As the sun rised above on the sky shining his light over every village and mountain,everyone woke up. Because their pride ate them alive,the two demons settled to not speak about what happened the night before.
-I will take Rin to the village that is close by.
-And why is that?
-The child needs a warm bath and warm normal food. She smells,I do too,if I think about it,you smell really bad also.
Offended was the lord when he heared such revolting observation addressed to him.
-I am a demon,I don't need a bath.
-Oh yes you do,you stink,not like Jaken but you sure don't smell like flowers.
-Just leave.
And as Shiloh left to wake up Rin and take her to the nearby village,Sesshomaru went his way with Jaken. The little green demon was shaking knowing what he saw the night before and feared for his life.
-You're glowing this morning,Shiloh-sama! The child said as she was carried by the fire demon. You're so beautiful,I hope when I'll grow older to be just like you.
-Oh Rin,don't be silly,of course you will be beautiful. You will grow up and you will be one of the most beautiful girls there is in this world.
They both smiled at each other,from a distance they could've been easily mistaken for mother and daughter.
-Say…Sesshomaru-sama also looked happy this morning.
-Happy? Shiloh asked surprised. Rin,there is impossible to read something on that man's face.
-I did not read it on his face but in his eyes. They were so shiny,like yours now!
The little one was so excited whenever it came to her lord or Shiloh,such a happy soul,a joy to have around. All the way to the village she kept on gazing at the woman that carried her in her arms as if she was a rainbow.
A smell,a familiar one,hit Shiloh out of a sudden. It was a well known one and a deeply missed one also and as they got closer to the village it became more and more powerful.
-What is it,Shiloh-sama? You seem bothered.
-What? Nothing. Nothing Rin,I was just thinking. Look,here we are.
As they passed the bridge,everyone looked at the woman,some with fear,some intrigued by what they were seeing.
-A demon! A grandfather shouted as loud as he could.
-Calm yourself,old man. I didn't came here to slaughter you. She said as she let Rin down.
On the other side of the village,InuYasha sensed something and by his sudden head move,he draw the attention of the others,more,Kagome too sensed something.
-That scent…
-A secret jewel shard! The girl pointed out.
InuYasha did not hear her,his mind blocked every word around him as his mind gotten drunk by the scent he picked up. He looked up and wondered who would it be,so familiar yet so…unknown.
-Is there something wrong,InuYasha? The monk asked his friend placing a hand on his shoulder. Kagome sensed a jewel shard,we better go after it.
-Uh? No-nothing,Miroku. Yes,we should go. The hanyou got up from the verandah going after his companions. Say,Kagome,how far is it?
-It's close,but I don't sense any evil.
-There is a demonic aura,no doubt of it,but it's…kind. Miroku stated.
-We better go and check. InuYasha left them all behind as he started running to the center of the village.
There was Shiloh who managed to find someone willing to let Rin take a bath and give her some food to eat.
-If you want,I can help,you seem to have a lot on your shoulders. Three kids,it's a hand full.
-Thank you,young lady. But I don't want to put you to work. The mortal woman smiled gently at her.
-I insist. I am not like other demons,just say what you want me to help you around with. She insisted as she saw the woman trying to take care of her children.
-Fine,I don't want to upset you. A pause interrupted them as the mother took a better look at Shiloh. Are you a princess?
The fox opened her eyes big and wide smiling softly.
-I am not. I don't have such luck.
-What are you,then? You don't look like an ordinary demon.
-I prefer to not talk about it.
-I'm sorry for asking so many questions. Sometimes I don't know when to stop. Here. The woman placed in her arms a woden basked with clothes in it. I would be grateful if you could wash these for me.
-Of course,Rin,you be good until I come back.
-Hay!
-You there! A voice made everyone stop.
As Shiloh turned her head and saw the boy in red,something as a lightningbolt strucked her. Their eyes met and it was like an ocean of memories started moving violently. She couldn't believe her eyes how much he had changed,what a powerful aura moved around him and how imposing he was. No one around him counted anymore,he was the only light of her eyes.
-Inu…Yasha? She hesitated at first,her voice was shaking,her lips not wanting to seal,gazing at him in shock.
-You… His golden eyes stopped from blinking.
Her scent caught him like a tornado,all his childhood memories flashed before him.
-You know this woman,InuYasha? Miroku asked as he watched him being as shocked than ever.
-She is so beautiful…Kagome said looking at the tall woman who couldn't take her eyes off from the hanyou.
