InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Youkai and the Exterminator ❯ Chapter FortyThree ( Chapter 43 )

Chapter FortyThree

 

 

Kagome groaned and rolled over. Her head was spinning and her entire body was a dull ache. She felt sick and cold and the air around her was stale. Slowly, she opened her eyes and peeked between her eyelashes. Over her was a plain wooden roof and when she tried to move, the rancid smell of the pallet under her head made her stomach rebel. She swallowed against the nausea, her eyes watering as bile filled her throat. Suddenly she threw herself to the side and vomited helplessly onto the bare floor.

 

Shuddering, Kagome held her stomach and wondered why she felt so sick. Her hand was trembling as she wiped her lips, hating the sour taste in her mouth. She could remember Sango fighting some…thing, some monster that didn't even seem to be a real demon, rather a nightmare given form. She could recall the way he'd viciously slammed Sango to the ground, she could recall drawing an arrow and firing. It had no effect on him and he'd simply reached out a hand and sent an oily mist towards her.

 

That mist. She could still feel it on her face and the back of her sinuses tasted like sulfur. He must have drugged me, she thought weakly. Some kind of poison that knocked me out, that means that he brought me here.

 

“It must be Naraku,” she murmured.

 

“Very good,” a soft voice said. “You are perceptive, priestess.”

 

She choked back a scream and looked up to see Naraku standing in the open doorway. His eyes were hard and full of contempt, but his face was smooth and neutral. Then he smiled and she could feel the malice radiating from him.

 

“What do you want?” she whispered, her small hands clenching into fists. “Why did you kidnap me?”

 

His lips curved into a mocking smile as he stepped into the small, dingy room. “I spoke too soon,” he said, his voice like hateful music. “You are not perceptive at all. Kikyou would have already determined my reasons had she been in your place.”

 

Kagome flushed, her cheeks turning pink with the sting of his insult. “Kikyou isn't here,” she said sharply. “I don't care what she'd think, she'd at least put an arrow or two into you. Why did you come after me? That thing said I was your prey, not her.”

 

Naraku chuckled softly and the sound made her skin crawl. “You are such a fool. I possess all the shards of the Shikon no Tama. All I need now is a priestess to bind them and make the jewel whole. A service that even you should be able to render adequately.”

 

Slowly, she got to her feet, anger radiating from her. “You're the fool, Naraku, if you think I'd ever help you.”

 

“I thought you might say something like that,” he answered. Naraku turned and stepped to the door. “Bring him.”

 

Kagome choked on her own breath when the dark monster appeared, his tangled black hair hanging in mats over his shoulders, the hard muscles of his arms outlined by shadows against ice pale skin. His hand rested on the back of a boy's neck, the boy's hair hanging loose over his face. He didn't look up, but of course she knew him.

 

“Kohaku,” Kagome cried, forgetting her fear of Naraku's monster as she went to him. She cupped the boy's face in her hands and forced him to look up at her. Her breath caught in throat, even more bruises covered him, Kohaku's face was badly swollen and blood crusted his nose and mouth.

 

“You bastard,” she raged at the dark demon. “What did you do to him?”

 

“Nothing,” Naraku said, licking his lips at her anguish over the boy. “He can only thank Sesshomaru-sama for this. Poor Kohaku, he tried so hard to die at that youkai's hands and now look at him. He was forced to return to me, how cruel of Sesshomaru to deny him an honorable death.”

 

Kagome's eyes flashed in fury. “You're behind this,” she snarled. “I don't know how, but you're the reason. Why couldn't you just leave him alone, leave Sango alone? Haven't you done enough to them?”

 

She was suddenly thrown against the wall, Naraku's hand tight on her throat. “Why couldn't you just stop interfering?” he hissed. His crimson eyes burned into hers, his hand was like steel on her neck. “You don't even belong here.

 

“You were the one who unsealed Inuyasha; you were the one who shattered the jewel. Have you ever thought about how you are responsible for everything?”

