InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Call of Life and Death ❯ Secrets Revealed ( Chapter 6 )

A/N: I still don't own Inu Yasha, or any of the other characters in this story. However, I would like to copyright anything that is left when you remove all the stuff that belongs to Takahashi Rumiko. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I know this took a really long time to get out, and it's not even as long as chapter five was. I ran into some writers block, I started the spring semester here at college, and a couple of my beta writers took longer then expected with the story. Thank you, by the way, to Black Phoenix, Kaz, Ahrima, Kenjo, and to Inuyasha, for beta reading my story. You all find my errors and fix my stupid mistakes. Thanks a bunch. Enjoy the story everyone.

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The Call of Life and Death

Chapter 6: Secrets Revealed

Inu Yasha rose to his feet rubbing his head. "I had the strangest dream, Kagome," he started to say, stopping abruptly when he opened his eyes. He found himself in a broad expanse of solid black. Spinning around, he discovered that he was not alone.

About ten meters away were two figures. Hovering about six inches above the polished onyx floor, the two figures formed the other two points in an equilateral triangle with where Inu Yasha was standing. Both of the figures greatly resembled Inu Yasha and his recently deceased half brother. They had Sesshomaru's long flowing silver hair and tail, and they had Inu Yasha's amber eyes. Both had three stripes on both cheeks and the crescent moon of demonic nobility adorned their foreheads.

The figure to the hanyou's left was dressed in a solid black hakama and haori with a pure white yukata under. The colors were so true that the black seemed to fade into the surroundings, while the white seemed to glow with some inner light. The markings on the face of figure in black were the same black of it's clothing, making it seem to be holes in the figure, rather then facial markings. He (the figure) held his hands before him, about four inches from his chest. They were held about half a foot apart, with the palms facing each other. Between his hands was as sword. The blade was long, and hung point down; the sword's sharpened edge faced out, and was battered and nicked. Inu Yasha immediately recognized it at the Tetsusaiga.

To Inu Yasha's right, the figure was clothed in a white hakama and haori with a black yukata under. He bore the same markings as the other figure, except that instead of being black, they were the white of his clothing. Between his hands hung another sword. This one was the same length as the other, but the blade was clean and true. Inu Yasha knew he would never have to fear a cut from that blade, as he recognized it as the Tenseiga.

What the fuck is going on here? Inu Yasha wondered.

`Watch your language!' echoed another though in his head. There was something strange about the voice/thought, it almost sounded like someone he knew.

Kagome?

`Yeah?'

What the hell are you doing in my head?

`How the hell should I know? I was hoping you would be able to tell me.'

Feh, I don't know where the hell I am, why the hell I'm here, or what the hell is going on. He paused a moment in surprise. Did I really just admit all that?

`Yes you did, now is there anything that you do know?'

Shit! Yeah, I do know a few things.

`Well, would you be so kind as to enlighten me as to what that might be?' she replied, sarcasm dripping from her tone.

First, you can hear my thoughts.

`Thanks for the update, I hadn't figured that out on my own. Now is there anything that you can tell me that isn't painfully obvious?'

Well, if you would shut up for a second, and let me finish, you might know! The figures over there, one is holding Tetsusaiga and the other is holding Tenseiga. Also, they look like my father.

`Your father!?'

Yeah, my father, you stupid or something now?

`Shut up, perhaps this is the beginning of those trial things Toto-sai was talking about.'

Only one way to find out. Time to go ask them. His final thought carried the indication of the two figures before them. As he was about to step forward, he was stopped by a powerful voice.

"WHO APPROACHED?" it demanded. Looking around, Inu Yasha vainly tried to locate the source of the words. Neither figure had moved, and the voice had seemed to come from every where at the same time. "WHO APPROACHES?" it repeated.

"Inu Yasha," he replied.

"WHY DO YOU SEEK THE POWERS OF LIFE AND DEATH?"

"I don't seek those."

"YOU ENTER THE TRIALS, YET YOU DO NOT SEEK THE POWER. WHAT IS IT YOU DO SEEK THEN, Inu Yasha?"

