Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any characters associated with it. This story is rated for a mature audience.
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oOOOo
The sound of tires screeching and a car horn split the night. Twisting hard on the handles, Inuyasha just managed to twist his scooter to avoid the car. There was a metallic screech as the scooter hit the pavement, skidding forward until it hit the curb and jumped it. The car was still blowing its horn as it shot off down the road. Looking down to ensure he was still intact, Inuyasha tossed a derogatory gesture towards the retreating car and shouted out a few choice words. Feeling the rage slowly bleed away into pain, he looked up to find that his side of the light was green and just shook his head. He was fortunate he hadn't been going fast or his scrapes and bumps would have been a lot worse. Rubbing his sore butt, he walked over to the scooter and gave it a look over. The frame was dented where it had slid into the curb. The metal box on the back had busted off too. Sighing, he shook his head. His boss was going to kill him.
After limping his scooter back to the restaurant and sitting through another screamed lecture about respecting company property, Inuyasha grabbed his free meal and headed out into the night air – without pay. Again. It was the price of being 'illegal.' It was hard to complain about shady practices when the people in power to do something were more likely to arrest you than the perpetrator. Still, he was going to have a full stomach tonight and his boss hadn't told him to scram, so it wasn't all bad. The sun had faded behind the towering buildings of steel, glass, and concrete. All too often, the city felt like his prison rather than home. Rent was staggering and pay was shitty for a man with no higher education. If he didn't work at the restaurant, he was sure he would have starved to death a long time ago.
The aches and pains were growing worse as he reached the run down building he lived in. I really hope it's just scrapes and bruising. The last thing he needed was a hospital visit on top of everything else. While healthcare was free, they asked questions. Questions he didn't have answers to. Shifting the bag of food to his other hand, he reached out and hit the button for the elevator. When it didn't light up, he hit it again. Pause. Hit it again. Pause. He slammed the bottom of his fist against the door in frustration.
"Of all the fucking nights…" he grumbled, eyeing the stairs wearily. Feet shuffling against the tile, he made his way to the stairs and began his arduous journey upwards. He slid to the side, making himself as small as possible as a man jogged down the stairs in a hurry. Keeping his head down, Inuyasha didn't dare make eye contact as the heavily tattooed man brushed by him without a second look. He heaved out a sigh of relief and continued his journey up. Inuyasha knew the guy was part of a larger gang, but not sure which one. Not that he cared anyway. The building was filled with degenerates from society. It's why the rent was barely affordable and accepted cash. Thugs, junkies, prostitutes, and other failures of society filled the rooms. Inuyasha knew he was one of them. A failure. He used to make excuses for his lot in life. A single mother whose health continuously deteriorated. The constant need to work to take care of her as well as himself. The fact that he had to work full time rather than getting an education. But all that was just excuses. People had to do those things and succeeded. Not Inuyasha. He belonged here, just like the rest of them. It wasn't anything he wasn't used to. His childhood had been spent in buildings like this.
On the ninth floor, he stopped his ascent and headed down the dirty, poorly lit hall to his door. Keys jingling in hand, he flipped to the correct one as his door approached.
"Hey Inuyasha," a young woman's voice called out. Looking up, he found his neighbor Mika standing in front of her door, lit cigarette in hand. She was a pleasant woman – especially in this place. She was wearing very little, and what she was wearing was dirty and pocketed with holes. Jean shorts and a white halter top that just barely covered her nipples. She was pretty – or at least could be if she cared enough to try. Her dyed brown hair was pulled back in a sloppy bun. She was in great shape physically, her smooth skin marred by a faded scar across her stomach. He never asked her about that, and she never shared the story.
"Evening Mika," he responded, giving her a polite smile. Mika, if that was her real name, was the only person in the building Inuyasha talked to, and even that was brief and infrequent.
"I didn't keep you up last night, did I?" She looked genuinely concerned. It was only when she spoke to him that the smallest of sparks came to her eyes.
He shook his head. "Don't worry about it. Pretty sure I could sleep through WWIII if it happened."
"I try not to take clients that late at night, but I'm running a bit short this month," she said, worry flickering in her face. It quickly disappeared when she brought her cigarette to her mouth and took a quick puff. Though it didn't show on her face, Inuyasha could tell her hand was quivering – and not from the lack of nicotine.
"How much?"
A smile spread over her lips. "Why Inuyasha. You've never taken an interest until now."
He rolled his eyes. "I mean how much are you short?"
Eyes falling, she shook her head. "This is my problem, not yours."
Inuyasha wasn't going to take that. "You were short a few months ago." She winced at the memory. His memory was good too. He remembered the bruising she had for the next few weeks. Of course, her face was untouched, but with how little she wore… "Stop being a hard ass and tell me how much."
"Two fifty," she said softly, looking down. "Some of my regulars got picked up last month. The mayor is running for reelection and is putting pressure on the police to crack down." She sighed, looking down at her cigarette. "It's not just me having a tough time either. Some of the other girls got picked up trying to meet quotas." She took another drag. "Fucking politicians," she muttered bitterly. "Some of us need to make a living."
Sliding his key into the deadlock, he twisted it, hearing the snap. "Hold on a moment," he said, walking inside his apartment. The room was a mess. He tried keeping the place tidy when he first moved in. He gave up when he realized the trash did little to depress the place. Setting his food on the counter, he walked over to his bedroom. Reaching under his bed, he popped out the loose floorboard, revealing the metal box that held his life savings. Wincing as he sat back, he popped the lid off to find a wad of cash inside. Carefully, he counted off the bills. Other than a few high bills, most of his stash was made up of small bills. When he finished counting out the amount, he returned the remaining bills to the box. There were depressingly few left. Carefully, he put the box back into the hole and replaced the floorboard. Mika was looking at him curiously as he stepped out of his apartment.
