Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha, or anything associated with it. I have written this story solely because I enjoy writing.
Chapter 2: Ryokage Awakens
"Michiru, would you please not eat so fast?"
"Hmm?" Michiru got out, turning from his breakfast to look at the person speaking to him. "Uh…Mom?"
"You heard me," the Kururugi matriarch told him, her voice scolding-yet-gentle. "You shouldn't wolf down your food like that."
"No kidding, bro!" came a voice from his side. Turning to face the speaker, Michiru looked at a girl who was very nearly a mirror image of himself. "The rate you're going, you're probably going to wind up eating the rice bowl as well!"
"That wouldn't surprise me," commented their father. Mr. Kururugi very much looked like an older version of Michiru himself, except for a beard and features that were much sterner than his son's. Something he reminded Michiru of when he set aside his newspaper long enough to give him a questioning glare. "What are you eating so fast for, anyway? It's not like you have school today!"
"Uh, right! I mean…well, that is…!" Michiru struggled nervously. When a couple grains of rice escaped his overloaded mouth, he winced and decided that swallowing before speaking might be a good idea. Pausing just long enough to chew through the mouthful of rice, the Kururugi boy gulped it down before trying again. "Sorry. It's just…I arranged to meet with some friends of mine today, and I don't want to be late."
"Oh, really?" Mrs. Kururugi returned, looking at Michiru with a raised eyebrow. Unlike their father, she was a gentle woman with long ebon hair that was done up in a ponytail, and a gentle disposition that softened even her angriest expressions. "Well, this is sudden. When did you do that?"
"While I was out yesterday," Michiru explained quickly, torn between returning to his breakfast and completing his explanation. "Sorry. I guess I forgot to mention it, but…"
"Ah, I see," Mr. Kururugi told him. Before Michiru could say anything further, he smiled and waved aside his son's concerns. "It's no problem. I remember doing the same kind of thing back when I was your age." Giving Michiru a raised eyebrow, the priest of the Kururugi shrine leaned in a bit closer. "But if you don't mind me asking, where were you and these friends of yours planning on going, anyway?"
"Uh…the civic center," Michiru replied, requiring a moment to decide that honesty was the best policy in this case. After that, he went on to explain about the signing, and concluded that one of his friends one was a fan of Wyvern's books and wanted to get a signed addition. Deciding that this was close enough to the truth for his purposes, the Kururugi boy concluded with, "Sorry I didn't tell you about it before, but I just found out yesterday. And I…"
"I see," Mrs. Kururugi nodded. Looking over at her husband, who gave her a look in return, she then smiled at her son. "How long do you expect to be out?"
"Um…I'm not sure," Michiru returned, which was true enough. "I…I should be back later this afternoon." Then, feeling additional unease, he shrugged and added, "I…guess it depends on how much of a crowd is there, there sort of thing…."
Pressing her lips together, Mrs. Kururugi considered her son's words for a time. "Well, that should be alright," she finally said. Then she narrowed her eyes and told him, "Just be sure to call if something happens, or if you need to be picked up."
"And you better hurry and finish breakfast," Mr. Kururugi added, flipping the page of his paper while giving his son a look. "You don't want to miss the bus, do you?"
Smiling in relief, Michiru nodded. "Thanks, Dad," he told him before returning his focus to his breakfast.
Just as Michiru was munching down on another mouthful of rice, Kaname smiled and asked, "Hey, bro, do you think I can come with you?"
The instant this was said, Michiru very nearly choked on the wad of rice frozen in his mouth. "What?" he gasped out, looking in astonishment at his twin.
Taken aback by his reaction, Kaname lowered her gaze. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to surprise you. But…" Pausing to shift about in her seat, the Kururugi girl frowned somewhat. "It's just…we haven't gone out and done anything together in a while now. And…"
Pressing his lips together, Michiru looked from his sister and back again. "I…understand," he told her consolingly. "But…I don't think that would be a good idea."
"Why not?" Kaname wondered as their parents looked on.
Because one of my friends is a half-demon, and we might wind up having to steal a Shikon Jewel Shard by the time the day's over, Michiru thought, not even wanting to think about the potential implications of such a situation.
Casting a look at his parents, already nervous that a single wrong word would derail his plans, he said, "I…just don't think it's a good idea, that's all." Unsurprisingly, this did nothing to soothe Kaname, who's frown deepened. Wincing at this, Michiru smiled helplessly. "Maybe next time, sis."
The rest of the meal passed in relative silence, one that was punctuated by his parents giving him odd looks and reminding him to call if there was trouble, all the while Kaname silently studied her sibling. With considerable effort, he managed to more or less ignore these things until he was finally able to excuse himself from the table and take his dishes to the kitchen. Trying to put Kaname's unhappy face out of his mind, he then went up to his room and got out a duffel bag. Not wasting a moment, Michiru began filling it with a selection of clothes for InuYasha to wear.
I guess it has been a while since Kaname and I did something together, Michiru frowned inwardly, zipping up the bag once it was filled. With all my training and everything, I haven't had a lot of time to go to the movies or anything like that. His frowned deepening, Michiru began wracking his brain as he stuffed the bag with clothes. Trying to remember when he had done something with Kaname, something like going to the mall or just talking after school.
The memories of he managed to cull forth were distant, however. Vague, as if they had happened an eternity ago. Like it had happened to another person altogether.
The person Michiru had been before he journeyed in the Feudal Era.
Sighing somewhat, Michiru stood and placed the bag over his shoulders. As he exited his room, he found himself confronted by an unhappy, female version of his own face. "Whatcha got in the bag?"
"Hmm?" Michiru started. Feeling like a little kid with his hand caught in the cookie jar, he looked at the bag before chuckling nervously. "Oh, it's nothing. Just…a few little things, that's all."
