Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Inuyasha characters or terms mentioned in this here story. Thank you.

Author's Note: Alright. If you want to know why it took me so long, I've just got to say that I wrote this whole chapter at my sister's house, but in the rush to get going, I left it on her computer. So, all I had was a print-out of a few pages I'd written. So, I had to construct the whole chapter all over again. My apologies for the wait.

On a lighter note (and perhaps a bit sadder), I have now officially seen every single minute of every single Inuyasha episode (not including recaps). I hadn't seen episode 164 for the longest time, but now I have. And now that I have, I've seen them all. Ah, it is a bittersweet joy.

I hope you all enjoy this chapter. The Chapter Title was a b-tch to come up with.

Chapter 20, Holding It In

Miroku hit the ground hard, the air rushing from his lungs. Ginmaru's follow-up attack missed by a hair's breadth as Miroku rolled out of the way, clutching his burning chest. He staggered to his feet and brought Kyoden's katana around quickly to fend Ginmaru off.

The youkai let out a low hiss and backed away.

They paused for a heartbeat, and then they were attacking again, sparks flying everywhere as Kyoden's katana and Ginmaru's arm met. The battle had been raging for a long time…too long. Miroku was becoming increasingly more frustrated with his lack of success. Already his moves were getting sloppy.

Ginmaru lunged at his stomach. Miroku tried to block, but Kyoden's katana slipped and Ginmaru's arm went through his side. Miroku gasped and backed away quickly, wincing in pain. Ginmaru smiled in triumph and lunged again.

This time, Miroku managed to knock Ginmaru's arm away and plant a firm punch in the youkai's stomach. Ginmaru shrank under the force of the blow and then back-flipped out of range. He coughed, summoning blood. "Damn it all…" he muttered, wiping his chin clean with the back of his hand.

An evil smirk appeared on Ginmaru's face, his beady black eyes shiny brightly as they surveyed the prince. "So, houshi, think you're going to save the Takara kingdom from certain doom?" he said, his tongue flicking out to taste the air in a serpentine manner.

"Shut up and fight, you over-grown lizard," Miroku responded sharply, brandishing the blade. "Or are you too afraid?" He knew what Ginmaru was trying to do: he was buying time for himself.

"Nothing of the sort," Ginmaru shot back, not missing a beat. "I just want you to understand what exactly it is you're up against. I don't want you to get too hopeful about playing the hero." He rose to his feet and pointed his arm at Miroku's heart. "If you can't defeat me, you'll never beat Naraku."

"I will defeat you," Miroku said defiantly.

"Right," the youkai sneered. He rushed at Miroku again, and the prince sidestepped to dodge. He tried to cut the youkai open with a sideswipe, but the youkai managed to bend his middle just in time.

"Getting a bit messy, aren't we, houshi?"

Miroku wiped the sweat from his eyes and rushed. The wind whistled in his ears, warning him. Miroku ignored it and raised Kyoden's katana to execute his hasty, uncalculated attack at Ginmaru's stomach. Ginmaru spun to dodge and brought his tail around. Next thing he knew, Miroku was flying backwards through the air. His head made contact with something hard; he felt as through he had just been thrown against a stone wall. His vision blurred, and fuzzy images swam before his eyes.

"Steady on, Miroku," a voice called tauntingly from above.

Miroku looked up to see Kyoden standing over him. "If you keep swinging like that, you'll poke your eye out!"

"K-Kyoden!" Miroku stuttered. He stared in disbelief at the image of his brother that stood before him, as solid and real as Miroku. They were in a white plain, surrounded by nothingness. "Where are we?…Am I…dead?"

"Come on, Miroku, get up," Kyoden said, urging his brother to his feet by prodding him with his shinai.

Miroku did as he was told, but he still couldn't believe his eyes.

"Dodge left," Kyoden said suddenly.

Miroku hesitated, confused. A second later, he felt the cool rush of steel against his flesh. He pulled back sharply, and the unseen weapon grazed his arm.

"Duck."

This time Miroku didn't miss a beat.

Kyoden pointed at his own heart. "Right here, Miroku. Hit right here."

Miroku frowned. "No!" He got to his feet and held the sword guardedly in front of him.

Kyoden scoffed. "This is not time to be childish, Miroku. Hasn't it always been your dream to surpass me?"

