AN: The second half is now up!
Chapter Two
Kagome awoke early the next morning. The sun hadn't even completely rose yet, but she found Inu-yasha was gone from their bed. She pulled some of the sheets around her, and got up to look for him. She didn't have to look far. Through the window, she saw him out in the courtyard, with an arm full of wildflowers. He was heading over to the small shrine. Behind it was a field of graves. Some of them well tended, some left ragged and decrepit. At one of these forgotten graves, Inu-yasha knelt down, and palce each flower, one by one, on the ground and around the crumbling stones that covered the grave.
As Kagome quietly walked up behind him, she read the name engraved on the stone. She knew this name. It had bee his mother's. When Inu-yasha was done adorning the neglected grave, he began to brush off his dirty knees. Kagome stepped up, and place a hand on his shoulder.
He turned his head, but didn't speak. She said nothing, either. This was not a moment for words. Words were useless here. She said a quick prayer in her mind, asking that his mother be granted peace, and knowledge that her son still loved her, before Inu-yasha stood up, and they went back to their room.
"She loved fresh flowers," he finally said, while she was getting dressed. "She'd take me to go pick them everyday. She liked filling the old vases with them. She hated having things around that didn't look happy. She believed that everything had a spirit, and a heart, and that if we did happy things, then we would be happy."
"That's why you were so nice to Midori,' Kagome said. "She's your mother all over again. I feel awful for being jealous."
"Forget it," he said. "Let's get some breakfast and go home."
"You don't want to stay?" she asked.
"I did what I came here to do," he said, opening the door. "Let's go." She followed him without question.
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When they'd all assembled in the dinning room again, Kagome noticed several things. One, Kenji was a bit happier this morning. Two, Miroku was definatly a lot happier. Three, several of Midori's sisters were blushing. And four, Songo was ticked beyond all reason, and her hand was bandaged.
"Songo," Kagome asked, "What happened to your hand?"
"Oh nothing," Songo said harshly. "Just a little accident. Nothing serious." All the while, she was making evil eyes at Miroku.
"Are you sure you will not stay longer with us, cousin?" Katsuro asked Inu-yasha.
"Positive," Inu-yasha grumbled.
Midori had a sad look on her face. She came to sit beside Inu-yasha , and said sadly, "Please won't you stay? We've hardly spent any time together, and I want to get to know you."
"Now, Midori," Katsuro said, "If our noble must leave, then he must. But I had hoped to ask you for a favor…"
"Here it comes," Inu-yasha said. "Just like I expected. What is it? A warlord? A nasty demon? Can't any of your men take care of it?"
"Well…" Kasturo said, looking distressed, "I'd heard of your exploits. Is it true that you travel around the country, helping distressed villages dispose of demons?"
"Yeah," Inu-yasha said, "It's kind of a hobby. I like to think that it keeps me out of trouble."
"Then, perhaps you could help us," Katsuro said.
"Father," Kenji interrupted, "I don't think we should bother Inu-yasha with this matter. It's really nothing to get upset about. It's only a water nymph."
"A nymph?" the young man's father said, raising his voice, "It is a DEMON, from the depths of the river. Always causing me trouble. Keeping water from our farmer's crops, luring innocent people to water deaths! It is a menace! You see, Inu-yasha, we are desperate need of help."
"So you got a nymph," Inu-yasha said. "Why should I waste my time with that?"
"Because this nymph carries around her neck a shard of the Sacred Shikon no Tama."
Inu-yasha and the others gasped. "A Jewel Shard?!" Inu-yasha exclaimed. "Kagome, haven't you felt anything?"
"No, but, then again, I haven't been near the river."
"If this nymph carries a Shard, then we must retrieve it," Miroku said, looking noble as he spoke.
"Do you know where the nymph is seen most often?" Songo asked.
"Near the dam," Katsuro answered. "She's appeared there most nights in the early evening. I fear she may destroy it, and we need that dam to bring water to our farms and to the palace. It rains so scarcely here during the summer seasons…. We need that dam to survive."
"Fine then," Inu-yasha said. "We'll wait around till sunset, and deal with this nymph- but that's it! As soon as we're done and we have the shard, we're out of here."
"Thank you cousin," Katsuro said, giving a bow. "You are most kind."
