Yay another new reviewer! Thank you so much Yasnactic for your review. I know that I'm still not very good at getting inside the characters themselves, but I am trying to improve. Alright I'm going to do a little clarification. The title is going to have at least three meanings within the story. One will be why each of the brothers wants Naraku dead. Another reason you will start to see in this chapter and the last has to do with Kagome. Let me know what you think.
Chapter IX
A PAINFUL REVELATION
20 Minutes Later
(Kagome's POV)
The days had passed quietly enough for the small group. Inuyasha had actually been fairly nice, but he still refused to talk anymore about his brother. They all knew that he was struggling with uncertainty about whether or not he should even meet with him. Kagome didn't understand why he would want to avoid seeing his brother. "Maybe he found out that you were free and wanted to see you," Kagome had suggested the one time she had spoken about Healo during the trip.
Inuyasha hadn't gotten upset but instead shook his head and said ", No that doesn't make any sense. Healo has always been in touch with Sesshomaru and he's known for a long time." The hanyou turned away as the miko pursued timidly ", If Healo rules in the North, then why does he want to meet you in Ionin." Inuyasha regarded her carefully before saying ", I don't know and that's part of the problem. It's one of the things that makes me wonder if this isn't a trap."
The miko silenced her retort and instead went back to contemplating the questions for herself. 'I don't think that Sesshomaru really wants to kill Inuyasha anymore. Besides if he did want to kill him Sesshomaru wouldn't use some sort of trap like this.' Kagome decided that she would soon see for herself. Even as she though this the group passed over another ridge as everyone paused in amazement.
The hill dropped to form a verdant valley that held the glittering jewel of Ionin. The city was ringed with an iron wall but the city itself was a sea of colors with a majority of blues and gold, the Western colors, flags fluttering on many of the buildings. Beyond the city Kagome could make out the silver waves of the sea broken by the prows of many tall ships of war. Amid the splendor of the city was a powerful building that everyone instinctively knew was their destination.
The miko spoke in an awed tone ", Inuyasha why didn't you tell us it looked like this?" The hanyou shook his head slowly as he replied ", I haven't been here since I was a baby." 'No wonder Sesshomaru is always so proud. If I had grown up in a place like that I'd probably look down on everybody else too,' the miko thought as they made their way through the large golden gates, which were adorned with a sapphire crescent, and down the open streets.
Kagome was surprised to find how open the people were. There were about equal numbers of humans and demons. Some of the demons seemed a little richer than most of the humans, but few people of either race were poor. Still there was something strange that Kagome noticed. "Inuyasha," the miko muttered quietly to the hanyou walking beside her. She saw his ears flick to show her he was listening.
She giggled at the action but then became serious and asked ", Have you noticed that there are two different groups of demons here?" The hanyou stared at her for a moment, but then he gazed out at the crowd and froze. His ears flattened as he muttered ", Yah. The silver demons are from here, but those ones with the black hair are from the Northern Lands." Kagome kept moving normally but she glanced around the city as they made their way to the palace. She noticed that while the majority of the demons were from the West at least a third were from the North.
She tried to act casual as she asked Inuyasha ", Do you think their merchants, ambassadors, guards, or something like that?" The hanyou folded his arms as he replied calmly ", Too many for it to be that. Besides a lot of them look like peasants, and they aren't acting as if they were nervous." The miko moved closer to Inuyasha since a few of the people were studying them as they finally approached the entrance to the palace.
Suddenly about a dozen guards approached from the gates. Inuyasha and the others tensed but Kagome didn't think that they had anything to fear. 'They don't look upset. Maybe a little stern but they should know of our coming.' The leader of this band seemed to be a mix between the two groups; he had the silvery hair of the West but deep purple eyes. When he spoke his voice was the picture of authority. "What is your business here?"
Kagome and the others glanced at Inuyasha expecting him to speak since he was the one who had received the summons. The hanyou was unresponsive for only a moment before answering. ", We were told to come meet Lord Healo and Lord Sesshomaru here." The captain nodded slowly and asked ", Who exactly are you?" Inuyasha drew himself up and said ", My name's Inuyasha. My father was your Lord Inutaisho." The answer caused a great deal of talk among the people who had overheard and even some of the guards exchanged glances.
The captain only smirked as he said ", His son. Do you have anything to substantiate this claim?" Kagome glanced at the hanyou wondering what sort of reaction this would evoke. However, after staring at the captain for a moment Inuyasha gave a grin of his own and said ", Sure." In a sudden motion that caused the guards to draw their weapons he drew Tetseiga. The miko said urgently ", Inuyasha don't."
Inuyasha responded with a shrug as he said ", This sword is made from one of his fangs." He smile vanished as he continued ", Do I need to demonstrate this to you?" The captain hesitated for a moment before a hard look come on his face. Kagome was beginning to intervene when suddenly a calm voice interrupted the argument. "That won't be necessary, brother."
