Inuyasha
Coming of Age
Chapter 20
"Are you sure this is the right way?" Kyoko asked as she held onto Kisho's neck.
"Yes...for the last time I'm positive he's this way," Kisho replied as he slowly walked along the river banks.
Kisho had just finished rescuing Kyoko and now he was searching for his father. He had failed to realize how hurt Inuyasha really was and now he feared that he may have let his father down. Kisho had been following his scent for quiet some time and he was getting worried now. He had been carrying Kyoko most of the way since her legs were still injured.
"Father!" Kisho yelled while Kyoko kept busy searching.
Kisho paused before taking his next step. Kyoko pushed around his white and black hair to see his face, "Is something wrong?"
"I don't think so...it's just something feels strange here."
While Kisho stood there with an ill feeling his eyes shot towards a few trees by instinct and there he saw Inuyasha coming out of the woods. His eyes lit up with relief as he jogged over towards his father.
Inuyasha was equally glad the two were ok. After he rested for a little bit he had gone out to search for them both.
"Father," Kisho said as he stared up to him with his crystal clear eyes, "...I'm sorry that it took me so long to return."
Inuyasha kept up a strong upfront, but he softened a bit as he looked into Kisho's eyes, "Feh, just stop apologizing already. You know I'm going to forgive you."
"Right," Kisho said as he grinned to Kyoko who smiled back to him.
"Should we head to the village then?" Kyoko asked as she slipped out of Kisho's grip to stand on her own.
Inuyasha nodded, but Kisho didn't agree just yet, "There's something strange here, I think it may be important."
"I don't sense anything," Inuyasha said as he sniffed the air, "I don't smell anything either...except one thing."
"That's right, Inuyasha," Sesshomaru said as he stepped out towards the group, "There is indeed something here. Even your own offspring can sense it."
"Shut up," Inuyasha hissed under his breath, "Maybe he was sensing you."
"No, it isn't uncle Sesshomaru. I've known he's been following us for some time. It's a strange feeling." Kisho said as he walked around.
Inuyasha shook his head as he watched Kisho, "I don't think I'll ever get use to hearing uncle Sesshomaru."
"You better not," Sesshomaru said with a cold glare to Inuyasha. He then watched Kisho search around the area. His own eyes searched the surrounding trees for the source of the strange aura.
Kyoko sat down on the ground as she watched the boys, "Well, I sure don't get what everyone is searching for."
Kisho walked around a few steps until he was sure where it was coming from, "It's there," Kisho pointed to one of the larger trees in the area.
As soon as Kisho pointed out the spot Sesshomaru took out Tokijin and used its intense wind pressure to rip the tree apart. As he did something leaped out of the branches and landed right behind Kisho.
Kisho didn't dare to turn around as he remained still. What stood behind him was the cloaked man from previous encounters with everyone. His hands still remained rested at his side while his black cloak blew gently in the wind. Inuyasha was about to take Tetsusaiga out, but Sesshomaru raised a hand to stop him, "He doesn't need your protection all the time. Unlike you, he's capable of standing his own ground."
Inuyasha narrowed his eyes at Sesshomaru. He disliked how his brother had such little faith in him, but Inuyasha didn't take his taunting to serious anymore.
"Kisho...before me you stand. You are the one I seek. Yes...but are you truly ready?"
Kisho wasn't sure what the cloak man was saying, but he swallowed a gulp of air, "Who are you?"
"Tell me. Are you truly ready to face your destiny? Will you allow death to rule this land?"
"If you're talking about Naraku then I'll stop him."
"Even if you were to die?"
"I won't...and if I do then I'll just have to figure something else."
"Strong words for a weak soul."
Kisho was silent for a brief moment. His spirit had recently been pushed to its limits when he transformed and he almost lost his true self, but Kisho couldn't let that scare him, "Even so...I will still try."
"A wise answer."
"Who are you?" Kisho repeated the question as he kept his back facing the cloaked man.
Inuyasha and the others watched intensely. Sesshomaru had no expression what so ever as he watched, but he was curious to whom this man was. The cloak figure was strong there was no doubt there, but there was something odd about him.
"I believe you know who I am. Close your eyes and think."
Kisho focused on the mans voice some as he shut his eyes. As he did the cloaked man walked around Kisho to face him. His hands reached up to his hood while his fingers gripped the cloth. "Now tell me...who am I?"
Kisho's eyes suddenly snapped opened as he stared at to the cloaked man, "Tora!?"
As a gust of wind blew by the cloaks hood blew away from his face to reveal Tora's face. His hair had grown much longer now and it was now black in color instead of a light blond. His face and arms were scared from the injuries he received from Ryo. Tora's eyes were wrapped with a bandanna that had a knot neatly tied in the back of his head.
"I can't believe it," Inuyasha said as he stepped towards them, "It was you all along."
Tora nodded as he listened to Inuyasha's voice. Kisho tilted his head to Tora as he stared up at his face, "What happened?"
"I understand now," Sesshomaru said as he walked towards the group.
"I'm glad someone understands," Kyoko said as she rested her head against her knee. She was still stumped with what was going on.
Sesshomaru stopped before Tora, "He made a deal with the demons from hell."
Inuyasha and Kisho looked to Tora as he responded to Sesshomaru, "I did."
"But why?" Kisho asked as a worried expression surfaced across his young face.
"Because..."
"He was dying," Sesshomaru said for him. It was rare that a demon would make deals with the ones from hell, not to mention it took a certain technique to even talk to them in the first place.
"Yes, I was dying," Tora said as his head tilted to Kisho, "I wanted to help you and your father. My body was beyond repair and I couldn't use a human as a host again. It was my last option. So, I made a deal with a demon. He agreed to heal me and give me my soul back if I gave him something in return."
"What was that?" Inuyasha asked now.
"A part of my memory and my eyes."
"Tora, how could you give something so precious up," Kyoko said with a hint of sadness in her voice. She felt sorry for Tora since she knew his memories of his past seemed important to him.
"Because, that's what a true friend would do. My eyes aren't that important. My other senses make up for it and I've found I can function much better this way. And as for my memories they can never be taken away or forgotten. They are always inside me."
"Thanks, Tora," Kisho said as he offered a hand to his friend. Tora smiled down to him and he took Kisho's hand, "Sorry about testing you. You too Inuyasha."
Inuyasha just shrugged to Tora, "I wasn't worried about it."
There was such a happy atmosphere in the area that the entire group almost let their guard down. Tora on the other hand had such keen sense he could feel a large power coming their way, "Get down!"
