InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Yellow Brick Road ❯ Poppy Fields ( Chapter 21 )

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN INUYASHA AND COMPANY, NOR DO I OWN WIZARD OF OZ.

AN: Thank you to Wiccan, Fallen_Tenshi8, and ktshabatie for beta-ing



Chapter 21: Poppy Fields

Inuyasha had been in a bad mood ever since his bastard brother and Kagome left the Citadel. He had no friends. His ears flattened on his head, and realized that was not a true a statement. Miroku was a friend, an extremely perverted friend. And Kagome, well she’s … complicated.

No, that did not help. Damn.

So what if he was wallowing in self-pity! He could not come to terms with losing Kagome. She was his first, damn it. Hadn’t she promised to always stay by his side? Oh yeah, let’s not forget that the bastard had even tried to melt her when they first met. A smirk graced his fanged face.

Somehow, the memory of cutting off his brother’s arm was always made him feel better, especially when the vision of Kagome yelling at Sesshoumaru, right before he tried to melt her, accompanied it. Things were simpler before he submitted to his brother. No, scratch that, things were actually less complicated before the demise of Naraku.

A shudder ran through the hanyou’s body at the last thought.

It was in a deeply pensive and rare state that the monk found his old friend. Miroku knew that a surprised hanyou was a pissy hanyou. And yet this knowledge did not stop him from stealthily walking up and placing a heavy hand on the unaware Inuyasha’s shoulder.

Miroku quickly found himself pinned on his back with a transformed Tetsusaiga at his throat.

“What the hell, Monk? Do ya wanna leave a widow and fatherless child?!” It was all Inuyasha could do to suppress the horror of almost beheading one of his few friends.

Miroku, for his part, could not suppress the grin or the chuckle. “What has you so preoccupied that a simple, weak human could sneak up on you?”

“Feh.” Inuyasha fell back into his stance of the non-caring ‘tough-guy.’ “What else?”

Miroku’s mirth died some. It was no real secret how Inuyasha felt about the ‘relationship’ between his brother and best friend, however, Inuyasha had almost two months to get used to this change. It was long overdue and way past time that the hanyou quit feeling sorry for himself.

“She has always had the most interesting developments happen to her.” It was a sagely tone that the houshi used.

“’Developments?’ Kagome is, and always has been, a walking target for disaster. Stupid monk, why don’t you go play with your new son, or go grope your wife? Just leave me the hell alone.”

“First off, why would I leave you alone when you are such a joy in this mood? Second, my beautiful Rin kicked me out of our rooms for a while.” Miroku moved to make himself more comfortable on a seating cushion. “I would much rather deal with your temper than hers.”

Inuyasha growled at his friend, “Are you saying I’m less scary than a girl?”

“Yes, yes I am, and she is no longer a girl. Time has passed; she is a woman and my wife.”

“Keep telling yourself that, pervert. Just because you married her doesn’t make it any less like cradle robbing.” Inuyasha laughed at the picture of innocence Miroku presented.

“I did not touch her until I made a formal proposal of marriage to her guardian.”

“Feh. Whatever, pervert.”

Miroku chuckled at his flustered friend, and then remembered why he should be more somber. “Inuyasha, have you spoken to Kagome at all while she was back at the Citadel?”

“No. The bastard wouldn’t really let me get near enough to her.” His ears flattened and contorted to the well-known Inuyasha pout.

“Then talk to your alpha. Kagome came back from her self-imposed solitude to you. If she had not wanted you to find her, you never would have. You are her best friend.”

“Feh.”

“Don’t ‘feh’ me, especially not on that. That girl followed you like a lost puppy and then when the past built a wall so huge her dreams of the things you two could share would never be realized, she offered her unconditional friendship.

“Quit your moping. She did not get herself pupped on purpose. If you continue with this mood of yours, Kagome is going to think that you see her inability to stop it as a betrayal.”

Inuyasha was not done being a petulant child, “Whatever.”

“No, do not do this to her. She, of all people, does not deserve it. Neither does your brother.”

