InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Young at Heart ❯ Betrayal ( Chapter 14 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

By: Cierah

Chapter Fourteen: Betrayal

"Father, isn't Desurie's father's name Tralaymaru?" Sesshoumaru asked interrupting his father's story.

Inutashomaru nodded. "I have known Tralaymaru a long time, Sesshoumaru. I met him when I was a pup your age."

Sesshoumaru nodded and yawned.

"I think you need rest, my son." Inutashomaru held up his hand silencing his son's protests. "No, it is time for you to get some rest. We both have had a trying day. I will tell you more another day."

Pouting, Sesshoumaru nodded. "I understand, father." Frowning, the small inuyoukai lifted his eyes to his father's. "Where will we sleep?"

"Good point." Inutashomaru chuckled. "Sleep here for now under the moon light. I will think of something later."

Sesshoumaru nodded and curled up in his father's lap. Inutashomaru lifted his gaze to the sky and swallowed the lump that grew in his throat. Any time his wife was mentioned, either by himself or by someone he knew, it always brought an ache in his heart.

Looking down at his son, Inutashomaru sighed. Brushing back the hair that fell on Sesshoumaru's cheek, he winced at the likeness he had of his mother. Memories flooded his mind, and he furiously shook it to dislodge those thoughts. Blinking against the sudden wind, Inutashomaru glanced around him. Sounds of footfalls reached his ears, and he wiped his eyes with his sleeve. Convincing himself that the wind had blown up the sand around him, he turned his head seeing Gomar's wife standing there holding tea.

"I wasn't sure what to bring you." She said nervously.

"I don't need anything." He stated firmly. Something about this woman made him uneasy. Her eyes held innocence, but looking deeper into them, there was something more. They glinted for a moment in anger, and then they softened in understanding.

"I can make something else if you wish. Perhaps a bite to eat."

Shaking his head, turning away from her he frowned. "I told you I don't need anything."

She nodded and turned away, leaving him and his son alone under the moon.

Sliding his eyes in the direction she had disappeared in, Inutashomaru felt his frown deepen. When he had first met her, she seemed kind and lighthearted, but now the air was changing around her. It was annoyance, and guilt. Drawing his mouth in a tight line, he stood up with Sesshoumaru in his arms, and walked around the corner of the building, keeping his eyes out for anyone. Seeing no one around, Inutashomaru turned away and walked towards the gates of the village. The sooner he left with his pup, the better. There was something off. Inutashomaru suspected that there were more in the village that despised Gomar and his men. The human was nice enough, seemingly a loving father, and a dedicated commander. Strangely, this human reminded the youkai of his friend Tralaymaru. As he approached the gates, he caught sight of Gomar standing with some of his men, and he stopped.

Gomar turned and smiled. "Perhaps you can help us."

Inutashomaru glanced around at the few men standing around the commander, and tilted his head to the side. "Oh?"

"We're trying to come up with a strategy to overtake Ferdrid and his men."

"Keh! You mean your men." Inutashomaru hissed.

"If they were my men, Inutashomaru, then they would be on this side of the gate, following my orders."

Smirking, the youkai nodded. Placing Sesshoumaru on a small wooden platform, he walked over to them. Gomar's eyes furrowed slightly. "Why didn't you leave your son with my wife? She would have taken care of him."

Inutashomaru frowned. "My son will be near my side until we are away from a human village, Gomar. I trust no one."

Gomar swallowed and nodded. The men surrounding Gomar moved away slightly at the taller youkai who approached. Inutashomaru smirked. "Do I make you uneasy?" He asked.

The men remained quiet.

"Tell me about Ferdrid." Inutashomaru glanced over at Gomar.

"He came to this village some years ago, battered and near death. We helped him and he became a member of this village, having nowhere else to go. So he said." Gomar started. "He made his home here, helped us protect the village, and its people. I never would have thought him a traitor."

"Men are greedy." Inutashomaru hissed. "Anything could have made him change his alliance."

Gomar nodded. "Besides that, we know nothing more. He was always a quiet man, with no family."

Inutashomaru nodded. "Does he hold a grudge against your family."

Gomar frowned. "Not that I know of. I rarely spoke with him. Why?"

Turning away, Inutashomaru felt his brows crease more. "This Ongokuki is a youkai who abducts children for his own benefit. Either for profit, or for food."

"I have never heard of this demon before." A man on Gomar's right shook his head.

"I have never heard of him traveling this far North. How many villages are in this area?" Inutashomaru turned his head slightly.

Gomar shrugged. "There are many, far too many to count."

"All with children?"

The man on Gomar's right nodded. "I think there is only one that has no children. It is a training village where we send our men to prepare for battle."