"Answers," the hanyou answered angrily.

`Careful, Inu Yasha, we don't want to piss them off.'

Shut up, I can handle this.

`Don't tell me to shut up, you big jerk! Why am I even here? I came to help you, but since you can't handle someone helping you…I WANT OUT!'

Feh, seems like I can hear your thought too. And see if I care if you leave. I'll gladly get you out of my head just as soon as I'm done here. Until then, would you mind leaving my thought to me?

When she didn't respond, he sighed and returned his attention to the figures before him.

"YOU DARE TO THINK YOU COULD KNOW THE TRUE POWER OF THE GREAT BLADES, WHEN YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW YOUR OWN HEART?"

"I already told you, I don't want the bloody-" he started to growl.

"AND YET YOU HAVE ENTERED THE TRIALS. YOU CANNOT LEAVE THIS PLACE UNTIL YOU HAVE PASSED THE TRIALS, AND YOU ARE NOT TO BE PERMITTED TO ATTEMPT THEM. YOU WILL REMAIN HERE UNTIL YOU HAVE REACHED PEACE BETWEEN YOUR HEART AND YOUR MIND." With that, the figures faded from existence. "WE SHALL RETURN WHEN YOUR HEART AND MIND ARE AS ONE, AND YOU ARE READY FOR THE TRIALS."

"Wait! Come back here!" he yelled, running to where the figures had been. "Wonderful, just bloody fucking wonderful."

`Watch your language, Inu Yasha,' Kagome scolded him.

"Oh, even fucking better!" he continued, ignoring her request. "Not only am I stuck here, and gods only know where the hell here is, with seemingly no way to leave, but I'm stuck here with you in my head, scolding me like a small child. Could today get any better?" Sitting on the ground, he chuckled hopelessly to himself, causing Kagome to wonder if he had gone a touch mad.

Sticking his head in the door of Kaede's hut, Toto-sai looked the rest of the group over. Seeing everyone there, except for Inu Yasha and Kagome of course, the sword smith allowed the rest of his body to enter the room, never moving his head.

"Toto-sai, won't you please join us?" asked Miroku, being the first to notice the old man.

"Unfortunately, I can only stay for a moment, young man. Is that a roast I smell?" he replied, eyeing the pig that hung over the fire. Without waiting for a reply, the senile blacksmith took the spit off the fire, and consumed the pig in one bite.

Sighing at the loss of their dinner, the group of shard hunters eyed him dangerously. "Why is it that you can only stay for a moment, Toto-sai? I know that both Myoga and Inu Yasha wanted to speak with you." Sango inquired, failing to prevent the irritation of losing dinner from being evident in her voice.

"Oh, I was just summoned to get rid of Tokijin after it killed Inu Yasha's half brother. When I was done, I inquired as to the whereabouts of the Tenseiga. That disturbing little toad thing informed me that it had been given to Inu Yasha already, so I came to see him. He and that strange girl are off to the trials," he informed them, dismissing the information as unimportant with a wave of his hand. "They'll be back in a week or two. Oh, that Jaken thing is looking for a home for the human Sesshomaru adopted. He said that if he couldn't find a good home for the girl, he would bring her here. Although, from what I remember, he shouldn't have a problem finding a home for such a pretty young girl."

Sango's Hiraikotsu came crashing down on Toto-sai's head. "You're even worse then this pervert!" she exclaimed, gesturing at Miroku. "At least he goes after women, and not little girls."

Picking himself up off the ground, Toto-sai replied, "Well, I must be going now. Too bad I couldn't stay for dinner; best of luck to you all."

As they watched the old man leave, a silent depression set in over the group. Shippo was the first to break it.

"What does he mean they'll be back in a week or two? Why did Kagome have to go with him? Why didn't she say good bye? Why couldn't he have gone on his own?"

Ignoring the kitsune's continuing tirade of questions, Sango turned to Miroku, "Do you think we should go after them?"

"No," he replied, "I think it would be best to leave them to their task."

"Then what should we do?"

