Complete the Circle
Author's Note: Don't worry. I would never end this story with the ending of the previous chapter. That would be too cruel, and would totally bomb the story. Don't you agree?
Please keep in mind the title of the story and the chapter titles. I rarely do something without reason…
Chapter Thirty-Four: Impending Doom
Something was different about her. Ever since they had moved here, she had been acting strangely. Ever since she had met that friend of hers… Ever since they had gone to that house to exterminate the pests…
Sango was definitely not the same as she was before. He remembered how sad she looked one day after she came home. She kept on looking at everyone with such strange eyes that it had scared him. It almost seemed like she was another person with another memory, another life. Sure, she became nicer to him than usual, but still… It was strange to see a sister transform like that in the course of a day.
He pattered softly down the stairs, hoping not to wake anyone. He didn't want to wake his sister up for he knew that she was probably tired from yesterday's events. He had heard his parents talking about it over dinner last night, and he was starting to feel worried. His sister and her friends had been attacked by a real live youkai yesterday. Perhaps… Perhaps he should learn the ancient art of youkai extermination also? Perhaps he needed to know the art in order to protect his sister? He was the only son in the family, and he had a duty to protect the women in the family in the case of his father's absence. That's what his father had always taught him, and he didn't want to let him down, even if it would go against his own wishes.
He quietly poured himself a cup of milk and watched quietly as the clock on the kitchen wall slowly ticked away. Eight o' clock. Had it been a normal day, he would have been in school with Souta and Shippou long ago. But today, there was a holiday. A holiday for what, he did not know.
It almost seemed deliberate, this holiday. It wasn't marked on any of the calendars, yet all the students were given the day off. He was thankful for that at least. He would be able to go out and play with his friends, and his sister would be able to rest some more.
He nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard his sister's voice.
"Onee-chan! Don't scare me like that!" he said, trying to calm his wildly pounding heart.
"I'm sorry, Kohaku," she apologized. "I just wanted to know why didn't you wake me up for school."
"We don't have school today," he answered, finishing the glass of milk. "We have a day off. Didn't you know?"
"No…" she answered, looking puzzled. To tell the truth, he was pretty confused himself. Some lady had appeared on the television yesterday night and announced that school was to be canceled for a day. She didn't give any reason as to what the holiday was for, but at that time, he had been too happy to question this strange announcement. But now…
He didn't know why, but he had always had this strange feeling whenever something unusual was about to happen. He never told his parents for they would only say that he was imagining things, and he didn't want to tell Sango for he didn't want her to worry about him. But whenever he had this feeling, something bad would happen. Once he had had this exact same feeling when he was crossing a nearby hospital, and on the night news, he had discovered that one of the rooms in the hospital had been nearly destroyed. The news reporter had hinted that there was a ghost there, but no more was said of the matter. Another time, when his parents were checking this neighborhood out with him, a taxi had driven by him, and he had felt the same feeling. He found out later that several teenagers and a woman had been killed and that police were investigating the matter. He didn't know how that tied with the taxi, but he was not going to brush off these incidents as mere coincidence.
And it was the same feeling that he felt now. But instead of it coming from a specific place, the feeling seemed to come from everywhere…and yet, nowhere. It seemed to linger in a plane of nonexistence, yet it also felt slightly suffocating. And he had a feeling that whatever was going to happen this time, it was going to concern him.
"Kohaku!" Sango said loudly, tapping his head. "Are you listening to me? Stop spacing out."
"What?" he asked, moving away from her hand. It annoyed him when she treated him like that.
"I asked you if you are going to go out with Souta and Shippou today," she said impatiently.
"Maybe. Why?" he asked.
"Nothing. I just don't want to have to baby-sit you," she replied. "If you're going out with Shippou, then I know that at least you'll be safe." She didn't have to say safe from what.
"Are you going out, too?" he asked.
"Yeah. I'll walk you to Kagome-chan's house after you dress," she said. "Hurry it up, okay?" He nodded and quickly went up the stairs to his room. And as he ascended the stairs, he felt that he was sealing his own doom.
He approached his great-great uncle with caution. The man who sat before him was the legendary sword maker, the creator of two legendary swords that time had forgotten, the man who dared turn down Sesshoumaru in his request to purchase a sword made by him. This man, his great-great uncle, was now here to speak to him, a youkai who, shamefully, exhibited no special powers. Needless to say, he was nervous. Very nervous, indeed.