Everyone was suddenly on the alert, but none of them sensed anything coming just yet. Tora stepped away from Kisho and Sesshomaru; while he did he raised his right hand to the sky and created a huge barrier around the entire area.
As the attack fell through the sky it was only then that everyone else sensed what was coming their way except Sesshomaru. The attack hit again the barrier and pushed against the force field trying to break through. Sparks and electrical bolts ran down the barrier as it struggled to keep back the attack. The barrier began to fade, but as it did the attack was also drained of his energy.
"Where did that come from?" Kyoko asked as she limped over to Kisho and the others.
"I'll give you one guess," Kisho said as his eyes narrowed to the sky.
From the sky floated down four figures. Their dark robes whipped around in the winds that surrounded them.
"Ah, I've been looking all over for my lost pets," Naraku said with a dark grin across his face as his eyes focused on Kisho and the others.
"Naraku..." Sesshomaru said as his eyes narrowed to the man. He gripped Tokijin in his hand as he watched the tricky demon descend.
Naraku turned towards the group, "So we finally meet once again. Hopefully this should be a taste of what's to come when you face me when I reach my true power."
Kisho and Inuyasha were both growling at Naraku and his little minions with him. Standing at his side was Iluska, Kagura, and Kohaku.
"Naraku! You're trying to find the shard, aren't you? You know damn well it's not here so why don't you get lost," Tora said as he marched right towards Naraku from behind.
"Humph, I thought you would have turned out so much better Tora. You had the potential of becoming a great demon if you followed me. Once you were of course you would have become part of this perfect body," Naraku said as he turned to face Tora.
Tora looked towards Iluska who was standing silently at Naraku's side, "You remain at his side knowing he would one day devour you?"
Iluska was silent as she glanced to Kisho, "I am loyal to my lord Naraku."
"No matter what you do, the girl will not betray me," Naraku raised his hand to extend the blade like weapons on his arm.
Tora's lips curled to reveal his sharp fangs, "Everyone get out of here. I'll take care of this."
Kisho nodded as he turned to Inuyasha, "He'll be fine, right?"
Inuyasha nodded his head while Sesshomaru walked past them, "Our fight isn't here."
"Hmm...right," Kisho said as he walked over to help Kyoko.
Naraku had a grin across his face as he looked at Tora, "I'm surprise, by how weak you are in your new form. You lost your eye sight among other things."
"It's still enough to destroy you," Tora said as he readied one of his claws.
"I have no interest in you," Naraku sneered as he suddenly swung his hand except he wasn't aimed at Tora. He did a quarter turn and once his arm crossed his body something flew out his hand and struck Kisho in the back of the neck.
Kisho was startled by what was on his neck and his claws frantically tried to grab what ever it was crawling on him. Naraku had thrown the creature that was used to control Kagome and Koga at the unsuspecting Kisho who had turned his back on the enemy.
"Your insight on matters, Tora has greatly decreased," Naraku said with a satisfied grin across his face.
The creature avoided Kisho's hands rather well and its small claws dug into the back of his neck while it injected its long needle into the top of his spine.
"Ahh!" Kisho yelled with his hands gripping his head. He threw himself against the ground as if he was having a seizure.
Tora tried to run over but Naraku caught him in his tree like hands now and tossed him into the forest trees, "Your feelings, Tora are your weakness."
Kyoko walked slowly over to Kisho with her hands stretched out incase she needed to defend herself, "Kisho?"
Kisho slowly got back up on his feet, but as he looked up, Kyoko saw how lifeless his eyes were. He suddenly swung his claws at her, but before he came in reach of her, Sesshomaru used his own claw and knocked Kisho back.
"Sesshomaru how could you hit him like that!" Inuyasha yelled as he ran towards them.
"He's not himself. Would you rather have the boy kill the girl here?"
"Humph, don't get me started."
As Inuyasha ran towards them Kohaku leapt in front of him and threw his sickle blade at Inuyasha. The blade spun through the air in a blur of movements, but Inuyasha had dealt with Kohaku before and he was use to how the sickle blade moved. He quickly skidded to a stop and back flipped just as the blade came down at him. The chain that was attached to the blade twisted in the air to catch Inuyasha off guard, but Inuyasha had become a bit more efficient when he fought and he didn't make sloppy mistakes so often now. Inuyasha made sure to avoid the whip like chain as he avoided Kohaku. He landed on the ground with ease and cracked his knuckles as he stared at the lifeless Kohaku, "Get out of my way brat!"
Inuyasha charged forward at the boy with his fingers balled up in a fist. He struck Kohaku across the face, but before Inuyasha could run forward Kagura blocked his way as she swung her fan, "Wind Blades."
Inuyasha pulled Tetsusaiga out and blocked her Wind Blades with just a flick of his wrist, "Is that the best you got, Kagura? I'm fighting with an injured arm and that hardly fazed me."
"My, my aren't you feisty today. Well, I'll be sure to give you a challenge," she said as she readied her fan again.
Sesshomaru watched his brother fight for a brief moment before his eyes went to Kisho getting up off the ground again. He readied his claw again as he stepped towards him, but Iluska blocked his way with her sword raised. Sesshomaru paused as he took a moment to stare at the girl. He did not have the same feelings towards her as Kisho and thus he would not think twice in killing her, "Move aside."
"No...I can't let you."
Sesshomaru studied for a moment as he flexed his claw, "You're protecting him."
"No! I am fighting you!" Iluska yelled as she charged Sesshomaru with her sword raised high.
Sesshomaru held his ground as she leapt into the air to attack him. He raised his claw and caught the blade in his hand. Iluska was surprise by how easy he caught the blade, "How?"
"You may be powerful, but your anger holds you back," Sesshomaru's poison in his claws melted right though Iluska blade and he quickly grabbed Tokijin on his belt to slash Iluska. Iluska feared that this was it. She was completely open for attack as she fell back to the ground, but suddenly something blocked her view of Sesshomaru as his blade swung towards her. Sesshomaru was almost as surprise as Iluska was as his blade struck Kisho instead. Kisho had leapt out from behind to protect Iluska with his body. His arms were crossed over his body to shield his vital organs as the attack tore through his arms. Luckily Sesshomaru eased the pressure he had Tokijin at the last moment so he wouldn't severe Kisho's arms right off.
Sesshomaru glanced towards Naraku to see him still messing around with Tora and then he stared at Kisho, "So, you did it to protect her. It wasn't Naraku's doing."