 

She struggled against him and he slammed her hard into the wall again. Naraku leaned close until his lips were just brushing Kagome's earlobe. “Sango's family would still be alive if it wasn't for you. If you hadn't shattered the jewel with your bumbling attempt to retrieve it, there would never have been shards in that village. I would have never been forced to lure the exterminators away. Sango wouldn't have seen her family die at her brother's hands; she would have never known the pain of seeing her precious Kohaku as my slave.”

 

Kagome closed her eyes, denying it. Don't listen, she told herself, don't listen to him.

 

Sensing her agreement to her own guilt, Naraku eased his hold on her throat. Tenderly, he stroked the hair from her eyes. “You never should have thought you could make a difference or tried to oppose me. You are no Kikyou; she was at least a true priestess before her death. You've never been willing to sacrifice anything.”

 

“Will you now sacrifice your life and Kohaku's by refusing my simple request to restore what you yourself have broken?”

 

Her eyes were wide with fear and Naraku found it delicious. Her resemblance to Kikyou was only superficial, but it was enough to make him enjoy seeing her in pain. “You selfish little brat,” he murmured, his hand caressing her neck lightly. “You didn't oppose me because you wanted to make anything right, did you? You only pursued me to be with that stupid hanyou.”

 

Kagome yelped when his fist buried in her hair, forced her to her knees. “All this time you've been pretending to be such a good person, such a pure and kind girl. And it was nothing but a lie. You wanted something and nothing else mattered. How lovely to see your true face at last, Kagome. You and I are not so very different.”

 

“No,” she whispered. His hand clenched tighter and she cried out, the pain of her hair being torn from her scalp was excruciating.

 

“Self-righteous as Kikyou, but without her ability,” he sneered. “The least you can do is to perform this minimal task. After that, I will allow you a clean death. This is more than you deserve. Even Inuyasha would agree, if he were not so dense as to see that you are the true monster here.”

 

Kagome flinched and turned her chin up so that she could look at him. Naraku's gloating, beautiful face, his eyes gleaming at her sadistically. It was her fault the jewel had broken and all the lives it had destroyed since then were hers to claim as well. Naraku had ruthlessly used the shards of the Shikon no Tama like game pieces on a board, manipulating them all.

 

“You might be right about me,” she husked, tears rolling down her cheeks. “But you're wrong about Inuyasha. Even if it were my fault, he wouldn't agree with you. Not ever.”

 

Slowly, he released her hair and let her sag against the wall. Naraku smiled to himself at her defiance, the way her spirit seemed to grow stronger no matter what he said to break it. For that matter, what did he care about her spirit anyway? It wasn't what he needed.

 

“Kohaku,” he said quietly. “Come here.”

 

The boy moved forward, dragging his feet. Gently, as if he never cared to cause pain, Naraku took his wrist. Kagome followed the movement of his hand as he slid his palm along Kohaku's arm, finding a newly healed wound that had closed over with twisted pink flesh. He heard her gasp when he dug his sharp fingers into Kohaku's flesh. The boy shuddered and tears leaked from his eyes although he uttered no sound. Kagome noticed then that his eyes were alive, not blank and glassy as they had been under Naraku's control.

 

Kohaku could feel pain. Her stomach twisted at the realization and Kagome leaned forward, one useless hand reaching for him. “No,” she said, wanting Naraku to stop.

 

The demon pulled his bloody fingers from Kohaku's wound and presented her with a stained shard. “There it is,” he murmured. “The final shard. You have done well to bring it me, Kohaku. If Kagome cooperates with me, I will see to it that your death is painless as well.”

 

He let the boy slide to the ground and smiled. Kohaku pressed his face to the dirty floor and sobbed soundlessly. Kagome felt pity well up in her heart and went to him, taking his head gently in her lap.

 

“Don't cry, Kohaku,” she said quietly. “Don't listen to him; it's not your fault.”

 

“Indeed,” Naraku said lightly. “We've already established that the guilt belongs to you, Kagome. Leaving the shard in the hands of a boy so easily manipulated. You would have done better to give it Sesshomaru. But you wouldn't trust the daiyoukai, would you? Not with such a precious shard. Sango trusted him with her heart and look what happened to her.”

