Immortality: Guardian

CHAPTER 3

Hikaru

"Okay, then explain this! Why is it that you smell just like that bastard brother of mine?" Inuyasha glared and the demon's face slowly lifted up to meet his eyes.

'What!' Kagome, Sango and Miroku's eyes widened at Inuyasha's statement. The demon stood there in silent, a smile still lurking on his calm face.

The demon smiled bit wider by others reactions, looking at them solemnly. His eyes were kind yet full of emotions.

"Still full of question, aren't you, young half-demon," he said, without glancing at Inuyasha, looking thoughtfully at the girl with the fox-child. Inuyasha growled.

"Keh, look who's talking! You ain't a full demon either!" mortal friends of Inuyasha looked more confused than ever, shocked.

"No, I am not. I am a half demon as well, like yourself. However, unlike you, I am proud of my being," he turned to face Inuyasha. Inuyasha flinched at his cold stare, angered maybe, perhaps disappointed.

"You have no idea what you're talking about," Inuyasha snorted.

Sango walked toward to the mysterious demon. His left arm had a slight cut, through his sleeve. She gently pulled out a piece of clothe and wrapped it around his wound. The demon didn't pull away but let her finish her work. Sango blushed as the demon gave her a nod and a grateful smile.

"Thank you very much," he said. Kagome turned around to look at Miroku, who was calmly watching it all.

'I don't like the looks of this,' she thought.


Every night, the half-demon's protector from the fang appeared. Every night, he wasn't alone. The shiny beast hunted enough food for young Inuyasha to go through another day without starvation.

Tonight was different. It was the night of the new moon, moonless. The child's silver hair turned black, his tiny dog ears were replaced by mortal's. He was sitting near the beast, frightened.

Half-demons had one night for them to transform into a human, and tonight was his. He was scared, tried to hide himself in the creature's fur. The hound gently lifted him up with his mouth and placed him near the fire.

"Do not be afraid….. I am here with you…. You will not be harmed…." The hound stared at his golden eyes with his own, assuring. He pushed the food to the child with his head, "Eat."


"Thank you for your hospitality," the demon smiled. It seemed he was very good at giving away such a look. Kagome convinced Inuyasha about his stay with them for the night since he was so kind to help Sango. More to the point, she said, he was wounded. Inuyasha let out a sigh, saying nothing at all but not liking the idea. Miroku also remained silent as Sango walked beside the demon.

"What's your name?" Kagome asked pleasantly, looking at his wound. Inuyasha was sitting near her and watched cautiously at the demon she was with.

"My name is Hikaru," he answered as Kagome finished up with his wound. Inuyasha's ears twitched as Hikaru mentioned his name.

"You travel alone?" Sango asked, sitting by Miroku. Shippo was sitting in the demon's lap with kirara on him, still licking his lollypop. Hikaru pat Kirara and she purred. The smile returned on his face.

"Yes, I do not have any companions for my journey. I was just returning from the continent from my training. I was on my way home when I came cross you," he explained. Sango blushed again at his stare and looked at the ground.

"Continent? You mean cross the ocean?" Shippo asked, looking up at the demon. His eyes shined with curiosity. He was already impressed by the demon.

"Yes, it's quiet beautiful. Not as much as here, of course," he smiled down at the child.

'Hikaru……' Inuyasha thought. It was familiar, his name, his scent, and even his annoying smile. He couldn't remember where though and it frustrated him. He wasn't a violent demon. He knew Hikaru wouldn't touch any of them. But, why?

The hound and the child were walking in the forest. All was quiet and peaceful. The giant dog spotted a squirrel and stopped. The child behind him also stopped.


"There is your target," the hound whispered, "Focus and attack with the technique I've just taught you."

The little boy nodded and got closer to the creature. It looked alarmed but it lowered its head again, sniffing, looking for food. Behind the bushes, the shiny hound watched the child. Inuyasha waited and waited until he was ready. He balled his hand to fist and jumped out of the bush.

"Iron Reaver, Soul Stealer!"

The squirrel ran away before the child sliced it. It dropped its acorn and disappeared into the forest. Half-demon sat on the ground, watching the creature while it escaped.

The hound sighed and approached to the boy. He was about to cry, scent of freshly made tears were in the air.

"Come on," Hikaru said, lowering his back. The child slowly climbed on his back and the creature gave him a ride back to their place.


"What kind of training have you been through?" Miroku asked. The ice around the camp was broken. They chattered away with Hikaru's story, except Inuyasha of course, still deep in his own thought.

"Well, I don't think I can really call it a training since all I really did was wondering around the land," the demon let out a low chuckle.

