Prologue: Part 6

Realization

Now we must go back in time, back to when Tsune has bumped into Sesshomaru. This will be a short last part to the prologue! It just kind of summarizes what is happening to the children while Hana fulfills the prophecy! Oh, and I will abbreviate Inuyasha Human's name with Inuyasha and Inuyasha Hanyou's name with Hanyou! Oh, and remember that right now the children are eight or nine, not teenagers yet, so don't expect anyone to do anything extremely bold. Enjoy the last part of the prologue!

-Houshi

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"What happened?" Sesshomaru quietly questioned Tsune again. "Are you all right?" Sesshomaru reached out his strong hand and pulled Tsune to her feet. "Where are Inuyasha and Hanyou? Where is Akira!" Sesshomaru demanded. Tsune burst into tears again. Sesshomaru patted Tsune on the back. "Let's go back home."

'It is so weird being next to this half demon,' Sesshomaru thought as he glanced at Tsune. 'Why can't she just stop crying!' Sesshomaru was getting annoyed. If they ran into trouble, he wasn't going to be able to defend Tsune and himself at the same time.

Tsune on the other hand suddenly stopped crying. A glint of terror crossed her eyes as she saw something rustle in front of them. The blood scent was so thick; Tsune couldn't detect what was in front of them. Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed. Whatever was in front of them seemed dangerous. He drew out his long sword his father gave him and slowly stalked towards the sound. Without warning, Sesshomaru dashed into the ferns and raised his sword. However, a dark figure crashed into him unrepentantly.

"No! Don't kill me! Please! Please! Help!" the figure wailed. It cowered under its red kimono. As the moon shone on the dark figure, Tsune yelped in delight.

"Inuyasha!" Inuyasha's dark black hair glittered in the moonlight.

"Tsune?" Inuyasha questioned while standing up straight. "Sesshomaru!" Another dark figure slid through the darkness. It was Hanyou.

"I was standing watch. I could have easily killed Inuyasha's attacker," He glanced angrily at Sesshomaru. Tsune sighed, they never got along well. Sesshomaru hated the fact that Hanyou was a half demon. "However, I saw my pretty sister standing there and thought better to attack you." He shot another angry glare at Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru looked away.

"Now is not the time for petty arguments," Sesshomaru explained indifferently. "We are lost. If we do not work together, we may as well be dead by dawn. We can argue when we get back."

"Keh! You expect me to work with you? After all you and Akira have done? You must be joking!" Hanyou spat. "I'm going back by myself. It doesn't matter to me if you die or not! Tsune, would you like to come with me? I know the way." Hanyou shot a nasty glance at Sesshomaru.

"I do not trust you if you take Tsune through the woods alone," Sesshomaru kept his temper and spoke steadily. "She is your sister but you are not trustworthy. Plus, you don't even know the way." Quietly, he added, "Akira's soul has been laid to rest. I'm sure that's a piece of information you will be happy with." Everyone stared at Sesshomaru in shock.

"How, how did you know?" Tsune asked with amazement. "I don't remember telling you anything!"

"Your eyes betrayed your feelings. I scented fear on you. And," Sesshomaru paused, considering how best to put this, "Akira's blood was on you, it was in your fear and your broken heart." Everyone continued to stare at Sesshomaru.

"No," Inuyasha breathed, his eyes were dull and clouded and he stared at nothing in particular, "This can't be happening. Akira can't be dead."

"I…" Hanyou started but a ferocious growl cut him off mid-sentence. A pack of four wolves emerged from the shadowed trees. The leader stepped forward. He was a tall wolf and had shining yellow eyes. His pelt was dark gray and his claws were sharp and unsheathed. He stretched his claws and showed his yellow fangs.

"Ah, we have found you at last," he sneered, "Commander Hana wishes for us to bring you all to her. He is planning a…feast for you." Sesshomaru boldly stepped forward. He steadily held his long sword in his hands.

"Don't you dare come a step nearer," Sesshomaru warned in a menacing tone as he waved his sword, "Or you lose your head." The lead wolf chuckled.

"You really think that measly hunk of metal will set me apart from what I want? Each one of my claws are sharper then that slim sword your holding." As if to prove his point, the wolf flexed his claws and gently poked a rock. His claw easily sunk into the rock's surface. "You see, you cannot match me in power." In the distance a wolf howled painfully; its howl seemed to float above the other three wolves who startled and whimpered.

"Kyoga, that howl…" the youngest of the wolves addressed the lead wolf, "The battle. They are calling us. We must head toward the Haku Plains now! They need our help!"

"Silence, fool!" Kyoga growled, "The Haku Plains are miles away and we'll never make it there on time! They will just have to die. Our mission is to bring these children back to Commander Hana remember?" Kyoga started to advance on Sesshomaru. "Are you ready to die?" Kyoga whispered as his muzzle brushed past Sesshomaru's sword. Sesshomaru tried to swing his sword but in the same instant, Kyoga pounced on Sesshomaru and howled. "Now die!"

A flash seemed to blind the world, time froze. An explosion sounded as the sky seemed to burst into a million pieces. Then they fell. To the onlookers, it seemed the sky had shattered and was raining onto them. The moment ended. Four long streamers rained down onto the four wolves surrounding Sesshomaru. The wolves yelped with surprise but in that same moment, they perished. Their bodies vanished off of the face of the earth as their souls went up to join with their ancestors.

Sesshomaru staggered to his feet. What had just happened? Then he saw a small scrap of parchment lying where Kyoga just was. It still had a shining light blue glow surrounding it. It glimmered as Sesshomaru picked it up and examined it. He gasped as he recognized it as a scrap of the Ice Elemental Scripture. This was the scripture that controlled the element ice. Sesshomaru gently picked it up, but instantly dropped it. On the tips of his fingers, small icicles were forming. Sesshomaru irritability brushed them off. 'How peculiar,' he thought, 'Why did they freeze my fingers?' Then he realized. He gently ripped off a piece of his kimono and wrapped it around the scripture. Sesshomaru clutched the scripture to his heart.

'Father,' Sesshomaru thought as he gazed at the stars in the dark night sky, 'I know you're up there. Please protect us. Mother, I hope you are safe with Father up there. Watch over Tsune and the rest of us. Thank you, for never giving up faith and hope on us, we will never give up the love and faith you have handed down to us.' Sesshomaru closed his eyes and clutched the scripture tighter. 'Akira, I'm so sorry. I'll never forget you.' The endless night loomed over Sesshomaru; it seemed not to recognize anything he had said yet now, the stars in the night sky seemed to brighten as the wind gently blew fresh new leaves onto the bloodied ground.

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End of Prologue