kuroi, including Mama, believe Kasai could never kill Taiken," Hime explained.
"She’s right," Raiu spoke up, "I've heard it from Mama too, and she has always been an excellent judge of character."
"Even if he is alive somewhere, he's been imprisoned and it is that half-breed and her mother's fault. How can you welcome her into the family she has destroyed? Because of her, you've both lost your brother, your mother has lost her oldest son and your father has not left this castle since he gave up searching twelve years ago. How can you welcome the wench who caused all that?" Jiman snarled.
Inuyasha let out a growl and was about to jump down and defend Kagome's name when Hime spoke up.
"Did you ever stop to think that Kagome and her mother were victims too? Kagome grew up without her father! She went 16 years without knowing about him or who she was! And her mother loses the man she loves and is left to raise their daughter alone! Did you think about that!?!" Hime exclaimed.
Jiman growled and stormed off. Raiu put his hand on his sisters shoulder.
"He didn't mean the things he said," Raiu explained, "He was really close to Taiken, it was hard on hi too."
"I know, but he shouldn't take it out on Kagome," HIme said, "I wanted to run after him yesterday just so I could pound him for being so rude!"
"Now that’s not very lady-like," Raiu joked.
"When have I ever been lady-like?" Hime asked.
Inuyasha left the siblings alone and crawled back to the other side of the roof. He wanted nothing more then to chase after that Jiman creep and rip his head off, but he decided against it. He was grateful that Kagome's newly-found aunt had stood up for her. Raiu didn't seem like to bad of a guy either. Inuyasha was glad Kagome hadn't head the things that Jiman said. He didn't want her to blame herself for whatever happened to her father.
"Inuyasha, what are you doing up there?" Shippo had chosen to investigate the whereabouts of the hanyou when he woke up and noticed him missing.
Inuyasha was startled by the presence of the kitsune and nearly fell off the roof.
"What do want?" Inuyasha asked.
"I just came to see what you were doing," Shippo said innocently.
"I'm just sitting here ok," Inuyasha snapped back.
"Can I sit with you?" SHippo asked and without waiting for an answer, jumped up on the roof to join him.
"Feh," was all Inuyasha said in response.
"I've been thinking Inuyasha, since Kagome's a hanyou now is she still going to go back to her time? Will she stay in school and do those test thingies? Maybe she could just stay here with us now. Do you think she will?" Inuyasha shared his thoughts with Inuyasha.
"I don't know. She might, but her family and friends are still on the other side of the well," Inuyasha pointed out.
"She has us here though, we're her friends, and now she has a family here too. What if she decides to live with her new family instead of traveling with us?" Shippo asked.
"We need her to find the jewel shards. She won't leave until we find them all," Inuyasha replied.
"What about when the jewel is complete? What’s going to happen then?" Shippo questioned.
"Quit asking questions," Inuyasha growled.
"Kagome says my curiosity is adorable and that I shouldn't be afraid to ask questions," Shippo replied.
"Well I ain't Kagome, your questions irritate me, so knock it off," Inuyasha replied harshly.
"Why do my questions bother you? Am I asking to many questions? Should I stop talking? Why don't you want to answer my questions? Do you not know the answers?" Shippo rambled on.
"Shut up!" Inuyasha yelled.
"Why?" Shippo tried to look innocent.
"That’s it!" Inuyasha took off, chasing the pup, "I'm going to shut you up myself."
"Help, someone!" Shippo yelled as he ran from Inuyasha, "There’s a demon after me!"
Shippo, What’s going on?" Kagome had heard the two yelling and came to see what was going on.
"Inuyasha is trying to kill me!" Shippo jumped on Kagome's shoulder for protection.
"The brat won't shut up!" Inuyasha exclaimed.
"I just want to know What’s going to happen after we find all the jewel shards," Shippo explained.
They were all silent for a moment. Kagome looked to Inuyasha, but he was staring at the ground.
"I don't know Shippo, none of us really do. We will have to wait and see what Inuyasha does with it. Until then, we'll just enjoy our time with each other," Kagome said.
"What’s Inuyasha going to do with it?" Shippo asked.
"We don't know, but he has a lot of time to figure that out, so you just leave him alone about it ok?" Kagome gave him that look only a mother possesses that says 'say yes ma'am and drop it.'
"Ok Kagome," Shippo gave in.
"Thank you, now lets go check on the others. I think I hear them waking up."
Kagome carried Shippo into their room, Inuyasha trailed behind like a little puppy. When they entered the room they saw that Sango and Miroku had in fact woken up. Miroku was eyeing Sango as she pulled her hair back into a ponytail. Kagome stood in the doorway, looking at Miroku. He has a special look of adoration that she had only seen him give Sango. It was so oblivious he loved her and that Sango returned his feelings. If only that monk would keep his hands to himself, then everything would be happily-ever-after for them.
"Kagome, What’s the hold up?" Inuyasha stood behind her, waiting to go in.
"Huh? Oh right," coming out of her thoughts, Kagome stepped through the doorway.
