Inuyasha
Fate of the Compassionate
Chapter 4
Lord of the West
October 5, 2017
They had managed to actually travel most of the day yesterday, Kagome had again spent most of the night after dinner trying to sew Sesshomaru's top again. It was almost complete when she finally gave up for a couple hours rest before getting up to make breakfast again. According to Inuyasha they were a couple hours behind schedule and should get to Edo Village around mid day.
He wasn't far off the village came into sight just as the sun was starting to be directly overhead. "Hopefully Kaede will know how to help you if not I'll have to go ask my Grandfather." Kagome said as she looked back at Sesshomaru who was walking a few paces behind her with Rin and Shippou playing along the side of the road beside him chasing butterflies.
"Kagome going back there now is out of the question lets just dump him off here with Kaede and get on with our search." Inuyasha said as he glared back at Sesshomaru for the millionth time since they started traveling together.
"Inuyasha stop being so grumpy. Lighten up this is a good chance to rest up before we continue our hunt." Kagome said as she rolled her eyes before turning to look at Inuyasha.
"Fine if you want to hang around the village for a few days I'll be back." Inuyasha huffed as he turned and lept into the forest away from his friends.
"Where's Inuyasha going?" Shippou piped up noticing the half demon leave.
"Who knows Shippou he's going to go brood somewhere like a toddler who didn't get his way. Lets get into the village." Kagome said with a sigh and a small shake of her head with disappointment.
'Interesting is this their normal behavior? I thought she was in love with my idiot half brother...' Sesshomaru thought as he watched the group curiously as he continued to follow them into the village. Which was unusual in its self no one was running from him screaming "Demon". Actually it was very unsettling to him to be able to just walk into a human village unhindered, not that they could actually hinder him in his normal form.
"Kagome how are ye child?" an old priestess said as she waddled her way over to the group at the edge of the village.
"Kaede. We're fine how are you?" Kagome said smiling brightly as she hugged the older woman.
"Fine as always. I see ye have guests." Kaede said once she pulled away from Kagome's embrace and looked over at the Human male and female child she didn't recognize.
"Ah yes Kaede they are the reason we have returned so soon. Can we..." Kagome said then trailed off motioning into the village towards Kaede's hut in an obvious question of can we go into your hut for private conversation?
"Of course child make ye self comfortable." Kaeda said with a soft smile over to Kagome before turning and making her way to her hut with the Villagers around taking only a small notice of Inuyasha's friends returning to the village. "What is the trouble child?" She asked curiously once everyone was inside her small hut and seated around her fire pit as comfortably as they could in the small space.
"Kaede this is the Lord of the West and Inuyasha's older demon brother Sesshomaru with his young Human ward Rin." Kagome said then waited for a reaction to her statement.
"I see no demon here Kagome. Are ye sure child?" Kaede said slightly confused as she looked over at Sesshomaru then turned back to Kagome.
"I am human for the moment Priestess." Sesshomaru said slightly irritated at her quick dismissal of him.
"Ah... yes Kaede. We rescued him..." Kagome said then glanced over at Sesshomaru with an eyebrow raised once she heard him growl at her. "Anyway we rescued him and his ward Rin from a Priestess who had turned him Human, I believe so she could kill him easier though I'm unsure of her true intentions." she said dismissing him and turning back to her teacher and friend.
"I've never heard such a thing was possible. I've heard half demons turn human but not full demons." Kaede said as she scratched her chin lightly in thought. "Speaking of half demons where be Inuyasha?" she asked curiously looking around at the small group.
"Never mind him, he's throwing a temper-tantrum he'll be along eventually." Kagome said dismissively with a small wave of her hand.
"Ye been arguing again child?" Kaede asked curiously with a small pout on her lips.
"I don't believe that is the issue at hand." Sesshomaru said abrasively as he stared at the old priestess. "Would you know of a way to reverse this?" he asked trying to drag the conversation back to his immediate problem.
"Unfortunately no, I have no way to reverse this curse. Sounds to be the work of a dark priestess if ye ask me. Maybe Kagome your family would have books on the matter at hand." Kaede said as she looked back over to Kagome with her suggestion.
"I had intended on going home if you had no answers. Tell Inuyasha I'll be back in a few days." Kagome said as she stood up to walk out of the hut.
"You're going now Kagome." Shippou whined as he watched her make her way over to the door.
