InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Path You Follow ❯ Revelation ( Chapter 12 )

The Path You Follow

By: EvilNekoEatsYourSoul

Author's note: Yes, took me a terribly long time to update and I'm very sorry but for some reason I just couldn't write for this story for a while; just thinking about it made me somehow depressed. But it's alright now. Sorry again and drop me a review even if it's to flame me for being such a slacker.

Last time: When Kisho stood to leave, Rin waved at him as the door closed and she saw that for a moment his eyes were sad. Then, shrugging it off, she went to sit beside the pouting Shippou. It was quiet for a few minutes and Rin yawned, resting her head atop Shippou's puffy hair. In another minute she fell asleep.

Chapte 12: Revelation

~*~

It was very cold when she awoke, not just because of the gentle breeze or the fact that it was now night, the chill that invaded her seeped into her very bones. She shivered uncontrollably, wrapping the soft blanket covering her tighter around her thin figure. Peeking an eye open, she saw that everyone else in the traveling group was asleep.

Sitting up made her dizzy and she could feel the rhythm of her pulse rattling inside her head. Another shiver ran through her and her chest tightened as she coughed lightly. Her hands caressed her `blanket' that was actually a bright red haori. Inuyasha's clothing, it was smooth and soft from being worn constantly. There was a slight musky scent etched into it and she held a sleeve up to her noise to breath it in.

Looking around the small camp, Yukiko noticed Kagome sleeping, her back resting against a tree trunk next to where she lay. Apparently the young miko had been watching over her before succumbing to exhaustion.

Her eyes remained on Kagome who slept with a frown on her lips. Kagome had done a lot for her, she had given her a place to stay, friends and she always showed concern after Yukiko's health. Even if Kagome acted strangely at times, or said things that didn't make sense, no one else seemed bothered by it. She was perfect, kind-hearted, well-liked, strong and loved. Not just loved by a powerful youkai, but also loved by a hanyou. Perhaps if Yukiko had more courage or strength she would find it in herself to be jealous of Kagome. But she could do nothing but accept the other girl's kindness and charity and so she came to love Kagome as well, like a sister. She was her very first friend.

In all honesty, Yukiko had no desire to continue on this journey; she had long ago accepted that she would die young and most likely alone. The fact that she was no longer alone soothed her, but it did not give her any hope. Hope was something for the strong who can look ahead of them and see the tiny spot of light that awaits them in the end, without strength one could not hope, they couldn't see far enough to get past the day. The traveling was harsh and she felt herself becoming weaker a little more everyday, she could feel the entities within her biding their time, waiting until she became distracted enough for them to break through. Most of the time she was much too weary to fight them, too weary and too afraid.

In her sleep, Kagome made a sound. It was a soft whimper; her eyebrows drew together as her frown deepened. There was a pained look upon her face and Yukiko approached the sleeping girl, reaching a hand out to rouse her from whatever nightmare she was having. But before she could reach Kagome's shoulder, a clawed hand grabbed hers. Quickly, she drew her hand away, a blush heating her cheeks.

"Let her sleep. She needs the rest and even if you wake her up when she falls asleep again the nightmare will come back, either that or she won't go back to sleep at all."

Looking away from the hanyou, Yukiko nodded. It was difficult for her to be alone with a person. As a child she had been sickly and was not allowed out to play with the other children and so she lacked the social skills needed to make friends or even polite conversation. It would seem Inuyasha had the same problem because he turned away from her. The question on her lips died as he jumped back into the treetops without a second glance.

~*~

The castle was clean enough, though lacking in certain small luxuries he found around his own home. As he was lead towards the Eastern Lord's location, Sesshoumaru took it upon himself to memorize the layout of the halls within the castle. In doing so, he examined the building and it's décor, it lacked color. His own home had once resembled the plain, bleak halls he now tread through, that was before Rin had come with her flowers, before Kagome had given the children crayons with which to create colorful drawing that they hung on ever door and wall within their reach. It had been a time when his halls were empty, then Kagome had come with her friends and silence had become scarce, and to his surprise Sesshoumaru had found that he preferred the busy, colorful life he now had compared the solitude in which he once lived.

It was difficult, but the inu-youkai pushed the thoughts of his strange (and previously unwanted) `family,' from his mind. His main task at the moment was to gather information on the whereabouts of Rin and Shippou. Though he was certain the Eastern lord did not abduct the children, perhaps he knew something, as it seemed that the abductor had gone through these lands. A few feet ahead of him he heard a voice announcing his arrival.

The door at the end of the hall slid opened and without hesitation Sesshoumaru entered the room. Sitting behind a large wooden desk was the bear youkai who ruled over the eastern lands.

"Ah, Sesshoumaru, it has been a while since we last met, ne?"

Nodding, Sesshoumaru sat across from the other youkai.

"However, since two of my guards are dead, I am assuming this is not a social visit."

