Disclaimer: I don't own the kawaii Inu-puppy boy, or his 'once-was' fluffy
half-brother, or the bishounen hentai Houshi, or anyone in this
fic...except for Kiroku....but she's dead, also the hentai Inu, Hajime
^_^;; I also own any other various Inu youkai that pop up now and then
^__^.
AN: I was kinda rushed to finish chapter 9, so pardon the OOC ending. Oh, one last thing. The best songs to listen to while reading this (if you listen to music when you read fics) is Akino Arai's "Goddess In The Morning" or "Reincarnation" (same song, different instrumentation's). Also, anything from Inu Yasha is good too, of course (Especially track 24 on OST 1) ^_^. For this chapter in particular, I recommend "Only When I Lose Myself," by Depeche Mode, or "You're Not Alone," by Olive.
~~~~~~ - Flashback.
Sugoi- Amazing.
Otou- Father.
Oka- Mother.
Nogareru~Break Away
By Otaku-Chan ^_~
Chapter Ten~Bittersweet Memories
"Sugoi! This place is huge!" Kagome remarked as she looked around the spacious interior of Sesshoumaru's estate. Sango was impressed as well, but her attention suddenly turned to Miroku, who was busy trying to hide a small golden statue in his robe. She quickly smacked him upside the head.
"Houshi-Sama! You should know better!"
"Ha, ha, ha...funny you noticed!" he said, rubbing the lump on his head. Then he promptly put the treasure back where he found it, not missing the death glare he was getting from Sesshoumaru.
"Touch anything else, and expect to lose your hands," the youkai warned.
"This place sure does bring back memories," Inu Yasha began, "I used to run down the hallways playing all sorts of games. I must've drove my mother crazy at times since it took her hours to find me. Heh."
Sesshoumaru felt, for the first time in his life, guilt. He kicked Inu Yasha out along with his mother so long ago, but hearing Inu Yasha reminisce about old times brought back such bittersweet, as well as painful memories. In truth, he knew it was never Inu Yasha that was the object of his hate, but that woman...
~~~~~~
It had been a long day for Sesshoumaru. He had been busy training in the sparring hall with his friend Kasuma. He had become very skilled with a sword over his eighteen years of practice. He was twenty two in human years, and he knew that someday he'd become the next ruler to his father's lands. He felt a tinge of excitement at the thought.
"Ne, I heard that Inu Taishou-Sama asked ol' Toutousai to create two amazing swords. One for you, and one for the hanyou squirt. I wonder which one you'll get?"
"My father will surely give me the best of the two. I deserve no less."
Later that evening...
Sesshoumaru was walking down one of the many long corridors, hoping to ask his father about his inheritance. He simply had to know what kind of blade he would receive. However, he was brought out of his thoughts when he noticed a sniffling little hanyou tugging on his pants.
"Onii-San! Our Otousama and your Okasama are having a scary fight! She said my Okasama should be killed! She said I'm a worthless hanyou! I'm scared! What's gonna happen to my Okasama?" the child cried.
Sesshoumaru kneeled down to look his little sibling in his teary eyes. "Where are they at now?" he asked in a gentle voice.
Inu Yasha sniffled loudly before replying in a hiccupy voice, "They're in Otousama's room. Please stop the scary fight Onii-San!"
Sesshoumaru then picked Inu Yasha up and carried him on his broad shoulders. The child eventually calmed down and stopped crying. 'Poor little pup. I know my mother has hated you since the day you were born, but it's not your fault. Otousama was a fool to ever mate with a human in the first place. Now you have to be dragged into these conflicts too. I pity your misfortune as a hanyou.'
Suddenly, the two heard a scream reverberate through the hall. Something was terribly wrong, and Sesshoumaru recognized the voice that screamed.
"Okasama!"
He quickly put Inu Yasha down and ran full speed to the bedroom, noticing that the door was cracked open. "Inu Yasha, stay there!" he yelled. He could smell fresh blood reeking from the door. He barged in, only to witness Inu Yasha's mother in his father's arms crying. His own mother lied sprawled on the floor, a small puddle of blood leaking out from beneath her limp form. Sesshoumaru felt his youkai blood begin to boil. What the hell happened to her?
"S-Sesshoumaru...I'm sorry. Your Oka..."
"She tried to kill me, so your father defended me, and..." Yukiko interrupted.
"Enough!" Sesshoumaru screamed. Had his father murdered his mother for the human wench!? At that moment he despised the woman in his father's arms. Yukiko was the reason his mother was dead. "You bitch!" he growled.
"Damn it Sesshoumaru! You're mother was on the verge of transforming! If I didn't stop her, this whole place would be rubble! I regret what I did, but she went insane, don't you see? Your mother was..."
"I don't want to hear it old man! You didn't have to kill her for God sakes! All for that damn wench!" Sesshoumaru was about to take a swipe at the woman when Inu Taishou suddenly punched him, knocking him swiftly to the floor. The young youkai's lip began to bleed.
"Forgive me son, but I love Yukiko. Try to understand."
"And you forsake MY mother? You coward!" tears began to pour down Sesshoumaru's face, mixing with the blood on his lip. Inu Taishou quickly left the room with Yukiko. He would have his servents get the body when Sesshoumaru cooled down. "You damn coward!" He banged his fist hard on the wooden floor, creating a splintery hole. He didn't even feel the pain of the sharp splinters that dug into his soft flesh, causing blood to ooze into their wooden pores. His only mother...the only one who truly understood him and cared for him...dead. Why did it have to end up this way? If only his father had remained faithful to her, she wouldn't have ended up this way. What a waste of life.
Meanwhile, Yukiko had picked up her son and carried him off, not uttering a word to the child of what happened. Inu Taishou was also silent. Somehow, Inu Yasha knew it wasn't the right moment to ask what happened.
From that day on, Sesshoumaru closed his heart to his father, Inu Yasha, and most of all, Yukiko. He hated the woman with a passion. The very sight of her made his base animal instincts beckon him to rip her apart. He didn't even realize he was capable of such deep hatred until that woman came into his sight.
Inu Yasha also noticed the change in his older brother. He tried to talk to him on occasion, only to receive a cold glare. It frightened him. Why did his only Onii-San hate him all of a sudden? What did he do? Perhaps it had something to do with his mother's disappearance. His father eventually told him that Sesshoumaru's mother went far away. But why? Even his own mother seemed different. More withdrawn. Something was wrong with the whole situation.