Kisho said nothing as he readied his claws again. Iluska laid on the ground staring at her brother, "Why? Why did you even protect me? We're enemies!"
Iluska swung her claws at Kisho and struck him in the side. He didn't even try to avoid as she knocked him back a few steps, but he remained standing. The poison ate away at his cloths and his wound also began to sizzle from the acid like poison, but as Iluska watched him all his wounds began to heal before her eyes. Kisho growled as his eyes turned for Sesshomaru. He readied his body as he charged forward to fight. Sesshomaru watched the boy charge him as he readied Tokijin, "So we're continuing our fight when we first met then, boy."
Kyoko had been hiding behind some trees since she was in no condition to fight. She hoped Kisho would snap out of this soon or he'll be killed, "Kisho, wake up!"
Kisho heard her voice, but deep in his mind something strange was happening to him. 'Who's calling me? I can't see anything...where am I?'
Kisho slowly opened his eyes to a strange sound. As his eyes focused some more he realize he wasn't in the forest anymore, but he was sitting in his own bed. He quickly sat up in bed as he patted his chest to find out he didn't have his cloths on from the feudal era. He had a normal shirt on and a pair of shorts. Kisho rubbed his eyes again as he stared at where he was, "Where the hell am I?"
Suddenly the door opened and a young woman stepped in. Kisho jumped up on his bed and pressed himself against the wall as he backed up, "Mom?!"
Kagome stared at him, "Who else would it be silly? I've been calling you for breakfast for ten minutes now. If you don't hurry your father is going to eat your food also I heard you cussing again. I told you to stop doing that."
Kisho rubbed his head, "My father? Inuyasha?!"
"Who else would it be?"
"Did I hit my head or something?" Kisho said as he snapped his fingers in front of his face.
"Honey, are you sick? I could tell your sister to get your school work."
"What!?"
"You are acting awful strange. Maybe you should stay home."
"Iluska, right?"
"Of course," Kagome said with a soft smile.
"But you were captured by Naraku and I was separated from you and everyone else. Then I was..."
"Calm down. It must have been a dream. There's none of those things here," Kagome said as she walked out of his room, "Come down from breakfast now."
Kisho stood there for a moment on his bed, "It never happened?"
Kisho stared at his hands and noticed he didn't have his claws anymore. He jumped off the bed and ran to the bathroom to look at a mirror. He stared at his reflection to see that his hair was completely black again. Even his fangs were gone. Kisho slowly walked out of the bathroom and walked down the steps. 'Was it really just a dream?'
"There you are. You better hurry up an eat and get to school," Inuyasha yelled as he sat at the table. Kisho looked down to see a human looking Inuyasha sitting at his seat. Kisho was so busy staring at him that he wasn't watching what he was doing and he ended up falling down the stairs. At the bottom of the stairs stood Iluska staring down at him, "I swear why did my twin have to be such an idiot?"
Kisho was at a lost of words now as he stared at her. Kagome ran over to Kisho to help him up, "Kisho your head is bleeding."
Kisho sat up and sat at the bottom of the stairs while Kagome ran off to get some bandages. Iluska shook her head as she sat down at the table. Kisho reached up and touched his head that was bleeding, "My healings powers...I have no powers."
"Looks like it's just a scratch," Inuyasha said as he patted Kisho lightly on the head, "Watch where you're going next time."
"Don't be too hard on him," Kagome said as she reappeared from the kitchen with the first aid kit, "He isn't feeling good today."
"Great, do I have to get his things?" Iluska asked with annoyed tone.
"No," Kisho said as he looked up to Kagome, "I think I'll be ok. I'm going to school."
"Alright, only if you're sure," Kagome said as she placed a band aid on his head.
"Stop babying him," Inuyasha grumbled from the table.
Kagome smiled as she hugged Kisho, "I'm always going to baby him. He's my first baby."
"He was only born five minutes before me," Iluska said as she took a bite of her breakfast.
Kisho was still in a daze through the entire breakfast. Even once he began to head off to school he still felt strange. The entire situation felt strange to him. He had always wanted to live a normal life and normal parents, but something was odd about all this. His hand gripped his head lightly as he felt a sharp pain.
"Hey, Kisho are you ok? Do you have a headache or something?"
Kisho looked up to see Shippo standing there before him dressed in a school uniform, "Shippo?"
"Damn it Kisho. Stop playing sick and hurry up," Keiji yelled from behind.
Kisho felt like he was going to faint as he stumbled back. Shippo quickly grabbed his arm to steady him on his feet, "Whoa, maybe he really is sick, Keiji."
"Peh, that would be a cold day in hell."
"No I'm fine," Kisho said waving his hands to them, "Just something I ate."
"Right..." Keiji said as he turned back around, "Let's go."
Kisho walked with them as he listened to them talk. 'I know them...but if there here. Maybe I really did dream the entire situation.'
As they arrived at school they all began to step inside but Keiji grabbed Kisho by the arm, "I need to talk to you for a moment."
Shippo waved to the two, "I'll meet you both inside."
Kisho nodded to Shippo as he turned to face Keiji, "Uh, what is it?"
"Listen I know we're both best friends..."
'Best friends? I must be dreaming then, but then again Keiji always did hide his feelings.' Kisho thought to himself as he listened to Keiji.
"And I know you're a good guy, but if you take advantage of my sister today then I'm going to have to kill you."
Kisho felt sick again, "What?"
"Oh don't tell me you forgot. You're lucky we're friends, you know? You have a date with Kyoko tonight."
Kisho resisted saying 'what?' again as he just nodded his head, "Right...sorry must have slipped my mind. Let's go to class now."
"Right," Keiji said as the two walked off to class.
'This is becoming stranger and stranger...' Kisho said to himself as they opened the door to the classroom.
"You two are late," the teacher said as he looked over to the two.
Keiji bowed his head, "Uh, sorry."
Kisho stepped into the door way and glanced towards the teacher, 'Tora?!' he yelled mentally to himself.
"And Mr. Higurashi I need to speak with you. Please wait for me outside."
"Uh, right!" Kisho said frantically as he quickly stepped back outside and closed the door. He waited quietly in the hallway as he stared at the ceiling, "The more I think about everything the more I think that everything was a dream."
"Thank you for your patience, Mr. Higurashi," Tora said as he stepped outside and shut the door behind him. He took off his glasses as he looked to Kisho, "You've been late for several times in a row now. Can you explain?"
"Uh..." Kisho wasn't sure what to say really, "I've been feeling under the weather."