"Two options. First we search for more jewel fragments with out the aid of our allies. This is a dangerous option, as Inu Yasha is a powerful fighter, and Kagome is the only one who can sense the shards. Our other option would be to remain here, and await their return. This would afford us time to recover, and rest up."

They both turned to look at the still babbling Shippo, and said, "The first option," and "Shall we start looking?"

Inu Yasha wasn't sure how long he, they, had been stuck there. He had tried finding a way out, but no matter how fast or how long he ran, he couldn't shake the feeling that he hadn't moved at all. The worst part was that Kagome hadn't said anything to him since he told her to leave him alone. He could tell that she was still there; she seemed to be a small angry spot in the back of his mind.

He quickly suppressed the feelings and thoughts that sprung up when he thought about her, less she catch a few of them.

But why should I be afraid if she finds out how I feel? he pondered.

Because she'll laugh or make fun of you for your stupid feelings, replied a voice in his head. It wasn't Kagome; it was his own self doubt.

But what if she feels the same as I do?

Who could love something like you?

But…

You're a freak! Not a full human and not a full demon. You have no where to belong.

I belong with Kagome.

You would wish your cursed existence on another?

No, I…

Some one you claim to love? No wonder Kikyo hates you so much. But...yeah, I guess she does hate me, doesn't she?

She has tried to take you to hell; I'd say that would be a clear indication that you're not her favorite person.

You're right, who could love someone like me?

No one!

`I could,' Kagome interrupted, `And I do!'

Kagome?

`Who else?'

Like I would know, but Kagome…

`Yeah?'

Did you, uh, what did you mean when you said, "I could and I do!"?

`I, um, ment that, uh, I love you, like a, uh, friend.'

Oh, he couldn't stop the disappointment he felt from being transferred to Kagome.

`I had to say something,' she continued, trying to hide her own true feelings. `That little worm of doubt was ruining our best, and only hope of getting out of here.' She was so worried about Inu Yasha sensing her true feelings that she missed the disappointment evident in Inu Yasha's answer.

Right, of course. That time, she didn't miss the feelings of depression coming form him.

`What's wrong, Inu Yasha?' she gently probed him.

Nothing! he snapped back.

`Don't bother lying to me, I can see your true feelings,' she bluffed.

Well, it's just that…

"It was so nice of Kaede to watch Shippo for us," Miroku commented.

"Yes, it was. Not that she really had a choice, we did kind of leave in a hurry," Sango retorted.

Miroku just smirked, and took a sip of his tea. Glancing over the rim of his cup, the monk but couldn't help but to allow the smirk to broaden to a full smile. Gods, why does she affect me so? he questioned silently. I've never been so happy as I am when I'm with her. I wonder...

"Uh, Miroku?" Sango said in a questioning voice, causing a break in his chain of thought. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, I am fine, why do you ask?"

Oh, it's nothing really. You just had a far off look on your face," and in your eyes, she finished silently.

"I was just lost in thought, was all," he chuckled.

"What were you thinking about?"

"Oh, this and that. About our quest, and our group. Things of that nature."

"Oh…" she paused for a moment of consideration, "Yeah, this is all pretty unbelievable. To think that a demon exterminator, a hanyou, a time traveling reincarnated Miko, and a letch of a monk would end up in search of the same thing. If I wasn't part of this, I don't know that I would believe it."

"Am I really that bad?" he asked, a sadness creeping into his eyes.

"Huh?" she stalled, caught off guard by the question.

"You referred to me as, `a letch of a monk.' I was wondering if I was really that bad, and if that was really all you thought of me," he explained sadly.

"I, well, uh, you, um, you see it's, uh…" she sputtered. "I don't know, Miroku. I just don't know."

"What is causing the trouble in the decision making process?"

"Well, we've known each other for a year or so now, and I have come to trust you very much, Miroku."

"But…"

"But I do not like the way that you grope me all the time!"

"Well, would you like me to grope you differently then? I'm open to suggestions," he replied, being the biggest smart ass he could.

"How about this," she whispered sweetly, moving closer to him. "STOP GROPING ME!" she yelled as loudly as she could. Everyone else in the tea house stopped their conversations and turned to look at the demon exterminator and monk. Sango shrunk back into herself, and tried as hard as she could to turn invisible. The owner came over and opened his mouth to speak to them.