"Feh," Inu-yasha said. He got up and left. Midori immediately got up and followed after him. But Kagome saw Kenji leave quickly, too. She thought about what he'd said before. '"It's ONLY a water nymph…"' What was going on here? It was like Kenji didn't want them to kill it…
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"Wait!" Midori called, running out into the hallway behind Inu-yasha . She grabbed his arm, and tried to get him to stop. "Please wait!"
"What now?" he mumbled. Midori looked up him, her eyes begging him to listen.
"There's something you don't understand about this water nymph." Midori said.
"What's to understand?" he asked. "It's got a Shard, and it's causing trouble."
"That's not exactly true," Midori said. "There's something my father isn't telling you."
"Yeah?" Inu-yasha asked, "Then why are you telling me, now?"
"Because I like you, Inu-yasha," Midori said. "I've always heard stories about you, but most of them were bad. I knew they couldn't be true, because of the other stories about how you help people, and how you right wrongs… I knew you couldn't be an evil monster, like my father's always saying you are."
"So, he still hasn't changed his tune," Inu-yasha mused. "Figures. He just wants me to kill this nymph. Why is that? What's he got against her?"
"Come with me," Midori said as they went back to the dinning room to collect the others.
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Kenji looked behind him, making sure no one had followed him. Then, he proceeded to the little man made lake. He peered into the water, and called out, "Jiang. Jiang! I must speak with you, my love."
The surface of the water rippled, and then the head of a woman appeared out of water. She slowly swam up to the shore, and sat with her legs still in the water. She was beautiful. Her long, dark green hair flowed about her shoulders and back, and her pale skin shimmered like seashells. Here eyes were a clear, bright blue, like the waters of her birth. On her elbows and knees were translucent fins that were not unlike the silver veils that just barely covered her body.
Then, she said in a voice as sweet and peaceful as running waterfalls, "What troubles you so, my dearest Kenji?"
"My father has betrayed once again," he said, taking on of her hands in his. "He has summoned my half demon cousin to kill you! He's told him lies upon lies about you, my beloved. You must leave this place, now!"
"I can't leave you," she cried. "Life without you would be unbearable! I vowed to never leave you, and I will keepo that vow."
"And I vowed to protect you, that our love may never die," Kenji argued, passionately. "And I intend to keep that vow."
"My Kenji… what about-"
"He must go, too," Kenji said, his dearest love began to cry in his arms. "I can bear my father's wrath, but… You both must go."
"Never!" she cried, "I would rather die than be parted from you!"
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"You see," Midori whispered to Inu-yasha. He had led all five of them to this place, to show them the truth. "Jiang is Kenji's wife. They were married in secret two years ago. And that's not all…" They all watched as a little boy swam up formt hr water, and up to the shore. He looked human, but on closer examination, his feet and hands were webbed, and he had very small, translucent fins on his ankles. But the resemblance to Kenji was unmistakable.
"They had a baby?" Kagome whispered. She and Songo both were touched deeply by this sad, forbidden love story unfolding before them.
"Yes," Midori answered her. "His name is Shui. I've visited him sometimes. He's the sweetest little boy I've ever known. But I fear what father's reaction might be if he found out."
"So then there's no Jewel?" Inu-yasha asked getting somewhat upset.
"There is a jewel," Midori said, "But it resides in father's chamber."
"That no good, sorry, stinking liar," Inu-yasha seethed.
"But why would he lie about a water nymph."
"Because the nymph has been trying to destroy the dam," Midori said, "That much is true. She says the river is dying, and that it's because of the dam. And the truth is that if the river ran freely, then the farmers would get much more water."
"That's not the only reason, I'll bet," Inu-yasha said, "This is just like my parents. He and everyone else in my mother's family said my birth was a disgrace on their heads, and that my father should have been killed the instant he set foot in the palace."
"What do you mean?" Kagome asked.
"That's how they met," Inu-yasha said. "He disguised himself as lord. Then, when my mother's family found out and forbade them to see each other again, he snuck in her bedroom one night. Not long after that, I was born and he died."
"Then your cousin wishes to get rid of this nymph before the same fate could Kenji." Miroku stated.
"And It already has," Songo said.
