InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Greatest Gift ❯ Family ( Chapter 2 )

xXx

 

`When I learned I was to be something of the guardian of the heirs to the Inu Youkai clan, I was honoured. I had constantly been told in my younger years that I would amount to nothing. I am, after all, just a flea demon. When the Great Dog daiyoukai of my childhood and early adulthood, Inu no Taishou's father, entrusted me to take care of his children and his children's children and his children's children's children and his…well…you get the idea. Anyway, when he assigned me with such an important life's task, I was flattered and greatly motivated to do my best. I had figured that the old dog was finally rewarding for my many years of endless service and obedience and unwavering loyalty. I mean, to present someone with such a crucial role, one would have though he was showing favouritism to me, right?

 

`The fact that he was smirking when he `promoted' me should have been the first sign.

 

`That guy was a lot like Sesshoumaru. Smiling was a sign that the harbinger of doom was swiftly approaching. Laughing meant that everything good and holy was forfeit. The fact that he smirked was to represent how I would suffer countless millennia looking after his unruly descendents, and that one day, I would finally lose it and crack. And for good reason, too. His heirs were real animals, and not just because they were purebred dog demons. Those two pups were the most hyperactive and insane kids I had ever seen. And I'll be the old man had encouraged that kind of behaviour from them just to raise some hell for me.

 

`I'm not exactly sure why the guy had it in for me. But I figure that he could really hold a grudge, to condemn me to an eternity of feisty children. Thank god the clan is almost extinct. (Of course, I don't really mean that… I have to wake up and remind myself of that everyday.)

 

`Maybe he wouldn't have been so pissed at me if I had possessed a little more confidence in his skill in battle. The fact that I often…ahem…misplaced myself during all the crucial moments in war and general fights and scuffles probably got him rather irked after a couple dozen centuries. Don't see why, though. It's not like I didn't hang around…I was just a safe distance away. And I always came back, too. Just after all the enemies had either died or fled.

 

`Still, Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru are proving far more difficult to raise. Both are extremely stubborn; and a little on the dense side, to be truthful. They probably inherited that from Inu no Taishou. When milord was a pup, he never really learned to leave that dragon brat, Ryuukotsusei, alone. One would have thought that being infected with lethal dragon poison on a weekly basis would have taught him a lesson. Oh well. It's not like Inu no Taishou is recognised as being a genius or something intellectual.

 

`If anything, his plans for Inuyasha's and Sesshoumaru's futures are certainly solid proof that he is no genius. Rather, it just shows that he's a masochist. A masochist and a sadist. I mean, honestly. I think the entire clan is out to get me. Inu no Taishou wants me to help him interfere with Inuyasha's and Sesshoumaru's love lives of all things, and they keep on dumping that brat pup on me, even if he is fairly capable of taking care of himself. Hell, there are more than enough demons to torture in the land. But, both always pick me to do their dirty work.

 

`The Inu clan is notorious for their power, both politically and physically. But what they really should be recognised for is their nasty sense of humour. Damn sadists. I hate my job.'

 

xXx

 

The Greatest Gift

 

xXx

 

Second Shard: Family

 

xXx

 

Inu no Taishou sighed tiredly as he gazed down at the demon kneeling at his feet.

 

“Chichiue,” the demon said softly, looking stiffly at the ground, “You requested my presence?” It sounded like more of a statement than a question. He lifted his eyes to fix the daiyoukai with a sharp golden stare from beneath a silver fringe.

 

Inu no Taishou forced himself to smile at the stony demon. “Yes, thank you for coming on such short notice, Sesshoumaru.”

 

The eldest son of Inu no Taishou simply blinked, the red marks adorning his eyelids accentuating the languid action. “Of course, Chichiue,” he said, voice completely devoid of emotion. “I have Jaken seeing to my duties while I am absent from my home.”

 

Inu no Taishou vaguely remembered an easily panicked kappa that had followed his eldest son around during their last rendezvous, squawking anxiously every few moments. “He is that green one that accompanies you everywhere?” he asked idly, wanting to confirm his mental image.

 

“That is correct,” Sesshoumaru replied.

 

“Why is he not with you today?” Inu no Taishou wondered aloud.

 

Sesshoumaru stared up at his father through half-lidded eyes. “I imagined that if you had called me here so unexpectedly, it would have been for important reasons. And the more Jaken knows, the more he panics. And his nervous chatter is most irritating.”

 

Inu no Taishou fought the urge to roll his eyes at Sesshoumaru's clearly overdone staidness. The young daiyoukai was really trying far too hard to be like his grandfather, Inu no Taishou noted with a twinge of humour.

 

“It hardly is a stressing matter,” he said lightly, though that was truthfully a lie. “I just wished to speak to you regarding your brother and your plans for the next generation.”

 

Sesshoumaru visibly stiffened. “I wish to have nothing to do with the hanyou lest I be granted permission to end his life.”

 

`Marriage can technically be seen as the end of one's life,' Inu no Taishou thought sarcastically. `Or at least the end of one's ability to exercise free will.'

 

“You are not to kill him,” the demon lord said resolutely, tugging on his long ponytail distractedly. “Rather, I want you to form a bond with him,” he eyed Sesshoumaru, curious for a response.

 

“Then he does not exist,” Sesshoumaru said flatly, lowering his gaze. “I neither need nor desire any relationship with him. Both friendship and familial bonds would be wasted with Inuyasha.”