"A few little things," Kaname repeated, tilting her head to the side as she gazed at her brother. "Just to go to the civic center?"
"Uh, yeah…" Michiru returned, knowing full well just how lame that sounded even as he said it. Looking at the bag, he quickly tried to come up with some kind of explanation. Some way of justifying it. But then he frowned, for his imagination was not being especially forthcoming that day. So instead, all he could do was look back at his sister and sigh. "Look, sis, I have to get going or I'm gonna be late. So could you -?"
"No! Not until you tell me the truth!" Kaname declared with additional force. "Mom and Dad might have bought your story, but, c'mon, bro! What -?" Cutting herself off, the Kururugi girl grunted before shaking her head unhappily. While her brother stood there, looking at her, she sighed again before looking him right in the eyes. "Michiru…what's with you?"
"What do you mean?" Michiru wondered. "Kaname, I'm sorry, but I really have to…"
"Who are these friends of yours?" Kaname asked, moving to stand right in front of him. "C'mon, bro! Are they from school? Did you meet them at the park? What?"
"I…" Michiru hesitated, unsure of what to say at first. Taking a moment to gather his thoughts, he eventually told her something that was as close to the truth as he felt he could. "I met them at the Higurashi Shrine."
"The…Higurashi Shrine?" Kaname frowned, puzzled enough to take a step back. Taking advantage of this opening, Michiru started forward. Upon seeing this, his sister quickly moved to follow. "Wait a minute! I don't remember ever hearing of a shrine by that name! Where exactly is it?"
"It's…kinda far from here," Michiru shrugged. "That's why I have to take the bus there. And…"
Frowning at the obvious implication her brother had left unspoken, Kaname considered this for a moment. "Well…okay," she finally murmured. Then, with a smile that was more forced than anything, she added, "But…"
"But what?" Michiru wondered. "Kaname, what is it?"
Kaname didn't say anything right away. She simply stood there, eyeing her brother for a time. "Michiru…what's happened to you?" A sound of confusion echoing in his throat, the Kururugi boy cocked his head to the side while his sister looked at him pensively. "You've been acting weird for months now! You've…you've changed, and…I just want to understand what's going on with you. That's all."
Blinking a few times at this, Michiru finally looked sadly at his sister. You can't understand, Kaname, he thought somberly. Because I've been down the rabbit hole and back again. And nothing's the same for me anymore.
But he didn't say this. Instead, he forced another smile and patted Kaname and the shoulder. "You worry too much, sis," he told her gently. Then, with fake enthusiasm, he added, "Look, we can do something special together some other time. How's that sound?"
The two of them stood there, looking at each other for a time, time in which many emotions flowed mercurially behind her blue-gray eyes. "Okay," Kaname she finally said as she lowered her gaze. Then she gave Michiru a rueful look and said, "You better get going, bro. You don't want to miss the bus."
"Thanks, sis," Michiru smiled before starting forward. Wishing he could leave his guilt behind as he headed out for the day.
It was with a sense of great relief that Michiru arrived at the Higurashi shrine and ran up towards Kagome's house. "Good morning, everybody!" he called as he entered the shrine residence.
The first person he saw was Sota, who was sitting at the dining room table. "Oh, hi, Michiru!"
"Hey, Sota!" Michiru returned with a polite wave. Holding up the duffel bag, he said, "I brought some clothes for InuYasha, and…hey, where is he?"
Smiling in a knowing fashion, Sota answered, "Mom and Kagome insisted InuYasha take a bath before we go anywhere today!"
"How the heck did they pull that one off?" Michiru wondered. InuYasha, much like a real dog, detested taking baths.
Sota smiled, like he had a really juicy secret to tell. "Sis just told him she'd say the 'magic word' ten times in a row if he didn't!"
"Ouch!" Taking a moment to picture that, Michiru shook his head and deposited his bundle on the dining room table. While he wasn't especially fond of the way Kagome used the Beads of Subjugation, or how frequently she did so, he had also learned that there wasn't a lot either he or InuYasha could do about it. Except try not to provoke her into using them, something that met with less success than either of them liked. "So what's your mother up to?"
"Well, InuYasha's kimono is pretty, so she decided to launder it for him."
"No surprise that it's filthy! I don't think he has any other clothes!" Michiru confessed with a laugh. That said, he sat down next to Sota, content to wait for his friends. And thus he was in a perfect position to listen in amusement as InuYasha raised a ruckus somewhere upstairs. While Michiru couldn't make out exactly what was being said, he got the impression that Kagome was trying to wash his hair, and successfully gotten a fair amount of shampoo in his ears.
"There's something I wanted to ask you," Sota began as Michiru smiled, wondering what would happen if Kagome made InuYasha sit in the bathtub. "Why are you so obsessed with getting back to Sango when she loves somebody else?"
Choking a bit at Sota's words, Michiru's first impulse was to defend himself. "Well, I don't think I'd say 'obsessed'! I mean, I'm not one of those sick freaks you hear about on the news or anything!"
"Well, yeah, I know that!" Sota said dismissively, as if the details were of no importance. "But you still want to be with her, right?"
Sighing, Michiru answered, "Yeah, that's right."
"But if she loves someone else…?"
"That doesn't matter, not with real love," Michiru explained sadly. "Whenever Sango smiled, I felt happy just to see it. When she was sad, I felt like my own heart was breaking in two. That's how I feel, and knowing that she cares for somebody else is never going to change that. I don't want to give up, just because it looks hopeless. I can't bring myself to do so."
Several moments passed before Sota replied. "You know, you sort of sound like Kagome when she's talking about what's going on between InuYasha and Kikyo."
