InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Guardian Cu' ❯ Chapter 14 ( Chapter 14 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

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 Fourteen



She waited because it was something that she had learned to do very well. Adrift in a lonely existence, caught half way between the desires of a mortal life and the detachment of the netherworld, she found that there was really not much else to do, but wait. Wait for the sunrise. Wait for the shadows to lengthen into dusk. Wait for the sunset. Wait for the moon to make it's solitary journey across the night sky. Wait for the Shinidamachuu to return bearing their perpetual harvest of souls so that she might find within herself the energy to wait some more.

Sometimes she would pass a few days in one of the tiny villages scattered throughout the region. In those poor places, among humble people she could once again feel useful tending to their sick or teaching their children herb lore. This was the good work that she knew from before, it was what she had been trained to do so long ago. Traveling between those quiet little villages, populated mostly by simple farmers and craftsmen, she quickly realized that people were always happy to see Lady Kikyou, the kind Miko with the soft voice and gentle hands. Invariably after a few days they would beg her to stay and make a home with them. Sadly such offers were only little more than a tempting prize dangling just beyond her reach. Always the shimmering Shinidamachuu weaving in and out among the distant trees served as a reminder that for her the peaceful life as a village Miko was not a viable option. Teaching children and tending the sick was no longer enough to fulfill her.

It was the amaroidal fruit of harvested souls seasoned with the acrid taste of hate that now sustained her. Hatred for the callousness of an undeserved fate which had allowed her to be resurrected within this imprisoning husk of ashes and grave soil. Hatred for the fact that stolen souls were now the only type of nourishment her ever hungry form would accept. Hatred for the hanyou who had seemingly rewarded her love for him with death, then unwittingly called her back into life to be trapped within this loathsome shell. Rancor and adoration fought their silent battle inside her heart as she was forced to bear witness to his continuous betrayal of her affection as he dallied with a pitiful copy of what she had once been.

Paramount on the list was her seething animosity towards a deceitful man, a twisted creature to whom she had naively offered the healing hand of compassion. Instead of being grateful he had given up his evil soul to a host of demons, then found satisfaction in the complete destruction of her dreams. That which was called Naraku had become the unblinking eye centered in her web of hatred, lurking there, like the spider that he was, as a dark mockery of all that she had once held dear in her heart.

Tonight, at least for a while, she would not wait alone. Two of her soul collectors had already been dispatched to search for InuYasha. The fickle half demon could pretend all he wanted that the strange girl who accompanied him on shard hunts actually meant something to him, but it was really laughable how this notion was so predictably dispelled whenever the Shinidamachuu appeared upon his horizon. No matter how upset his leaving made that silly little girl, Kikyou knew with certainty that InuYasha would willingly follow those sinuous white messengers whenever they were sent to call him.

He was Inu Hanyou and had made a vow to her, promised her his unfailing protection, promised to see her avenged. Funny how her faultlessly wise and deeply aware living self had failed to fully appreciate just how truly honorable he was. Perhaps things would have turned out quite differently had she trusted in him just a little more, looked less prejudicially upon the surface youkai and perceived more of the honest essence at the core of the man's heart. Ironically it took death to finally enable her to recognize the utter lack of duplicity in him. She knew now, that InuYasha would never have lied to her, would never have betrayed her, would never have raised a hand to hurt her. Never..never..

She understood him so much better now and loved him for that honest strength, loved him for what he was in a way she could never have managed to attain during her life...but...

...Now he had betrayed her with his love for another and she hated him for that. As a living creature he was naturally drawn to the warmth of that vibrantly alive girl, that contemptible copy of a priestess, Kagome. Shadowing her footsteps, watching over her with a jealous diligence, protecting her from all threats, it was plain to see that he was already deeply in love...

Kikyou eyes flashed angrily as that stinging truth trickled through her well built dam of denial. Even though the priorities of his heart were inexorably slipping away from her, she would make sure that his new love felt the same deep pain of longing she was forced to endure. Every time he answered the call of the Shinidamachuu, her rival's pride suffered another bitter wound. The Miko knew that as long as she refused to relinquish the hold over him that his personal honor demanded he give her, InuYasha's heart would never be fully free to express his devotion to Kagome.