"So you are the one called 'Musashino,'" he said in a wizened voice. "You remind me of…"
"Of 'Inuyasha,' the hanyou, correct?" he completed for him, surprising him. The ancient youkai refused to answer him.
"It is time for you to act less cheeky and obey the instructions of your elders," he said. Inuyasha had a feeling that he was testing him, but for what?
"Hai, Toutousai-sama," he said, bowing slightly. The old youkai gestured for him to sit.
"Sesshoumaru-sama, would you mind reminding me what you have just told me?" he asked, "In my old age, my mind seems to be deteriorating."
"Your mind is just as sharp as ever, Toutousai," Sesshoumaru answered him. "Do not mock me with false words."
"Eh? What was that you just said?" asked Toutousai. Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes ever so slightly, and Inuyasha thought Toutousai looked slightly nervous under Sesshoumaru's scrutiny.
"Musashino, the reason we called you here is because we have reason to suspect that what you told us yesterday may not be the entire truth," Sesshoumaru started. "On the night of Hayashi-sama's birthday, I was out…surveying a certain shady character. I had kept an eye on him for the better part of the night when a strange feeling of a void occurred at Hayashi-sama's home. You know of whom and what I speak of."
"Yes…" he answered, his mind trying to put the puzzles together. Something just didn't click.
"You may notice that I had said I was watching Naraku for most of the night," Sesshoumaru continued. "And you may realize that Naraku was also present at the party held in honor of Hayashi-sama," he said.
But that was impossible. How Naraku be at two places at once?
"I do not know if your friends have told you this," Sesshoumaru said, "but the Naraku five hundred years ago had the ability to create puppets of himself, which he used to his full tactical advantage."
"If you're trying to say that Naraku wasn't destroyed yesterday, you're wrong," Miroku said suddenly. All eyes turned to him.
"What are you doing here?" Sesshoumaru asked, slightly annoyed.
"I'm here on Toutousai's request," Miroku answered. "And I also brought the item that he requested."
Kagome and Sango walked into their view, both smiling shyly and slightly guiltily. Kagome was holding a long bundle in her arms.
"Ah, the fang," Toutousai smiled, gesturing for Kagome to come closer to him. He unwrapped the cloth around it and started checking the blade's quality. "Hasn't rusted. That's good." He turned to Inuyasha and showed him the chipped sword. "Behold one of my two masterpieces, Tetsusaiga!"
Inuyasha looked skeptically at the sword. He remembered that sword. It was the sword that he had found on the top of the God tree at Kagome's house. That piece of junk was his great-great uncle's masterpiece?
"Do not be deceived by appearances. This truly is a great sword, as Sesshoumaru-sama will tell you," Toutousai said, oblivious to Sesshoumaru's growing irritation with him.
"What's so great about that—" he swallowed his own words before he could offend his great-great uncle.
" 'Rusted piece of crap?'" Toutousai finished for him. Inuyasha shifted nervously. "When used properly, this sword transforms from its current state into a great powerful blade that is capable of destroying one hundred youkai in one swing."
"Right," Inuyasha answered, wondering if the old man had gone senile.
"He's telling the truth," Kagome said. "I've seen Inuyasha do it."
"I'm not Inuyasha," he answered. "Well, yeah, I am, but I'm also not—"
"Yeah, yeah, we get the point," Miroku interrupted him. Inuyasha glared at him.
"Who asked you to come here, anyway?" asked Inuyasha, annoyed.
"Toutousai," Miroku answered simply.
"He contacted Miroku this morning, and Miroku contacted us," Sango explained.
"Why am I always the last one to know about these sorts of things?" complained Inuyasha.
"The point here is not who knew what first," Toutousai interrupted, "but to teach you how to use the Fang."
"Why do you keep calling it 'the fang'?" asked Inuyasha.
"The sword was originally made from the fang of our—excuse me, my father," Sesshoumaru said. Inuyasha saw him become stiff when he said those words. He wondered why.
"The sword was later broken, but was repaired by the fang of the Lord of the Western Lands' other son, Inuyasha," Toutousai said.
"And who cares about this sword?" asked Inuyasha. No matter what they said, the sword still looked like a rusted piece of crap.
"As I was saying before certain interruptions were made," Sesshoumaru started, "I believe that the Naraku you killed was not the 'true' Naraku."
"And I say it was the 'true' Naraku," Miroku said. "He was destroyed because his youki was sucked away. If he were a puppet, then the spell would not have affected him, for he wouldn't be a youkai, therefore, he wouldn't have any youki."
