Tales of an InuTaishou Chapter 2, an inuyasha fanfic

Tales of an InuTaishou

Karma's Haven

Disclaimer:I do not own Inuyasha

Italics: indicate journal entries

Chapter 2

"Myouga keeps telling me to acquire a sword, but I can not be bothered to carry a specific sword with a name. I will settle for any katana that is balanced and strong, but Myouga insisted on carrying on the argument by starting into another lecture about the properness of being a youkai lord and having a proper image. And then I slapped him off my neck for starting to suck again."

Kagome giggled again. 'How many times has Inuyasha done that.' she thought to herself eliciting another giggle. Myouga had disappeared once again, issuing a careful excuse as to why he had to visit the Sango's village but just an excuse to get away from Inuyasha once he heard that Myouga had known and traveled with his father and never given any sort of indication of knowing stories about InuTaishou. And that his father's retainer had been Myouga, just like his grandfather's had been Jaken.

For someone who didn't like to waste time doing frivolous activities, Inuyasha had spent three days looking over his father's journals and war efforts and some of his grandfather's war plans. His grandfather had disappeared from all Toga's notes and scrolls so they presumed that he had died. Toga didn't write everyday anymore, more like an interval of months or even years, just at major events. Also, apparently, Toga hadn't bothered to keep his journal entries in order so they had spent a day trying to just figure out the order of the scrolls.

And if that wasn't frustrating enough, Kagome had to deal with Inuyasha bugging her in the early hours of the morning to get up and read more of the scrolls. The first day, it's been cute. But the next day when he woke her up by throwing her into a cold bath, that just pissed her off.

Kagome sighed, not for the first time that day, when Inuyasha started to grumble.

'Get on with the story, wench.'

She shook her head, best not to argue with the grumpy hanyou.

"Sesshoumaru has been bothering me again about going out and patrolling the borders in my stead. Yes, he is almost sixty years of age; he is still young and foolish. He let's the opponent take the upper hand far too easily. I just hope his sword skills will help him."

"4th day of Minuzuki (June, 1469)

Sesshoumaru went out to patrol the borders against my will. I expected him to come back within a day, bent and broken. But he came back almost a month later with a satchel of goods that he reprimanded off bandits terrorizing the human villages to the north of my territory. To say the least, I am proud of him."

"18th day of Shimotsuki (November 1472)

Word of youkai attacks in the Southern region on the humans there. Must leave the castle. Leaving the castle guard to Sesshoumaru while I go out and stop them."

Kagome had trouble reading that because it was so rushed and messy and made a noise of disgruntlement. Inuyasha just looked through the war plans let attached to that scroll.

There were dozens of war maps and strategies, all drawn in his father's hand. Inuyasha could see the delicate imprints and the elegant figures on the page. He traced his clawed fingers over the images as Kagome watched entranced at what she saw him doing. Despite his gruff disposition, he was actually quite gentle and caring, the last few days had proved it, much like they had learned his father had been.

He looked up at her and frowned.

'What?'

'Nothing,' she said, blushing and looking away. She picked up another scroll and looked at it and blinked as she saw the date.

'Four years?' she murmured 'He didn't write in four years.' She could almost see the tiredness in his writing at this next entry.

"7th day of Uzuki (April 1476)

Well, the siege in the South was resolved easily enough. The wolf youkai there had been disputing a land argument and had started taking out their frustrations on the human villages there.

They stopped after I got through with them though.

The humans there were almost dead when I reached them, half of them were on the brink of death from the plague that had seized the lives of most of the village men so there were only old men, women and children. Or so I thought it was a plague.

I copied the following conversation here:

"Thank you, InuTaishou-sama. Thank you for saving my village and my children." The headman said, practically groveling.

"Human, why are you still here? Your lives depend on you moving to another home." I said.

"The Daimyo, Saitoh, ordered us to stay here to sacrifice our village to sate the needs of the wolf youkai and to keep them from attacking his castle. We would gladly have gone if he hadn't threatened us by killing our harvest and murdering the young men in our village. Many women lost sons and husbands in that attack by General Saitoh and his army." The head man said gesturing to the village and the many village women standing behind him.

I was outraged when I heard this, a human general attacking his own kind, just to protect a castle. I ordered the people in that village to leave and find shelter at the nearest village. My orders override his. They thanked me greatly and gave me enough food to feed me for years. I denied everything, telling them that they needed it for their journey. Half of them were starving already. I could not take their food.