 

Inu no Taishou sighed wearily as he patted his son's silver head. “You know quite well that friendship is not what I am referring to,” he muttered, watching his son's eyes narrow into golden slits. “You know as well as I do that our once large and prosperous clan is meeting the end of its days,” he said mournfully. “I do not wish for you and Inuyasha to be the last of our kind. I refuse to let either of you die, especially when there is the alternative of a new life.”

 

“I will not bear any children of a hanyou,” Sesshoumaru hissed, his normally composed voice resembling that of a feral beast. He knocked his father's hand off his head, and rose to his feet, eyes flashing dangerously. “I would take my life before stooping to the level of that imbecile. If he so much as found a way to impregnate me, I would kill both myself and any grandchildren of yours without so much as a second thought.”

 

Inu no Taishou did not doubt it, but chose not to be rattled by his son's threat.

 

“Whoever said that it had to be you bearing the child?” he asked lightly, regarding his son's fury with amusement. “True, both of you need an heir, and I would like for the first grandchild of mine to have as much of his or her proud lineage as possible.” He gave Sesshoumaru a desperate look. “I want our bloodline to live on, and you two are the only ones that can make it possible.”

 

Sesshoumaru furrowed his brow. “Inuyasha cannot bear children. That fool is tainted by enough human blood to mar his chances. Any attempts at pregnancy would end in miscarriage.” His lip curled into a smirk. “Are you suggesting that we stoop down to your level and run off with the first human girl we see?”

 

Inu no Taishou felt his blood boil, but successfully maintained his cool self-control. “Of course not. I'm telling you to bind yourself to Inuyasha.”

 

Sesshoumaru laughed caustically, causing his father to shiver. “Such a marriage would not only be short-lived - if even - but it would also be pointless. No heirs will come forth. Such is the fault of a hanyou.”

 

“He is special.”

 

“Why? Because he is your bastard son?”

 

“Remember who you are talking to, boy,” Inu no Taishou growled as he stuck the claws of his right hand rather painfully in his son's shoulder, a typical punishment demons used on impudent youngsters. Sesshoumaru was unfazed by the attack and instead lifted one of his hands lazily, his eyes never leaving his father's.

 

“That is a lovely move, Father,” he said coolly, flexing his fingers wickedly. “But do keep in mind that I can do that same move…but with more…finesse.” A toxic green poison began to drip ominously from his claws. “But I'm sure you were aware of that, seeing as it is, inadvertently, your fault that I have them.” His smouldering eyes flashed slightly. “You were never good with relationships, so you try to force your own lack of principles on both me and Inuyasha. Despicable.” He took the hand that impaled him, and carelessly yanked its claws out of his flesh. “You give new meaning to the term `dog.'”

 

Inu no Taishou glared venomously at Sesshoumaru. “You would not understand,” he snarled. “I am doing what is best for the clan. And, so long as you do not push me over the edge, Sesshoumaru, that includes you.”

 

“This clan is dead. You know that somewhere in the depths of your subconscious. Any attempts on your behalf to restore it are just that: foolhardy attempts. I will not conceive, and Inuyasha cannot conceive. There is nothing left for you now.”

 

Sesshoumaru roughly turned to leave. “Good day, Father. It was a most enjoyable visit.”

 

“Sesshoumaru!” Inu no Taishou barked at his son's receding back. “Do not turn your back on me! Remember where you come from!”

 

Sesshoumaru turned to give his father the most venomous look he could muster. Inu no Taishou was vividly reminded of Ryuukotsusei.

 

“Do not even think about saying that to me, Chichiue,” Sesshoumaru hissed. “You were the one that turned your back on me two-hundred years ago.”

 

The daiyoukai wilted at the apparent truth. “Sesshoumaru,” he pleaded, changing his tactic. “You really must trust me on this. Inuyasha is special. He has the ability to save the race of inu daiyoukai, but he cannot do so alone!”

 

Sesshoumaru looked uninterested. “Am I perhaps the most convenient co parent you could find?” he asked lightly, looking slightly annoyed. “If you want the purest children you can get, you go impregnate him. You have certainly done worse.”

 

Inu no Taishou looked mortified at such a suggestion. “I could never do that!” he exclaimed. “It has to be you!”

 

Sesshoumaru sniffed haughtily. “Indeed.” He turned to leave again. “This Sesshoumaru will not be used as a meagre tool in your pathetic plans. I could never mate a hanyou. Being bound to such a weakling would only be an insult to wake up to every morning. And the idea of having children with one… How lewd, Chichiue. Grandfather would be quite put out with you. Thank goodness he is not around to see how low you have stooped to protect your bloodline. Me? Mate a hanyou? It is laughable.

 

“Nobody is worthy of succeeding our line,” Sesshoumaru murmured, brushing some of his long silver hair behind his elegantly pointed ears. “All sides of our family are tainted.”

 

“Sesshoumaru,” Inu no Taishou said sharply, “You will do this. You have a duty to fulfill both to your clan and to your father, and that is to prepare for the future.”

