Alrighty, everybody, I'm back with the next chapter! Sorry this took a little longer than I expected to get out to you readers, but I've been REALLY sick for the last little while. Hence, the slightly late update. Yeah, so, sorry about that. :) But on the upside, after I recovered, I had like a HUGE brainstorm for this story and managed to finish typing out chapters twenty-nine, thirty, and thirty-one as well! They just need to be cleaned up a bit. So, for the next little while I'll be posting a new chapter every two to three days. Now, before we go onto this chapter, let's have a HUGE thanks and brownies to my most AWESOME and recent SEVENTEEN reviewers: Stardust Nam, TheAlleyCat18, Azera-v, Enlightened Tenshi, Zuta-chan, Neeky-chan, Sieben Nightwing, VampireSiren, karlachan18, rukoitalian65, AnimeGmr101, AmyRoseAlice, lilemokid1991, Mikachu, xoxoSoCal619Sweetheartxoxo, LadyAmazon, and Lady Inuyuki! I LOVE YOU ALL SOOOOOOO MUCH! *glomps you all in a big group hug* Also, another HUGE thank you to all the amazing readers who have favorited and/or followed this story! Hope everyone enjoys chapter twenty-eight! (Warning: this chapter is kinda sad.)
Terms to know…
Daiyoukai – Great Demon
Hanyou – Half Demon
Inu – Dog
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Inuyasha, the Inuyasha plot, NOR the Inuyasha characters. I only own my own OCs Kaze Hijikata, Riko Hijikata, Toga Akatsuki and any other OCs created along the way, and any part of the plot NOT a part of the Inuyasha anime or manga. This fanfic, however, is MINE and I'd like to keep it that way.
Chapter 28-Raindrops of the Past
With Kaze/In Kaede's Hut…
The young spiritualist let out a long sigh as she soaked her burned hands in a pale of cold water. After battling the panther Youkai, the rest of her group had decided it'd be best to return to Kaede's village in order to gather some much needed rest and recovery. So, that's where everyone, and she meant everyone, had gone. For some reason, and much to Inuyasha's obvious displeasure, Sesshomaru and his little pack had come as well.
"Speaking of the little bugger…" dark red eyes scanned the empty hut she was currently occupying. "Just where the hell is he?"
Her question was a perfectly reasonable one considering the Daiyoukai had barely allowed her to leave his sight since the battle. Honestly, Kaze wasn't quite sure whether to be touched or annoyed at the gesture.
She supposed she was a little of both.
But now, the Inu was nowhere to be seen. For the last day and a half he'd stuck watchfully by her side, offering no explanation when she questioned his reasons or snapped at him for being a worrywart. However, when she woke up just a couple hours ago, the mat in the corner of the room that he had been sitting on was thoroughly vacant of any Sesshomaru traces.
Ah, yes, the girl forgot to mention that her last day and a half had mostly been spent lying about in an attempt not to go into relapse due to all the power she'd used in the last battle.
Closing her eyes, the spiritualist cast out her senses though the village in hopes of learning where somebody, anybody was. Hmm… it seems Kagome was with the old miko somewhere towards the herbs field. Sango and Miroku were off a little ways away, and judging by the rises in their life and spiritual energy, they were sparring.
Ah!
A moment later the young woman finally picked up the presence of Rin and Shippo, along with Jaken and his lord's two-headed dragon. Relief ran through Kaze at what this meant, for if his ward and subordinates were still here, then that meant Sesshomaru was as well.
Somewhere.
Come to think of it though, Kaze hadn't been able to find Inuyasha's presence either. Bloody hell, she hoped those two weren't fighting.
Ugh!
How troublesome…
Pulling her hands out of the cool water, the young woman quickly dried them off on a towel before slipping on her black, fingerless gloves and throwing on her coat. Running a hand through her messy raven locks, the girl then buckled on her revolver before stepping outside.
Looking up at the sky, Kaze observed the cloudiness and heavy air. "Looks like rain," she dully noted, and sure enough, only a few moments later the raindrops started falling as the raven-haired female silently made her way through the village.
Rain.
It always seemed to bring with it mixed feelings to the young woman's soul. Slightly painful memories of nostalgia, yet they were still precious memories that she never wanted to forget.
