A TALE FROM THE PAST

-by Kittymui-

A hidden epilogue

AN: My thanks to Kyia Star and TitianWren, who had helped me with some grammar issues. Special thanks to Kyia Star again for mentioning a flaw in my storyline and giving me an awesome (and inspirational) idea to alleviate it :)! You should check out their stories as well, they're great!

With a handful of water, he washed his face a couple of times before opening his eyes again.

His calm breathing was the only sound that echoed in the small bathroom as he watched the last drip of water leave his skin and fall towards the half filled sink below his nose.

Leaning onto its edge with both hands, he slowly raised his face to gaze into the rectangular mirror that hung on the wall before him. His eyes widened for a brief moment at his reflection.

Though the resemblance was uncanny, he needn't think twice to realize that the face he saw behind the glass wasn't his.

It wasn't only because of the dark cross that adorned the forehead of his reflection. But there was also something different emitting from his eyes, an unknown emotion hidden behind the blue-gray glow.

Before he could figure out what it was, however, a droplet trickled down from his wet bangs and into his eyes, forcing him to close them in irritation.

When he looked into the mirror again, after reopening them, he found himself gazing at his normal reflection. It showed an exhausted expression with a pair of reddened eyes that held nothing but disbelief in them.

Refusing to give it another thought, he reached for a nearby towel and dabbed the remaining moisture from his face, before hurriedly going back into his bedroom.

Upon entering, he suddenly noticed that his room had become brighter than before and searched for another light source besides the one on his desk.

He was surprised to see the first gleams of dawn coming through the window. 'Is it morning already?' he thought stupefied as he darted his eyes at the clock on the bedside cabinet next to his bed.

The red digits told him that it was almost seven in the morning.

Flabbergasted, he let himself collapse in his chair behind his desk. He realized that he had been reading non-stop ever since he got home from that abandoned library.

He ran a hand through his short bangs and flung his rough braid over his shoulder to his chest. 'It's dry...' he thought dully. 'Well of course it is...I've been reading all night long.' His attention went back to the book resting on his desktop.

Mindlessly, he began flipping through the old pages again and stopped when a certain page came into view.

It was the page with the only drawing in the entire book. The one the character named Kagome made of the blind assassin while he was training.

His eyes slowly traveled to the short annotation that accompanied the drawing and read the letters of the name described in it, one he knew all too well.

B-a-n-k-o-t-s-u

"Bankotsu..." he mouthed as he looked at the person portrayed in the illustration. 'Is this really me...?'

He closed the book to look at the degenerating title in gold. 'Am I...responsible for this...?' he mused as he read the subtitle (saying 'The fall of the Western Land'). But he quickly shook off the thought as he let the book fall on his lap and leaned onto the arm of his chair. He propped his head on top of his palm. 'Have I gone mad?' he asked himself while glancing at the scarlet hardback. 'If...it's really history that's described in the tale...then who could have written it? Even if someone had found the journals of Kagome and...the assassin, it would still be impossible to describe the thoughts and feelings of those two so vividly...'

'Unless they survived...but that's not possible...' he debated inwardly. 'If I'm really the reincarnation...burdened with a memory fragment of regret...then I must have died back then...' He realized how absurd it sounded and forced himself to snap out of it. 'This is ridiculous...!'

As he thought that, he gradually noticed something unusual about the cover of the book on his lap. Not sure if his tired eyes were deceiving him, he picked it up and looked at it more carefully from different angles.

'There's no mistaking it...' he thought as he narrowed his eyes. 'The back-cover is thicker than the front.'

After seconds of close examination, he realized that the back-cover was made of two layers of cardboard instead of one. Even more peculiar was the fact that the two layers didn't touch each other, as if something in between was preventing them from doing so.

In order to find out what it was, he peeked into the thin gap while holding the book below the desk-lamp.

'There's something stuck inside the cover...' he concluded as he sat back again.