Eventually the day came where Inu Taishou called forth Sesshoumaru. He would give him his rightful sword before he left to defend his lands from the fearsome dragon, Ryutaishou. The two stood in the sunny courtyard, Sesshoumaru was anticipating what sword he'd receive. Inu Yasha was still too young, so he was not there, but both youkai knew that the left over sword would be for him.
"Regardless of how you may feel, I have decided that the noble healing sword, Tenseiga, shall be yours. Unlike the Tetsusaiga here, Tenseiga is a sword that cannot kill. Yet it has the power to revive a hundred lives or more if your heart so desires it."
Sesshoumaru didn't look impressed. "And what can the Tetsusaiga do?"
"Tetsusaiga is a sword that can take one hundred lives in one swing. Since Inu Yasha is a hanyou, I have decided to let him have this sword. The boy will have to defend himself since the world doesn't favor his kind. It will also act as a seal on his youkai blood, since I fear that when he is older, he will not be able to control such power in that body of his. This will keep him from turning into a mindless monster. Unfortunately, our bloodline is too strong for a hanyou like your brother to withstand." Then Inu Taishou handed Sesshoumaru the Tenseiga. "As for you, let this sword teach you the value of compassion. If you lose that, all is lost."
"I don't want such a sword! If I'm to rule the Western Lands after your passing, I need a powerful sword to defend what is ours! What good is a sword that cannot kill?" Sesshoumaru spat.
"I pray that as future leader, you will change your attitude. Now, I must go. And one last thing..."
"What is it?"
"If I don't come back alive...please take good care of Yukiko and Inu Yasha, no matter how you feel about them. Let that be your first lesson in compassion."
With that, the regal youkai left the courtyard, as well as an angry Sesshoumaru. 'This sword doesn't suit me...' he thought bitterly.
It had been a week after Inu Taishou left to do battle that rumors began to spread. Some said he was dead, others refused to believe it, until a vassal came to the estate bearing the bad news.
"I hearby confirm that the Lord of Western Lands, Inu Taishou, has defeated Ryutaishou in battle. However, in doing so, he had sacrificed his own life. Now I declare that the eldest son, Sesshoumaru, is our new lord."
Yukiko stood amongst the crowd of Inu youkai, crying as she held Inu Yasha close. The hanyou wept from hearing of his father's death.
Sesshoumaru stepped up to affirm his rule. Now he had absolute power. True, he felt a bit remorseful for his father's death, but he finally had the opportunity to rid himself of that wretched human woman that tainted his old man. He cleared his throat, then said, "Lady Yukiko, If you want to live, then I suggest you leave this place tonight. Go wherever you wish, but never tread upon these lands again. In honor of my father, I will spare your pathetic life."
The woman was shocked. Where would she go? She had Inu Yasha to care for, and now she was being kicked out of her deceased lord's estate? She realized then just how much Sesshoumaru really hated her. "What about Inu Yasha?" she cried, hugging her boy tighter. Inu Yasha was confused. Why was his brother doing this?
"Take him with you. I don't want to see either of you anymore."
Inu Yasha sniffled. "Onii-San..."
After that evening, Yukiko had left with Inu Yasha, but Sesshoumaru realized that Tetsusaiga was also gone. He growled in frustration.
"Kuso!" he cursed under his breath. 'I guess I'll let Inu Yasha keep it for now, but someday I will reclaim what rightfully should be mine. What do you think of that father? That's my lesson in compassion,' he thought ruefully.
~~~~~~
Sesshoumaru turned to Inu Yasha, then said, "I wish to speak with you this evening. Come to my room when the sun sets. I know you may not want to hear anything that I have to say, brother, but I implore you."
Inu Yasha nodded. "As a matter of fact, I have some things to ask you as well."
"Good. You remember where my room is, do you not?"
"Keh! Of course I do! I know this damned place like the back of my hand, even if I was only a little pup!" Inu Yasha snorted.
"Very well then. I'll have Jaken escort all of you to your rooms."
Rin shuddered at the name of the obnoxious toad youkai. She wondered how the human-hating creature would react when he saw that his lord was one of them now.
"As for you, Rin, come with me," he said coolly.
"H-Hai!" she replied, snapped from her thoughts. Kagome gave a small smile. It seemed Sesshoumaru liked Rin as well.
As the two walked off, Kagome noticed a creepy little toad hobble into the room. It promptly dropped the strange wooden staff it was holding, then pointed a clawed finger at Sesshoumaru, mouth wide open, but no sound coming forth. Then it managed to stutter out it's apparent shock.
"Y-You can't be..."
"Jaken, I summoned you for a reason. Now stop dawdling and get to it!" the human that resembled his lord firmly stated.
It was Sesshoumaru! But how, and why in the seven hells was he a...a human?! A weak, frail, disgusting human? And even more perplexing was the fact that Inu Yasha was there, as well as three other wretched humans besides Rin. One was obviously a Houshi, the other girl was apparently a miko, and the other...a taijiya? What was going on?
"Oh my poor Sesshooooouuuuumaru-Sama!!!!! Look at what mingling with pesky humans has done to you! Oh my lord! Oooooohhhhhhhh!"
*Moosh*
Sesshoumaru had his foot planted firmly on the annoying retainer's face.
Kagome giggled at the toad's antics. Then Jaken straightened up as if he never lost his composure in the first place.
"Follow me please...," then he mumbled in a barely audible voice, "...stinking, flea ridden human vermin..." Luckily Sesshoumaru didn't hear him, as Jaken expected, being that he too was a human now. He'd have to ask his lord about it later. In the meantime, he'd do what he was told, like the good little retainer he was.
Sesshoumaru gracefully sauntered down the hallway with Rin by his side. Kagome, Inu Yasha, Sango, and Miroku followed Jaken until each of them were designated a room.
Kagome was amazed at how elegant her room was, and she was sure all of the rooms in the estate were as such. Even though the room was dim since no lantern was lit, she could still make everything out due to the glow of sunlight that pored in from the window. The tatami mats on the floor were clean and new looking. There was a changing screen in the corner of the spacious room with a beautiful Chinese style landscape painted on it. The futon on the floor had silk coverings. Having lived in near poverty, she never really experienced what the wealthy lived with before. In the far back of the room there was a large window leading out to a balcony. The air was scented with jasmine incense, and overall, the atmosphere was quite pleasant. 'And to think Inu Yasha used to live here...' she thought to herself. She had to admit, the place was beginning to grow on her and she practically just stepped into it!