And the tradition the girl often held on these rainy days ensured that she never would.
With Sesshomaru/Heading Back to the Village…
The Daiyoukai walked at a languid pace through the soft, drizzling rain. His expression was stoic as usual, however, if one looked closely into his golden eyes, they would pick up the small glint of satisfaction gleaming within them.
Earlier that morning, his younger half-brother had called him out, surprising even Sesshomaru a bit by how serious and civil the hanyou had seemed. Or, at least the youth had been until the two siblings managed to get a decent way away from the village.
Inuyasha had then instantly turned around with a growl and most hostilely demanded just 'what in the name of hell' a full Youkai 'bastard' would want with Kaze.
Of course, the Western Lord had first quite coldly informed the foolish whelp that if he wished to keep his head intact then he'd best refrain from throwing such insult's at the full-blooded Inu's person. Then, Sesshomaru had just as coldly informed his little brother of the fact that the spiritualist was going to be his mate.
Not surprisingly, Inuyasha had immediately flew into a rage at this statement, claiming Kaze to be a part of his pack.
The Inu's beast already making a vicious fuss, a fight had instantly ensued between the Daiyoukai and the hanyou. A fight which the elder of the two had obviously won, making the female spiritualist in which the fight was over, rightfully Sesshomaru's by pack law. For spare female's in an Inu lead pack can be rightfully stolen by other male's if they defeat said pack's alpha.
A smirk crossed the Western Lord's face as he now took to the skies. Now, not even Inuyasha would attempt to interfere with his mating. Bound by pack law, the hanyou legitimately had no more say in the matter.
The fact was official and Kaze's fate had been permanently sealed.
With Kaze/At the Bone Eater's Well…
The young woman grunted softly as she plopped herself down and leaned up against the old, dry well. On her way out of the village, the girl had briefly stopped by a shop to pick up a nice bottle of freshly brewed sake. The weathered old man running the stand had even been kind enough to gift the girl two sake cups as well, even though she'd insisted that she only needed one.
Dark red eyes held an empty yet somehow still nostalgic gleam in them as she poured herself a cup of the alcoholic beverage. Being only sixteen, the girl didn't exactly make it a habit to drink very often. However, when her master had declared her of age at fourteen, the egotistical man had stated that she was now damned well old enough to sit down and have some drinks with him.
Kaze swore that bastard could drink like a camel.
At first the girl had refused, but after the many taunts of 'stop being such a damned pansy!' or 'little shit, who the hell else am I gonna drink with if not you!?' it had finally snapped the young female's temper and she'd given in.
A wry smirk flitted across the spiritualist face. Although she loathed to admit it to the pompass ass, she missed those days with him. Hard, infuriating, and challenging; but a day with her master was never in waste or boredom.
Although, most people didn't consider it exactly a good thing that, true to the cliché of 'like master like student' Kaze not only took after her mother quite a bit, but had also inherited a great deal of her less than proper personality traits from her mentor.
Yet, he was also the only one who truly understood the girl, his own apprentice. Kaze found that with him she rarely had to say anything for him to know just what she was feeling. And even if he could be an obnoxious bastard about it, he always, always seemed to know what to do when the young woman was feeling lost.
However, these were not the feelings that brought about Kaze's tradition of often taking a few drinks while sitting out in the quiet rain. The memory that prompted this went back much, much farther.
Flashback
"Mom!?" a barely seven year old Kaze shouted, walking around her family's medium sized house as she searched for the beautiful woman.
"Ya sound like a screechin' cat," a familiarly amused voice chuckled from the deck.
"Do not," the little girl pouted, earning another chuckle from her mother as she stepped out onto the porch, only to find that it was raining softly around them. "What are you doing out here?"
"Hn?" Riko hummed lightly, taking a sip of sake from the cup in her hand. "Why I'm enjoying the weather, Kido."
"But it's raining!" the young child complained looking irate as she glared at the elder female. "I'm already cold!"
"Dummy," the raven-haired spiritualist chided with a smirk, poking her daughter lightly on the forehead before pulling the child into her lap for warmth. "That's cause you're not used to it, and I'm drinking sake to help warm me up."
