Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha!

10 - Darkness

Iko was lost. He stared into the dark abyss around him. He was unsure of what to think. One minute he was heading off to find Miroku and the next he was in this place. Slowly taking a step forward, Iko watched as the darkness faded away to reveal the strange white glass floor he stood on.

"Iko."

Stiffening, Iko whirled around. That voice…it couldn't be. He held his breath, waiting for it again. He did not wait in vain.

"Iko."

"No," he whispered brokenly, hands grabbing for his ears.

Iko clenched his fists over his ears, stopping himself from running after her voice. Eyes squeezed shut, he bowed his head.

This was a dream. It couldn't be real. She was gone. The dead cannot—

"Wake up Iko."

Eyes snapping open, Iko looked up, but there was only darkness around him. He opened his mouth, growling. Hands fell to his side.

"Shut up..." It was a broken plea.

But silence only followed after his words. He turned around carefully, trying to catch anything from the shadows.

"Wake up."

"I said shut up!"

His booming voice suddenly caused the darkness around him to clear away, the fog lifting. Iko stared around himself and saw nothing. Nothing, but the white glass and the empty air around him. He clenched his teeth.

"Iko."

Eyes snapping around, he froze. His whole body stiffened, his eyes growing wide. His heart faltered, all breath leaving his chest. The remaining air he coul breath out whispered one word. One name.

"Emi."

…

Akihiko clenched his fists.

"What do you mean Ah-kun is gone?"

Senzeru sighed. "Gin just revealed to us that he left the palace right after Sesshomaru left. It's been hours now."

"And hahaue?"

Momiji and Senzeru shared a look. Senzeru turned to his nephew.

"You should go to her," he whispered softly, eyes hard.

Akihiko, without another word, turned away and ran. Tamae, Taka, and Kazuya looked at each other before turning to them.

"What can we do," Tamae whispered as she glanced once more at Akihiko's disappearing figure.

Taka nodded as she clasped onto Kazuya's hand. The ningen male looked at his lover before turning back to the intimidating older man and the dai youkai. Momiji shook his head, arms crossing. Senzeru's jaws clenched and unclenched.

"For now, nothing. We just stand by and watch."

"When Mitsuki and Kohaku return," Momiji whispered, "we will take action then."

"How long has oji-san been gone?" Taka's voice was filled with concern, her eyes looking between Momiji and Senzeru.

Senzeru shook his head. "He should be back soon, maybe even now."

Kazuya looked down. Senzeru turned to the younger man.

"What are you thinking?"

Kazuya, sighing, looked back up. "I am going to return to the village."

Taka stiffened. Turning to him, she frowned. "Kazuya?"

The man shook his head at her before turning to other three.

"I will bring news to Sango-san and find out what has occurred for Sesshomaru-sama to be so late. I will see if they have any news for the palace. I wish to do something that can help everyone."

Even as Taka hesitated, the other three nodded. Tamae linked arms with her twin, eyes kind.

"Taka, you know we need a messenger."

"And Sesshomaru is taking longer than usual. The village may need assistance, but with Sesshomaru heading there, I do not think we will need an army," Momiji said as he straightened his arms.

Senzeru nodded at this, turning sharply to Kazuya. "Travel on one of the palace horses. They are faster than any ningen horses."

Kazuya nodded. Taka, sighing, nodded also and lead him away towards the stables. When the two left, Tamae focused back onto Momiji and Senzeru.

"Now what?"

"Now," Senzeru breathed out softly, "we wait."

"Or not," Momiji whispered as his ears perked. "I sense the kitsune."

"Shippo," Senzeru asked, eyes sharping as he turned in Momiji's direction.

Sure enough, Shippo was scrambling towards them, running at full speed. Momiji frowned, catching the young fox demon. Shippo was breathing hard, haven't even stopped as he looked for Momiji.

"Shippo, calm yourself," Momiji said, frowning.

Shippo shook his head furiously, staring at them. "Sesshomaru and Iko are fighting!"

"What?" Senzeru was suddenly at Shippo's side, grasping the kitsune. "What do you mean?!"

Shippo shook his head in confusion, catching his breath, "Sesshomaru told me to tell everyone that Iko has been turned against us."

"Where are they," Senzeru demanded, hand tightnening on the sheaths of his two demon blade.

Shippo opened his mouth, but Momiji cut him off, grabbing Senzeru by the arm.

"You're going to leave? What about RIn?"

Senzeru, realizing just where he was and why, paled. His fingers numbly fell from the sheaths as he stared at Momiji. He opened and closed his mouth, then clenched his jaws, fingers tightening on his clothes.

