I DO NOT OWN INUYASHA OR THE CHARACTERS! THAT RIGHT BELONGS TO RUMIKO TAKAHASHI!
I AM MEARLY USING THE CHARACTERS IN A FICTIONAL SETTING THAT IS MY OWN!
Please note, this story is set in a more futuristic setting. There are things that happen during this story that some might be triggered by it (TRIGGER WARNING). There is love and healing and humor, but there is also trauma, and angst, and darkness.
Please enjoy! Please like and leave a commit below!
On with the show!
~*~* Prologue *~*~
"What else are we going do to with her?" A soft, famine voice whispered.
"She will need someone strong to guide her, someone who is much more capable than any of us." A gruffer, male voice responded, his voice equally soft.
"In this god forsaken land?! Is there such a place?!" The female voice responded, a slight panic in her voice.
"I can only think of one such person…" The male voice trailed off. As if he knew she wouldn't like the answer he had.
"Are you sure he will help?" She practically sobbed. Her voice seemed so small and fragile.
"It's all we have left my mate. We will have to try…" He answered, His voice even softer than before, "It will be the only option for our daughter."
The female's sobbing continued, as the soft little bundle in her arms stirred. "I can't give up my baby, my pup." She seemed to hold the bundle tighter.
"Mate…" The man said, kissing her softly, "I understand… But if our pup is to survive –" His voice cut off, A soft sob escaping his throat, "Please love. Say your goodbyes…"
"Goodbye my sweet, sweet pup." She placed a very soft and warm kiss on the little bundles head, "Mama already misses you. Wish I could watch you grow into the strong and beautiful woman I know you will become."
The woman passed the bundle to the man, then unclasped her necklace and placed it on top of the small baby wrapped in a soft, pink blanket. It was a long gold chain, with a gold pendant on it. On the pendant was a shield with a paw print in front of the moon, with a rose on either side of the shield. The man kissed her passionately, while she sobbed against his lips.
"Don't forget Mate… This life or the next, I will find you."
"I know my sweet. Now go."
The male hugged the bundle to him, and whispered softly, "Come, my pup. We have to run as if the devil himself chased us."
The cries of anguish as the man fled were heart wrenching. The male tried his hardest to choke back the sobs that came out of his throat, while the infant wailed against his chest. It was almost too much to bear, and then quickly darkness swam in claiming everyone and every sound in its dark void.
Chapter 1 – Side A – Latasha
Latasha slowly opened her eyes. The dream that had plagued her, her entire life visited her again last night. She could never really figure out why. It was always the same. The man and the woman having to give up their baby for some unknown reason, and it was always so heart breaking.
Latasha rolled over and stared at her alarm clock. It was still a half hour before her alarm was even supposed to go off. She sighed heavily as she rolled to a sitting position. Her dark blonde hair fell like a curtain around her face as she looked down at her feet, rubbing her tired eyes. She couldn't believe that her friends wanted to meet at the mall this early in the morning.
She slowly got up and wandered to her closet to see if she couldn't find anything to wear. Her friends told her she needed to wear something "cute", whatever that meant.
She couldn't blame them; they were only trying to help her get over a bad breakup. Which, as she had explained at the time, wasn't that heartbreaking. The man was an asshole, and she was glad to get rid of him. She was bound and determined not to let her summer be affected by the negativity that, that man had brought into her life.
'Maybe that's why…' She thought as she reached for a tight-fitting spaghetti strap tank top, 'Maybe because I was so miserable with him, they are trying to make it up to me.' She smiled softly to herself. She really did love her friends.
She found some hip hugging jeans with a nice flare bottom that she thought would look cute. She did always like the flare at the bottom. She smiled down at her choice of clothes, and grabbed a pair of socks, a bra with matching panties and ran over to her bed.
As she dressed, folded her pajamas, and made her bed, her mind began to wander. Now that she was back in Tokyo with her father, how was the summer was going to play out? After her and her friends had graduated from high school, Latasha immediately ran off to the States to go to college. She didn't really need to go that far for her degree, but she wanted to go to someplace different and spend some time with her mother. She never really got to see much of her mother since the divorce, and the divorce really rocked both her and her father.
Latasha was a half demon. She thankfully earned her father's wolf side, including the pointy ears and the demonic makeup of a wolf. She also inherited some of her mother's traits of her Coyote demon, such as the blonde and unruly hair. Along with the deep desire to cause mischief.
