A/N: We are TERRIBLY sorry for the long update! Me and my co-author had exams, huge writer's block, laziness, and school projects. But mainly it was laziness. PLEASE FORGIVE US! As usual thanks to everyone who reviewed for the last chapter! Oh and one warning: we had to include a certain someone in this story! But we needed him to be in the plot! And if anyone gets confused, just give us some time. The plot will eventually unfold! Anyways, enough ranting. On with the story!
Chapter 4
Waking up, Izayoi feels her head throbbing and puts her hand up to her forehead. "Owww! My head! I must've fallen asleep for a while." As she turned, she suddenly became aware of the sheets and pillows beneath her. "Huh? A pillow? I guess Bankotsu must've taken me back inside," she thought, sitting up. Izayoi slowly rubbed her eyes and looked up when she heard a door open. Slowly the figure standing at the doorway came into focus. Slowly it dawned on her who it was and she yelled. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?!" Izayoi rubbed her eyes vigorously but there was no mistaking the young demon that she knew so well. She clearly remembered those light violet eyes and white hair. "HAKUDOSHI! AREN'T YOU SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD?!" "What are you yelling about now?" Hakudoshi asked dully. "Why are you still alive?! I thought I had killed you!" Izayoi threw the covers off her. Hakudoshi snickered evilly. "You? Kill me? Ha, that's quite humorous, Izayoi. Then again, you never did agree marrying me in the first place."
Confused and furious, Izayoi was at a lost for words. How could this be possible?
"But…I…don't you remember the whole battle?! You and Bankotsu fought each other. And Inuyasha also showed up! You have to remember that!"
"As far as I'm concerned, none of that ever happened," Hakudoshi said, a confused and worried look dawning on his face.
"This can't be right! Wait! If Hakudoshi is here…then where's Bankotsu?" Izayoi thought over all this wondering how this could've happened. She clearly recalled all the events that happened a few years back! She was certain that she wasn't hallucinating or anything.
"Are you feeling well?" Hakudoshi asked, seeing that Izayoi remained silent. "Well I do have a bad feeling in my stomach," she muttered. Izayoi sighed in frustration as she got out of bed and walked out into the hall outside.
"What the hell's going on?!" she wondered as she came to a stop in the middle of the hall. Izayoi noticed that her surroundings seemed familiar. "Wait! Is this my father's castle?" She took her well known path down to the bathhouse, passing the same place where the gate to the outside was. "This definitely is my father's house!" She reached the bathhouse. As she sat in the water, Izayoi pondered how this twist could've happened. She was at a lost for answers even as she got out and dress in a beautiful lilac kimono. Brushing her hair, the sudden thought of whether or not Bankotsu would still be around the castle hit her.
Izayoi slid the screen open and stepped out, heading straight outside to see if she could find Bankotsu.
Searching throughout the gardens, Izayoi finally found him at the front gates, looking as if he was guarding them, with a girl by his side.
"Bankotsu, there you are! Where were you?! I was looking all over for you!" Izayoi hurried over to him, ignoring the girl beside him.
"Lady Izayoi. What is it that you need?" Bankotsu asked respectively.
"What are you doing with her?!" She pointed towards the girl with amber eyes and purple hair, cropped short in the front and leaving it long down her back. "Umm…this is my girlfriend, Kiyumi." Bankotsu replied in a confused tone. "He has to be guarding the front gates and I'm here to keep him company, my Lady," Kiyumi said respectively, although there was a hint a arrogance in her tone. Izayoi tightened her fist, trying to calm herself down.
"Well, my Lady, Bankotsu and I have to go now," Kiyumi said pulling on Bankotsu's hand and dragging him along with her.
"Ok, then…I'll see you later princess," Bankotsu added.
"Princess? Since when does he call me 'princess'?" She wondered, more confused than ever before.
Watching Bankotsu walk off with Kiyumi, Izayoi became more furious as she pondered why Bankotsu did not seem to remember their relationship. "Did we get in a fight or something?"
Suddenly Izayoi heard a voice yell out, "Hey Mom!"
"Sentarou!" Izayoi whispered, thinking it was her son calling her. Turning around, she spotted a young boy that looked like a miniature replica of Hakudoshi running up to her. "Umm…who are you?" she asked, giving the boy a quizzical look.
