InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Bastard's Gift ❯ Chapter 3

Characters of Inuyasha are not mine. I just borrow them for a bit to entertain myself… And others. ^^

Bastard's Gift

Chapter 3

Seven Years and three months ago.

Inuyasha huddled in the corner of his prison, weakened with hunger. Naraku kept him fed but with only enough food so as not to perish. Water was scarce, too, and Inuyasha was constantly thirsty. The only time he had some extra water to drink was when Naraku's minions doused him with water to clean him off.

Inuyasha knew that a little over three months had passed, since he had been human a few days ago. And even though the heat cycle was done and over, Naraku continued mounting him, enjoying the pain and misery he forced onto Inuyasha.

The first couple of weeks after his capture had been a blur, but judging by the bite mark that scarred his left shoulder, Inuyasha knew that he had submitted to the dark hanyou. Having regained his senses, Inuyasha tried to fight off further advances. But Naraku had the upper hand. And Inuyasha had to endure the violation of his body numerous times.

Despite the situation, Inuyasha held onto a tiny shred of hope that he would find a way out of all of this. Each time Naraku or his minions left, Inuyasha inspected the doorway, the window, and all sections where walls and floors met, looking for any weak spots. There was also the fact that Naraku did not sport a matching bite mark. They were not completely mated, so Inuyasha held no feelings of loyalty towards the dark hanyou.

There were also several nights in which Inuyasha could hear him cursing Sesshomaru, Kouga, and his friends. It meant that they were looking for him. Well, at least the others. He could only assume Sesshomaru had a different agenda.

It was during his second night as a human since his capture that Inuyasha really noticed that his stomach was extending. Despair kicked in, understanding what the deformity meant. The only reprieve was that upon seeing the evidence of Inuyasha's condition, Naraku quit being brutal with him. But that didn't stop him from immobilizing him with his tentacles and taking him as gently as possible, a mockery of lovers. Or saying frightening things about what he would do when the pup was born.

Biologically, Inuyasha would not go into another heat cycle for another 5 to 7 years while he was nursing and raising a pup. Not unless he lost the pup through death, or allowed the nurturing to be done by another demon. And so Naraku would torment him by stating how he would absorb the child at birth so that Inuyasha would find himself in a heat cycle again and they could begin the process all over again.

It sickened him.

And then Naraku came in one day and gloated how he had defeated his friends.

"Your brother will be next, and then there will be no one left."

Inuyasha wasn't sure if this was another one of Naraku's mind games, but the fears and doubt festered in Inuyasha's head. Depression soon followed. Inuyasha no longer looked for weaknesses in his cell. He looked for means in which to end his life. Inuyasha wondered if he cut himself and spread the filth that was on the ground into his wounds, would he eventually succumb to infection like a human and die?

One morning Inuyasha noticed a fluttering feeling in his stomach. He placed a hand on his side where he had felt it. A few moments later, he felt it again. He pulled back his hand in horror. Was it that big already? He placed his hand down lower. Several seconds later, the soft touches were felt again, following his hand.

Inuyasha's vision was hindered by the tears in his eyes.

It was responding.

This time he moved his hand to the opposite side of his stomach.

A few seconds of nothing, and then again, underneath his hand.

Inuyasha curled up in himself and softly cried. His pup was alive and responding to him. A life his body was protecting and nourishing despite the fact that he already failed the little one at conception.

The door to his cell opened, and Naraku flowed in, looking as pristine as always.

"How is my little carrier?" he crooned, a sadistic grin on his face. Inuyasha huddled back into his corner.

"Stay away from me," he said, his voice scratchy.

Naraku's tentacles reached out, grabbing a hold of the resisting hanyou and pulling him close.

"No, let go!" Inuyasha feebly attempted to free himself.

Naraku chuckled as he pulled reached out and touched Inuyasha's stomach.

"Careful. I can't risk you aborting this precious cargo."

Inuyasha stood still as Naraku gently caressed his stomach, looking like a loving parent that he wasn't.

"Is it moving yet?" Naraku asked. "I should probably increase your rations by a little. The child needs to be strong enough to survive birth after all."

Inuyasha did not say a word, nor did he betray his sorrow as he felt the creature flutter somewhere further inside, as if trying to move away from where Naraku's cold hand touched him.

Inuyasha did, however, flinch as Naraku's hand moved from his stomach to his crotch, groping it. "Even if it is to die within minutes of it breathing air. Then we can make another one. How I miss making you bleed for me, Inuyasha."

Inuyasha trembled, but he refused to cry in front of Naraku. The tears of pain than were wrenched from him were one thing, but he would never cry his shame and despair in the dark hanyou's presence.

Naraku's hands reached out to disrobe him.

A samiyoshi suddenly flew in and stopped near Naraku's head. "What?" he cried out, anger evident in his voice.

