THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or Kagome. These characters belong solely to Rumiko Takahashi and Viz.
Oh, and the SVU characters belong to Dick Wolf's company!
I do however own my own creations.
Chapter 23
Inuyasha stared at his son as the revelation was made,
"She's ... the child Kagome was carrying?"
"Yes. After Olivia went through the vortex, Mama, Azarni, and Juliet returned to us ..."
"And Zachary?" asked Inuyasha.
"I'll get to him in a minute, dad. Anyway, right after that I heard, what I later determined was Zachary's voice, telling us to take refuge at the apartment. When we emerged from the apartment, Zachary was there. He was wiser than his 10 years. He informed us that we must take refuge at the Canadian compound. That is where mama birthed her child. Zachary seemed to be a messenger for the mystics. Shortly after the baby was born, a group of mystic pilgims showed up and informed us they needed to take the child away for her safety. Mother didn't want to let her go, but Zachary insisted it was what had to be done. So, reluctantly, mama gave the baby to the pilgrims and they disappeared."
"That's not like your mother." grumbled Inuyasha.
"No. But, she knew the baby was the next Mystic Queen. It was only right that the mystics raise her."
"True. Continue." said Inuyasha.
"It was after that that Zachary informed us that Olivia was the baby ... sent back in time from the future to right a wrong. We didn't understand .. still don't really. All we know is that it relates to the fact that the Tenseiga went missing ..."
"The Tenseiga isn't missing. I have it." said Inuyasha.
"What? How did you come to possess the Tenseiga? Mama said that it should have been returned to Rin and Uncle after you two passed through to the border world ... but then you never appeared out of the well, we assumed you were stuck back in the Feudal Era ..."
"HMPH! I thought I heard I was dead!"
"We never believed that, dad. We just said that to throw off questions. Now, stop changing the subject ...how did you come to possess Tenseiga and where is it now?"
"Never mind how I came to get it. But, right now it's hidden at the Higurashi shrine."
"That's great news. We need to get it to Olivia ..."
"Olivia? Why?"
"She's the key ...Olivia and Zachary both... only they can right the wrong ... it has something to do with the Tenseiga, the pure Shikon No Tama and the Devil Crystal."
"So now that the Tenseiga is back in this world ... what we see outside will be changed?"
"Yes ...according to Zachary."
"How does Zachary know all this?"
"I don't know ...all he has explained to me is that he knows Sousson-Pannan inside and out because the deity raised him."
"If Zachary knows so much, why did Sousson-Pannan release him so easily?"
"It all had to do with Olivia. That's all we know, dad."
The three of them fell silent. Finally, Inuyasha spoke,
"I want to see your mother. And all the pups. I need to know they are all ok." he said quietly.
"You'll need to don this cape." said Shippou, "That's the only way you'll be able to travel freely. Humans cannot detect this spell at all and demons can only detect it partially ... that's why you could only see us through your peripheal vision." explained Shippou.
"Fine. How do we travel from Japan to Canada?"
"Uncle has that set up ..." started Yasha.
Inuyasha's face turned angry, "Speaking of your Uncle ...where is the bastard?"
"At the Tokyo compound with Bunza and Kieran." said Yasha.
"Good. Let's go. I've got an issue to settle with him."
Yasha and Shippou looked at each other and shrugged. They were used to the animosity between the brothers, but this time, Inuyasha's anger seemed more ... intense. They were curious to understand the cause.
The three don their capes and headed out into the dark city streets. Humans had now retired to what abodes they had, but, Inuyasha could now see that demons roamed the streets. Under the protection of the magic capes, he realized how the rebels operated. The humans, unable to detect the disguised demons, were not able to withstand attacks. Many soldiers fled in fear as "ghosts" seemingly took their revenge. Inuyasha smiled. His lovely daughter Izayoi was amazing.
On the way to the compound, the three stopped at the Higurashi shrine. Inuyasha ran in and retrieved the Tenseiga. As the three continued on their journey to the outskirts of Tokyo and the Kateitenma house, Inuyasha noticed the Tenseiga glowing and resonating,
'Kagome said the Devil Crystal glowed and resonated too.' he thought.
Arriving at the house, Inuyasha was glad to discard the dreaded cape. He always hated going incognito, but, he had to admit, it was better than dealing with an assault rifle in your face.
Bunza came out to greet them and stopped dead,
"Fa ... father?" he asked, incredulously.
Inuyasha beamed, "Yes, Bunza it's me." he said, reaching out to hug his son.
Kieran heard the commotion and joined the group, just as shocked to see his father standing there before him. As the boys greeted their long-lost father, a voice broke through,
"Well, little brother, it is about time you returned and graces us with your presence."
Inuyasha broke free from his sons' embraces and walked over to his brother. Without a word, Inuyasha's right fist made contact with Sesshoumaru's left cheek, sending the daiyoukai flying across the compound. Shippou, Yasha, Bunza and Kieran just stared. Had their father gone mad?
A dazed Sesshoumaru sat up, rubbing his left cheek,
"You half-breed. That was uncalled for. Why did you strike me?"
"You fucking bastard. As if you don't know. How dare you act like that around me now after what you did to me when I traveled back to Feudal Japan. Are you happy now that you proved your fucking dominance over me?"
"Inuyasha. I know nothing of what you are talking about. What did I do to you in Ancient Japan? And why are you holding MY Tenseiga?" Sesshoumaru asked, finally getting to his feet.
Inuyasha shook with anger. How dare his brother feign innocence with him ...especially after what he had put Inuyasha through,
"Yasha. Bunza. Kieran. Shippou. Please leave us alone." Inuyasha said, through gritted teeth.
Yasha sensed his father's seething anger and quickly urged his brothers and friend to leave the brothers be. Once alone, Inuyasha leveled an angry glare at Sesshoumaru,
"You bastard!' he spat, "When I went to return Tenseiga to you, he lorded over me and fucking RAPED me! I know you hated me ... but Jesus Christ ... you didn't need to violate me!"
Sesshoumaru's eyes grew wide as shock registered on his face,
"Inuyasha! You are talking nonsense. I have done nothing to you. What you say disgusts even I, Sesshoumaru."
"Don't lie to me, you asshole!"
"I have no reason to lie to you, Inuyasha, because I did nothing to you. I don't care if you don't believe me."
Inuyasha's fists clenched and his body shook with sheer anger, "Sesshoumaru!"
"Inuyasha, if what you say really happened, then it was someone else who impersonated me and did this to you. Probably in the same way that Naraku decieved you and that priestess so many years ago."
Inuyasha's mind raced ... 'Could Sesshoumaru be telling the truth? Could it have been someone else? Sesshoumaru had done many things to him before, but he had never lied to him.'
"Little brother, I believe your anger would best be directed elsewhere." he heard Sesshoumaru say.
Inuyasha turned and lowered his head. So many things were happening and his mind was full of images, thoughts and memories. He felt old. So old. His shoulders sagged as if he carried the world on his shoulders. He fell to his knees and began to weep. Sesshoumaru simply stared at his brother,
"You always let your emotions run away with you, little brother. That must be the curse of that mother of yours ... that human mother. Surely, our great and terrible father did not allow his emotions to run away with him. That is why you are what you are ... and why I have always been ashamed that my father's blood runs through your veins."
Inuyasha felt the anger well up inside of him again. He didn't need Sesshoumaru's superiority game again. Not now. No! Rising to his feet, Inuyasha faced his brother. His years of training in Kusamura under Masakazu came rushing back to him. Releasing years of pent-up anger against his brother, Inuyasha released it all through his fists upon his unsuspecting kin.