"Here," he said, offering the cash.
Her eyes were wide looking between the money and him. "I can't—"
"You can and you will," Inuyasha said, voice leaving no room for argument. "I know what he does when you fall short. It just makes your work that much harder for the next month."
She wiped a few tears from her eyes as she took the money. "You're a good man Inuyasha." She dropped her cigarette and snuffed it out with a quick grind of her boot. It blended in with the rest of the garbage filling the hall. "Of course, I don't expect you to just give this free of charge…"
He held up a hand, stopping her advance. "That's not necessary."
"I don't have anything else to offer," she said, hooking her shirt with a finger and pulling it down, revealing more of her already ample cleavage. "At least let me repay your kindness."
"It's not that I don't appreciate it," he said, taking a step back so he could more easily retreat into his apartment if needed.
She stopped, studying him. Finally, she nodded. "I understand." She smiled sadly. "A good man deserves a good woman."
"It's not—" he started to say, then cut himself off. Mika was a good woman. Living around here made you a quick judge of character and she was classes above the other tenants. She was attractive too, as far as women around here went. Good face, excellent body, but her eyes scared him. She tried to be cheerful around him, smiling and cracking jokes, but he could always tell by her eyes. There was no life in them. The spark that made a person had long since extinguished itself in her. She had long since accepted her fate in life. What bothered Inuyasha so much was those were the eyes he saw when he looked in the mirror. He couldn't stand it, which is why there was no longer a mirror he could look at. "I'm sorry," he said, looking away.
She nodded, allowing him to start back into the apartment. "Just—" she called out, stopping him at the last moment. "Is it because I'm a whore? Is that why—?"
He looked up to find her pleading eyes staring back. Maybe his answer would have been different if there had been a spark of hope. Hope that she didn't need to live a lonely life pleasuring men for money – or at least hope that she could have a man touch her with real emotions. "No, of course not." He met her eyes. "A man who has no love for himself has little chance of loving others."
She was silent, unmoving. Finally, she nodded, an understanding in her eyes. A grin formed on her face, one that she had perfected in her work. Always looking happy, even if her eyes revealed the truth. "Well you're missing out. I would have rocked your world."
Inuyasha managed to force a chuckle as he retreated back into the solitude of his apartment. "I'm sure you would've."
oOOOo
Inuyasha woke at 5am, the TV still on. His body ached as he forced himself to stand. He was going to be feeling the effects of the accident for days, maybe weeks. Sighing, he shuffled off towards the bathroom, clicking off the TV as he went. He could hear Mika hard at work in the apartment over. The walls did little to block out the moans and squeaks of the bed. He paused, looking towards the wall that separated Mika's apartment from his own. The bed thudded rhythmically against the wall. For the briefest of moments, he was eight years old again. It was the wall to his bedroom. Beyond that wall, his mother was hard at work. The only difference was a man wasn't there to beat her if she didn't meet her quota. Instead, they just didn't eat. It wasn't until he was a bit older when he found out the true nature of his 'uncles' and where his mom got most of their money. He was just glad his mother had managed to get higher class clients than the ones that frequented here.
He shook the memories from his mind. He felt no regrets about giving her the money. Even if she managed to raise the required money for the month, he hoped she would keep his money for a month where she didn't make it. She was a good person. Unlike many of the women here, she didn't try to numb herself to life with drugs. "No good deed goes unpunished" was the rule of law here, but Inuyasha had felt compelled to hold his hand out anyways. He would undoubtedly regret it in the future when he needed that money, but right now, he would enjoy the brief high of helping someone in need.
His shower was quick, not because he was in a hurry, but because the damn water heater was broken again. Dressed, he headed for the door. He managed to check the microwave clock as he passed. 5:22. He was leaving a bit early, but he figured he could get a few minutes extra on his next paycheck that way. Maybe he would get what he was actually owed this time. Yawning, he locked up and headed downstairs. He could hear other women at work as he passed their doors. This was a building where business was 24/7. On the third floor, there was a major fight going on. How anyone had enough energy to fight this early in the morning, he had no idea. Still, it sounded bad. A man's voice, muffled by the walls, was shouting and a woman was screaming back. He could hear things breaking and someone crying out in pain. Increasing his pace, he hurried down the rest of the stairs and pulled the hood on his hoodie up over his head. It was best to not get involved in those things. Last time someone did, they ended up shot. The police response time was… abysmal. You'd be lucky to get one here in under an hour. It was funny. They were much quicker about getting here when there was a body to remove, but preventing a body? No way.
Stepping out into the morning air, he took a deep breath of the crisp air. For the first time, he actually felt fairly good about the day. Maybe it was because he had done a good deed – though he was sure that would come back and bite him in the ass. He had heard that good begot good. His mother was always on that. A sweet lie told to children. Reality had proved that wrong so many times already. Sticking your neck out for someone in this area was asking to get it chopped off. He didn't know why he helped Mika. He had been saving his money for a one-way ticket out of this hell, yet he didn't have a second thought about giving it to her. Maybe because, deep down, he knew there was only one way out of this place and that required no money to achieve. Maybe because she reminded him of his mother, selling herself to scrape together some sort of living. Whatever the reason, it no longer mattered. The money was already gone.
"Are you Inuyasha Yamaguchi?" an unfamiliar voice called out, startling him. He hadn't heard his last name in a long time, and someone calling you out by name in this area usually led to someone bleeding out in the gutter. His mother had once said he should wear his name with pride. That his family line consisted of some very powerful and noble people. If that was true, looking at his life now, the family had fallen far in recent years.
"I am. Who wants to know?" he answered suspiciously, watching as a foreign man in an expensive suit moved towards him.