With the return of those last two soul collectors the cold comfort of this night would, for a time, be relieved. The approach of a familiar aura preceded the pair of pale snakelike forms floating into the clearing like ribbons dancing on a light breeze, telling her that once again that the hanyou had not found sufficient reason within his conscience to resist her subtle summons.

She smiled upon catching sight of a tall figure whose long hair and upright ears shone silvery white in the moonlight as it silently stepped from beneath the boughs of an ancient Sugi. Yes, her despised rival had received yet another cut tonight. The hard mask of her countenance softened as she turned to greet her expected guest. A radical shift in the familiar aura caused her salutation to die before it passed her lips as she realized that her Shinidamachuu had returned with someone other than InuYasha.

“ He wont be visiting you tonight, Child,” the deep clear voice made her eyes widen slightly in surprise, “Since the young man had a very trying day I felt that he deserved a night of undisturbed sleep.”

Stilling her features back into an unreadable mask, Kikyou regarded her visitor with flat dark eyes.“Guardian, why have you chosen to interfere between me and what is mine?”

“I have interfered with nothing that is yours.” Without hesitation, he walked over to stand next to her, close enough that she could easily see the glittering depths of his moonlit irises.

“Then why have you come in place of InuYasha?”There was a hint of annoyance souring her tone.

“ He is a creature of free will and as such, is not your property.” The Guardian smiled benignly down at her. “ The only legitimate claim you have on him is his honorable offer of protection.”

“ You are wrong. He loves me above all others...” The conviction in her voice wavered under the sharp scrutiny of the Guardian's level silver-eyed gaze.

Cu' shook his head slowly, his eyes never leaving her own,“Only his mortal persona still loves the memory of you. For that part of him what you shared together is still fresh..”

She interrupted him, the angry flash of her eyes giving lie to the well schooled mask of her face, “You have forgotten then that our souls are bound together..”

“No, they are not. Not any more. Your bond was broken.” He watched as the anger roiling in her eyes changed to profound shock, “That claim upon him died with your mortal body, Child. What was once your soul, his Other, passed on to reincarnate in the future and is now manifested within the girl Kagome.”

The abhorrent thought of having lost not only her soul but the object of her heart's desire as well to the flighty child tortured her lips with a sneer,“She is but a poor copy...”

Cu's reply cut her to the quick,“It is you who are the copy, Kagome is the soul's only true vessel now.”

A venomous fury flared within her. Shaking her head vehemently she took several steps back to put some semblance of distance between her and the slender figure towering over her. “No! No. You are lying to me..I know the truth...I have the greater spiritual power. I have all the memories....I...”

“ You retain your former spiritual power because I allow you to do so. You have the memories belonging to the body that was called back into life by Urasue.” With a single step he closed the gap her retreat had created. “ Since those memories were fully reawakened during the reinfusion of the soul it would have been too dangerous to return them in that state to Kagome. Her personality would have suffered a schism at being suddenly forced to compete with the complete memories of a former life.” The Guardian continued to look deeply into her eyes, “ Besides, it was necessary to allow the memories of Kikyou to continue on independently in the newly constructed body to prevent the malignancy that had been excised out of the original soul from trying to return to the source.”

“What needed to be excised?” Kikyou was clearly puzzled by this revelation. “What could be so important that I must endure to walk upon this earth as one of the undead?”

“ Burning the Shikon No Tama with your mortal remains was an brilliantly intuitive way to keep it out of the hands of the wrong party until the proper time.” Cu' idly caressed one of the soul collectors as it floated between him and it's mistress. Attracted by the attention being paid to the one, another slid it's head beneath the Guardian's free hand. “ Unfortunately, doing so left an unmistakable blemish on the soul's purity. Urasue was only permitted to obtain the knowledge to call you back so that the Jewel's negative influence could be completely removed.”

