Discoveries

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The tension in the room with thick and heavy as the family of hanyous, youkai and demon hunters stared at each other. Shaking their head as their focus landed on the face of a young boy that had no idea just what he was into, Kagome No Taisho sighed as she rubbed her temple and looked across the faces of all the young children sitting at the table.

A yellow bowl sat in the middle of the table, being hightlighted by a warm pink light that caused the bowl to glow and shine bright. The jewel inside the bowl's aura was strong and troubled, which drew the interest of Sesshomaru No Taisho. Sora's eyed darted to Taji nervously, and he scooted closer to her, issuing a growl from InuYasha as well as the twins. Taji growled right back at her father, surprising him as she stroked Sora's arm in an attempt to comfort him. Nyoko shook her head as she toyed with the gem that hung on her neck, right at the curve of her bosom. Turning to her father, she gave him a quizzical look as he reached over and took a hold of the bowl. "Well, it surely has the same aura as the Shikon No Tama."

Nyoko stuck a claw and lightly traced the fairly large jewel with it. "I don't understand. The legacy of the Shikon No Tama should certainly be over."

Taura frowned as she quickly took the bowl and set it back in the center. She looked at her mother. "If that's so, shouldn't we keep it away from youkai?" She gave Nyoko a devious look.

Nyoko snarled. Kagome cleared her throat. "Well, until we figure out where this came from and whether it is real or not, I think Taji should protect the jewel---"

"But Mama," Taji complained. "Sora found it. And apparently he has strong spiritual powers. He should be the one to protect the jewel."

InuYasha scowled. "Don't you want to follow in the footsteps of your mother?"

Taji nodded. "I do, but youkai law, it's his responsibility." She cut her eye at her uncle, who cleared his throat nervously and nodded. "So he has to protect it."

Kuro seethed. "Well, if you haven't noticed, he's human. There's no way he'll be able to protect it!"

Aka agreed. "Right. And I'm not trying to babysit the bas---" He caught his mother's glare. "The runt all day every day."

Kagome frowned as she reached and took a hold of the bowl. Balancing the jewel in the palm of her hand, she frowned at it, as if she was trying to ask the jewel what it believed was right. Finally, she held it out to Sora with a smile on her face. "I have decided. You shall protect the jewel as I have done a long time ago. But, you have to agree that I must train you."

Sora looked confused. "Train? Train me for what?"

"I have to teach you how to use your powers. Surely you understand you have them. Taji have them also. If you don't know how to use them, how will you ever be able to defend yourself if Taji or the twins aren't there? I think the best thing to do is to train you in how to use your powers."

InuYasha scowled. "And I guess I'll teach you how to fight."

"Fight?"

"Yes. Fight as in martial arts and a sword."

Sora gulped. "A-A-A sword?"

InuYasha smiled as he stood up and walked out of the room. Sora looked around as the murmuring ceased and all the people around the table smiled sadly. He watched as Taji tensed as a loud laughter from the other room was hold, and her face turned pale as she opened her mouth to say something to her mother. But Kagome shook her head and pressed a finger to her lips. She shot Sora an apologetic look that he didn't understand. But then InuYasha walked in with a sword still in the scabbard. InuYasha walked over to Sora and unsheathed Tetsusaiga. Sora turned chalky white as he stared at the blade that InuYasha aimed at his chest.

Frowning deeply, InuYasha flipped Tetsusaiga around, and cut himself in the arm. Sora watched as the blood spilled out of his arm and onto the wine colored carpets. Gasping for breath, he watched as the floor began to grow larger and larger, and he awaited the impact of him meeting the floor---that didn't come.

Usagi tossed her long white ears back over her shoulder as she sighed in irritation. Glancing back at her watch, she tapped her foot impatiently as she sniffed the air again. What's taking her so long? She closed her eyes and focused on her hearing ; nothing. They just weren't on their way. She didn't have time to be out here waiting. She had things to do. Important things to do than to be bossed around by a no show's cousin.