 

“If I must be used for such a miserable plot,” he gave his father an uncharacteristically apologetic look, “I will not have my children born by any weak hanyou wench.” He swallowed slowly. “Chichiue,” he said softly, “Is there any other way?” he asked, eyes shining with an unknown feeling. “I find it most regrettable that there are only two and a half of our kind left in this world, and I wish such were not the case, but,” his eyes glazed over, “You must understand that my past experiences regarding Inuyasha have given me strong feelings on the matter, so you must forgive me if I seem less than willing.”

 

Inu no Taishou gaped at his son's strange behaviour. “Y-you are willing?” he choked out.

 

Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow quizzically. “Not at all. Whatever gave you that ridiculous conclusion?”

 

Inu no Taishou tried to regain his poise. “Nothing,” he said hurriedly. “I was mistaken…”

 

“Apparently so.” Sesshoumaru gave his father another odd look before sighing wearily. “Inuyasha has seen roughly two-hundred winters, correct?”

 

“That's right.”

 

“What on earth makes you so sure that he will be able to bear any children?” Sesshoumaru asked suddenly, trying to mask his curiosity. “As a hanyou, he will lose his demon form once a month. During then, he will be a human, and human males cannot carry children.”

 

“As I said, he is special,” the daiyoukai said lightly.

 

Sesshoumaru frowned slightly. “You will not tell me?” It was, once again, more of a statement. “Very well. We will see how cockamamie that theory of yours is in due time, I suppose.”

 

“You'll be surprised.”

 

“I doubt it,” Sesshoumaru replied tritely. “How much longer do I have before you condemn me?” he asked casually.

 

“Just until your brother is mature.”

 

Sesshoumaru blinked. “I see.” He averted his eyes toward the ground, and for a moment, Inu no Taishou believed that would be the end of their meeting and would have left the room had Sesshoumaru not suddenly spoken. “Chichiue,” he said, startling his father. “Is Inuyasha…strong?” he looked generally curious, like he had as a pup.

 

Inu no Taishou smiled. “As all sons of mine are,” he replied gently.

 

Sesshoumaru merely blinked again. “Is that all?” he asked finally. “Is there nothing more you wish to discuss?”

 

“No, not really,” Inu no Taishou said watching his son carefully. He hadn't expected Sesshoumaru's filial piety to run that deep.

 

Sesshoumaru nodded and slowly began to walk away, sour thoughts about his future pooling in his head.

 

`No one is worthy to succeed our clan. We are all tainted bastards. This Sesshoumaru cannot bring himself to mate a lowly hanyou. That would just lay further damage to the name of the Inu daiyoukai.' He stopped walking once he was outside his father's elegant home. He stared up at the clear blue sky. `I cannot allow myself to impute such a poor heir upon our clan. There must be another way. It is highly unlikely, perhaps even impossible, that Inuyasha is anywhere near adept to be a daiyoukai. Goodness, he is not even a youkai. However, it would further dishonour our clan if I were to disobey my father.' Sesshoumaru furrowed his brow and began his journey back to his home, sprinting off at an inhuman pace.

 

`Marrying anyone else is, unfortunately, out of the question. Therefore, this Sesshoumaru must find a way to compromise Inuyasha's less than satisfactory blood before we are made to have children. Because no matter how much I may despise my brother, Chichiue is correct, and the survival of the clan must be my first priority.'

 

xXx

 

“This is most peculiar,” was all Kikyou could articulate regarding the well that had mysteriously dried up on a particularly stormy night. Though the miko trusted her sister, she hadn't quite expected the eight year old child's declaration of the dry well to be true. Or at least to be so literal.

 

The well was known throughout the village as being eternally full. It had always seemed that no matter how great the number of buckets of water taken was, the amount of water within the well never dwindled. This was simply abnormal. It was as if the earth had sucked all the water away. As if hoping such were the case, Kikyou leaned forward into the well, trying to find the drain.

 

“I told you,” Kaede mumbled from behind her, a childish pout adorning her face as she tried to look intimidating. “But you never listen, Onee-sama.”

 

Kikyou wasn't even interested in retaliating; she was so rattled by the dry well. “I'm sorry, Kaede,” she said loosely, hardly paying attention. “This is just rather overwhelming.”

 

Inuyasha snorted derisively. “Keh, I don't see what you two are getting so worked up about. So your dumb well dried up. So what? It's not like life won't go on. Geez. Just go dig another one. It's not such a big deal. Your village has a freshwater river. Be thankful,” he reprimanded from his perch in a nearby tree.

 

Kaede frowned at him. “This is a sacred well,” she said. “It is a big deal.”

 

Inuyasha looked impassive. “What's so special about some wet hole in the ground?” he asked wondrously. “Really, you humans just like to worship things…”

 

“A war once took place here,” Kikyou said as she averted her confused brown eyes to Inuyasha's face before returning back to the curious well. “It took place around one-thousand five-hundred years ago.”

 

Inuyasha still appeared unimpressed. “So what?” he asked, not even bothering to mask his disinterest. “There's always a war happening somewhere,” he pointed out dryly.

 

“Not like this one,” Kaede said. “This was a full-fledged war between the demon clans and mankind.”

 

“And again, so what?” Inuyasha drawled. “Humans and demons don't really make that many attempts at peaceful interaction. What's left but war?”

 

“This was a war that nobody won,” Kaede continued, unbothered by the hanyou's sarcastic remarks. “It was just pointless bloodshed. The amount of casualties was appalling, and in the end, many of the bodies and ashes were tossed into the well.”

