Inuyasha: A Feudal Sequel
Chapter 10: Goodbye for now
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha in any way. All assets belong to Rumiko Takahashi.
Karin woke up to the soft noise of her father's footsteps on the wooden floor. She looked up to see him walking towards the door.
"Where are you going?" She asked noticing he wore his sword at his waist.
Inuyasha looked back at her. "Make sure your mother is safe. I'm gonna go out and search the area. Maybe it's time we move from here."
Karin stood up and grabbed her bow. "I can go with you. I can help."
"No, you need to stay here. I'm going with Sesshomaru." He said and walked out of the room.
Karin sighed and looked over at her sleeping mother. She got up and walked out of the room. She wanted to know if Eri was still there in his room. What if they left before anyone could notice? The idea made her heart ache.
She walked by their room and slid the door open a bit. She could see them still sleeping soundly. A feeling of relief washed over her. She closed the door back up and turned around to see Sesshomaru looking at her with question.
"What are you doing?" He asked.
"I just wanted to know if they were still here."
"Why wouldn't they be?"
"Sesshomaru, they are leaving to find a settlement in the mountains up north. There's a rumor that it's safe up there. Can I ask you something?"
Sesshomaru shrugged and gave a nod for her to continue.
"Eh, If they were to find it safe up in the north mountains, would you agree to move there with the demon wolf tribe? We could find a place to live and maybe ask for the wolf tribe's help in defeating Kasai and getting the Shikon Jewel back along with your lands." Sesshomaru began to walk past her.
"Well?" She turned to him, waiting on a response.
"I will not lower myself to ask of such things."
"You can't deny that it's a good idea. Just tell me you'll consider it." Sesshomaru stood with his back to her. He hated that he was actually stuck in this position. He, the great dog demon, had been succumbed to this.
looked back at Karin and made eye contact. With a nod, he turned and kept walking. Karin smiled.
"Thank you Lord Sesshomaru."
Sesshomaru met up with Inuyasha at the outside of the temple. Inuyasha looked back and noticed his thoughtful expression.
"What's wrong with you?"
"Your daughter. She wants to follow the wolf to the north mountains."
"Koga is leaving?"
"According to her."
"That wolf is stupid if he thinks he's going to survive out there on his own with just Ayame and Eri!" Sesshomaru ignored him and began to walk into the forest. Inuyasha watched him walk off then followed.
They made their way through the forest and stepped into an opening. The fog was heavy and the air was cold and humid. There seemed to be no sign of life. Inuyasha sniffed around and it smelled of nothing, but blood and what seemed like rotted bodies.
"Ugh, the smell is putrid." Sesshomaru looked over at Inuyasha with a look of annoyance. Inuyasha looked over and shrugged.
"What?" Just then they both turned and sensed someone coming their way. Sesshomaru pulled his sword out and stood ready for what was to come.
"Who's there?!" Inuyasha yelled out pulling his own sword out. A body was seen through the fog walking towards them. Inuyasha and Sesshomaru stood ready, but Inuyasha quickly put his sword down noticing who it was.
"Jiro!?" The boy walked up to them showing a relieved smile.
"Inuyasha, you're alive."
"So are you. How have you been surviving this whole time?" He looked over at Sesshomaru and signaled for him to lower his weapon.
"I was with some villagers up until recently, hiding in an abandoned village. I decided to get out and travel. Look for a shred of hope. Looks like my prayers have been answered." "Tough news kid, we haven't been doing so hot either. You can come with us back to the temple. Everyone is there." Inuyasha said.
Jiro smiled. "Thank you."
They returned back to the temple and got inside. Sango looked over and noticed Jiro with the returning men. "Oh, Jiro! You're alive!"
She ran over and gave him a welcoming hug. "Hello Sango."
"Are you hungry? We have plenty of food for everyone. Kilala and the kids did a good job today."
"Uh, sure."
They went inside the dinning area and were united with everyone sitting down being served food. Karin looked up and met eyes with Jiro. A big smile spread across her face and she jumped up to hug her friend.
"Jiro! I'm so glad you're alive! How did you find us?" A light blush formed on Jiro's face as he hugged the beautiful girl.
He looked over and noticed the suspicious eyes that watched him.
"I ran into your father in the forest as I traveled. He was kind enough to bring me had been a while since I had seen any life."
Karin pulled back and smiled looking into his eyes. "I'm glad you've made it." A light chuckle escaped him as he smiled back at her.
"Come sit Jiro." Kagome offered a spot. Jiro took a seat and bowed his head in thanks. "Tell us Jiro, how was it out there? Out in the open." Miroku asked.
"It's horrible. You can barely run into anyone these days. Demon travel around in packs terrorizing the very few communities there are. I was with a few families in a secluded village when things went bad, but a gang of boar demon took the women and killed the men. I tried to save them, but was outnumbered. I ran away just in time." Jiro said, a very saddened look in his eyes.
"This is just horrible. How can we sit here and let Kasai do this it's sick!" Kagome said in anger.
"With the jewel, he's difficult to defeat." Miroku mentioned.
Kagome looked over at him and sighed.
"We'll find a way." Inuyasha said and began to eat. Everyone followed suit.
After lunch, Karin walked over with a smile to Jiro who was walking out of the dinning room. "Hey, where are you off to?" She asked.
