InuYasha: A Spirit Lives On
Chapter 2: Toshiro's True Identity
"Once, a hanyou and a priestess fell in love, but were torn apart by the evil intensions of the evil hanyou, Naraku..." Emiko began. Akiko's eyes widened as she realized who Emiko was talking about, but kept quiet. "Naraku turned the hanyou and the priestess against each other by tricking them," Emiko explained, "Both of them thought the other one betrayed them. Thus, they fought to the death." 'InuYasha and Priestess Kikyo!' Akiko thought in amazement. "Unlike the priestess, the hanyou survived and was pinned to a tree for fifty years. Then one day he was found by the priestess' reincarnation and they set off on a journey to recover the shards of the single most powerful thing, the Shikon Jewel. That hanyou's name was InuYasha," Emiko said. "Why are you telling me this story?" Akiko asked, curiously. "You see.... Toshiro.... he is the reincarnation of InuYasha," Emiko said. "But, how come he reincarnated?" Akiko asked. "The original InuYasha thought that he had completely restored the jewel," Emiko explained, "But yet one single shard remains, and InuYasha came back as Toshiro to find it and seal it away from evil forever." Akiko couldn't believe it. Toshiro is InuYasha?!? She repeated that phrase in her head several times, but still couldn't believe it. "Wait, Emiko...how are you Toshiro's sister?" Akiko asked. "I'm not his biological sister," Emiko said, "I was an orphan. Mrs. Yaeko took us both in when we were little." "Oh," Akiko said. Neither of them knew that Toshiro also lay awake. 'So, Akiko knows the truth now. I wonder if she could actually help me,' Toshiro thought. After a few minutes of silence, Akiko said, "Emiko, am I going to be able to get back to my world?" "I'm not sure," Emiko responded. "Then I insist that I help Toshiro find the shard!" Akiko said. 'Is she unaware?' Emiko thought. After awhile, they all drifted off to sleep, for real this time.
The next morning, Akiko woke up after getting hit in the face by an unknown object. She sat up and looked down at what hit her. Lying in her lap was a red and black kimono. "I borrowed this from Emiko," Toshiro said, "Wear that instead of what you already have on if you don't want people looking at you suspiciously." "Wait… are we going some where?" Akiko asked. "Dammit! Do you ever get tired of asking questions?? Yes! We are going to town to pick up a few things for Emiko," he replied. "Oh, okay then," Akiko said timidly. He walked out the room and slammed the door behind him. 'Yea, he's definitely InuYasha. Attitude and all.' Akiko thought. She took off her outfit, folded it up, and layed it beside her CD player. She then slipped the kimono up onto her shoulders and wrapped the tie around her waist. Akiko stepped out the room and started to go out the door when Emiko stopped her. "It gets pretty hot in the afternoon," Emiko said as she handed a black piece of cloth to Akiko, "Use this to tie back your hair when it does." "Oh," Akiko replied, "Thank you." She then went out the door to find Toshiro standing with his back to her, looking at the horizon. She stepped up beside him. He turned and looked at her, and she noticed his golden eyes, another trait of InuYasha. They looked into each other's eyes for a few seconds until he said, "Why the hell are you looking at me like that?" Akiko looked away, blushing. "Better get going," she said. "I heard Emiko tell you who I really am and that your going to help me find the jewel shard," Toshiro said, "Ummm, yea," Akiko said unsurely, not sure if he was going to get angry or not. He said nothing more and walked on. "Hey! Wait up!" Akiko said, as she ran to catch up with him.
