Summary: Kagome's a youkai, heiress to the Eastern Kingdom. Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha both live in the Western realm and they are the heirs for the Kingdom. The three meet and the story unfolds. R&R
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha in any way, all characters and ideas for the show called "InuYasha, a Feudal Fairy Tale" belong to Rumiko Takahashi. I am in no way gaining any profit off of this story, it is soul based on my imagination and thought's and posted for fellow Inuyasha fan's enjoyment. The OC's however were created by me for this story so please do not copy them or this story idea.
Warnings: uh… I can't really think of any warnings to warn you about. So if you find any just tell me and I'll warn you. Oh and this is an AU in case anyone is wondering.
Rating: PG-13… maybe higher later.
Lost Light
By:TwilightKitsune1
Chapter Seven (7)
Nozomi and the Forest Maze…
The Blood War, that's what people called it. So many had died during this war, still carried the wounds both emotionally and physically because of this war, so many hated it and the grueling and unforgiving history that went with it. Many that lived remembered it for those lesson's that were taught and the real significance it had for them. Though some in the East and West Kingdoms, especially the royal families of both, remember the war for being the reason for the loss of the most precious treasure they possessed; the young princess Kagome.
XxXxX—XxXxX—XxXxX
As the rain soaked into the earth the fires began to be soaked out and soon all that was seen in the royal kingdom of the north were thick blankets of smoke rising to the heavens and dispersing in the air. There was much rubble that littered the ground, scorched and charred from the hot fires. The dead also littered the ground like the leaves in autumn would, there bodies lifeless as their eyes stared unseeing into the distances as what blood they had left stained the earth where they lay. The ground seemed near as dead as the bodies in this area from the battle that had taken place.
Not long after the palace had burned to the ground did the army from the south retreat to lick at its wounds. Now that the largest threat in this war had been taken care of the east and west soldiers could relax for a moment as they took in their wounded and counted their dead. Though it was not certain they could truly count this as a victory when no soldier could be found smiling as they grieved over lost friends, family, and those they cared about. Every so often there would be a shout to the heavens from an unknown soldier as he grieved and cursed the skies.
The two young princes walked the battle field, looking for their father and his friend Natiku, as well as their childhood friend Kagome. Every so often one would stop and try to console a warrior who seemed lost holding a dead form of someone dear to them. Their clothes were covered in soot and blood, their hair just as covered. Both held their swords unsheathed incase they were attacked by a straggling warrior which had happened several times so far. There eyes scanning the area they spotted their father speaking with a soldier from the east, Fujita.
"FATHER!" Inuyasha cried as he rushed to his father's side when they spotted his blood seeping through the clothes on his left torso and his right arm.
Reaching him Sesshomaru asked, "Father, were you injured?"
"Aye. We had a few traitors in some of the platoons; I was ambushed when they attacked."
"Cowardice bastards!" Inuyasha spat.
"That may be true but I nearly did not make it out alive. Had Fujita's men not spotted me I may not have." Tiasho informed his son's.
"Then it is very appreciated, should you ever need anything this royal family will assist you with it Fujita." Sesshomaru said.
Tiasho laughed and then looked around, "I have seen neither my friend nor Kagome, have either of you two?"
Both Inuyasha and Sesshomaru shook their heads, "No, we were just searching for them but with this fire, smoke, and rain, we can't pick up their scents."
"True, this does hinder us a bit, but perhaps the four of us will be able to find them faster." Tiasho said and the four began the search.
Hours had passed until they finally found on soldier the Fujita informed them was his friend he had requested to stay by Kagome's side and protect her in his absence. The soldier laid in a pool of blood and water, his breath shallow as his skin was ashen from the blood loss, he would not last much longer. "Haru!" Fujita cried as he kneeled down and took his friends hand.
"That you, my brother?" Haru gasped as blood was leaking into his lungs, looking in Fujita's direction but not really seeing since his eyes were unfocused.
"Aye, it is me, Fujita. What happened, where is the princess?" Fujita asked not looking to his wounds since there was nothing he could do to stop the death that was closing in on his friend.
"She went into a rage… The king… nearly died… Youkai freeze…" Haru said as his face scrunched up in pain as he gripped his friends hand tightly. "Somehow… strange words… neutralized the poison… left me to protect… im… ran… to… castle… got ambushed… hid the king." He lifted his hand and pointed to a strange looking slab of rubble propped against the remains of a building. "Didn't want… her to cry… again…" He gasped for air one last time before his life left him and death took him.