 

“What do you mean?” she demanded, watching as Naraku swept out of the room. “What have you done to her?”

 

“I?” Naraku smirked over his shoulder. “I have no interest in the exterminator. Perhaps you should ask my ally if his intentions are more…honorable…than Sesshomaru's were.”

 

Horrified, Kagome turned to look at the dark demon that was still silently watching her. “Oh no,” she murmured, unable to even look at him.

 

“She is mine,” the monster whispered. “I have chosen her.”

 

Kagome shivered and put her arms around Kohaku protectively. “She won't ever belong to you,” the girl told him, her eyes squeezed tight. “There's nothing you can ever do to make that happen.”

 

He smiled and she could feel the malice filling the room. “You think so, priestess. We will see.” Turning swiftly, the demon left the humans to their grief. It amused him to see them in so much pain, but at the same time he was still considering his agreement with the exterminator.

 

oOo

 

She had promised. She would be his, love only him, if he helped these two escape Naraku. He cared nothing for this jewel or for Naraku's plans. The hanyou had no hold over him. All he cared about was the fact that he was again walking the earth, ready to claim what he wanted and destroy what he didn't desire. This was how it was meant to be.

 

He was a conqueror. He was a lord, he couldn't remember the details clearly but he remembered power. Hadn't he once commanded armies? Yes, he could see standards waving in the breeze. Hadn't all feared him, bowed to him?

 

Yes, this was how it should be.

 

All he wanted to think about was the woman. And her child, a child that he would be able to raise as his own. The baby would be only a half-demon, but that didn't matter. Somehow, he could recall siring a child on a human once, back when he was a living inuyoukai. It would be fitting for him to raise this exterminator's brat as well. A hanyou…trained to become an exterminator of humans. The irony appealed to him.

 

A small figure in white appeared at the end of the passage, walking slowly with her head down as if she were deep in thought. He smiled at the sight of Naraku's most trusted minion. She glanced up and saw him, stopping when he approached her. Her dark eyes were vacant of any anger or fear and her small face tipped up to meet his gaze as he towered over her tiny form.

 

“Youkai-sama,” she said, her soft voice barely above a whisper.

 

He knelt beside her, resisting the urge to touch her soft white hair. She was not a child although she wore the form of one. He knew what she was, just as he knew what she carried within her mirror.

 

“Show me,” he murmured, his eyes burning. “Show me my sons.”

 

Obediently, she tipped her mirror and he stared greedily at it. The smooth surface flickered and swirled, parting like murky water over polished steel. Slowly, the images formed and he smiled, watching as the shapes became recognizable.

 

A young boy with long white hair and eyes of gold was running across a wide stone courtyard. At his heels was another boy, somewhat smaller, whose hair was black as night. The boys laughed and chased each other and he fondly wished he could hear what they were talking about. Then the white haired boy started and turned around, automatically shielding the younger looking child with his body.

 

He couldn't see what alarmed them, but he felt anger that anyone would dare to threaten his sons. A low and angry growl formed in the pit of his chest as the image grew slowly darker, the boys fading as if the light in the courtyard was blocked by some horrifying presence.

 

“Show me more,” he ordered roughly, gesturing at the mirror.

 

Kanna cradled the mirror in her arms and met his angry gaze placidly. “There is no more to see. I cannot control what the mirror chooses to show you.”

 

“Lying bitch,” he spat, wondering if Naraku was using her to manipulate him. He stood, threatening the tiny girl with a huge fist. “Don't play games with me.”

 

“I don't play games,” she replied softly, her voice steady and emotionless. She turned away, clearly unconcerned as made her way slowly to the end of the passage. He was left frustrated, his veins coursing with fury. It would not serve him to destroy Kanna, not any more than it would serve him to continue as Naraku's ally.