Kagome also felt her miko senses going wild. There must've been a ton of youkai living in that place as well. 'Of course there are!' she thought, 'this IS the estate of a youkai lord after all.' Then the thought crossed her mind...What if the other youkai here hated humans? Was it safe to be in a place full of creatures that wouldn't hesitate to kill a human at first glance? She shivered at the thought. Well, when they find out what happened to Sesshoumaru, they'll hopefully leave her and the others alone. Then she felt a clawed hand on her shoulder and nearly jumped out of her skin.
"Calm down! It's just me, baka."
"I-Inu Yasha! Don't scare me like that! Sheesh," Kagome huffed.
Inu Yasha walked over to the balcony window and sat down on the edge, looking out at the vast expanse of the wilderness. He noted from the scent of the outside air, as well as the sky becoming cloudy, that it was going to rain soon. He had so many things on his mind, and he knew that if he was with her, he'd somehow feel better, even if it was only temporary. Strange how she seemed to have that effect on him.
Kagome noticed the melancholy look on his face when he turned back to glance at her. He looked almost like a lost child. As the sky grew darker, and the first drops of rain began to fall, Kagome's breath nearly stopped. Something was wrong. Just by looking into those golden orbs, she could tell.
"Inu Yasha...are you all right?" she asked while walking over to his side.
He simply looked back out the window at the rain. "It's just that this place brings back a lot of memories, that's all."
Kagome sat down next to him and also looked out at the rain, enjoying the cool breeze that flowed into the room from it, as well as the fresh scent it gave. Somehow, she felt happy when she was with Inu Yasha. Of course they fought a lot, but she felt that it was his way of covering up how he really felt. Even though he seemed like an arrogant jerk at times, he really was good at heart.
"Ne, Inu Yasha...will you..." she couldn't say it. The words just wouldn't come out. 'Just say it, baka!' she mentally scolded herself.
"Nani?"
Kagome fumbled with the tie on her kimono nervously. He noticed a small blush on her cheeks.
'What is this girl thinking?' He suddenly grabbed her hand to stop the annoying fumbling, then asked again, "What are you asking?"
"W-Well, I was wondering...since this place may be full of man-eating youkai...can you..."
"Spit it out already!" he said, now inches away from her face.
"...stay with me tonight?" she said quickly in a single breath. 'There! I said it! That wasn't so hard, now was it?'
"Is that all? I would've even if you didn't ask. If that bastard Hajime still lives here, then I have to protect you."
Kagome blushed. He would've stayed anyway? Now that's a 180 degree turn! Then she asked curiously, "Who's this Hajime person?"
"He's the biggest sleaze ball of the Inu Youkai clan. He'll take advantage of anything that's female, be they human, or youkai. When I was but a pup, I remember hearing a girl screaming somewhere near my room. I went to see what it was, and there was Hajime, trying to force his attentions on her. Luckily, Sesshoumaru happened to hear the commotion as well, and boy did he put the hurt on that lech. It was actually kinda funny...seeing Sesshoumaru throw a solid golden Buddha statue at his head." Inu Yasha chuckled at the memory. "My half-brother really wasn't all that bad back then."
'Awww...he's so cute when he smiles!' Kagome thought, glad to see him happy for once.
"Anyway," he continued, "I'll protect you from him if he rears his ugly snout."
"Arigatou!" Kagome said cheerfully as she hugged him. "I like it when you protect me," she whispered, knowing he'd hear her. For some reason, she felt safe when he was by her side. That's when Kagome decided that even after it was all over, after Naraku was defeated, her village saved, and everything else, she wanted to stay with Inu Yasha.
Inu Yasha was almost stunned by her sudden show of affection. This was the second time today! Having her warm arms around him made him feel...happy? Yes. That was it. He wrapped his own arms around her as well, content to hold her close and share her warmth as the rain continued to descend from the sky and cleanse the world. He never felt this good before. He was never close like this with anyone...not even Kaede. Sure they were good friends, but never anything more.
'Wait a minute! What the hell am I thinking? I can't possibly have feeling towards this little slip of a miko, can I?' he thought, suddenly feeling nervous at having her so close. Her scent was intoxicating. 'Even if I did...she can't possibly feel the same. No one could ever love a hanyou. No one.'
"Inu Yasha...your heart's beating so fast...are you sure you're okay?" she asked in a gentle voice while looking up into his golden eyes. His eyes were of many mixed emotions, and she could tell he was nervous because of her. It was nearly dark already, but she could still see his silver hair in the last of the light, almost like moonlight on the tree canopies at certain nights.
"Kagome...why do you do this?"
"Hm? Do what?" she asked innocently, knowing full well what he meant.
"Why do you act like you care for me all the time? We barely know each other and here we are hugging..."
Kagome put her finger gently on his lip. "Shhh. It's all right to let others care about you. Don't close your heart anymore, okay? I won't allow that," she smiled, then gently kissed him on the cheek. His felt his face grow warm and knew he was blushing, and yet he was thankful that it was too dark for her to notice.
"K-Kagome...I...," he stuttered, suddenly feeling strange. His heart was racing all because of her. Why? What kind of spell was she putting him under?
"You better go see Sesshoumaru now. It's already dark out."
Inu Yasha nodded, then as she let him up, he walked to the door. He missed her warmth already. As he opened the door to leave, the soft glow of the hall lanterns shined into the room and illuminated Kagome's figure. She looked so pure and angelic in the light. She really was beautiful, he thought as he left the room.
**********
"Inu Yasha, what took you so long? For a moment I thought you may have forgotten to come here."
"Keh! Have more faith in me, will ya!? I was just making sure Kagome was safe."
Sesshoumaru looked pointedly at the hanyou. Basically, he was dallying with the wench, he thought with a look of disdain.
"Sesshoumaru, before you say anything else, I have to get this off my shoulders. Tell me, what happened that night to cause you to hate me and my mother so? What did father do?"
Sesshoumaru took a deep breath. He knew the time would eventually come that he'd have to explain everything.
**********
Two hours had past, and the two sons of Inu Taishou had learned more about each other in that amount of time then they knew all their lives. Inu Yasha and Sesshoumaru had finally come to terms with each other, and knew that being enemies in such an unstable time would only lead to their demise.
"We have to fight Naraku together. That's what everything ultimately depends on," Sesshoumaru began, then added, "I remember long ago overhearing a conversation between father and that old hermit, Toutousai. Inu Yasha, that old youkai said that when Tetsusaiga and Tenseiga were used together properly, any enemy could be defeated with ease, however, to achieve this, we have to be synchronized if every way. If only I knew more..."