"Day dreaming?"
"Something like that...."
"Tell me Mr. Higurashi are you truly ready?"
Kisho's eyes widened to the phrase as he held his head. His eyes saw a gush of blood streak across his eyes, "I..."
"When you can give a straight answer. Then you're ready."
Kisho and Tora went back to class but Kisho was still in a fog. Everything that happened seemed real, but there was just something strange about the entire world. What Tora said triggered something in his mind, but he wasn't sure what it was. Time went by fast and before Kisho knew it, school was over. Everyone rushed out to go home or to go take care of other business. Kisho waved his goodbyes to Shippo and Keiji and he began to walk home, but he didn't to far, until someone called his name, "Kisho!"
Kisho turned around and saw it was Kyoko. His eyes softened slightly as he looked at her. She didn't have scars anymore and her hair was neatly tied behind her back, "I heard you weren't feeling too good."
"Yeah, about that..."
"I know, you're going to cancel on me."
"I'm sorry..."
Kyoko smiled up to him, "That's ok. I don't want to make you sicker by just trying to go out with me. We've been out plenty of times. I can let you off the hook this time."
Kisho stood there staring at her as she winked to him. 'What is this feeling? I feel...'
Kisho fell down to his knee's suddenly as he gripped his head again. Something was wrong with him, but he couldn't tell what it was though. Kyoko walked over to him and bent down to his level, "Kisho?"
The feeling suddenly stopped and Kisho looked into Kyoko's eyes, "Don't worry about it. I'll make it up to you, I promise," Kisho grabbed her arm and brought her to him. He gently embraced her while she did the same. Kisho didn't know why he did that, but for some reason he felt like he had to comfort her.
"You better get home, before your mother worries," Kyoko said as she broke the embrace.
"Right, I'll see you later then..."
Kyoko nodded as she waved goodbye to him. Kisho waved back as he walked home. He walked up those familiar steps to his house like he did so many times in the past. Once he got to the top he didn't go inside right away. He walked through the courtyard towards the God Tree. His eyes stared up the mighty tree with the mark it still barred in the middle.
"If this isn't a dream...where did that mark come from?"
'This is real," a voice hissed in Kisho's mind, 'You have a family, friends, and even a girlfriend. Everything that someone your age wants. How could this not be real?'
"What about Naraku!? What happened to him and everyone else in the feudal era? What about the people who believed in me? Were they really just fragments of my imagination? I don't understand!"
Kisho fell down to his hands and knees. His fist hit against the concrete ground as he bit his lip until droplets of blood rolled off his lips onto the ground.
"Kisho..."
Kisho snapped his head around to see Kagome standing there. Her eyes held tears in them as she looked down to him.
"Mother..." Kisho said as he got up to face her, "Where am I?"
"That's something you have to find out for yourself. Kisho...are you truly ready to face your destiny or would you rather live a normal life like you always wanted?"
"How am I expected to answer that? I never asked for this, why me?"
"What if it was someone else?"
Kisho was silent for a moment as he thought about it, "They would have failed."
"Kisho you were born with a strong heart. You have resisted evil temptations and you've remained strong through ordeals that would crush anyone else. It's only human to want something for yourself. You are not prefect and neither is Naraku."
Kisho walked towards Kagome with his hand stretched out to her, "It's really you isn't it?"
Kagome nodded her head lightly as she touched Kisho's hand gently, "I need you to escape. When you arrive at the village you will know what to do."
"Right," Kisho said as he smiled to his mother. Kagome gently hugged him while Kisho did the same.
"Tell me Kisho," Tora said as he appeared from behind the God Tree, "Are you truly ready?"
Kisho looked up towards Tora, "I am, but my memory..."
"Remember, no one can take that away. It may only seem like it, but your memories will always live on with you. Remember the true past as it should be," Tora said as he faded away.
"The true past..." As Kisho spoke those words the world around him began to melt away. As he looked back to Kagome, he slowly saw her image fading away, "Wait a little longer!" Kisho yelled. 'I will release you...and thank you.'
Back in the real world, Inuyasha had been fighting Kisho the entire time. Kagura and Kyoko had turned to fight Sesshomaru instead while Tora was holding his own against Naraku still. Iluska was helping in the fight against Sesshomaru, but surprisingly all three were having a difficult time with Sesshomaru.
Kisho had Inuyasha pinned against the ground with his claws raised in the air. Naraku glanced back to the fighting pair as he looked back to Tora, "Now Inuyasha will be destroyed by his sons own hands."
Inuyasha growled lightly to Naraku as he watched Kisho's claws swing down towards him. He shut his eyes for a brief moment before he opened them again when he realized he was still ok. His eyes shifted up to Kisho who seemed to have regained himself again.
Naraku sneered lightly, "Impossible. How can his will be that strong?"
Kisho's claws moved away from Inuyasha's face and reached around to the creature on the back of his neck. With just one touch of his hand the creature exploded into nothing, but I pile of dust. Kisho's eyes turned to Naraku, "You!"
Tora was surprised by the sudden burst of energy Kisho was admitting and he quickly got out of the way just as Kisho swung his claws at Naraku to use his newer sonic boom attack. Naraku wasn't dumb though and he leapt into the air as the attack crashed through the forest trees.
"You surprise me Kisho. You're focused now. I look forward to facing you once I have the Shikon Jewel in my hands."
Kisho watched Naraku disappear while Iluska and the others disappeared as well from everyone. Inuyasha got to his feet again, "Kisho are you ok?"
Kisho smiled to Inuyasha as he slowly fell to the ground. Inuyasha quickly reached out and caught him just before he hit against the ground. His claws pressed against Kisho's head, "He must be worn out."
"No one has ever mentally overpowered those creatures before," Sesshomaru said as he set Tokijin back in his belt.
"That's the first time I've seen Kisho so focused," Kyoko said as she limped out from behind the tree.
"That's Kisho's true power. He's beginning to master it," Tora walked over to Inuyasha, "Of course he had a little help."
"Kagome and you helped him..." Inuyasha said as he looked up to Tora.
"How did you know?"
"It was a feeling..."
"In any case, I'm going to track Naraku down and hold him off. The rest of you should head to the village as fast as you can."
Sesshomaru began to walk away. He needed to go back to see Rin and Jaken. Kyoko was just about to ask where he was going when Inuyasha stopped her, "Don't worry about him. He'll show up again. Once we get to the village, then the fight of our lives begin. Naraku...you will pay for what you have done to my family and the rest of this world."
