I have finally begin uploading my previous stories online, starting with my very first story, InuYasha's Test. I will upload every day until they are up to date with the ones here. Please see my profile for the addy .
It poured outside. The day was dark enough to need candles lit inside the small huts. Lightning occasionally flashed overhead, and the thunder that accompandied it was almost deafening. Trees boughs and leaves were bowed under the weight of the onslaught, the raindrops striking the ground so hard they almost seemed to rebound, to dance just above the ground.
It had been so dry for so long, the ground wasn't absorbing much of the water, and now the rains were washing away the desperately needed topsoil. Farmers huddled in their huts, and watched, dismayed and anxious, wondering how much more of their crops would be destroyed. The heat wave had already damaged this years' crops badly. Now they were threatened by this sudden, torrential downpour.
Sango glanced over her shoulder as she carried a candle into the central room. InuYasha and Miroku were kneeling by the doorway, the doorflap pulled back and held in place while the two men worked. The wind gusted in around them, causing the monk's robes, and the hanyou's hair, to swing wildly. More than once InuYasha cursed loudly, grabbing a handful of his hair and holding it aside so he could see.
They had small bags of sand they were placing directly in front of the doorway, trying to create a lip that would stop the water from seeping in over the doorlip and into the hut.
After a shore while, they both stood up, brusing off their hands.
"There," InuYasha said, pulling the doorflap back and tying it down, "That should work, unless the rains last all day."
"If only we had had this rain before, " Miroku said, moving to the window and pulling it shut, also tying it in place, "When it could have been of some benefit to the farmers."
"Yes," Sango agreed, "Now it's just going to wash away the seed. This is going to be a terrible winter."
"If it ever comes," InuYasha said, yanking shut the last shutter, casting the hut into deep shadow, "There should already be snow on the ground."
Sango put the candle on the small table, and reaching into her backpack, pulled out another package of them. She opened them, removing one, shaking her head, "I don't know what we'd do if Kagome didn't keep us so well stocked."
"We're depending on her more and more for food as well," Miroku said, his voice sounding a little worried.
"It's getting harder to find any to buy," InuYasha took a handful of the white candles Sango offered, and started lighting them from the first on the table. He walked about, setting them here and there, on shelves, tables, ledges...anywhere it was safe to do so, "The farmers are just making enough now to feed their own families."
"Well...at least we know she has money to get the things we need," Miroku said, easing himself down on the floor before the small table, "A good thing our money today seems to be worth more in her world."
InuYasha had told them of how he had been able to exchange some of his golden coins for a large amount of the weird paper money from Kagome's world. She no longer had to buy their supplies herself.
"I exchange the money that time I went back and it was that big celebration for Kagome having passed her exams...though I still don't see why old things in her world are valuable. Did you know her mother got that job at that Moo-seeum place?"
"Oh did she?" Miroku smiled, "Wonderful. I remember showing up there by accident...all of us, during that strange holiday called Halloween. Remind me again...what's a Moo-sesum?"
"You got me," InuYasha said, seating himself next to Miroku, "From what I can gather from Kagome, it's a place where people put old things on display, and other people pay money to go look at them."
"That...sounds very strange," Sango said, sitting across from the two men.
"You saw her world, it's all strange," InuYasha answered.
A small door in the back of the main room slid open, and Kagome slipped out, carrying a candle.
"I can't believe how dark it is!" she exclaimed.
"How is he?" Sango asked softly.
"He's resting again. He wants to get up, but I ordered him to stay put for a while longer. He's still so pale."
"But getting better?" Miroku asked.
Kagome nodded, smiling at him. Since the Kageri had broken the unpardonable sin of disobeying a Master...thereby cursing himself...save the monk's life, Miroku was keeping a close eye on DarkWind. The guilt Miroku felt about the constant distrust and outright hate he had shown DarkWind, only have the Kageri willingly sacrifice himself for him, was almost overwhelming. He had already promised to do what he could in finding out how to possibly help DarkWind regain his powers.
For his part, DarkWind simply seemed happy to be back with them again, no longer belonging to Naraku. Taken back as a Kageri even though he was Broken, and having the kindly monk making overtures of friendship left DarkWind almost glowing with happiness.
InuYasha, however...
Kagome put her candle down, and sat beside Sango, joining the others. She kept her eyes on the candle flame, not wanting to look towards the hanyou.
InuYasha had retreived the chain she had needed to re-bond herself to DarkWind. She knew how much he hated DarkWind...and how eagerly he must have wanted to help hurry him along...away from her. But for her, he had gone down, deep into the dark, cold part of the lake to bring it back for her. It had taken him several tries, but he had done it.
For her.
His voice came to her again, "Remember...when he's gone...I'll still be here.
I'll always be here.