Dusting off her peach skirt with an incredulous skirt, she fiddled with the buttons going down the middle as she tugged at the ruffled bottom. She didn't know why she felt the need to better her appearance, but by now, she guessed it was habit. Tucking her crisp white shoulder-less shirt into her skirt, she tugged the matching peach jacket open slightly as a breeze blew one more time, forcing her to blow her ears out of her face once more.

Shifting from one foot to the other, she bent down and tugged off her shoes, letting them drop to the ground next to her. Then, she began tugging on her skirt once more. She didn't even want to be here. Personally, she didn't necessarily like this member of the Ayamamuras. But she was given the task to check up on their progress, and she knew better than to refuse. She swore under her breath after ten minutes of waiting, and bent down to pick up her shoes.

Rolling her eyes as she turned on her heels, she stopped suddenly and clucked her teeth. "You decide to show up when I decide to leave?" The other youkai snorted.

"I was here a long time ago. Your patience is very thin you know." Usagi crossed her arms, refusing to turn around and look at the female standing behind her. She could feel her cold yellow eyes raking over her back, could feel the slight irritation as she felt her gaze fall to her feet.

"Well? Did you complete your task?"

"Not exactly. It seems my younger sister doesn't take orders very well." Usagi tried to hide her growing irritation at how the female was toying with her. She hated being toyed with, and the fact that her boss would slaughter her was the only thing keeping her from turning around and striking the damned woman

"Well, teach her to follow rules or she's going to get you killed." Usagi growled.

"You know as well as I do the actions of my sister will do no such thing. However you should watch how you speak to me." The woman replied smugly. Clenching her teeth together, Usagi counted in her head before she spoke.

"So, she killed her?"

"Not her per se, but the unborn." Usagi ignored the knot in her throat. Swallowing hard, she flipped her ears over her shoulder again as the gentle breeze threw them in her face.

"Where's the others?" She asked tightly.

"Home. We have not decided when to strike."

Usagi made an attempt to hide her grin. It didn't work. "Don't. I shall talk to Sun about it." The woman scowled.

"What did you call her?"

"What is it to you?" Usagi let out a choked cry as she felt herself being slammed on the ground. Opening her eyes, she found herself laying on the ground, half propped on her elbows with a sword at her neck. Sweat slid down her temple as her breathing became labored, and cold fear began pumping through her veins. But stubborn pride, and an ego to match allowed her to gaze into those narrow yellow eyes that dared her to challenged the woman's authority one more time.

"Repeat that statement."

Usagi grinned idiotically. "I said what is it to—" Usagi coughed as the neko pushed the tip of the blade into her neck dangerously.

"Remember this." The woman growled. "Know your place. Respect what those greater than you have offered. A servant should act like one, or your time here is short." Usagi was speechless as the woman in front of her vanished. She was frozen on the spot. That gaze…those eyes…they changed into that of something different.

Usagi snorted as she stood up and dusted off her skirt. Wrinkling her nose, she began walking out of the empty field. Why do I feel that . . . she just tried to . . . wanted to. . . help me?

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Yutamiki stared at him, fascination as well as amazement glazing her eyes over at how charming Shippou had grown to be. She blushed at how his fangs shined in the moonlight, how his jade eyes stood out, giving his face and hair a eerie glow. He seemed to perfect to be demon, yet to different to be human. She smiled warmly as she stared at him somemore, wondering how to attain that much beauty that kept her in awe. He noticed her staring and blushed as his laughter died down, replaced by chuckles of nervousness and uncomfort.