"It is a pleasure to meet you," the strange man said, offering his hand. Inuyasha looked down at it before slowly taking it. "My name is Michael Bahram." There was an accent there, but Inuyasha couldn't place it. "I represent a certain party which has requested me to find you."
"Certain party huh? Well if it's that asshole from yesterday, you can tell him to go fuck himself. My light was green."
The man chuckled. "No, no. It is nothing like that, I assure you. May I have a few moments of your time? There is much for us to discuss," he said, gesturing to a waiting car. Inuyasha's eyebrows raised as he glanced at the expensive car. It was a rental, but expensive nonetheless. "If you would just give me a few moments, please. At least until we take you to your first place of employment."
Inuyasha considered it for a moment. He didn't think he had pissed off any of the thugs or gang members in the building. Besides, they were all petty, low-level members. Nothing to warrant this sort of treatment. And it would sure beat walking. He was still hurting from the accident. He tried to sound nonchalant, shrugging before wincing in pain from the move. "I guess I could use a ride."
Michael smiled happily. "Very good," he said, holding the door for him. Once Inuyasha was inside, he moved around to the other side. The driver said nothing, eyes forward as he started driving.
"So who are these people you represent and why are they looking for me?"
"I represent a small community of people. They are very concerned about you."
Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "I find that hard to believe."
Michael cleared his throat. "Yes, well, believe me or not, it is the truth." Reaching forward, he pulled out a large manila envelope from a briefcase, handing it to Inuyasha. "I have been sent to find you and confirm your wellbeing by this community."
"Okay. Well here I am, and I am still alive."
"Hmm. Yes." He said nothing more, but Inuyasha could tell the man didn't want to be here with him. The body language was quite clear. He was probably thinking about all the disinfectant he would have to use to clean the car once Inuyasha left it. "Once I ascertained your location and made contact with you, I am supposed to hand you this envelope and answer all the questions you have regarding it to the best of my knowledge."
"What is it?" Inuyasha asked, gazing curiously at the envelope.
"Details of your father's estate."
That got his attention. "My father?" he asked, looking up. "He's alive?"
Michael cleared his throat. "That – ah. No. No longer I'm afraid. He passed away several months ago."
Inuyasha looked down at the envelope, as if it had just grown heavier. He knew nothing of his father. His mother had gone through great lengths to avoid the topic. Avoiding everything about their past. It had left him with so many questions. Even on her deathbed, she refused to even give him a name, saying he was better off not knowing. She had passed apologizing to him that she could do no more for him than give him his freedom. "Freedom." From what, he didn't know, but he had his doubts on whether it was worse than what he currently had.
"I see," was all he managed to say on it. He never knew his father, but knowing he had died still affected him. It was more knowing that he would never have the chance of meeting him, however unlikely that had been.
"I began my search for you the moment he died, of course. However, you are a very difficult man to find."
"Not trying to hide," Inuyasha said, looking up from the envelope.
"No, but your mother was – and quite good at it. She switched to her maiden name. Do you know how many Yamaguchi's there are?"
Inuyasha frowned. "Why? What was my mother hiding from?"
Michael shook his head. "I'm afraid I don't know that."
"What do you know?"
"That my employers are keenly interested in you. They spent a fortune hiring just about every investigative service worth money searching for you. The amount of money is staggering."
"Why?"
"I'm not sure. Perhaps the envelope has some answers."
"What's in it?"
Michael shook his head. "I don't know. They paid me more than enough to sate any curiosity." The car rolled to a stop. Looking out the tinted window, Inuyasha saw the front of the shop he worked in during first shift. "My card," Michael said, holding a bright white business card out to him. Inuyasha took it. In plain black letters was his name and number, nothing else. Inuyasha put it in his pocket. "Call that number if you need anything. Anything at all. Do not worry about price, my employers have that all covered."
"Am I ever going to know who they are?"
"Perhaps, but that is up to you I believe." He glanced down at the envelope. "Your father had a sizable estate. Even if you end up having to split it with your sibling, you stand to inherit a fortune."
"Sibling? I have a sibling?"
"A brother, if I'm not mistaken. Half-brother."
I still have living family. The news of that was more shocking than anything. Why did my mom never tell me? Did she even know? "Thank you," Inuyasha said, opening the door.
Michael nodded. "You can contact me at any time. 24/7. Do not hesitate if you have questions."
"Will do," Inuyasha said before closing the door. The car waited for a few seconds before merging into traffic and disappearing down the road. Still in a daze, Inuyasha headed inside.
"Hey Inuyasha. You're here early," his boss said as he entered. "Everything okay?"
"Sorry. I just have a lot on my mind," Inuyasha said, still holding the envelope.
"Well, we have a lot to get ready for. I have a feeling today's going to be a busy one. Go ahead and get ready, we'll get started."
Inuyasha looked up. "Okay, sure." As much as he wanted to know what was in the envelope, that could wait. Right now, he needed money and the extra hour of pay today was going to help.
oOOOo
It wasn't until noon that Inuyasha was finally able to return to the envelope. Alone in the break room and out of his work uniform, Inuyasha carefully opened the envelope. Inside was a single piece of paper. It was handwritten, the text in almost machine-like quality, yet flawed in elegant ways no computer could match. Inuyasha's eyes flew over the paper, taking in everything.
Dear Inuyasha,
If you are reading this, then our search has been successful. I wish I could have contacted you earlier, but until recent events forced us to change tactics, our search for you has been woefully inadequate. With a heavy heart, I regret to inform you that your father has passed away. He did not suffer and was surrounded by loved ones. He was a valued member of our community and will be dearly missed.
As per his wish, I have been named executor to his final will and testament. Your father had an extensive estate and businesses, all of which he has bequeathed unto you, Inuyasha Taisho.