After some failed attempts with his fingers to reach the object, he reluctantly sought the help of the delicate set of pincers, which his roommate frequently used to trim his eyebrows. He really hated it every time his roommate does that.

But this time he admitted that the tool turned out to be quite useful, as he managed to pull out the object from inside the cover in a single try.

'This is...' He swallowed hard as he looked at the frail envelope between the pincers' claws, carrying the shades of decay.

Something was telling him that it could be the last piece of the puzzle of mysteries and there was a chance that unsealing it would solve everything.

But why was he afraid to reveal its content?

By opening the envelope, there would be no turning back, probably.

It could turn out that it was only by chance he and the assassin looked alike or that it was sheer coincidence the final event told in the tale was exactly the same as the one he kept seeing in his recurrent dream.

He wanted to hold on to these possibilities as he unsealed the envelope and revealed several sheets of paper folded neatly inside. But the moment he unfolded what turned out to be a handwritten letter, he knew he had to prepare himself for the worst.

- - -

I woke up when I heard her voice and I realized, as sanity began to seep back into my blurred mind, that I was lying inside a wardrobe. Its door wasn't completely closed and I could clearly hear voices coming from behind the thin gap. Who was she talking to and why did she sound so weak? So I thought as I moved my face closer to the small opening.

I couldn't believe what I saw. There she was, lying in the arms of an unfamiliar man; a scarlet stain defiling the stomach of her beautiful yellow kimono. The large pool of blood beneath her seemed to be growing bigger and bigger with each second that went by. When I saw the bloodstained halberd lying on the floor behind the stranger, I knew.

With my very own eyes, I saw the last breath of life leaving her lips and an awful feeling was beginning to rise in my stomach as I watched her frozen form. I felt like I was going to throw up, but in the end, I didn't. Probably because there were too many unanswered questions occupying my head at that moment. Why was she smiling at her killer? Why was the murderer crying when he held her lifeless body? Did they know each other? But how?

Not long after the man cried out in pain and regret, he put her down and picked up his halberd before standing up again. Like a lost soul, he turned around and strode out of the room with the edge of his weapon grating over the floor behind him.

I didn't leave my hiding spot until I made sure his footsteps were distant enough. But as soon as they were, I ran out of the wardrobe and knelt down besides her. I tried calling her name and jostling her by her shoulders, hoping she would open her eyes one more time. But no matter how hard I cried and jostled, I knew, deep down inside, that she would not ever wake up again.

Blinded by anger and drowning in misery, I dashed out of the room and chased down the one who carried the scent of blood. Her blood.

I stopped in my tracks when I found the one I was looking for. He seemed to be wandering around mindlessly through the corridors.

I was planning to lunge forward at him, but I halted when he suddenly ran towards something and knelt down.

When I sneaked closer to have a look, I found a horrified look on his face as he gazed down at something on the floor. Following his line of vision, I realized he was looking at two infant corpses.

Did he know them? I wondered, but shook it off again as I reminded myself of something more important. Just when I thought it was my chance to catch him off guard, another stranger appeared out of nowhere. With the smell of charcoal and alcohol coming from him, I realized he was the one responsible for the fire.

"Hey leader! Did you finish her off?" the arsonist asked.

Well what do you know...the blue-gray eyes man turned out to be the leader of the gang.

"Did you kill them?" I heard the leader ask him back with a hint of suppressed anger in his voice.

"Oh you mean these two brats?" his subordinate responded. "The boy was getting really cocky when I bumped onto his grandmother so I taught him a little lesson. But then I figured he would be lonely down there so I decided to send his little sister along as well."

I was fuming when I heard him saying that in such a casual manner, but when I gazed at the kneeling assassin, I was surprised to see him agitated as well.

"What happened to the elder?" he asked.

"Heh! After seeing the bodies of her grandchildren, she went crazy and jumped into the sea of fire."

