Chapter XV

Soft Petals

"Inuyasha! Hang on! Hold on my chicchai youkai!"

Inuyasha could hear Nobara's voice drift towards him from across a distant frozen plain, but all was dark.

"Inuyasha!"

He tries to respond but can't seem to speak. Her voice seems to be getting closer.

"Inuyasha."

Hearing his name he struggles to open his heavy eyelids.

"Inuyasha?"

He sees a blurred face looking down on him. It is Nobara's face.

"Ínuyasha?"

Her voice becomes closer as he fully opens his eyes and her image comes into focus. She was looking down on him and was smiling.

"N-Nobara?" he starts, his body feeling warm and heavy around him.

"It is alright, Inuyasha," Nobara calms him. "The Toushoudokuso is gone."

Shippou suddenly jumps up onto her shoulder.

"Inuyasha! You're ok!" he exclaims cheerfully.

"Wh-what happened?" Inuyasha asks feeling drowsy.

"When I had returned to you the Toushoudokuso had unexpectedly already entered your heart. I quickly gave you the cure," Nobara holds out a handful of small, red, ball shaped things. "Dried fire rat hearts."

With her explanation Inuyasha's stomach turns.

"This is the only cure for Toushoudokuso," Nobara explains as she replaces the precious red hearts back in a hidden pouch. "Even though you had been given the cure you had become feverish and we were afraid you wouldn't get out of it."

"Fever?" Inuyasha states, he didn't remember feeling feverish.

Nobara helps Inuyasha slowly sit up and he sees that they are inside some old farm hut. A raging fire burned in the fire pit. Inuyasha holds his head in his hands suddenly.

"My head feels so heavy." he sighs weakly.

"It is the side affects of Toushoudokuso," Nobara explains. "It will pass. Here, Inuyasha, drink this," she instructs as she hands him some tea.

Inuyasha gingerly takes the warm cup in his hands and sips the bittersweet hot liquid. As he removes the cup from his face he sees Kagome sleeping across from him near the fire.

"Kagome!" he exclaims knowing that something was wrong. She would never sleep knowing he was as sick as Nobara described. He tries to get up but stumbles, his legs were warm but numb.

"Inuyasha!" Nobara exclaims grabbing the tea and placing a hand on his shoulder to steady him.

"What the hell is wrong with my legs? And what is wrong with Kagome!" he exclaims angrily.

"Inuyasha," Nobara stays sternly. "Sit down. The after effects of Toushoudokuso are still in your legs."

Nobara looks calmly over to Kagome.

"And Kagome will be alright," she says quietly. "She passed out in the snow and almost froze to death."

Inuyasha looks on in horror.

"Kagome…"

"I gave her some of the fire rat hearts as well," Nobara says setting down the tea. "She will be alright, Inuyasha. Don't worry."

Inuyasha continues to look at Kagome sleeping peacefully.

"Kagome…I almost lost you…"

Inuyasha looks to Nobara. She was different somehow, calmer and less sad. Nobara then turns to him with a fresh cup of tea with a small smile on her lips. Inuyasha watches her then looks away when she faces him. She hands him the tea and he takes it again and sips on it slowly. Nobara turns to rise to go to Kagome.

"Nobara-oba."

Nobara's heart skips and she freezes. She then turns back slowly to Inuyasha.

"Arigatou," the hanyou says looking into her eyes earnestly before returning to his tea.

Nobara could feel the tears rise up in her eyes. A small smile crosses her lips and she nods in response. As she rises to go check on Kagome she remembers the last time she cared for Inuyasha. Of course he was too young to protest then.

"Inuyasha," Miroku's voice suddenly enters the room as he walks in from outside. "Glad to see you are doing better."

"Keh," Inuyasha spats, acting like his old self. He then glances longingly over to Kagome. Nobara was with her checking on her. Inuyasha realizes he would want no one else taking care of her right then.

Miroku sits down near the fire and warms his hands. They still felt cold to him.

"Where are Sango and Kirara?" Shippou asks as he sits next to the sleeping Kagome. Miroku sighs and looks deep in to the fire.

"They are still outside," he answers. He was unable to break Sango away from her sadness. She told him she wanted to be alone.

Nobara suddenly rises and starts to walk out of the hut.

"Nobara-san? Where are you going?" Miroku asks her.

"I need some fresh air, Houshi," she responds. "There is nothing more I can do until Kagome awakes."

Sango sat outside under the stars, leaning back against the side of a large Kirara. Kirara could only use her warmth and company to comfort her mistress. Sango's mind was being continually haunted by what happened that day. She could still see Kohaku standing there. She keeps thinking she saw him start to raise his hand to reach out to her before Kagura took him away. But she wasn't sure. Sango had noticed that his eyes were different that time. She could see him in his eyes.