"Hmph. Fool," Sesshoumaru said, looking scornfully at Miroku. "What do you think powers a puppet? There is always a degree of youki with a spell, and without a spell, the puppet would be unable to function."
"But when we killed him, there wasn't a wooden block or anything," Kagome said. "Besides, I felt him. I could feel his youki all over him, and I know for a fact that the one we destroyed was real. Perhaps there is a Naraku puppet right now that is posing as the real Naraku."
"If the true Naraku dies, then his puppet will die with him," Sesshoumaru said. "Spells of that nature cannot last long without its master."
"Who cares about Naraku?" asked Inuyasha. "He, or at least his puppet, is dead. There's no need to seek him out and try to get revenge on him."
"Don't be stupid, Inuyasha," Miroku said. "So long as Naraku lives, no one is safe," he said bitterly. "But you wouldn't know that now, would you? You've always been protected by your family."
"What are you trying to say?" asked Inuyasha, understanding fully what Miroku was saying. He couldn't blame his friend for getting bitter over his comment, but he really didn't see a point in hunting down Naraku. It was true that the youkai had done some bad things, he could testify for that, but they had already punished him enough. Even if they had only killed one of his puppets, it was what the action symbolized that counted. He didn't believe that Lord Naraku could really be so foolish as to make the same mistake twice. At least, he hoped not. If Naraku was truly still alive, and if he was still so foolish as to continue doing his less than honorable deeds, then his family was in danger. If they really did attack Naraku now, would he come and kill his weakened family?
"Naraku has killed and injured more than you could ever understand in your current state," Miroku said, unable to contain his anger. "The old Inuyasha would have understood this. He would not have hesitated to hunt the bastard down."
"I am not that Inuyasha," he said, getting up angrily. "Get it through your thick head."
"Obviously you are not," Miroku said. "If you were, then you would have understood why Sango and I want to kill him."
"All you want to do is kill him for your own benefit," Inuyasha said. He knew he was being unfair, but he couldn't help it. He had had enough of being compared to the other Inuyasha.
"Wouldn't you?" asked Miroku. "How do you think I got this?" he asked, raising his hand. "Do you think I wanted this? The only way that I will ever be able to live a normal life is if Naraku is completely destroyed so that this curse of mine can be lifted."
"If youki is used to cast that spell, then youki can be used to remove it," he replied. "All we have to do is find a youkai with the power to lift the spell. There doesn't need to be bloodshed." All noble words, he thought to himself. If only I believed in them.
"Why are you so reluctant to fight?" asked Miroku.
Because I can't fight. Is that a reason? I cannot protect the family that I weakened from him?
"You're just a coward. A coward that hides behind one of many faces," Miroku spat bitterly.
"Miroku…" Sango started, but Miroku cut her off.
"I was not so cowardly or so selfish as to disregard my friend's problem when he came out of his coma," Miroku said, "unlike you."
He was stung. What could he say to such a comment?
"That's enough," Toutousai's suddenly strong voice rang out. Then his voice changed back to its feeble timbre again. "I did not call you here so that you can bicker among yourselves. Sort out your views on Naraku after I'm gone, not while I'm here. I don't want to waste my time." He looked sharply at Inuyasha. "There will come a time when you can no longer utilize your ways, Musashino. You will no longer be able to retain the calmness of the water, and will have to revert to the wrath of a fire instead. Do you understand?"
He did not understand, but he nodded anyway.
"Good. Now, I will tell you how to use Tetsusaiga," he said, getting comfortable in his position. "The nature of the Tetsusaiga is to protect humans," he started, "or so it was thought. I did not think it was necessary back then to tell you of the sword's true nature, for you already seemed to have mastered it," he said, forgetting that he was not talking to that Inuyasha. Musashino decided to let that go.
"Tetsusaiga is in fact activated when the wielder's heart wishes with all its power to protect someone," Toutousai continued. "The only reason that full blooded youkai cannot wield it is because they are usually too self centered to allow their heart to think of others. But you cannot blame them. In a harsh world, it is better to trust no one, to love no one.
"However, the Lord of the Western Lands, your father, was different. He truly did love your mother, and because of that, he, a full youkai, was able to touch and wield the sword of his fang. You yourself discovered the power of the Tetsusaiga when you—" he suddenly realized that the person he was talking to was not the old Inuyasha, so stopped. He rephrased his words and started again. "He could not wield the sword until his heart bade him to save someone. Sesshoumaru-sama can also use the sword, but he must concentrate deep and hard in order to attain that level of concern from the heart. That is why it is difficult for him to use the fang. He must constantly concentrate on it, else the sword will injure him.
