The Price I Paid

Chapter One

Lost Battle

A man and his daughter are in the car, driving. It was the last day of school, and the father had to pick her up early. And as usual, she was rowdy and hyper. The father was trying his best to appease her rowdiness by turning up the music. It worked, until she started changing the stations, not deciding on which ones to listen to.

"Kimi, darling, why can't you choose one station, and settle down?" the father asked politely, smiling as she sat down in her seat and crossed her arms. She sighed, and then fidgeted her legs. He knew what this restlessness was about. "You know mama says I cannot tell you those stories anymore, so you might as well get over it," he calmly stated.

"Why? Why does mama not like them?" she whined, kicking the dashboard, "I don't get it!"

"Because mama said 'no more', and I am going to obey her rules."

"But, Daddy, they are just stories. Daddy, please don't stop telling them to me! You make them sound so real, and awesome." And then the father tripped up. He looked at his daughter, which he shouldn't have. One look at a darling child like her, and she would have your mind in her control. She had her lips pouting, and her huge eyes reflecting light so that they sparkled 'cuteness'. He sighed, and rolled his eyes. He didn't see the harm in them, and nor could he say no to those eyes. She won him over just by pouting. He laughed to himself, and glanced over at her, still pouting and fluttering her eyes. He patted her head, and then turned onto another street.

"Once upon a time, during feudal Japan, in a forest…err, somewhere, there was a girl known to be as a powerful priestess. She had the looks, the charm and the power. She was also in love with a half-demon …" and the father told her how it began.

"Sensei! Sensei!" yelled a thin boy, running around karate students and parents during the afternoon showings. A middle-aged man, with serious eyes turned around and looked at the boy running towards him. He smirked, and grabbed his coffee. He had really enjoyed those coffees, and they were a staple in his daily routines. The boy finally joined up to him, and was breathing really heavy. The boy bended over his knees to catch his breath while waving papers in front of him. Sensei grabbed the papers, and started perusing them. "So," he said calmly, "did you get in?"

The boy looked up and smiled brightly, "You are looking at the newest member of the Debate Team!" Sensei sipped on a cup of coffee, looking over the papers still. The boy's face fell at the reaction. "So," the boy continued, "you aren't going to say anything?" Sensei sipped again, and looked at the boy.

"What of your dojo dream? And your doctor dreams before that?" The boy flushed, and then looked away in embarassment.

"I am not much for book smarts, and not really a fighter either. I know I am great at talking everyone's heads off, so I mind as well do something I am good at. Plus-" the boy was interrupted by a new person, entering the dojo area.

"—Good job, Sota! I knew you could do it! Now, maybe you can get a girlfriend." The newcomer was laughing, and patted the boy, Sota, on the head. Sota stuck out his tongue at the newcomer, who returned the face with one of his own.

"Roku, leave him alone. He asked out that girl finally, right Sota?" sensei interjected, on Sota's defense. Sota tensed up, and slowly started nervously laughing.

"Ummmm, not exactly…it's a bit difficult…" he mumbled out. The sensei smirked and patted him on the back, understanding. Roku just cackled.

"Well, life is difficult…" Roku said, crossing his arms, mocking the seriousness that the sensei held, "But, if you really like her, you should tell her. You shouldn't wait, or you'll miss your chance." Roku caught glances at sensei, who was making a point of ignoring his comments.

"Hmm," Roku continued, more to himself, "what am I going to do today?" The sensei grabbed his coffee and walked inside, followed by Roku. Sota blushed, and then heard from the sensei, "Sota, your opponent cannot wait forever. Get your butt in here." Sota ran inside to get ready.

Inside, Roku was playing around with the weapons in the dojo's floor. He knocked over a table holding nun chucks, and looked embarrassed as he tried picking them up. "Ya-Ya," Roku said while turning to sensei, "I must say, you made this dojo quite a livable cozy place." He glanced over and saw a set of nun chucks was broken, and placed them behind his back smiling. Maybe Ya-Ya wouldn't notice, he hoped. The sensei, named Ya-Ya, looked up from washing his cup and grabbed the broken nun chuck set from behind Roku's back, shaking his head.

