Warm-Ice: Phew! I finished this whole chapter in a day! Yahoo! Oh wait—First of all, thanks to the amber dragonfly for lending me her original character from "Tomaru's Story2: Prejudice" TOMARU-KUN!!!! Very many thanks! And I hope I don't make him too out of character. Hehe.
Inu-yasha: Keh! I can't see why you'd actually want that twerp in my story.
Warm-Ice: Hey! That's not nice!
Tomaru: First of all, I am not a twerp. And secondly, this is not your story. Do you see the title? It says, My FATHER. Not My Uncle.
Inu: Hey, don't be such a smart ass to your eld—hey! Don't compliment him for back talking me!
Warm-Ice: (ignoring him while rubbing Tomaru's ears) good boy! Yes, you are! Yes, you are! Oh yeah, and despite not-so-popular belief, I did not forget the KAGSESS scene last chapter. I didn't write it coz the two were still at it and I'm too embarrassed to write that.
Silverstar871: hehehe…kinikilig po ba kayo? Hehehe…Salamat po ulit sa suporta!
Nikari: O…thank you! And on the note about Jaken—I'm sorry to say but he was too old to live…
Inu: you just didn't like him.
Warm-Ice: hush, puppy!
Dra Gan the Dragoniodian King: hehehe. Sorry about Kag and Sess, they've been abstained for a while. Hahahaha! Thanks for liking my story. I'm happy now! Haru-dono, It's my turn to sing!
the amber dragonfly: aawww! Keiji-kun can be sweet too!
Tomaru: Hey! Hey! Hey!
Warm-Ice: Haha!
Haruko: Thank you for your support, amber dragonfly-sama!
Kimmy (TurCha): as always, it's a pleasure to hear from you. Haha! Thanks a lot!
Kaiyou87: why, thank you!
Goddess of Fading Twilight: thanks, dahrling, but I didn't forget just so you know. They're still going at it at that time of night so…I'm too…embarrassed to write that… sorry…
turtlequeen2: wah! I'm so flattered! Thank you very much! And I'm thinking about somebody for little inu-kun. But I'm not sure as of yet so…yeah…haha! Thanks again for being so supportive!
Tomaru: okay! On with the chapter! Ooh…I've always wanted to say that…
My Father
Chapter 21: True Impostor
"Stupid human…" Okayaki muttered under her breath, opening her eyes from her meditation and coming to stand. It seemed that even though she had forgotten all about Sesshoumaru, she still decided to stay with the Taiyoukai. She looked out of the window, her insides raging with anger. "And here I thought you could actually be of some use."
Now she thought frantically for another way. Something that would set their plan back in motion.
"Okayaki!" Came the booming voice of that annoying man she called her brother. Soon, but expectedly, the shoji screen slammed open. And there stood his highness in all his glory. The voluptuous woman in the room simply kept her neutral façade.
"Where is she?" He demanded, entering her room.
"Where is who?"
"Don't play coy with me. Where is my Kagome?"
"In the Western Castle."
"Damn it, woman! She should be back with Sesshoumaru's head in a silver plate by now!" Hangyakusha said.
"Try not to scream in my quarters, Hangyakusha. You'll scare my servants away."
"Who the hell cares? Where's my Kagome!"
"It's not my fault your little human wench betrayed us!"
"What?!"
"Yes. Are you happy now? Your little 'fiance' who is so 'pure' and 'innocent' chose to forget all about the mission and remain that man's bitch."
Suddenly, Hangyakusha grabbed Okayaki by the collar of her kimono and pulled her to him roughly, bringing their faces merely inches apart. She stared blankly at his fiery eyes, seemingly unaffected. "You've planned this from the beginning, haven't you? You wanted to send her back so that I couldn't have her!"
"Refrain from touching me, you undignified beast. And for your information, your highness, my top priority is to eliminate Sesshoumaru—not for his wench to become yours."
"Bitch. If I find out you've aimed for this from the very beginning, I swear I will—"
"Kill me? Now, now. We both know you can't rule your own member, much less rule the country. Where would you be without me? Nowhere. Must I constantly remind you of that?"
She was right. She was always right. He was powerless against her. And that was so much more mortifying than loosing to Sesshoumaru. Swiftly, he let her go and turned around, stomping off—ignoring the soft thud behind him that implied the fall of Okayaki's body.