While this is all understandably overwhelming to you, time is not on our side. While I have written this moments after your father's passing, I do not know when this letter will finally reach you – though I have faith it will reach you in time. I humbly request that you join me in exacting your father's will. If too much time passes, I am afraid your father's estate will be divided amongst the community he has worked so hard to support. I understand that this will be a burden, but I assure you that your time will be well spent. I hope to take no more than a week of your time to finish the transfer of your father's estate to your own.
As soon as possible, I beseech you to contact the party responsible for handing you this letter. They will have all the required knowledge on setting you on the path to rightfully rejoin the community you were born into. Again, time is of the essence. Each passing moment is one of life and death. I endeavor to see you soon.
Your humblest of servants,
Miroku
Scratching his head, he reread the odd note. The language seemed old and unnecessarily formal. Do all lawyers talk like this? Whoever this Miroku guy was, he seemed like a pompous ass. Inuyasha could see him, sitting back in a nice cushy chair marking off the days until the deadline when the estate could be cut up and auctioned off to the highest bidder. Unfortunately for him, Inuyasha had no intention of letting that happen. He had a feeling this wasn't a scam. He was too poor to be a target for something this elaborate. Besides, if this is all legit, then they know about my past. About my mother's past. That alone made him want to pursue this as far as he could. He also figured the money would be good. Anywhere was better than here. Still, he couldn't shake the concern building in the back of his mind. It was clear his father had been quite wealthy – so why had his mother taken him and run? Why would someone leave the comforts of wealth to live in the gutter as a prostitute?
Walking over to the phone in the break room, Inuyasha fished out the crumpled business card he had shoved in his pocket. Dialing the number, it rang only once before it connected.
"Michael Bahram," came the curt answer.
"This is Inuyasha."
"What can I do for you Inuyasha?"
He glanced down at the letter he still held in his hand. "I read what was inside the envelope."
"I see."
"It said you had a way of getting me to this community."
"I assumed it would be something of that nature and I have made all the necessary arrangements. All I need to know is when you would like to go."
Inuyasha read the last part of the message again. "One of life and death." A bit dramatic… There was no reason to hold off anyways. It wasn't like he had much of a life here holding him here. Besides, if there was indeed an inheritance involved, he was never coming back here again.
Clutching the letter tightly, he looked up as he adjusted the phone against his face. "As soon as possible."
oOOOo
Inuyasha never felt as sick as he did now. He clutched the railing as the boat bounced atop the water. It had been like this for hours. When Michael had told him he would have to travel on boat, Inuyasha figured it would be like a ferry or something of that nature. Instead, he had been surprised to find a man with a large speedboat waiting for him. After taking his luggage and securing it, they set off and had been going North East for quite some time. As someone who has never been on a boat before, Inuyasha was learning that he got seasick easily. Thus, he had spent the majority of the trip against the railing. He was beginning to suspect they were going to go around the entire country before a patch of green appeared on the horizon. From his spot against the railing, he watched as it slowly grew larger. He was sure his torment would be over soon before the engines cut off. Gradually, the boat bounced to a stop before settling into the waves.
"What's wrong?" Inuyasha asked weakly.
"Nothing's wrong," the man said, casually going about his business behind the driver's area.
"We stopped."
The man looked at him like he was stupid. "Yes. We did."
Frustrated, Inuyasha pointed off towards the island in the distance. "We are almost there."
"Another boat is coming," the driver said simply. "They will take you to the island."
"I thought you were."
The man shook his head. "That island is cursed."
Inuyasha frowned. "Cursed?" Great. All I need is a superstitious driver. He would have rather the man be shaking him down for a tip before continuing the rest of the way. Unfortunately for the man, Inuyasha didn't have much cash on him and he very much wanted to get out of the water as quickly as possible.
The man looked terrified as he looked past Inuyasha towards the island. "There is an evil there. People go there, but they do not leave."
"Are you seriously not going to drop me off?"
"No. We are going to wait for the other boat, as it was arranged." The man looked down at his watch and looked satisfied with what he saw.
Inuyasha sighed. Well, at least I feel a bit better when the boat isn't jumping around. He was about to settle down when he spied a white object coming towards them. Within a minute, it had transformed into a boat. Gathering what remained of his strength, Inuyasha stood in the boat as the other approached.
"Greetings," the new arrival hailed, shouting across the gap. "Inuyasha?" he called, looking directly at him.
"That's me," he said with a cautious look at the newcomer. It was an older man in his mid to low forties.
"It's an honor to finally meet you. I am here to take you to the island." He looked over to the first driver. "Thank you for bringing him here."
"Take your stuff and go," the man said, ignoring the thanks. "The faster I'm moving away from the island, the better."
The newcomer said nothing about the man's rudeness. Extending his arms, he took Inuyasha's luggage before helping Inuyasha across. His feet were barely on the deck of the new boat before the other gunned the engine and turned around back to where it came from. The older man smiled widely as he gestured to one of the seats. "Please," he said quickly. "Take a seat. Make yourself comfortable."
"Are all the people who come here like that?" Inuyasha asked, jerking his thumb back towards the retreating boat.
"Don't mind him. Outsiders fear the island." The boat started moving again, though nowhere near as fast as the other boat. Inuyasha could almost tolerate it.
"Is there anything to fear?" He had a sudden dread that he was walking into one of those movie situations where the entire village turns out to be a cannibalistic society that preyed on anyone dumb enough to pass through.
"Of course not," the man said with a grin. "We are a small community that keeps to ourselves. Many who visit our island falls in love with its charms and decides to stay."
"I see," Inuyasha said, looking forward at the growing island. It seemed to be in almost a bowl that was missing a side. Large hills rose in the far distance on three of the sides before gently declining down to the sea. There, he could see the docks that could house a dozen or so boats. Currently, there looked to be only three. He glanced back to the driver who was focusing on what was ahead of them. "How am I going to get back?"