"That B------ isn't getting away with this," Inu-yasha snarled. He turned around to them, and said, "Do what ever you can to get them all out of here. I'm going to do something I should have done a long time ago."
"Inu-yasha," Kagome said, "Don't go do something stupid that you'll regret later."
"Trust me," he said, "I ain't gonna regret this."
"Please," Midori pleaded, :don't kill my father. In know he's a wicked man, but he is still my family. Our family."
"Alright then," he said. "I won't kill him… but I still have to get that Jewel Shard from him."
"Then you'll need me," Kagome said. "Songo, Miroku, Shippo, you'll have to help Kenji and his family."
"Of course," Songo said. She, Miroku, and Shippo, with Kirara in tail, left the brush. Kagome and Inu-yasha went back to the palace.
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Katsuro waited in his chambers. Where had Inu-yasha and the others gone? To kill the water nymph, perhaps? Was he in that big of a hurry to leave? Yes, of course. His half breed cousin had not changed one bit in all these years. He was still impulsive and reckless. But that would his undoing. Once his son saw what Inu-yasha would do to that wretched water nymph, Kenji would finally rid their family of this walking mistake.
Katsuro had always hated Inu-yasha, just as his father before him had done so. He remembered what his father had taught him. That there was no room in this family for half-breed bastards- especially ones born to the heir. Yes, his aunt had carried as her dowry the right to rule over this province. That's why she had to be disposed of, slowly and quietly. The best kind of treachery… poison. The same poison he would use on Inu-yasha. He wouldn't do as he'd had done before- slowly feeding the poison into the body, to make it appear as an illness that had no cure- but it would have the same effect.
He went to a cupboard, and opened the doors. Inside on a chain hung the glimmering Shard. Taken from one of his lowly servants, who'd tried to hide it from him, it hung now safe and out of reach of any who would take it form him.
This Shard had given him power beyond imagining. Given him more power than that nymph, at least. He himself erected the dam using the strength of this Shard to rip trees apart and block up the river. But still, she lingered. He knew she was still there, bewitching his only surviving son. He would not have it! He would not lose his son! He closed the doors to the cupboard, and placed the chain and the Shard around his neck. Then… he sat and let the power flow through him.
Then, suddenly, he heard his servants outside, screaming. They were crying out in absolute terror, "Look out!" "It's Inu-yasha!" Katsuro rose on his feet just as the han-you burst through the door.
"You!" Inu-yasha screamed. "You lying sack of-"
"Sit, my cousin," Katsuro said, keeping a calm demeanor, "Why don you come to me so riled?"
"Enough of your innocent act!" Inu-yasha shouted, "I know why you brought me here! You brought me here to do your dirty work and kill that nymph! Well Kenji loves her, and I'm not gonna let you do to them what you, and too many others, did to my mother and father!"
"You don't know the half of it," Katsuro said, and flung a small table at Inu-yasha. He burst through the wooden walls of his room, and slid down the rof of his palace to the ground.
"Inu-yasha!" Kagome called from the courtyard, "He's got a Jewel Shard!"
"Oh really!?" Inu-yasha shouted as he followed Katsuro down, "I thought all could humans could burst through walls!"
"Just hurry and stop him before he hurts Kenji and Jiang!" Kagome yelled.
"Soldiers!" Katsuro summoned, "Protect me!" nearly a hundred men ran out of the palace, aiming arrows at Inu-yasha. The fired arrow upon arrow, but the Fire Rat cloak shattered them. They threw nets to bind him, but Inu-yasha's claws were stronger than any rope. He leaped from tree tops and roof tops Katsuro, who ran at unbelievable speeds. Finally, Inu-yasha took a flying lunge down at Katsuro, and tackled him to the ground. They were near to the dam. As the two wrestled in the dust, the samurai raced to aid their lord. But from the dam came Kenji and Midori.
"Stop!" Kenji ordered the soldiers. They stopped in their tracks, but looked at their young master uncertainly.
"But, my lord," one said, "You're father…?"
"Is getting what he deserves." Kenji said. He and Midori turned around and watched their cousin pin their father to the ground. Inu-yasha had his foot on Katsuro's back, and his arm twisted back behind him.
"I should have done this a long time ago," Inu-yasha said.
