Chapter 15

The truth about Izayoi

Lunch was served in the informal dining room of the Keep and the others generally came in at their leisure. Kagome surveyed the food hungrily, having worked up an appetite because of Inuyasha and his playful tumbles of earlier in the day. Inuyasha, by the way, was actually still asleep.

If he hurt himself again, I swear I'm going to smack him, Kagome thought sourly as she plopped down at the table with a plate of food. After being settled into temporary rooms until Inuyasha was fully healed and was able to be moved back to the Hall, Sango and Miroku had made their way through the Keep to the dining room where Kagome waited. Sango was wrapped in her kimono and Miroku remained in his monks robes, but both looked extremely relaxed now that they'd gotten settled.

Well, that is, until Rin came into the room, Sesshoumaru not far behind.

"Oh!" Rin smiled happily. "You're both here! Then you're not dead after all!"

Sesshoumaru ignored them completely, having only come to eat to please Rin. He didn't know about the brew Daemon had made for her to relax her against her cramps, and Rin was using it to her full advantage. It kept Sesshoumaru completely oblivious to anyone and anything but her and she planned on keeping it that way for some time yet. Besides, with Kagome and Inuyasha's plans to start a family now known to herself, Jaenelle, Karla, Daemon and Saetan, she had to do something to smooth him over when he finally caught wind of it...literally.

Sango settled into the chair next to Kagome and smiled at her friend. "You can't even begin to realize how relieved I am at seeing the two of you right now,"

"I know it's been a while," Sango murmured. "But after Kaede explained to us what happened, we had to rebuild the well and then start looking for the breech in the barrier."

"Barrier?" Kagome asked curiously. "What barrier?"

"It seems we really do have a lot to talk about," Miroku stated as he began to eat. "Perhaps it should be saved until tomorrow night when Inuyasha can join us?"

Kagome nodded. "I think so. Besides, tomorrow night we'll be heading to the Hall, so we'll need something to talk about on the way there,"

Jaenelle had entered the room, looking solemn. "I'm holding off on our trip back to the Hall for another day, Kagome. I want to discuss this here at the Keep since Lorn will be close by. Besides, if my suspicions are correct, what they'll tell us tomorrow night will have been something that Lorn should have told us two months ago."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you have to take into consideration what happened yesterday morning before the ball. Remember about Lady Zhara's sister?"

"Oh, yes, that's right," Kagome heaved a heavy sigh. "That would make sense then, wouldn't it? In order for Izayoi to have ended up in Feudal Japan, she had to have crossed over there from here."

"Through this barrier," Jaenelle confirmed, studying Miroku and Sango curiously. "I'm curious to learn about this barrier, but we'll save it until tomorrow night. Inuyasha will want to hear it as well and it might shed some light on how Izayoi ended up in his era."

"Izayoi?" Miroku inquired, recognizing the name. "You mean Inuyasha's mother?"

"Mmhm," Kagome heaved a heavy sigh. "We met her sister yesterday,"

"Strange..." Mioga murmured from where he sat on the table. "Kaede said that the barrier hadn't been breached before Naraku used the power of the well to do so. Is it possible that someone else passed through it in order to retrieve Izayoi?"

"Could be," Kagome shrugged. "At any rate, we'll figure this all out tomorrow night. For now let's enjoy lunch and then I'll take you to see Inuyasha."

Inuyasha cursed heavily as he fell back onto the mattress, his senses going completely dull. "Clever little witch," he snarled, having finally given up on trying to get out of the bed. Whatever Jaenelle had done to ensure that he didn't leave the bed, it had worked. He hadn't even gotten both feet onto the floor before a jolt had him back on the bed, howling furiously. Now he huffed, his arms crossed over his chest as he sat up and leaned back against the headboard. He was healed, just sore, so what was the point in keeping him in bed?

"Inuyasha?" Kagome came into the room, smiling so brightly that it startled him. He hadn't seen her smile like that since they'd arrived here almost three months ago.

"What happened?" He asked suspiciously as she sat down next to him.

"He's awake!" She called suddenly, looking towards the door expectantly. Inuyasha sniffed the air but his senses were still dulled from the jolt, so he didn't pick up any scents. But the sight that greeted him was breathtaking.

"Miroku! Sango!" He grinned widely for a moment before realizing that he was still stark naked.

"Oh..." Sango blushed and Kagome glanced over at him, her face flushing the brightest red he'd seen on her face since earlier that morning. She hastily threw the blanket across his lap.

"Really, Inuyasha...you can get dressed now." Kagome muttered, turning her eyes away from his.

