InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Guardian Cu' ❯ Chapter 2 ( Chapter 2 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: Cu Cebhfhion 
sometimes things don't go exactly as planned
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Comedy / Drama / Fantasy | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 04.10.2010 | Updated On: 04.10.2010 | Pages: 2 | Words: 2.4K | Visits: 158 | Status: Work In Progress
sometimes things don't go exactly as planned
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Comedy / Drama / Fantasy | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 04.10.2010 | Updated On: 04.10.2010 | Pages: 2 | Words: 2.4K | Visits: 158 | Status: Work In Progress
The Characters and World of InuYasha belong entirely to the admirable and talented Rumiko Takahashi. I in no way lay claim to them or make any money off of them.
Cu' the Guardian, aka GinCu' is mine, so is his meadow and the plot of this story.
Chapter Two
From a vantage point outside Earthward's linear time-stream Cu' had watched with amusement the inevitable progression of his friend Inu's humorous solution to the offhanded comment 'think soft' as it passed from a spur of the moment event, into a child's innocent fantasy game which, after a slowly passing decade, in turn morphed into a flourishing relationship of a much more adult nature. As the Guardian returned to his eternal meadow he wondered if the tenacious General even realized how neatly he had been set up to meet that particular girl in the first place. Cu' reflected that the answer was 'perhaps not', since it had taken so many years for the couple's affection to mature into their present liaison.
I'm sure he'll have something snide to say about it if he ever figures it out, Cu' chuckled to himself as he made his way into the center of the field. What a large and cheeky soul..What fun it will be sending him back out into the world in the future.
However, now is the time to send out others, Cu' whispered thoughtfully as he withdrew the double red flower from the safety of the wide gray silk sash at his waist. Cupping them together in his hands he brought the conjoined blossoms toward his face.
Forever together, now and always, his deep voice was strong and melodious as he breathed his benediction over the flowers gracing his open palms. Now hear my voice and come to me my children. It is your time to shine.
Pulsating, like a pair of beating hearts, the flowers began to glow, their petals becoming once again radiantly white and ethereally translucent. As the glow around them increased, they lost the form of flowers entirely to become a pair of blinding white spheres of pure light, beating in synch on the palms of Cu's now outstretched hands. With a flourish the Guardian rolled the spheres off the tips of his fingers and watched while they hung for a moment in the air before lengthening to each take on a distinctly bipedal form.
A matched pair of elegantly slender figures composed entirely of light stood before Cu', intimately touching at shoulder and hip, hands clasped with fingers laced tightly together, both bodies blending, melding so closely into each other that at times they almost appeared to be a single form.
Why have you called us? Spoke the one on the left, Why have you pulled us back so soon from Bliss?
You are both needed at this time, Cu' smiled at the pair, watching intently as they settled into their fundamental forms. There is something momentous that calls out to be done..
We will gladly do your bidding, but... the Right figure started.
Must our lives once again be so sorrowful? the Left said mournfully.
One of us always must die... lamented the Right.
To leave the other to grieve all alone, stated the Left defensively.
Never have we known a happy mortal life together since our creation, the pair sang in unison.
For all that you have bade us do... whispered the Right.
Never, even once, have you given us that one small gift, finished the Left.
I promise you, I will not allow that to happen this time, Cu' reassured them. This time, once your task is finished I will see that you enjoy a long and happy life together before you return home.
You've said that before, grumbled the Left only to receive a rather sharp nudge from the Right for such a blatant show of disrespect. Well, he has...
Cu' shook his head with undisguised amusement, gazed at the ground a moment then, clearing his throat, said, I will make sure this time, that before you return to me, you will both live to be very old, very happy and find your end together.
If you say so.. mumbled the Left gruffly, apparently still unconvinced.
Will we become one after this? asked the Right in a mellifluous voice, trying to ignore the note of dissension sounded by the Left. Will this finally be our last life existing apart from each other?
Watching the pair continue to shift and blend together, Cu' nodded. Yes, Children, you are so close now the soul you share has nearly reintegrated. This reincarnation will be you last as separate beings. Extending a hand toward the Left, he gently pulled the souls apart, closing his eyes as the soft protests they made at the sudden loss of contact saddened his heart.