 

“Are you shitting me?!” Inuyasha's eyes widened, the colour draining from his face. “And even with that knowledge, you guys actually liked to drink the water that was in that well?!” He looked disgusted. “That's sick! The soil down there's probably riddled with the ashes of all those putrid demons and humans…”

 

“No, actually, the remains never remained down there,” Kaede said, looking a bit queasy at Inuyasha's outburst. “The well got nicknamed “bone-devouring,” because everything that was dropped inside would always disappear shortly after being dropped into the well.”

 

“That's because psychos like you two were greedily slurping up that `water.'”

 

“No,” Kikyou muttered, also in the process of getting sick to her stomach. “The well was completely dry back then. Just as it is now. It only began to hold water a couple years after the carnage had been completely disposed of.”

 

“Oh,” Inuyasha said, his cheeks slowly returning back to their normal colour. “So then, where did all the bones and ashes and shit go, if not into the future water supply?”

 

“Nobody knows,” Kikyou said darkly. “Our ancestors have been pondering that for centuries, now. The only idea they could come up with was that everything that went in had all vanished to a different world.”

 

“Another world, eh?” Inuyasha laughed. “What kind of shit is that?”

 

xXx

 

Having grown weary of watching Kikyou and Kaede fuss over the dry well, Inuyasha had jumped out of the tree in favour of wandering around the fields just outside the village. He had decided that he liked it out there. It was peaceful. Peaceful and empty. Not at all like the village, which was far too crowded and simply exploding with sound and people. Inuyasha found that even though humans were social, and that even though his human blood craved to form bonds with others, his demon blood made him feel otherwise. Demons, according to Myouga and his father, Inu no Taishou, often preferred to keep to themselves and tended to go by a simple code that was `leave me alone, and I'll leave you alone.'

 

For the most part, Inuyasha felt that the demons had the right idea. Demons were old fashioned, he'd learned. Old fashioned and had more appreciation for the little things in life. They weren't like humans, who thrived on petty items and social hierarchy.

 

That was another thing Inuyasha didn't care much for in human society. Their entire social class system was far too complex and corrupted. With humans, power was based firstly on influence, then money, then lineage. Demons rewarded power only to those that deserved it. In other words, powerful demons were powerful because they were, quite simply, powerful. And that was that. The fact that breeding among certain clans helped secure better chances of survival for their young was the only smudge on the otherwise accommodating demon hierarchy. If one wanted power in the demon society, they were to become stronger. It was as simple as that. Inuyasha liked simplicity. He also liked appreciating the world the way it was made to be.

 

If there was one thing he had never even bothered trying to understand about humans was their desire to reshape the world around them. Inuyasha had a bit of a tender spot for nature. He failed to see the use for many human contraptions. Like shoes.

 

Wearing shoes may lessen the chance of one injuring his or her feet, but it also robbed one of the feelings of soft grass tickling one's ankles, and of mud squelching in between one's toes. There really was no point to shoes, in Inuyasha's opinion. If one walked around barefoot enough, one's soles would toughen so that little pebbles would hardly hurt, and twigs would be unable to cause splinters.

 

Yes. Barefoot was certainly the way to go.

 

“Ouch!” Unless one stepped on a particularly annoying flea demon on a fairly regular basis.

 

Inuyasha winced as he peeled Myouga off his heel. The flea moaned piteously, his bulbous eyes rolling about in his head.

 

“Good to see you, Inuyasha-sama,” he said, voice bouncing around in pitch. He was still quite disoriented from the unforeseen squish.

 

Inuyasha sat down cross-legged in the grass, looking quizzically at his clan's servant. “What's up, Myouga-jiijii?” he asked lightly. “Did the old man send you off on some hopeless mission again?”

 

Myouga nodded slowly. “In a matter of speaking,” he muttered, sniggering inwardly. “Actually, your father sent me out to find you…”

 

Inuyasha frowned. “Why didn't he just come here himself?”

 

“I'm sure those human villagers would be honoured with the Inu no Taishou's presence,” Myouga laughed. “So honoured, they might even send forth a miko to greet him by shooting him with an arrow reserved specifically for such an event.”

 

Inuyasha squashed the flea demon between his hands. “What's he doing? I haven't seen that guy in about five years…”

 

“He was here last night, but he couldn't stick around. He had some business to attend to. He had to meet with Sesshoumaru.”

 

Inuyasha pulled a sour expression. “Sesshoumaru?” He had never met his half-brother, as was the precaution made by their father to ensure Inuyasha's safety. Inuyasha wasn't sure if he ever wanted to meet his long lost brother; especially if the first thing said brother would do was attack him on sight.

 

“Yes. Inu no Taishou required an audience to speak with Sesshoumaru regarding you.”

 

“Me?” Inuyasha was nonplussed. “What would he need to talk to that bastard about me for?”

 

“Your father wants the two of you to meet in approximately fifty years.”

 

“What?! Why?!” Inuyasha sputtered. “The way the two of you describe Sesshoumaru, you make him sound like he's just waiting for an encounter with me so he can polish me out of existence!”

 

Myouga coughed nervously; he had been instructed by Inu no Taishou to refrain from revealing to Inuyasha certain details of the meeting. One such detail being the fact that the two were to be bound. “Inu no Taishou is working on making Sesshoumaru more…erm…accepting. Fifty years, as we see it, should give us enough time to work him over.”

