Inuyasha

Coming of Age

((Author Note: This is the 2nd version of this chapter since I was able to get a chance to do a better editing job, I also added a few more things that I thought that this chapter needed. Actually the entire ending of this chapter is different and there are parts that I changed a lot. So enjoy.))

Chapter 9: Tora's Story

As morning rose Tora was lying wide a wake in his room soaking up a few morning rays that had just began to peek through his window. His injuries were healing quiet nicely and the warm sunrays were just an added bonus for him today. Over the past few days he had noticed a few of his powers were beginning to return to his fingertips.

"I almost don't miss them," Tora said to himself as he began to slowly sit up. As reluctant as he was his ears had picked up a set of light footsteps approaching his room. Judging by the way each footstep was slow, but steady he guessed Kisho was coming to his room. The door slid slowly opened and Kisho's head indeed popped out. He glanced around for a moment before seeing Tora sitting by the window.

"Ah good, I didn't want to wake you up if you were sleeping."

Tora smiled lightly as he slowly got to his feet, "I've been sleeping for so long in these past days I don't think I need anymore of it."

"You are hurt...."

"Not that badly. I can hardly feel the pain."

"Well, you better consider the fact you're not as young as us so you may not be able to pounce back from injuries like you use to."

Tora snorted lightly, "You make me sound like an old man."

"Isn't that what you are?" Kisho said jokingly.

"Hardly."

"Anyways," Kisho rocked back and forth on his heels as he held his arms behind his back, "Everyone is waiting for you out front. Sango said she can tell us the location of the others before she goes back to sleep. I wonder why she is so tired? It's been...four days almost."

Tora rolled his shoulder blades some as he walked towards the door, "She was probably drugged most of the time. The long term effects must still be affecting her."

"How do you know?"

Tora pushed Kisho lightly so he would get the point to lead the way out front, "I've felt the effects of being drugged before. It takes a bit to shake off. Even for youkai and she is human so it must take longer."

"Hmm..." Kisho said considering what Tora said.

Tora smiled as he watched Kisho walked along in front of him. His clumsy attitude, kind heart, and strong spirit reminded of his son much more then before. Tora could almost see the image of his past son walking before him, but Tora was wise to know it was only his eyes playing tricks on him. He had lost his son...his family a long time ago. Tora was much older then everyone else though, since his age was difficult to determine Tora had always assumed by human standards he fell into the range of twenty-nine. He let out a painful sigh that caught Kisho's attention.

"Are you ok? You look distant."

Tora stared at him for a moment, "...It's nothing. I'll tell you a bit later. Perhaps when we are alone."

Kisho blinked lightly as Tora walked ahead of him to join the others.

"I wonder what's wrong?" Kisho asked himself as he watched Tora took a seat.

"Hey idiot! Are you just going to stand there and stare or are you coming over here?" Keiji complained out loud.

Kisho growled to him as he walked over, "Stupid wolf."

"What was that!"

"Please will you two just shut up for a few seconds," Shippo said as he lazily plopped a cherry in his mouth.

Sango laughed lightly as Kisho and Keiji were still steaming over each other, "They are like their fathers in so many ways."

"Oh please, don't remind me," Shippo said as he rubbed forehead.

"So you know where the others are being kept?" Tora said with a curious hint in his voice.

Sango turned her head towards him. This was the first time she ever saw Tora. She squinted her eyes some as she stared, "...You're one of them..."

"Hmm?" Tora said wondering what she meant before realizing what she was getting at, "Oh! I forgot that no one has really filled you in. I use to be the leader of all of /u. Except I finally was able to resist Naraku, but I lost my powers in the process."

"Then shouldn't you know where the others were being kept?" Sango said her eyes narrowed and her lips thinned out across her face.