Her eyes narrowed speculatively, “ I am forced to live the half life of a revenant because you needed to remove a blemish?” The Miko's aura began to crackle around her slender form as she waited for Cu's answer. Much to her annoyance he seemed not the least bit concerned about such an overtly threatening display.

“ Basically..yes.” His voice was still gentle, but a hint of amusement at her show of defiance sparkled deep in his eyes. “When Kagome recalled her soul all the tainted negativity left by the presence of the Shikon Jewel remained within the body you now reside in. It was the primary reason why you were so driven by such an overwhelming sense of hatred initially. However, since I despise waste, the original soul was bidden not to entirely forsake you. Enough of it's purity was left behind to act as a counterbalance so that the new soul you have become wouldn't fall immediately into the hands of Chaos before having time to safely establish itself as a separate entity.”

“It was all your idea then that I must suffer this punishment because of an well meaning mistake?” Bitterness marked her lovely features as her shoulders sagged in resignation.

“ Of course it was. I couldn't allow such a virulent stain to remain where it was.” Cu' enfolded the unresisting Miko in his arms, “ Besides it isn't necessarily a punishment.”

“ Not a punishment ?” her voice was partially muffled against his shoulder. “ I would certainly like to know exactly what you are choosing to call it. Why didn't you just let me die after that girl reclaimed my soul?”

“ To do so would have resulted in the blemish returning to where it had just been removed. Time and distance were needed to insure that wouldn't happen.” Cu' lay his cheek against the top of her head.

“ Make no mistake my dear Miko had I wanted you dead, you would not have survived the fall from the mountainside. Had I not plans for you, the Shinidamachuu would have never appeared to do your bidding. Every soul brought to you through their harvest comes only because it is my will for it to do so.”

“ How it must gall you to lose them in order to torture me.” Her laugh was dry and mirthless.

“ We both know that Souls do not die. Those brought to you have wisely chosen to help you during this time of trial. They will all return to me when the time comes, as will you.”

“Why?” She looked up into his silver eyes, her pale face sparkling with tear streaks in the moonlight.

“ It was necessary to create you in order for balance to be preserved.” He smiled down at her and lightly caressed her cheek with his long tapered fingers, “ Already you have lost some of the hatred that fueled you in the beginning. The purity of your newly formed soul and the potency of your spiritual powers have already begun to destroy the taint which you were left to contend with. Remembering your love of the hanyou gave both of these things the strength to start you along the path of redemption.”

Kikyou's eyes clouded over,“ But I would drag him into hell with me..”

Remembering the Kitsune's questions earlier in the evening he decided that one metaphysical discussion was quite enough for the night so Cu' merely smiled indulgently,“ No, I believe you have already tried that little trick, haven't you?

With a guilty nod Kikyou cast her eyes down toward the ground.

“ And when you did he heard the voice of his Other calling him back to reality, did he not? No matter what you may try..her voice will always call him back.”

Kikyou sighed, then asked the question she already knew the answer to,“ There is no chance that he and I can ever be together?”

“ None, although he will try and protect you. InuYasha remembers his love for you and it is not a memory that he is capable of treating lightly. The drive to protect those he cares about is at the very heart of his nature...”

“ I need no one to protect me, I am fully capable of taking care of myself.” Pushing out of Cu's encircling arms, Kikyou stepped back and away from him.

“ As I fully intended you to be..”

Her face once again an impassive mask she reached up a hand to stroke a passing soul collector as it released it's glowing burden above her head. " Should this body cease to function, would my soul reunite with Kagome's?”

“ You are a new and independent soul so, no it would not. Neither would you regain that of Kagome's should something happen to her.” Cu's eyes were steely as he captured the Miko's full attention. “I would be most displeased should you try a repetition of your earlier attempt on the girl's life.”

Kikyou's wan face seemed to grow even paler in surprise that he could so easily see through to her intent.

