InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Truth's Tears ❯ Fallen ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer~ All rights for Inu Yasha belong to Rumiko Takahashi. This fiction is only for entertainment purposes. And if any part of this fanfiction resembles another it is purely coincidental.

Chapter Two ~ Fallen

"My 18th birthday, one of the happiest days of my life. The night I spent with Inu Yasha watching the stars dance in the skies, oh how happy I had been. And yet if I had only known what the following weeks had in store for me. I might have been able to stop the turn of certain events. If I had only known what was going to happen, maybe I could have changed everything...."

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The morning light shone through the willowy curtain that served as a door to the small hut. The early hues of the morning light rousing the slumbering forms and the morning rituals beginning without complaint nor question. A pot of water soon boiling over the small fire pit and breakfast was soon ready. Six slightly tired figures sat crouched awaiting the morning meal, yawns were prominent as were slightly droopy eyes. Sounds were few and the murmured "thank you", "your welcome" and "Good morning" barely broke the blanket of silence. That was until a loud resounding SLAP, followed by a cursed, "Houshi!" broke the peace of the early morning.

"Lady Sango, there was merely a fly..."

"Shut it Houshi!" Sango's tired voice still contained enough of a death threat to ward off the lecherous monk.

Kagome and Inu Yasha groaned softly as they rolled their eyes from the bickering pair, turning their attention to the warm food now in their hands. The rest of the meal was eaten in relative quiet, even Shippo's early morning antics were lacking their usual exuberance. Once the meal had been finished and the dishes cleaned and put away, the small group packed their sparse belongings and necessities before heading out the door and back onto the road. A shard had been rumored to be in a small village up north, only a half day's journey from their base, Kaede's home.

The day was warm, but not overly so as they made their way along a well used trading route. Shippo had perched himself in his usual spot, Kagome's shoulder, but after a couple of hours had moved himself to her arms where he could sleep. Miroku trailed behind with the excuse of protecting the back of their traveling group, yet everyone knew he had alternate motives. Thus causing Kagome a great deal of stress as she continued to fuss with her skirt in the warm breezes of late spring. Sango traveled along side Kagome, every now and then tossing a dark look Miroku's way. Kirara perched on her shoulder and purring in content while his Mistress traveled Inu Yasha, as usual, was some ways ahead of the group his senses filtering through the different scents, sights and sounds as he kept a close surveillance of his surroundings. Slowing his steps suddenly when something caught his nose, a bitter scent, filled with smoke dirt and copper. His eyes hardening as he recognized it, it was the scent of human blood mixed heavily with demon blood, and there was a lot of it.

"Oi! We need to get a move on it! There's been a battle close to that village, could be the demon we're looking for!" Inu Yasha called back over his shoulder, alerting the rest of the group as he waited for Kagome to catch up before scooping her up on his back and taking off through the trees. Kirara transformed, Sango and Miroku jumping on before the fire cat took to the air following close behind Inu Yasha.

The scene that awaited them was one they had come in contact with before, many times. Several dead forms laid strung out across the battle field, belonging to both human and demon. Death was everywhere, the foul smell of burnt flesh mixing with the heavy scent of blood, nearly causing Kagome to gag. Inu Yasha wasted no time as he deposited her to her feet before removing his father's fang from its place on his hip. Kagome set Shippo on the ground as she too prepared herself for a possible battle, quickly glancing around and taking in her surroundings before she suddenly gasped.

"Inu Yasha!" She cried out, catching the hanyou's attention as he directed his gaze to follow hers. What he saw made his blood run cold, the demon blood he had smelled belonged to wolves, not any wolves but Kouga's wolves. And standing in the center of the devastation was the last person he expected to see; Ayame. Her eyes were vacant, hallow, she had been possessed and more than likely it was by Naraku's detachment Kanna. Inu Yasha scanned the area looking for the small demon girl with the mirror, and sure enough he spotted her along side Kagura.

Kagome had come to the same conclusions as Inu Yasha. Glancing in his direction, she saw his gaze leading toward the edge of the carnage. There stood Kanna and Kagura, Kagome's heart leapt into her throat, if they were the cause of Ayame's vacant expression then the young wolf demoness was no longer among the living. Kagome didn't have any more time to think as the possessed demon charged toward her, claws extended and ready to kill.

Inu Yasha whipped around at Kagome's sudden cry of alarm and spotted the possessed demon charging her. Without hesitation he surged into action, the blade of his fang clashing with Ayame's claws forcing both to break apart and stand facing one another.

"Inu Yasha, if Kagura and Kanna are here and they're the reason Ayame's acting like this, then she's..."

Inu Yasha nodded his head, "Ya she's dead. The wench reeks of death."

Kagome swallowed back the grief that was bubbling just under the surface, she would morn Ayame later, right now they had to save the rest of the villagers. Glancing back to Sango and Miroku, Kagome gravely nodded her head indicating they needed to kill her in order to stop her. Her friends understood and positioned themselves, ready to help if they could, if Inu Yasha left an opening. Kagome turned her head back to the battle field and watched as Ayame fought Inu Yasha, there would be no happy endings here.

Growling in irritation, Inu Yasha brought his sword down upon the dead girl only to be forced backwards and away from Kagura's winds.

"Miroku! Sango! Kagura's that way!" He called back to the other warriors, his eyes never leaving his opponent.

Miroku turned his attention to Kagura as she sent another wave of deadly winds toward Inu Yasha, quickly releasing his kazzana he put an end to her interference. Kagura cursed harshly as she tossed a feather to the air and disappeared with Kanna in tow, her orders completed, they had what they were after. Miroku smirked triumphantly as he waved a jovial goodbye before turning his gaze back to the battle at hand.