All eyes were on Tora. Of course Tora expected this question to be asked sooner or later, but he didn't think he would be so chocked up. It was really hard to explain. So long ago he use to be the fearless Tiger with the strong unbreakable spirit. He was always ready to say something or react in someway, but at that moment he was lost in what to do. Maybe it was because he was scared of what his new friends may think of him. Was he truly afraid to lose them?

"I think Tora would have told us if he truly knew," Kisho spoke up. He was the only one that didn't have doubtful expression. His eyes were clear and his face had a light smile across it as he looked to Tora, "He's one of the good guys after all."

"How can you be so trusting, Kisho?" Sango questioned as Tora looked between the two. He was glad that Kisho was sticking up for him. It just proved that he really did have a true friend.

"Because, I can sense his heart and he doesn't know true evil. You don't know about the locations right, Tora?"

Tora shook his head, "No, I was never told except for one. It slipped my mind after these past events lately. The fire cat was brought to me..."

"You mean Kirara!"

"Yes, she is safe. I had set up a protective barrier in the mountains. Naraku wanted her dead, but I figured it was such a waste. She's the only one I know about. Naraku kept a great deal of his secrets from me since he knew one day I'd go against him."

"I'm glad she is safe," Sango said as her face began to soften, "I actually don't know where Kagome is being kept," Kisho's face dropped some, but he continued to listen to her, "But I heard that Miroku was being kept to the high mountains to the north west. It's a strange mountain though. There's snow around the entire mountain except for the very top."

"Something is blocking the top then," Kyoko said as everyone else nodded in agreement.

"Sounds like Naraku is hiding something up there, maybe it's pa?" Keiji added in a more serious tone of voice.

"It's a good chance Inuyasha is there too," Tora added as he continued, "We have a lot of leads, which means we better split up to investigate things a little further."

Everyone nodded in agreement and then all eyes looked to Tora suggesting he was the one to make up the groups. Tora laughed lightly as he thought about his options for a moment, "Well...lets see. Sango and that girl you guys brought are still injured and recovering so Shippo should stay here and protect them, just in case."

"You got it," Shippo said with thumbs up, "That I can do."

"You're just happy you're not doing anything dangerous," Keiji muttered.

Shippo raised his fist to pound Keiji into the ground, but Sango pulled on his tail, "Let it go..."

"Ok...well Keiji and Kyoko can investigate the mountains while Kisho and I go and pick up Kirara. After that we can all meet Keiji and Kyoko at the mountains and from there we can move on with the information they have gathered."

"That sounds fine with me," Kisho said as he stood up, "We better move out as soon as possible. Naraku is moving fast in his plans. I can sense him."

"That makes me wonder if you are sensing him or the Shikon Jewel," Tora said as he stood up after Kisho.

"He doesn't know what that is," Keiji looked to Kisho as if he was an idiot.

"Ah, well then perhaps I should inform him on our way. You all stay safe and watch out for the remaining youkai. They are idiots, but non the less they are strong idiots."

Keiji and Kyoko nodded while Sango and Shippo waved as the two began the long journey ahead of them.

Kisho and Tora traveled along the backcountry dirt roads. Tora had suggested to Kisho that it might be best if he stayed as a human. Kisho didn't object to the suggestion and he remained in his human form. His hair was its dark raven black color while his eyes were their golden brown. He greeted farmers that would occasionally pass by while Tora watched over Kisho like a protective parent. A few muttered about their appearance as they walked by since they seemed a bit foreign, but Tora and Kisho just shrugged it off.

"Tora can we rest here?" Kisho asked after a few hours of traveling.

Tora glanced around to check the area out. They were closing in on the mountains ahead and their trip would soon get a lot tougher. They had stopped in the middle of a crisp green meadow. After each defeat of the guardians it had slowly pushed back the black sky. Soon the entire land would be rid of the foul dark mist Naraku had covered the lands in, but in order for that to happen. Tora would have to be destroyed too. Tora guessed that Kisho had failed to realize that, but maybe the young teen had some loophole in mind. The meadows grass had a sweat scent flowing from its rich green stalks. A few flowers sprouted out from the rich grasses, "We can rest for a little bit. It seems safe and there's no humans around."

