InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ To live for you. ❯ To Be a Tree... ( Chapter 8 )

Disclaimer: I own him… Not! InuYasha belongs to Maloy…not! Meh… yeah, ok, he belongs to Rumiko Takahashi, whacha gonna do?

 

A/N: I'M REALLY SORRY. My muse died somewhere… couldn't find her until three days ago. >_< But now she's full of life and energy so I hope that the next chap, won't take nearly as long. Thanks to all who reviewed! Enjoy!

 

- Chapter 8 -

 

+ To be a tree +

 

InuYasha's brows met in a deep frown. Byakuya's apparition had alarmed him greatly. Why couldn't he smell the incarnation, but Kagome could feel the jewel? Usually Naraku's barrier wouldn't let anything come through, be it the smell of miasma, youki or the aura of the Shikon. How was now any different?

 

`Maybe the barrier had weakened somehow?' The hanyou thought as he ran towards the floating bubble. `That would be the only way only the strongest of the three auras is able to seep though it.' He growled. `It's almost as if this brat hadn't even come for us. He just had the bad luck to stumble upon us. He hadn't attacked. Why? He couldn't have possibly missed us, could he? Well, whatever the reason, this day won't be bright for him because I'll just make sure it'll be his last.' With that last delicious thought InuYasha leaped into the air unsheathing Tetsaiga in the process.

 

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`Damn!' That has become a very frequent thought in Byakuya's head lately. First, the not very productive encounter with Sesshomaru, which, if anything, left him drained, and now the half-breed! Naraku had instructed him to stay away from the hanyou, and it was just a very cruel twist of fate to have run into his little group - Byakuya was so caught up in his grim thoughts that he failed to notice their auras.

 

Sesshomaru may have not been able to break his barrier but the youkai did manage to dent the level of its protection. And now the incarnation had serious problems maintaining what was left of its power since his own strength was diminishing just as fast. Byakuya knew that he couldn't return to Naraku - his master had already explained him the consequences of his failure, and those weren't very appealing - that meant that he would have to find a place to rest and to restore his weakened youki. But first he had to get rid of the annoying half-breed.

 

`Damn!' Byakuya cursed again. He saw the hanyou approach him in gigantic leaps, and though InuYasha could jump pretty high, Byakuya was positive that he wouldn't be able to reach the flying origami.

 

His sword, however, was another matter altogether.

 

The youkai was not a fool; he certainly didn't want to engage a fight with anyone who wielded Tetsaiga; much less somebody like InuYasha. The half-breed probably seconded his deadly brother in power, but he definitely was not an opponent to be taken lightly.

 

`Well, let's see which of the brothers is smarter.' His mind settled, Byakuya drew the delicate lotus flower in his hand and sent his origami towards the advancing hanyou. Just as it happened not so long ago, the spell was leaving doubles of Naraku's incarnation in its wake. Those followed the original copy and began to circle around InuYasha at a dizzying pace.

 

“Your puny tricks won't fool me, you bastard!” Byakuya heard the half-demon's angry shout. But that was no concern of his anymore. With the hardest of efforts he had sucked his remaining youki to create a barrier… around the barrier. This one though, served to conceal him, make him invisible. Thus, unnoticed to the hanyou, Byakuya soared higher in the sky, past the savior clouds and as far away as physically possible, before InuYasha could discover that his opponent was long gone.

 

A few seconds later the incarnation heard a loud cry that sounded very much like “WIND SCAR!!” which was followed by strong waves of magic power. Byakuya exhaled, glad that he hadn't been on the way of this attack, and lowered his gaze.

 

He clenched his fists.