"Hai, I have come seeking information," his voice was as cold and smooth as ever, nothing could break the stoicism that lay deeply embedded in him. Or at least, nothing or rather no one that was present at the time.

"Something of great import has been taken from me. The ningen girl who resides with me has been abducted along with a kitsune youkai."

There was nervous fidgeting on the eastern lord's part and Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed suspiciously. Yet when he spoke there was no indication that the other youkai was speaking a lie.

"I assure you, Sesshoumaru, I know nothing of this."

Sesshoumaru nodded once in understanding and then stood to leave, it was as he had thought, the abductor had left a false trail in hopes of pushing the blame onto someone else. Now that his suspicions had been confirmed he saw no reason to linger in the east. But before he walked completely through the door, he paused and half-turned towards the demon lord.

"Has the worth of ningen girls increased since last I checked?"

He saw the bear youkai stiffen in his seat, for a moment he looked as though he would make some comment, but then decided against it.

"It hasn't," he answered simply.

"Then why is it two noble taiyoukai households seek my ward who is neither youkai nor has noble blood in her?"

Silence settled into the air, Sesshoumaru could smell the beginnings of fear enter the other youkai's scent. He hadn't been lying before, but now he was trying to hide something, that much was apparent.

Turning around completely to face the eastern lord, Sesshoumaru slowly approached the desk that stood between them. It was a warning, perhaps a challenge. The eastern lord was no weakling, and neither was he a coward, he began to growl, low in his throat. Where Sesshoumaru was all predatory grace, the eastern lord was more bulky, his body thick with muscle. Still, he had proven many times over that in battle size did not matter, his agility usually won out where his strength failed him, which it rarely did.

Sesshoumaru paused, wanting to give the other youkai another chance to answer his question and thus escape battle and possible political problems should the eastern lord die.

"Well? I suggest you answer me."

Snorting, the eastern lord backed down, reluctant to start a fight where one could be avoided.

"…The miko you keep with you, the one who supposedly helped to destroy Naraku, she is training your girl to be a miko as well, correct?"

"I am losing my patience; answer quickly," was the inu-youkai's reply.

"We received word that the miko is the keeper of the Shikon no tama, it is the belief of myself and the few others who are privy to that knowledge that upon the miko's death, the jewel will be handed down to your ward for protection."

Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed in anger, his fists were clenched and he uttered one word before leaving the castle before he did something rash like destroy it and all of its inhabitants.

"Pathetic."

He wasn't sure if he was more angry at the fact that the power-hungry youkai were already planning for Kagome's death or because they had threatened Rin's safety for no reason. The Shikon no tama was a burden that neither he nor Kagome wanted to hand down to anyone, least of all somebody they cared for. As for when the time of Kagome's death came, it wouldn't happen, that he had already decided; Kagome wouldn't die, not if he could help it.

But at the moment he had other things to attend to. Now with the knowledge of why Rin had been taken, he was sure of where she was and of the fact that he would be able to get her and the kitsune back unharmed. Despite the fact that he was sure no real harm had come to either child, he had no intention of leaving their abductor in the same state.

~*~

Night had descended upon the castle, yet its inhabitants did not sleep; youkai didn't need sleep. Neither did they need the meager candlelight that lit the hallways, but it was there just the same.

As he traversed through the halls on the second floor of his father's home, Kisho watched warily for shadows moving along the walls. Over the past few days some of his brothers had become hostile towards him, wondering what sort of plans were going on behind the closed doors of their fathers study, even more curious as to why the youngest and previously unwanted son, Kisho, was suddenly let into the tight-knit circle of the three eldest siblings.

Despite his newly obtained status among his brothers, Kisho was even unhappier now then he had been when his father chose to ignore him. Where before he had just simply not belonged, now he had no means to stay safe. Neither his father nor the three eldest offered him protection from the others. No longer was he kept in the safety of his room, but now he was thrown into the lion's den, so to speak, with no means with which to defend himself. The others had been trained as warriors, the only thing he had was his wit and the things he had learned from his mother and the books he read. Hopefully that would be enough, his mother had always said that knowledge was a formidable weapon.

Hearing the approach of angry whispers and heavy footsteps, Kisho pressed himself into the wall, quietly chanting a concealing spell. It would keep them from seeing him so long as he stayed perfectly still. It took a minute for the group of four youkai to round the corner, but when they did, he held his breath and waited patiently.

As they passed him, he recited each brother's name mentally, taking note of how they spoke to one another. Studying their actions to check the strength of their alliance, listening for words that would indicate how much they trusted the others. Unfortunately, the things they spoke of were mundane, mostly complaints about how father gave them nothing to do but forbade them to scour the Northern lands. As soon as they had disappeared around the next corner, Kisho once again headed in the direction they had come from.

He was relieved to find his destination still unguarded; his father didn't think it necessary to waste anyone's time with watching over the two helpless children being held in the locked room. His father had thought nothing of giving him a key to their prisoners' room, after all, he was the one entrusted with the task of keeping them healthy and alive. Being that he was older then them and a youkai, his father had trusted him to be able to handle them and not let them escape. Though he may not like all of his sons, lord Choukichirou trusted each of them not to betray him.