"Yes!" Kisho leaped into the grasses on all four leaping with joy and he soon began to chase around a few birds he had discovered in his excited antics.

Tora sat down a rock to watch. The boy was so full of energy it was almost like he never had gotten to really live until now. As Tora watched him he could see how dark the boy's past had been. Kisho did well in hiding his emotions. There were only small hints that something from Kisho's past was bothering him. Tora wondered what had happened to make Kisho want to hide his feelings like this, but Tora figured there must be a good reason and now wasn't the time to bring it up. Kisho soon bounded over to Tora, "What's wrong? You're not going to play too?"

"I thought you needed a rest?" Tora said with a raised eyebrow as he cocked his head to the side.

Kisho laughed lightly, "Sorry. I mean all that walking isn't really tiring it's just boring."

Tora stood up and began to walk, "Come. I'll make it so it's not so boring."

Kisho followed after him, "Is that possible?" Kisho said with his hands behind his head.

"Sure it is. How about I tell you what the Shikon Jewel is."

"That would be a great start."

"I'm going to try and say this in a rather simple way since it's a long story, but the jewel grants its user great powers. Demons and humans would do anything for this object except that the jewel has to be used by someone of a pure heart in order for it to work in the correctly. If someone uses it with evil intentions then it becomes tainted with evil and only an evil aura will pulse from the jewel. I believe that's what you're sensing."

"I see, so why are there shards?"

Tora smiled, "You can thank your mother for that. It was accidentally shattered. Even the tiniest of slivers can grant someone great power. Your mother and father were working to gather the shards, but Naraku also was doing the same. Apparently Naraku has it almost assemble except for the last shard and the ones Keiji and Kyoko have. No one knows where the last shard is. I think Naraku is hoping that you would lead the way to the shard..." Tora said lightly as he looked to the confused boy as they walked side by side.

Kisho looked down, "I can't sense it though. I can hardly feel the one Keiji and Kyoko have. I wouldn't be that much use..."

"It's best we let him think that you are useful though," Tora said with a light wink as ruffled Kisho's hair.

Kisho growled at him playfully as Tora lifted his hand up above Kisho's head as Kisho attempted to swipe at it with his claws.

"Hey didn't you want to tell me something when we were alone?" Kisho asked as he began to settle down.

Tora blinked lightly as he put his finger over his lips in thought, "Oh! Yes, I did. This is a perfect time...I wanted to tell you a little bit about my life. No one really knows about it besides my wife and son."

"Wife and son?"

Tora smiled sadly to him, "They passed from this world some time ago."

"Oh, I'm sorry...I'd be honored if you told me your story," Kisho said quickly to change the subject. He rubbed the back of his neck nervously as he glanced over to Tora.

Tora began to shut his eyes lightly as he walked, before he slowly opened his bright eyes that held a heavy past. At first Tora didn't say anything as his eyes slowly searched for the memory he wanted to share. Slowly his mouth began to motion, "A long time ago..."

-------------------------

'Yes...a long time ago it was indeed. I was born to a mother Tiger deep in the jungle. I was a full youkai Tiger except we were the lowest form of youkai. To most people we were guardian Tigers. We watched over Tigers that had no powers what so ever. We hardly ever left the jungle and humans never came into our world, but one day they finally did. I remember well, my mother had taught me a great deal of her wisdom. She was a kind Tiger full of pride and wisdom. She was no longer strong to fight in her old age and I was the last of her bloodline, but the knowledge of humans lacked in her mind. She was unsure of the intruders and had instructed me leave, but before we got far a strange sound echoed in my ears and as a looked back, my mother was motionless against the ground. I felt the hot tears in my eyes and the anger in me began to rise in my blood as the humans came into sight, but my mother had always told me to rise above my anger or I would be no better then a dragon. I left her body there, with those humans who took a grand youkai Tiger away. I promised myself I would learn more about these creatures and if they really were as bloodthirsty as they appeared. I did what no other youkai Tiger had done in years. I left the jungle that we had called home over generations and I followed those men to village.'

