Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha . . .
ROCK ON!!
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"Shikon . . . Jewel shard?"
Souta broke his gaze from the fragment and stared into his nephew's eyes. Where there was once emptiness was now curiousity, loneliness replaced with amazement. "Hai."
Junichiro trembled as he stared at the glowing shard in his palm. Shikon . . . "Isn't that the name of the--"
"The Jewel that was embedded in your mother's body," the older man confirmed. Tears filled his eyes at the remembrance of his sister.
"Are . . . you sure?" the young man asked, uncertain. He fumbled around for the box, opening it with shaking hands as he dropped the shard back inside. "How . . . how do you know?"
His uncle made a weird noise, before a strange look crept on his face. Sighing, Souta sat next to his nephew, patting his knee. "I've seen the shards many times, Junichiro, and this is definately one of them. How . . . where did you get this?" he asked, taking the box and peering inside. These shards . . . they should've been whole by now . . .
Junichiro shrugged, reaching for the box the shard arrived in. "I don't recognize the sender," he mumbled, fingering the rough edges.
Souta took the box from the younger man and examined the name. "Morita . . ." he murmered. He frowned as he stared at the kanji character in front of the surname, wondering why it was smudged.
"Do you know the name?"
He shook his head, handing the box back to his nephew. "I don't believe I do."
Standing, Souta made to leave when Junichiro's voice stopped him. "Uncle? What . . . what do I do with this?"
The older man closed his eyes momentarily before turning around, his face contorted in another unusual expression. "Keep it safe," he murmered, before leaving the room.
Junichiro watched as he shut the door behind him, before glancing back down at the open box containing the Shikon shard.
Keep it safe . . .
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"What was it? What's wrong?" Hitomi pressed, jumping on her husband as soon as she heard him walk down the stairs. "What was that bright flash?"
Souta rubbed his chin wearily. "Junichiro . . . Junichiro recieved a Shikon shard."
The woman gasped, following him to the door. "What did you do? Did you take it? It's not safe in his--"
"Its in his possession," Souta cut off, putting on his hat. Making sure the letter was in his pocket, he kissed his wife on the cheek.
"But, but why?" Hitomi asked incrediously. "You know what'll happen if he gets near the well . . ."
Her husband nodded. "Yes, I do know. But something tells me I shouldn't interfere. I'll be home for dinner." With that, he left the house.
Junichiro . . . I don't believe the shard was sent to you by mistake . . . it would be wrong for me to keep your destiny from you . . .
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The young man sat in his chair, staring at the glowing shard in front of him. A Shikon Jewel shard . . . what the hell . . .
He didn't understand. He didn't understand why a shard of the Jewel his parents died for was sent to him. According to his uncle, the jewel should've been restored . . . so why was there a fragment laying in a box on his desk?
Souta . . . he suspected that his uncle was hiding something from him. In fact, he knew he was hiding something from him. How he so quickly left the room and told him to keep the shard safe . . .
Why doesn't anyone tell me anything?!
Frustration and anger began to build up inside him as he glared at the fragment. What do you want from me? What the hell do you want from me?!?!?
He clenched his teeth, his emotions seething as he continued to mentally curse the Shikon shard. You . . . you were the reason my parents were killed . . . you were inside my mother's body . . . you were hunted down by demons, including my father . . . now you come to me . . . what am I suppose to do with you?!?!
He slammed his fist on the table, releasing his emotions for the first time in many months. Why . . . why, damnit, why!?!?!
Junichiro roughly took the lid, covered the shard, and threw it across the table. He tugged at his forelocks that framed his face, snarling as he reached up and grabbed his unruly bangs. Stupid shard . . .
Standing from his desk, he made for his closet to get a towel for a shower when the shard began to pulsate once more. He backed up as the aura of the fragment began to glow brighter, its energy filling the entire room.
Feeling helpless and frightened, he was about to yell for his aunt when the same light that shone around the shard engulfed him, sending him into complete darkness.
Junichiro watched as his room disappeared into oblivion, darkness surrounding him. His only source of light was his own body, which illuminated the darkness around him with a dim, purple hue.
What's going on?!? He glanced around furiously, only to find the inky blackness of gloom. Where the hell am I?
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"Junichiro?"
Hitomi pressed her ear to her nephew's door. There were no indications of the young man inside, but she knew better. Knocking once more, she turned the doorknob and stepped through the doorway.
The room was dark, as normal. The shades remained drawn, and there were no lights that were turned on. Glancing around, she finally found Junichiro's form sprawled on his bed.
