Disclaimer: The characters of the anime InuYasha are the property of Takahashi Rumiko/Shogakukan and Yomiuri TV Sunrise 2000. I do lay claim, however, to Aine and Lon. And, Kakusamaru.


Chapter Six: Losses Past and Present

Kagome could not help smiling as she watched Shippo. The kitsune's attitude toward the two humans could only be described as protective – having participated in their rescue, the little fellow apparently felt responsible for their well-being. He was also very determined to make friends and, as his lighthearted chatter drew hesitant smiles from both men, Kagome could see that he seemed to be having some success.

The fox demon's expression became a bit wistful, however, when he realised that the last of the treats Kagome had brought back from her own time were about to disappear. As they accepted the food, the farmers bowed deeply, causing the girl to blush. 'It's only a makeshift meal,' she demurred.

'No, Miss Kagome,' said Jiro, looking wonderingly at the packaged biscuits which, to him, were the most exotic things he had ever tasted, 'this is a feast.' Then, seeing the kitsune licking his lips, the youth shyly offered him a biscuit. Shippo longed to accept it but, looking at Jiro's thin features, he shook his head and, with a wide grin, insisted that he wasn't hungry.

While the farmer and his son were eating, the companions discreetly drew aside to discuss their best course of action. Eager to get on with tracking Naraku, InuYasha stated that Sango and Kirara should simply fly both humans back to their family. But, the demon-slayer quickly vetoed the notion – she had seen how the men still flinched when feline yokai came near them. If Kirara intimidated them even in her small form, Sango said, then she could not imagine the pair being persuaded to mount the firecat, let alone fly on her. Sighing, the half-demon resigned himself to having to travel at a slower pace .

As it turned out, having some food in their stomachs rejuvenated the strangers considerably, and the group made fairly good time as they hiked into the foothills. Even the injured Kenji kept to a steady pace, and earned InuYasha's silent respect in the process. However, by the time the serpent's trail had led them to a narrow, hillside road, the older man was definitely showing signs of fatigue.

Kenji looked about nervously as he pointed to a gap in the bushes on the upper side of the road. 'The yokai came from there,' he said. His voice lowered as his gaze went to his bandaged arm. 'It... just missed us. If I'd taken another step...'

A sheen of perspiration formed on the farmer's face as he described his near miss, and how he and his son had quickly abandoned the road to flee into the forest, hoping that the trees would impede the huge predator. Their gamble had worked, but only to a point. The grounded snake demon had been slowed by the woodland, but, drawn onwards by the smell of blood, it had continued its pursuit until the firecat's attack had finally ended the chase.

Miroku realised that Kenji was more tired than he was admitting, and suggested that the group stop for a rest. The young monk persuaded the wounded man to sit in the shade of a tree, reassuring him all the while that he need take only a brief respite and that, soon, they would continue their journey. Any further insistence the man might have made that he was fit to go on was abruptly halted by InuYasha.

'Suits me fine,' interrupted the half-demon, who had been eyeing the trail of broken branches leading up the forested hillside. 'I need to make a little side trip, anyway.'

InuYasha had gone along with the plan to help the farmers for two reasons. The first was that he had believed their story and had genuinely wished to help them, though he would never have admitted this publically. The second was that the best way to get them back to their family was to follow the trail of broken brush created by the wounded serpent demon – this, of course, had suited him to a 'T'.

The 'rest' Miroku had proposed was a perfect opportunity for the half-demon to continue following the snake yokai's trail for a while longer. He was about to turn and leave, when he saw Kagome picking up her quiver and bow.

'I'll keep you company,' the teenage girl announced calmly.

'Huh! If there are any more of those snakes around, I can handle them on my own.'

Kagome knew that InuYasha was well aware that she did not doubt his ability to dispatch lesser yokai. It was the knowledge that Naraku was somehow connected to the serpents which worried her – in her opinion, none of them should be venturing off on their own. Her only response to her friend's comment, however, was a stern glare.

The scowling hanyo crouched down. 'Fine. I don't have time to argue about it. Get on.'


Jiro watched with amazement as the girl climbed onto the half-demon's back and the two sped away. He turned to Miroku. 'Does your, um, friend think there are more of those snakes about?

Miroku put what he hoped was a reassuring smile on his face. 'InuYasha is just... very thorough,' he answered.

'Yep,' piped up Shippo. 'Don't worry. If InuYasha smelt any more demons, he would've told us. His nose is real sharp – just like mine.' This drew a bemused look from both men, and made Miroku and Sango grin.

'I assure you,' the monk said, 'I sense no demonic auras nearby. We're quite safe.'

