Author's Note: Hola! Como estas?...lol, sorry. I'm no spanish speaking girl anyways, I'm too white for my own good (shakes head in shame) lol, j.k. Sorry to update so late, but this weekat school has been nothing but torture for me! Everyday I had a rediculous amount of homework and I ended up staying up til about one in the morning trying to finish it all. Now, grades are VERY important to me. Because now that I'm sixteen, hard work plus good grades equals CAR! I get to drive a freakin' car yall. But first I need to go to Drivre's ed and get a permit. But it will all be worth it. So I'll force myself to four or five hours of sleep. I need that damn car, lol.
This chapter is rather short to me, and sorry for that. However, more action on the way in the next chapter! Ahem, however this chapter is mainly about Inuyasha and the gang as they travel. Humorous and sweet. Please read and review! Enjoy!
Suaru: Yes I know! Gah! I can't believe I had forgotten that, lol. Well, I had signed in and used the Backup Export thign to fix that mistake before anyone else had the chance to read and say what you did. Thanks so much for correcting me! I don't know why I'm making those mistakes nowwa days, but I've got to watch what I'm doing ya know? I'll be better about it next time. Thanks for your review!
Miru Amai: Ah yea. You agree with me I see. Yeah, I love that episode! And I'm sure your a lot better by now, and if not, I hope for you to get better! Thanks for your review!
Hoshi The Forgoton One: Thanks so much! I could of sworn that I had mentioned it in the story earlier, like way earlier, but it's between about three to five months. Sorry if I get the pregnancy info wrong, but I'm no expert in that department, lol. Thanks for your review!
Akida411searcher: Of course! Something bad always happens, ne? lol. Sorry for making you wait, bit that author's note up top explains everything, but I'll try to update more often. Thanks for your review!
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha
Chapter Fifteen: Innocence Burns on a Flame
"The dark blue orb there is the orb of Chiyuu, meaning wisdom and courage. The red one is called the orb of Ikioidzuku, meaning strength and to gather it and take heart. The final one is the dark pink one called the orb of Seiren, meaning purity, honesty, and selflessness. Having just one orb is powerless, but with all three together, you are able to make one wish, but each time a wish is made, their powers die for one hundred years and come back to life again until someone else makes a wish."
Inuyahsa nodded again very slowly, the information sinking in"I-I get it. I need to get all three of them to make my wish to stop the demon forever, then they won't work for one hundred years." Inuyasha said, but then looked at Kikyo"Are you completely sure that this will work" He asked.
"Yes absolutely. As I had stated before, together they are called the orbs of Higan, which means one's dearest wish. You have a wish Inuyasha, and now you must grant it." Kikyo said to him with a smile.
Inuyasha smiled back"Where can I find them? And, how do you know about this"
"They are in the South, which was where the tiger demon tribe always remained. Their kingdom is near a massive mountain to which the orbs are located. You must be careful Inuyasha, the tiger tribe may still be living there, if not that, then surely other demons of all kinds roam around there now, it is not safe."
Inuyasha had thought about his dream over and over with each and every step he took that brought him closer to the spheres. And with each and every step, he felt his somewhat unstable anxiety grow little by little. His heart beat just a little faster, his fists clenched just a little harder. To know they were near, he had wanted to take off and run to get them, but he wouldn't dare leave his family and friends behind, not alone in a new region of the South they had never been in or heard much about before. Kikyo had warned him in his dream that the place was dangerous, and he trusted her words.
"Daddy." A faint young girl's voice whispered in his ear that twitched from the contact of her breath against it. Inuyasha looked over his shoulder slightly to get a better look at the girl he was carrying on his back securily, "What is it Sanae" He asked gently. Kagome smiled, Inuyasha was so sweet in all the little things he did and how he did them.
Sanae yawned steadily before answering, "I'm hungry, do you think we could stop and eat something soon" She whispered with closed eyes that begged for rest.
Inuyasha's amber eyes became the look of pure guilt and he sighed deeply"I'm sorry that we haven't taken a break, but we need to keep going. Let's see if Mommy has some snacks for you to eat, ok" He desperately wanted to stop and take all the time in the world for his daughter to eat and get her strength back up, but they couldn't risk stopping, not for a minute. The younger boys understood this well, and so did Sanae, but it seemed she just had a harder time accepting it than the others.
Still, she smiled that beautiful smile of hers that Inuyasha loved so much. He turned to Kagome just as she looked in her small bag for an apple. Recieving it with much gratefullness, Sanae ate it happilly. The boys had already eaten an apple ot two already, so they were good for now. And besides, they could always pick stray fruit from near bushes and trees as they traveled on, which was a much needed convenience for them all.
Asoka kept glancing at Sanae with his violet eyes that looked so much like his father's, but of course with much more purity to them. Taikan noticed this with much aggrivation and kept gritting his teeth each time Asoka looked at Sanae, then blushed and look away.
Taikan sighed a short breath of annoyance and grabbed Asoka's shoulder firmly in his grasp "What's your deal Asoka?" He asked in a quick whisper as to not get the adults' attention by any means.
Now to get back on topic, Taikan, to tell the truth, had mixed feelings about all this lovey dovey crap going on between his sister and best friend. He just felt like someone was taking his sister away from him. For the entire duration of his young life Taikan had protected her and his other sisters from demons of all kinds that had crossed their paths more than once. But, how could he handle this? Asoka was no demon trying to kill them and his sisters, but rather had a cruch on her. And all at the same time, he didn't mind it at all, but still, he couldn't helpt but get a little over protective. He guessed it was just an older brother thing and so instantly thought it natural.