But before he could say anything, Miroku cut him off, "We were just about to leave. What do we owe for the tea?" The owner answered, and Miroku dug a few coins out of this change couch and pressed them into the man's hand. "We are sorry to have disturbed the peace of your establishment."

The man muttered something under his breath and counted the money Miroku hand given him, noting that the monk had paid half again what was owed. Gesturing for Sango to follow, Miroku made is way out of the tea house.

`You just thought what, Inu Yasha?' Kagome prompted the reluctant half demon.

Well, you see, he started. Then he sighed, Just forget it. I have no way with words, I can't explain, I'll just end up fucking everything up, as usual.

`No way, this is important. You aren't getting away that easily.'

Feh, what are you going to do, annoy me for the rest of my life? He retorted angrily.

`Sometimes you make me so mad, Inu Yasha...'

Well you're not always the best of company either, bitch.

`Oooh! That does it! Sit Boy!'

He felt his whole body tense. When nothing else happened, he realized that the tensing was something that he had done, and he relaxed his muscles.

`What the hell? Why didn't that work?'

Feh, damned if I know. He reached his hand up to his neck, where the prayer beads normally were, only to find them missing. His swords and prayer beads weren't the only things missing. As he felt his chest, he noticed that the bandages were gone, and upon looking, he saw that there was no mark from the wounds he had received. What the fuck is going on here? Where IS here?

`I don't know. But I don't think that our bodies are here with us.'

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

`I think that this is a trial of the mind, and that our bodies are somewhere else, probably with Toto-sai.'

Well, that's just bloody wonderful. The crazy old coot has probably forgotten us and left our bodies somewhere.

`Oh, I hope not!' When she said that, Inu Yasha felt a wave of concern wash over him. `Inu-Inu Yasha?'

What? he replied irritably.

`It's just that, that I didn't think that you cared for me that much.'

Realizing that there was no way out of this but the truth, Inu Yasha gave up his normal ruse. Why would I spend all of that time saving you if I didn't care about you, Kagome?

`I always thought I was just your shard detector.'

Kagome, I grew up on my own in the wilds. I am a very skilled hunter. I would have been able to hunt the shards down with out you. It would take longer, but I would have been able to do it.

`Oh...'

They had been walking in silence for the last half hour. Miroku hadn't said a word since they left the tea house, and it was driving Sango insane. She felt like a child that was expected to realize she had been misbehaving and apologize on her own. She would be damned if she would admit to that being all her fault.

Ten minutes later, she sighed in defeat, and broke the silence, "Miroku?"

He stopped walking and turned to face her, still not saying anything.

"Miroku, I, I'm, damn it Miroku, say something!"

"And what would you have me say?" he inquired quietly, locking her eyes with his.

Slightly taken aback by his cool, calm, Sesshomaru-esc response, she replied hotly, "Something, anything! I'm not a child, damn it!"

"That fact had not escaped my notice," he replied in that infuriatingly calm tone.

"Then stop treading me like one!"

"And why do you feel that I have been treating you like a child?"

She paused before answering.

But before she could say anything, he continued, "I have said nothing about the scene in the tea house."

"That wasn't just my fault," she replied angrily.

"I know that!" he replied forcibly, dropping the cool and calm from his voice. "I know that I'm also at fault for that. However, so are you, and thusly I didn't say anything!" Taking a deep breath, he let the emotion drain from his voice, and continued in his normal calm tone, "Now, if you're done, I would like to find someplace to sleep tonight." Turning on his heal, he continued up the path in search of shelter for the night.

She paused for a moment to assimilate the information, and then ran to catch up, "Hey! Wait up, Miroku!"

He felt restless. He had been so close to spilling everything to her. So close to telling her. Telling her that he loved her. He had stopped himself before he had fully tipped his hand.

She was unhappy. She could tell that there was something he wasn't saying. She could tell it was important and that he was guarding it like his life depended on it remaining a secret. She could also tell that on some level he was unhappy about not sharing.