Naraku turned to look at Inuyasha and then flung him downwards. "You won't escape," he growled. "Your brother may have helped your friends, but I'll make it so that he won't be able to again!"

Inuyasha remained silent as Naraku stormed out of the cell. Friends? Were his friends doing fine after all? What could Naraku have meant by mentioning that his brother had helped out his friends?

Then Inuyasha realized that in his haste, Naraku did not bolt the door. After three long months, he found a reason to grin, despite it being one of hateful determination. Inuyasha pushed himself up and hurled himself towards the door.

It swung open, slamming against the wall. Inuyasha stumbled into the hallway and listened. He could hear fighting in the distance. He ran down the hall and paused. He could see the main door way, and there on a pedestal, to the far right, was the Tetsusaiga.

Inuyasha reached for it, relishing the feel for having his weapon back in his hands.

"I miss you," he said, as power flared and it grew in size.

The sharp scent of human blood caught his attention, and his moment of relief became one of alarm.

Inuyasha ran towards the scent, and he could hear a faint scream. It sounded like Sango!

Inuyasha reached the battle area and stopped in horror. Bodies were strewn everywhere, both human and demon alike. Further up ahead, Naraku, Kouga, and Sesshomaru were locked in battle. Sesshomaru looked as regal as always, fierce determination in his eyes.

Kouga was battle weary, coated in blood, and anguish in his eyes.

As for his friends…

Inuyasha felt the sword drop for his hands as he fell to his knees. Directly in front of him was Miroku, his body colored by the poison of Naraku's miasma. Sango and Kirara lay together, the demon cut in two, and Sango's right side of her face was crushed. Kagome was only recognizable by the clothes she wore. Her body was completely mutilated.

Inuyasha turned away, his eyes landing on the small corpse of Shippo. He couldn't tell at first what it was, until he realized that it was a tiny hand. He was locked in the jaws of the head of a demon, his unseeing green eyes peering from behind large teeth.

The world faded away from Inuyasha. X

Kouga felt himself growing tired, but whether it was from the fight or the despair of seeing Inuyasha's friends being killed, he could not say. The demon slayer and the demon cat were the last two to fall. For a moment he couldn't help but envy the calm demeanor that the demon lord next to him continued to hold.

And seeing that Naraku was having trouble holding ground spurred him on as well. He would not let his fallen comrades die in vain. He would free Inuyasha.

A growling sound caught his attention just as Naraku swung one of his tentacles, catching him on the side and sending him sprawling onto the floor.

Sesshomaru's sword cut through the tentacle that was aiming for his body as a follow up strike.

Kouga leapt up back to his feet in time to see a demonic Inuyasha attached himself to Naraku's back, clawing at his face, scratching his arms up on Naraku's armor.

"Inuyasha!" Kouga shouted in surprise. He leapt towards the dueling hanyous, ready to help however he could. He could see the anger in Naraku's face as he actually tried to pry Inuyasha off of him without causing serious harm.

Sesshomaru took that moment of distraction to swipe his sword across Naraku's throat, severing the head.

Naraku hissed as his head floated upwards, and the body of his began to fade. "You may have won this round," Naraku said. "But I got what I wanted."

Kouga watched in frustration as Naraku's head floated away once more.

"We have to find his damned heart," Kouga snarled, before focusing on Inuyasha. The demon still had no control, and without Naraku, he had no one else but them to focus on.

Kouga was prepared, somewhat, when Inuyasha lunged at him. He accepted the hanyou with open arms, cringing as Inuyasha's claws almost slashed through his chest plate. He wrapped Inuyasha in a bear hug and held on to the writhing and snarling hanyou.

"Inuyasha, it's me, your friend," Kouga chanted, hoping to soothe the savage beast.

Sesshomaru glared at the wolf demon as he calmly made his way to Inuyasha's Tetsusaiga. He reached down and paused for a moment before attempting to touch it. He could not feel the resistance he had felt so long ago. It did not burn his hand as he grabbed the scabbard. In some way it made sense. The Tetsusaiga was meant for Inuyasha to protect the foolish humans.

And the hanyou no longer had the humans to protect.

He went back to the struggling wolf demon and slid the Tetsusaiga back in its place by Inuyasha's side and watched as his half brother returned to his normal self.

Kouga glared at him in annoyance, but acknowledged Sesshomaru's help with a nod.

He loosened his grip as Inuyasha went slack.

"Naraku?" he heard Inuyasha ask, his voice hoarse.

"Gone. Ran away," Kouga answered.

"I lost control, didn't I?"

"Yes."

Inuyasha gasped as he pulled back and looked around.

Kouga felt his eyes burn with tears as Inuyasha's face showed his emotional pain.

