Well everyone it seems I have once again suffered from a long hiatus. I deeply apologize for that. There are things I can blame such as school, finals, horrible teachers, work but that wouldn't be totally fair. I'd also have to blame myself for playing too much FFXI (though I've stopped now), being lazy, and the ever missing desire to continue to write. I always enjoy thinking up the stories but don't always have the drive to write them. I can promise everyone that this story will be finished. So don't ever think it won't be.
Special Thanks: Thanks goes out to everyone who has continued to review even though my updating has been very horrible. Also special thanks must also go to a girl named Rachel. She went beyond normal feedback. She got my email and emailed me directly saying that she wouldn't read my story if she knew it won't be completed. I can totally agree with her. I've started reading too many stories to have them just die in the middle. It was soon after reading her email last night that I started thinking more about this next chapter. All the writing was done in one day, that's thanks to the fact that work is boring from everyone being out between Christmas and New Years. This chapter is dedicated to all my reviewers.
Also Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all.
Disclaimer: I wanted IY for Christmas but Santa wasn't that nice. I did get an IY wall scroll though.
A Wish From the Heart
Chapter 53: The Third Attack
Inuyasha and Kagome stuck around at t he slayer village for the night. It had taken a while to calm Sango down and by then Miroku and the others had insisted that they stay to night and get a fresh start in the morning. Midoriko helped Miroku get Sango to her room and returned to find Inuyasha and Kagome still awake.
"Do you not plan to get any sleep?" she asked them.
"Not until you tell us everything," Inuyasha told her. "I know you're holding something back. What is it that you didn't want Sango or Miroku to know?"
"It is not that I didn't want them to know but I felt it would only worry them more. I do not know anything personally about your new enemy yet even in the small bit of time I had confronted him I knew something was wrong. There is something weird with the power he possesses. It is something I have not seen before. It is as if something is missing. I don't know how if that is the reason he is after you but be careful. I fear that this demon is far more powerful than even Naraku was."
"It doesn't matter, I'm stronger as well," Inuyasha said.
"I know what you have been through but even that may not be enough," Midoriko warned.
"Which way did he go when he left?" Inuyasha asked.
"He is very good at hiding his power and scent but I could sense a trace going West when he left," Midoriko told the hanyou. "But you can't think of leaving now? You should rest up."
"We can't afford to wait. With how fast this guy moves, tomorrow will be too late," Inuyasha said. "Kagome, let's go."
Inuyasha wasted no time in hoisting Kagome on his back and speeding away. Midoriko could only watch them leave and spoke to no one in particular, "I fear you may already be too late."
Kagome slowly awoke from of slumber. Inuyasha had insisted she try to get some sleep. She had thought it would be really hard with Inuyasha running so fast but he had balanced her well enough that she didn't feel it too much. Once Kagome was totally awake a thought came to her. "Hey Inuyasha, do you have any exact idea as to where this guy is headed?"
"No but if we just keep heading West we should find some trace of him."
"I don't think that will work. If he decided to change his direction at any time we'd lose him. He might not have even gone exactly West and therefore the farther we get from where he is."
"So what would you have me do instead, just stop and wait for him to come by again?" Inuyasha asked though he didn't stop his running.
"No, we need to think as to where he'd be going. Well we know he's after people that were a threat to Naraku. Would he go after Kouga?"
"I highly doubt it. Kouga never was considered a big threat by Naraku and now that he has no jewel shards he's even less of a threat. Besides Kouga and his clan live in the Northeast."
"Well who do you know of that lives in the West was a threat to Naraku?"
Inuyasha was stumped by that. He barely knew anyone in the west. His parents lived in the west but he highly doubted this detachment knew about them let alone decide to try to take on his father. The only other person he knew in the west was… "Shit," Inuyasha practically shouted out loud.
"What's wrong?" Kagome asked sounding worried.
"I think I know who he's after but I don't think I want to help," Inuyasha grumbled.