“What the hell do I care about that bastard?”

“He is your alpha.”

“Keh, it ain’t like he really wants her anyways.”

“Are you blind and deaf as well as stupid? Listen to those around you. No one has ever seen Sesshoumaru-sama put so much effort into the comfort of another. While he did not dismiss his concubines, he will not be partaking in their services anymore.”

At this statement, Miroku heard his friend mumble, “Bunch of weak wenches.”

“Well now, not only are they weak, but they smell of other males. Do you really think you brother would bed a female that smelled of another male? He is a Lord, and that would be a disgrace.”

Inuyasha laughed at that. “Arrogant bastard.”

“Yes, but finally, if you want proof that your brother cares for Kagome, listen to Jaken. For the love of Buddha, all he ever does is bemoan his lord’s fate to follow in the footsteps of his father, falling for a weak ningen.”

Their discussion was interrupted as one of the generals entered the room with a scroll. Inuyasha took it and stumbled across the first few characters. Really, the only reason he could read at all was because Kagome had taught him.

Inuyasha threw the scroll down in a rage, “The bastard raped her, and in front of group of human soldiers!” His hand flew instinctively to the hilt of his sword with the need to destroy … something.

The other inu in the room spoke. “It was not rape. It was a demonstrative claim; she bared herself to him.”

“I don’t care what you say about demonstrative bullshit. He raped her!”

“No. She bared herself to him! The breeder knew the consequences of such an action.” The inu growled right back at the hanyou, “For the love of mercy, she bared to him when he was in bloodlust. She took his bloodlust for those who had wronged her.”

The silence was suffocating.

Miroku closed his deep violet eyes, “Dear Kami-sama, is there anyone that Kagome-sama would not try to save?” He had meant it as a rhetorical question; however, Inuyasha’s answer was much more haunting than the question.

“Herself.” No, Inuyasha’s mood was not improving. The only thing that had changed was that, for the first time, he was actually glad the frigid bastard pupped her. Now she could not be so selfless without risking her pup as well as herself.

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The pace could be compared to that of a snail. The youkai were itching for a good run, kill, or both. While Daiki was showing respect to the Western Lord and his companions, Father Frois did not seem to understand how offensive it was to continually try and draw the breeder into debates.

The Father’s attitude became increasingly more haughtier as he realized that he was not going to be able to prove the righteousness of his scriptures to the former shrine maiden. Kagome had never been open about her love of philosophy with anyone. She had first started really reading different disciplines when she realized Miroku’s love of a good debate.

Now, she was glad that she put the extra effort into trying to become exposed to as many different styles and theories in the philosophical realm. While she would never claim to understand all the nuances within the theories, she still could use them to thwart any effort Father Frois made to convert her.

Sesshoumaru would have put an end to the loquacious Father’s attempts at intellectually outwitting Kagome, but she was quite impressive at rebutting the foreigner. The tai-youkai also made a note to open these discussions with her when he could take the time to point out all the flaws in what she was stating. While there was a great pride he felt in her ability talk circles around the holy man, it also warranted a note of caution.

While being manipulative was not inherent in her character, should she ever find the need for it, she would excel at maneuvering others into doing her bidding. Add that to the fact that she inspired those around her to be protective of her and she would be a greater force than his mother ever could have hoped to be. There would be no other female who would bring more glory to the West as its Lady, than Kagome.

Yuichi had watched all the others for days now. He wondered what the others thought of the strange behavior of the human soldier. At every moment that he could, the man was in prayer. While Yuichi was not really familiar with the beliefs of this foreign religion, he found it very bizarre that the soldier would pray far more frequently than the priest would.

Yuichi watched Daiki like a hawk. He could not shake the feeling that Daiki was worried about something far beyond Mikaboshi. In fact, it almost seemed that Daiki was unnerved by Frois himself. That was weird. Had it not been out of his respect for the foreigner that Daiki risked following them in the first place? When they first came upon the monastery, he treated the priest like a walking Kami. The only thing that Yuichi could think was that something had occurred between the two humans when they were alone after the encounter with Mikaboshi.