"You should have been dead a long time ago," Katsuro sneered at him, "Like that hag mother of yours."
"What are you saying?" Inu-yasha growled.
"You are a fool, Inu-yuasha," Katsuro said, using Inu-yasha's name like an insult. "Think, you worthless half breed! Your mother was in the best of health, and then she suddenly fell ill…"
"You mean…?!?" Inu-yasha snarled, his eyes taking on a bloody twinge.
"I… Killed… Your… Mother!" Katsuro said with a evil smile on his face, looking half wild himself.
Inu-yasha let out a cry that stopped the hearts of all who had the misfortune of hearing it. Then, with lightening speed he drew the Tetsusaiga and held it's sharp, deadly blade to Katusro's neck.
"I oughta kill you right now," Inu-yasha growled, baring his fangs, "But you're not worth it." He sheathed his sword, and ripped the Jewel Shard from his neck before his dropped him and got up. Inu-yasha remembered his promise to Midori. He was capable of a lot of things… but he could never make her cry. That would be unforgivable.
Kenji stepped towards them, and held out a dagger to his father. He stared down at the man with cold eyes. "Father," he said, "You have disgraced this family tenfold. You have two choices. You can live in the shame of exile, as you have made Inu-yuasha live for over 50 years… Or you can take the only remaining honorable way out."
Katsuro looked from his son to his cousin. Then, he looked pleadingly to his youngest child and his soldiers. They all turned from him. He picked up the dagger, and then rose to his feet. He spit blood from his mouth, and said, "I will not suffer long." Then he ran off, following the lake into the woods.
"Shouldn't have known he was too afraid even to find honor in death." Inu-yasha said.
"He was right. He won't suffer long. If he follows the water, he will die."
"Why do say that?" Kagome asked, coming up to them.
"My Jiang is a kind soul, and quick to forgive. But she has many friends who aren't so merciful." He turned , then, to Inu-yasha. "I owe you an apology, Cousin."
"Why?" Inu-yasha asked. "You didn't do nothing."
"I believed my father's lies. That is why I feared you when my father planned to use you to kill my wife. I am sorry for doubting you. You are a child of love, just as my son is. And I will see to it that he will receive better treatment than you did."
"You do that." Inu-yasha said. A moment later, Miroku, Songo, and Shippo came from the woods, with Jiang and little Shui. "So what have you guys been up to all this time?" Inu-yasha asked them.
"We did something really cool," Shippo said excitedly. Shui Lifted up his hand, and a tidal wave came rushing through the courtyard, along the canal where the river had been.
"We tore down the dam," Songo said.
"Although that was a little overdramatic of my son," Jiang said as she picked up the toddler.
"Come," Kenji said, "Let us retire and celebrate."
"Celebrate what?" Inu-yasha asked him.
"My family's homecoming," Kenji said, taking Jiang's shimmery hand in his. They all started back to the palace, but Kagome turned around and noticed that Inu-yasha was not following them.
"Come on Inu-yasha," she said, going back to him and taking his hand. "You're his family, too."
"No I'm not," Inu-yasha said. They were joined by their other three friends. They stood together; Shippo, Songo, Miroku, Kagome, and Inu-yasha. "You guys are my family."
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The next morning, as they were getting ready to depart, Midori came running up to Inu-yasha. She looked at him, then gave him a hug. "You'll always be my hero," she said softly to Inu-yasha. He looked at her, once again taken by surprise. Then, the girl leaned up in her toes, and kissed him on the cheek before she went back to stand beside her brother.
"You'll always be welcome here," Kenji said. "You and your friends."
"I'll remember that," Inu-yasha said. "But do me a favor."
"Anything," Kenji said.
"Keep the graves in the back of the shrine in better care." Inu-yasha said. "And make sure they get fresh flowers everyday."
"It shall be done," Kenji replied.
"It is a pity I didn't get to spend more time here," Mirokun said as the other princesses surrounded him and cried at how cried bitter tears over him.
"We will miss, Lord Monk," they each said. Songo glared at Miroku, walked over, and gave him a swift crack to the head. As the lump grew, she dragged him behind her, following Inu-yasha and Kagome out the palace gates. They looked now to a familiar horizon. Home.
The End.
AN: Let the reviews commence!
