Hello everyone. I know it probably seems as if I am updating a little too fast, but it will slow down again soon since I'll be going back over to my dad's. I hope that you all enjoyed the last few chapters because this one is continuing the internal battle stuff. Thanks to byakugan-master93, I could go back looking through the story and tally Sulam's age but I know he is between 80-90 in actual years, but he looks like he is about nine. I know he talks like he is older, but he is actually pretty old compared to most humans so I think it works out ok. Also I am sitting typing right now so I can be near the phone because my interview went pretty well and I was told that I would receive a call today. Also want to thank PassionIsLove for her surprisingly faithful reviews, and for her compliments on the last chapter. Don't worry I have plenty of stuff left to write about in this story. In fact, as far as the actual adventure goes they're not a fifth of the way through yet. Now just add all the emotional and other complications I will add to the story. If I think it's getting too long I might cut it in half and start the other half as the sequel. Even if I do that though, there will have to be another one AFTER that because I will do a separate sequel since my ending for this story only brings up new questions. Let me know what you think about this, and I am thinking about going back and doing a prequel. It would probably cover the brothers in more detail; it would start right before the Northern Lord's birth and would go up until right before Healo's debt to Sesshomaru ended. Not right yet, of course, I will finish this first, but it is something that I am considering. The prequel I already have most of the storyline for, but the actual sequel I am still considering a few things I can do with it. Sorry about the long authors note but I wanted to go ahead and talk about this stuff to see what you'll thought about it. Please Review.
CHAPTER XXLV
LIES FROM A FRIEND
Kagome's POV
The miko was just finishing up a game she was playing with Shippo and Rin; Sulam was still up in the tree nearby speaking quietly to his father. She had already told the children that she would be gone for a little while so she turned to go speak with her hanyou friend. Kagome's brown eyes flashed up to where the Northern Lord was wearing an expression of disbelief but she turned away since she knew that this was something private; she had heard a little of what Sulam and Healo had said when they were being just a little too loud.
Kagome couldn't help but feel a little bit of sympathy for her friend since she understood that the bonds between a demon and his mate were very strong. The miko remembered the haunted look that had come into the Northern Lord's eyes when he had told her about Avia's death. The young woman had been so caught up in her ideas about the usefulness of Healo's powers that she hadn't considered the horrible cost of them. The demon lord would never be able to truly forget any moment in his life; no matter how much he wanted to.
This train of thought reminded her of Kohaku, who also had painful memories, but he was human. The human mind has the strange power to twist anything that comes into it; a memory can be distorted or altered to fit whatever the person wants it to be. However, the Northern Lord had no such luxury since everything he saw, said, did, or even thought; would be forever stored within his own mind. This made his abilities useful but tragic and dangerous as well; especially to himself.
Kagome continued to think about such things as this as she made her way quickly towards Inuyasha's room. When she finally arrived near the door she knocked quietly and waited for a response. After only a second a voice responded ", Come on if you're coming in. Do you need me to get up and open the door for you?" The miko ignored the statement and silently opened the door as she prepared to extract the last major person's point-of-view on the battle that should never have taken place…
Inuyasha's POV
The hanyou had been constantly on edge the last few hours as he had waited for Kagome to arrive. His own guilt and frustration had caused him to give a rather rude response to the young woman's attempt to ask for permission to enter. So now he was sitting up slightly in his bed hoping that she wouldn't sit him for his own comments towards her; to say nothing of his foolishness yesterday.
To his own surprise, Kagome entered the room with an obviously distracted look on her pretty face. However, she apparently shook herself out of her reverie, smiled slightly, and asked with surprising softness ", How are you feeling Inuyasha?" The said hanyou blinked slowly, but he was still on the defensive since this could just be some silly tactic to lower his own defenses. However, when the miko said nothing else, Inuyasha gave a small grin, closed his eyes, and said ", Don't worry about me. I'll be back to normal in a day or two."
He glanced over at Kagome who only smiled more warmly and said ", I know that, but I was worried about you when I finally arrived yesterday, and your brothers." His eyes had lit up at her first words but when the miko mentioned his brothers; Inuyasha grumbled softly under his breath. He then said scathingly ", Oh really. Well you do realize Kagome that I was the only one who was hurt yesterday." The young woman smiled secretly and responded with a small smile ", Maybe on the outside."
Inuyasha blinked at her stupidly for a moment as he considered what the miko had told him. Thinking back to Healo's visit, the hanyou realized that Kagome was right; he wasn't the only one who had been hurt as a result of yesterday. He blushed slightly at his own indifference; he hadn't cared, or realized, how much it had hurt Healo to fight him. Inuyasha wasn't a fool and if he had had a little more time he would have figured it out himself, but now that the hanyou thought about it he had been rather dismissive towards his brother earlier that day.
