Author's Note: Good news to all! The next chapter for this is already nearly finished, so expect it very soon. And uh, sorry I kinda kept you all in the dark but, I was on vacation for a while, and man I really needed it. Anyway, thanks for all of your reviews! I'm glad I'm getting the chance to update this story and my other one as often as I wish. Please read and review! Enjoy!
Lady Kjerston of the Western: Yeah, I kinda know how you feel, lol. We want Kagome out and Inuyasha all to ourselves! lol, well, maybe your think, "No Kayla… to MYself." lol, cool. Thanks for your review!
Shields: Thanks so much! It made me so happy when you said that your writing style adapted from mine. I really appreciate your complements, they mean a lot to me. And I very was glad to be of help for your story. Thanks for your review!
Somegirl1110: Thanks! The Sango and Miroku reunion and the last chapter will surely be one to remember! Thanks for your review!
Akuma-chan-69: Thank you Akuma! I'm trying to make this story as great as I can make it! Thanks for your review!
Suaru: lol, glad you like it! And I'll try to repost the story ASAP! Thanks for your review!
InuYasha-luver235: lol, thanks very much! And really, it's the last one? And of course I care! lol, what kinda girl do you think I am? And I'll get to your story ASAP, I really must finish this story first. Thanks for your review Mandi!
crookshanks2: Thank you very much! I don't think I've seen your name before. Awesome! New reviewer! lol, thanks for your review!
DarkHanyouGurl: Thank you very much! And yes I AM EVIL! But don't you love the suspense? … lol, probably not (sweatdrops) Anyway, sorry for the cliffies, but they are a must! lol, thanks for your review!
erica0606: lol, yup, A LOT has been going on huh. Well, I know you'll be happy soon cause it won't last forever, so don't worry, lol…. Or will it? Dun dun dunnnnn! lol, j/k. Thanks for your review!
Psychotica Bunny: lol, look I updated! (points to chapter) aren't you happy? Please don't die on me! lol, thanks for your review!
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha
Chapter Thirty: The Chains of Revenge Keep Its Strong Hold
A soul is now conquered by anger, grief, and revenge, to the extent that he no longer has grasp on anything but to kill. He knows deep inside that it cannot go on, it cannot, he won't let it… There was nothing he could have done to change it, to avoid it. Even if he had known before time, he would have still lost the ability to prevent it… Will it go on, forever more this time? He can't let it, he won't let it. This anger, grief, and revenge that he feels… he needs to let it go, in a way he has yet to discover. Because he knows, that as long as the heavy chain called revenge continues to bind his heart, then his tears of sadness, will continue to flow…
Miroku's breath was taken from him in happiness at seeing the sun finally begin to rise. But then, when he looked down at Inuyasha, he felt the exact opposite. He nearly lost his balance in shock of seeing Inuyasha demon again. It had been so long since he had last seen his best friend like that.
The monk turned his head and looked at the children's frightened expressions, and then looked back at the monster that has plagued their father's soul. He shook his head in dismay, 'No Inuyasha, what have you done?... I remember you promising that you would never allow your children to see this side of you… Now, another shred of their innocence is vanished, forever.'
How cruel the world truly can be. The most evil of things, can even be born from someone of good heartedness. It was a mask of safety, covering brutality. Little do some people know now, in this world, there was never a promise of safety. Innocence will forever be too quickly claimed, this fact will never changes.
Taikan narrowed his eyes in wonder, 'What is… that thing?' He could only think. Surely it wasn't father, his heart kept repeating. It couldn't be. His father could never ever be a monster such as this one before his very young eyes. So evil, wild, and out of control.
He became sad. Deep down, he knew it was him, the very person whom had loved him from the day he was born, had taken care of him, and provided everything he could ever need. His father, the monster of his worst nightmares.
Asoka felt so bad for his best friend. 'I wish this didn't happen.' He shook his head and shut his eyes tight. 'Now what are we going to do?... Poor Taikan and Sanae.'
Taikan punched the ground with his fist and made a few cracks in the ground because of it, causing light dust from them to disperse in the air. He was a hanyou again and received his strength back it appeared, but he hadn't any care to notice it fully. All the poor boy was aware of was his confusion and sadness, and so he cried because of it, "No, father! What are you?" He shouted in a heart wrenching cry. Sanae could only stare and cry herself.
