Inuyasha
Coming of Age
((Author Note: These coming chapters are all about one certain character and his/her problems being resolved. So each chapter is dedicated to one character. This one is all about Kisho, even though all the chapters are mostly about Kisho. I would have to say this is really the last chapter. I'm writing a few bonus one's but this would be consider the true ending of the story. Also I totally rewrote this because I had a better idea in mind. sigh And I did so much editing on the last one, only to delete it. Oh well. This has only a minor editing job. Sorry about that. I'll do a better job of editing next week.))
Chapter 25: Kisho's Final Form
Kisho was sitting in one of the old tree's that had survived the brutal beatings during the battles that had occurred earlier. Naraku had taken his toll on the land during the past years. All Kisho saw was destruction as his yellow eyes laid on the dying land. He felt his hands clutch together in anger as his teeth bit down on his lip. Even though Naraku was responsible for all the damages, Kisho had his hand in the damages as well. Trees were destroyed, the land was scared, and the rivers were poisoned. Things would never be the same again.
Kisho sighed lightly as he shut his eyes together to feel the cool wind blow through his raven black hair. The Shikon Jewel had drained him of his powers so his appearance was more human like then demon. His hair went down to his lower back, which annoyed Kisho since he preferred shorter hair. As the winds blew back the dark clouds it opened up the blue skies that hadn't shined on the lands in ages. Kisho felt the warm rays hit his face and he opened one of his eyes to see the brilliant blue sky, "That's something I havn't seen in a long time..."
As Kisho stared up to the sky he wondered what was left for him to do. What was his purpose? He couldn't continue to fight; he would only destroy more things around him. What was there left to do? 'Is there anything left for me to do?'
Kagome had begun to notice a change in Kisho's attitude. He barely spoke to anyone, spending most of the day in his tree, thinking of the future. Even Inuyasha was beginning to worry about Kisho, even though he never expressed his concerns verbally.
Inuyasha sat outside in the grass watching Kisho in the tree. His ears flickered lightly as he watched the boy. He had heard Kisho talk to himself, but the things he said didn't make much sense to him, "What the hell is his problem?" Inuyasha mumbled.
Kagome overheard him when she stopped out of the hut. She was wiping her hands off after changing everyone's bandages, "What was that?"
Inuyasha snorted lightly, "It...it was nothing."
Kagome sat down next to him and looked up to Kisho's tree to see him sitting there again, "You're worried too?"
Inuyasha snorted lightly as he turned his head away, "He just sits there all day long, talking about nonsense. Of course I'm worried, people don't do that!"
Tora had overheard their conversation from inside the hut. The injured tiger slowly picked himself up and stepped outside slowly. His blind eyes casually moved around as Tora used his other senses to direct himself. During the past days, Tora had begun to change back to his original appearance. What ever deal he made, with the demons in hell had begun to ware off. His medium length hair rolled down his shoulders as he approached, Inuyasha and Kagome, "I'll talk to him."
Kagome snapped her head back, surprise that Tora was even up, "No you don't. You're injured really badly, Tora."
Inuyasha had cocked his head back towards Tora. He noticed that Tora was clutching his side still as he spoke to Kagome. The smell of blood was still in the air from Tora's wounds. It was obvious that Tora was still hurt, yet he was moving still. Almost determined to, "Kagome..." Inuyasha said as he stood up.
"Hmm?" Kagome looked back to Inuyasha who approached her and Tora.
"Let him go," Inuyasha said as he stared at Tora.
Kagome was going to object to this, but she felt Tora's hand against her shoulder.
"It's alright," Tora said in a calm voice, "This is something I have to do. A debt I owe you two..."
Kagome let out a sigh as she nodded. Tora gave her a light smile as he passed by her. His robes blew behind him as he walked towards the tree. His blue eyes looked up the tree slowly even though he saw nothing.
"Kisho? Are you there?" Tora asked as if he was unsure.
Kisho perked up hearing his friend and he looked to see Tora leaning against the tree' side, "Tora!" Kisho quickly jumped down to the ground to greet him, "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be resting?"