 

“Fifty years is an awfully short time to rid someone of opinions they've had for over two-thousand years,” Inuyasha muttered sceptically. “Why fifty years? Why not one-hundred? That would probably be safer…”

 

“Well, there is a sense of urgency in this date…”

 

“Oh really?”

 

“Um…yes. But…that is…” Myouga stumbled on his words. “We want to wait for you to be more…mature!” There. Not only did that sound semi-reasonable, it was also technically part of the truth.

 

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. “Why does everything have to wait until I'm mature?!”

 

“Whatever do you mean, Inuyasha-sama?” Myouga asked innocently.

 

“Like all that shit about the Shikon Jewel. Did you know that `sacred' jewel really is just a shiny rock? What the hell is so special about it?” Inuyasha wondered.

 

Myouga shrugged, even though he did know. “I've only heard rumours,” he lied easily. “Many say that it makes demons stronger.”

 

“How would anyone know that? No one has ever managed to steal it,” Inuyasha scoffed. “Sounds like a load of bullshit, to me. I've held that marble, okay? It did absolutely nothing except make me feel like an idiot for going through all that trouble to find it.”

 

“There are other rumours of its power, Inuyasha-sama. That was just the most common one.”

 

“Like what?”

 

“It will bestow its chosen master with the greatest gift of all.”

 

Inuyasha snorted. “That sounds rather fishy. Isn't there anything more plausible?”

 

“Well,” Myouga eyed Inuyasha carefully, “There is another rumour that says that it can turn a hanyou into a full-blood youkai.”

 

“Really?” Inuyasha looked interested. “It can really do that?”

 

Myouga shrugged again. “No one knows. It is only a rumour.” He blinked owlishly. “Didn't your mother tell you anything about its purpose or ability?”

 

“Keh! I wish,” Inuyasha sulked. “Mom was always such a vague person. The most she told me that actually made sense was that it was destined for me. That, and the fact that I cannot use it until I'm mature.”

 

`It's worse than I thought,' Myouga noted bleakly. `He really is immature. Fifty years might not be enough.'

 

“Maybe she meant you needed to be stronger?” Myouga offered, making an impressive leap to the hanyou's shoulder.

 

“Yeah, right,” Inuyasha got to his feet and began trekking back to the village. “So, when's the next time you plan on seeing my dad?” he asked the flea curiously.

 

“I don't know. Maybe in a week? He has told me to keep a watch over you until the time you must meet Sesshoumaru.”

 

“Sesshoumaru, huh?” Inuyasha furrowed his brow, deep in thought. “What's Sesshoumaru like?” he asked idly.

 

“He is unquestionably one of the strongest dog demons to be born, and an amazing strategist, and he—”

 

“I don't care about his political standpoint and his battle stats,” Inuyasha sighed. “I want to know about Sesshoumaru. What is he like as a person?”

 

Myouga blinked, not expecting that sort of a question. “No one really knows anymore,” he admitted. “The person he was as a child and the person he is now are completely different. He actually was a rather pleasant kid. He was brilliant, of course. And he was very sensitive to everything happening around him,” Myouga recalled fondly. “He always knew exactly what a person was feeling. I suppose he was just observant.”

 

“What's he like now?”

 

Myouga wilted. “He hardly talks to anyone, and he's become the perfect kind of unfeeling demon leader. Iron fisted: strict with humans, stricter with demons. I haven't seen him enjoying himself - or life - in a few centuries.”

 

Inuyasha looked at the flea demon in confusion. “What on earth happened to him that made him so bitter?”

 

“Nobody really knows,” Myouga said glumly. “There's only speculation.”

 

“Well,” Inuyasha pursed his lips, “When did this change happen?”

 

Myouga pointedly looked away from the hanyou. “Shortly after you were conceived.”

 

xXx

 

Jaken anxiously paced the hallway outside Sesshoumaru's study, his clammy hands clutching onto a scroll that had been delivered moments ago.

 

`What to do, what to do?' he mentally anguished. `Sesshoumaru-sama has been in such a bad mood since this afternoon when he returned from the Western Palace from his meeting with Inu no Taishou. If anything is even the slightest out of place, he'll kill me!'

 

The kappa released a mournful wail of despair. Sesshoumaru slid the door to his study open in a single, smooth movement.

 

“Jaken,” he said, voice eerily calm. “Would you be so kind as to silence that infernal racket? I cannot focus on my work with you clomping around my hallway and filling my ears with that heavy breathing.” His eyes flashed as he spied the scroll in the small green demon's hands.

 

“What is that?” he asked, a dangerous sound of aggravation tainting his smooth voice.

 

Jaken tried pathetically to hide it behind his back. “I-It's nothing, Sesshoumaru-sama!” he squawked. “Jus-just a m-m-message that came in… Nothing important that you need to worry yourself with… Aah!” he let out a feeble protest as the daiyoukai plucked the scroll out of his slippery hands.

 

Sesshoumaru's golden eyes surveyed the scroll and took immediate note that the seal had been broken. He stared down at Jaken. “You have read it?”

 

Jaken hated it when Sesshoumaru stated questions. Why bother stating things in a questioning way if he already knew them to be true? Jaken sometimes felt that Sesshoumaru took some sort of sick, sadistic pleasure from seeing the kappa squirm in discomfort. Myouga had warned him back when he was offered the job. He should have listened to the flea.