"Are you saying we should begin some kind of training to utilize this 'power?' And will you even be able to use Tenseiga now that you're a human?" Inu Yasha asked, looking incredulously at Sesshoumaru.
"We have to try. I'm sure Tenseiga will still accept me as its master, but the real problem is that I do not know the techniques for the training itself. Just swinging around our swords isn't going to get us anywhere."
Inu Yasha's ears twitched. He had an idea.
"Why don't we seek out the old coot and ask him what the technique is to combine the sword's powers?"
Sesshoumaru shook his head. Of course that was the obvious thing to do, but there was one problem. "Toutousai, like our father, has perished. I heard that he was killed by the taijiya. We do have one last option, however, but it may take a bit of time..."
"What?"
Sesshoumaru stood up and signaled Inu Yasha to follow him. "Father had a room full of old scrolls and texts. I'm sure there's a scroll on how to do it. Knowing father, he'd document every technique."
Inu Yasha nodded thoughtfully. It was so strange, but he felt happy to be with his brother again. At least their differences were resolved. 'I guess it's nice to know I still have something a family...'
The two continued down the long hall until they finally reached their destination. The room was dusty, very dusty, and the walls were covered by tall book cases full of scrolls. The two looked at each other, then nodded in unison.
"Well, let's get to it."
Then Sesshoumaru lit the wick on the oil candle to lighten up the room, as Inu Yasha began searching through the scrolls. Inu Yasha sneezed as he got a whiff of dust in his nose. It was going to be a looong night!
**********
Kagome was lazily looking out the window. So much had happened since the day she met Inu Yasha. She wondered what lied ahead of them. 'Can we really defeat Naraku, or whoever he is? Kami-Sama, I pray that everyone's all right. Souta, Mama, Grandpa...' A tear slid down her cheek as she thought of her family. She missed having to crack down on her irresponsible little brother, or drink tea with her mother. Even listening to her Grandpa's babble about history was better than the thought of not having him around. Then, hearing a little tap at her door, Kagome wiped the tear away and went to see who it was.
"Aah! Sango-Chan! Is everything all right?" she asked, noticing a frightened looking taijiya.
"Y-Yeah, but I was wondering..."
Kagome smiled brightly at the taijiya woman. "Yes...?"
"Can I stay in here with you tonight? That hentai Houshi keeps trying to claw his way into my room, and I just barely managed to escape his grope- happy hands!"
"Sure...you can stay here..."
Then the two heard the said Houshi calling for Sango. "Sango! Where'd you go? I swear I won't do anything!"
Sango grabbed Kagome's hand. "Please hide me!"
"Hai, Sango-Chan! Come in quick!"
Miroku scratched his forehead. "Ne, Kirara, I could've sworn I just heard Sango. Do you smell her nearby? Sheesh. I just wanted to talk to her! She must be very shy..."
*Squeak!*
"Ahhh...so she's hiding in that miko's room? Hee, hee."
Carefully, Miroku placed his cursed hand on the shoji door and he slowly opened it, peeking one eye in. It was dark, and very quiet...too quiet...Ever so slowly he crept into the room. Kirara ran over to the futon and hopped on a rather strangely shaped lump under the covers. 'Ah ha!' Miroku smirked as he tiptoed over to the 'futon.' He then began an act intended for the girls he knew were there.
"Hmmmm....now what do we have here? A nice, comfy futon! Gee, I am so sleepy...perhaps I should rest here..." Then he promptly jumped onto the futon, feeling sudden squirming and chaotic tossing beneath himself. He could hear muffled 'Eeeks!' and giggles. "Gee, this is the noisiest, bumpiest futon I have ever had the privilege to sleep on!" Miroku laughed.
"Stop! Houshi-Sama! Ha, ha, ha! I beg you!" Sango cried, feeling him tickling her through the blanket.
Kagome peeked out from behind the changing screen. She blew her cover when she burst into hysterical giggles.
"Oh, so the miko IS here? Would you care to join us?" Miroku asked, a perverted grin across his handsome face.
Sango's face was beet red from laughing, also embarrassment. She pushed Miroku off as she sat up, still laughing. "I guess this wasn't such a good hiding spot! Kirara, why'd you give me away like that?"
*Squeak*
Miroku stood up and pretended to dust off his robes. "So, NOW do you wanna talk, Sango?"
"You don't give up, do you, Houshi-Sama?"
"Nope," was his simple reply.
"Miroku-Sama, right? Do you like Sango-Chan?" Kagome asked, causing the taijiya to blush even redder if it was possible.
"Well..." he began.
"You don't know me well enough to like me! Don't be ridiculous! Even if you did, I'm not interested." Sango snapped.
"Your cruel word are like arrows piercing my heart. Oh Sango, haven't you ever heard of 'love at first sight?' Ever since I first saw you in the woods that night, I knew that we were meant to be! Now, I'll ask you this: Will you bear my child?"
Both girls nearly face-faulted at the monk's honest question.
"NO!" Sango growled, whacking Miroku with a pillow. "Just give it up! There's plenty of fish in the sea!"
"Ano ne...maybe you two should tone it down a bit. What if some human- hating Inu youkai were to hear you?" Kagome asked, feeling the youkai energy stirring nearby.
Miroku smiled. "Not to worry. It is my duty to protect beautiful young women..."
"I'm sure it is..." Sango mumbled to herself.
Suddenly, everyone stopped dead in their thoughts as loud footsteps could be heard coming towards the room, reverberating through the hallway. Both the young women instinctively hid behind Miroku. Kagome could sense that it was a youkai....a powerful, as well as dangerous one. As it got nearer, they could hear its deep, heavy breathing.
Then, a smooth, yet frightening voice began to chuckle in a low, threatening tone that sent shivers down all three of their spines. "What have we here? Hm, hm, hm. Three pathetic little human scum in Lord Sesshoumaru's grand estate? I must say, It must be my lucky day to find such tasty creatures here," the youkai snarled as he licked his lips.
It was Hajime. He knew exactly who the humans were...of course his master would keep him well informed. Now was his chance to get rid of them and be rewarded for it. Working for Naraku would finally pay off, he thought as he bared his sharp claws. Lord Sesshoumaru was a fool. So easy to manipulate.
"Say your prayers, because this is the end."
To Be Continued...
AN: Cliffhanger! Haha! Also, I usually get a chapter done on Saturday, but I spent the entire day watching my new Inu Yasha tapes. I couldn't help myself! And I NEED to see episode 80!!! Episode 79 left with the worst cliffhanger! Sorry for taking so long to get this chappy up! Like I've said, blame my school, and blame Inu Yasha! Anyway, I need feedback! Reviews make my world go round, ya know? R+R please!