He's asleep . . . The woman walked forward, and placing a kiss on his forehead, pulled the covers over him. "I'll save some dinner for you," she whispered, pulling a stray strand of hair out of his face. She stood to leave, walking towards the doorway when a glimmer caught her eye. She spotted the Shikon shard, nestled between Junichiro's long fingers.
Smiling, she turned and left the room, closing the door behind her.
Sweet dreams, Junichiro . . . may this fragment be the link to your parents . . .
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"Is anyone there?" the young man called out, his black ears twitching as he searched for any noises.
This is getting me nowhere . . . "Hello?! Can anyone help me?!"
Junichiro rubbed his face, frustrated and lost. How am I going to get out of here?
Suddenly a blood-curdling scream filled the air, causing the young man to jump. A strange heat struck his back as he turned, his eyes blinded by a bright light that suddenly shone in his face.
"Hello?!" he yelled, shielding his eyes as he heard the voices get closer. "Hello?! Is anyone there?"
"Inuyasha! Hurry, we don't have much time!"
Inuyasha?!? That's . . . that's father's name! "Hello? Can anyone hear me?" The bright light suddenly disappeared, and Junichiro fell flat on his face, eating a mouthful of dirt.
Ugh . . . how disgusting! He spat, rubbing the dirt that entered his eyes. "Kagome, take Shippou and run!"
Kagome? Mother! He shot up from the ground, pulling his hair out of his face just in time to see a woman and a young child run past him.
Her long, midnight black hair flew wildly behind her, her arrows slung on her back as she carried her bow in one hand. Even as she ran, she was as graceful as a swan, her miko clothes giving her the ethereal illusion that she was flying.
Mother . . . he breathed, taking in the beautiful sight. The young child, who was probably named Shippou, ran after her, his reddish brown hair flying in his face as his tail--
Wait, a tail?!? Since when did children have tails?!
Suddenly Kagome stopped, her brown eyes searching behind her as a worried look overcame her face. "Inuyasha!" she cried, "Inuyasha, where are you!?!"
There was a loud explosion in a grove of trees nearby, followed by a brilliant flash of blue and gold. His mother screamed as she saw the burst of smoke that filled the air, taking Shippou by the arm and shielding him from the blast.
"Inuyasha!" she called when the forest was quiet, "Inuyasha!"
"I'm right here, Kagome! Didn't I tell you to run?!" a grumpy voice answered. Junichiro watched as a red blur leapt out of the smoke and whizzed past him and headed straight for his mother, stopping a mere few feet away.
Junichiro stared at the man before him. He was tall, his long silver hair falling messily down his back. His piercing gold eyes scanned Kagome carefully, checking for any injuries.
"I was worried about you," the woman admitted, stroking back his hair to reveal . . .
Dog ears?
"Feh, stupid woman," he snorted, rolling his eyes. He gave Kagome a sly glance before answering, "We're far from done, you know."
"I know," she whispered, rubbing one of the triangular apendages.
"Ewww, would you two stop the cute, fuzzy moment?" The child whined, jumping in between the couple. "In case you forgot, Naraku's still hot on our trail."
Another loud explosion followed the young demon's words, catching the attention of the trio. Sighing, Inuyasha unsheathed the sword that hung on his side, the blade transforming into a large fang.
"Ready?" The hanyou nudged his wife, stooping slightly to have her climb on his back.
"Ready as I'll ever be," she nodded, taking out an arrow and notching it in her bow.
"For Junichiro?" Inuyasha asked, hugging Kagome's legs tighter around his waist.
"For Junichiro," The miko agreed firmly, securing the kitsune between her and her husband before they charged back into the battle.
"Mother! Father!" The young man cried, watching as the two disappeared into the smoke. They . . . they didn't see me . . .
Blackness began to surround him again, his sight of the forest and dark smoke disintergrating. "Wait! Mother! Father!"
Mother . . . Father . . .
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The young man sat up in his bed, gasping for breath. He glanced around, noticing that he was back in his room. He clutched his chest, his heart pounding as he felt something warm in his palm. Opening his fist, he found the Shikon shard resting against his skin. What . . .
"Junichiro? Are you alright?" His aunt and uncle opened the door, their faces etched with worry.
"Wha--"
"We heard you screaming," Hitomi informed, rushing to his side.
"It looks like you've seen a ghost!" Souta exclaimed, following his wife. "Did you have a bad dream or something?"
"Dream?"
Was it all just a dream . . .
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AN: I know, I promised a Beneath the Tangles update, but I was just so into this one today that I couldn't stop. So what do you guys think of Junichiro so far? I'd appreciate reviews!
Thanks for the reviews!
stay tuned!