InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Shikon no Tama ❯ Chapter Sixteen ( Chapter 16 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Disclaimer: I do not now, nor have I ever, owned any part of Inuyasha or his world. This is a work of fanfiction made entirely for the fans of Inuyasha to enjoy. This story is based off of Inuyasha characters that I do not own.

This is also a work of fiction. Any simularities to any real person, dead or alive, is completely coincidental.


Chapter Sixteen:


Inuyasha opened his eyes. His arm tightened ever so slightly around Kagome's waist. Since the night when they had first been together, the two had become far closer. They hadn't done much in the way of love-making, aside for a few stolen moments here and there, but that didn't really matter to the hanyou. He was content just holding her and knowing she belonged to him.

He knew she wanted to find Kikyo and he understood why. They needed the dead priestess in the final battle against Naraku. The problem was, Inuyasha really didn't want to face Kikyo again. It had been hard going to her and telling her that he would not join her. It was hard to tell her that she was dead and he had no wish to die any time soon.

He had promised the dead miko. He had promised to join her in the afterlife. But, things had changed. Inuyasha had changed. He had fallen in love again. This time, with someone he knew he could fully love. He no longer wished to die. At least, not for a while. So, he had gone to Kikyo and told her that he wouldn't be able to keep his promise. It was the first time in his life Inuyasha had ever broken a promise.

He gently kissed Kagome's fragrant hair. It was still quite dark outside and would be for a while still. The hanyou stared at the ceiling.

They were in the samurai village. Had been there for over two weeks now. This was the home of Taidoushi Tomo, Naraku's older half brother. In a lot of ways, Tomo reminded Inuyasha of his own brother. Both were full youkai and hated their younger siblings. They were still very young, but helf their own lands. Both were powerful and will to fight alongside Kagome to destory Naraku.

That's where the simularities ended. Tomo wanted demons and humans to co-exist. Sesshomaru didn't care. Tomo believed it was possible. It wouldn't matter one way or the other for Sesshomaru. Though he was still quite young, not much older than Inuyasha, Tomo kept a human lover. Sesshomaru had a little human girl, but they were hardly lovers. And Inuyasha believed that the child would never become Sesshomaru's lover.

Janashi. She was bright, witty, and beautiful. She genuinely cared for others. It had been she who had suggested Shippo take defensive lessons.

A smile cracked Inuyasha's face. He could still hear Shippo's full-hearted protests.

"But why should I have to learn how to be a samurai?" Shippo had cried.

"You aren't learning everything," Kagome had assured.

"Indeed," Tomo had commented, "such a task would take years and we do not have that kind of time. Instead, you will learn what is necessary for self-defense."

Shippo looked at the youkai and the priestess. "I suppose it's ok. But, why?"

Inuyasha had snorted, "Stop complaining, you runt. It's better this way. Now I won't have to worry about you getting into trouble all the time."

Inuyasha's thoughts were broken when he heard a soft shuffle on the floor. He immediately caught Tomo's scent. As gently as he could, Inuyasha quietly sat up and placed Kagome on the palet. He looked at the demon and suppressed a sudden urge to strike.

At night, when the only light was the moon, stars, and a few candles, Tomo looked much like his younger brother. Though he wore obvious monk garb, the youkai had long, dark wavy hair that went to the top of his buttocks. His profile was much like Naraku's as well.

"You are awake," the demon commented softly. His green-eyed gaze met the hanyou. "Why don't you take a walk with me, Inuyasha?"

Suspicious, Inuyasha sniffed, "What for? Why aren't you asleep?"

The youkai shrugged. "I often wait until Janashi falls to sleep. Then, I walk the village to ensure everyone is safe."

Inuyasha glanced down at Kagome. Deciding she was going to be alright, he joined the youkai. He still didn't trust Tomo fully, but he was interested in what the demon wanted to talk about.

They walked in silence for a while. Tomo stopped every so often to help a villager who had lost their way, or check on a sleeping drunk. He would also take a step in their homes to ensure everyone was sleeping soundly. The villagers didn't seem to mind Tomo's intrusions. In fact, they just kept on sleeping.

Inuyasha watched the youkai in amazement. He had never met a full blooded demon who was so full of... compassion. It seemed to the hanyou that Tomo truly did care about the villagers and their well being. This made Inuyasha wonder if perhaps it were possible. Perhaps demons and humans could live together in harmony.

"Lady Kagome mentioned to me that you have an older brother," Tomo finally commented. "She told me he was a full demon, much older, and didn't really like you much."

"The feelings are mutual," Inuyasha growled. "His name is Sesshomaru. He is the Lord of the Western Lands."

"Indeed," Tomo said with a nod. "I've heard of Lord Sesshomaru. Though, it is his father I know more history about."

Inuyasha stopped. "How can you know about my father? I thought you were a child when you came to this village less than two hundred years ago? You aren't much older than me."

"I was the same age as your kitsune," Tomo answered. "Still too young to fend for myself, but old enough to understand. When the great Dog General died, everyone knew about it. It was dreadful new that devastated this village. See, the Dog General had been working on a way for us to live in peace, like the Demon Priestess is doing now. He had almost succeeded when Ryukossei had attacked him. That night, Lady Izayoi, Inu no Taisho's second wife, was giving birth to his second son. It was a human who had ultimately killed the Dog General, thus thrusting the demons and humans back into war. It was a night I will never forget. Many of my people, the villagers who lived here, cried over the loss."

