Chapter 3: the Ways of Fate
Sunset the following day found Inuyasha and his companions at a village and, as usual, Miroku had worked his customary chicanery on the house of the village's chieftain, the best in town. One shout of, "Evil omens hang over this house," and the chief had come stumbling out begging on hands and knees for the monk to stay the night and perform a purification ritual. Naturally, that meant the group got the finest room in the house and a banquet fit for a king, an entire set of kings. As a result, Inuyasha, his sense of honor offended, was more irritable than usual. Of course, the situation wasn't helped in the least when they learned the chieftain had a beautiful daughter. At that point, the lecherous monk had insisted that he should go and "comfort" the girl during these "troubled times," a comment that earned him a blow to the head from Sango's gigantic boomerang-shaped hiraikotsu.
"Jeez, Miroku," Inuyasha growled as the monk rubbed the new bump on his head, "Even you oughta know by now that you ain't gonna get anywhere with a girl by rubbin' her butt."
"Right, Inuyasha," Shippō sneered derisively, "like you're a master at the arts of romance." That gained the juvenile fox-demon a clout to his own head, this time from Inuyasha's fist.
"Sit, boy," Kagome commanded. Instantly, Inuyasha's face was slammed into the floorboards.
"Damn it!" howled Inuyasha, "Kagome!"
"Inuyasha," Kagome reproved, "he's just a kid."
"Yeah, Inuyasha," Shippō repeated from the safety of Kagome's shoulder, "I'm just a kid."
"That's it!" Inuyasha barked then, shoving himself to his feet and bounding out the window, never stopping until he reached the shores of a lake on the outskirts of town, where he flopped down cross-legged and began massaging the sore muscles of his neck and shoulders.
"Stupid girl," he muttered, furiously seizing a fist-sized rock and hurling it forcefully at the center of the lake. The rock flew out over the surface of the water to land precisely where it was aimed with a highly satisfying splash. What did she think he was made out of, anyway? Rock? Wood? Steel? Surely even steel wouldn't hold up under the pounding he received whenever Kagome chose to use the kotodama keyword that activated the rosary around his neck. Mentally, he roundly cursed the day Kaede had stuck him with the thing.
Unlike other times, however, Inuyasha found that tonight he simply couldn't remain angry with Kagome for long. After all, even though at times she could be frighteningly ignorant about demons, other times she was terrifyingly brave, her courage surprising him more often than he cared to admit. For instance, there was the first moonless night that he and Kagome had spent together. Each half-demon had a time that their demon blood relaxed, rendering them temporarily human. Hanyōs like himself jealously guarded the information about such times, mainly because it was viewed as something of a weakness. During one such night, he'd stupidly allowed himself to be captured by a demon called a "spider-head" who'd filled his all-too-human body with a deadly poison. Any other person he'd met earlier would have run far and fast. Frankly, he'd expected the same of Kagome, had even hoped for it. But she hadn't, not even when he'd told her flat out to run away. No, she'd run to him, climbing the legs of the spider-head that held him captive and launching herself at him with tears in her eyes. Real tears! Tears Kagome had told him later were because she was afraid he would die. It was the first time that anyone other than his mother had shed tears for his sake. Even Kikyo had never cried for him. He doubted if she'd ever allowed herself to cry.
In fact, Kagome was often brave at times that normal people were cowardly. For a girl who, until the day the two of them had met, hadn't killed anything more dangerous than a mosquito, she was already braver than anyone else he'd ever met before, including the other members of his team. Not only that, but she inspired even the most cowardly to feats of courage they might never have considered before they knew her. Interestingly enough, she seemed at her most courageous when the danger came from within Inuyasha himself. That, in and of itself, was frightening to Inuyasha, mainly because when he was most dangerous it was because his demon side had overwhelmed him, turning him into a crazed, bloodthirsty beast. Inuyasha continuously lived in fear that Kagome's courage at such times would get her killed and that he would have to live with the smell of her blood on his claws for the remainder of his likely-to-be-very-long life.
