InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Yozora ❯ Darkness ( Chapter 9 )

 

Chapter 9

 

Darkness~**~**

 

Inuyasha felt like he was on autopilot, walking mechanically toward what he knew would someday be his death. He retained his urge to gulp, knowing the effects this meeting would bring. The Inu-hanyou feared Kagome's reaction, for he knew, it wasn't a matter of if she found out, but a matter of when. He'd never gotten away with a meeting, nor did he want to, secretly. Inuyasha had no wish to die, or at least now after he had gotten to know Kagome, now that she'd shown him that life was worth living.

 

The hanyou saw the undead priestess's ethereally pale figure glow in the blue light of her shinidama-chuu as they seemed to dance around her, giving her the life sustaining souls of young women.

 

As the last one floated down to her she looked straight at him, her eyes seeming to bore into his soul of souls. He hated her pain, yet another guilt that weighed heavily upon his mind.

 

“Hello, Inuyasha…” She greeted in a strictly monotone voice.

 

He gave her a nod of recognition. “What do you want?” He asked in a strangely polite voice. He always felt constricted around her, like he had to impress her every second he was with her. Yet another of the things he preferred about Kagome. He was always free to be himself with her, brash, loud, and mean, but also, caring and happy.

 

“I've called you because I believe there is a hitch in out plan to defeat Naraku.”

 

The half demon's eyes widened. “What?”

 

“That girl, my copy. She holds you back in battle. If she were to go home, you would have less to worry about. You would not have to wonder if she is okay if she went back to her home.” She said with confidence. That girl had been causing more trouble than she was worth. She was the one softening Inuyasha, caring for his wounds. That was her job! Not that incompetent girl's! Inuyasha belonged to her and only her.

 

“What are you talking about? Kagome is invaluable, she's the only one that can sense the shards and purify them! Besides her arrows do come in handy from time to time.” He defended with a slight blush. True he owed Kikyo, but he just couldn't let Kagome go!

 

He needed her. He knew he was being selfish, but every time that girl left he worried even more than usual. He needed her. Like air, he couldn't breathe without her, he just held his breath, hoping she would come back before his worry suffocated him.

 

“I feared as much. Inuyasha, you must understand, she is not me. She is merely a poor imitation. I could travel with you in her stead. Why settle for that girl, when I could be with you?” She smiled.

 

“No!” He said with a harshness he'd never used in her presence before. “I know she's not you! You two are nothing alike.”

 

The undead priestess looked shocked, “What do you mean? You can't honestly prefer that copy over me? You can't possibly harbor feelings for that child!”

 

Inuyasha could see a reddish twinge starting on her shinidama-chuu. A small twinge of fear went through him. “Kikyo?” He asked as they seemed to close him in.

 

“I cannot allow this to continue. I want your life much more than any revenge. I know this is only an infatuation, so I shall break you of it before it turns to anything else.”

 

Inuyasha knew they were getting closer and closer. “Come with me to hell. We will be together for eternity.” She held out her hands, trying to take him in her arms.

 

“NO!” He said even louder. “I have a pup to take care of!” He snapped, pulling away as fast as he could.

 

“What do you mean?!” Kikyo snarled hatefully.

 

“Yozora, her mother left to me! I need to protect her! She is as my own! I can't just leave her all alone, I won't!” He yelled with passion. He had no idea where it was coming from, but it felt good… right. It was probably a mixture of his will to live and the deep parental instincts that were budding within him.

 

A soft, happy yip came from the bushes. Both's attention immediately snapped to the source. Yozora stood in the underbrush looking like a kid caught in the cookie jar.

 

Yozora barked in fear and surprise as one of the shinidama-chuu wrapped itself around her, making it hard for her to breath.

 

A surge of paternal protectiveness fought it's way out. “Let her down! Don't you dare hurt my pup!!”

 

“So, this is the reason you cling to life like a babe to its mother's breast.” She sneered.

 

Inuyasha had barely noticed they had gotten so close. He felt them wrap around him tightly.

 

“Very well. She shall come with us.” She smiled.

 

“Leave her out of this! She's innocent! Don't you dare!!” He howled in rage.

 

Kikyo looked at him with confusion. “Temper, temper. She shall be with us in hell and we shall be her parents…” she walked over to a now helpless Inuyasha and touched his forehead.

 

“You will never be her mother!” He whispered acidly as sleep overtook him.

 

Yozora looked in horror as his eyes lids drooped hesitantly. Was it just her, or were they sinking?!

 

Yozora felt a rush of hot, humid air and in a burst of instinct she made a choice. This woman meant to kill them! Yozora felt her demonic power pulse inside of her and flow around her.

 

Kikyo looked in fascination and horror as the little hanyou's power increased exponentially. One joined black and blue star and crescent moon appeared on her left cheek, beneath her eye. She was overflowing with dark energy, smiling viciously with overgrown fangs. A black aura surrounded the girl, but through the shroud of darkness, two silver pupil-less eyes flashed dangerously.

 

The soul collector literally disintegrated around her and as she reached the ground, she flung herself at the strange woman of graveyard soil and bones. Kikyo had no time to react and lashed out an arm to protect her neck.

 

Razor sharp baby fangs dug into her hard clay skin. The black aura seemed to be sucked into the bite would as Yozora dug her teeth in deeper.

 

They stayed attached like that for a second, both glaring at the other, a growl in the hanyou's throat. Kikyo waved her arm, flinging the girl away and purifying her in one fell swoop. Yozora screeched with pain as her dog ears began to revert into human ears. Every bit of demonic energy was obliterated from her.

 

The bite mark was an ugly black swirl on her forearm. The priestess looked in amazed terror as the mark seemed to swish on her arm, as if living. Not only that, it seemed to be growing.

 

As she called off her soul collectors, dropping Inuyasha, and floated away, all she could wonder was, `How could one girl possess such dark power and not be completely evil?!'

 

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Yozora looked with satisfaction as the scary woman fled for her life. She was exhausted and in agony. She did her best to crawl over to her daddy and put a hand to his cheek. He was still alive.

 

As darkness consumed her, she couldn't help but question why that horrible woman hated her daddy.

 

Inuyasha woke a few minutes later to the sight of Yozora's unconscious form. He immediately took her into his arm. His fingers groped her head for her ears, but found none. He suddenly realized that Kikyou had purified her! But why would she have gone to so much trouble? What happened?

 

He felt even more like a failure. In the last 24 hours, had fucked up royally! More than once! “I'm so sorry…. I'm so, so sorry!” He whispered into her hair, hoping desperately that she would be okay. On one hand, she could have been turned human, and on the other, she could be fine, just drained. Unless it was something even worse.

 

How could she ever forgive him? He was a completely incompetent father! Inuyasha felt his self-worth plummet down into the deepest, darkest hole possible.

 

The only good thing he figured had happened was that he made his decision. He would never go to hell with Kikyo. He would protect Yozora with his body and soul. She was the most important thing. He wouldn't let her suffer like he did. He would treat her as his own, with all the love and compassion he never had. He would give her all she deserved, and more. He promised to try his best to protect and love this little girl in his arms, this pup.

 

As he sat there stroking her fluffy hair, he felt a large weight lifted off him. Kagome was right, as she usually was. Embracing his new responsibility felt so much better than denying it. He felt relieved of a great burden.

 

His daughter… His Sora, Yozora….

 

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A/N: Thank you for getting off my back! Now, from here on it will move a bit faster, but not too fast. Shippo will get his time to shine and Sango and Miroku will get a bit more attention. Remember, artwork in on my FF.net profile! Fullmetal Chibi-chan. Please review!