That moment, I thought I heard something snap, but I wasn't sure whether it was the burning wood or the leader's sanity.

In one second he seemed pretty composed despite his distressed expression, but in the other, he had already plunged his halberd through his buddy's chest, just like that. Without warning. Nothing.

But what startled or rather shocked me even deeper, was the name that the dying assassin uttered before he joined the dead bodies on the floor.

Bankotsu.

Suddenly, all questions that were haunting me before were resolved at that very moment.

Why she smiled...and why he mourned...how they knew each other...

All questions...except for one.

Being rational was never my nature. So I concluded as I already found myself dashing towards the man.

With tears burning my eyes, I threw myself at him and grabbed him by his sleeves. I looked straight into his startled eyes as I growled at him.

"Why! Why did you kill her! You loved her, didn't you?"

A sudden change in his facial expression told me that he finally knew who I was. I heard him gasp before he raised his head to look at the ceiling. I was surprised when he suddenly started laughing like a maniac.

"So that's how you punish me huh! That's how you make me atone for my sins!"

I had no idea whom he was talking to and what he was talking about, but when I saw him space out again, I jerked at his sleeves. "You bastard! Snap out of it! I want you to answer my question!"

That moment I felt streams of tears gliding down my cheeks and I realized that my question had actually sounded more like I was begging than ordering him to answer me.

"S-she loved you..." I added, broken in sobs. "You murderer... Give me back my family..."

I knew my words had caught his attention when he slowly gazed down at me again.

The next thing I knew, I was hit by something hard at the back of my neck. After that, everything became hazy before my eyes and I started to lose my balance. But just before I completely blacked out, I got to see his face one more time.

There was the same sorrowful look in his blue-gray eyes, but I was pretty sure I saw something else in them as well. His eyes told me he was determined to do something... Now that I think about it, it seemed more like an intention.

It was the intention to die.

- - -

As Bankotsu reached the end of the first page, he took the opportunity to take a break and digest what he had read so far. After a deep breath, he flipped to the second sheet of paper and started to read again.

- - -

I didn't know how long I stayed unconscious. Nor did I know how much time had passed since I awoke. I only knew that, by the time I realized I wasn't dreaming anymore, I was lying on a fresh green carpet, surrounded by trees instead of burning flames.

I had no clue how I got there, but somehow I felt it was related to the assassin. But it didn't make sense. He could have easily killed me or let me die by leaving me in the burning fortress. Why did he help me escape instead?

When I got back to my feet again, I realized I was alone. Where did he go? I wondered.

Remembering what I saw in his eyes before I passed out, I begin to wonder if he had gone back to the fortress to die with her. I didn't know and somehow, I felt I didn't want to.

That moment, a long and chilly breeze brushed my cheeks and I knew I had begun to cry again. And as I wept in silence, I felt as though the forest was mourning with me with their rustling leaves, or what was left of them.

As if wanting to remind me of something, the wind started to push me into an unknown direction. And I, who had no home to return to, decided to let it guide me.

Strangely enough, the wind seemed to be blowing into the same direction each day.

Until one day, it stopped.

When I came to my senses again, I found myself standing before a small house.

How long have I been walking? I didn't know.

Though my demon blood allowed me to ignore the need to feed myself, the effects of my prolonged lack of sleep seemed to be catching up with me at that moment and I was forced to invite myself in the small cottage.

The thick layer of dust and countless spider webs that I witnessed inside told me it had been abandoned for a very long time. Aided by the light that beamed through the ragged curtain of the small window near the door behind me, I distinguished a low wooden table to my left, two cabinets standing against the wall in the back and a cooking corner to my right. It was not until then I began to realize that it could be the place I was told about back at the fortress.

To confirm my thoughts, I quickly made my way towards one of the cabinets. When I saw the box that was resting on the lowest shelf, I knew I was right.

After removing its dusty lid, I felt an array of emotions gushing over me. I experienced sorrow, relief, despair...and anger at the same time as I picked up the uppermost journal.