"We caught a big one!" The man threw down the Tigers' body that had multiple arrows in it, against the ground in front of the villagers. The locals mumbled to each other as they stared at the dead beast. By the sounds of their voices they weren't very impressed, but instead they were outraged. One of the villagers finally stepped forward after the groups discussion finally settled down," You have violated one of our great guardians."

"What are you talking about? It's a Tiger, a big one at that."

"She was not ordinary Tiger. She was a youkai. We left her offerings near the jungle and in return she has warded off the evil that lurks here. You have killed our guardian!" The cries of the group began to increase as they closed in on the man, "To pay debt to her dead spirit we will offer her your life."

"No!" The man cried, but there was no escape.

One of the villagers had noticed a small Tiger sitting just outside of town, "Look! That must be one of hers. He has caused our mother Tiger to leave behind her precious gift."

The cries began to increase even more as they shuffled off with the man. A few of the women began to gather some food to bring to the orphan Tiger. The small Tiger ran away when they neared so they left the food far enough from the village so that he would feel comfortable. The Tiger soon learned they had meant no harm and they had brought justice for his mother. He decided he would watch over them himself and over the years he grew and grew to be one of the largest male Tigers in the area. He fought off any youkai that threaten the village and in exchange the people gave him food. Over the years the reputation of youkai Tigers changed. No human viewed them as weak creatures after they heard the stories about the Tiger that lived in the secluded village. The villagers had begun to call the Tiger, Tora as a simple way of saying Tiger. During slow days Tora would just lay in the sun and watch children play, but such happy times were soon lost. Invaders from the west had begun to sweep the lands and it wasn't long until the small village fell victim to its rampage.

"Burn this village to the ground! Take the women and kill the rest!"

The foreign invaders had killed practically everything in their way and burnt any houses they could. Tora managed to take down half their forces, but there were waves of attacks that just never stopped. Soon there were almost no one left to save except a handful of people.

"Help me!" a young boy cried.

Tora slashed one of the men as his ears perked up to the boys' distressful call and he ran in the direction he thought the sound was coming from. He leaped over a few men as he could just see the boy in sight now. A few of the soldiers had begun to hit the small boy with the hilt of their swords.

"Pitiful boy. Not even worth being a slave. Die!" The solider twirled his blade around so the blade was over the boy. He raised his arm high into the air brought the sword down against something hard. The soldier's mouth hung wide open as he stared at the great creature before him. He had hit Tora across the shoulder blade right to the bone, but Tora stood over the boy growling. He let out a fearsome roar that caused the rest of the men to retreat, to call for backup. Tora bent down to pick the boy up and he tossed him on his back. Tora soon retreated from the village that he had so long watched over. The boy held on to him not sure what was going to happen to him now, but it was better then death. He had soon fallen asleep once Tora had stopped running. Tora was beginning to feel the effects of his wound as he limped slowly along through the woods. Tora didn't know much of the outside world, but he knew there were other humans like this boy he carried and he would walk as far as his legs would carry him to bring the human to safety.

The boy soon woke up as the morning light brushed across face. He rubbed his eyes lightly as he sat up slowly. Tora had taken him to another village. A few women were gathering around to ask what had happen and if he needed help. He was confused on where he was and where Tora had gone. He slowly began to look down at the ground. His hands brushed over the smooth ground until he felt a hidden footprint. The footprint didn't belong to a human, but it felt like it belonged to a large creature. His eyes lifted to see if maybe Tora was just lying around, but he was truly gone.

------------------------------

"That's sad Tora."

"Hmm?" Tora had snapped out of his trance.

"I mean how your mother past away."

