Chapter Three: Inuyasha

It was the fifth anniversary of Kagome's death and as every year Inuyasha came to her grave placing wildflowers on the stone marking her place. He had spent many wonderful years with Kagome; along with his friends he made in that time, but now they all had passed on and he had watched each one of them die. He missed them all especially Kagome and her smile or the angry face she got when she was extremely pissed off at him; he had always thought it was cute. It was very hard for him to move on from the past, much harder than moving on from Kikyou. He really had loved Kagome to the depths of his human soul and he wasn't sure he would be able to move on from her...to love another person or even another demon.

"Guess who?" Hands covered his eyes and a soft voice echoed through is ever so sensitive ears.

"Emi." Inuyasha easily answered recognizing her voice and her smoky musk.

"Aw damn. I thought I had you this time." The short brown-haired girl with the same brown eyes plopped beside him.

"Next time cover my ears, my nose AND my eyes. See how that works."

"You are no fun today." Emi rolled her eyes. "Just cause it's Lady Kagome's death anniversary doesn't mean you need to be mean."

Inuyasha glowered at the woman who was in her twenties. She was Sango and Miroku's granddaughter, the only grandchild who decided to stick around him. The others had run off in their respective directions, to be farmers or shopkeepers. He didn't even understand why she stuck around. Even Shippo had found a girl and went to explore the world with her; and Kilala drifted off to look for another demon hunter camp. Yet here was this rambunctious woman who didn't want to leave him alone. He figured Miroku or Sango had told her, behind his back of course, to keep an eye on him after everyone had passed on.

Emi being the only descendant who wanted to be a demon hunter like her late grandmother wanted to stay with Inuyasha and his pursuits. She even practiced holy rituals as to inherit her late grandfather's staff. The constant jingle of the metal clanging together reminded Emi and Inuyasha of Miroku and caused them to reminisced about him. Thankfully, Inuyasha was pleased to see Emi hadn't inherited her grandfather's perversion and thankfully only his constant need to touch things he wasn't supposed to.

At the moment Emi was stroking Inuyasha's soft ears, gently stroking them between her index finger and thumb. She couldn't help herself, they were so adorable and she would smack anyone who disagreed with her staff.

Inuyasha's eye twitched, irritated that she would molest his ears in front of his dearly parted Kagome. "Stop it Emi!" He ripped his ears out of her fingers and got off the ground. He wanted to keep his distance from this girl. She was always near him and invading his thoughts. He wasn't going to allow himself to like her and betray Kagome...he didn't want Kagome to become so hateful like Kikyou did.

"Leave me alone, Emi. I don't have any patience for you today." He started towards the village and out of The Forest of Inuyasha. He had buried Kagome beside the tree as the tree was an important aspect in their meeting and falling in love.

"You never have any patience for me Inuyasha..." Emi slowly stood and watched his back. It was all she ever saw. He was always walking away from her, running from her affection and her need to make a connection with him. She glanced down at Kagome's grave marker wishing she didn't have such a hold over Inuyasha. She wanted Inuyasha to at least like her...it would be a start.

Emi looked back to see Inuyasha had disappeared into the green, his red kimono was no where to be seen. She sighed to herself and picked up her holy staff, she wished she could get through to him. She wanted to be close to him...

"Well, well, what have we here?" A deep male voice chuckled from above her.

She tensed sensing the demonic aura and tightly gripped her staff preparing herself for the attack.

"Now, now." The male voice sounded amused. "There is no need to be tense. I haven't come to hurt you." He chuckled obviously lying.

"What do you want...?" Emi glowered at the foe invisible to her eye.

"Just you." He laughed before a high pitched screech sounded around her. She dropped her staff and held her hands to her ears the screech reverberating through her skull.

"Inuyasha..." She was able to whisper before passing out.

Inuyasha's ears twitched hearing his name from behind him. He turned and looked towards The Forest of Inuyasha seeing no one there, but feeling a strong demonic presence. His nose twitched as well smelling Emi and an unidentified smell with her. He couldn't hear anymore words from her but heard her breathing had slowed and was unconscious. He became immediately worried and took off for the forest. Emi was his responsibility, he promised Miroku on his death bed he'd watch over Emi in her ambition to become as great as her grandmother and grandfather. Right now he was failing that promise. Emi was in danger and he had left her in that danger without a pause, what kind of person had he become? He'd been so bent on keeping her at a distance he had forgotten what she really meant to him as a friend.

"EMI!" Inuyasha shouted as he burst out in front of the Tree of Ages. His eyes landed on Emi who was unconscious and bound to the tree with rope. He stepped towards her and a high pitched screech filled his ears causing him to fall to his knees covering his ears in intense pain. After a minute or two the screech stopped and ringing continued to vibrate through his ears.

"Now, now." The male voice said from above Inuyasha. "No going near the girl. I have something I need to inform you of."

"What?" Inuyasha spat unimpressed with the low blow attack.

