Chapter:4
Chapter 4: A tale of the Half-breed; Inuyasha
Inuyasha hadn't always been a spirit, but for as long as he could remember he's always been beside Goshinboku.
When Inuyasha was still in his mother's womb, he had travelled from his father's lands to the village near Goshinboku, the same village where Lady Kaede now resides.
It had been a long trek and his mother, although carried by his father, still travelled on foot occasionally which only served to exhaust her further. Despite the pain and exhaustion, they both pushed through, all in the hopes of a better future for the baby they had already held dear within their hearts. As such, the travel had been long and stressful. With a pregnant woman and both parents fearing of getting caught the stress was just enough that it induced an early birth.
Inuyasha's father had been frantic, he knew nothing of childbirth and had for a moment caused more stress than relief. His mother though, was a different story. She managed not only to keep herself calm, but also provide comfort to her husband. She had a been a steady rock. She knew there was a human village up ahead, her husband had in fact told her that he had scented them about a mile away. It was the reason that they had come in this direction, that and the gut feeling that both of them had.
Goshinboku had always been a source of comfort for many creatures. It was a known fact by the humans and all those that happened to pass by that the forest gave its visitors a sense of calm. It was the welcoming presence that had them both giving the humans in the adjacent village the benefit of the doubt, perhaps they would not scorn them for the gift that their love had created.
Just as it turned out they were right, the humans had been wary, but the priestess protecting their lands had been welcoming. Lady Shayou had been her name, Inuyasha always tried his best to remember the woman that gave him and his parents a chance. His father had moved ahead to call for help, his mother not wanting to inconvience those that they were asking for help had continued to walk closer to the village. In her determinace at not having the healer or midwife walk far into the forest, had found magnificent tree to lean on. The base of the trunk had been sturdy and the canopy of leaves, the light breeze and the branches that shaded Izayoi had calmed her racing heart. She breathed in her surroundings, rubbed her belly and hummed a soothing song to the baby they were about to welcome.
Lady Shayou was the one that greeted Izayoi that day and she had witnessed and aided in Inuyasha's birth. That day, Lady Izayoi was sure that something wonderful would occur because of the birth of that beautiful baby.
Inuyasha didn't remember any of this, for how could he? However, he'd heard the stories, stories from his mother, his father and Lady Shayou. Stories about the fear, his birth and his childhood.
But every year it gets harder for the young puppy spirit to remember, because every year that passes he becomes less and less like a mortal and more and more like the spirits he now lives with. He remembers some things though, like how he and his mother often ate near Goshinboku's upturned roots. It was refreshing and relaxing under the huge canopy of leaves. Inuyasha also remembers that while the stories his mother told him involved his father, he had never actually been there to enjoy those short peaceful picnics. Inuyasha had always assumed that time has made his memory lose a few details, but maybe his father had simply not lived long enough to enjoy them.
He knew from stories though that his father had died fighting for him and his mother. Fighting those that didn't quite like the idea of an offspring that wasn't quite human or quite demon. He had thought for sure that he had gotten to spend a little bit of time with them, but perhaps not. Time had slowly erased his father's memory.
Growing up, Inuyasha wasn't very aware of the fact that he was different. Lady Shayou had created an environment that had him feeling like he was just another child. He played ball, ran around and tripped like any kid. Although he looked like a half demon, he spent all of his childhood aging like a human with no youkai abilities. The only thing that made him different from all the other children was his silvery mane and puppy dog ears that always seemed to twitch in delight.
His mother had cared for him all of his childhood, but they quickly realized that he wouldn't always stay the same. When Inuyasha entered his teen years he started to age slower and slower. His strength grew, his speed and senses increased, until finally he was very much a half-breed. Not quite as weak as humans, but not as formidable as full-blooded yokais.
Those were the fastest and slowest time of Inuyasha's life because as everyone around him aged, his friends, peers, neighbors and his mother, he had stayed the same. He matured in mind, but not in body. Soon his friends had mated in that human way that they do and Inuyasha began to retreat far more often to safety and comfort Goshinboku's roots, hoping that one day he could grow up too.