Tamae looked between them before turning to Momiji and Shippo. "Where is Sesshomaru-sama now?"

Shippo shrugged. "He brought Iko away from the palace. I was told to report to the palace."

Momiji rubbed his face. "Alright, heighten security and Senzeru, return to Rin's side. We must trust Sesshomaru to handle Iko."

"It's not Sesshomaru I am worried about," Senzeru snapped, turning away and headed towards Rin's chambers.

The three watched after him, Momiji's face grave as Tamae and Shippo looked after him in confusion.

"What does he mean," Shippo mused as he turned to Momiji.

Momiji's hand fell away, eyes hard. "If worse comes to worse, Sesshomaru will not hesitate to kill Iko."

Tamae and Shippo blanched, staring wide eyes at Momiji. But the previous Eastern lord simply shook his head and quickly followed Senzeru. The two scrambled after him.

...

Inuyasha paused as he scanned the forest. There was no sign. He knew this deep in his heart. Teeth clenching, he stuffed the despair away and continued forward.

Far away, Miroku knelt in front of Kaiya, rotating her legs as he gently whispered words of encouragement to her. In the back of his mind though, worry grew. Since waking, Kaiya's shown only slight drowsiness, but she has yet spoken.

He continued to smile at her even as fear entered his heart. He was not use to the little girl being so silent, watching him with doe like eyes, filled with fear as if he would disappear.

He smoothed a strand of her hair behind her ear, eyes warm as he met her fearful ones.

"I'm not going anywhere, Kaiya. Are your legs okay?"

She numbly nodded, sniffling as she closed her eyes. Miroku simply took her into his arms when she reached for him. She snuggled into his chest and he reversed their positions as to cradle her.

He hummed softly to her, the way he did for his children and to her. When she nodded off, he looked up. At the foot of the cave, leaning up against the wall, was Komaru. The boy had yet to leave him alone with her.

Komaru was looking outwards, ears flickering. Turning, he met Miroku's eyes.

Miroku frowned. The boy was the spitting image of his father.

Komaru straightened away from the wall. He looked down at Kaiya's form once before looking up at Miroku.

"We've sent the message to our father. It should reach them soon and they'll be here before nightfall."

Miroku nodded in thanks, looking back down at the sleeping girl. He smoothed her hair, continuing to hum.

Komaru, with wary eyes, watched them. After a while, he leaned back against the stone wall, turning his head away to look out over his father's tribe.

...

Akihiko stood next to his mother, eyes solemn as she rubbed her stomach. Kagome was away, looking for Momiji. His golden eyes watched her.

"I'm not going to break," she whispered softly, catching his eyes.

Akihiko blinked, smiling softly with bashfulness. "I know."

Rin, smiling despite the discomfort, rolled her eyes. "Aki-kun, come here."

She patted to the spot next to her. He quickly complied, fearing she might stand up. As soon as he sat down, Rin took his hands in hers and laid them over the thumping of his sister.

His eyes widened, looking down at his hands. It was creepy...yet comforting.

"She wanted to say hello," Rin whispered as she reached up and smoothed Akihiko's hair away from his face.

At her motherly action, Akihiko grimaced. "Haha..."

Rin giggled, hand falling away to replace his when Akihiko reached back up to pat his hair. The thumping had stopped, her baby having decided to stop playing on her bladder. Rin sighed in relief, eyes looking down at her stomach.

Akihiko looked at Rin, eyes blinking.

"Were we like this?"

Rin, at his question, met his eyes with wary happy ones. She nodded with a smile.

"Even worse. Aki-kun and Ah-kun never let hahaue sleep," she whispered with love, eyes brightening against the stress.

Akihiko, at her words, stiffened a little. At the mention of his twin, he fought to keep his smile on his face.

"I cannot wait to have a sister," he whispered, looking away and opted to look back down at her stomach.

Rin sighed contently, nodding. "As much as I love Sesshomaru, Aki-kun, and Ah-kun, hahaue needs a female companion."

Akihiko, at her words, scoffed, grinning. "Don't forget occhan."

At the mention of her brother, Rin smiled softly. "Yes. Along with Senzeru."

Akihiko, at the sadness in her voice, sharply looked up. "What's wrong?"

Rin shook her head, smiling gingerly. "Senzeru and I have another brother."

Akihiko nodded slowly, knowing about his lost uncle. "What was he like?"

Rin at his words, frowned. Akihiko, at her sudden change, panicked. But stopped when Rin only sighed.

"Hahause does not remember," she whispered, looking away and up at the window. "It's been...so long now."