Yuichi would find a way to voice his concerns with Tadashi. The silver-eyed inu, for all his childish antics, was a very levelheaded being. It would be good to have Tadashi observe these new events before bringing them to the attention of either silver-haired inu.

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T he days of travel passed in much the same manner, with each traveler lost in their own goals. Kagome spent much of the time being tired due to expending so much of her ki ensuring that Mikaboshi’s bindings were unbreakable. She knew that the effort it was taking to keep the dark Kami bound could only mean that Frois was allowing the dark one’s influence to fester within him. She prayed that the Father would not be trapped by the shadows on the island as well. He still had an important role to play for history.

She was sitting and staring at the stars on the moonless night. Her thoughts and concerns wandered back to a certain hanyou. She wondered how he was faring. She knew he relied on an illusion to help protect his night of weakness. It certainly fooled humans easily enough. Would it fool an entire Citadel full of youkai? Really, there was only one she worried about using this night against her hanyou friend, and that one was banished.

While her thoughts lingered on Inuyasha, she was worried whether he would accept her decision about Sesshoumaru. No, she had not sought this out, but she was not refusing it either. The patience that Sesshoumaru showed on the battlefield was being applied to her shattered heart. Kagome had no doubt that he would uphold his pledge of fidelity; she also suspected that the fidelity he offered applied to more than the bed.

Would Inuyasha understand that she needed more than he could offer her? He would always be her best friend, but eternity would be very lonely if that was her only tie to anything.

She shook her head. It would be nice to have a field of poppies right now, nice to fall into a trouble-free sleep.

She felt a clawed hand comb through her hair, lightly scratching her scalp. Kagome now understood why cats purred when you did this to them. It also did not escape her that Sesshoumaru had sensed her troubled thoughts and was trying to soothe her. Sometimes it infuriated her when he did things like this; it almost made her feel like a puppet on a string. However, she knew this was silly. If Sesshoumaru wanted something he would just command that it be done, if not do it himself.

Sapphire eyes turned to meet amber ones. The silent conversation was ended when Kagome smiled at Sesshoumaru. For a heartless ankle biter, he worried about her. No, that wasn’t quite right. It was more that his protection extended far beyond her physical well-being. It was in moments like this that she knew irrefutably that her value was far more than a possession. The ruby slippers might not be such a burden.

“In the morning we will cross to the island.”

“Hn.”

“Yeah, so, I was thinking that it should just be Father Frois, you and I. Actually, I was thinking it should just be Father Frois and I.” She smirked at his growl, “But, I realized that I would need your strength once we were over there. I knew I would need you.”

His eyes widened at her admission. Many times she had said that she needed one or more of one of the aspects of him, like his strength, but never had she admitted that she needed just him. The warmth spread through him like wildfire. The dog within basked in the bonds only pack could provide.

“Sleep, Kagome.”

Cocooned inside his pelt, she laid down next to his seated form. Though her body did not quite touch his, both felt the proximity.

Lulled into comfort by his protection and warmth, she had no thoughts scatter to the looming day. The last thing that trickled through her mind before was, ‘Stupid ankle-biter, you are lucky I like you.’

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The morning dawned, yet none could feel its warmth. Daiki had been especially agitated when he learned that only three would be making the trip to the island. It was odd how easily the priest accepted going to the island with the tai-youkai and former miko alone. The bizarre reactions of the humans had the youkai fighting to settle their inner beasts, as if the spirit creatures knew of some foreboding that could not be seen by the physical eye.

They stood on the shore as the small boat approached the opposing island. Yuichi turned to the human, “What have you been hiding?”

“What have I done?” Daiki sank to the kneeling position, cradling his head in his hands, and immediately began to pray.

Yuichi turned to Tadashi for help while Michi was still unsettled and unsure of what was going on. Tadashi stepped forward to tower over the man. “If your silence has endangered the Lord or his breeder, your death will not come until the entire West has had their retribution.”