"Oh, yes it was sad. I didn't get to really fully understand everything she told me, but I think I'm making her proud now. I was so angry with humans back then, but seeing how those villagers reacted to her death made me feel better. Just like youkai there are some bad ones and some good ones."

"But Tora, you told me you're a hanyou. How can you be born a full youkai then?"

"Ah, then we'll skip ahead to that part."

'Years had past since the village had been taken over. Over the years I had traveled as far as my four legs could carry me. Even after my legs could go no further a few humans who assisted me in crossing the great sea helped me reach a new land. I traveled far and wide and during my travels I learned a great deal of things. My powers never really grew, but it was the way a fought that made me powerful. I had acquired a great deal of knowledge in the art of fighting. I never harmed anyone I encountered, but since I was a large Tiger youkai many humans felt threaten and decided to hunt me down. I ran from them, but they chased me. One day they had caught me off guard and injured me quiet badly. I was no longer able to move as fast and a soon accumulated more injuries to a point that I was starting to die. I managed to reach the river to rest near the soothing waters one last time. I could hear the men cutting through the forest looking for me. My body could no longer move, but deep inside I knew I couldn't die there. I was still looking for something...it was something I was missing in my life. As I lied there I heard someone approach. I lifted my head to view my attacker, but I was surprise by what I say instead. An old monk stood before me gripping his staff. His robes rolled over his fragile body and his wrinkled face smiled lightly to me. I growled angrily at him so he would stay away from me'

"Ah a Tiger. I'm surprise to see one so far out here. It's rare to even see a Tiger here anymore."

Tora tried to threaten him with further growls. His ears laid flat against his head as he barred his large white teeth.

The monk didn't wade as he stood there. His face showed no fear as he leaned against his staff with an almost sad look to his expression.

Tora finally gave him and laid his head back down against the soft grass, "It's because you humans have killed us."

"I do not believe you blame humans for your troubles my dear boy."

Tora closed his eyes some, "I don't want to die here. When I think I understand humans they turn around and surprise me...I don't want to die...I try to help and all I receive is punishment!" Tora yelled as a few tears trickled down his fur.

The old monk looked down to Tora with compassion, "For a youkai you have a very pure heart. Your soul is strong and even in your dying moments you won't acknowledge your fate. You must understand the some humans have no control of their fear and choose to lash out. Not everyone in this world is perfect."

"Human emotions confuse me, but I don't believe this is the time for me to leave this world. I have more to do."

The monk leaned over towards Tora to examine his shoulder. He gently brushed aside a patch of long fur that concealed a large scar, "I was right. You're Tora. You are the one that save me when the village was attacked when I was a little boy."

Toras eyes widened to this news. He had wondered what had happened to the young boy he had rescued, "I'm glad that I have gotten the chance to see you again."

"I'm glad as well..." the monk began but he didn't get to finish his sentence as he saw the men that had been chasing Tora approach.

"Move monk. That Tiger is dangerous."

"I believe he has suffered enough. Leave this creature be," the monk stood up with his staff still in hand. He positioned himself in front of Tora, while Tora himself watched the men through his intense gaze.

"We're going to warn to one last time monk. Move!"

The monk didn't move and he stretched out his arms to block them from coming any closer. Tora was slowly standing up to tell the monk to back off, but it was too late for him to warn the monk. Tora's eyes went wide as a streak of blood splattered against his white fur on his face. In his terror he saw his monk friend slowly fall face first to the ground with a sword imbedded in his stomach. The men were sneering in their victory over the monk, as Tora just stood there shocked.

"Now the Tiger," the men twirled their spears around to show off before they threw them at Tora. Tora stood there still shocked as he still stared at the fallen monk lying against the ground. As he stared at the monk he felt his powers begin to boil. His eyes began to turn a blood red and he lifted his head just as the spears were only a breath away from his face. With a powerful roar Tora blew back the spears. The roar was so powerful that the ground began to shake under his paws and the men's feet. His eyes still glowed a blood red and he leaped at his attackers slashing them all except for one. His claws sliced through each like butter and he leaped into the air and pinned the last one against the ground. His sharp claws pressed against the man's throat. This was the man that had thrown the killing blow. This was the man Tora wanted to see suffer. His teeth were barred as his own blood began to ooze from his mouth.