"No time like the present and with Inuyasha gone I won't have any trouble going home." Kagome said and smiled brightly down at the small kit.
"Why would he have a problem with you going home?" Sesshomaru asked curiously as he stood up to walk her out. With out his brother here for some odd reason Sesshomaru felt honor bound to protect her on her journey.
"Oh just how far it is." Kagome said with a small chuckle and a wave of her hand like it was no big deal and Inuyasha was just a worry wort.
"I shall escort you in his place then. Rin stay here with the priestess." Sesshomaru said shocking everyone as he left the small hut to wait for Kagome to follow him out.
Kagome looked around at the others trying to figure out what to do next, if it wasn't one brother it was the other getting in her way.
"Kagome I believe it to be a good idea. Ye family may know how to help him there." Kaede said softly as she looked up at Kagome. It was logical that if Inuyasha could go through the well then Sesshomaru should be able to as well.
"Do you really think that is wise Kaede?" Sango asked shocked as she stared at the old priestess like she was nuts.
"It'll do no good to leave him here he seems determined." Kaede said and motioned to the door that was opening back up.
"Alright here we go." Kagome said worried as she turned and waked out of the hut. She looked up at Sesshomaru as she walked by him. "You're in for the surprise of your life." she said with a smile then started for the well.
"What do you mean?" Sesshomaru asked confused as he walked beside her towards the edge of the village. Where was this woman's family how far could it be that Inuyasha would get frustrated with her for going home, yet not far enough for her other friends to be worried.
"You'll see." Kagome said cryptically as she smiled brightly over at him. She walked out of the Village through the forest to a clearing with an old dried up well, the one that humans call the Bone Eaters Well. "Here we are." She said as she turned around and leaned against the well and looked up at him smiling at his confusion.
"There's nothing here." Sesshomaru said with an eyebrow raised at her curiously. He expected a hut at least not just this old well.
"My home is on the other side." Kagome said chipper as she turned back around and hopped up on the ledge of the well. "Come along Sesshomaru." she said as she looked back at him and held her hand out for him to get up onto the ledge as well.
"What do you intend to do woman? This is a well... a dried up one at that." Sesshomaru said as he looked up at her like she was crazy then leaned over and looked down the well.
"Just trust me." Kagome said slightly impatient waiting for him to get up on the ledge.
"I believe you have lost your mind human but I am intrigued by your behavior." Sesshomaru said stoically as he got up on the ledge of the well beside her.
"We jump on 3 ok. 1...2..." Kagome said then grabbed his hand suddenly. "3..." she said as she jumped into the well with Sesshomaru who was surprised to find as they fell through the well it was swirling blue and pink and that they didn't hit the bottom straight away. After several long moments they finally landed at the bottom of the well.
Sesshomaru looked up shocked to see a dark roof over the well instead of the crystal blue sky's above of the Feudal area. "Where are we?" He asked confused as he looked over at Kagome.
"Tokyo, Japan 500 years in the future, in your time it's the outskirts of Edo Village." Kagome said and smiled then walked over the the ever present ladder her family kept there for her to climb out of the well. "Lets go find my Grandfather." she said as she began climbing up the ladder.
"You are in the most indecent clothing I have ever seen a woman wear." Sesshomaru said as he resiliently stared at the ground at the base of the ladder as he made his way over to it.
Kagome climbed over the well and looked back down with a small smile. "Ya know Sesshomaru you're not that bad of a guy. Come on I'm already over the edge." she said as she continued to look down the well at him.
"I'm not sure how to take that." Sesshomaru said with a raised eyebrow as he began to climb the ladder.
"It's a compliment Sesshomaru." Kagome said dryly as she made her way up the stairs to the door so they could leave the well house just as Sesshomaru climbed over the well. He walked up the stairs to join her then she opened the door.
They stepped out into the sunlight and Sesshomaru looked around at the shrine curiously he could hear a lot of noises but he couldn't tell what was making them. He noticed that Kagome was now walking towards a particular building and he followed her. Following wasn't his forte but he was definitely out of his element here.
"Grandfather I'm home. Mom, Sota anyone here?" Kagome called through the house curiously as she stepped in and took her shoes off in the entry way and set them off to the side next to the other shoes.