Akihiko, at her words, nodded slowly once more. He pursed his lips, shifting to take her hands in his.

"It's haha."

Rin at his words, nodded also. She turned to him, smile back on her face and eyes bright.

"For now, hahaue will concentrate on you and everyone else. I will have time when I am in the underworld to meet him."

At the mention of her death, Akihiko stiffened, frowning. He opened his mouth, but Rin shook her head at him.

"Aki-kun is just like Sesshomaru-sama. Hahaue is a ningen, Akihiko. Please, understand that death is, but a part of life. Even for me."

Akihiko only stiffened more, fingers tightening on hers. He stared down at their fingers. His pursed lips tightened, eyes closing. Rin, at his obvious distress, cupped his cheeks and caressed his hair.

"It'll be okay. Aki-kun will have Ah-kun and your little nee-chan."

Akihiko nodded, breathing heavily through his nose.

There was a sudden knock on the door, the two of them turning as one towards it. Rin called out and the door opened, Mitsuki walking calmly in followed by Momiji, Senzeru, and Kohaku.

At the presence of his grandmother, Akihiko stood. He turned to help his mother, but at the sudden thud agains this head, he snapped to the person who hit him. Mitsuki smiled gracefully and innocently at her grandson before turning to Rin.

"The Mother of the West shouldn't be standing in her current condition," she clicked her tongue as she looked at Akihiko and the other males, "please leave us and retrieve the miko and any hand maidens. I can smell that the pup is ready to greet the world anytime now. Shame on you, little grandson, to not realize the discomfort of your own mother."

Akihiko blanched, turning sharply to Rin with accusing eyes even as Rin sighed at her mother-in-law. Mitsuki shook her head, shooing Akihiko and everyone out.

"Out!"

Senzeru opened his mouth to protest, but one look from Mitsuki, stopped him. Momiji sighed and dragged Senzeru out, Akihiko quickly following. When the door closed, Mitsuki turned back to Rin, smile warming.

"She is ready?"

Rin, finally wincing as the contractions hit her harder, smiled wanily. "Hai. She has been waiting for you."

"That's good," Mitsuki murmured as she reached forward, laying a palm over the baby. Then suddenly, all teasing gone, Mitsuki turned her eyes back to Rin, "You understand the risk?"

Rin, meeting her eyes with determination, nodded. "Hai."

Mitsuki, at her answer, sighed and nodded also. She looked back down at Rin's stomach, a small smile appearing. It was sad.

"This one has always wished for a girl also."

Rin, wisely, took in her words and nodded.

...

Iko took a hesitant step towards her, eyes still wide.

"Emi?"

The dark haired woman, her cinnamon brown eyes smiling at him, titled her head sideways.

"You've gotten bigger. How is that possible?"

It was her voice. Her teasing. Her eyes, her lips, her mouth. It was her. But it couldn't be. Iko frowned, stepping back. He breathed out heavily, eyes looking away from her.

Emi, at his sudden relunctance to look at her, frowned.

"Iko?"

"Stop," the words were a silent plea.

Emi saw as Iko looked at everywhere, but her. She saw the tension on his body, the way his jaws clenched and the flexing of the muscle on his neck. His fingers clenched and unclenched, his feet shifting.

"Iko, it's me."

"No," he breathed out harshly, snapping attention to her.

His eyes were sad, grieved, and wounded. Emi's heart broke. She took a step towards him, but he simply took a step back.

"Emi's dead."

She blinked at his words, understanding falling over her. Her frown deepened, chest clenching. She nodded slowly.

"I did."

"No," Iko growled as he stopped backing up, this time taking a threatening step forward, eyes hard. "You're not Emi."

"Iko," Emi began, but he shook his head furiously.

"I don't know who you are or how you know about Emi, but you cannot trick me!"

Emi, at his words, flinched. She sighed, wanting to smack him.

"Iko, shut up and listen."

Iko, at the sudden change of her tone, blinked. She really sounded like Emi.

"I don't have time to explain," Emi rushed, heart clenching at the fact that he didn't believe it was her, "but you have to snap out of this. You have to trust me. I'll lead you of away and you'll awake."

Iko stared at her. "Who are you?"

Emi smiled sadly at him. "I'm Emi."

"You're not."

She sighed, rolling her eyes, heart no longer clenching. At times like these, she hated and loved this hanyou.

"We met when you were ten and I was seven."

Iko, at her words froze. Emi, at his sudden shock, eagerly continued.

"You called me ugly and I called you fat. Remember?"

Iko opened and closed his mouth, before slowly, replying, "I believe I said you weren't pretty enough to be a girl."