"Haru…" Fujita whispered as his vision began to blur with tears. "My brother, you fought well, rest now and know peace." He pulled Haru out of the water and held the lifeless body to his form not wishing to leave him here.
Tiasho did not say anything as he and Inuyasha went to the slab of rubble Haru had pointed to and began to move it away. "Haru… he was a good man, a good soldier, an honorable youkai, he will not be forgotten. I am sorry for your loss." Sesshomaru said as he deftly closed Haru's eyes and wiped the blood and dirt from Haru's face.
"Thank you lord Sesshomaru, he would be honored to hear that." Fujita said regaining his composure and watched as Sesshomaru moved over to help pull the slab aside.
Once it was moved Tiasho quickly maneuvered himself inside and found Natiku propped up against the back wall, obviously in a hurry. Quickly Tiasho checked the pulse and saw if he was breathing. Thankfully he was breathing strong and his heart beat like it always did. Already his body was healing from the injuries that it had sustained. "Father, is he alright?" Inuyasha called from outside watching the perimeter with Sesshomaru and Fujita.
"He is, the gods preserved him." Tiasho called back taking Natiku into his arms so not to leave him here unprotected and defenseless.
As he exited the small area he went over what Haru had said in his mind, again Kagome used some strange power to save her father, last time her mother. However she went into a rage this time where last time she only fell unconscious. His eyes widened when he realized, "Did Haru say Kagome went to the castle that burned down in a rage!?" he called to his son's.
The only reply he received when he exited was the discovery that the three men had run toward the burnt down castle. He jumped after them, Natiku still in his hold, and hoped that Kagome was lucky enough to escape the blaze. When he reached the castle he found the three in the main entrance, Sesshomaru and Inuyasha breathing deep looking for a scent to follow. There were so many dead here, cut apart by a strong force, turning he found the doors had been burst through before burning.
"There's too much blood and smoke to shift through, we're just going to have to go room to room." Inuyasha yelled as Sesshomaru had already started forward, their first destination, the audience chamber.
The doors here had also been pushed through and when they entered the could not tell what was from the battle and what had been caused by the fire, but as their eyes slid across the room that is when they saw the burned remains of a naked and headless Lord Yoshi, his head near the thrown steps while the empty thrown had been covered by a burnt pillar. "Kagome did it…" Inuyasha whispered in a hushed voice as he looked at the dead form of Yoshi.
"Yes she did, she killed the biggest threat during the war. With the master strategist Yoshi out of the way this war is as good as over." Tiasho confirmed his son's thoughts.
Inuyasha looked around as Sesshomaru moved about until he came to a dead halt off to the side of the thrown. He knelt down slowly as Inuyasha rushed up behind him, "You find something?"
His hand grabbed the burnt hilt and he stood up and turned, gently holding the sword in his hands, "Kagome's sword… she wouldn't…"
"Don't say it Sesshomaru!" Tiasho called to his son's as Inuyasha reached out unbelieving to the sword but pulled back away from it as though it were still hot. "You two do not over react over a sword, she is alive, and we just haven't found her yet. We continue the search!"
They did in fact continue the search there until all the dead soldiers were gathered, all of the South and North thrown into a pile next to the castle as the soldiers of the East and West took their men further away from the castle and lined them out. They would return for them but they were unable to carry all the dead since there were injured that needed tending and a dead body would not help the recovery. Though a few soldiers were carried back by the more stubborn soldiers, Fujita insisting on bring Haru did not have to fight much before Tiasho had given into his demand. No one ever found Kagome alive or dead.
When they returned to the castle Sakura and Akiko were among the crowd to first greet them. When they learned the news of Natiku still healing but conscious and the missing Kagome they both became hysterical. Akiko had rushed to her mate's side and engulfed him into a sobbing hold that Natiku joined her with his own tears for their missing daughter. The East and West made short work of the South and then continued in the search for Kagome. Soon the kingdom's pronounced Kagome dead and searching for her body became one of the few things done, though there were still search parties of youkai that believed her to still be alive while the ningen agrees with the royal families that she was dead. The new heir that had been born to the east two years after the war ended, Kane, was pronounced the next ruler of the east. Soon after the soldier, Fujita, requested transfer from the East to West due to emotional strife with Kagome no longer there, it was granted.