I must go see this Daimyo and find out what he is doing to the other villages. As I came back, I learned that they had also been plundered by this general's army. I am stunned to learn that he's been terrorizing the humans in my land for decades.

"You should leave these humans to deal with them selves. If they've survived for decades they can survive for a while longer." was Sesshoumaru's answer when I told him about my latest discoveries.

But I silenced him soon enough. His lack of compassion astounds me, but it's less than what I expected with his mother's lack of consideration as well.

I must head to that district and find this Daimyo's palace. Sesshoumaru is being left in charge again. He does well, but Jaken seems to be more beaten up."

Kagome glanced up to see an amused smile playing across his face. It looked so natural on him, but he never smiled like that; unless there was something to yell at or kill. Sighing at her companions' simple-minded amusements, she rubbed her eyes starting to read another scroll.

"2nd day of Hazuki (August 1476)

I am at the Daimyo's palace for the moment after spending months setting things in order for my departure. I absolutely denied any entourage of any kind, because I would assume that half my household would want to come. I'm all alone. Well, Myouga tried to come but I sent him back half-way here,

I appeared at the massive pair of wooden doors after traveling for about twenty minutes. The doormen there seemed quite nervous of me even when I told them who I was. It was rather funny. They could've been small human children for the way that they acted. I'm not that large and scary and foreboding.

I could be, but I'm not.

And when they wouldn't let me in the gate after almost an hour of just pointless bickering, I jumped over the doors and landed in the middle of a quiet courtyard. I walked up through the deserted yard, up a walkway of marble that I thought was a tad too rich for a mere mortal general. And when I pushed open the second massive set of doors, doors that would've taken at least six humans to open, I was greeted with a group of seemingly influential humans in strange costumes and all staring at me.

'Sounds like our entrance here.' Inuyasha thought, a grin tracing his face.

"I kept a calm, leveled gaze attentive to the front of the room, but wanted to laugh at the frightful looks of the humans ahead of me. There mouth's wide and open and there shocked assortment of black and brown eyes all following my every move. My, I must have looked a sight.

They were obviously afraid, I could've smelled there fear from miles away. But none of there fear was as strong as the Daimyo's. I could see him, and smell him easily having recognized his scent from some of the villages I had passed earlier.

And when I finally approached him, he immediately got up and left. Right in my presence; he got up and left the entire room. The insolence! I was so appalled. He just left me standing there which was not only un-hospitable but remarkably disrespectful. I had half a mind to go and follow the man who had fled my sight and drag him back into my presence and the presence of all the human's staring at me.

Then another human came out of the doors that separated me from that disgusting human and told me that there was a room for me and that the Daimyo would need his rest and we would meet with me tomorrow.

I nodded and stated that I understood and allowed him to lead me to a room.

But before I left the room with all the humans in it only one stood out towards me. A girl; a young human girl, probably only eighteen winters old and for a moment I wondered why she was not mated like most of the rest of the human females in the multitude of humans. I do not understand what drew me to her. Was it her beautiful violet eyes, or her long raven hair, or the way she seemed to be looking at me with such confusion and utter astonishment that made me stare back with such unabashed perplex ion that caused her to look away.

And when I sniffed out her scent from all the humans around her, I couldn't find a particular scent; just a scent of something unknown, like the stars or the sun or the moon. It was just so amazing; I've never smelt a human with such an alluring scent.

But underneath that beautiful scent, that beautiful, delicate scent, I could smell that she was the Daimyo's daughter."

The shuffling of papers and Kagome reaching was the only noise that could be heard between the pair. Both, so immensely wrapped into the story, were quiet when Kagome started to read again.

"3rd day of Hazuki (April 1476)

I talked to the Daimyo today, and it was a quite unusual affair.

I was summoned quite early, but I did not mind, considering I hadn't slept at all. I was drawn to the quiet balcony that was connected to my room and I had stayed out there all night. When I left my room, I expected to be assaulted with a barrage of different smells, but not a single smell could be found except for mine and the human's. It seemed that the corridor I had been sleeping in was empty, deserted because a wild youkai Lord was taking residence in it.

When I entered the room I had been in when I first saw the Daimyo, I got a good look at the human for the first time. A portly, ugly, old man who seemed squashed into his chair that smelled strongly of sake. I stared at him with disgust that I disguised as calm as I looked him over. I could smell his fear from behind the doors and when I entered into the room; his fear seemed to touch everything. His courtiers, his scroll-writers, everything looked awkward and stiff.

