Disclaimer: I may not own Inuyasha the show on legal terms or Inuyasha himself, but I do own him on my own terms... and am very willing to share him with you all.... you've just gotta read and review...

Inuyasha- WHEN did I AGREE to THIS!!!!!

Zonza- Shush up! I said it so you have to agree! Don't make me write the sit command into this fic!!!

Inuyasha- Feh, whatever...

Simple Lies

Chapter Nine: Who Are You?

The room was cold, dark, and very damp due to the fact the dungeon happened to be a narrow tunnel dug underneath a pond with narrow apertures branching off every few feet apart. He just happened to be sitting in one such aperture, huddled against himself watching water drip from the roof of his prison while his breath steamed out before him. He seemed to be in some sort of trance, well at lest to the outside world, but in reality he was deep and lost in his own thoughts.... who was he?

Who am I...?

Why I can't I remember anything from before....?

Why am I here...?

The thoughts skittered past his conscious unanswered as his mind could provide none. So there he sat, still as death, beating his might for answers to those three questions. He dug and dug through ever recess of his mind only to come up empty handed, and with a sigh he leaned back against the wall at his back, eyes gazing forward not really concentration on any such object. As he did so he pushed his surroundings from his mind, and entered a deeper conscious, one might refer to such a technique as meditation. How he knew such a technique, or why he decided then was the best moment for it use was lost on him. Slowing his breath, he let the calm peace take him over. After a few moments in this state a vision took him over...

-

-

Running, he was running so fast that it felt as if he lungs would collapse in on themselves if he did not rest soon, but he knew that he could not. They were counting on him, but more importantly she was counting on him. Breathing in through his nose and out his mouth, he continued his run never slowing his pace. He absolutely refused to let her down, she believed in him, and has told him so countless times. He refused to let her belief in him be for not.

Why was he running...?

-

Plopping down in a field of flowers, he pulled one from the ground, twirling it between his cloth covered palms. Eyes glazed over in thought, two days and he would have to take his test...

What test...?

Jumping to his feet he rolled away from the noise to his left, coming to a crouch sias in hand ready to spring into action. Taking a calming breath, he lowered his eyes in shame, it was only her. "I'm sorry.." he whispered, blush staining his cheeks.

Who is she...?

"You have nothing to be sorry about, that was good of you to be so alert." Her voice assure, but he could not see her face, it was obscured slightly by the suns light. But her voice was gentle and loving.... who was she? Even as he tried to dig deeper, he could not see her clearly. "I just know your going to make one of the best Taijiya's someday, because I believe in you...."

Why...?

-

He refused! His jaw set tight in determination, he griped his saias, readying himself to fight off the youkai that... that what? If only he could dig deeper, if only he could find his name, her face, why was this so important to him? What was he trying to prove? All he could see was himself running, saias clutched in hand in shear determination to not fail her. A face flashed across his minds eye. A pretty girl a lest a few years older then he, pink eye shadow upon her brown eye's lids and dark hair cascading down her back. He could see the hint of green and pink upon the obviously white kimono she wore. The same girl flashed again, eyes hardened in determination, hair pulled up high, while she wore some type of dark body armor... It was so familiar and then it was not. Who was this girl? Why did his heart say she was some one important.

What happened...?

Her mouth seemed to be forming a soundless plea 'Kohaku run!' Her eyes seemed to hold such sincere fear for him, why wasn't he running, why wasn't he going toward her? Why did he just sit there!

-

-

His eyes snapped open as he heard voices in the cell in front of his own. One hushed and the other not caring for the pitch of his voice. That one seemed to be around his age, getting on his knees he crawled towards the bars, putting behind him his visions from the meditation. His head hurt too much to try and puzzle whom he was or the girl, much less how he ended up in this cell. His dark eyes fell upon what he assumed to be mother and son. Who would be so heartless as to place them here, he wondered briefly.

The boy smiled brightly when he caught sight of him. "See mama I told you he was awake." He chirped cheerfully, and then turned his attention from his mother to the other boy across from them. "I saw them when they brought you in, they threw you in there like a sac of potatoes, they have no respect!" He cried in indignation, and the other boy just had to smile at that. "So I yelled at them for you, though they didn't seem to care much about it." He huffed then smiled brilliantly. "I'm Souta, what's your name?" He asked politely, and he did not miss the boys mother smiling proudly at the remembrance.