After taking that long, hot walk across the fields to town, Akiko really appreciated that tie Emiko had given to her. "Now that we're here, I need to go to the weapon shop," Toshiro said. "I thought we were getting some things for Emiko," Akiko said. "We are, after I do what I need to do," Toshiro said. "Which is?..." Akiko asked. "What did I tell you about asking questions!?" he snarled, threating her with his claws. "Okay, I get the message!" Akiko said angrily, "Back off!" "Stupid bitch..." he muttered under his breath as he walked away, "And you better not wander off, either!" "Whatever," she said. 'He better appreciate me helping him find the jewel shard,' Akiko thought, 'Ha! Probably not...'. Doing exactly the opposite she was told, Akiko explored the streets. She noticed a large tablet at the end of the street she was on. She went up to it and started to read, just to pass time. The message stated: "Only when the remaining jewel shard is restored, will Japan be brought back to light. The darkness can only be stopped by the purest heart, and deep within that heart, lies the final jewel shard. We will await her arrival. Hope is not lost." Akiko turned pale. 'Is this why I was brought here?' she wondered, 'I have to find Toshiro!' She made her way back to where she and Toshiro split up, and found him there, muttering under his breath. "I'm sorry!" Akiko sincerely said. "Where have you been?" he asked gruffly. "I have the jewel shard inside me, don't I?" she asked. "Ssshhh!" he said, clamping his hand over her mouth, "Do you want someone to hear you? These people would probably be ready to rip the jewel shard right out you if it meant no more youkai attacks!" Akiko took a hint and shut up. "Lets head back, I've got what Emiko wanted," Toshiro said. "Oh, you couldn't find anything at the weapon shop?" she asked. "No, I just can't seem to find the right sword for me," he responded. They left town in a hurry and raced across the blazing fields. They reached the house and Akiko was the first to come inside. "Hey Emiko, Mrs. Yaeko," Akiko said. "Hello," they both responded. Toshiro came in right after her. "How was it?" Mrs. Yaeko asked. Toshiro leaned over to Mrs. Yaeko. "She found the prophecy," Toshiro whispered. "I knew it! You are the girl with the jewel shard inside you!" Mrs. Yaeko exclaimed. "Question," Akiko said, "I know the jewel shard is inside me, but how am I going to get it out?" Everyone was quiet. "I didn't think about that," Mrs. Yaeko said. "Maybe....... maybe he can help..." Emiko said. "Who? Who can help?" Akiko asked eagerly. "Reijiro, the monk," Emiko replied. "Well then, that settles it. We leave to find this monk guy tomorrow!" Toshiro said. "But it's rumored that he is on the other side of Japan right now," Mrs. Yaeko said. "Well we are just going to have to go there," Akiko said. "Well, I can't stop either of you from embracing your destiny," Mrs. Yaeko said, "So go on and save Japan." "You should probably leave early tomorrow morning to get a good start," Emiko said. The plan was set; they would leave before the sun rose.
Soon night fell and everyone went to sleep. Everyone exept Akiko, that is. Her mind was spinning with all of her thoughts on everything that is going on. Then a sudden sensation she felt halted all of her thoughts. Something was calling her, but it didn't have a voice. It was just a feeling. She stood up and went out the door and into the cool night air. She looked at the path that was opposite of the path that led to the town across the fields. That path led to a dark forest. 'It's coming from there!' Akiko thought. She walked down the long path until she reached the forest. She stepped under the dark shadows cast by the trees and wandered until she found the source of the sensation. She noticed something propped beside a tree. She went up to it, leaned down, and picked it up. She held it in the moonlight that was filtering through the trees to get a better look. It was a sword with a beaded necklace hanging around the handle. 'Oh my gosh, I can't believe it! This is the Tetsusaiga !! And this necklace.....it is the one InuYasha used to wear!' Akiko thought. She wrapped the necklace around her wrist, hurried out of the forest, and made her way back to the house. She passed under a tree in the yard in front of the house and screamed when something jumped down in front of her. "Relax! It's just me," Toshiro said, "You couldn't sleep either?" Akiko regained her composure once she relized that Toshiro had jumped down from a branch. "Wait, what's this?" he asked, snatching the sword from her. "This is the sword that InuYasha...I mean....that I used to carry," Toshiro gasped. "Yes," Akiko began, "I found it in the forest. It was like it was calling me." "Well you found it," Toshiro said, "And for that I thank you." "Wow. You're actually being sincere," Akiko said in amazement. "Yea, well......whatever.." Toshiro said turning away, "We better get some sleep." She watched him walk away and felt something she never thought she would feel for Toshiro. 'Do I actually care about him??' she thought, 'No, I must be tired or something, that has to be it. There's just no way!' She went inside, settled down, and went to sleep. She couldn't expect anything that lay in store for her on her journey that would begin the next day.