She watched his retreating form while reading his mind and was slightly surprised to find that he planned to go there, attack Sesshoumaru's castle and take Kagome by force. The idiot. She smirked. Why not? This was perhaps their parting of ways. Hangyakusha to his demise and her to triumph.
Touya ran into the clearing, his heart pounding but a sigh of relief escaping him at the sight of Haruko who stood in the middle of it, seemingly unharmed.
"M'lady…" he called, coming forward and kneeling formally before looking up at her. "Are you unharmed? Where is lord Inu-yasha?"
Haruko turned to him then and surprised him when she fell to her knees in front of him.
"Haruko-sama!" Touya panicked, taking a stern hold of Haruko's arms to steady her. "Haruko-sama, are you—"
"Touya…" she whispered his name and sent shivers down his spine. "Touya-kun…" the shivers became stronger. Slowly, she lifted her hands to cup the bewildered man's cheek to stare at him with longing eyes. "I was so scared…"
"It's—alright now, m'lady." He tried to soothe despite the turbulence inside of him.
"I thought…if I die now…Touya would never know…"
Touya's eyebrows knitted together in question.
Then, she pulled his face closer. His eyes widened as Haruko's lips hovered from his—merely millimeters away. He could feel his whole body heat up and his hands started to tremble. Was this real? This couldn't possibly…
"I love you, Touya…I've always loved you…" she whispered huskily.
"…" he was rendered speechless and his body was immobile. All he knew was that Haruko—his Haruko-sama—professed her love for him. He tried to speak but before a single word could escape his lips, she had gently laid a finger on them.
"Ssshhh…You don't have to say anything…I know you feel the same…" she said, drawing her body ever closer. "I just…need you now…" with that her lips finally rested upon him. And suddenly, Touya fell to the floor, unconscious.
'Haruko' smirked, her bangs shadowing the gleam in her eyes. "Sleep tight, lover boy." With that, she stood and went off to search for the others who would fall for her trap.
"Damn it!" Inu-yasha cursed with frustration. "Haruko! Haruko!" they had gotten separated while fighting the elusive and sneaky Aki. And he had absolutely no clue where his niece was! She could be in danger right now! He tried to use his sense of smell as he walked forward.
But when he arrived at a clearing, pushing some bushes out of his way, he was slightly surprised to find an old woman—well she didn't look that old. Her face only had a few wrinkles on it. But her hair was already grey as silver. She didn't feel like a youkai so she must have been human.
She was picking herbs and putting them in the basket with bony fingers. Strangely enough, he couldn't decide whether to disturb her peace or simply turn around and leave. But really, why would an old lady be out picking herbs at night in such a dangerous forest. Later, in Inu-yasha's reflections, he would remember that her face was stern and disciplined. Her chapped lips were set into a frown and her eyes were sharp and piercing. But at the same time, they held such…gentleness.
He'd remember the moonlight shining down on her and the way it would shimmer in her pulled up hair. Her pale skin glowed in the darkness. It reminded him of someone in particular but at the same time, not.
"HIIIIAAAA!!!!" Someone yelled behind him and before he could react, he was kicked behind the head, his eyes popping out and his head gliding forward as if he was a typewriter. The devil that kicked him behind the head somersaulted before his eyes and landed in front of him. It was a twelve year old boy.
"GEEZ! What the hell was that?!" Inu-yasha yelled, returning to his senses and grabbing the back of his head where there was a dulling pain. When he looked down at the kid, he blinked when he realized that the boy was actually a hanyou. Not only that, but the little brat looked a lot like him!
Silver hair that reached his shoulders, long bangs that almost covered his goldenrod hued eyes. And to top it all off, a pair of snowy white ears on top of his head.
"What the f—" but before he could finish, he had already realized that the old woman he had been gazing at earlier was now aware of his presence. She was standing proud now; her strict and wary eyes trained on him and her frown a bit grimmer.
"You were gonna say fu—" the kid started, pointing at him.
"Tomaru!" the old woman disciplined. The kid flinched and shut his trap. She kept her eyes on Inu-yasha and said, "Who are you and why have you ventured into our territory?"
"Your territory?" Inu-yasha wondered.
"He was staring at you, mother. He'd been staring at you for a long time now." Tomaru said, growling at him defensively.
Inu-yasha blushed, "I was not staring at her!" He defended, getting angry at the annoying kid.
"Don't worry, mother. I'll protect you from this heathen." He proclaimed icily, getting into a fighting position.
