Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha

Thanks for my loyal reviewers! It's nice to know someone's enjoying this story as much as I am


Chapter 9 - The Stars Never Lie

"Hidenka, I want you to look into the sky. What do you see?"

"I see the God Tree mama."

While chuckling, " yes Hidenka, but what do you see past the tree?"

"The sky and the stars?"

"Very good. Do you know what makes stars?"

"Um…lightning bugs?"

"Souls."

"Papa!!" Inuyasha walked over to the couple seated beneath the God Tree. Taking Hidenka from Kagome's arms he placed her in his own lap.

"The stars are the souls of all those who have come before us, and who watch down on us now with love."

"So is grandpa there?"

"Yes he is," Inuyasha started. He pointed a little bit next to the North Star. "Do you see that extra bright star in the sky? Well if you look a little bit to the right of it, there's another bright star. That is my father. And if you look under the extra bright star, you see mama's father."

"Will you be a star someday papa?"

"Someday. I'll probably be the star beneath mama's father."

"So that means I should look for it?"

Inuyasha laughed at her question. "I hope you don't mean sometime soon Hidenka."

With scared eyes, "of course not papa!"

"It's ok Hidenka. Don't worry, I won't be going anywhere soon. We'll both be here with you."

"Look Hidenka, there's your nurse Kaede coming to get you for bed."

"Yes mama. Goodnight papa, goodnight mama." Kagome hugged Hidenka tightly to her chest as Inuyasha hugged the two of them.

"Goodnight Hidenka," they said in unison. Kaede came forward and took little Hidenka's hand to lead her back towards the palace. Hidenka glanced over her shoulder one last time and found her father kiss her mother. Smiling she made a little wish to be happy like that someday.


Hidenka woke with a start. "I can't believe I forgot about that…" Thinking to herself, she jumped out of her bed and grabbed her robe. Leaping out of her window, she climbed up onto the roof of the palace and tried to locate the North star. 'Alright…there's the north star…grandfather Akuma, grandfather Higurashi…so right beneath that…' Hidenka smiled in triumph when she couldn't find any new stars beneath her grandfather's. 'I knew it.'


"Father."

"Yes Ikatsui?"

"Hidenka and I came to an interesting hypothesis."

"And that would be?"

"That Naraku is really the Onigumo who loved Princess Kikyo."

"Hmm…it would explain the hatred of Inuyasha and all those around him. But I thought Kikyo removed his soul…"

"Well she did father, you said so yourself. But what if he survived somehow, and made a pact with demons, to become one himself…"

"That would make him a hanyou…Ikatsui, I like your idea. And there is a way to prove it."

"Father?"

"Don't worry son, I'll take care of this part. You've done well. Return to the East and keep watch over your cousin. Thinks will be turning ugly soon."

"Very well father."


Sesshomaru slipped past the palace guards and jumped up towards an open second story window. Landing gracefully inside, he quickly looked around him before leaving the unoccupied room and going into the hallway. Silently rushing down the hall, he raced towards the library and allowed himself inside. He lit a lamp and began to search the shelves.

"It has to be here somewhere…ah! Here it is." Sesshomaru pulled down a dusty scroll and blew away the years old dust. "Good thing Higurashi was always paranoid about demon spies." Sesshomaru slid the scroll inside of his robes and left the library as silently as he had entered. He was halfway down the hall when a voice called out to him, "you forgot to put out the lamp my lord." Sesshomaru turned around and found a woman staring at him. She smelled vaguely familiar.

"Allow me to introduce myself Lord Sesshomaru, I am Kagura, the wind sorceress."

'Of course! This is the wind demon that killed Kuromeru. Just as I thought, it was an attack from Naraku.' "And what business do I have with you Kagura?"

"Only that you are trespassing on my lords grounds."

"You must be mistaken then. I do not ever remember you serving Inuyasha, for this is his territory."

"You are the one who is mistaken Sesshomaru." Sesshomaru turned at the new voice and found himself looking right at Naraku. "In fact, you are very mistaken. As far as I'm concerned, there never was an Inuyasha. Now if you would kindly hand that scroll over to me, I'm sure we can settle our differences…" Naraku extended his hand only to retract it when Sesshomaru attempted to injure him with his whip. Using the distraction to his advantage, Sesshomaru went into the closest room and jumped out of the window and into the darkness.

"Damn him… Kagura what did he take!?"

"It was a scroll from Lord Higurashi's personal collection. Something about identifying demons. Why is this a problem for you my lord? I mean it is quite obvious you are a demon."

"No matter. Kagura, I want a status report."

"Well…" Naraku raced forward and grabbed Kagura by the neck lifting her off the ground.

"When I demand something Kagura, I want it immediately. You would do well to remember that."

"Yes…yes…my lord," she managed to gasp out.

"Alright then, now what is the status?"

"The people are slowly revolting. They are wondering what is taking so long for them to view the funeral of their lord. They're beginning to wonder if he's really dead at all."

"And your other assignment?"

"The notes are sketchy…it seems impossible without the jewel. He's resisted everything so far."

"If it was possible centuries ago without it, then it's possible now. Keep trying!"

"Yes my lord."