 

Thing weren't going as planned. Of course, he had expected that Sesshomaru wouldn't cooperate with him, but the fact that the Lord had left the boy somewhere behind, came as quite an unwelcome surprise to him. This resulted in a very dangerous fight that was absolutely not worth it. Byakuya then regretted that he lacked the inu-youkai nose that could sniff out whatever information was needed without having to directly approach the object in question. If he only knew that the humans weren't with Sesshomaru, he would've never come near the dangerous youkai in the first place. He would have searched for them somewhere else. Now that he thought about it, there were a few places that he could have looked, places that could conceal the presence of a human or youkai alike, along with their auras and scents.

 

Usually Naraku would give his Saimioshu to spy that king of detailed information, but this time, though… No, his master hadn't offered him any help in his quest, which was strange. Wasn't it in Naraku's best interest that his incarnation succeeded? It seemed that the evil hanyou had something in mind that was beyond Byakuya's understanding. The youkai shrugged the thought out of his mind. He would carry out his orders. It was his master's will. It was his master's order. And he would die fulfilling his Naraku's wish.

 

That was his decision and Byakuya pointedly chose to ignore the hell wasp that had been following him for the last few minutes. Somehow he was sure that this one was not there to help him…

 

Master had his reasons.

 

Naraku had reasons for everything he did.

 

No exception.

 

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The leaves of a tall maple were waving, gently caressed by the chill of the autumn's wind. That maple wasn't very old yet but it had lived a couple of decades already. Every day passed never leaving any scarring memory in the tree's life. Nothing major disturbed its peaceful existence. `It is so good to be a tree!' Indeed it was. The maple had no troubles. It was so fulfilling to just…be there, above everything else. The tree would spend long hours thinking, debating the meaning of life.

 

`Let's take a caterpillar, for instance.' It mused once. `The only purpose in the life of this deranged insect is to eat. To eat as many of my precious leaves as it could fit its stinking body. My beautiful and perfect babies lost in the pit-less belly of this lowly parasite!' If the tree could huff, it would. `Then it transforms into a butterfly… This would be all well and good if the same butterfly wouldn't leave her eggs on my leaves once more!' It was horrible. What a tree had to put up with! But it was still nice to be one because… `Because no matter how many times the goddamn wing-y thing leaves its brood on my gorgeous children, come spring, I will re-grow them yet again.' The tree thought proudly. `Look at humans! They're much stronger than the stupid insects. They cut many of my companions but they never touched my slender trunk. Wouldn't it be because of the wonderful coloring I take when in autumn?” The pleasant thoughts were flowing freely inside the maple's mind, as it kept philosophizing about the superior subjects.

 

“The youkai aren't nearly as numerous as humans,' The tree pondered, `so doesn't that make them less powerful? And…' The inner reflections were so enjoyable, the tree was anxious to find out where they would lead him. `And if humans are more powerful then the insects and the youkai, AND they respect me and fear to lose my beauty, doesn't that make ME the most mighty creature in the world?' Yes, the thoughts were more than pleasing. `And does…'

 

A simple `Crack!' put an end to the profound musings.

 

The arrogant tree went down as a set of claws - that just happens to be attached to a very pissed off hanyou - used it as a grindstone.

 

“Th-That fucking daisy-lover! I'm gonna shove that fucking flower up his scrawny ass!”

 

“InuYasha, calm down…” A male voice sounded.

 

“I will NOT calm down!” The half-demon fumed. A second later yet another tree fell victim of his frustration. “We were THIS close!” He put his index and thumb at an inch's distance from each other. Seeing that Miroku's expression hadn't changed a bit InuYasha wanted to punch him, just to get that uncaring, pacifying look from the monk's face but stopped himself in time and kicked a nearby log instead. “I can't fuckin' believe that he got away!”

 

Miroku leaned on his staff and grinned innocently at the hanyou. “Well, if it makes you feel any better, it was partly your fault.” He knew what was coming and was flinching even before the angered retort.

 

“WHAT?!” InuYasha abruptly turned to face the monk once more.