Inu Yasha dodged another flurry of Ayame's attacks before growing tired of playing games. Bringing his sword up over his head and listening as the rush of wind swirled above his ears before sending it down and ripping into the body of the once living Ayame. The fallen demon, crumpled to her knees a large gash running up the entire side of her body. Her once bright eyes now blank, closed briefly before several tears coursed down her filthy cheeks. They would never open again as she fell to the cold earth dead and at peace.

Kagome whimpered softly as she too collapsed, tears streaking down her face as mournful sobs overwhelmed her body. Sango was quick to offer support, as she wrapped Kagome up in a tender embrace hushing her softly as she cradled her friend. Miroku wandered through the many corpses that lay scattered across the ground, before something caught his attention. A moan. Soft and barely audible, Miroku quickly scanned over the many fallen before he found one that was still alive.

"Inu Yasha! There's survivors!" Miroku called out as he gently toed and moved the speaking corpse on to his back. Miroku's eyes flew wide open, it was none other than one of Kouga's following, Ginta.

"Ginta?"

The young wolf demon coughed softly before opening his dulled eyes, he wasn't going to live long but he needed his leader's chosen to know why.

"Sister....Sister Kagome...." Ginta whimpered as his life force continued to flow from him, "Please, I, I must talk to Sister Kagome."

"Lady Kagome! Come quick!" Miroku's words were clipped and worried and they brought Kagome rushing to his side.

Wiping her tears away Kagome rushed to Miroku, taking a deep breath before she reached him. Only to have that breath catch in her throat as she gazed down and onto the broken form of Ginta.

"Ginta! Oh God, Ginta!" Falling to her knees for the second time that day, Kagome quickly gathered her dying friend in her arms. Tears falling freely down her cheek as she cradled his head in her lap.

A warm smile touched his lips as he murmured ,"Sister Kagome?"

Kagome fought the sob that threatened to break free from her throat as she tried to force a smile through the tears, "Yes, Ginta, its me."

His breathing was labored as he coughed up more blood, "I must tell you why, I must tell you what happened."

"Shhh, don't speak. You can tell me later."

"No! Sister Kagome, I will not live to see another day, I must tell you now!"

Kagome couldn't fight the sobs any longer as she nodded her head, fresh tears pooling in her eyes as she waited for Ginta's story.

"Sister Ayame was tricked by Naraku, using her love for our leader and her devotion to the elders he deceived her. And stole her soul from her before she could fight back. Naraku's plan was to collect the last of the shards, held by our leader, and used the soulless Ayame to retrieve them.

"Sister Kagome! Naraku has the remaining shards, he, he took them from our leader's body through trickery. He used the trust and compassion of Sister Ayame to get to Kouga and he, and he..."

Kagome froze as the light dimmed more from Ginta's eyes, "Ginta! Hold on! Please hold on!" Her cries falling on deaf ears as his head lolled and he fought for one final breath, one final moment, he had to finish!

Gasping past the death in his lungs, Ginta gripped tightly to Kagome's small hand, "He, killed, Kouga..." The last breath expelled from his lungs as his body froze a moment before giving up and releasing his soul.

Kagome was in shock, Ayame had been tricked and lost her life for her love, Kouga was dead had died by her hands and Ginta had pasted on, cradled lovingly in her arms. Tears rolled down her flushed cheeks as she released the hidden sorrow from her heart, screaming out before she curled around Ginta's cooling form and sobbed.

The rest of the group watched helplessly as Kagome sobbed, their hearts with hers as the news of Kouga's demise sank in. The arrogant wolf prince was gone, their strongest ally lost because of the love of a woman and the hatred of a man.

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Graves were dug and lives honored as the group stood over the final grave that had yet to be completed, Ayame's. Inu Yasha carried the lifeless body of the wolf demoness to her final resting place, laying her the dusty pit and sharing with her one final smile. She had done what she had thought best for her love and Naraku had used it to his advantage. Inu Yasha sneered as he closed her glimmer less eyes, Naraku had once again used love to collect what he wanted, ending lives before they were lived and bringing more sorrow the world.

"Rest in peace, Ayame." Inu Yasha's voice was soft as murmured his goodbyes to the once lively woman. "May you and Kouga find happiness in the afterlife."

The group finished the last details on the graves before saying their last goodbyes and heading back. Their hearts heavy and eyes sad as they moved along the road in silence, and yet the battle had only just begun, how many more innocent lives was Naraku going to use and destroy before they could stop him.

tbc....

Reviewer responses~

Fanfiction.net:

Anyanka~ We're so glad your enjoying it so far! We've also gotten tired of the same ole Inu Yasha plot line. Glad to see we aren't the only ones!

Mediaminer.org

VioletRose~ Our thoughts behind Inu Yasha's gift were based on the simple fact that no one really knows IF he has any money or personal belongings besides the fang. And that he's always traveling, so there has to be things in nature he's found breathtaking. Besides that we're always seeing him in the series sitting and watching the sunset, so we assumed there has to be something special about the sunset for him.

Lady Sesshoumaru~ In all honesty, we have no idea where we're going with the fic either, lol. Our rough draft has been rewritten about five times, and each time things get sadder. So here's a bit of a clue for ya, Kleenex. Hehe

Inca: Ah, that almost brought an imaginary tear to my eye!

Mystic: ::sobbing:: I thought it was sad

Inca: You're a sap

Mystic: ::sniff sniff:: I know ::sniff:: leave a review