"However, I believe that you can utilize this sword again," Toutousai said. Musashino was getting slightly irritated with the old youkai's forgetfulness that he was not the Inuyasha that he was talking about.
"I bequeath this blade of demons unto you," Toutousai said, lapsing into the ancient dialect. "May you master it as your previous incarnation did."
He reluctantly accepted the blade, and looked dubiously at the worn sheath. He reached for the hilt of the sword and was suddenly burned by a strange flame from the sword. He dropped the sword onto the floor.
"What the he—"
"It does not accept you," Toutousai said incredulously. "Well, I suppose it's expected," he said, getting Inuyasha angry.
Stupid old fart… If the sword doesn't accept me, then what was that long speech about?
They laughed in the heart of the park, their jubilant cries echoing throughout the playground. Shippou had never had any siblings before, but if playing with them was anything like playing with Souta and Kohaku, then he wished that his mother had borne more children.
But something was wrong with Kohaku today. He kept on looking around as if he expected something to jump out and get him. Shippou had beaten the older boy many times because of his distraction, and he was starting to feel worried for him. Did Kohaku know something he didn't know?
"Kohaku, are you okay?" Souta asked. "Why aren't you paying attention to the game?"
It was some time before he answered, "I'm fine."
Shippou was about to say something when he suddenly felt a pair of hands grab him from behind.
"Shippou!" Kohaku shouted. Shippou strained his neck to see who had grabbed him, and did not like what he saw.
It was a disgusting, slimy youkai that had strange bubbles all over his body. Judging from the smell, Shippou knew that the youkai grabbing him was a seaweed youkai, and one very strong one at that.
"S-Shikon no Tama," he gurgled, starting to choke Shippou. Shippou felt his head start to feel tight and he was starting to see spots in his vision. How could he have been so stupid not to notice that a youkai was so close? How could he, a full youkai, not have sensed this youkai?
I really am useless… he thought as his mind started to slip away. Distantly, he heard someone shout his name and try to attack the demon.
She sat there, wondering what move would be best. The smooth light and dark board before her gave her very limited options, and she suspected foul play. But still she commenced with the game, a plan forming in her head.
She hovered her hand over the tall, elegant white figure, and smoothly slid the figure over to a horse-like figurine, knocking the figurine off the board. She smiled at her good luck.
"Checkmate," she said in a low voice. He only frowned, which made her laugh.
"I would not celebrate so early if I were you," he said, guarding his king and mobilizing his piece to attack her king in one move. "Checkmate."
She definitely smelled a rat, and was about to say so when he gave her a look that commanded silence.
So, the real chess had begun.
She sat there nervously, fiddling with the edge of her jacket. Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru had been commanded away by a few well-placed words by Toutousai and the appearance of a very ill looking Rin. And now, it was just her, Miroku, Kagome and Toutousai. She wondered what was so important, or what was so secretive that the others had to be called away. The one who held the answers was just sitting there, sipping his tea, and looking at Tetsusaiga.
"Ahem," Miroku interrupted the old youkai, almost causing him to spill his tea all over himself.
"Eh? Who are you people?" asked Toutousai. Miroku hit him on the head.
"Stop playing games!" Miroku shouted. Toutousai rubbed his head in pain and in slight annoyance.
"Please tell us why you told Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru to go away," Kagome said politely, hoping that the ancient youkai would get a move on.
He started to pour himself another cup of tea, and they could do nothing as he deliberately poured the tea slowly into his cup, blowing gently on the surface of the steaming tea before he leisurely drank it.
"Are your hearts ready for this burden that you have brought onto yourself?" he asked suddenly, startling her.
"What are you talking about?" asked Miroku, slightly grumpily.
"I know you, monk," Toutousai said, "And I know you have no choice but to continue on with this mission. But what about you, Kagome?" he asked, turning to her.
"Eh?" asked Kagome in surprise.
"Musashino's words were not far from the truth, though you would like to deny it," he said mysteriously. "Why are you fighting Naraku?"
"To punish him, of course," answered Kagome. "And to complete the Shikon no Tama."
"To punish him?" asked Toutousai. "To complete the Shikon no Tama?"
"Yes," Kagome said, getting slightly irritated with him.