Once again he closed the distance between them, this time preventing her further retreat by backing her up against the trunk of a tree. “ Such an event would constitute a set back in my plans and...well if you think how you are living now is unpleasant, I can promise you an eternity of far worse lives should you ignore this warning.”

“ It is unbecoming of a Guardian to threaten one of his charges,” she said coolly as another burdenless Shinidamachuu perched lightly on the index finger of her outstretched left hand.

“ And it is foolish for an infant soul to try and press it's luck.” Releasing a burst of his aura Cu' sent the band of soul collectors reeling away from the clearing like a flock of frightened birds. “ You were once a woman of great wisdom and unfailing purity.” Cu' leaned over her, the dark silver silk of his hair falling like a heavy curtain around her face. “ These things, even now, still exist within you. I trust you to make the correct decisions regarding your future course of action. In spite of what your jealous heart believes you have only one enemy and his name is not Kagome.”

Kikyou looked up into his eyes, “ I know exactly who the enemy is and will continue my work to bring about his downfall.”

“ Then I shall be content that you will do so. The time has come to forget past regrets and recognize that you can never again have what simply is no longer yours. Free yourself of those shackles, complete your tasks and gain the redemption you truly crave.” Leaning forward slightly Cu' pressed his lips lightly to her forehead. “ Be free my Kikyou,” he whispered in a voice that only she could hear.



Like sinuously weaving ghosts the soul collectors returned to her once more, bearing their glowing purloined harvest. The sky was already pinking above a cloud littered horizon as the silvery gibbous moon began it's final dip toward the purple ridge of mountains in the west.

She waited because it was something that she had learned to do very well. She waited for the sunrise, waited as the first radiant bolt of light shot up through the low lying clouds blanketing the eastern lip of the world, waited as the first birds of the new morning opened their throats in song, waited for an instant to set aside the nameless ache in her still heart and then she began to walk.

Perhaps it was time to do more than just wait. Perhaps it was time to go seeking the enemy once again. Ringed by her silent white escort she slipped beneath the edge of the trees following a path which headed toward the distant mountains of the north.




Oh, yes...this was nice...no..more than nice..this was...fantastic. InuYasha tried to snuggle closer to Kagome as he hugged her tightly in his arms. Shifting his hips suggestively, he sought the warmth of her mouth with his own, the tip of his tongue tracing tentatively across her lower lip. ' Oh, Kagome,' his sigh got an answer.

“ InuYasha?”

He moaned slightly at the sound of her voice calling his name and tried to tease her lips open with his tongue.

“ InuYasha?”

“Give it up Kagome,” he whispered softly.

“InuYasha! Hey!..” Something hit him on the side of the head, “ Hey!” It hit him again.

That second soft blow snatched him from a very pleasant dream into a rather awkward reality. It was probably a blessing that his arms were wrapped so tightly around the limb below him because had he been less securely attached to his perch his startled reaction at being jarred awake would probably have sent him hurtling toward the ground.

Once again something hit him on the side of the head. “ Hey! I don't even want to know why you're licking that branch. Would you just get down here and have some breakfast so we can go?” Since it was Kagome's voice that drifted up to him it was a pretty safe bet she was the one tossing missiles at his head as well. Whatever it was she was tossing hit him again.

“Oi Wench, stop throwing shit at me,” he raised up enough to glare at her over the edge of the limb and got hit right between the eyes. “Damn it, would you quit that? And I wasn't licking anything either.”

“ Were too, you mumbled something in your sleep and gave that tree limb a big sloppy lick.” She drew back her right arm and a rolled up ball of socks sailed upwards towards his head.

InuYasha intercepted the offending socks with a quick catch, “ A ha..got it..what?” he sniffed. “You been throwing your dirty socks at me?”

Kagome just looked up at him and chuckled. “Well they got you to wake up didn't they? Come on down, we still have plenty of fish leftover from last night...” she turned and began to walk away.” How many did you catch yesterday anyway ?”

' I caught fish yesterday?...When?' The sight of her retreating figure tossed that thought out of his sleep fogged head and replaced it with a better one.

