Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha. Sorry it's been…well forever. I'm back in school, and between that, work, and the real world, I haven't been online in awhile. I'm gonna try to start updating more regularly again, at least during the holiday season once all my research papers are turned in just don't kill me, lol. Enjoy!


Chapter 10 - Blood

'1...2...3...3...2...1...'

"Hidenka…you're drawing blood…" Hidenka snapped her head up and glanced down at her palm, she had been gripping her fist so tightly, her own claws had pierced her skin. She looked sheepishly towards Shippo next to her and ripped off part of her kimono. Wrapping her hand she looked back towards Naraku who was saying some bull shit about how much he loved her father. All morning she had been trying to get close to the casket that was now behind Naraku. But someone had always been in her way. She knew her father wasn't dead, she just needed to prove it.

"How's your mate Shippo?" She saw him flinch but quickly compose himself.

"If you must know she's carrying our pup."

"I see…What happened to getting an heir from me?" she smirked as she spoke

"Any child from you would be an heir, any child from her would be my joy. Now if you would excuse me, I have no wish to see any wedding that follows a funeral." Hidenka growled at his revelation. She herself had no desire to be there, but Kagome needed her. She watched him walk away and mentally sighed. Walking away from the large gathering, she wandered over towards the God tree and sat down, preparing herself for some deep thought.

"I'm not disturbing you am I?" she heard from above. Slowly glancing upwards, she spied Kuromeru sitting in the boughs above her head. Smiling, she leapt up into the tree and seated herself beside him.

"How was it?"

"Faked…I just can't prove it."

"Sesshomaru filled me in on everything. So Naraku is an old enemy?"

"Apparently, and now he's getting ready to marry Mama, and she has no idea she's already defeated him once before. If only Papa was here."

"I've noticed there aren't any new stars lately…"

"I did as well, but who's gonna believe me because of the lack of a star?"

"Well…me, but I can help you."

She looked at him with wide eyes. "What do you mean?"

"It's being taken care of, hopefully. Look, just trust me on this. Everything will be over sooner than you think." He quickly kissed her and leapt out of the tree heading towards the palace. More confused then ever Hidenka leaned against the trunk of the old tree and fell asleep.


"Ikatsui."

"Yes father?" Ikatsui looked up from the army reports he had been going over to finally listen to his father's discoveries about Higurashi's scroll.

"It seems that there is a way to determine if a demon is truly a hanyou…however, it does require a bit of time and observation."

"Well, what does it involve?"

"All hanyou have a time of invulnerability, Inuyasha has one himself. Most hanyou revert back to their non-demon states, however, there can be objections. For instance, Naraku wasn't the result of a marriage between a demon and a human, he sold his soul to demons. That would make his situation a little different. It's really a matter of determining when his period is."

"And I'm assuming that would be a job for Hidenka?"

"Actually, more like Kuromeru. I've already sent him there to spy on Naraku, now I can tell him what to look for exactly."

"But what of Hidenka father?"

"I'm not sure I know what you mean." Ikatsui sighed and raked his claws through his hair. "Father, she wants to be a part of this. She has the spirit of Inuyasha inside of her, you know that as well as I do. Many of the peasants there have actually mistaken her for Inuyasha himself."

"How unfortunate for her…" Sesshomaru joked dryly.

"Besides the point, I feel we should involve her in some way."

"And how do you suppose that?"

"Maybe if she became closer to Naraku?"

"How close?"

"Closer than a miko."


Hidenka growled as she tore the message she had been given to shreds. Pacing back and forth in her quarters, she tried as best as she could to control her anger. It just seemed impossible what her cousin was suggesting.

"Offer myself to him! As if. I'd no sooner than kill my own mother than lie with that bastard…"

"And in a way you are already." Hidenka snarled at the voice coming from her open window. Ikatsui sat on the ledge idly examining his claws. "The longer Naraku stays wed to your mother, the more she sinks into his control, and the more she loses her soul. She's a powerful miko, but the despair about you father's 'death' is enough to kill her alone. If she was my mother I'd do whatever was necessary to save her. But then again, that's just me…"

"Damn you Ikatsui, you don't have a mate. I just can't betray Kuromeru like that!"

"And what if he's already consented?" Hidenka froze at his words and stopped pacing.

"Wha…what do you mean?" she managed to choke out.

"I mean I've already talked to him about this subject, and while he wasn't…pleased…he's agreed to it."

"How dare you." At this point Hidenka wasn't even looking at her cousin. She slowly turned towards him, keeping her face hidden with her hair. "You go around my back to my mate to get his permission for me to fuck the enemy, and then expect me to go along with it willingly. Well fuck all of you." Although her entire commentary was whispered, Ikatsui could feel her anger pour off of her in waves.

"You truly are of his blood. Remember that Hidenka. If you don't want to do this, find another way, but find it soon. Your mother's time is limited." With a quick nod Ikatsui leapt out of the window and disappeared into the darkness. Hidenka sank to the ground and hugged her knees. Finally allowing the tears she had refused to shed earlier, she thought about what had just transpired.

"What do I do?"