"What the hell?! Oh, I do not have time for this! Oi! Old woman! Is this really your territory?" he said, plainly ignoring the angered kid.
"Don't you ignore me, half-breed!"
"What the—earth to kid, you're half-breed too!"
"No, I'm not. I'm special!"
"Tomaru, come here." With that, Tomaru ran to his mother's side, taking her hand and glaring at Inu-yasha. "Answer my question first then I will answer yours."
"Keh!" he said, folding his arms in front of him and looking away with a scowl. "Inu-yasha."
"This is my territory…I know these lands more than anyone." She answered in return. The way she looked at him somehow disarmed him, making his scowl turn into a frown and his angry eyes became replaced with curiosity. It was like she was looking at him but at the same time looking past him. "Are you here to harm us?" she asked.
"No." he answered, a little more civilly this time. "I got separated from my niece. I need to find her."
"A hanyou traveling with his relative?"
"Yeah, you got a problem with that?" he asked with a raised tone, a bit sensitive still.
"Don't shout at my mother!" Tomaru defended.
"I'm not shouting at your mother!" Inu-yasha shouted, getting aggravated by the kid.
Tomaru growled at him, readying himself to attack when, "It's alright, Tomaru. Go home and take these herbs with you."
"But, mother—"
"Go home, Tomaru." She ordered with a soft voice. Tomaru sighed as if he was the adult talking to the stubborn child. With one last glare at Inu-yasha, he took the basket of herbs and went home.
"Yeah, and good riddance!" Inu-yasha yelled after him. He barely dodged a rock thrown at his head. "Little devil." He muttered under his breath.
"So you seek my assistance in finding your niece?" she said, getting right to business.
Inu-yasha sobered up and became just as serious. "I need to find her as fast as possible. She might be in danger."
"Can't you simply use your youkai abilities to find her?"
"I can't. I ran too far."
"Why were you running?"
"I was chasing after an enemy, okay? Whadoya want from me?" he said, finally loosing patience.
Somehow his outburst made her smirk instead of making her feel his rage. "Come forward then." Inu-yasha looked at her strangely but came forward a few steps. "Closer." He added some more. "Closer." He stood in front of her. Her hands raised and touched his cheek, making him blush at the intimate contact. Her hand traveled along the features of his face then to brush along his bangs and resting on his ears.
"What're you doing, old woman?" he asked, trying his best to hide the shivers in his spine at the feel of her fingers on his ears. And the fact that her eyes were so intently staring at his was a bit flustering.
"I'm imagining your face in my mind." She said. And that was when he realized, the old woman was blind. Quickly, he jerked his head away and started to leave. "Where are you going?" she asked.
"Nevermind. Forget I said anything."
"If you are leaving simply because I am blind, then you do not truly wish to find your niece."
He stopped at that and turned around, "How can you possibly help me find a missing person when you're already blind to begin with?" he raised his voice again.
"I know every boulder and every pebble in this mountain. Without me, you will only be further lost and your chances of finding your niece will be slimmer."
Damn it…she was right.
Kouga ran through the forest in top speed, keeping in mind what Shippou had told him.
"Beware of Aki. She is a shape shifter and can copy anyone—even Haruko-sama. Do not trust what you see so easily."
"Damn it." He cursed. If he had known…it was all his fault. He brought Aki into the group without doubting who she was and now Haruko was in danger! It was all his fault. "Damn it." He cursed again.
But he stopped at the sight of a fallen body at a clearing near him. He ran into the clearing and his eyes widened at the sight of Touya. Aki must've gotten to him. He knelt to check his heartbeat. It was getting weak. This was all his fault. "Damn it." He cursed for the third time.
Akito saw a wisp of white among the tall trees and quickly charged forward, calling out to his maiden. "Haruko-sama!" he called. The white form quickly spun to face him, her silvery hair whipping across her face. Her eyes widened for a moment before she glared warily and pushed him roughly against a tree, her claws threatening his neck.
"Prove to me that you are truly Akito." She commanded icily.
Akito's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "What?"
"Aki is a shape shifter. I've seen her change forms into me and Inu-yasha. She could even take on your form. Prove to me that you are truly my Akito."
"How?"
"Tell me something only my Akito would know."
"Like what, m'lady?" he asked, frantically searching his mind for some information exclusively between them.
"You have up to the count of five."
"Ah—Uh—um…"
"One.
"Wait—Uhm…"
"Two."
"I don't remember—"
"Three."