Nodding, Inutashomaru took a deep breath. "Something must have happened for Ongokuki to leave his territory and travel this direction."
"So what are you saying?" Gomar asked.

"Perhaps going to Ongokuki and telling him to leave this territory is our first step. Defeating Ferdrid is a simple task."

A man on Gomar's left stepped forward. "He has taken almost all of our forces leaving us with no one to fight against him. How do you think this a simple task?"

Inutashomaru frowned angrily. "These men? Are they important to you?"

The man on the left stepped back shaking his head.

Smirking, Inutashomaru nodded. "I will take care of Ferdrid. No one attempts to harm my pup and lives to tell the tale." Inutashomaru suddenly flinched and smacked the small sting on his neck. "How many times must I tell you to stop drinking my blood, Myoga?" He growled, catching the small flea in his hand.

Several of the men stepped forward looking into the youkai's palm.

"Milord, I have come with news from the western province." Myoga jumped around in his palm panicked.

"Oh?"

"It's the cats! They have come from the mainland."

Inutashomaru nodded. "You already informed me of this."

The men surrounding the youkai stared at the flea demon in amazement. "They have massed an army and are preparing battle."

Inutashomaru growled softly. "Explain."

"Against the western province, Milord! They are massing an attack against your lands."

Snarling, Inutashomaru clenched his fist with the Myoga still in it and felt his blood boil. "They were informed that attacking my lands was not in their best interest?"

Myoga's muffled reply reached his ears. "Milord, we sent only the best to tell them to leave. None came back."

Closing his eyes in anger, feeling his youki rise, Inutashomaru growled louder. "Where is Tralaymaru?"

"Overlooking the army, awaiting your orders."

"Go! You know what to tell him."

Myoga swallowed and nodded, jumping out of his hand.

Turning around, Inutashomaru tried to calm his boiling blood. He knew his youki was powerful enough for the men to sense, and his eyes were tinged with red. Opening them, he glanced over his shoulder at Gomar. "When the sun crests the horizon, your village will have nothing more to fear from Ferdrid and Ongokuki."

Gomar swallowed and nodded. The men saw the blood red eyes and blue pupils. The air practically sizzled with rage, and most of the men stepped back in fear. Gomar swallowed nervously, walking up to the youkai. Inutashomaru glanced over at the man, his eyes filled with anger. "I will leave my son here with you. Know this Gomar, if anything happens to him, your life will end."

The man nodded quickly. "Yes, of course."

"Tell your men to get back. This ends quickly, and there is only one way for me to accomplish this task."

Gomar nodded, racing back to his men, motioning them with his hands. "Back, back. I don't know what is going to happen."

As the men stepped back, the wind seemed to pick up with intensity. Gomar gasped at the chill of it, and glanced over at the demon standing with his back turned to them. The air swirled around Inutashomaru, and the men gaped as he grew in size, and the air crackled with rage. They blinked as red surrounded the demon, engulfing him completely, and then vanished as quickly as it had come. In the demons place was a large dog, who snarled and leapt over the gates without a second thought.

"What just happened?" One man whispered, his eyes glued to where Inutashomaru had stood.

Gomar shook his head, his eyes wide. He turned around upon hearing his wife's voice and he ran up to her. "What was that commotion?"
She asked, holding out a flask for him.

Gomar took it and shook his head. "Don't worry about it. You shouldn't be here." He uncorked the flask and took a drink.

She nodded, and her eyes fell on the small demon child who now sat on the platform awake. "I'm sure the child is hungry or thirsty. Here." Nokiaru handed him another flask and a basket covered in a small cloth.

Gomar glanced over his shoulder at Sesshoumaru. "I didn't even notice the boy awake." He took the items his wife handed him and walked over to the child. "My wife brought this for you."

Sesshoumaru looked into the mans eyes warily and blinked. "What is it?"

Gomar smiled gently, and uncovered the basket revealing fresh bread and melted butter. A small dish was filled with warm honey.
Tilting his head to the side, Sesshoumaru peered at the bread curiously. Reaching out his hand, he touched the crust with his finger, and frowned. Lifting his eyes to the human, Sesshoumaru pulled his hand back and shook his head.

Gomar rolled his eyes smiling. "Water then?" He asked holding out the flask.

Sesshoumaru nodded to that one, and drank deeply, handing the flask back to Gomar once he had finished. Smiling, Gomar turned away from the child and handed his flask of mulled wine out to the few men who still stood by him.

She turned away, but held out her hand to the small youkai who still remained on the wooden platform. "Why don't you come with me? I'm sure Nurie would love to say good-bye properly."

Sesshoumaru tilted his head slightly; unsure of whether he should go with the woman. He did want to say bye to his newfound friend, but he also wanted to stay where his father put him. Not wanting to anger his father, Sesshoumaru shook his head firmly.