Instead of responding to her statement the hanyou asked quietly ", I suppose you want me to tell you what happened yesterday, huh?" The miko smiled openly and nodded as she said ", If you don't mind; I am trying to help sort out what happened so it can be fixed." Inuyasha smiled slightly and said ", Well, as you know Healo saw something he didn't like in my mind when we were returning from that island." He went to continue but was interrupted when Kagome said in an honest tone ", You don't have to tell me what you were thinking about. Your brother refused to tell me because he thought it would upset me."
Inuyasha nodded with a neutral expression, but inside he was very glad that the Northern Lord hadn't told Kagome about what he had been planning. Healo hadn't told her after all so there was still some chance for him and the young miko; all they had to do was make sure that the demon lord became Emperor. After that Kagome would be free all claims and be allowed to choose whomever she wished as her mate. All was not yet lost for the hanyou, but he knew that he would have to tread carefully. Especially since he now knew that, despite what he may tell himself, Healo does love Kagome…
Kagome's POV
The tale of the fight had been exactly the same as from the other two brothers. It had been short but decidedly one-sided, and it had ended with the Northern Lord determined to spare Inuyasha's life. The hanyou could remember nothing after Sesshomaru had attacked him; since the blow had knocked him unconscious. This was a slight disappointment to the miko, since she had realized that both the Western Lord and Healo had left details out of that part. It seemed that she would have to talk to one of the guards to fill in the last pieces of the puzzle.
Inuyasha was sitting back against the wall above his bed since he had just finished explaining everything he could remember. The miko noticed the troubled look on her friends face, and how it reminded her of the look that had been on the Northern Lord's face only a short time before. She asked casually ", Did you and Healo have an argument earlier, because something seemed to be bothering him earlier?" The hanyou twitched a triangular ear then answered stoically ", I have no idea what's up with him. You have to remember that he is psycho part of the time anyway."
Kagome felt a twinge of anger but suppressed it for a moment as she asked sweetly ", Hey Inuyasha can you stand up for a second?" Uncatiously the hanyou did so with a confused look as he asked quietly ", Why?" The answer came to him a moment too late as the miko's face became creased with anger and she yelled "SIT! SIT! SIT! SIT!" A pause followed as Inuyasha struggled to raise himself off of the floor, but a moment later the young woman added ", This is for lying to me. SIT. This is for calling Healo a psycho. SIT."
Inuyasha gave a groan of pain but Kagome only smiled and said ", Hope you feel better soon." She then quickly exited the room before her friend could recover from the subduing. The miko knew that she had to find one of the guards who had been at the battle so that she could figure out what else was going on here. However, the young woman only knew one of the guards that had been present. That of course was Captain Riath himself, who had also, apparently, told the Western Lord of the confrontation that was about to take place. Kagome quickly made her way towards the palace gates. She had to talk to Riath immediately…
Riath's POV
The young captain was currently very pleased with himself. His scheming hadn't brought the outcome that he had hoped for; since Inuyasha had been allowed to remain in Ioning. However, Riath felt certain that his actions had released a horde of anger and suspicion between the brothers. Hopefully it would be more than enough to allow his master to fulfill his plans for them. Also, the hanyou's wound would delay the group from leaving to meet with the Imperial Regent. Every minute of delay gave Naraku more time to prepare a surprise for the band of foolish adventurers.
Naraku himself had sent Kagura herself to meet Riath only the night before. Though the wind witch had no pleasant feelings for the young captain; she had succedded in imparting the scope of their masters pleasure when word of the battle had reached him. Oh how much it would shock the two lords if they only knew that their mortal enemy was very close, actually, he was within the Western Lands themselves. However, Riath did not know why Naraku had come there himself, but when one has such a master it does not pay well to be too curious. It could be deadly to display too much curiosity at this point.
Riath was surprised when he heard a familiar voice shout from about thirty feet away ", Captain Riath! I want to talk to you about what happened yesterday!" Out of instinct the demon drew his sword, prepared to kill the young woman if she had realized what had actually happened. However, he decided that it must have been mere coincidence when he noticed the shocked expression on the young miko's face.
Putting away his sword, he summoned a courteous smile and asked respectfully ", Lady Kagome you require my assistance?" The young demon's mind was working furiously as he considered possible ways that he could take this conversation and twist it for his own advantage. Or, rather, to the advantage of his one true master; the one who had promised him everything he had ever wanted. Naraku…
Alright everybody another chapter is finished. I am so sorry that I didn't get to Healo and Sesshomaru. I am still hoping to fit the end of this conversation between Kagome and the Captain and the conversation between the two brothers in the next chapter. However, this may prove impossible if I get too much inspiration for their discussions. I want to say again that I want your alls opinions on the stuff I talked about at the beginning of the chapter. First, do you all think that I should split this story? Second, do you all think that I should write a separate prequel? Of course I'll ask you when I am done this one, but would you all be interested in the sequel to this story? Please let me know so that I can begin in depth writing and planning on the side of this one. Next chapter will be late Thursday early Friday, unless I just can't wait that long. (Which may happen if I get enough reviews) Hope to hear from ALL of you. Don't forget to REVIEW!!!