"What's that?"
"How am I going to get back? Is that guy going to meet us out there again at the end of the week?"
The driver seemed to have no idea what he was talking about. Then it hit him. "Oh that. Yes. We will call someone to meet you to transport you back to the mainland." Something about the way he said it caused some unease in Inuyasha. It was like he never considered the possibility of Inuyasha leaving. Suddenly, the first guys warning seemed a little bit more real about anyone who came to the island didn't leave.
The rest of the trip was in silence. The moment the boat came into contact with the dock, Inuyasha jumped ship with luggage in hand. The world seemed to rock a bit as he made his way over the wood towards land. A young man stood at the end, a wide smile on his face. He stood out because he was dressed like a stereotypical butler – which was ridiculous considering the heat and humidity. His black hair was carefully groomed, a small braid in the back. Steady eyes watched him to the end of the dock. Actually, quite a few people were staring at him. Clearly they didn't get many visitors, as everyone had stopped what they were doing to stare at him.
"Young Master!" the man said, his fit body bowing slightly as he placed one of his gloved hands against his chest. "It is an honor to see you after all these years." He straightened again. "My, you have grown."
"Uh, sorry. Do I know you?"
The question seemed to snap the man back to reality. "How rude of me. I am Miroku, caretaker of your father's estate until it is successfully transferred into your capable hands." He gestured for Inuyasha to come forward. "I have prepared transportation. If you would please follow me." At the same time, he took Inuyasha's luggage. Following Miroku, Inuyasha took a moment to look around. The buildings looked ancient, but in a weird way. They were clearly classically inspired, but the all were newly constructed. It reminded him of a historical village – the ones that hire actors to give an idea of how past generations lived. A vintage car awaited them on the street. Inuyasha was shocked when Miroku opened the door and placed his luggage next to it. The car was an old model. Ancient in the car world, yet it looked pristine. Once inside, Miroku closed the door and put his luggage in the trunk. From there, he climbed into the other side and the car took off. Whoever was driving was behind a privacy wall.
"I will take you on the tour of the city tomorrow. I guessed you would be exhausted after your trip and would like to get rest first."
Inuyasha smiled wearily. "That sounds fantastic."
As the car took a leisurely pace through the streets, Inuyasha noticed there were no other cars on the road. In fact, this seemed to be the only one. "Where are all the cars?" he asked, looking at Miroku.
"This is one of the few cars on the island. As this is an island, importing a vehicle is expensive. Besides, the island itself is not large provided you stay within and around the village. We have a few vehicles to help move cargo and for emergencies, but they are shared among the community."
Looking back out the window, there were more examples of ancient building designs that looked brand new. There were a few exceptions along the way, but they were quite rare. Moreover, he was getting the feeling people were looking at him like at the docks. He could see it as they passed people. They would all stop what they were doing to watch the car pass. Some, he could have sworn bowed as they passed.
"How many people are on the island?" Inuyasha asked.
"Six hundred forty-four," Miroku responded, barely hesitating. "It is a rather small community, so changes to that number spread quickly," he explained. "We have all modern amenities despite the rather quaint appearance of the buildings. Our power comes from several wind turbines and the solar farm located on the northern side of the island. We have diesel generators as backup for the stormy season. Food comes from the fields to the west as well as the sea. Other than a few, nonessential items, our island is completely self-sustainable." There was a pride in his voice as he spoke.
"I see." There was a small hesitation before he continued. "What's with the bowing?"
"Your father was a great man. A well-respected member of the community here. His passing has deeply affected us." He sounded sad as he spoke. Inuyasha wondered how long Miroku had worked for his father. Clearly, they had been close. "They are just paying their respect."
Inuyasha was frowning. "I haven't done anything to earn their respect."
"Your mere presence here is of great importance to us. Finding you was a matter of life and death. Now that you are here, people will sleep easier."
"Were you that worried that my father's estate would be divided into the community?"
"Oh yes," Miroku said, face grim. "Your father was the main reason this village exists. Without him, none of us would be here."
"That's a bit of an exaggeration."
"Not at all." He smiled. "But I know this is all overwhelming to you. In time, all will become clear."
Inuyasha just nodded. Outside, the town had been replaced by dense trees as they continued down a windy road. "So, I don't mean to sound greedy but… how much am I looking at inheriting?"
Miroku smiled. "I assure you Young Master, you will want for nothing." Inuyasha smiled as he leaned back in his seat. He liked the sound of that.
oOOOo
Inuyasha was in awe as the house came into view, the forest giving way to carefully managed landscaping. The house itself was massive. A mansion that sprawled over the cleared grounds. Behind it, the hill grew steeper, returning to dense woods that covered it. The mansion reminded him of a plantation house, only much larger. Towering white columns dotted the wrap around porch, holding the second floor and roof overhang. It seemed like one could walk around outside the house on the second floor as well. Windows dotted the house on both floors, suggesting a multitude of rooms. Like everything else on the island, it was in pristine condition even though it was an older design.
"Wow," he breathed as he stared out the window. The car rolled around the massive fountain in the center of the road. Inuyasha was shocked to find a large gathering of people standing in front of the walkway leading up to the house. There were a lot of strange things, but this was his official top of the day. There had to be fifty or sixty people there. It didn't take long for him to realize the vast majority of them were women. Even more bizarre, while the men looked like Miroku, the women were all dressed in maid costumes. These weren't the sexy maid costumes your lover bought for the bedroom, but real, official maid costumes. They had high collars, with a black lace tied just below the neck. The sleeves were short, ending just an inch or so down from the shoulders. The majority of the outfit was black, though the center was white as well as the apron and trim of the short skirt. All the women were wearing white gloves that ended at the elbow.