“ Hey!” Something soft hit her squarely on the head. “ No fair you, my back was turned...” She whirled around, found herself nosing into InuYasha's red clad chest and made a little squeaking sound of surprise.

“And I was asleep, so that makes us even.” he stared down at her with a devilish smirk playing around the corners of his mouth, “ and I only hit you once.”

“ But it was from behind..” she countered.

“ Well your eyes weren't closed..” he loomed over her, trying to intimidate her with his size.

“ And I wasn't licking a tree.” She stuck out her tongue, spun back around and flounced over to join the others seated around the newly revived campfire.

“ I wasn't licking no damn tree.” He stomped over to the fire and plopped down next to her with a suitably indignant huff.

“ Were too..”

“ Was not..”

“ Too..”

“ Not! ”

“Well I for one had a wonderful night's sleep,” in an effort to postpone what could only be called ' 'The Inevitable', Miroku inserted himself into the rapidly deteriorating conversation then looked hopefully around for others to drag in as well, “ What about you my dear Sango? How did you sleep?”

Taking his cue, the demonslayer nodded eagerly, “ Yes, I slept very well, I cant remember when I've had such a peaceful night.”

The pair having their morning argument sat silently each giving a wary eye to their suddenly vocal companions.

“ Anybody wonder how I slept?” Shippou asked through a mouthful of fish.

“ Did you have a good night too?” Sango turned a bright eyed face to the Kitsune who nodded his his head enthusiastically in answer to her question.

“ Sock tosser..”

“ Tree licker..”

“ Whats on the agenda for this fine morning? Miroku smiled broadly as he tried to ignore the mumbled insults sneaking out across the campfire.

“ Spy..”

“ Sniper.”

“Kagome did mention that she needed to go home to get more supplies,” Sango pointed out cheerfully.

“And me some more crayons,” Added the still chewing kit, “and a new sketch book. I wonder what happened to the other ones? You don't think I left them behind somewhere do you?”

“ Whats a fuckin sniper?”

“ Someone who shoots you when your back is turned...”

Miroku took a deep breath “ and Lady Kagome, didn't you say something about a test in your school this week?”

Sango nodded, “ I believe she did say that. A math test ..right Kagome?”

“ Yeah? Well what do they call someone who pelts a guy in the head with dirty socks while he's mindin' his own business sleepin' ?”

“ A non tree licker..”

“ I wasn't...what test?” InuYasha's yellow eyes snapped from Kagome's face to Miroku's then back to Kagome's. “ You just had one of those damn things last week. Since when do you have another..”The skewered fish slapping him across the mouth effectively silenced the fuming hanyou.

“Eat your breakfast,” Kagome purred as one of her more dangerous looks began to creep over her pretty little face, “ We're not going to argue about that this morning.”

InuYasha took a big bite out of the fish, chewed it a couple of times, swallowed then figuring his courage had built up enough growled back at her softly, “ I didn't want fish for breakfast..I want Ramen.”

Kagome blinked and arched an eyebrow speculatively. Anyone with at least one functioning ear couldn't miss the sound of gears whirring and snapping right into place.

“ So, it's all settled then.” Chirped the girl, her voice suddenly overly bright and happy “We'll head back to Kaede's, I can go home for more supplies, get lots of RAMEN,” she laughed a bit nervously, “and take that math test I have been trying to study for all week.”

InuYasha stared at her through slitted eyes over the top of his fish, “ Sneaky wench..”

“ If you want noodles you'll keep your mouth shut and let me go.” Surprisingly she turned to look up at him with one of her sparkling 'to die for' smiles and the thought crossed his mind that for once he hadn't had to do anything to wrangle it out of her. A tiny smile ghosted around the corners of his mouth in answer.

“ How long are you planning on being gone?” he asked her calmly.

Miroku's eyes almost popped out of his head and he turned to glance at an equally astonished Sango. Shippou stopped chewing, his green eyes staring in puzzlement as he contemplated the hanyou's less than volatile reaction to Kagome's proposed trip home.