Taikan turned to Miroku immediately, "What has happened to him Miroku? What has happened to my Dad?" He whimpered as tears flooded his golden eyes.
Miroku felt so guilty for him. How could he explain such a thing? Especially at a time like this? Miroku saddened his eyes toward Taikan, letting him know that he knew why Inuyasha is like he is now. However, Miroku turned his painful gaze from the young boy, and looked at Inuyasha. But even so, the young boy pressed the matter.
"It can't be him, right Miroku? It's not." He said to the monk in hopes he would agree with him.
Miroku sighed and felt his heart jerk in remorse. He slowly turned to look back at Taikan. 'He looks so much like him.' Miroku shook his head, "Taikan, Sanae, I'm so sorry."
Kaden and Rikku were in a rather uncomfortable position from another's point of view, but they were indeed sound asleep, and having sweet dreams as little girls often always do.
As they dreamt, the brightness of the sun's rays crept into their room slowly through the window and on their faces, warming them caringly.
Kaden moved her arms above her head and then smiled as she gradually opened her amber eyes. She sat up with a heavy yawn and gently pushed Rikku's leg from her middle. Looking out the window with a hand in front of her face to protect her sensitive eyes, she saw that it was a beautiful morning. She gasped with delight, 'Lady Kaede and aunt Sango said that they think Daddy and Mommy are coming home today.'
She turned to her sister and shook her tiny shoulders of the young girl lazily. Rikku's messy side ponytail was whipping back and forth from the motion and caused the girl to awaken. "What… what?" She kept asking louder and louder in a small voice, still half asleep.
Kaden giggled, "Wake up silly. Mom and Dad are coming home today. Remember Sango and Kaede said told us so." She said all too fast because of her excitement.
Rikku sat up, holding her head softly, "Oh really?" She stood up and was about to jump in happiness, but then she fell down because she was still a little groggy from sleep. Kaden burst out laughing this time, "Yes! C'mon. Let's go wake up Teishin and Keiko, ok?" She exclaimed as she helped Rikku stand up entirely.
How thrilled both of the girls were, so happy. Their mother, father, and brother were finally coming home after their long journey to defeat the evil demon monster that had plagued their world. But now, they were more than confident that Inuyasha had beaten him with his bear hands in only one hit... It would've been painful for others who were listening to them, because they'd know that the girls were dead wrong.
Rikku smiled brightly and spoke in a soft voice, "Ok."
Inuyasha still hadn't made any movement from the last comment Sesshoumaru had said to him. He was seriously considering what his brother had said just then, and nothing like that had ever happened before when Inuyasha turned demon.
Sesshoumaru took this chance to glance at Kagome as he kept his strong hold on Inuyasha's collar, 'I honestly think he will not truly be out of this condition if Kagome isn't all right for him to see for himself.' He thought and cursed the demon form of Inuyasha. The demon lord looked back at Inuyasha and gazed intently into his blue and red eyes, "Did you here me correctly brother?... Do you realize the damage that you have done?" He meant that of Inuyasha's kids.
Seeing that Inuyasha still made no move to transform back into his normal self, Sesshoumaru punched him in the face one more time until the demon was knocked out entirely. Inuyasha made an agonizing grunt from the impact and lost his will to stand. Inuyasha fell down on his back, arms and legs spread out indolently. His head rolled lifelessly to the side, looking at Kagome as blood trickled down his mouth and staining the dirt ground.
'Ignorant fool.' Sesshoumaru stood up and faced Taisuke whom was still in severe pain. However, even so, he stood up on both feet, strong and more than reluctant to any signs of give up at all.
Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes in hatred toward Taisuke and only received a blank stare in return.
From the corner of his eye Sesshoumaru saw Rin stand up steadily from behind Taisuke. He did not look straight at her though, he didn't want to give her awareness away to Taisuke.
Rin tried not to make a noise as she stood up. When she was done, and standing tall, she closed her eyes and created the process of healing herself. As she did this, Sesshoumaru stalled Taisuke for as long as he was able so that Rin could continue to find the last blue orb that they needed.
