Chapter Four
Lady Of The Village
So, Inayu left her father ,after searching for so long, on the verge of tears. Sesshomaru could not find any trace of her after her departure. Inuyasha and Kagome and the others have set out once again to search for the way to rid the world of Naraku. Then they pass through an interesting village, one inhabited by demons, humans, and half-demons alike…
"Why do you think it's like this?" Kagome asked.
"I don't know, but it seems peaceful here." Miroku told her.
The group was walking near the edge of the village along the river, when they saw someone sitting by the bank with a man holding an umbrella behind her. He said something and she laughed. When she saw the group she smiled.
It was Inayu.
"Why don't you all come sit with me?" She asked. She seemed happy. The man behind her moved to draw his sword but she stopped him. "No, Daisuke. They are friends, and very welcome here."
The man calmed down and relaxed. "Forgive me, Lady. I did not know."
Inayu smiled. "Go tell Atsushi that we shall have guests tonight." Then she turned to the group. "Unless you wouldn't like to stay?"
"No, we'll spend the night." Miroku said with glints in his eyes. Then he rushed forward and took Inayu's hand. "Will you bear my children?"
Before Sango could hit him on the head, Inayu slapped him.
"Do not let me hear of you asking any woman in my village that." She told him. "Do not fool around, monk, here we are honest people who have endured enough hurt and heartache. Asking that of someone, anyone, is presumptuous and cruel to those you ask."
Everyone was surprised at her reaction.
"You all are welcome to stay, but, the monk will sleep outside the village if I hear of anyone having been asked to marry him." Inayu said standing.
She went to walk away but Sango and Kagome both grabbed her sleeve.
"You live here?" Kagome asked.
Inayu smiled. "You could say that. My elder sister, Shia, her father was the lord of this village. When he died he left it to her, and when she died she left it to me." Inayu sat down on the riverbank again. "I inherited a village that was mad with hatred towards demons and half-demons. It hasn't been easy turning everyone's opinions around."
"Wait, why are you here, and not with Sesshomaru?" Inuyasha asked.
"I found him, that's all I wanted to do." Inayu replied staring at the water. "He knows who I am and that he does have a child, but that was all I set out to do from the beginning. I know he's alive, and that's all I need. So I left, I have things to take care of here."
Sango looked at her. "Did you mean what you said to Miroku?"
"With all my heart." Inayu told her. "Most people here have suffered from the war, whether it be from lost children or lost lovers." She frowned slightly at the last word. "You're all welcome to stay, come, my house is just up the hill."
Later that night:
Inayu sat on the patio of her house after dinner as everyone settled down.
Kagome was walking and saw her, but paused.
Inayu was crying.
"Inayu, what's wrong?" Kagome asked.
"Oh, Kagome, I couldn't sleep." Inayu told her. "Bad dreams."
"You didn't really answer my question." Kagome told her as she sat down next to her. "Is there something wrong, Inayu?"
"No, I'm just brooding." Inayu told her.
"About what?" Kagome asked. "I noticed you weren't all that happy mentioning the history of this village. Is that what it is?"
Inayu glanced at the sincere worry in Kagome's face. "Partially, yes. One of the problems was that they tried to kill me when a saved a young boy from drowning in the stream. But after a while Daisuke began following me around and defending me, he's the one who nearly drew his sword on you earlier."
Well, what is it that's bothering you?" Kagome asked.
Inayu smiled slightly. "My past and the past of this village are pretty much the same, really. I've lost a lot with the war on the continent, especially him." Inayu answered as she stared off.
"You lost someone you loved?" Kagome asked.
Inayu nodded her head. "Blain was a human soldier for his village when I met him."
"What happened?"
"He was killed by another demon, for loving me." Inayu said in a whisper. "I got Totosai to forge my sword after that, out of my grandfather's, my mother's, and my own fangs. I exacted my revenge in front of this village, by saving Daisuke."
Kagome looked out on the water where Inayu was staring. "I don't know what I'd do if I lost Inuyasha or my friends." She said suddenly.
Inayu looked at her. "My father and Inuyasha don't get along do they?"
"Not in the least." Kagome answered with a smile. "But they can work together, they just tend to start fighting each other afterward."
Inayu looked back out at the water. "They could destroy more than themselves if they continue with that." She whispered.
Kagome glanced at Inayu.
And so we learn that Inayu has had a past lover, as well as her feelings towards the fighting of her uncle and father are revealed. What will happen now? We'll just have to see…