The Blood I Shed for You
Disclaimer: Considering I am posting this story on a site called fanfiction.net, one would assume that it is exactly that, a fanfic. One would also assume any writers on this site would be immune to lawsuits in any way, shape, or form. Though, this may not be the case, and I do not wish to trustingly leave myself in the hand of another. I hereby announce I have no ownership of the Inuyasha series, manga, and movie. Ownership and all rights go to Rumiko Takahashi. I write any and all stories merely for entertainment of others, and myself. I receive no money for my efforts. Any original characters I may or may not use in any of my stories are of my own making, and though none of them may be protected as mine by law and I will have no power should someone decide to use one, I do appreciate permission, first.
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Inuyasha's eyes seemed to darken with the sad memory of his mother's passing. The group fell silent out of mutual respect, every person afraid to be the first to speak and break the mournful silence. Inuyamainu remained silent as well, allowing Inuyasha to be the first to speak whenever he felt he was ready.
"I have a younger sister." He said, wonder in his voice. "I'm a big brother." A smile crept across his face. "I kind of like the idea."
"Indeed you are." Inuyamainu said, her voice thick with amusement. "You have a mother as well." She said, her voice growing more serious.
Inuyasha looked at her, quite confused.
"My mother. . . is your mother, not by blood, but by kindness of heart. Should you ever turn to her in need, she will not turn you away. You are my brother, and so she thinks of you as a son. After your mother's passing-" Inuyamainu paused respectfully. "She searched for you. She wanted to take you in, but you had run away. After a human year of searching, she realized she could not find you because you did not want to be found. She trusted you to survive. She did not doubt you, because the youkai your father bestowed upon you would not allow you to die so easily. By blood and by nature, you would do more than survive on your own, you would flourish."
Inuyasha beamed with pride once more.
"Keh. As if there was ever any doubt!"
"Easy, pup. Don't let your conceit cloud your brain. You still have much to learn."
"Pup? I'm your big brother!" Inuyasha stressed the word 'big'.
"You may be big in body, but you are small in experience and mind."
"D-Did you just call me stupid?" Inuyasha yelled.
"Does the winter bring snow?"
"Why you-"
"Don't lose your temper, child. It's one of your many worst traits."
"I'm going to make you eat those words!" Inuyasha bellowed as he lunged for Inuyamainu.
Meanwhile, the Inu-gang was feeling quite exasperated as they watched the exchange.
Kagome sighed. "Should I say 'it'?" She asked, referring to the word 'sit'.
"No. Let them catch up on old times." Miroku said, quite amused by the display of sibling rivalry.
"You find this all too amusing, don't you, houshi?" Sango said, giving him a slight glare.
"What ever would give you that idea, my dear Sango?"
"Because you a—Miroku, you lecher!" She shrieked as Miroku ran his hand over her bottom.
She slapped him while Inuyamainu and Inuyasha continued their argument. Inuyasha fought with his fists, as Inuyamainu fought with subliminal insults, which only made Inuyasha even angrier. The more she stayed calm, the angrier Inuyasha became. After a while, Kagome got tired of the family feud. She wanted to go home and rest.
"Inuyasha!"
Inuyasha paused in mid-step. He knew what was coming.
"Don't say it, w—"
"-Osuwari."
Inuyasha met the Earth, face first. Inuyamainu looked at Kagome, a bit stunned.
"I would love to learn how to do that, if Lady Kagome would teach me." Inuyamainu said, laughingly.
"Why you. . ." Inuyasha mumbled, his face still firmly planted in the ground.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome said in a frustrated voice. He looked at her as she continued speaking. "I want to go home, now."
Inuyasha seemed struck by realization at her words. He got up as fast as the spell allowed him.
"Keh. I'll finish with you later, oneesama." He said, with idle threat.
"I tremble with fear." Inuyamainu said with equal idle fear.
Inuyasha smiled as he hefted Kagome onto his back. So he was a big brother. . . He lifted Kagome's yellow backpack and started running towards the Bone Eater's Well, careful not to jangle her injured ankle. He began to wonder just what big brothers are supposed to do. He knew what Sesshomaru did, and he wasn't about to do any of that. Kagome had a little brother. Sure, it wasn't the same thing, but he figured it was close enough.
"Kagome?"
"Yes, Inuyasha?"
"What am I supposed to do?"
"What do you mean?"
"I've never had a little sister before."
Kagome laughed. "I'm sorry. That just sounded funny." Inuyasha grunted with irritation. "I'm not sure, to be honest. My little brother is so much younger than me. He's still a kid, so I can do a lot of things with him that I wouldn't be able to do when he gets older. He won't always like the same things." Kagome paused. "Your sister seems a bit too old to treat like I treat Souta."