Emi, at his words, laughed, heart lifting. "I don't see the difference."

Iko, slowly took a step forward. His heart was pounding, eyes suddenly watering.

"There is. You weren't pretty, but you were beautiful," he whispered, brokenly, "even then."

Emi, at his words, smiled softly at him. She stayed still, waiting for him to come to her.

"Well, you're still fat. Dare I say, even more fat than when...I left."

At her mention of his death, Iko stopped in his tracks. Tears were openly falling now as his whole body trembled. He shook his head, eyes squeezing shut. His shoulder shook as he suddenly sobbed.

Emi, sighing, quickly closed the distance between them as Iko fell onto his knees. At this level, his head was at level with her neck. Slowly, she embraced him, cradling his head as she laid her cheek on top of his crown.

"Still a crybaby too, I see."

Iko shook his head, arms tightening around her. "It's really you."

She chocked out a laugh, crying now and shook her head, rocking him gently with her body. "Of course it's me. Who else would dare call you fat?"

Iko, at her words, only continued to cry.

...

Sesshomaru frowned as Iko suddenly stopped mid-attack. He lowered Bakusaiga, eyeing his old friend closely. The hanyou's body was suddenly shaking, eyes rolling to the back of his head. Sesshomaru put distance between them, watching Iko closely.

...

Iko frowned at Emi, towering over her.

"I'm what?"

"Someone is controling you. I do not know who."

"How do you know this," Iko whispered as he studied her.

Emi sighed, "Iko, I'm the granddaughter of Midorin and the Lord of the Underworld, previous wielder of a demon blade that can walk through dreams and the minds of those in the living and non-living world."

Iko, at her words, frowned. "Is this why...you're here?"

Emi, at his words, smiled sadly. "Yes."

Iko flexed his jaw. "Why...why have you never contacted me before."

Emi, at his words, looked away.

"Grandfather allows me to see only what he wants me to see. The last time I saw you...was three years after my death."

Iko blinked, eyes widening in shock. "So long?"

Emi smiled wanly at him. "Grandfather loves to remind me that the living and the dead cannot be together, not even the granddaughter of death herself."

Iko shook his head, covering his eyes. He didn't know rather to be grateful or angry. Grateful that she never saw him betray all they believed in and what he did to her cousin. Yet angry because he had missed her so much.

He looked back up at her. "Why now?"

"Because you need to wake up."

Iko frowned. "You said that before. What exactly do you mean?"

Emi took his hand in hers, smoothing over his claws. "Something has taken over your mind. It's a blood bond, strong. But not unbreakable."

Blood bond...

Iko paled, his whole body falling limp. Mefisuto.

But it couldn't be. He removed the mark, he–

"Iko?"

He snapped back to attention, straightening.

"Yes. I understand. How do I break this?"

Emi, at his sudden alertness, frowned. There was a moment of silence before she finally answered him.

"I've been sent to lead you out of the possession. I do not know when you will wake though," she whispered, "Grandmother said that to break a blood bond will require everything and that...it'll leave you very tired."

"How tired," he asked hesitantly.

"She said it will take tears, decades, maybe even centuries, for you to reawaken. Especially since you are only a hanyou and the one controlling you is a strong dai youkai."

At her words, Iko froze. Decades? Centuries? But that would mean he would be asleep when the baby is born? Or when Senzeru finally gets married? Dies...

Iko shook his head, frantic.

"No, it can't be."

Emi looked sadly at him. "I am sorry, Iko. But this is what it has to be. You cannot stay in this trance though."

Iko knew she was right, but centuries? He breathed out harshly, running a hand over his baldness. He shook his head, eyes squeezing. Suddenly, her hands were pulling him down. Instintually, even though it's been years, he knelt down so she could cup his cheeks.

Eyes opening, he met her eyes.

"Grandmother told me that...you should not be afraid. You will meet them again."

Iko, blinked. "How?"

She shook her head. "I do not know. She won't tell me."

Iko, breathing out harshly, sighed. Midorin was the seer. He had to trust her. Nodding slowly, he stood up.

"Show me the way."

Emi, at his words, smiled sadly. "Alright."

Taking his hand in hers, she began leading him away from the darkness around them. Iko, staring at their intertwined hand, tightened his fingers around hers.

TBC

A/N: It's been long! I am so sorry! Please, hate me, but do not hate the story. Chemistry is killing me and I am up to my neck with papers and exams. I have been favoriting my Naruto fic, but it's simply because it is (was, now) an ongoing series and constant inspiration everywhere.

...Until Next Time...