All except her. She was there again and I wondered what kind of human law allowed the women to listen in on important issues like this.

But I ignored her presence, well, as well as I could because every breath I took I could almost feel her alluring scent linger in my senses.

"Saitoh," I said, nodding my head slightly to show some respect but refusing to call him by his rank.

"InuTaishou-sama, Welcome to my home." He said spreading his arms like his home was something to be marveled at. I wasn't surprised at this pompous human's subtle boastings of his castle, which was beautiful for a human, but nothing compared to my home.

He regarded me with a scrutinous gaze, looking me up and down and I noticed his gaze stop at the armor on my chest and my boa falling from my shoulders and trailing behind me. He stretched his hand out like he wanted me to state my issues like some commoner; and when he did not offer me a seat, I made a small sigh before starting into my accusations.

I stated the issues that I had found to the Daimyo who sat there and listened to them with tempered quiet, his fear fading away to anger as he listened silently to what I told him and how his actions were wrong and harmful to the humans in MY territory. I accented the use of my territory. But his reactions were completely unexpected.

"Why is it that you, a demon lord, have come to tell a human about things that he has been doing for the sake and safety of his family? I only told that village to stay there because I worried about the safety of my family. And I fully intended to go back and help wipe out the youkai slaughter."

All of a sudden I could smell new scents; the scent of untruth radiating of the Daimyo and complete disgust radiating off the daughter. I shifted my gaze to her to see her brows furrowed and her eyes holding a disapproving glint as she gazed at her father from her spot of the futon below him, her mouth partially open. I could tell that she, like I knew that her father was lying.

"Well, Saitoh, those thoughts occurred to me," I started, clearly trying to bait him, "but you did this strange massacre almost five months ago. And I would believe that there would have been a more appropriate way of saving this village by letting all the young men live so they could fight off this hoard. Apparently, you attacked this village for no reason, making them stay or else they would die. A lose-lose situation in my eyes for these people, Daimyo." I had purposely baited him into admitting this disgusting murder and said his title with such mock that I wasn't surprised at his reaction.

He got up out of his chair, almost needing some assistance in pulling his fat posterior out of the chair. "Don't even dare to accuse me of murdering the humans who live in your territory. I have done nothing wrong."

And all of a sudden his daughter, got up, anger radiating off of her, and she left the room, startling all of us.

Saitoh regained his mind first, "Excuse my daughter, InuTaishou-sama. She is insolent and naïve." He shook himself slightly, shaking himself of his previous rage.

"How can you accuse me of a murder when dozens of crazed youkai like yourself have murdered humans?" he said, sitting back down, an evil smirk commanding his features. My eyes narrowed, and I almost rose to his accusation, but kept myself in check. If this human could make me angry enough to kill him, his accusation would be correct. I calmed myself before speaking again.

"I regret to inform you, Daimyo, that despite your knowledge I control the Western Lands and all its inhabitants. If you find the need to go and massacre villages to protect a castle probably worth more than all the villages put together, than you should consult me because my orders will discontinue your sickening attitude. You're to assemble an army and go back to the villages that you destroyed and help them rebuild their homes. And leave a part of your army there so the village that you commanded to keep the wolf youkai away won't have to lose more of their villagers. Good day, Saitoh" and with that I turned away, starting to walk away. I could smell the Daimyo's anger. And as I reached the doors, I stopped and turned back.

"Do not try and lie about your family, Saitoh. I know there is only your daughter." And with that I left the room, leaving the human seething.

I walked the corridors, basking in my triumph at exposing the "Daimyo". How he ever got that title, I do not know, but I will proceed to strip him of that title immediately. But as I headed to my room, I found his daughter there, waiting outside my closed door.

I stopped a few yards from her as she just sat there leaning against the door, her eyes closed and her breathing even. I took a step closer when she opened her eyes and snapped her gaze to my direction. She blushed and moved to her knees.

"Inutaishou-Sama. Forgive me, my apologies are needed." she said, extending her upper body to the ground with her head facing the ground as well, prostrating herself in front of me.

I watched her calmly, making my face betray nothing, but inside my mind was churning. Why was this girl apologizing for her father's insolence?

"It was disrespectful of me to leave in the middle of your meeting with my father." she said, still on the ground clearing my thoughts.

I still watched her and I could start to smell the nervousness emit off her prostrated body. I bent down and lifted her head off the ground and stared at her.