However, twenty years after the war had ended a new tragedy befell the West Kingdom. The kind ningen queen, Sakura, had passed away due to an illness she could not prevail against. The great Lord Inutiasho fell into a deep depression and could no longer rule the west Kingdom and pronounced his oldest son, Sesshomaru the new ruler. The position was taken after a heated argument between father and son. When Sesshomaru came into power he ruled with an iron fist, cold and critical on his people, and Inuyasha rarely stayed in the castle or near the kingdom. He mostly ran in the largely wooded areas or in the Eastern kingdom. When the young heir to the east became older he was seen running with Inuyasha, having become quick friends.
Soon after Sesshomaru's coronation and Kagome had been pronounced dead he began a petition to have a grave marker placed in neutral lands, the place reserved for those that had died honorably in battle. Not many were placed here from the war, the only other being the soldier Haru. It did not take long before it was agreed and a memorial had been held and a marker placed there in Kagome's honor. It is a great honor for any to be placed here since it is said that those buried here knew and lived in righteousness and served directly under the divine beings that existed where none could see them. Similar stones where placed in the royal palaces of the East, and one in the West next to the lady Sakura's grave marker.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxX – XxXxXxXx – One hundred and fifteen (115) years after war - xXxXxXxX – XxXxXxXxXxXxXxX
Like all places in the east the small village of Nozomi had found peace, there was no civil strife here like the entire eastern kingdom, there was peace. The sun shown brightly in the mid day sky against the light blue background as a few pearly white clouds lofted by. The air here was fresh and the land fertile as crops grew with no problem. Birds sang in the surrounding forest as the bugs chirped the songs. The wind blew gently across the land causing the trees to shift and leaves to rustle against one another. The grass, lush and green, swayed in the wind as petals filled with plant seeds rode the wind to an unknown destination.
On a hill top that over looked the small village laid a single figure, their face looking to the sky as the wind tickled across their form shifting their clothing ever so slightly. It was obvious that it was a female youkai that lay there since, even during peace no female ningen would be found alone on a hill top, fearful of marauding bandits. She wore a tight fitting haori, the sleeves having been ripped off to assist in the movement of her arms; it was a deep blue color that had a silk look to it. The haori-himo was a jade green color. The male hakama's she wore were a shade darker then the Haori she wore and on her feet were a pair of tabi's and waraji's. Her hair was done into a high tight braid, that if she stood, would reach to the back of her knees and if undone would drape down to the floor. Her hair was a dark black, like a night with no moon or star's, yet when hit by the light shinned like the moon at its highest point in the heavens before it disappears the next night. On her head she adorned a blue bandanna, the same color as the ocean in morning's light; a gift from her master who has already passed into the underworld. It has never been removed and the youkai had no intention of ever having it removed. Her eyes, though closed now, were a rare color of blue grey that held a deep sorrow and knowledge she could not recall. On her cheeks were the only marking on her, other then her pointed ears that gave away her heritage, three ragged stripes on each cheek all the color of an ocean in mid day with waters undisturbed.
"Kagome!" came a cry from a young girl in the direction of the village.
Hearing her name her eyes snapped open and she sat up quickly looking towards the young teenage girl coming towards her, a village elder by her side, 'So the day now begins.' Kagome thought with a sigh before standing up and greeting the girl and helping the elder up the rest of the way.
"It is dangerous to come out so far. I am guessing something needs doing?" Kagome said a small smirk on her face as one of her fangs poked out.
She looked over the two as she waited for a reply. The young teenage ningen was wearing a summer yukata, it was striped with the colors of orange, pink, and white; a normal outfit for the young. Her hair was done up in a loose bun and a simple wooden Kanzashi with a frog pattern etched into it held it. Her eyes were a bright green color; here skin showed she worked in the fields already, as freckles covered her face. Kagome recalled her name as Hana, one of the more mischievous children that she had saved from demon youkai on more then one occasion in the forest. The elder that stood beside Hana, who was still breathing heavily and smoothing the sweat from his brow was elder Zen, one of the first elders that agreed with her master to keep her in the village. He wore a grey colored haori; his haori-himo was as black as the night. His hakama's were a simple black color. On his feet though he wore a pair of hanao with white straps that in the past made Kagome raise a brow but she had gotten used to it threw the years. In his hand he leaned heavily on his walking stick which was a thick root only found from a tree far to the north.
"Yes there are things that need doing." The elder confirmed once he had caught his breath bringing Kagome's attention back to focus on him. "There are strangers in the forest. We believe that they are youkai. We wish you to go and have them leave; preferable peacefully though should they refuse you are permitted to use force when need be."