"Beautiful…" She whispered, looking into his eyes than quickly looking to the moonlight. "It's beautiful tonight." It was Shippou's turn to stare now. Her big browned eyes glowed in the darkness, and her ebony hair shimmered in the moonlight, covering her like a blanket. She absently ran her fingers through the long mass, humming silently to herself, oblivious that she was the only thing right now to him. Becoming tired of raking her hair, she began braiding it to the side, letting it hang off her shoulder. Realizing that she had no hair band, she clucked her teeth before Shippou shoved his blue one under her nose. She looked at it then at him as his brunette hair flowed down his shoulders like a waterfall. She smiled before she took it, tying it to the end of the braid, making sure to let some hair fall freely, which was still enough to tickle her legs as she barely braided half of it.

She now waved it in the air in rhythm to Shippou's tail with a smile. He giggled and reached over, touching her hair softly.

"It's so pretty, like Kagome's. She has beautiful hair." Yutamiki thanked him for his compliment and and looked down. Shippou sighed before taking hold of her hand shyly, surprising her. He avoided her gaze and stared out into the distance as she laced her fingers in his and squeezed it tight before cuddling closer to him.

"Your mother, what was her name?"

"Yurihana." She said with a sigh.

"That's why when we met you,"

"I had the lilies. Her name means lily flower."

"And your name means…"

"Superior beauty."

"It fits you." Shippou said as his face took on a pink hue. He sniffed her cautiously and smiled.

"Your kaori, it's like hakubaiku."

"You don't like it?" She said sadly. Shippou shook his head roughly.

"No! I don't mean that, it's just, soothing…" She smiled and cuddled closer to him as he dug his nose in her hair, inhaling her scent deeply.

"I want to visit her grave every month. Only InuYasha knows, but I want you to come with me. Only you, I want her to meet you…" Shippou nodded and smiled as he grabbed her waist and hopped off of the roof.

"Sure. Next month then, and every day we can bring her some yuris. Yuris for Yurihana." Yutamiki smiled as Shippou followed her into the hut.

Sora blinked as he registered the memory that wasn't his. Looking around eagerly as he tried to understand the images that just flashed through his mind, he watched as the sun smiled happily at him, and he groaned as the lightness in the room began to make him feel queasy all over again. Just what was that dream about? And who was Usagi, Yutamiki and Shippou? Why was he having dreams about them in a weird place?He didn't flinch as the door opened and InuYasha sat next to him slowly. "How do you feel?"

Sora didn't say anything. InuYasha cringed. "You know kid, I was never a person to like blood either. But think of it like this. You have to shed blood to prevent more blood from being shed. That always made me pull through it all. I never thought you would be squeamish though. Here's a little secret: Aka hates blood too. Just between me and you."

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"Do I have to do this?"

"Um, yeah?"

"Why?"

"Because, it's better for you than for me. Now, hold the sword like I showed you."

Sora flinched as he dropped Inukuromori's sword on the floor softly and stepped away from it. "No, I can't do it."

InuYasha scowled as he marched up to Sora and glowered down at the young boy. Dressed in a pair of oversized shorts with a casual white t-shirt, Sora looked like the average teenager. But InuYasha, more than anyone, could see under that innocent exterior. Unbeknowengst to the host, that body contained a great amount of spiritual power, enough to rebirth the Shikon No Tama, and as well, a million of foes that will come to take it. It was relevant that he learned to defend himself, but it seems like it wasn't going to happen anytime soon. "Yes, you can. Now pick up the sword and hold it like I showed you. It's not like you're killing anything. It's perfectly fine just to hold it."

Sora looked uncertain. "And Kuro won't mind me using his sword?"

InuYasha grimaced as a reminder of that argument flashed through his head. "Don't worry about it. The pup won't be home for a couple of days, so he won't even realized it was touched."

"But aren't you inu-youkai? Shouldn't you be able to smell me---"

"Shut the hell up kid," InuYasha fumed. "And pick up the damn sword."

Sora's palms began to sweat as he stared at the shimmering blade on the grassy back property, The Forest of InuYasha, and took a deep breath as he reached down to pick it up. Suddenly, he hissed and drew back, staring at the blade incredulously as he began backing away from it. "I . . . I can't do it."