Everyone turned to see who had interrupted the confrontation. The guards immediately put away their weapons and bowed as the miko looked towards Inuyasha to confirm her suspicions. The uncomfortable look on his face was enough to prove to her that this was Healo. He was taller than Inuyasha and it was obvious that he was far more graceful. His face was pale and his hair and blue eyes were very dark which made for an interesting contrast. Despite their shade his eyes did not feel cold, but neither were they warm; they were passionate with energy sparking constantly from the depths of the demons soul.
Healo waited for a moment as if expecting his brother to speak next, but when this did not happen he cleared his throat and gave a warm smile. "Inuyasha I am glad to see that you faced no great difficulties in coming hear," his voice was light as he waited expectantly for a response. The hanyou gained some composure and said ", Not like anything could stop me anyway." Kagome could not help but shake her head at her friends boast. 'He is so full of himself sometimes, it must be a family trait,' she thought as she imagined the hanyou and Sesshomaru.
The demon lord surprised everyone with a laugh as he gave a swift glance to the currently quiet miko. His gaze returned to his brother as he asked ", I suppose that you had best introduce me to the rest of your pack." Inuyasha was silent for a moment before shrugging and saying ", Right." He turned to the rest of the group and said ", Guys, this is my brother Healo, Lord of the Northern Lands." Kagome noticed a that the demon gave a small pained expression before smiling again. "Healo this," the hanyou said pointing to the group ", is Killala, Shippo, Miroku, Sango, and Kagome."
Healo politely nodded to each of them in turn until he came to Kagome. The demon gave a bright smile and asked ", So brother, is this beautiful miko your mate?" Everyone grew silent at the question and Kagome was rather hoping that the ground would open and swallow her. Inuyasha gave an irritated growl and answered ", Heck no. She is helping me to find the jewel shards." Healo gave a small grin and said apologetically ", Forgive me. I merely noticed that she stood closer to you than the others."
Kagome flushed and quickly sidestepped away as she said ", Were in a place I've never been before and Inuyasha is my friend." 'Not that I didn't use to hope we were more,' the miko thought with a mental sigh. Surprisingly, Healo smiled kindly and said ", I understand. I suppose that you all are wondering why I asked you to come here." The group nodded furiously as the demon lord smiled; he was obviously amused by their impatience. "I promise that you will soon know the reason," his face darkened slightly as he continued ", but before that I wish to speak with you alone Inuyasha."
The hanyou gave a confused look and replied ", Sure I guess that's fine." He glanced to the rest of the group and Kagome gave a small nod. 'I may not understand everything that's going on here, but Inuyasha said that Healo was trustworthy,' she thought firmly. The demon lord responded with a small bow and a genuine smile ", Thank you for understanding. You have my word that as long as you are here no harm will come to you. I forced Sesshomaru to agree to certain…conditions…before you arrived. He will stay away from you until it is time to discuss other matters."
Healo then turned an appraising eye onto the guards who immediately stood at attention. He spoke clearly ", Captain you and your men will accompany these guests into the central gardens. You are not to leave them out of your sight. Know that if any harm should befall them you will answer to me for it." The guards shuddered for a moment before the captain spoke ", As you say, my lord." Healo gave them a solemn nod before turning back to the group.
He said kindly ", Since you took the risk in coming here it would be impolite of me to not see to your safety while you are here. Do not worry we shouldn't be longer than an hour or so." Healo motioned to his brother who started forward than said ", Wait a second I have something of yours." Inuyasha turned to Kagome who quickly opened her giant backpack and pulled out the rod that had been left at the god tree. Inuyasha took the rod from the miko with a mumbled thanks and turned back towards Healo.
He walked forward and placed the rod in Healo's hands as he said quietly ", I think this is yours." Healo took the rod without a word but his face contorted in guilt as he said ", Inuyasha I no longer deserve to bear it." The spectators watching the visitors began muttering as the hanyous ears flattened and he asked ", What do you mean you don't deserve it?" The demon stared into his brother's eyes as he said firmly ", That is what I need to talk to you about, and once you know the truth you will never see me the same way again."
The hanyou asked with confusion ", How could I ever hate you? You've never done anything but help me." The demon shook his head and said in frustration ", Inuyasha you can say that know, but I stole away from you something that is far more precious than anything else." Inuyasha was obviously upset as he asked ", Yah? And what is that." The demon calmed as he said ", I stole your chance at love, and caused you to be sealed in a fate worse than death for fifty years." The hanyou's voice hardened as he said ", No. Naraku caused all of that." Healo gave a sad smile and replied ", Yes, under my orders to do so."
Bum…BUm…BUM. Cliffhanger!!! Ok. Another chapter is finished. Their aren't as many clues in this one since I wanted to focus on describing the setting of the story in this chapter. But one of the most important conflicts in the story was just introduced. The next chapter will explain part of what happened. Ok I may or may not post another chapter tomorrow depending on reviews and inspiration. If I don't get one tomorrow then the next chapter will be Thursday because Wednesday and this weekend I'll be at my dads. Please review because I think it would be neat if I got another chapter by tomorrow since I turn 18 tomorrow. Especially since it will be a very revealing chapter. REVIEW!!!