Author's Note: Amaya is Japanese meaning night rain. Hopefully this would be one of my better Inuyasha fanfics.
A Force Unknown
Chapter 1 A Link Is Found
When Naraku was finally destroyed and the Shikon Jewel completely, the friends had finally come to a point in their journey where they had to seriously think about what to do now that what they set out to do was done. But before they could settle down to their secondary lives, a new force comes into play. A force that is much stronger than Naraku; and it's coming after the Jewel. Will the friends band together one last time to defeat this force, or will it take them down one by one until none are left? With this new threatening force comes another that will band with the friends and will tip the balance.
Two months have past since Naraku was destroyed and his reincarnations just two days ago. Miroku and Sango begun their wedding plans, Kagome returned home to her time for a long needed rest, which left Inuyasha and Shippo at Keade's. The friends were adjusting to a life without fighting Naraku. One day, some weeks after the last reincarnation died, a new face appeared in the village. A young face by any standard, she was wise in her years.
Inuyasha's ear twitched, the one sign he felt a demonic presence nearby. It was not aggressive, but it was different; and vaguely familiar.
"Inuyasha, what is it," Miroku asked.
"Demon. It's pretty close to the village."
Inuyasha stood from where the friends sat outside Keade's hut and made his way to the village. The others followed and saw no sign of the demon Inuyasha spoke of.
"I think Inuyasha's mind's playing tricks on him," Shippo said from Kagome's shoulder.
"What was that, you little pipsqueak," Inuyasha snapped, turning on a dime to face the young kitsune yokai.
"Now, now, Inuyasha. I'm sure Shippo didn't mean it," Miroku said, trying to calm the inu hanyou.
At that moment, the yokai Inuyasha had felt past by and nearly everyone sensed it. The followed the female yokai discreetly, who seemed to sense she was being followed. She continued on her walk through the village, not letting her group of shadows know she knew of them. It was not until she was several yards past the last hut did she turn to face the group of friends.
"What an unusual group," she said out loud. "A monk, a miko, a kistune yokai, and a yokai taijiya, and an inu hanyou. I wonder what I did to deserve such attention. Not like I need it."
This little speech, and knowledge of what each were, surprised the group of friends. They were not expecting it from her. A small body is enhanced by fast reflexes and natural grace that only comes with training in martial arts and sword training. The death glare in the ice blue eyes could make anyone shiver. Amaya did not look the type to kill; but she knew not to let appearances deceive you. As the group before her were most likely doing.
"Who said we were giving you attention," Inuyasha said.
"You have followed me throughout the village to this very spot, yet you say you give me no attention. You are contradicting yourself, my dear hanyou. I..."
Amaya went silent. She knew something was approaching, and fast, toward the village. And it was not about to stop and ask for a warm fire and cooked rice for a meal. She cut through the group, who seemed perplexed at her sudden change of attention. Inuyasha picked up what startled the yokai and followed close behind with Kagome and Shippo on his back and Miroku and Sango on Kirara. At the village, they saw Amaya unsheathe a sword of which a power was not felt before. No one could explain where the power was coming from, or how she could control it. Yet, the small female held the blade up right parallel with her body. She was ready for something. A large demon blundered out of the forest, knocking down trees as it went. When it saw the lone female, it went to attack her, but Amaya was ready for it and deflected it and parried with her own attack; easily taking the dim witted demon down and killing it with ease. She was wiping the blade off on the body as Inuyasha and the others approached her.
"That sword you have," Miroku said as she sheathed it. "Where did you find it?"
"Find it? It was given to me."
"Only a strong yokai could wield it even I can feel its power," Sango said.
"I've only gained control over it. It is a hard battle with it, and it is not to be taken lightly."
Suddenly, Amaya slapped at her cheek, like something bit her there. A second or two later, a flea appeared on her nose.
"Ah, Lady Amaya, I haven't tasted your blood in centuries. Where have you been?"
"Busy, Miyoga. Even a flea as old as you should have remembered that."
"You know him," Inuyasha asked, a bit amazed.
It was rare to see some one other than his group and Totosai to know Miyoga.
"I do. I knew him since I was but a young yokai. Ever since your father took me in, Inuyasha."
No one spoke. Before them stood a link to Inuyasha's past, and knows of his father. Sesshomaru was the only person other than Izoyi to have personally know the Dog General in the family.
"Come, what I have to tell you is to be said in private, with no lingering ears," Amaya said, leading them from the village.
The villagers thanked the female yokai, who smiled and nodded as she led the way to a thicket in the forest. Once there, she took the sheathed sword from her belt and sat down with a tree to her back. The others followed suit one by one with Inuyasha standing near Kagome with his arms crossed.
"Tell me, Amaya," Miyoga said. "What news from the East?"
"Not good. Ever since Naraku was destroyed, a dark force has been rising there. I had barely managed to escape with my life and what clothes I have on my back."
"But how did you come by the sword?"
"I was coming to that, flea. I was wounded from the fight, weary from the travel, and had little to eat even before the fight. I had barely made it to the palace before collapsing. When I recovered, Togaou granted me Sou'unga; along with another Totosai made from one of my fangs."
It was then that the gathered saw another sword next to Sou'unga. No one has ever seen the power of another yokai sword other than the two fangs and only Miyoga knows of Sou'unga's powers.
"But you could be dominated by the sword," Miyoga warned.
"I know full well the risks, Miyoga. It has taken me this long to gain a loose control over it. It will take me longer to tighten that."
"How do we know you're not lying," Inuyasha asked. "For all we know, you could be one of Naraku's reincarnations we don't know about."
"Would Naraku give one of the most powerful swords to one of his reincarnations with the risk of said reincarnation defying him? I may have not be active in the hunt for the hanyou, but I was eager for his demise," Amaya said. "I know you don't know your father, Inuyasha, but I know you well enough that it has been a secret wish of yours. I'm on my way back to his palace if you wish to go."
Amaya looked to the others, who seemed to be eager to meet the demon they have heard about from Miyoga. The only one to not voice his opinion was Inuyasha. The female yokai nodded and stood, belting both swords, resting her left hand on her own fanged sword. She led the friends through the forest in the westward direction of the palace. Inuyasha followed behind, not voicing any of his thoughts. He did not even know his father was still alive, much less that he had any other family other than Sesshomaru.