"Really?" Michiru asked wanly. "I guess we have something in common there." A few minutes later, InuYasha and Kagome came downstairs. The half-demon was garbed in a bathrobe, looking madder than a wet hen, and smelling faintly like wet dog. And was busy exchanging a volley of insults with Kagome that went by so fast that he was unable to distinguish so much as a word of it.
"Hey, InuYasha!" Michiru said, trying to get his attention while Kagome tried to towel off his hair. "I got those clothes for you!"
"What? Oh, sure, fine, whatever!" InuYasha growled as he tried unsuccessfully to get Kagome to leave his head alone. "Come on! Let's get going and get this over with already!"
It took some doing, what with InuYasha not exactly being cooperative, but between Kagome, Mrs. Higurashi, and Michiru, they eventually they got him dressed. Fortunately, Michiru was fairly close to InuYasha's size in terms of build, so his clothes were a pretty decent fit. Once topped off by a baseball cap, InuYasha could almost pass for a junior high school student, and a long jacket fully concealed the Tetsusaiga. There was no hiding his fangs, claws, golden eyes and silver hair, but at least he wouldn't invite too much attention. Or so they hoped.
Joined by the rest of Kagome's family, who wanted to spend as much time with Kagome as possible before she had to return to the Feudal Era, Michiru and the others rode the bus downtown. The trip to the civic center was a warm experience, and for Michiru, it felt much like it had when he and his friends had journeyed together in the past. He found himself really looking forward to whatever the day had in store for them.
That didn't mean they could take their eyes off of InuYasha for even a second. Though he looked almost human, he had more than a few dog-like mannerisms that kept the two of them on their toes, and his ignorance of the modern world earned several strange looks as well. And so, Kagome made sure to stay next to him the entire time.
"InuYasha, do you really think Wyvern could have a real Sacred Jewel Shard?" Kagome asked at one point, second and third doubts about this trip rearing in her mind.
"I dunno. It's possible, I guess" InuYasha snorted disinterestedly. "We've found some pretty strange things in this crazy world of yours before. The Flesh-Eating Mask, the Soul-Piper. Even some strong demons, and a Sacred Jewel Shard!"
"I know. It's just seems pretty farfetched," Kagome explained. "Besides, even if we do find a Jewel Shard, how do we get it? We can't just steal something from him! Do you have any idea how much trouble we could get into?"
"Look, let's just see what we find when we get there!" InuYasha replied. Then he turned to look at Michiru, who was keeping Sota entertained during the long ride. "Anyway, even we don't find anything…at least the day won't be a total loss."
As Kagome looked from InuYasha to Michiru and back, she smiled in realization. "You're happy, aren't you? Being able to spend time with your best friend?" As InuYasha snorted in response, Kagome smiled even more deeply. "InuYasha, that's so sweet."
"Feh! Whatever!" was InuYasha's response, something that made Kagome laugh. He always had to play the tough guy.
Soon, they arrived at the civic center, where Kyle Wyvern was busily autographing books for the people there. "So that's him, huh?" InuYasha growled as he spied the friendly-looking American in a business suit who was greeting the people who had come for his autograph. "He sure don't look like much."
Though Michiru had learned not to judge a book by its cover during his journeys in Feudal Japan, he had to agree with InuYasha. Kyle Wyvern had a very ordinary appearance to him, a man in his late twenties to early thirties wearing a white business suit. The only exceptional thing about him was his hair, which was so red it looked ready to explode into flames at any moment.
While Grandpa went up to have his book signed, Kagome's mother going with him, InuYasha, Michiru, Kagome, and Sota kept busy by examining the various artifacts that dotted the civic center, items that Wyvern had gathered in the course of his travels. "Hey, Kagome?" Michiru asked as they walked around. "Do you sense anything?"
Kagome frowned momentarily. "I…I think so…"
"You think?" InuYasha growled. "What's that mean? Is there a Jewel Shard here or not?"
Kagome just looked about with an odd expression on her face. "It feels like a Jewel Shard, but it's so weak…" she reported. "Besides, a lot of these things in here have a definite feeling of power to them. Some of them feel really pure. And powerful, too." Taking a deep breath, Kagome started walking. "I think it's this way."
Before long, the four of them came to the display regarding the Sacred Jewel and its origins, of which the supposed Jewel Shard was the centerpiece. As they looked at the glass case that held the Shard, they discovered why Kagome was having a hard time pinning it down; the Jewel Shard was immured in amber that was inscribed with various sacred sutras.
"According to this, a monk somehow sealed this Jewel Shard in the sap of a sacred tree, and bound it with sutras so that demons could never use it," Sota explained, reading the card that came with the display. "It was later found in the mountains of Hida by a shepherd, who spotted it in the remains of a small landslide."
As the four of them stood in front of the display, InuYasha cast a meaningful glance at the Kagome. "So it really is a Jewel Shard?" he demanded softly.
Kagome slowly nodded. "It is," was all she said as she looked expectantly at InuYasha.
"Well, what do we do now?" Michiru wondered, staring hopelessly at the Sacred Jewel Shard that was twinkling from within the amber.
"Relax!" InuYasha snorted as he folded his arms before him. "We'll just have to come back for it later. It's not like it's going anywhere!"
Kagome just stared at the half-demon, blinking a few times before asking, "What? You mean…you're not going to…?"
When Kagome trailed off, InuYasha gave her an annoyed looked. "What, you think I'm just smash in and grab it? In front of all these people?" When she failed to respond (though she privately thought that was exactly what InuYasha would have done), the half-demon rolled his eyes. "Feh! Like I said, that Shard isn't going anywhere! We can deal with this later!"