*Look for Chapter 3: The Journey Begins
Chapter 2: Toshiro's True Identity
"Once, a hanyou and a priestess fell in love, but were torn apart by the evil intensions of the evil hanyou, Naraku..." Emiko began. Akiko's eyes widened as she realized who Emiko was talking about, but kept quiet. "Naraku turned the hanyou and the priestess against each other by tricking them," Emiko explained, "Both of them thought the other one betrayed them. Thus, they fought to the death." 'InuYasha and Priestess Kikyo!' Akiko thought in amazement. "Unlike the priestess, the hanyou survived and was pinned to a tree for fifty years. Then one day he was found by the priestess' reincarnation and they set off on a journey to recover the shards of the single most powerful thing, the Shikon Jewel. That hanyou's name was InuYasha," Emiko said. "Why are you telling me this story?" Akiko asked, curiously. "You see.... Toshiro.... he is the reincarnation of InuYasha," Emiko said. "But, how come he reincarnated?" Akiko asked. "The original InuYasha thought that he had completely restored the jewel," Emiko explained, "But yet one single shard remains, and InuYasha came back as Toshiro to find it and seal it away from evil forever." Akiko couldn't believe it. Toshiro is InuYasha?!? She repeated that phrase in her head several times, but still couldn't believe it. "Wait, Emiko...how are you Toshiro's sister?" Akiko asked. "I'm not his biological sister," Emiko said, "I was an orphan. Mrs. Yaeko took us both in when we were little." "Oh," Akiko said. Neither of them knew that Toshiro also lay awake. 'So, Akiko knows the truth now. I wonder if she could actually help me,' Toshiro thought. After a few minutes of silence, Akiko said, "Emiko, am I going to be able to get back to my world?" "I'm not sure," Emiko responded. "Then I insist that I help Toshiro find the shard!" Akiko said. 'Is she unaware?' Emiko thought. After awhile, they all drifted off to sleep, for real this time.
The next morning, Akiko woke up after getting hit in the face by an unknown object. She sat up and looked down at what hit her. Lying in her lap was a red and black kimono. "I borrowed this from Emiko," Toshiro said, "Wear that instead of what you already have on if you don't want people looking at you suspiciously." "Wait… are we going some where?" Akiko asked. "Dammit! Do you ever get tired of asking questions?? Yes! We are going to town to pick up a few things for Emiko," he replied. "Oh, okay then," Akiko said timidly. He walked out the room and slammed the door behind him. 'Yea, he's definitely InuYasha. Attitude and all.' Akiko thought. She took off her outfit, folded it up, and layed it beside her CD player. She then slipped the kimono up onto her shoulders and wrapped the tie around her waist. Akiko stepped out the room and started to go out the door when Emiko stopped her. "It gets pretty hot in the afternoon," Emiko said as she handed a black piece of cloth to Akiko, "Use this to tie back your hair when it does." "Oh," Akiko replied, "Thank you." She then went out the door to find Toshiro standing with his back to her, looking at the horizon. She stepped up beside him. He turned and looked at her, and she noticed his golden eyes, another trait of InuYasha. They looked into each other's eyes for a few seconds until he said, "Why the hell are you looking at me like that?" Akiko looked away, blushing. "Better get going," she said. "I heard Emiko tell you who I really am and that your going to help me find the jewel shard," Toshiro said, "Ummm, yea," Akiko said unsurely, not sure if he was going to get angry or not. He said nothing more and walked on. "Hey! Wait up!" Akiko said, as she ran to catch up with him.