"My name is Toby..." Toby jumped down from the tree his bat wings flapping to soften the fall. He was dressed all in black; black shoes, black pants and a black tee-shirt that was topped off with a long jacket. The clothes weren't familiar to Inuyasha; it was like this demon was from the future or something. "Interesting choice of clothes aren't they." Toby noticed Inuyasha's eyes wandering him. "I like to be original and kimonos are very girly." He chuckled at Inuyasha's red kimono.

Inuyasha's eye twitched as he glared at Toby. "What the fuck do you want! Let Emi go already!"

"Language in front of a lady! Shame on you!" Toby exclaimed in a sarcastic way. Inuyasha growled as he got to his feet, not taking his eyes off Toby for a second. "Now, now no need to be angry." Toby rolled his eyes at Inuyasha's temper. "I'm here on behalf of my little master. Her and her siblings are very angry with the men of your family and want every one of you dead. So here I am! I'm going to kill you!" Toby laughed hysterically.

Inuyasha took the chance and ran at Toby while drawing his sword. He swung The Tessaiga at Toby in one fluid movement, but only sliced air for Toby shot into the air flying above Inuyasha.

"Come on you chick shit! Get your ass down here!" Inuyasha shouted at Toby as he prepared Tessaiga for his wind scar attack. Toby only laughed and flew higher out of Inuyasha's reached. Inuyasha growled, ran at the tree, bounced off the trunk and onto the branches reaching a high enough altitude and released his wind scar attack.

"How foolish!" Toby flew out of the way, hysterically laughing. "Your attacks won't hit me!" He smirked and opened his mouth, sending out another high frequency screech. Inuyasha was halfway through a jump and missed his footing on the next branch. He slipped and fell, falling through many branches until he smashed into the ground and hit his head. Blackness over took Inuyasha as he sunk into unconsciousness.

Inu...yasha...Please...open your eyes...

Inuyasha heard the sweet familiar voice he would never be able to forget. Slowly he opened his eyes and saw the person who went with the voice - Kagome. She was standing in front of him plain as day wearing her priestess kimono. She wasn't old and fading anymore but vibrant and young once again.

"Kagome..." Inuyasha smiled softly only to be slapped across the head.

"BAKA!" Kagome yelled at him. "What do you think you are doing!"

"What are you talking about, you crazy woman!" Inuyasha stood up rubbing his head. "This what you do to someone you haven't seen for years!" Inuyasha yelled back at Kagome.

"Only because you are being an idiot Inuyasha!" Kagome looked really upset and Inuyasha calmed down a bit noticing her true anger. "Just because I'm gone doesn't mean I want you to suffer Inuyasha...I love you and want you to be happy. I'm not a selfish bitch like Kikyou was...I won't hate you if you fall in love again. I understand you are a demon and will live a very long life...be happy Inuyasha...stop suffering on my behalf." Kagome stepped towards him and tenderly cupped his cheek.

Inuyasha placed his hand over her's feeling the loss of her all over again. She was letting him go and wanted him to let go of her. The loss was in the pit of his stomach, but slowly has he continued to look into the eyes of the woman he loved his heart began to lift. A smile appeared on her lips seeing the lightness on his face.

"Be happy Inuyasha...and I'll see you on this side one day." She smiled amused. "Now...wake up."

"Wait! Kagome!"

"Good bye Inuyasha. I love you." She smiled at him and slowly faded into the mist.

Inuyasha groaned as he came to. Green filled his vision when he opened his eyes; he was face first on the ground and his head was pounding like crazy. At that moment he wasn't sure whether to be happy he was a demon or be pissed he had dog hearing. He sat up and saw Toby was hovering in front of Emi, running his hands over her slim body. Toby was completely focused on Emi thinking Inuyasha was not going to regain consciousness for the next couple hours. Inuyasha took this moment, holding back the growl wanting to escape his throat and jumped up off the ground, easily slicing Toby's head clear off. Toby's body fell to the base of the Tree of Ages; Toby didn't even know what hit him.

Inuyasha cut Emi from the tree and caught her in his arms. He gently rested her on the green grass beneath the tree anxiously waiting for her to regain consciousness.

"Emi?" He held her face in one of his hands the anxiety increasing with every second. He watched her peaceful face and soft breathing as thoughts of what Kagome told him came to mind. He did care for Emi, but how much was the question. He had blocked himself off from any romantic notions since the day Kagome had died, he wasn't sure if he was in love with Emi. His eyes wandered over her face; her eye lashes delicately laying on her soft cheeks, her lips looking so tenderly pink and perfect for kissing...maybe he did have more than feelings of a friend for her. He wanted to find out, not only because he didn't want another beating from Kagome, but because he wanted to love someone again...

"Emi..." He spoke again stroking her cheek and debating if he should dump a bucket of water on her face when she began to stir under his touch.

"Inu...yasha...?" Emi whispers her eyes fluttering open and landing on his face. She could see he was really worried about her. "You...came back."

"Of course I did, Baka."