“ Two days?” Kagome's look was hopeful. Unconsciously she began to twirl the necklace holding her shard vial around her fingers. 'Say yes...please' she begged him silently '...please for once don't argue..'

InuYasha stared back at her, a slight frown furrowing his brow. He didn't want her to go away for any days. Whenever she was out of his sight things just didn't feel right. He wanted to jump up and shout 'hell no' but the realization hit him that such a reaction wouldn't do any good. She'd just get mad, sit him, then go home anyway...just like she always did...and he wouldn't get to see that glorious smile again for a while.

“ Promise only two?” he asked softly.

She gave him that smile again and his heart melted into a gooey puddle on the spot.

“ I promise. Thank you InuYasha,” she leaned over and gave him a big hug and the dog boy was transported straight to heaven.

“ I suppose we should break camp and be on our way then,” the monk said with a grin. He gave quick glance in Sango's direction to make sure he wasn't the only one aware of the blissfully sappy expression plastered across the normally scowling face of their hanyou friend. Sango was hiding her own grin of amusement behind a very ladylike hand.

Still elated that InuYasha had given in to her proposal about going home without a fight, Kagome twirled the shard necklace once more around her finger then glanced down at the little vial before tucking it safely away under her blouse. Her brown eyes widened in shock.

“ What's wrong Kagome?” The sudden change in her expression tendered instant concern in the hanyou. His large yellow eyes scanned over her rapidly in an effort to see what had caused her abrupt shift in mood.

She was staring at the tiny vial cupped in her hand. “ Look, I know we only had three shards yesterday, but now there are four..” Kagome held the vial up by it's chain so that he could see into it clearly. Four jagged pink slivers of the Shikon Jewel sparkled in their tiny glass prison.

“ Where did it come from? I don't remember us getting any shard yesterday..” InuYasha scratched the back of his head as he peered at the vial. The others crowded around to get a look at the new shard as well.

“ The lizard we were chasing had one...didn't it?” Sango asked quietly. “ Wasn't that why we went after it?”

“ I don't remember if we killed it though,” Miroku frowned as he tried to recall the exact events of the day before. “ Or if we recovered a shard..”

“ I remember chasing that ugly bastard but I sure as hell don't remember killing it...or catching all these damned fish either.” InuYasha scowled at the thought that somehow he had managed to misplace most of a day. For once he wasn't the only one wearing such a dark look since everyone else was now clustered around the fire wearing similar expressions as they all tried to recall just how they had come to be camped at this particular spot with an extra shard in their possession.

After a while the monk let out a prolonged sigh, “ It appears that even though none of us can remember anything that happened..we did somehow manage to get lucky and recover another shard.”

“ Maybe the lizard emitted some kind of poisonous vapor that caused us to lose our memories,” Sango said quietly. “ It wouldn't be unusual for a youkai of that type to be able to do something like that.”

The others all nodded silently in agreement at the demonslayer's suggestion. Since they were all in equal ignorance about the sequence of events following their sighting of the shard bearing lizard it made perfect sense that they had somehow come into contact with something that had affected them all. Some kind of poisonous, mind altering vapor was a perfectly logical assumption. At least it didn't appear to be any of Naraku's doing, as it was, after all, highly unlikely that they would have turned up shard heavy had they run into him.

As they sat around the fire, finishing up their breakfast and contemplating a lost day a snide little voice piped up, “ So, InuYasha, just how much of your memory have you gotten back?”

“Whadda you mean Shippou?” A small cautious voice in the back of his mind told him not to rise to the bait, but of course he ignored it.

“ Well..Just what were you thinking of while you were licking up that branch this morning?” The Kitsune had already eased his sneaky little self over to the far side of Kagome.

InuYasha took a deep breath in as the sound of cracking knuckles split the air. It seemed like he was going to have a side of dirt for breakfast this morning after all. He only hoped to be quick enough to give the Kit at least one well deserved thump on the head before 'The Inevitable' caught up with him.