-I…don't…
Shiloh let down what she was carrying and tried to step towards him in a shy manner. One sudden move and he would've pulled out Tetsusaiga.
-It is normal for you to not remember me,but only my scent,InuYasha.
-Who...who are you? His hand was far from touching the sword as he normally did.
-I advice you to not use that. She pointed at his hand. My name is Shiloh,and I looked after you when you were a child. I watched you growing up.
They were all in shock: Kagome,Sango,Miroku and Shippo. They looked at her as if she was a ghost. Kagome turned to InuYasha who was stunned. No one ever expected to hear such words.
-Pardon me for interfering…Shiloh,but I sense you have a secret jewel shard.
-Huh? This? Shiloh took out the shard from her kimono and showed it to the girl. Here,you can have it,I have no use of such. And she threw it without second thoughts or questions. InuYasha,may I please hold you in my arms? Just for once.
-Uh…huh…
He did not know,he had no idea but he trusted her,that scent was not to be mistaken. It was her,and he had so many questions which never found their answers,but now it was time.
She opened her arms and embraced the boy,at first she could've barely touch him to not break anything but then her grip became tighter. After all these years she was finally able to hold him,to feel him. A tear ran down her face,her heart started beating so fast,it almost ripped her chest.
«Sesshomaru. She smells like him.» InuYasha thought as he kept her in his arms. His brother's scent was all over her and this made him ask himself what was the connection between such woman to his heartless,ruthless brother.
-So many years have passed and you turned out to be so handsome. She said as she looked deep into his shy eyes,that suddenly faced the ground. Son of the west.
Those words,those words ran shivers down his spine. They sounded so familiar,he used to hear them when he was a child,as if the wind lured them by his ears every night before he felt asleep.
After his mother died,when he was still too young to understand,he was left alone in a cruel world. A world that was not a place for a hanyou,a place where humans hated and feared demons. A place that was never safe to live in. The forest became his home since he ran from the village princess Izayoi used to live. He often wondered how did he escaped alive from so many terrible demons that hunted him down? His mother told him,long ago,that his father was an honorable general and ruler,a powerful dog daiyōkai and a very handsome man,and that he was his second son,his older brother being Sesshomaru. She even said to him to look after his older sibling after she'll be gone from this world,to create a strong bond like their father wanted. After her death,as he grew older he did went to search for Sesshomaru and had the luck to meet him,only…his brother did not want him near. The demon hated everything InuYasha was and blamed him and his human mother for the death of their father. "Half-breed" was one of the names the prince of the west gave to his insignificant sibling,making InuYasha hate what he was.
After years he stopped trying to become friends with Sesshomaru and now every meeting they have is consumed in battle.
The last drop that made the daiyōkai want death to InuYasha was the choice their father made after he died: Tenseiga to be given to Sesshomaru and InuYasha to have Tetsusaiga.
The night when Inu no Taisho died,before rushing to save his woman and new born son,him and Sesshomaru had a conversation where Sesshomaru demanded Sounga and Tetsusaiga to be handed to him. Two powerful swords the general had in possession.
Sesshomaru never knew how to use power,he only seeked it. His father tried to make him understand that having a powerful sword,without being worthy of using it,is just a useless blade. Power is when you can kill someone but you don't. It hurt his father seeing his son so blinded by this lust of having power,of willing two swords that together brought chaos. As a choice,he left Sesshomaru Tenseiga,a sword much more important than he ever thought. He wanted his son to finally understand why he did what he did and how usefull it will come to him.
Unlike his father,Sesshomaru has a burning hate towards humans,finding them disgusting worthless creatures,and the fire of hate grew more when he found out InuTaisho was going to have a child with a human. He felt abandoned and betrayed by the one he looked up to. He lost his love for his father but not his respect. A human was no match for a demon,a mortal should not be in any relations with a youkai. But his feelings changed,for only a bit,when he met Rin. Since the little girl came in his life,everyone felt a slight change in his attitude. He stopped being as cold as ice,he had something to look after,someone to protect,someone who was not Shiloh.
Finding hard for any o them to interrupt such a moment,Sango took a deep breath and in her soft voice,she asked with kindness.
-What if we settle down some place so you two can have a talk?
-Oh,good idea! How about by the river? I have some clothes to wash.
The fox replied smiling wide looking back at the woman who took Rin in,also picking up the basket she had let down on the ground.
-Let me…carry this for you… InuYasha tried to find his words while taking the wooden object from her arms.
He was so shy and nervous,just like a child. Kagome couldn't wrap her mind around what was happening but it was such a beautiful moment she couldn't help but smile,along with her companions.