"Haruko-sama—"
"Four."
"There is nothing only I would know!" Akito yelled.
"Five."
He closed his eyes tight, hoping for a quick death. But instead, the dainty hands that held his neck let go. He opened his eyes and found Haruko smiling softly at him.
"That' right. Because what you know, Touya knows too. And what Touya knows, you know."
With that, he breathed a sigh of relief only to have it snatched form him when arms enfolded him. His eyes were wide again, but this time a blush caressed his cheek. "H-Haruko-sama…?"
"I was so scared, Akito." She whispered, burying her face into his neck and making him blush even further. "Inu-yasha and I got separated and I was all alone…I thought I was…I thought…" she started to sob and her voice cracked. Immediately, Akito realized that Haruko was crying. Hesitantly, he encircled his arms around her.
"I'm here now, Haruko-sama…" he whispered.
"AKITO!!!" Kouga's voice resonated as he got closer. Quickly, as he came to them, he roughly grabbed Haruko's arm and pushed her away from the baffled guard. Haruko yelped as she hit the ground and Akito quickly came to her aid.
"What do you think you're doing, Kouga-san?" Akito yelled at the man but faltered when he saw Touya 's limp body dangling on Kouga's shoulder. Kouga was panting and sweat ran down his head.
"Get away from her, Akito! She's not Inu-hime!"
"What?"
"That's Aki! Look what she did to Touya!"
"Kouga-san, I assure you. I am Haruko."
"You are so not my Inu-hime! I heard you crying!"
"And?"
"Inu-hime would never let anyone see or hear her crying unless I force her to look at me! She has too much pride to admit that she actually got scared! And besides, Haruko isn't afraid of being alone. She's stronger than that."
"Don't presume that you know everything about me, Kouga-san!" Haruko said, standing and glaring at him indignantly. "If I wish to cry in front of Akito, then I will cry in front of Akito!"
"Haruko doesn't like to shout either. Even when she's angry."
"Akito don't believe him! He's probably Aki disguising himself to be K—"
"I've heard enough." Akito said, standing on his feet. He looked sternly at Kouga and said, "We all know who the true impostor here is."
Suddenly, ice shards flew from behind Akito just as he jumped out of the way. The shards imbedded themselves into 'Haruko's' shoulder and rib, her legs were saved by a mere inch. She yelled in pain and fell to her knees, clutching her open wounds.
Out of the darkness, showered by the moonlight, the true Haruko entered their sights—a cold rage gleaming in her eyes.
At the sight of her, Kouga couldn't help but grin despite their circumstances. This was his inu-hime and she was safe.
'Haruko' glared menacingly at her as she stood a few feet away from the group, looking at her with cold eyes before glancing at everyone else.
Haruko narrowed her eyes when she saw Touya's fallen form and turned back her icy stare to her impostor, Aki. "No one will interrupt. This is between us and I order you both to stay out of this."
Akito, overflowing with admiration, knelt and bowed low. "As you wish, m'lady."
"That's a foolish thing to do, Haruko-sama." Aki said, trying to stand and seem unaffected by the wounds in her body. But before she knew it, Haruko had already slapped her hard across the face, sending her back to the floor.
"Show me your true face." she commanded. Aki made no move to do so and only tried to sit up again. So Haruko served her another slap, her voice still as steady when she said, "Show me your true face."
This time, Aki morphed back into her original form and looked at Haruko coldly. "Happy?"
"Tell me now…did you speak the truth about Shippou-sama?"
"Keh…" she said, smirking bitterly at her. "Why else would I be doing this?"
Haruko served another slap. When Aki turned her head to look back at Haruko, she was slightly surprised to see that her eyes were starting to water but her whole body seemed completely unaffected. She narrowed her eyes at Aki and said, "I pity someone like you." It was surprising that her voice was still even and unwavering.
"What did you say?!" she yelled indignantly.
"You are so blind to the beauty in yourself that you feel the constant need to pretend to be someone else. You have absolutely no self-respect and no sense of self…If you wanted Shippou-sama to fall in love with you…shouldn't you have shown the real you instead of pretending to be me?"
Her own eyes watered at that and she felt the need to defend herself.
Why?
"Don't talk as if you know me! You don't understand what it feels like to be cast under your shadow!" she yelled.
Why are you looking at me like that?
"I did not cast you under my shadow, Aki. You're the one who cast yourself under it."
Don't look at me that way.