Tora nodded as he gestured for Kisho to help steady him, "I should but I have something else I need you to help me with. Do you remember the road we took to my wife's and son's grave?"
"Well, yes...but I don't see-"
"Good, you can help me walk there."
Kisho wasn't sure if he should, but he didn't say anything as he put a loose arm around Tora to help him walk. The road was a long one, but it was easy going. As they walked, they passed by all the villages they had visited on their journey. Many were left in ruins.
"Look at all this destruction..." Kisho said as he watched the villagers rebuild crushed homes.
"I'd like to, if I wasn't blind," Tora said in a kidding like voice.
"Well you get the idea I'm sure."
"I do," Tora said with a smile across his face, "But what else do you see?"
Kisho looked hard at the village, "Uh...I see homeless villagers."
Tora shook his head as he stopped walking. He limped over to a rock so he could rest, "I'm blind and even I can see something you don't."
"And what would that be?" Kisho said as he stared at the village still.
"Are the people angry?"
"No..."
"Exactly"
"But why? I mean they lost so much what's the point? Why praise a hero when he caused the destruction in the first place."
Tora didn't reply as his head turned towards the village. The villagers had noticed Tora and Kisho and they all rushed out to greet the two demons. At first Kisho thought that they were going to chase him away and he was trying to grab Tora, but Tora gently pushed him towards the villagers.
"Hey you're that demon dog with the scar, right?" one of the village kids said as they pointed to Kisho.
"Uh, right I guess you can say that."
"Ah, we had hoped that you would come," one of the women said as she held out a basket to him, "We want to give you our thanks. "
Kisho stared at the basket, "I...I can't accept this. I caused all this to happen in the first place."
"Nonsense, young man. You were only apart of a greater problem. We want to give you an offering in hopes you would bless our newly built village. We heard great tales about you and we would like the great scared demon dog to watch over us."
Kisho blushed lightly. He never thought he was great in any way or form nor was he really a true demon dog. He was about to refuse the offering again when he noticed the look in all the villagers eyes. Even after all the destruction and death they all stared at him with renewed hope for the future.
'Was this what Tora wanted me to see? Even though I caused destruction I bring something greater to people...I bring hope.'
Kisho took the basket as he bowed his head, "I will come back, I promise. I have to take my friend somewhere."
"We will eagerly await your return," the villagers said as they returned to their work.
As they filed out, Kisho could see Tora smiling to him on the rock, "Do you see now?"
"Don't rub it in," Kisho said as he helped Tora up. The two continued along on their journey. Tora seemed to be getting tired, but he insisted that that move on. They soon came to a fork in a road where the road split off to the mountains, where Tora needed to go.
"Stop here," Tora said as he let go of Kisho, "This is where we part."
"What? You can't be serious. You're injured. Not to mention you're blind."
"Maybe, but its time for me to return to where I belong."
"And where the hell is that?" Kisho said with a growl to his voice.
"I don't know, like you I have to find my place in this world," Tora slowly began to limp down the mountain road.
"Will I see you again?" Kisho shouted to him.
Tora paused and looked back to him. As he did his form changed into his true tiger form. His cat like eyes gazed at him, "You can count on it."
Kisho smirked as he waved a goodbye. He wasn't sure what Tora had planned, but he knew he couldn't interfere this time.
Kisho turned around to walk back home and as he did a few men dressed in armor approached him on horses.
"Boy! Are you a demon?"
Kisho stood there for a moment staring at him, "Why?"
"A demon has recently attacked a village and we're looking for it, now answer my question!"
Kisho's eyes grew wide as he listened to the man. The only village that he had passed was the one village that he promised he would bless, "Let me borrow your horse."
The man laughed as his other comrades did the same, "Boy, are you fool?"
Kisho narrowed his eyes as he leaped into the air and kicked the man right off the horse. The other men were in so shocked that they didn't react at all. Kisho took the animal by the reins and galloped off down the road leaving the men behind, "Hmm I didn't think I could do that in my human form."