"Kyoden!" Miroku said in protest. "I don't understand! What's happening? Can't you answer me?"

"Miroku, do you want to save hahaue or not?" Kyoden asked. His dark eyes gleamed, his face was set, and there was nothing but courage in his stance. Miroku looked long and hard at Kyoden. This must have been the way Kyoden had looked as he faced Naraku. Miroku wanted to remember him this way forever.

"I will save hahaue!" Miroku gave a fierce battle cry and drove his sword forward, right into Kyoden's heart.

The vision shattered immediately, stripped away by a terrible scream of agony and rage. Miroku looked down and saw that his sword was embedded in Ginmaru's chest. Blood was pouring from the wound, spilling out over the silvery surface of Kyoden's blade. Miroku balked and pulled the sword free, backing away from the silver youkai.

Ginmaru was wailing, clutching his chest. The blood was spilling over the hand that sought to suppress its flow. Ginmaru thrashed his body wildly so that Miroku was caught in a shower of his blood. The youkai took one long, withering look at Miroku, and then he vanished into thin air.

Miroku swayed. He stared blankly at his hands, which were covered in a thick layer of the youkai's blood.

"Houshi-sama!"

Sango. Miroku didn't look up.

"Houshi-sama!" Strong hands gripped his shoulder, steadying him. Sango's heady scent filled his nostrils, making him feel dizzy once more. He finally turned to her, blank-faced and slack-jawed.

"Houshi-sama…" Sango breathed, her voice soft yet urgent. "Scarlet's gone!"

(-)

Scarlet ran.

She didn't know where she was headed; she didn't know if she was being followed…she just couldn't believe what she'd done. What would her mistress say? What would Arisa-sama say?

"That cub…I never should have wasted my blessing on her."

The phoenix tattoo burned like a fire had been ignited there. Still, Scarlet did not stop. She knew that she had to go back, but how could she? How could she face them after what she'd done?

They'd know by now. Sango would have gone to Miroku and told him what had happened. If she hadn't figured it out, he would. He would know. Would they come after her? Would they question Yu, Jou, and Ton? She wondered what they would tell the royal pair if pressed.

'They'd tell her nothing,' a voice inside of her said.

But she still doubted.

A branch hit her face, drawing blood. Bushes and brambles snapped at her ankles, scarring the skin there. Her crimson-glowing hair had slipped from its bindings, whipping around behind her like a beacon. Her feet ached and her lungs burned. Still, she did not slow.

Finally, she grew so dizzy that she had to stop. She found a rock and slowly lowered herself onto it, burying her face in her hands.

She hadn't killed Ryudaisetsu; she had only been strong enough to send him back to Naraku. But so long as Naraku was alive, neither Ryudaisetsu nor Ginmaru could be killed. She shook her head, feeling tears itching at the corners of her eyes. She'd let them down, Arisa-sama, Kioko-sama… A block of ice dropped to the bottom of her stomach. She closed her eyes, and a memory unfolded behind her eyelids.

A smiling face swam into focus, two gentle amethyst eyes shining from its depths. "What a lovely child," the woman said. Her voice was a caressing wave upon a beach.

"Who does she belong to?" another voice asked. This woman was younger, slimmer and more excitable. It seemed that the task of sitting still was proving too much for her, as she kept shifting her weight. She had brunette hair and fiercely lovely mahogany eyes.

Kioko smiled at Scarlet. "I took her in after her young parents died of cholera. It's a wonder she managed to survive." The usual lie to deflect questions. Scarlet knew it well.

"How awful," the younger woman gasped, covering her mouth with her hands. She was showing a bit more tan the appropriate amount of grief for Scarlet's situation, and it made the two-year-old blush lightly.

"Can we get started?" a third woman asked. She was small, with a thin-lipped frown and hands that kneaded restlessly in her lap.

"Mayuko…" the first woman said in a soft warning.

"Iie," Kioko said, waving her hand in front of her face. She flashed the woman named Mayuko a warm smile. "Mayuko-san, if you could get the child…?"

Mayuko shot her two companions an anxious glance, and then rose to her feet. She strode from the room, sliding the door closed behind her.

"Kioko-sama…" the youngest started nervously. "Do you really think you'll be able to stop him?"