"Ah Kagome you're home, and with a guest from the Feudal Era no less? Your mother is doing shopping and Sota is at school my dear grand daughter. Might I ask where is Inuyasha?" Kagome's grandfather said as he made his way down the hall noticing the tall man behind her in the old traditional clothes carrying two swords at his side.
"You're the one I'm really here to see Grampa. Inuyasha's sulking at the moment I'm sure he'll be along before we are able get any work done." Kagome said as she hugged her grandfather.
"Why seek me out?" Grampa asked curiously when his grand daughter pulled back from him.
"Grampa this is Lord Sesshomaru and he is supposed to be a demon. A priestess turned him Human and I'm trying to help him get his normal form back." Kagome said as she motioned back to Sesshomaru.
"Oh my dear Kagome why would you try to give him his powers back?" her grandfather asked shocked as he looked at Sesshomaru who was watching the proceeding before him interested.
"Grampa, don't be rude. He's Inuyasha's half brother, I've promised to help him. Will you help me?" Kagome asked curiously looking at her grandfather, he had been known to try to vanquish Inuyasha when he first arrived.
"Very well Kagome, since you seem to hold him in such high esteem I shall assist you. This way." her grandfather said as he motioned them down the hall way to his study where all his books and research is kept.
~*~*~*~ Feudal Era ~*~*~*~
Inuyasha had made it to the Southern most tip of the Western lands just as night fell so he made a solo camp wondering what was driving him to do what he is going to start in the morning. He managed to get him something to eat, hunting like he did before Kagome and her instant Ramen noodles. His camp was nothing like that of when his friends were with him. It consisted of just him up in a tree resting comfortably against the trunk.
Inuyasha had managed to get a couple hours of light sleep, being alone there was no way he could get into a deep sleep. Day break he was up and moving already up along the Western boarder looking for any signs of trouble. He had told his brother he would never again defend the West but if Sesshomaru ever truly needed it, and would put aside his pride to ask, Inuyasha would be there. Now he was patrolling the boarder with out being asked because he knew his brother had no way to protect them right now.
Inuyasha smelled wolves, familiar wolves, so he sped up then landed right in front of them. "And what exactly are you doing here Wolf?" he growled out with his hand on Tessaiga.
"What's it to you Mutt Face?" the wolf leader responded as he looked at Inuyasha with his beautiful piercing blue eyes and his hands on his hips.
"These are Western Lands explain yourself you stench ridden Eastern Wolf." Inuyasha growled out as he glared with his amber eyes never leaving the blue in font of him.
"I heard a rumor is all. Wanted to check it out. Where's Kagome anyway?" The wolf asked curiously looking around the half breed in front of him looking for his friends expectantly.
"None of your business you mangy wolf. What rumor?" Inuyasha asked curiously momentary anger crossing his face he never liked this wolf going after Kagome.
"The Western Lord was killed a few days ago by a priestess or so the rumor says. You have anything to do with it. The priestess is said to be traveling with demons, I recon you might qualify in a rumor as a demon." Kouga said with a smirk as he returned his attention back to Inuyasha.
Inuyasha growled at Kouga this wolf really got on his nerves. "The Western Lord is alive and well thank you very much. Never take stock in rumors." He said as he bared his fangs slightly at Kouga.
"Then why are you here Mutt Face?" Kouga asked curiously.
"Helping the Western Lord squash this rumor." Inuyasha said as he stood there watching as a few of Kouga's wolves began to try and out flank him. "Keep them together, you know how dangerous my sword is." he threatened as he partially drew the Tessaiga.
"Stay where you are." Kouga said without glancing back. Inuyasha was getting better before he would have been so focused on him that he would have never noticed the wolves in the back out flanking him. "Now why would you care about this getting rid of this rumor?" he asked curiously.
"I just do Wolf leave it at that." Inuyasha said uncomfortably.
That drew in Kouga like a fly to honey. "What do you owe to the Western Lord? If I recall correctly you live around Edo Village in the East." he said as he watched Inuyasha curiously noticing the uncomfortable expression again.
"The Western Lands belong to my older brother, and my father before him alright!" Inuyasha said after a few moments pause, then he glared at Kouga for making him say why he was here.
"Very well Inuyasha I shall take your word that the Western Lord is alive and well." Kouga said then turned to his wolves. "Spread the word to all wolf tribes that Kouga of the Eastern wolves has found that the rumor of Lord Sesshomaru's death is false. Ginta come here, you report that to the Easter Lord Kuzan." he said then turned back to Inuyasha when his wolves had dispersed.
