InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Half Demon Child ❯ Chapter 17 ( Chapter 17 )

Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha, the Anime series InuYasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. I don't own any of the characters, which means I don't own InuYasha, Kagome, Shippo, Miroku, Sango, Kirara, Kikyo, Naraku, Kagura and I can go on. However, the characters I made up such as Tani and Larina belong to me.

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For the first time in her whole entire life… she was accepted. Kids actually wanted to be her friend, Tani; a half demon, born from a human mother and a demon father was accepted for being different. The only sad thing was this acceptance would only be temporarily for she was in her human form which begins the start of the full moon. She lasts as a human for a full day and returns to her half demon form the next following night.

 

 

Tani had been playing with the village kids, that she had met earlier; Hana, Ken and Masaru. She had been playing ball with the kids and enjoyed herself doing it.

 

 

“Hey,” Hana called as the ball rolled up to her, “look how hard I can kick the ball!” she announced as she smirked and the ball and kicked it with all her might.

 

 

The other kids stopped running as they watched Hana kick the ball with a lot of force. All four children fly up in the air. The ball went so far and high that they couldn't look directly up, otherwise the sun would get in their eyes so they squinted.

 

 

Tani shielded her eyes, “If I was half demon again, I would be able to look directly at the sun to see where the ball went…” she thought to herself squinting her eyes from the brightness of the sun, “being a human can have a lot of disadvantages, my human eyes can't take the sunlight…”

 

 

The ball had soon started to make its way back to earth as it bounced to the bushes within the forest.

 

 

“…oops…” Hana said blushing as she laughed nervously to redeem her embarrassment.

 

 

Ken sighed with a lot of aggravation at he turned to her, “way to go big foot, you lost the ball!”

 

 

Hana was not going to take that from Ken as she frowned and placed her hands on her hips, “hey,” she rebelled as she then crossed her eyes, “I didn't mean to do it! I'm sorry, jeez.”

 

 

“Well if you're so sorry, then maybe you should go and retrieve it!” Ken replied.

 

 

Hana's mouth dropped, she was shocked, “I didn't hear you say please, Ken.”

 

 

Masaru simply just rolled his eyes in unison with his own sigh, “you guys are so immature, if it's such a big deal, I'll go get it!” he said as he started to make his way to the bushes.

 

 

“I'll come too,” Tani volunteered.

 

 

Masaru smiled as he waited for Tani to catch up to him. He then turned to his friends, “we'll be back,” he said as he and Tani both continued to walk towards the bushes.

 

 

“You're gonna have to forgive those two,” Masaru began, when they were alone.

 

 

Tani lifted her head, realizing that Masaru was talking to her.

 

 

“They know they like each other but they will never want to admit it, both Ken and Hana. They try to hide it.”

 

 

“…oh…” Tani said, “I didn't notice...”

 

 

“Is something the matter, Tani?” Masaru asked turning to the younger girl.

 

 

Tani furrowed her eyebrows, confused as she shook her head, “…n-no…” she replied sheepishly.

 

 

“You seem, quiet… perhaps she is shy?” Masaru stated.

 

 

Tani just shrugged her shoulders as she blushed and looked away. “I don't know… I was just thinking,” but then she shook it off, “it's okay, I-I'm fine. It's not everyday I play with other village kids, usually I'm picked on because I'm, different… it's just something knew to me…” She wanted to say.

 

 

“Tell me, Tani,” Masaru asked, breaking Tani's train of thought, “tell me what is on your mind.” He asked.

 

 

Tani shrugged her shoulders once again as she put on arm on her should. An image of her mother soon came to her head. Oh how she missed her dearly so, “…m-my, mother,” she finally responded, “my mother would've been so happy to see that I have made new friends…” she added to herself as she smiled weakly, “Instead of coming home with dirt and mud and cuts on my face…”

 

 

“You must really miss your mother,” Masaru asked breaking Tani's train of thought once again.

 

 

The young girl just looked up at him and just nodded.