"Sesshoumaru." Taisuke mused in thought. Immediately afterwards, the lord's name was followed by a painful grunt and Taisuke cursed the woman Kagome for the wound she gave him with that damned arrow. 'That wench possesses more power than I first thought… She did not even require her bow to do damage to me like this.' He wondered and clutched the wound in his chest tightly.
He looked straight at Sesshoumaru and saw he was standing in front of his fallen brother.
Taisuke looked down at Inuyasha, then back up at Sesshoumaru, "Inuyasha is a brainless fiend Sesshoumaru. He is of no use to this world." Taisuke spoke with a clear voice of his honesty, and of what he thought was true.
In truth, Taisuke was stalling as well. As he held his hand over his wound, he was in fact healing it all the same. And his thoughts told him that no one would notice, and before they knew it, he would be strong and powerful once more. And all of the past injuries that Inuyasha and the others had inflicted on him would be for nothing.
Taisuke did not smirk of this. For if he did so, then Sesshoumaru and the others would become aware of what he was doing. And so, he kept a straight face as he always did and fooled them greatly.
Inuyasha lay on his back, absolutely motionless. His head was still laid on its side and Inuyasha's eyes, though he was knocked out, were still open and demonic. And, he saw Kagome.
His mate remained not moving, exactly like he is now. Her back was against the boulder it hit against, and her head was lowered, so that her bangs covered her eyes. He wanted to see them. He wanted to see her beautiful eyes so he would truthfully know if she was ok or not.
His demonic eyes were dull and beheld no shine of life in them what so ever. 'Kagome. Come back to me…'
Inuyasha headed for Kagome as fast as he was able, and yet that was still far from enough…He couldn't reach her, he knew he wouldn't be able to in the end, but still let his mind deny that.
Kagome couldn't scream… 'Inuyasha.' … She couldn't feel herself breathe any longer…Inuyasha reached her, then it was all over…He breathed heavily in absolute dreadful misery as he hugged her…He was still hugging her and knew it was no use anyway. "N-No…" He whimpered. Kagome felt of nothing but ice. So cold, so dead.
…Her face that was frozen in with the look of fright... He was gradually being brought back to reality when he heard Reina's faint laugh become clear… He grit his teeth and gripped Kagome's arms as if to squeeze some of his life into to her
Reina stopped and watched the scene… "You're too late…"
Inuyasha opened his eyes a little more and his fingers twitched. How could he? How could he not protect the one he loved, again? And worst yet, how could he let his children see him like this? Like the monster he had so desperately tried to conceal from them all this time?
"Story, story, story! Tell us a story Daddy!"
"Ok, which one should I tell?" …"Oh oh! Tell the one about how you single handedly defeated the mangy wolf from taking Mom away from you, Dad!.. Please?"
"Perfect story Sanae!" Inuyasha said and smirked as Kagome rolled her eyes…"Once upon a time, Mommy and myself were traveling with uncle Miroku and aunt Sango to search for jewel shards when suddenly a wimpy, stupid, arrogant wolf came along, trying to take her away." Inuyasha watched his children's eyes grow wide with t interest.
Ten minutes later… "And so, Mommy jumped into my arms and spat at the stupid wolf who was running away to his stupid caves with his tail between his stupid legs. Mommy and I got married, and here you all are. The end." He said and grinned stupidly.
"Yay!" The girls clapped. Taikan laughed and smiled… "Ok, that's the end of the story and you know what that means." Inuyasha said… "That's right! Daddy's sick of lookin' at ya, so go to bed." The kids pouted, but did as they were told…
'What have I done?' Inuyasha's fingers twitched once more and was grateful that Taikan nor Sanae could see his face, scarred and evil for the reason that of is wretched demon blood. 'Taikan, Sanae, I'm so sorry. Please forgive me.'
The kids started crying... "We'll be back soon, we promise." Inuyahsa said... "But Daddy! Who will yell at us in the morning for not taking a bath!" Rikku cried.
"And whose gonna tell us bedtime stories about how you won Mom over the wimpy wolf!" Cried Sanae.