"Well, Kagome, if I could get out of this bed, I would, but every time I get a foot onto the floor I get shocked."

Jaenelle, you are loved! She left the bed and gathered his fire rat robes, sitting them into his lap. "Jaenelle, I guess, wanted to make sure you didn't leave this bed,"

"Yeah, remind me to thank her when I finally get out of here," He snarled, his arms folded over his chest again, his nose in the air.

Sango smiled. "It feels so wonderful to be with you two again," Sango sat down on the edge of the bed next to Kagome and felt better than she had since she'd woken up in Kaede's hut and had been informed of what had happened. Inuyasha seemed to smile for a moment and then she noticed how close he and Kagome were sitting to each other, she also noticed how comfortable Kagome was with him sitting naked not three inches from her. "Oh!" She grinned knowingly at the two lovers and looked up to Miroku. "They're together now!"

"Really?" Miroku chuckled. "Well, Inuyasha, you sly dog. No pun of course, no pun."

"Shut up, Miroku!" Inuyasha growled, looking away again to hide the blush coming to his cheeks. "And I'll have you know that if you and Sango hadn't shown up just now I would have been busy making p--OWE, KAGOME!"

She gave him a stern look and smiled sweetly at Miroku and Sango. "Well, we should let you get some rest, Inuyasha."

"I've had enough rest, don't you think?" He asked, smirking at her. She gave him that same stern look and ushered Miroku and Sango towards the door. "You two go on ahead, I'll be out in a minute," When the two left the room, both giving the two knowing grins, Kagome turned towards her mate, leaning back against the door. "You just can't help yourself, can you, Inuyasha? You just have to brag,"

"Oh shut up and get over here," Inuyasha grinned.

They gathered the next night in the study, their expressions grim. Kagome and Rin had made themselves comfortable on the couch, wrapped in jackets because of the coolness of the nights now. Fall had set in, bringing with it the promise of winter. Inuyasha, wrapped in his fire rat robes as usual, sat on the floor in front of the fire, his back to the rest of the group. The flicker of the flames reflected in his amber eyes as he stared into them. He knew he probably wasn't going to like what he was about to hear, so keeping his back to the others would help keep his temper in check. Besides, it would also keep Kagome from worrying about him.

"All right, so you two start with what you know and we'll try and fill in the gaps," Lucivar suggested, leaning back against the wall.

"Well," Sango heaved a heavy sigh. "Almost three months ago, Miroku and I woke up to find that our friends were here instead of at home. Apparently, according to Kaede, the barrier separating our two worlds was breached. Naraku used the power of the Bone Eater's Well to create said breach and then came here, hoping to start another war. Kaede said that a long time ago, Demons and Blood lived amongst each other...until the taint of the Blood came to be. According to what she knew of it, the war fifty thousand years ago was the reason the barrier went up."

Saetan's eyes narrowed at Sango's back. "There were no demons like Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru fifty thousand years ago,"

"According to Kaede there were,"

"Pardon me, Lady Sango, but I was there during that war. There were no demons,"

"Papa," Jaenelle murmured, silencing him. "Please, Sango, continue."

"Yes, well, apparently Naraku learned of the barrier from someone else. An enemy who's after some kind of ultimate power. This power has two sources; One Miko, one Blood."

"What?" Kagome asked, astounded. "Miko? But where would this enemy get...oh..." She sighed heavily. "Well, that explains why we ended up here. This new enemy is after me."

"According to Kaede, he's also after Jaenelle," Miroku stated simply, glancing at the woman sitting on the other couch. "We're not sure what this ultimate power is, but we know it'll prove to be dangerous if he gets them,"

"He won't," Inuyasha and Daemon both snarled at the same time.

"That doesn't explain Izayoi," Sesshoumaru said flatly from where he stood by the window. "If this barrier was only just breached, how did that human pass through?"

"Ah, Lady Izayoi," Mioga made himself known to the group. "Lady Izayoi was my master's beloved,"

"Shut up," Inuyasha snarled, his eyes still on the fire.

"Inuyasha..."

Mioga ignored the Hanyou and continued, "Lady Izayoi's origins were very mysterious indeed. I don't believe that even Lord Inutaishu knew where she came from originally. But I do know that their connection to one another was a very deep connection. He used to say that his blood warmed at the sight of her,"

"And the Blood shall sing to the Blood," Jaenelle suddenly murmured. "Izayoi was Zhara's sister, so she was Blood, obviously."

