AN: Inuyasha's father DOES NOT HAVE A NAME. I have Nobara refer to him as Inutaisho (Derived from Inu no Taisho (Lord of Dogs)) and Myouga refers to him as Inu no Taisho (because he does in the anime). Check out this site for more background info on Inu
Chapter III
A Rose for Father
Nobara sat cross-legged on the futon as she tells the Yasha gang her story.
"There is no reason to start form the very beginning, so I will start when my life truly began. My life with Inutaisho," She pauses for a moment and sighs. "I lived most my life as any youkai. Alone. Until the day I met Inutaisho. The day that changed my existence...."
Inutaisho's silhouetted form is walking through a battlefield where many bodies still lay from an old battle. The sun sets in a brilliant red shade right on the horizon. A younger Nobara, about Sango's age, approaches him in the middle of this field. Inutaisho stops and observes Nobara. They stand there quietly for a moment as she waits for him to speak first.
"Are you Inutaisho?" she asks calmly, seeing she would have to start.
"Who are you to ask?" he responds his eyes hidden in shadow.
She smirks as she pulls an arrow against the string of her bow.
"You are him," she sneers as she releases her shouki arrow and Inutaisho swiftly moves away. She is only slightly surprised at his speed. She smirks confidently and strings another arrow as he runs a perimeter around her. He extends his claws on one hand and readies as he dodges another of her attempts. She fires again and misses. Inutaisho with incredible speed approaches closer and closer as she rapidly fires arrow after arrow. Her confidence wanes as she reaches back and her fingers grasp empty air. She turns desperately to find her quiver empty. Suddenly he looms before her and with a swipe of his hand knocks her bow away. She ducks and winces preparing to be struck down. But when she realizes she isn't, she looks up at Inutaisho's still form. The hot wind blows his fur cape and silver hair as his gold eyes narrow.
"You are a child, why do you attack me?"
"Huh?" she responds then cautiously stands. Seeing the cold gaze from his stern eyes, she looks down shamefully. "Forgive me, Inutaisho-sama. I was told that if I could defeat a Lord Youkai that I would become stronger. It was nothing personal."
He looks beyond her for a moment in thought and then without looking at her begins to walk past her then stops. She kneels down and reaches for her bow. She hears him stop and freezes, unsure of his next move.
"Why do you want such power?" his voice carries over to her on the wind.
"So that I no longer have to hide," she says closing her eyes and rising slowly, she turns her pale eyes back to him then looks straight ahead. "For being what I am."
There is a pause and the wind blows both their hair as they stand, backs to each other.
"The only one who can give you strength is yourself," he answers as he continues to walk across the battlefield away from her.
Nobara turns at these words and watches him walk away. Her eyes look sorrowful and hopeful as she watches his figure disappear on the horizon.
"I followed him, and from then on we were never apart. Soon he accepted my company and we found each other always at the other's side."
Memories of him saving her life from a youkai then fighting back to back to defend against other youkai…
"For once I was not alone. Time passes as it seems to and he went to Toutousai. That is where I received my katana, Hisuibara. Little did I know that the other katanas he had Toutousai make were to protect one who would forever change our friendship. For it was around that time that he met a woman in a village in his domain. Her name was Izayoi."
Inuyasha turns slightly to her then turns away again, as he recognizes the name. Nobara notices him but continues. "Little did I know then the true nature of their friendship..."
One distant night, Nobara leaps through the trees in the forest. She is only slightly younger than she is now, a smile on her face and Myouga on her shoulder.
"Remember, Inu no Taisho-sama asked to be alone tonight," he reminds Nobara as he holds onto one of her yellow tendrils of hair.
"Keh, wait until he hears about the youkai attacking the southern villages, Myouga. I am certain he will-" she stops suddenly in a tree overlooking a clearing near Izayoi's village. There is Inutaisho embracing Izayoi under the full moon. Nobara quickly leaps back to hide behind the trunk of a tree. Her eyes peer around as she hushes the ever jabbering Myouga.
"Do not worry," Nobara over hears Inutaisho say to Izayoi. "I will not let him hurt you. I promise to protect you. Always."
Nobara's eyes widen in shock as she watches him kiss her. She quickly turns away and gasps her back against the trunk of the tree.
"Nobara-sama," Myouga starts but she swats him away.