"Why?" Inuyasha asked curiously as he looked at Kouga shocked.
"My guess is Inuyasha that you are patrolling the boarder because Lord Sesshomaru is unable he may not be dead but he is injured. Now Kagome and maybe the rest of your friends are tending to him, of course that is all speculation. But the sooner you can secure the boarders the sooner you can return to her side and protect her, she is most special to me keep that in mind." he said then turned to leave.
"Hey Kouga... Thanks..." Inuyasha said awkwardly. "By the way there were two wolves who vowed revenge on us the day before yesterday because we ran them off the Western lands, Takeshi and Suzuki." he said as an afterthought before Kouga could leave.
"I've heard of them loners, no pack. I'll have my wolves keep a look out for them. Keep my Kagome safe Mutt Face." Kouga said then was gone so fast in a cyclone.
"Tch... she's not your Kagome..." Inuyasha grumbled as he glared after Kouga, once he was out of sight Inuyasha took off into the tree's again making it to the most Northern boarder without farther incident. He turned then started towards the Western Castle.
By late afternoon Inuyasha saw the Western Castle coming into sight. It was huge five story castle made in the traditional Japanese style built on a hill with a large stone base at a 45 degree angle and a large stone wall all the way around the property with tall guard towers spaced out regularly along the wall. There were several smaller one story buildings inside the grounds most likely for guards, armory, and so-forth. But the beauty, privacy, and tranquility of the gardens was surprising to Inuyasha.
Inuyasha jumped down from the tree's deciding to get this over with and slowly made his way towards the castle gates. "Halt." he heard as he neared the gates and he looked up at a young Inu Demon woman glaring down at him.
Inuyasha stopped and watched as she made her way down from the wall to the front gate. "I'm here to see Jaken or who ever is in charge when the Western Lord isn't here." he said when she arrived down to look at him.
"Lord Sesshomaru is busy and can't be bothered by a half breed like you." the female demon said as she glared at Inuyasha with her dark amber eyes. Her hair was a soft coral and tied up high on her head.
"Well if you had listened to me then you would have known I didn't ask to see Sesshomaru." Inuyasha said impatiently as he glared at the woman.
"Don't get smart with me half breed." the woman said angrily as she glared at this half Inu demon.
"Listen here lady. I just spent the day patrolling the Western boarder and running wolves off back across the boarder against the Eastern Lands. I'm here to pass on a message about your precious Lord." Inuyasha said irritably after he rolled his eyes at the woman.
"Master Inuyasha forgive them, they have been running off fools for the last couple of days. This is Himeko the top castle guard here, she is in charge when Lord Sesshomaru is away." Myoga said as he landed on Inuyasha's shoulder then sucked some blood out of Inuyasha's neck.
"And where have you been Myoga... hiding like always." Inuyasha said as he smashed the flea demon. "Anyway Sesshomaru is safe but unable to return at the moment. We are tending to him, I suggest that you put guards on the Western boarder I fear more will try to take these lands in his absence." he said returning his attention to Himeko in front of him.
"Why would I do anything you say half breed?" Himeko asked as she bared her fangs and glared at him. He dared to tell her what to do, it was an outrage.
"Inuyasha, is it true My Lord survives?" Jaken's squeaky voice said as he ran up to the gate from the castle.
"Yes Jaken. Rin is safe too." Inuyasha said switching his gaze from Himeko down to the imp demon.
"You know this half breed Jaken?" Himeko asked curiously as she looked down at the imp demon as well. Most of the time when Sesshomaru left the castle he had the imp and the human girl Rin with him.
"Yes of course I know him how else would I call him by name? Silly woman." Jaken said dismissively.
"Master Inuyasha is the half brother of Lord Sesshomaru and second son of former Lord Inu No Taisho." Myoga chimed in as he hopped up and down on Inuyasha's shoulder at the disrespect being shown to his young master.
"The second son of Inu No Taisho? Really I had heard he had a half breed with a human woman but never believe it myself." Himeko said slightly shocked as she looked at Inuyasha more critically now. He was definitely a half demon of the white inu clan.
"Tch...I've ran two sets of wolf demons off already. Do what you want with the information. We'll have your precious lord back as soon as possible." Inuyasha said with a huff then he turned and walked away. The whole situation was giving him a headache.