To begin I would like to thank Fukai-Ao and youko goddess.  I love you guys!!!  (They were my only two reviewers T_T.)

However I still want to know what everyone thinks so please review!!!

Oh and just one more thing…I got an "A" on this project!!!  I'm so excited.

Okay, enough writing.  On with the last part!!!  I hope you've enjoyed this story!!!

Must I say it?  I don't own Inuyasha or Jinenji.  I only claim the names Sayuri and Kanjiro, the character Narumi, and my idea for the plot is based off of episode 31.  The rest all belongs to the brilliant Rumiko Takahashi!

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"The Light of the Demon"

Part Three: Jinenji's Story

Sixteen years passed since that day.  Jinenji grew into quite a striking young man.  He stood over eight feet tall and had retained his odd appearance.  But I had promised to love him unconditionally, not that I had ever not loved him.  While he grew stronger I grew older.  My body was giving way to age.  I didn't give in tough.  I helped my son in the field, teaching him everything I had ever learned about herbs. 

It shocked me when Kanjiro left.  I never even considered that a possibility.  I didn't resent him for leaving.  I understood why he felt he had to leave.  I just missed him.  He has kept his promise though.  I could feel his presence there.  I truly was never alone he was always there watching over Jinenji and I.

There was a village by our hut once again, but thankfully this one was farther away.  I only went there when I truly needed to and I never allowed Jinenji come with me.  He was shy and kind-hearted just as his father was.  It would not have done him any good to be harassed about his appearance in public. 

It was bad enough they made their way up to our farm to torture him.  They would throw stones at him.  Some even brought spears and arrows.  He obtained countless scars from those people.  His big blue eyes would fill up with tears and he would cry.  I would chase them away with whatever I had handy, most often a piece of firewood. 

My heart broke every time I saw him go through this.  He didn't deserve it.  If they could only have seen past the fact that he was a half demon, but there was no way they would ever see the goodness in his heart.

There was however one girl, Narumi, who seemed to be able to look past Jinenji's odd appearance.  She was from the village, in fact she was the headman's only daughter.  She was young about four years younger than my Jinenji. 

Narumi was an odd girl, though I liked her much more than any of the other villagers.  Many days she would sneak away from her chores and make her way up to our farm.  She would stay there sometimes half the day hiding behind trees just watching Jinenji work in the field.  I'm sure it was against her father's wishes, but she did this anyways.

For about a year Jinenji tried to ignore her, though I could see the blush on his face.  So one night I asked him about her.

"Jinenji?"

"Yes, Ma," he replied.

"I've noticed a young girl hanging around lately," I tried not to giggle as he turned five shades of red.  "Is she a friend of yours?"

"Well…I…uh…That is…um" he stuttered and I began to giggle out loud.

"Jinenji, next time she comes why don't you try talking with her?"

Jinenji waved his hand around in the air and shouted, "No way Ma!  I can't do that!"

"And why not?" I questioned.

"Because…because…"

"Alright then," I stood to leave.  "I'll leave the decision up to you."

Narumi did not return to the farm for a few days.  One rather hot day I spotted her out of the corner of my eye.  She was hiding behind a tree once again.  It seemed as though Jinenji had spotted her as well.  Before I could say anything he approached her.  I smiled cheering him on the whole way.  I then turned back to pulling weeds pretending not to notice.

Jinenji kept a rather large distance between the two of them.  If it was because he was nervous or afraid that she would be, I wasn't sure.  He then spoke the first words he had ever said to a girl.

"H-hi, I'm Jinenji."

I waited all the while holing my breath.  When I didn't hear a reply I looked up.  I couldn't believe the sight that met my eyes.  Narumi was backing up one step at a time with her mouth open in a silent scream.  After what seemed to be an eternity she turned and ran back in the direction of the village. 

Jinenji just stood there in complete shock, staring at the spot where she had once stood, his back to me.  I regretted ever encouraging him to approach her.  He dropped to his knees and began to sob uncontrollably.  Why couldn't they accept him?  Why couldn't they see him for who he was not what he was?

I ran up to him and threw my arms around him.  I felt so horrible. This was the very thing I had been afraid of when I had become pregnant.  I didn't want him to be put through this pain and misery.  He was my only son, I couldn't let him suffer. 

But soon his crying got to me and I broke down as well.

"I'm sorry Jinenji.  I'm so sorry."

"It's not your fault Ma.  If only I didn't look like this."

I stopped crying immediately.  I walked around and made my son look me in the eye.  I would not have him talk about himself in such a manner.

"Now you listen to me," I said sternly.  "You have nothing to be ashamed of.  Your father was different too, but that didn't matter to me.  I loved him just the same.  I see more of your father in you every day.  You are special Jinenji, born of two worlds, the demon and the human one.  Don't forget your heritage.  It is what makes you unique.  You will find your place.  The path may not be straight or clear, but I promise you will find it, just as I did."