"And whose gonna tell us that we're too young to know anything at all!" Cried Kaden.
Kagome interjected, "… We'll only be gone for a little while…" Kagome said and hugged them…
'I…I let them down.' Inuyasha opened his eyes a little wider now. Kagome had yet to move, and he was beginning to lose his control once more because of it.
Inuyasha gazed at Kagome, her unmoving form and he thought of Taisuke. He did this to her. All of it. She is dying now because of him! Inuyasha flashed his eyes open and started growling.
Rin was entirely healed now and gave Sesshoumaru an assuring look to let him know that she was ok. Immediately afterwards, she looked down at the ground and looked for the blue orb, all the while retrieving the ones inside of her kimono to follow their brightness for guidance.
Rin was inwardly in much panic, she had to tell Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha that she made the wish, and that it had not worked. What could that mean? What had she done wrong?
She suddenly stopped walking and nearly gasped aloud, but caught herself. Of course!
Inuyasha and Kagome gathered the orbs together … Kagome held Inuyasha's hand and looked at him with compassion, "Go ahead Inuyasha. Make your wish." She encouraged him... Inuyasha smiled at her…"Yeah."
Inuyasha closed his eyes and tightened his hold on Kagome's hand… "I… I wish that T-"
Rin remembered back in the cave that Inuyasha had mentioned to her that he was about to make the wish, but did not get to finish since Reina had gotten to them quickly and they had to fight her.
Rin at first wanted to laugh in happiness, but for her own safety, did not. She smiled though; it all became apparent to her now. No wonder it didn't work when she made her wish, it was because she couldn't, she wasn't meant to. These orbs had very strict rules, and one of them was that the first person, who speaks to make the wish, must finish it him or herself. No one else can make the wish except for the first person who begins to say it first. And because of this, when Rin had made her wish, the orbs did not recognize her voice as Inuyasha's, and so did not obey her wish.
Rin now suddenly felt bad for cursing Kikyo's name. Maybe the priestess did not know of this fact. Rin shook her head, she would think of this later. But what really made her sad was that Inuyasha was still not himself.
Her heart then sank and she gradually looked at Inuyasha's demon form standing up and growling, 'How in the world are we going to get him to finish the wish now?... Only he can do it… but he's not sane enough to.'
Sesshoumaru got the message from Rin that she was ok and so didn't worry as much. Taisuke was in far greater in pain to notice her whereabouts, which benefited the both of them.
The demon lord stopped what he was doing all together and listened carefully. He looked toward Kagome intently as he listened. Little by little, he gained recognition that she was in fact alive. She was breathing slowly but surely, and that was all he needed to know to make his worries lessen all the more.
For a moment, nearly everything was going as Sesshoumaru planned a few moments ago. As long as Taisuke didn't look behind him, he wouldn't see nor sense Rin. And now that Inuyasha was knocked out, he could handle the injured Taisuke himself anyway he desired.
Unexpectedly, Sesshoumaru heard Inuyasha's growls from behind and right away turned around to see that he was standing up hurriedly and glaring at Taisuke with as much abhorrence in his eyes as anyone could ever see. Everything was all over again forgotten. He couldn't even think of his children nor Kagome's smiling face to get out of this condition. He was nearly too far gone to be saved now.
"Inuyasha!" Sesshoumaru said loudly in aggravation. Kagome was still not moving at all and it was pissing him off by the minute. If this goes on, Inuyasha could be lost in this form forever. He had to get Rin to revive her. But she couldn't, she must look for the sphere first.
Taisuke smirked, even as his face bloody and scarred completely, he his smirked held in place. "Inuyasha, be angry at me for what I have done to your mate… I killed Kagome. I killed her and she will never come back to this world of the living." He taunted and pressed his hand more onto his wound, still secretly healing it.
Taisuke knew more than well that Kagome was alive and breathing. However, as long as Inuyasha did not know of this, Taisuke would use it to his advantage.
Sesshoumaru's eyes widened and he looked back at Taisuke, 'What is he thinking?... Something's going on.' He thought and glared at Taisuke in wonder of what the hell he could be thinking. 'He's planning something.' Sesshoumaru knew this and so went straight away to stop whatever the demon was doing, before it was too late.