 

 

“Don't worry too much about it,” Masaru tried to reassure her, “we all miss our parents once in a while, it's just something that we have to get used to, you mentioned that you lost your mother recently…”

 

 

“Yes,” Tani replied, “she was killed by a demon like priestess…”

 

 

Masaru growled, “Demons,” he snarled, “they're nothing more than monsters that linger in our world; monsters that terrorize humans for their sick pleasures.”

 

 

“Y-you must really hate demons…” Tani observed.

 

 

Masaru gave Tani a very stern, serious look, “All demons are evil,”

 

Tani flinched from his words and looked away, “Not all demons,” she thought as she InuYasha come into her mind. She then quickly shook off the thought of InuYasha and quickly replaced it with Naraku's, “Why did InuYasha come into my mind? Of course he's evil… he's the one who betrayed me and defended Kikyo…” she thought bitterly as she had a quick flashback to when she had last saw InuYasha and his friends; that was when she took of with Kagura.

 

 

“I just don't understand why he would do that...” Tani continued, having another quick flashback to when InuYasha had defended her, when the village kids from her old village picked on her. InuYasha had come and stopped the kids from picking on her, he had also retrieved Tani's ocarina back.

 

 

Tani then had another epiphany, her ocarina and her necklace was stolen, “Why would InuYasha do that…? Why would he protect me from the bullies and end up betraying me in the end… I thought he was my friend. I thought I could trust him, and his friends. When I went out in search to hunt down Kikyo, I knew I was transforming into something else, but when I finally reached her, my mind went blank. But when I finally came too, I was human and there InuYasha was infront of Kikyo, protecting her-from me. In the end… my ocarina was stolen, along with my necklace…”

 

 

“…Tani…?” Masaru asked once more.

 

 

The small girl shook off all the negative thoughts and looked up at Masaru, “I'm sorry, my mind keeps wondering off somewhere…”

 

 

“That's fine,” he said as he redirected his attention to the something yellow which hid behind the bushes. He smiled as he ran up to the bushes and went on his knees and tried to make his way to the bushes.

 

 

Tani continued to walk up to him and looked at him, wondering what he was doing, “did you find the ball?” she asked.

 

 

Masaru didn't answer as he continued to make his way through the bushes until he had gotten a hold of the yellow ball and pulled himself out of the bush. He smiled at himself as he turned to Tani, “yup,”

 

 

The hanyou smiled with delight as she heard the sound of footsteps coming up to them. She turned to see Ken and Hana running up to her and Masaru. They both stopped running as they huffed and puffed.

 

 

“Did you…” Hana trailed off trying to keep up with her breathing, “did you…”

 

 

“… Find that ball?” Ken finished as he too puffed.

 

 

Masaru grinned as he presented the ball.

 

 

“Yes,” Tani began, “Masaru did.”

 

 

Both Hana and Ken smiled brightly once they saw the big yellow ball, “way to go,” the cheered in unison.

 

 

“It was nothing,” Masaru said as he glanced at Tani and smiled.

 

 

Tani blinked and then smiled back.

 

 

It was quiet now until someone's stomach growled very loudly. All the children looked up at each other, wondering where the sound was coming from. From the looks of it, it seemed to have come from Ken. Ken was looking off in a distance anyway, blushing.

 

 

“Is someone hungry?” Hana teased.

 

 

“Shut up Hana,” Ken replied as he continued to look away.

 

 

Hana couldn't help but giggle as did Tani. Masaru then too began to chuckle himself with Ken's behavior.

 

 

Ken who was utterly embarrassed did his best to ignore his friends, “knock it off would you? It's not funny!” He said, still blushing.

 

 

They continued to laugh until someone else's stomach began to growl very loudly. Hana then stopped laughing as she blushed and rested her hand on her stomach. Hana looked at Masaru, Ken who had his back turned on his friends and then Tani.

 

 

Tani looked back as she snorted a laugh; Hana who was embarrassed and angry at first began to laugh as the children all soon started to laugh.

