InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Impediment Between You and Me ❯ Too Late for Regrets ( Chapter 11 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Sesshoumaru reflects the meaning of Rin's existence and he doesn't know why it is affecting him so. The Inu brothers once again start their journey to their former enemy's defeat.

Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Drama | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 11.07.2003 | Updated On: 12.30.2005 | Pages: 6 | Words: 8.8K | Visits: 553 | Status: Completed

A/N : I truthfully give my thanks toWakadori Ramen, the new and first beta-reader for this story. She spent time editing errors and gave me helpful guidance and suggestions. Wakadori Ramen-san Thank you very much.

Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Inuyasha and Fruits Basket nor do I have anything that has to do with these two wonderful animations. They solely belong to Rumiko Takahashi and Takaya Natsuki respectively.

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The Impediment Between You and Me

Chapter 10 : Too Late for Regrets

A white piece of feather was drifting at a high-speed far above the ground......

'Why am I doing this! ...Or I should ask myself why I'm still taking orders from that bastard...It has been ten years and he still holds my heart...I'm the wind, why can't I be freed?' Kagura felt dreadful and frustrated as the image of the stupid jerk and his nasty tricks overran her mind. Her complains were then interrupted when she noticed a male with long white hair and a dark-haired girl riding on a black dragon alongside her and Kanna.

"They did put up a good show," Kagura stared at the group about fifty meters away. She then turned her attention onto the unconscious Rin laying beside her. "Such a nuisance, making us go through all that trouble just because of her... Do you know what Naraku wants with her?" she asked the small figure beside her who was holding a mirror. And at the moment, the looking glass was radiating with a pure white light and some form of strong mystical energy.

"The answer will be revealed at the right time," and came the words that carry no emotions belonging to the girl known as Kanna of the void, whose expressions and voice are forever bounded to be cold as the ice. "...But now we better hurry...I don't think it can hold it much longer..." And she tightened the grip on her mirror with her small hands that transmit no warmth. Then the two groups traveling to the same destination increased their pace...

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Two pairs of eyes witnessed the event that happened in the forest, and a small yellow cat came out from one of the bushes in the area after Kagura and her sister departed.

"This is just as what I had investigated when I traveled to the North...this is bad...Hurry Kirara! We have to inform this serious news to Inuyasha-sama!" said the flea sitting on the cat. Then, Kirara transformed and started rushing back to the village.

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Somewhere deep in the forest...

The Youkai Lord had remained silent in the past few hours; yet Jaken, who was following closely behind and leading Ah-Un was aware of his mood and became quite alarmed by it. Then, the toad brought out all of his courage and asked, "Sesshoumaru-sama, where are we going?" And there was no response. Jaken sighed, confused with his Lord's odd decisions, and noticed the change of his behaviour lately; such as choosing the flower field for a resting area a few days ago and leaving Rin a few hours earlier this morning. He was accustomed to the unexpected ways of his Lord, but now he found him even more difficult to understand. He also felt lonely because Rin was no longer there to bother him with her childish antics and questions.

'Why did Sesshoumaru-sama decide to leave Rin this morning? Why didn't he do that earlier...like when she was young? Why now? ...Did something happen between the two of them?' While Jaken was absorbed in his own thoughts, Sesshoumaru was having the greatest trouble on concentrating.

'What is this disturbing feeling? Why do I feel like I have lost something important...?' Sesshoumaru thought while frowning slightly. The unfamiliar feeling alerted him and his keen senses detected an abnormal occurrence. He had no clue of what it was or where it took place. Yet, after he had arranged his thoughts, he noticed he was already flying with his full speed towards the direction of the village where Jaken had left Rin.

"Sesshoumaru-sama? Please wait! ...Oh no...Sesshoumaru-sama is leaving me too...It's only me and you now, Ah-Un. Well, let's go and search for our Lord," the toad sighed, not a single bit of enthusiasm in his tone. Then he started his travel, hoping he could find his Lord soon.

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As Sesshoumaru neared the border of the village, the scent of Rin became more and more intense. He frowned again when he sensed a very faint smell of her blood and tears. He then landed on the area where her scent was the strongest and stared at the stained white rose on the ground where the smell of the girl's blood lingered.

