Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. If I did, the original series wouldn't be as popular.
'Mr. Editor' is editing this fan fiction. His other fake name will not be revealed until further notice. Yes you all want to know that, don't you? He doesn't have an account here, but what the heck. He's my brother from another mother. I would insert a smiley face here, but unfortunately we're not supposed to use keyboard language here.
She just laid there, lazy, eyes filled with boredom. Her clothing was odd. They were just like curtains draped over her slender body, and it looked as if they weren't even tied together. The Yasha gang looked at the exotic room. Various scents of incense drifted throughout. Totem poles, masks and statues of great beings glared down at the group with fiery eyes. Golden spider webs clung throughout the place, drooping towards the floor. Inuyasha grunted and brushed away those that stood in his way.
"Careful," the lady said, "you just ruined somebody's chance to beat their first demon."
"I don't know what the hell you mean," Inuyasha growled, "I've heard that you can grant wishes, and I want a wish granted."
Kagome had dreaded this moment. Yet, she couldn't bring herself from stopping Inuyasha from getting his wish granted. She already broke the Shikon Jewel, and look where that lead him.
Kikyou had to tag along as well. She had to admit that the past adventure had brought them closer as friends, but Inuyasha still stood between them. She still felt the same way about her.
"Me as well," Kikyou said, "I want my wish granted too."
"Alright then," she yawned.
"...Well?" Inuyasha demanded.
"Well what?" the woman stretched.
"Aren't you going to do anything?" Kikyou asked.
"Nope," the woman said, "all you have to do is wait for three days to pass, and then make a wish, and then it will come true. Oh yeah, you guys have to give up knowledge about how to get here, ok?"
"What!" Inuyasha yelled, "heck no!"
But it was too late. With a wave of her hand, the witch flew them out of her palace with a strong gust of wind, along with the knowledge of how to get there.
Chapter 1 Miroku's Haunting Secrets
One Week Ago
There was a mysterious man on the path that they were walking on. He looked like a dying man, and an innocent villager. He was bleeding all over, and on the ground, with some kind of a spear stuck on his shoulder blade. He didn't moan, groan, or anything. In fact, they all thought that the man was dead.
"Is he dead?" Shippou had asked.
After checking for a pulse, Kagome said, "no he's still alive," she turned to the man, "can you hear me?"
"Clearly," the man choked, blood dribbling on his chin.
"What happened to you?" Sango asked.
"This is the punishment I deserve," he moaned, "this is what I get for making a stupid wish!"
"What do you mean by that?" Miroku stood, alerted.
"I heard from an old friend about this witch," the man said, "told me that she can grant one wish to me. But he couldn't remember the way. He said a lone monk that lives in the northern woods, in Mount Toshiri, had told him the way. So I travelled there. Apparently you can only lay eyes on the monk once, so my friend couldn't see him again. It was some sort of a spell. When I caught up with the man, he told me the way – but I, myself, have forgotten the way to the witch."
"Mount Toshiri?" Kagome said, "I've never heard of that mountain before – not even in Geography."
"What was the witch's name?" Miroku asked suspiciously.
"Her name is Darkle," he gasped in pain, "the Darkling. Fitting name, too. Her palace is as dark as the new moon. Candles shine around like stars in the night. Golden hairs strung about everywhere."
"Golden hairs?" Miroku pressed.
"Yes," the man sighed, "and she has cut mine."
Miroku's eyes widened, and hurriedly asked, "What is your name?"
"Koichi," the man's eyes clouded, "Koichi, the messenger."
Koichi's eyes rolled to the back of his head, and he shivered. His body went limp, and all breath left his body.
"Did he just..." Kagome whimpered.
"He just died," a voice said.
"Kikyou!" Inuyasha exclaimed as he turned around. A chill ran up Kagome's spine.
Kikyou walked to the man and looked down on him. She had a blue cloak on, one that reached down to the back of her knees. She also had the same clothes on – red pants and white shirt. Her hair, though, was much longer than before. It reached down to her ankles, and it wasn't tied up or clipped in any way.
"I've been searching for this man," she explained, "he had something that I wanted."
"What did he have that you wanted?" Inuyasha asked softly.