His friends were dead. He was alone. Alone except for the small life inside him that was fluttering weakly against his side. For one brief moment, Inuyasha could have sworn it was an attempt to comfort him. No, he wasn't completely alone. He had one small life that depended on him.

But he was scared to go at it alone. If only there were a way to bring back his friends. Didn't Sesshomaru's sword have that particular power? Yellow eyes turned to his brother in desperation.

"Sesshomaru, you can bring them back, can't you?" Inuyasha asked.

"Why should I?"

"Sesshomaru, please!"

"It is pointless to try."

"Please, I'll do anything!"

"Anything?"

Kouga felt his throat tighten. Inuyasha did not know what he was getting himself into.

"That's not a good…" Kouga began, but was interrupted.

"Anything! You were going to try to mate with me, right? I… I'll be your mate. When I go into heat again I'll only mate with you. I won't run away or fight you. I'll even stay by your side and never see my friends again but only if I know that they're alive and well, anything, please!"

Kouga felt a knot form in his throat. Even though the influence of the heat was over, the memory of almost claiming Inuyasha was still vivid in his head, and very much cherished. To hear Inuyasha willingly offer himself to Sesshomaru to help revive their friends did not sit well with him at all. And to hear Sesshomaru give false hope by acknowledging Inuyasha's offer…

Sesshomaru glanced down at Inuyasha's stomach. "That hanyou has left himself in you."

Inuyasha pulled back, arm going around his stomach, shame filling his face as he was reminded of just how powerless he was.

"Cull the brat from your body and this Sesshomaru will see what he can do."

Kouga was dumbfounded at Sesshomaru's request.

Inuyasha became still.

Inuyasha may have been raised around humans, but Kouga knew there were certain instincts that every demon seemed to share. If Inuyasha had indeed conceived during his heat two months ago -- judging by his reaction and the slight bulge in his stomach, he had-- most demons were possessive of their offspring. Being mated or not did nothing to lessen that possessiveness and need to protect. Culling a child could only be done by another demon attempting to force an early heat cycle on an intended mate. He himself has witness such acts during some of the alpha battles to the northern lands. But it was always for power, and the mate that was forced to endure such a harsh abortion was usually broken by the act, becoming nothing more but a trophy mate to antagonize the loser.

The carrier of an offspring would have to be mentally ill to do so him or herself. Sesshomaru was asking the unthinkable of Inuyasha.

"But it's mine," Inuyasha whispered.

"This Sesshomaru will not accept the spawn of two hanyou's as a ward."

Kouga held back a growl as he watched a few tears trail down the cheeks of Inuyasha. It was something that should not have been seen out in the open. Inuyasha had endured many hardships. A moment of weakness such as this should have been private to the hanyou.

"That's uncalled for," he spat at the youkai lord, risking the chance that Sesshomaru would lash out at him.

But Sesshomaru just stared at them and then turned to walk away.

"Sesshomaru… please," Inuyasha whispered. "Don't… don't let my friends stay dead. Please!" Inuyasha took a stumbling step forward.

Kouga reached forward to catch Inuyasha.

"Inu… stop. It's not that he won't. He can't."

"What?"

Sesshomaru paused and looked back at Inuyasha. "The sword does not sing for their revival."

"I… huh?"

Sesshomaru looked away and continued moving forward, disappearing into the trees.

Kouga pulled Inuyasha back towards him.

"He used his sword once on them. And on me. It can't do it a second time."

Inuyasha began to shake as his grief increased. Then that time when Naraku gloated about the death of his friends, he was not playing with his mind. He really had defeated them with death. His friends were truly gone. And there was no hope of them ever coming back.

Sesshomaru had almost tricked him. He probably would have revealed that awful truth after Inuyasha aborted the life within him. And Inuyasha would have been bound to him by word.

"I-I'm really alone," Inuyasha cried out softly, ears pressing flat against his head as he wrapped his arms around himself.

"No, you're not, Puppy," Kouga whispered, his heart breaking for Inuyasha. This was not the arrogant half breed he knew and admired. This broken creature needed to know that there was still something worth living for. "I'm still here."

"What do I do? I don't know how to do this by myself."

"Come back to my lands with me. Join my pack."

Inuyasha looked up at Kouga.

"Why?" he croaked out.

"Because… you guys became extended family to me a long time ago. I can't let you stay by yourself. Not now. Not ever. I… I still want to be your mate."

Inuyasha's eyes flashed with fear.

Kouga held on tighter. "But the choice will be yours. In the meantime, I would be happy if you'll just come back with me. I won't ask of you to get rid of your puppy. I'll raise him as one of the pack. I'll accept him as my ward. Just come with me. Please…" Kouga's last few words became a whisper as he tried to remain strong.