Now it is time to begin your journey, he said quietly to what was once again a glowing sphere of light dancing above his left hand. Breathing softly upon it, Cu's voice rang out clearly across the meadow. Go now, go quickly Child. Go and live once more. At the sound of his firmly spoken command a swirling gust of wind eddied around him setting the full sleeves of his silk robes into motion and lifting up the ends of his long silver colored hair. Waste no more time. You are expected.
Answering the Guardian's command the Soulsphere flared brightly for only a second before suddenly shooting up into the dark blue sky to vanish from sight.
A wistful sigh from the remaining figure brought Cu's attention back to the one who had been left behind. The lovely being's illumination had noticeably dimmed with the departure of it's consort. I had hoped we could venture into life together, it said in a voice muted almost into a whisper.
Not this time Child, Cu's voice was soothing as he walked over to stand by the glowing figure, but you will encounter each other soon enough and find an end together most joyously.
Glancing around at the flowers crowding through the grass at their feet, the Guardian winked at his still somewhat drooping companion. Before you go I need you to gather up a handful of flowers for me, Child.
Cued by this request the white-petaled field once again sprang into a wild riot of color, each vibrant hue calculated to draw the inquisitive Soulchild's attention. Nodding obediently, the Soulchild began it's painstakingly slow search, walking slowly, while carefully looking over the brilliantly colored blossoms in order to choose exactly which ones seemed the most appropriate to pick. Giving an encouraging nod back the Guardian noted how seriously the Soulchild was taking such a seemingly innocent request and knew that it's eventual choices would be very good ones.
Cu's silent watch over the Soulchild was suddenly interrupted by the arrival of a golden ball of light which gracefully spiraled down from the sky to settle just above the flowers not far from where he stood. A short time later, a second one drifted down to hover next to the first. Arching a dark eyebrow, the Guardian growled softly under his breath as he realized just who had come back to him so prematurely. That blasted ripple is already making trouble I see, he muttered as he strode over to greet the returning souls.
Like the souls of so many unfortunate lovers, those of the General and his long awaited mate were only focused on reuniting after being abruptly torn apart, their only immediate regrets being the unexpected loss of each other and the pain of leaving the fruit of their love alone and unprotected on the mortal plane. Cu' blessed them and sent them to find solace together in Bliss while he remained to ponder this unforeseen turn of events.
Chaos, Cu' reflected, was a disgustingly talented adversary when it came to finding sly ways to upset things while attempting to shake apart the foundations of Order. In light of the impending situation, that the General had actually died while defending his lover and their child was an event dangerously wavering on the edge of catastrophic. Cu' had planned for the old dog to live on for many more years, rewarded for a lifetime of service with the company of a loving mate and many more children. It was doubly irritating as well that the ill-fated Izayoi had wound up surviving her beloved by only a few short years before leaving their child, a being whose very existence was an integral part of Cu's plans, alone and defenseless in the mortal world.
Scratching the back of his neck with a long fingered hand, Cu' composed himself as he strolled back across the field towards the Soulchild. His face, once again calm, split with a wide smile when the solitary figure waved to him before once again stooping down to harvest another flower.
Finally, with the search over, it returned to the Guardian and presented him with a modest bouquet made up of equally modest components, for although each was distinctive, none of the soul's choices were especially bold or gaudy in coloration. Gracing a single stem, a deep indigo tinted flower grew protectively above one blushing a soft shade of dark pink. This pair had been surrounded with a trio consisting of two golden-yellow blooms and one in a light, happy shade of orange.
Cu' inspected the offering closely. I believe one more should make this group complete. Choose another, Child, as carefully as you did these.
After a few moments, the Soulchild returned with one more flower. This one was a small, fragile pink bud framed in a bract of emerald green. This one will do? was the shy question.
Oh, very well indeed, was Cu's reply as he tucked it into the rest of the spray now peeking above the upper edge of his silver silk sash.
Guardian, why did you wish for me to gather flowers? the Soulchild's head was canted to the side as it regarded Cu' with large luminous eyes.
Should circumstances require it of them, these chosen souls will be a source of particular help in fulfilling your task, Child.
But if we find we don't need them, what will happen to them? The Soulchild's worry was well evident in it's soft voice. They have been harvested from the garden..