Nevertheless, the few times that had happened to him, Kagome always seemed to be there when he needed her the most. The first couple of times the transformation had taken place, Kagome had brought back his reason by activating the rosary around his neck. Those were a few of the times he'd been grateful to be wearing the thing, even though he'd cursed Kagome loudly each time. The third time it had been Sesshomaru that had beaten the sense back into him. That time, he'd fully expected her to be afraid of him. Instead, she'd been understanding and supportive, never leaving his side for the entire night. Later, he learned, to his horror, that she'd actually placed herself between Sesshomaru and himself when Inuyasha finally lost consciousness, preventing his older brother from taking his life.
More recently, there was the incident that had occurred in the Castle Beyond the Looking Glass, where, with Kagome effectively bound beyond his reach, the demoness Kaguya had used her mirror to draw away his human side. For the first time in his relatively short life he'd fought the transformation with everything he had, but, somehow, the wench's spell still managed to drag away his sanity. This transformation had been terribly painful, mainly by virtue of how hard he was fighting it. Somewhere in the middle of it all, Miroku had stepped between him and Kaguya, imploring him to remember his friends rather than selling his soul to the demon witch. He'd fought hard to obey his friend, but his demon side, stronger now, had reacted first, cruelly slashing the mortal monk aside. The painful transformation continued and the image reflected in the mirror Kaguya held, at one time completely demonic, now began to assume more attributes of his human side. At that moment, Inuyasha had wanted to cry with frustration, knowing that inevitably, Kaguya would steal all of his sanity and set him howling against his helpless friends.
And then, somehow, Kagome was there, clasping his haori in her slender hands, her presence strengthening him by some means he still didn't fully understand. Kaguya, frustrated by Kagome's evident interference, had used her magic to increase the power emanating from the mirror, which, in turn, increased the pain as, once more, his sanity continued to dribble slowly away. His mind became filled with confusing images and a chillingly strong desire for blood, he'd felt himself grasp Kagome by the arms as if from very far away, heard her gasp and knew that his grip must be painfully tight. Somewhere in his head, he heard Kaguya demand that he give her the girl's body, felt the demon side of him begin to respond, shrieked denial and fought even harder, the last of his strength beginning to ebb even as he did so. Then he'd felt something he'd never expected, not in the entire hundred and fifty years of his life: the feel of Kagome kissing his lower lip. Just the shock of knowing that, of all people, Kagome was kissing him not only increased his ability to fight Kaguya's mirror but also completely paralyzed his demon side. The outcome was that Inuyasha's sanity returned to him in a glorious flood, cracking Kaguya's mirror with the sheer speed of the transfer, and suddenly he was kissing Kagome back, reveling in the overpowering scent of her, the feel of her body clasped gently against his, of her soft lips against his and then just her slender form in his arms as he hugged her in sheer relief that the torturous ordeal was finally over. He'd never forget that moment, not even if he lived to be a thousand years old.
The most recent incident had happened not two months ago. Naraku had managed to trick them into searching for him in the belly of an enormous stone demon than had used the almost complete and entirely corrupt Shikon Jewel to bring the hulking brute to life, trapping the group of them in a pool of acid so strong it could melt bone in a single minute. Inuyasha had attempted to use his new kongosoha "Diamond Spear Wave" attack to blast his way out, but the demon, strengthened by the corrupted gem, was far too tough and the diamond spears, each at least three feet in length, were about as effective as a handful of splinters. Miroku, disabled by an infusion of demon bee venom absorbed through his wind tunnel, had passed out right about then, leaving the little group completely unprotected from the acid dripping from the walls and ceiling.
It was then that Inuyasha had hit on an idea. Naraku had strengthened the stone demon using the Shikon Jewel. Perhaps he could do the same to his sword. Throwing his haori over his friends like a miniature tent, he'd taken the shard and thrown it against tetsusaiga. Abruptly, he'd felt a kind of evil energy flowing into him through the handle of his sword, felt himself beginning to change, where once the sword would have prevented such a thing, and knew somehow that the shard he'd attached to the gigantic sword was becoming corrupted and passing that corruption on to him via the sword. He'd forgotten that the gem wouldn't stay pure without Kagome's help. From very far away, he'd felt himself turn, knowing that he was about to destroy his friends.