 

Miroku extended the staff-holding hand and hit the half-demon on the head. In response, InuYasha roared and clawed the metal rod away from him, emitting a very unpleasant sound in the process. The monk gasped in mock-panic, and threw a `help-me' glance at Sango, who was standing a few feet away, with the palm of her hand smacked against her forehead. She saw the monk's pleading look but just shook her head slowly signaling that he was alone in this.

 

The help, thankfully, came from Kagome.

 

“He's right, InuYasha.” She said. “What were you thinking, taking off like that? If you hadn't left us behind we would have caught him!”

 

“It ain't my fault that you're so damn slow!” InuYasha roared, “He was already gone by the time you reached me!”

 

“Well, we wouldn't have been so slow if Kirara…” Kagome began but cut herself and opted for a frustrated “ARRRGH!” instead.

 

“Keh!”

 

“Didn't the thought that you might get hurt ever cross your thick scull!?”

 

“It's not like we're exclusive, wench. Did you think that a fight was all songs and flowers?!” InuYasha yelled at the miko. “Do you think that I'm some kind of mindless animal? I KNOW I can beat him! Don't need no help with that!

 

“You're right, InuYasha, you're not an animal…” Kagome said calmly, “because even ANIMALS have a sense of SELFPRESERVATION!”

 

Sango inched a bit towards the monk a whispered. “A concept clearly lost to some…”

 

“Indeed.” Miroku nodded in agreement, missing the double meaning. He just kept the major part of his attention fixed on the heated argument, which unfortunately didn't last long.

 

“KAGOMEEEEE!!” A familiar voice echoed. A couple of moments later the girl was holding a small kitsune in her embrace. “Kagome, are you ok? I was so worried! You were so far and I couldn't see you! I was soooo worried” He repeated for good measure.

 

“Don't worry Shippo” Kagome soothed “we're all well. Byakuya managed to escape, though.”

 

“Keh! Let's go. There's nothing we can do now.” InuYasha grumbled and stumped ahead. Some time later he heard that everyone caught up with him. Kagome was idly talking with Sango and Miroku. Shippo was running nearby with Kirara. The hanyou was once more left alone with his uncomfortable thoughts.

 

It used to be so easy! He could concentrate all his thoughts on Naraku and the shards. He could push all that had anything to do with his heart to the background and focus on what needed no extra thought from his part, what was only black or white. No shades of gray. `Naraku killed, destroyed, tricked - he was bad, he was black. I was the victim, I helped - I was white… as was everyone who was against the bastard.' It was that simple!

 

Now every problem that he preferred to leave hanging for the time being was crushing on his suffering head. It was like a whirlwind in his brain. Thoughts came and went as they pleased. They jumped like drunken bunnies from one topic to another. And even for him it was difficult to keep up. One minute they're all fixed on adorning the forest around them with Naraku's gut, and the next one he was eternally debating what was it that Kagome provoked in his soul, that made him so happy in such un-merry situations.

 

Kagome… It was hard to decide if this word was all that was right with his life or vice versa. This girl was his curse and his blessing, and all at the same time.

 

She was just…there.

 

Always.

 

And he loved every minute of it.

 

And he was scared shitless because of it.

 

Fifty years ago he was in love with Kikyo. But Kikyo was never a friend. A close person? Yes. Someone he wanted to trust? Definitely. But not a friend. Never was she someone he knew that not only he would protect them, but they will protect HIM too. He loved the feeling of safety and comfort that washed over his senses when he was with Kagome.

 

`I really need to stop thinking about it!'

 

`Why?'

 

`B-because… because it distracts me…'

 

`Or… because you're afraid that you might admit something you don't want to…'

 

To tell the truth, yes he was. He didn't know for sure what it was yet, but something was bursting its way out of his chest. Something… warm and overwhelming.

 

“InuYasha,” A voice cut through his nirvana. “Is something wrong? Are you coming?” To his dismay he realized that in his ponderings he had fallen behind the little troop. The hanyou nodded to his friends and hurried to reach them.

 

“Kagome, can't you feel the jewel now?” Miroku asked the miko.

