Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha
Side note: Whenever I make up new character names for my stories, I basically think of a word for their personality or appearance and then look for the Japanese translation. For Hidenka's cousin I had originally planned on using the word silver…but it turns out one of the Japanese words for silver is Shippou. Lol, so I really couldn't use that name. Instead I decided to use the word stern.
Chapter 8 - A Past Revealed
"Excuse me my lady, but you have a visitor."
Hidenka set down the bow she had been using to practice and nodded dismissing the woman. Raising her bow once more, she lined up her shot and aimed for a tree some distance in front of her. Concentrating, she let the arrow fly. The arrow quickly turned pink and struck the tree. Smiling at her accomplishment, Hidenka collected the rest of her arrows and headed back towards the palace. Ever since she and Shippo had arrived in the East, he had been busy with his tasks as lord. This didn't bother her any. It gave her the freedom to do as she pleased, which lately was train. She knew in the future there would be a battle, and she wanted to be ready for it.
Once she entered her chambers she looked for her visitor, and found her cousin, Ikatsui, standing at her window and looking outside. There was no mistaking the family hair. Hopes deflated, she approached her cousin.
"Hello cousin. I'm surprised to see you here." Ikatsui turned around and looked at her. Almost an exact replica of his father, he never smiled.
"Yes well, my father sent me. He felt you should have someone here protecting you with our family's interests at heart."
"I understand."
"My father suspects Naraku in the death of your father, his brother. If there's anything you know or remember that may help, I would advise you to tell me."
"Well, there was something Naraku mentioned to me before I left."
"And…"
"Well, he called my father a bastard who wasn't worthy of some woman Kikyo. But I have no idea who she is. Do you?" Hidenka was startled when Ikatsui actually showed an emotion. At the mention of the name Kikyo he had looked genuinely surprised. "Cousin what is it? Do you know of this Kikyo woman?"
"Hai. She almost destroyed the four realms many years ago."
"But what does she have to do with my father?"
"I'm surprised you don't know of this yourself. I'm sure Lord Shuudoushi told his children the story. But very well. Back when our parents were children, your mother was betrothed to the prince of the East, Prince Kouga of the wolves. My father was betrothed to the princess of the North, Princess Kikyo. Lord Inuyasha was never betrothed to anyone."
"But what of Lady Sango and Lord Miroku?" Hidenka interrupted.
"Lady Sango and Lord Miroku were not born royalty. Well, sort of. Lord Miroku is your father's cousin, so he lived in the West with our fathers. Lady Sango's mother, and your grandmother were great friends. When Lady Sango's family was killed, your family took her in. Although Lady Sango and Lord Miroku weren't royalty, they were treated as such and were betrothed. As Lord Miroku aged, he decided to become a monk. The South didn't have any spiritual advisors, so he moved there to advise Lord Higurashi, your grandfather. Anyway, although Prince Kouga and your mother were betrothed, your mother instead fell in love with your father. The same happened for my parents. My mother was a servant in the castle that my father chose as a mate instead. This infuriated Princess Kikyo."
"But how is my father involved in all of this?"
"Patience cousin. I'm getting to that. All this time, Princess Kikyo had in her possession a family heirloom, the Shikon no tama, the jewel of four souls. The jewel was created with the four souls of the original four ladies of the realms. The jewel's power over the centuries diminished, until it was utterly forgotten, except for the realm of the North. The only way the jewel could be restored, would be if a soul from each of the four realms returned. This is why Kikyo was upset that my father refused her. She had been planning on stealing his soul. However, she changed plans and instead had your father kidnapped. As a way to cover this she left a message saying the two had eloped. Your mother was devastated. Anyway, Kikyo managed to use her power and control your father. He lost all of his memories in the process. He was ordered to kidnap your mother, which he did, and bring her to the palace. Once Lady Kagome came to Princess Kikyo, her memories were faded too. Prince Kouga was then kidnapped and had his soul stolen. Finally, Princess Kikyo's own mother forfeited her soul so her daughter would become all powerful. However, he plan failed because it was discovered that your mother is not a true descendant of the first lady of the south."
"How can that be?" Hidenka interrupted again. "She was Lord Higurashi's daughter!"
"No she wasn't."
Hidenka gasped. "Well, who is her father then?"
"Lord Nisou, Princess Kikyo's father, who also wasn't a descendant of the North. Princess Kikyo's mother was the descendant for the realm of the North. So since Lady Kagome did not possess the correct soul, Kikyo's plan failed. Your parents managed to escape and later capture Princess Kikyo."
"What happened to her?"
"She was beheaded, and the jewel destroyed. Lord Nisou was so ashamed of the actions of his wife and daughter, he resigned as lord, and the North was given to Lord and Lady Shuudoushi."
"What about the East?"
"Well, that is a bit of a mystery itself. Shortly after the death of Prince Kouga, Lord and Lady Ookami were discovered murdered, the culprit never found. Shortly afterward, the council appointed Lord Kitsune as the new lord of the East. I think you know the rest of the story from there."
Hidenka sat stunned at the story of her parent's past. How could they have never told her. She clenched her fists and attempted to remain calm. She felt betrayed.
"It's odd now that I think of it."
"What is?" Hidenka snapped, not doing a very good job of controlling her emotions.
"Your father's death. It seems almost identical to the legend."
"And what legend would that be?"
"Before the four realms were established, there was once a hanyou and a miko who were deeply in love. However, someone did not approve of their union. He disguised himself as the hanyou and attacked the miko. The miko then in turn used a sacred arrow and pinned him to the God Tree in the very same manner your mother did. The dying miko used her last breath and cursed the hanyou's soul. Instead of being allowed into heaven, the soul was absorbed by the tree, which is why it is now referred to as the God Tree. The notch from the miko's arrow is still in the bark. I'd be interested to find out if Lady Kagome's arrow hit the same mark."
"These are my parents you're talking about!" Hidenka screamed. She had had enough. "How dare you treat my father's death as an amusing puzzle. Isn't it obvious? If the hanyou and miko from the legend were deceived, wouldn't it make sense that my parents were deceived in the same way?"
"That is exactly what my father thinks, and why I am here. Now what can we figure out from what we know?"
"Who would have loved Kikyo?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, Naraku felt that my father wasn't worthy of her. But how would he know her?"
"He must have been around her…but the only one who loved her at the time was…" Once again Ikatsui's face showed surprise as his thoughts came together.
"Cousin, what is it?"
"The only one who ever loved Princess Kikyo was a human boy named Onigumo. He was about the same age as your parents when this all happened. Princess Kikyo used his feelings to her advantage and had him do all her dirty work for her. But according to my father, Princess Kikyo had taken his soul in a last chance effort to save herself. Is it possible he is Naraku?"
"But Naraku is a demon."
"So I thought too…Cousin, I'm afraid I must leave you. I must speak with my father about this. This may actually be what we need to confront Naraku with."
"Alright, and thank you."
"For what?"
"For trusting me with something my parent's never did."
