InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Price of Freedom ❯ Sixteen ( Chapter 16 )

When he was alone, Inuyasha decided that he needed to burn off some steam and he avoided the heavily crowded areas, it was not like anyone was super thrilled at his return or was glad to see him. And what did he care? Damn them all to hell.

After dealing with Sesshomaru, he had lost his appetite. He knew that the head chef was fond of him and would hook him up if he asked, but Inuyasha wasn't in the mood to deal with anyone. He nearly got his ass handed to him, prancing around all over the place like a moron trying to do some good for once. And what did he get for it? More shit. Feh. Ungrateful bastard.

Inuyasha headed straight for the armory he knew would be empty at this hour in the night, and he was too wired to head off to sleep.

He still couldn't stand being in this place longer than he had to, and in a strange way, he was a little grateful that he would be leaving in three days, away from this damnable place, and these damnable walls.

Three days. That's all the time he had to himself before he was launched into another nightmarish journey. He snorted at the ludicrous plan the smart ass put together, and wondered if Sesshomaru even gave a damn about him or saw him more than a pawn to be moved across a board. Inuyasha felt all of his anger suddenly leave him, and he was left with all of his anxieties that he forced down into the abyss of his own thoughts.

She was out there, alone, possibly back in the arms of that wolf. An image of Kagome's tearful, woeful face, snuggling up to that fleabag wormed its way into his imagination. Shit, there I go again. Inuyasha pressed the bridge of his nose. I have to go back there. He made up his mind, he knew that he would never be at peace with himself if he left things up to chance. He would leave at the eve of dawn tomorrow and for the first time in nearly two decades, Inuyasha said a silent prayer. Please be alright.

And after you get back there, then what? The logical part of his mind shot back. Win her back from that asshole? Club her against the head and carry her off for her own good. Feh. That didn't sound like too much of a bad idea. She had wanted him to let her alone. She had said it in no less to make matters worse he couldn't remember the last night he had spent with her. He tried earnestly, now that he was finally alone and out of harms way. But whenever he would draw on the memory of her, he would find her face full of shadows.

Inuyasha fought against the shadows and managed not to panic.

Damn you. He cursed his failing memory, and felt shame at his own weakness. Inuyasha gritted his teeth as he recalled the fresh smell of her blood, the taste of her, and he half imagined that she would want to stay with him. And then what? Damn her to this miserable existence, where she would be aspectacle and scorned. He was too weak,always too afraid to make a decision when it mattered. Maybe she was better off with the wolf. Feh. Over my dead body.

Inuyasha paused, realizing that he was in front of the armory, and that he was standing there for some time. He yanked the wooden doors open, his mouth curving into a slight smirk as a familiar calm washed over him.

"Home, sweet, home."

He rolled some of the tension out of his shoulders, and quickly stripped out of his top robe and cast it aside.

Inuyasha moved to the middle of the training ground as a flurry of memories rose to the surface. He stilled, remembering the day he had finally proved himself to be a capable warrior. The empty armory filled up with ghosts from the past: teachers, freshly trained cadets, and curious onlookers who were hedging bets on the top students who would get into his dear brothers imperial guard. It was the day of the final examination, and he had, despite all the odds stacked against him, made it to the top 10. But there would only be four, the chosen four who would serve in his brothers army.

Squaring his shoulders, he made his way to the ring, and scoffed as he was met with a stony silence. He was half tempted to make a rude gesture, but instead, he scanned the sizable crowd, seeking out his brother, who he spotted sitting on a dais, far removed from the commotion.

Inuyasha, crossed his arms and tried to ward off his anger, while waiting for his opponent to show up. Look at the bastard, sitting pretty and poised on his laurels. Inuyasha briefly wondered what it would like to trade places with the freshly appointed daiyokai. A wave of sadness hit him, at the passing of his father, but he quickly buried the feeling. He could not afford to reek of grief, to show emotion was weakness.

He wondered briefly what it would be like to be far removed from the hustle and bustle of the crowd, to have power,unquestioned. Inuyasha cut himself short. What good will all that do, dummy? I'd rather fight my way to the top, than rest on my laurels like a pompous ass. He knew that this was the only way to get his freedom. He had no choice but to fight.

Just then, a strapping, fresh-faced Inuyokai, stepped into the ring, as a smattering of applause began. Inuyasha tensed, as he faced one of his earliesttormentors who like the other cadets, resented his very presence, and made it their mission to remind the half demon lord of his place.

Daicho was neatly groomed, his dark blue uniform freshly pressed, and his cheeks a little too rosy for Inuyasha's taste. Daicho had all the bearings of a spoiled aristocrat, someone who would never have to question their place. Daicho raised his arms, causing the crowd to give more fulsome praise.