But, once again, Kagome had saved him, at great risk to her own life. Tossing the protective haori off of her head, she'd dashed into the pool of acid, throwing her arms around his body in a desperate embrace. Moments later, there was an important change. Though the power flowing through him never changed and he could still feel the demon side of him stronger than ever, the important thing was that he, Inuyasha, was completely sane. He knew, without knowing how he knew, that Kagome had purified his demon side; that she had strengthened his human side, somehow, so that he could handle the power flowing to him from his demon side. She'd asked him if he was all right, then, and, not knowing how to tell her that, thanks to her, he was better than all right, he'd asked her to support him just a little longer. She'd agreed unhesitatingly, grasping his chest from behind and holding on for all she was worth.
After that, he'd successfully used the kongosoha attack to blow a twenty-foot hole in the wall, effectively killing the demon and saving his friends a slow and, likely, very painful death. But when he turned in triumph to Kagome, she'd collapsed into his arms. He'd been absolutely sure that she'd given her life for him that time. Miroku had assured him that Kagome was only sleeping, unconscious, but it hadn't helped. Back at the village that had, effectively, become their home, Kagome had eventually come to and Kaede had bandaged her tortured feet for her. Still, Inuyasha had felt more than a little guilty because, while he was creating an exit for himself and his friends, Kagome's shoes, made of soft leather and her socks, softer cotton, had melted, leaving her feet a raw and ugly red color to the ankles. However, when he'd tried to apologize to her for losing control, she had astonished him again when she told him she was happy just to be with him.
Since Kagome now needed new shoes anyway, Inuyasha hadn't waited to be asked, but had taken the girl right home himself, never letting the girl stand on her injured feet for more than a few seconds at a time. Kagome's mother had given her feet a cursory look and had insisted on a "hospital" visit. Once there, Kagome had received something called "skin grafts." Kagome's mother explained that this meant a person that had recently died had agreed to give his still-living body parts to people like Kagome who needed them. Kagome had been in the hospital for a week and each night before Inuyasha went to see her, he'd said a quiet prayer at the Higurashi shrine for the soul of the person whose skin the healers at the "hospital" had used to help Kagome.
After a week, Kagome's healers had sent her home where she was visited often by her friends at school, who brought her schoolwork to her every day, leaving later with her completed assignments. During that time, Kagome's mother had gone to the shoe store for a new pair of loafers and each week, Inuyasha had brought Kagome carefully back through the well for a visit with her friends in the feudal era. He'd stubbornly refused to let her so much as stick her toes in the bathtub until she'd reported, a month and a half later, that her healers had said she could walk on her feet again.
"Stupid girl," Inuyasha whispered with a sigh, shaking his head in wonder, "Why do you stay with me?"
"Love?" suggested a soft voice from behind him.
Inuyasha didn't bother to turn. His sensitive nose had already told him a while ago that Tenkei was approaching him from the direction of the village. "It ain't wise to try an' sneak up on me," he warned anyway, as the blind hanyō seated herself on the ground a little to his left.
"That was never my intention, Lord Inuyasha," Tenkei assured him quietly, laying her staff in her lap, "I am…unused to sleeping in the company of others. That is all."
"I…" Inuyasha hesitated, "I know what ya mean." Silence reigned over the peaceful lake for several seconds. A fish leaped agilely from the water before falling back in with a little splash. "So," he began, turning toward the newest member of his little family, "Tell me where I can find Naraku."
"What?" Tenkei responded, taken aback.
"Use your powers," Inuyasha growled, irritated to have to repeat himself, "and tell me where Naraku is."
"I can not," the girl protested gently, toying with her staff with long, delicate fingers, "My eyes only see that which is given them to see. That is not one of those things."
"Then tell me when he'll strike next," the dog-hanyo suggested, frustrated.