"Yeah, you know it took awhile to get it up and running, but it is a sturdy little thing." Ya-Ya said, crossing his arms. "I sometimes have to break up classes to fit everyone in here." Roku nodded, and laughed. Ya-Ya placed the broken weapon on a shelf in the corner of the dojo.

"I have seen many of the people around town who claim to be your devout followers. Something about how your calm attitude and demeanor makes learning any form of martial arts more fluidly and beautiful."

"And your response?" Ya-Ya questioned, eyebrows raised.

"I laughed. You are nothing like that. At least the real 'you' isn't like that at all." Roku's eyes narrowed, and Ya-Ya seemed to pay no attention to it.

"Well, yeah, shut up. Times have changed, Roku, I have learned to mellow out a bit." Ya-Ya head tilted a bit at Roku's pained expression. What Roku saw when he looked at Ya-Ya was someone forced to ignore his wants and needs in order to make others happy. This was a pained responsibility, but also strength. Suddenly, Roku's head snapped a bit, and he smiled. Roku really did appreciate his friend.

"I have also heard that you are quite the ladies man as well." Roku couldn't contain his girly laughter then, irritating Ya-Ya to no end. Ya-Ya laughed, and pretended that he wasn't annoyed by the question.

"I have no clue to what you speak of, Roku. You must be stupid. Perve." Roku went to say something else, but instead shook his head. He looked at his watch, and his eyes got big.

"Oh, dear Kami, I have to go get dinner from the grocery and head home. The wifey gets a bit angry when she is hungry, you know." Ya-Ya nodded and then looked to Roku.

"How is her condition? Any better?" Roku nodded, and smiled.

"She is a strong girl. I married her because her strength still amazes me. She won't let this get her down, when there are more important things to take care of. She keeps thinking about ways to help her…" Roku shut up then, knowing this was a touchy topic. Ya-Ya smiled a bit, concealing his pain. Roku sighed, and yelled, "Sota, come on, I loosened him up for ya to beat!" Sota ran in, finished from getting ready, a blank stare came from his eyes.

"Sorry, I just sort of focused out." Sota said, hiding the fact that he was listening in on their conversation. Roku gave a knowing look, and waved goodbye.

"Be good you two. Sota, don't let mister grumpy pants get you down." Sota smiled, and bowed respectfully. Roku nodded at Ya-Ya. Ya-Ya ignored him, by grabbing kendo swords. "See you later, Ya-Ya." Ya-Ya grunted and tossed a sword to Sota. Roku then slowly walked out. Sota couldn't mistake the sadness in Roku's eyes. Sota then turned to Ya-Ya, his mind went to questions that he had yet to ask his sensei. The silence went on where even Ya-Ya sensed something.

"It's been a year, and you haven't explained to me what happened?" Sota pointedly stated. He starred at Ya-Ya, hoping he could pull some more information out of him. But all he saw what was indifference and a hint of annoyance.

"I told you what happened," was the reply after a couple minutes of silence, as if Ya-Ya had to think over his words.

"Ya-Ya? I mean, that name isn't even yours. I don't understand all the aliases." Sota clenched onto his sword. "Why did my sister not remember you? Why do you have to stay away from her?" Ya-Ya looked away, and you could hear the wooden sword in his hand crack.

"I told you, that something happened, and now she doesn't know who I am…"

"I don't understand! What happened? Why am I not allowed to call you Inuyasha anymore?" Ya-Ya's face went angry in about two seconds, and he yelled, "I AM NOT INUYASHA!" He threw the sword down, and then went to stomp off. He stopped before he hit the door, and said slowly, "That name is no more. Inuyasha died a year and three days ago. I am now Ya-Ya. Do not ask anything more." Then he left.

Sota looked down at the thrown sword and sadly thought to himself, "Then why do you remember the exact date?" Sota picked up the wooden sword Ya-Ya threw on the ground, and noticed a large crack in its handle. Sighing, he put the swords up and grabbed his bag. Inside he drew out his cell phone. He dialed a number and pressed the phone to his ear. Click. A girl answered.

"Hello," Sota sighed, and then continued, "Hey, sis, can you come pick me up?"