Coming of Age
Chapter 20
"Are you sure this is the right way?" Kyoko asked as she held onto Kisho's neck.
"Yes...for the last time I'm positive he's this way," Kisho replied as he slowly walked along the river banks.
Kisho had just finished rescuing Kyoko and now he was searching for his father. He had failed to realize how hurt Inuyasha really was and now he feared that he may have let his father down. Kisho had been following his scent for quiet some time and he was getting worried now. He had been carrying Kyoko most of the way since her legs were still injured.
"Father!" Kisho yelled while Kyoko kept busy searching.
Kisho paused before taking his next step. Kyoko pushed around his white and black hair to see his face, "Is something wrong?"
"I don't think so...it's just something feels strange here."
While Kisho stood there with an ill feeling his eyes shot towards a few trees by instinct and there he saw Inuyasha coming out of the woods. His eyes lit up with relief as he jogged over towards his father.
Inuyasha was equally glad the two were ok. After he rested for a little bit he had gone out to search for them both.
"Father," Kisho said as he stared up to him with his crystal clear eyes, "...I'm sorry that it took me so long to return."
Inuyasha kept up a strong upfront, but he softened a bit as he looked into Kisho's eyes, "Feh, just stop apologizing already. You know I'm going to forgive you."
"Right," Kisho said as he grinned to Kyoko who smiled back to him.
"Should we head to the village then?" Kyoko asked as she slipped out of Kisho's grip to stand on her own.
Inuyasha nodded, but Kisho didn't agree just yet, "There's something strange here, I think it may be important."
"I don't sense anything," Inuyasha said as he sniffed the air, "I don't smell anything either...except one thing."
"That's right, Inuyasha," Sesshomaru said as he stepped out towards the group, "There is indeed something here. Even your own offspring can sense it."
"Shut up," Inuyasha hissed under his breath, "Maybe he was sensing you."
"No, it isn't uncle Sesshomaru. I've known he's been following us for some time. It's a strange feeling." Kisho said as he walked around.
Inuyasha shook his head as he watched Kisho, "I don't think I'll ever get use to hearing uncle Sesshomaru."
"You better not," Sesshomaru said with a cold glare to Inuyasha. He then watched Kisho search around the area. His own eyes searched the surrounding trees for the source of the strange aura.
Kyoko sat down on the ground as she watched the boys, "Well, I sure don't get what everyone is searching for."
Kisho walked around a few steps until he was sure where it was coming from, "It's there," Kisho pointed to one of the larger trees in the area.
As soon as Kisho pointed out the spot Sesshomaru took out Tokijin and used its intense wind pressure to rip the tree apart. As he did something leaped out of the branches and landed right behind Kisho.
Kisho didn't dare to turn around as he remained still. What stood behind him was the cloaked man from previous encounters with everyone. His hands still remained rested at his side while his black cloak blew gently in the wind. Inuyasha was about to take Tetsusaiga out, but Sesshomaru raised a hand to stop him, "He doesn't need your protection all the time. Unlike you, he's capable of standing his own ground."
Inuyasha narrowed his eyes at Sesshomaru. He disliked how his brother had such little faith in him, but Inuyasha didn't take his taunting to serious anymore.
"Kisho...before me you stand. You are the one I seek. Yes...but are you truly ready?"
Kisho wasn't sure what the cloak man was saying, but he swallowed a gulp of air, "Who are you?"
"Tell me. Are you truly ready to face your destiny? Will you allow death to rule this land?"
"If you're talking about Naraku then I'll stop him."
"Even if you were to die?"
"I won't...and if I do then I'll just have to figure something else."
"Strong words for a weak soul."
Kisho was silent for a brief moment. His spirit had recently been pushed to its limits when he transformed and he almost lost his true self, but Kisho couldn't let that scare him, "Even so...I will still try."
"A wise answer."
"Who are you?" Kisho repeated the question as he kept his back facing the cloaked man.
Inuyasha and the others watched intensely. Sesshomaru had no expression what so ever as he watched, but he was curious to whom this man was. The cloak figure was strong there was no doubt there, but there was something odd about him.
"I believe you know who I am. Close your eyes and think."
Kisho focused on the mans voice some as he shut his eyes. As he did the cloaked man walked around Kisho to face him. His hands reached up to his hood while his fingers gripped the cloth. "Now tell me...who am I?"
Kisho's eyes suddenly snapped opened as he stared at to the cloaked man, "Tora!?"
As a gust of wind blew by the cloaks hood blew away from his face to reveal Tora's face. His hair had grown much longer now and it was now black in color instead of a light blond. His face and arms were scared from the injuries he received from Ryo. Tora's eyes were wrapped with a bandanna that had a knot neatly tied in the back of his head.
"I can't believe it," Inuyasha said as he stepped towards them, "It was you all along."
Tora nodded as he listened to Inuyasha's voice. Kisho tilted his head to Tora as he stared up at his face, "What happened?"
"I understand now," Sesshomaru said as he walked towards the group.
"I'm glad someone understands," Kyoko said as she rested her head against her knee. She was still stumped with what was going on.
Sesshomaru stopped before Tora, "He made a deal with the demons from hell."
Inuyasha and Kisho looked to Tora as he responded to Sesshomaru, "I did."
"But why?" Kisho asked as a worried expression surfaced across his young face.
"Because..."
"He was dying," Sesshomaru said for him. It was rare that a demon would make deals with the ones from hell, not to mention it took a certain technique to even talk to them in the first place.
"Yes, I was dying," Tora said as his head tilted to Kisho, "I wanted to help you and your father. My body was beyond repair and I couldn't use a human as a host again. It was my last option. So, I made a deal with a demon. He agreed to heal me and give me my soul back if I gave him something in return."
"What was that?" Inuyasha asked now.
"A part of my memory and my eyes."
"Tora, how could you give something so precious up," Kyoko said with a hint of sadness in her voice. She felt sorry for Tora since she knew his memories of his past seemed important to him.
"Because, that's what a true friend would do. My eyes aren't that important. My other senses make up for it and I've found I can function much better this way. And as for my memories they can never be taken away or forgotten. They are always inside me."
"Thanks, Tora," Kisho said as he offered a hand to his friend. Tora smiled down to him and he took Kisho's hand, "Sorry about testing you. You too Inuyasha."
Inuyasha just shrugged to Tora, "I wasn't worried about it."
There was such a happy atmosphere in the area that the entire group almost let their guard down. Tora on the other hand had such keen sense he could feel a large power coming their way, "Get down!"