"You ready for a beating, halfbreed?"

Inuyasha sneered, and cracked his knuckles, he was going to enjoy this more than he cared to admit.

"What's that fatso? You sure do have a lot of mouth. You forget that you wouldn't be as far as where you are now, if your worthless father hadn't bought your way in." Inuyasha sneered, and watched with satisfaction as his opponent stiffened, and issued a low growl.

"Watch your mouth. Don't you dare insult my father." Daicho took a menacing step towards his foe,facing the half demon lord and sizing him up. "You're forgetting that the only reason that your unsightly presence is tolerated, is because Our Honorable Lord, had mercy on a worthless cur like you."

"Feh. Well you better ask your honorable lord for some of that mercy now, because this worthless cur is about to end you." Inuyasha mocked the demon boy, satisfied as Daicho's face was splotched red. The half demon lord smirked, it was like taking candy from a baby.

Suddenly, the bell went of signalling the start of the match. The crowd began to roar obscenities, mixed in with praise for Daicho, whose chest began to puff out as his name went up in a chant.

The pair circled each other, each looking for a weak spot. Daicho, never having much patience, charged, and tried to overpower the much smaller half demon. But Inuyasha was too quick on his feet. In a blink of an eye, he leapt out of the way, and kicked at Daicho's exposed back, smiling in satisfaction as the loaf stumbled nearly loosing his footing.

"You'll never beat me, Daicho, so why don't you do yourself a favor and give up?"

"No chance, I'll rue the day before a half breed mongrel gets in the imperial guard, over me."Daicho threw another punch, this time catching Inuyasha off guard and connecting with his chin. Daicho laughed triumphantly, as he clasped both hands into a fist, raising his arms over his head, and bringing it down swiftly. But Inuyasha, waited until the last second, and pivoted back on his heels just at the right moment as Daicho bought his fist down, missing his target and cracking the wood beneath them.

Like a lumbering boar, Daicho lunged again, as Inuyasha ducked, and grabbed Daicho's wrist and threw him over his shoulder, and followed with a quick, hard jab to the demon boys chest. Inuyasha quickly pinned the Inuyokai to the ground, when he felt a trickle of blood from the side of his mouth, and decided he was done holding back.

" I have to hand it to you, you got me good." Inuyasha chuckled dryly as he spat out a bloody tooth, nearly missing the demon boys head. "Say mercy,and I might go easy on you." Inuyasha, pressed his knee lightly on the demon boys windpipe for good measure.

"N-never!" Daicho managed to get out. "Don't you get it? Even if you beat me, no one wants you to win. You should regret the day your whore of a mother bore you, and didn't have the foresight to put you out of your misery." Daicho finished hotly, as he struggled to break free. Inuyasha saw red and for an instant, the young half demon lord lost himself in a sea of red rage as he cocked his fist back.

He heard his fist connect with Daicho's thick skull, and then he didn't remember what happened, his body went on auto pilot. The half demon lord pummeled Daicho's face over and over again, until blood spewed from the demon boys mouth, and poured from his broken nose.

He heard panicked shouting, someone cursing, and the bell going off signaling the end of the match. It took two cadets to pull him off of Daicho, as Inuyasha stared down in a daze, the boys face no longer recognizable.

He could feel every eye on the room trained on him, as the only sound he registered was his own heavy breathing. Inuyasha felt a wave of relief wash over him as those ghastly faces began to fade.

Inuyasha was back in the empty room. His hands closed into fists, as he let out a shakey breath, and slowly began to recall the early katas that had been ingrained in him since he was a young boy.

It took him years the find security in his strength, to find his footing and make the others think twice about targeting him. He needed to become even stronger now.

He could still remember when he was a snot nosed brat, and he was easy pickings for anyone who had a problem with him. Inuyasha would disappear into the wilderness, for days. Hunting, or being hunted. Doing anything in his power to become stronger.

On the day his father passed, Inuyasha had went into the wilderness and he was never going to come back. He remembered that he was trying to find his way back to his mothers home, back to that old sleepy village that he was nostalgic for.

That was the day when Sesshommaru went out to look for him. It was their first time that the young daiyokai had ever spoken directly to him. The daiyoukai's stony silence was his method of choice for dealing with the half demon boy, dumped into his lap.

Inuyasha was in deep trouble. He ran through the forest, his heart beating wildly in his chest, as he tried in vain to find a place to hide, but whatever was chasing him was much faster, and more adept at hunting weaker prey.

Inuyasha tripped on the roots of an ancient elm tree, and cracked his jaw on his way down, behind him he could her a sinister laugh and felt a shadow above his head.