Kioko considered this a moment, her head tilted to one side. Scarlet puffed out her chest approvingly; she knew that Kioko could do anything and everything. Kioko, however, did not seem so certain. "I shall have to examine him first. You say you've brought the vile his father used to seduce Tansho-sama?"

"Ee," the woman said, producing the vile.

"Here he is." Mayuko walked into the room, holding a small boy in front of her like a bundle of rotten fish. Her face was mask of disgust. She deposited the boy on the tatami in front of Kioko.

"Kahori-san, please remove his blankets so I can see his face," Kioko asked of the woman with the gentle amethyst eyes. Kahori nodded with a cheerless smile and drew back the dirty blue covering. Scarlet leaned over to see him closer.

There was nothing remarkable about the baby underneath. He was normal-sized, with a reasonably handsome face. He had a thick layer of black hair covering his head. Scarlet considered reaching out and poking him to make sure he wasn't just a mirage with the real monster waiting underneath, but then he opened his eyes.

Scarlet gasped as their eyes met. They were as blue as hers, but they were different nonetheless. Loathing shone from his eyes, and the two-year-old fancied she could see burning flames in his pupils. Scarlet hid her face in her hands and backed away from the hanyou child.

Kioko's warm embrace enfolded her, drawing Scarlet into her warmth. "It's alright, Scarlet," she whispered soothingly, stroking her crimson-tinted hair. "He's only a baby." She released Scarlet and leaned forward, her hand passing over the child. Her eyes closed and her breathing slowed. Scarlet watched her intently, her stomach doing flips. Suddenly, Kioko gave a violent jerk and her eyes snapped open. She had gone quiet white.

"Kinuko-san, please give me that vile."

The youngest woman handed Kioko the vile clutched in her palm. "What are you going to do?"

Kioko's expression became very grave. She stood, her black eyes on the three women assembled before her. "I'm going to use this vile as an artifact to seal him with." Her black eyes flashed, and she glared down at the bundle before her. "But that will not be enough."

The two young women went very pale, but Kahori lifted her eyes to Kioko and asked, "What must we do?"

"I will require a more complex seal over the one given by the artifact. The artifact can only place a stopper on his powers-do you know what those are?"

They averted their eyes and did not answer. Finally, Kinuko replied, "He can change his shape." Her voice shook like wind chimes in a storm.

Kioko's frown deepened. "So long as the artifact seals him, he shall be unable to change his shape. But his is an evil purpose. We must banish him to limbo. For that, I need a blood seal." The three women stared at her blankly. Kioko took a deep breath and explained. "A blood seal: a link between three people that will hold this baby in limbo. So long as the blood of these three people remains on this earth –carried through descendents after their own passing, of course- he will be forced to remain."

"You can use my blood," Kahori said at once. She rolled up the sleeve of her kimono, revealing her wrist.

"And mine!" Kinuko exclaimed.

Mayuko stared at the ground dispassionately.

"I need three," prompted Kioko gently.

"Use your own," snapped Mayuko.

Kinuko gasped, but Kioko seemed unfazed. "That would be most unwise as my position requires me to remain chaste. Therefore, my bloodline will pass from this earth with my death and the seal will be weakened."

Mayuko did not look up.

"Oh Mayuko," Kinuko said imploringly, "don't be so unkind!"

But Kahori's face softened. She reached out and grasped Mayuko's hand. "You're the one who's carried him thus far, Mayuko. I know it's unfair to ask you to take on another burden, but please…for the sake of the Kawate kingdom…" She paused and then added, "For Tansho-sama's sake."

This seemed to decide the matter. Whoever this Tansho person was, Mayuko had no intention of letting her down. She balled her hands into fists and nodded slowly. She allowed Kahori to help her roll up her sleeve, and then produced her pale wrist.

Kioko's countenance darkened. She narrowed her eyes and said in a hushed voice, "Scarlet, go back to your room. This is not something that you should witness."

Scarlet began to protest, but then thought better of it. She took one last look at the monstrous child and then slipped from the room.

The cries that resounded through the darkness that night would echo through her mind for years to come.

Scarlet opened her eyes. That was the first time she had seen Naraku, those years ago. How much she regretted not reaching out and wringing his neck right then and there. If she had…if she had, none of this would have happened. She would not be here following Miroku and Sango around like a bloodhound. She would never have met the Chiba siblings. And most importantly, Kioko-sama would still be alive.