"It was you..." Tora whispered.

"Please don't kill me...I'll do anything."

Tora tighten his hold on his throat as he growled low, "Why?! What stopped you from killing the monk? Or me! You only cower because the killing blow is just about to be made. Why shouldn't I sink my teeth into your neck so your blood spills upon this land, human?"

"Tora...leave him. He has experienced enough..." the monk whispered as he laid there still motionless against the ground.

Tora hissed at the man under his claws, but he slowly walked away, "Leave before I change my mind," Tora turned away and he didn't even wait to see the man really run off.

Tora got down to his knees so he would be level with the dying monk, "I'm sorry..."

"...its not your fault. No one is perfect...mistakes are made."

Tora's Tiger face soften as he laid down on his stomach, "Look's like I won't be passing from this life alone." More and more blood began to fall from Tora's jaws.

That last stunt Tora had pulled had drained the rest of his energy he had left. His vision was already getting blurry.

The monk chuckled lightly as he lifted his hand. With the last of his energy he touched Tora on the head gently, "I believe I'm going to make that journey alone."

Tora looked at him with a surprise expression as the monk continued on, "You are meant to stay in this world. I have completed my task. I wanted to meet you again...and now that I have I can rest in peace. What I offer you now is my body. Merge with my physical being and be reborn. With your youkai body you should be able to adjust to the age you want the body to be. The only thing is you would no longer be a youkai, but a hanyou."

Tora thought about his options. Was being a hanyou that bad? He never viewed it as a horrible thing, but it would strip him of his honor...or would it? Tora was unsure, but he did want to live and this was his only option, "I'll do it."

--------------------------------------

"Wow," Kisho said as he rubbed his chin, "I didn't know humans could do that."

"People are capable of a lot of things. His soul went to the underworld, as it should, he left his body behind with me to merge with. I transformed into a hanyou for the first time that day. I looked like a 15-year-old boy. I had been alive for a while so I guess I age rather slowly."

"Hey, look at this!" Kisho pointed to the snow that was beginning to fall.

Tora looked to the sky as he watched a few flakes fell, "This reminds me of my wife."

"Really?" Kisho said as he turned to look to Tora.

"Yes, after the incident I found a village to live in. I met her while I was living there. When I was a bit older she use to hang out with me often. We explored the mountains together. Our favorite thing to do was playing in the snow. We waited all year for the snow to fall..."

----------------------------

'I still remember those times playing in the snow. Her hair was as light as a feather twirling around her thin figure as her arms reached out to snatch the first snow of the season. I always watched her spin around with my golden eyes. She always use to smile back to me once she was done. Before she did anything else she use to run over and to grab my hand. Her skin was almost as soft as a newborn babies and her eyes held the light of the universe. Such moments were greatest things in our lives. She never knew about me being a hanyou until one fateful day. We were enjoying ourselves when a bandit tried to take her away from me.'

"Hey don't touch her!"

"Get lost you little punk," the man pushed Tora roughly against the snow.

"Let go me you jerk," she yelled at the top of her lungs.

The man sniffed her hair, "You're a pretty little thing."

Tora was on his feet again and he swung his fist right into the mans face. The man was surprise by the hit and his head snapped back from the sheer force of it, but he still held a firm grip on Tora's beloved.

"I warned you!" The man pulled out a hidden knife and stabbed Tora in the side. Tora stumbled back some before falling against the cold snow. A few drops of blood fell against the white snow staining its white innocence. The girl yelled for him as tears began to roll off her delicate face.