"Sa-ke?" Kaze carefully formed out the word, giving her mother a confused yet curious look.
"Yep!" the woman grinned, ruffling her offspring's hair. "Yer mum always comes out here to dink some sake on rainy days. Always seems to taste better that way."
"Oh," the little girl nodded, her attention now drawn to the clear liquid rippling in the older female's cup before looking up with an excited and hopeful expression. "Can I have some?"
"Heh, have at it, Kido," Riko chuckled handing her child the cup, all the while watching with an amused expression as the little girl took a sip.
"YUCK!" Kaze shrieked, gagging at the horrid taste the liquid had left in her mouth before turning to glare up at her hysterically laughing mother. "That tasted HORRIBLE!"
"Of course it did," the woman cackled, wiping a tear from her dark red eyes before taking back her sake cup. Looking down at the massive pout which had formed on her daughter's face, Riko once again ruffled her hair, yet in a much gentler manner, "Sake is something to be drank when you're older and more mature, Kido. If the body and soul's too young then the sake won't taste good as you just now discovered. So, just wait a bit, yeah? Then, someday, we'll sit down in the rain and have some sake together."
"Promise?" the little girl demanded, an abnormally serious look on her young face.
The spiritualist smiled warmly, "Promise."
Present
"Cheers to you, ya crazy bat," Kaze smiled sadly, pulling out a locket from her coat and flicking it open to reveal a picture of the woman. "Even if ya never could keep that promise of yours."
Pouring herself another cup, the young female closed her eyes as she felt the warmth seep through her body. Her mother was right. Sake always did seem to taste better on rainy days, especially if you had something to reminisce about.
The young woman took in a shuddering breath. "Shit," she silently cursed, feeling the usual bout on unfallen tears gather at her eyes. Placing an exhausted hand over her eyes, the girl slumped farther against the well. A humorless grin spread across her face, as the rain beat down around her, "I can really be a mess sometimes, can't I?"
It was at times like these that Kaze wasn't really sure of whether she loved or hated the rain.
The rain never seemed to affect her as much as when she had a partner to drink with, say her master. Yet, after leaving, the girl had once again gotten used to being alone in these situations.
But perhaps that was for the best. After all, did she really want anyone, especially Kagome, to see her in this condition?
No.
Definitely not.
It would only be troublesome.
"That's right…" the young woman reminded herself, for it was best not to burden others with her own troubles. It was already difficult enough to carry one's own burdens without being laden with another's.
…
"Kaze?"
The spiritualist froze as the deep, soothing voice assaulted her ears.
How the hell hadn't she sensed him coming!?
"Kaze?" a little firmer, more commanding this time, as the girl could hear him steadily walking towards her.
Slowly removing her hand from her eyes, Kaze brought her gaze up to meet molten gold, successfully stopping the male in his tracks. His face was as expressionless and neutral as usual. However, the keen female could almost instantly pick up the tiniest flicker of worry in his eyes, hidden behind the stoic mask.
Ah, yes, there was one she felt was strong enough to share in her burdens. For the girl had a feeling he'd probably worry more not knowing then if he knew the truth.
Alone anymore… she was not.
"Yo," she greeted the Daiyoukai with a small smile, glad the shopkeeper had given her two sake cups instead of one as she raised up the spare. "Wanna join me?"
Sesshomaru blinked in silence as the offer, before slowly approaching the girl. Just moments before, she'd frozen him in his tracks with the look she'd given him. Never before had he seen her look so… tired. It bothered him. Yet, at the same time it left a strange feeling of approval at the fact that it looked like he was, for the first time, getting to see everything that was truly hidden beneath her mask of smiles and easy-going indifference.
"Does it disgust you?" his intended's question caught him off guard as he sat down and accepted the cup of sake he was offered. "Seeing me this weak?"
"You are not weak," the Inu stated matter-of-factly, a sudden feeling of anger washing through him at her statement. As an unusual thought entered his mind he continued, "Perhaps you have remained strong for too long."
"Hmm… perhaps," the girl hummed, a soft smile splaying across her features as she filled her companions cup before taking a sip from her own. "Thank you."