As they awaited their friends' return, Miroku decided to ask Kenji and Jiro about the 'haunted lake' they had mentioned earlier. Although, as a cleric, the monk naturally found such topics intriguing, he also thought his question might provide some distraction for the farmer and his son – though there had been no further sign of the demons, both were obviously still on edge.

'I can't claim to be much of a story teller, Master Monk,' began Kenji, with a faint frown of concentration. 'It's... a sad tale.' He then pointed toward the mountains ahead of them.

'Our village lies at the end of this road, in a valley between those peaks. The lake we spoke of is at the upper end of the valley. As for how it became haunted...

'You see, there used to be another village – by the lake, that is. The Mizumimoto clan ruled over both communities, and folks say the area was prosperous enough back then – the upper village fished the lake, while the lower part of the valley was farmed. But then, almost two hundred years ago... tragedy struck the Mizumimoto clan. The last daimyo, Ryunosuke, died without heirs and... under strange circumstances.'

'How so?' enquired the monk.

The older man's voice lowered then, almost as though he feared being overheard. 'It's said... he and his betrothed were killed by a demon.'

Sango looked up at this. 'A demon? What sort of a demon?'

Jiro shivered involuntarily. 'No one really knows. No one alive has ever seen it... except maybe for old Taro.' The youth saw the enquiry in the others' faces and elaborated. 'Taro's mad – the old folks say he saw the ghost when he was my age and that... well, it took his reason.'

'Ghost? Wait... Do you mean it's the demon's spirit that haunts the lake?' Shippo asked, his eyes wide. The kitsune was perched on Miroku's shoulder, and the monk had felt him begin to shiver at the mention of a ghost.

'Yes,' said Kenji. 'We were told that, even though he was wounded, Lord Ryunosuke still managed to strike down the demon. But, its spirit has haunted the lake since. The waters are barren, and the daimyo's fine mansion on its shores is just a ruin. My mother's aunt told me it used to be called the House of Flowers, but you'd never believe it to see it now.' He shuddered. 'It's a dark and... evil place, even seen by daylight. By night... no one would dare.'

'I'm curious,' mused Miroku. 'Were no attempts ever made to purify the lakeshore?'

'Once, that I know of,' answered the farmer. 'When a neighbouring daimyo thought to take over the territory. It's said he sent some high-ranking priest to exorcise the demon's ghost.' He shook his head. 'There's different stories about what happened to that priest – all I know for sure is that no liege lord has made a claim on the lakeshore since.'

Jiro sighed then, his face showing frustration. 'No. Instead, they raid the valley's stores to feed their troops. And, with no lord to protect us... how can we to stop them?'

'What happened to the people who lived by the lake?' Sango asked quietly.

A faint, sad smile crossed Kenji's face. 'You're looking at them,' he answered. 'My own family used to fish the Lake of Tears. Some people left... but, others, like my great grandfather, wanted to stay near their ancestral lands. The daimyo's steward was a good man – he carried out Lord Ryunosuke's last orders and made sure those families got plots of land in the lower part of the valley.

'But, with the best land long since claimed... the lake people had to make do with what could carved out of the rougher ground on the slopes. Our own farm always produced just enough to get by... until this year.' The man's voice became bitter. 'When our crops wilted, we lost all... including our last tie to the valley of Mizumimoto.'

Miroku's expression was thoughtful as he murmured softly to Sango, 'It would seem that this Lake of Tears is well-named...'


'Damn...'

InuYasha growled in frustration as the trail he had been following literally disappeared into thin air.

'What's wrong?' asked Kagome. She released her hold on his shoulders and slipped to the ground; adjusting her quiver of arrows on her shoulder, she looked about the open space littered with torn and crushed vegetation. The half-demon did not answer immediately – he remained on his hunkers for a few more moments, once again evaluating the scent he had been following. Then, he stood and grunted angrily.

'The snake demon landed here,' he grumbled. 'I guess... whatever burnt it, didn't ground it right away. There's no way I can backtrack the thing any farther.'

The dog-eared hanyo crossed his arms and frowned at the sky, as if willing it to tell him which way he should go. Though he hadn't expected to be led directly to the crafty Naraku, he had hoped that he might at least discover a clue to his whereabouts. He knew his enemy had to be up to something, but... what role were the lesser yokai supposed to play? Their jaki were far too weak for Naraku to be interested in absorbing them. And, he wondered (not for the first time), How did the things get so scorched? So far, there had been no suggestion of a fire in the area.