After taking that long, hot walk across the fields to town, Akiko really appreciated that tie Emiko had given to her. "Now that we're here, I need to go to the weapon shop," Toshiro said. "I thought we were getting some things for Emiko," Akiko said. "We are, after I do what I need to do," Toshiro said. "Which is?..." Akiko asked. "What did I tell you about asking questions!?" he snarled, threating her with his claws. "Okay, I get the message!" Akiko said angrily, "Back off!" "Stupid bitch..." he muttered under his breath as he walked away, "And you better not wander off, either!" "Whatever," she said. 'He better appreciate me helping him find the jewel shard,' Akiko thought, 'Ha! Probably not...'. Doing exactly the opposite she was told, Akiko explored the streets. She noticed a large tablet at the end of the street she was on. She went up to it and started to read, just to pass time. The message stated: "Only when the remaining jewel shard is restored, will Japan be brought back to light. The darkness can only be stopped by the purest heart, and deep within that heart, lies the final jewel shard. We will await her arrival. Hope is not lost." Akiko turned pale. 'Is this why I was brought here?' she wondered, 'I have to find Toshiro!' She made her way back to where she and Toshiro split up, and found him there, muttering under his breath. "I'm sorry!" Akiko sincerely said. "Where have you been?" he asked gruffly. "I have the jewel shard inside me, don't I?" she asked. "Ssshhh!" he said, clamping his hand over her mouth, "Do you want someone to hear you? These people would probably be ready to rip the jewel shard right out you if it meant no more youkai attacks!" Akiko took a hint and shut up. "Lets head back, I've got what Emiko wanted," Toshiro said. "Oh, you couldn't find anything at the weapon shop?" she asked. "No, I just can't seem to find the right sword for me," he responded. They left town in a hurry and raced across the blazing fields. They reached the house and Akiko was the first to come inside. "Hey Emiko, Mrs. Yaeko," Akiko said. "Hello," they both responded. Toshiro came in right after her. "How was it?" Mrs. Yaeko asked. Toshiro leaned over to Mrs. Yaeko. "She found the prophecy," Toshiro whispered. "I knew it! You are the girl with the jewel shard inside you!" Mrs. Yaeko exclaimed. "Question," Akiko said, "I know the jewel shard is inside me, but how am I going to get it out?" Everyone was quiet. "I didn't think about that," Mrs. Yaeko said. "Maybe....... maybe he can help..." Emiko said. "Who? Who can help?" Akiko asked eagerly. "Reijiro, the monk," Emiko replied. "Well then, that settles it. We leave to find this monk guy tomorrow!" Toshiro said. "But it's rumored that he is on the other side of Japan right now," Mrs. Yaeko said. "Well we are just going to have to go there," Akiko said. "Well, I can't stop either of you from embracing your destiny," Mrs. Yaeko said, "So go on and save Japan." "You should probably leave early tomorrow morning to get a good start," Emiko said. The plan was set; they would leave before the sun rose.
Soon night fell and everyone went to sleep. Everyone exept Akiko, that is. Her mind was spinning with all of her thoughts on everything that is going on. Then a sudden sensation she felt halted all of her thoughts. Something was calling her, but it didn't have a voice. It was just a feeling. She stood up and went out the door and into the cool night air. She looked at the path that was opposite of the path that led to the town across the fields. That path led to a dark forest. 'It's coming from there!' Akiko thought. She walked down the long path until she reached the forest. She stepped under the dark shadows cast by the trees and wandered until she found the source of the sensation. She noticed something propped beside a tree. She went up to it, leaned down, and picked it up. She held it in the moonlight that was filtering through the trees to get a better look. It was a sword with a beaded necklace hanging around the handle. 'Oh my gosh, I can't believe it! This is the Tetsusaiga !! And this necklace.....it is the one InuYasha used to wear!' Akiko thought. She wrapped the necklace around her wrist, hurried out of the forest, and made her way back to the house. She passed under a tree in the yard in front of the house and screamed when something jumped down in front of her. "Relax! It's just me," Toshiro said, "You couldn't sleep either?" Akiko regained her composure once she relized that Toshiro had jumped down from a branch. "Wait, what's this?" he asked, snatching the sword from her. "This is the sword that InuYasha...I mean....that I used to carry," Toshiro gasped. "Yes," Akiko began, "I found it in the forest. It was like it was calling me." "Well you found it," Toshiro said, "And for that I thank you." "Wow. You're actually being sincere," Akiko said in amazement. "Yea, well......whatever.." Toshiro said turning away, "We better get some sleep." She watched him walk away and felt something she never thought she would feel for Toshiro. 'Do I actually care about him??' she thought, 'No, I must be tired or something, that has to be it. There's just no way!' She went inside, settled down, and went to sleep. She couldn't expect anything that lay in store for her on her journey that would begin the next day.
*Look for Chapter 3: The Journey Begins