"I don't remember much..." He trailed, squeezing his eyes shut.

Run Kohaku!

"But you can just call me...." Rubbing the sides of his head, he forced his hand down and eyes open ignoring the pain.

No! Kohaku, Nooooo!

"Kohaku..." he managed to get out in a shaky breath. What was that? Why was she screaming for him, why was she crying for him? He was so confused, shoving all of that to the furthest recesses of his mind Kohaku went on to try an have a conversation with the kid. Maybe it would help him get rid of the voices. "Souta, why are you here? I mean, your mother and you do not look to be the types to be.. well...stuck in this place." He settled himself comfortably in the corner where the bars and the rigid rock wall met.

Souta snorted. "Ha! Naraku doesn't care, he only wants the stupid jewel that my sister has." He replied to the question, his voice taking on a sad cast. "Kagome-Onee-chan's gonna get us out of here, and I don't care how many times Kikyou-Onee-chan say's she and Naraku are gonna kill her for it, they won't! Kagome's too strong, and she's gonna rescue us because she wouldn't want anything bad to happen to us." He nodded once as if to accentuate his point. "She would even rescue you too, if you asked her. She's nice like that, do you have a sister?"

Kohaku smiled sadly. "I can't remember anything past this point and time." Was his response, and Souta shared his smile. He could not imagine being without Kagome, let alone not remembering her. "But your sister sound very nice, I would like to meet her..." his eyes then narrowed in confusion. "Who is this Kikyou person that you called Onee-chan?"

Souta clenched his fist, and tried to force back the tears that threatened to spill fourth. He was young and the kinds of emotion's he was feeling sometimes caused him to lose what little control he held. Sometimes he would lash out, but recently he has learned to control them, keep them back and lock them away. Taking a deep breath then exhaling he went on to answer his new friends question very carefully. "Kikyou is... my Ane-ue." He began. "But only because we share the same blood! She killed Oyaji, and let Naraku keep us here and beat haha-ue because Kagome won't give him this stupid jewel that she is suppose to protect." Souta brought his eyes to stare at the ground below him. His bangs shadowing his eyes from view, but that did not keep the one solitary tear that rolled down his cheek from Kohaku's sight. "Kikyou says that Kagome-Onee-chan doesn't care about us, that's why she won't give up the jewel, but I know that's not true. Kagome... she always said that I'm the best little brother in the world and when ever I was scared at night, she would tell me stories and let me sleep with her in her room

"She told me once that she had to protect the jewel with her own life until she was able to purify it out of existence... I asked her once why she had to do it -I was worried she would die from protecting it- and she had said that it was for me, our family, and the rest of the world that she did so. I didn't understand what she meant then, but I do now." He looked from the ground to Kohaku's face, his eyes held sheer determination, for what the other boy wasn't sure of, but assumed it for hope in the fact that his reasoning's for his sisters actions be true. "The jewel, it has a power all it's own that is neither good nor evil... if Naraku got a hold of it the power would be evil and he would use it to...to..." He trailed, squeezing his eyes shut trying to recall what it was they planned on. "Kikyou... she would always say that they were going to use the jewel to bring back some dead army and become rulers of the world. That's why Kagome-onee-chan couldn't give it to them, and I understand that, I don't blame her for being here like Kikyou wants me to do."

Kohaku remained silent for a long while as he took in all of the information that Souta had given him, he smiled sadly, images of a girl he could night quite recall forgotten for the moment as he talked with this boy around his own age. "So you were betrayed by your own sister..." Souta nodded sagely. "I... don't really know what to say to that, but this Kagome sounds really nice and I doubt what Kikyou says is true." He turned from the boy so that he could not read his features, why couldn't he recall that girl? Who was she to him? "I'm sure that your sister, Kagome, truly does care for you greatly." Souta grinned widely, and thanked him for his comforting words. Those words, which he minded not, brought the other boy to speak of his Kagome-onee-chan greatly. Kohaku listened to it all with a saddened heart. Why couldn't he get this face from his mind?