A tear fell into her lap, landing with a soft plop.

"Pathetic," a familiar voice sneered from above.

Scarlet looked up jerkily, her heart stopping and the phoenix tattoo on her chest flaring with white-hot pain. "Arisa-sama!"

The kitsune looked down her long snout that Scarlet. She was high above, resting in the boughs of an old oak. She was as beautiful as ever, her silver coat glimmering in the late morning light.

Scarlet stood, hastily wiping the tears from her eyes. "Arisa-sama, what are you doing here?"

"I was about to ask you that same thing," Arisa answered. She dropped gracefully from the tree, landing on all fours in front of Scarlet. Her blue eyes flashed as they surveyed the woman in front of her. "What are you, Scarlet? Three?" She curled her lips back in a mocking grin. "No, you were less of a crybaby at that age. I guess maybe you've grown into it."

Scarlet shook her head in protest. "No, Arisa-sama, it's not like that-!"

"It's not?" Arisa questioned, her voice suddenly as hard and cold as ice. "What were doing just then? Giggling at some private joke? By Inari, I thought I'd taught you better. I thought I'd taught you to be brave, to face your fears instead of running from them. And now you're offering me excuses?" She stamped her front forepaw down on the earth.

"Pathetic."

Scarlet felt her tears welling up in her eyes again. "But Arisa-sama, I couldn't do it! I tried to kill Ryudaisetsu, and all I managed to do was temporarily seal him and send him back to Naraku! I've- I've failed you!" Her voice shook, but she wouldn't cry. She would be brave, just like Arisa had told her to. "And now they'll know! They'll both know what I am!"

"So what?" Arisa asked, blinking coyly.

"S-So what?" Scarlet repeated incredulously. "How can I explain myself to them? How can I tell them about the Chiba family, and…and Naraku?"

Arisa's tails twitched. "You were going to have to tell them eventually."

"But I didn't want it to be this way!"

Arisa smiled bitterly, changing the air of their conversation. "Things don't always go the way we want them to, Scarlet. In fact, they have a funny habit of going in just the opposite direction. Do you think I wanted to find a little baby girl in the ruins of that village?"

Scarlet was still upset, but she had been subdued by Arisa's last comment. She lowered her eyes and clenched her fists. It was a long time before she had the guts to ask, "How can I face them?"

Arisa's face softened and she padded forward. "Scarlet, you have grown into a very strong woman. Why else would Kioko have entrusted the blood seal's fate to you?" Arisa reached out and placed her forepaw on Scarlet's thigh, drawing the girl's gaze. "Kioko died that night so that you could go and be the woman you were always meant to be."

Scarlet closed her eyes tightly to resist, but the memory emerged regardless.

"Scarlet!"

Scarlet looked up wildly, blinking against the water that was forming in her eyes. The wind was too strong. She couldn't see properly.

Suddenly, Kioko was pushing her down. They were on the floor, Kioko's hand keeping Scarlet's head pinned down. "Stay here," Kioko ordered, her black eyes flashing.

"Kioko-sama!" Scarlet said in protest, trying to get up. "Kioko-sama, what's happening? Is a youkai attacking the temple?"

Kioko shook her head. "No….no, that's not it." She suddenly looked very sad. "Stay here, Scarlet. Onegai shimasu!" And then she turned and disappeared. But for a moment, just before she turned, Scarlet could have sworn she saw tears in Kioko's eyes.

That was the last time she'd seen Kioko.

Arisa retracted her paw. "I'll see you again, cub." With that, she disappeared, and Scarlet was left alone with only her tears for company.

(-)

It was past midday when Scarlet returned. The others had made a temporary camp, seeing to each other's wounds and such. They looked up as Scarlet came into view with guarded expressions. At first, Scarlet couldn't bring herself to look at them. But then, slowly, she raised her icy blue eyes and sought the face of Miroku and Sango. They were sitting together; Sango had been bandaging Miroku's shoulder.

"You probably know by now," Scarlet began stiffly, refusing to look at any of the Chiba siblings, "but I'll tell you anyway."

Scarlet cleared her throat, summoned a deep breath for courage, and then said, "I'm a miko."

- Ichimu