"Even though I was merely traveling, I learned quiet a lot. I met different kinds of demons of the continent as well," Hikaru continued.

"What kind of demons?" Shippo asked, his eyes sparkling.

"Tigers, scorpions, pandas and other exotic creatures not seen here. They were also very strong. Some of them were ruthless. Some of them were welcoming," he answered.

"Interesting…" Sango commented.

"Yes, but to me, this place is the best," he smiled.

Kagome got up as the others continued on with the demon's conversation. She sat beside Inuyasha, who didn't seem to notice her presence.

"Hey," She said quietly. Inuyasha flinched and blinked at the girl.

"When did you get here? Don't scare me like that!" dog demon warned.

Kagome let out a sigh, "Is something wrong, Inuyasha?"

He turned his gaze on the ground, confused and sad. "No," he mumbled. He did not know why he was feeling this way, so depressed. It would be stupid to say something like to Kagome anyways, he thought.

She leaned on his shoulder. His turned and stared at her brown eyes, sparkling with concern. She knew something was bugging him.

"It's that demon, isn't it?" she pointed out. Inuyasha didn't answer her. He sighed. He knew she wouldn't drop the subject until she got some answers.

"Yeah……" he admitted. A wave of laughter came from their friends and demon smiled. Kagome looked at Hikaru then turned her eyes on Inuyasha.

"He's different. He and Sesshoumaru look so much alike but…" Kagome trailed off. He was thinking about that as well. He got up and walked to the laughing people. Hikaru lifted his head and smiled at Inuyasha.

"I want some answers," Inuyasha stated. Miroku and Sango, even Shippo looked at the dog demon. He was serious. Hikaru sat up straight and Inuyasha sat down opposite of him. Kagome also got up and sat down by Inuyasha's side. Everyone's gaze was on Hikaru, the mysterious demon.

"Yes…… Everyone wants answers, of course you are no exception, Inuyahsa," the demon replied quietly. He looked at the dark sky and he met Inuyasha's determined, golden eyes.


"Iron Reaver, Soul Stealer!"

The boy yelled as a tiny tree branch was cut in pieces. He was gasping for air, covered in sweat.

"Good, now you're getting it," the hound said, throwing another stick at the child as he cut it again. The boy's face was scratched from the training he was in.

"This will do for tonight. I have improved," the creature smiled and Inuyasha smiled back, so happily, so innocently. Hikaru lifted the kid by his mouth and walked toward the forest.

"Where are you taking me, Hikaru?" the boy asked. With the half-demon dangling from his mouth, he could not reply. Not too far, a steaming hot spring was in sight. The hound dropped the boy carefully on the ground.

"Take off your clothes. You're covered in dirt."

The boy looked down on his clothes. The clothes were no longer red, but brown and covered in grass stains. He took it off then looked at the hound. The dog pushed him into the water and the child yelped.

He was trying to get out but the giant creature stopped him.

"It's too hot!" Inuyasha complaint, grabbing on the dog's head. He tried to tell him something but the little boy was covering his mouth. Half-demon apologized and let go. Hikaru shook his head a bit and looked at the child.

"You are covered in mud and dirt. Your scent is unbearable. You need to take a bath at least once a day if possible. You can at least be clean than those lesser demons," he told the boy.

"Okay," young child answered. He was getting used to the hot water and now he was swimming around. He went below water then came back up, playing around.

"Don't go too far, my child," the hound reminded him. Inuyasha spotted a monkey on the rock. The monkey was busy eating something. Inuyasha looked at it thoughtfully. A smile surfaced on him.

"Iron Reaver, Soul Stealer!"

The hound gasped and ran to the half-demon. He jumped into the water, looking for the boy. His eyes widened at the bloody sight by Inuyasha. He turned his gaze on the boy.

"I did it!" he said, happily, proud. Hikaru's mouth dropped, stunned at the mess little demon created. He softened his face and shook his head, chuckling.

"You did it alright. God job, Inuyasha," the hound said, complimenting the boy. The boy looked at him then, an idea hit him.

"Thank you," he said then, as he splashed water all over the hound. Hikaru blinked in surprise. Inuyasha giggled and swam away from the dog. The half-demon's bright laughter echoed in Hikaru's head. He slowly shook his head.

"Oh, no, you don't," Hikaru followed him behind.

Skylily….

I do not claim the ownership of Inuyasha. I do not any rights of the characters from manga/anime. I thank for the wonderful author, Rumiko Takahashi, for her realistic and unique characters. Immortality: Guardian is my story just based on her characters.