"Is it not true that Naraku died in that day?" asked Toutousai. They all looked at him in surprise. "Sesshoumaru-sama had told me of his discoveries not too long ago. Naraku died that day, and with him, the Shikon shard that he held disappeared. How could it be that he still has it?"
"How could it be that he is still alive?" asked Miroku.
"I do not know the answer to these questions," replied Toutousai calmly, not seeming like the senile old man he usually acted as. "I am not here to answer your questions. I am here to question your mission."
"What?" Sango asked, not comprehending what Toutousai was trying to say.
"You do not know if Naraku has the Shikon shards any longer," Toutousai said, "You are not even sure that the Naraku now is the Naraku that was in the past. You are not even sure if you have destroyed the Naraku in the present. You do not even have enough evidence to 'punish' this Naraku. Is this Naraku that you may have destroyed the Naraku that inflicted your pains on you?"
Miroku was about to say something but Sango held his hand and shook her head. She could feel his prayer beads dig into her palms, but she didn't care.
"You are the sole person who has reason to even go after this Naraku," Toutousai said, directing his words at Miroku. "But what about you two? Kagome, do you really need to complete the Shikon no Tama? Ever since that day, five hundred years ago, no youkai has ever had the power to sense the shards. Do you have enough cause to go after him? And you, Sango," he said, turning to her. "The brother of your past life was destroyed by Naraku's hands, but your true brother is alive and well. Why are you fighting for an offence of the past?"
Sango realized the weight of his words as his meaning started to sink in. Why was she fighting? To avenge something done in her past life? That didn't make sense at all! Kohaku was safe, just as Toutousai said. Why was she even in this mission?
She could feel Miroku slip his hand out of hers and she looked at him, startled for his action. His eyes wouldn't meet hers and she felt as if something between them had been suddenly ripped apart. She felt alone. Kagome… She was a miko and so at least still had a reason to go after Naraku. Miroku was injured by a youkai, possibly Naraku, so he was in a mission to win his life back. What was she doing here?
"I suspected that you three did not realize this," Toutousai said. "You cannot fight Naraku as you are now. You will never win. At least five hundred years ago, you three had a true will and reason to fight, but now, all you have is a ghost. If you cannot unite your hearts in this matter, then you will surely be destroyed.
"You do not know if Naraku is alive. It is perhaps best for you to leave things as it is now. If you try to stir up more trouble, then perhaps you really will be destroyed this time," he said, his wise words striking home. Sango could feel the power of their group starting to crumble.
"Kagome was the nectar that drove you to each other," Toutousai said, "and Inuyasha was the petal that enclosed you all within the safety of the flower, binding you closer to each other, protecting you when he could. You cannot survive with only the nectar," he said gently, "You need the entire flower to hold it all together."
"But Inuyasha…" Kagome started, but stopped. They all knew why.
"You cannot assume that Musashino is Inuyasha," he said. "And even if he is, he cannot help you. Tetsusaiga, the weapon that gave you the hope to defeat Naraku, cannot be wielded by him. Even if you do find the resolve to continue on with your mission, you will not have the power to back your goals. The adults cannot help you without being punished for it, and they definitely cannot help you now.
"You are right, Miroku. Musashino is reluctant to fight, and why shouldn't he be? He has powers less than yourself, Miroku, and you should know that better than anyone else. His family is weak and injured because of him. If he leaves to go on your wild goose chase, who will protect his family?"
They all sat there in silence as a terrible weight of gloom settled on them. Their cause was lost. They were helpless against Naraku, if he still existed. And if he didn't, then Miroku was doomed to die. The Shikon no Tama would never be completed. The circle was broken.
Author's Note (again): I was just thinking… Isn't it strange that even though you may know someone through the Internet, you really don't know them? You don't even know how they look like! If you were walking across the street someday and accidentally bumped into someone, that someone may actually be a friend that you only know through the Internet. That's scary. I was just thinking, what if I actually saw one of my favorite fanfiction authors waltzing around everyday, and I never knew it was them!
Okay, enough about that, the true purpose of this author's note is to ask a question. What does Inuyasha call his mother in the anime and manga? Does he call her a.) ofukuro, or b.) haha-ue, or c.) okaa-san? And when does he use these words? I noticed that when Inuyasha was talking to Kagome about his mother, he used a certain word, but when he was talking to his mother, he used another word, and I can't, for the life of me, remember what word it is! Please tell me if you can! Oh, by the way, this question has practically nothing to do with this story.