"I was not expecting this," he said aloud as the car pulled to a stop.
"The staff wishes to greet you on your return home," Miroku said before stepping out. I have staff? Inuyasha tried the door to find it locked. Frowning, he waited for Miroku to walk around and let him out. As he exited the car, all the people bowed deeply.
"Welcome home Young Master," they all said in unison.
"Uh… Thanks?" he managed to say. This was extremely strange and uncomfortable. Everyone was acting like they knew him, yet he hadn't met a single person until today. None of them looked much older than he was either.
Beside him, Miroku clapped twice as he raised his voice slightly. "Very good everyone. I thank you all for giving the Young Master a warm welcome. Now, I ask you to return to your tasks." With smiles on their faces and a soft murmur of chatter, the large group dispersed into the house. Turning, Miroku faced him with a smile of his own. "Now, welcome home Young Master. Come, let me show you inside."
If the outside was inspiring, the inside was immaculate. He had never seen such a clean building before, let alone something so luxuriously decorated. The floors of the main entrance were marble, lush red rugs marked roads for people to follow. Paintings and statues filled the room and walls. There was a timeless age to everything. It was like everything looked old, but none of it was. It showed the dedication and passion the employees put into their work here.
My father must have been a hell of a man to command this much respect and reverence. It made no sense why his mother left though. For the first time in his life, he felt anger towards his mother, a feeling that immediately made him feel guilt. He could have lived here, growing up in a life of luxury and wealth. Instead, he had to struggle each day to care for a dying woman who had plucked him from the very top of society and abandoned him at the lowest.
"You must be exhausted from your trip," Miroku said, snapping him out of his thoughts. "Should I have a bath drawn for you? Dinner? Or would you simply like to rest?"
Inuyasha realized that he hadn't ate in quite some time. "I could actually use something to eat."
"Perfect. I will have the chef prepare something for you immediately. In the meantime…" He clapped his hands twice. Seemingly out of nowhere, a woman appeared. When she was standing in front of them, she bowed. "Allow me to introduce you to Sango."
"A pleasure to meet you again Young Master," she said softly.
"Erm, yes," he muttered, not sure what to say. Their familiarity was throwing him off.
"Would you please guide the Young Master to the dinning hall?" Miroku asked.
"Of course." She smiled brightly at Inuyasha. It was far different than the smile he was used to seeing from Mika. Sango was full of life and the desire to live. For her, the future was wide open with possibilities. Even more, she was smiling at him. That made him blush. A woman had never smiled at him like that. "If you would follow me…"
As they separated from Miroku, he continued to look around as he slowly trailed after her. The house was massive and there was so much to see. "This is a beautiful house," he said softly. Silently, he tried to imagine how much a place like this went for. It easily exceeded twenty million. God, what the hell am I going to do with all that money when I get it? This was even before he got whatever liquid assets his father had.
"It is, and it is your home."
They walked a bit more in silence before he spoke up. "Why does everyone call me Young Master?"
"Because that's who you are. You are the son of the Master. Once you take official ownership of this house, you will become the Master."
He scratched his chin. "Yeah but… It makes me a bit uncomfortable."
Sango tilted her head. "I'm not sure I follow."
"Calling me Young Master and the bowing. It's all a bit much."
"I'm sorry. It's just… We've always done things this way."
"You called my father Master?"
"Of course." She made it sound like that was the most obvious thing in the world.
A few more steps in silence. "What was he like?"
"The Master?" She thought for a moment. "Kind. Loving. Powerful. Loyal. Caring. Passionate. Strong. Intense." None of those gave Inuyasha any clearer idea of who his father was. Sango seemed to realize this because she looked over her shoulder. "Your father was a great man who gave so much to this island and its people. He also loved your mother very much."
"You knew my mother?"
"Of course. I know everyone on this island." This surprised him. She looked to be around his age. Maybe, just maybe, she was pushing thirty, but he figured she was probably closer to low twenties. "Here we are," she said, opening a large door to reveal a long table in a wide sweeping hall of a room. "If you would take a seat at the head, I will go check on preparations."
"Before you go," he said quickly. She turned and smiled at him patiently. "I have to know. What's up with the maid outfits?"
Sango blinked a few times, like she didn't understand the question. Looking down, she examined her uniform. "We have worn these since long before you were born. Do you dislike them?"
"Well, no, but I haven't seen someone wear them for work since I went to a maid café a few years back."
"These were the uniforms the Master wished us to wear. Of course, you may change them to something more to your tastes. Is there something you wish for us to wear?"
"No! No," he said, clearing his throat. "They look… nice." Sango beamed at him in joy. "That is all." With another bow, Sango left him alone in the room.
Not sure what to do now that he was alone in the massive room, he took a moment to look at the paintings that decorated the wall. He paused before two of them. They were pictures of two intense men. It was clear they were related. One was slightly older than the other, but not by much. He figured the older one was probably in his late thirties while the younger one was early thirties. The last one was a larger painting of a family. The clothing the people wore betrayed its age. I wonder how much these would go for…
"Young Master," a female voice softly called. He turned from his thoughts to find another maid standing there. "I-I just would like to say, on behalf of all of us… T-thank you for returning home." He tilted his head to the side, confused. She blushed, eyes flitting away from his own.
"Cecile, return to your duties," an authoritative woman commanded behind him. The demure woman paled, eyes widening before bowing deeply and scuttling off the way she came. Turning, Inuyasha found a striking woman making her way to him. Unlike the other women he had met thus far, she had a critical look in her eye as she sized him up. She was also not smiling, her lips a thin line. "Young Master," she started, voice low as she appraised him like some prized cattle. He remained in place as she made her way around him, circling him like a hawk determining the best angle to swoop down and snatch its unsuspecting prey. Stopping before him, she gave a sharp nod. "It seems like you have remained in relatively good shape. I am glad Izayoi did not completely abandon her duty."