Inuyasha bowed his head. "Takemaru of Setsune had been the human," he told the demon. "That human had been revived by my father's sword, Sou'unga. I had learned about the story while defeating Sou'unga and Takemaru. Though, I didn't know how close my father was to humans."

Tomo smiled. "His first mate, Tsukiura, had been very intrigued with humans. She had befriended the infamous Midoriko, who's body had created the Shikon no Tama. Unfortunately, they had been betrayed by those who did not believe in unity. Those who wished to keep the nation divided. While the humans destroyed Tsukiura, the demons attacked Midoriko.

"After Lady Tsukiura's death, the General had all but given up hope on humanity. He and his young son had started a so-called blood campaign to rid the country of what they considered, bad blood. Human blood. Then, one day, while on this campaign, Inu no Taisho had met Lady Izayoi, a young princess who had been, to him, the most beautiful creature he had seen since Tsukiura. As he came to know Izayoi, he refound his love for humans and realized that he could not blame all of humanity for Tsukiura's death."

"How do you know all of this?" the hanyou asked.

Tomo smiled again. "I've lived most of my life as a monk. I know more about your past then you do. Possibly more than even Sesshomaru does."

Inuyasha snorted, "I doubt it. Sesshomaru is over nine hundred years old."

"True," the demon conceeded. "However, unlike demons, humans keep records, they write down the battles they have fought in. They write about the people they know and meet. Humans don't live very long, so they have to do this in order to tell their decendants what happened in hoped that the future doesn't make the same mistakes. For example, I could tell you things about Lady Tsukiura that I can almost guarantee you Sesshomaru does not know."

Inuyasha nodded slowly. Then, a thought occurred to him. "When did Tsukiura die?" he asked.

Tomo was silent for a moment. He glanced up at the crescent moon. It was a beautiful, clear night. "The night Tsukiura died, the sky was ablazed in flame. The humans were supposed to be protecting her and her young son. Sesshomaru had been badly injured. Instead, the humans betrayed her. She had just enough time to hide her young son and beg him to remain still and quiet."

"No wonder Sesshomaru hates humans," the hanyou stated, "Where was my father?"

"In battle," Tomo answered simply. "The humans had assured the Dog General that his wife and son would be safe. Trusting the humans, he went with Midoriko to fight a demon threat. By the time he got home, the humans had left. Sesshomaru was found sitting next to the bones of his mother. It is said that the young inu youkai did not shed a single tear. There was nothing the great general could do. For a long time, Sesshomaru blamed his father, then, for some reason, he began to blame himself."

"He blamed my mother and myself for the death of our father," Inuyasha stated.

Tomo gave the half-demon a curious look. "Did Sesshomaru say that?"

Inuyasha shook his head. "He doesn't have to. I know he does. Everytime he sees me, he makes it a point to tell me how much he despises me. How he wants to kill me."

Tomo actually laughed. "Sounds like something an older brother would say," he said. "I highly doubt he blames you for your father's death. At least, he wouldn't blame you."

"Why do you say that?" Inuyasha asked, surprised that Tomo would laugh.

"You were born that night," Tomo explained. "It wasn't your fault. You had no control over what was happening. Unlike your mother, that is. She had the power to order the men there to leave. But, she didn't. She told them to leave, but didn't force them. By not forcing them, she had given them an opening to betray her and the Dog General. I don't know why your brother dislikes you, but I assure you, it has nothing to do with your father's death."

In truth, Inuyasha had never thought of why Sesshomaru hated him. Never really cared. If Sesshomaru didn't like him, that was his problem, not Inuyasha's.

"It must have been hard," Tomo's voice intruded on Inuyasha's thoughts.

"What do you mean?" Inuyasha asked

Tomo waved a hand at the village. "From the time I happened upon this small village, I've been given everything I could possibly want or need. This has been my home for almost two centuries now. The people here, though they are human, treat me kindly and with respect. They consider me their lord and have even tried to build me a palace.

"By contrast, you were still quite young when your mother died. Your brother did not like you and I have a suspicion that the villagers did not care to keep you around after your mother's death."

Inuyasha shrugged. "Sesshomaru has this young girl, a human named Rin, who follows him everywhere. I was much like her. After my mother died, Sesshomaru came and took me away from the village. I followed him everywhere and he didn't care. After a while, I started to wander off on my own until one day, Sesshomaru was gone. I took care of myself after that."

Tomo's brow furrowed in thought. "So, what caused the rift between the two of you?"

At Inuyasha's silent shrug, Tomo knew the hanyou wouldn't say anything more. The youkai was a bit surprised that Inuyasha had shared as much as he did. He heard the hanyou leave and knew the conversation was over.

"Don't worry, Inuyasha," the youkai whispered, "the grudge your brother holds over you won't last forever." He then bowed his head in silent prayer that he was right.


~~~~~~~

Author note: Tsukiura's name is pronounced S-oo-kee-oo-ra. It means "Moonsong."