 

 

“I guess you guys are hungry or something…” Masaru stated as he looked overheard, “the sun does look like it's going to set…”

 

 

That gave Tani an instant remembrance as her heart skipped a beat; she was a half demon who had a period time of weakness that was almost up. Once the sun sets, Tani will be back in her half demon state, she couldn't bare to have to face her new friends looking like a `beast.'

 

 

“I am pretty hungry,” Hana said still resting her hand on her stomach.

 

 

“Me too,” Ken said as he turned to Tani. “Are you hungry, Tani?”

 

 

Tani snapped back to reality as she shook off the thought, “who knows how long I have left until I become a half demon again, not for long…” she thought looked at the sun as it made it's way down the horizon before she replied to Ken's question. She looked up at the young boy and shook her head, “I'm not hungry-I ate not too long ago…”

 

 

“Well, why don't you come back with us to the village…?” Masaru invited.

 

 

“U-uh…” Tani stammered.

 

 

“Your guardian can come with us if he wants, Kohaku…” Hana said walking up to Tani.

 

 

“Well… um… it's very nice of you to invite me but…” Tani trailed off.

 

 

“But what?” Ken asked.

 

 

Tani looked at the sky, the sun was still somewhat up there but eventually it was going to come down and Tani's period as a human would be over. “I can't let them know my secret that I'm a half demon, I can't bare rejection and isolation anymore…” She turned to her friends. “I think I need to get back.”

 

 

Kohaku then at that moment jumped out from a tree and then just stood there waiting for Tani to give him the word for them to return back to Naraku's castle.

 

 

“Won't you have a little something before you go?” Hana asked.

 

 

“Why are you so adding it on leaving?” Ken asked.

 

 

“Hana and Ken are right, I gather that you live pretty far from here, won't you have a little something before you go?” Masaru asked.

 

 

Tani looked at the sky and then back at her friend and then gave up with a relented sigh, “okay I'll have something small before I go,”

 

 

“Yes, you will,” Hana told Tani, “and you must meet our guardians before you go…” she said taking Tani's hand.

 

 

Tani turned her head wondering if Kohaku was going to follow, it was no surprise that he was. His job was to watch over Tani.

 

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“You're lucky you met us when you did Tani, otherwise you would have missed out on Akemi's cooking.” Masaru said.

 

 

“Oh come now, Masaru, it's all that…” Akemi said with a sweet smile.

 

 

“She's so modest,” Hana stated as she took a sip from her bowl of soup.

 

 

Masaru, Ken and Hana had taken Tani to meet their guardians who were looking after them, Akemi and her husband Hiroto.

 

 

“Thank you preparing an extra meal on such sort notice…” Tani said as she took a sip from her bowl.

 

 

“The pleasure is all mine Tani, do not worry too much about it.” Akemi replied with a smile.

 

 

Tani smiled back.

 

 

“Isn't your friend going to join us?” Hiroto said watching Kohaku stand outside the door.

 

 

Everyone who was around the fire, eating their meals turned to see what Kohaku was doing; but the young demon slayer was just standing outside minding his own business.

 

 

Tani then put her bowl down and walked out the hut, “Kohaku,” she began, “aren't you going to join us?” she asked.

 

 

Kohaku didn't immediately respond as he turned to look at Tani, “aren't we supposed to be heading back? You're going to become a half demon soon… the sun is going to set in a couple of minutes…”

 

 

“You're right but… won't you come inside?”

 

 

“Hm, my job is to guard you,”

 

 

“So you won't?”

 

 

“…no…”

 

 

“You sure?”

 

 

“Tani,” Kohaku's voice and Tani immediately got the message as she went back inside the hut.

 

 

“He's not hungry,” Tani said once she got back inside the hut, feeling agitated and nervous.

 

 

“He's not going to join us?” Ken asked.

 

 

Tani shook her head, “no, he's sorta, I guess you can say stubborn like that…” she replied as she looked out the window.