"Not now, Myouga!" she scolds and without looking back takes off.
"I did not return, for some time...."
Nobara enters a courtyard where Inutaisho stands alone. His back is to her as she approaches.
"Nobara, where have you been?" he asks without turning to her.
"Why have you missed me?" she answers coldly, pulling a satchel off her shoulder. Inutaisho turns around facing her and his gold eye's narrow.
"Here," she says throwing down the satchel, some horns and hands of youkai tumble onto the courtyard floor. "These youkai have been tormenting the villages to the south." She informs then turns to leave. He looks down at the youkai remains with stern eyes then watches her walk away.
"You have become stronger, Nobara," he says. "This task would not have kept you away for so long. Is there another reason?"
She stops and looks back, glaring at him with her pale blue eyes.
"Keh, I am not the only one who has had tasks keeping them away," she says accusingly, tossing her fiery pale eyes towards him. A sneer on her lips exposing her fangs. "I am told by Myouga you are expecting a hanyou child with that human woman."
"Her name is Izayoi."
Nobara turns away as she purses her lips in anger and her eyes narrow into slits. She heard the emotion in his voice when he said her name. It cut her.
Inutaisho smirks then chuckles. Nobara gasps and turns to face him.
"Nani!" She demands.
"You are still that arrogant selfish child who attacked me so many years ago, despite how you act. Now as a woman you still only think of yourself first and not how your actions touch others. In spite of your power, you haven't changed."
She growls and extends her claws, glaring at him with fury.
"I am almost as powerful as you now, Inutaisho," she remarks, a fanged smile crossing her lips. "How dare you lecture me as if I was your child!"
He stood there showing no emotion now. A stone look on his face as he frowns slightly.
"So now you will betray me?"
"Huh?" she answers surprised. Her claws retract and she cannot hide the astonishment on her face. Realizing what she was doing she feels suddenly hurt and turns away from him.
"Even now, your temper reacts before your mind," he counsels. "I felt that after being with me for so long that your instincts would have changed. You are not alone, Nobara."
Nobara looks down, sorrow filling her eyes as shame wipes away her anger.
"I know. But I am now."
She closes her eyes and sighs. She knew what had to be done. She turns; head lowered and walks over to him. She kneels down on one knee before him. "Friend, gomen nasai. You are right. You have been my sensei as well as my friend. I have forgotten my place at your side as your comrade. I never should have left for so long. Gomen nasai."
Inutaisho reaches out and places a hand on her shoulder.
"I know I have not been here for you," he says, showing he understands her behavior.
"And I too.... Have missed your company."
Nobara looks up at him with hope in her eyes then quickly looks away before he notices.
"Inutaisho," she says and closes her eyes. "I have heard that Izayoi has been in danger recently and perhaps will be again."
Before he can answer she suddenly kneels down before him, lowering her head honorably. She takes a deep breath and clenches her teeth.
"I will...protect Izayoi, and her baby. For you."
Inutaisho stands there silently for a moment.
"You would do that for me?" he asks slightly surprised. Nobara nods slowly, still looking down.
"Hai. I promise."
"Arigatou, Nobara," Inutaisho responds, a small smile on his lips. He walks away and Nobara watches him go, he does not see the tears filling in her eyes.
"But I did not keep my promise. I hated Izayoi. I was angry and jealous of the time he spent with her over me. And my hatred grew as I watched over her. More and more days passed by without being by his side and I yearned for the days we would fight youkai together. I soon resented my promise to Inutaisho. One day I had had enough and I betrayed Inutaisho and Izayoi," Nobara stopped after she said these words. She just froze staring into the fire. Kagome saw her eyes fill with tears, but not one fell. She closed her eyes and reopened them. "Takemaru, a samurai, was after Izayoi and wanted her to be his wife. Despite her refusal he threatened to take her by force. I saw an opportunity. A great youkai called Ryuukossei was challenging Inutaisho for his domain. So, when Inutaisho left to fight Ryuukossei, I disguised myself and aided this Takemaru in kidnapping Izayoi."
Kagome and the others look shocked at Nobara. Inuyasha even glances her way then turns back to the fire. Nobara sighs and looks down unable to face them.