Kagome gave her pondering friend a sympathetic look. She understood how disappointed he was that the trail had turned out to be a dead end. 'Come on, InuYasha' she said. 'We should get back to the others.'

The half-demon looked down at the girl as she spoke, and nodded. 'Yeah,' he answered, crouching down again. 'It's not like there's anything to keep us here.' As the girl climbed on his back, she voiced a worry which had just crossed his own mind.

'I hope Kenji and Jiro's family is safe. If that demon was able to fly... we don't know where it was before it attacked them.'

The half-demon grunted. 'I guess we'll find out soon enough.'

When they rejoined their companions, they chose not to elaborate in front of the farmers about the significance of the serpent having been airborne. However, InuYasha managed to quietly convey their findings to a concerned Miroku and Sango.

Meanwhile, Kagome had noticed that Kenji's hand had begun to swell; she felt a twinge of alarm when she saw that a red, angry-looking mark had appeared on the skin above the upper edge of the bandage. This, she knew, was not good. She put more antiseptic cream on the wound, and praying that the medicine would help, re-wrapped the bandage.

As the group set out along the road, InuYasha continued to puzzle over the lesser yokai's connection to Naraku. Of course, he observed to himself with annoyance, it was difficult to think of anything else – the serpent's scent permeated the area. How glad he would be to clear the stench from his nostrils! However, as the yokai's pungent odour finally faded with distance, the half-demon detected another scent.

The farmers stared at him with amazement as InuYasha suddenly dropped to all fours and sniffed intently at the ground. Then, he stood and shook his head, his expression dumbfounded. His sensitive nose had told him that two humans had preceded them along this lonely road. Normally, this would have been of little concern to him. But, he knew one of those people. He turned to meet his friends' questioning stares.

'You guys aren't going to believe this...'


Beneath the rocky overhang, a campfire was once more burning brightly. The scent of wood smoke hung in the air, along with a delicious aroma. Balanced on skewers over the coals at the fire's outer edge were several fish, all caught, scaled and expertly filleted by Lon. Three very hungry youngsters watched with anticipation as juices dripped from the fillets to sizzle onto the hot coals beneath.

Ryu tore his eyes away from their cooking dinner to study the strange-looking foreigner who sat cross-legged on the other side of the fire. The boy had continued to be apprehensive of this youth who had bested him so easily... until early evening, when Lon had returned from a brief sojourn with all those wonderful fish. Then, Ryu had decided the stranger couldn't be all bad, despite his odd clothes and unusual, blue eyes.

The boy started guiltily when those same eyes suddenly met his curious stare.

Lon grinned, amused by the child's scrutiny and delighted that Ryu was no longer terrified of him. 'Time to eat, lad,' he said then, as he eased the fillets away from the flames. He then passed two of the skewers to the boy and his older sister. 'Take those to your mam and Aine, so,' he murmured.

As they quickly obeyed, Lon's gaze moved to where the peasant woman (whose name, they had learnt, was Midori) was resting comfortably on his and Aine's cloaks. He had kept a judicious distance while Aine had cared for her patient, easily concluding that he had no place in the affairs of women. As soon as he had seen the woman in the cave, clutching her swollen belly and grimacing with pain, he had realised what was happening... and had been heartily grateful for Aine's presence.

After the healer had spoken soothingly to the sobbing woman, she had briskly set to work. While rummaging through her satchel for the herbs she would need, she had briefly and softly spoken to the púca in their own language, explaining that the labour was premature. But, she had added, by touching the mortal's face, she had 'read' her status – Aine had discovered (to her own considerable relief) that the birth had not progressed so far that it could not be stopped.

Having seen Aine heal mortals before, Lon had known that they were in for an extended stay. The healer would have to be circumspect – too rapid a healing would cause too many questions. As well, to effect a 'miraculous' cure would put the mortals in awe or fear of them. Neither was a desirable consequence.

Once Lon had rebuilt the fire, Aine had prepared a tisane of chamomile. After persuading Midori to sip the liquid, Aine had gently patted her shoulder while, at the same time, placing a hand on the woman's rounded abdomen to 'feel the contractions'. Thus surreptitiously having completed her healer's circuit, she had sent forth a subtle spell of compulsion, commanding the gradual slowing of the labour.

Later, when her pains had ceased and she had felt the normal stirrings of her baby within her womb, Midori had soon been persuaded that what she had experienced had been a 'false labour'. Smiling with relief, she had begun to truly relax. Then, while the healer had bound her sprained ankle with a poultice, Midori had told the foreigners of how she and her family had come to be in such difficult circumstances.