`Inu Yasha, just tell me.'

Tell you what?

`Tell me what you are holding back.'

What makes you think that I'm holding something back?

`I can feel it. I can feel something struggling to get out. Something you want to say desperately, and yet something that frightens you to the point that you remain silent.'

Feh, was his only reply.

`Damn it! We're never going to get out of here until you open up and tell me what's going on!'

Fine! You want to know what I'm thinking and feeling? Well, here it is, get ready because I'm not holding anything back, and you are going to go through all of it, was his overly emotional response.

She couldn't help but to gasp as incredibly strong emotions washed over her. Anger, worry, love, hate, anguish, confidence, uncertainty, pride, scorn, more feelings then she could put names to. Through this storm of raging and conflicting emotions, a bright intensity burned at the center. It glowed with an almost pure light. It seemed to be the anchor that held everything together, but it was impure, and she could feel it threatening to fail and allow everything to come apart.

He felt her…reach out was the only way he could describe the sensation, for the central force. Mentally, he cried in anguish, not wanting her to see what was there, but at the same time wanting it to be over with.

She touched it, and her world went white. Slowly things around her materialized into images and sensations. She saw everything as though through Inu Yasha's eyes.

His father, in full demon form, bleeding from many wounds and surrounded by the bodies of those who would dare to try and harm his family. Inu Yasha's mother, kneeling and weeping bitterly, shortly after his father's death. Then just a pair of graves, one recently dug, as he brushed dirt from his hands, a deep feeling of grief and remorse overcoming his senses.

Next flashed a series of people and demons attacking and hurting him. Then Kikyo, and a sense of worried calm. First her trying to drive him away, then her admission, and the deep, but cautious, caring he felt for her. Never anything more then that cautious caring, even the one time they kissed. Next, she was exposed to the burning anger and feeling of betrayal when Naraku fooled them into attacking each other. A seething spite that seemed to consume him, and a much weaker pang of fear and regret.

Kagome was surprised at what was next revealed to her. All that hate that had been directed at Kikyo, was now redirected at her. The next thing shown to her was his anger and surprise as she freed him from the tree, and broke the jewel. Then his irritation at having to have her tag along to put the jewel back together.

She tried to pull out, to stop the images, but she couldn't. Then she heard a clear voice say, No! Not yet, you wanted to know, so you'll have to know it all.

The images scrolled quickly, she was surprised to see that most of them were of her. Sometimes sleeping, sometimes smiling at him, sometimes angry, sometimes in danger, but she was even more shocked when she realized that the anger and the hate were gone. They had been replaced instead with care and something else.

"Inu-Inu Yasha?'

What? he answered tiredly.

"Was that what I think it was?'

That depends on what you thought it was.

`Just, please, tell me,' her desperation to know readily evident.

Sighing, he replied in a calm and even tone, I love you, Kagome. Before she could respond, they were interrupted.

"YOU ARE NOW READY. YOU HAVE ONLY TO CHOOSE WHICH TRIAL YOU WISH TO TAKE FIRST, AND ENTER IT."

Opening the eyes he hadn't realized he'd closed, he found Kagome standing next to him, radiating confidence. The figures were back, and before each, a glyph glowed in the floor. Before the figure with the Tetsusaiga glowed the glyph for death. Before the figure with the Tenseiga glowed the glyph for life.

Kagome leaned close and whispered into his ear, "Good luck, Inu Yasha. I love you too."

Smiling at her, he nodded his head and stepped forward, to stand atop his chosen glyph. A bright white light surrounded him, and he disappeared.

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A/N: Okay kiddies, thanks for reading. I wish that more of you would review my story, because I'm flying pretty much blind here, with a few exceptions. Chapter seven will be even longer in coming then this one, mostly because I'm suffering form a bit of a block on what I want to happen next. So, I'll be working on a challenge fic called, "Revelations of the Past." I got the challenge at an IY board I post to. That's going to probably be a one shot, and I should have it done by the end of February, 2004. Anyway, thanks so much for reading, I hope you've enjoyed it.