 

Yes, the time had come for him to take what was his and leave this place. The fool had his precious jewel, which should be enough for him. He would take his woman and go, leave this place and find somewhere far away, some place with better prey. He would bow to no master, no lord, and no demon ever born. Instead he would conquer and kill, blood running in his fists and teach this world the terror of its past.

 

oOo

 

Sesshomaru scowled, examining the blood on the ground. It was Jano's. Fury like he'd never experienced before gripped him, made his heart twist inside his body. His mate's scent was faint, muddied by the smells of others. His brother had been here, as had the wolf youkai he'd expelled from his fortress. If something strong enough to injure Jano had attacked his wife's companions…

 

He snarled angrily to himself, long claws already glowing with barely contained youki. She was in danger, his instincts had been correct.

 

If she had been injured…or his child…

 

Hell itself would pay.

 

oOo

 

“Quit following me, you stupid wolf!”

 

“You're the one following me. Back off, mutt-face, I'm gonna rescue Kagome!”

 

“The hell!”

 

It looked like they were going to fight again. Ginta sighed and leaned against the nearest tree, grateful for a respite from their headlong run. Hakkaku just collapsed on the ground his chest heaving. It was hard enough for them to keep up with Kouga on a normal run, having him running fast enough to keep Inuyasha behind him…

 

They wondered why they hadn't just stayed in the mountains.

 

Kouga spat at Inuyasha, grinning when the hanyou scowled and avoided the unlovely offering. Stupid mutt didn't know when to get lost. Kouga pointed a finger at him, his eyes glittering with pure malice.

 

“It's all your fault she got kidnapped,” Kouga hissed, driving the words home with all the viciousness he could manage. “If you can't take better care of my woman…”

 

“She ain't your woman,” Inuyasha growled back. Angrily, he cracked his knuckles and advanced on the wolf demon. “Did you not hear her back at the fortress? Kagome and I are together, got it? Ain't anything you can do to about it either!”

 

Kouga huffed, folding his arms across his chest. “You had to trick her into doing something like that,” he scoffed. “My Kagome would never lower herself to sleep with a mangy half breed like you!”

 

“Wanna come over here and say that again?”

 

The wolf grinned nastily. “I'll take you on any time you want,” he boasted. “And after I kill your sorry ass, I'm taking back my woman!”

 

Hakkaku rolled over on his side and looked up at Ginta. “They're gonna be at it all night,” he muttered.

 

His comrade only shrugged before flopping gracelessly on the ground next to him. “Could be, but while they're fighting Kagome-nee-san is still in danger.”

 

“I heard that!”

 

Ginta flinched when both Kouga and Inuyasha glowered at him. “I'm just saying,” he stammered hastily. “There are more important things than fighting each other right now.”

 

“And Kagome doesn't like you to fight,” Hakkaku put in bluntly. He stared back at them remorselessly, fairly certain neither the wolf prince nor hanyou would attack him while he was still lying on the ground and speaking only the truth. “You should think about what she'd want you to do!”

 

Inuyasha actually looked abashed. “I don't have time to mess with you,” he muttered, turning away from Kouga. “She's in danger, that thing took her and Sango both.” His eyes glinted dangerously at Kouga. “So you stop following me, mangy wolf. This ain't your concern.”

 

Switching tactics, Kouga smirked openly at him. Waving a hand at Ginta and Hakkaku, he turned away. “I ain't following you, mutt,” he said, with a voice hard and filled with contempt. “You've lost the scent, haven't you?”

 

“Fuck you!”

 

The wolf grinned, realizing he'd hit his target dead on. “What's the matter, your doggy nose finally give out?” he taunted. “When I rescue Kagome, the first thing I'm going to ask her is if you're as lousy in bed as you are as a tracker. A real demon would never lose the trail when tracking his woman!”

 

“I didn't lose her trail,” Inuyasha shouted, hating the fact that Kouga had realized what he'd been trying to hide. “It just disappeared, like it was covered up by something else.”

 

“Bullshit,” Kouga sneered.