Inuyasha nodded. "I don't know anything about her." He grunted again. "Until a little while ago, I didn't even know I had a sister."
"Well that's where you can start." Kagome said as they reached the Well. She continued to speak as she climbed off Inuyasha's back. "Try getting to know her. Find out what things she likes, and tell her what things you like."
"Ramen" Inuyasha grinned, silently hinting at Kagome to bring some back from her time.
"Alright. I'll bring back Ramen, but in the mean time, try getting to know Inuyamainu. She seems nice enough from what I've seen."
"Keh. I guess." Inuyasha paused. "Get back on my back."
"Why?" Kagome asked, looking slightly confused.
"You're not going to be able to climb up the well with that ankle."
"You're right." Kagome said as she climbed back on.
Inuyasha and Kagome jumped through the Well together, becoming absorbed by purple light before disappearing completely.
Meanwhile…
"So, Lady Inuyamainu, how old are you?" Miroku pried.
Sango looked irritated at his question.
"I am 106 human years."
"You move quite swiftly for someone that is 106 years old. Your body must be in fine shape."
Sango looked ready to kill him.
"I am a demon. My body will be in optimal shape until the day of my death. Also, as I said before, demons age exceptionally slower than humans. By physical form, I am still quite young. In demon years I am only 15 years of age."
"If you age slower than Inuyasha, then why are you almost the same age? You said you were born only days apart." Shippo commented.
Inuyamainu smiled. "You forget those 50 years Inuyasha was sealed to that tree. I aged during those 50 years, while he did not."
"So what do you look like?" Sango asked.
"I could ask that, myself." Miroku interjected.
Sango glared at Miroku in warning. Miroku smiled sheepishly in response.
"I look as can be expected for a mixed breed youkai; fangs, claws, and other such anomalies. The best way to describe myself, I suppose, is to say I look in part like Inuyasha. A feminine and slightly different Inuyasha."
"Really? I'd love to see what you look like." Sango said, keeping a weary eye on Miroku.
"Tonight. I came from the far north, so I've not yet grown accustom to the bright Japan sun."
"Oh. So that's why you wear a cloak."
Inuyamainu nodded in response. They remained silent for a long while, no one really finding anything to say. Inuyamainu was the first to break the long silence.
"So how and where did a human monk acquire such a powerful… ability?" She asked, nodding her hooded head towards Miroku's hand, which was resting on the ground beside him.
Miroku took a slow, narrative breath before speaking. "It began generations ago, with my grandfather. He was cursed by a hanyou named Naraku. Though the Kazaana can be used as a gift, it truly is a curse. One day, I will be drawn into my own Kazaana, just like my father and grandfather before me." He paused "Everyone here has some grudge against Naraku. I hold a grudge, for my Kazaana, to avenge my family. Inuyasha has his, because he was tricked, though I'm sure he'll tell you the details himself. Sango also holds a grudge against Naraku, though I'll let her be the one who tells you, given she's willing…" Miroku said, giving Sango a thoughtful glance.
Sango took this as her cue. "Naraku took control of my brother, forcing him to kill our friends and family, and almost killing me. He also tricked me into trying to kill Inuyasha."
Inuyamainu nodded. "I see."
"Yeah! That Naraku is one bad guy!" Shippo added. "He killed Kouga's entire clan and pinned it on Inuyasha."
"It appears this Naraku character has something against my dear brother." Inuyamainu said coldly. "It appears one more now has a grudge against this Naraku."
There was a slight silence before Miroku spoke.
"Inuyasha has been gone a long time considering he was only bringing Kagome to the Well."
"You're right." Sango said, also taking notice of Inuyasha's extended absence.
"Perhaps he won't be coming back this night." Miroku said, a slight grin gracing his lips.
"Clear your mind, filthy monk. Inuyasha is not so dishonorable as you. I have taken note of your lecherous conduct." Inuyamainu said, her voice growing dark.
Everyone seemed to grow on edge at the youkai's tone of voice. Miroku spoke up.
"You would be surprised."
Inuyamainu remained silent for a moment. "Continue…"
Relieved she did not react badly, Miroku continued. "Allow me to tell you about the woman named Kikyou."
"The one who sealed Inuyasha." Inuyamainu said, grimly.
"So you know of her." Miroku said, watching her nod. "Then let me tell you about her relationship concerning Inuyasha."
Inuyamainu nodded again, and so Miroku proceeded to tell her all he knew about the love triangle between Inuyasha, Kagome, and Kikyou. With out a word, Inuyamainu pushed herself up, turned on her heal, and tread off in the direction of the Bone Eater's Well. Everyone simply sat in silence until she was out of sight.
"That went well." Miroku said as he and everyone else watched the place where she disappeared into the trees.