~*~

No windows or much else adorned the walls of this room, and only one solitary door on the far end of this room worked as both an exit and entrance. This fact always made whom ever enter this room nervous beyond compare, no windows to escape from and only one door at the far end next to the one they usually wanted to escape from as the only exit. This room was the study of Naraku and the place he held his meetings and such for plans of attack. The room was lit by a few candles, causing shadows to dance about the entire room. This light seemed to touch everything except Naraku, as his form remained in the shadows despite the candle sitting next to his form.

Staring directly into the eyes of Kagura, Naraku narrowed his own slightly as he indulged in the information she has brought. "Your are sure of this, Kagura?" He asked, eyes coming to rest upon the papers before him that held the information in grater detail then in which he was told.

"Of course Master Naraku." She assured while trying her hardest to keep her contempt and hatred for the man away from her voice, and cringed at the more narrowed eyes that went her own shortly after. Normally she would not care to hide this fact from him, though he already know whether she hides it or not, but she is already on Naraku's list and does not need things worse for her. Trying to kill someone in their sleep would put you one anyone's list.

Taking the papers in hand Naraku scanned them for information left out, and surprisingly found nothing. He smiled inwardly, maybe Kagura learned from the heavy bout of torture she had received for her earlier betrayal of him. "Good." Now that he knew for fact that the monk, taijiya and miko were also there he would have a little fun. Though, sadly enough, he could not let his fun ruin his other plans for the attack upon the Inu's Kingdom as he still wanted what he had before, but slightly altered a bit. He could not go about them in the same with those three running around. Maybe he could incapacitate one of them with...

A feral smile came to his lips, one born of near insanity. "Bring me the boy Kohaku, I'm sure our Taijiya friend misses him terribly." He let out a series of maniacal laughter as he waited for Kagura to acknowledge his orders.

Feet ran as fast as they could. He could not remember anything, but knew that he needed to be as far away from that castle as possible. Something inside of him demanded it, as well as demanded he found this girl that he could not get rid of. She was always in his head always smiling at him, or afraid for him, sad for him. He shook his head as he ran, no he wanted to forget her, something inside of him told him so, but he also needed to see her again. He needed something from her, something that a part of him believe she could only give him.

He didn't get far from the castle.

Blades of a golden light cut through the ground around him, he barely had enough time to dodge them. Landing in a crouched position, he looked up to his attacker, eyes questioning. "Have I done something to warrant attack?" The boy asked, hand hovering over his sickle. "I remember not who I am, as well as not what I have done, but if this attack is of the sort for amusement then I welcome you to try and kill me."

Kagura blinked a couple of times, he doesn't remember being in Naraku's service, the spell seemed to have worn off some. Smiling sweetly she went on to reply to the brave child, either that or incredibly stupid to have challenged her in such a away. "You don't remember who you are, Kohaku?" She asked, then shook her head. "No wonder you left the castle and Naraku's protection. It's not safe to leave without I, Kanna or another of Naraku's followers, there are youkai around here that wouldn't think twice about making you their evening meal and I know that Master Naraku didn't save you from them so that you would just get beaten once again." She informed calmly.

Kohaku watched her warily, eying the hand the was held out for him to take is if it might back. "And I should believe you because?" He asked, his instincts demand caution of her sense the demands that he flee were ignored. "I may not remember much, but you did attacked me and I know allies do not allies."

Growling her annoyance Kagura shot forward, flattening her hand using it, like it were a board, to hit his pulse point allowing him the wonderful bliss of unconsciousness. Gathering the young boy into her arms she brought him off to be dealt with by Naraku. She almost felt sorry for the boy.

-

Naraku narrowed his eyes that the boy lain before him. How dare this child think to leave without permission, whether or not he remember who he is, it does not matter, he still defied him. Clenching his fists to cool down the anger this boy's defiance brought him, he let his eyes slowly close shut. If the child wasn't so defiant, was so strong willed the damned spell would work long then it seems to have. Breath in, breath out. He would have to keep the deviant looked up so that when the spell vanishes Kohaku wouldn't be allowed to leave.

Concentrated hard, Naraku allowed his mind to travel to Kohaku's own, this process being slightly easier now that the boy was unconscious. He would not fight him like usual.

It was always a strange feeling, traveling into another's mind. He could no longer feel his own body, and before he was completely in, he had to fight his way through the mind's barrier. A barrier that protected on some level against psychic invasions of the mind. It felt as if he were being thrown into an icy river one moment and then burned alive the next. Forcing back the pain it brought, Naraku then found himself inside the young ones mind.