His mother often found him cradled atop the magnificent tree's branches. Often wondering about his future and worrying that everyone will age and pass leaving him behind.
His mother's face had grown weary, had aged with time, her strength had dwindled until finally Inuyasha knew that his mother would never see him grow, be mated and live life as an adult. The day his mother had taken her last breath, he had mourned for her, like any child would. It had been quiet that day, the wind seemed to still and the creatures seemed to stop all activities and Inuyasha was sure that the forest mourned for her too.
His friends from childhood visited him as they grew older, but as time went by their visits decreased. Inuyasha had always assumed it was because he had looked like he was still a teenager when they had aged by 20 years. Perhaps it was awkward. Perhaps they'd forgotten, or perhaps he just didn't quite belong anymore.
Inuyasha didn't know why, perhaps a memo had been passed around while he wasn't looking, but when his childhood friends had become grandparents and their deaths were imminent, they always came to visit him.
He had taken to staying in Goshinboku's roots far more often than the village shrine after his mother passed so, they would patiently wait by the roots until he was ready to greet them. He never made them wait.
Inuyasha didn't really remember their words, but the sentiment was always the same. Something along the lines of "Thank you for your companionship, your protection and your presence."
It had occurred once, twice, then it became too much to bare.
So, he played pranks, "terrorized" the villagers until he became someone they tolerated, but didn't quite like. All his friends had passed and a new generation had sprung and so not many remembered who he actually was anymore. He did it all, all the pranks for one purpose only.
He didn't want them coming to him as their souls left them. Didn't want the burden of hearing their gratitude when all he really wanted was to find someone that could stay with him for more than 50 years. Because 50 human years were fleeting and in that time Inuyasha never aged. He didn't want to be the one they came to at their deathbeds, he never wanted that kind of responsibility.
Inuyasha never remembered timelines anymore, too much time had passed, but when Lady Amyza had taken over the shrine, a descendant of Lady Shayou, Inuyasha had been invited back to the village.
She was a curious one and often bantered (playfully) with Inuyasha like they were teenagers. She scolded him for pranking the villagers and for being a troublemaker, but she was always gentle and caring. She became a friend, a confidant, and anything else that Inuyasha needed.
She was the one that made him leave Goshinboku's roots long enough to experience love again. The one that had made Inuyasha realize that heartbreak was potentially more dangerous than a blade through the chest.
She passed like everyone else, leaving an ache so deep that Inuyasha tried not to think about her, even if her memory was clearer than anything else.
Years passed by once again, lives being made, lives passing and Inuyasha still slowly aging by Goshinboku's roots. Humans visited from time to time, whether it was to visit him or the magnificent tree that became its own shrine.
Around Inuyasha's death he had been tolerated by the villagers, but because he had spent so much time away from humans he was considered a recluse and someone to be feared. The villagers knew they could trust him to protect the village and its people, but no one knew who he was anymore. He was tolerated but not completely trusted.
The day he died had been a normal day. When he recounted this memory to Sesshoumaru he hadn't lied. The day he died he simply fought with someone that he couldn't beat.
There was nothing to it, very anti-climactic considering he waited so long to die. He was in his late teens by demon standards and by human standards he would have died a long time ago.
He had been happy to die, been happy to leave the mortal plane, almost welcomed it. When his breath started to leave him, his mind had been blank. His life didn't flash before his eyes and surprisingly he didn't pray to see his loved ones in heaven. He just wanted to it stop, wanted the loneliness to go away.
When he looked up Goshinboku had never looked more beautiful. It was then he realized that he was grateful that his soul would leave him while he was beside Goshinboku. The tree had been the one constant companion Inuyasha had. Knowing that he would be dying beside the one living thing in this world that knew him better than anyone, he had accepted death with a smile on his face.