"I didn't think you would..." She slowly sat up with his help. Her eyes remained on his face unsure of why he bothered helping her in the first place.

"Don't be silly. I wouldn't leave you for dead Emi." Inuyasha looked very serious and solemn. "You are all I have left."

"Sess-"

"Don't even say it." Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "We may be getting along a tiny bit better but its not worth anything." Inuyasha gingerly took Emi's hand in his. "You are the only person that counts who I have left."

Emi looked down at their hands with a tiny red streak across her cheeks. She couldn't believe after all these years Inuyasha was finally admitting his closeness to her. This was better than a start; so much better. She spontaneously hugged him, so happy to be with him at that moment.

Inuyasha also blushed ever so slightly and hesitantly wrapped his arms around her back, hugging her tightly. He was so relieved she was okay and would make it his sole mission to protect her and make sure she was the happiest human woman alive.

Their moment was interrupted by an extremely strong demonic presence approaching them. Inuyasha had never encountered a demon with the magnitude of the aura he felt at the moment. He quickly rose to his feet and pulled Emi up with him. He pushed her behind the Tree of Ages and whispered for her to be quiet. She opened her mouth to protest but Inuyasha growled and turned on his heel to face whatever demon was after them now.

As the aura became stronger something familiar tingled along his spine. He didn't understand the feeling for never in his life had he encountered someone so strong and menacing before. He ignored the feeling and watched the bush waiting for it to emerge.

Finally after what seemed like hours a figure stepped out of the bush. Inuyasha could not believe his eyes for the man who stood at the edge of the clearing should have been dead.

"Father...?" Inuyasha spoke his voice cracking with shock and disbelief. Was he seeing dead people again? Did someone knock him out or was he going crazy. Through the haze of confusion he heard Emi poke her head out from behind the tree upon hearing him say father.

"Yes. It is I." Inu no Taishou spoke.

Inuyasha ran at Inu no Taishou unable to control his movements and hugged him tightly. Inu no Taishou surprised by the hug took a moment before hugging his son back. It was an unfamiliar feeling for Inu no Taishou to be loved by someone other than Miyako and especially after Sesshomaru's reaction he hadn't been thinking anything close to a hug from Inuyasha.

"How is it possible?" Inuyasha stepped back looking up at the tall demon. "How are you alive? Mother told me you had died in the flames...everyone said you were dead. Did you come back from the dead? How did you do it?" Inuyasha gushed unable to stop the words from leaving his mouth. Off to the side Emi looked amused by Inuyasha's sudden transformation into a boy again and when Inu no Taishou glanced her way, she bowed her head in respect to him.

"Inuyasha." Inu no Taishou stopped him before he could come up with anymore questions. "I didn't perish in the flames...I was saved..."

Inuyasha stilled, the words slowly processing in his head. "Never...died...?"

"Hai..." Inu no Taishou took a step back knowing what was coming next.

"You abandoned Mother and me...? You left us to the onslaught of humans who couldn't stand the fact she loved a demon and had me...a bastard half breed!"

"Inuyasha...you have to understand...it was my choice."

"You abandoned us Father! How could you! Mother missed you all the time! She cried for you for years!"

Inu no Taishou flinched at Inuyasha's harsh words. He had known full well what pain his choice would bring to his son and love, but still having it laid bare in front of him hurt.

"Inuyasha..." Inu no Taishou spoke slowly. "You both would have been in far more danger with me around...you two would have been sought out by my enemies as my weakness...I could not put Izayoi and my new born child in such danger...I made my choice to protect you two."

Inuyasha fumed, glaring at his father unable to believe what his father had just told him. "We would have found a way Father! It would have been better than growing up without you!"

"I'm sorry Inuyasha...I cannot change the past...and I doubt I would change my actions if I could."

"Taishou." Miyako whispered from behind Inu no Taishou. He glanced back at her and nodded understanding.

"Inuyasha...I would have continued to conceal my presence from the rest of the world had not an enemy far stronger than you have faced before made an appearance. A demon by the name of Nagendra has come to surface. I had thought I killed him many years ago but both Sesshomaru and I have been attacked and his name attached to those attacks."

"I've never encountered someone by that named before." Inuyasha grumbled, then paused a moment; a memory coming to his mind. "Tisiphone..." He growled then glared at Inu no Taishou. "Yours and Sesshomaru's fault..."

"Pardon?" Inu no Taishou asked slightly confused.

"You know what? I'll deal with it myself. I handled this lackey myself I can handle whatever else comes my way. You've never been around to help before, why would I need your help now?" Inuyasha turned on his heel and headed out of the forest.

"Inuyasha!"

"Go back to your hole Father. We don't need you." Inuyasha growled as Emi ran after him and they disappeared into the bush.

That's chapter three! I hoped you all liked it! Please, pretty please with a cherry on top...review! I want to know the opinions of my fans or even my haters! Which I dearly hope I don't have...but I digress! Chapter four will be up as soon as possible! With my writing binge probably pretty quickly! Until next time!