When Kagome realized that InuYasha had more good sense that she had credited him for, she took a deep breath of relief. "Okay, then!"
"Right! Then how about we go look around some more?" Michiru suggested. "Then we go get something to eat, and plan our next move?" Looking over his shoulder at the civic center and the artifacts which decorated the expanse, he shrugged and added, "Besides, I'd like to see what else Wyvern has discovered about the Shikon Jewel. As well as some of the other stuff here."
"Now that sounds like a plan!" InuYasha grinned, and with that they began examining the displays more carefully.
One thing quickly became certain; Wyvern knew quite a bit about ancient legends. The display beyond the Jewel Shard held several artifacts and pictures that conveyed the story of how it came into being with frightening accuracy.
"Whoa! You mean that's really how it happened?" Michiru gaped as he read about Midoriko, the priestess who had created the Sacred Jewel. How this mighty priestess was so feared by the demons that a horde of them merged together in order to gain the power needed to slay her. How, after days of battle, she had been forced to absorb the collective souls of the amalgamated demons into her own heart, merged them with her own soul, and with her last breath, fired it away from her body in the form of the Sacred Jewel.
"Yes. Sango told us all about it. Apparently, this all happened near her village," Kagome replied numbly, in shock at how alarmingly accurate Wyvern's research had been. While Michiru was turning red at Sango's mention, Kagome was getting nervous and excited at the same. "I dunno. Maybe there are some other things here that can help us."
"I hope so, Kagome," Michiru agreed as he looked about. "I – aaauugh!"
"What?" InuYasha barked, looking wildly about for any kind of threat. "What is it?"
"Sorry! It's just…take a look!" Michiru groaned. Placing his hand to his chest, his heart pounding furiously, he nodded towards what had frightened him.
Looking in the direction Michiru indicated, InuYasha growled in disbelief. "Is that…Utsugi's mask?"
"I don't think so," Kagome slowly replied as they all stared at thing that had shocked Michiru; a hideous brown mask with a mane of blonde hair that was hanging from one of the walls. "Look, the eyes are wrong. So is the mouth."
"Yeah, I…I know," Michiru got out slowly. "Sorry. It just startled me, that's all."
"Hey, no big deal, Michiru!" InuYasha grumbled.
"That thing sure brings back some bad memories, though," Kagome admitted unhappily. "Let's look at something else."
Leaving the mask behind, it wasn't long before Sota found something else for them to examine. "Hey, check this out!" Sota called out as he spied one particular object; an urn that was plastered with a large, complicated ward. "According to this, this urn was used to seal an ancient and deadly demon away hundreds of years ago!"
"Yeah? So what?" InuYasha snorted as they joined Sota.
"Let's see," Kagome smiled as she looked at the information that was written alongside the urn. "According this, the urn is reputed to hold the soul of Ryokage, one of the most dangerous demons of ancient Japan. It is roughly four to five hundred years old, and made of a various materials much stronger than those typically used in pottery of that time."
"Whoa! Do you think there might really be a demon in there?" Sota asked, and for an instant, Michiru was tempted to laugh, to say there wasn't a chance of that. However, two things stopped him from doing so. One was the fact that he had seen things that made something like that look positively normal.
The other was that the urn in question was starting to move about on its own power, rattling as the ancient ward burst into flames, disappearing before their eyes.
"Does that answer your question, kid?" InuYasha growled dangerously.
"After all these years…" a horribly eerie voice emerged from the urn, echoing throughout the building as people took notice, the first hints of fear and confusion appearing on their faces. "Shards of the Shikon Jewel...!"
Groaning, Michiru looked at Kagome. "Please tell me you didn't bring the Jewel Shards!"
Looking unhappy, Kagome turned to Michiru and said, "Sorry…" As she did, Michiru got a good look at the bottle hanging from her neck where Kagome kept her Shikon Jewel Shards.
"Come on, demon! Or have you been stuck in that silly urn so long you can't even get free of it?" InuYasha taunted, his hands closing about the hilt of the Tetsusaiga. As if answering InuYasha's challenge, the urn exploded as the demon escaped, filling the civic center with a putrid smoke. Screaming in panic, people started rushing for the doors, trampling each other in the process.
"Kagome! Get Sota outta here, and quick!" InuYasha grated as he brought the Tetsusaiga out of its scabbard, the katana transforming into a monstrous fang. "Hey, Michiru, I hope you're ready for some action!"
"You bet I'm ready!" Michiru replied, adrenaline flooding his veins.
"Foolish mortals! I will have the Sacred Jewel Shards! Once again I shall be free to ravage and pillage this world at will!" the demon boasted. As Michiru shielded his eyes, he tried to spot where the demon was, but it was impossible with all of the smoke.
"I can't see the thing!" Michiru shouted to InuYasha. "What about you?"
"Ugh! This smoke!" InuYasha growled as he covered his nose. "Damn, this thing reeks!"
"A mortal and a half-demon actually dare to stand against Ryokage? I shall devour your flesh and souls first!"
"No, you won't! Oh, brightly shining light, give me your healing power! Protective Light!" Michiru called out, invoking the power of his Light Shikigami. A pentagram appearing at his feet, the Shikigami emerged from it in the form of a dragon before creating a barrier of magical light around him and InuYasha. Just in time, too, for Michiru saw the vague image of the demon just before it slammed into the shield!
"A Shikigami Master?" the demon growled angrily as it swirled back into the darkness it had spread all over the place. "I thought your putrid kind were extinguished!"
"Yeah, well, think again!" Michiru shouted in the general direction the voice had come from.