The contempt in her voice touched a nerve. "I don't know who you are but—"
"Kikyo." The woman's voice was terse, maybe even emotionless. "I am – was – housekeeper here at the manor." She tilted her head up proudly. "I intend to continue that role until the new master chooses my replacement."
With a smug smile, Inuyasha leans forward. "In case you haven't noticed, I am the new master around here."
Her sharp glare killed his smile as he felt his back straighten. "You may carry the Master's blood, but you are not the Master until you are chosen." Inuyasha blinked, startled and confused. He stood there, mute. Her expression softened slightly. The tone was almost warm and concerned as she continued. "Izayoi… How is she?" she asked softly.
"She died," Inuyasha said slowly. "About five years ago."
To his surprise, the woman closed her eyes and nodded graciously. It was as if a suspicion had been confirmed. When she opened her eyes, there was a gentleness that had not been there a moment ago. She opened her mouth to speak.
"Kikyo?" She looked past him as he turned to the voice. Miroku was standing there looking displeased. He gave a concise smile as two maids walked past him carrying trays of food. "I believe you have duties to attend… yes?"
"As housekeeper, I was merely introducing myself to the Young Master." Miroku didn't look convinced, staring the woman down. It was an odd dynamic playing out as Inuyasha looked between the two. Neither of the two looked much older than he was. Rich people sure are an odd bunch. While he doubted any of the servants were actually rich, hanging around this environment clearly did a number on their attitudes. Kikyo looked back to Inuyasha and smiled. "As I was saying Young Master. If there is anything you need, feel free to ask of it and I shall do my best to make your stay a pleasant one."
"Uh… right," Inuyasha said, trying to match her fake smile with his own. She spun on her feet and walked to the door. He was impressed with the grace of her movements.
"I apologize for that Young Master," Miroku said, quickly coming to his side. "Kikyo means well. The Master's passing has been… stressful… for all of us."
"Inuyasha," he said, turning to face Miroku. "Calling me 'Young Master' sounds kind of creepy. Just call me Inuyasha."
"Of course… Inuyasha." Inuyasha grinned. Miroku had managed to make his name just as awkward sounding as 'Young Master' had been.
Rubbing his hands, Inuyasha looked back to where the women had been setting up a sizable spread of food. "But that's enough about that… I'm starving!" There was one thing that had been drilled into him young: Never, ever turn away free food. Seeing the massive heap of food he had never seen before, Inuyasha began to wonder if he had died. That the man in the suit who called his name had actually put a round or two in him and Inuyasha was in the final moments of bleeding out, his brain painting him a pleasant lie before fading out into oblivion.
He took a seat at the table, mouth watering as Miroku proudly announced the dished before him. Inuyasha had never heard of most of them. Hell, he would be hard pressed to repeat the names. That didn't stop him from digging in. Shit, he thought between mouthfuls. I could get used to this.
oOOOo
The servant quarters were abuzz with excited gossip – even with Kikyo doing her best to squelch the idle chatter. Even with the arrival of the Young Master, there was still work to be done. Clothes needed washed, banisters dusted, floors swept. Being midweek, they needed to take the truck down to the village for their weekly supplies. Kagome had to admit, it was difficult to focus on work with all the excitement. Since Master Taisho passed away, the manor had been suffering in morale. It took a solid month of grieving for things to even begin to resemble normal. The following months, everyone had thrown themselves into their work trying to forget the pain they all felt. Worse, they could see the effect of the Master's death bleed away from them. It wasn't just the manor. The village itself was in a panic as everyone began to contemplate the implications.
Sango was nearly breathless as she tapped Kagome on the shoulder. "I saw him!" she gasped, leaning forward. "I actually saw him!"
Kagome frowned, looking up at her friend. "Everyone saw him silly," she said with a grin. "We all greeted him, remember?"
"Yes, yes," she said, waving her hand in front of her face. "But I saw him. Up close!" Her smile widened. "I even talked to him."
Kagome leaned back in her chair to get a better view of her friend. She couldn't help but be curious. "And? How is he?"
There was a pause. Concern appeared on her face as she thought back. "He was a little on the thin side. Nothing too bad, but… Concerning." She fidgeted. "I don't think he had an easy time out there."
Kagome frowned, feeling an old anger boil up inside her. "Of course he didn't. How could he outside the island?" She took a deep breath, closing her eyes to help dissipate the anger. It doesn't matter anymore. He's here. He's safe now. "All that matters now is that the Young Master has returned."
Sango smiled, her shoulders relaxing. "You think everything is going to go okay?"
Kagome gnawed on her lower lip. It was the fear everyone had. She could sense it as she looked around at the other girls. They were chatting happily, smiling, celebrating. But that was only a cover for the fear they all held. Yes, he returned, but will the island accept him? It wasn't the time to dwell on that. Not now. They had to take the small victories where they could. Just finding him had been a miracle in itself.
"I don't know," Kagome found herself saying, her voice quiet enough so just Sango could hear. "I guess we'll have to find out in time."
Sango nodded sadly. "Yeah. The one thing we don't have."
OOOOo
Inuyasha couldn't remember when the last time he had felt so full before. He had stuffed himself to the brim… then ate a few more bites for good measure. Now, he felt sick as he followed Miroku around for a tour of the house. The discomfort was far better than the hunger pains of an empty stomach.
Leaving the dining room, Inuyasha found the house was a giant maze. He was lost after the first few turns. Miroku's words were lost on him as he looked at the décor that lined the halls. Paintings, suits of armor, old antiques in such pristine condition that he could have named his price.