From his disposition, Kagome realized who he was referring to. "Inuyasha, we have a common enemy so I think we should just worry about that and not how much you hate Sesshomaru. Besides, we both know that things will get better in the future between you two. So I think it would be best if you just swallow your pride and try to get along with your brother long enough."
"He's the one with the superiority complex not me," Inuyasha said.
"Do you think we should maybe get some help from the others in the future?" Kagome asked trying to change the subject.
"I don't think that'd be good," Inuyasha replied. "First off, only you and I have been able to pass through the well so I don't think Tai or any of the others could. Second, we shouldn't involve anyone in this fight that does need to be in it. This is our fight."
"You know I think Miroku is right," Kagome added. "You are starting to sound more mature." Inuyasha's just grunted and continued on rather than arguing back.
Kagome and Inuyasha were stunned when they finally reached Sesshomaru's nearest castle, which he had been staying at. Many of the walls surrounding the castles had been breached. The castle itself had even more damage. Walls were knocked out. Some seemed that they had been on fire but burned themselves out before having a chance to spread. Even the scent of death hung in the air.
"I can't believe this," Kagome said. "There's no way your brother had this much trouble."
"He didn't," Inuyasha replied.
"Then why so much damage?" Kagome asked.
"Because Sesshomaru wasn't here. His scent is stale," Inuyasha said as he started to move through the rubble.
"The demon must have been angry that he missed Sesshomaru and decided to ruin the castle," Kagome inferred.
"Yes and no," Inuyasha said. "Sesshomaru wasn't here but there were people here."
"Do you mean Jaken and Rin?" Kagome asked remembering the little girl. She was worried for her but didn't really care about Jaken.
"They were here when he came. Rin's scent is gone and as for Jaken," Inuyasha said as he picked up a large fragment of the castle wall and tossed it away. There laid a dead Jaken among more pieces of the castle.
"I can't same I'm deeply sorry," Kagome admitted. "I never did like the guy but part of me feels bad none the less."
"Don't worry about it," Inuyasha said.
"How can you say that? I know you didn't like him much either but still," Kagome said.
"I don't really care because I know this really doesn't mean nothing. Sesshomaru will probably take care of the stupid toad, right?" Inuyasha asked as he turned around. There stood the Lord of the Western Lands, Sesshomaru. A person might have thought that for a second he showed a bit of surprise on his face when looking at his ruined home.
"While my home being wrecked is an interesting turn of events, why am I not surprised to find you in the middle of it all?" Sesshomaru asked.
"And why am I surprised that you think I'm responsible?" Inuyasha replied with a question.
"Why is that you once again misinterpret what I say?" Sesshomaru
"So are you saying that you don't think I'm responsible?"
"Will you two stop with the 20 questions!" Kagome yelled. "If this is some macho contest, do it some other time."
"It is not my fault that my half brother thinks that I am accusing him of causing damage to my home. I merely said that I was not surprised to find him within the mess."
Inuyasha was about to defend himself but Kagome stepped up and stopped him. "Are you going to revive your servant or not?" Kagome asked.
"I will when you get out of my way," Sesshomaru told them. Kagome quickly moved out of the way and since Inuyasha seemed to not be moving as quickly she just dragged him with her. She then watched as Sesshomaru removed Tensaiga from its sheath and strike at some invisible enemies. Next thing she knew Jaken was waking up as if he had only been asleep.
"Lord Sesshomaru, ohh how good it is to see you," Jaken said. "I am sorry I have failed you. I failed to protect your castle while you were away."
Jaken would have continued on if Sesshomaru had not decided to end his groveling. "Who did this?"
"A detachment of Naraku," Inuyasha butted in.
"What are you doing here?" Jaken asked as he finally took notice to Inuyasha and Kagome. "Allow me to do with them, my liege." Jaken picked up his staff and pointed it at Inuyasha.
"You will do no such thing, at least at this point," Sesshomaru said. "Explain yourself, Inuyasha."
"Why should I?" Inuyasha asked but as he turned he saw Kagome glaring at him. "Fine. There's some new detachment of Naraku around that has been in hiding since we defeated Naraku. It seems that he believes who ever was a threat to Naraku is a threat to him. So far he's only really come to gauge our strength but he has managed to kidnap Sango's brother, Kohaku and now it appears he has Rin as well."