'...Rin was here...and there were also two other youkai...The scent of Rin, her blood and...her tears...What possibly happened to her?...I just separated myself from her not too long ago...and this happened...Why? Why am I constantly worrying about her? Why can't I get my thoughts away from her? To this Sesshoumaru...Rin is only a human girl and nothing more...or is it?' he thought as he traced her scent along the forest path. He was tremendously frustrated at the situation at hand, and the feeling of anxiety was plaguing him. Regrets then flooded him when he picked up another familiar scent; the foulness of Naraku's bunshin, Kagura. Then, his tracking stopped when the scent of Rin and Kagura disappeared as he went further down the path. ( JV : Bunshin - Detachment )

'...Naraku? ...Inuyasha claimed that he destroyed him ten years ago, and after that...there was not a single trace of him left behind. But if his detachment is still alive...then that means the pathetic hanyou did not defeat Naraku entirely, he just vanished and had been hiding himself for recovery...Now he resurfaces again...and he took Rin with him...This time the obligation of Naraku's demise belongs to this Sesshoumaru. And I will show him the consequence for interfering with my affairs.' Then Sesshoumaru departed the area and began his search for Naraku...and Rin...

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Inuyasha and the others were having their lunch in the dinning room...

"...Mmm...This is yummy..." mumbled Inuyasha, who was devouring his bowl of delicious ramen at the moment. ( JV : Ramen - Japanese instant noodle )

"Inuyasha, would you please show some manners? It's not like the ramen has legs and it's gonna disappear on you," Miroku asserted with his mouth full.

"You too, Houshi," said Sango and glared at her husband who was sitting beside her.

"Kohaku, what's wrong? You don't feel well?" Kagome looked over to Kohaku who was staring blankly at his lunch.

"...Gomen...but I have lost my appetite...please excuse me..." he replied. Then he got up from his seat and started his way towards the door. Yet Kirara appeared at the doorway and blocked him from exiting the room. "...Kirara?" Then the cat transformed back to its small form and jumped onto Sango's lap.

"Kirara! You're back! I missed you so much," Sango said, hugging her dear friend and Kohaku sat down with the group again.

"Did everything go fine..." before Miroku could finish, Inuyasha interrupted by slapping his face with his palm. He removed his hand and revealed a squashed flea.

"Myouga ji-ji? I thought Kirara sent you up North to investigate something. Why did you return?" asked the dog youkai and he just finished his ramen. ( JV : Ji-Ji - Grandpa/Old man )

"Inuyasha-sama, I'm here to inform you of the result I received from my investigation," replied Myouga, who was currently standing on Inuyasha's hand.

"Well you better explain it clearly. I don't want to waste my time listening to some stupid theories that we won't understand."

"...Arr...Inuyasha...I think you should say 'theories that 'I' won't understand, not 'we' because that only applies to you, not us," Shippo corrected. Then Inuyasha got up from his seat, going to give the little fox a little punishment for its statement but...

"Osuwari." Kagome called calmly and unfortunately the youkai landed unwillingly to the hard floor, which was expected as always.

"...WHY DO YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO INTERRUPT ME!" Inuyasha snapped as he was sitting up.

"IF I DON'T STOP YOU THEN THERE WILL BE CHOAS IN THE ROOM! AND I DON'T WANT TO WASTE MY TIME CLEANING UP!" Kagome yelled back.

"Ano...Inuyasha and Kagome-sama, I think it would be better if we listen to what Myouga-sama has to say," Miroku suggested and was trying to calm the two. Then everyone remained silent and waited for the flea to speak.

"...There have been rumours about a castle in the North being attacked and conquered by a group of youkai around a month ago, yet no one has seen them nor was anyone sure of the reason behind their action...So I decided to examine the issue by taking a trip up North...Along the way, I gathered information from numbers of villages. Most of the villagers are concerned about their safety because they are afraid the youkai will attack and kill them, which happened to be the outcome of the people who lived in the castle. I was determined to find the true identity of those wicked beings, yet...I was unable to find any clues regarding the rumours...But I noticed it was awfully peaceful there...like all the youkai hided their way or disappeared. Maybe it's just a rumour and there isn't really a castle infested with powerful youkai...Or maybe it is true but they concealed themselves with a barrier, which would be why I couldn't find any details..." Myouga explained.

"So, you are saying that there's this group of new enemies residing at a castle in the North, and you are not sure if it actually exist or not," Inuyasha voiced, his golden eyes were locked onto the flea.

"Correct...but I'm not finished yet...After that, I decided to leave the Northlands. Just when I thought I would return without any special information, I witnessed...or I should say Kirara and I witnessed a very surprising sight not too far away from this village and it is crucial to this mystery. But before I continue with this issue, Inuyasha-sama please allow me to move away from your hand so you won't make any contact with me due to your agitation from hearing the shocking news coming up. And contact meaning I wish not to have any unnecessary injuries during this conversation," said the flea and jumped onto the table from Inuyasha's palm. 'Okay now I'm safe.'

"What I saw in the forest was...Naraku's bunshin, Kagura and Kanna were..." Everyone was shocked from hearing this unexpected information.

"Naraku's bunshin?" Miroku and Kagome called out.

"Are you sure? We defeated Naraku ten years ago and Miroku's air void vanished, too," said Sango, feeling quite uncertain.