"I can not," Tenkei insisted, more loudly this time, "The power does not work in that way."
"Then what good is it?" Inuyasha barked, furious now.
Silence descended between the two of them again. An owl hooted from the security of a nearby tree. Finally, Tenkei cleared her throat, turning slightly in his direction. Inuyasha found it more than a little disturbing to have those strange-looking blue eyes regarding him without actually seeing him.
"Perhaps," she began soothingly, "it would help if I told you how the power does work. Then, Lord Inuyasha, you will have the power to ask me questions that I will be able to answer."
Inuyasha nodded, studiously examining the fish-ripples in the lake before him.
"Very well," Tenkei smiled shyly, her voice taking on a kind of teaching tone, "What do you know about fate? How do you understand it?"
"Destiny," Inuyasha shrugged, "What's suppose to happen to you."
"Very good," Tenkei replied, turning away from him again, "but fate is a much more complex thing than that." She settled herself comfortably before continuing, "Fate is made up of many choices. Most of these choices are personal. You make them yourself. Of this kind of choices, there are two types: simple or yin choices and complex or yang choices. A yin choice would be one that requires little or no thought beforehand."
"Like if I knew a way to kill Naraku in one stroke," Inuyasha suggested bleakly.
"What would you do, in that instance?" Tenkei asked.
"I'd take it," Inuyasha responded, fiercely punching his palm for emphasis.
"Then that is an excellent example, Lord Inuyasha," Tenkei smiled, "But suppose Naraku captured one of your friends and held them under the threat of death, if you made use of this 'way'?"
"Well, then," Inuyasha answered without hesitation, "I'd have to come up with a way to rescue my friend before I used it."
"A decision that would require some amount of consideration," added the crane-hanyō placidly, "That is an example of a yang choice. What is important to know is that both yin and yang choices flow very much from who you are, your character. However, they also flow back to your character."
"So every choice I make," Inuyasha guessed, "determines my future?"
"Precisely," Tenkei nodded, "much of your fate is decided in this way. However, these are not the only kinds of choices that determine your fate, nor do your choices determine only your fate."
"What?" the dog-hanyō grimaced.
"Let me try another way," suggested the girl beside him, "pick up a rock, throw it into the water and tell me what you see."
Shrugging, Inuyasha selected a small stone and threw it in. "Ripples," he noted, watching.
"Thus it is with choices," Tenkei explained, "every choice that we make affects every person we touch and all their choices affect us in return."
'Like when Naraku chose to deceive Kikyo and me,' Inuyasha thought grimly.
"Finally, our fates are further determined," the blind girl continued, "by events in our lives."
"Events?" Inuyasha repeated, confused.
"Yes," Tenkei replied, "things that happen without a choice. If it helps, you may choose to think of it as the choice of the gods or of nature. It is often referred to as 'luck' since, from time to time, when events take place they do so to our benefit, which is known as 'good luck', or to our detriment, called 'bad luck'. However, it all goes back to our personal choice, since we always choose for ourselves how things will affect us."
"So, then," Inuyasha griped, "what's all this garbage got to do with your power to see the future."
"The future is only a part of what I see, Lord Inuyasha," Tenkei disagreed, "When I touch a person, if I choose, I can see the paths their choices have made and the ones they have yet to make. Each person creates his or her own fate. As such, while the paths of the future are continuously changing, the paths of the past are well established. It is my gift to be able to gaze both up and down these paths and see where the major choices are at and how the lives of others may intersect with them. Do you see?"
"I think so," hazarded the dog-hanyō warily.
"It is possible that what you require is an example of how this power operates," Tenkei suggested timidly, "Recently, I have looked down the paths of two people that you know: Kikyo and Naraku. I saw your fate intersecting with both their paths. Which do you wish to know about?"
Inuyasha thought earnestly about it. Both of the choices Tenkei had given him were people he wanted to know about.
"Tell me about Kikyo," he said, finally.
"Very well," Tenkei said, closing her eyes, "I have placed before Kikyo a very difficult choice. Before she makes this choice, she will seek you out. However, be aware that no word that you speak will sway her in one direction or the other."