"Well we should get going after him," Kagome said.
"Can't," Inuyasha said. "His scent is so old that I can barely tell he was here at all."
"How much did we miss him by?"
"Judging by the scent of death around toad man here," Inuyasha said motion to Jaken, "I'd say a little over 2 days."
"So you saying he got here the night of when he attacked Sango, which in the morning he attacked us. How the hell does he travel so fast? Even you aren't half as fast as he seems to be."
"He must be able to teleport," Inuyasha surmised.
"Wrong," Sesshomaru added. "Such a long distance is not possible by mere teleportation."
"Then how did he get here so fast. I've never even heard of a demon that fast before," Inuyasha replied.
"That is the question you are trying to figure out. In the meantime, I must go find him. Rin has been in my care and I must see to it that she is not harmed."
"Do you know where Naraku's detachment is at?" Kagome asked.
"No I do not but I will not wait around here for him to return," Sesshomaru said.
"Then join us. I'm sure there's some way that we'll be able to track him down," Kagome offered.
Sesshomaru was about to reject her suggestion but then remembered his conversation with his father previously.
"I have a feeling you will learn this soon enough but I will not be there to help you," Inutaisho said. "I am not going to die. I just want to tell you that if you need help I will not give it. I believe that it would be best if you would go to your brother."
"Why would I go to him for help?" Sesshomaru questioned. "Besides that would reflect on me as being weak which I am not."
"There are some things that Inuyasha has knowledge in that you do not. Through his voyage to piece together the Shikon Jewel, Inuyasha gained much knowledge and experience," Inutaisho replied. "Besides you are not weak by relying on another, especially a family member."
"As long as you do no question my reasons, I will join you," Sesshomaru said.
"My lord, are you serious?" Jaken answered. Sesshomaru turned and looked at him. "I'm sorry, I should not have doubted your decision, please forgive me. What would you have me do?"
"You are to see to castle repairs while I am gone. I expect everything to be fixed for when I get back."
"That still leaves out how exactly we're going to find this guy," Inuyasha said. "Maybe we should take you advice from before and go see a certain someone if the future. He'd know what occurred and could tell us how to find this guy." Sesshomaru once again was not totally sure of what they spoke but instead kept a silent watch on them and observed.
"Inuyasha, that's it!" Kagome shouted.
"So now we have to run all the way back to the well," Inuyasha groaned.
"No we don't. Our friend from the future already helped us enough. He showed us enough of the past to know what to expect and we even know that we have to give things a little push." Kagome had refused to use Tai's name just incase it could case any sort of problems even though she doubted it would do anything.
"If I am to work with you, it would help if you would explain what you are saying," Sesshomaru said.
"It's confusing I know but what we have to do is seek out Kagura," Inuyasha told his brother.
"And why must we do that?"
"She is the only other remain detachment of Naraku. She will most likely have some sort of connection with our enemy. We'll just need her to point us in the right direction," Kagome said.
"Let's just hope she is willing to help us," Inuyasha added.
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Well that ends that for this chapter. I hope everyone enjoyed this. If you haven't gotten a chance to check out my one shot I did in between these last two chapters:
Go the Distance by Spider (me) s/2111885/1/ -- Just add that after the
For everyone that has read it here's the answer to my trivia question at the end. If you haven't read the story yet but plan to go back read it then come back here. The title does reference 2 things. The 2nd reference (being the roundabout one) references this story, A Wish From the Heart. Specifically chapter 31. So if you haven't already figured it out the main reference is in fact to the movie Field of Dreams. No one got either. I can't believe no one remembers the movie.
Also for some Christmas/New Years IY reading check out:
Midnight Kiss by Sleepwalking Chicken and HAP s/2191852/1/ -- Great story. Its long but you don't even realize it since your wrapped up in the story. Helped me pass time at work. :)
Well join me next time (which hopefully won't be too long off) for:
Chapter 54: May the Wind Guide You