"I saved his father a few moons ago," Kikyou said, "He was terribly wounded, and none of the doctors in his village could help him. Luckily, I was there, and I nursed him back to good health. He wanted to return the favour, so he said that he would give me a special item that his son has retrieved from some holy shrine. We waited a while until his father grew worried. His father claimed to have sent him in the beginning of this sun cycle, and as you can tell, it has already been two months. So I volunteered to search for his son, seeing as his father was not suited to go anywhere at the state that he was in. I brought along with me a doctor and two warriors from the village, and we went on search for him." Kikyou sighed, "The chief will not like to hear about this." Kikyou turned around, and said, "You can come out now."
Three men revealed themselves, who were hiding behind trees at the time.
"So the master's son is dead?" one of the armored men shook.
"Yes," Kikyou sighed, "but your chief is strong. He can manage the news."
"Did you understand what he said?" Sango asked Kikyou.
"No I didn't," Kikyou looked at Miroku, "but I'm sure somebody did."
Miroku looked away.
"We better bring Koichi to his father, don't you think?" Kagome interrupted.
"That is agreeable," Kikyou nodded.
Inuyasha lifted the Koichi up onto the back on one of the warriors that accompanied Kikyou.
"Is the village you're heading to the closest one to this place?" Sango asked, "It's getting late and we really need a place to stay."
"I'm sure our village can do something to help a couple of friends," the doctor smiled.
"What makes you think we're friends?" Miroku blurted.
The doctor cocked his head. "Anybody who is friends with Lady Kikyou wouldn't be so bad," he said.
"What's wrong Miroku?" Sango whispered.
"Nothing," Miroku shrugged, and he walked quicker, moving ahead of everyone.
"Miroku do you know the way?" Kikyou called out.
Miroku turned back. "Yes," he said, "I've been here before."
At the Master's House
The master stood still as he saw one of his men carry the lifeless body of his son. He was frozen, and the men moved ever so slowly. Every one of their steps seemed to take a year, each thud a booming echo. The plump old man heaved a heavy sigh.
He should have known. Koichi would have been tempted to roam the mountains after the story his friend had given him. His son's blood was really on his hands.
"My lord," Kikyou bowed, "my companions and I, along with these friends of mine that we bumped into, found your son dying on the road. He managed to tell us that he had made a bad wish, which had been granted by a witch, known as Darkle."
Kikyou waited for a response. The master sighed shakily, and knelt to the ground in beside his son.
"It was all my fault," he said, and looked up. "Miroku! Bless the heavens, is that really you!"
"Yes it is," Miroku murmured.
"Oh my goodness, Miroku!" the master beamed, "you bring comfort along with the death of my son, like the stars in the night! Oh I'm so glad to see you, old friend! It's been so long since we drank sake together!"
"My old friend," Miroku smiled sadly, "I see your son…"
"Yes," he sighed, "I should have heeded your father's warnings."
Miroku turned to Inuyasha and the others and said, "I would like to catch up with old times with Tokiri here."
The doctor and the two warriors gasped. Miroku turned, and gave their lord a puzzled look.
"Never mind that," Tokiri waved his hand, "come in, Miroku, your friends can stay at the huts up the hill over there." He pointed.
When they got inside, Miroku noticed how empty the rooms were. Everything was gone, except for a snake demon statue in every room. He remembered back when these rooms were filled with women and the scent of sake… not the castle seemed so… dead.
"Come sit, Miroku," the white haired man said, "Let's catch up."
"Darkle," Miroku whispered.
"You still remember her?" Tokiri murmured, "from old legends that are scarcely a whisper in the world today?"
Miroku had a blank look on his face. "It makes me wonder… what was your son's wish?"
Tokiri sighed. He looked at his tea, brown in colour, rippling at his shaky breath. "I remember one night while we were sitting in the courtyard I remember he told me how kids from the village would bully him because he always wanted to play with them, and how he hated it. I told him he had to be strong, and stand up for himself. And then he told me that he wished he would be just like me when he grew up – a strong warrior, who strikes the heart with fear."
"I understand," Miroku sighed, "and seeing as he did have a spear on his back, I'm guessing one of your enemies got him."
"He wished he would be me, so my qualities, my recklessness, my friends, my foes… they were all his. The only thing we didn't share was our fate, and our time." Tokiri stared at Miroku and whispered, "Do you know who the monk is? My son – Lady Kikyou said you heard his last words – he must have told you… about him."
"I have a hunch as to who the monk is," Miroku said.