 

Inuyasha glowered at him. “Maybe I can't find her because all I can smell is a stinking wolf,” he said, his voice going low and dangerous.

 

Kouga bared his teeth in challenge. “Don't blame me because you're a worthless half breed who can't even protect the woman he thinks he loves!”

 

It was too much and too close to the truth in his mind. The scent had just vanished, not even fading away; it had just stopped dead and cold in the middle of the forest, something that was impossible. Growling, he shook his head and flexed his claws. “I should have killed you a long time ago, Kouga.”

 

“Try it,” the wolf whispered, hatred heavy in his voice.

 

Inuyasha rushed at him, glad to have something to tear into to vent the frustration and overwhelming horror that was riding in his heart. Kagome was gone, kidnapped along with Sango by some monster that was strong enough to tear Jano's guts apart. He refused to think of what she might be going through, how scared she would be. One thing he did know, Kagome wouldn't give up easily, no matter how scared, how desperate, how terrified she might be. Kagome would believe in him.

 

He would come for her. Or die trying.

 

In the meantime, a certain wolf needed to have his skull cracked open. Without a solid lead or even a clue as to what direction to turn, it seemed like the best idea he could come up with.

 

He and Kouga circled each other warily, getting ready for what could be the final battle between them. He knew that Kagome would try to stop them from this, just like he knew that she would be horrified if he actually killed the mangy excuse for a wolf. Fine. For Kagome, he wouldn't kill the bastard…this time. That meant Tessaiga would stay safely in its sheath and Kouga would get to wear the marks of his claws instead.

 

Kouga's face suddenly paled, his eyes going wide as he backed away. Inuyasha grinned, advancing on him.

 

“Scared now?” he asked, pleased that he might actually see the fool back down for once like he should. Even if Kouga did submit, Inuyasha wasn't ready to give up a chance to plant at least one good hit right in his ugly face. Happily, he cocked back his fist.

 

And was promptly yanked off his feet by something that grabbed the back of his hair with a harsh grip. Inuyasha found himself thrown hard to the ground, sprawling in the dirt like a cur with a mouthful of leaves and grass.

 

“What the fuck?” he shouted angrily, rolling over and springing to his feet to face this new attack. He rocked back on his heels when a hard fist connected with his jaw, seeing nothing but a pale blur as he was hit again and again. Fingers wrapped around his throat and brought him face to face with an extremely angry demon.

 

“Little brother,” Sesshomaru hissed, his eyes glinting red. “Where is my wife?”

 

oOo

 

Miroku had wondered what kind of reception they'd receive, returning to the fortress with a half-dead Jano and one silent exile. Not to mention a traumatized Rin and befuddled Shippou. While Kirara had carried them admirably, the weight of three adults was more than she was accustomed to. But they'd had need of her swiftness and while Miroku could have stayed with Inuyasha and Kouga, he had finally admitted to himself a most painful truth.

 

As much as he did care for Sango, she would never return his feelings in the way he'd wanted. That did not mean he wasn't desperately worried for her safety, he was worried for Kagome too. But some instinct had finally kicked in and he knew that Inuyasha didn't want or need him for this search. He wouldn't be able to keep up with the frantic hanyou, not this time. He left the hard business of finding Sango and Kagome to their mates.

 

For he was absolutely certain that Sesshomaru was out there searching for Sango, maybe guided by demon instinct, maybe forewarned by some obscure inuyoukai magic. Miroku silently wished both of them the best of luck and haste in finding their mates and bringing them home to safety. And the realization that Sesshomaru was out there in the wilds and not stalking the halls of this fortress was an added bonus. He was not looking forward to seeing the daiyoukai lord again after nearly being strangled by him.

 

They'd arrived late in the day, the sun turning to red and gold as it set, casting long shadows in the courtyard where Kirara had landed. Miroku wagered they'd scared hell out of some guard, flying over the gates like that without warning or even a polite request to pass. Someone was no doubt getting their hide chewed to pieces for such lax security in letting a flying cat demon past the borders.