Her eyes were beautiful and radiant, bright like she was on the verge of tears but not. I usually do not like to be touched by humans because they can be sweaty and sticky but when I grabbed her hand and pulled her off the ground, her palm was moist but still dry and when she reached her full height she just reached my chin, easily taller than her father.

I stepped back and looked her over, she no longer smelled angry but her pleasant scent once again. I looked over her beautiful kimono with lovely flower decoration across the obi and a light blue color under it.

"What is your name, girl?" I asked softly, not wanting to scare her away when she seemed so calm.

She didn't seem startled by my question but bowed her head slightly and lightly folding her hands together, smiling while saying her name. "Izayoi, my name is Izayoi." Saying it so calmly and so freely, I didn't hesitate to express my gratitude when she invited me to a tour of her castle and the surrounding areas later tonight.

A knock has sounded on my door; I should answer it because I know it is Izayoi waiting to come for the walk I promised her."

Kagome looked up to see Inuyasha right beside her. She started before he laid a clawed hand on her shoulder and kept her from leaping up in surprise.

'Which one is my Mother's name?' he asked with the softness of a child asking for his mother after being lost for so long. She blinked as she pointed to the figure on the scroll of his mother's name.

Inuyasha grabbed the scroll and sat back down with it, his hand immediately tracing over the beautiful figure on the scroll, like he was caressing his mother's face. Kagome could see tears start to well up with tears of sadness.

Kagome blinked, she never saw Inuyasha cry, he was usually pretty quiet, not one to let his emotions all over the place, but she didn't state this aloud because she knew he was reminiscing about his beloved mother and her eyes welled with tears as well, feeling the sadness and pain radiating off Inuyasha's bent form.

Kagome reached over and grabbed Inuyasha's hand and squeezed it slightly, just to let him know she was there. They sat like that in silence for a moment just letting the pain that Inuyasha had welled inside himself for so long.

Kagome grabbed the next scroll and looked at the date finding the next day. 'Want me to go on?' she said softly, like she was talking to a child that needed comforting.

Inuyasha sniffed before rubbing his nose and grunting.

'K'eh!'

Kagome smiled and went on.

"4th day of Hazuki (April 1476)

Saitoh and his army went out today to go and see to the villages. Of course, I had to give him a little push into getting it all sorted out. A real Daimyo would've been out to the villages' days ago. But I plan to stay here a couple more days, I expected to leave the day Saitoh left to clean up the villages, but his daughter has enlightened me into staying.

When I answered the door and met with Izayoi, she was wearing a lighter kimono, one not even as fashionable as the one she was wearing before. It was a pale green with a beautiful row of butterflies decorating the hem but the colors and the butterflies only served to make her beautiful violet eyes stand out more.

What really intrigued me was that when I looked at the butterflies I thought of how much more like a butterfly Izayoi was; gentle and delicate.

She led me out to the courtyard, that was, to no surprise, empty. And I wondered why Izayoi was allowed to be alone with me; what about her ladies-in-waiting, her father, wouldn't they object to her spending time with a "crazed youkai?"

And when I asked her this, she smiled and laughed. Her laugh was like bells and it seemed to skip through the air.

"I am my own lady, InuTaishou-sama. I do not allow my father to control every aspect of my life." But when she looked at me she said "My ladies will probably be out of there minds when they don't find me in the baths." I was surprised at her daring; I'd never met a female who'd defied people like that; no less a human female.

Once she led me across the courtyard, she beckoned me into another clearing, leading me into a garden. It was the most beautiful place in all of Saitoh's palace. I was surprised because I hadn't smelt the flowers and the running water, probably because I was occupied with confronting Saitoh. But she started walking forward and I caught up with her easily.

If I could, I would regale the conversations we had, but I don't remember what we talked about that well, because all I could think about was how beautiful she was for a human.

But I remember telling her that I would meet her again tonight.

I think I should stay in this palace of Saitoh's for a while longer, just to make sure he comes back and has done his duty though."

Toga stayed in Saitoh's castle for three more weeks, telling everyone that he was waiting for General Saitoh, who had been demoted to that position, to return but Kagome could tell that he was staying and waiting for his soon to be daily walks and talks with Izayoi.

"12th day of Hazuki (April 1476)

I don't know what draws me to this small, fragile creature. She seems so delicate and easy but with our conversations, she sets her opinions out and lets them be known. Izayoi is amazing like that; she can seem calm and kind, but she can be tempered. It amuses me greatly, because although she gets frustrated easily, she never raises her fist in anger. I've never seen someone act as such; no male not afraid of me, and no female not trying to get me into their bed or groveling at my feet telling me not to kill them.