It wasn't hers. I concluded as I flipped open to the first handwritten page. My blood boiling in anger, I realized it was the assassin's journal. I wasn't all too happy at the thought of reading about his experiences, but I carried on nevertheless.

It shocked me deeply when his journal told me that he was the leader of the infamous Shichinintai, which, I recall, was the group of assassins father warned us about. The lord of the North didn't lie when he told father about the group heading southeast. Naraku had indeed invited them to his fortress.

For he wanted them to assassinate the princess of the West, the wicked bastard.

The journal also said something about Naraku's scheme, which forced the group to accept the mission. But I could still not forgive the assassin for killing her, even if he only wanted to guarantee the lives of his companions.

To my surprise and great annoyance, the writing ended abruptly without having reached the last page. The last thing mentioned was the arrival of the group near the border between the East and West. Eager to know what happened next, I quickly reached out to the second journal of the pile. But after reading the first two sentences of the first page, I realized whose journal I was holding in my hands and burst into tears.

I laughed through my tears as I read about her childhood, about how she lost her father and met her new one, about her first encounter with the cold demon, the day she created the barrier to protect him and the day she knew she had to leave her family.

It was not until the fourth journal that I read about her encounter with the assassin, who was severely injured by the time she found him in the creek. She also wrote about his blindness, which she presumed was caused by poison. And I came to the conclusion that his injuries were somehow related to his unfinished journal.

As I read on, my heart felt warm when I sensed her happiness conveyed by the words with which she described the things she experienced together with the blind assassin. But I also became angry with myself, for not being able to protect her and share her pain when she was hurt the most, like the assassin did.

The journal ended right before she left for the fortress and I painfully realized, with tears stinging my eyes and guilt piercing my conscience, why the assassin didn't realize what he was doing until he killed her.

He didn't recognize her.

I cried hard as tears flowed down my cheeks uncontrollably. I cried until I could cry no more. My eyelids became heavier by each second that passed in silence, probably because I cried too much. Eventually, I found myself unable to keep my eyes open any longer and fell asleep.

At least, I thought I did.

- - -

As the suspense increased, Bankotsu quickly shifted to the final page of the letter.

- - -

I didn't realize I had begun to dream until it ended. By the time I woke up again, it was already afternoon of the next day.

For a moment, I thought I had dreamt about the things I read in the journals, but after some skim reading, I realized that it wasn't possible. There were things I saw in my dream that weren't even mentioned on paper. Events I've never seen before, not even in the deepest corners of my memories.

In the dream I saw her past, and all the people involved. There were even moments in which I felt like I was standing next to her, witnessing all that she had witnessed.

But what made me see all of that?

As I continued pondering, I suddenly felt a draft lifting my silvery bangs. But when I looked up, I perceived no movements in the brown curtain in front of the only window. It was then I caught something lingering in the air. It disappeared as soon as it came, but I knew it wasn't my imagination as the scent matched the one burnt in my memory.

Her scent.

Was it her presence that brushed past me a minute ago? Was she the one letting me see all that while I was asleep?

But it wasn't only her memories that were envisioned in my head. There were also fragments, of which I'm positive that they belonged to the assassin. Fragments I couldn't have known of by just reading his unfinished journal. Could that mean he didn't exist in the realm of the living anymore? Just like her?

The most bewildering thing about the dream was, not only did I see things as if I was actually there when it happened. But I was also able to feel what they were feeling and hear what was on their minds. It was as though they became a part of me. Or was it the other way around?

I suddenly began to cry as I finally began to understand something.

Something that made me realize that the assassin wasn't the one to be blamed. He loved her deeply and there was nothing in the world that could belie that.

If only I hadn't insisted on my reckless plan to summon her back. She wouldn't have returned to the fortress. The Shichinintai's plan to assassinate her would fail and their destinies would never have intertwined that cruelly and ended up in bloodshed and tears. And the people of the West would still be living in peace instead of under the tyranny of Naraku.