But Latasha also is keeping a deep, dark, secret that only few new about. She was also a werewolf. Shouldn't be possible right? You would think that her demonic make up would keep her from being a werewolf, but here she was. Rocking all kinds of bad temper, and mental conditioning. Her dad teases her all the time and tells her that her wolf looks like a thinner, leaner wolf. A very, VERY blonde wolf, which in the long run might save her hide should she roam to close to a human. They might mistake her for a husky mix instead of flat out calling her wolf.
She stared at her reflection in her full-length mirror. She frowned slightly as thoughts of her mother floated through her head. Since her mother was a coyote, she had a hard time staying in one spot; it was almost a deep need for her mother to move around. Her parent's marriage only lasted as long as it did because of Latasha. Her father would remind her mother that moving a lot with a baby was not only hard, but not practical. They would uproot and move to a different neighborhood every couple of years to help satisfy her mother, but after a while it wasn't enough. She needed to move to a whole different place, a new place. So, she could explore and cause trouble, and satisfy that wild pull she kept feeling. Father had finally had enough and told her he would not be moving. He told her that if she really wanted to go, they would get a divorce and they would discuss when would be appropriate times for Mother to have Latasha.
Mother tried with all her might to be like father. Normal, well adjusted, happy with the white picket fence and home illusion that Father wanted so bad. But things just got worse, and Mother fell into such a deep depression that she finally just ran away. Latasha received letters often, saying how much happier she was and how much she missed her. She even mailed Father Divorce paperwork, with her portion already signed.
This is why Latasha wanted to spend time with her while she attended college. She spent her entire life with Father, and it was only fair that Mother get a couple of years with her. Father wasn't exactly happy, but he let her do it. He let her run off and spend 3 years with Mother, so she could earn her degree.
Latasha's eyes started to tear up, but she quickly wiped them before the tears could fall. She would be happy today, and nothing was going to stop her. She reached out and grabbed her pendant. It was on a long gold chain, and on the pendant was a shield. On the shield was a moon with a paw print in the middle, and two roses, one on either side. Father explained to her that under times of great stress, that pendant would keep not only her Yokai beast in check, but her were beast as well. And that she should always wear it. When she was little it wasn't always easy to remember. But when she had a couple of slip ups, she vowed to make it more of a habit. Now it was just reflex. She never left the house without her pendant.
"Latasha! The rest of your stuff just arrived! Hurry my sweet!" A gruff male voice called up the stairs.
Latasha's mind quickly banished all depressing thoughts, and she smiled "Okay Father! Let me finish getting ready!"
She quickly ran to the bathroom and ran a brush through her messy main of hair. She then quickly brushed her teeth and ran downstairs. Barely remembering to get her shoes on before racing out the door to where the delivery truck had backed into her driveway.
"It's finally here!" She squealed as she threw her arms around her father. He laughed at her as he wrapped a protective arm around her.
"You better thank Mr. Tashio for offering to ship it up. It wouldn't be here otherwise."
"Oh, I will Father!"
They watched as a delivery man slowly, and gently, backed a black small SUV out of the back of the trailer and into their driveway. It was overall egged shaped with a little spoiler on the back of it. It had a decal of her pendant with tribal coming off the side of it at the top of her slopped windshield, while the back had a small decal of a Pirate flag.
Latasha was practically beside herself with joy and was giggling as the driver came around looking down at his clip board "Miss Hashira?"
"Yes?"
"Is this your Ford Edge?" He gestured to the vehicle coming off the trailer.
Latasha's smile got even bigger, "Yes, it is."
"Sign please then."
He practically shoved the clipboard under her nose. She scoffed and signed the dotted line saying that she was aware she was accepting a delivery for her car. She could hardly contain herself as she gave the clipboard back to the driver as she watched the other guy unload it.
"Where," Her father started back up coming around to her, "Did you get the money for this?"
"I worked 2 jobs while I was going to school to pay for it," she crossed her arms over her chest, "Mother was always off doing something, so it wasn't like she was home a lot to miss me."
Her father wrapped a protective arm around her again, rubbing her arm, "Hunny, I'm sorry. If I had known you would have had a miserable time, I would have tried harder to stop you. But," He sighed, "She is your mother. I wasn't going to tell you no and demand you stay home. She missed you…" His voice trailed off, not sure of what more to say.
"I know father…" She squeezed his hand on her shoulder, "But! I worked my butt off and managed to have the money for a down payment and paid off half the loan already!"