Asoka jumped, "I-I... nothing." He whispered also, lowering his eyes and looking away. Taikan made a face"It's something. I know it is." He shot back in that same low voice. But still he wanted to also say 'Geez Asoka, if you like my sister that much then just go tell her, it ain't gonna be the end of the world.' but he couldn't. Part of him didn't want that, at least not yet anyway.
Asoka sighed in defeat"Please don't be mad at me Taikan, but I just can't help it." He closed his eyes"I do like Sanae yeah, but I don't want you mad at me. I don't know what to do." He looked at Taikan with pleading eyes.
Taikan's frim grip on Asoka's shoulder hesitantly softened"Yeah I know... but can you blame me? I-I never had to deal with this before and I feel all different inside." He couldn't explain it right, his young mind just couldn't find the right words to speak. Nonetheless he battled his inner thoughts and emotions for a long several minutes and finally was his turn to sigh in defeat"Ok ok. I won't be mad anymore... Besides, at least it's not a complete stranger that likes her, so I guess there's a plus." He thought with the side of his mouth turned up in thought.
Asoka nodded"Yeah, we're best friends man." He said with a smile and Taikan nodded. "Yeah." He agreed and then smiled back"But if you want to win her heart, you've got to put on the right moves ok? You know." He said with his voice trailing off in a 'don't you know?' voice.
"But I have been all along..." He looked at Taikan blankly.
"I don't feel like playing anymore, let's just lay down or something." Keiko said and laid on the grass. Teishin smiled and did what she did. Kaden and Rikku were soon to follow and that left the other three standing. "Oh fine." Taikan grunted and did as did what the others were doing. Asoka made sure that he lay next to Sanae, which caused a growl from Taikan and so Asoka scooted away from her a few inches, a stupid grin on his face as he waved nervously at Taikan.
The young hanyou frowned"Trying to touch my sister like that will get you nowhere but in the ground with my fist in your face." He narrowed his eyes as a warning, and Asoka nodded while rubbing the back of his neck"Yeah ok, I know."
Miroku smiled. He had heard the faint whispers between both of the young men with ease. 'So, my son has a love interest. Ah, they grow up so fast don't they?' He shook his head and thuoght about Sango and how she must be doing. His smile faded now and his eyes had a certain longing to them as he looked up at the sky, 'Being away from you Sango has been harder than I thought it would. But, then again, I wouldn't want it to be easy... I miss you all so much'
Teishin was just crying against Sango while Keiko was just having a crying fit, "D-Daddy, I don't want you to go! Who's gonna make Mommy mad when you're gone!" She cried and hugged Miroku tight around his middle. He hugged her back just as tightly and sweatdropped at her last comment, "I'm sorry Keiko, but as Lady Kagome says, we'll be back soon." He pulled back and kissed her forehead, "So please don't cry... And don't worry, I'll be back to make Mommy mad some more." He grinned stupidly.
Miroku almost laughed. Teishin and Keiko were just like Sango. He sighed, 'I can't wait to come back to you all, hopefully very soon.'
Sanae was finally done eating. She was a slow eater, just like Kagome and that made Inuyasha smile. Thank the gods that she didn't eat like him, that would be just too hilarious though.
Kagome lowered her head and looked at the dirt ground road she walked on. Her eyes, once cheerful a moment ago, were now tired and lost its brilliant shine for a second. 'I hope we get there in time. What if Taisuke gets there before us? Inuyasha must be thinking the same thing... and what about the kids? How can we protect them from this monster?'
Inuyasha glanced at Kagome, and seeing her somewhat lifeless eyes stare into nothingness made him uneasy and in a way, guilty. He couldn't help but think he was always the cause of her sadness, after all, he always was in the past when they searched for jewel shards.
He removed a clawed hand from Sanae's leg and laced it around Kagome's. When they looked into each other's eyes then, it was like they were immediately conversing, and they understood one another perfectly as Inuyasha held her hand gently tighter in his own, 'It'll be ok' he smiled and Kagome smiled back.
Inuyasha instantly thought of the past.
In the very beginning, searching for jewel shards was their main priority, nothing else. They were to only find them together, and not become more than just a person you travel with. But then, as weeks passed, then several months, and a year or two. It seemed like too much time to pass by and not say 'I love you'.
Even when Kouga came to claim Kagome as his, when she was taken by the sage demon, nearly had been killed himself by spider demon heads, and so many more situations where the perfect moment seemed clear. Why was he so blind then? Was it because his heart still longed for Kikyo? Was he just plain not ready to fall in love once more?
Well, despite all that, they were together now. And none of those things in the past mattered anymore, Kouga got married to Ayame, Inuyasha had killed the demons that had kidnapped Kagome, and he survived close scrapes that he never thought to get out of without Kagome's help.
Inuyasha sighed and became very serious now, he thought about the battle that seemed was too soon to come. Wanting this all to come to an end, Inuyasha would fight to the death if he must. He grew sad though. All his life, he miserably learned that violence increases everyday, regardless of all our strengths. It all will grow in people's angered hearts each passing day. It was something that was going to live on forever, no matter how wrong it seemed.