That bastard had successfully conquered what father had protected for so many centuries, but I know that he wouldn't give up until he had found my corpse as well. As the sole survivor and only remaining heir of the Western empire, I was prepared to live a fugitive existence. I would never let my life that was saved twice, fall in the hands of that foul lord.

Before I left, I burnt away all their journals together with the house, where all the happy memories began, and ended. Even after everything had been reduced to ashes, I could still remember what I so vividly what I saw in my dream. It was as though their memories had become a part of me from that moment on. And when I realized I couldn't forget them anymore, I knew what my destiny was.

The memories they had entrusted to me, I will write them down. I will let them live on forever.

As it is the only way I could repent for my sin.

By writing this book, I thought maybe, just maybe, she would forgive me.

- - -

Bankotsu lowered the letter in disbelief.

'If this letter speaks the truth...then...then the author...' He gazed down at the bottom of the last page, only to realize that the name of the addressor was missing.

Despite that, however, he already had a good idea of who had written the letter as well as the book.

Curiously, he placed the letter on the desk and focused on the book again. The moment he flipped open the front cover, he was looking at the page again where the word 'Prologue' marked the beginning of the tale.

But when his eyes fell on the left side of the open book, he realized he had skipped three pages.

Like any other book, the title was repeated on the first page in large bold characters and just like Bankotsu had expected, the name of the author was missing. He flipped to the second page, which, like usual was a completely empty one.

The third one was almost empty as well, except for some text at the center.

It was the final key to the door of truth, written in graceful italic:

For aneue,
who entrusted me these precious memories.

"Inuyasha..." he whispered to himself, remembering what his friend at college told him.

"As for the younger one... He went missing."

"He was nowhere to be found during the massacre and his whereabouts remained unknown ever since."

His thoughts were cut off when he heard some soft tapping. When he looked down, he was surprised to see small dark spots on the old paper surface, growing bigger and bigger.

It took him a moment before realizing that he was crying and he wiped the wetness from his cheeks with the back of his hand as he placed the book next to the letter on his desk.

'What's this agony I'm feeling...?' he thought inwardly as he clutched his chest, the spot where it hurt the most. 'This pain...' He began to tremble as tears began to roll down his cheeks again. The more he thought about it, the more his head began to throb.

'I-I need to lie down...'

He pushed himself up from the chair and walked towards his bed. Without second thought, he let himself fall on top of the soft blanket and closed his eyes. 'Sleep...' he commanded himself. And within seconds, he already embarked on his journey to the realm of the dreams.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Took me some time to get this posted. There's a report waiting for me to write so forgive me if I post the next chapter later than expected. Anyway, we're back at the present time again, though most of the chapter is about the hidden note Bankotsu found. I know this chapter will create some question marks, but I'll just leave it to you readers to think about the answers okay? Like they always say, there's not always an answer to all questions, right? Hope you have enjoyed reading! If so, please tell me with a review okay? Thanks!

By the way, I've heard a rumor these days about authors not allowed to reply to reviews anymore, do any of you maybe know more of this? I read the content guidelines posted by and they forbid non-story entries. But entries mean 'chapters' and not the content of each chapter, so what's with replies to reviews (which is non-story) attached to each chapter of the story?

Before I've received a proper answer about that, I've decided that this is the last chapter where I will reply to reviews. If you would like me to reply to your review, tell me so and I will be gladly to reply your review through email :) (provided that I know what your addy is of course). I hate to do this, but look at it from a brighter perspective. Without the time spend on replying reviews, I will be able to update a bit faster and work more on each chapter :).