"Oh, hey, uh, I was just gonna walk around and see the place. It's pretty big."
"I'll show you around! I'll also show you your room." She said with a smile. Jiro smiled back at her and nodded.
They walked down the halls in silence for a bit. "How long have you all been staying here?" Jiro broke the silence after a few moments.
"A few months I believe. We couldn't really move around a lot because of Kaede, and every demon and it's mother was after us."
"I understand."
"We're protected here by Miroku's sutras on the place. The area is quite quiet although." They stopped at a door and Karin slid it open.
"This room is empty. It can be your room." Karin stepped in, pulling Jiro in by the hand. Again, he felt his face heat up as his cheeks rosed.
Karin looked back at him and caught the blush that had formed. She let go of his hand and turned away from him, blushing herself. She didn't think she could make a boy do that by such simple gestures.
"Thank you Karin. I really appreciate you guys taking me in." He said after an awkward silence. Karin turned and smiled with eyes closed, waving his words away. "Oh don't worry about it! It's nothing really. We couldn't leave a comrade out in the open like that!" Jiro laughed. "Thank you."
Just then, Eri stepped into the room and got the attention of both individuals. Karin smiled shyly at him. It was the first time, they were face to face, since the night before. "Hey." She began.
He smiled his oh so confident smile. "Hey there. What are you up to?" He asked.
Karin jumped at the realization that Jiro and Eri hadn't met officially. "Oh, right, Eri, this is Jiro. We traveled for a bit a while back. When things first started." She said while looking at Jiro with a smile.
Eri looked at Jiro and gave a smirk. "Hey." Jiro smiled.
"Hello."
"Karin, can I speak to you alone?" Eri turned to her.
"Uh, yeah..Jiro i'll be right back." She said and followed Eri out into the hallway.
"What's wrong Eri?" She asked.
Eri held her hand in his and caressed the back of her palm. "Karin, I've been talking with my parents and we've decided, we're leaving tomorrow at dawn."
Karin's stomach dropped. "Why so soon? Eri.." Tears began to pool in her eyes.
"I'm sorry. We have to get going, before anything happens, you know." Eri grabbed her up and wrapped his arms around her.
"Karin, I will come back for you. I would never leave you behind. I promise." Karin cried silent tears and closed her eyes as hard as she could, as if closing them would stop her from hearing the words coming from him.
"Eri, all I want is for you to be okay." She said between quiet sobs. Eri planted a soft kiss on her forehead and pulled back.
"I'll be okay." Karin nodded and wiped the tears from her eyes. "Yeah."
Jiro sat just outside the temple doors staring off into the night. Karin seemed upset after the talk with Eri and he left her alone to herself.
"Hey there." He heard Sora's voice come from behind.
"Hey." She sat down next to him and followed his gaze to the stars.
"Anything wrong?" She asked.
"Hm? No, nothing at all. Just thinking."
"Of?" Jiro looked at her intrigued expression.
"Everything. To how this all started, where we are now, how we're going to get out of this."
"We're all strong in our own way Jiro. Our only weakness, we all share...It's our love and care for each other." Jiro smiled.
"You're right."
"Jiro, do you have any feelings towards Karin?" She asked suddenly.
Jiro looked at her with a crazed look. "What?!"
"C'mon, I won't tell." She said so cooly. Jiro looked away from her, a blush forming on his cheeks.
"You do don't you? I bet you're blushing right now." She said and grabbed his hair, pulling him back.
"Ow!" He yanked his locks away from her grasp and rubbed his head.
"Spit it out." Jiro looked down, shy to look up at Sora.
"I'll take that as a yes. Let me tell you Jiro, that girl is head over heels in love with the wolf. She will never see you for nothing more than a friend."
"Why are you telling me this?" He asked her.
"I'm warning you before you get hurt." Sora said, got up and walked back inside. Jiro watched her leave then turned back, releasing a big sigh.
Dawn came closer and Karin hadn't gotten a second of sleep. All she thought about was what would become of Eri. Her ears perked up to the soft sound of footsteps outside her door. She jumped up off the floor and ran out into the hallway to catch up to Eri who was walking down the hall towards the exit.
"Hey!" She called out. Eri turned to look at her with saddened eyes.
"Karin, what are you doing up?" He asked.
"You're leaving without saying goodbye?" The lump in her throat grew and her vision blurred by tears. Eri looked away, torn by her expression.
"I can't see you like this anymore. I don't want to remember leaving you like this, in tears."
"And I don't want you to leave me without leaving me a memory of us." She said with tears in her eyes. She jumped up at him and wrapped her arms around him, kissing him with everything she had in her. She didn't care if anyone walked in on her. She loved Eri, and saying goodbye was something she had to do in her own way.
After a love filled kiss, she pulled away slowly and dug her face into his chest.
"Karin, I'tll be okay. I'll be back. Just know, I love you, and when all this is over, we will be together forever." He said with a smile on his face.
Karin looked up at him and smiled the most genuine smile she could put on her lips despite the circumstance. "Of course."
Eri kissed her one more time, then walked away. He stepped out the door, and joined his family outside. He turned one more time, and gave Karin his all so charming smile, and with that, he was gone into the fog of the dawn.
A/N: Spell checked to the best of my ability. Thanks for reading. Reviews are welcome.