Chapter Two
Kagome awoke early the next morning. The sun hadn't even completely rose yet, but she found Inu-yasha was gone from their bed. She pulled some of the sheets around her, and got up to look for him. She didn't have to look far. Through the window, she saw him out in the courtyard, with an arm full of wildflowers. He was heading over to the small shrine. Behind it was a field of graves. Some of them well tended, some left ragged and decrepit. At one of these forgotten graves, Inu-yasha knelt down, and palce each flower, one by one, on the ground and around the crumbling stones that covered the grave.
As Kagome quietly walked up behind him, she read the name engraved on the stone. She knew this name. It had bee his mother's. When Inu-yasha was done adorning the neglected grave, he began to brush off his dirty knees. Kagome stepped up, and place a hand on his shoulder.
He turned his head, but didn't speak. She said nothing, either. This was not a moment for words. Words were useless here. She said a quick prayer in her mind, asking that his mother be granted peace, and knowledge that her son still loved her, before Inu-yasha stood up, and they went back to their room.
"She loved fresh flowers," he finally said, while she was getting dressed. "She'd take me to go pick them everyday. She liked filling the old vases with them. She hated having things around that didn't look happy. She believed that everything had a spirit, and a heart, and that if we did happy things, then we would be happy."
"That's why you were so nice to Midori,' Kagome said. "She's your mother all over again. I feel awful for being jealous."
"Forget it," he said. "Let's get some breakfast and go home."
"You don't want to stay?" she asked.
"I did what I came here to do," he said, opening the door. "Let's go." She followed him without question.
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When they'd all assembled in the dinning room again, Kagome noticed several things. One, Kenji was a bit happier this morning. Two, Miroku was definatly a lot happier. Three, several of Midori's sisters were blushing. And four, Songo was ticked beyond all reason, and her hand was bandaged.
"Songo," Kagome asked, "What happened to your hand?"
"Oh nothing," Songo said harshly. "Just a little accident. Nothing serious." All the while, she was making evil eyes at Miroku.
"Are you sure you will not stay longer with us, cousin?" Katsuro asked Inu-yasha.
"Positive," Inu-yasha grumbled.
Midori had a sad look on her face. She came to sit beside Inu-yasha , and said sadly, "Please won't you stay? We've hardly spent any time together, and I want to get to know you."
"Now, Midori," Katsuro said, "If our noble must leave, then he must. But I had hoped to ask you for a favor…"
"Here it comes," Inu-yasha said. "Just like I expected. What is it? A warlord? A nasty demon? Can't any of your men take care of it?"
"Well…" Kasturo said, looking distressed, "I'd heard of your exploits. Is it true that you travel around the country, helping distressed villages dispose of demons?"
"Yeah," Inu-yasha said, "It's kind of a hobby. I like to think that it keeps me out of trouble."
"Then, perhaps you could help us," Katsuro said.
"Father," Kenji interrupted, "I don't think we should bother Inu-yasha with this matter. It's really nothing to get upset about. It's only a water nymph."
"A nymph?" the young man's father said, raising his voice, "It is a DEMON, from the depths of the river. Always causing me trouble. Keeping water from our farmer's crops, luring innocent people to water deaths! It is a menace! You see, Inu-yasha, we are desperate need of help."
"So you got a nymph," Inu-yasha said. "Why should I waste my time with that?"
"Because this nymph carries around her neck a shard of the Sacred Shikon no Tama."
Inu-yasha and the others gasped. "A Jewel Shard?!" Inu-yasha exclaimed. "Kagome, haven't you felt anything?"
"No, but, then again, I haven't been near the river."
"If this nymph carries a Shard, then we must retrieve it," Miroku said, looking noble as he spoke.
"Do you know where the nymph is seen most often?" Songo asked.
"Near the dam," Katsuro answered. "She's appeared there most nights in the early evening. I fear she may destroy it, and we need that dam to bring water to our farms and to the palace. It rains so scarcely here during the summer seasons…. We need that dam to survive."
"Fine then," Inu-yasha said. "We'll wait around till sunset, and deal with this nymph- but that's it! As soon as we're done and we have the shard, we're out of here."
"Thank you cousin," Katsuro said, giving a bow. "You are most kind."