"And Lord Inutaishu was exceptionally strong. Stronger than any demon I had ever met," Mioga said pridefully. "Many often wondered about his power,"

"Inutaishu..." The name swirled over Saetan's tongue for a few moments, gaining the attention of everyone in the room, including Inuyasha who glanced over his shoulder towards the much older Guardian. "Forgive me, for a moment I believed I had heard that name before, but I have not,"

"Sure you have," Geoffrey, the Keep's librarian was standing in the doorway, holding a very old and well worn book in his hands. "The Dog Demon Lord Inutaishu," He read, surprising everyone in the room. "Ruler of the Western Lands of Japan," Geoffrey looked to Jaenelle then, his pale face seemingly gaining some color. "My Lady Witch, you have heard the name before."

Jaenelle studied him, confused. "Have I, Geoffrey?"

"Long before Daemon and Lucivar came to be, you heard his call,"

Her eyes narrowed in surprise then. "I did?"

"Lord Inutaishu was a very strong dreamer indeed, Witch,"

"Yes," That midnight voice rolled throughout the room and everyone whom had never seen her true form stared in wonder at her. They stared at the small spiral horn on her forehead, the hands with sheathed claws, the legs that ended in hooves, the mane of hair that wasn't hair but wasn't fur either, and the fawn tail at her buttocks. "Yes, Inutaishu was a very strong dreamer. I remember,"

"You do?" Inuyasha asked, staring at her.

"Yes," She repeated, turning her sapphire eyes in his direction. "He was the first dreamer. The very first to call out to me in the abyss,"

Mioga gasped as he gazed upon Witch, knowing what this could mean. "Then my Lord Inutaishu was both Blood and Demon!"

"He was the second," Geoffrey said as he looked back down at the book he held. "His line will continue to have the potential of both the Blood and the demons, however, he is not the first to have such a gift. I believe this enemy you speak of, the one with Naraku and Surreal, I believe it is him. Hakuuyo is his name."

"Hakuuyo?" Kagome sighed again, shifting on the couch to rub her face. "Ok, so now our enemy has a name. We also know that he's part Blood and part Wolf demon. And that he's working with Naraku. But what do we know about this barrier? How do we fix it? Hell, who put it up in the first place?"

"That's what I plan on asking Lorn," Jaenelle said as she sat back on the couch, having returned to normal.

"Lorn wishes to see the son of Izayoi," Said a sibilant voice from behind Geoffrey. Kagome had never actually met the Keep's Seneschal before now, but she recognized Draca the second she stepped into the room.

"What the hell for?" Inuyasha snarled, not caring who he was now speaking to. "He never wanted to see me before. What could he possibly want with me now?"

"Before, he did not know that you were the son of Izayoi," Draca's reptilian features didn't seem to bother anyone at all, which made Kagome strangely comfortable in the woman's presence. "Lorn wishes to see you now,"

"Yeah, whatever," Inuyasha growled as Draca motioned for him to follow her.

"Well, I guess grandpapa dragon decided it was time to share the information he held back from us," Daemon said bitterly.

"We'll have to keep the two of you in our sights at all times I suppose," Lucivar gave Jaenelle and Kagome his trademark lazy, arrogant smile and folded his arms over his well toned chest. "If he is after the two of you, you're both going to have to have escorts, no matter where you go,"

"I already have an escort," Kagome muttered, rubbing her face again. A silence fell between all of those in the room before Rin finally broke it.

"If lady Izayoi and Inutaishu had Inuyasha together, is it possible that maybe he's the one that came and got her from Kaeleer? I mean, if he was the first dreamer like you said, Jaenelle, then could I be right?"

"It's a possibility,"

"But only Lorn knows for certain," Saetan sat back in his chair and set his half moon glasses onto his desk. "I believe that all of this is about to get terribly complicated,"

The power residing in the steps alone sent chills down Inuyasha's spine. He was following Draca down towards the chamber that held the Dark Throne and, of course, the dragon that was Lorn. He wasn't worried, he wasn't afraid, but he was tense, wary, alert. He knew he wasn't going to like this, he'd known that from the minute his mother was mentioned in the same sentence as this dragon.

"Look, lady, I don't know what exactly went on all those years ago, but I do know that my mother was human. She wasn't Blood or whatever, all right? I lived with her until she died and she never showed any signs of having any kind of power like these people do. She wasn't anything like them,"

Draca ignored his rambles as she reached the bottom of the stairs and ushered him towards the double black wood doors of their final destination. He glowered at her as she opened them and motioned him inside. It was dark in the room, save for the torches on either side of the doors. As Draca moved forward, more torches lit, illuminating the room. Inuyasha followed her to the dais that surrounded the Dark Throne and paused, seeing the faintest hint of a dragon's head in the darkness.