Inuyasha closed his eyes as he smiled, 'Neh, Goshinboku… thank you for everything.'
The breeze caressed his bangs away from his face. He felt a gentle touch against his cheeks. Accepting that death was finally coming for him after all these years, he continued to smile.
'Young one, are you so eager to leave?'
Inuyasha heard the voice almost immediately, instead of wondering about his sanity he accepted that it was part of dying. Maybe everyone heard voices in their heads as they died. How would anyone know?
Not being able to nod physically, he nodded mentally.
'Do you truly not desire anything else in this world?'
As soon as the question had been voiced in his head his thoughts automatically supplied the strange voice multiple images of the lives he's seen. The one thing he had envied about the humans he protected came full force in the front of his mind.
The one thing he wanted was someone to love and love him in return. The kind of love that he knew his mother had for his father. The same love that he could have maybe had with Lady Amyza if he had been human or she had lived longer. The same love that his childhood friends had been so proud of. The same kind of love that created life.
The same love that Inuyasha had accepted as something not meant for him.
'Ah but see child, I have lived for far longer than you. Know more than you. I know that there will come a time when someone will know your worth and love you so much that your love for each other will become legendary.'
In his head Inuyasha chuckled, 'Whoever you are, you are delusional. Can you not see? I am almost gone from this world. How could I meet someone after death?'
The voice paused for only a moment. 'I can make it so young one. If you so wish, you can spend the rest of the after life with me until the one I speak of comes for you.'
'With you? Who exactly are you?'
The voice laughed, 'Why, my dear Inu-Hanyo I am that which whom you thanked so sincerely when you thought your soul was gone from you. I am the one you call Goshinboku.'
Inuyasha's mind almost short-circuited. Goshinboku? The tree? That was… well impossible. But how can it be more impossible than dying and having a conversation that seems to be taking a lifetime to cease.
'You must choose soon, young one, you soul will be taken far from here if you do not answer. Would you like to spend your afterlife with me, within me, until the one I speak of comes for you?'
Inuyasha contemplated the answer, he had nothing to lose. After all wasn't he dead? If he was delusional, all the more reason to just agree. No harm could come of it.
'I don't know about finding a legendary kind of love, but it would be nice to know what it would feel like to have someone like that.'
It was only a moment later that a light emitted from his body, engulfing him in entirety. Leaving not a trace of him except his mortal clothes.
It wasn't long until Inuyasha realized that he had become a spirit, - a kami.
It took a while for him to fully come to terms being what he was. He was a half-demon in a previous life, now he was a presence, an entity that was out of mortal reach. He had no corporeal form in the beginning, he had practiced it for centuries in order to accomplish it successfully and entirely.
His life as a kami, a spirit had been a peaceful one. It was in fact Goshinboku that had spoken to him as his life was fleeting away. It didn't take long at all to create a strong bond with the spirit of the tree. Goshinboku was a great companion, someone he's started to think of as a grandfather. Unlike him though, Goshinboku had no desire to create a corporeal form, he'd always been a spirit and so he had no desire.
Through the centuries he had protected the village. For once he didn't mind their constant visits before death. He had welcomed them. They were often scared, a feeling that Inuyasha hadn't known when he was alive. Afterall he had feared his continued existence not his eventual death.
As the years passed Inuyasha noticed that the priestesses of the villages always came to him for their ceremonies. When the priestesses became of age or became the next priestess to govern the village they would always pay their respects to him or maybe it was Goshinboku. He didn't know. But as the years passed he comforted them. All the priestesses that came after Lady Shayou and Lady Amyza were given extra attention during their final moments.
Inuyasha found out quickly that his presence soothed them, so when he realized that their time was near he would keep them calm, soothe their worries and calm their hearts. Interestly, he noticed that all those that sought comfort in the roots of Goshinboku and his presence feared and worried about those they would leave behind, not themselves.
So, he made sure to let them know that he would care for them for as long as he was able.