AN: I was kinda rushed to finish chapter 9, so pardon the OOC ending. Oh, one last thing. The best songs to listen to while reading this (if you listen to music when you read fics) is Akino Arai's "Goddess In The Morning" or "Reincarnation" (same song, different instrumentation's). Also, anything from Inu Yasha is good too, of course (Especially track 24 on OST 1) ^_^. For this chapter in particular, I recommend "Only When I Lose Myself," by Depeche Mode, or "You're Not Alone," by Olive.
~~~~~~ - Flashback.
Sugoi- Amazing.
Otou- Father.
Oka- Mother.
Nogareru~Break Away
By Otaku-Chan ^_~
Chapter Ten~Bittersweet Memories
"Sugoi! This place is huge!" Kagome remarked as she looked around the spacious interior of Sesshoumaru's estate. Sango was impressed as well, but her attention suddenly turned to Miroku, who was busy trying to hide a small golden statue in his robe. She quickly smacked him upside the head.
"Houshi-Sama! You should know better!"
"Ha, ha, ha...funny you noticed!" he said, rubbing the lump on his head. Then he promptly put the treasure back where he found it, not missing the death glare he was getting from Sesshoumaru.
"Touch anything else, and expect to lose your hands," the youkai warned.
"This place sure does bring back memories," Inu Yasha began, "I used to run down the hallways playing all sorts of games. I must've drove my mother crazy at times since it took her hours to find me. Heh."
Sesshoumaru felt, for the first time in his life, guilt. He kicked Inu Yasha out along with his mother so long ago, but hearing Inu Yasha reminisce about old times brought back such bittersweet, as well as painful memories. In truth, he knew it was never Inu Yasha that was the object of his hate, but that woman...
~~~~~~
It had been a long day for Sesshoumaru. He had been busy training in the sparring hall with his friend Kasuma. He had become very skilled with a sword over his eighteen years of practice. He was twenty two in human years, and he knew that someday he'd become the next ruler to his father's lands. He felt a tinge of excitement at the thought.
"Ne, I heard that Inu Taishou-Sama asked ol' Toutousai to create two amazing swords. One for you, and one for the hanyou squirt. I wonder which one you'll get?"
"My father will surely give me the best of the two. I deserve no less."
Later that evening...
Sesshoumaru was walking down one of the many long corridors, hoping to ask his father about his inheritance. He simply had to know what kind of blade he would receive. However, he was brought out of his thoughts when he noticed a sniffling little hanyou tugging on his pants.
"Onii-San! Our Otousama and your Okasama are having a scary fight! She said my Okasama should be killed! She said I'm a worthless hanyou! I'm scared! What's gonna happen to my Okasama?" the child cried.
Sesshoumaru kneeled down to look his little sibling in his teary eyes. "Where are they at now?" he asked in a gentle voice.
Inu Yasha sniffled loudly before replying in a hiccupy voice, "They're in Otousama's room. Please stop the scary fight Onii-San!"
Sesshoumaru then picked Inu Yasha up and carried him on his broad shoulders. The child eventually calmed down and stopped crying. 'Poor little pup. I know my mother has hated you since the day you were born, but it's not your fault. Otousama was a fool to ever mate with a human in the first place. Now you have to be dragged into these conflicts too. I pity your misfortune as a hanyou.'
Suddenly, the two heard a scream reverberate through the hall. Something was terribly wrong, and Sesshoumaru recognized the voice that screamed.
"Okasama!"
He quickly put Inu Yasha down and ran full speed to the bedroom, noticing that the door was cracked open. "Inu Yasha, stay there!" he yelled. He could smell fresh blood reeking from the door. He barged in, only to witness Inu Yasha's mother in his father's arms crying. His own mother lied sprawled on the floor, a small puddle of blood leaking out from beneath her limp form. Sesshoumaru felt his youkai blood begin to boil. What the hell happened to her?
"S-Sesshoumaru...I'm sorry. Your Oka..."
"She tried to kill me, so your father defended me, and..." Yukiko interrupted.
"Enough!" Sesshoumaru screamed. Had his father murdered his mother for the human wench!? At that moment he despised the woman in his father's arms. Yukiko was the reason his mother was dead. "You bitch!" he growled.
"Damn it Sesshoumaru! You're mother was on the verge of transforming! If I didn't stop her, this whole place would be rubble! I regret what I did, but she went insane, don't you see? Your mother was..."
"I don't want to hear it old man! You didn't have to kill her for God sakes! All for that damn wench!" Sesshoumaru was about to take a swipe at the woman when Inu Taishou suddenly punched him, knocking him swiftly to the floor. The young youkai's lip began to bleed.
"Forgive me son, but I love Yukiko. Try to understand."
"And you forsake MY mother? You coward!" tears began to pour down Sesshoumaru's face, mixing with the blood on his lip. Inu Taishou quickly left the room with Yukiko. He would have his servents get the body when Sesshoumaru cooled down. "You damn coward!" He banged his fist hard on the wooden floor, creating a splintery hole. He didn't even feel the pain of the sharp splinters that dug into his soft flesh, causing blood to ooze into their wooden pores. His only mother...the only one who truly understood him and cared for him...dead. Why did it have to end up this way? If only his father had remained faithful to her, she wouldn't have ended up this way. What a waste of life.
Meanwhile, Yukiko had picked up her son and carried him off, not uttering a word to the child of what happened. Inu Taishou was also silent. Somehow, Inu Yasha knew it wasn't the right moment to ask what happened.
From that day on, Sesshoumaru closed his heart to his father, Inu Yasha, and most of all, Yukiko. He hated the woman with a passion. The very sight of her made his base animal instincts beckon him to rip her apart. He didn't even realize he was capable of such deep hatred until that woman came into his sight.
Inu Yasha also noticed the change in his older brother. He tried to talk to him on occasion, only to receive a cold glare. It frightened him. Why did his only Onii-San hate him all of a sudden? What did he do? Perhaps it had something to do with his mother's disappearance. His father eventually told him that Sesshoumaru's mother went far away. But why? Even his own mother seemed different. More withdrawn. Something was wrong with the whole situation.
Eventually the day came where Inu Taishou called forth Sesshoumaru. He would give him his rightful sword before he left to defend his lands from the fearsome dragon, Ryutaishou. The two stood in the sunny courtyard, Sesshoumaru was anticipating what sword he'd receive. Inu Yasha was still too young, so he was not there, but both youkai knew that the left over sword would be for him.