"Feh," Inu-yasha said. He got up and left. Midori immediately got up and followed after him. But Kagome saw Kenji leave quickly, too. She thought about what he'd said before. '"It's ONLY a water nymph…"' What was going on here? It was like Kenji didn't want them to kill it…
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"Wait!" Midori called, running out into the hallway behind Inu-yasha . She grabbed his arm, and tried to get him to stop. "Please wait!"
"What now?" he mumbled. Midori looked up him, her eyes begging him to listen.
"There's something you don't understand about this water nymph." Midori said.
"What's to understand?" he asked. "It's got a Shard, and it's causing trouble."
"That's not exactly true," Midori said. "There's something my father isn't telling you."
"Yeah?" Inu-yasha asked, "Then why are you telling me, now?"
"Because I like you, Inu-yasha," Midori said. "I've always heard stories about you, but most of them were bad. I knew they couldn't be true, because of the other stories about how you help people, and how you right wrongs… I knew you couldn't be an evil monster, like my father's always saying you are."
"So, he still hasn't changed his tune," Inu-yasha mused. "Figures. He just wants me to kill this nymph. Why is that? What's he got against her?"
"Come with me," Midori said as they went back to the dinning room to collect the others.
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Kenji looked behind him, making sure no one had followed him. Then, he proceeded to the little man made lake. He peered into the water, and called out, "Jiang. Jiang! I must speak with you, my love."
The surface of the water rippled, and then the head of a woman appeared out of water. She slowly swam up to the shore, and sat with her legs still in the water. She was beautiful. Her long, dark green hair flowed about her shoulders and back, and her pale skin shimmered like seashells. Here eyes were a clear, bright blue, like the waters of her birth. On her elbows and knees were translucent fins that were not unlike the silver veils that just barely covered her body.
Then, she said in a voice as sweet and peaceful as running waterfalls, "What troubles you so, my dearest Kenji?"
"My father has betrayed once again," he said, taking on of her hands in his. "He has summoned my half demon cousin to kill you! He's told him lies upon lies about you, my beloved. You must leave this place, now!"
"I can't leave you," she cried. "Life without you would be unbearable! I vowed to never leave you, and I will keepo that vow."
"And I vowed to protect you, that our love may never die," Kenji argued, passionately. "And I intend to keep that vow."
"My Kenji… what about-"
"He must go, too," Kenji said, his dearest love began to cry in his arms. "I can bear my father's wrath, but… You both must go."
"Never!" she cried, "I would rather die than be parted from you!"
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"You see," Midori whispered to Inu-yasha. He had led all five of them to this place, to show them the truth. "Jiang is Kenji's wife. They were married in secret two years ago. And that's not all…" They all watched as a little boy swam up formt hr water, and up to the shore. He looked human, but on closer examination, his feet and hands were webbed, and he had very small, translucent fins on his ankles. But the resemblance to Kenji was unmistakable.
"They had a baby?" Kagome whispered. She and Songo both were touched deeply by this sad, forbidden love story unfolding before them.
"Yes," Midori answered her. "His name is Shui. I've visited him sometimes. He's the sweetest little boy I've ever known. But I fear what father's reaction might be if he found out."
"So then there's no Jewel?" Inu-yasha asked getting somewhat upset.
"There is a jewel," Midori said, "But it resides in father's chamber."
"That no good, sorry, stinking liar," Inu-yasha seethed.
"But why would he lie about a water nymph."
"Because the nymph has been trying to destroy the dam," Midori said, "That much is true. She says the river is dying, and that it's because of the dam. And the truth is that if the river ran freely, then the farmers would get much more water."
"That's not the only reason, I'll bet," Inu-yasha said, "This is just like my parents. He and everyone else in my mother's family said my birth was a disgrace on their heads, and that my father should have been killed the instant he set foot in the palace."
"What do you mean?" Kagome asked.
"That's how they met," Inu-yasha said. "He disguised himself as lord. Then, when my mother's family found out and forbade them to see each other again, he snuck in her bedroom one night. Not long after that, I was born and he died."
"Then your cousin wishes to get rid of this nymph before the same fate could Kenji." Miroku stated.
"And It already has," Songo said.