Walking through the corridors, he watched as the memories bound back in chains snapped allowing the boy another glimpse into what he forced him to forget, that he intern begged to forget. He smirked at the withering form to his right, his head buried against his chest and drawn up legs as he cried calling for his Onee-chan. Rising his hand he released the chains watching as the boy cried harder, whispering breathlessly.

"No, no.... I don't want to remember make it go away again." He begged. "I didn't, why did I kill them, why did I betray them!" He shouted, his hands that held firmly to his drawn legs fisting to the point that his nails were close to drawing blood. "I don't want to remember, onegai... make it go way." He begged once again but this time it was barely above a whisper.

"Kohaku, I will bind these back once again, but should you leave the castle once again to find this dead sister of yours then I will not be so lenient." Naraku voiced, his tone taking on one of anger and mock pity.

Kohaku nodded, still within the same position, but this time his head was up and facing Naraku. "Hai, Teishu." He replied tonelessly. Nodding, he replaced the restraints upon his memory and left the child's mind. Soon after that Kohaku was placed the in prison just in case something of the like happened once again.

Kagura stared blankly at him, before shutting the fan before her face with a snap. "Fine, master Naraku, is there anything else before I fetched the boy?" She asked recalling a time when he sent her off to do something, only when she returned to send her off on something else that could have been done with the first. She nearly growled in aggravation at the remembrance.

Nodded once, his baboon pelt hood falling back from a push with his right hand. "You and Kohaku are to attack the village, I want no one alive, and then the rest of the troops are to stay with Kanna at the border between their kingdom and east. I'm sure that the miko and her little group will be at the village, be sure to take care of them and bring the miko to me. I am tired of this game we play, I want the jewel; no more waiting." He ordered. "And when you return Kohaku to his cell bring Kikyou to me."

"As you wish, Master Naraku."

~*~

Inuyasha's eyes searched the book shelf behind his fathers desk in his study, searching for on book in particular. He remember seeing it many times, but never took the time it required to read the thing. He always had more important things to do, this time, though, he would read the leather bound book. He hated reading, well not really hated just disliked, but if he had remember what he was taught about the shikon then he wouldn't have to read anything. He would know what every one was talking about. If there was anything he disliked more in the world it was not knowing something that everyone else seems to know. Quite annoying and could be the deciding factor in a fight against the enemy. How he hated being the one ignorant.

locating the leather bound book that held no tittles on the outside, he took it from it's place and cracked it open eyes settling on the first page while he sat in his father's chair:

I am the first miko to watch over the Shikon no Tama as well as the first to write in this journal detailing the origins and my time as its protector.

I was surprised when three monks and a few taijiya came to my door seeking me out, I of course was curious as to what would bring them here to see me. I lead them into my home, and before they would speak to me at all they demanded proof that I am whom I say. It would seem that whatever they carried was of great importance and already demons have claimed my appearance to fool them in their journey.

I am a miko well known for strong psychic, secondly known for my purification powers. They were only second to Midoriko's own. I learn latter that it was for that reason they sought me out. Brought with them was a sparkling jewel they referred to as the Shikon no Tama. The jewel that was born of the souls of Midoriko herself and the taiyoukai in which fought for days on end. The story I was told went something along the lines of this:

Midoriko was an amazing priestess with such strong purification powers that she was able to purify any demon, no matter the strength, out of existence with a single arrow. She belong to no single village wishing to help out whomever she crossed paths with. When the demons, mainly three Taiyoukai by the names of Riku, Tamiku, and Suyaku, decided that they, being the stronger race, should have complete control over the humans. Midoriko believed that all should live peacefully together no matter what the race, she fought, leading the war, to prove that humans and demons could live in peace and that humans are not easily dominated.

The miko Midoriko fought for seven days straight without rest, on the seventh day she began to weaken. She knew it wouldn't be long before her power gave way and the three Taiyoukai dominated her, ending in her loss and the captivation of all human kind. Not wanting things to end in such a way she did the only thing that came to mind. Using that necklace around her neck, given to her by a lover lost, she forced her soul from her body along with the souls of the three Taiyoukai she fought, binding them together forever in the glossy purplish-pink jewel.