 

“Y-yes, my lord! But only because the youkai delivering the message had told me it came from the northernmost island!”

 

Sesshoumaru blinked. He had never dealt with the Northern Island before. The dragons had their territory lying to the north, so he had always assumed that they also had control over the Northern Island. Now, looking at the seal on the scroll, he wasn't so sure. The seal was not one of a dragon clan. His eyes widened in recognition.

 

“Jaken,” he said softly, all traces of annoyance vanishing. “What kind of youkai gave you this scroll?” he implored, sounding almost desperate.

 

Jaken relaxed, sensing Sesshoumaru wouldn't punish him. “It was a kitsune, I think. He said he was doing the delivery as a favour. He was really headed to the east.”

 

“I see.” The daiyoukai scanned the neat calligraphy of the message and breathed a low `hmm' of interest. Finally he rolled the scroll up and stared down at his servant. “Jaken,” he said. “We're going to the Northern Island tomorrow.”

 

 

xXx

 

Kaede dragged two buckets over to the river, sent to gather more water for the soup Kikyou was making for supper and for general use. She hated walking around the village at night. It was creepy. All the torch lights cast long shadows around her feet and made every stray cat sound like a gruesome oni lying in wait.

 

She dunked one of the buckets into the river. Truthfully, traveling to the river by torchlight was far less intimidating than walking blindly into the forest. The sound of the flowing river was soothing, and not nearly as nerve-racking as the dead silence of the well.

 

Kaede raised the first bucket and placed it carefully on the riverbank. Just as she was reaching for her second bucket, a sound more frightening than silence met her ears. The sound of a twig snapping.

 

Kaede spun around, eyes fearfully scanning her surroundings. She swallowed nervously; it was too dark to see everything. She felt herself growing dizzy from anxiety. Demons, beasts, and all sorts of suspicious characters hung around in the dark at night, and the river was always a sight for diverse life forms. Whoever - or whatever - was outside with her could be anything between a wild boar and a rogue warrior.

 

“Hello…?” she called out, her voice trembling. Her eyes widened as the bushes began to rustle. She reached a trembling hand inside her obi, nervously searching for the subjugation beads she always carried around with her. (Kikyou had forced her to so she could ease her own paranoia.) She let out a horrified squeak when she realised that the enchanted beads were still around Inuyasha's neck. She took a tentative step back from the bushes.

 

The rustling got louder, a low growling sound emanating from the bushes. Kaede's eyes widened as sweat trickled down her neck. She squeaked when she heard the horrible beast move swiftly.

 

And suddenly, the creature shot through the bushes at the little girl. Kaede let out a shriek of terror and fell backwards onto her rear, eyes wide as she stared at her attacker.

 

The squirrel blinked up at her owlishly, its nose twitching.

 

Kaede stared down at the furry animal in confusion. “Oh,” she said lamely, feeling rather foolish. She glared crossly at the squirrel as she rose stiffly to her feet and dusted off her yukata. “Well,” she muttered, “That was stupid.” She groaned as she turned away from the squirrel to fill her other bucket. She froze in bewilderment when she saw it completely filled and presented to her by a small redheaded boy.

 

“Just a bit,” he giggled, emerald eyes shining with mirth. “But it happens to the best of us.” His laughter subsided when he realised Kaede wasn't sharing his humour. He cocked his head to the side, face puzzled. “Is there something wrong?” he inquired, pushing the bucket into her arms. He gave her a nervous smile, revealing a bit of fang.

 

Kaede backed away from the boy, causing his smile to fade. He looked innocent enough. His auburn hair was neatly tied back by a blue-green ribbon, and his bangs were cut into a cute fringe. He was tidily dressed in an aqua-coloured haori with a white leaf pattern and a blue hakama. (Kaede dimly noted that the haori and the boy's hair ribbon matched.) The sheen of the golden fur vest the boy wore glimmered in the moonlight. Kaede stifled a gasp as she saw the feet of the boy: small, dainty paws.

 

“When did you get here?” Kaede asked quietly, frozen to the spot. Her eyes moved to become fixated on his ears. They were devilishly pointed. She tightened her grip on the bucket in her arms as she tried to keep from panicking. This was proving to be a confusing day filled with demons: Inuyasha in the morning, Myouga in the afternoon, and now this kid at night.

 

The young youkai pondered over her question. “A few minutes ago.” He grinned widely. “Just enough time to see you completely freak out.” He looked behind Kaede, curious to see where she had come from. He eyed the village with interest. “Is that your village?” he asked unnecessarily.

 

“Uh hunh…” Kaede stared at him listlessly, still too caught up in the fact that she was talking to yet another demon. The demon child seemed to sense her unease, for he quickly bowed in an introductory manner.

 

“Oh, I forgot to introduce myself!” he exclaimed, bending over excessively, and causing a large poof of golden fur to be seen. A tail. Kaede fought the desire to yank on it like she had Inuyasha's ears.

 

“I'm Shippou, and I'm a kitsune youkai!” he said proudly, the fox demon heritage explaining away his inhuman physical features. “What's your name?”

 

Kaede blinked, beginning to understand that Shippou was not a threat. “I'm Kaede,” she said, inclining her head with a small smile. Shippou stood up straight and smiled widely, clearly enjoying her new found trust of him. “How old are you Shippou?” she asked wondrously. The kitsune could not have been that old; his head barely reached Kaede's waist.