They will still be reincarnated to live out their next cycle of life should you accomplish what is required without their aide. Cu's eyes sparkled as the tiny flecks of silver within them caught the light cast off by the Soulchild's incandescent glow. Just know that in choosing them, you have given them a very special blessing, Child.
Will we see you during our lives, Guardian? the Soulchild asked pensively, it's radiant eyes clouding over with worry that the answer would be 'No'.
Most likely, though if you do happen to recognize me your mortal consciousness will retain no memory of the encounter. Remember, I am setting you on an important task. It is your choices that will define the final outcome. Cu' held out a pale, elegant hand. I can't give you the answers to make what you must do easier, but I will always be watching over you. Now, it is time to go into the stream. You too are expected.
Like it's mate, the waiting Soulchild shrank back into a bright opalescent sphere of white light which floated serenely into the palm of Cu's right hand. With a soft farewell, the Guardian breathed lightly on the Soulsphere and watched as it too shot up to disappear into the dark blue vault overhead.
Only a few moments had passed when the Guardian withdrew one of the golden-yellow flowers from his sash to call forth another soul to send into the living world. Just before this second sphere pulsing warmly in the center of his hand flew up into the life-stream Cu' breathed a quiet blessing over it ending in one simple command, Follow.
Now, shall we see just how much damage has been done ? Cu' cast a glance down at the posey adorning his waist. Although I have a suspicion none of you will be left out of this, it still isn't a bad idea to check things out...is it? His silent audience gave no discernible response as Cu' lifted his right arm, the hand palm out as if pressed against an invisible wall in front of him.
One of the advantages Cu' enjoyed living outside of time was the ability to step into it at any given moment of his choosing. While he could have returned to a point where the deaths of the General and Izayoi were easily preventable, their souls had already returned to him and been lovingly passed into Bliss. Once a soul actually entered the Halls of Bliss it's mortal death was inviolate from any tampering no matter how tempted he might be to alter the previous outcome. Cu' had bound himself with that personal geiss long ago, feeling that even a deity should have at least some limitation when playing around with the souls entrusted to it's care.
The same geiss in no way prohibited him from interfering with a soul still in residence within it's mortal shell, in fact Cu' felt that as a proactive Guardian it was his duty to nudge and influence souls to make the correct choices in order for them to eventually attain the state of reintegration. He had lost a great many young souls to the last Chaos event, souls now confined inside the Halls of Despair, so he had no intention of letting anymore slip out of his control this time. Like any good Guardian he now stepped back into time in order to interfere.
Cu' the Guardian, aka GinCu' is mine, so is his meadow and the plot of this story.
Chapter Two
From a vantage point outside Earthward's linear time-stream Cu' had watched with amusement the inevitable progression of his friend Inu's humorous solution to the offhanded comment 'think soft' as it passed from a spur of the moment event, into a child's innocent fantasy game which, after a slowly passing decade, in turn morphed into a flourishing relationship of a much more adult nature. As the Guardian returned to his eternal meadow he wondered if the tenacious General even realized how neatly he had been set up to meet that particular girl in the first place. Cu' reflected that the answer was 'perhaps not', since it had taken so many years for the couple's affection to mature into their present liaison.
I'm sure he'll have something snide to say about it if he ever figures it out, Cu' chuckled to himself as he made his way into the center of the field. What a large and cheeky soul..What fun it will be sending him back out into the world in the future.
However, now is the time to send out others, Cu' whispered thoughtfully as he withdrew the double red flower from the safety of the wide gray silk sash at his waist. Cupping them together in his hands he brought the conjoined blossoms toward his face.
Forever together, now and always, his deep voice was strong and melodious as he breathed his benediction over the flowers gracing his open palms. Now hear my voice and come to me my children. It is your time to shine.
Pulsating, like a pair of beating hearts, the flowers began to glow, their petals becoming once again radiantly white and ethereally translucent. As the glow around them increased, they lost the form of flowers entirely to become a pair of blinding white spheres of pure light, beating in synch on the palms of Cu's now outstretched hands. With a flourish the Guardian rolled the spheres off the tips of his fingers and watched while they hung for a moment in the air before lengthening to each take on a distinctly bipedal form.