"That's what he gets," the bandit said as he began to pull her along with him.

"What's the rush?" Tora said as he slowly got back up.

The bandit growled, "What are you, a youkai?"

Tora was in front of the man in the blink of an eye, "Not quiet."

Tora gripped the man's arms and his hand began to transform into his claws. His long claws began to dig into the man's arm right down to the bone. The bandit began to cry out in pain and he no longer could keep a grip on girl. He had no choice but to open his hand to let her go. As the bandit cried he actually made another attempt to stab Tora again. Tora had sensed that he was going to try and attack him again so this time he sliced the blade right in half with only a flick of his hand.

"Now, get out of here before I slice you in half just like that blade."

The bandit hated to retreat, but he was lucky to leave with his life as he ran off into the woods below.

Tora let a sight of relief out and he began to turn around slowly but before he moved another step the girl already had her arms wrapped around him from behind. She cried against his back slightly burying her face against his cloths, "I thought...you were..."

Tora smiled lightly as he gently brushed her hands as he stood there, "To tell you the truth. I'm a hanyou so a mere stab won't really kill me. I'm...sorry I never really told you."

"I sort of knew...you seemed so distant sometimes from everyone else. I want to be at your side, now and forever Tora."

'Those words past through the winds of time as if I stood still. We got married and I built us a house. Soon other people began to take notice of our house and began to build next to us. We never minded, but soon an entire village was form. I never knew what attracted the people to us. Some say they sensed it was a safe place to start a new life. The village wasn't just humans, but youkai as well. They believed that they could share a life together and with that belief they made me the village leader. I didn't think I should have except since I was young still by youkai standards, but my wife insisted. The people in the village were always happy and the small little village seemed to prosper. It wasn't long before my wife gave birth to our first son. Life seemed great for everyone, but every good side has it bad side. Over the years of traveling my name had gotten around to a dragon named Ryo. Ryo, like all dragons were confident of their powers and were eager to test it against something that equaled them power, especially against a Tiger. Ryo was obsess to fight me, but I turned him away over and over, because I no longer fought without a good reason and I no longer had my youkai body to fight. As I look back I couldn't help but wonder if I had fought Ryo would things have been different?'

---------------------------------

"Kisho...do you trust me?"

Kisho stopped as he shook the white snow from his body, "Sure I do Tora. You have the best judgment out of all of us. Come on, you're Tora!"

Tora laughed lightly as Kisho laughed along with him.

"Thanks, Kisho. I needed a good laugh. Ah, here's where Kirara is sealed."

Kisho rubbed his head some as he looked at nothing, "I don't see anything..."

Tora held out his palm, "That's because the barrier is working. I'll take it down now."

Kisho nodded some as he took a few steps back to give Tora some room to work. Tora's hand began to glow a light color as he began to absorb the energy that was set in place. The energy of the barrier began to lower and as it did it slowly revealed a small little fire cat. It whipped its tail around in excitement and mewed a greeting to them both.

Kisho bent down to look at it, "Aww...its cute...!"

Kirara had leaped into the air and attached to Kisho's head. The force of her jump caused Kisho to fall backwards into the snow. Tora laughed as he watched the puff of snow explored into the air, "I think she likes you."

Kisho tried to say something, but it only came out as mumbles. Tora continued to laugh as his eyes slowly wandered away from Kisho to the small little shrine where Kirara had been kept. The shrine was dedicated to his fallen son and wife. Tora continued to laugh as he gazed at their resting places.

---------------------------------

'Times back then were so good that I had failed to see the problems that began to sprout. Just like Kisho, my own son's powers were difficult to control. He would lose his temper and end up destroying the entire side of the house. My son was so similar to Kisho, but unlike Kisho my son could not bring himself to control them and they finally consumed him. He turned into a hideous creature that was out for blood. I had left the village to hunt for my son and bring him home. I had traveled for a long time, until I finally caught up with him. He was deranged and he attempted to fight me. I didn't want to fight him and I resisted until he finally snapped.'