It was at that point that Lon had decided he would 'fetch something substantial to eat'. Once out of sight of the camp, he had taken to the air as a blackbird (after all, he had reasoned, there had been no further signs of any 'demons') and had soon spotted a fair-sized stream. Then, while reciting a lyrical spell of summoning, the once-again human Lon had spent a rather pleasant half hour 'calling' plump fish to his waiting hands.

Now, as the púca watched the mortal children enjoying the hot meal he had provided, he reflected that he was well pleased that they had come across this little family. Thus, when Aine had quietly suggested to him that they remain until Midori's husband and oldest son returned, he had not objected.

To his delight, Lon saw the smallest child shyly edging nearer to him. Her eyes were wide with fascination as she stared into his face, and he chuckled, for he knew he must seem exotic-looking to her. Londubh spoke gently to her and asked her name and, soon, she was chattering away to him. Seeing that Aine had noticed this little dialogue, he gave the healer a subtle wink.

Aine smiled to herself as she watched her old friend. Lon was truly in his element, she knew. Like all Dé Dananns, the púca considered children precious – thus, his delight in tantalising mortals had never extended to their offspring. Many a time at home had she seen him surrounded by a cluster of little ones, all listening with awe as he told them some legend of Éire. Little had those children known that the teller of those tales had likely witnessed the very events of which he spoke.

A soft sigh beside her brought her attention back to the now dozing Midori. The peasant woman, the healer reflected, looked much better – with her pains gone and a meal in her stomach, some colour had even returned to her cheeks. She had not noticed the magic which had swirled through her, correcting imbalances in her life-force and halting her labour. An inherently magical being such as a Dé Danann or, Aine recalled with a slight smile, a certain taiyokai, would have instantly detected her healer's circuit, but, never a mortal.

Then, Aine remembered that there had been one mortal who had been able to feel Dé Danann magics. When she had performed a routine reading of Kagome, she had felt the girl react to it; she was still curious as to why this had been so. However, so much had happened in the days following that particular reading that Aine had never had the opportunity to investigate the phenomenon further.

The healer now released her own sigh, her thoughts returning to their current situation. She knew that the woman resting beside her had had a hard time of it. She could only hope that things would go better for her and her family once they reached their destination – the town Lon had spotted in his earlier reconnaissance.

It was then that Aine noticed the distant sensation of a strong life force – a very familiar life force – moving toward them. Speaking briefly and without urgency in their own language, she informed Lon of what she had detected. The púca merely nodded subtly as he continued to spin a tale for the little girl and her siblings. The youngsters had scarcely noted their interchange, so enthralled were they by the story of a boy who had been raised by a deer.

However, all three children leapt to their feet when, a short time later, a man's voice called from the road below.

'Midori! Midori, we're back!'


Rin hummed happily to herself as she dug soil away from the large, edible root she had found. The little girl was well used to foraging for food, and quite good at it. She had already come across a large number of mushrooms that evening. The only thing that would be better, she thought, would be a stream with some fish in it.

With a satisfied grunt, she finally tugged the cumbersome vegetable free. 'Okay, Ah-Un,' she said to the two-headed dragon which had accompanied her. 'We'd better get back to Master Jaken.'

The kappa was not far away. Even though Lord Sesshoumaru had informed him that he had detected no demons within this strip of woodland, Jaken had sternly cautioned Rin to keep their campfire in sight while she searched for food, and she had obeyed him.

As she moved among the slim trunks of the maple trees toward the flickering flames, Rin wondered how long it would be until Lord Sesshoumaru returned. The dog demon had once more gone off alone. Master Jaken had said it was all part of his search for Naraku. Still, the little girl hoped he wouldn't be too long. Though she never doubted that he would return, she still missed him when he was gone.

Ah-Un stopped suddenly. One head snorted, a flicker of silver demonic energy appearing at its muzzle while the other head swivelled, looking about them. Rin froze, too, understanding that the dragon had noticed something of concern. The demon seemed confused, however, as if it didn't know in which direction to look.

Rin gasped. Then, with a soft shudder, she slowly sank to her knees.

The huge yokai nuzzled its small charge with one muzzle. When she didn't respond, a deep, interrogative rumble issued from both of its throats.


'Rin! What's taking you so long?'

Receiving no answer, Jaken (huffing and grumbling with righteous indignation) made his way through the woodland, easily following the trampled trail left by Ah-Un. The kappa was amazed that Rin had actually wandered out of ear-shot; he was also a little uneasy, remembering the time she had been lured away by the hypnotic flute of a child-stealing yokai. Then, to his relief, he heard Ah-Un's rumble just ahead. Soon, he saw the dragon and, kneeling on the ground beside it, Rin.