Everyone was suddenly on the alert, but none of them sensed anything coming just yet. Tora stepped away from Kisho and Sesshomaru; while he did he raised his right hand to the sky and created a huge barrier around the entire area.
As the attack fell through the sky it was only then that everyone else sensed what was coming their way except Sesshomaru. The attack hit again the barrier and pushed against the force field trying to break through. Sparks and electrical bolts ran down the barrier as it struggled to keep back the attack. The barrier began to fade, but as it did the attack was also drained of his energy.
"Where did that come from?" Kyoko asked as she limped over to Kisho and the others.
"I'll give you one guess," Kisho said as his eyes narrowed to the sky.
From the sky floated down four figures. Their dark robes whipped around in the winds that surrounded them.
"Ah, I've been looking all over for my lost pets," Naraku said with a dark grin across his face as his eyes focused on Kisho and the others.
"Naraku..." Sesshomaru said as his eyes narrowed to the man. He gripped Tokijin in his hand as he watched the tricky demon descend.
Naraku turned towards the group, "So we finally meet once again. Hopefully this should be a taste of what's to come when you face me when I reach my true power."
Kisho and Inuyasha were both growling at Naraku and his little minions with him. Standing at his side was Iluska, Kagura, and Kohaku.
"Naraku! You're trying to find the shard, aren't you? You know damn well it's not here so why don't you get lost," Tora said as he marched right towards Naraku from behind.
"Humph, I thought you would have turned out so much better Tora. You had the potential of becoming a great demon if you followed me. Once you were of course you would have become part of this perfect body," Naraku said as he turned to face Tora.
Tora looked towards Iluska who was standing silently at Naraku's side, "You remain at his side knowing he would one day devour you?"
Iluska was silent as she glanced to Kisho, "I am loyal to my lord Naraku."
"No matter what you do, the girl will not betray me," Naraku raised his hand to extend the blade like weapons on his arm.
Tora's lips curled to reveal his sharp fangs, "Everyone get out of here. I'll take care of this."
Kisho nodded as he turned to Inuyasha, "He'll be fine, right?"
Inuyasha nodded his head while Sesshomaru walked past them, "Our fight isn't here."
"Hmm...right," Kisho said as he walked over to help Kyoko.
Naraku had a grin across his face as he looked at Tora, "I'm surprise, by how weak you are in your new form. You lost your eye sight among other things."
"It's still enough to destroy you," Tora said as he readied one of his claws.
"I have no interest in you," Naraku sneered as he suddenly swung his hand except he wasn't aimed at Tora. He did a quarter turn and once his arm crossed his body something flew out his hand and struck Kisho in the back of the neck.
Kisho was startled by what was on his neck and his claws frantically tried to grab what ever it was crawling on him. Naraku had thrown the creature that was used to control Kagome and Koga at the unsuspecting Kisho who had turned his back on the enemy.
"Your insight on matters, Tora has greatly decreased," Naraku said with a satisfied grin across his face.
The creature avoided Kisho's hands rather well and its small claws dug into the back of his neck while it injected its long needle into the top of his spine.
"Ahh!" Kisho yelled with his hands gripping his head. He threw himself against the ground as if he was having a seizure.
Tora tried to run over but Naraku caught him in his tree like hands now and tossed him into the forest trees, "Your feelings, Tora are your weakness."
Kyoko walked slowly over to Kisho with her hands stretched out incase she needed to defend herself, "Kisho?"
Kisho slowly got back up on his feet, but as he looked up, Kyoko saw how lifeless his eyes were. He suddenly swung his claws at her, but before he came in reach of her, Sesshomaru used his own claw and knocked Kisho back.
"Sesshomaru how could you hit him like that!" Inuyasha yelled as he ran towards them.
"He's not himself. Would you rather have the boy kill the girl here?"
"Humph, don't get me started."
As Inuyasha ran towards them Kohaku leapt in front of him and threw his sickle blade at Inuyasha. The blade spun through the air in a blur of movements, but Inuyasha had dealt with Kohaku before and he was use to how the sickle blade moved. He quickly skidded to a stop and back flipped just as the blade came down at him. The chain that was attached to the blade twisted in the air to catch Inuyasha off guard, but Inuyasha had become a bit more efficient when he fought and he didn't make sloppy mistakes so often now. Inuyasha made sure to avoid the whip like chain as he avoided Kohaku. He landed on the ground with ease and cracked his knuckles as he stared at the lifeless Kohaku, "Get out of my way brat!"
Inuyasha charged forward at the boy with his fingers balled up in a fist. He struck Kohaku across the face, but before Inuyasha could run forward Kagura blocked his way as she swung her fan, "Wind Blades."
Inuyasha pulled Tetsusaiga out and blocked her Wind Blades with just a flick of his wrist, "Is that the best you got, Kagura? I'm fighting with an injured arm and that hardly fazed me."
"My, my aren't you feisty today. Well, I'll be sure to give you a challenge," she said as she readied her fan again.
Sesshomaru watched his brother fight for a brief moment before his eyes went to Kisho getting up off the ground again. He readied his claw again as he stepped towards him, but Iluska blocked his way with her sword raised. Sesshomaru paused as he took a moment to stare at the girl. He did not have the same feelings towards her as Kisho and thus he would not think twice in killing her, "Move aside."
"No...I can't let you."
Sesshomaru studied for a moment as he flexed his claw, "You're protecting him."
"No! I am fighting you!" Iluska yelled as she charged Sesshomaru with her sword raised high.
Sesshomaru held his ground as she leapt into the air to attack him. He raised his claw and caught the blade in his hand. Iluska was surprise by how easy he caught the blade, "How?"
"You may be powerful, but your anger holds you back," Sesshomaru's poison in his claws melted right though Iluska blade and he quickly grabbed Tokijin on his belt to slash Iluska. Iluska feared that this was it. She was completely open for attack as she fell back to the ground, but suddenly something blocked her view of Sesshomaru as his blade swung towards her. Sesshomaru was almost as surprise as Iluska was as his blade struck Kisho instead. Kisho had leapt out from behind to protect Iluska with his body. His arms were crossed over his body to shield his vital organs as the attack tore through his arms. Luckily Sesshomaru eased the pressure he had Tokijin at the last moment so he wouldn't severe Kisho's arms right off.
Sesshomaru glanced towards Naraku to see him still messing around with Tora and then he stared at Kisho, "So, you did it to protect her. It wasn't Naraku's doing."