"You make it too easy." A lizard-like demon with alligator skin, and a mouth full of menacingly razor sharp teeth stood looming over him. "I'm afraid this is the end of the line boy, what's a little half breed runt doing so deep in the woods?"

Before Inuyasha could react, the demon cocked its head back, and spat an oozing black substance from its mouth, covering Inuyasha in a putrid smelling slime that burned his skin.

"Agh! What is this? Let me go!" Inuyasha began to panic, as he felt his limbs began to grow numb and he struggled to break free from the disgusting, black slime.

"You should thank me, I'm doing you a favor by putting you out of your miserble existence." The ldemon grinned, baring its teeth, as it began salivating in anticipation.

"Go..to ..hell." Inuyasha bit out. He felt his head began to grow faint, and blackness began to seep into the edges of his vision.

"You're the mouthiest half breed that I've ever crossed paths with." The demon threw its head back and laughed, amused. "For your sake, I'm feeling generous, so I'll let you say your last words."

Without warning, a cool breeze drifted through the trees, and the demon stilled and whipped its head around as it sensed an unwelcomed intruder.

"Who goes there?"

"Release him." A cold, familiar voice, ordered from the darkness and Inuyasha's eyes widened a fraction as strained all his senses, trying to pinpoint his rescuer.

"And who the hell are you? The demon hissed.

Sesshomau revealed himself from his perch on an wizened oak tree, gracefully landing with soft thud. Even with the demon doubled in the young demon lords height, Sesshomaru managed to stare down his foe like it was 2 feet tall.

"What the..who the hell do you think your staring down at boy, do you know who I am? I am-

Golden light crackled from Sesshomaru's fingertips, the energy transformig into a whip, and in one swift motion, Sesshomaru aimed for the pesky demons neck as its head slowly slid off in a spray of blood, and rolled a few feet away. The fear and surprise stayed frozen on its ugly face.

"I don't waste words on weak scum like you." The young lord addressed the demon carcass.

Upon the demons demise, Inuyasha was released from the black slime, and he struggled to face his brother.

He looked down at his feet, as he felt his ears grow hot in embarrassment. Suddenly, the young half demon lord was aware of his exhaustion, his fear, and he deeply wished that Seshomaru was the one to die, instead of his father.

"Inuyasha.." Sesshomaru began.

"Who told you that I need your help!" The young half demon but in, giving into a much easier emotion, reaching for his anger.

"You're weak." Sesshomaru said, not even turning to face the half demon before he launched himself in the air, charging his yoki so that he began to glow in an ethereal light. Before Inuyasha's eyes, the young daiyokai shrunk into a bright glowing ball, disappearing the same way he had come.

It was the last time that Inuyasha would allow himself to be anybody's prey.

With force, he executed the last ten katas in the sequence. Bringing himself back in his body.

When his muscles began to ache in protest, Inuyasha decided to take a break. He retrieved a piece of cloth and oil to polish from a chest and pulled out Tessaiga from his belt.

Inuyasha decided to spend a few more hours brushing up on his technique, but something was wrong.

"What the..." He stared at the sword in disbelief, and tried to to impose his will on the weapon, but nothing. The sword remained in its ugly, battered state

Feeling his agitation build, he charged his yoki, and this time he received a shock that caused him to quickly let go of the blade, as it clattered to the floor.

"The hell?" It had never did that before. Inuyasha wondered if he had done something to break it, and when he looked down at his hands, angry red marks spread over his palms.

No, no no no. Not Tessaiga. This was the last thing that he needed. Tessaiga had been his first real friend. And now his steely companion had decided to abandon him too.

Slowly, he stooped down and tentatively tried to grasp the hilt of his blade, but he received a mighty shock that caused him to yell, as he shoved his sword back in its sheathe.

His rage got the better of him and before he could think, he threw Tessaiga across the room, and listened with little satisfaction as it clattered against the wooden panels.

"Fine, be like that. Don't need you either." Inuyasha sneered.

Inuyasha marched into the weapon cabinet, grim faced and grabbed the first sword that he laid his eyes on.

He jabbed, parried, and defended himself against imaginary foes until his mind went blank and he sweated out the pent up energy.

Momentarily he stilled, and relished in the quietude. He could hear his thoughts clearly and he felt his melancholy finally catching up with him. Inuyasha wondered what his mother would think of him now?

He paused as an old memory caused him to slacken his grip on his sword. He closed his eyes, his mothers soft voice drifting over him, as a familiar lullaby that she would always sing to him. Her back was turned as she prepared a fishy smelling stew that he never quite grew to love. When he reached for, she suddenly turned, and Inuyasha gasped at the blank face, a face full of shadows.