Lots of greets,

Kittymui

'Italic': thoughts
"...": spoken words
-.-.-.-: time gap
-CAPSLOCKED WORDS-: noises

-.-.-.-

Next chapter: An unexpected visitor

-.-

Although the title sounds obvious, it isn't what you think it is. Nobody's going to visit Bankotsu...well, not physically :). This visitor will shed some light on some unanswered questions of the present time. So look forward to the next chapter ne?

-.-

Vocabulary:

aneue: a respectful way to refer to one's older sister

-.-.-.-

REPLIES TO REVIEWS:

Wake-Robin: Very sad indeed :), somehow I'm happy to know my chapter had that kind of effect on my readers hehehe. Thanks for reviewing!

TeenAnimeLover: Hahaha, well I'm actually glad you chose all three, because then I know that my chapter could make my readers happy, pissed and excited :)! I can't assure that I can read your stories, but I've put you in my favorites list so that I can read whenever I have time left.

Seiteki Hekireki Jishinkaminarikajioyaji: Don't worry, the story isn't going to be sadder than it already is hehehe. .-.hands over a tissue.-. Thanks for reviewing!

hakkai-my-youkai: The story's definitely not over yet and I never abandon my stories before they're finished so...here's the next chapter you asked for :)!

punkgoddess: Thank you! I'm glad you loved it! I love it when my chapters were able to make readers cry hehehe.

gurlhushere13: That I have to agree with you :). I'm happy that you liked it! Thanks for your review!

AnimeSiren: Thanks! Too bad I couldn't make this chapter just as long as the previous one, I hope it's still good!

yume-chan: Nope, that wasn't the last chapter...well not the last chapter of this story if you know what I mean. We're just going to continue in the present time. Thanks for reviewing!

Mis0ka: Hahaha I hope that was meant positively :).

fallen-anqel: Thanks for your review! I'm glad you liked it!

Raja crimson hunter: I will!

sangotaku6: Almost...well still around 5 more chapter so be sure to look forward to them okay? Hahaha I wish I could pick up that book! Thanks for reviewing!

Kuroe: Wow thank you very much! Haha I'm happy to hear that my story's the first to make you cry (even though it sounds a bit sadistic haha)! Yup, Kagome is the one (though I didn't have them mention her name) who's in coma in the present time. Oops...I hope I didn't spoil anything hehehe.

Schwarz Stein: Thanks! I'll try to update as soon as possible, but I can't assure anything. About your request, I'll read your story in the weekend, but do you think you can show tell me about the other one so I wouldn't have to look for it by myself?

sesshomaruobsessed: Hahaha, if I made the Shikon no Tama save them, the story would be less interesting and more predictable right? Besides, the jewel only grants enormous power, I don't really recall that it could revive the dead :). As for your guesses...well since I don't want to spoil the fun (mine) I'll just have you wait it out and see it for yourself hehehe! .-. receives plushies happily .-. thanks!

Dark Neko17: Thanks!

BelleDayNight: Thank you very much :)! As for Sesshoumaru...well they did say he died in the present time according to history books, but who knows? Since there's a reincarnation of Sesshoumaru in the present time, I don't think he actually survived...but oh well, I'll let you readers do the thinking hahaha. And about Kagome's name ringing a bell, Bankotsu did suspect something when Kagome first introduced herself to him back at the forest. But he thought that it was impossible for a princess to be outside the protection of the fortress so he assumed it was just a coincidence that two individuals had the same name (see chapter X). Especially after hearing from the villagers that the people of the fortress become very strict when it comes to the princess' safety, he concluded (implicitly) that the Kagome he met could never be the princess. I guess that kinda explains why he scolded himself in the previous chapter for not realizing it earlier. Hope that clears up a bit.

aNiMaAyAnGeL: Sorry I made you cry (though I'm happy to know it could have that kind of effect on readers haha)! Thanks for reviewing! I'm glad you liked it!

Inukamisashi: Really? Well actually, I haven't read such a fic either. But it's only in the past (history) that they died, do you think that also counts as dying?