A matched pair of elegantly slender figures composed entirely of light stood before Cu', intimately touching at shoulder and hip, hands clasped with fingers laced tightly together, both bodies blending, melding so closely into each other that at times they almost appeared to be a single form.
Why have you called us? Spoke the one on the left, Why have you pulled us back so soon from Bliss?
You are both needed at this time, Cu' smiled at the pair, watching intently as they settled into their fundamental forms. There is something momentous that calls out to be done..
We will gladly do your bidding, but... the Right figure started.
Must our lives once again be so sorrowful? the Left said mournfully.
One of us always must die... lamented the Right.
To leave the other to grieve all alone, stated the Left defensively.
Never have we known a happy mortal life together since our creation, the pair sang in unison.
For all that you have bade us do... whispered the Right.
Never, even once, have you given us that one small gift, finished the Left.
I promise you, I will not allow that to happen this time, Cu' reassured them. This time, once your task is finished I will see that you enjoy a long and happy life together before you return home.
You've said that before, grumbled the Left only to receive a rather sharp nudge from the Right for such a blatant show of disrespect. Well, he has...
Cu' shook his head with undisguised amusement, gazed at the ground a moment then, clearing his throat, said, I will make sure this time, that before you return to me, you will both live to be very old, very happy and find your end together.
If you say so.. mumbled the Left gruffly, apparently still unconvinced.
Will we become one after this? asked the Right in a mellifluous voice, trying to ignore the note of dissension sounded by the Left. Will this finally be our last life existing apart from each other?
Watching the pair continue to shift and blend together, Cu' nodded. Yes, Children, you are so close now the soul you share has nearly reintegrated. This reincarnation will be you last as separate beings. Extending a hand toward the Left, he gently pulled the souls apart, closing his eyes as the soft protests they made at the sudden loss of contact saddened his heart.
Now it is time to begin your journey, he said quietly to what was once again a glowing sphere of light dancing above his left hand. Breathing softly upon it, Cu's voice rang out clearly across the meadow. Go now, go quickly Child. Go and live once more. At the sound of his firmly spoken command a swirling gust of wind eddied around him setting the full sleeves of his silk robes into motion and lifting up the ends of his long silver colored hair. Waste no more time. You are expected.
Answering the Guardian's command the Soulsphere flared brightly for only a second before suddenly shooting up into the dark blue sky to vanish from sight.
A wistful sigh from the remaining figure brought Cu's attention back to the one who had been left behind. The lovely being's illumination had noticeably dimmed with the departure of it's consort. I had hoped we could venture into life together, it said in a voice muted almost into a whisper.
Not this time Child, Cu's voice was soothing as he walked over to stand by the glowing figure, but you will encounter each other soon enough and find an end together most joyously.
Glancing around at the flowers crowding through the grass at their feet, the Guardian winked at his still somewhat drooping companion. Before you go I need you to gather up a handful of flowers for me, Child.
Cued by this request the white-petaled field once again sprang into a wild riot of color, each vibrant hue calculated to draw the inquisitive Soulchild's attention. Nodding obediently, the Soulchild began it's painstakingly slow search, walking slowly, while carefully looking over the brilliantly colored blossoms in order to choose exactly which ones seemed the most appropriate to pick. Giving an encouraging nod back the Guardian noted how seriously the Soulchild was taking such a seemingly innocent request and knew that it's eventual choices would be very good ones.
Cu's silent watch over the Soulchild was suddenly interrupted by the arrival of a golden ball of light which gracefully spiraled down from the sky to settle just above the flowers not far from where he stood. A short time later, a second one drifted down to hover next to the first. Arching a dark eyebrow, the Guardian growled softly under his breath as he realized just who had come back to him so prematurely. That blasted ripple is already making trouble I see, he muttered as he strode over to greet the returning souls.
Like the souls of so many unfortunate lovers, those of the General and his long awaited mate were only focused on reuniting after being abruptly torn apart, their only immediate regrets being the unexpected loss of each other and the pain of leaving the fruit of their love alone and unprotected on the mortal plane. Cu' blessed them and sent them to find solace together in Bliss while he remained to ponder this unforeseen turn of events.