 

Shippou rubbed his chin with his miniature claws as he pondered. “I'm not really sure,” he said sheepishly. “Time goes by so quickly; all I can give you is a guess… I think I'm about fifty years old.”

 

Kaede paused to marvel at the way he was aging. Shippou could have passed off for a four or five year old - and a very, very petite one, at that. Shippou noticed her scrutinising stare, because he pouted and muttered beneath his breath, “Just wait till I get my growth spurt.” Kaede flushed vibrantly and quickly and profusely apologised for her rudeness. Shippou forgave her easily.

 

“So, Kaede,” Shippou said, hefting her first bucket into his grasp. “Where do you live?” he asked. “I'll help you take these buckets back to your home, if you like.”

 

Kaede nodded eagerly, thankful for the help. She had wasted a lot of time at the river. Kikyou would be upset if she dallied for much longer, and Inuyasha would be irritated if his monstrous hunger was not quickly sated.

 

xXx

 

Inuyasha moodily crossed his arms over his chest as his stomach released another anguished gurgle. He had been waiting for over twenty minutes for Kaede to return with the water. Kikyou was still sitting serenely by the indoor fire, all her ingredients neatly sliced into the right sized pieces. But, as she was preparing a soup, she couldn't very well finish cooking dinner without water, and it was imperative that they all wash up before eating. Inuyasha was beginning to hate the miko's sense of priorities. He had given up long ago on convincing Kikyou that soup could technically be eaten without broth. Screw the broth and hygiene. Inuyasha wanted to eat, damn it.

 

Inuyasha's ears perked up at the sound of Kaede's laughter. He sat up straight, ignoring Myouga's complaint of his comfort being ruined. (He could care less if the flea felt uncomfortable. That damn parasitic demon had just gorged himself on Inuyasha's blood. He deserved to be punished. No one should feel nice and full when he was starving.)

 

“Kaede's back,” Inuyasha reported to the silent miko. He listened again, raising an eyebrow at the second voice accompanying the girl's. “She's got someone with her. Sounds like another kid.”

 

“Who?” Kikyou asked, looking confused. “All village children should be home eating by now.”

 

Inuyasha barely repressed the urge to shout that he should have been eating too. Instead, he wisely chose to eavesdrop on the two children. “The kid's name is Shippou,” Inuyasha said, listening carefully to the conversation taking place outside the house. “Sound familiar to you?”

 

Kikyou shook her head, looking puzzled. “There are no children from this village that are called `Shippou.'”

 

Inuyasha shrugged. “Maybe he came from out of town?” he offered, sniffing the air.

 

Kikyou looked at the hanyou incredulously. “What child wanders around at night-time by himself?”

 

“I did,” Inuyasha replied evenly.

 

“Not every child is you, Inuyasha-sama,” Myouga gently reminded him.

 

“Keh!” Inuyasha scoffed. “Any demon child could, anyway… Unless they're hopelessly weak…”

 

“Demon?” Kikyou raised her eyebrows. “Who said this Shippou was a demon?”

 

“I did,” Inuyasha shot. “I can smell it. Why aren't your village scouts doing anything about this? Hell, why aren't you sensing this?”

 

Kikyou was taken aback. “If there were a demon in the immediate vicinity, I would have sensed him!” she protested.

 

Kaede and Shippou walked into the room just as she finished her statement. Kaede put her bucket on the ground and smiled brightly at the room's gaping occupants.

 

“Sorry I took so long, Kikyou-oneesama, but I met Shippou down by the river, and…lookit! He's a kitsune youkai…so tiny! And he's got a tail!” she said rapidly and excitedly. Shippou turned around and wiggled his tail a little.

 

Inuyasha took one look at Shippou, who was obviously a demon, and burst out laughing. “Sense a demon, my ass!” he sniggered hysterically, completely ignorant to Kikyou's well-disguised murderous intent.

 

Myouga watched the silently fuming miko with unease. “Inuyasha-sama, perhaps now would be a good time to wash up for dinner,” he advised, trying to put as much distance between Kikyou and Inuyasha as possible.

 

“Hello there, Shippou,” Kikyou said graciously to the young kitsune, trying to smother her anger. “What are you doing here at this time of night?”

 

Shippou opened his mouth to answer, but his stomach spoke instead. The loud gurgling sound put Inuyasha's own stomach to shame. Shippou laughed sheepishly. “Sorry,” he apologised. “I haven't eaten since I left the Western Lands.”

 

Myouga felt a siren blare in his head. “You're from the west?” he queried. When Shippou shook his head, Myouga's suspicion grew. “What were you doing there? And by yourself?”

 

Inuyasha silenced his laughter at the cool tone in Myouga's voice. “Hey, Myouga-jijii, the brat can tell us all about himself over some dinner.” He put emphasis on the last word, staring meaningfully at Kikyou, who snorted and took the first bucket from Kaede. Inuyasha smirked smugly when the miko grudgingly began to poor the cool river water into the pot. He stood up and took Shippou's bucket. “C'mon, you two. Let's go get cleaned up so that wench over there won't deprive us of food any longer than necessary.”

 

Kaede had grown rather hungry at this point, so she didn't bother defending her sister's honour, and, instead, nodded readily and followed the hanyou out to the porch, dragging Shippou along with them.