 

Kirara had actually hesitated, started to slow when the fortress had come into view. He didn't blame her, this wasn't her home territory and she had come to understand dog demons quite well by now. She couldn't be assured of a safe welcome this time and he knew Sango had trained her twin-tailed companion to guard their lives as best she understood how. When the cat had slowed, Naota had leaned forward and spoken in a low, purring tone, almost growling in the language that Miroku realized was unique to cat demons.

 

“I told her to hurry,” Naota had said, turning back to face the monk. “Jano needs help now, the herbs slowed the poison but they can't purge his system. We don't have that much time.”

 

And so they'd landed in full view of most of the fortress' staff and guard, the latter actually drawing weapons as Kirara paced to an easy stop. She'd stood stock still just long enough for Miroku and Naota to ease Jano's unconscious body from her shoulders, then she'd transformed instantly to her much less threatening kitten form and meowed piteously before burying her face in Rin's arms.

 

“What the hell did you think yer doin'?” a guard had shouted angrily, moving to confront them. Miroku ignored the man's complaints, searching the gathering crowd for the one familiar face he needed.

 

“Makiko!” he shouted when he saw the dark haired woman push her way through the throng of interested inuyoukai. “Over here, Jano has been badly injured.”

 

She moved quickly enough, her placid expression hardly flickering as she knelt beside Jano's still form. Her movements were swift and professional, stripping away the makeshift bandage and showing no hesitation as her pale fingers prodded the wound.

 

“How long?” she asked, her tone calm, but Miroku could plainly hear a hint of worry edging through the professional mask.

 

“A few hours,” he answered quietly, watching her carefully. He'd listened to the rumors of the fortress too. If they were to be believed, Makiko had more reason than he to be concerned with Jano's life. Her dark eyes locked on his, holding him with a seriousness that had unsettled many a hardened warrior.

 

“What did this, I smell a toxin coming from this wound?”

 

“Poison,” Naota said. “Toxic youki.”

 

Makiko gave him a shrewd glance and Miroku realized that she'd already guessed that much. “What manner of demon?” she asked, knowing that different breeds of lower youkai harbored specific poisons. Some were used for defense; some for attack and knowing exactly what had injured Jano would go a long way in determining her treatment.

 

Naota bit his lip for a moment before surprising Miroku. “Inuyoukai. Very strong, powerful. Perhaps…daiyoukai. Like Sesshomaru.”

 

“Not possible,” the woman breathed, her eyes widening in shock. “Sesshomaru-sama would never…”

 

“I didn't say he did,” Naota snapped, looking peeved. “Sessh might be a bastard, but even I know he'd never hurt Jano!”

 

Makiko sat back on her heels, staring hard at the human before her. Cautiously, she sniffed the air and frowned. “I don't know you,” she said coolly. “But you are no human even if you are pretending to be one. Explain how you know this.”

 

He sighed, raking a hand through his tangled black hair. “My name is Naota.”

 

Her eyes widened and for a moment, Miroku saw something flicker in her expression. “Of course,” she said, as if that explained everything. Makiko stood and directed two of the guards to take Jano to the infirmary, and then she sent a maid to fetch two of Jano's captains. Miroku didn't miss that her authority seemed to stretch beyond what he would have assumed in her role of head of the household's staff. As before, he was certain there was more to Makiko than met the eye.

 

Then the woman noticed Rin, clinging miserably to the back of his robes. Shippou was next to her, almost asleep on his feet from the look of it. Smiling faintly, she went to the children and ran her hand over Rin's hair. Tears welled in the girl's eyes, her small shoulders starting to tremble.

 

“Are you angry with me for running away?” Rin asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

 

“Of course not,” Makiko said quietly. “I'm just glad that you're safe. Don't worry, Rin. Jano will be fine, he's far too stubborn to die on me.” She waved to one of the serving girls who rushed forward to take the little girl by the hand.

 

“Now go right to bed,” Makiko admonished. Her eyes strayed to Shippou and then fastened on Miroku's face with a purely speculative interest. The monk found himself shifting nervously under that stolid gaze until, blushing, he had to look away.