"Hey," InuYasha placed a hand on Sora's shoulder as the boys fear became so thick the trees began to mock him. Sora flinched and smacked InuYasha's hand away, catching the hanyou off guard and causing him to stumble. Sora heard him yelp in pain, and he didn't look back as he fled into the forest. When he did look back, InuYasha was on his knees, cradling his hand, bent over it like he was crying.

Sora fled like his life was depended on it. Why was they forcing all of this on him? Why did everything have to be so different in Tokyo? And where were all these people in his mind from? When he reached to pick up the sword, a ghastly scene flashed across his eyes, and to his horror, would leave an imprint that would be a miracle for him to push away.

He watched the two shadows of figures with weapons constantly lunging at each other and parrying the other's attack. Peering around the corner as the two stood at the opposite ends of the alley, blood dripping down their back, face and arms, they looked utterly pitiful as they gasped for breath and panted. One of them grinned as he brought his hand to his face and licked the blood off of it. Grinning idiotically as the crimson blood tinged his pearly white fangs, he staggered a little bit as he stepped forward. The other figure took it's guard up quickly, apparently too tired to move just yet.

"Oh . . . has the puppy lost his energy?"

The other being growled angrily as he tightened his hold on now what registered as a sword and parted his legs swiftly. "Don't call me a 'puppy'."

"Dear hunter, there are rumors spreading among us. It seems you are jealous of your twin brother. How is that? He has the perfect like, utterly handsome, all the girls want him, and yet you have nothing, do you?"

"Shuddup!" The person lunged at the other person with a blinded rage, and the taunter sidestepped neatly as he brought his hand back, striking the figure in his lower neck and causing something to crack as he fell to the ground.

"Oh, the puppy needs a little time-out, does he?"

"No, I don't need time out." He growled as he stood up. Smiling, Sora could see his mouth and fangs were dripping with blood. His eyes filled with a rage that made the grim reaper cringe with fear, the absolute murderer within him glistened as he raised the blade over his head with a big heave. In one breath, he brought the blade down on the ground, and destroyed half of the other person. His bloody half destroyed body fell to the ground, and he began twitching as he tried to grab for the last strings of life.

"H-h-hunter . . . "He gasped and coughed, blood splutering out his mouth just as thick and harsh as the insults he was throwing a could of minutes before. "You're power is fueled by your hatred of your own brother. With that power, you can have anything you want. Join us, and you can finally be happy."

"Happy?" The boy mocked, settling the tip on his blade on the neck of the beast lying before him. "Joining with a bunch of blood-thirsty youkai make me happy?"

The dying man laughed. "You love to kill. Seeing the blood running on your feet and down your body makes you warm all over, and you love to sink your precious fang in the soft skin of your dying victim. But do not feel guilt over these desires that run through your blood. Instead, fight with us. Your pleasures shouldn't have to be dealt withby death. Join with us, and your bloodshed yearning shall be fulfilled. But you must start with your inner most wish."

"My wish?"

"Yes . . . I know what is it. Tell me, how does it feel to plan to kill those that you have known all of your life?"

With a guiltstriken cry, the boy pushed the blade deep into the neck of the other man, making blood spurt on the walls and onto his clothes and face. He smiled with a hint of satisfaction in his piercing gold eyes, and running his tongue along the tip of the blade, he smirked as he dropped it into the scabbard and ran out of the alley.

Sora felt weak and in intense pain as he crumpled to the ground and closed his eyes, willing the pain to go away. He opened his eyes, and saw himself laying on the ground. The pulsing sensation that he hadn't noticed on his chest before began to make itself known, causing him to double over slightly and groan. Taking the jewel out of his inside pocket and holding it in the palm of his hand, it glowed a bright white, it's aura enveloping his and making his skin feel warm all over. He shivered slightly as the light engulfed him and he watched as 'his figure' laying on the ground slowly disappeared. "Continue my legacy . . . "

'What? '

'Continue my Legacy . . . Protect the Moon and the Sun. '

'What? '

'When the Moon and the Sun become tainted by the darkness of the Earth, a revolutionized miko shall give birth unto the Skye. '

'Protect the Moon and the Sun? Who . . . me?'