"Regardless of how you may feel, I have decided that the noble healing sword, Tenseiga, shall be yours. Unlike the Tetsusaiga here, Tenseiga is a sword that cannot kill. Yet it has the power to revive a hundred lives or more if your heart so desires it."
Sesshoumaru didn't look impressed. "And what can the Tetsusaiga do?"
"Tetsusaiga is a sword that can take one hundred lives in one swing. Since Inu Yasha is a hanyou, I have decided to let him have this sword. The boy will have to defend himself since the world doesn't favor his kind. It will also act as a seal on his youkai blood, since I fear that when he is older, he will not be able to control such power in that body of his. This will keep him from turning into a mindless monster. Unfortunately, our bloodline is too strong for a hanyou like your brother to withstand." Then Inu Taishou handed Sesshoumaru the Tenseiga. "As for you, let this sword teach you the value of compassion. If you lose that, all is lost."
"I don't want such a sword! If I'm to rule the Western Lands after your passing, I need a powerful sword to defend what is ours! What good is a sword that cannot kill?" Sesshoumaru spat.
"I pray that as future leader, you will change your attitude. Now, I must go. And one last thing..."
"What is it?"
"If I don't come back alive...please take good care of Yukiko and Inu Yasha, no matter how you feel about them. Let that be your first lesson in compassion."
With that, the regal youkai left the courtyard, as well as an angry Sesshoumaru. 'This sword doesn't suit me...' he thought bitterly.
It had been a week after Inu Taishou left to do battle that rumors began to spread. Some said he was dead, others refused to believe it, until a vassal came to the estate bearing the bad news.
"I hearby confirm that the Lord of Western Lands, Inu Taishou, has defeated Ryutaishou in battle. However, in doing so, he had sacrificed his own life. Now I declare that the eldest son, Sesshoumaru, is our new lord."
Yukiko stood amongst the crowd of Inu youkai, crying as she held Inu Yasha close. The hanyou wept from hearing of his father's death.
Sesshoumaru stepped up to affirm his rule. Now he had absolute power. True, he felt a bit remorseful for his father's death, but he finally had the opportunity to rid himself of that wretched human woman that tainted his old man. He cleared his throat, then said, "Lady Yukiko, If you want to live, then I suggest you leave this place tonight. Go wherever you wish, but never tread upon these lands again. In honor of my father, I will spare your pathetic life."
The woman was shocked. Where would she go? She had Inu Yasha to care for, and now she was being kicked out of her deceased lord's estate? She realized then just how much Sesshoumaru really hated her. "What about Inu Yasha?" she cried, hugging her boy tighter. Inu Yasha was confused. Why was his brother doing this?
"Take him with you. I don't want to see either of you anymore."
Inu Yasha sniffled. "Onii-San..."
After that evening, Yukiko had left with Inu Yasha, but Sesshoumaru realized that Tetsusaiga was also gone. He growled in frustration.
"Kuso!" he cursed under his breath. 'I guess I'll let Inu Yasha keep it for now, but someday I will reclaim what rightfully should be mine. What do you think of that father? That's my lesson in compassion,' he thought ruefully.
~~~~~~
Sesshoumaru turned to Inu Yasha, then said, "I wish to speak with you this evening. Come to my room when the sun sets. I know you may not want to hear anything that I have to say, brother, but I implore you."
Inu Yasha nodded. "As a matter of fact, I have some things to ask you as well."
"Good. You remember where my room is, do you not?"
"Keh! Of course I do! I know this damned place like the back of my hand, even if I was only a little pup!" Inu Yasha snorted.
"Very well then. I'll have Jaken escort all of you to your rooms."
Rin shuddered at the name of the obnoxious toad youkai. She wondered how the human-hating creature would react when he saw that his lord was one of them now.
"As for you, Rin, come with me," he said coolly.
"H-Hai!" she replied, snapped from her thoughts. Kagome gave a small smile. It seemed Sesshoumaru liked Rin as well.
As the two walked off, Kagome noticed a creepy little toad hobble into the room. It promptly dropped the strange wooden staff it was holding, then pointed a clawed finger at Sesshoumaru, mouth wide open, but no sound coming forth. Then it managed to stutter out it's apparent shock.
"Y-You can't be..."
"Jaken, I summoned you for a reason. Now stop dawdling and get to it!" the human that resembled his lord firmly stated.
It was Sesshoumaru! But how, and why in the seven hells was he a...a human?! A weak, frail, disgusting human? And even more perplexing was the fact that Inu Yasha was there, as well as three other wretched humans besides Rin. One was obviously a Houshi, the other girl was apparently a miko, and the other...a taijiya? What was going on?
"Oh my poor Sesshooooouuuuumaru-Sama!!!!! Look at what mingling with pesky humans has done to you! Oh my lord! Oooooohhhhhhhh!"
*Moosh*
Sesshoumaru had his foot planted firmly on the annoying retainer's face.
Kagome giggled at the toad's antics. Then Jaken straightened up as if he never lost his composure in the first place.
"Follow me please...," then he mumbled in a barely audible voice, "...stinking, flea ridden human vermin..." Luckily Sesshoumaru didn't hear him, as Jaken expected, being that he too was a human now. He'd have to ask his lord about it later. In the meantime, he'd do what he was told, like the good little retainer he was.
Sesshoumaru gracefully sauntered down the hallway with Rin by his side. Kagome, Inu Yasha, Sango, and Miroku followed Jaken until each of them were designated a room.
Kagome was amazed at how elegant her room was, and she was sure all of the rooms in the estate were as such. Even though the room was dim since no lantern was lit, she could still make everything out due to the glow of sunlight that pored in from the window. The tatami mats on the floor were clean and new looking. There was a changing screen in the corner of the spacious room with a beautiful Chinese style landscape painted on it. The futon on the floor had silk coverings. Having lived in near poverty, she never really experienced what the wealthy lived with before. In the far back of the room there was a large window leading out to a balcony. The air was scented with jasmine incense, and overall, the atmosphere was quite pleasant. 'And to think Inu Yasha used to live here...' she thought to herself. She had to admit, the place was beginning to grow on her and she practically just stepped into it!
Kagome also felt her miko senses going wild. There must've been a ton of youkai living in that place as well. 'Of course there are!' she thought, 'this IS the estate of a youkai lord after all.' Then the thought crossed her mind...What if the other youkai here hated humans? Was it safe to be in a place full of creatures that wouldn't hesitate to kill a human at first glance? She shivered at the thought. Well, when they find out what happened to Sesshoumaru, they'll hopefully leave her and the others alone. Then she felt a clawed hand on her shoulder and nearly jumped out of her skin.