They guy put the car in park, killed the engine, as he got out handed her the keys. "Ma'am." He said as he headed back to the truck so they could take off.
Latasha looked at her father and smiled, then cleared her throat, "Father! May I introduce! The Jolly Roger."
Her father laughed as he climbed inside, "You named it?"
"Her! I named Her. And yes. A fine piece of machinery such as her needs a name. I felt it was very appropriate." She said, leaning on the door frame, "What do you think?"
Her father looked it up and down, "Its very nice. I'm a little surprised that you got a small SUV, but then I remember who your friends are and what you guys do with your spare time," He smiled at her "And I think it suites you perfectly. How are you going to afford the gas and insurance?"
"And payments. For now, the money from our band gigs will cover what it costs, until I can get a job. I have a few interviews lined up already. Including an interview at Mr. Tashio's business."
"Oh! An esteemed place like that! Would look very good on your resume." He got out and kissed her forehead softly, "Now go, your friends are waiting."
She smiled at him softly, before hoping in the car, putting it in drive, and pulled out of the drive.
"And stay out of trouble!" He shouted after her.
Latasha pulled in the driveway of the Tashio complex. She knew the family very well. She grew up with his youngest son, Inuyasha. Toga Tashio, Inuyasha's father, always claimed she was like the daughter he never had. She had very fond memories of this place. Her and Inuyasha had been friends since pre-school, and if it wasn't for Latasha, he never would have made friends with Miroku. She was the one who shoved him into Miroku. Literally. They were in 1st grade, and playing on the playground, when they noticed a little boy sitting by himself. Latasha decided to strike up a conversation, but not in the traditional sense. She hit Inuyasha and yelled "Tag!" to which, she turned to run, but Inuyasha was quicker that day, and hit her back pretty fast. 'Perfect.' She had thought and let him run. She practically herded him towards the boy, and just as he was close enough, she tackled him. Right into the other kid.
'And the rest is history!' She thought fondly, as she got out of the car.
"Latasha?" Came a soft female voice, "Is that you?"
Latasha turned and saw a delicate woman with lush, long black hair turn to her. She had deep brown eyes that seemed to be so much older and wiser than she was. She wore a soft smile to match her paisley sundress. Latasha smiled really big at her, "In the flesh."
"Come child! Let me look at you!" She exclaimed excitedly, "Mate! Your daughter is home!"
Latasha raced up the porch steps to Izayoi, Inuyasha's mother, and hugged her tight, "Hi mama Tashio."
"Dear lord child it feels like it's been so long! Have you been eating? You feel so thin." Izayoi pulled her away so she could eye her up and down.
Latasha laughed, "I'm fine mama. I made sure to eat."
"Daughter!" A gruff baritone called out to her.
A tall man with long silver hair came into view. He was wearing his business casual attire. A nice, slightly dressy shirt, tucked into his jeans. He had a blue stripe on either side of his face, with deep golden eyes that seemed to see right into your soul.
"Papa Inu!" She beamed and leap into his arms, wrapping her small arms around his large muscular frame. Toga was the lord of these lands. And whom she was also close with.
He laughed and hugged her tight to him, "So good to see you little pup! Gosh, how long has it been?" He set her down gently while Latasha laughed.
"I was last here shortly after Christmas. Mother insisted I stay last year."
"How is she?" Izayoi asked.
"Same old same old. Mother has a mobile home she lives out of, and a PO Box so she can receive mail regularly. She kept close to the school so I could finish, but she already had her eyes on a different place when I announced my graduation." Latasha shrugged. She didn't like talking about Mother. She knew how much the old couple worried about her, and somehow, she always seemed to paint her mother in a real bad light.
"Well, that was…" Izayoi stumbled for the right words, "Considerate… Of her."
"Hn," agreed the dog yokai, then his attention was drawn to the black egg-shaped car in his driveway, "Who's is that?"
"Oh!" Latasha blushed a little, "That's mine. Need me to move it?"
"No. I'm parked on the other side. How'd you get it here?"
"Remember when I asked for a favor in helping me get some of my stuff from Mothers to Fathers?"
The great dog yokai looked at her with his eyebrow perked, "Yeah…"
"May I introduce… The Jolly Roger." She gestured to the car, "And thank you for helping me get it here. I made sure to have a receipt emailed to your company email address. I went with the cheapest, but safest one I could find."
Izayoi laughed, "You named it?"