"Kohaku…"

"It is a beautiful night, youkai taijiya."

Sango turns to see Nobara standing nearby in the moonlight.

"Hai," she answers quietly returning her gaze to the stars.

Nobara walks up and sits near her and Kirara.

"Miroku told me what happened to your brother," Nobara states quietly. Sango looks down, the sadness consuming her once again. Nobara feels the flow of sadness in the youkai taijiya's heart and looks down as well.

"One thing to remember above all else," Nobara says as she rises to leave. "That he is your brother. No matter what Naraku has caused him to do."

Sango continues to stare ahead as Nobara is about to turn and leave then she stops.

"And he still loves you."

Sango suddenly jerked up to look over at the hanyou, but Nobara had already started walking away. Sango remembers Kohaku's eyes right before Kagura took him away. She was finally able to see them all so clearly.

"And he still loves you."

Nobara's words rang through Sango's head. She reaches out a hand to a cluster of stars that look like Kohaku's eyes.

"Kohaku."

She had hope.

Kagome had awoken some time later and everyone was recuperating fine. All thanks to the strange hanyou, Nobara.

Nobara hands the alert Kagome some tea and smiles. The smile was nice to see but Kagome was also a little taken aback. She watches Nobara closely and realizes that the hanyou seemed calmer than she was the past night. She also seemed softer.

Everyone was once again together as Nobara finished cooking and fed everyone. They all sat around the fire which was being allowed to die down from the blaze it was before. At first all was quiet then the discussion of what happened that day started to surface.

"How was it you were able to beat Yamase, Nobara?" Shippou asked curiously. "Since Inuyasha couldn't do it."

"Baka," Inuyasha grumbles as he bops Shippou on the head.

"Ow!"

Nobara smiles slightly and stares into the fire.

"Inutaisho and I fought Yamase many years ago," she starts. Her mind was distant in the memory. "Yamase even then was a tough adversary and Inutaisho was having trouble in finding his weakness. I had only been with Inutaisho for a short time and had yet to receive Hisuibara. After failing in hand to hand combat along side Inutaisho I finally used my shouki flame arrows as Yamase attacked with his Tsurara. That is how we found his weakness, fire. My arrows frightened him. Inutaisho owed Yamase's father a great debt and instead of allowing me kill him he banished Yamase instead. After Yamase had left I was suddenly very cold. Inutaisho realized that I had been hit with one of Yamase's Tsurara's. I did not know the severity of this until I realized the effects of Toushoudokuso. I almost died from the disease, and Inutaisho healed me with the dried fire rat hearts." Her voice became distant as she remembered being cared for by Inutaisho. A small absent minded smile appeared on her face as she remembered that time. That was when she fell in love with him.

An uneasy silence fell over the group. Again everyone was noticing the change in Nobara she seemed more open, less on edge. Finally the discussion returned to the events of the day and the frozen wind tunnel, as they tried to put together the pieces and figure out what Naraku was up to.

As the group discussed it Nobara sat quietly as she stared into the fire. She was remembering the dagger and Kagura.

"Naraku is after me," she finally states, breaking into the discussion and silencing them. She reaches into her kimono sleeve and pulls out something wrapped in a cloth. As she unwrapped it, there was an intact but dead Saimyoushou.

"Saimyoushou," Miroku gasps.

"This one was following me," Nobara explains as she sets it down before her. Her pale blue eyes suddenly look distant as they stare blankly into the fire. "After I left I walked for awhile. I retrieved my bow and arrows and thought about continuing the hunt for Kikyou. But," Nobara pauses and closes her hypnotic eyes. "But I realized that even if I killed Kikyou, nothing would have changed. I realized that it is 50 years after the time I remember so well. I am still alive in that distant past." The fire pops permeating the silence as Nobara suddenly rises. "I am dead in this new time, I no longer fit."

She picks up a sheathed Hisuibara with her bow and arrows.

"That is why I cannot stay here with you anymore," she finally states. The group sat in shock as she turns to leave. "I can no longer put your lives in jeopardy. If Naraku is after me, he-" she stops as she sees the dagger again in her mind and hears Kagura's words.

"This is the Gesshokudeba. Naraku said you would know what this means."

"Nobara," Kagome starts. She sat near the fire a blanket wrapped around her as she held onto a steaming cup of tea. "Please don't leave. We have been fighting Naraku for a long time and we all understand the risks involved. Please."

Nobara clenches her teeth. She didn't want to leave but saw no other choice.

"Keh," Inuyasha spats. "You are acting as silly as Sango did once." The hanyou rises and walks over to Nobara. "Stop being such a stubborn baka. We want you to stay with us!"