Dark Nadeshiko: Just wait and see :)! You'll find out soon enough!

eyeliner0tears: Hahaha, it would be sad if Bankotsu of the present time only had the role of reading a tale from the past :). Well, since Kagome's one of the main characters...who knows eh? Just wait and see it for yourself :).

Ele Goddess of Elements: Hahaha, I'm not that cruel to stop there just like that, as I hate to read such stories as well :). But I'm glad you like it so far! Thanks for reviewing! If you remember the first chapter, one of Bankotsu's friends did mention Sesshoumaru's name and explained that he's the brother of a comatose student of the same college. As for that student being Kagome...I've decided not to spoil the fun and let you wait and see it for yourself :). I didn't give the jewel any special effects or meaning besides a simple birthday present because it would ruin my story (and the entire history haha). Plus I don't recall the jewel having reviving powers...so I'm better off without it haha.

doragon no mizu: It took me two weeks actually, despite the fact I told myself to update every 10 days...sigh... But I'm glad you didn't mind that! Thanks! As for the ending...I'm not going to spoil anything for you :)!

SesshomarusGirl15: Hehehe sorry about that, I'm glad you're still reviewing despite the sad chapter :)! Thanks! Unless I'm being occupied with piles of homework, I usually update every 10 days...unfortunately, time wasn't cooperating with me these days. Nor were my muses...-. glares at them .-.

Angel of Darkness and Death: I'm glad you loved it although it's so sad! Thanks for reviewing!

Duzzie: Thank you! As for your questions...I guess I'll leave it to your imagination :) some questions/mysteries are better left unsolved, don't you agree?

Kage Youkai: Thanks! We'll find out soon enough who the comatose student is :).

Kc: Thank you! I'll try to update asap.

thunder sister: Woah! .-. runs towards 'thunder sister' and kneels down .-. are you okay? You're going to miss out the rest of the story if you don't wake up :).

SusArackAhack: Thank you! I was afraid that the numerous events would be taking place too quickly and spoiling the chapter, but luckily it didn't :). To be honest with you, I can't wait for the conclusion of this story as well :).

Skitzoflame: Thanks! I guess this chapter answered your question :). As for the question whether Bankotsu had saved his companions, I'll leave it to your imagination to come up with an answer hehehe.

lady-joker: I'm glad you liked it!

The-Freak32: There will be about 5 more chapter if I'm not mistaking :)! Don't know if that's 'many more' in your terms. Thanks for reviewing!

Unonome: Thanks for the delicious cookie and for your review! Be sure to look forward to the next chapter too ne?

Dark Tears: Thank you! I will keep updating until the very end, don't worry!

sesshoulover: Thank you very much :)! I'm so happy to hear that!

tidusXyuna637: And another wonderful review again! Thanks a lot! Too bad this chapter isn't as long as the previous huh? I've never actually reached 9000 words before for one chapter, I myself was surprised too hahaha.

Shortie630: Thanks! Hope you liked this chapter too!

alexamae3: It's not the ending! Well, not of the story...but of the tale that Bankotsu's reading. I hope you aren't confused by the story's plot. If you are, don't hesitate to ask okay? I promise it wouldn't get any sadder than the previous chapter!

InuYashaLover12: I'm glad you loved it!

kakashisninjadogs: I'm happy to know you're happy as well! Thanks for reviewing!

DarkJobo: Hmm I hope you still managed to do your homework :). I'm sorry for the late update.

Youka-Chan: Well, as you can see, it's still continuing in the present time :). Thanks for reviewing!

waining-moon: Well, I can't really do anything with a review merely telling me it was bad.

Shani Elthman: Thanks! I'm glad you like it so far!

Posted: 11 October 2005
Last Edited: 11 October 2005
Spelling check: YES

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Inuyasha or any characters of it. And I do not own whatever elements of this story that seem familiar and had already been used by other creative individuals before. But... I do own the idea of mixing all of these elements together into a new story!