"Calm down! It's just me, baka."
"I-Inu Yasha! Don't scare me like that! Sheesh," Kagome huffed.
Inu Yasha walked over to the balcony window and sat down on the edge, looking out at the vast expanse of the wilderness. He noted from the scent of the outside air, as well as the sky becoming cloudy, that it was going to rain soon. He had so many things on his mind, and he knew that if he was with her, he'd somehow feel better, even if it was only temporary. Strange how she seemed to have that effect on him.
Kagome noticed the melancholy look on his face when he turned back to glance at her. He looked almost like a lost child. As the sky grew darker, and the first drops of rain began to fall, Kagome's breath nearly stopped. Something was wrong. Just by looking into those golden orbs, she could tell.
"Inu Yasha...are you all right?" she asked while walking over to his side.
He simply looked back out the window at the rain. "It's just that this place brings back a lot of memories, that's all."
Kagome sat down next to him and also looked out at the rain, enjoying the cool breeze that flowed into the room from it, as well as the fresh scent it gave. Somehow, she felt happy when she was with Inu Yasha. Of course they fought a lot, but she felt that it was his way of covering up how he really felt. Even though he seemed like an arrogant jerk at times, he really was good at heart.
"Ne, Inu Yasha...will you..." she couldn't say it. The words just wouldn't come out. 'Just say it, baka!' she mentally scolded herself.
"Nani?"
Kagome fumbled with the tie on her kimono nervously. He noticed a small blush on her cheeks.
'What is this girl thinking?' He suddenly grabbed her hand to stop the annoying fumbling, then asked again, "What are you asking?"
"W-Well, I was wondering...since this place may be full of man-eating youkai...can you..."
"Spit it out already!" he said, now inches away from her face.
"...stay with me tonight?" she said quickly in a single breath. 'There! I said it! That wasn't so hard, now was it?'
"Is that all? I would've even if you didn't ask. If that bastard Hajime still lives here, then I have to protect you."
Kagome blushed. He would've stayed anyway? Now that's a 180 degree turn! Then she asked curiously, "Who's this Hajime person?"
"He's the biggest sleaze ball of the Inu Youkai clan. He'll take advantage of anything that's female, be they human, or youkai. When I was but a pup, I remember hearing a girl screaming somewhere near my room. I went to see what it was, and there was Hajime, trying to force his attentions on her. Luckily, Sesshoumaru happened to hear the commotion as well, and boy did he put the hurt on that lech. It was actually kinda funny...seeing Sesshoumaru throw a solid golden Buddha statue at his head." Inu Yasha chuckled at the memory. "My half-brother really wasn't all that bad back then."
'Awww...he's so cute when he smiles!' Kagome thought, glad to see him happy for once.
"Anyway," he continued, "I'll protect you from him if he rears his ugly snout."
"Arigatou!" Kagome said cheerfully as she hugged him. "I like it when you protect me," she whispered, knowing he'd hear her. For some reason, she felt safe when he was by her side. That's when Kagome decided that even after it was all over, after Naraku was defeated, her village saved, and everything else, she wanted to stay with Inu Yasha.
Inu Yasha was almost stunned by her sudden show of affection. This was the second time today! Having her warm arms around him made him feel...happy? Yes. That was it. He wrapped his own arms around her as well, content to hold her close and share her warmth as the rain continued to descend from the sky and cleanse the world. He never felt this good before. He was never close like this with anyone...not even Kaede. Sure they were good friends, but never anything more.
'Wait a minute! What the hell am I thinking? I can't possibly have feeling towards this little slip of a miko, can I?' he thought, suddenly feeling nervous at having her so close. Her scent was intoxicating. 'Even if I did...she can't possibly feel the same. No one could ever love a hanyou. No one.'
"Inu Yasha...your heart's beating so fast...are you sure you're okay?" she asked in a gentle voice while looking up into his golden eyes. His eyes were of many mixed emotions, and she could tell he was nervous because of her. It was nearly dark already, but she could still see his silver hair in the last of the light, almost like moonlight on the tree canopies at certain nights.
"Kagome...why do you do this?"
"Hm? Do what?" she asked innocently, knowing full well what he meant.
"Why do you act like you care for me all the time? We barely know each other and here we are hugging..."
Kagome put her finger gently on his lip. "Shhh. It's all right to let others care about you. Don't close your heart anymore, okay? I won't allow that," she smiled, then gently kissed him on the cheek. His felt his face grow warm and knew he was blushing, and yet he was thankful that it was too dark for her to notice.
"K-Kagome...I...," he stuttered, suddenly feeling strange. His heart was racing all because of her. Why? What kind of spell was she putting him under?
"You better go see Sesshoumaru now. It's already dark out."
Inu Yasha nodded, then as she let him up, he walked to the door. He missed her warmth already. As he opened the door to leave, the soft glow of the hall lanterns shined into the room and illuminated Kagome's figure. She looked so pure and angelic in the light. She really was beautiful, he thought as he left the room.
**********
"Inu Yasha, what took you so long? For a moment I thought you may have forgotten to come here."
"Keh! Have more faith in me, will ya!? I was just making sure Kagome was safe."
Sesshoumaru looked pointedly at the hanyou. Basically, he was dallying with the wench, he thought with a look of disdain.
"Sesshoumaru, before you say anything else, I have to get this off my shoulders. Tell me, what happened that night to cause you to hate me and my mother so? What did father do?"
Sesshoumaru took a deep breath. He knew the time would eventually come that he'd have to explain everything.
**********
Two hours had past, and the two sons of Inu Taishou had learned more about each other in that amount of time then they knew all their lives. Inu Yasha and Sesshoumaru had finally come to terms with each other, and knew that being enemies in such an unstable time would only lead to their demise.
"We have to fight Naraku together. That's what everything ultimately depends on," Sesshoumaru began, then added, "I remember long ago overhearing a conversation between father and that old hermit, Toutousai. Inu Yasha, that old youkai said that when Tetsusaiga and Tenseiga were used together properly, any enemy could be defeated with ease, however, to achieve this, we have to be synchronized if every way. If only I knew more..."
"Are you saying we should begin some kind of training to utilize this 'power?' And will you even be able to use Tenseiga now that you're a human?" Inu Yasha asked, looking incredulously at Sesshoumaru.