"Mom, it is me, Moshi! Are you feeling okay?" he replied, looking somewhat disappointed at the fact that she didn't know who he was. The boy had all the features of Hakudoshi, the only difference being that he had black hair and had a kinder look to his face. "So…who's your father then?" Izayoi said, feeling stupid. "Mom, you know my father," Moshi replied, looking at her with a puzzled expression. "I really don't think I've met this kid. Can this boy really be his…no that's impossible! But then again, this kid looks like that bastard. Yet, he's somehow…different," Izayoi thought, mind drifting away.
Moshi waved a hand in front of her as Izayoi blanked out. "I came to ask you if you had already eaten, Mom," he said, deciding to change the conversation. Izayoi blinked as she came back. "Actually, I haven't. I guess today's just not my day!" She smiled at the boy and led him into the castle. "He's not a bad kid," Izayoi concluded.
"Good morning, Lady Izayoi! What would you two like to eat today?" A servant bowed as the rest did so too. "I guess the usual. What about you, Moshi?"
"I don't know…whatever is good." The servant girl suggested some rice cakes along with some oolong tea. "That'll do!" Moshi agreed. He and Izayoi sat on the table as the servants prepared the food.
Minutes later, the food was brought in and served to them. Just when Izayoi was going to take a bite out of rations on her plate, Hakudoshi walked in. The talking in the kitchen ceased as the arrogant demon stepped into the room. He ordered the servants to bring him a plate then sat in front of Izayoi. The servant placed his plate in front him, and then scurried away. He looked down at the food in disgust. "I don't really know why you eat these pathetic human's food, Izayoi"
"I think the food is fine! If you don't like it then why did you come here to eat?" Hakudoshi stood up, infuriated. "I suggest you be more careful in how you talk to me, Izayoi," he said quietly. Hakudoshi suddenly stop at the doorway and called out to Moshi, "Moshi! Get over here, we're going out to train." "But I haven't finished, Father," Moshi said, intimidated.
"You want to learn how to defend yourself, don't you?"
"It's best if you go with him," Izayoi whispered to Moshi. He nodded and bid a farewell to his mother as he walked after his father.
xXx
Izayoi left the kitchen afterwards, looking for Kagura to see if she knew something. As usual, she found her daydreaming away in the garden. Izayoi ran up to her and blurted, "Kagura, something bad has happen!" Startled, Kagura turned around asking," What?! What happen?!"
"Hakudoshi, that's what's wrong! He's somehow alive! And-" Kagura raised a hand to quiet down Izayoi and asked calmly," Okay, slow down. What exactly are you talking about?"
"I wake up to find out that Hakudoshi is alive and then Bankotsu doesn't really seem to remember about our relationship and has some other girl and this kid named Moshi is suppose to be my son, with Hakudoshi! How messed up is that?!" Izayoi said, rushed.
"You're the one who married the guy!" Kagura replied calmly. "I never agreed to marry him! He's supposed to be dead not alive. I killed him! Ask Bankotsu! Someone probably brought him back to mess with me!" Kagura laughed and Izayoi realized that she must've sounded really stupid.
"You know, if he were dead that would make my life a whole lot easier," Izayoi mumbled. "I'm tell you the truth, Kagura."
Kagura tilted her head to the side and replied, "I'm sorry, but I have no idea what your talking about." Izayoi sighed as she shook her head and walked away, back inside the castle. " Guess I'll see you later, then. Bye."
"Great…who else thinks I'm crazy?" Izayoi decided to see if her mother, Kikyo, would believe her. "Mother," Izayoi called as she walked inside Kikyo's chamber.
She saw Kikyo is working on some sewing project and sat down in front of her.
"What is it, Izayoi? Is something the matter?"
"Yes. Something bad," Izayoi sighed. Kikyo put down her project, looking expectedly at her daughter. "Well, when I woke up this morning I found out that Hakudoshi is somehow alive. And I am supposed to be married to him. Also Bankotsu doesn't seem to remember anything that happened between us. He even has another woman by his side. I don't know what happened but none of this was supposed to happen in the first place."
Kikyo stared at Izayoi for a moment after she finished and said," Are feeling alright, Izayoi? Are you feeling sick?" Izayoi looked at her mother fighting back tears," Not even you believe me! I'm telling the truth, but people just think that I am losing it. I know for a fact that Hakudoshi is supposed to be dead."