 

“I think you two could also do with some rest,” she said, a whisper of a smile at her lips.

 

“You are very generous, Makiko-san,” he answered, trying for gallantry but ending up sounding worn and exhausted.

 

“No, I'm not,” she replied, still giving him the strangest smile. “I just think that you'll need to regain your strength before you have to encounter my sister again.”

 

A monk could well blush, catching yet another taste of inuyoukai humor as Makiko swept away from them.

 

“What was that about?” Naota asked, scratching at his head. Miroku smiled sheepishly as Shippou yawned.

 

“One more thing,” the woman called, starting to climb the stone stairs that would take her to the infirmary where she would be able to treat Jano's wound. They looked up at her expectantly.

 

“Welcome home, Naota-sama.”

 

oOo

 

The sun was slowly sinking behind the mountains that ringed the valley, its light fading and painting the sky with violet and orange streaks. It cast long shadows against cool stone walls, made the green lands around the fortress fade into gray mists. Standing on the very same tower that his cousin was known to frequent when his thoughts were troubled, Naota raised a hand to shade his eyes against the dying light.

 

If he peered hard into the distance, he could almost see the vast field of wildflowers he knew bordered this side of valley. When they'd flown over the mountains on Kirara's back, he'd been too preoccupied with keeping Jano alive long enough to reach the fortress' healer to search for the wildflower field. Or maybe he'd just been trying to keep himself thinking about it. It had been nearly a century since he'd left; slipped away from the fortress that was the only home he'd ever known.

 

It had been raining hard that night when he'd stolen away from his home like the traitor he knew himself to be. Sesshomaru had every right to despise him for his betrayal. That night he'd followed his heart, gone to save the life of a woman and baby instead of preventing a civil war. Hundreds of inuyoukai had died; perhaps thousands of innocent humans had been caught in the battles. Their deaths were on his conscience like a stain he could never erase from his soul.

 

Still, he wished he'd seen the wildflowers, he should have paid his respects but even in that he'd turned away. In that field stood a simple monument, the markings on it had faded over the years, but Naota could still trace the ancient letters in his mind. He'd stood before it many times, thinking, reflecting. Wondering.

 

It was his mother's grave.

 

It was also the site of his family's massacre. In a blind rage, his father Inoki had slaughtered Naota's mother along with his brothers and sisters. Naota had been the sole survivor, a helpless baby found amongst the rubble. From there he'd been taken to this very fortress and raised by his uncle, treated more as a son than the child of a murderer. He'd been raised with love, taught honor and respect and in the end; he'd repaid his uncle's affection with nothing but disgrace.

 

It wasn't Sesshomaru's anger that had kept him from returning here. It was his own shame. Over the years, he'd learned to live with it, taught himself to believe that he'd done the right thing in spite of the cost. Now he found himself facing the same ghosts that he'd tried to so hard to forget. In this place, he couldn't make himself forget that he was part demon. The sights, the smells, the very familiar touch of his uncle's power still lingered here.

 

Madness was his family's legacy it seemed.

 

Why hadn't he noticed it before?

 

Maybe he'd been distracted by the wolf demons, maybe he'd just been a fool, thinking that he was somehow immune. Maybe he'd been blinded by his grievance with his cousin or just plain too stupid to understand what had been happening.

 

Ever since he'd found Jano in the forest, it had been nagging at him. The toxin that had poisoned Jano was rare, quite rare. In fact, it was specific to one particular line of inuyoukai, one bloodline.

 

His bloodline.

 

How had he been such a fool? He was certain he knew the identity of the darkness that stalked the forest, the monster that had taken Sesshomaru's mate from him and joined forces with the abomination that was called Naraku.

 

Naota sighed, leaning against the wall and becoming lost again in the memories of his childhood home. “Uncle,” he whispered, sadness overwhelming him and again he wondered how he was going to tell the Daimyo's sons the nature of what they faced. And the hopelessness of defeating such power.

 

“It seems we have both returned home.”