"So you're Lorn, are you?" Inuyasha gave him an arrogant smile, folding his arms over his chest. "Not as big as they said you were,"

Your mother respected what I am,

"My mother is dead," Inuyasha snarled. "And she never mentioned anything about you to me, so why should I care if she respected you?"

You are arrogant, like Lucivar,

"So I've been told. Look, dragon, you said you wanted to see me and you have, now get on with it so I can get back to what I was doing."

Inutaishu loved your mother,

"Feh,"

His blood sang to hers as yours sings to the Miko, Kagome.

"What's your point?" Inuyasha spat, growing impatient. "Look, why don't you just tell me how my mother ended up in Japan when apparently she was born here, and then you can explain about that damned barrier that no one else knows a damn thing about!"

Anger pulsed through the room. Inuyasha wasn't impressed in the slightest. "Well?"

I saw in your mother what I see in Kagome. The potential to be great. Izayoi was able to keep the link between the Blood and the Demons intact. She and your father continued a line that had been dead for centuries. You, Inuyasha, will be the one to save this world from further destruction.

"Who said I gave a damn about this place? All I care about is getting the Shikon shards and becoming a full demon!"

Then Kagome means nothing to you?

Inuyasha growled, glaring daggers. "Shut up! You don't know anything about that!"

Very well, son of Izayoi.

"Don't call me that!"

Why does it pain you to hear her name?

He glowered at the dragon, but no smartassed comments came to him, only the nagging loss he'd felt since his mother had died. "All I ever wanted was a family," Inuyasha's hair fell into his eyes, hiding them from Lorn's view. "I was so close to making a family with Kikyo, but Naraku destroyed that for me. So I stole the Shikon no Tama and she pinned me to a tree to sleep for fifty years. Then Kagome came through the well...I hated her but then it changed. She cared about me." His hands curled into fists. "She reminded me of my mother. I knew from the beginning that I wanted to have a family with her, that she would be a good mother to our pups. I didn't want any of this other crap. I just wanted to get rid of Naraku so that Kagome and I could have a family, even if it meant leaving the feudal era to live with her in her time. But then Sesshoumaru got in my way. Naraku used the power of the well to send us here. My life has been turned upside down. Don't you see? It all started with my mother's death and it's going to end with Kagome's!"

You believe that Kagome will die here?

"I can't get her back home," Inuyasha whispered, glaring at the floor. "I can't protect her when all I can think about is my mother, my hatred for Naraku. I can't protect Kagome because I can't even protect myself. I'm not my father,"

That means nothing,

"Everything has changed. Naraku has changed. He's different, more powerful. We can't even begin to fathom how deep his hold in this place goes. We can't even sense him anymore! Not until it's too late. Kagome's in danger, they're after her and I..."

You want to give in to the beast inside of you...

"Everyone's in danger when I let go,"

You are wrong. Kagome has a link with you that can never be severed. Not even by the beast inside of you. You could never harm her or let harm come to her, just as your father could never let harm come to Izayoi. He protected her until his last breath came. And she lived long enough after that to teach you what you needed to be taught in order to become what you are.

"He's after Kagome,"

You can protect her. You wield the Tetsuseiga, forged from your father's fang in order to protect your mother. That sword will be used to protect Kagome and your family. You will not let her die here. Even in your demon form, you will not let her die.

"What if he's stronger than me? What if I make a mistake and he gets passed me?"

You won't and he won't. As long as you and Kagome remain loyal to one another as you always will, no harm will ever come to her. You know this. You love her as Inutaishu loved Izayoi. Do you believe that you love Kagome like that?

"Of course I do! How can you even ask that!"

Then what is the problem?

Inuyasha looked up, staring at the curled dragon, swallowing hard. "I don't want to hurt her,"

Bah! Hot air hit Inuyasha, sending him back a few steps. Did he just snort at me?

Swallow your pride, Lord, and think about what you've said and what you feel. You love Kagome, she loves you, etc. Now, are you ready to hear the truth about Izayoi or not?

Kagome sighed heavily when she reached her rooms back at the Hall, worried about Inuyasha. He hadn't left with them, in fact he'd gone ahead without them, but she hadn't seen him since they'd arrived and it worried her. Was he ok? What had Lorn told him about his mother?