"Why are you worried about this kid? I'm the one you want to fight!" InuYasha snarled as he leapt out of the protective barrier. "Take this, you bastard! Wind Scar!" With that, InuYasha slashed with the Tetsusaiga, releasing a wave of energy that should have smashed whatever he was aiming at. However, to Michiru's dismay, the darkness seemed to swallow up the power of InuYasha's Wind Scar without any trouble. Writhing about like living thing, the dark clouds surged forth and swatted InuYasha like a fly.
Grunting in pain, InuYasha tumbled about through the air, the Tetsusaiga flying from his hands. "Dammit!" the half-demon snarled as he crashed on the floor, at which he quickly rolled to his feet. "Show yourself, you coward!"
"Now, why would I do that?" Ryokage chuckled malevolently. "Especially when I have such delightful plans in store for you!" With that, the demon completely enveloped InuYasha. As Michiru looked onward in horror, InuYasha began to scream like an animal being gored in battle.
"Leave him alone!" Michiru cried out, preparing a new spell he had discovered. "Oh, brightly shining light, shine your radiance upon this place! Rain of Light!" With that, his Light Shikigami once again came forth, exploding into a barrage of intense light that flooded every section of the civic center.
"Yee-arrgh! The light! The LIGGGHTT!" Ryokage howled in pain as his clouds of darkness began to dissipate before the blinding beams of radiance. "Wretched little human wizard! I'll be back for the Jewel Shards, and to make you suffer for your defiance! You shall all suffer for this!" With this declaration, the dark clouds that had flooded the civic center began to swirl overhead, forming a vortex. Spiraling upwards, the haze of shadows sank into the roof, bleeding out of the civic center interior through any crack or vent that was available.
Satisfied that the danger had momentarily passed, Michiru turned his attention towards his friend. "InuYasha!" he cried out as she raced over to where the half-demon was struggling to his feet. "Are you okay?" Just as he reached his friend, InuYasha roared and looked up at Michiru. And the Shikigami User found himself gazing into two bottomless pits of bloodlust.
Gasping in horror, Michiru immediately recoiled from the horror that was now the half-demon's face. Raging red eyes looked at him like a morsel to be slaughtered and devoured. Jagged, purple scars streaked across InuYasha's face, and his fangs had grown much larger and sharper than they had any right to be.
Stricken with terror, Michiru immediately backpedaled away from his friend. InuYasha growled horribly, falling into a crouch in the time that it took a person to blink. His entire body was the picture of feral readiness, claws bared and at the ready. And as he continued to gaze into the blazing pits of bloodlust that were InuYasha's eyes, the Shikigami User realized that he was about to die.
To his astonishment, however, this didn't happen. Instead, InuYasha's animalistic growling changed into a keening of pain. His entire body went rigid before he fell down to his knees. Howling in agony, he brought his clawed hands to his head, a dug deeply into his own scalp. "InuYasha!" Michiru cried out, completely lost in this madness. Watching in horrified amazement as gouts of blood appeared from his friend's silvery mane.
"He…help…m...meeee!" InuYasha squealed. Convulsing wildly, he fell down on his side, and began rolling madly about, as if wrestling with a monster in his own body.
Watching in terror as his friend cried out again and again, fighting against something he didn't understand, Michiru was startled by Kagome's voice. "The Tetsusaiga!" Broken from his horrified fascination, the Kururugi boy looked across the civic center, and saw Kagome standing in front of her family, her hands cupped to her mouth. "Quickly! Get him the Tetsusaiga!"
A series of incomprehensible noises escaped Michiru's lips as he tried to make sense of this. But then he looked back at InuYasha, who was still struggling with whatever had possessed him, and realized that this was no time for questions. Quickly looking about, he soon spotted the enchanted blade, which looked like nothing more than a rusty old stick. Dashing over and grabbing it up, Michiru then started back towards InuYasha. Somewhat wary of the flailing half-demon, he stepped as close as he dared, holding out the Tetsusaiga as he drew closer.
Just before he got within arm's reach of the tormented warrior, Michiru gasped when InuYasha paused and looked him dead in the eye, and once again, Michiru gasped with shock at the deep, savage bloodlust that was to be found in his eyes. But this lasted for only a moment, then InuYasha snarled and leapt up, savagely yanked the Tetsusaiga from the Shikigami User's grasp. Instinctively jumping back a step, Michiru could only watch and marvel as the strange sensation that InuYasha gave off ebbed away, and the crimson death drained from his eyes.
Finally, as InuYasha recovered from whatever had assailed him, he grunted dangerously and struggled back to his feet. "Damn that demon!" he growled, snapping the air with his hatred. "I'll slaughter him for this!"
"InuYasha!" Michiru got out, still shaken by his sudden transformation. "Are – are you alright?"
InuYasha turned and looked at Michiru with a great deal of anger. "No, I'm not alright!" he declared vehemently. "And I'm not going to be alright until I force-feed that bastard his own heart!"
"Wait! Hold on a second!" came Kagome's voice. Looking about, Michiru watched as she and the rest of the Higurashi family ran up to join them. "InuYasha, we can't just go blindly chasing after that thing! I mean, the Tetsusaiga didn't do anything to him! And look what it did to you!"
Fixing Kagome with his furious gaze, InuYasha countered, "And just what do you suggest I do, huh? Let that thing go running around wherever it wants?"
"Of course not, but Kagome's right!" Michiru broke in. "We have to find out more about Ryokage before we try and tackle him again!"
"Oh, sure! Right!" InuYasha snorted derisively. "And how do you suggest we do that? Because I don't see anyone around we can -!"
"Incredible!" came a voice from behind Michiru. A voice that he didn't know.
Uh-oh… Michiru thought, getting the distinctive feeling that the other shoe had just dropped right on their collective heads. Slowly turning around, he saw Kyle Wyvern making his way towards them, looking aimlessly about the empty civic center. Grinning like an idiot at the wreckage of his book signing, and seeming not to care about the fact that artifacts and books of his had been scattered all over the place.