Kagome waited for a moment to see if there was more to what he was going to say. When nothing came she finally asked, "Have they done anything or showed they mean the village harm?"
Once she asked it took the elder Zen a moment to process what she had said. His eyes narrowed within a second and his fist clenched on the wood of the walking stick, the wood creaking slightly. "That is not for you to know Kagome, youkai of the village. We do not know if they come in peace or if they come to pillage, it is safer to dispatch them and keep the village safe."
"Then would the command be better to find their purpose then to dispatch them when they could come in peace and wish for a refuge."
"No. Dispatch them now Kagome, we will not take a risk like that."
"But sir—"
"No, follow this command or leave the village." Zen finally said his voice stern and left room for no question as he slammed his walking stick to the earth they stood on.
Sighing as she gave into his command she bowed to his will before quickly leaving the two on the hill top and jumped into the tree's. "Elder Zen may I ask you a question?" the young Hana asked looking to the elder with curious eyes.
"Yes, what is it child?" Zen answered as they began their decent back to the village.
"Should we not find out what the new comers intent on the village is before turning them away."
"Nay child, the trees hinder those stained with blood to reach the village, hidden by trees we are safe. They come for a reason you are not allowed to know."
"But sir I don't understand."
"One day child, when you grow older the magic's of our village will be explained, for now it is better for you not to know. Once we reach the village though, perhaps you will go to your lessons?"
Hana sighed and looked to the elder with a smile, "I would much rather work in the fields."
"You mean train with a weapon." Zen laughed as she looked shocked with his knowledge, "I may be old but I have seen you out with the men, hidden in the bushes training your skills for combat."
XxXxX—XxXxX—XxXxX
The trees seemed to thicken and thin out by their own will; no scents lofted in the air save for the thick must. The wind was soft in the forest as if to not carry any scent far here, mostly lifting high to the sky and dispersing so not to give an origin. It felt to the three youkai who wondered the forest as though they had some how entered a maze of some kind. At times vines would fall from the tree limbs, slapping them over their body, making them wince as they felt like they were hit by whips. They saw at times their footsteps were suddenly hidden by the bush and grass on the ground, roots would pop up from the earth causing them to stumble. There were no sounds from bird or bug, the sun hardly shinned through the canopy above.
As one of the soldiers stumbled over another root his aggravated cry halted the expedition, "Oh see where your great direction has lead us Akira!" he bellowed and looked to the soldier he called Akira.
"It was not only I Botan, you were there as well. We received the directions and you could have assisted in the travel if you thought hard enough." Akira countered against Botan becoming equally irritated.
The third soldier examined the area and then turned to the bickering two, "Akira, show respect to a ranking officer. Though I think the two of you should stop this bickering, not only is it getting us no where but it may also draw unwanted attention from a hostile." He breathed heavily and looked at the way they came and found that it seemed as though the trees had moved again, their tracks gone. "We were also warned that the forest is made of magic to protect it from any who have evil. It is a shame to think it but I am sure because we are youkai and soldiers we are viewed as evil intruders. Also if you have not noticed the air is thin and we can not even get a good scent on the ningen village."
Akira blinked at the soldier for a moment, "What do you speak of Fujita?"
Botan sighed at Akira's foolishness and expanded on Fujita's meaning as Fujita continued to survey the area, "It is time for the Fertile Festival for the ningen's. I believe it was last night or the night before last, either way we would still be able to smell their mating rituals."
Akira made a disgusted face and turned away from Botan, "I will never understand why ningen's conduct such rituals."
Fujita nodded, "Yes I agree with you, but even still we should smell their rituals in the air yet if you haven't noticed there is nothing in the air except the musk from the thick forest." Looking at Akira he added, "I believe this forest will also trap those who enter it with evil intent so they go mad as they search for the village or the exit; many dying by the forest or their own hand."
Akira sighed and looked up to Fujita, "So I'm guessing this is bad?"
Botan laughed as he placed a hand to his face, but before he could speak a voice from the trees floated softly to their ears as though it were on the wind. "Are you a fool?"
"WHO GOES THERE!" all three yelled in unison pulling their weapons and putting their backs together as the scanned the area.
"You truly must be to pull your weapons out on me in this forest." The gentle voice spoke with a hidden humor none understood.