"Listen you have to come down..."

"I can't! It's your fault! You did this to me..."

Tora opened to mouth to say something, but he was interrupted by Ryo who had followed them.

"He's right you know. If it wasn't for your blood he would be a normal boy."

"Shut up!" Tora yelled.

"Just look at him now. Even his mother can't stand to look at him. Which is why she is dead."

"Dead?" Tora said as his voice tightened to a squeak.

"It can't be..." Tora's son said as he began to stumble backwards towards the cliff.

"It is and it's your fault. Your mother couldn't stand you and she fell ill. She wanted to die because she gave birth to such a creature. She probably thought you killed Tora and now she wanted to die since she does not want to share this world with you."

"No don't believe him..." Tora said as he turned to his son, but it was to late. He had taken the last step backwards on purpose and he slowly fell away from them. Tora had leaped to the cliffs edge to grab him, but he failed. He watched his son fall further and further away from him until he could no longer see him in sight.

"Fight me Tora. Fight me in your true form!" Ryo yelled. The dragon had been obsess to prove that he was stronger then the lendary Tiger. The whole reason why Ryo was there was to piss Tora off so fight him.

Tora stood up and looked to Ryo for a second before he ran off into the night. He wasn't going to give the pleasure to Ryo to fight him.

'I was a fool that day. I had failed to realize the threat that the village laid in. By the time I returned home all the humans had been slaughtered. The youkai in the village had fallen for Ryo's trap. He had convinced the youkai that the humans were plotting to kill them all. No one in the village knew I was a hanyou therefore I remained their leader in their eyes. Standing in the remains of the village I couldn't find my wife. Her remains were no where to be found, so instead I built a shrine to dedicated to her and my fallen son, so their souls would have a place to rest. I sliced off a portion of my hair to create the seal so the shrine wouldn't ever be destroyed. My mother warned me a long time ago about controlling my temper, but the lost I experience that day was too much. I hunted Ryo down and fought him in my hanyou form. In pure rage a struck him down, but just as I was about to deal the killing blow Naraku confronted me. My soul and mind was lost in a fog of depression that was longing for my dead family. Naraku had somehow convinced the remaining youkai and me to join him. We were all given a portion of land that was bounded to our bodies and soon the evil spreaded across the lands. The entire time I was ignorant to what was going on. Our teeth and claws were stained in blood over the years as we did Naraku's bidding. My soul was about to give up hope in life, when I saw him for the first time.'

'Naraku had just stabbed a young women with his clawed/whip like hands and in her arms she dropped a young child. My eyes grew wide seeing the young boy fall into the dark well, but as much as I wanted to do something to help my body didn't move from my hiding spot. My attention soon turned to the hanyou that was yelling in horror. The one Naraku had called Inuyasha had his sword raised in the air to attack. I didn't understand at first, why he continued fighting. He had lost the women he loved and his offspring, why keep on fighting? Why continue living?'

"As long as there's hope Naraku! I will never stop no matter what even if things seem bad there's always hope!" Inuyasha had yelled at Naraku.

"Hope?" Tora said as his mind began to feel life within himself again. Hope seemed lost for him.

"Tora!"

Tora walked out from the darkness towards Naraku. The fight had ended with Naraku as the victor. Inuyasha had received a heavy injury to the head and was taken away, the sword he had been carrying was long gone, but Naraku wasn't concern with that at the time, "Yes, Naraku?"

"Did you see the boy fall into the well?"

Tora was silent as he glanced back to the well. His mind struggled against the mental control Naraku had him under and he mumbled out the words, "No."

Naraku snorted as he moved past Tora in a hurry. Tora stood there a little while longer, "Hope remains lost for me since I lost the people that bring me hope, but..." Tora looked to the woods where Inuyasha and Kagome had ran out from when they were fleeing Naraku, "I won't let hope be lost for them."