"Her." Both demons corrected her. Izayoi just rolled her eyes.
"Want to see?" Latasha asked, unlocking the car.
Toga climbed in the driver's side and started eyeing it up and down. As if one of his kids bought it without telling him and he just wanted to make sure it was safe. "Bells and whistles huh?"
"I splurged a little bit yes. But I worked two jobs to do so, so I felt like busting my tail earned me bells and whistles."
Izayoi opened up the driver passenger door and sat in, "Oh my!" she exclaimed, "It's pretty roomy. And it is cute. I'm sure all of you can fit in here."
Latasha smiled, "And have some room for the instruments. If we keep doing girls in one, and boys in Miroku's truck, we won't have to keep asking to borrow a car."
"Well, I think its money well spent. Have you thought any more on the position that I offered you at the firm?" Toga asked.
"I have, and while I'm leaning more towards taking the position, I also have other interviews that I promised I would attend. I have to keep my word papa…"
The dog yokai smiled at her, "You are such a good girl. Let me know soon so I don't give the position away to someone who might seem qualified but isn't."
Latasha chuckled, "I will."
"Well girls, I'm off to work." He kissed Izayoi briefly on her lips, then planted one on Latasha's head, "Behave today?"
Latasha smiled evilly, and he sighed, "I tried."
The girls just laughed and waved to him while he drove out of sight.
"Come," Izayoi said, "Let me do something with that unruly hair of yours while we wait for everyone to get here. Inuyasha should be back soon with donuts and coffee. You can tell me all about the states and the school you went to."
"Mmmm… Donuts…" Moaned Latasha. Just the thought of it made her stomach grumble.
Izayoi laughed, "I thought as much. Come."
Latasha smiled. Man was it good to be home.
"Mom! I'm home!" Called a male voice, "And I have company!"
"In the kitchen darling!" Replied Izayoi.
Izayoi had managed to get Latasha's hair to cooperate to go into a slightly complex braid. It felt nice to have it up and out of her face. Plus, according to Izayoi, it really showed off her ears in a 'super cute' way.
A young half dog yokai came into the room. He was wearing a slightly dressy shirt, with jeans, and his long silver hair down around his shoulders, his little dog ears poking out at the top. His golden eyes always held a fire in them that made you feel like you needed to get up and get that one thing you've been putting off done. He looked right at Latasha, and smiled, "I thought that was your car."
Just as he said that another male walked in. He had short dark hair, with soft blue eyes. He was wearing blue jeans with a plain black t-shirt. He smiled fondly at Latasha and held out his arms for a hug, "It seems to have been a lifetime!"
Latasha got up and giggled. She wrapped her arms around the young human male, squeezing him tightly, but briefly. "Miroku! Oh how I have missed you guys!" She pulled herself away from him and hugged the half dog yokai, "Inuyasha!"
Keh," Inuyasha said smiling, "I'm glad you are home."
"How long are you home for?" Miroku asked as he set the donuts down on the counter.
"For good. I got my degree and scooted straight home."
"What?!" Came a high-pitched female voice.
Before Latasha could brace herself, a young woman, with black hair and soft brown eyes, leapt onto her. Latasha almost tumbled to the ground and then laughed. "Good to see you too, Kagome!"
"You got your degree and didn't tell us?" Accused Kagome.
"To be fair," huffed Latasha, "I didn't tell anyone. I barely even told my mother I graduated."
"Which is why we wanted her to hang out with us today."
At the sound of the new voice, everyone turned. A woman with long hair in a single pony stood leaning on the frame. Her brown eyes held a sharp edge to them that matched her smile.
"Sango!" Latasha exclaimed while she disentangled herself from Kagome and hugged her friend.
"It's so good to have you home." She said, hugging her back.
Latasha looked at all her friends. Each different, with their own little quirks, flaws, and personalities. Yet all with the same quality.
'Home.' Thought Latasha, 'This is what home feels like.'
"Are you alright dear?" Asked Izayoi. "You are crying."
Latasha touched her cheeks and found them wet. She wiped her eyes and smiled softly at them all. All she could do was start to softly sing, "To that door that's always open, to the light that's always on…"
"To a love that's always waiting," Continued Inuyasha, his baritone balancing her soft voice nicely, "After being gone too long." He wrapped her in a bear hug and pressed her to him. Letting her burry her face into him while her shoulders shook with the soft sobs that escaped her, "Welcome home kid."