 

xXx

 

Kikyou had decided that watching Inuyasha eat soup was something like watching a ravenous animal that had been deprived of food for a month rip into a full-course meal. The hanyou ate like a man - demon, in this case - possessed. She and Kaede hadn't noticed his poor table manners during breakfast and lunch because breakfast had been a rushed meal comprising of a basket of fruit, and lunch had been dango and teriyaki on a skewer. Kikyou was now beginning to fear that she had taken Inuyasha's earlier example of dining for granted. Seeing him gobble down the stewed meat and vegetables was almost nauseating. She would have to remember to make dry food more often.

 

Shippou was not that much better, either, and that made Kikyou wonder if such eating habits were normal with demons, but decided against it. Noble demons were far too prim to dishonour themselves so gluttonously. Myouga was also eating quite politely, so it couldn't have been that all demons were total slobs. (He had been given a spoon containing some of the soup, so he could also sample it.) `No,' she thought. `It must just be Inuyasha and Shippou.'

 

When Shippou was finally done with his fourth helping of soup, he let out a content sigh. “Ne, Kikyou, you cook really well,” he said cheerily, patting his full stomach.

 

Kikyou forced a smile, but Kaede saw her right eye twitch.

 

“So, Shippou,” Inuyasha said around a mouthful of noodles. “Where're you from?”

 

“I'm from the Northern Island,” Shippou said, earning a strangled cough from Myouga.

 

“The Northern Island?” Kaede asked. “Aren't the dragons the ones that rule it?”

 

Shippou raised an eyebrow. “No,” he said. “The dragons do have a large territory in the north, but they aren't in control of the Northern Island. That's not part of their land.”

 

“That's interesting,” Inuyasha mused, tapping his lips with his chopsticks. “I always thought the dragons would have liked it up there…”

 

Shippou shook his head. “They don't like the cold that much, actually. They just like mountains and stuff. It's mostly bears, deer, and a sect of the wolf clan that live up there.”

 

Myouga was looking uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation. “Why do you live up there, Shippou?” he asked carefully. “Certainly the Northern Island is less than satisfying weather for a young kitsune… Most of your kind lives in the Western Lands, right?”

 

Shippou nodded. “That's true, my family used to live in the Western Lands, but, see, my parents were servants of Satori-sama, and when she moved north to claim her inherited territory, my parents went with her.”

 

Myouga instantly paled.

 

“Satori?” Inuyasha asked, looking at the kitsune enquiringly.

 

Shippou bobbled his head enthusiastically. “She's great,” he said. “She's actually the reason I'm down here in the first place.”

 

“You said you came in from the West, right?” Myouga asked, racking his memory.

 

“Yup.”

 

“Was that on the command of Satori-sama?”

 

“Yes, Myouga-jijii. She gave me a scroll that was to be given to the young daiyoukai of the West, Sesshoumaru.”

 

Inuyasha nearly dropped his chopsticks. “You've met Sesshoumaru?” he asked the kit, golden eyes wide.

 

Shippou shook his head furiously, his auburn ponytail flying. “No!” he exclaimed. “What kind of daiyoukai answers his door?”

 

Inuyasha silenced himself, refusing to notice the probing looks he was getting from his outburst.

 

“I just gave the scroll to one of his servants, some kappa, I think, and continued on my way to the East,” the young demon elucidated. “And then I ended up here.”

 

“Did Satori-sama request you come to the East, as well?” Myouga asked urgently, beginning to feel light-headed. `Oh great,' he thought. `Inu no Taishou's gonna get a huge migraine over this one…'

 

“Yup!” Shippou said, looking pleased. “She wouldn't give the job to anyone else.”

 

Kaede smiled at Shippou, completely oblivious to Myouga's crisis. “This Satori-sama must trust you a lot,” she said, making the fox demon beam proudly. “What was your top secret mission, then?”

 

Shippou smiled. “I was told to find someone.”

 

“Oh really?” Inuyasha asked as he began to chug his tea.

 

“Yeah!” Shippou said. “Satori-sama asked me to find the hanyou son of Inu no Taishou.”

 

Inuyasha promptly choked on his tea. Kaede thumped his back, understandably concerned with the hanyou's peculiar behaviour.

 

“I'm Inu no Taishou's hanyou son!” he coughed.

 

Shippou looked surprised. “Really?” he asked. He sniffed the air. “You are a hanyou,” he said finally. “And I guess you do sort of smell like Inu no Taishou…”

 

“You've met Inu no Taishou?!” Myouga croaked, plainly ignoring Inuyasha's near death experience.

 

“Of course! He came up north once, to visit Satori-sama.”

 

Kikyou took a languid sip from her tea as she listened to the conversations around her. It was fairly hard to follow. She decided that was because Satori was obviously a figure of northern demon society.

 

“What does Satori want with Inuyasha?” she asked at last, finally voicing the question that had been picking Inuyasha's and Kaede's minds.

 

“I don't know,” the kitsune confessed. “I was just told to find him.”

 

Inuyasha's face flamed. “What the hell does she want with me? Hell, who exactly is she?!”

 

Shippou looked flabbergasted that they didn't know. “She's the daiyoukai ruler of the Northern Island. She's Inu no Taishou's younger sister.”

 

xXx