"Inuyasha," Kagome gasps, she was surprised by the hanyou's sudden hospitality. Nobara just stood there, frozen.

"C'mon," Inuyasha states as he grabs her quiver and tries to take it off her left shoulder. The strap rubs over the spot where the dagger stabbed her and Nobara winces slightly. "Nani?" Inuyasha states seeing her wince. He then smells the blood. Nobara's body slumps slightly, she didn't want them to know. Inuyasha forces her to turn around to face the fire light. There on her kimono around the embroidery of roses was the stain of blood. Inuyasha gasps slightly. He didn't smell it earlier due to his senses being dulled by the toxin and the dark red had camouflaged well with the crimson roses on her kimono.

"What the hell happened to you? Why didn't you tell us you were hurt?" Inuyasha spats. Nobara just looks down sadly. Sango rises to check on the wound and Nobara waves her away.

"There is nothing you can do," she informs sadly. "The wound will not close."

The group looks on concerned.

"Before I went to get you, Inuyasha," she reluctantly begins. "Kagura stabbed me with the Gesshokudeba."

Inuyasha and the rest look on confused. They had never heard of that. Miroku ponders for a moment.

"The Gesshokudeba," the houshi begins, racking his brain. "I have heard of it before, but only in a legend."

Nobara sighs and is about to speak when Miroku suddenly remembers.

"Ah, yes. Gesshokudeba. The dagger of the dark moon," he states then looks at Nobara concerned.

"What is it Houshi-sama?" Sango asks.

"According to legend, if a hanyou is stabbed with the Gesshokudeba, that whoever has a hanyou's blood on the blade can control that hanyou's cycle."

"Cycle?" Inuyasha cocks his head confused then it dawns on him. "Naraku can turn you into a human whenever he wants."

Nobara looks away from them sadly.

"That is why I cannot stay," she continues. "Naraku may be able to control me with that dagger and I cannot allow that."

"But it is more than that isn't it?" Miroku states confronting Nobara.

Nobara looks at Miroku and nods her head slowly.

"According to the legend, if the blood is not wiped off the Gesshokudeba by the next full moon," Miroku informs the group then turns back to Nobara. "The hanyou will lose their soul."

Everyone looks wide-eyed at Nobara as she cringes from their gaze. She suddenly walks out leaving her bow and quiver behind.

"Nobara!" Kagome calls and starts to rise. Miroku stops her by placing his shakujou in front of her.

"No, Kagome-sama," Miroku says then looks to Inuyasha. "Inuyasha, you should talk to her. You are also a hanyou; you understand this better than we do."

Inuyasha was looking down, the shock of what he was just told still setting in. He then looks up to Miroku.

"Hai," he says absently and walks outside.

There near the hut on a boulder sat Nobara, her face in her hands and her yellow hair draping around her. Inuyasha walks up to her.

"Nobara," he says quietly. He was unsure of what exactly to say. He knew he was never good at this stuff. "Nobara, we will find Naraku and destroy this Gesshokudeba. We won't let you leave."

"I know," she says calmly and removes her long hands away from her face to look at him. "I am more afraid that Naraku will use the blade on you. I could not live through that."

"Hai," Inuyasha states quietly. "There is that possibility. But none of us will stop fighting. We are all together."

With that Inuyasha rises and holds out a clawed hand before Nobara. She looks at it then up at him shocked.

"We won't fight without you, Nobara-oba."

Nobara smiles and her eyes shine with hope as she takes Inuyasha's hand. The memory of her taking his small soft hand in hers years ago fills her mind. Now his hand was larger and rougher. She closes her eyes and still feels the small hand in hers as she closes her fingers around it.

They walk back to the hut as a shower of sakura blossoms suddenly falls around them with a night breeze. Nobara sighs and remembers.

Nobara stands in a lavish room in the castle. Many voices could be heard whispering. She glances back at the group behind her. A group of gossiping nobles discussing the curious demise of Takemaru and the strange child that the princess bore. Nobara ignores their whisperings. In her heart she still felt the loss of Inutaisho; it bore in her soul like a knife. She looks up as Izayoi enters the room suddenly, ladies in waiting at her sides. In her arms she held a small bundle. Nobara looks up to Izayoi as the princess quietly walks up to her. There was sadness in her eyes, a sadness that Nobara knew she shared.

"Here is Inuyasha, Nobara-san," Izayoi states as she holds the baby up to Nobara. Nobara looks down at the small bundle unsure of what to do. She had never held a baby. She takes her arms out of her kimono and gently takes the baby from Izayoi's arms.