It was after that incident that the demons and humans talked things through, coming to an agreement. Demons will not kill humans unless provoked and Humans will not kill demons unless provoked. Neither race will try and dominate the other, both races would be treated equally, and neither race had to like the other. This strange, but important, treaty was soon to be know as 'The Race Conformance Treaty', and any who ignored this treaty was automatically sentenced to death. Harsh, yes, but it was the only sentencing the demons would consent to.

Soon after this treaty was made the monks and taijiya who protected the jewel till a suitable miko could be found, finally heard of myself with powers rumored to be second to the great Midoriko. It was then that they told me of the importance of this Shikon no Tama.

Inside the jewel itself the battle between the three taiyoukai and Midoriko was still raging on, the jewel was neither good nor evil. After the monks had psychically probed the jewel did they find something of interest, not only to demons but corrupt humans as well. The jewel was able to make a youkai at lest a hundred times stronger then its normal strength, and for humans it would give them any wish their hearts desired. It was later discovered that hanyou could become a full demon with it, have their hearts desire or use it to increase their strength as they are both negin and youkai alike.

Inuyasha head snapped up when he heard a cough in the room, his amber orbs coming to rest on a disbelieving older brother. He groaned mentally. "What!" He snapped, pulling the book down a bit so that Sesshoumaru could not see clearly it's contents with his youkai senses.

"Your reading..." He said, stating the obvious, before schooling himself and speaking of why he was in the room with Inuyasha. "Sense you are taking over for Mother and Father, you need to get down to the throne room and listen to the complaints of the peasants and then listen to the complaints of the counsel." He grinned at the look of absolute horror that crossed his younger brothers features. "After that, you are to meet with me in the discussion hall as it is there that we will discuss the plans for the war. Only a selected few will know of the true plans, the rest will just go where they are told."

Inuyasha slammed his head into the desk, being mindful of the book resting in his lap. "Sesshoumaru, I be there in a moment." He muttered out. "Give me a few minutes to meet my death, would ya?" He asked as he slammed his head once again.

Sesshoumaru shrugged at the request, the could wait a few more minutes before they got their chances to complain his poor brother's ears completely off. He almost felt sorry for his younger brother, almost being the operative word. If it weren't for that fact that he has taken over Inuyasha's turns the last couple of times he would have a tad bit more sympathy. "If it weren't for the fact that father wishes you to be more responsible I might have taken pity on you and dealt with the populace and the counsel on my own." He informed. "Though I can't help but agree with father, you might be the next heir to the throne, you need to be prepared if you are named."

"Feh." Was his reply.

"You never know it could happen, we both have equal chances." Sesshoumaru then tossed his knee length silver hair over his shoulder before exiting while tossing out. "Be sure your there in a few minutes though, I will not have you slacking off, as I have promised father that I would not." With that he was gone.

Inuyasha sighed, eyes going back to the book in his lap. He knew there wasn't a chance that he would become King over Sesshoumaru, he wasn't the eldest so why did he have to listen to complaints and whiney counsel men? Pushing the thoughts from his mind he went on to finish the paragraph at lest:

The jewel itself is neither good nor evil, but a balance of both. They had said to me, should evil hands come to possess it the soul of Midoriko would weaken allowing the Taiyoukai the upper hand in the battle. The monks had told me that as long as the jewel never shines with a malevolent purple light I should not worry, but if it does then destruction could be at hand. I never understood what that meant, and hope not to, but who is to say what is to happen in my time of protecting the Shikon no Tama. The purpose of this journal is to help those of you who take on this jewel as it's protector, this is like a guide to help you on your own journey in this should I not be able to finish this mission that I was handed. The total purification of this jewel, the Shikon no Tama, from existence.

The 23 day, 4 moth, 906 year

This would be my first day in this...

Inuyasha forcefully shut the book, he couldn't waste anymore time reading right then, he had to go attend to his duties. Placing the book underneath his father's chair cushion, he made sure that it could not be seen from any view point. He did not want a soul finding out about his sudden interest in this jewel, he did not want the questions it would entail. With one last glance to the chair, Inuyasha strode from the room down towards the throne room.