Kisho said nothing as he readied his claws again. Iluska laid on the ground staring at her brother, "Why? Why did you even protect me? We're enemies!"
Iluska swung her claws at Kisho and struck him in the side. He didn't even try to avoid as she knocked him back a few steps, but he remained standing. The poison ate away at his cloths and his wound also began to sizzle from the acid like poison, but as Iluska watched him all his wounds began to heal before her eyes. Kisho growled as his eyes turned for Sesshomaru. He readied his body as he charged forward to fight. Sesshomaru watched the boy charge him as he readied Tokijin, "So we're continuing our fight when we first met then, boy."
Kyoko had been hiding behind some trees since she was in no condition to fight. She hoped Kisho would snap out of this soon or he'll be killed, "Kisho, wake up!"
Kisho heard her voice, but deep in his mind something strange was happening to him. 'Who's calling me? I can't see anything...where am I?'
Kisho slowly opened his eyes to a strange sound. As his eyes focused some more he realize he wasn't in the forest anymore, but he was sitting in his own bed. He quickly sat up in bed as he patted his chest to find out he didn't have his cloths on from the feudal era. He had a normal shirt on and a pair of shorts. Kisho rubbed his eyes again as he stared at where he was, "Where the hell am I?"
Suddenly the door opened and a young woman stepped in. Kisho jumped up on his bed and pressed himself against the wall as he backed up, "Mom?!"
Kagome stared at him, "Who else would it be silly? I've been calling you for breakfast for ten minutes now. If you don't hurry your father is going to eat your food also I heard you cussing again. I told you to stop doing that."
Kisho rubbed his head, "My father? Inuyasha?!"
"Who else would it be?"
"Did I hit my head or something?" Kisho said as he snapped his fingers in front of his face.
"Honey, are you sick? I could tell your sister to get your school work."
"What!?"
"You are acting awful strange. Maybe you should stay home."
"Iluska, right?"
"Of course," Kagome said with a soft smile.
"But you were captured by Naraku and I was separated from you and everyone else. Then I was..."
"Calm down. It must have been a dream. There's none of those things here," Kagome said as she walked out of his room, "Come down from breakfast now."
Kisho stood there for a moment on his bed, "It never happened?"
Kisho stared at his hands and noticed he didn't have his claws anymore. He jumped off the bed and ran to the bathroom to look at a mirror. He stared at his reflection to see that his hair was completely black again. Even his fangs were gone. Kisho slowly walked out of the bathroom and walked down the steps. 'Was it really just a dream?'
"There you are. You better hurry up an eat and get to school," Inuyasha yelled as he sat at the table. Kisho looked down to see a human looking Inuyasha sitting at his seat. Kisho was so busy staring at him that he wasn't watching what he was doing and he ended up falling down the stairs. At the bottom of the stairs stood Iluska staring down at him, "I swear why did my twin have to be such an idiot?"
Kisho was at a lost of words now as he stared at her. Kagome ran over to Kisho to help him up, "Kisho your head is bleeding."
Kisho sat up and sat at the bottom of the stairs while Kagome ran off to get some bandages. Iluska shook her head as she sat down at the table. Kisho reached up and touched his head that was bleeding, "My healings powers...I have no powers."
"Looks like it's just a scratch," Inuyasha said as he patted Kisho lightly on the head, "Watch where you're going next time."
"Don't be too hard on him," Kagome said as she reappeared from the kitchen with the first aid kit, "He isn't feeling good today."
"Great, do I have to get his things?" Iluska asked with annoyed tone.
"No," Kisho said as he looked up to Kagome, "I think I'll be ok. I'm going to school."
"Alright, only if you're sure," Kagome said as she placed a band aid on his head.
"Stop babying him," Inuyasha grumbled from the table.
Kagome smiled as she hugged Kisho, "I'm always going to baby him. He's my first baby."
"He was only born five minutes before me," Iluska said as she took a bite of her breakfast.
Kisho was still in a daze through the entire breakfast. Even once he began to head off to school he still felt strange. The entire situation felt strange to him. He had always wanted to live a normal life and normal parents, but something was odd about all this. His hand gripped his head lightly as he felt a sharp pain.
"Hey, Kisho are you ok? Do you have a headache or something?"
Kisho looked up to see Shippo standing there before him dressed in a school uniform, "Shippo?"
"Damn it Kisho. Stop playing sick and hurry up," Keiji yelled from behind.
Kisho felt like he was going to faint as he stumbled back. Shippo quickly grabbed his arm to steady him on his feet, "Whoa, maybe he really is sick, Keiji."
"Peh, that would be a cold day in hell."
"No I'm fine," Kisho said waving his hands to them, "Just something I ate."
"Right..." Keiji said as he turned back around, "Let's go."
Kisho walked with them as he listened to them talk. 'I know them...but if there here. Maybe I really did dream the entire situation.'
As they arrived at school they all began to step inside but Keiji grabbed Kisho by the arm, "I need to talk to you for a moment."
Shippo waved to the two, "I'll meet you both inside."
Kisho nodded to Shippo as he turned to face Keiji, "Uh, what is it?"
"Listen I know we're both best friends..."
'Best friends? I must be dreaming then, but then again Keiji always did hide his feelings.' Kisho thought to himself as he listened to Keiji.
"And I know you're a good guy, but if you take advantage of my sister today then I'm going to have to kill you."
Kisho felt sick again, "What?"
"Oh don't tell me you forgot. You're lucky we're friends, you know? You have a date with Kyoko tonight."
Kisho resisted saying 'what?' again as he just nodded his head, "Right...sorry must have slipped my mind. Let's go to class now."
"Right," Keiji said as the two walked off to class.
'This is becoming stranger and stranger...' Kisho said to himself as they opened the door to the classroom.
"You two are late," the teacher said as he looked over to the two.
Keiji bowed his head, "Uh, sorry."
Kisho stepped into the door way and glanced towards the teacher, 'Tora?!' he yelled mentally to himself.
"And Mr. Higurashi I need to speak with you. Please wait for me outside."
"Uh, right!" Kisho said frantically as he quickly stepped back outside and closed the door. He waited quietly in the hallway as he stared at the ceiling, "The more I think about everything the more I think that everything was a dream."
"Thank you for your patience, Mr. Higurashi," Tora said as he stepped outside and shut the door behind him. He took off his glasses as he looked to Kisho, "You've been late for several times in a row now. Can you explain?"
"Uh..." Kisho wasn't sure what to say really, "I've been feeling under the weather."