"The legendary Ryokage was actually real?" Wyvern gaped. "Amazing! Absolutely amazing!"
As Michiru and the others stared blankly at the delighted American, he was distantly aware of one of their number growling menacingly. "Amazing? What do you mean, amazing?" Kagome howled before taking a few steps towards Wyvern. "That stupid thing could have killed us all, and you say it's amazing?"
Stopped in his mental and physical wanderings, Wyvern met Kagome's gaze and smiled embarrassedly. "Well…true," he confessed in lightly accented Japanese. "But…I've studied Japanese legends and artifacts for years, to actually see one of those legends come to life with my own eyes? Never in my wildest dreams could I have ever imagined that -!"
"Aw, cares about any of that?" InuYasha grumbled as he placed the Tetsusaiga in its scabbard. "That coward of a demon is out there somewhere, and we have to go -!"
"InuYasha, wait!" Michiru broke in, inspiration hitting him like a fist. While the half-demon was glaring at him, Michiru returned his attention to the American. "Wyvern…what do you know about Ryokage?"
Blinking a few times, Wyvern gave Michiru an odd look. "I know every legend and story ever written about Ryokage," he declared, his words a simple statement of truth without any boasting to them. "And…wait a minute. Who are you people?"
"Who are we?" InuYasha grumbled, moving up to Wyvern and glaring him in the face. "We're just the people who kept that damned demon from killing you and everyone else here! Who do you think we are?"
"You were battling Ryokage?" Wyvern repeated, raising an eyebrow at the half-demon. As Kagome and Michiru looked oddly at the American, he somehow shrugged with his face alone. "With everything that was happening, I couldn't really tell what happened! But if you…" As he looked back at InuYasha, Wyvern's voice failed and his face contorted with astonishment. For a moment, Michiru wondered if he was having a heart attack or something.
"Wha…d-dog ears?" Wyvern finally got out as he stepped closer to InuYasha. "You…you're not human!" Caught off-guard by this, Michiru and Kagome looked at their friend, and as one, the two of them groaned in dismay. At some point during the battle, the half-demon had lost his hat, revealing his ears for the entire world to see.
While the two of them were considering all the potential disasters that could result of this, Wyvern was grinning like a little boy in a toy store. "Fantastic!" the American marveled as he grabbed InuYasha's ears and began playing with them. "So what exactly are you, anyway? A werewolf, perhaps? Or maybe some kind of mutation?"
Growingly fiercely, InuYasha swatted Wyvern away before declaring, "I'm a demon, you idiot! Ain't it obvious?"
"A…a demon? An actual, living demon?" Wyvern squeaked out, paling somewhat. But that last for just a moment before his grinned like a madman. "That's…that's amazing!" As everybody stared at him, with Kagome wondering if the American had gone off of his rocker, he began studying InuYasha with greater intensity. "I've heard legends of a clan of dog-demons that once ruled in ancient Japan. Reputed to be honorable, these demons took good care of their human vassals, contrary to several of the other tribes of demons that were supposed to live back then. Are you a survivor of that clan? If so, could you possibly -?"
"Could you possibly shut up?" InuYasha barked, stopping the American in his tracks. "Look, the only things I want to talk about right now is how the hell do we get rid of that damned evil freak Ryokage!" he declared, whipping out the Tetsusaiga. As the enchanted blade transformed, he pointed the tip of it right at Wyvern's nose. "So start talking before I get really mad!"
Taking a moment to study the massive metal fang, Wyvern soon realized that now was probably not the best time to be conducting an interview. "Well, according to legend, Ryokage is a demon that thrives in the darkness and shuns the light. Also, and perhaps even more importantly, it is a demon that gains sustenance by feeding on the dark desires of other creatures," he explained in a somewhat pedantic tone. "It does so by possessing a human host, and the longer Ryokage is possession of said victim, the more inhuman it becomes."
"So it was trying to possess InuYasha just now?" Michiru gaped, thinking back to the bestial transformation his friend had undergone. Turning towards Kagome friend, he frowned unhappily. "Whew…that sure explains a lot."
"Uh…yeah," Kagome smiled nervously. Then, more quickly, she added, "It's a good thing you managed to scare Ryokage off with your Rain of Light. Otherwise…well, who knows what might have happened!"
"Yeah, well, that still doesn't tell us how we can find that bastard!" InuYasha growled. "Or how we kill it off!"
"Well, I'm afraid that would be the tricky part," Wyvern confessed. "According to legend, Ryokage is mostly invincible while in his shadow form. However, at the same time, he's almost incapable of interacting with this physical world, except through the victims he possesses. The only time he can possibly be hurt or killed is while he's in a physical body." Then he shrugged helplessly, and added, "Of course, I can't guarantee just how accurate that information is. Seeing as it is secondhand at best."
"Yeah, well it obviously hates light, so you were right about that part," Kagome decided. "So I guess we don't have to worry about him showing up again. At least, not before nightfall."
"Yeah, it looks that way," InuYasha agreed, finally sheathing the Tetsusaiga. "And seeing as that pathetic little demon hasn't been out of its urn in a while, I'd bet that the first thing it's gonna do is look for a new body." Baring his fangs, he narrowed his eyes and muttered, "And then…he's gonna go looking for some more humans to snack on."
While Michiru was considering this, the possibility of innocent people being transformed as his friend had been, Wyvern nodded in agreement. "Most likely. Also, from what I understand, the more wicked and corrupt the person in question is, the more Ryokage likes it."