Daiki turned his head up to look at the towering male and saw that the promise was not empty. “I prayed. I prayed for guidance, but … I prayed.” It was broken whisper from a man teetering on the edge of broken faith.

Michi moved forward. Threatening the man would do no good; he was obviously not scared of them. Quietly she sat before him and, in the gentlest of tones, inquired, “For what did you need this guidance?”

“Father Frois spoke of eliminating the threat of demons to prove the righteousness of the good word.”

“When would he do this?” Her tone belied the rising anger and fear she felt.

“Right after Mikaboshi was taken care of by the shadows.” He shook his head and then focused on the female before him. “I prayed for guidance. I sought the only route I could take without endangering anyone, but I must not have prayed hard enough. I never heard the path I was supposed to walk.”

Tadashi was done. He had never been one to particularly hate humans, but this last trip had taught him that they were nothing but a pestilence upon the earth. “How did your silence benefit anyone?” he thundered.

Yuichi was nervously hopping from one foot to the other; all the kit knew in that moment was panic.

Tears streamed down the man’s face, “If I had voiced my concern, what would have happened to the Father? Father Frois is a good man. He is a good man. He is and you would have … you would have killed him just to be sure he held no threat. This is all Mikaboshi’s doing.” Daiki was hysterically rocking, as he tried to bring back a sense of right to his body. His faith was slipping from his hands and if he lost it … What … What would he have left?

Michi despised this being before her; he was worthless. “Do you know how many depend on the stability of the West? All your petty human ‘wars’ will be meaningless if Sesshoumaru-sama should not come back from that island. The West will fall into discord. The one who will turn the chaos to her favor will be the Wicked Witch, my grandmother.

“All the stories you were told as a child about the cruelty of youkai do not even come close to what her black heart truly is. Your faith has turned you weak, or maybe it is your humanity. However, do you not remember that your life was spared because of the forgiveness of the breeder? The lengths to which she went to save the lot of you humans and you believed that she would stand idly while an ‘innocent’ man was killed?”

Daiki looked up at her in horror as the truth of her question set in. His silence had been damning, and now all he could do was wait and pray. Maybe these prayers would come to fruition.

Michi, Tadashi, and Yuichi all turned from the blubbering man and cast nervous eyes across the water, to the island. Their Lord was strong, as was the breeder, but were they strong enough to beat a dark Kami, a pious holy man, and an island full of shadows?

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Kagome had been recovering from her morning sickness, having it become less and less frequent. However, the rocking of the small boat proved to be too much for her. The last half of their approach to the island found Kagome staring at a mix of stomach contents and seawater.

When they made land, Kagome was having a hard time standing between the nausea and the ghost swaying of the boat. She had to lean heavily on the support that Sesshoumaru offered. She concentrated so hard on not falling down that she almost missed the question Frois posed.

“Now what do we do?”

Softly, Kagome replied, “We force Mikaboshi into the shadows while Sesshoumaru-sama and you stay in the light.”

“What about you? Wouldn’t you have to stay in the light as well?”

Kagome laughed sadly, “It is one of the only benefits of not having a complete soul. The shadows can pass in and out of my memories without actually harming me.”

They made their way towards the tree line and Sesshoumaru could feel the rising agitation in Kagome. There was no telling what was going on in her mind, but there was a long list of possibilities.

Kagome had still not solved the problem of severing the binding between Mikaboshi and Father Frois. It was a possibility that if it was not cut, Mikaboshi could use it to escape again. That would really piss her off. She could feel the other shadows push to get at the one they were always meant to devour. Maybe they could help sever the tie.

Out of the corner of her eye, Kagome saw Sesshoumaru’s posture was slightly more rigid than normal. She had never contemplated what this island might hold for him. Mikaboshi’s words stuck in her mind. It was not Sesshoumaru that had pupped her, but his beast. While he might not regret the outcome, this whole island was a reminder of his loss of control. The first time he had done that in front of her he had lost an arm.