"Day dreaming?"
"Something like that...."
"Tell me Mr. Higurashi are you truly ready?"
Kisho's eyes widened to the phrase as he held his head. His eyes saw a gush of blood streak across his eyes, "I..."
"When you can give a straight answer. Then you're ready."
Kisho and Tora went back to class but Kisho was still in a fog. Everything that happened seemed real, but there was just something strange about the entire world. What Tora said triggered something in his mind, but he wasn't sure what it was. Time went by fast and before Kisho knew it, school was over. Everyone rushed out to go home or to go take care of other business. Kisho waved his goodbyes to Shippo and Keiji and he began to walk home, but he didn't to far, until someone called his name, "Kisho!"
Kisho turned around and saw it was Kyoko. His eyes softened slightly as he looked at her. She didn't have scars anymore and her hair was neatly tied behind her back, "I heard you weren't feeling too good."
"Yeah, about that..."
"I know, you're going to cancel on me."
"I'm sorry..."
Kyoko smiled up to him, "That's ok. I don't want to make you sicker by just trying to go out with me. We've been out plenty of times. I can let you off the hook this time."
Kisho stood there staring at her as she winked to him. 'What is this feeling? I feel...'
Kisho fell down to his knee's suddenly as he gripped his head again. Something was wrong with him, but he couldn't tell what it was though. Kyoko walked over to him and bent down to his level, "Kisho?"
The feeling suddenly stopped and Kisho looked into Kyoko's eyes, "Don't worry about it. I'll make it up to you, I promise," Kisho grabbed her arm and brought her to him. He gently embraced her while she did the same. Kisho didn't know why he did that, but for some reason he felt like he had to comfort her.
"You better get home, before your mother worries," Kyoko said as she broke the embrace.
"Right, I'll see you later then..."
Kyoko nodded as she waved goodbye to him. Kisho waved back as he walked home. He walked up those familiar steps to his house like he did so many times in the past. Once he got to the top he didn't go inside right away. He walked through the courtyard towards the God Tree. His eyes stared up the mighty tree with the mark it still barred in the middle.
"If this isn't a dream...where did that mark come from?"
'This is real," a voice hissed in Kisho's mind, 'You have a family, friends, and even a girlfriend. Everything that someone your age wants. How could this not be real?'
"What about Naraku!? What happened to him and everyone else in the feudal era? What about the people who believed in me? Were they really just fragments of my imagination? I don't understand!"
Kisho fell down to his hands and knees. His fist hit against the concrete ground as he bit his lip until droplets of blood rolled off his lips onto the ground.
"Kisho..."
Kisho snapped his head around to see Kagome standing there. Her eyes held tears in them as she looked down to him.
"Mother..." Kisho said as he got up to face her, "Where am I?"
"That's something you have to find out for yourself. Kisho...are you truly ready to face your destiny or would you rather live a normal life like you always wanted?"
"How am I expected to answer that? I never asked for this, why me?"
"What if it was someone else?"
Kisho was silent for a moment as he thought about it, "They would have failed."
"Kisho you were born with a strong heart. You have resisted evil temptations and you've remained strong through ordeals that would crush anyone else. It's only human to want something for yourself. You are not prefect and neither is Naraku."
Kisho walked towards Kagome with his hand stretched out to her, "It's really you isn't it?"
Kagome nodded her head lightly as she touched Kisho's hand gently, "I need you to escape. When you arrive at the village you will know what to do."
"Right," Kisho said as he smiled to his mother. Kagome gently hugged him while Kisho did the same.
"Tell me Kisho," Tora said as he appeared from behind the God Tree, "Are you truly ready?"
Kisho looked up towards Tora, "I am, but my memory..."
"Remember, no one can take that away. It may only seem like it, but your memories will always live on with you. Remember the true past as it should be," Tora said as he faded away.
"The true past..." As Kisho spoke those words the world around him began to melt away. As he looked back to Kagome, he slowly saw her image fading away, "Wait a little longer!" Kisho yelled. 'I will release you...and thank you.'
Back in the real world, Inuyasha had been fighting Kisho the entire time. Kagura and Kyoko had turned to fight Sesshomaru instead while Tora was holding his own against Naraku still. Iluska was helping in the fight against Sesshomaru, but surprisingly all three were having a difficult time with Sesshomaru.
Kisho had Inuyasha pinned against the ground with his claws raised in the air. Naraku glanced back to the fighting pair as he looked back to Tora, "Now Inuyasha will be destroyed by his sons own hands."
Inuyasha growled lightly to Naraku as he watched Kisho's claws swing down towards him. He shut his eyes for a brief moment before he opened them again when he realized he was still ok. His eyes shifted up to Kisho who seemed to have regained himself again.
Naraku sneered lightly, "Impossible. How can his will be that strong?"
Kisho's claws moved away from Inuyasha's face and reached around to the creature on the back of his neck. With just one touch of his hand the creature exploded into nothing, but I pile of dust. Kisho's eyes turned to Naraku, "You!"
Tora was surprised by the sudden burst of energy Kisho was admitting and he quickly got out of the way just as Kisho swung his claws at Naraku to use his newer sonic boom attack. Naraku wasn't dumb though and he leapt into the air as the attack crashed through the forest trees.
"You surprise me Kisho. You're focused now. I look forward to facing you once I have the Shikon Jewel in my hands."
Kisho watched Naraku disappear while Iluska and the others disappeared as well from everyone. Inuyasha got to his feet again, "Kisho are you ok?"
Kisho smiled to Inuyasha as he slowly fell to the ground. Inuyasha quickly reached out and caught him just before he hit against the ground. His claws pressed against Kisho's head, "He must be worn out."
"No one has ever mentally overpowered those creatures before," Sesshomaru said as he set Tokijin back in his belt.
"That's the first time I've seen Kisho so focused," Kyoko said as she limped out from behind the tree.
"That's Kisho's true power. He's beginning to master it," Tora walked over to Inuyasha, "Of course he had a little help."
"Kagome and you helped him..." Inuyasha said as he looked up to Tora.
"How did you know?"
"It was a feeling..."
"In any case, I'm going to track Naraku down and hold him off. The rest of you should head to the village as fast as you can."
Sesshomaru began to walk away. He needed to go back to see Rin and Jaken. Kyoko was just about to ask where he was going when Inuyasha stopped her, "Don't worry about him. He'll show up again. Once we get to the village, then the fight of our lives begin. Naraku...you will pay for what you have done to my family and the rest of this world."