"Your grandfather was wise," Tokiri said, "although he did fall for Naraku's trap, binding you to the Wind Tunnel, he was wise, and knew what no mortal could ever know. Do you know why he rests in that mountain, only allowing himself to be seen once?"
"Nobody ever told me," Miroku explained, "I thought that now would be the right time somebody explained that to me."
"I will," Tokiri said, "it's time."
Tokiri got up and bent down to a secret compartment on the floor. He opened it, and brought out a box. It had a tear drop drawing on it.
"Why a tear drop label?" Miroku asked.
"When your grandfather was cursed, he cried," Tokiri said, "and not because of the curse, exactly. More about how he has cursed you and your father, and his sons. How sorry and ashamed he was. He never got to say sorry to you or his father, so he binded himself to the earth with a spell. As long as Mount Toshiri stands, your grandfather will not rest.
"Do you know why Mount Toshiri exists?"
"Why?" Miroku asked.
"Because of the snake demon – Lo," Tokiri explained, "Have you noticed all the snake demon statues around here? They are a symbol of Lo. As long as Lo is alive, Mount Toshiri stands. And Lo is alive so long as his donor lives."
"Donor?"
"He made a pact with the fox demons, and Lo lives as long as a fox demon is alive. The trouble now, is that the Darklings want Lo dead. Two failed at the attempt. The last wise one, Darkle, does not want to kill off the last of the fox clan, because she is in love with Lo."
"Wait, the LAST of the fox clan!" Miroku cried, "You don't mean Shippou, do you!"
"Shippou's father was the second last to die. I recognized the young lad. You have to protect him, if you want to talk to your grandfather while you are still alive. After all, you were very young when you lost your only true family."
"Why would I need to protect Shippou if the last darkling does not want to kill him?"
"Just because he is safe from the Darklings does not mean Shippou is safe," said Tokiri, "Mount Toshiri is one of the most powerful source for strength, stamina, magic, and health. Many people want it. Even in my village he is not safe. But there are other matters that are just as important, Miroku. Open the box, Miroku."
Miroku opened the box. It was covered with white fur all over. Almost like Naraku's baboon fur. Miroku took notice, but shrugged the thought away. Inside, laid a pendant made out of shining jade, carved in the shape of a circle, with a huge x engraved on it.
"I do not know what the X stood for, but it is used for protection. It alone has protected my village from destruction. My village should have been wiped out years ago, but thanks to the pendant, we are all alive. But it is yours now."
"But Tokiri I-"
"Take it," Tokiri waved his hand, "my son has died, and neither my village nor I have anything to live for anymore. We have cheated on death long enough."
Miroku slowly put on the pendant, which fit around his neck with a thin string.
"So this Darkle – she can grant wishes?"
"She can grant one wish per person that was deemed worthy of it," Tokiri corrected, "People have to pass a test, and then they can have their wishes granted. Miroku, you should join your friends now. They are waiting."
"You haven't told me why my grandfather binded himself to the earth, or how to find him."
"Your grandfather felt that he was not done helping people, so he stayed, and led people to 'help'. Your grandfather did not know how to help people any more than that, seeing as he did not have a body and all. And besides, he knew that you would need his help. You can get to him by going to the peak of Mount Toshiri."
"Thank you, Tokiri," Miroku bowed and left the castle. He walked in a daze, deep in thought.
"Hey Miroku, you're back!" Shippou yipped and jumped on Miroku's shoulder. "You've been gone for a while, we were getting worried! Sango and I were hoping you weren't leering at the girls from around here again!"
"I wasn't worried, Shippou," Sango said calmly, "I knew he'd eventually have to come back." She gave Miroku a deadly look.
Miroku didn't notice. He held Shippou in his arms, and squeezed him tight, and started to cry. Miroku knelt to the ground, his tears soaking Shippou's hair. Miroku didn't know why he was crying. Shippou was the last fox demon, an innocent child, and yet knowing that people out there are willing to kill him for power… even Naraku wouldn't kill Shippou, because he's not that strong, or worth his time…
And what about him? He could see his grandfather for the first time, but he could only see him once. Only once he would be able to see somebody that was actually related to him by blood, somebody that may help him with the Wind Tunnel, or give him wisdom.
Why was he crying?
The others went around him (well, except Inuyasha) gave him quick words of comfort, their eyes mixed with confusion and pity.
Then the pendant glowed darkly. Miroku could only remember Kagome crying words of concern and panic, and then everything faded to black.