"Gomar can tell your father that you are with me. We can go watch the stars." She smiled gently.

Hesitantly, Sesshoumaru slid off the platform, and walked slowly to her, while glancing over his shoulder at Gomar. The man nodded and smiled leisurely. "I will let your father know."

Sesshoumaru ignored the woman's hand, and walked past her, heading back towards the humans hut. Nokiaru followed a small scowl appearing on her face for a moment, before smoothing over into a kind mask. They arrived at the hut and Nurie sat on the steps in a nightshirt, holding a small stuffed animal, and Sesshoumaru smirked at her. The little girl got to her feet and grinned. "Mama says we are going to go watch the stars. Just like we did with your papa."

Sesshoumaru glanced at her and nodded. Nokiaru led the way around the small hut towards the forest behind them, her seemingly to be in a hurry to arrive at their destination. Frowning, Sesshoumaru followed behind the two, glancing over his shoulder to see if his father would appear.

It took them a good while to arrive at a small hilltop, the stars clear as day. Sesshoumaru felt his eyes widen at the bright sky, and he heard Nurie gasp beside him. "Mama, you have never taken me here before." She whispered.

"I know sweetie. This is where I came when you were taken. I found this to ease my worries." Nokiaru smiled, her eyes drifting to her left, searching for something. "Does your father bring to places like this, little one."

Sesshoumaru frowned. "Not little."

Nurie giggled, but seated herself down in the grass, leaning back on her hands. "It's so pretty."

Sesshoumaru looked at her, and nodded. Nokiaru still looked at her left, and nodded once, carefully making sure the children didn't notice her movements. Slowly, she walked over to a large tree and waited, leaning up against it casually.

Sesshoumaru still remained standing, and noticed Nurie's mother walk over to a tree, leaning against it, with tension apparent on her face. Frowning, he tilted his head to the side and listened for whatever she was listening to.

What he heard almost caused him to gasp allowed.

---------------------------------------------------

"What is wrong with you?" Nokiaru hissed. "You told me you would take care of the situation."

"Be silent woman." A man hissed back. "I didn't intend for a demon to come across your daughter."

"Well this has to be taken care of now." Nokiaru muttered, her eyes glancing over to where the children were. They both appeared to be watching the stars seemingly ignorant about the conversation.

"It will be. What of the demon child?"

"Take him, I don't care. As long as you kill my daughter, and give her remains to that demon you bribed for money." Nokiaru turned her head slightly. "That demon child should bring quite the profit as well."

The man huffed. "Have you taken care of your husband?"

The woman smiled. "The poison should begin to affect his judgment soon."

"Good. The demon?"

"He is your problem. As far as I'm concerned, just take care of those annoying brats, and give me my share of the profit. Once that is finished, then I will marry you."

"Good, at least you haven't gone back on your deal then." The man chuckled softly. "Call the brats over here, so I can get a jump on them. The less noise they make, the better."

"Very well." Nokiaru smiled, and pushed away from the tree. "Nurie." She called.

The little girl turned her head and saw her mother and she waved. "You should see the stars over here you two. They are incredible."

Sesshoumaru blinked, and felt his heart beat rise. As Nurie stood, he reached out his hand and gripped her shoulder in a tight warning. The little girl looked at him curiously.

"Something is wrong." He whispered.

"Huh?" Nurie asked, frowning.

"There is someone else there." Sesshoumaru snarled low.

----------------------------------------

"Damn it." The man behind the tree hissed. "Get them over here woman."

Nokiaru nodded. Walking over to them, she glanced down at the two children, and saw Sesshoumaru's hand gripping Nurie's shoulder tightly. "Will you please release my daughter? What's wrong?"

Nurie looked at her mom and shrugged. "Sessy says there is someone else there." She pointed towards the tree.

"Nonsense." She picked up her daughter and began walking towards the tree, and sat down leaning up against it. "Look, now see, the stars are even clearer here."

Nurie nodded, cuddling up in her mother's lap. "Sessy, you should come see."

Sesshoumaru shook his head firmly, and began backing away from the tree. There was no way he had been mistaken. He had heard another voice, filled with malice and contempt. Where had he heard that voice before? Backing up even more, he about faced and raced down the hill towards the village.

Nokiaru growled. "Damn it! Take her!" She yelled, throwing her daughter to the man who suddenly materialized in the girls view.

Nurie gasped and struggled. "Mama!" She cried.

Nokiaru ran after the small demon, trying desperately to catch the incredibly fast boy. Another man appeared in front of Sesshoumaru and he skidded to a halt. Ducking avoiding a swing at his head, Sesshoumaru cried out. Something connected with the back of his head, causing stars to burst through his vision. Spinning around, he was tackled, and his head cracked into the earth hard, knocking him out cold.