Chaos, Cu' reflected, was a disgustingly talented adversary when it came to finding sly ways to upset things while attempting to shake apart the foundations of Order. In light of the impending situation, that the General had actually died while defending his lover and their child was an event dangerously wavering on the edge of catastrophic. Cu' had planned for the old dog to live on for many more years, rewarded for a lifetime of service with the company of a loving mate and many more children. It was doubly irritating as well that the ill-fated Izayoi had wound up surviving her beloved by only a few short years before leaving their child, a being whose very existence was an integral part of Cu's plans, alone and defenseless in the mortal world.
Scratching the back of his neck with a long fingered hand, Cu' composed himself as he strolled back across the field towards the Soulchild. His face, once again calm, split with a wide smile when the solitary figure waved to him before once again stooping down to harvest another flower.
Finally, with the search over, it returned to the Guardian and presented him with a modest bouquet made up of equally modest components, for although each was distinctive, none of the soul's choices were especially bold or gaudy in coloration. Gracing a single stem, a deep indigo tinted flower grew protectively above one blushing a soft shade of dark pink. This pair had been surrounded with a trio consisting of two golden-yellow blooms and one in a light, happy shade of orange.
Cu' inspected the offering closely. I believe one more should make this group complete. Choose another, Child, as carefully as you did these.
After a few moments, the Soulchild returned with one more flower. This one was a small, fragile pink bud framed in a bract of emerald green. This one will do? was the shy question.
Oh, very well indeed, was Cu's reply as he tucked it into the rest of the spray now peeking above the upper edge of his silver silk sash.
Guardian, why did you wish for me to gather flowers? the Soulchild's head was canted to the side as it regarded Cu' with large luminous eyes.
Should circumstances require it of them, these chosen souls will be a source of particular help in fulfilling your task, Child.
But if we find we don't need them, what will happen to them? The Soulchild's worry was well evident in it's soft voice. They have been harvested from the garden..
They will still be reincarnated to live out their next cycle of life should you accomplish what is required without their aide. Cu's eyes sparkled as the tiny flecks of silver within them caught the light cast off by the Soulchild's incandescent glow. Just know that in choosing them, you have given them a very special blessing, Child.
Will we see you during our lives, Guardian? the Soulchild asked pensively, it's radiant eyes clouding over with worry that the answer would be 'No'.
Most likely, though if you do happen to recognize me your mortal consciousness will retain no memory of the encounter. Remember, I am setting you on an important task. It is your choices that will define the final outcome. Cu' held out a pale, elegant hand. I can't give you the answers to make what you must do easier, but I will always be watching over you. Now, it is time to go into the stream. You too are expected.
Like it's mate, the waiting Soulchild shrank back into a bright opalescent sphere of white light which floated serenely into the palm of Cu's right hand. With a soft farewell, the Guardian breathed lightly on the Soulsphere and watched as it too shot up to disappear into the dark blue vault overhead.
Only a few moments had passed when the Guardian withdrew one of the golden-yellow flowers from his sash to call forth another soul to send into the living world. Just before this second sphere pulsing warmly in the center of his hand flew up into the life-stream Cu' breathed a quiet blessing over it ending in one simple command, Follow.
Now, shall we see just how much damage has been done ? Cu' cast a glance down at the posey adorning his waist. Although I have a suspicion none of you will be left out of this, it still isn't a bad idea to check things out...is it? His silent audience gave no discernible response as Cu' lifted his right arm, the hand palm out as if pressed against an invisible wall in front of him.
One of the advantages Cu' enjoyed living outside of time was the ability to step into it at any given moment of his choosing. While he could have returned to a point where the deaths of the General and Izayoi were easily preventable, their souls had already returned to him and been lovingly passed into Bliss. Once a soul actually entered the Halls of Bliss it's mortal death was inviolate from any tampering no matter how tempted he might be to alter the previous outcome. Cu' had bound himself with that personal geiss long ago, feeling that even a deity should have at least some limitation when playing around with the souls entrusted to it's care.
The same geiss in no way prohibited him from interfering with a soul still in residence within it's mortal shell, in fact Cu' felt that as a proactive Guardian it was his duty to nudge and influence souls to make the correct choices in order for them to eventually attain the state of reintegration. He had lost a great many young souls to the last Chaos event, souls now confined inside the Halls of Despair, so he had no intention of letting anymore slip out of his control this time. Like any good Guardian he now stepped back into time in order to interfere.