I know you will, InuYasha, she thought, sadly.
There was a sudden knocking on the doorframe near the tied-down doorflap, and everyone jumped.
"Who on earth is out in this?" Sango cried, lunging towards the door.
Hurriedly untying the doorflap, she threw it back, admitting the person outside to rush in, cloak pulled up over their head. SAngo quickly re-tied the doorflap.
At first they thought it was a man, from the height alone, but when the person straightened, and removed their cloak from about their head, they were startled to see Izumi.
"Izumi!"
"This is quite the storm we're having!" the woman exclaimed, untying her dripping cloak.
"Here, give me that," Sango murmured, taking the cloak from the woman, and hanging it where their own things hung, dripping on the floor in the corner of the room.
"Thank you, dear." Izumi looked around at the group, the storm having brought out the colour in her cheeks; her eyes seemed to sparkle, "I haven't seen a storm like this in a while!"
"Surely you didn't walk, Lady Izumi?" Miroku asked gently, "In this weather?"
"I did walk, yes, though not too far. Though there was a moment there I thought I was going to get airborn!"
InuYasha watched her, as usual feeling strange when in Izumi's presence. At first he had seen her only as some sort of distant guild who was supposed to be showing them their way in this upcoming war. The War of the Twilight Lands, she called it. But after seeing how she had come to care for his mother and father, how she grieved for their passing...how she had wanted to raise InuYasha as her own...had even faced her own Goddess in fury when denied...it was harder and harder not to see Izumi as...family. Like an Aunt.
Oba Izumi.
And that was one of the strangest feelings InuYasha had ever known.
Miroku and Sango made room for her gathered around the little table, and Kagome asked if she would like some tea.
"No thank you, dear," Izumi said, brushing back her long black hair, "I think I have had enough water today."
Kagome weakly chuckled, blushing.
"So," Izumi looked directly at Kagome, "How is DarkWind?"
Everyone blinked.
"How did you hear of - " Miroku broke off his sentence, feeling foolish, "Ahh...yes. Excuse me."
Izumi smiled kindly at Miroku, "I heard it on the wind. He's alright, though?"
Kagome nodded, "He is, yes. Resting now, but...Izumi?"
"Yes, dear?"
"You...you know so much...do you know about Kageri?"
Izumi smiled in the candlelight, "I do."
"Then...will DarkWind be ok?"
Izumi was quiet, then spoke gently, "That depends on what you mean by ok, dear."
"Well...will he stop being ...a...a Broken?"
Izumi studied Kagome, and spoke softly, "That is something I do not know. Because, Kagome, there has never been a Kageri that became Broken, that was re-bonded with someone."
Kagome blinked, "What, never?"
"Never. As you can see, his symbol is damaged. It is no longer complete. That marks him as a Broken...but he is rebonded with you. So...while I can not say for certainly...I think he will not get any worse. He will stay this way, now."
Kagome nodded, relieved.
"But having been a Broken...he lost a great amount of his powers. He will never be as strong, Kagome. You need to remember that."
Kagome frowned, "I don't care. Even with only half his powers, he's more powerful than anyone el-"
"That's not what I mean, dear. DarkWind is still bound to you. He will still expect to be your Kageri. He is going to try and do what he always did.
You are going to have to make sure he does not injure himself. Or worse."
Silence.
Kagome nodded.
"What I don't understand," Miroku said, "Is how Naraku managed to have two Kageri bound to him. I didn't think that was possible."
"Nor did I," Izumi frowned.
InuYasha leaned in, "What were they talking about, anyway? DarkWind and BloodStar? Something about a Spire, and traitors, and..."
Izumi spoke gently, "That is DarkWind's past, and everyone holds their past close to them."
InuYasha looked away.
"Kagome, may I peer in at him?"
Kagome blinked, "Oh yes, of course!"
Izumi nodded, slowly rising. Brushing the hem of her gown, she looked at InuYasha, "Come with me, dear."
InuYasha looked back, blinking, "Huh?"
Izumi smiled softly, "Come with me."
InuYasha blinked at her again. He wasn't interested in going to visit the Kageri...but he couldn't exactly say no to Izumi, either.
Rising, he followed behind her, figiting slightly.
Izumi slid open the door, and stepped in, waiting for InuYasha to join her, before sliding the door shut again.
DarkWind lay on the floor on a pallet, covered with a blanket. He was still pale, but not nearly as much as he had been two days ago. His black hair and black marking around his eye look stark against his skin. The strange marking around his right eye...the thing Kagome said looked like something called The Eye of Horus...was broken. It was as if someone had cut across the mark, and it had pulled apart before healing, a neat, straight line of skin breaking up the pattern.
Hearing the door open and close, the Kageri opened his eyes, and blinked to see Izumi and InuYasha standing there. He pushed himself up onto his elbows, "Lady Izumi and InuYasha-Warrior?"