But she seems so much more different. I can not even describe how different she makes me feel. Like something bad jumping around my stomach, like when I ate those duck tongues when I was traveling, but turning good when I see her. It all seems so strange. And every night I find myself up to all hours of the night, telling myself that I will leave the next day, but when I see her, all those thoughts fly out of my mind.

And why does she want to see me; that question bothers me the most, no one approves of our visits to the various places around the castle because they are always empty whenever we stop at these places. And whenever I come into contact with other humans in the castle they seem rather irritated by my presence. But I do not mind, as long as I get to see Izayoi.

Why would Izayoi, a daughter of an influential human, well, an almost influential human want to see me though. Beautiful and graceful, she could claim any suitor she wanted, gain new lands, and make good alliances, all if she smiled her pretty smile in the right directions. But she doesn't; too kind-hearted and too sweet for her own good; she doesn't seem like the type who could handle manipulating someone like that.

Whenever I see Izayoi, she genuinely seems so happy to see me; her face will light up and her smile grows and I can smell the beautiful aroma of her happiness. It amazes me that she can be so happy and so sad, never an in between.

And I find it so easy to tell her about my thoughts, something I've never done before. I told her about my father, about how he treated my mother, how he treated me. And she didn't brush it off, like it was something natural. Quite the contrary actually, she answered back with words like:

"Why do you think he acted like that?"

and

"How did that make you feel?"

Like she actually cares about what I say and how I feel about it. I can tell that she isn't as shy as she seemed when she first met me.

But she seems to be able to identify with my problems, I do think she has the same feelings about her father, when I told her about her father lying, she laughed coldly telling me about how he'd told her the same thing but she'd overheard some of the soldiers bragging about killing an old man to rape his daughter. She seemed so angry and when she tried to confront her father, he laughed it off telling her that it was all false. But I won't forget her expression when she talked about that, cold and harsh; the first time I'd ever seen her like that.

Izayoi seems older for her age and younger for her age. That sounds strange but at times it seems like it.

So everyday, I wake up and wait an hour before Izayoi comes to ask me if I would walk with her again. And after so many days of working this routine, she's just stopped asking and smiled when I open the door to greet her and starts walking, waiting for me to catch up. And everyday she shows me a new place, like the ballroom, or the garden, or the library, her favorite I suspect because we've been there at least three times.

And every day I just wait for her bubbly grin to appear at my door to make every bad thought fly out of my mind."

"13th Day of Hazuki (April 1476)

I didn't see Izayoi today so I was rather alarmed when she came rather late and came to my apartments, her eyes red and the essence of her tears was emanating off her body.

"Why were you late, Izayoi, and why were you crying?" I asked her, not missing the fear starting to radiate off her being.

"I wasn't crying."

"Don't try lying to me. I can smell when you're lying."

She looked flustered there than rather upset. "You mean you can smell when I'm lying or when I was crying or when I'm angry or when I feel a type of emotion?"

It was my turn to look flustered; she smelled rather upset and was blushing profusely before she just started laughing again.

I love how she acts like this, she makes me feel so young, like a small pup. She makes me laugh, a feat not many can do.

She is a delight to be around, but those feelings of discomfort and pleasure whenever I see her still bother me greatly. I wonder what they could be."

"15th of Hazuki (April 1476)

Saitoh has returned and has assured me that all the villages that had been massacred are put to right and that a quarter of his army is stationed at the village, keeping away the wolf youkai.

Now that he has returned I have no reason to stay. I must leave and head back to my castle and relieve Sesshoumaru of his position.

I can not say that I am pleased to be leaving Saitoh's court. Over the past couple of days, the humans here have been quite hostile and they wish I would leave. But I will miss Izayoi sorely. She was a rare friend, and I never believed that I could find a friend in a human but she is kind and will remain a treasured friend for years to come.

I plan to leave early tomorrow so today will be my last walk with Izayoi, which is rather sad for me, she doesn't know that I am leaving and I hope she won't know until after I'm gone so I will not have to deal with the tears she will no doubt shed. I don't know, they might be enough to make me stay just so I can stay with her.

But I have to leave, it is not a matter of choice, more so a matter of duty."

Again silence, with more shuffling of papers as Kagome moved to find the next one. But all she could find were short, emotionless entries.