I wiped the tears from his face and hugged him just as tight as Kanjiro use to hold me.  Jinenji calmed then whispered softly "Thank you.  I love you, Ma"

I heard Kanjiro's voice in those words and it made me smile.  "I love you too, Jinenji," I replied.  "More than you'll ever know."

That night we heard the villagers' voices outside, in the village surrounding our farm.  At first I was afraid it was another attack like the one by the previous village.  I thought Narumi might have gone back to her father and told him that Jinenji had hurt her in some way or another.  So I listened, ready to grab our things and run, though I had no idea where we would go. 

It was then that I realized that the yelling was not that of hate, but that of fear and desperation.  Jinenji followed me as I exited the hut.  I listened carefully and was able to decipher the cries of the villagers.

"Narumi!"

"Narumi!  Where are you?"

"Narumi!  It's your father please come out!  Where are you?  NARUMI!!!"

Jinenji trembled and my heart sunk.  So when she ran off she hadn't gone home, but rather had run off into the forest.  It was then that Kanjiro's warning rang through my ears.  The one he had given me the day after we had run away together:

"I don't want you wandering outside alone at night, Sayuri.  Even though I am here there are other demons that could attack you."

I had repeated that warning to Jinenji many times over.  I believe Jinenji was thinking the same thing because at that moment he ran into the hut and reappeared moments later with a pack full of supplies.

"I have to help Ma.  It's kind of my fault after all."

I looked at him and shook my head.  "It's not your fault, but have it your way."  Jinenji began to leave and I turned to enter the hut.  "But-" I continued, and I heard his footsteps halt.  "Please, Jinenji, come back to me safe alright.  You're all I have," I said without turning around to look at him.  I don't believe he tuned around either.

"I promise Ma."

In shock I turned around and watch my son disappear into the night just as his father had done sixteen years ago.  Jinenji had made a promise to me, an in this family we always kept them.

I waited for what seemed to be forever.  I watched out the window for any sign of my boy.  The villagers' cries were muffled.  My only concern was Jinenji.  He was alone in that forest except for the many evil demons. 

In the distance I caught sight of a rather large figure, and as it approached I recognized it as my Jinenji, however he was not the same brave boy that had left a while before.  He was crying.  I ran out to him.  He was carrying something in his arms.  When I looked closer I realized it was one of our blankets that he must have taken with him, and it was draped over something.  I gasped when I saw that the blanket was covered in blood.  Not only that, but the blood was dripping onto the ground and Jinenji's clothes and arms were covered in it as well

"Jinenji!" I exclaimed.  "Are you alright!  What's happened to you?"

"It's not me Ma," he said very quietly.

"Jinenji?"

"It's…Narumi."

"Narumi?" I questioned.  I looked again at what he was carrying and realized it resembled that of a young girl.  "Is that-…What happened?"

Jinenji teared up once again and tried to explain almost frantically.  "I found her.  She was…and I…and then…"

"Jinenji," I tried to soothe him.  "Take a deep breath and tell me what happened."

He did and then continued.  "She was in the forest.  I found her, but it was too late.  Ma, some demon killed her and…and…and stripped the flesh off of her!"

"Oh my!  Jinenji!"

"And Ma," he continued almost deathly calm.  "I saw it."  My breath caught in my throat.  I couldn't believe he had been that close to danger.  "It was huge Ma.  It had the body of a snake and glowing red eyes.  It didn't attack, but…but what am I suppose to do?" he began to loose his composure again.

"We need to return her to the villagers."

Without a word, Jinenji turned towards the village.  Most of them had already returned home.  It had become to dark for humans to see anything.  I should have gone with him though.  I knew I should have. 

Around dawn Jinenji came running up to the hut calling out for me there were rocks, tree branches, arrows, and many other objects being thrown at him.  Half the village must have chased him back.  I opened the cloth door and let him inside.              Eventually the angry voices died away and the villagers returned to their own homes.  Jinenji shivered in the corner hugging hi knees tightly to his chest.  I approached him and tried to comfort him.

"Jinenji, what did they do to you?"

He spoke between sobs.  "I brought Narumi back, but they all blamed me.  They said I was the one who killed her.  Then they chased me back here.  I swear Ma, it wasn't me!  It wasn't me!"

I pulled him into my arms and stroked his back.  "I know son, I know."

Later that day I left Jinenji in the hut.  After the events of the previous night he was exhausted, so I let him sleep.  I walked out to the place where I had last seen my beloved Kanjiro.  I folded my hands in front of myself and looked up to the clear blue sky.  I spoke out loud, yet it was directed at no one in particular.

"How long must he bear this pain?  He's only a boy.  He is a part of both worlds, yet neither will accept him.  Will there ever be anyone who can look past the fact that he is a half demon and see him for the true kind hearted boy that is inside?"

I heard a rustling in the bushes and caught a glimpse of silver.  I smiled.  I knew things would eventually turn out alright; after all Kanjiro had promised that, and in this family we always kept our promises.

The End

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I hope you liked it!!!  Please Review!!!

This story will probably be up for some revisions in the future, but not for a while.  I'm going to work on my other story "One More Night".  Check it out!!!