"Hello DarkWind," Izumi spoke gently, a smile on her face. She stepped forward and knelt beside him, "How are you feeling?"
"In truth I am doing much better now, but Nushi insists I remain lying here. I am...very bored, though."
Izumi chuckled, "I can imagine. But I think one more day will be enough resting for you. Then you can tell Kagome I think you should be up and about."
"That is most welcome news." DarkWind looked from Izumi, to where InuYasha was standing back by the door. He nodded his head to him.
InuYasha crossed his arms, looking away.
"I owe you a great deal, InuYasha-Warrior," DarkWind said quietly, "Nushi has told me you had to dive several times to return the chain to her. I am in your debt."
InuYasha didn't turn his head, but slid his eyes to regard the Kageri, "I don't want to be in your debt. I want you gone."
Izumi was silent, saying nothing. In a case like this, directness was best, even if dealt with InuYasha's usual bluntness.
DarkWind nodded sadly, "I know. I can feel it very strongly. But I still assure you, I mean Nushi no harm."
InuYasha said nothing, just looked away.
DarkWind spoke gently, "I am sorry you dislike me so much. I had hoped we could one day be friends."
InuYasha blinked, and turned, looking at him. He kept his voice low, so the others outside couldn't hear.
"Friends? Don't hold your breath. Everything was ok betw-."
DarkWind spoke, "Yes. You see me as...being between you and Nushi."
InuYasha's face colored, but with anger, "I had a chance before you showed up. It was small, but it was a chance."
"InuYasha," Izumi murmured.
But InuYasha stepped forward, his face angry. His fangs flashed in the candlelight, "I always thought I was powerful, you know that? That I was strong. That I could handle anything. And even when I faced stronger demons, I could usually manage to get by somehow. Then you showed up, and I couldn't even hit you! You kept dissapearing and reappearing when I tried! You picked me up and threw me to one side like I was some kid's toy! And if that wasn't bad enough, you told me you were there to protect her! I wasn't needed!"
DarkWind stirred, "I never said-"
"You implied it!" InuYasha hissed, suddenly raising a fist, "and you did it in front of her, didn't you! So don't suddenly expect me to shake your hand and call you friend like Miroku has!"
Silence.
"Don't get me wrong..." InuYasha spoke again, his face suddenly going impassive, turning slightly as if none of it mattered to him anymore, "I'm grateful you saved Miroku. I owe you for that. But let's just leave well enough alone and keep up our little charade of pretending to be able to get along. Alright?"
DarkWind was silent. He looked at his hands, folded in his lap, looking like he had been chastized.
InuYasha turned, and slid back the door. Without waiting for a word from Izumi, he stepped out, and closed the door behind him.
Izumi spoke very softly, "I am sorry about that, DarkWind."
The Kageri nodded, "It is fine, Lady Izumi. I can see what he is saying. There is much love between them."
Izumi spoke softly, "Does Kagome still love him, DarkWind?"
The Kageri looked at her, thoughtful, then nodded, "I believe so, yes. But she has it hidden away so deeply, she does not even know it is there. Or if she does...she instantly shoves it into the shadows the moment she senses it. I...I wish she would tell him...or at least give me leave to, but..."
"She has refused."
"Yes, Lady Izumi."
Izumi nodded, not bothering to correct the Kageri on her title. While always explaining she was no lady and could not claim the title, she understood with DarkWind it was his way of adding titles to names, like "Miroku-monk", or "InuYasha-Warrior", and so did not mind.
Izumi looked up at DarkWind, and spoke softly, "Do I have your permission, DarkWind, to show them of your beginning?"
DarkWind blinked, shocked.
"I think it might do InuYasha, and Kagome some good. She has many questions about you that you cannot answer. But if I show them..."
DarkWind looked back at his hands, suddenly pale again.
"I...will take no part in it?"
Izumi shook her head, "You will sleep, in here, and I will show them. I will explain they are to speak of nothing they saw."
Silence.
Izumi spoke, "I understand the pain it causes, having your wounds exposed to the light after so long."
He looked at her, "You are certain it is necessary?"
"I truly believe it is, yes."
DarkWind looked back to his hands, and then closed his eyes.
"One of the things I love about Nushi is that when she looks at me, she sees me almost as an equal. If she sees...that will be gone. She will never look at me the same way again."
Izumi nodded, "That is a risk, yes. They will see who you were. And who you still are."
It was very quiet. The rain continued to hiss outside, the wind whistling loudly.
DarkWind opened his eyes, but did not look at her, "For them, then. Yes. Show them of my past. Of what happened."
Izumi laid her hand on his shoulder for a moment, then rose. She slipped out through the door, and slid it shut behind her.