"Yeah, well, that's interesting," InuYasha growled in a way that let everyone know that he wasn't the slightest bit interested. "But it still doesn't tell us where to find the damn thing!"
"Uh…wait! Can't you smell Ryokage?" Michiru wondered, recalling InuYasha's comments about the demon's stench. "If you can track his scent, then…"
"If I could do that, believe me, I'd have been out of here already!" InuYasha declared with such vehemence that Michiru found himself taking an involuntary step backwards. Furrowing his brow, the half-demon lowered his eyes in self-disgust. "The bastard took all of his stink with him. I can't smell anything here anymore."
"But…" Sota hesitated, unsure of how to broach this matter. "But if you can't smell him, then how're you gonna find him before sunset?"
The low growl that sounded in InuYasha's throat was the only sound the half-demon made. But even as his clawed hands tensed into fists, Wyvern wore a look of consideration. "Well…there is one possibility," he murmured in a thoughtful tone. "I had a special compass on display here, one reputed to have the power to track any and all demons. If it works…"
"If it works, then it'll lead us right to Ryokage, right?" Michiru asked hopefully.
"Good luck finding it, though," Kagome muttered, looking over the mess that the demon had made during its rampage. "And even if we can, there's no guarantee that it'll actually work. Or that we can find Ryokage before he possesses someone else!"
His eyes narrowed into slits, InuYasha looked from Wyvern towards the colossal mess that was the civic center. And while he knew that this was likely a longshot, he knew that this was likely to be their best chance. "Well, we have until sunset. So let's not waste any time!" he finally declared, 'payback' written all over his face. "What's this thing look like, anyway?"
"The compass? Well…it looks like a small, metal gyroscope, and it was hung from a cord like a pendant," Wyvern explained as he looked off into the distance. "As I recall, it was on display…over there. Somewhere."
Following Wyvern's gaze, Kagome nodded. "Right. Then let's get moving."
"And while we're looking, perhaps one of you would be kind of enough to tell me whom exactly you people are?" Wyvern demanded in a voice that was somewhere between polite and extremely cranky. "I realize that I've somehow managed to blunder into something of importance, but I really have no idea what that something is. And considering everything's that been happening here, I would think that I deserve some kind of explanation!" Then he looked over at InuYasha, and smiled in a knowing fashion. "Especially given the fact that you have a demon in your company."
His breath catching in his throat, Michiru realized that they had a serious problem to deal with. While he wasn't exactly sure how much Wyvern had seen or heard, the fact was that they had someone who was aware of InuYasha's true nature, and had a good idea that something very strange and very dangerous was going on. And all of those things put together meant that he was a person who could cause them a great deal of trouble, unless dealt with in the proper manner.
Fortunately, Mrs. Higurashi seemed to realize this as well. "I understand," she said, taking Wyvern's hand. Looking at the rest of them, she smiled in the gentle manner that she seemed to have perfected. "The rest of you, start searching. I'll explain everything to Mr. Wyvern." Looking the American in the eyes, she smiled in an even more disarming fashion. "Besides, I suspect we might need your help explaining things to the police."
Pressing his lips together, Wyvern then nodded. "True. In fact, I would be surprised if someone hadn't called them here already," he decided with a decided smile. "All the more reason to settle matters as quickly as possible, I would say."
"So would I," Mrs. Higurashi agreed as she escorted Wyvern away. "So while we're talking, perhaps we make sure that they don't cause any trouble. At least stall them until…"
As Mrs. Higurashi's voice faded away, InuYasha growled beneath his breath before looking about. "Well, c'mon, already! That stupid compass isn't gonna find itself!"
"Right," Michiru agreed, and with that, the Shikigami User started towards where Wyvern had indicated the compass had been displayed. As he began sifting through the various objects that were scattered about the floor, he was unaware of InuYasha looking sadly at him. Or that the half-demon then when up to Kagome and pulled her off to the side. Just long enough to say to her what he felt had to be said.
"Hey! Look here, everyone!" cried out a voice from across the civic center.
"What is it, Sota?" Kagome asked, looking up from the pile of debris she had been searching through. Several minutes has passed since they had started searching, time enough for her mother to finish giving Wyvern an abridged explanation as to who they were before coming back to help search. "Did you find it?"
"Yeah! At least, I think I did!" Sota returned, holding up something in his hand. "What do you think, Mr. Wyvern?"
"Here, let me see," Wyvern called out, already darting over to where the youngest Higurashi stood. As soon as he reached Sota's side, the American took the artifact in hand, and nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, this is it, alright. And it looks like it survived Ryokage's assault undamaged, thank goodness."
As Wyvern studied the ancient compass, InuYasha, Michiru, Kagome, and the rest of the Higurashis approached and looked at the object Sota had found. It was currently dangling by a thread from the American's hand, and while it had clearly been used quite frequently in the past, there was no sign of damage or any form of corrosion. Adorning the ring of the gyroscope was a stubby arrow, which presently hung limp.
"Well, it's about time!" InuYasha growled impatiently. "Anybody have any idea how long until sunset?"
"Uh, let's see…" Kagome muttered, drawing out her cell phone and flipping it open. "Oh, man!" Looking up from her phone, she held out the time display for them all to see. "It's almost six o'clock!"
"But…that gives us less than an hour before its dark!" Michiru protested.
"Then we don't have any more time to spend fooling around!" InuYasha growled, already reaching for the compass. "Now give it here, and we can -!"
"InuYasha, wait!" Wyvern protested even as the half-demon took hold of the ancient artifact. "This compass is -!" Before he could complete his statement, the compass lit up with a beautiful golden light. Smoke began rising up from InuYasha's hand, and was accompanied by the sound of flesh sizzling.