She found herself sighing again, but this time in frustration. "Stubborn Inuyasha. You never let me comfort you when you need it. You're hurting, I know that, but why won't you let me help? I want to help...You're my mate...I love you..." Her brown eyes drifted towards the glass sliding doors that opened up into the garden and decided on taking a walk through the garden to clear her head. Inuyasha would come back to her.

I hope...

Inuyasha stared into the emerald green jewels that made up the eyes of the beast statue, understanding the meaning of it. The sleeping woman beneath the beast wasn't being attacked, but protected. Her hand was just touching one of the paw/hands of the beast, a soft smile on her lips, whereas the beast was poised to strike. But he wasn't poised to strike the woman. How many people would see this and mistake it's meaning? How many had seen the beast attacking the woman when his eyes bore into anyone who came into this garden? The beast was what lay beyond the flesh. It symbolized a males need to protect his chosen female. Just as Sesshoumaru and Daemon and Lucivar had seen themselves in the beast, he, too, saw himself as the beast.

"I will protect you, Kagome, no matter the cost,"

Ten minutes later, his ears twitched, picking up the sound of approaching footsteps. One quick sniff told him who it was.

"Hey, Inuyasha, there you are,"

He turned and smiled gently at his mate, startling her a little. "Are you ok, Inuyasha?"

"I'm fine, Kagome," He groaned. "Just come here,"

She studied him intensely with narrowed eyes for a moment before she approached him. "What was that look for?"

"I was wondering if you were going to tackle me once I reached you for another round," Kagome's playful tone was forced, and failed her miserably. But Inuyasha chuckled nonetheless.

"If I wanted another round in the grass, I would have tackled you long before you knew I was here,"

"Oh, that's comforting," She giggled, wrapping her arms around his waist. "Are you ok, Inuyasha?"

"I told you the first time you asked, Kagome, that I'm fine," His arms came around her waist as well at that moment.

"What did Lorn say, Inuyasha?"

"He told me the truth about my mother. About us..."

"Us?" Kagome inquired, staring at him. "What about us? Inuyasha, should I be worried?"

"No, Kagome, not in the slightest," Inuyasha's smile warmed her, relaxing her.

"Then why are you so emotional?" She rested her head on his chest, loving the warmth he offered her as he hugged her close to him.

"I was afraid that I couldn't protect you, Kagome. But I can and I will,"

"Is that why you're like this?" Her arms tightened around him. "I know you can protect me, Inuyasha. You always have,"

"I've failed you before,"

"Hardly!" She chuckled. "Rinkotsu doesn't count. Besides, it all turned out for the best in the end."

"Because of Mioga,"

"Yeah, whatever," Kagome gave him a warm squeeze. "You've yet to fail me, Inuyasha, and I doubt that you ever will. Now, stop being so mushy, it's not becoming of you."

He chuckled then, warmed by her words. "Fine, I'll go back to being the arrogant smartass you've always had to deal with."

"Thank you," Kagome giggled. "Now," She looked up at him curiously. "What's the truth about your mother?"

Inuyasha lifted her, plopping down onto the grass to cuddle her for a moment before her prodding was finally successful. "She was at the Keep with her family and somehow got away from her nanny. She ended up in Lorn's chamber...He sent her to Japan."

"Did he say why?"

Inuyasha's arms tightened around Kagome possessively. "He said that she was destined for greatness. That she would give the world a way to protect itself from another war. She would give birth to me, so that I could find you,"

"I told you that everything happens for a reason, Inuyasha,"

"Yes, but...Now that I know exactly why I was born..." He sighed heavily, burying his face in her hair. "Kagome, I love you and I will do everything in my power to protect you and our family. Please know that,"

"I do, Inuyasha," She wrapped her arms around his torso and gave him a warm squeeze. "I love you, too." Silence enveloped them then, a comforting silence that the lovers could share and enjoy for a little while.

"Lucivar is being snarly,"

"Is he?"

"Says me and Jaenelle need escorts,"

"I agree,"

"You would," She said, breathless. His eyes narrowed as he looked down at her.

"Kagome, are you all right?"

"I'm fine," She sure as hell didn't sound fine. But he recognized the hungry look in her eyes when she looked up at him. "About that family..."

Inuyasha growled at her huskily, making her shiver as he rolled, crawling over her. "What about it, love? Hmm?" He kissed her, his silver hair falling around her face. She smiled as he broke the kiss.

"Nothing," She whispered, breathless again. "But don't you think we should..."

He grinned at her, pinning her hands above her head. "Of course I do,"

End of chapter! I wasn't going to post it just yet, but because Sade couldn't contain herself... XDD J/k! Reviews are love!