"I know what you must think of me and I do regret my actions now," Nobara confesses quietly then sighs and stares into the fire. "More than you will ever know." The last words caught in her throat and Kagome thought she heard her sob. But not a tear fell from her eyes. The flickering flames of the fire shone clearly in her now glass-like gaze. "I left to find Inutaisho, to tell him Izayoi was killed by Takemaru. That there was nothing I could do. As I walked that night I began feeling shameful about breaking my promise. I did not know then...."
Nobara is wandering alone on some road and the moon is high. The shame she feels has already bent her frame as she hangs her head forward.
"Nobara-sama!" Myouga calls bouncing from a crow to her shoulder. She looks up surprised to see him.
"Myouga? What is it?"
"Please come with me, it is Izayoi-sama!"
Nobara looks away and sneers. "What about that woman?"
"She has had Inuyasha-sama, Inu no Taisho-sama's son!"
Nobara is shocked. "A son? The baby survived?"
"Where is Izayoi?"
"She is back in her village, Nobara-sama. Inu no Taisho-sama rescued her from Takemaru. But he..." Myouga looks down sadly.
"Nani? What is it, Myouga?" Nobara pleads realizing something is terribly wrong.
"Inu no Taisho-sama, he is..."
"Is dead."
Nobara spins around and sees a young Sesshoumaru, about Miroku's age. Her eyes narrow when she sees the arrogant son.
"Sesshoumaru, what are you talking about!"
"My father is dead, what more do I have to say?" he remarks coldly. "He died rescuing that human whore."
"Nani!" Nobara cries feeling as if he had punched her in the stomach with his poison talons. "Liar! No human could kill Inutaisho! Stop these lies!"
Sesshoumaru stands still, stroking his fur shawl thoughtfully. "My father did not die at the hand of a worthless human. He was mortally wounded after his battle with the youkai, Ryuukossei. He went to rescue the woman while he bled to death."
Nobara feels her legs give way and she falls to her knees on the road. Her eyes wide stare into space. "Did I do this?! If Inutaisho did not have to save Izayoi…"
Sesshoumaru turns to leave.
"Where in the hell are you going!" she sneers scornfully, still kneeling in the road.
Sesshoumaru stops and looks back.
"To kill that whore and illegitimate child." His cold words echo in the night air.
Nobara watches him walk away. Her mind was still trying to catch up to the pain rising in her heart.
"But Sesshoumaru-sama!" Myouga calls. "Did not Inu no Taisho-sama ask that you protect Inuyasha-sama!?"
Sesshoumaru stops for a moment and then continues without glancing back. Nobara turns to Myouga shocked, and then glares at Sesshoumaru. She remembers how Inutaisho said Izayoi's name. She imagined the soft look in his golden eyes when Izayoi told him she was pregnant. She then recalls Izayoi singing softly to the baby in her womb in the temple garden when she thought she was alone. Her baby. Inutaisho's baby.
"Sesshoumaru!," Nobara suddenly growls, exposing her fangs. The next thing she knows, she finds herself leaping in front of Sesshoumaru and unexpectedly knocking the arrogant teenager to the ground.
"You will not touch them!" she hears herself say as she stands over the shocked youth. Her shouki claws dripping with Sesshoumaru's blood. He gets up not being able to hide the stunned look on his face as he places his right hand on his bleeding left shoulder.
"How dare you, you filthy ikeike!" he sneers. Removing his hand from his hurt shoulder and preparing to fight.
Nobara just scowls back at him as she unsheathes Hisuibara.
"It has been a long time since you and I sparred, Sesshoumaru," she warns. "I would reconsider."
Sesshoumaru's face becomes stone and he regains his posture as he lowers his arm.
"I will not let that hanyou dishonor my father," he states, placing his hand back on his shoulder. The shouki slightly stinging his skin as it healed.
"You are dishonoring your father!" she screams stabbing the youkai blade into the ground. "You wish to kill the ones he spent his life to rescue. The ones he asked you to protect!"
Sesshoumaru's gold eyes narrow and he glares at her.
"Was it not you he asked to protect them first?"
Nobara felt the air knocked out of her. Her body hunches forward, head hung down.
'Hai. I promise.'
She remembered the night she promised him to protect Izayoi. Her pale gaze softens and goes down as she realizes.
"Hai. I promised Inutaisho I would protect Izayoi…what have I done!?"