Inuyasha violently shook his head, in his memories, he couldn't remember his mothers face. What's happening to me. He paled, and began to massage his temples, as he threw the sword away from him in disgust.

Inuyasha's ears perked up, when the door creak open, and he glared at the brave intruder who would dare interrupt him.

"Hmph, I knew I would find you hiding in here." Jaken poked his head in the door, as he stared up at Inuyasha haughtily.

"What do you want, ugly?"

"How dare you insult me, you wretch!" Jaken hopped up and down, and Inuyasha sighed, secretly grateful for the small intrusion.

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Miroku could not get a wink of sleep. He rolled on the makeshift cot, and on its own accord, terrible pain began to shoot up his arm and he gritted his teeth.

He groped around in the darkness, until he found his tiny gourd and took a generous sip. The bitter sake burned its way down his throat and Miroku welcomed the warmth spreading in his gut. Nothing like good old fashioned temporary pain relief. Courtesy of the fee he collected from performing an exorcism for a wealthy lord, a few villages back.

For a moment, he thought he had heard somebody calling out to him, and he shrugged it off, and chalked it up to the wind as he rolled onto his back and slowly closed his eyes.

Suddenly, he felt an arm shaking his shoulder and he jolted awake, and gave a wordless scream as an old woman's face hovered a little too closely to his own.

"Kaeda, you almost gave me a heart attack." Miroku sat up, and tried to regain his composure.

"Forgive me,but something extraordinary has happened and I knew it couldn't wait till morning."

He hoped for her sake, that she was right. Miroku sighed and followed the old woman out to the main compound.

"You won't believe this,"Kaeda began, as she knelt on the wooden floor. Miroku stared down at the girl, and for one small moment, he almost regretted meeting her.

She looked like an ordinary woman now, who could've been a farmers daughter, or the beautiful daughter of a wealthy lord. A hint of color made her look less corpse like, and he lightly stroked the line of her jaw.

"Take a good look." Kaeda, gently removed the bandages. There was smooth skin, the knife wound from his dagger had all but disappeared and his eyes traveled back and forth from the pale abdomen to the woman's face in mild horror.

"Impossible." She was human. He was sure of that.

"Do you see now? Do you see why I had to wake you?" Kaeda looked at him earnestly, hoping he would understand.

Miroku's frown deepened, his nightcap had already began to wear off, and he looked up to the roof, searching for assistance from some invisible force as he simply shook his head.

"My God, you really believe that nonsense." The young monk groaned, catching the gleam in the old woman's eye.

"Can't you see that this is just a coincidence, the girl is stronger than she looks, but she's nothing but a girl." Miroku began quickly, but he already knew that he was losing the battle. His mind already began racing ahead of him. He would have to change his plans, he would have to leave with the girl tomorrow night.

"Have you forgotten your own history , monk? Even your own father believed. Now his life will not be in lady has returned, and she will make all our wrongs right." Kaeda said tearfully, and her words struck a chord.

Miroku clenched his staff, and focused on his breathing, as he let out a soft hiss at the mention of his father.

"The past is dead to me." Miroku said flatly. "My father was a misguided coward, who was too enamored with fairy tales and senseless prophecies, to face reality. Look where it got him."

He didn't mean to be so brutally honest, and the old woman looked like she wanted to move away from him as she stared him down, her one good eye, gleaming with tears.

"My God, how could you say such a thing?Your father-"

"Is dead." Miroku cut in. And soon I will be too.

"Thank you for your help, we'll be leaving soon. Make sure she's attended to." The young monk changed the subject, hoping that she would understand, that he too would not so easily relinquish the young woman who lay between them.

"You will do no such thing." Kaeda sounded scandalized." She needs at least two more days worth of rest, we don't know what caused this miracle, but its best not to take chances."

"That won't be necessary." He tried to keep the edge out of his voice. He tried to be as diplomatic as possible, but he forgot how these people could make even the simplest things impossible. "She is my charge, and we will be leaving. Tell the stable boy to prepare my horse."

He leveled her with a steely glare, and for the first time Kaeda caught a real good look at him, she saw a shadow of the young boy that she had come to know, and a menacing stranger stood in his place. She frowned and looked away.

"Yes, Lord monk." Kaeda ceded, as the young monk smiled tightly before returning to his cot.

Long after he had left her, Kaeda sat in the dark, refusing to leave the young woman's side as an unnameable fear caused her to draw nearer to the girl for comfort.

Kaeda knelt at the woman's side, silently praying for some divine sign, or confirmation like the night she saw the light shine on the woman's face.

She felt the gentle rise of hope and she delicately allowed the hope to soothe her, as she took the young woman's prone and in her own and held it to her cheek..

The monk was trying to take their only hope away from them, and the old woman could not let that happen.