"Good morning Kagome," Sango and Miroku greeting in unison
The same greetings were exchanged between Inuyasha, Shippo and the others. Only, Inuyasha's reply was a mere 'Feh'
Sango opened her mouth to ask Kagome something, but was interrupted by one of the castle's servants entering the room.
"Lady Kagome, you and your friends are invited to join Lady Kinu for breakfast. If you are ready now, I can show you the way," the man said while bowing.
Kagome looked around at her friends to see if it was alright with them. Sango nodded in response for all of them.
"Alright, thank you," Kagome said.
The servant turned and led them out of the room. Kagome and the others followed him down hallways, up stairs, through courtyards, down stairs, to a small room with a short rectangular table. The table was surrounded by ten chairs, one on each end and four on either side. Kinu was seated at the head of the table with Hime on her right, and Raiu beside his sister.
"Kagome, come sit down," Kinu motioned to the chair on her left.
Kagome sat in the offered chair. Inuyasha say next to her, and Shippo next to him. Sango and Miroku sat on the other side, beside Raiu. Once everyone was seated, Kinu spoke again.
"I know that you had some questions yesterday, so I thought we could discuss things further this morning. We'll answer anything as best we can," Kinu explained.
Kagome sat for a moment contemplating what she should ask first.
"What happened to my father?" she finally choked out.
"We don't really know, he was taken prisoner during tone of our battles with the Hebi. We honestly don't know if he is still alive or not," Kinu's eyes began to tear up at the thought of her son.
"Didn't you look for him after he was taken?" Inuyasha asked.
"Of course," Raiu replied,"as soon as we realized my brother was missing my father sent out numerous rescue parties. The Hebi abandoned their original home and no one knew where they fled to. We searched relentlessly for almost five years. Eventually my father realized his sone was gone and wasn't coming back, so he called off The searches."
"What happened to Lord Toumoku?" Miroku asked.
"When he gave up hope for his son, he was devastated. My father blamed himself for whatever happened to Taiken. He retreated to his private wing of The castle and hasn't left since. The only people who he speaks to now are myself, Hime, mother, and his brother, Taizen. There are also a few servants who enter to straighten up in there or bring him his food," Raiu explained.
"If Toumoku refuses to come out, who leads The Kuroi?" Sango asked.
"Raiu was next in line to take over after my father, then Taiken, but when all this happened, he was only eleven. Uncle Taizen took charge for The first seven years that my father was secluding himself. When Raiu turned eighteen he took over, well sort of. My uncle and brother work together to make decisions. My brother stays here to look after everything here and my uncle visits The other strong demon lords to ensure we remain allies with their clans," Hime explained.
"Yes, that’s why he isn't able to be here now to meet you Kagome," Kinu added.
"Do you know anything about where The Hebi might be?" Kagome asked.
"We've searched everywhere and still have no clues," Raiu said.
"That’s not entirely true," Hime corrected her brother, "Father did not believe it was necessary to search The northern lands more than once, though that’s where I expect they've gone. He sent one search party there in The beginning. They returned saying they had found nothing, so father never pursued that search. Recently, I've been having dreams of my brother. I saw him in a cell with one window that looked out on a lake covered in plum blossoms. I've heard stories of this lake, Lake Ume. It is supposed to be in The center of Okumatte Forest in The northern lands. I know that’s where my brother is, but my family doesn't seem to believe me."
"Hime, don't bother Kagome with your dreams," Raiu scolded his sister.
"They are more then just dreams," Hime defended.
"I believe you," Kagome said.
Hime smiled at her niece. For once, someone wasn't just passing ignoring what she said and treating her as though she were just a child. She was the baby of the family, and no one ever took her seriously. It was nice having Kagome show faith in her.
"Well, its all we've got to go on, unless you have any more information," Inuyasha stood up, when no one spoke up he added, "lets go, we need to pack our things so we can get going."
"What are you leaving so soon? We haven't even had breakfast yet" Kinu asked.
"Are you going to go wander around The Okumatte Forest, looking for something that may not even be there?" Raiu added.
"We have to try. It’s the only thing we've got to go off of. I have to at least try to find my father," Kagome said, she gave her grandmother an apologetic look, "I'm sorry that we're leaving so suddenly."
Shippo jumped on Kagome's shoulder when she stood up. Sango and Miroku mimicked her and rose. They were following Inuyasha out when Hime stood and spoke up.
"Wait, if its alright, I'd like to go with you."
"Whatever," Inuyasha said before leaving the room.
"What he meant is we would really appreciate your help and I'm sure we'll enjoy your company," Kagome explained.
"Thank you, let me gather some of my things and then I'll meet you in the courtyard next to your room," Hime suggested.
"Alright," Kagome said before she ran to catch up with Inuyasha.

A/N" SORRY its taken me so long to update. My teachers are keeping me so busy, and my friends seem to be piling their problems on me as well. I'm going on a trip from the 16 to the 22 of August. I promise by the time I get back to have at least one new chapter for this story and a chapter written for the story of Nisume's past. Let me know what you guys thought of this chapter.
Taizen means calm (I thought it was cool because its so close to Taiken), Ume means plum and Okumatte means secluded.