Nobara snaps her gaze back to Sesshoumaru and regains her stance.
"This is all I can do" she realizes and picks up Hisuibara.
"You leave them, Sesshoumaru," she threatens, holding Hisuibara in both hands preparing to swing the youkai katana. "Honor your father's wish."
Sesshoumaru does not respond and only narrows his eyes. He then turns and disappears.
Nobara falters to one knee and the tip of Hisuibara drops to the ground as she leans against it and quivers with sorrow.
"Nobara-sama!" Myouga cries jumping to her knee. "Do you think Sesshoumaru-sama will leave Izayoi-sama and Inuyasha-sama at peace?"
Nobara glances down at the small flea wearily and then moves her gaze to where Sesshoumaru left.
"Despite his words, Myouga," she begins, slowly rising as Myouga leaps to her shoulder. "Sesshoumaru has always been devoted to Inutaisho."
She sighs and looks over at the small flea sorrowfully as she sheaths Hisuibara.
"Where is He, Myouga?" she asks, voice sullen as she looks up to where Sesshoumaru disappeared.
"I went to the rubble that was once Takemaru's castle. The smell of death was as heavy in the air as the smoke from the many embers...."
Nobara stood above the dwindling chaos, sullen and quiet.
"Inutaisho…why did you not let me go with you?"
She remembers earlier that day when she and he had argued. Her begging him to let her follow, and him refusing.
"You need to stay here," he stated as he placed the sheathed katanas of Tenseiga and Tessaiga on his belt.
"No my place is beside you! Please Inutaisho! Let me fight by your side again!" she said, placing a hand on his back. She suddenly jerks it back as he turns.
"Nobara, I do miss our times fighting together," he says reminiscing and smiles a little. "Those days are happy memories. But this is between me and Ryuukossei."
Nobara watched him prepare to leave. She felt she had to tell him something and she didn't know why.
"Inutaisho, I…" she began as tears suddenly fell from her eyes. She gasped as she realized. He turns and sees her tear streaked face. He cocks one eye brow and looks at her confused.
"Nobara, now you show me your tears?" He asks, a surprised tone in his voice as he approaches her and places a hand on her cheek.
"I will be fine, Nobara. Ryuukossei will be defeated."
His touch took her off guard and she forgot what she was about to say. She looked up into his eyes, something she had never done before.
"Inutaisho…"
She then turns away from him and angrily wipes away her tears. She could still see Izayoi in his eyes. He turns again to leave.
"You should not fight him alone, please," she tries one last time, calmer now. "You need me to fight with you!"
He stops and faces her. His gold eyes soften as he looks at her. He sees the young woman that attacked him on the battlefield several years before. He walks up and places a hand on her small shoulder.
"I need you to protect, Izayoi," He says quietly. Nobara clenches her teeth and looks away. "And my unborn son." He steps back and looks at her then turns and leaves.
"Inutais-!" she starts to cry out, but he is gone.
The memory of that afternoon conversation pains her. If only she had known it would be their last time together. If only she had told him what she wanted to say. If only he let her go with him to fight Ryuukossei.
"Ryuukossei!"
Nobara suddenly looks up remembering the youkai.
"Did Inutaisho defeat him?"
Quickly she takes off and flicks Myouga off her shoulder.
"Nobara-sama!" he calls but she just ignores him.
Nobara leaps into the night and somehow finds where Ryuukossei is sealed. At first she is confused at his frozen state then sees the fang in his heart. Inutaisho's fang. She clenches her fists at her sides.
"Inutaisho!!!" she screams falling to her knees and covering her face. The tears she held in so long now flowing.
"Inutaisho, you will not be alone. I will destroy this youkai in your name and when he is dead, I will join you in Hell."
"I knew I could not kill Ryuukossei without becoming stronger. So, I went in search of ways to enhance my power. Time passes and during my journeys I hear about the Shikon no Tama. Of course at this time the Shikon Jewel still inhabited many youkai until it finally landed in the Youkai Taijiya village. At one attempt I failed at almost the cost of my life so I waited. And not long after a band of Youkai Taijiya left the village with the Shikon jewel. I followed. They presented the jewel to a young miko, named Kikyou and asked if she could purify it. I saw my chance. I observed this miko kill several weak, power-hungry youkai. I finally made my move, when this miko had left her village once. But I underestimated this miko. She had me pinned some distance from her village."