"Yeah. Maybe you made a mistake, you know...old people can't really see things clearly that their eyes become weaker and weaker as they age," Shippo suggested casually.

"Would you show some respect to this elder! And I am positive that I saw the two of them. Kirara saw it too," Myouga defended, who was jumping up and down on the table. Inuyasha reached out his right arm and slammed his hand against the wooden platform, squashing the flea again.

"Why didn't you tell us that earlier! Going in circles and telling us your tedious stories!" Inuyasha stare, angry at the flea, which on the table at the moment.

"Inuyasha-sama, I had to start the topic from the beginning because you told me to explain the information clearly earlier...and I was not finished with my last sentence," Myouga had become as flat as a piece of paper from the friendly contact he got from his dear master even though he was cautious enough to spare some distant away from him. And sadly, it seems any scheme of escaping is utterly futile in all circumstances.

"What! You mean there is more? You saw Kagura, Kanna, and what? Naraku? Or another new detachment he has?"

"No, Inuyasha-sama. I saw them taking a girl wearing a lavender-coloured kimono."

"What! That's..." called Kagome.

"Rin!" Kohaku got completely shaken.

"They took Rin-chan?" Sango asked anxiously.

"So Naraku survived the last battle...and now after all these years he reappears...In addition to that, the bastard kidnapped Rin too, which means Sesshoumaru will also be involved in this conflict. But aside from that...what does Naraku plan to do with the fact that the mystical power of Shikon no tama had already vanished? There isn't anymore powerful subject for him to obtain...well not that I know of...But I just don't quite understand what he wants with Rin though..." Inuyasha reflected carefully.

"No one really knows the answer to that. But I do know that we must help Rin-chan before Naraku does anything to harm her." Kagome exchanged her gaze with Inuyasha.

"...I should have persisted in taking her back to the forest...I should not have let her go alone..." Kohaku finally realized the worst consequence of not grasping all the possible opportunities of protecting her. Tremendous weight of regret was oppressing against his chest, pushing him to the state of resentment. '...I should have insisted in not letting her leave me...then this would not have happened...Rin...'

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Flashback...

"...Ko...Kohaku?"

"...Rin...what would you do if I...if I tell you that you are the girl I have been waiting for? ...Would you accept me?" He asked as he closed his eyes and hugging the girl not wanting to let go, feeling desperate. Rin's eyes widened in shock and heat was flaring up on her cheeks at hearing his confession.

"...Kohaku...I..." Rin said as she was pushing herself away from his strong hold.

"I'm glad that you are willing to tell me your feelings...but I...I just can't get myself away from him...I can't survive without him...I don't know how I would ended up if I lost him and I don't want to think about it because I know that I can't...I'm...sorry...Kohaku..." She frowned slightly as she stared at the bouquet of white roses on her lap.

"He is Sesshoumaru...right?" Kohaku asked and Rin nodded lightly in response without looking at the speaker.

"...I know you would tell me...that I will have a better life if I stay here and live with you and the others than going back to the side of a youkai who's cold and unemotional...But to me...he has been treating me better than anyone I know...Please don't get me wrong here...I'm not saying that you are not nice to me...it's just that...he is always the one Ithink of when I'm feeling happy...lonely...and sad... " Then she paused to stared at the sky above. "When I was young, I used to imagine myself being in a regular family and to live happily with my father, mother and brother...But as I grow older...I terminated that thought, for I finally realized I no longer needed that. And I'm satisfied with what I have now, I only need him to be there with me...and to me that is all that matters...I'm glad that I have been staying with him in the past and not living in a village...if not then I would not be able to know about his existence and to experience all the different feelings I have whenever I'm with him." The blush on her cheeks have become close to a shade of red as she spoke about her Lord and she had been thinking about him during the past few minutes. Then she felt greatly embarrassed when she realized the things she said earlier and she lowered her head again, "Kohaku, I'm so sorry for making you listen to my childish thoughts..."

"Rin, they are not childish at all. I'm happy that you told me your actual feelings. Thank you." Kohaku smiled to her while patting her head. Then Rin looked up at him with her pair of sparkling eyes, "Thank you for understanding my feelings...arigato..."

Kohaku nodded, "Rin, I wish you the best."

"You too," she replied with a beam.

End flashback...

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'...Rin...In the end...you were hurt because of him...He was not there for you when you needed him, he was not there to protect you. And most importantly, is he willing to do anything for you? ...But to me...I would sacrifice everything just to make you smile...and that was what I decided to do ten years ago, to wait for you and believed that someday I would be there for you and protect you. Yet I am not the lucky one who is destined to walk that path but him. He's the one you truly love and you would only be happy when you are with him and no one else...Yet Rin...you have suffered a lot all because of him...and after all these times, you still believe it is worth loving him?' Kohaku frowned as pain struck at him and everyone in the room was looking at him silently.