'There you are! Didn't you hear me calling you?' the little demon scolded, as he shuffled toward the girl. 'Are you still picking mushrooms? It will soon be too dark to...' When Rin still did not reply, Jaken knew something was very, very wrong.

He tapped the child on the shoulder. 'Rin?' he asked. 'Are... are you sick...?'

As Ah-Un snorted in an agitated manner, the kappa's bulbous yellow eyes opened wide. Quickly moving in front of the little girl, he put his face close to hers. Her eyes stared unseeingly back at him. He swallowed and began to tremble. Jaken's first thought was that Rin was dead. His second was that he would be following her to the grave once Lord Sesshoumaru returned.

Panicking, he grasped her shoulders and began to shake her. 'Rin! You have to wake up! Now!' Still, the child did not respond. The kappa had discovered, however, that she was neither cold nor stiff to the touch. He placed an ear to her chest, and sighed heavily with relief when he felt the subtle rise and fall of her breathing... and heard the sound of her heart beating.

Jaken wiped the sweat from his brow with his sleeve. But, he still felt ill with fear. Something has disturbed Ah-Un, but what? What has happened to Rin? he wondered. He frowned at the dragon, wishing he could somehow give it the power of speech.

Looking about him helplessly, Jaken wondered what he was going to tell Lord Sesshoumaru.


Night had fallen by the time Sesshoumaru made his way through the stand of maple trees toward the small campfire. The dog demon had made a thorough survey of the surrounding forest. He had found the occasional trace of serpent demons, but their movements, he had quickly ascertained, had been very random. Of Naraku, there had been no trace.

Hnh. Naturally.

However, when he had neared the foothills, the taiyokai had thought he had sensed something... familiar, fluttering at the edge of his perceptions. Not being one given to fancies, Sesshoumaru had paused and concentrated, ready to follow and investigate the sensation should it prove to be of interest. However, the feeling had not returned. Whatever he had detected, it had either been too weak, or too distant, for him to properly identify it. He was certain of only one thing: it had had nothing to do with his prey.

He entered the clearing, and beheld Jaken sitting slumped by the fire with his head in his hands. Instead of looking up to greet his master, the kappa closed his eyes tightly, as if bracing for a blow.

Sesshoumaru frowned. His gaze went to the dragon yokai standing with both heads bowed submissively and to the far too quiet child sitting on the ground beside it. Rin's scent... was not right.

'Jaken,' said the dog demon. 'You will explain this. Now.'

The kappa winced. 'I-I cannot, my lord.'

Sesshoumaru's gaze moved from the still, silent child to his retainer. His frown deepened as he briefly, and softly, growled.

Jaken fell prostrate to the ground. 'I don't know what happened to her Lord Sesshoumaru! I swear it! She was just foraging – within sight of the campfire – and Ah-Un was with her.' The kappa's voice shook as he spoke, so great was his fear. 'I've searched, Master. I can't scent anything. There's been no sign of a demonic aura – nothing! Ah-Un couldn't track anything, either! It's as if she's been possessed by a spirit...'

When the blow he expected did not come, Jaken dared to look up. He saw that Lord Sesshoumaru was again looking at Rin... and still frowning. Jaken ducked his head again. 'Sh-she can move, my lord. I was able to make her stand, and I led her back here. But... I can't get her to eat or... or to drink.'

The dog demon ignored his babbling servant. Instead, he strode over to Rin. Lowering himself to one knee before her, Sesshoumaru placed his index finger under her chin and tilted her face upwards.

Her eyes...

Rin's normally shining, brown eyes were dull and flat, devoid of understanding. It was as if someone had removed that inner spark that was her very soul. The inu yokai's own eyes narrowed in contemplation. Hmm. That little pest... the brat in thrall to Naraku. He had this same look. The wrongness he detected in Rin's scent did not carry Naraku's contamination. Of that, he was certain. Still...

Though his outward expression was once again impassive, within, Sesshoumaru's fury at this latest insult knew no bounds. His demonic aura swirled about him as he stood.

Jaken again closed his eyes tightly, now certain that his head was about to be separated from his shoulders. However, Sesshoumaru continued to ignore him. Instead, the taiyokai silently regarded the child at his feet.

So, came the dog demon's angry thought, you seek to manipulate me again, vermin? You will fail.


A/N: Well? Was anyone surprised?

A bit of trivia: the story Lon was telling the children was one of many about Oisín, the son of Fionn Mac Cumhal (Finn MacCool) -- easily 'Googled', for those interested in Irish myth. :)

Next... ;)