"25th of Hazuki (April 1476)

So I have found my way back to the castle and found that Sesshoumaru has kept the castle in order and not tried to kill all the humans who live around our palace in the farming land.

I have decided to let Sesshoumaru take over all the border patrols from now on.

I do not think I should be doing border patrol, because every time I look and see my garden, flashbacks from my walks with Izayoi fly into my mind and I have an urge to go back.

All I can say is that I miss her; more then I miss Hana, more than I miss Sesshoumaru, even more than I miss my mother. It seems like a constant ache is attacking my stomach and nothing I do makes it leave.

Izayoi…"

"26th day of Hazuki (April1476)

I miss her."

"27th of Hazuki (April 1476

I miss her."

And it went on like that; everyday he would write those three words down, each one so full of depression and sadness that Kagome started crying when she read one. Inuyasha was felt a bit awkward until they stopped. The short entries just stopped after a year.

Over the course of the next four years in Toga's life were just blank entries with just the date.

"15th of Minazuki (June 1476)"

It was like Toga got out a piece of scroll and wrote down the date but couldn't write anything else. Depression seemed to be getting the better of him and only the occasional war plan was thrown into the piles of scrolls.

Kagome looked up to see Inuyasha's ears sagging and a sad frown placed on his face.

'I'm sorry, Inuyasha.'

'F'eh. Not your fault my father decided not to write a single thing in four years. Kami, he didn't know I might want to know about how he felt when someone he cared about wasn't with him.'

Kagome blinked; Inuyasha was really upset, projecting it by his tone, she was sure he wanted to hear more about his mother and father and his father's sadness seemed to move onto him. He narrowed his eyes at Kagome's pitying gaze, got up and left, leaving Kagome alone in the dark cellar with only the candles.

She sighed and rubbed her temples, now she'd have to deal with this temperamental hanyou for a couple days until they could find the next bunch of scrolls. But the last couple on entries left so many questions, how did Izayoi and Toga meet up again? And where did Inuyasha come into the story? And so many more questions that her head started to whirl.

She got up and blew out the candles before heading out of the room. 'We'll leave it till tomorrow.' she decided, when her headache had gone away and Inuyasha's temper had faded.

'How is your meal, Kagome?' Fujishima said, looking at her with an inquisitive stare.

'Fine.' She said a nervous smile plastered to her face. She still was a bit edgy around Fujishima and the many court youkai:

Because he was a youkai, she hadn't met that many really kind youkai, except for Kouga, Shippo and Kilala and a few others.

Because when she'd first met him, she'd been knocked out for almost six hours and was awoken by the youkai who had kidnapped her.

Because he kept asking Inuyasha about buying her.

He'd actually come up to her the first day she'd met him and looked her over before offering money to Inuyasha. She was a little more than shocked and Inuyasha was absolutely furious and had seemed ready to strangle Fujishima.

Luckily for Fujishima, he backed off when Inuyasha's eyes started turning red and Kagome grabbed his hand and stuck it on Tetsusaiga. But despite everything Inuyasha had done to make her feel more comfortable she couldn't stop the anxiety Fujishima's lust-filled eyes caused every time he looked at her.

'Excuse me, Fujishima-sama.' She said getting up from her kneeling position opposite Inuyasha who was picking at his ramen. The first time Kagome even bothered to make him some since they came to that castle and he picks at it. 'I want to go to my room now, thank you.'

The youkai lord got up and grabbed Kagome's hands before kissing them gently, causing Kagome to blush and flee the room faster; leaving Inuyasha and Fujishima alone.

Fujishima watched wistfully as Kagome walked out the sliding doors and to her apartments. 'Your woman is really something, Inuyasha-sama.' He said as he sat back down.

Inuyasha glowered at the older youkai, a low growl rumbling from his stomach.

Silence ensued for a moment. 'So,' he started taking a sip of his sake 'how is the reading of your father's scrolls coming along?'

Inuyasha grimaced as he smelt the strong scent of the sake. 'We'll be leaving in two days.' He said, standing 'And I plan to take my father's scrolls with me.'

Fujishima nodded, although frowning, 'I understand, but you are welcome to stay here as long as you…' but he stopped as he noticed Kagome's scent fill the room and turned around to see Kagome by the door looking in.

'Sorry to bother you, but Inuyasha I need you in my room. Now.' The urgency in her last word bothered Inuyasha as her eyes showed excitement.