"Kohaku, it was not you fault at all, so please don't feel stressed out. And besides, we are going to help Rin-chan now, so don't worry about it too much," Kagome said, trying to ease his anxiety.

"So Naraku's up North with his new barrier...I hope we can track him down as soon as possible and that my Tetsusaiga can break the barrier, because I believe he must be much stronger than before..." stated Inuyasha.

"Don't worry, everything would work out fine just like it has always been, and we also have an additional professional youkai exterminator, so I'm quite confident with this up coming battle. Right? Kohaku?" asked Miroku and Kohaku nodded in response.

"Why don't we get going? I'm really worried about Rin-chan," said Sango and she got up from her seat.

"Good luck, Inuyasha-sama. I will stay here and wait for your good news when you return," declared the old flea.

"No, don't you dare think that you can sit here and relax, because you are coming with us," said Inuyasha, picking up the struggling Myouga with his claws.

"Well! Let's get going! ...But before that...Kagome! Bring everything you have in that bag, because I don't want to fight Naraku with an empty stomach or be at a disadvantage because of that." Everyone could do nothing but sweatdropped at Inuyasha's peculiar wisdom.

After struggling...or getting prepared with their supplies for awhile, Inuyasha and his friends started their journey up North to defeat Naraku one last time.

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A white feather and a black dragon landed on one of the courtyards of the castle grounds. The white-haired male and the girl dismounted from the dragon and walked towards the direction of Kagura. The dragon transformed itself into a male human figure with short black hair and part of his face was covered by his bangs hanging on the left side.

"What are we supposed to do with her now?" a five foot tall lady with long black hair and a pink kimono voiced.

"...Take her to her room...and we have tasks to do before she wakes..." Kanna answered coolly and left the group to give her reports to Naraku. Kagura followed her sister into the castle.

"Let me take her," said the white-haired male with bright golden eyes as he lifted the unconscious Rin into his arms.

"This way," said the girl and the three mysterious individuals disappeared into the dark fortress concealed by Naraku's barrier.

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Kanna stopped at one of the many doorways in the castle. Beyond the entrance, she saw Naraku staring outside the window which he was sitting next to. She moved in front of him while holding her mirror firmly and Kagura just lay her back against the door-frame and look at the exchange of the two in the room. Naraku switched his interest to the mirror which was showing Rin's sleeping form. Then the image faded away and was replaced with a pure light. Its immense power was emitting around the looking glass and Naraku was fascinated by its enormous energy.

'This is the power I have been craving for the past ten years when I had discovered the girl and the immeasurable passion her held. I supposed that it will become handy and indeed it did not disappoint me...' Then the hanyou wearing a dark slate blue hakama and kimono with a purple sleeveless topcoat stood up and placed his right hand on the cold surface of the mirror. '...Although it is not as great as the power of Shikon on Tama...this is far more than enough to destroy the two Inu-Youkai and their company...I shall get my revenge and rule the world with my new power...kukuku...' he thought with a crooked smile.

Then he felt his power was being combined with the pure and vast energy as the white light was gradually disappearing into the darkness. 'This strength...her passion...is her weakness and that's what made her so vulnerable...In contrast...this would raise my power to become a more superior self. The girl should be grateful that I carried the negative traits away from her. And in fact she was suffering because of that...I ought to demand some form of gratitude from her when she wakes...' Naraku reflected attentively. He removed his hand from the mirror after the light had completely vanished along with the energy.

"What should we do with her now? Should I finish her off?" Kagura asked, pondering about Naraku's next set of plans.

"Not yet...she still has some uses..." Naraku stared at her from the corner of his eyes.

"But she's going to wake up soon...You are planning on letting her stay here?"

"You have some other ideas or suggestions, Kagura?" He sent his ignorant detachment a creepy glare. "Tell Hatori to erase her memory...And to avoid her from recovering her memory, just destroy all the belongings she has with her...I want to eliminate every possibility of getting situation out of hand...and not planning on dealing with problems that are unnecessary. Also...I don't care how you plan to do it, but you must get rid of her disturbing smell...Her body reeks with Sesshoumaru's scent and it sickens me..." Then Kagura left with the orders she received and was on her way to the girl's room.

'Is he ever going to stop giving me his troublesome orders? If he wants those silly things done that much then why doesn't he just do it himself! Why am I always the one who ended up doing everything because of his stupid plans!'

She stopped and opened the door next to her to reveal three figures standing in the room while the unconscious Rin was laid weakly on a bed.

"Yo, I have orders from Naraku," Kagura declared with annoyance and the three just stared at her blankly.

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Japanese Vocabulary

Bunshin - Detachment

Ji-Ji - Grandpa/Old man

Ramen - Japanese Instant Noodle