Her voice was a soft whisper, and Sesshomaru couldn't help but look at his future mate with an odd feeling twisting in his gut. "Why are you out here?" he finally asked after taking a sip from the drink he'd been offered.
"Reminiscing, I guess," Kaze smiled a bit, looking up at the drizzly sky. "Even I sometimes need some time alone to think."
"Has this one intruded?" the Daiyoukai raised an eyebrow at the girl, only curious of her answer, for he had no intention of departing.
"Nah," the spiritualist chuckled softly, her eyes seemed to glaze over as she continued. "I feel like you're the one person I'd like to share my usual alone time with. The rain simply just has a habit of bringing to light some old memories."
Golden eyes showed only a brief flicker of surprise at the female's statement. Her heartfelt eyes spoke clearly of the truth in her words.
"We are fortunate," his beast rumbled with approval. "For it seems we are the one our little spiritualist has chosen to trust with her true self."
"Indeed," the Inu replied, equally pleased before turning to seriously address his intended. "What kind of memories?"
"I suppose they'd start with my mother, before simply going on to the rest of my life," Kaze shrugged as she answered.
"Your mother?" Sesshomaru questioned, feeling that he may finally be getting somewhere.
"Yes," the young woman said quietly, sliding down so that she was laying completely on the grass while looking straight up at the crying skies. "On the day she died."
Flashback
"Mother?" Kaze called out, stepping out of the chilly, wet evening into the dark house. Her father probably wasn't home yet, due to work, and the child was wondering what was on the menu for dinner that night.
"GAAAAAH!"
The little girl's eyes widened as she heard the bloodcurdling scream. Running forward, she followed the horrifically familiar voice to her parents' bedroom only to find her mother curled up on the floor, coughing blood.
"Mommy!" the little girl cried out in horror, instantly dropping to the fallen woman's side.
The woman was wearing a tank-top and shorts, making the wounds on her body fully visible to the child. Running down in a spiraling pattern from the neck to her hips, the spiritualist's skin was an unearthly off-colored black.
"Mother, what's wrong!? What happened!?" Kaze again cried out, not caring that she was sitting in a pool of her mother's own blood.
"Kaze, listen to me," Riko gasped painfully, reaching up to cup her precious daughter cheek. "I truly do love you, sweetie, but… Mum can't stay here any longer."
Innocent, dark red eyes widened in horror as she grasped the meaning of the woman's words. Even as a child, the subject of death was something she fully understood. "No!" she screamed, desperately gripping the hand on her cheek. "I-I'll call, Daddy! I'll call a doctor! Just please, please don't-"
"There's nothing they can do now," the raven-haired woman smiled remorsefully at the little girl, hating the fact that every time she brushed her daughter's cheek, it left a trail of blood.
"But-" Kaze choked, tears beginning to flow freely down her face.
"Oh, come on now, Kido. Stop it," Riko wheezed out a soft chuckle, gently poking her child's forehead for the last time. "I'm just moving on to another place. So, don't pull the tear card on me. Don't you remember what I told you?"
The seven-year old sniffled, "Big girls don't cry over silly things."
"That's right," the dying woman smiled lovingly. "You'll see me again, someday, Kido. I promise. So, please, please don't cry, Kaze." She lightly ruffled the girl's hair, "From now on, you're going to have to be really strong."
"I will, Mother," Kaze held on tightly to the beautiful female's hand. "I promise… I'll make you proud."
"Dummy," Riko laughed painfully, taking one last breath. "You already have."
*sobs* Damnit! I made myself cry in this chapter! Did it make you cry? Yeah, I know the ending is like really sad. T_T It'll be explained in the next chapter what Riko died of. Anyways, even if it was sad, I still really hope you enjoyed this chapter. So, pretty please drop me a review! ;) Seriously, you reader's reviews have been such an inspiration to me. There are just no words to describe it. :) Also, please follow and favorite this story as well! See you all in the next chapter! :D
IMPORTANT QUESTION!: Okay, so at the beginning of each chapter I have the 'Terms to know' part. My question is, do I really need to keep including that in the beginning of each chapter? Please leave your answers in the reviews. :) Thanks!
Rock Out!
Kira