The tree line was just before them. “Toto, it is time.”

The shadow moved from her hair to the energy bond between Frois and Mikaboshi. It was odd how the shadow child had no problems with the light, but the truth was Toto had built up the ability to stay within the light for short periods of time. It was one of the perks of spending so much time with a miko.

Mikaboshi tried a different tactic when he became visible, and he stood before them. It was the image of the great Inu no Taisho. Kagome gasped as she recognized the image, but Sesshoumaru just growled his displeasure.

“It was assumed by this Sesshoumaru that Kami were intelligent beings. Is it that you are too stupid or too weak to alter your scent?”

Kagome could not help the laughter that fell from her lips. Leave it to Sesshoumaru to think so highly of himself that he was even condescending to a Kami.

Mikaboshi was rapidly realizing that he would not escape the island this time. It left one option; take as many down with him as he could. He would relinquish his hold on the foreigner; it was truly amazing how malleable the most devout were. Their beliefs in the righteousness of their chosen paths was so great that they were blind to the evils that befell them. Yes, the priest would continue the dark Kami’s reign of chaos long after Mikaboshi had been tethered to this island.

The bitch, Uzume, had allowed her sister Amaterasu to conspire against him, and he was now in front of the prison built to hold him. Yes, well, the dog and his bitch would not make it off the island; he would not be imprisoned here alone.

Two humans and one tai-youkai watched in wonder as the binding to the holy man snapped. Warning bells went off in Kagome’s head as she watched Mikaboshi whisper unheard words into Frois’ ear. The expression that overtook the foreigner’s face was one that she had seen spread across Naraku’s many times when the evil hanyou believed his scheming was about to pay off.

The ominous turn of events did not slip past Sesshoumaru as he moved his body his body in front of Kagome. He was not sure what the priest would attempt, but Kagome and their pups would not be left unprotected.

“Yes, yes that would work nicely,” Frois was muttering to him.

Kagome took the moment to regain herself and then gathered her ki. She shot it forward, encasing Mikaboshi, and with the last of her strength, she slammed him into the darkness beyond the tree line. There was no time to recover her strength before Frois made his play.

The priest knew he had no chance at taking the youkai head on, but he remembered, from the local fables, that youkai were susceptible to the purity of holy men and miko. He was a holy man and his faith was in the one true God, so there should be nothing purer.

“No longer will humanity be plagued by your filth; you and your whore will not leave this island. The might of the one true God will be known when one of his servants manages to bring you down. ” The priest began an incantation for exorcism.

Kagome was confused and the growling and snarling seven-foot Chihuahua was not helping. “Why would you listen to one so hate-filled and evil?” Really, she was trying to understand.

“Being as tainted as you are, I am not surprised that you do not recognize a messenger of God.” Slowly the Father was herding them towards the tree line.

Sesshoumaru was very aware of the intent of the insane man in front of him; he was also very aware that before anyone could blink the foreigner could be dispatched. What he was not sure of was the reason behind the pleading tone in Kagome’s last question.

“Do you not hear how the shadows attack him? The shadows’ only food is the darkness and malice that dwells within us all.” Kagome did not want to think of the consequences if Sesshoumaru killed the priest.

“Demons are always happy to attack the servants of God when they are left vulnerable. You should know, Mistress of Satan, it was you who offered him up to those shadow things.”

Sesshoumaru was having a hard time fighting his beast’s, and his own, need for retribution against the harsh words spat at one of his own. His youki was rising; he knew Kagome was aware of it and it was adding to her agitated state.

It was all she could do to keep from panicking. Frois had pushed them up almost all the way to the tree line. Sesshoumaru’s rising youki would allow a pathway for Mikaboshi to escape, and she was so drained she would not be able to stop him. Kami-sama she wanted off this island. Wait …, no, she wanted off this island with both Sesshoumaru and Frois, and she did not want to have to release the shadows to hunt down a free Mikaboshi. Was she asking too much?

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AN: Thank you for reading, please review.

Emily