-If you stroke her butt,I will not save you. Sango said to the monk who was clearly thinking of such a thing.
-Me?! Sango,please,it is only yours my hand loves to touch. And he indeed stroked the girl's behind but as expected,a hard slap stopped him.
-Why you lecherous monk!
-Wait,Sango,don't kill him here! People are starring. Kagome tried to calm the spirits down before Sango would've hit Miroku with Hiraikotsu.
As Shiloh and InuYasha walked together before the others,she took advantage of this opportunity to ask him some questions.
-I see you have quite the gang. A monk,a demon slayer,a tiny fire demon that is too much for my heart to bare and a child fox demon,but…who is that girl? I sence she has the aura of a priestess but her clothes...
-She is from somewhere called "modern days". She is the reincarnation of Kikyo.
Sadness was heard in the boy's voice as he said the name of the woman who hurt him the most and Shiloh sensed it,getting closer to him,placing an arm over his shoulders.
-I understand,and what is with the shard she wanted?
-The Sacred Jewel was shredded to pieces and now we're on a hunt for Naraku and we're gathering the shards that he is using to turn everything into evil.
She knew who Naraku was but did not want to talk much about him. She just nodded and kept on walking.
-It seems you're holding old Tetsusaiga pretty close to you.
-…yes.
-Poor thing,looks so old,the handle looks worn out.
She touched the sword's handle without being rejected,thing that made everyone stop and look in surprise. InuYasha looked down at her hand in shock.
-H-how did you do that?
-Do what? Shiloh asked having no clue of the sword's story.
-How did it let you touch it? You're a demon,demons can't touch it.
-…oh… She took her hand off from the sword looking back at it and at InuYasha. I did not know,your father used to let me train with it when I was a teenager.
-My…father?
He was stunned more than ever. Every word the woman spoke was like a bomb for him. His jaw dropped with every sentence,she was more than he thought she is.
-You knew my father?
-Of course,he is the one that told me to look after you and to take care of you. I did my best for nothing to happen to you. He raised me like his own daughter,he trained me,what I know now is from him. She would've wanted to continue but seeing InuYasha so blown away,she couldn't help but grab his face. You're so adorable when you're surprised.
He smiled wide showing his fangs,his cheeks becoming red.
-Is he…shy? Kagome asked also surprised. He's turning red as his clothes.
-I wouldn't mind getting a compliment by such a fine woman like her. Miroku replied.
-The only thing you'll going to get from her will be a road to the afterlife if you dare to touch her. Sango looked irritated at her friend.
-Guys I think it's better for us to sit under this tree and let them stay near the lake,they have a lot to catch up on.
-You're right,Kagome.
-Ninja food! Shippo jumped up and down as they settled under a tree and saw Kagome opening her backpack.
-Here you go,Shippo. A bag of chips the girl handed to the eager young fox demon.
By the lake,Shiloh and InuYasha sat on the grass,the woman preparing the clothes she needed to wash. His dreamy eyes couldn't be taken off from her. Her mystical glow mesmerized him,but still,there was his brother's scent who slightly bothered him.
-Say…Shiloh…about my father…how was he like?
-Your father was one one the most handsome man I had ever seen in my life. Powerfull,strong,tall,massive actually,intelligent,calm,understanding,fun,warm. He was a ruler. He knew how to use his power,he respected humans,he loved your mother and he loved you from the very beginning. He fought for you and princess Izayoi so that you two could live…
A tear slightly ran down her cheek as she remembered the mighty demon,and quick turned her head from InuYasha,but he heared the sorrow in her voice. Somehow he wanted to confort her,to hug her or even a hand on the shoulder but couldn't.
-You see,InuYasha,my parents died a long time ago,when I was,let's say,12 years old. My father and mother were both fox demons,and my father knew yours,they fought together many times,so that from a very young age,my father used to leave me at the castle to play with your brother. Your father looked after me and said that one day I will be strong and is willing to train me in becoming such. When my parents died,he took me in and raised me like one of his own. He raised me,trained me and loved me as if I was his child. I've been through a lot and my eyes saw many things that now have no meaning of telling. She let out a sigh and kept quiet for a moment. All those memories kept getting back.
InuYasha felt her sadness and reached out a hand for her but as close as he was of touching her,he stopped.