She faltered, fear shining in her eyes. She was starting to doubt herself. Why was she doing this? Why did she love Shippou-sama?
"The reason Shippou-sama could never fall in love with you…is that he always sees me…"
A tear fell from her eye and Aki could take no more. Lashing out, she pulled the shard at her shoulder and slashed at Haruko who only had a moment to spare before the shard could have cut her face.
She crawled backwards and tried to stand on her shaky legs, holding the shard up as if it was a sword. "You—I—I hate you! I hate you! DIE!!!" She charged forward, but Haruko easily glided to the side. It was like this for a while; Aki attacked while Haruko simply moved out of the way. Getting aggravated, Aki growled and attacked aimlessly. This was when Haruko sighed, muttered a short spell and touched Aki's chest where her heart should be.
Upon contact, thunder-like electricity shot through Haruko's arm, burning off her long white sleeve but at the same time electrocuting Aki—who screamed in agony—to the ground.
She stared at Aki, who ceased moving from her place on the floor. The girl was staring up at the moon with teary eyes and muttered softly, "I just…wanted Shippou-sama…to love me…" everything she had done, she had done for love. Was she a hopeless romantic then? Had he always been so out of reach? Or had she merely dreamt of touching the moon. Had it all been in vain?
Please tell me…
Shippou-sama…
Haruko narrowed her eyes with disgust and said, "You are so pathetic…"
Aki managed a weak scoff before closing her eyes. "Maybe I am…"
And it was over. Haruko looked up at the same moon Aki had been staring at and wiped her eyes with the hand she used to electrocute her former threat. Indeed…
"Shippou-sama…"
It was over…Shippou knew it was stupid and completely cowardly choosing not to face Haruko this time. But…he simply couldn't bear the thought of her knowing his shameful deeds… He knew loyalty was important to Haruko. And what he had done was not a good example of it. He knew he would not be able to bear having those eyes looking at him, knowing what goes on in her mind. He was such a coward.
He heard the rustling of clothes and turned to find that Yuujin was already awake and had started to sit up. "You should lie still for a while longer. Your wounds might reopen."
She looked slightly surprised to have seen him, but her surprise soon turned into worry and anger. "I told you to save her! She might be in danger right now!" She yelled, moving to stand but already Shippou had taken a hold of her shoulders and pushed her back down onto the bed. "Let go of me! Let go!"
"You must stay here, baka. You yourself are hurt." He said, moving his hands to keep down her hands for she was starting to lash out at him. He foresaw that she was going to try to kick free so he straddled her legs with his.
"No! Haruko's in danger and it's all your fault! I told you to save her! I begged you!" she blamed, using all of the strength she had left to fight him but loosing pathetically. She arched her body forward in an attempt to push him off of her but he was far too strong. She was starting to get desperate and tears started to well up in her eyes.
"Stop acting like a child, Yuujin."
"No, YOU HEARTLESS BASTARD! You don't understand! She's—she's my—she's my yuujin!" Shippou faltered at that. Yuujin…friend…? "I love her!"
"So do I." she faltered at hearing the gentleness in his voice. "But is that not all the more reason to trust that she is capable of fighting for herself? Kouga, Akito and Touya are already on their way to her."
She turned her eyes to him then, for the first time they were devoid of playfulness or laughter. They were full of sincere, heartfelt concern. True loyalty: love that would never seek anything else but the truth and the true. It was somehow entrancing to watch the emotions play out across her face sometimes, a silent voice in his mind mused.
"Also…" he whispered softly, feeling the racing pulse of her heart under his fingers through the veins in her wrist. "We cannot always protect her from the world…We must learn to open our hands…to let go…"
Yes, let go of her heart.
"So that she may fly…to where she will be…happiest."
Haruko-sama…
She was silent for a moment but at least she had stopped thrashing. Her frown deepened but she said nothing, merely turning her head away.
I'll let go of you, Haruko-sama…
So please…
Be happy…
His heart ached…but he knew he was unworthy and it was what must be done.
"Thank you…" she muttered softly, her eyes closing because of exhaustion. "Thank you for staying with me…I thought I'd be alone once I woke up…"
His emerald eyes lingered on her calmed face and soon he scoffed, smirking softly when he realized she had fallen back to sleep. "You're such a child." He whispered even though he knew she would not hear.
Stepping away from her, he resumed to sitting at the doorway, staring off into the distance, his eyes filled with unspeakable sorrow.