If the loss of Kagome and the others was this staggering to the wolf, he could only imagine how much more it meant to Inuyasha.

He was so worried that Inuyasha would reject his offer that he barely heard the hushed, "Okay," come from Inuyasha. X

The journey to Kouga's caves was uneventful in a manner of speaking. It was also a somewhat slow process as Inuyasha found himself blanking out, staring back where he had come from. Back to where the graves of his friends were, and back to where his brother abandoned him yet again.

Kouga proved to be patient with him, giving him a few moments before gently turning him around and leading him to where they were headed to.

Present Day

Inuyasha winced as he felt his child kick inside his stomach. It seemed that the future tyke inherited Kouga's leg power.

The sun was getting ready to set and they had travelled pretty far.

Katsutoshi was putting up a brave front, but Inuyasha could tell that his son was tired. And after their talk of him becoming an older brother, he refused to let Inuyasha carry him.

"Don't carry Katsutoshi," he had said. "You already are carrying a baby. I will be an older brother soon so I have to act like it."

Inuyasha smiled fondly at the memory.

"Let's find a good sturdy tree," Inuyasha said.

Katsutoshi glanced back at his father, relief clear in his face.

"Near a lake?" he asked.

Inuyasha nodded. "I smell one in further up ahead."

Katsutoshi sniffed the air. "Is it that way?" he asked, pointing slightly to the left of the direction they were headed.

Inuyasha nodded.

Katsutoshi clapped his hands. "Yay! I'm getting better at smelling water! Can I try picking a tree this time?"

"We'll see," said Inuyasha.

Katsutoshi frowned. "Will you be safe?"

"Being up high is the safest place to be, usually."

"What if you fall?"

"Have we fallen off all this time?"

"No…"

"We'll be fine."

Katsutoshi nodded. "Okay!"

A short time later, the two travelling demons found themselves by a small lake. Inuyasha let Katsutoshi wade into the water to attempt to catch some fish as he prepared a small fire. He was proud to see that his son was able to catch a few fish that were of decent size.

"What is uncle Sesshomaru like?" Katsutoshi asked as they ate their fish.

Inuyasha stayed silent for a bit. "He's strong," he started to say.

"But not stronger than you."

Inuyasha chuckled. "He is my older brother, Katsutoshi," he said evasively.

"Are you prettier than him?"

"Katsutoshi…"

"But you are pretty. Does he have children?"

"No. Not really."

Katsutoshi looked at Inuyasha in confusion.

"He takes care of two humans, although they are probably living as adults now. Yes… by now they are young adults."

Inuyasha's eyes grew distant as he recalled the day Kohaku fled Naraku. It wasn't long after the massacre of his friends. Word eventually reached him that Sesshomaru had allowed Kohaku to travel with him, mostly because he proved to be useful in keeping Rin safe. In some ways, it hurt Inuyasha to know that Kohaku chose to follow Sesshomaru. He couldn't help but wonder if it was because the young boy blamed Inuyasha for failing to keep Sango alive.

Inuyasha shook his head and tried to clear his thoughts. He had spent most of the day thinking about those awful two months under Naraku's control. He didn't want to spend the evening remembering Kohaku's grief.

It took Inuyasha a moment to realize that Katsutoshi was no longer in front of him, having taken advantage of Inuyasha's lapse of attention.

"Katsu?" Inuyasha called out, before seeing his son near the trees. His son was stalking something, and with a quick pounce, he had caught something in his hands.

Inuyasha sighed and forced himself up from where he was sitting. As he approached his son, he was able to see Katsutoshi carefully opening his hands and catching hold of a butterfly by its wings. His son stared at it intently, a small smile on its face as he apparently admired the colors.

Inuyasha couldn't help but smile at the sight. Another moment of blissfulness that he wished could last forever.

But then the smile on his son's face was gone, replaced by a look of indifference.

Katsutoshi pulled the butterfly apart.

"Katsutoshi!" Inuyasha snapped out, both in fear and in anger.

It was Naraku's eyes that had stared at that butterfly. It was Naraku's ruthlessness that tore the butterfly apart. Katsutoshi was nothing like Naraku. Couldn't be.

Sorrowful red eyes looked up at Inuyasha. "I'm sorry," he said. "It was pretty. But then I got mad."

"Why?" asked Inuyasha, trying to understand these random moments his son would have.

"Because… it was prettier than you."

Katsutoshi flung his arms around Inuyasha's legs and began to cry softly. "I'm sorry," he kept murmuring, as Inuyasha petted the top of his head, silently frowning.

It was a scary admission his son had stated. But still… Katsutoshi was his and he would continue to work with his son. He would prove that despite carrying Naraku's blood in him, Katsutoshi would become nothing like the dark hanyou.

Tbc…

(One more chapter and then we'll be caught up to the other sites.)