Poor Sanae stared at her father with tears streaming down her face. The little girl didn't know what to think, she was so confused, and yet knew exactly what was going on with Inuyasha. Registering this in her brain was too much to handle for such a young girl like her. She couldn't take it. 'It's Daddy, I know it is. He's trapped… in that horrible creature…I gotta save him.' She watched, stricken with fear and grief at watching her father roar and growl in such a way she had never witnessed him do before. It was truly like looking at a complete stranger, and she couldn't stand that.
All of a sudden Sanae stood up and clenched her tiny fists. 'He let me come along with him and the others on this journey. It's my fault in the first place for worrying him when I first came here.'
Asoka heard her quick shuffles to stand and instantly held onto her arm at once, "Sanae, what are you doing?" He asked worriedly.
She looked down at him in fright, "I have to save my Dad." She said and retrieved her arm away from him with a gentle tug. Taikan looked at her and shook his head, "No Sanae, Don't!-" Before he could finish, she jumped down from the cliff's edge and was making her way to the bottom.
Miroku jumped up in alarm and looked down to where she was going, "Sanae no! Come back!" He beseeched the young girl but her mind did not hear his voice at all, nor anyone else's. All she could hear was her heart and what it truly wanted, it wanted her father back, the way he was before.
Taikan immediately stood up and jumped down the cliff to follow her, "Sanae! Stop! It's too dangerous for you to go down there!" He shouted and was jumping down rocks like she was, a little faster now and he was catching up to her quick.
Sanae's sight was practically blinded by her tears, and she kept going, not realizing the actual danger of what she was heading into. 'I want my Daddy back! I'll save him!' Her heart kept telling her over and over. Sanae would not give up, no matter how hard it became to save Inuyasha, she would not give up.
They both reached the ground at this point and both of them were running. Taikan followed close behind her now, his legs already aching, "Sanae! Please! Stop!" He shouted once more to his sister just ahead of him.
Kagome slowly slid her hand against the dirt ground. 'My…. My body… It won't move.' She was in so much pain that she forgot what had happened. All she could do at first was only sit there and try to breathe evenly. She had yet to open her eyes and she was trying so hard to. 'Inuyasha… where are you?... please be near…'
Rin, Sesshoumaru, and Taisuke all heard the faint cries of small children and they all looked in the same direction that the voices came from. Rin gasped aloud when she saw Taikan and Sanae running toward them. Well, Sanae was, only Taikan looked a though he was trying to stop her.
Rin was about to go and stop them, but then she felt the powers of the orbs glow intensely. She looked down at them and smiled, 'It's very near. I must find it first. Sesshoumaru will protect them.' She quickly looked under a few rocks here and there and was beginning to stress when she couldn't find it yet. Rin kept glancing at the kids as she searched.
Taisuke smirked as he breathed heavily. 'Perfect. Now I can kill his two little brats as well as I almost did Kagome now he will forever suffer and mourn in their loss.' He leisurely tried to stand straight, and was trying to increase power faster.
Sesshoumar widened his eyes, 'What are they doing here? It's not safe.'
Rin's heart nearly soared in happiness when she saw the orbs in her hands glow brighter and feel warmer. 'It's here, right here… I can feel it so clearly.' She looked down beside her steadily and lifted a stone with shaky hands. She took a deep breath, 'Please let it be here.' And with that, her hopes shined through her eyes when the lifted stone revealed a beautiful shining blue orb beneath it.
Rin put a hand to her heart, "Oh thank goodness." She murmured and right away took the orb into her possession closely. But then abruptly grief struck her, 'Only Inuyasha can make the wish.' She turned her head toward the demon she knew as her new brother… and he was still not well. 'Oh Inuyasha. Will you ever return to us?'
The powers of the orbs of Higan caught both Taisuke's and Sesshoumaru's attention. Now that the orbs were together, they were filled with absolute power and could be sensed easily. Rin suddenly grit her teeth, 'I must protect them from Taisuke. They are our only hope of getting out of this battle for good.'