As the soldiers pondered on the voices meaning vines from the trees shot out, wrapping around the hilts of their blades and yanking them from the shocked soldier's hands, "WHAT WITCH CRAFT IS THIS!?" Botan hollered as he watched his sword, along with Akira's and Fujita's, fly into the surrounding trees and fade away.
With a smile sliding across her lips Kagome landed on the ground a distance away from the solders and began to walk towards them, "You wander into this place not knowing what lay waiting for you?" she taunted the solders that quickly turned to her and watched her approach.
As they watched her approach and stop in front of them, placing a slender clawed hand to rest on her hip, she regarded them with contempt. Her brow rose as she looked them over but her eyes looked to the trees, her head turning slightly as though there was a voice whispering into her ear. As she was distracted Fujita looked at the female youkai that stood in front of them. She was a beauty, that was true enough but as he took her in, her voice and her posture; even the contempt she held for them and the disdain he knew he knew her. His body moved on its own, his mind frozen as he gazed at her. It took him a moment to realize he was moving swiftly to a distracted fighter, when she realized—
He did not finish his thought as his feet stopped at the feel of cold steel on his throat. Her eyes, cold angry blue grey eyes narrowed on him, and a snarl came to her lips, her fangs bared as she spoke, "You are foolish to try and rush me head on unarmed."
"I was not—"
"SILENCE!" her voice stern. "Your purpose here, tell me now or die slowly until the truth falls from your lips."
"We come here looking for a woman, you should have heard of her since you live in the east, the young princess Kagome." Fujita said allowing his neck to be bared to show his submission. "We come here in peace and mean you no harm, we only wish to find her and take her back to the eastern kingdom. We only wish to take her home."
"Why, why come here, why keep searching for her when there is already an heir that sits on the thrown of the Eastern kingdom?"
"We come here to just search since this place has not been searched for some fifty years or so. As for searching for her while there is already an heir it is because it is for a parents love, for a love." Fujita replied closing his eyes as he felt her blade beginning to push in on the flesh of his throat.
"She is dead warrior, her life ended during the war like many others did, no princess lives here." Sheathing her sword she said, "Stop trying to bring the dead back when they rest in peace, you do shame to her spirit." Turning she began walking away calling over her shoulder, "Return from where you came from, the trees will not hinder you if you mean to leave."
"A moment please!" Fujita called in urgency looking to her retreating form but not moving towards her again, "What is your name!?"
Stopping for a moment she turned only half way, the one eye that was visible met with Fujita's beseeching eyes, "I go by Kagome, youkai of the Nozomi village." And with that she leaped into the trees, disappearing from sight leaving the soldiers staring after her.
Botan was the first to recover and he walked to Fujita's side and placed a hand on his shoulder, "This is your call, you knew the lady Kagome far better then Akira or myself, was that woman the heir or just a youkai who bares her name?"
Fujita looked to Botan, his body feeling far more numb then it had, "It was indeed… she is alive in this village. We should return to the west castle and report this; I believe the royal eastern family is there as well visiting." Botan nodded and turned about walking back the way they came, Akira falling into step. "She's actually alive… Kagome."
End Chapter Seven (7)
Twilight: And that is chapter seven… Far more detailed then how it was written if you ask me.
Inuyasha: I don't think they asked you wench, they just want the story.
Twilight: Geez Inuyasha, I really like how you're so sensitive today.
Inuyasha: I try…
Twilight: (-glare-)
Kagome: Oh come on you guys, really I liked the re write of the story.
Inuyasha: Of course you do, you were actually what the chapter revolved around.
Sesshomaru: This Sesshomaru thinks you should be taught a lesson half breed.
Inuyasha: You think you can teach me (-readies claws for an attack-)
Sesshomaru: This Sesshomaru knows. (-attacks and both fly threw wall-)
Twilight, & Kagome: (-stairs unblinking at gapping hole as part of wall falls down-)
Twilight: geez, gotta love how those two get along so well
Kagome: (-sweat drop-) maybe I should do the review?
Twilight: Yeah you better, I don't think those two will be back anytime soon (-hears distant explosion-).
PREVIEW FOR NEXT CHAPTER:
The royal families of both the East and West have finally found me after one hundred and fifteen years of searching; their next course of action is obvious. How do the elders take the news of the soldiers?... strangely, I can't figure them out. In a dream I finally see my master again after fifty-seven years since she died, passing the knowledge on how to regain my lost memories but I wonder if I truly want them back at all after living so long with out them. Find out what happens in the next chapter, Lost Light chapter eight.