"We have to try. I'm sure Tenseiga will still accept me as its master, but the real problem is that I do not know the techniques for the training itself. Just swinging around our swords isn't going to get us anywhere."
Inu Yasha's ears twitched. He had an idea.
"Why don't we seek out the old coot and ask him what the technique is to combine the sword's powers?"
Sesshoumaru shook his head. Of course that was the obvious thing to do, but there was one problem. "Toutousai, like our father, has perished. I heard that he was killed by the taijiya. We do have one last option, however, but it may take a bit of time..."
"What?"
Sesshoumaru stood up and signaled Inu Yasha to follow him. "Father had a room full of old scrolls and texts. I'm sure there's a scroll on how to do it. Knowing father, he'd document every technique."
Inu Yasha nodded thoughtfully. It was so strange, but he felt happy to be with his brother again. At least their differences were resolved. 'I guess it's nice to know I still have something a family...'
The two continued down the long hall until they finally reached their destination. The room was dusty, very dusty, and the walls were covered by tall book cases full of scrolls. The two looked at each other, then nodded in unison.
"Well, let's get to it."
Then Sesshoumaru lit the wick on the oil candle to lighten up the room, as Inu Yasha began searching through the scrolls. Inu Yasha sneezed as he got a whiff of dust in his nose. It was going to be a looong night!
**********
Kagome was lazily looking out the window. So much had happened since the day she met Inu Yasha. She wondered what lied ahead of them. 'Can we really defeat Naraku, or whoever he is? Kami-Sama, I pray that everyone's all right. Souta, Mama, Grandpa...' A tear slid down her cheek as she thought of her family. She missed having to crack down on her irresponsible little brother, or drink tea with her mother. Even listening to her Grandpa's babble about history was better than the thought of not having him around. Then, hearing a little tap at her door, Kagome wiped the tear away and went to see who it was.
"Aah! Sango-Chan! Is everything all right?" she asked, noticing a frightened looking taijiya.
"Y-Yeah, but I was wondering..."
Kagome smiled brightly at the taijiya woman. "Yes...?"
"Can I stay in here with you tonight? That hentai Houshi keeps trying to claw his way into my room, and I just barely managed to escape his grope- happy hands!"
"Sure...you can stay here..."
Then the two heard the said Houshi calling for Sango. "Sango! Where'd you go? I swear I won't do anything!"
Sango grabbed Kagome's hand. "Please hide me!"
"Hai, Sango-Chan! Come in quick!"
Miroku scratched his forehead. "Ne, Kirara, I could've sworn I just heard Sango. Do you smell her nearby? Sheesh. I just wanted to talk to her! She must be very shy..."
*Squeak!*
"Ahhh...so she's hiding in that miko's room? Hee, hee."
Carefully, Miroku placed his cursed hand on the shoji door and he slowly opened it, peeking one eye in. It was dark, and very quiet...too quiet...Ever so slowly he crept into the room. Kirara ran over to the futon and hopped on a rather strangely shaped lump under the covers. 'Ah ha!' Miroku smirked as he tiptoed over to the 'futon.' He then began an act intended for the girls he knew were there.
"Hmmmm....now what do we have here? A nice, comfy futon! Gee, I am so sleepy...perhaps I should rest here..." Then he promptly jumped onto the futon, feeling sudden squirming and chaotic tossing beneath himself. He could hear muffled 'Eeeks!' and giggles. "Gee, this is the noisiest, bumpiest futon I have ever had the privilege to sleep on!" Miroku laughed.
"Stop! Houshi-Sama! Ha, ha, ha! I beg you!" Sango cried, feeling him tickling her through the blanket.
Kagome peeked out from behind the changing screen. She blew her cover when she burst into hysterical giggles.
"Oh, so the miko IS here? Would you care to join us?" Miroku asked, a perverted grin across his handsome face.
Sango's face was beet red from laughing, also embarrassment. She pushed Miroku off as she sat up, still laughing. "I guess this wasn't such a good hiding spot! Kirara, why'd you give me away like that?"
*Squeak*
Miroku stood up and pretended to dust off his robes. "So, NOW do you wanna talk, Sango?"
"You don't give up, do you, Houshi-Sama?"
"Nope," was his simple reply.
"Miroku-Sama, right? Do you like Sango-Chan?" Kagome asked, causing the taijiya to blush even redder if it was possible.
"Well..." he began.
"You don't know me well enough to like me! Don't be ridiculous! Even if you did, I'm not interested." Sango snapped.
"Your cruel word are like arrows piercing my heart. Oh Sango, haven't you ever heard of 'love at first sight?' Ever since I first saw you in the woods that night, I knew that we were meant to be! Now, I'll ask you this: Will you bear my child?"
Both girls nearly face-faulted at the monk's honest question.
"NO!" Sango growled, whacking Miroku with a pillow. "Just give it up! There's plenty of fish in the sea!"
"Ano ne...maybe you two should tone it down a bit. What if some human- hating Inu youkai were to hear you?" Kagome asked, feeling the youkai energy stirring nearby.
Miroku smiled. "Not to worry. It is my duty to protect beautiful young women..."
"I'm sure it is..." Sango mumbled to herself.
Suddenly, everyone stopped dead in their thoughts as loud footsteps could be heard coming towards the room, reverberating through the hallway. Both the young women instinctively hid behind Miroku. Kagome could sense that it was a youkai....a powerful, as well as dangerous one. As it got nearer, they could hear its deep, heavy breathing.
Then, a smooth, yet frightening voice began to chuckle in a low, threatening tone that sent shivers down all three of their spines. "What have we here? Hm, hm, hm. Three pathetic little human scum in Lord Sesshoumaru's grand estate? I must say, It must be my lucky day to find such tasty creatures here," the youkai snarled as he licked his lips.
It was Hajime. He knew exactly who the humans were...of course his master would keep him well informed. Now was his chance to get rid of them and be rewarded for it. Working for Naraku would finally pay off, he thought as he bared his sharp claws. Lord Sesshoumaru was a fool. So easy to manipulate.
"Say your prayers, because this is the end."
To Be Continued...
AN: Cliffhanger! Haha! Also, I usually get a chapter done on Saturday, but I spent the entire day watching my new Inu Yasha tapes. I couldn't help myself! And I NEED to see episode 80!!! Episode 79 left with the worst cliffhanger! Sorry for taking so long to get this chappy up! Like I've said, blame my school, and blame Inu Yasha! Anyway, I need feedback! Reviews make my world go round, ya know? R+R please!