-When InuTaisho found out he will become a father,again,a fire started burning in his eyes and his thirst for doing everything he could for nothing to hurt you and your mother kept on growing. You never met him,he died when you were born but believe me when I tell you this,his blood runs through your veins and I never saw him that happy as he was at the time you were growing inside your mother's womb. He is very proud of you,boy,and he looked up for you when I wasn't able anymore. Some time,before he would've meet his death,he told me to take care of you,and I did. You might remember those moments,from when you were little,and terrifying demons chased you,everytime when you ran and hide,they disappeared. That warm smile of her that she gave him as she turned to him was like honey poured over his heart. I protected you as if you were my child and it broke my heart when your mother died and you were all alone in a world where there are two types: demons and humans and you were both of them,I can imagine how hard it was and still is for you to find your place but,InuYasha,you are different,and you are wonderful. You have a human heart and demon blood,you,my dear,will fulfill all your dreams. You are more powerfull than most demons I met.
The piece of clothing she was holding suddenly dropped from her hands when the hanyou tightly hugged her from behind. He started shaking as soon as his emotions had let themselves flow through his body and tears slided down his cheeks.
She felt everything that was going inside his fragile heart so she turned and embraced him as warm as a mother,petting his head as she rested her face on in.
-I know,I know…everything is alright,I am here now. Shiloh whispered as he tried to get it all out of his system.
-Thank you,for everything.
-Schh…my boy,you are in my arms now,everything is going to be fine.
Those that stood under the tree were deeply touched by the image they were seeing and speechless. None of them could've find a word to say.
-I used to sing you a lullaby every night to make you fall asleep,I always looked for you and found you and from the trees I sang softly for your gentle ears and the wind brought my words to you so you,child,could fall asleep peacefully.
-The voice that made me feel safe.
-I feel bad for asking her for the jewel shard,it was not nice of me. Kagome thought out loud making Miroku and Sango look at her.
-What do you mean? The girl asked back.
-I don't know,it was an intimate moment between them and I popped out of nowhere like "hey,give me the shard"…
-Oh I know she didn't mind,Kagome,she did not got mad. The monk assured his friend. And eitherway,she gave it to you like it was nothing,and a demon as powerful as her,she sure doesn't need it. Her aura is strong.
-She's a fox demon. Shippo said crossing his arms. She's one of the most powerful kind. Judging by her stature she is coming from the north,don't know what brings her here though.
-She is quite tall…and with nice curves.
-For how long do you intend to look at her back,monk? The demon slayer asked being really close to punching him.
-Ayay Sango,I was just looking! No need to get angry. He tried to calm her down by smiling really wide giggling.
-So,Shippo,what can she do? Kagome asked the small fox.
-Well from what I know she can control fire and can be as strong as InuYasha's brother,Sesshomaru. She is immune to any poison,no spell has effect on her,likes to use men to satisfy her needs.
At the hearing of the last words,Miroku's interest started showing.
-Satisfy her needs,you say? Hmm,maybe she's willing to bear my child.
-The only thing she's willing to bear is your head on the tip of her sword. Sango's tone was bitter and sarcastic. That sword she carries is not an ordinary one. If I'm not mistaken is one of the swords that's capable of bringing hell on earth.
-What do you mean,Sango? Everyone was curious of the answer and looked at the demon slayer with wide eyes.
-When I was little I read about the three swords that it's said to have been forged in the underworld. Their names are Sō'unga or "The Sword of Death and Hell",Muramasa known as "The Demon Blade" and Mugenjin the "Unlimited Blade". She has Muramasa,which's blade is in fact red and it's a blood thirsty one. It can slay any demon and unlike other swords,the blade doesn't rust due to its long exposure to blood,it actually feeds with it. More,once a demon is sliced with it,the soul is absorbed into the blade making it posses the demon's power and she can summon it from the dead to use its powers in a battle. It's really sharp,it can cut through leaves with any effort yet again,it's not as powerful as Sō'unga. All three of them choose their masters and it needs a strong yōkai to control one because they all posses a soul.
All of them starred at Sango as if she was a witch. Her knowledge captivated and scared them at the same time. Kagome couldn't help but wonder and look at the woman that kept InuYasha tight in her arms.
-But she looks so harmless…
-Don't be fooled,Kagome,she's more than you can imagine. And that sword is capable of breaking InuYasha's.
-What?! The girl turned to her friend petrified.
-Yes,it can break it as easy as it can cut through a body.
-Well that means that InuYasha must keep his mouth shut in order to not get his butt kicked. Shippo always liked to make fun of InuYasha and never missed a chance to say such things.
-I don't think so,he's too quiet at the moment to say something that can start a fight.
-You're probably right,Kagome.