Taisuke and Sesshoumaru looked toward Rin. Taisuke smirked wider, "Ah, so you've found the last orb." He mused and was about to take a step toward her when suddenly Sesshoumaru made a punch for him from behind.
To his surprise though, Taisuke blocked it with his arm and kicked him out of the way. Sesshoumaru recovered quickly and used his poisonous claws to take him down as he had done before. And with a swift motion of his arm, he slashed Taisuke on the back once more. Taisuke grunted in pain and fell back on one knee again for the reason of it. Sesshoumaru looked down him, 'It's a good thing he is no longer able of creating any kind of barrier.' He thought and slashed Taisuke another time.
Rin smiled toward Sesshoumaru and then looked back at the children whom were coming closer. She became worried and was about to run to them when Sesshoumaru jumped in front of her, "No, I'll get to them. Go to the cliff and stay with the others until I get Inuyasha there." She nodded, "Yes, we need him to finish making the wish. The orbs will obey no one else's voice other than his." She confessed truthfully.
Sesshoumaru widened his eyes, "Are you serious?" He asked, but then the children's voices became louder as they came closer. He shook his head; he would figure all of this out later. And so he trusted Rin's judgment, "All right. I will bring him there. Go." He said and Rin reluctantly left Sesshoumaru's side.
"Sanae, please! Stop running!" Taikan tried to talk sense into her but Sanae wouldn't listen.
Taikan reached his hand out for her shoulder, 'Damn she's fast.' He thought and tried to run faster.
Without warning, he tripped on a jagged rock beneath him and he collapsed, hitting the ground with a painful thud. After a few seconds he looked up and shook his head to rid his dizziness, "Sanae!" He reached his hand out to her and only saw her form becoming smaller in his sight.
Inuyasha snapped his eyes open instantly when he heard faint voices. 'Who are they?' He stood up restlessly and was hunched over as he stood. He flexed his claws and looked around for the new voices that he heard. Then, he saw them. It was Taikan and Sanae running toward him. Except now it was only Sanae.
At first, he didn't move at all. He only stared at her with a sort of curious look and was becoming angry because he didn't want be confused. He wanted to kill. He stepped back cautiously as Sanae kept running to him. 'Sanae! What are you doing? Get away from me now!' Inuyasha was thinking, he slammed both hands on his head and he tried to stay where he was.
He heard the hurried steps come faster and Inuyasha shut his eyes tight and shook his head vigorously. He took a step back to further himself from the young girl. And all he could hear from her was her cries of 'Daddy'.
Taisuke couldn't have asked for a more perfect chance to completely destroy Inuyasha. He would kill his daughter, the girl who is just as important to the hanyou as Kagome. It seemed as though luck had favored on his behalf, and he wouldn't ruin it.
Sesshoumaru became angrier when he saw Taisuke's intense gaze turned to Sanae. Sesshoumaru growled, he would be damned if Taisuke ever touched his niece. The demon lord ran toward Taisuke, "Don't even think about it." Was he said before he attacked Taisuke again with his claws.
Without warning, his attack was stopped when Taisuke grabbed a firm hold of his wrist. Then instantly he stabbed Sesshoumaru in the chest with his hand that had turned into a thick icicle, breaking through his armor and piercing him entirely. Sesshoumaru was surprised to say the least and didn't make another move to attack again.
Taisuke thrust his weapon back out of Sesshoumaru's chest and smirked, 'So it seems Reina's powers came in of much use once again.'
Sesshoumaru coughed up blood and he fell to the ground on one knee. With that Taisuke attacked him again with the same energy blast that he used on Kagome. Sesshoumaru was immediately thrown backwards and eventually hit the ground on his front, not moving at all.
Taisuke glared at him, 'That's the last time he will get in my way.' He turned his gaze back to Sanea whom now reached Inuyasha.
Inuyasha did not move to kill her, 'No. Please go. I don't want to hurt you.' In so much sadness and confusion, he dropped to his knees and let the small girl hug him around his middle, though he was too afraid to hug back, "Daddy please come back! This isn't who you are, I know it's not!" She cried more and Inuyasha's was trying to listen to what she was saying. Her voice was filled with worry and love for him. "Daddy, please… please don't let me be without you."