'Two days, Fujishima-sama.' He said before leaving the room and following Kagome into the hall. She turned around immediately as the door separating them from Fujishima closed. 'Someone's here.' She said, a large grin plastered to her face, lighting her light blue eyes.

'Who?' Inuyasha asked, as Kagome turned around again and started flouncing back to her apartments, almost running. 'Kagome! Who are you talking about?' he yelled, starting to run and catch up with her but by the time he caught up with her she was already in her room.

He opened the sliding door and braced himself on the door as he saw Kagome kneeling with her hands cupped and Inuyasha could hear an infuriating buzzing coming from her cupped hands.

Inuyasha came and flopped down cross-legged beside her as she looked up.

'Guess who just showed up?' she asked, her cheery face starting to bother Inuyasha.

'Should I care?' Inuyasha grumbled crossing his arms.

Kagome frowned. 'You should.' She said grumpily as she opened her hands to see Myouga hopping around angrily.

'Kagome-sama, was that absolutely nescassary?' Myouga said perched on her shoulder after much frantic hopping away from Inuyasha as he was trying to catch him. Kagome sat him, letting Myouga go free to settle on her shoulder Inuyasha grumbled. 'What's so good about Myouga?' he asked furrowing his brows.

Kagome rolled her eyes, though a happy smile still on her face. 'Myouga was your father's retainer, you idiot!' she said, playfully whapping him around the ears 'He was with your father every time he didn't write in those scrolls. I bet he was even there when your father met Izayoi.'

A light dawned in Inuyasha's eyes. 'Oh yeah,' He said scratching the back of his head sheepishly 'I didn't think about that.' He looked up and grabbed Myouga off her shoulder. 'Well?' Inuyasha asked expectedly grasping the small flea not hard enough to squish him but hard enough to keep him there.

Myouga glared at Inuyasha. 'I did not believe that you wanted to hear about your esteemed father ands I believe I told you many stories about your father when you were younger.' He said crossing his first set of arms.

Inuyasha blushed. 'Well, I don't remember all those stories.' he said looking away, 'but I just want to know whether you went with my father to Saitoh's castle or whether you were with him when he didn't write all those years.'

'I was not with your father when he went to Saitoh's castle. He wrote that he did not allow any companions with him, although he should've let me, his faithful retainer, come with him. But when he came back he seemed happier, more in tune with life. Like he'd done something that he was rather proud of. Of course, he never told me anything but I could tell he was feeling something special.' Myouga said, worming his way out of Inuyasha's grasp to get more comfortable.

'Despite being all happy and cheerful like that, it did not last. Barely a month after leaving Saitoh's castle he fell into a depression worse than anything I'd ever seen.' Myouga's tone shifted to a sad, depressed voice, like a true story-teller 'He wouldn't talk to anyone for months, it was around this time that Sesshoumaru went out on his own and started traveling with Jaken, doing the border patrol year round. Your father only seemed to snap out of his silent depression when he sat in his garden and butterflies flew near him. It was rather sad. And during skirmishes and battles he was quiet and collected. He'd matured almost overnight and was just like his father, cold and far too calm to be himself; never lost his temper, never said a harsh word, just silence. It was a large difference from the normal Toga.'

'What was he like in battle?' Inuyasha asked, soaking up the information like a sponge, a quiet light reflecting in his eyes.

'Well,' Myouga blushed and rubbed his head awkwardly 'I didn't really get to see him in real battles; only when he practiced.'

Kagome shook her head as Inuyasha exploded at Myouga.

'YOU WEREN'T THERE! HOW COULD YOU NOT BE THERE?! DID YOU NOT TRUST MY FATHER IN BATTLE?' Inuyasha started screaming his head off at the sheepish Myouga.

Kagome laughed inside, watching Inuyasha get so worked up over something Myouga did so often. 'Can't teach an old flea new tricks; like staying put in battle.' She thought, a giggle erupting from her being.

Inuyasha turned and glared causing Kagome to start giggling again, before settling back into his "Leave-me-the-hell-alone" pose, with his arms crossed, head thrust into the air and eyes closed.

'Anyways, when your father fought, he was a master. He always kept both Tetsusaiga and Tenseiga at his hip; well after he met the Lady Izayoi, anyways.' Myouga said, gesturing towards Tetsusaiga at Inuyasha'a hip.