 

 

Masaru had been observing Tani for some time since they had found the yellow ball that she had been acting rather strangely, “almost every other time, she's always looking out and at the sky, her eyes always seemed to be set on the sun, why…?” he wondered as he took a bit of his grilled fish.

 

 

“So how were your day children?” Hiroto asked, finished with his meal.

 

 

“It was fun! We played all sorts of games with our new friend Tani!” Hana said.

 

 

“Infact that's how we met her, we got carried away with our game and our ball knocked out her apples,” Ken said as he turned too looked at Tani.

 

 

Tani looked back at Ken smiled weakly and nodded, “…we… were full anyway…” she replied, “We couldn't take another bite of the apples…”

 

 

“You don't come from around here, do you Tani?” Akemi asked.

 

 

“No, she doesn't! She lives in a castle!” Ken stated.

 

 

“A castle?” Akemi and her husband Hiroto asked in unison.

 

 

“A man took her in because she's an orphan like us,” Hana explained.

 

 

“Her mother was killed by a demon so the lord of the castle took her in.” Masaru stated.

 

 

“Isn't she lucky Akemi?” Hana asked.

 

 

Tani didn't respond quickly as she was still chewing on her fish and then swallowed; “I wouldn't say that was lucky of me…” her voice went softer, quiet and sad, “I did lose my mother after all…”

 

 

Hana bit her lip, feeling sorry for saying such a thing, “pardon my rudeness Tani, I didn't mean anything by it-,”

 

 

“Don't apologize Hana, I guess you could say that I was lucky since the lord took me in to live with him…” Tani replied as she looked up at Hana and smiled despite the sadness in her dark brown eyes.

 

 

“But, what about the village that you used to live in, Tani? You did live in a village, didn't you Tani?” Masaru asked.

 

 

Tani didn't want to answer that question, “I don't want to think of that village… they hated me… because I was different from them… different from everybody. They never ever cared for my sake; they all accused me for the murder of my mother even though it was that demon priestess Kikyo…” she then looked up Masaru, “They never liked me… I-I…” she looked down, “I don't want to talk about it, they treated me so badly…” she said trying to hold back her tears.

 

 

Akemi gently tried to comfort Tani by rubbing her back but Tani jumped from the touch of Akemi's hand, “its okay Tani, you don't have to tell us if you don't want to…”

 

 

“Poor girl…” Hana thought.

 

 

“And I thought my life was bad…” Ken thought.

 

 

“Her past must've been so awful that she can't even think about it without trembling…” Masaru stated.

 

 

“But its okay, it's all in the past now-,” Tani was cut off as she felt a pulse in her heart which caused her to drop her bowl.

 

 

“Tani, are you alright?” Masaru asked.

 

 

“Tani,” Hiroto gasped.

 

 

Kohaku then entered the hut wondering if Tani was alright.

 

 

Tani was then panting as she looked outside, her eyes widened in shock as she watched the sun set on her. “No! Not now!” Tani thought as she felt her fangs coming back. She then ran out the door.

 

 

Kohaku watched her run out the hut.

 

 

“Tani!!” Hana and Ken called out as they both watched Masaru run out of the hut so then they ran out of the hut along with their guardian to catch up with Tani but when they got out the hut, it was dark out and Tani was no where in sight.

 

 

“Look over there!” Hana pointed out where there were bushes and a gust of wind from that one spot.

 

 

Suddenly, a large feather went out from the bushes and flew up in the air. A woman was on this large white feather as well as a young boy and a white hair demon child on it too.

 

 

“Naraku wants you back at the castle now that you're half demon again, kid,” Kagura told Tani.

 

 

Tani nodded as she looked down on the kin who treated her like she wasn't some beast from hell, “I'm sorry that I ran out on you...” Tani thought as a tear went out her grayish eye, “but I couldn't let you find out that I was half demon… you were all good friends to me even though we just met… I'll never forget you, Hana, Ken and Masaru… I hope you can forgive me…”

 

 

With that, Kagura, Kohaku and Tani left the village, on their way back to Naraku's castle.

 

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End Chapter