There he was, a small innocent creature with a small white pair of ears poking out of a silver mane of hair. Nobara smiles sadly. Hair just like Inutaisho's. Inuyasha squirmed a little and opened his small eyes. Nobara gasps a little as those small eyes fixated on her face. She felt frozen in time in those eyes. They were the first eyes she had ever looked into that didn't judge her. They were clear of all hurtful emotion. All she wanted to do was to protect those eyes. These small gold eyes that looked so much like Inutaisho's. She wanted to protect them from harm. For the first time that Nobara could remember she felt so calm. She felt as if all the burdens in the world had left her. All she wanted to do was to hold this child forever. This last living remnant of the youkai she loved so much.

"Inuyasha..." she thought smiling and he smiled back.

Suddenly before she knew it Izayoi gently took Inuyasha away from her.

"No," Nobara heard herself moan as Izayoi looks down at the small baby. She then hands Inuyasha over to one of her handmaidens and the woman takes him away. Nobara takes a step forward to go after her and finds the points of many halberds at her throat. "Nani?"

"I know what you did, Nobara," Izayoi states her voice deepened with rage. "I know you allowed Takemaru to kidnap me."

Nobara turns from where the woman disappeared with Inuyasha and looks to Izayoi.

"Since you were comrades with Inutaisho I felt that you should at least see Inutaisho's son," Izayoi said painfully then flares burning dark eyes at Nobara. "And you shall never see him again!"

"No!" Nobara eyes widen as she feels a pain rise in her heart. A pain greater than anything she had ever known. "No! Izayoi!" She screamed enraged as the many guards suddenly tackled her. Izayoi turns and walks away.

"IZAYOI!"

She uses all her strength to drive the men back but finds herself tied. She looks back and realizes that these were not ordinary castle guards but youkai taijiya. She finally gets an arm free and swings out Hisuibara, the blade immediately burning with red shouki flame as she sliced through the taijiya. Their screams of agony filling her ears as their blood spilled on the floor. She throws one of her victims through a rice paper wall and the shouki flame spreads onto the castle architecture. As she continues to fight these well trained taijiya the fire spreads. She suddenly turns hearing a baby cry in the burning debris.

"Inuyasha! What have I done?"

She quickly turns and leaps through a burning paper wall. She could hear Inuyasha desperately crying in the smoke as she frantically looks around the burning room.

"Inuyasha!"

"You think you should have him?"

Nobara suddenly turns to the cold voice behind her and sees Izayoi staring at her sweetly. The vibrantly robed woman chuckles.

"Izayoi! Where is he!"

"You think you deserve him? You who always try to be what you are not!" Izayoi chides wickedly. "Why do you thing he deserves you?"

Inuyasha's insistent cries torment her sense as Nobara turns away from the chuckling woman angrily. She hears the wooden beams of the room start to buckle and break. She watches in horror as the flaming debris comes crashing down on her.

"INUYASHA!"

Nobara suddenly jerks up and gasps for breath. She feels the cold sweat on her brow and looks around. There was the group asleep around the campfire as before. It had been two days since they left the hut after everyone was healed from the battle with Yamase. Nobara sighs in relief then glances at Hisuibara. She could have sworn she felt it throb with jaki but now the blade lay quiet. She rises out of her sleeping blankets and stretches, the memory that was awakened with that dream haunting her. She glances over to Inuyasha. He lay on his side on the ground sleeping. She focuses on his peaceful face and remembers that face from her dream. She then remembers when Inuyasha smiled at her for the first time. As she looks into the sleeping face of that same boy years later she remembered what that feeling was when he had done that. A feeling she had never really felt till that moment. Happiness.

Nobara turns and sees dim light through the trees. The sun was just starting to rise. She decides to walk away these memories. She calmly strolls through the forest for awhile until she hears a child's voice. Curious to hear a young voice so far out in unfriendly woods she goes to investigate.

In a grove of trees Nobara finds a young girl in orange yukata gathering mushrooms. The girl was singing sweetly and suddenly turns and sees Nobara. Her bright eyes widen and she gasps.

"No," Nobara starts not wanting to scare her.

"Jaken-sama!" the young girl calls and runs quickly dropping some mushrooms.

"Wait!" Nobara calls after her and starts to follow her. Wanting to make sure she was not lost. She comes to small clearing where a fire was going and sees the girl running around the fire towards what looked to be another small child.

"Jaken-sama!" the little girl cries out again, hiding behind the small figure. The figure turns and Nobara was surprised to see and imp like demon in brown robes holding a large carved staff.

"What do you want here?" the imp demon orders holding the staff before him defensively. Nobara is about to speak when she senses another figure to her right. She grabs the hilt of Hisuibara and turns defensively sensing a greater threat from this approaching figure than the strange imp and the girl. Her eyes widen as she releases her grip on Hisuibara and gasps as the figure emerges from the dark trees.

"Sesshoumaru?"

...End Chapter