Kisho made the animal gallop as fast as it could until he saw the flames of the village. His yellow eyes grew wide as he approached closer. The newly rebuilt huts were in shambles while some were still being eaten by the burning hot flames. Kisho climbed off the horse and ran straight into the village as fast as he could. He skidded to a stop when he saw the demon in his sights.
The creature was a huge demon. It looked like a gryphon except it walked on two legs and its arms had blades attach to it. Its wings were folded to the side as it held onto the women Kisho met earlier. The demons bird like eyes narrowed straight at Kisho as he tossed the women aside, "You seem like a challenge."
Kisho stared at him with a horrified look. How could he fight and risk destroying more things around him?
"Please...help us," the women said as he laid on her side. Her hand reached out to him. Kisho's eyes softened as he stretched out his hand to hers. Before Kisho could touch her eyes shot towards the demon just as its fire breath engulfed Kisho and the women. The demon had a pleasing look in his eyes as he continued the flame. The rest of the villagers watched in fear that their savior had fallen. When all hoped seemed lost, Kisho leaped out of the flames with the women in his arms. He had her wrapped up in his coat that protected her from the flames. As he flew through the air his yellow eyes met with the gryphon demons. Kisho's hair had returned to its normal length and color as it whipped around his face as he flew through the air. He landed near the villagers and set the women down, "She'll be ok. He's just shaken up."
"Thank you," one of elder men said as they took the women.
Kisho smiled lightly to them as he turned around to face the gryphon with narrowed eyes. He slowly began to approach the demon. His claws twitched at his side as his lips curled to a growl, revealing his fangs.
"Stay away from me!" the gryphon yelled as it tried shooting more flames at him.
Kisho just swung his claws to the side to stop the flames, "You should have left these people alone. Now it's time to meet your match."
-----
"I wonder where he is," Keiji mumbled as he kept his broken arm still as he laid in the hut.
"He's somewhere," Shippo said as he stared up at the ceiling.
"I'm sure he's ok. I mean he did destroy Naraku," Kyoko said as she kept her head rested against her shoulder.
The door flew opened as the three jumped back. Standing in the doorway was Kisho with a light smile, "Of course I'm ok. Geez, you guys. I'm not some little kid anymore."
"Kisho!" They all shouted as they ran over to him to ask him where he had been.
Inuyasha and Kagome listened from outside, "After all these he still surprises me," Kagome said with a smile.
"Who'd thought he have so many sides to him, at lest he finally found his place," Inuyasha said as he leaned against Kagome lightly.
"His final form?"
"Hmm...I guess you can say that."
Kagome giggled as she rested her head against Inuyasha's shoulder. The two listened to the chatter inside the hut while they watched the stars.
---
"You're coming back, right?" Kyoko said with her arms crossed.
"Of course. I have to go back to my own time for a little bit though. I'll be back."
"You better," Kyoko said as she gave him a quick hug before she ran off. Leaving Kisho speechless.
Keiji elbowed Kisho in the side, "Just for touching my sister I'm going to have to kill you."
Kisho raised an eyebrow, "Right..."
"Just come back, mutt," Keiji said as he waved a goodbye as he walked away.
Kisho smiled lightly until Shippo began to hug him, "Bye Kisho!"
Kisho pushed Shippo off, "Don't you ever do that again!"
Kagome giggled lightly while Inuyasha rolled his eyes.
"Kisho, take good care of that jewel now," Kagome said as she gestured to the Shikon Jewel.
"I will, don't worry," Kisho said as he smiled to her lightly.
Kagome gave him a light hug. After she did she looked at Inuyasha.
"Er...right well you know. We don't need to do the mushy crap. I'll see you later," Inuyasha said as he looked away. Kagome made him sit after a comment like that.
"Ow! What the hell was that for?!"
"You could have been nicer to your own son!"
Kisho laughed lightly as he crawled up on the wells edge. As he did he saw Iluska sitting in the trees. 'So she did come to say goodbye.'
She gave him a light wave when she noticed he was staring at her. Kisho returned the wave as he leaped into the well. His body tumbled into the time drift, heading back to his own time. His journey was over and he had finally reached his true form. Even though his journey was over there was still one last adventure waiting for him on the other side of the well.