Inuyasha's life had never been so meaningful as it was after his death, but even still he could not forget Goshinboku's words as he entered his new life.
Where was the one that was suppose to come for him? The one that was supposed to love him so much it would rock the world?
Over the years, Inuyasha monitored all those that had passed through the village and the forest, from those that resided there, the priestesses that were born, even the travellers, but none had come for him. Where was she?
It was the passing of so many centuries, probably, that made Inuyasha accept the truth, Goshinboku hadn't meant to lie, but it was painfully obvious that no one was coming for him.
He was just singing, a song without any words, but with so much meaning when he felt a presence near by…
Inuyasha felt his presence before he saw who it belonged to and when the obviously demonic teen emerged from the foliage, he did not turned his head. Over time it became clear that while he had many visitors none could see or hear him.
Inuyasha simply assumed that the demon needed comfort. A comfort that the puppy spirit was more than willing to provide.
He sang a wordless song until finally he felt the even breathes and heart of his newest visitor. When he saw the demon try to fight sleep, Inuyasha made sure to wash him with so much comfort that he had no choice, but to sleep.
Inuyasha smiled, when finally, he saw the demons eyes submit and fall asleep.
It was not often that a demon came to visit him. It was rare really. The most recent one he could remember was about maybe 250-300 years ago, he wasn't sure. Time had lost its meaning, but it had been a child that had accidentally wandered in the forest. Come to think of it, they seemed to look alike. Perhaps they were related?
Inuyasha drew closer to the sleeping form, this demon definitely needed to rest. It was good indeed that he had been singing his song this night.
When morning came Inuyasha abandoned his corporeal form and took to his spirit form, not physically visible, but more aware.
As a Kami, a spirit, that was both everywhere and nowhere he couldn't see faces, but he could see the soul that resided in the body. It was only when he took his mortal form that he was able to distinguish mortal appearances. As a spirit all he could do was distinguish the kind of soul mortals had. If the soul was light in color or bright, it often meant that it was housed in a body that was meant to spend eternity in peace. If their souls had a color that was murky, or dark then those were the souls housed in bodies that would never find peace in the afterlife. It meant neither heaven or hell, simply a peaceful or restless afterlife.
He stared at the translucent color of one soul speaking to another that glowed in a bright hue of amber. That amber soul was an interesting one, the one that belonged to the demon.
Inuyasha didn't sing again for a while, but just because he didn't take on a physical form didn't mean he couldn't see. That bright hue of amber came back. Again. And again. And again.
It intrigued Inuyasha like nothing else, especially since every time he came to visit he always needed to calm down. He would calm during his stay but every time he left he always seemed to be disappointed. His soul reflected his emotions far better than any mirror or reflection ever could.
Inuyasha hadn't counted, but when he felt the amber soul become restless and defeated he had made sure to make an appearance. He wanted to make him feel better. And what do you know, when his presence finally took on a physical form the amount of relief and joy from that amber soul had been overwhelming.
It didn't take long after that second time to realize that the demon could see and hear him.
After so many visits Inuyasha's curiosity had flooded his senses. Goshinboku refused to tell him why this one demon could hear him when no one else could, on top of that he could see him. When it became evidently clear that Goshinboku wouldn't share what he knew Inuyasha set out to find out the answer himself.
"Hello there, my name is Inuyasha. What's yours?"
It had been years since then and over time Sesshoumaru's companionship had triggered something in Inuyasha that he never thought he'd feel. Regret and the slight hint of bitterness.
He wished he was still alive.
Goshinboku himself was the one that said that the one that would love him would come for him and no one, not once, had come for him except Sesshoumaru. So, for now, he would make do with a friend instead of that legendary love that was promised to him. Perhaps one day, Sesshoumaru would be the one to introduce that forgotten promise.
A/N: Hello everyone, thank you so much for the reviews, alerts and favorites. I hope you enjoyed this tid bit of information about our lovely Inuyasha. Until next time!