"Arrrrgggh!" InuYasha howled as the light of the compass intensified into a brilliant flash. As the rest of them averted their eyes, the half-demon was sent flying off into the distance, and with a cry of pain, came crashing down on the floor several meters away.
"…Is a sacred artifact that has been sanctified by priests and priestesses in order to protect it from demons," Wyvern finished lamely as drops of sweat rolled down the faces of everyone else present. "As you've…already noticed. Sorry about that."
While InuYasha was getting back to his feet, growling deep in his throat as he did so, Kagome reached for the artifact. "Here. Maybe I should try," she offered, gingerly taking the compass in hand. "So, uh…how does this thing work, anyway?"
"Well, according to legend, all one has to do is concentrate on whatever it is that you wish to find, and the compass will point the way," Wyvern explained, relinquishing the compass. "But it will only respond to the touch of someone with great spiritual or magical strength."
"Then let's see if this thing works as advertised," Kagome declared as she held the compass up by its string. Closing her eyes in concentration, she stood perfectly still as the others stood watching. Seconds passed and nothing happened. But then, finally, a purplish light crept down the string and sank into the artifact, causing the arrow to glow with an unearthly light.
"Wow! Look at that!" Sota gaped as the compass began to sway like a pendulum, the ring spinning of its own accord. As the rest of them looked on, the arrow then stopped, sending out a beam of divine light.
"It…it worked!" Wyvern cried out as the beam stabbed at the wall. His face splitting with a delighted grin. "Amazing! Absolutely amazing!"
As the rest of the group voiced similar sentiments, Kagome opened her eyes and looked at the beam herself. "Whoa," she breathed, taking in the beam. But then she frowned somewhat, and asked, "But…where is pointing to?"
"Eh, who cares about that?" InuYasha demanded, his hands no longer sizzling. "All that matters is that we track down that stupid demon before sundown!"
"Right," Michiru nodded, thinking back to what had happened before. Of other people, transformed the way his friend had been, a thought that made him sick to his stomach. "We better get going."
"Wait!" Kagome protested. "I don't have my bow or any arrows!"
Blinking a few times, Michiru brought his hand to his head, wincing at this oversight. "Aw, you've gotta be kidding me!" InuYasha growled as he glared at the reborn priestess. "You mean you're just bringing that up now?"
A dangerous rumbling was heard in Kagome's throat as she leaned forward and glared angrily at the half-demon. "Well, excuse me! But in case you haven't noticed, things have been pretty crazy today! So back off!"
"Back off?" InuYasha demanded sourly. "Of all the -!"
"Now, that's enough, you two!" Mrs. Higurashi broke in, frowning as she looked between the bickering twosome. "We have enough problems without the two of you fighting amongst yourselves!" Not giving either of them a chance to say anything to this, she then turned to Wyvern. "I don't suppose you have any bows or arrows that my daughter might use here, would you?"
Wyvern quickly shook his head to this. "Sorry, I'm afraid not," he confessed. "However, I did notice a sporting goods store nearby that might have what you need. If we can spare a moment, I'd be happy to buy whatever it is you need."
"Whoa! Really?" Kagome smiled in surprise. "Thanks a lot!"
"No thanks are necessary," Wyvern replied with a wave of his hand. "From what your mother has told me, and given what I managed to overhear of the battle, it would seem that I'm just as responsible for our current situation as anyone. Therefore, it's only fair that I help you now."
"In that case, I don't suppose you can arrange for some kind of transportation?" Michiru asked hesitantly. "Even with the compass pointing the way, we still don't know how far away Ryokage might have gotten." Then he cast a sheepish look at InuYasha, and added, "Besides, I don't think it would be a good idea for us to be too…conspicuous."
"Huh?" InuYasha grumbled, raising an eye at his friend. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means that it would be a bad idea for us to be seen during the day," Kagome informed him. "In case you've forgotten, most people in this world don't even believe in demons. And I'd rather keep it that way!"
"Yes, I would think so," Wyvern agreed. "Well, I have a car around back. And if the legends are correct, Ryokage shouldn't have been able to go very far. Not with the sun still out."
"Works for me," Kagome returned before turning to her family. "Mom, Grandpa, Sota, you should stay here while we take care of Ryokage."
Nodding, Grandpa told her, "Yes, of course, Kagome. Just before sure to come back safely."
"Don't worry. Nothing's going to happen to her or Michiru. Not while I'm around," InuYasha declared, taking hold of Tetsusaiga's hilt. "Now, let's moving! The sun isn't getting higher while we're jabbering away here!"
Author's Note: Chapter 2 is up! Again, read and review, everybody!
For those of you wondering, no, I did not base Wyvern on myself. He is, however, a homage of sorts. His first name, Kyle, is taken from one of my deceased cats.
As for the reason I created Wyvern, it's been my opinion the InuYasha anime/manga lacks any real 'brain' character: The kind of person that has knowledge and experience and is called upon to answer people's questions. True, Kaede, Miroku, and sometimes Sango have filled that role, but none of them has been up to solving the mystery of the Bone-Eater's Well, and if Michiru is going to make it back to the Feudal Era, that mystery will have to be solved. Not that this is the only reason I brought Wyvern into being. He's going to eventually have even further impact on this story!
As for Michiru and Kaname's parents, I had to use my imagination in that regard. We never actually see their father's face in the game, but judging from his voice, he strikes me as a stern, yet caring person, so I tried to make him come off that way. And as for their mother, during the epilogue movie at the game, when Michiru (or Kaname, depending on who you play as) is looking about, realizing that he (or she) is back, you can see a woman dressed in a kimono and hakama similar to those worn by Kikyo and Kaede. Given that the Kururugi's are a shrine family, it seems likely that she's Michiru and Kaname's mother.