 

In response she shrugged. “I could at first, but it was very faint and it disappeared very fast.”

 

“Looks like Byakuya used the last of his power to escape us as rapidly as possible” Sango said, biting her lip. She saw the monk staring boldly at it, obviously imagining something very un-monk-like, so she let it go blushing intensely. She pursed her lips together instead and glared at Miroku, who quickly retreated.

 

“That what bothers me the most.” He muttered, once distracted from the pleasurable musings. “It means that he was already pretty beat up when he stumbled upon us.” Miroku swung his staff slightly to emphasize the point. “Which happened undoubtedly only by accident.”

 

“He didn't seek us out, that's for sure.” Kagome frowned. “Who do you think he fought with?”

 

“Keh! As if there were few, who wanted his head!” InuYasha said. He threw his hands in the air and continued “It could've been fucking anyone!”

 

Miroku shook his head. “No, my friend, there a few who are powerful enough.” He turned his gaze at the hanyou “You are the only one that can break through Naraku's barrier.”

 

“Byakuya's barrier wasn't broken, monk.” InuYasha responded, clutching Tetsaiga's hilt. He narrowed his eyes and looked at his bare feet that were leaving soft prints on the wet autumn road. “It had to be weakened, though. Otherwise there's no way Kagome could've felt the Jewel.”

 

“Exactly. And unless there is some new ally that we haven't yet met, I know only one person,” Miroku stumbled a bit, “of sorts… who could have inflicted at least some damage…”

 

“Sesshomaru…” Kagome finished. The young man nodded at the miko.

 

“Indeed…” Shifting his gaze from Kagome to Sango, who was walking quietly beside them, he noticed that she was nervously fingering Kirara's fur and tails. The cat, it seemed, had tired from running around with the kitsune and, while the group was speaking, came to her master for some back-ear rub. The fact that Sango was obliviously touching Kirara's tails, something that the cat usually wouldn't stand, meant that the girl was really out of it. Kirara's submission only proved it - animals felt their owner's moods.

 

`No wonder,' Miroku reasoned sadly. Bangs were covering the girl's face as she mechanically proceeded in step with her companions. `Sesshomaru is a reminder of Kohaku. The boy… Was he the motive for Byakuya's fight with the Lord?' That thought seemed to shed light on their situation, and the monk was so exited that he just started muttering part of his musing aloud. “The light… Koh… no… yes… EXACTLY!... but…”

 

InuYasha gave him a strange look and after a perplexed “HUH?” he spat, “Yo! Bouzu! Mind sharing a bit? If you got something to say, do it! If not stop with the muttering, it's pissing me off!”

 

Miroku ignored the hanyou's rude tone, but nevertheless made a few quick steps ahead and turned, so that he was now advancing backwards. Shippo, who was currently walking on the ground jumped on the monks shoulder to get a better view, but once the man started gesturing madly, the kit thought better of it and opted for Kagome's hands instead.

 

“It fits almost perfectly” Miroku stated. “Byakuya must have fought with Sesshomaru to get Kohaku's shard.” He noticed Sango's heavy look. “Apparently, he failed…”

 

“One thing bothers me, monk.” InuYasha cut him off. “The missing Saimioshu. There wasn't one of those little shits.”

 

“I thought about it too, my impatient frie….e…e” Miroku's sandal caught on a random root which was sticking out of the road. “Ahh!”

 

Before he could fall the half-demon grabbed his arm and helped him to stand.

 

“Stupid bouzu! Since when you started confusing ass and head? Your eyes aren't on your back, just so you know.”

 

Kagome shook her head and offered, “InuYasha, why don't we make a stop? We've been walking for a long time now. I'm tired, and everybody could use a meal” She looked at Miroku, who was still clutching InuYasha's sleeve. “And you could finish telling us your theory, Miroku”

 

“Keh!”

 

A/N: So… What is Naraku's plan? Any guesses? *evil laughter*

 

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