"That B------ isn't getting away with this," Inu-yasha snarled. He turned around to them, and said, "Do what ever you can to get them all out of here. I'm going to do something I should have done a long time ago."
"Inu-yasha," Kagome said, "Don't go do something stupid that you'll regret later."
"Trust me," he said, "I ain't gonna regret this."
"Please," Midori pleaded, :don't kill my father. In know he's a wicked man, but he is still my family. Our family."
"Alright then," he said. "I won't kill him… but I still have to get that Jewel Shard from him."
"Then you'll need me," Kagome said. "Songo, Miroku, Shippo, you'll have to help Kenji and his family."
"Of course," Songo said. She, Miroku, and Shippo, with Kirara in tail, left the brush. Kagome and Inu-yasha went back to the palace.
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Katsuro waited in his chambers. Where had Inu-yasha and the others gone? To kill the water nymph, perhaps? Was he in that big of a hurry to leave? Yes, of course. His half breed cousin had not changed one bit in all these years. He was still impulsive and reckless. But that would his undoing. Once his son saw what Inu-yasha would do to that wretched water nymph, Kenji would finally rid their family of this walking mistake.
Katsuro had always hated Inu-yasha, just as his father before him had done so. He remembered what his father had taught him. That there was no room in this family for half-breed bastards- especially ones born to the heir. Yes, his aunt had carried as her dowry the right to rule over this province. That's why she had to be disposed of, slowly and quietly. The best kind of treachery… poison. The same poison he would use on Inu-yasha. He wouldn't do as he'd had done before- slowly feeding the poison into the body, to make it appear as an illness that had no cure- but it would have the same effect.
He went to a cupboard, and opened the doors. Inside on a chain hung the glimmering Shard. Taken from one of his lowly servants, who'd tried to hide it from him, it hung now safe and out of reach of any who would take it form him.
This Shard had given him power beyond imagining. Given him more power than that nymph, at least. He himself erected the dam using the strength of this Shard to rip trees apart and block up the river. But still, she lingered. He knew she was still there, bewitching his only surviving son. He would not have it! He would not lose his son! He closed the doors to the cupboard, and placed the chain and the Shard around his neck. Then… he sat and let the power flow through him.
Then, suddenly, he heard his servants outside, screaming. They were crying out in absolute terror, "Look out!" "It's Inu-yasha!" Katsuro rose on his feet just as the han-you burst through the door.
"You!" Inu-yasha screamed. "You lying sack of-"
"Sit, my cousin," Katsuro said, keeping a calm demeanor, "Why don you come to me so riled?"
"Enough of your innocent act!" Inu-yasha shouted, "I know why you brought me here! You brought me here to do your dirty work and kill that nymph! Well Kenji loves her, and I'm not gonna let you do to them what you, and too many others, did to my mother and father!"
"You don't know the half of it," Katsuro said, and flung a small table at Inu-yasha. He burst through the wooden walls of his room, and slid down the rof of his palace to the ground.
"Inu-yasha!" Kagome called from the courtyard, "He's got a Jewel Shard!"
"Oh really!?" Inu-yasha shouted as he followed Katsuro down, "I thought all could humans could burst through walls!"
"Just hurry and stop him before he hurts Kenji and Jiang!" Kagome yelled.
"Soldiers!" Katsuro summoned, "Protect me!" nearly a hundred men ran out of the palace, aiming arrows at Inu-yasha. The fired arrow upon arrow, but the Fire Rat cloak shattered them. They threw nets to bind him, but Inu-yasha's claws were stronger than any rope. He leaped from tree tops and roof tops Katsuro, who ran at unbelievable speeds. Finally, Inu-yasha took a flying lunge down at Katsuro, and tackled him to the ground. They were near to the dam. As the two wrestled in the dust, the samurai raced to aid their lord. But from the dam came Kenji and Midori.
"Stop!" Kenji ordered the soldiers. They stopped in their tracks, but looked at their young master uncertainly.
"But, my lord," one said, "You're father…?"
"Is getting what he deserves." Kenji said. He and Midori turned around and watched their cousin pin their father to the ground. Inu-yasha had his foot on Katsuro's back, and his arm twisted back behind him.
"I should have done this a long time ago," Inu-yasha said.