"When…" Inuyasha began.
"I have already told you," Tenkei interrupted softly, opening her eyes imploringly, "I do not see the when or the where. I see only the what, the why, and the how."
"Well, then what's the choice she's making," Inuyasha asked.
"I can not tell you that either, Lord Inuyasha," the blind hanyō replied softly, shaking her head, "It is Kikyo's to tell, not mine. Should I tell you, it might change the nature of her decision. In addition to that, an enemy of Kikyo's may be listening as we speak. I liked Kikyo. She helped me when I was hurt and alone. Tell me, Inuyasha, what would you do in my place? Would you have me risk placing her life in jeopardy simply to prove myself to you?"
'I'd die first,' Inuyasha thought bleakly, adding, aloud, "I gotta go think."
Tenkei nodded, not moving as Inuyasha got to his feet and walked away into the gathering darkness.
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"Kagura," Naraku crooned, a tone that never failed to make the wind sorceress feel uncomfortable, "Hakudoshi tells me that your actions of late merit some reward."
The previous day had been spent in the search for a new hiding place. Three times, they had found likely places, but each time, shortly after they had set foot in or near the buildings, some natural disaster had forced them to leave again.
The first one had been a castle on the coast. Naraku had been counting on the smell of fish, seaweed and other sea smells to cloak his scent that the two dog-demon brothers could so easily detect. A freak storm and a stray lightning bolt had set the castle on fire with in a few minutes of Naraku's residence in the place. It had rained steadily all the rest of that day.
The second place had also been a castle. This one, however, had been abandoned for some time and was badly run down. Naraku's hope here had been that his enemies wouldn't think to look there. However, moments after they'd entered the building, a mudslide, probably triggered by the incessant rain, had rushed in and completely demolished it. They'd spent hours extracting themselves from that one.
The third had actually been a military outpost. Naraku had wanted it or the series of tunnels and passages built beneath it. That one had lasted fully half an hour or so before instabilities in the buried tunnels had caused the entire floor to collapse, taking all the buildings and their would be inhabitants with it.
Finally, desperate and unwilling to admit it, Naraku had settled on an abandoned hermitage built on a ledge halfway up a cliff. It was far from the luxury Naraku had come to enjoy. In fact, the building was little more than a hut. Naraku had chosen it for the simple reason that the location was stable and protected from the elements.
When no disaster immediately took place, Kanna had been sent away during the night to find a safe place to hide the Infant. Hakudoshi, the only one of Naraku's extensions with an active link to his mind, had been sent with her to report the location, when one was finally found. Where that eventually turned out to be didn't really matter as long as it was inaccessible to Naraku's enemies and far from Naraku himself.
"Tell me, Kagura," the demon continued in that same dangerously seductive tone, "What reward do you desire?"
'What is he up to?' Kagura thought, her nerves now completely on edge.
"My freedom," she said aloud, "Set me free!"
"Very well, Kagura," Naraku smiled, which did nothing to still the suspicions of the wind sorceress, "Be free." The demon opened his hand in her direction and suddenly she felt movement in her once hollow chest.
'My heart,' Kagura gasped, placing her free hand over the new movement; not missing the way Naraku's smile broadened.
Suddenly she saw a flicker of not entirely unexpected movement behind her. Instantly, she dodged toward the door, nimbly dancing around the various tentacles as they darted at her. At the door, she quickly snatched a feather from her hair and tossed it in the air, nimbly leaping into its now expanded width.
"Thank you for my freedom, Naraku," Kagura cooed down, matching her one time master tone for tone and smile for smile, "I do hope we meet again, someday. At your funeral." With this, the wind sorceress unleashed the Dance of the Dragon on the little hut, leveling it to the ground and flying away as fast as her wind would carry her.
A few minutes later, a completely healed and utterly furious Naraku emerged from the wreckage of the old hermitage.
"Damn!" he snarled between clenched teeth as he watched the feather, now impossibly small, float farther and farther out of his reach.
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