~*~

Kohaku walked obediently in front of the woman he learned to be Kagura, one foot in front of the other in an even pace. In a few days he was to go with this woman to visit a few people in a village three days away by flight. It would seem that the wind sorceress had the ability to pull a feather out of thin air for flight, that was how they would travel to this village. Something seemed odd about this mission, but a voice in the back of his head told him to obey. The consequences of disobedience were quite painful, at lest this is what the voice insists. The fear the thought brought to him forced him to believe what the voice says, he would not disobey.

"Hey this time their treating you right Kohaku." The voice of Souta laughed in the darkness of his cell, the one right across from his own. "Last time I had to yell at them, looks like they listened."

Kohaku couldn't help the small smile that took place upon his lips as Kagura opened his cell door. "Shut up child, I did not give you permission to speak in my presence." Souta only stuck his tongue out at her, causing her ire to rise with every moment. Shoving Kohaku into his cell, he fell into a heap hands and knees scraping against the hard, sharp edged, ground. Slamming the cell door shut she whirled around to Souta's cell. "Child I suggest if you don't want to loose that tongue of yours, you'd better place it back within your mouth where it belongs so I don't see it anymore as a temptation." She hissed, restraining her self from snapping her fan out and slicing him to ribbons.

"You can't kill me, Naraku and Kikyou need me in order to get that jewel from my sister." He replied confidently, a smug smirk in place, arms crossed.

"You can live without a tongue can't you?" She inquired turning on her heels she exited the dungeon, while slamming the door showing her annoyance and anger to the occupants. At the same moment Mrs. Higurashi pulled Souta into a tight embrace telling him never to pull such a stunt again. Kohaku listened with a strange longing in his heart, he wished he had a mother to scold him for wrong doings... where was his mother? Was she alive? After the scolding the room became deadly silent, neither one wanting to break it.

A face appeared before his minds eye, smiling sadly at him, switching between armor and a regular kimono -though the armor remained underneath- between facial expressions. Till it stopped upon a scene, the young woman kneeling down her eyes wide with fright, arrows protruding from her back as well as a large gash that could have been made form a type of sword.

No! Kohaku, no!!!

Tears pooled down her face as she struggled to keep her kneeling position, fighting her body to remain conscious despite it's heavy loss of blood. She then forced her body to move, move toward something, but he did not know what.

Run, Kohaku, Run!!!

Kohaku squeezed his eyes shut, his hands balling into fists. Who was she? Why did she want him to run, why was she so badly hurt? Is she even still alive? Why did she remain with in his mind when he seemed to have forgotten everything else? Why won't she leave his mind, why must she haunt him so? Pulling his body into a tight ball he sobbed quietly as to not alert his friends in the cell across from his own.

Who are you!? His mind shouted, to receive no answer. Why do I remember you, and then not, why can't I recall more then your face, more then scenes that seem to be of another's life even though I am in them? He questioned, and then went silent his mind and body fast in entering the dark abyss of sleep tears drying upon his cheeks.

~*~

A/N: Another update, YEAH!!! Okay, I know that I have been updating rather slowly... *sighs* I blame it all on home schooling... my mom is a slave driver!!! I have calculus, physiology, English, writing, vocab, history, government, chemistry, grammar ( bet you all can tell I'm not good at it O-o), gymnastics, weapons classes, martial arts, and last but not least computers!!! Big list of stuff to do during they day, not to mention that know my mom has me studying for the SATs and PSATs... So I'm gonna try and update at least twice a week -K-

Japanese Vocab:

Onegai- Please

Hai- Yes

Teishu- Master

Ane-ue- Big Sister

Oyaji- Dad

Haha-ue- Old way of saying Mom

- If I have missed any and you don't know them, then tell me and I'll right it in my next update...

Review Answers:

Sango13- Finally someone who knows what it's like!!!! I have to watch my three little brothers and sister, plus the neighbor kid who's about two (two year olds are very scary when they're not occupied) *sighs* your lucky then, I have so much I don't know what to do with it all… projects O-o…. don't get me started on those…. *grins* thanx for the review though, hope to here from you again, g2g, bye!!!!

Ning- *sighs* I know, but I am going to try and update at lest twice a week… I've got so much stuff to do this year…

Rushyuo- Gotchya, don't worry I will…. Thanx 4 the review it's nice to hear from the readers… It makes this authoress so very happy *gives big hug* It also makes this authoress want to write faster despite the gigantic schedule she has…