Inuyasha stared at the sword before grasping the sheath and pulling the sword out, grabbing the solid hilt and gently running his fingers up and down the rusted blade. 'So my father wielded the same sword I do now. And the same sword Sesshoumaru uses.' Inuyasha could almost feel the gentle pulsing that was straining to emit from the sword, like he could feel his fathers hands on the hilt along with his own.

'But I don't understand,' Kagome said, breaking Inuyasha's focus 'InuTaishou was a full youkai. How could he wield Tetsusaiga when Sesshoumaru couldn't?'

Myouga blanched. 'Well, I never really thought about that….' But he was cut off by Inuyasha.

'It was because he cared for my mother,' snapping Kagome out of her reverie 'because he wouldn't let anyone hurt her.' Inuyasha said, surprising both of them.

'Because he had a pure heart, and could care for humans.' Kagome said to herself, starting to understand.

'Much like your actions for Miss Kagome, Inuyasha-sama.'

'What'dya say flea?!'

'Nothing, Master.'

Kagome blushed. Slowly, she started fingering Tetsusaiga, tracing Inuyasha's hands softly on the hilt while he gripped it. Gently, she folded her hands over his and Inuyasha could feel the strong pulse that emitted from the sword as they both grasped it. Like the sword liked feeling both of their hands grasping it.

When all of a sudden, the door burst open and the three looked up to see Aki, his dark eyes flashing as he panted heavily.

'Attack. At. The. Main. Gate.' He panted brokenly 'Fujishima-sama demanded you come.'

Inuyasha immediately ran through the door, brushing past Aki, followed by Kagome, running as fast as she could, but not being able to catch up with the hanyou. All of a sudden she was swooped up into a youkai's arms; she was about to scream when she faced Aki's smirking face.

'Wouldn't want you getting lost in here, would we Kagome-sama?' he asked, bemusedly, despite the serious situation.

She gave him a grateful smile and let him carry her to the main gate.

'What is it?' Inuyasha asked as he caught up with Fujishima who was standing by the gates anxiously, the full moon shining above them and loud shrieks and a banging coming from somewhere.

'There is a group of youkai attacking the gates.' He said before falling over from exhaustion and being hounded by other youkai. Inuyasha stared at the motionless figure of the youkai lord, and almost immediately jumped to the top of the wall to see a group of youkai bashing at the main gate. He looked closer to see the lithe, slick bodies of dragon youkai.

'Just like Ryuukossei; like the thing that killed my father.' Inuyasha thought, and he pulled out Tetsusaiga and let it pulse once, causing the youkai at the gates to stop and stare in his direction. He caught of flash of movement behind him and saw Kagome jump down from Aki's arms, staring up at his silent frame.

The instant he looked at her, his sword transformed into the formidable blade it was. Inuyasha stared at it for a moment before shifting his gaze to the youkai that were starting to move towards him.

Although Kagome was far enough away that he couldn't hear her, but she stared at his agile shape bent over on the wall of the gate, his eyes shifting to meet her gaze and she shivered as the coldest eyes she'd ever seen him give bored into her own sapphire eyes, making her take a step back by the intensity in his amber eyes.

'They're so much like Sesshoumaru's eyes.' Kagome thought, stunning herself for a second as she saw the similarities between the two brothers for what seemed like the first time. Both their eyes were so cold and empty, like whenever Sesshoumaru saw Inuyasha, and Inuyasha was staring at the demons beyond the gates, his distant eyes scanning them. 'Something that they think killed something close to them, that's what makes them see things like this.'

'Aki, What kind of demons are attacking the gates?' she asked, turning to the bat behind her.

'Dragon youkai, Kagome-sama.' he said 'They've been bothering us for years now, but this has been the most dangerous assault so far.'

'Oh.' Kagome said 'Ryuukossei!' she thought as she turned back to gaze at the motionless figure of Inuyasha, still perched on the gate.

Inuyasha still glared at the youkai who had stopped and were staring at them, he could start to see the wind scar that was emanating from the youkai waiting at the gate. He raised his sword in the direction of the youkai and shut his eyes.

This seemed to enrage the youkai because all of a sudden they started forward to attack, steadily moving faster towards the still figure situated on the wall.

Kagome stared in horror as they moved towards Inuyasha, moving in for the kill. Everyone around her was motionless, staring at the unmoving figure, and her eyes widened as the youkai were almost upon her hanyou.

All of a sudden Inuyasha's eyes snapped open, staring into the wild eyes of the youkai. 'BAKURYUUHA!' he screamed, swinging his sword.

And he let loose.