"You should have been dead a long time ago," Katsuro sneered at him, "Like that hag mother of yours."
"What are you saying?" Inu-yasha growled.
"You are a fool, Inu-yuasha," Katsuro said, using Inu-yasha's name like an insult. "Think, you worthless half breed! Your mother was in the best of health, and then she suddenly fell ill…"
"You mean…?!?" Inu-yasha snarled, his eyes taking on a bloody twinge.
"I… Killed… Your… Mother!" Katsuro said with a evil smile on his face, looking half wild himself.
Inu-yasha let out a cry that stopped the hearts of all who had the misfortune of hearing it. Then, with lightening speed he drew the Tetsusaiga and held it's sharp, deadly blade to Katusro's neck.
"I oughta kill you right now," Inu-yasha growled, baring his fangs, "But you're not worth it." He sheathed his sword, and ripped the Jewel Shard from his neck before his dropped him and got up. Inu-yasha remembered his promise to Midori. He was capable of a lot of things… but he could never make her cry. That would be unforgivable.
Kenji stepped towards them, and held out a dagger to his father. He stared down at the man with cold eyes. "Father," he said, "You have disgraced this family tenfold. You have two choices. You can live in the shame of exile, as you have made Inu-yuasha live for over 50 years… Or you can take the only remaining honorable way out."
Katsuro looked from his son to his cousin. Then, he looked pleadingly to his youngest child and his soldiers. They all turned from him. He picked up the dagger, and then rose to his feet. He spit blood from his mouth, and said, "I will not suffer long." Then he ran off, following the lake into the woods.
"Shouldn't have known he was too afraid even to find honor in death." Inu-yasha said.
"He was right. He won't suffer long. If he follows the water, he will die."
"Why do say that?" Kagome asked, coming up to them.
"My Jiang is a kind soul, and quick to forgive. But she has many friends who aren't so merciful." He turned , then, to Inu-yasha. "I owe you an apology, Cousin."
"Why?" Inu-yasha asked. "You didn't do nothing."
"I believed my father's lies. That is why I feared you when my father planned to use you to kill my wife. I am sorry for doubting you. You are a child of love, just as my son is. And I will see to it that he will receive better treatment than you did."
"You do that." Inu-yasha said. A moment later, Miroku, Songo, and Shippo came from the woods, with Jiang and little Shui. "So what have you guys been up to all this time?" Inu-yasha asked them.
"We did something really cool," Shippo said excitedly. Shui Lifted up his hand, and a tidal wave came rushing through the courtyard, along the canal where the river had been.
"We tore down the dam," Songo said.
"Although that was a little overdramatic of my son," Jiang said as she picked up the toddler.
"Come," Kenji said, "Let us retire and celebrate."
"Celebrate what?" Inu-yasha asked him.
"My family's homecoming," Kenji said, taking Jiang's shimmery hand in his. They all started back to the palace, but Kagome turned around and noticed that Inu-yasha was not following them.
"Come on Inu-yasha," she said, going back to him and taking his hand. "You're his family, too."
"No I'm not," Inu-yasha said. They were joined by their other three friends. They stood together; Shippo, Songo, Miroku, Kagome, and Inu-yasha. "You guys are my family."
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The next morning, as they were getting ready to depart, Midori came running up to Inu-yasha. She looked at him, then gave him a hug. "You'll always be my hero," she said softly to Inu-yasha. He looked at her, once again taken by surprise. Then, the girl leaned up in her toes, and kissed him on the cheek before she went back to stand beside her brother.
"You'll always be welcome here," Kenji said. "You and your friends."
"I'll remember that," Inu-yasha said. "But do me a favor."
"Anything," Kenji said.
"Keep the graves in the back of the shrine in better care." Inu-yasha said. "And make sure they get fresh flowers everyday."
"It shall be done," Kenji replied.
"It is a pity I didn't get to spend more time here," Mirokun said as the other princesses surrounded him and cried at how cried bitter tears over him.
"We will miss, Lord Monk," they each said. Songo glared at Miroku, walked over, and gave him a swift crack to the head. As the lump grew, she dragged him behind her, following Inu-yasha and Kagome out the palace gates. They looked now to a familiar horizon. Home.
The End.
AN: Let the reviews commence!