And this is all mine. He vaguely remembered that he had a half-brother, but there was no indication that he would be involved. Even if his half-brother ended up with 90% of everything, there was more than enough left over for Inuyasha to live the rest of his days as a king.
Priceless trinkets weren't the only thing to catch his eye. It was impossible to not notice the women moving about the manor. Besides the uniform and the deep bows as he passed, Inuyasha couldn't help but notice how attractive they all were. Just like everything else in the manor, the women were images of flawless perfection. Then again, they could have been average and his standards were so low, everyone looked like a model of perfection. Where he was from, the bar was quite low. Not having obvious track marks was probably the best you could ask for. He would have thought catching their eye would overjoy him, but for a man who had spent the better part of his life as invisible, suddenly being the focus of attention was unnerving and unnatural. It made him uncomfortable how everyone seemed to be ready to leap to cater to his every need.
They must have been walking for an hour before Inuyasha finally stopped Miroku. He realized they hadn't even gotten to the second floor yet. "I don't mean to be rude, but how long is this going to take?"
Miroku seemed surprised. "I'm sorry?"
Inuyasha smiled awkwardly, realizing his question came off as rude. "I mean… not the tour. The paperwork. How many days to get everything settled?"
The butler relaxed. "Ah that. No more than a few days I suspect."
Inuyasha shifted anxiously. "So uh… as nice as all this is, I really would like to just rest up. The boat ride over was… intense."
Miroku grimaced as if he had been physically struck. "Of course. I apologize for my thoughtlessness."
Inuyasha chuckled. "I wouldn't go that far…"
"Master Taisho was never good with the water either."
"Yeah?" That piece of news was probably the most he had learned about his father since he came here. His eyes followed a maid as she passed. Her eyes seemed to sparkle as she smiled at him. That and his odd taste in uniforms.
"I'll take you to your room."
"I would appreciate that." He followed Miroku upstairs and through winding hallways. He smiled politely and nodded awkwardly at the maids as he passed them. They stopped before two large wooden doors.
"Your room – at least for the moment," Miroku said as he pushed open the doors to reveal a massive room. It was as disgustingly ornate and pristine as the rest of the house. Deep red wood ran along the base of the wall, giving way to a dark red paint. The floor itself was a lush red carpet. The bed was center stage from his position at the door. It was gargantuan. It could fit three or four comfortably. Miroku walked inside, Inuyasha following, mouth agape. "There is a full, private bath through that door," he said, gesturing to the right. "Unfortunately, we do not have your size, so your wardrobe is sadly limited to what you brought with you. If you have a request, please let me know and I will have it brought to you."
"This is… amazing."
Miroku smiled proudly. "It is not the master room, but I do hope it is satisfactory."
Inuyasha was surprised. "There is a bigger room than this?"
"Of course. However, it is the Master's room."
Inuyasha nodded slowly. "No… No this is perfect. This is… more than perfect."
"I'm happy to hear you say that," Miroku said with a grin. "Is there anything else I can get for you?"
"No, you've done more than enough. Thank you."
"It is a pleasure Young Master." Inuyasha let that slide. It was clear certain mannerisms were drilled into the poor guy. "If you need anything at all, please let us know." He gestured to an antique looking phone sitting on the nightstand. "You can use that phone if you do not wish to leave the room." Inuyasha nodded. "May I inform the chef you will be having breakfast in the morning?"
"Oh yes. You definitely may."
With that, Miroku gave him a bow and backed out of the room, closing the doors as he exited.
"Fuck. Me." Inuyasha muttered softly as he looked around the room. With a running start, he leapt onto the bed, laughing as he sunk into the soft bed. It was heaven. It had to be. He closed his eyes, a smile permanently etched on his face. "I could get used to this."
oOOOo
Inuyasha figured he dreamed. He would never remember them, but he was under the impression that everyone had them. This was the first time he realized he was in a dream. He could finally understand how people found them bizarre. In his dream, everything was black and white. He stood atop a black island. It was tiny, barely enough for him to stand upon. Surrounding him was a pure white light. An ocean of light. If he looked close enough, he could see the tiny waves crash against the black land that made up the island. The sky was as black as the island he stood upon. Off in the far distance, there was a straight line where the sky met the white ocean.
And that was it. He couldn't move from his island. Standing there, he looked around, trying to find some purpose to his dream. That he knew it was a dream was weird as well. Looking up, he shouted to the sky, demanding he wake up. He cursed loudly, feeling cheated. The first time he was conscious of a dream and it wasn't anything good. There should have been a supermodel hanging off him. Hell, he would have settled for any of the girls working in the manor. Well, maybe not Kikyo. No matter how good she looked, she still seemed like a bitch. Still, he had heard from a lot of the thugs and gangsters that those where the freakiest ones in bed.
Movement caught his eye. He watched in awe as a figure emerged from the ocean. It seemingly walked on water, moving towards him until it was a few dozen steps away. Like everything else, it was awash in pure white. The only reason he could see it was due to the black sky behind it.
"Hello?" he asked, hearing his voice echo around him. The figure said nothing, standing there. It was immensely creepy as the thing had no facial features. Just a general shape of a human. Without a word, the thing held out its arm, offering him a hand. It said nothing, unmoving as it continued to hold out its hand. Inuyasha stared at it until the dream was broken by the morning sun.
oOOOo
Been a while since I last sat down and started writing. The ideas are there, but actually taking the time to sit down and write them isn't. I've actually been sitting on three chapters of this story, but never got around to releasing them. So far, this story is more Inuyasha-centric than my other stories. As a warning, if you don't like harem-esk stories, you probably won't like this one. Expect non-traditional pairings as well.
As always, hope you enjoyed. Until next time…