'It is your destiny . . . continue my legacy . . . '

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Tsukiko frowned as she looked at Sora through her rearview mirror. His whole figure was leaning on Taji. His skin was pale and chalky. After he had fled from InuYasha, Taji found him in a heartbeat, and after Kagome prayed for him, he was to go home after he had awoken. He groaned slightly as he turned his head and Taji sat up straighter.

He blinked his eyes slowly, and they almost crossed as he tried to focus on the two at once. Taji stifled a giggle as she lifted his head slowly, allowing him to lean on the closed door as he looked around with confusion. Looking at the window, he discovered that they were sitting outside of the hotel room, and Taji had her cell phone sitting on her lap intently. She stared a thim eagerly with concern, her face twisted into a deep frown as he sighed and scratched his head. "What happened?"

Tsukiko cleared her throat and smiled. "You passed out after you ran from InuYasha. Luckily Taji found you before it was too late."

"I passed out? How?"

Tsukiko shrugged. "I think you panicked. Even though you have a lot of cuts and bruises, it's not because you lost too much blood. I think that you just made yourself go into a fit that your body couldn't handle."

"I understand." He turned to Taji. "If you don't mind me asking, who is that woman?"

Taji giggled. "She's my aunt. She's Uncle Sesshomaru's wife, and Nyoko's mother."

Sora nodded in understanding as he felt the same pulsing in his chest. He looked down and saw the familiar light of the Shikon No Tama. He sighed and glanced out the window again. "Did I make everything worse?"

Taji clamped her mouth shut and looked away. Tsukiko frowned and laid her hands on the steering wheel. "To be honest, we don't know. That jewel you hold is the root of all evil and sadness. But also, if the person who weilds it has a pure heart, it can be used for good. Truthfully, there couldn't be a worst time to uncover it. You see, the youkai have begun to make their presence known, and the humans are becoming suspicious. There is a possibility that it is because of the jewel, but right now, we are just worried about making sure you are safe."

Sora nodded in understand as Taji opened the car door and helped him out. "But what about me? Wouldn't they come for me and the jewel?"

Taji grinned. "Don't worry about it. We've already placed a barrier around the whole building, so youkai can't pass through."

Sora looked puzzled. "A barrier?" He stood on his own, feeling much better. "Who put it there?"

Taji blushed. "I put the first one up . . . well at least I tried to. But it wasn't strong enough so my mother had to do it. After a while," She smiled again. "You'll be able to do it too. Uncle Miroku can do it too, but he used to be a monk, so it's a different scenario. Anyway, this is where we part company, for now."

"You aren't going in with me?"

Taji stepped back and smiled brightly and falsely. Sora saw right through it and winced. "Nope."

"Because of your youkai blood?" She nodded her head and stepped back again, waving sadly.

He pointed to the necklace she wore around her neck. "Doesn't that have a spell that'll let you go through?"

She held it in the palm of her hands, idly playing with the fang that hung in the middle. "Oh, this? This strengthens my concealment spell. It had a strong spell that used to condemn my father, but after my mother broke the spell, we all have one."

Sora shrugged and turned around. He walked to the door and turned around. Taji still stood there, but now leaning casually against the door. She waved again. He sighed and waved back, before slowly heading into the building, not looking back until he was sure they pulled off. He pulled the jewel out of his pocket and glared at it. "Well, I guess you're a part of my life now."

The jewel glittered.

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A/N

Woohoo! Three cheers for a early summer break for me! So I'll be able to update as frequently as I want to! Woohoo! Enjoy!