Kikyo stood up with a worried look on her face, leading her into Naraku's chamber.
Naraku turned around as they walked into the room. "Hmm please excuse us for a moment, Byakuya," he addressed to a young man, apparently one of his incarnations. "Of course, Master," the man replied as he walked out the room.
"Well, what is it?" Naraku asked coolly.
"There's something troubling our daughter, Naraku," Kikyo replied. "What's the matter?" Naraku demanded. "What is Hakudoshi doing alive?!" Izayoi exclaimed.
"What are you implying, Izayoi?"
"He died! Bankotsu fought against him! What am I doing married to him?"
Naraku remained quiet as he thought over what Izayoi had said. Kikyo stepped in and said," She says that she is married to Bankotsu and insists that Hakudoshi is dead. She denies being with Hakudoshi or ever having a son with him."
Izayoi waited anxiously for his reply. After some time he said," I think it's best for all of us that you are checked with a priest." Izayoi was shocked at the comment. "What?! I haven't lost my mind! Why do you say that, Father?"
"What do you think, Kikyo?" Naraku glanced over at her. Kikyo explained to Izayoi how the priest might be able to help her.
Izayoi interrupted in the middle of her explanation and exclaimed, "I really can't believe you?! You honestly think that of me?" Izayoi stomped away, leaving Naraku and Kikyo to think of what to do. "So…do you think that she making this up?" Kikyo asked, worried.
"I'm sure with the priest's help, Izayoi will be back to normal. Although I have to say that I don't know what's wrong with her."
"Do you really think a priest can help?"
"Don't question me, Kikyo. You know as well as I do that Izayoi's simply having trouble adjusting to her new life."
xXx
Later on in the evening, Izayoi was tossing and turning in her bed, trying to fall asleep. "I can't believe this! Why is it that no one believes me!" She turned around when she heard the door open suddenly. Naraku stepped into the room, followed by Kikyo and an elderly man. Izayoi sat up asking," What are you doing in here so late? And whose that?"
"I told you that I was going to bring a priest to see if he could be of some help," Naraku stated.
Izayoi stared at him unbelievingly. "You were serious about that!'
Naraku merely nodded as the priest stepped forward with his assistant. "Lady Izayoi, I come here as requested by your father. You must drink this ailment I've prepare for you. It will soothe your nerves." "Please listen to the priest, Izayoi. He's merely trying to help," Kikyo assured. Izayoi knocked the flask from the priest's hand, stating," I don't need your ailment! I'm perfectly fine! Now can you all just leave?" "Izayoi!" Naraku snapped. "You must drink it. It's for your own good." The priest's assistant handed the priest a spare flask. Naraku closed his eyes briefly. "Let's make this easier for all of us." He looked up slowly his eyes a glazing red color. Izayoi felt her muscles tense up. "What the---?" The priest came up to her and poured the ailment into her mouth. Izayoi sputtered as the potion left a burning sensation in her throat. Naraku released Izayoi from her immobilized state. "I hope this potion will make you feel better. I'd better not here of this problem again," Naraku threatened as everyone left the room.
Izayoi fell back into the bed, still furious. "Maybe I should lay low for now. I'll just act normally, as if nothing happened. But still…I must find out what happened. This isn't a coincidence. I know someone's behind this. But who?" She suddenly felt a drowsiness feeling come over her. She closed her eyes as the sleep over took her.
xXx
"Do you think she'll be alright?" Kikyo asked Naraku after they dismissed the priest.
"She will. We'll just keep a close eye on her from now on."
Kiyumi was in the garden when she spotted the priest leaving. "Ha! Seems like my plan's working perfectly!"
"You see! Things always turn out better when you listen to me," Naruaki hissed, slithering around a tree branch.
"I know! Now if I want to keep her away from Bankotsu, I'm gonna need Hakudoshi's help."
"So you're gonna tell him everything?"
"Yeah, that's the plan!" she replied, staring up at the stars glittering in the sky.
A/N: Okay this was the 4th chapter! I know this story's kinda getting nowhere, but just give it time. We're probably not gonna update for a while because we have exams and Liz is gonna go see George Lopez this weekend(Liz: YAY!). Strawberries to everyone who reviews! Thanks for reading! :)