The door opened silently on its well-oiled hinges and he slipped in, closing it quickly before anyone happened to walk by. Just as he was about to take a step forward, he felt a sharp pain in his ankle, gasping and shaking his leg, he stumbled forward and nearly fell. He was pretty sure that his leg was bleeding and still the pain continued.

"Shippou, let go of my leg!" he whispered loudly, forgetting to keep his voice low.

The only answer he received was a growl.

"I'm not going to do anything to either of you. . . Itai! Let go you baka kitsune!"

Yawning, Rin stood upon hearing the sounds in the darkened room. Being that she was ningen and didn't have as good eyesight as the two youkai, she squinted and had to wait for her eyes to adjust to the darkness. Then, making out the two figures struggling in the center of the chamber, she walked over to them.

Neither noticed the approach of the young girl and Kisho continued to shake his leg in an attempt to get Shippou off of him and Shippou just clenched his jaw and held on tighter. Shaking her head disapprovingly, as she had seen Kagome do so many times, Rin reached out and tugged on Shippou's tail, hard. He was nearly in tears when he scampered off to a corner and started yelling at Rin, who ignored him.

Rin yawned again, and looked curiously as her visitor who was frowning and poking at the little holes not imbedded in his leg from Shippou's teeth. It was bleeding, but not much. Looking up at Rin, he suddenly remembered part of the reason he had ventured into this part of the castle.

Reaching into a pocket in his hakama, he took out a single candle and handed it to the girl. His keen ears picked up footsteps, and he slapped himself for making too much noise. He hurried to stand, but stopped when Rin placed a hand upon his arm.

"Arigato," she whispered, clutching the candle closely to her chest. Perhaps it would only last a few hours, but for this one night she did not have to fear the seemingly vast darkness that ached to snatch her away. Shippou's kitsune fire might not be enough to chase the shadows away, but he could light the candle for her and so she was thankful for both of her friends.

Kisho nodded, his brows creasing over his eyes, his thick bangs nearly hiding his shining, blue eyes.

"Your Sesshoumaru-sama, he will come, right?"

"Of course he will! Him and Kagome-chan, any day now."

Again he nodded and then quickly left the room, locking it before walking quickly back towards his room. He hoped, for more reasons than one, that Rin was right about the western lord.

~*~

There was nothing to do as the group walked down a worn, dirt road. The entire group was surprised that during their days of travel they had only been attacked by a youkai once. It would seem that things had settled since Naraku's death, as if all of Japan could now rest peacefully without the presence of the evil hanyou to plague them.

The villages they passed seemed happy and prosperous rather then frightened and destroyed. Sango was happy that people could now live without worrying about demons attacking, but she was also sad, seeing that there was not much work for a taijiyaa.

Kagome noticed that Yukiko had become increasingly withdrawn since they had left one of the villages behind a few hours ago. In fact, the young woman had stopped in her tracks after Inuyasha reported that they weren't too far away from the sea; he could smell the salt in the air. Just as Kagome was contemplating asking her friend about what had frightened her, Yukiko called out from behind the group.

"I-I can't go on," she stuttered out.

Sighing in irritation, Inuyasha approached her.

"Why the hell not? You tired? We haven't even been walking that long, you're worse then Kagome was when we started traveling."

Shaking her head, Yukiko fought to remain as calm as possible. As of late she had been losing herself in the voices within her too often. When she was locked away inside her mind she heard them talk, they spoke of things she didn't want to remember, memories she only wanted to forget and feelings she didn't want to reveal.

"You're going to a fishing village, right?"

Kagome approached the girl slowly, speaking softly as if she thought Yukiko would bolt. As a matter of fact, the girl did resemble a nervous animal ready to flee at any sign of danger, or in her case, discomfort. Her head was lowered, eyes studying the ground, hands clutching at the sleeves of her kimono and her chest rose and fell rapidly as her breath quickened.

"No, we're all going to the village. . . What's wrong?" Kagome asked in a soothing tone.

"We're headed towards the village I grew up in. . . I-I can't return there, they don't want me back there."

Kagome frowned and placed a comforting hand on the other girl's shoulder.

"You don't have anything to fear, we're with you; they can't do anything to you. E-,"

A voice interrupted the miko. Everyone turned towards the sound, Sango gasped and took a step forward.

"Everything is going to be alright. Is that what you were going to say Kagome?"

The kuroi miko stood there, her eyes dark and lifeless as she approached them. She was about to speak, when a voice, hoarse with disbelief, drew her attention.

"Kami! How is this possible? My lady, what have you done?" Sango cried out, hurrying towards the dark priestess.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A huge thank you to all my reviewers and also an even bigger apology for the very very long wait for this chapter:

Ptbear

Lady Kaela

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~and~

Wolfie