"No!!" Nobara screams arrows pinning her shoulders painfully to the cliff wall by the river. Her bow falls from her hand and clatters on the rock floor.
Kikyou stands before her bow ready.
"What is it you want? The Shikon no Tama is not yours."
"Please!" Nobara begs, trying desperately to pull away. "I seek the Shikon no Tama to only avenge my comrade then I will join him in Hell!!"
Kikyou narrows her eyes and readies her bow.
"Your need for revenge will only corrupt the Jewel and that I cannot allow."
"Then kill me, for I will only return later! I will not stop until I get the jewel and kill Ryuukossei!"
"You beg for death?" Kikyou asks slightly surprised. She loosens the string on the bow.
"Hai," Nobara yells. "Kill me! If I cannot fulfill my oath I only wish for death!"
Kikyou watches Nobara thoughtfully.
"What are you waiting for, you ikeike!" Nobara screams painfully extending her claws on both hands. "Kill me as you do the other youkai and just as easily! May my blood stain your hakama as theirs did," Nobara's eyes fill with angry tears.
Kikyou watches Nobara for a moment and without expression raises her bow and fires....
"But she didn't kill me. She sealed me. The arrow flew and pierced my heart sealing me. Instead of giving me, a youkai, the satisfaction of death...she sealed me," Nobara's voice trails off and she looks down hiding her face.
"That is why you are after Kikyou," Kagome realizes. Miroku and Sango both look down taking in her story.
Nobara looks up over at the still Inuyasha with sad pale eyes. He does not return her gaze but still stares into the fire.
"You will not forgive me, will you, Inuyasha?" she suddenly pleads. Inuyasha turns and faces her with an inexpressive gaze then turns away.
"Keh," Inuyasha starts and rises folding his arms in his kimono. "I do not remember my father so why do I care that you failed him."
Nobara looks at him hurt and then looks down.
"Inuyasha," Kagome gasps.
"Nani!" he snaps and looks over at her. He sees Nobara's pained face and quickly goes outside before anyone can see his reaction.
Miroku and Sango watch Inuyasha as he steps outside.
"Nobara-sama, why did you take off and not tell this Myouga where you went?" Myouga asks.
Nobara looks down at the small flea.
"I...." she starts then looks away. The pain of her past quickly filling her chest.
Miroku and Sango take Nobara's hint.
"Come, it is late," Miroku says as he and Sango rise to go to their futons. "Good night, Nobara-san."
Kagome sits thoughtfully watching the still Nobara. Shippou had fallen asleep on her lap.
"Nobara. To be alone and then lose everything you had...I feel so sorry for her." She rises and carries the sleeping Shippou with her to sleep. Nobara senses something from Kagome and watches her walk over to the fire.
"Kagome. You are truly more than Kikyou. Kikyou could not feel such pity as you do...for a youkai like me."
Nobara lies down and looks towards the door where Inuyasha left. He sits outside with Tessaiga resting against his shoulder, deep in thought. Nobara furrows her brow and tears start to form in her eyes.
"Inuyasha, forgive me. Not everything was as it seems..."
The full moon shines down on a scene of Izayoi and Inutaisho embracing in a meadow near her village. Nobara stands in a nearby tree and quickly turns behind the tree before she is seen.
"Izayoi," Inutaisho whispers to her as leans towards her and they kiss.
Nobara sees their embrace and quickly turns looking down at something in her hand that she quickly replaces in the sleeve of her kimono.
"Nobara-sama," Myouga starts bouncing on her shoulder. She swiftly swats him away.
"Not now Myouga!" she scolds and without looking back takes off in the direction from which she came. Inutaisho and Izayoi do not notice.
She sits in a tree somewhere away from them and looks up at the full moon. She gasps for breath and sits in the crook of the tree. She retrieves the item from her sleeve and holds the single red rose in her hand. She squeezes it until the thorns cause her to bleed. Her eyes fill with tears and she clenches her fangs.
"Inutaisho," she whispers, tears flowing down her cheeks as she tosses the rose towards the moon. Watching the petals flutter to the dark earth far below. Each one a memory.
"I love you."
......End Chapter